'Ello there, duckies! Sorry, random Teen Titans moment. Anywhos, here is Chapter 10 and let me say, we are almost half-way. I still have so many ideas in my head for this story. Well, this is an eventful chapter. Hope you all like it.

Warning: Mild foul language and slight violence.

Riley rolled onto her side and looked at where she now lay. It was a musky cell with stone walls, no windows, and a single iron-bar door. A rotten smell reached her nose and she could feel last night's dinner churning in her stomach. Blood was splattered amongst the stones, smearing her skin with crimson. No sounds penetrated the walls. As she tried to sit up, a broken bone made itself known. A cry of pain echoed in the cell as she tried to clutch her side. Being bound by ropes on her wrist and elbows, she prodded her side and could tell that several of her ribs were broken. Footfalls reached her ears and she looked up at the door. Shadows played on the floor as someone stood before the grate, the light dancing eerily behind it. Keys opened the door and Riley backed up against the wall, away from the being in front of her. By the stench it gave off, she could tell it was the one who tortured people. A small creature followed it in.

"'Ello there, pretty. 'Ow are you today?"

"Stay away from me."

Both of the beings before her got closer. The smallest pulled out a bag the clanged, giving off that there was some type of metal in it. A grin decorated the face of the largest.

"Do you know who I am?" Riley demanded.

"Our ticket to the Tantei and Reikai. You seem to be close to them, from what I observed."

"Yes, I am close to them. But do you know who I am?" She asked, smirking.

It gave her a strange look. The smirk that she wore confused him. She was playing with him, a cruel trick, twisting his thoughts. While the two were distracted, she used telekinesis to draw a sharp item from across the cell to kill them. No sound was heard as it cut through the air into the back of the small one's neck. The larger one turned and was stunned. As he turned back towards Riley, he saw her foot come up to late. A sickening crack was heard and he tumbled to the ground, a broken neck evident.

"For your information," she nudged it. "I am Princess Riley of Reikai and have been trained by the best."

Noting that they left the gate open, she hurried out of the cell and down the hall, desperately trying to find her way out.

In Reikai...

Koenma stood before his desk, scolding Hiei for loosing the king's only daughter. The small Kajihenge glared at the teenage king. He had sensed the demon too late, after it had entered the house and taken Riley.

"You are to go out and find her." Koenma demanded. "Go to Makai, use your Jagan to find her, and bring her back safely. The others will go with you. If she does not come back alive, you will be dead before you could even mutter an apology."

All Hiei could do was nod. Summoning a portal, Koenma gave Hiei one last warning before the Kajihenge, Kurama, Kazuma, and Yusuke passed through. When they emerged from the other side, they found that they were in front of a castle. The smell of blood came to the noses of Hiei and Kurama. They could pick up a familiar one.

"Riley." they both whispered and took off to the castle in a sprint.

As they neared it, a figure was thrown straight through the door, another one following after. The two men stopped, the others behind and watched a fight unfurl. The one that was thrown out the door jumped up and delivered a sharp reverse roundhouse kick to the others chest with their left foot, then twisted and, using the same foot, kicked them hard in the back of the knees. The other's knees gave way and they fell backwards. The first twisted their leg around and held it against the other's neck. The left foot brought the man down, the right foot going just on the back of the lower thighs. With great strength, they lifted the man's legs up while pushing hard on the neck with the left foot. A snap sounded, indicating that the man's neck broke. The killer jumped up by twisting their legs. At this, the Tantei ran over to them. Bloodied blonde hair clung to the face of the killer, reddened eyes glancing at the ground. They struggled to get the binds off of their arms.

"Riley!" exclaimed Kurama, running up and hugging her.

"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Hiei asked as he, too, walked up.

"Reikai."

She didn't look up at them. Her eyes darted from side to side before she pulled her head up. Her normally green-brown eyes were bloodshot. Kurama took her face into his hands. Holding up his hand, he asked her how many fingers he was holding up. She didn't know. Kurama hugged her to him tightly. She was blinded by something while inside the castle.

"Let's head back." suggested Yusuke.

Everyone nodded as the Tantei called Koenma, happily saying that they got Riley back, but there were complications. The king didn't understand, but made a portal for them none the less.

Koenma stood beside his chair where his daughter sat. Yukina was trying to heal her eyes, but it had no effect. It seemed to be a poison that did it. Riley rubbed at her eyes. They burned, like hot coals against cool, bare skin. Not knowing what else to do, Yukina placed an icy hand against the princess's eyes. Riley sighed in relief. It felt so good compared to what she was feeling.

Yusuke and Kazuma were silently sitting on the couch while Kurama waited just behind the king. Hiei had left to the Infirmary to seek another healer, by order of Koenma. The ferry girl, Botan, came in and out every so often, whenever she wasn't busy with a spirit. The Quinque arrived several minutes later after Botan went and got them at Genkai's temple. Mitarai stood with Kohaku, who in turn was holding the water Elementals hand. Sabuso waited by the door, Kinar sleeping in their room. They were all relieved that it was not very serious.

"What are we going to do?" Kurama asked as he placed a hand on Riley's shoulders, who visibly jumped.

"I don't know. When Hiei returns with the other healer, we will be able to work on finding out what caused it." Koenma told him.

"I…I know what it was." Riley whispered, almost incoherently.

"Tell us. It is alright." Yukina said to her soothingly.

"The plant was the Tomareni (too-mare-e-nigh), of the western regions of Mukuro's lands. The leaf can be ground up to produce a powdery substance that, when mixed with the saliva for a salamander, which causes the burning, and the blood and venom of a cottonmouth rattlesnake found in Ningenkai, which causes the blindness, causes the effects that you see on me, amongst other things."

"Is there anti-venom?" Kurama asked.

"I…don't know."

The door of the office swung open and Hiei came into the room, a healer close behind. Riley jumped when the door opened and immediately clung to her father. Liz, Richard, Damian, and Dante followed behind the doctor.

"My poor baby." Liz exclaimed, running to her daughter's side.

"Koenma-sama, I am here. What has happened to your child?" the healer asked, bowing.

"Sakumon, she got a poison in her eyes when she was captured. Hold on." He faced Liz. "Take her up to her room and let her shower. Keep close, just in case. And Hiei? Go with them. Riley needs protection."

Liz nodded at him and helped their daughter out of the chair she was in. The blood that was on her was dried up and clung to her hair. She felt filthy and greatly needed a shower. They left the office, Hiei right behind, and walked down many halls. Riley was tottering slightly and leaned against her mother. Hiei, being courteous, gather the falling girl into his arms, a look of gratitude on Liz's face. They came upon the room and Hiei left Riley on the bathroom counter, leaving so that Liz may care for her.

"Are you sure you can take a shower on your own dear?" she asked her.

"Yes mom. I can handle it. Just wait out in the hall and if I need you, I will call." Riley assured her, tapping her temple to indicate telepathy.

Liz kissed her daughter's forehead before heading out of the bathroom. Riley set to work on removing her torn shirt, careful to avoid moving her ribs too much. Sliding off shorts and undergarments, she turned the water on to hot and climbed in. It felt great against her skin and washed away the grime that made its way into her pores. Taking a washcloth and soap, she lathered up her body and, though she could not see it, the muck washed down the drain. As she worked shampoo into her hair, she felt a cool drop of an unknown liquid fall onto her hand. Curious, she rinsed out the soap and raised her hand into the air, catching more of the liquid. Bringing it to her nose, she sniffed it, regretting it instantly as the smell of decay wafted from it. Drawing on her power, she rose up into the air and felt where it was coming from. Her hand met fabric and she felt upwards on it. Hair tangled itself in her fingers. Lightly and carefully, she ran her fingers of a cold surface…skin. Falling down while screaming, she jumped out of the shower and grabbed her towel, wrapping it around her. The door slammed open and she collapsed to the floor.

"Onna…onna, what is it?" Hiei demanded, shaking her shoulders.

"Blood…and a body in the shower."

Hiei stood up and drew back the curtains. A body was pinned to the roof of the shower, cuts covering the body. The face was defiled, but he could make out who it was. Kinar's body dripped blood into the still running water. Turning off the water and closing the curtain, he knelt beside Riley and she threw her arms around him, tears silently running down her face.

"Who was it?" she asked him, burying her head into his shoulder.

"Kinar."

A sob came from her throat as she cried harder. Liz came into the bathroom and Hiei nodded at the shower. She looked in and choked on a sob as well.

"Take care of her." She told Hiei as she hurried out to get the others.

He picked her up and set her on the counter. Removing a washcloth from one of the drawers, he wet it and began wiping the blood off of her face. Tears still fell from her eyes. Hiei rubbed a finger against her cheek.

"Do you want to go home?" he asked her.

"Ye…yes."

"I'll leave a note."

She nodded at him and slid off of the counter. Hiei handed her the robe that hung from the back of the door and went into the room to leave a note for the others on the main door. Putting on her robe, she visualized her bedroom at her house and flicked her wrist, creating a portal. Hiei took her arm and they walked through it, emerging on the other side. The covers on the bed were still messed up from Hiei hurrying out to get to Riley when she was kidnapped.

"May I borrow your eyes?" she asked him timidly.

Knowing what she meant, he dropped his mind shield to let her in. Placing her telekinetic powers into his optical (eye) nerves, she could see what he could. Walking over to the closet, he opened it like she asked.

"On the far left, there is the long blue shirt. Could you get that?"

Hiei did as she asked, out of pity and almost non-existent kindness. Going over to the dresser, he fetched her shorts, but she used his eyes and got her own undergarments. He left the room and went to his own while she changed. A bump alerted him and hurried out of his room, happy that Riley was blind for all he wore was a towel around his waist. Riley had tumbled over a book on the floor and landed hard on her bum. She was scantly clad as well, only a bra and her boyshorts. Hiei couldn't help but look over her body. The scars that she once had were all gone, leaving her skin near-flawless.

"Hiei?" she called.

"Yes."

She jumped slightly, not knowing he was in the room with her barely in anything. Holding on to her desk, she pulled herself up and walked over to him. Not knowing what the hell she was doing, he was frozen in place, mind gears turning. Her hand landed on his shoulder and she rested her head against his chest.

"Will you please stay with me again, Hiei-kun? I do not want to be alone anymore. Fear is swimming within my head and I cannot take it. All that is happening is frightening. I cannot see anything. My vision is incapacitated. It is hard for me to defend myself if the need arises. Please..."

She gazed up at him, her still bloodshot eyes meeting his. Stroking her cheek, he rested his chin against her forehead.

"Let me take a shower."

"Alright. Hurry."

"Don't worry."

He left her to go take his shower while she finished putting her clothes on. When he came back, she was curled up under the covers, them drawn tightly around her body. Upon hearing him approaching, she sat up and pulled back the covers, him crawling under with her. Normally he could care less, but something made him want to protect her like he does Yukina. Riley was like a younger sister, the need to keep her safe was strong. However, something in the back of his head told him that it was more. He never listened. She was a friend and was damn lucky to even be that. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled against him, a smile coming to her face.

"Thank you, Hiei-kun."

"Hn."

"Back to monosyllables, I see."

"Funny."

"Wow, that was two."

"Shut up."

"Two again. Come on keep going." She giggled.

"Keep your mouth shut onna."

"Make me." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"Don't make me cut it off."

"Like you would."

"Want to bet?"

"Sure."

She did it again. Pulling a katana out of nowhere, he placed the blade on top of it. Smirking, he pushed slightly. Closing her eyes, Riley pushed her tongue against the metal, dragging it across, making blood appear. Hiei looked at her in disbelief, setting the blade on the ground. His urge to kiss her made itself known. Demons find the blood of their mate's or possible mate's attractive. This was on of those incidents. Knowing that it was driving him crazy, Riley licked him on the lips, smearing her blood on them. Not being able to take it anymore, he slammed his lips against hers, claiming them for him only. A moan came from her mouth as she wrapped her hands around his neck. His arms tightened around her waist, one of them trailing down her side to her leg while he moved on top of her. Pulling away for a little, he licked the blood off of lips., before shaking his head rather harshly.

"What the hell?"

"Hiei? Did I do something wrong?"

"Damn you! How...What...Ahh! I'm confused." He got off of her, sitting at the foot of the bed. "What the fuck is going on? What are you doing to me?"

"How am I to know? You will not tell me."

"This...racing of energy. My mind is cluttered and my stomach feels light. Damn it! I must be sick or something. Yeah, sick, a cold or virus or disease. That's it."

Riley heart fell as she gazed down at her comforter. She knew what it was, but could tell that he didn't like it. A tear came to her eye but she wiped it away before he could see it.

"Get out." she demanded.

"What?"

"I said GET OUT!" she screamed at him, not being able to meet his eyes, in more then one way.

"Fine!" he hollered back, standing up, grabbing his katana, and rushing out.

"And don't come back!"

The front door slammed shut and Riley fell forward on her bed, tears falling out of her eyes.

"HIEI!" She screamed so loud that the neighbors down the road were startled awake.

The Kajihenge stopped as he landed on a branch. Something told him to go back and comfort her, but he turned away, making his way to the Makai portal.

Well? Let me know what you all think. I haven't had a review since, like, chapter 4. Is it not a good story or something? I like it, but then again, I wrote it so obviously I would like it. Just let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

Jinx-the-Pink-Goddess