Two days later the thunderstorm had not shown any signs of letting up. Yato was entirely convinced that there was nothing natural about this storm by now, and Botan and Hoku were surely feeling that way as well.
"I'm going to go scout the surrounding area in an attempt to find out what's happening that is causing this storm. You two stay here and stay hidden, Ash will defend you two from any lesser demons, but anything above B-class will be lethal so don't let yourselves be found while I'm gone," Yato ordered. Botan and Hoku both nodded. Hoku hugged Yato before Yato left, promising that he would be back before night.
Hours later Yato had still found nothing. He was now at the peak of a mountain that overlooked the valley the cave was in. Still, even with this vantage point, he could not see any place of origin where the thunderstorm would be coming from. Yato heard rustling behind him and immediately jumped high into the air. Above him, he saw a demon with dark purple skin and a tall, slender build. The demon punched Yato back into the mountain, sending him a distance into the ground. Yato had managed to block that punch but his forearms ached from the impact. Yato sprung out of the hole he had landed in and saw three opponents standing before him. The slender purple-skinned demon from before, and two demons clad in full body armor wielding large battleaxes. All of them were S-class, and Yato recognized them as members of Mukuro's elite.
"Nice block, that blow was meant to kill-" The slender demon began before Yato slashed at his throat with his sword.
"That attack wouldn't kill a fly," Yato smirked smugly, blocking three slashes from one of the armor-clad demons and bashing them in the face with the hilt of his blade. Yato heard the sound of metal whizzing through the air behind him and backflipped over the assailant, decapitating them while dodging a blow.
Just two left now. Yato blitzed the other armor-clad demon, impaling him through the heart quickly. Those two were lower S-class, Yato had been able to handle them easily. Yato then turned to the purple demon who launched himself at him. Yato blocked a punch and was sent flying out over the valley, but before he landed the demon was behind him and launched him back into the mountain. Yato looked up in time to dodge a kick from the demon and slashed at his leg, but the demon dodged in time. The two made their way up the mountain at incredible speeds while fighting, neither landing any blows on the other. Once they reached the peak of the mountain, Yato turned his blade away from the demon and towards the peak of the mountain itself, cutting the peak clean off the rest of the mountain. Yato then kicked it at the purple demon, who had moved further down the mountain to avoid being caught in the slash. The demon launched a flurry of punches at the chunk of land, turning it into rubble and dust. Yato used this as a distraction to get behind the demon, grabbing him by his neck and flinging him out over the valley, before leaping after him and landing on top of his chest in mid-air. Yato slammed the man down into the ground before falling himself, stabbing the demon in the chest as he touched down on the ground, despite the demon trying to raise his guard.
The thunderstorm abruptly stopped and Yato looked at the sky, no clouds were visible anymore. Yato immediately began heading back to the cave at full speed, getting there in a matter of seconds. What he saw made him see red. There were 7 demons that he recognized as being members of Mukuro's elite there. Botan, Hoku, and Ash were nowhere to be seen.
"Where are they," Yato did not ask this question as if it were a question. He stated it as if he was ordering them to respond. Yato gripped his blade so hard that his fingers began to go numb.
"The ferry-girl was a snack, and the little demon boy and his dog? We had a little game with them, to see how far we could fling their corpses," One of the demons responded. Yato immediately knew he was bluffing, these demons were not mindless brutes like that.
"Fine then, I'll just kill you all and find them myself," Yato dashed into the middle of the group, slashing in a full circle around him. He cleaved two demons entirely in half, but the others all managed to dodge. Five left. Yato was knocked to his knees by a blow from behind, and a spear impaled him through the chest. Yato had managed to redirect the blow so that it avoided his heart, and gripped the spear with one hand. He slashed out with a flurry of blows, turning the demon that had stabbed him into mincemeat. Yato snapped the spear, keeping part of it in him so that it would block the bleeding. Yato spun around and parried a blow from a demon wielding a sword, before slashing the demon across his stomach then landing a finishing blow on his neck. Three left. One demon raised his hand towards Yato and a moment later water formed from the air and slammed into Yato, shooting him far out of the cave. Yato's head rang and he struggled to gather his bearings before he narrowly dodged another blast of water. Yato sheathed his blade and got into a low stance. Yato shut his eyes briefly before opening them and springing back into the cave, launching a flurry of strikes that killed the water demon and destroyed the cave. The last two had managed to avoid or block any fatal strikes.
One demon wielded a glaive. Said demon spun the glaive around before swiping it at Yato, who blocked it with his blade. Yato ran towards the demon with the glaive, intending to get past her effective range. The demon pulled back the glaive with incredible speed and landed a deep cut across Yato's shoulder. Yato winced but kept moving forward through the pain, stabbing the demon and launching both of them out of the cave. She smiled as Yato knelt over her, sword still in her stomach. Yato was shocked at this until he heard movement behind him, narrowly dodging a strike from the last demon that cleaved the glaive demon clean in half, and likely would've done the same to Yato.
"You're the last one, c'mon let's dance," Yato pointed his blade at the demon, who wielded a chain with an axe blade at the end. The demon snarled at Yato and began to spin his chain, sending a wave of blows at Yato. Yato parried them all, advancing on the demon.
"You're a coward who watched your allies die. I thought you'd be the strongest because you're the last one left, but you're the weakest aren't you," Yato reached the demon and raised both of his hands above his head, gripping his sword. The demon screamed at Yato and yelled some unintelligible insults, before slamming the axe blade into Yato's stomach. Yato faltered for a moment before screaming in rage and bringing his blade down, cutting the demon in half. Yato fell to his knees, covered in blood, both his own and that of the demons. His heart was pounding but the only thing on his mind was finding Botan and Hoku and Ash.
Yato struggled to his feet and took a step towards where the cave was, stopping when a bolt of lighting abruptly struck right behind him. Yato turned around and saw a demon standing where the lighting had struck. He immediately recognized the demon as Rai, the strongest of Mukuro's 77 elite warriors.
"Just one more huh," Yato drew his blade and held it in both hands. His grip was weak as the wounds he had suffered began to catch up with him, adrenaline dying down.
"Oh please, you're in no position to take me on, just surrender and make this easy," Rai taunted Yato. Yato spat at Rai and lunged at him, but Rai disappeared and struck Yato on the back of his head, knocking him down before kicking his head and knocking him out.
To say that Botan was panicked would be an understatement. While Yato had been gone, a powerful lighting demon had come to the cave and forcefully taken Botan, Hoku, and Ash. She did not know where Hoku and Ash were now. They had all been taken to Mukuro's palace before being split up. Botan had been taken to a room and told that she would be released soon enough before she had been locked up there. Botan wasn't scared for herself, she was scared for Yato, Hoku, and Ash.
Botan heard a young voice saying something in the room next to her, and a moment later the wall was blown open by a shape that she recognized to be Ash.
"Good boy, Ash!" Hoku walked into the room right behind Ash, smiling, "There you are Botan! C'mon, let's get out of here!"
Botan's face lit up upon seeing Hoku and Ash and she threw her arms around the demon child.
"Oh I'm so glad that you're safe, how did you get here?" Botan asked.
"I had Ash follow your scent! Though it took a bit because he also picked up on the scent of another ferry-girl!" Hoku said, hugging Botan.
"Really? Where? We need to go there, I need to contact Koenma and tell him about what's happened," Botan said.
"O-ok, Ash take us there!" Hoku exclaimed, and Ash barked in response. Botan wondered where the guards were but figured that it was a big castle and watching a child demon and his dog probably weren't high on their list of priorities. Botan followed as Ash led them through various halls until they reached a room that seemed unoccupied.
"Is this it?" Botan asked.
"Yep! Ash says it is!" Hoku exclaimed as Ash barked and knocked down the door. Botan entered and looked around. She needed to find a communication mirror, she had to let Koenma know that she was safe and let him know what was happening. She looked through the drawers of the room, feeling sorry for whichever ferry-girl had been visiting here, as Botan was leaving their room in a messy state. Botan found a communication mirror in a nightstand next to the bed and was about to call Koenma when Ash barked.
"Ash says that he smells Yato nearby! He's in the castle! Ash also says he smells a lot of blood on him, c'mon Botan we have to find him!" Hoku exclaimed.
"We have to think this through, if they've captured Yato we can't just go running for him or we'll be caught too and he'll be doomed, but what can I do…" Botan ran her hands through her hair, stressed before an idea popped into her mind. Botan immediately called Koenma and he answered quickly.
"Botan!? Why are you calling me from Hinageshi's spare mirror? Where the hell were you? How did you end up in Mukuro's castle?" Koenma looked utterly shocked, and Botan's heart warmed upon realizing that the room had been occupied by Hinageshi. If she had to guess, her friend had probably demanded she be allowed to help look for Botan.
"I can explain later, but right now I need you to tell Mukuro that she absolutely can not kill Yato- I mean the former spirit detective. I'll explain why later but just make it happen!" Botan exclaimed.
"Even if I wanted to do that I couldn't! After the border patrol treaty I have no right to order around Mukuro, she certainly wouldn't listen to me!" Koenma responded.
"Well, you owe it to him to at least try! He's the only reason I'm not dead!" Botan was getting louder now, "Surely there's something you could use to barter with Mukuro?"
"I… I suppose there's something I could try, but it's a longshot…" Koenma relented.
"Please at least try," Botan begged. Koenma nodded and hung up, Botan looked at Hoku who said nothing, and the two waited anxiously for what felt like ages.
Hoku kept assuring Botan that according to Ash, Yato's scent was still that of a living person, and for a time the two were kept unbothered in the room. A familiar figure approached the room and Botan's face lit up.
"Hinageshi! It's so good to see you!" Botan hugged the younger ferry-girl.
"It's great to see you as well Botan! How did you end up here? And are you behind Enki ordering that your kidnapper be handed over to Koenma alive?" Hinageshi questioned. Botan felt a wave of relief wash over her.
"I- I am yeah. It's complicated," Botan said.
"You've made Mukuro furious, and you may have cost me my rematch. You better have a good reason for all of this," A familiar angry voice sounded out, Hiei approaching the pair.
"Hey, she had a very good reason! Yato is super nice and you guys are all just mean," Hoku stuck his tongue out at Hiei. Hiei snarled at the boy, but Hoku showed no fear.
"Yato has been very good to Hoku and me… and it's… things are more complicated than they seem. Now if possible I would very much like to see him," Botan said. Hoku nodded.
"I… I think we can arrange that. We're transferring him to the prisons in Spirit World as soon as we can, which means that you'll be coming back home and… well you can see him in the prison," Hinageshi said.
"I need to see him now, and Hoku will be coming along with us, Ash too," Botan said.
"Ash?" Hinageshi inquired.
"The dog," Botan responded.
"I… I'm sure Koenma can arrange that for you," Hinageshi stated.
"If he can't then I'll just remain at Genkai's temple with them, I can work from there," Botan stated firmly, "But I won't leave them."
Hoku looked like he was about to tear up at this and he hugged Botan, thanking her profusely. Botan hugged back.
Yato was held to a wall by chains and barriers made of demon energy. Before him stood both Yomi and Mukuro, a sight that would terrify just about anyone.
"So, why have you two not killed me yet? You will get no information out of me about anything," Yato proclaimed.
"If I had it my way, I would tear you limb from limb, but king Enki has demanded that you be handed over to Koenma alive, and even we can not defy the Enki thanks to the laws of the tournament. If I had to guess, the ferry-girl found some way to barter for your life," Mukuro stated, "Oh well if you're no longer a threat to me then I suppose my interest will wane."
"So do you plan to release me from these chains then? I'd very much like to see my friends and make sure that they are unharmed," Yato said.
"You will see them when you are transferred to Spirit World. Now shut up. And don't bother trying to escape. We both know that those chains can't hold you, but these barriers would do the job in your current state," Mukuro advised condescendingly. Yato scoffed and the two kings left.
Yato waited for what felt like ages, but eventually, a familiar short figure came to talk to him.
"You will be sent to the brat now. Don't you think for a second that this means I won't get my rematch. We will battle with our full powers against each other one day. In fact, by all means, do try to escape while being transported, I'd love to put you down," Hiei grinned maliciously at Yato, who stared back at him.
Yato went to make a snide remark before he was cut off by a familiar voice.
"C'mon Hiei, be a bit nicer. I'm sure he won't try to escape, right Yato?" Yato looked up and saw Botan, followed by Hoku and Ash. Botan was carrying something in her left hand, and when Yato looked to see what it was he realized that it was his sword. A sense of relief washed over him, he hated being separated from his blade, but if Botan was the one who had it then he supposed it was all right.
"Hmph, you have 10 minutes with him, then we move him," Hiei stated before turning around and moving to stand at a distance that left him within earshot, but out of sight. Immediately Hoku and Botan rushed over and nearly tackled Yato with their hugs, and when Ash came and flopped on top of them, he actually was tackled. Still, Yato could not find himself at all annoyed by this, instead, he just found himself smiling.
"I am glad to see that you are all safe. When I came back and saw demons in the cave… I feared the worst," Yato had felt more enraged at that moment than he had at any other point in his life. It was almost confusing how quickly these 3 had become so important in his life.
"We feared the worst about you as well. And it almost did end up the worst! We were just lucky that Koenma had sent a ferry-girl here to help with the search for me," Botan responded.
"I heard that you bargained with Koenma to save my life Botan. Thank you," Yato stated.
"I couldn't have done it without help from Hoku and Ash," Botan said. Yato looked at the boy and his dog.
"Thank you both as well," Yato smiled, "I owe you all a debt I can never repay."
"It's nothing really… though if you really want to thank me… all I ask is that you give Koenma a chance. To explain himself," Botan sounded nervous as she spoke.
"I… I suppose I can do that, if that's what you wish," Before meeting the ferry-girl, Yato would've never even considered such a thing. But she had saved his life, and she had become important to him. If it was her request, he supposed he could at least give Koenma a chance to explain himself.
"Thank you," Botan smiled. Hoku seemed content at seeing Botan get what she wanted.
Before anything else could be said, Hiei came back into the cell, mildly surprised to see Yato smothered beneath Botan, the demon child, and the hound.
"Time's up, get off of the prisoner so that we can escort him to the brat," Hiei ordered. Botan and the others got off of Yato, Botan going to leave his sword with him before Hiei stopped her. "Absolutely not. You will not give the prisoner his weapon."
"But-" Botan began before Yato cut her off.
"It's fine Botan. You can keep it until this is over," Yato stated.
Botan nodded and backed up as Hiei jerked Yato to his feet.
As they exited the castle, Hinageshi joined them, having no reason to stay in Mukuro's castle now that they had found Botan. Yato had no intention of trying to escape, he had promised Botan that he would give Koenma a chance to explain himself, and he intended to do that. He still doubted that anything Koenma could say would change centuries of his hatred.
The next chapter will finally wrap up the first arc! I hope you've all been enjoying the story so far!