Chapter 6: Declarations
"Will you quit following us!" yelled Raizen for the fifth time that day. It had been two days since Kurohi had joined their group and Rain was leading them out of Hiei's territory and towards Yomi's
"I am not following you," said Kurohi, for the fifth time that day. "You are simply going the same direction as I am."
"You know, that line is getting old!" yelled Raizen, turning the chimera and glared at him. Kurohi just looked at the Spirit apparition with a cool expression.
"So is yours," said Kurohi.
"All right, you two, stop it," said Rain. "You've been at it for two days. Obviously he's coming with us."
"Why thank you for inviting me, love," said Kurohi with a smile. Rain felt her internal fire heat up.
"Call me that again and I'll introduce you to my pet," she growled holding up her bandaged fist. Kurohi blink at her in confusion.
"Your fist is your pet?" he asked.
Rain looked in surprise then turned when she heard Hina giggle. "It's not funny!" she yelled at her cousin.
"Yes it is," said Hina.
Rain growled again. "Let's go," she said, and they walked on. 'Inari, give me strength.'
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They had entered Yomi's territory days before and now stood looking at the demon Lord's castle. The vast city looked difficult to navigate, but Rain knew every way to the castle without being seen.
"Okay, she said, "Everybody know the plan?" All nodded. "Good. We don't need no foul ups. Everybody get some rest and wait for night."
The group split and began to make camp. Somewhere during setting up the bed rolls and starting the fire Kurohi disappeared.
"I told you he couldn't be trusted," said Raizen shaking a finger at Rain. "This is why males should be leaders!"
"Show me a male and I'll follow him!" yelled Rain. Raizen growled and raised a fist.
"Raizen, you don't hit females," said Tama.
"Stay out of this, Tama," yelled Raizen.
"Raizen, calm down," said Hina. "I'm sure there's an explanation…"
"There is," said Kurohi appearing from the foliage, dragging three bodies with him. "I caught some stragglers."
And he threw the three bodies on the ground, instantly recognized by the rest of the group.
"Megumi!" cried Raizen in surprise.
"Yukei! Shiori!" yelled Rain.
"You know them," asked Kurohi in confusion.
"That's my sister!" yelled Raizen pointing at Megumi.
"And my sister and brother," said Rain. She went over and cut them loose. All three instantly looked away. "You followed us!"
"We wanted to find them too!" said Yukei and Shiori.
"I told you to stay behind and watch over Mom!" yelled Raizen. Megumi hung her head.
"I wanted to help," she said. Then she looked up with determination. "He's my father too!"
"Now that they're here, what do we do with them," asked Hina.
"Well, we can't send them back," said Tama.
"But we can't send them forward either," said Raizen.
"We want to help!" voiced all three.
"Okay," said Kurohi, "can someone tell me what's going on?"
"Obviously our younger siblings decided to come along," said Rain.
"But we want to help Okaasan and Otousan!" cried Shiori before Rain and Hina could cover her mouth. Kurohi looked at them with a surprised expression.
"What did she say," he asked.
"Nice going, Shiori," hissed Raizen at the young youko. Her ears drooped at the tone in his voice. Rain smacked Raizen over his head.
"Itai! Oi!" he cried glaring at her.
"Don't you use that tone of voice with my sister!" she yelled.
"Who are you guys," asked Kurohi.
Every looked at each other with worried expressions.
"Crap on a stick," said Raizen.
"Well, can't go back now," said Yukei scratching his head.
"Might as well tell him," said Hina and turned to Kurohi.
"The Urameshi kids!" said Megumi and Raizen proudly.
"Kuwabara kids!"
"And the children of Youko Kurama and Jaganshi Hiei."
Kurohi looked at them in surprise. "You're…. Youko Kurama's kids?"
"And proud of it!" said the three siblings.
"And your parents are…."
"Missing," said Raizen. "And if you so much as scratch a hair on their heads…."
Kurohi waved him off. "No! No, I don't want to hurt Kurama. I want to meet him."
"Meet him?" asked Hina.
Kurohi nodded. "Yeah. My father used to talk all about him. They were old partners."
"Who's your father," asked Shiori.
Kurohi looked away. "I don't like talking about him much. He died a long time ago."
Rain, not knowing what else to do, walked up to Kurohi and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," she said. Kurohi gave her a soft smile.
"It's all right," he said. "I'm glad I knew him, and I wanted to meet the man he considered his best friend."
Rain nodded and they set up camp for the night.
TBC