FCL64: What's up?
Kiyoshi: Well, you're finally writing the next chapter. That's all that's really important at this point.
FCL64: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm aware it's been forever since I wrote this story. I believe the readers know the (rather complicated) ownership situation. Here's the story.
Five days later…
"Kaien?" Ayaka asked. "What are you thinking about?"
Kaien's response came slowly. "When Kyo attacked me, Hiei injured him. The wound was bad enough that it should have killed him. We could have killed him easily right then." He didn't look at his sister as they walked, but she could see the worry written on his face.
And that unnerved her. She knew Kaien rarely worried over anything; he remained calm and just let everything happen. "So why didn't you?" she asked.
"Hiei was about to. But then we both got this feeling that things would be worse for us if we killed him. And I was injured. I felt the quicker we got out of there, the better."
Ayaka nodded. "We'll figure it out, Kaien."
"I just fear we have lost our only opportunity to kill him." Kaien's blue eyes flashed towards Ayaka.
"Kaien, you and Hiei alone almost killed him. Now it's the two of us, Hiei, Kurama and Yusuke. And Kuwabara, although I'm not sure how a human could hope to stand up in a situation such as this. All the same, there are six of us to the one of him. He can be killed."
"But I feel like there's something we don't know, some key piece of information we are missing."
"That's why we're here, Kaien," Ayaka said, indicating the house he had led her to.
He smiled. "Let's hope this helps."
He knocked on the door. In less than a minute it flew open to reveal turquoise hair and orange eyes. She saw Ayaka and Kaien, and those orange orbs widened in surprise or fear. She took a step back. "I haven't told anyone Kuronue is dead, I swear it!" she said quickly.
"Relax, Lori," Kaien said gently. "We are here to speak with Zuberi."
Relief covered her face. "Oh. Okay. I'll grab him, and we can speak outside. There really isn't enough space for four people inside."
"I noticed that last time," Kaien smiled.
Suddenly the old demon appeared behind her. "Who is it, Lori?"
"Kaien and…Ayaka?" She looked at Ayaka for confirmation. Ayaka nodded.
"Ah," Zuberi said. "Lori, I want you to stay inside. I must discuss something dangerous with these two. I do not want you involved with this."
She looked at him for a long moment. "Yes, Father," she finally said. She allowed Zuberi to pass, then went back inside.
He faced Ayaka and Kaien, his clouded eyes staring out past them. "My daughter is a sweet girl, but she shouldn't have any part in this. She has already become too involved, simply by healing you Kaien."
"Then why are you staying with her?" Kaien asked.
"She has already endangered herself. She will be safer if I am here."
"Well, that's good," Ayaka said. "How did you know we would come to see you?"
"A few years after you two came to see me, another man came to see me. He had a powerful stone, one that rivals your lockets when they are connected. Dangerous things, dangerous things…" he mused. After nearly a minute, he went on, "At any rate, you know I can tell what these things do. However, there are other things I can tell from these stones. The piece I just spoke of—"
Ayaka interrupted him, "Kuronue's pendant. We know of it. You can use names."
He didn't blink upon learning that they knew of the pendant. "Well, it was the fourth highly dangerous piece I had come across that had been set by the same person, counting the lockets as one piece. I found this man, this jeweler called Kyo, and told him to stop making such things. He was not aware of the abilities of these pieces, which shocked me. Later, I discovered he was killing those in possession of these things. I did not feel that any of the people who showed me the things he had created posed a serious threat, but it was only a matter of time before he set a stone for someone who would use it for a wicked purpose."
"What can you tell us of him?"
"He has a partner. I do not know this man's name. However, their teamwork is flawless, and they gather information before attacking. I do not truly know anything else. I simply guessed you would eventually come to speak with me again."
"Thank you," Kaien said. "We appreciate the help."
"One last thing," Zuberi said as they turned to leave. "I do not know how it is set, but Kyo also possesses a powerful gem. It is also dangerous. Not in the same way your lockets or Kuronue's pendant are dangerous. Rather, it provides him with a protection somehow. So it is dangerous in that he will be very difficult to injure."
"Thanks," Kaien said, a dark look passing between him and Ayaka.
Meanwhile…
Enki looked at Yusuke. "Nothing, Yusuke. I'm sorry. I've done all I could think of, and no one has heard anything of a bounty hunter called Kyo."
"Ah, well," Yusuke sighed. "He's good at staying under the radar, we already knew that. This is just more proof. With any luck, Kurama, Hiei, Ayaka and Kaien will have uncovered something. And if not, it isn't like we've lost information on him. See you."
"Thanks for stopping by," Enki said. "Sorry I couldn't be of more help."
Three days later…
"Koenma?" Yusuke asked.
"Ah, Yusuke. I was wondering when you'd be back. I don't have much, but I did find something." Koenma stopped.
"Are you going to tell me or not?"
"You're not going to like it."
"Well, I need to hear it anyway."
"Okay, if you insist," Koenma sighed. "Kyo is a registered bounty hunter."
"What?" Kuwabara asked.
"In 1267, Kyo was granted a license to kill by Reikai. He is a legal bounty hunter. He is allowed full use of his demonic skills in the capture of dangerous criminals in the human world."
"So what?" Yusuke asked. "That doesn't mean he can just go around killing anybody he wants to."
Koenma shook his head. "I know it doesn't. But the last job Kyo took from Reikai was to catch Kurama, Ayaka and Kuronue, dead or alive."
"Are you saying…?" Kuwabara asked slowly, as Koenma's meaning dawned on him.
Koenma nodded. "Legally, he has every right to capture and or kill Kurama and Ayaka. Since Reikai has no way to contact him and tell him the job is no longer necessary, he has no reason to stop. And if he succeeds…we will still have to pay him all that money, even though it was promised to him in 1522."
After a long silence, Yusuke said, "Question: could you give us legal permission to kill him? Find some loophole that would make his death…condonable? You know…level the playing field a bit?"
Koenma looked at him a moment. Finally he nodded. "I can arrange that."
Arriving back at Kurama's house two days later, everyone was relieved to see everyone else alive. Kurama was particularly relieved to see Ayaka alive. Last time they had parted ways, he had been told she was dead and almost lost his life.
End of chapter. Time for reviews. Yay!
animegrlsteph: yeah, he ticks me off too...
White Rose Fox: Glad you liked it! :)