The Day of Reckoning
Chapter Two
Yusuke jumped to his feet, stretching out his arms. Then cracked his neck. He looked over at Hiei who seemed to be in a daze in his own world. Was there something out there? His eyes shifted around, trying to figure out what was wrong. After trying, Yusuke yawned.
"Hey, Hiei, what's the matter?"
The short demon stood up and said, "I'm going to go check something out."
"Hiei-" But before Yusuke could say anything, Hiei was gone.
"Geez, what's his problem?"
Genkai shrugged as she focused something that seemed not to be there. "Let him be. Anyway, it's better he gets out. Just means less problems for us."
Outside the weather felt cooler, but the sun still shown in the horizon. The trees which surrounded the temple seemed off and unusually still. Hiei jumped from the wall. He wandered into the open, trying to figure out what was the sensation that had been bugging him.
There's something out there, Hiei thought, glancing around. Suddenly, it struck him. There was the smell of blood.
"Kurama..." he said under his breath.
Hiei walked, searching the area around him; he moved forward, not completely certain it was Kurama he sensed. "Where is he?"
He paused after hearing a sound. His hand flashed to his sword and held onto its hilt. In the distance, he saw a figure collapse to the ground. Looking more closely, he noticed the red hair. Hiei knew at once it was Kurama. There was also another person in his arms. It happened to be Keiko.
"They're both cold! Damn, how could this have happened?" Hiei also noticed the blood which started to surround Kurama.
He knelt down beside Kurama. "Kurama?" He looked over at where the blood was coming from. He glanced at Keiko who was also damaged but less so.
The fox demon opened his eyes partly.
"Hiei...I'm actually glad to see you." Kurama strained a calm smile. "Wish it was a better situation."
Hiei glared at him. "Don't move Kurama. Even you can't last if you tried to stand...Keiko's alright by the way." Hiei put in so Kurama wouldn't try anything. "She won't die right away like you could."
Without saying anything else, Hiei lifted Kieko up and carried her in his arms. He pulled Kurama up with his free arm and his arm over his shoulder. Both of them together made it pretty difficult to move. But he did it anyway. Hiei headed back to the temple despite how heavy both of them were.
The faint smell of blood reached the temple ground.
"Grandma, I feel like there's something wrong," Yusuke said, eyes not leaving the window. They were sitting inside the living room, waiting for Hiei.
"You just felt it now?" she replied with a scowl.
Yusuke glared at the old hag and was about to retort back, but he stopped. Hiei came in carrying Kurama and Keiko.
"What the hell happened?" Yusuke yelled, running over and taking Keiko into his arms.
Hiei knelt down and set Kurama down onto the ground. "I found them, but it seems they were attacked by an undetected demon."
Yusuke stared down at Keiko and Began shaking with anger. "Bastards!" he yelled and set Keiko down as gently as possible. Then, with all his might and anger, he punched the wall. He bent his head, eyes shut tightly. From somewhere inside the temple footsteps could be heard. He didn't look up, but kept to himself.
A shadow reflected off the wall which created a figure with a bump on its head. Botan appeared, smiling cheerfully.
"Hey, guys, what's going-" She stopped and saw the forms of Keiko and Kurama. "Oh, no! Who did this?"
Hiei looked up, acknowledging her, but kept silent. There was a pound on the wall again and Yusuke turned around in fury. "They were attacked! And where were you? You were supposed to be here to tell us that there are demons loose!"
"Yusuke..." muttered Botan. She twitched and yelled back. "I'm sorry for being late, but someone had to investigate a strange missing person case. We heard nothing of demons. So don't give me this...this..." Botan growled in frustration.
"This isn't time for babbling, Dimwits," Genkai said, getting up and walking over to them. "These two need medical attention."
"Did she just call me a dimwit?" Botan whispered to herself, but she nodded in agreement. "I'll help you."
After Yusuke calmed down, he and Hiei brought Keiko and Kurama into a small room. The two were placed on mats. Genkai went to healing and bandaging Kurama and Botan wrapped up Keiko's forehead. The others waited outside, debating on who could have done this.
After the bandaging was done, Yusuke stepped into the room. Botan still sat there watching Kurama's sleeping form.
"Kurama will wake up soon. As for Keiko, she has taken a hard hit to the head," Botan said without waiting for Yusuke to speak. The tears were collecting at the corners of her eyes.
Yusuke sat down beside the mat his fiance slept on. "So, what does that mean? Will she wake up?"
Botan swallowed. "She is in a coma."
"But, don't people wake up from comas?" Yusuke was in complete denial.
"Yes, but no one can predict when a comatose patient will wake up. She could wake up tomorrow, or next week, or next year. We just don't know." Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
Yusuke's head was bowed with his fists clenched so tightly he drew blood. Botan touched his shoudler to comfort him. He shook her hand off. Botan stood up and stopped underneath the doorway.
"Don't beat yourself up over this. It's not your fault." With those words, she left him alone to grieve.
Yusuke held Keiko's hand. His eyes were fixated on the bandages on her head.
"I'm sorry. I should have met up with you when you called. I shouldn't have let you come here alone. I failed you," said a devastated Yusuke. The tears were welling up in his eyes.
He bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. He stood up. "I swear, I will find the bastard who did this and make him pay!"
An hour had passed since the injured had arrived. Genkai, Botan, Yusuke, and Hiei sat around the kitchen table. Botan served each one of them a hot cup of tea. Yusuke gave her a faint nod. It was the first type of communication they had since she gave him advice.
Yusuke had been tapping his fingers against the table for the past hour, driving everyone insane, especially Genkai.
"Dimwit, I swear if you don't stop that, I will break your fingers off!"
"Hn, only if you get to him before me," said Hiei, narrowing his red eyes.
The spirit detective glared at both of them. "Well, I'm sorry! My fiance is in a coma. I apologize for annoying the hell outta you guys!"
Genkai sighed. "You know that's not what we mean. Besides, do you really think your childish antics will bring her back? Be strong for Keiko. All this anger will be the death of you."
Yusuke crossed his arms and resumed glaring. Botan took a seat at the table and sipped her tea. The faint sound of footsteps approached them. They looked up to see Kurama standing underneath the doorway. Botan immediately helped him into a seat.
"You shouldn't be walking around with wounds like yours," commented Genkai, sipping tea.
"Yes, but I have to tell you all something urgent," said Kurama, wincing. It was too soon for him to be moving around.
"About the attack I assume," the elderly woman replied.
"Keiko and I weren't the only ones attacked."
That captured Yusuke's attention instantly. Hiei's curiosity was also aroused.
"Who else?" asked Botan.
"I'm sorry. I was too weak to save them," said Kurama sullenly with his head bowed. His fists were clenched on his lap.
"Who else?" demanded Yusuke.
"Kuwabara and Yukina."
"What? Where is she? If Yukina died, there will be hell to pay!" shouted Hiei angrily. He slammed his fist on the table, creating a few cracks. His demonic aura glowed. It had been two months since Yukina discovered that Hiei was her brother. Two months since their relationship began forming.
"She, along with Kuwabara, was kidnapped by the demoness that ambushed them. I was on my way home when I found them. Keiko was the first one injured." Kurama spared a glance at Yusuke when he said this.
He continued. "She was a powerful ice demon who has the ability to use demon magic. She cut off Kuwabara's supply of spirit energy and immobilized me. I told Yukina to flee, but she came back. If it wasn't for her, I'd be dead. Sadly, the demoness took both of them through a portal, thinking both Keiko and I would die."
Hiei stood up so quickly he knocked his chair back. He stomped out, but Genkai stopped him.
"Whatever you're planning on doing won't work. We don't know much about the situation. There could be more like her. It would be suicide," said Genkai.
Hiei clutched the hilt of his sowrd. "I don't care. She has my sister."
"Well, you won't be any good to her if you're dead."
Hiei's shoulders fell. She made a good point. A moment of silence passed by.
"I should go now and report everything to Koenma. Maybe he can find something," said Botan and left. Yusuke followed, mumbling about speaking to Keiko's parents.
A ringing noise cut through the tense atmosphere in the kitchen. Kurama looked up. It was his cell phone. Genkai picked it up from the counter.
"Hello...yes...that won't be possible...your son was involved in an accident...no, no, no, he's fine. He's just resting...he tripped on the stairs...sorry about your evening. If there's anything I can do...um, I don't think I can..." Genkai sighed here. "Okay, sure, I'll be right over." She hung up.
She glanced at Kurama. "I'm stuck babysitting," Genkai said, grimacing.
She also left.
Outside, Yusuke and Botan were walking down the huge steps outside the temple when Genkai rushed past them without a word.
"She's in quite the hurry," remarked Botan.
She looked over at Yusuke who had his hands jammed in his jean pockets. His despair wouldn't be going away soon. She opened her mouth to say something, but thought better of it. He wouldn't want to hear anything she has to say.
Yusuke stopped abruptly and turned to face her. "Thank you for all you've done. Sorry for being so rude," he mumbled.
Botan smiled. "Don't mention it."
She watched Yusuke leave at the foot of the stairs. She didn't stop until his figure got smaller and smaller until it disappeared.
The sky above was darkening and the first stars were becoming visible. It was a cloudless night, perfect for moonlit strolls along the beach.
"I'm sure that's what Yusuke and Keiko planned," she thought outloud with sadness.
She extended her arm for her oar to appear. She was about to mount when a hand went over her mouth and dragged her into the forest. Her muffled screams did nothing to save her.
A/N: Thank you to the one person that reviewed, loveanime18! Now, come on people, if you took the time to read this story, it'll only take another 30 seconds to review. It won't take too much out of your day. Anyway, enough of our rant, please review and no flames please.