CHAPTER 10

Hiei stopped hitting the wall and slid down it onto the floor. He grasped his sword in an iron grip, his mind telling him over and over that he was a fool. "I shouldn't have let her walk into this," he said to himself. "I should have stayed closer. She wanted me to come along to keep an eye on her and protect her and I can't even do that! What kind of idiot am I?"

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. Yuri looked down at him with an understanding expression. He decided to ask her something. Maybe she knew where they had gone. "Where did he take her?"

"I'm not sure," the girl replied, shaking her head. "I didn't even know he had such portals in the house. But my guess on where he's taking her might be to the Spirit World. He's going to try using her power to take over."

"I must stop him," Hiei said, standing up and shiething his sword. He looked at Donovan's sister. "Do you know of a way to get there first?"

"I do," Yuri replied. "But I haven't done it in years."

"I need you to do it now," he told her. "I have to get there before he arrives with Botan."
Yuri saw the desperate look on his face and nodded. "Okay," she agreed. "But we must be outside to do it."

He took her arm. "Then let's get moving." Then the two rushed out of the room.

"Where are you taking me?" Botan demanded as Donovan drug her thoguh the tunnel of distorted space.

He laughed sinisterly then said. "I'm going to the place where I was shunned."

The ferry girl knew he was talking about the spirit world. But why did he say such a thing? He was only half of the spirit world and half human. That being the case, why was he so desperate to go there? What did he know? And why did he keep on insisting he's rightful place was taken from him?

Suddenly the tunnel came to an end and Donovan drug her back into reality. Now she found herself just outside of the palace. She stared up at the building, wondering what he was planning on doing there. Before she could even being to figure it out the man drug her up the front steps and into the building. When they entered everyone greeted her with a wave and smile. Botan was confused. Why were they acting that way? Didn't they see the man holding her prisoner?

What if they don't? she asked herself. What if he's invisable to them?

He drug her down the hall and demanded. "Where is Koemna's office?" When she didn't answer he snapped. "Tell me or this will be the last place you ever see!"

She pointed with a shaking finger. "Down that hall," she stammered.

He smiled. "Good girl," he satrted dragging her again. "Let's go."

Yuri was able to transport herself and Hiei right outside the palace. Hiei looked around in awe then looked at Yuri. "Let's go," he said.

She nodded and they ran up the stairs and into the palace.

Koemna was going through some papers when he heard the door to his office opening. He looked up to see who it was and his eyes grew wide as Botan came in with a strange looking young man holding her by the throat.

A/N

An update! Wee! Sorry I didn't update this last week. I was busy. I hope you like the chapter and I'm sorry it's so short.