Hello everyone. Here is yet another chapter of Bonds of Sisters. I know some of you are confused, so is my sis. So if any of you have any questions feel free to ask. Any way I was once again suffering from dreaded writers block. This chapter might not be as laid out as planned but I'll try to keep it together. Just a heads up Meranii is my own made up character. You'll find out more about her later on.
Reviewers:
Ice-neko-girl: O.O That is like the longest review anyone has written me yet. Thanks a lot. If you keep at it you can write them that long too (I only did cause I promised) don't worry about Yusuke's protective instincts in the future, he will be conveniently missing at the time (cough) Keiko (cough).
animeadhdgeek14: Sorry if I confused you. You guessed right, good job. Lol
Dark Inu Fan: yea Meranii helped her.
cookiiex: thanks. Here's your update.
Ryukotsusei: thanks. Here's your update.
vi3tdream27: thanks I try to keep it original. Here's your update.
Thank you all.
'Blah' thoughts
'Blah' is Kurama telepathic
'Blah' is Youko telepathic
'Blah' is Hiei telepathic
Now on with the story.
Chapter 8: Enemy
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-/- Feudal Era -/
In the clearing of the enchanted well, everything was normal. The night sky was clear. The owls were hooting and the enraged hanyou Inuyasha, who was pacing a circular hole around the old enchanted well, was mumbling death threats to all that came to mind.
Off to the side, by the edge of the clearing sat the ever popular perverted monk, Miroku. He was sporting a light red hand print on his face. He looked to be remembering some pleasant memory.
He looked up at Inuyasha, when he mad a loud comment about women never listening, and noticed that half of his friend was missing.
"Inuyasha, I think you should stop pacing for a while." Miroku said walking up to the now shorter Inuyasha.
"Why?" He asked hotly and looked over. Instead of having to look down slightly at Miroku like he usually does he found himself looking at the purple clad knees of the monk.
"What the...!" Inuyasha said in surprise. Miroku laugh and pointed down. Inuyasha looked and found himself rib deep in a hole. He jumped out and landed in a tree to pout. Miroku just shook his head and looked toward the well sadly, before walking back toward the village.
-/- Present Yusuke's house-/
The group got back to Yusuke's house and dried off. Once everyone was dry and changed, they were all, once again, sitting in the living room of Yusuke's house.
"Hey Keiko, you wan to tell us what happened?" Kagome asked from her place on the couch by Kurama, Shippo was in her lap. Sango was sitting on the arm of the couch next to Kagome with Kirara on her shoulder. Keiko was sitting in the chair with Yusuke on the arm. Boton was sitting on the chair across from Keiko. Ryuun was leaning against the wall by the door. Hiei, surprisingly, was sitting on the arm of the couch next to Kurama.
"Yea I guess I can." Keiko said in a low voice. "When the demons started to surround us I grab hold of Boton and closed my eyes. I heard the demons talking about killing Boton and taking me to "the master."
Keiko stopped and looked over at Yusuke when she heard him growl. His eyes were flaring and his fists were clenched. He looked at her and nodded his head, telling her to go on.
"I felt something stir inside me. When I felt a clawed hand touch my shoulder, I opened my eyes and I felt something in me break. I felt a surge of power around me and heard the demons screaming. Then everything got black. I heard Boton yelling my name but I couldn't talk. The strange thing was I didn't feel scared anymore. Boton's voice disappeared and I felt alone. But then I heard her voice."
Everyone was giving Keiko a weird look. Accepts Hiei, who looked neutral, and surprisingly, Sango, who looked like her was trying to remember something. Keiko didn't seem to notice and just continued.
"Her voice was soft and soothing. She told me to stay calm and that she was coming. Then I felt something close to me. I couldn't tell what it was but the power that surrounded me started to disappear. When that last of the power was gone, I felt myself falling but I didn't feel scared. Someone caught me and then I passed out."
Keiko finished and the room was thrown into a heavy silence, which was broken by a loud yawn from Keiko.
"I'm sorry I guess I'm more tired than I thought I was." She said hiding another yawn.
"Oh well then you can sleep here." Kagome said dragging Keiko upstairs with Boton with Shippo fallowing shortly behind. "We'll call your mom and tell her were you are."
When they were half way up the stairs, Kagome stopped and looked back at Sango. Her eyes were foggy and she was staring out the window at the sky.
"Um... Sango. Are you coming?" She asked. The guys looked toward Sango as she snapped her head sharply toward Kagome. She looked confused for a second then she got up.
"Yea I'm coming." She said quietly following Kagome up the stairs. The guys didn't miss how Sango and Kirara watched Hiei cautiously as they walked past him. The guys exchanged a look and then looked toward the stairs again.
"Sango's acting weird." Yusuke said when he was sure they couldn't hear him.
"She probably just doesn't want to get jumped again." Ryuun said looking straight at Hiei. Hiei growled low and let his hand rest on the hilt of his sword. Ryuun put his hands up in mock surrender and looked away.
"I don't think it's that." Kurama said from the side. He was speaking slowly, as if he was still trying to figure it out. "She didn't seem upset after the battle."
"Speaking of which…" Yusuke said looking toward Ryuun. "How'd miss disappear manage to get away?" He asked. Ryuun smiled shyly.
-/- Flashback/Ryuun POV -/
I was watching as red and the detective tried to get the fire apparition off the slayer. 'Man I really need to learn their names' I thought. I felt my captive move around in my arms. 'I need to learn her name too'
"Let me go Ryuun." The girl whispered, stirring my out of my thoughts. 'How does she know my name?'
"Not a chance." I said cockily "I've spent years tracking you and now that I have you there is no way I'm letting you go." I said and looked back toward the ordeal. Right now the slayer is telling her cat not to attack the apparition. She said something else but I couldn't hear it, but by the way the apparition pushed harder on the blade I'm guessing that it wasn't very nice.
"I don't want to hurt you…." She said softly. "Please let me go." I looked down at she shocked. 'Is she begging?' I thought surprised. I felt a wave of pity wash through me. I shook my head trying to clear it.
"Sorry, I have a mission to complete." I said once again looking back toward the other. When I looked at the slayer, I notice she was looking at the girl in my arms.
"No I'm sorry." The girl whispered. Before I could register what she was talking about I felt a pain in my gut I looked down and caught a glimpse of her elbow leaving my gut. I fell down to my knees and looked at the groups to find the apparition on the ground a little ways away and the cloak girl helping the slayer up.
-/-End Flashback-/
"Why would she apologize for hurting you?" Kurama asked thoughtfully. "Hasn't she done so in the past?"
"Actually she's never actually caused me harm, now that I think about it." Ryuun replied shocked. "I always thought she threw things slower when aimed at me."
"So what's her connection to you?" Yusuke asked suspiciously at Ryuun.
"I wouldn't know. Like I was thinking earlier I don't even know her name." He said defensively.
The group went into a thought full silence that was broken by a loud burst of laughter coming from upstairs.
"What's so funny?" Yusuke asked mostly to himself, looking toward the stairs.
"They're talking about you." Hiei said to Yusuke, in his usual emotionless voice.
"It seems Kagome and Keiko are exchanging embarrassing stories about you." Kurama said smiling slightly.
"What?" Yusuke exclaimed. "How could Keiko do that, Kagome I understand but Keiko?" Yusuke exclaimed heading toward the stairs.
"Speaking of Keiko," Ryuun said making Yusuke stop from storming upstairs. "Where did she get all that power from?" He asked looking around the room.
Everyone else looked at each other and then Yusuke shrugged his shoulders.
"That's never happened before." Yusuke said seriously. "What I want to know is who the hell this "master" prick is so I can kill him." He said angrily.
Kurama was about to comment when Boton came down stairs.
"Koenma wanted you guys to give him an update." She said opening a portal. Yusuke rolled his eyes and muttered something like impatient toddlers.
When they got to Koenma's office they found him yelling random orders at several ogres in the office, while he was pacing back and forth on his desk pulling his hair out. When he saw them, his face brightened and he…hugged Yusuke!
"Oh I am so glad you're here. Did you get any more info? Did you catch her yet? Did you feel that power surge? Did you find out what the cause was? Well did you? Huh… huh……HUH?" Koenma asked franticly floating around Yusuke's head. Boton grabbed Koenma before Yusuke had the chance to pummel him.
"Koenma sir, their here to give you an update." She said tiredly while rubbing the top of her nose. She had a major headache coming on.
"Oh, good. Lets here it." For the next half hour, Kurama, with the help of Ryuun and Yusuke, told Koenma about Kagome, Sango, Keiko's experience, and the "cloaked figures" weird behavior. Hiei just scoffed at certain parts and even growled when they got to the part were Hiei was thrown off Sango. When they were finished, Koenma's face was a mix of distress, surprise, and dread.
"You can go now." He whispered out.
"Are you ok Koenma?" Boton said from next to him.
"Yes," He whispered in a low shocked voice. "I want you guys to keep searching for this girl until I get back to you." He said pushing them throw a portal that seemed to appear out of no were.
"Hey! Wait…"Yusuke tried to say but the portal closed before he could get anymore out. They guys looked at each other then shrugged their shoulders. Kurama headed home and Hiei went were ever it is he goes. Ryuun also went to some unknown destination and Yusuke went up to his room for some sleep.
Back in Ren-kai Boton was standing in front of Koenma's desk. He was sitting there holding his head.
"Boton," He muttered from behind his hands.
"Yes, sir?" She asked hesitantly
He grabbed a letter off his desk and held it out to her. "Have this delivered to..."
-/- Mystery place -/
In a dark room, a figure dressed in different shades of green was kneeling in front of another figure covered in shadows that seemed to be sitting in a thrown.
"She has made contact with them milord." The kneeling figure said not looking up. The figure in the thrown made a noise that sounded like a chuckle.
"Good work. Take a unit and "escort" them here" The seated figure said throwing a necklace of black beads to the knelling figure. The green clad figure nodded and stood up, grabbing the beads. He bowed one more time before disappearing into the shadows.
"Soon….." The seated figure said aloud to the shadows.
-/- Next Morning -/
"YUSUKE WAKE UP!" Boton shouted hitting him upside the head with her oar. Yusuke fell on the floor holding his head.
"OWW! What the hell was that for?" He yelled glaring at Boton. Boton rolled her eyes and started pulling him out the door of his room.
"You wouldn't wake up and we need you at the park." She said irritably. Yusuke looked confused and snatched his arm back from Boton.
"Why do you need me at the park?" He asked, but was following her anyway.
"Somehow a bunch of demons broke through the barrier and are in the park. It's a good thing that it's so early otherwise we'd have a lot of memories to erase." Yusuke looked at the cloak and found that it was 5:00 A.M.
"Man I am seriously going to kick their asses for making me gets up this early." He growled out slamming the door behind him.
"Quit complaining and hurry up. Kurama, Hiei, Ryuun, and Kuwabara are already there." She said opening a portal. Yusuke rolled his eyes and followed her through.
Up in the girls room Kagome, Sango, and Keiko all backed away from the door that they had just had their ears pressed against. They had been awaked by Boton loud yelling in her attempt to wake Yusuke. They all shared a look and then nodded. They grabbed their weapons, Shippo and Kirara then headed out the door, toward the park.
-/- At the park -/ (A/N: Before the girls arrive.)
When Yusuke and Boton arrived in the park, they found what looked to be hundreds of demons. Kuwabara killing demons with his spirit sword. Kurama was using his rose whip and Hiei was fighting, what looked like to be the leader.
The leader had on a forest green haori, with a lighter green lining and matching hakama. His hair was black, short, and spiked. His eyes were a dark forest green color, matching his cloths. He had a small smile on his face. It looked as though he were a child playing a fun game, rather than fighting a battler. Hiei looked to be having a little trouble keeping up with him. Yusuke was about to jump in and help Hiei when a swarm of demons all came at him at once.
"Shit!" Yusuke yelled as he started to knock the demons away, but whenever he would knock one away it seemed three more would fill its place. 'I can't get a shot off' Yusuke thought as he searched for a clearing.
"Heads up!" A voice yelled. Yusuke had just enough time to slam to the ground before a giant boomerang whizzed over his head, taking out most the demons. He followed the boomerang back to its owner and found it to be none other than Sango ridding into the clearing on Kirara. She didn't even spare Yusuke a second glace as she charged into the middle of the demons and started taking them out. Kagome bows in hand, and Keiko, Shippo in hand, came bursting into the clearing. Kagome went right to work at shooting any demons that got close to them and Shippo used his Foxfire to help her out.
The fight was going well and the group looked like they were winning. Kagome was almost out of arrows but was able to go at a slower pace at firing then since the demons seemed to think the boys and Sango were more of a threat.
Kagome shot an arrow and killed a demon that was sneaking up behind Yusuke when she heard a startled gasp coming from her side. She looked in that general direction and saw a young girl, about the age of seven, standing at the edge of the clearing staring shocked at the demons. 'What is the world coming to,' Kagome thought sourly as she ran toward the young girl 'Parents just let their young children wonder off this early in the morning' Kagome stooped in front of the little girl and put her hand on her shoulders.
"What are you doing here? Are you ok?" She asked pushing the girls' hair out of her face. The little girl didn't answer but stared behind Kagome in terror. It didn't come to Kagome, at first, that putting her back to a battle and dropping her bow and arrows a little way away was a bad idea until she heard a warning called out to her and she turned her head and found herself looking at the teeth of an eight foot tall yellow demon. Kagome wrapped her arms around the girl and shielded her away form the demon and she closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
-/- Keiko's POV -/
I saw the demon sneak up on Kagome when she was talking to the little girl and I yelled out to her to watch out. I looked around the clearing franticly to see if I could find some one to help.
Yusuke apparently heard my shout and when he went to run to Kagome the demon he had been fighting knocked him back and to the opposite side of the clearing. I looked toward Sango in time to see her flying off Kirara and through the air to the ground. Kuwabara was having a punching match with a demon 10X his size and didn't seem to notice. Kurama looked like he was trying to cut his way through but the demons seemed extra persistent on not letting him get to her. Hiei was still fighting the lead demon and Ryuun was attempting to cut his way through the demons with his swords.
I picked up a long stick and started running toward Kagome when a snake like demon jumped out at me. Acting on impulse, I swung the stick as hard as I could and knocked the demon across the clearing. I started running for Kagome again. 'And my mom said baseball was a waist of time.' Keiko thought as she knocked two more demons out of the way. She looked up at Kagome and her jaw fell open. 'What the…'
-/-Normal POV -/
Kurama had finished cutting through the last of the demons and went to run after Kagome but when he looked at her, he saw the mysterious cloaked figure standing in front of Kagome with a body sized shield in front of her. The arm of the demon that attacked Kagome was disintegrating from was it was touching the barrier. In a matter of seconds, the demon was nothing but dust on the ground.
Kurama ran to Kagome and checked her for injuries, while also placing himself between the figure and Kagome.
"I'm fine, Kurama." Kagome said while blushing "She saved me." Kagome said/asked looking at the figure. The figure was standing there and glaring to the demon that Hiei was fighting. The demon seemed to feel the heat of her gaze because he punched Hiei in the gut and appeared a little ways in front of the cloaked figure. Another wave of demons attacked Hiei when he went to fight the demon again. Kurama, after making sure Kagome wasn't hurt, left her with Keiko on the side of the field and went to a help Hiei the others in the battle. Kurama, along with the other kept their ears and the little eyesight they could spare on the two mysterious demons that were having a glaring contest.
Sango was off to the side with Kagome and Keiko, nursing what felt like a broken rib. She was fighting off any demons that got to close to them, since Kagome was short on arrows.
"I knew that would draw you out, Meranii." The demon clad in green said while smiling.
"What are you doing here,Shinrin?" Meranii asked coldly.
"You already know the answer to that, so why bother asking?" Shinrin asked in response. If possible, Meranii's glare strengthened.
"Now why don't you be good little girls and came back with me." He said looking at Meranii, Kagome, Sango, and Keiko in turn. "It's so much easier if you don't fight." He said, his gaze once again resting on Meranii.
"No…" Meranii stated coldly.
"You will not touch them!" Yusuke yelled from across the field, running toward the two. Shinrin turned to Yusuke with a frown on his face.
"You boys have absolutely no say in the matter." With that said, he waved him hand and another wave of demons came after the boys.
"So where were we…?" Shinrin said in false sincerity, putting him hand to his chin. "Oh yea that right you were about to give up and come with me….the master has missed you greatly and grows impatient waiting for the other young ladies." He said walking closer to Meranii.
"Never…." Meranii, again, stated coldly. Shinrin's smile widened and he shrugged his shoulders.
"I gave you a chance." He said before he charged at Meranii. He went to grab her neck but she moved at the last second and he only managed to catch her hood, ripping it. She elbowed him in the back sending him sprawling on the ground behind her.
"Were did you get more power?" She asked in her cold voice as she discarded her, now ruined, cloak. She still had her back to Shinrin and was facing the others in the clearing. The others stared at her in a variety of different stairs. She had long black hair pulled back in a braid that went down to mid-calve. Her eyes were silver, her skin pale and her face was cold. There was a necklace around her neck but the charm on the end was hidden under her kimono. She was wearing a black fighting kimono, with slits up the sides for movement, and a pair of regular black pant underneath it. She had on a pair of black boots. There were three sword strapped to her waist, two on the left and one on the right. The one on the right looked similar to one of the others on the left, they had black sheath and black hilts that had a white crystal (left) and a black crystal (right) in the hilts. The other sword had a white sheath with a phoenix carved on it in black and had a white hilt with a phoenix on the end.
"You are still as observant as ever." Shinrin said picking himself up form the ground and dusting off his cloths. "You of all people should know where I got more power from." He said turning to face her. Meranii still had her back to him. "The master's powers have no limits. None can match him." His ever-present smile grew. Meranii just gave off a laugh, surprising everyone in the clearing.
"The "master" is just a cowardly bastard that has to live off of others. Never getting his hands dirty and never fighting his own battles. I do not fear him." She said coldly not even sparing him a glance. She was staring toward the girls that were looking right back at her. Shinrin's smile faltered for a second before it came back stronger then before.
"I beg to differ." He said, his smile turning into an evil smirk. "If you are in fact not afraid of the master then why is it that your whole soul shook in fear when you I mentioned that the master wants those lovely maidens." He said directing his gaze to the three girls by the edge of the clearing.
"It didn't." She said stiffly. Looking at the girls.
"Oh but it did and does," He said cockily as he snuck closer to the distracted Meranii. "you are absolutely terrified of the great and powerful master getting his hand on your…"Before he could finish his sentence Meranii's foot connected to the side of his head sending him flying to the other side of the clearing, but before he met the ground Meranii was there and delivered a punch to his gut sending him flying again. This time he landed with a thud on the ground in the middle of the clearing
The boys had finished off the demons and were standing by the girls. Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara didn't look too happy with having to just stand around but Ryuun and Kurama had both insisted on watching and learning what they could about the two fighters.
"I don not fear him because he will never touch them." Meranii said coldly. Shinrin slowly got up and, to everyone's surprise, he was still smiling.
"That was a great warm up," He said, stretching his muscles. "But sadly I had a job to do so there's no more time for chit chat." His smile disappeared and was replaced with a serious look. He crouched into a fighting stance, putting his hand on the sword at his waist. Meranii just rolled her eyes and placed a hand on her black sword on the left. In an instant, the two fighters were going at each other. They were moving to fast it was hard for everyone to keep up. The girls could catch glimpses of black or green every now and then but beside that, they couldn't see anything. After a minute of the two fighting, they jumped apart. Shinrin had several large wound on his body as well as a few scraps. He had his sword out in front of him and he was breathing heavily. Meranii on the other hand was the exact opposite. She only had a light scrap on her cheek and her sword was in her hand down bye her side. She was smirking.
"It seems that your "master" only gave you strength in speed and nothing more." Meranii said mockingly. "This is a waste of my time, leave now before I forget I'm feeling merciful today." She said coldly again as she went to sheath her sword.
Shinrin growled in anger and he pulled a necklace of black beads out of his pocket. 'You will not walk away from me.' He thought angrily. With a yell, he threw the beads at Meranii. She turned and put up her hand and a barrier appeared.
Instead of the beads hitting the shield and bouncing off uselessly the beads went through the barrier and wrapped them selves around Melanie's wrist. Her eyes widened in a mix of shock and fear before she let out a blood curdling scream. A dark purple electricity appeared around the beads and seemed to be shocking Meranii.
Shinrin laughed maniacally and disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
Everyone looked back to Meranii when a pulse of power came from her. They watched as the electricity around the beads seemed to intensify, so did Meranii's screams, but then they both died down and the beads snapped and fell to the ground. The beads seemed to absorb into the ground as soon as they landed. Meranii fell to one knee breathless.
Kagome, Sango, and Keiko all abandoned their original place by the boys and ran to Meranii's side.
"Umm…..Meranii was it? Are you ok?" Keiko asked while she hesitantly placed a hand on Meranii's back.
"I'm fine." She answered quietly as she stood up. The boys all tensed up as she turned to look at them. "I would like to be taken to Koenma."
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How was that? I just tried to scrap thing together so if it's jumbled I apologized. Oh and just a note the whole black bead thing with Meranii will be kind of important in future chapters, so if you read this then it is a good idea to put that scene to memory. Well don't forget to review.