Well…due to popular demand (if 5 reviewers can be considered that) I've decided to make up for the miserable being that is my last chapter by continuing. I considered making this a sequel, but ah who cares? It's easier this way and doesn't require having already read something (is thinking of the readers for once o.0 )


Chapter 6: "A Demon Called Atasu"

6 months later

He was running, running through the thick underbrush of the forest, oblivious as usual to the pain caused by scratches from the dense branches and thorns. He had never planned to come back to Demon World, but this was different, and it was an emergency that called for extra help. This was another thing he would have never seen himself doing; asking for help wasn't something he did by nature, and especially not from this demon. The idea had been Koenma's and he had grudgingly accepted it when it was clear there was no other way. Supposedly there was something they needed that only could be provided from an outside source, or so the prince of Spirit World said at least.

"There was no one else to turn to," Koenma has said when he summoned him. "Besides, you know your way around Demon World."

"Not that I'm proud of it," he had retorted. "So do Kurama and Hiei, so why didn't you bother them?"

"Kurama has cut all ties with anything to do with Demon World and Youko Kurama. Seeing as Hiei has practically done the same it would be hard to return suddenly and ask for his help."

"He guards the stupid path to Human World! What do you mean he doesn't serve Spirit World!"

"This is final! You're the one with the mission so suck it up!"

What a way to go back on his word. Somehow they had ended up enlisting other demon help anyway. It was the same old story; a demon was trying to find a way into Human World to terrorize the mortal population, cause chaos and destruction, the whole nine yards. Of course, being the only one that Koenma could call for help, he was stuck doing it.

On the horizon the fortress he was looking for came into view and he quickened his pace. With no thoughts for security or his own discretion he leapt up onto the main level of the palace and was swarmed immediately by guards, who pinned him against the wall with their sword tips. Not wanting to cause trouble (though the thought had crossed his mind) he held up both his hands in a peaceful gesture, earning himself a sharp jab in the side with a sword. The demon that had struck him took a step back and lowered his weapon immediately when he noticed the murderous glare he wore and the fact that his hands were beginning to glow dangerously. Slowly the group shrank back.

"So this is how you treat visitors is it? Well, I'll just have to teach you the proper welcome!"


With a start Hiei sat up, breathing heavily. Brushing away the beads of sweat that ran down his forehead the fire demon felt Mukuro shift beside him and cursed softly. His head felt as thought it was on fire and he ran his fingers around the third eye on his forehead, wondering briefly why it was alert. Slowly allowing his hand to slip into his lap, Hiei stared at his knees, deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" Mukuro murmured, sitting up beside him.

Hiei glanced at her and brushed a few of her bangs away from her eyes. "Don't worry about it," he said softly. There was nothing to worry about with just a dream. There was nothing to it…nothing… "Oh shit, no!" he growled suddenly, jumping to his feet." That wasn't nothing, he just wasn't reading the signals properly. Grabbing his sword and tucking it through his belt, Hiei tossed his cloak over his shoulders in mid-stride as he vanished out the door.

Sprinting down the hallway, using his third eye as a guide, Hiei soon emerged on the outer walkway of the fortress and turned, his hand closing over the hilt of his sword. "Get away from him!" he shouted through the telepathic link he had with the guards and could immediately sense their retreat. That hadn't been a dream! His Jagan couldn't see the future but it sure could see the present. Bolting around a corner, he slowed to a walk and drew his blade, walking cautiously.

"What are you doing here?" the fire demon demanded, holding his sword in an offensive position. He stepped through the ring of guards and cornered the intruder.

"Well it's a pleasure to see you too Hiei," he replied sarcastically. The look he got in response said quite clearly, "cut the act", and he frowned in memory of Hiei's serious personality. "Before you get all uptight Shorty I'm here because Koenma ordered me to."

"And why do I care?" Hiei asked sharply, but there was a sinking feeling in his gut. "Get out of my palace Yusuke."

Yusuke raised an eyebrow. "Your palace, hmm? So what does that make Lady Mukuro?"

"A demon lord that will kick your ass if you don't stop playing games and tell us why you're intruding in the middle of the night."

Both Hiei and Yusuke turned sharply at the voice and the fire demon immediately lowered his sword. Mukuro approached them calmly, but Hiei could see the anger swirling in her eyes and immediately backed away, merging with the ring of guards. Stopping in front of the late Spirit Detective, Mukuro looked him over, frowning slightly. Before anyone could speak she glanced pointedly at the guards and they vanished to other parts of the fortress so Hiei remained alone.

"Well Mr. Urameshi, you're certainly not the demon you were months ago when you hosted the tournament," Mukuro commented. "I can feel the weakness of your demon energy."

"Are you just going to insult me?" Yusuke asked, and Hiei winced at the sharpness and disrespect in his tone. But instead of being angered, Mukuro smiled slightly. "I came to talk to Hiei," the teenager said finally, abandoning his conversation with Mukuro to look over at the fire demon.

"Whatever you have to say can be said to both of us," Mukuro replied lightly, but there was a finality in her tone that neither could argue with. Hiei stepped alongside her and sheathed his sword. "Well Yusuke, if you have a story you had best be out with it."

"Ok fine," he said, turning to talk to Hiei. "Koenma sent me about asking for your help on a case that came up in Spirit World. He said something about you having some sort of knowledge that would be essential to success or something like that. It sounded pointless to me," he added, noticing the skeptical look Hiei was giving him. "But that's not the point. There's a demon kidnapping spirits and humans alike, but mostly he targets other demons. So far about twenty have gone missing and the number grows almost every week."

"And what do you expect me to do about it?" Hiei asked. "Since when has Spirit World cared what happens between demons? As long as it stays in our realm it has nothing to do with them."

"You didn't listen Shorty," Yusuke said. "It's kidnapping demons AND humans AND spirits, which involves all three realms. Koenma wants us to try and stop it. He said he didn't know who else to call," Yusuke growled.

"Who's Spirit Detective?" Mukuro asked and Yusuke shrugged. Hiei groaned softly.

"I don't care what happens with Spirit World," Hiei retorted. "They've ceased to be something I have to deal with."

"Koenma said you would be thinking something like that. So far Spirit World hasn't been able to collect much information, but they did find out who this demon is." Both Hiei and Mukuro looked up at this. "They say his name's Atasu."

Hiei shook his head. "That doesn't mean anything to me," he said coldly, glancing up at Mukuro, who was staring at Yusuke. He couldn't read her expression but just for a moment there was a surge in her demon energy that seemed to be telling him to take the job. "What is it?" he asked mentally and she shook her head, but he could feel her resolve stronger than ever. "Fine Yusuke," he conceded finally, "I'll help. Tell Koenma that I'll only work on the condition that Kuwabara doesn't come."

Yusuke smirked. "I'll tell him that," he said. "Thanks Hiei."

"Hn."

Hiei backed away and allowed Yusuke to come away from the wall. The Spirit Detective waved before he crossed the hall jumped down into the forest. Waiting until he could barely sense his companion's energy, Hiei turned to Mukuro, who was looking at the place where Yusuke had just stood. Her eyes seemed slightly out of focus, as though she was remembering something. Almost casually she rubbed her wrist and Hiei's eyes narrowed at the gesture, remembering all too well the manacles that had once rested there. Something seemed wrong about this but he couldn't place it.

"What do you make of it?" he asked, jolting Mukuro from her thoughts.

"I can't believe," she murmured, "that after all this time things like this would still be happening."

Hiei could find no meaning whatsoever in this statement and spent a moment marveling over it. What was that supposed to mean anyway? Did she mean after the tournament? He had known Mukuro often spoke in riddles, but this made no sense to him at all. Apparently she didn't notice his anxiety because she turned her back and started to walk back to their chambers, leaving Hiei standing and staring at her back.

"There's something about this," he murmured, still staring into the darkness. "I need to learn more about this demon Atasu."


Wow…just wow….this is the shortest, probably most worthless chapter I've ever done. Well…maybe not worthless, it's important…but only 4 double spaced pages….