As promised, I am updating after three reviews, and also as promised, this chapter is much longer! So thanks to the three reviewers, I'm glad you like my story.
Disclaimer: I do not own YYH. The end.
Remember, three reviews till I update!
CHAPTER SEVEN – A NEW FAMILY
Catalyn awoke the next morning after Botan gently shook her shoulders multiple times. "Rise and shine, Catalyn!" she exclaimed as she opened one bleary eye. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up in the lame excuse for a tent, her head touching the top flap. Her head had a slight pound to it. She sat there for a few minutes, trying to figure out why. Her body felt refreshed enough, so it wasn't from lack of sleep, but she was a tad sore. Ah, she realized. Yeah. Hiei. He hit me with the butt of his sword. Just like him, she added bitterly. But she figured that as long as she kept herself occupied, she'd be able to ignore the headache.
When Catalyn pushed aside the tent's flap to step into the bright sunlight of a new day, she noticed with a groan that everyone else was already ready and toasting bread over the fire. She hated being the last one ready back at the martial arts school, so she had made a habit of always being the first one up. She didn't seem to be getting off to the same kind of start here, even though she felt a strange excitement as to what lay ahead.
"Morning," mumbled Yusuke and Kuwabara through full mouths; Kurama swallowed his bite before echoing them. Catalyn nodded and made the same reply. She looked at Hiei and saw, much to her expectations, that he was frowning at her again. She glared at him, grabbed some bread, and viciously speared it with a stick to toast over the fire.
"Okay, guys!" Botan exclaimed when the remains of their breakfast had been cleaned up. Only she, Catalyn, and Kurama had taken part in that chore. Hiei was back in his tree, and Kuwabara was getting his head handed to him by none other than Yusuke. "Today we tackle the Ten!"
Yusuke instantly stopped pummelling Kuwabara and began marching ahead, his fist in the air. "Let's kick some demon butt!" he yelled. "Onward, troops! Follow me!"
Everyone followed Yusuke, but following his statement another brawl commenced between him and Kuwabara over whether or not Yusuke was acting like an army leader. Catalyn sighed and her ears folded slightly in an attempt to block out the noise. When that didn't work, she closed her eyes and made sure her sense of smell kept her on track.
When they reached the "great wall of demons" as Kuwabara dubbed it, the argument was long over, relieving Catalyn. But his idiocy still bugged her.
"It's not that big," she said monotonously, just to see if she could annoy him.
"Not that big?" Kuwabara echoed. "Kee-ripes! You must be insane! Hey – where are you going?"
For Catalyn had already backed away until she was far in the distance. She looked the wall up and down. It was much larger during the night than it was when the sun was shining. She could get this thing hands down.
"What do you think you're doing?" Yusuke yelled back.
Kurama knew instantly. "She's going to try to run up the wall."
"But that's insane!" Yusuke yelled. "There's no way she can do this – we'll have to think of a better idea – like blowing it up!"
"Oh, yes, brilliant idea, Yusuke!" Catalyn screamed at him. "Watch and learn, baka!"
With a triumphant cry, she picked up speed and charged for the wall, and had the thing beat in five seconds flat. She waved down at the boys. "Beat that!" she called to them. Kuwabara and Yusuke's dropped jaws were all she could see from that height. She was sure Kurama and Botan would be impressed, and she could tell without looking that Hiei was…well, his usual expressionless self.
"Anyone up there?" Botan asked.
Catalyn surveyed the demon village below. "Not a single demon in sight up here, and just a few guards around the castle," she replied. Then she waited for a reply. It didn't come for another five minutes. The guys were busy talking to each other. Though unable to hear their mutters, Catalyn knew exactly what they were discussing. Obviously none of them were able to beat the wall like she had. And you called me weak, Hiei, she thought with immense satisfaction in knowing she had surpassed him at something.
"Hey, Catalyn!" Yusuke finally called. "Can you get to the other side and open the gates for us?"
Her grin of triumph grew despite her attempt to contain it. "Give me a minute," she called back, and leaped over the wall to the demon village awaiting the other side. However, she had overlooked five demons at the bottom. As she gathered speed, she concentrated fire at her foot and met the first demon's head, the impact instantly killing him and sending vibrations through her leg. She kicked out into the splits, beheading two more. She flipped over to land on her hands, and with both feet flaming, she twirled, striking the two remaining demons in the necks and killing them as well. She picked herself up, wiping off a speck of blood from her shirt. Not even a close challenge, she thought almost wistfully.
She looked around, her ears and nose trying to pick up any other hiding guards, but she found none. Instead, what she did see was a green button on what seemed like a small control stand that she knew controlled the gates. Her finger was brushing against the button when she stopped. Why should I help them get through? Catalyn wondered suddenly. Hiei only thinks I'll get in the way, but if he couldn't get up like I did, then that would teach him to eat his words… The bitter thoughts continued. Should I really help them out? Or should I take on the Ten by myself, and prove to them – especially Hiei – that I'm strong enough?
She tried to walk away, but her legs felt like lead. She couldn't bring herself to abandon the boys and Botan. It just wasn't right, and it wasn't the way she'd been taught. She pushed the button.
There was a large moan, and the gates creaked open. She heard an excited, almost girl-ish squeal from the other side that didn't seem to come from Botan, but her mind vaguely thought of Kuwabara and she practically doubled over laughing. Anyways, they joined her on the inside and she pressed the button again. The gates closed behind them with a thud.
"Good job, Catalyn," Botan said, patting her on the back.
Kuwabara jumped in on the praise too. "Yeah, that was awesome! I'd go on a date with you anytime!"
"Well I wouldn't, Kuwabaka," she muttered, triggering sniggers from Yusuke.
"As if anyone would go on a date with him!" he laughed. "Not even Yukina would –"
"Shut up about Yukina!" Kuwabara yelled, his face beet red. "The power of love has brought us together! I don't care what you say; it's destiny!"
As Yusuke continued to laugh at him, Catalyn noticed Hiei's expression towards Kuwabara. It was an expression of utmost loathing and she smelled the bloodlust so strong it almost made her sneeze. I wonder why he seems so angry, she wondered.
She had no time to ponder on the issue, for Yusuke had clapped a hand on her shoulder and was commenting on how they all shared a common hobby (teasing Kuwabara) and he was glad she enjoyed it too. She felt a vein pulse in her temple. She didn't like that hand on her shoulder. Then he went on saying that she would make a great permanent member of the team, which only burst her bubble. She punched him in the cheek.
"I'm not here to be a part of your team!" she snapped. "How many times must I remind you? As soon as I find Kitkit, I'm outta here, and I hope I never see any of you again. Now let's go, we're wasting time." And she turned and continued down the main street that would lead directly to the castle, her back to the boys. She was in slight awe with what she had just done, but to turn around and apologize would make her feel stupid, so she took to blocking out their comments as they caught up with her.
But she couldn't ignore Kurama's comment: "We all know you really didn't mean that."
Or Hiei's: "Yeah, right. She can't wait to leave and it'll be good riddance when she does."
What surprised her was that she had just been thinking along those lines when Hiei had spoken those words. She didn't realize that she and Hiei did think quite alike, though not in any good way. But Kurama was a bit like that as well. He had a funny way of knowing how people felt, as she had noticed whenever she chatted with him while she was bedridden.
As Catalyn walked down the street, her thoughts were interrupted by the startling images all around her. They were walking down the main cobblestone street lined with brick mansions, and to the left of the houses was a large chain of mountains and caves, while to the left there was a forest and a lake. At the end of the street stood the castle of the Ten, no doubt, and probably about ten stories high. The large outer wall surrounded them all. It was a very strange village. But it did have a sort of homey feel to it, as if it was a safe haven for all kinds of demons, even a half-breed like herself.
Botan pointed at the castle. "That's where we're heading," she said, though it was obvious everyone had figured this out by now. "There are ten floors, one for each of the Ten, I think."
The castle loomed closer and closer. Suddenly, two demon children ran up. They both looked human enough, but had long, white-blonde hair, brilliant blue eyes, and in place of human ears, they had cat ears and also a tail, just like Catalyn did. She could also sense powers of thunder and lightning from them. They were almost identical, but there were a few hints that indicated that they were brother and sister.
"What are you doing here?" the boy asked in the voice of an eight-year-old.
"Where are you going?" the girl asked in a voice slightly higher than her brother.
Botan answered with a funny sort of smile, "Oh, we're just heading towards the castle!"
"To kick the butts of the demons inside," added Yusuke.
Catalyn couldn't believe his attitude. She elbowed him hard in the side. "You don't just go around telling people about your mission!" she hissed. "Now you'll upset the demons!"
But to her surprise, the demons' innocent, curious faces broke out into smiles.
"Oh, goodie!" the girl exclaimed.
"Please get rid of them for us!" the boy said.
Catalyn stared at them. "You actually…want us to go through with that?"
The girl nodded her head vigorously. "The Ten did give us a home when our cat demon tribe exiled us for being able to control storms," the boy explained, "but we are still treated a bit like slaves."
"We don't like it at all!" the girl piped. "So will you free us?"
Catalyn grinned. "Of course we will!" she said. Everyone else nodded. Then, to the amazement of everyone (even including Hiei), the girl demon ran up to Catalyn and hugged her. At first, she didn't really know how to react. All she could do was pat the demon awkwardly on the head between the ears.
The girl demon looked up at Catalyn. "You're a cat demon, just like us, aren't you?" she asked.
Catalyn shrugged. "Well, kind of," she said. "I'm also part human, and part fire demon." She didn't feel ashamed when she said this, for the first time ever, and it made her wonder why. Was it because she felt so sympathetic towards the young demons, or maybe because she felt connected to them?
"Really? Part fire, too?" the boy asked, his eyes round and wide. When she nodded, he exclaimed, "Wicked!"
Then the boy and girl remembered to introduce themselves. Jet was the boy, and the girl's name was Mari (MAW-ree – maw rhymes with the caw a crow makes). Mari still hadn't let go of her, and Jet suddenly joined in too. Then, in unison, they asked, "Will you be our older sister?" Everyone gasped in surprise (except for Hiei, but his eyes did widen a bit). "And can we come with you?"
Catalyn instantly recovered from her shock when she heard the second question. "Absolutely not," she said firmly. "It'll be way too dangerous for you if you come with us."
They stared up at her with wide, pleading eyes. "PLEASE?"
Catalyn thought for a suitable response. "If I'm your big sister," she said slowly, "then I have to do what I think is best for you…"
"So you will be our big sister?" Mari demanded.
Catalyn nodded and they cheered. "So you have to take us with you!" Jet insisted.
She sighed and shook her head. "As your big sister, I have to protect you and make sure nothing bad can happen to you. The safest thing is for you two to stay here."
They started to whine, and Mari got tears in her eyes. Catalyn looked frantically at the gang to help her. Yusuke and Kurama were both only children. Kuwabara's sister was older than him. "As a spirit guide, I don't know too much about all the human family stuff," Botan stammered. And as for Hiei, she didn't expect help from him anyways.
But to her utter shock, Hiei spoke: "You would do well to listen to her, unless you harbour a death wish. You should stay out of trouble, because if anything were to happen to you, she would never forgive herself. Wait here for her like good little siblings. We're going now." And he continued down the streets towards the castle without another word.
"Wait up, Hiei," said Yusuke and Kuwabara, hurrying to catch up with him.
"Come on, Catalyn, let's go," Kurama said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
She was still in shock from Hiei's statement. She never knew he could actually think like that, like an actual sibling would. And his words had actually sunk in.
"Don't leave us alone again!" Jet and Mari cried, tears pouring down their cheeks.
"I'll stay with them, if you like," Botan said. "I can still give you guy information through these." She handed Catalyn a bright purple kind of walkie-talkie, while pocketing a second. "Keep in touch!" she added with a wink.
"Thanks, Botan," Catalyn said. She turned to Jet and Mari. "I promise I'll come back, so wait for me, okay?" They nodded. "And be good to Botan." Then she and Kurama jogged down the path to catch up with the others.
Along the way, she was struck by a sudden thought. "Hey, Kurama, does Hiei have a sister? I mean, it would explain what he said earlier."
Kurama nodded. "Her name is Yukina, and they are twins, but they've been separated since birth and she doesn't know Hiei's her brother, nor does he want any of us telling her. And Kuwabara doesn't know, and it would be wise not to tell him."
Catalyn suddenly had a flashback to when Yukina had been mentioned in a previous conversation, and where she'd noticed an angry expression in Hiei. "That explains it," she muttered to herself, but there still was more she didn't know. "But why won't he tell her?"
"Do you know that, in order to obtain the Jagan Eye, Hiei had to make a strict deal?" Kurama asked. She remained silent to let him explain. "He swore that once he found her with it, he would not tell her who he was."
"Is that really worth it?" Catalyn mused, more to herself.
Kurama answered her anyways. "If something happened to Yukina one day and he didn't know about it, he would hate himself forever."
Wow, Catalyn thought as they reached the others. So Hiei does have a heart after all
They reached the castle's entrance. "We're here!" Yusuke called loudly, and he kicked open the doors.