Chapter Six- Confrontation

Keiko savored the human flesh that sat on her lunch plate. It was the day of the trade swap and she looked forward to it. She would be an actual participant as opposed to last time. Demons would propose swaps to her and she would discuss them with Lionel as he would be with her. She chewed another bite; she had been eating flesh since dinner the previous night and knew she couldn't go back to her previous life and food choices. She liked how things were now and knew they would remain this way forever.

Lionel's third eye admired Keiko as he ate. She had adapted quickly to her new lifestyle and it was clear that she liked it. He also admired her outfit: A knee-length red skirt with a matching shirt with a plunging V-neck that gave a modest glimpse of the line between her breasts which were covered completely. The red shade complemented her skin perfectly. She has wonderful fashion sense. She will add some style to our home with our trade swaps. He wiped his mouth and stood, Keiko following suite. "It will soon be time for the swap. Let us retire to our thrones and await our guests.

"Yes, my lord." Keiko followed the taller demon, servants bowing as they passed. Their show of deference and respect filled her with a sense of superiority. When she was a slave, her status was equal to the rest of the staff. It changed after she became a demon like Lionel. It was clear to the staff that Lionel was fond of her, but not in a romantic way. She wasn't feeling love for him, either. He was simply a co-ruler. As she took her seat, she wondered what items the demons would want and what they would offer.

Yusuke looked up at the defended fortress and then turned to his team. All four wore hooded robes and cloths over their lower faces. "How do demon know of what Lionel owns?" he asked.

"A list of his possessions is circulated on the Demon World web and is updated when a swap is concluded," Kurama explained. "These swap meets are held on an irregular basis. The last one was the day after Keiko's abduction."

The team were not the only ones waiting to be admitted. Two other demons were also there. They were holding printouts of Lionel's possessions and looking through the items they had brought. The sound of gates opening drew everyone's attention and the group was allowed in, all six of them. They were guided down a long hallway with paintings, vases, statues, and a rug decorating it. They were led into the throne room through double doors and in that room, two tall demons awaited them on thrones. The team recognized Lionel from the image they had seen on the view screen, but the female next to him was not familiar.

Lionel smiled at all of them. "Welcome, my friends. I look forward to a beneficial trade swap. Now, who wishes to go first?"

One demon with four arms and gray skin stepped forward. "My lord, the list says you have a set of gold jeweled staffs. I would covet them and am willing to trade these swords for them." He pulled out and laid several sheathed swords on the floor. Lionel rose, went over, grabbed one, and unsheathed it. His eyes widened. "These swords are rare. The blades are made of a rare metal and are indestructible. Oh, yes. I would be willing to trade my staffs for these swords." He looked at Keiko who nodded with an impressed expression on her face. "It is agreed." He nodded to a guard who left and returned minutes later with the staffs. The trade was made and the demon left, satisfied with the exchange.

The second demon came forward and knelt before Keiko. "My lady, I believe I have something to interest you. I would like the painting of the previous owner and in exchange I will trade these lovely cloths." He pulled out three rolls of material that took Keiko's breath away. They were undeniably gorgeous and she looked at Lionel who nodded in agreement. He had been hoping someone who take away the painting of his former master before he decided to burn it.

"I accept," she said, unaware of Yusuke's eyes widening at hearing her voice. She nodded to a guard and the trade was made. The demon left and a guard took the cloths off to the tailor.

Yusuke took two steps before gasping in disbelief, "Keiko!?"

Keiko also gasped. "Yusuke?"

The detective removed his disguise and so did the others. He couldn't believe his eyes. He had thought he would be rescuing Keiko; instead she was a demon and was a lady of the fortress.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped.

"I'm here on a case. Koenma said you had been kidnapped."

"Sad to say, it's true," Lionel said. "I had seen the argument you two had and her strength interested me. I took her for my personal slave and, in a short time, I grew fond of her. I asked her if she would like to be a demon and my companion as co-ruler of my home. As you can see, she accepted."

"Keiko, he clearly tricked you," Kuwabara said.

"No, he didn't. I had accepted that I was trapped here and Lionel has been nice to me before I changed." She smiled at him. "We are not engaged or married but we do rule together. I like it here and don't want to leave, especially since I can't be human again."

Yusuke took in Keiko's appearance. She was clearly taller, had horns, three eyes, claws, and a tail. She did make a good demon, but he felt she needed to come home. "Keiko, I can't leave you here. Come with us and we'll find a way to change you back."

"You can leave me here and you will. I love being a demon and I don't want to leave. You can tell my parents I ran away or something." Her eyes flared. "Now leave or we will kill and eat you."

Yusuke stepped back at the threat. "What?" he asked.

"You heard," Lionel spoke up. "You, no doubt, know that I am a flesh-eater and the formula Keiko consumed made her a flesh-eater as well. She began to do so last night. Now, you will leave or we will eat your flesh for dinner."

Yusuke opened his mouth to argue, but Kurama put a hand on his shoulder. "All right," the redhead said. "We will leave." He pulled Yusuke from the room and the fortress, the others behind them.

"Kurama, we can't leave her," Yusuke protested.

"I am afraid that we have to. It is likely the formula also altered her mind if she is now eating human flesh. Her mind would still be altered if we could change her back to human. She would be shunned by humans for her desire to eat flesh. It is best to let her live here."

Yusuke sighed as he saw the logic of Kurama's reasoning. "All right. Let's go back to Koenma and tell him." He led his team away, silently wishing Keiko well with her new life.

Keiko smiled smugly as the quartet left. "About time they got the message," she remarked once they were out of earshot.

"Indeed. It seems Yusuke still considers you a friend."

"I may do the same one day," she said slowly.

Lionel went to the two bags they had left behind. He opened them and peered inside. "They went to great lengths to get inside. These bags contain weapons, gold, and jewels."

Keiko rose and looked also. "Impressive. Let's add them to our list and put them where they belong."

"Of course." Lionel took a bag and Keiko took the other. They left the room to put their new loot away before going to dinner. It was another meal with human flesh and Keiko savored it and reveled it the demon she had become and her life's new status. It is good to be a demon, she thought as she ate. And I will stay one forever.

The End