Chapter 8: The final blow out…

"It would seem my plan has just started." Hiei said.

The tantei and the fox didn't know what to think as the small explosions kept accruing, but then their eyes got big as they watched a shadow form from under the door and make its way over to Hiei.

"Kage (1) is that you?" Hiei asked the dark apparition that had stop and formed into a body of sorts in front of him.

"Yes, my lord, it is I." The deep voice almost had an echo sound to it.

"Report." Hiei said.

"Yes my Lord. Kurayami (2) and Supai (3) are creating the distraction. We have learned that after your detainment, almost all of the army was sent ahead to the tournament sight, there are less than a hundred foes left in the building. From what we saw making our way here, the rest of the town is deserted. Is there anything else you require?" Kage asked.

"Can you get these chains off me and the wards?"

"Of course, my Lord." The dark mist floated around the fire demon's wrist, after a moment, the chain started melting and Hiei was able to pull his arm down.

"Are you going to fill us in, or are we going to play twenty questions?" Yusuke asked with annoyance.

"I knew you planned to go in the front door detective and I knew we would be detained." Hiei said pulling his other arm down and rubbing the stiffness out.

"Hey…I resent that." Yusuke yelled, but then said softly with hurt. "You saying you didn't like my plan?"

The fire demon ignored the statement and continued. "You never asked me about contacting Mukuro before we left. I had a plan incase we got detained, which we did. Mukuro has three shadow spies in her command and I borrowed them. They have been following us since we enter Yomi's territory." He stopped talking and sat on the floor cross-legged. He then gave a nod and the dark mist formed around his head and bandaged arm. After a moment the paper wards started smoking and caught fire, burning to nothing. "Good job." He said, getting up.

"Thank you my Lord." Kage said and did his version of a bow, knowing the one called Hiei rarely gave praise. "My Lord, the one known as Taiga is up in the main meeting room. She has with her at least fifty guards. We have also managed to take out all the guards here in the basement area. What are your orders?" The shadow informed.

Hiei nodded his thanks for the added information. "Go…inform Mukuro and King Enki that Taiga's men are heading to the tournament sight."

"As you wish." The dark mist made its way back under the door and they heard the lock click.

Hiei walked over and released Yusuke by melting the chains with his energy that had quickly returned without the wards.

"Hey what …" Yusuke started, rubbing his sore arms.

"Not now." Hiei cut him off. "We need to get going before they come and check on us. Turn around." He didn't wait for the raven haired to turn before grabbing him and forcing him to.

Sure enough there was a ward going down Yusuke's back. Hiei pulled, yanking it as one would a band-aid. After some light smoke, the ward burned and disappeared.

Hiei then walked over to Youko and melted his chains. The fox had been quiet throughout the whole event.

"Can you get on your knees so I can remove the wards?" Hiei asked.

"Can Yusuke remove them?" Youko asked softly, not making eye contact.

"Why?" Hiei automatically asked without thinking.

"Kurama asked and I do not wish to argue with him right now." Youko said, still looking at the floor.

"Whatever." Hiei said with annoyance and walked over to the door to listen. "Just make it quick." He grumbled.

Yusuke didn't say anything as Youko got on his knees to make it easier to reach the wards. When the raven haired stood in front of him, he placed his head on the tantei's lower chest. One by one the wards were removed, again smoking before disappearing.

When it was done, Youko stood and shook his head, making his hair fluff. "Thank you, that is much better."

"You're vain, you know that." Yusuke said with a smile.

"You just now noticed." Youko stated it like it should have been common knowledge.

"Are we ready, we don't have much time?" Hiei said, looking at them with impatience.

"Well since you don't seem to like my plans. What do you want to do…my Lord?" Yusuke said the last part with sarcasm, even though he was also considered a Lord in the Makai.

"I'm not going to apologize." Hiei said. "You have a lot on your mind and I went ahead…"

Yusuke cut him off. "So you went ahead with your own plans…you could of still told me…"

Hiei cut him off. "Detective, I did not think you would listen. Your goal was to get in here and 'kick her ass' was the quote and she didn't fall for Youko's charm." He spit the last part of that statement out, like it had left a bad taste in his mouth. "So I had a plan, deal with it."

"You could have told me." Yusuke was still pushing.

"And when was I supposed to…between the fighting, you getting shot, or us being knocked unconscious." Hiei retorted, his anger rising.

"Gentlemen, I believe time is of the essence, we should go and stop her before she gets to Yomi." Youko said calmly, stopping the two before it came to blows.

"So you agree with him?" Yusuke said turning and placing his hands on his hips, staring at the silver haired.

"I refuse to comment." The yoko said.

"Is Kurama coming back, or are we graced with your presence for awhile longer." Yusuke asked.

"Kurama is very upset right now, though I do not know why. He refuses to emerge, so it would seem you are stuck with me." Youko stated.

"Let's go." Yusuke huffed and walked to the door, grabbing the knob. Hiei was going to tell him to wait and see if there was any noise, but stopped because he was too late.

Yusuke opened the door and two guards fell into the room, unconscious. The three stepped over them and made their way up.

Yusuke asked. "Youko, can you get us to the main floors and the room Taiga's in?"

"Are you willing to follow me?" Youko smirked.

"Funny fox-boy…just lead." Yusuke quirked, slapping Youko's arm and receiving a golden glare in return.

As per the information they were given, they encountered no resistance in the lower basement area. When they made it to the upper main halls, they only dealt with a dozen or so guards, who they easily defeated. They realized the demons did not really know how to handle their guns and were quite clumsy in getting them out to use. And they obviously were to dumb to realize they could use there strength or power here in the palace.

Youko stopped outside a set of double doors. Hiei could tell with his jagan that there was a large presence of beings in the room.

"What's the plan?" Yusuke looked to the fire demon.

Hiei looked annoyed. "The only thing to do now it go in the front door and 'kick her ass'." He snorted.

"So now you like my plan." Yusuke said, throwing his hands up and rolling his eyes.

"My I make a suggestion?" Youko asked and waited, when he received two nods, he suggested. "I will go after Taiga while you take out the guards."

Youko didn't wait for a retort as he opened the door and went in, at the same time running a hand through his hair.

"Youko!" Hiei yelled as the silver haired yoko disappeared into the room. He and Yusuke quickly followed, but barely saw the fox as he made his way across the room.

a)a)a)a)

The fight didn't last long. They had caught the demons off guard, so most of them didn't have their guns out and were easily taken down with either a sword or a spirit gun blast.

As the chaos died down, two were standing back to back in the middle of the room. Dead or unconscious demons laid everywhere. Both panting lightly, the two relaxed their stances and took in the sight.

"Well that was fun. Nothing like a good 'ass kicking' before you get married." Yusuke said.

"Where's Youko?" Hiei asked, looking around the room and not seeing the fox.

"I don't know. Do you see Taiga?" Yusuke asked, also looking.

"No…damn it." Hiei cursed and pulled off the ward over his jagan to scan the room. He picked up the fox's signature and walked towards a large wall hanging that was so long it draped a few feet along the floor. Seeing a bulge along the bottom, he pulled it back and red eyes blinked, not believing what they were seeing.

Youko had Taiga pinned under him and was licking her all over her face and hair line. Her breasts were exposed and had obviously received their own 'licking' not to long ago.

She was fighting, but Hiei could tell she wasn't putting up that much of a struggle.

He cleared his throat. "Am I interrupting something?" He said, not bothering to control the growl that followed.

Youko looked up and immediately stood, pulling the feline with him. She pulled at her clothing in an attempt to cover herself.

"I was just returning the favor for her hospitality earlier." Youko stated.

"I'm sure." Hiei muttered, walking off.

Yusuke was standing there and had seen some of what had happened. He was shaking his head in disbelief, when a portal opened in the middle of the room.

Mukuro and several guards stood there and Hiei walked up to his commander. "We have contained Taiga and her men here have been defeated." He informed.

"Excellent." She said, taking in the sight. "We received your information and have sent a team to deal with them. Koenma has been informed and is sending his own team. King Enki told me to give his thanks to you, Lord Urameshi." She turned and bowed. He thinks once word gets out of Taiga's capture, the band will fall apart, so he does not think he will need your help any longer and wishes you luck in your upcoming bonding ceremony."

"Oh, thanks." Yusuke said, taking in the bonding comment.

"Any news of Yomi?" Youko asked as he dragged Taiga over to a guard and handed her over.

"Youko…have not had the pleasure in a long time." Mukuro smiled.

"It has been a long time." Youko said with a slight bow.

Hiei was wondering if the fox had screwed his commander at one time and wondered if there was anyone in the Makai the fox hadn't taken to bed at one time or another.

"No." Mukuro then stated. "We have still not located Yomi, unless the vixen here wishes to provide that knowledge?" She asked, looking to the feline.

"Hum." Taiga turned her head in a mock expression. "I will not tell you where my love is, for he will rescue me." She said with pride.

"Not likely lady, you're going to the Reikai prison." Yusuke informed.

A guard ran up to Mukuro. "My lord, King Enki requests your presence before the tournament committee to talk about the latest events."

"Thank you." Mukuro said and turned to address the team. "My thanks as well…and don't stay away to long, Lord Urameshi."

"Thanks." Yusuke said, rubbing the back of his head. "But I don't think Keiko would want a summer home here, so I'll pass on visiting anytime soon." He told her.

Mukuro smiled, walking off, followed by her guards, two of which were handling Taiga.

When they were gone, Hiei turned on the fox and exploded. "What the hell was all that about earlier? Were you just going to screw her while me and Yusuke fought?" He could not control the anger rising in his voice.

"I have not been out in awhile and I was just giving her a taste of what she will be missing." Youko stated calmly.

"And just what does Kurama think about all of this?" Yusuke asked.

Youko shrugged, saying. "I do not know, or care, he seems to be drowning in a sea of loathing right now. I have not been in communication with him since he asked for you to remove the wards." The yoko looked to the raven haired.

Hiei walked up to the silver fox and glared the best he could, it was hard because of the height difference, but he managed.

"That is way I never liked you, even before I met you, I had heard of your ruthless, uncaring, heartless attitude. I may be just as bad, but I at least put others before me when needed. Do you even care what Kurama would think or feel if you were to have done what you were going to do?" Hiei growled his point across.

"It is none of his business." Youko huffed and turned his head away, breaking the eyes contact. "He does not care what I think when you two decide to have sex." He said. The other two thought they heard sadness and hurt in the voice.

But Hiei didn't really care as he continued to make his point. "Yes it is." He stated. "And if you wouldn't fight him every time we had sex, you perverted fox." He said through clenched teeth before tuning his back and making fists in an attempt to control his anger.

"I just want to enjoy it as well." Youko said softly. "I have not been out in a long time and I sure as hell do not get to indulge in the pleasures when I do appear." He then huffed. "I always have to finish Kurama's battles for some reason or another."

Yusuke kept his mouth shut as the two converse, he had no idea what was going on and wasn't about to interfere.

Hiei turned back around. "He's not weak."

Youko sighed and actually rolled his gold eyes. "I did not say he was, but he always runs to protect the ningen and that leaves me cleaning up." He said.

"Did you ever think that if the ningen dies, so will you?" Hiei asked.

"I am strong enough now, so 'no'." Youko stated.

"Has Kurama not taught you anything?" Hiei asked.

No one said anything else as Yusuke's compact went off. Digging it out of his pocket, he opened it to see Botan.

"Hey guys, great news. We caught the dealers who sold the guns to Taiga and they are now in prison." She exclaimed.

"That's great Botan." Yusuke said. He was happy for the news, but not for the timing.

"Koenma wants to do a debriefing and then help with the wedding plans." Botan said.

"Okay, we're on our way." Yusuke said then closed the compact as a portal opened. "Shall we?" He said, motioning for the two to go ahead of him.

a)a)a)a)

Only after Hiei left to talk to Mukuro, did Kurama return. Yusuke could tell the red head was upset about something, but when he tried to confront him, he was put off. The raven haired decided to let it go and concentrate on the wedding, he wanted to see Keiko and find out any news about the baby. Before long the wedding was right around the corner.

End Chapter 8

1) Kage meaning - 'dark image'

2) Kurayami meaning - 'absence of light'

3) Supaimeaning - 'spy'