DISCLAIMER:             …Surely you jest?

EDITOR:                 Shiranai Seito

BETA-READERS:      Aya-san and Aeserp

MAGICAL CONSULTANT:     Darkangel Hime

Support Group:                 The Otaku Council in the yahoo group The Gripe Vines

Responsible for all that Citrusy Flavor:  Aya-san ^_~ Yes. Her!

Responsible for the Hunters of En-Ma:   Kelly-san!

Review Replies:        Please check out my Fanfic Writer's Corner blog in E-bloggy.com. The link is in my bio. This chapter is veerrry long (16 pages O_o) so I placed the replies there. Gomen.

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WORD WATCH:

Danse Macabre – A play on the words 'macabre dance'. This is intentional on my part since it captures the mood a lot better than the original.

Musaboru – Japanese term that means to lust after insatiably, covet, or crave.

Prana – Hindi term for life force

Hikareau –Comes from "hikareru," which means "to be charmed by, lured by, attracted by."   There is also a bit of a pun in this line.   The first kanji used in the word "hikareau" isn't the proper kanji.   It is replaced with the kanji that should be read "mi" (from "miryoku" (charm/attractiveness)), which means to lure, charm, or attract. The substitution of this kanji gives the sense of a more magical/other-worldly draw. (from Miyuki-san in Animelyrics.com)

Menage a trios – A threesome.

Kekkai – Shield, barrier or an enclosed territory.

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READING NOTES (Darn FF.net for not allowing us to use different fonts .):

'Text' –notes

Text – thoughts only

"Text" - Voices in your head (reader or character).

/Text/ - telepathy

(Text) - Talking or arguing with your self.

~\\Text\\~ - song lyrics

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WARNINGS:   Citrus content and yes, suggestive lyrics from Britney Spears's two songs in her In the Zone album.  O_O Citrus means things get a little sexier than some of you might like but nothing explicit.

Yes, there are underground rave parties held in storm drains and utility tunnels. Yes, they are called the Cave Clan or something similar. No, I haven't been in one so I just hyped up what I knew from Readers Digest.

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                                                                        Chapter 14:   Meguri Aeta Kotto no Unmei

                                                                                        A Chanced Meeting of Fate

          Hiei stopped short in the middle of the deserted lot where Tatsumi said Kurama was. He looked around. The others had not yet arrived. His dark brows furrowed in concern. Something was not right with the place. Even the very wind seemed wrong.

          /Kurama...where are you? /

          There was no answer from the fox. The moon continued to bathe the place with its light, giving it an otherworldly feel. Hiei looked around again, this time stretching out with his Jagan's sense. His eyes suddenly widened as he realized what was wrong.

          He was not sensing the fox. Anywhere.

          Worse, he was not sensing anyone else outside the area. Not Tatsumi. Not Yusuke. And certainly not the baka, Kuwabara. Nothing.

          What the fuck?

          He was cut off from the rest of the world. It looked like someone dropped the magical equivalent of a box on the area and isolated it from the rest. From the shadows, he could hear movement. Unable to use his Jagan, all he could do was fall back on his instincts, instincts that had allowed him to survive in Makai.

          Something or someone did not want him to reach the fox.

          /He must not meet the Magician. / Something hissed in the shadows.

          /No. That he must not. /

          /No. /

          / The fox must not meet the Magician. /

          /Yes. /

          /Yesss.../

          The ghostly voices babbled on until it was no more than gibberish. Hiei felt cold all of a sudden. These were the vaunted Hunters-the Hunters of En-ma. A group feared in all the Realms and held in high regard by En-ma.

          What the hell where En-ma's hunters doing here?

          "Why shouldn't Kurama meet the Magician?" Hiei addressed the wraiths. He could now see a few of them. They looked like ghosts of ancient samurai warriors. Some seemed solid then suddenly blew away. Some looked no more than smoke. They were forbidden to take a physical solid form unless En-ma gave them permission. And En-ma's permission usually means that someone was going to be hunted down.

          /No. Must not...but.../

          /We were ordered too.../

          /Youko must not meet the Magician.../

          /But we must not interfere...no... /

          Hiei smirked at the Hunter's conflict of interests. They were obviously not here on official capacity as evidence in their wraith-like appearances and confused state.

          "Take down the shield or else."

          / The fire demon challenges us. /

          /Impudent. /

          /Fool. /

          "You are the fools," he started to unwrapped his bandaged right hand. With the diadem on, he did not need the ward. It was more of a habit than a necessity now. Around him, dozens of wispy forms circle him warily. The Darkness Flame was one of the few things that could hurt the immortal and formidable Hunters. He didn't want to use it so soon but the Hunters were not something to take lightly.

          / He seeks to use the Darkness Flame on us. /

          "I don't like repeating myself."

          / We are En-ma's hunters! / The voice seemed to thunder, indignant that someone would dare challenge them.

          "Right… And from what I see, I think you've just disobeyed En-ma's direct orders."

          His remark was greeted with sullen silence. There was obviously dissension among ranks, even in Reikai.

          What in Makai's name is going on?

          He'd known that the weakening of the Commandments was big, but the way everyone in the Upper Levels were acting, he got the impression that this was beyond the Commandments. There was something else.

          Hiei sensed the cloaking drop. Immediately his senses were flooded by sensations and impressions. He could now sense everyone again.

          / If he meets the Magician, he will awaken Them. /

          / And then.../

          /They should not meet.../

          /But we must not interfere.../

          Hiei left the Hunters still arguing with themselves and made his way to where he sensed Kurama was. Something in the way the Hunters said Them disconcerted him. Was it fear or was it awe?

          You'd better find your answers fast, fox because this 'Them' worries me.

~*~*~*~*~*~

          Kurama followed Eriol. The boy was always just out of reach to him. The Magician had led him into a maze of tunnels deep into the heart of the city. This particular tunnel was somewhat dry and relatively clean. A dank musky smell permeated the space and a few electric lights situated at intersection points provided what little illumination there could be had.

          They had not spoken to each other. Just when he thought that he'd lost the boy again, Eriol would appear at the next junction and beckon to him. If Eriol hoped that he would be hopelessly lost, the Magician was wrong. Kurama had left a plant trail - a creeping vine from one of the many seeds he kept in his hair. Hiei would find it and lead the others to his location.

          The air suddenly freshened and he could smell other people. That means they were nearing an exit. Eriol suddenly disappeared into another divide. Kurama broke into a run to follow and skidded to a halt, his senses reeling at the shock.

          What the?

          The tunnel junction opened up into a huge cavern where other tunnels from several levels met. Some of the tunnels were storm drains and yesterday's run off was still flowing, looking very much like waterfalls. Others were relatively dry. In the center was a deep pool, which he knew leads to the city's water treatment plants. Yesterday's storm had been so hard that the pool overflowed slightly. Separating the pool was a metal railing so that no one would fall in accidentally.

          But that wasn't got his attention.

          What got his attention were the lights strung up the high ceiling. They were flashing and blinking in a myriad of neon colors that never quite illuminated the space but nevertheless gave it a trance-like quality. To top it all, people were packed in, dancing to a heady hypnotic and pounding song mixed by a DJ situated in one of the empty tunnels.

          People danced, cavorted and grinded with the music. All were drenched by rainwater that they'd kick up from the flooded floor. A few folks had commandeered some of the empty tunnels on the upper walls and held their party there. All nooks, crannies and niches were occupied by either 'occupied' folks or the Rest Stops where hungry and thirsty party people could get a respite from the madness. It was a scene of utter decadence and Youko was drawn to the whole sensual atmosphere that permeated the scene. There was feral abandon in the people celebrating. It was as if being underground freed them all from the constraints of the world above.

          An underground rave party?

          "CAVE CLANNERS!"

          The crowd roared at the DJ's encouragement and Kurama felt himself swept up by the emotion. It took him a moment or two to recover.

          No. I shouldn't be distracted. Where's Eriol?

          He wheeled around looking for the boy. The lights and the moving crowd disoriented him. And the music, it was filling his head...calling to him, telling him to succumb to its spell.

          He finally saw Eriol. The Magician was standing right in the middle of the madness, a serene smile on his face. All around Eriol, people danced as if not realizing that someone was in their midst.

          / No more games, Eriol. /

          /Then come to me, Kitsune. /

          Kurama pushed past the crowd all the while keeping an eye on Eriol. A few dazed revelers tried to grab him and force him into their danse macabre but he pulled away. Judging from their suddenly sober expressions Kurama knew that he had not bothered to hide his youkai strength as he pushed them aside. His only goal now was to get to the Magician.

          Still the music pounded in his head like a siren's song.

          An amorous couple dancing blocked his path and his view of Eriol. Kurama's eyes narrowed. He was not happy.

          "Hey! What's your problem, pal?!"

          Kurama ignored him and sidestepped the man.

          "Hey kid! I'm talking to you!"

          Eriol was gone. Kurama look around again. There was a flash of black from his peripheral vision. He turned around quickly and saw no Eriol. Behind him, the man seemed to be looking for a fight. Kurama turned to the man and said in his coldest voice, "I am not in the mood tonight."

          Something in Kurama's eyes set warning bells off in the guy's head. He scampered off making up a totally lame face-saving excuse to his girl.

          Quelling his fury, Kurama again turned to look around at the place where he last saw Eriol. This time the pounding beat of the music was replaced with a slower sensuous beat that seemed to tease him, invite him to jump in and let go of his inhibitions. It pulled at his very senses.

~\\ I'm not ashamed of the things that I dream. I found my self-flirting with the verge of obscene. Into the unknown, I will be bold. I'm going to the places I can be out of control \\~

          He couldn't find Eriol but his eyes kept getting drawn to a single dancer on the floor. He'd glimpsed her when he was pushing his way towards Eriol. Kurama forced himself to look away and tried to find Eriol again but always his gaze returned to her.

~\\ I don't want to explain tonight all the things I tried to hide. I shut myself off from the world so I can draw the blinds and I'll teach myself to fly. \\~

          She wasn't extraordinarily beautiful he decided. Nothing of the sort. He'd seen others more to his Youko taste when he first entered here. Not that he ever acted on his impulses when he became human. He'd always channeled that part of his energy into more useful things – like outwitting opponents, breezing through academics, school's extra-curricular activities or even gardening…

          (Well then, why are you looking at her?)

          And you're not, Youko?

          His other self was silent. He watched her trying to figure out her magic. A few men eyed the girl hungrily but she ignored them, lost in her own world.

          There was something...something...about her...

~\\ I love myself it's not a sin. I can't control what's happening. \\~

          And then he realized what set her apart from the other women in the room. She'd shut herself off. She did not care about the crowd or partners or anything at all. It was just her, the music and...

~\\ 'Cuz I jus discovered, Imagination's taken over. Another day without a lover. The more I come to understand the touch of my hand. \\~

          ...and an invisible lover. She was dancing with an invisible lover - someone that only existed in her mind.

~\\ The small of my back, the arch of my feet. Lately I've been noticing the beautiful me.\\~

          The atmosphere around her sacrosanct space was inviolable. No one could dare approach lest they frighten this elegant creature away. A sweet sad mood seemed to surround her. My love is far away, she seemed to say. But I want him here, with me because I miss him terribly. She moved as one with the music, long black hair falling in untamed waves down her back. Drenched in rainwater, her damp dress clung to her body outlining every sinful curve and hollow and riding up with each erotic entrancing move in tune with the exotic banging bass, revealing more of her thighs with each beat.

~\\ I'm all in my skin and I'm not going to wait. I'm into myself in a most precious way. \\~

          Kurama found himself drawn to this siren. She wasn't calling out to anyone, much less to him, but the simple fact that she was not interested in any of them made her irresistible to all. Such was the irony of the male psyche and the Youko in him was no exception. He had always liked a challenge and in his glory days in Makai, he'd prided himself for getting anything and everything he wanted. Everything.

          Enough. I should find Eriol!  

~\\ And I don't want to explain tonight all the things I tried to hide. I shut myself off from the world so I can draw the blinds. And I'll teach myself to fly. \\~

          He turned around to find his prey until a shift in the chi made him turn back to the girl.

          Huh?

          The girl's chi changed subtly. He sensed it. Now that he noticed it, he realized it was different from the other people's life energy. It was stronger than normal but it was also subdued like something was holding it back.

          A power control device?

~\\ 'Cuz I jus discovered, Imagination's taken over. Another day without a lover. The more I come to understand the touch of my hand. \\~

          Kurama watched her carefully. He couldn't see anything visible on her that could be a possible device and he found himself looking at something else.

          (Very nice.)

          Look for a control device and not at her body, Youko!

          Her energy was now like a gentle rolling soothing wave, barely detectible to anyone except those with the most sensitive senses. Before it changed, he could barely tell her chi from everyone else's.

          She was human, that much he could tell. Was she part of Eriol's diversion?

~\\ 'Cause there's a world undefined in my body and mind. I won't be left behind. I'm already here. \\~

          It didn't help that the music was filling his head, whispering to him, seducing him. It didn't help that right ahead of him was a mysterious girl who seemed to awake a fleeting awareness of something forgotten.

          Who are you?

          He didn't expect her to answer. It was more of a question to him then to her. Her chi was getting stronger now, intensifying the seductive atmosphere that she had unknowingly created around her. Kurama could sense several men getting bolder and for reasons he could not understand he was furious at them. They would not know how to handle a precious thing.

          He stopped short at his thought, surprised at his own reaction. He was acting the very same way when he saw a priceless object and then people did not know how to properly value it.

~\\ 'Cuz I jus discovered, Imagination's taken over. Another day without a lover. The more I come to understand the touch of my hand. \\~

          (You will let them sully her?)

          He blinked in surprise. There was something pure and innocent in her and he hated the men around her who had other thoughts in mind. Thoughts that ironically, he knew he also harbored.

          What is this? Musaboru?

          He focused on her again, this time closing his eyes and reaching out with his senses, seeing her prana against the backdrop of everyone else's energy.

          Like the sun...

          His eyes opened at the faint memory that the phrase called out. No, not musaboru. Hikareau. Once upon a time, someone in his past made him feel that way too...only...only...

          He quickly ran to a list of people that he'd met in all the three Realms and came up blank.

          /You want answers, fox? Ask her. / came Eriol's amused mind voice.

          /You planned this all along, Magician. / Kurama replied while looking around for Eriol.

          There was no answer. The Magician had disappeared again.

~\\ 'Cuz I jus discovered, Imagination's taken over. Another day without a lover. The more I come to understand the touch of my hand. \\~

          Kurama looked at the innocent seductress again. She was not aware of anything beyond her invisible sphere. Not aware of the effect she had on men. He could sense the low buzz of her life energy that told him this one too had magick although it was subdued. If Eriol thought that this girl could stop him, the Magician was wrong. He, Kurama, was not about to be frightened off with a mere ningen girl.

~\\ 'Cuz I jus discovered, Imagination's taken over. Another day without a lover. The more I come to understand the touch of my hand. \\~

          He moved forward and entered her sphere of influence. It was too late to turn back. It would also be something that he suspected he might regret later.

~\\ It's so hot in here. \\~

          Miriya surrendered herself to the music. It was the only time when she could let down her guard. All the time, she had to rein in her chi so that no one would know. So that She would not awaken. She sensed Her sleeping inside her, the Queen. She feared the Queen because she had an idea of how strong She was.

          Eriol had told her not to fear Her. That the Queen had saved her when she was a child from Death Eaters and the wizard, Voldemort.

          But She didn't save mother and father…

          She didn't like Her. She didn't like the fact that the Queen would sometimes take over when She stirred and that she would fight Her back to put Her to sleep. And then, and then she would be sick again.

          Magick made her sick. Magick was killing her. Using small magick did not hurt her. Using high-level magick hurt her. But sometimes if she didn't let it out once in a while, the force would build up inside her and make it unbearably painful.

          Just like Clow Reed's sister, but she didn't know that.

~\\ Oh, it's so hot, and I need some air. \\~

          Music was one of the few ways that she could channel her magick safely, the other being surrounded by family who could help her tame the wild uncontrollable magick that would sometimes flare up, if she forgot her control. Lost in a song and dance she could dip into her psyche and not fear the Queen because she knew the Queen would not hear her. A warm glow would fill her being and for a while, she was a different person, filled with light.

          But it only reminded her of him. Her fiancé- the only one outside her family that would be able to ease the pain of magick.

          When Cray would smile, she would forget all her troubles. He'd tried to hide the fact that he was a member of the Great Houses for fear that she might not understand. She'd tried to hide the fact that she knew all about it for fear that it might drive him away. It was funny. She'd fled when she first noticed something strange in his actions. He was after all, 4 years older than her and his family didn't like her. But he was patient, kind and caring...and she knew that he loved her.

          Then he went away to try and save her from her curse. The Families said he was dead. But they were wrong. She'd know if he died. She'd know.

          And so she closed her eyes and mind and withdrew to an inner world where she could be with him. A world where he stood in front of her, a smile on his face and his arms held out to her in welcome.

          Unknown to her, her power blazed on, catching anyone within her sphere of influence and drawing them into her world.

~\\ And oh boy, don't stop 'cuz I'm halfway there. It's not complicated, it's just syncopated, we can read each other's minds. \\~

          Kurama reeled at the sensations that threatened to overwhelm his senses. The music became like a living creature, calling to him, enveloping him and telling him to surrender to it. His mind swam with scenes that the music evoke- sensuous scenes, wicked scenes. He found his own body responding to the visions and he forced himself to empty his mind.

          It was no use. This was not a simple maboroshi. If he tried to escape the music, his eyes would wander over the sinuous lines of the girl's body as she moved to the beat. Her eyes were close but her mouth was open as if waiting for a lover's kiss and he had to fight the urge to plant his own lips on that open invitation.

          A ménage a trois. Him. Her. And always the music in the background like an intangible partner but no less real, bringing this strange girl closer to him. Or was it the other way around?

~\\ One love united, two bodies synchronizing. Don't even need to touch me, Baby, just... \\~

          The heat and smell of the people around him awakened forgotten desires. How long was it since he...? He'd never really thought about that when he became a human. The women seemed so frail to him. He'd always protected the females that he'd come to regard as family and saw everyone else as mothers, sisters or daughters to someone else. Never mind if some of them would practically throw themselves at him. He'd stop thinking of them as objects of desire, playthings or low class creatures when his human mother hurt herself trying to protect him from the falling dishes that his small clumsy human hands had disturbed when he was small.

          Only a few demons understood his change of perspective. Yomi, because he too had a son and understood filial love. Mokuro-because she was a woman. En-ki, because of his wife and of course, Yusuke's ancestor-Raizen. He'd never actually met the man but the Toushin had stopped eating humans because of a ningen maiden.

          He found himself moving in tandem to the dancing girl, unconsciously mirroring her movements. He inhaled her sweet scent and rediscovered the other side of women.

~\\ Breathe on me. Baby just, breathe on me. We don't need to touch, just breathe... \\~

          He found himself staring into deep dark eyes but the eyes did not see him at all. She seemed to look past him and he knew that she was seeing someone else, someone that only existed in her mind. She tilted her head back exposing the soft pale skin at the crook of her neck as if inviting him closer. Instinctively he responded, letting his breath warm her cold skin as he lowered his head towards her neck. He felt her shudder slightly before she turned her back to him and pretended to lean on him.

          She ran her hands to her hair, a gesture that he found erotic as she closed her eyes and acted like she was feeling his hands on her when they were not even touching. Her hair brushed against his wet clothes. The flooded floor had soaked him but he didn't feel the cold.

          The room swam out of focus. He could sense other people answering the call of the wild but they were nothing but background noise. There was only this girl in front of him.

~\\ Oh, this is way beyond the physical. Tonight, my senses don't make sense at all. \\~

          He caught the mental images that danced in her mind. He didn't mean to spy but he couldn't help himself. Like Eriol, the woman could weave her own versions of reality. Here, Imagination could take form. He sensed her deep longing for her lover and her desire for the man.  It mingled with his own desire until the two could no longer be distinguished from the other.

          He found himself responding, taking the place of her lover. He could feel his sense of identity slipping away until he was no longer Shuichi, no longer Kurama. Youko did not even resist.

~\\ Our imagination, takin' us to places we have never been before. Take me in, let it out. Don't even need to touch me, baby, just... \\~

          A part of him conceded that this was a parody of the sexual act. But couldn't it be said too that most forms of dancing with a partner was a way to express in acceptable, public, and vertical fashion what is essentially a private and horizontal activity?

          Why do I even bother to reason my own actions and feelings when it is too late?

~\\ Breathe on me. Baby just, breathe on me. We don't need to touch, just breathe (breathe) on (on) me (me). Baby just, breathe (breathe) on (on) me (me). We don't need to touch, just breathe... \\~

          Oh, this is madness! He was so close to her. All he had to do was reach out and touch her but for some inexplicable reason he found himself holding back. He could feel the warm breeze of her breath on his ears as their bodies move in and out without touching.

          Torturous bliss…

          He'd use a similar technique when he was still Youko. Back then, he would tease his prey over and over, bringing them closer and closer to ecstasy or pain then drawing back at the last minute until his prey would beg him to release them.

          So this is what it's like to be on the receiving end...

          His own body was on fire despite the fact that the water they were dancing on was freezing. It surprised him that someone could evoke such strong feelings from him. Even as a ningen child, his classmates had always accused him of being cold.

          The fabric of her dress brushed against him and he stopped fighting temptation.

~\\ Monogamy is the way to go. Just put your lips together... and blow. \\~

          Cray.

          His name was but a memory to her and yet it brought out all her longing for him. He was not dead. He was here, with her. The Families were wrong. He was alive. She was right. She could feel his warm presence around her. Comforting. Protecting. Reassuring her that everything will be all right now because he was here.

          With him, even She was silent. With him, she could be herself.

          "Oh Cray..."

~\\ Breathe on me, Baby just, breathe on me. We don't need to touch, just breathe (breathe) on (on) me (me). \\~

          She whispered a name that he knew was not his. Her breath was like a gentle warm caress on his skin and Eriol was forgotten. Everything was forgotten. There was only her. His senses were filled with her presence, her nearness, her scent. Their bodies were so close to one another that he could hear their hearts beat in sync with each other and the hypnotic music, so close that each breath is shared in every other thump. She was heady, intoxicating. Their chi met and merged then separated again in an endless cycle that was at times new and at times familiar. He wanted her. Wanted her so badly it was driving him insane and yet still he could not bring himself to touch her for fear that this beautiful creature would flee from his touch.

          Mistake...mistake...

          Yes, it was a mistake...it was not her fault. It was his. She did not even know he was there. To her, he was her phantom lover.  Arrogant of him to step into her realm unprepared. Arrogant of him to have underestimated her power and foolish to have forgotten that though his spirit was old he was still in a teenager's body. Foolish to have not realized that though he was not really Shuichi Minamino, he was also no longer the Youko Kurama of old. Damn the music. Damn Youko and the stupid full moon. Damn Eriol and the games he played. Damn her dark eyes. Damn everything.

          Gods but I want her so badly...

          He was so close now that he could feel the warmth of her skin. If he could just reach out and touch her...

          He let out a sound that was a half moan and a gasp of frustration as Desire won over Discipline.

~\\ Baby just, breathe (breathe) on (on) me (me). We don't need to touch just...\\~

          A warm arm circled her waist and pulled her down to the flooded dance floor. She yielded and lifted her head to meet her lover's kiss, her eyes closed in anticipation. Her fingers tangled in his hair and drew his head towards her as she felt his warm hard body on hers. How'd she longed for the feel of his lips on her again after so long...

          Kurama felt her surrender underneath him as he gently brought her down to the floor with him. A soft sigh escaped her lips as her back curved at his touch, straining to meet his. She was so soft, so warm to the touch. He lowered his head to taste her lips, all the while fighting a loosing battle against the incredible urge to rip her clothes to shreds and have her right then and there on the floor. He crushed her mouth with a feral kiss and was a little surprise when she responded with equal fervor.  He tightened his hold on her and…

          / GET AWAY FROM HER!/

          The illusion was broken. She blinked and saw golden eyes staring back at her that reminded her of the metallic sheen of an insect's wings so different from Cray's clear blue ones. Instantly, she recoiled from the stranger's embrace and both of them stared at each other in shock. Anger and confusion waged war inside her. The same look was mirrored on his face. The flickering light showed to her his dark red hair and a strange thought came to her mind.

          So much like blood...

          Her heart jumped to her throat. In that brief moment they touched she sensed a much older spirit inside him. A being so ancient its power seemed to come from the very earth itself. It frightened her because she recognized that life force-it was the same life force that haunted her dreams, calling to her and she knew that if she answered it then that Woman would awake and she would loose herself and... 

          And Chaos would reign supreme if She awakes...

          Akizuki's voice came again warning her that this boy was after Eriol. Vaguely Miriya could sense the other guardians make their frantic way towards her.                

          Anger won out from confusion. How dare he pretend to be Cray?! How dare he attempt to get close to me to get Eriol?!

          Kurama sensed her reiki coalesce before it hit him. It was like a deadly viper striking and the impact threw him backwards. He'd managed to avoid most of the force but it was still enough to smash him to the adjoining wall. Strangely enough, it did not upset him. He'd deceived her and he deserved her anger. Once it was an alien thought and feeling to him. But after living so long as a human he was amazed that he even understood.

          Through the haze of pain he saw the entire party come to a sudden abrupt stop as people tried to get their bearings on the situation. And then the other Rei Tantei members made their appearance having found him and the source of the sudden energy outburst.

          Oh no...

          Quick as lightning, Hiei drew his katana and struck. Kurama dimly saw the girl's dark eyes turn to the color of a brilliant amethyst as she looked up to her attacker on air. He also saw the renewed gathering of her chi and the strength of it floored him. He didn't expect it to be that strong.

          S? She was a class S?

          He saw the slight hesitation in Hiei as the other demon realized that he was facing a human with a class S power level. Nevertheless, Hiei brought down his sword fast and hard and crashed into a kekkai that the girl had put up.

          The girl's expression had changed. Her face had gone utterly calm and expressionless and when she spoke her voice had the low even tone of a queen.

          "Away from me, demon."

          Hiei flew backwards as the kekkai pushed him out violently. This time, all hell broke loose and people started to scream and panic. A stampede for the exit ensued.

          Kurama picked himself up, the rose whip in his hand. Pushing aside the people blocking his way he made for the girl. No surprises this time.

          A few feet away he stopped in disbelief. The girl was swaying on her feet. The unholy light that glowed in her eyes was gone and she looked sick. She had dropped to her knees.

          "REI GUN!"

          Kurama watch in horror as the huge blast of reiki made its way to the now defenseless girl. His own body move in its own accord to try to protect her but he was too far away. Not again. Not again. Not AGAIN! The thought ran in his mind over and over and he did not know the reason why.

          I WILL NOT LOSE HER AGAIN!

          The balled up chi found its mark and lit up the tunnel. There was a deafening blast and the upper chambers crumbled. Kurama felt a mournful wail rise up from his throat then immediately clamped it down as he saw the tableau before him. Relief overwhelmed him. Again he did not know the reason why.

          When the dust and smoke cleared he saw another girl was standing in front of the fallen girl. The young man behind her cradled the unconscious girl in his arms. The second girl was responsible for the new kekkai that had deflected Yusuke's rei gun.

          " I will not let you touch the Lady Miriya." the second girl spoke firmly. There was steel in her voice.

          Yusuke's face lit up as he realized that he was facing a strong opponent. "Heh! Fine then! I'll just have to go through you first!" He moved forward and cracked his knuckles. " Just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'll take it easy on you. And besides, your lady hurt my friends."

          Yusuke raised his fist and slammed it to the ground. The resulting energy wave ripped up the earth. Hiei took advantage of the flying debris and made for the other man.

          A cold blue light shimmered and their attack bounced off harmlessly. Kuwabara now rushed in with his reiken. The man stood up and Kurama saw the man's eyes flash before Kuwabara crashed to the wall knocking him out of the running. He was buried under the stampeding mob.

          Kurama directed his attention back to the man. He was weak looking but there was something cold in eyes. He held the girl called Miriya in his arms almost lovingly. His caring gesture contrasted with the ice blue eyes that glittered like the moon in the dim light. Kurama got the sense that despite the man's looks he was not something to trifle with.

          Out from the corner of Kurama's eyes, he sensed Tatsumi's kages creeping closer to the trio. Finally, it reared up intending fully to trap the three and then froze.

          The girl with the long dark brown hair laughed, " Is this all you can do?"

          The other boy turned to Tatsumi. "The power of shadows are in our domain," he said cryptically. The shadows warriors disintegrated.

          Everyone suddenly sensed the strange and unidentifiable power of the two lurking just beneath the surface. It was nothing like reiki or youki. It seemed a combination of both.

          "Akizuki, enough." the young man said as the second girl smirked at Yusuke, egging him on.

          "Fine, Yukito-san. Our duty as guardians...yeah, yeah. I understand."

          The other man gave them a jester's smile, his glasses twinkling. A cold sensation swept the group and in a blink of an eye, the trio was gone.

          The last of the revelers had left. The only sound was the rumble of collapsing foundation and weakened supports. The group was lost in their thoughts, each analyzing tonight's adventure except Yusuke who was ecstatic at finding new and strong opponents and Kuwabara who had simply been knocked out cold and trampled by the fleeing crowd.

          " I don't like those guardians, " Hiei said simply as Kurama came up to him.

          "Neither do I," Kurama agreed. Things had gone badly tonight leaving him with more questions than answers. It was frustrating. Who or what were those Guardians? Who or what was that girl? How powerful and dangerous was the House of Reed? And what about the other seven Houses? And boy do I need a cold shower or what? Talk about being left high and dry…

          (Not to mention getting your ass kicked.)

          Oh poo, Youko! Like you were much help.

          (Heh! Look who's talking.) And then in almost contemplative fashion, Youko added, ( That was one hell of a distraction… )

          Hiei looked at him quizzically, "Your eyes..."

          "What about them?" he snapped.

          "They're not green," Hiei said, ignoring Kurama's bad mood and the fact that the fox was not his usual disciplined and poised self. "They're Youko's eyes."

~*~*~*~*~*~

          Deep in one of the dry empty tunnels that had escaped the chaos in the cavern, a man-child waited for his children/servants. There was the sound of light footsteps and two forms emerged from the shadows. Eriol smiled his approval at the two. His doppelganger had done a good job in leading the fox in. Eriol then turned to the shy girl standing beside his doppelganger, "Well done, Melody."

          The small frail girl blushed.

          "Now my children, return to me."

          The two forms nodded and dissolved into wispy ribbons of light before returning to the Magician's staff.

          "That went well," Eriol said to himself before walking out of there. A grin was on his face.

TBC

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K.H.     You probably know by now that I intentionally misspell magic into magick. This is to differentiate from the Old Practitioners from the regular ones. Why the quick update? Chalk it up to work. I either had to finish this now or you guys wait for it next month while I finish my work duties. The next chapter will probably come in late April or early May because right now, my schedule and to do lists are full and I won't even be able to celebrate my birthday because of it buu hooo TT.TT. *sigh * Never mind. I just hope the quality of this chapter didn't suffer from the haste it was made.

          R and R minna! ^_^

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