Chapter 6

Finding Help for Battle

With success of appearing in the Human World Jin and Touya came out of the woods, seeing it was in the middle of the night on Earth.

"Do yu think leavin' her was a good idea Touya?" Jin asked quietly, walking down the empty street into the city.

"Yes, you never know where demons from that place are looking for her, now be quiet!" he scolded softly, looking around for Yusuke's apartment, then suddenly ran up the nearest stairs to his apartment. Jin went the other way to Kuwabara's.

Yusuke heard a quiet pounding sound on his window and yawned sleepily, nearly screaming when he saw Touya outside. He opened the window and closed it quietly so his mother wouldn't hear.

"What do you want Touya, this better be good," Yusuke yawned, sounding annoyed.

"Get dressed and come with me, we've got a problem back in Spirit World," was all Touya said before opening the window again and jumping out. Yusuke groaned and went into the living room to tell his mother he was going with a friend to the mountains and would be back in a week or so.

Yusuke pulled his hood over his messed up hair as he saw Touya waiting for him, then they went to Kurama's place to tell him the same thing.

Kuwabara jumped out of his bed to see Jin floating in front of the window and let him in, hoping Shizuru was still asleep.

"We've got lots of wiggles down in Spirit Worl'," Jin whispered, hoping the idiot would understand.

"What kind of problem, does it involve my love Yukina?" he asked nervously. Jin sighed to see that he did understand, but got the wrong idea as always.

"Come wit' me an' you'll foind out," he instructed, flying out the window to wait for him. But for once, Kuwabara was ready to go in a second, and Jin thought he'd have to wait another hundred years before he was ready.

Touya and Yusuke snuck through the unlocked back door of Kurama's place and softly went up the stairs to Kurama's room, hoping his mother wouldn't catch them.

Yusuke opened the door and Touya closed it softly, and then walked to the bed to wake him up by shaking him gently. The fox was a bit drowsy but sat up and asked them what was going on.

"There's a problem in Spirit World and they need our help, that's all he told me. Now come on, we have to leave now!" Yusuke hissed quietly, and Kurama sighed, telling them he'd be right back.

The two had to wait only ten minutes when Kurama returned and started getting ready, then they were off in a five minutes, hoping Hiei would show up as well, since he didn't live on Earth after all.

Once Yusuke, Touya and Kurama reached the woods outside, they saw Jin, Kuwabara and even Hiei waiting for them. They got together and the two demons told them what was needed to.

"Some time ago, the Netherworld mysteriously started invading Spirit World and they built a place called Black Cross Fortress and they keep different kinds of demons as slaves. Koenma and the other demons who escape are now in hiding and are hoping to come up with a plan to defeat the Netherworld demons."

"Just last night, we received a message from one of the guards from the fortress telling of a second dark tournament, but this time each team needs seven fighters to compete and we needed four fighters fast."

"But who's the other fighter, if he or she with you?" Kuwabara asked, wondering if the other fighter was a girl and if she was hot. "She's back at Spirit World waiting for us, she's…a Night Maiden," Touya explained.

"What the heck is a Night Maiden, I'm clueless here," Yusuke said suddenly, breaking the long silence. Hiei sighed and turned to him, having a glare as always.

"If you must know, a Night Maiden was known to be the most powerful demon in the world…they were quiet but ruthless demons who showed no mercy when harmed or in danger. They have extended claws to tear enemies apart, and other powers that are unknown to Spirit World. They are a very rare race now, and from what I've heard…there's probably only a hundred or so left," he explained, turning away from Yusuke in annoyance.

"Was she a slave in the fortress, and how did she come across you two?" Kurama asked curiously, and Jin stepped up.

"I knew her since I was a lad, eight 'undred years ago," he began, not really wanting to tell them what so far. "But Touya foun' her in the woods next t' our dojo. She's a good fighter oh yes, she killed Ryshio aft'r all."

The four were shocked of what the wind demon said, but kept their cool and the long silence came again, until Jin got annoyed and started walking to the portal.

"Let' go already, we con' keep her waitin'!" he shouted at them, and they all followed the two demons back to the dojo.

Jin and Touya led the four allies to where a figure in a dark cape, the hood covering it's face was waiting for them, not saying a thing.

"Meet our other fighter, the Night Maiden," Jin said walking over to the figure and talking to her quietly, but the fighter never said a thing.

The wind demon and the figure walked forward to Yusuke and the others, the figure bowing before them like a servant would to a king.

"Well, say something already!" Kuwabara shouted, but jumped back when the figure extended its claws and almost attacked him, but Jin grabbed its arm and shook his head. "They no' enemies, shew 'hem yer face."

The four could tell the figure was afraid but dangerous, but the figure took off the hood and stared at them in fear…her claws going back into her hand.

"WOAH, SHE'S…A BABE!" Kuwabara shouted, running to her and saying stupid things, Loreena flung him over shoulder then faced the others, still afraid.

Yusuke, Kurama and Hiei looked at her back, not sure what to say when Kurama walked forward and extended his hand. "Nice to meet you, my name is Kurama," he said gently, his eyes kind and caring.

Loreena didn't know what to do at first, but took his hand and shook it quickly then stepped back. Kurama was confused, and then Touya came up in front of them and explained.

"The collar on her neck prevents her from speaking, we can't find a way to get it off though," he told them, yawning then told them all goodnight then headed for him room.

"I think I might know how to get it off, but I'll have to see if it works…everyone stand back," Kurama said quietly, taking a rose from his hair then it fused into a whip.

Loreena stood her ground, the muscles in her hands tense and ready to strike at any time, but his eyes assured her she wouldn't be hurt.

"Stay still and don't be scared, I won't kill you," he said to her calmly, standing behind her and concentrated on his power. He felt his true power emerge into his whip and he lashed it at the collar and it snapped off instantly, falling to the ground.

"Genius Kurama," Hiei commented lazily from the window, sitting on a thick tree branch outside.

But Kurama suddenly grunted as the power inside the collar attacked him, eating at his power and soul. His whip disappeared as the power became fiercer, but it didn't last long when Loreena used a small attack and it faded away. She walked over to him and held out her hand, helping him up but kept coughing.

"Thanks…for…removing…it," she whispered between hard coughs, her throat dry and burning for a drink. "Finally…I'm…free. But…not for…long."

"What do you mean for now?" Kuwabara asked. She glared at him, but coughed and fell to her knees. "Spell…cannot…fade…," she tried to say the rest, but managed to after a hard cough, blood dripping down her mouth. "Until…that…man…is…gone!" She coughed again, and more blood splattered out then fell unconscious.

Jin came out from his room, shutting the door softly, and then went back downstairs to where Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama were waiting…Hiei had fallen asleep.

"She must've had it rough, wonder how bad it was for her," Kuwabara thought, turning to Jin who stood beside Yusuke and Kurama.

"She had it bad Kuwabara, I've seen her scars no' and then," Jin said sadly, all of them sitting down the long green looking couch. "She 'as twu 'undred crosses burned into her back, and oh those wiggles look bad. I could tell she had it ba' whoile she was with those bastards."

"Will she okay though, we need a good fighter to fight in this so called tournament?" Yusuke asked, stretching his tired arms. Jin nodded and showed them to their rooms for the night, when Kurama caught up the wind demon before he went into his room.

"Can you tell her I apologize for what happened Jin?" Kurama asked quietly, knowing it would be a long night.

"Yep, I'll tell her in th' mornin'," he said and walked into his room.

It was going to be a long night for them…the next day coming with more mysteries and the tournament meeting.

TO BE CONTINUED…