Disclaimer: YYH is the property of Yoshihiro Togashi. If I were him I would be creating more manga, not writing fanfiction.
A/N:
Okay, so remember how I said I'd have "another chapter out within the next two weeks" three months ago? Yeah, really sorry about that. So since most my audience has probably disappeared by now looks out off the stage to see one or two…nope those are shadows…
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A friend's hand is a wondrous thing
"A magic sword? Let me see, onna."
Asha, reclining in a chair,tossed the sheathed sword to Hiei. "It's Chinese."
"That much I can see. You said there was writing."
"Kurama said there was writing near the hilt."
"Yes. It's an old Chinese dialect. I assume he already told you what it says."
Asha nodded.
"And you've told the others about the engraved prophecy."
"Yes. Koenma thinks it might be able to get rid of Toushi Koi. Kurama does too, but he "can make no guarantee." What do you think, Hiei?"
"I think this sword has magic, but it's old."
"Old as in ancient magic or old as in magic that's wearing away."
"The magic is worn. That may prove to your advantage, though."
"I think I see. It it's worn, it's hard to sense. The demon doesn't sense the magic, I could get close enough to him to do some damage…if this sword could only weaken Him, would a normal sword be able to finish him off?"
"Perhaps."
"Then to kill Toushi Koi, we'd need to have a double attack. Right after the first, the second would need to come. It's a job for two people."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Hiei, you say the magic on this sword is losing its effect. That means there is still magic, but it's weaker than it once was. It could be enough to get under Toushi Koi's defenses, enough so that a regular sword may be able to finish him off. Two attacks. They'd have to be within thousands of a second of each other."
"Toushi Koi looked like he was ready to die of natural cause when you killed him. How could…"
"There's a group of demons that have the power to die then come back to life. Have you ever heard of the phoenix?"
"No."
"It's a creature from Western mythology. When the phoenix dies, it combusts, burning up in flames. Then, it will rise from the ashes, reborn. I remember overhearing R'ki'stuq say once that there was another demon sect that was dying like them. Demons that died and were reborn, like the phoenix. Demons that when they were killed, could come back to life because of their innate nature. But for some reason these demons, when they died, weren't coming back. R'ki'stuq said there was only one left. He had killed all the rest for ultimate power. I think Toushi Koi is that one. He must have killed his fellows with some kind of magic in order to keep them dead."
Hiei and Asha were interrupted by Yusuke. "Well, well. I never thought I'd see you two plotting together. Want to let the rest of us in on it?"
Yusuke stepped into the room, revealing everyone else behind him.
"I'll summarize for you," Asha offered, standing. "Toushi Koi is of a race of demons that dies and then are reborn."
"Like a phoenix," Botan interrupted.
"I keep saying that." She began to pace. "Yes, like a phoenix. Toushi Koi is the only one left. They can only be killed by magic, but the magic sword is old, and its ability to kill the Demon has dwindled. Hiei and I think—well, I'm actually not sure what he thinks yet—that if the magic sword, then a normal sword were used in attacks immediately after each other, that Toushi Koi may be killed."
"That may work," Kurama said.
"Great." She stopped pacing.
"However, Asha, it's a risk to try and attempt it. Can we trust you to not make the same mistake you did last time we fought this demon?"
Asha abruptlyknelt in front of Kurama, who had chosen to occupy the chair that Asha had previously been sitting in. She looked at her hands, neatly folded on her lap. She looked into Kurama's emerald eyes with her own silver. "I swear to you, I will not let anything befall the Tantei that I can control. I swear upon the grave of Arianna, you will come out of a fight with Toushi Koi and the remainder of his cronies alive."
"Then let us begin to plan."
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One week later:
They had assembled in Koenma's office. The Tantei were each in places around the room: Yusuke leaned against Koenma's desk, Kuwabara stood by the door, Hiei perched against the window sill, and Kurama lounged against the wall right next to it. Koenma sat in his chair while Botan took a place behind him. Asha had yet to arrive.
"How long can we wait for her?" Kuwabara asked.
"We can'tnot wait forher."
At last, the doors opened, and Asha walked confidently into the room, accompanied by none other than Genkai.
"What's the old hag doing here?"
"We'll need all the help we can get, Yusuke. I asked Genkai to come along, just in case."
"But we thrashed the demons last time!"
"It isn't the lackeys I'm worried about."
Yusuke silenced.
"You've successfully pin-pointed his location?" Asha asked.
"Yes, I told you that already," Koenma said.
"Just wanted to be sure. Yusuke and Hiei will go through first, then Genkai and Kuwabara, then Kurama and me." She looked each of them, then nodded.
Koenma opened the portal. After the first two duos went through. Asha placed a hand on Kurama's arm before he could follow. He glanced down at her. She was staring at the portal.
"I realize that this isn't really a huge thing for you, the Tantei," she whispered. "But you know, despite the fact that this is what I've been searching for—revenge—for the past century…it means a lot that you're bothering to help."
"Your nervous."
"That's putting it lightly."
"I'll watch your back, if you watch mine."
Asha turned to face him. She smiled. "I'd like that."
They went through the portal together, coming out the other side. The others were impatient.
"What were you doing, Kurama? Kissing the girl?"
"Something like that Kuwabara." Asha's voice dripped sarcasm.
"Remember, we don't know how many demon recruits Toushi Koi has come up with," Yusuke warned.
"I.e. keep a sharp eye and your wits about you. Do what each of you can, but don't try to be everywhere. Stay in the pairs in which you came through the portal, except,"Asha motioned for Hiei and Kurama to trade places. "This is an open camp, not a cave. There'll be places for the demons to run and hide and get reinforcements from. We'll do a three tiered attack. Hiei and I will go first, engaging Toushi Koi, using the element of surprise. ThenGenkai and Kuwabara, and Yusuke and Kurama,come in with brute force. Understood?"
There was a chorus of confirmation.
"Move out." Each pair made their way low to the ground, stepping quietly.
Hiei and Asha came upon the camp without incident. She whispered in her companion's ear and pointed. "There." He nodded, showing Asha he had made eye contact with their target.
"Hiei, before we do this, thanks for helping."
"Helping? I expect I'll be doing all the work." He sped away to set his position.
Asha shook her head. 'A friend is a marvelous thing,' she thought.
She stood, and flipped over poorly constructed tents, roaring as she plummeted to attack her demon.
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A/N:
So very, very sorry for not updating in forever, but now that I'm on holiday, I really will be able to keep my promise of an update in less than a month. (For anyone who cares, my physics grade rocked this term.)