Chapter Four

Ayame slowly awoke, her hand held tightly in KoEnma's. She could only hope the children were safe with whoever had taken them. Even as she kept her eyes closed, she could feel the tears running smoothly down her cheeks. It was almost as if she were reliving the battle with Koro and his desire to take her children from her.

"Ayame, Love, it'll be okay. Don't worry. The Spirit Detectives will get them back before we know it," Koenma whispered gently kissing her forehead.

Opening her eyes, Ayame nodded, "I know. It's just...I feel almost as if I'm having to deal with Koro again."

hugging her tightly, KoEnma shifted her so he could hold her, "You'll never have to deal with him again, I promise you that. Koro's gone and he'll never bother us."

Holding onto him, Ayame buried her head into his chest, letting the sobs wrack her body. He was the only thing that brought her comfort, even if it was only slightly. The real comfort would come when she was able to hold Senoki and Sachiko in her arms once more. She didn't know how to convery her feelings to KoEnma, but she knew he would never accept her gratitude.

//

Yusuke and Kuwabara separated in the garden, their eyes searching the plants for any clues. It was obvious that the twins struggled when the man tried to take them, but they couldn't really find any clues about the man.

"Damn," Yusuke whispered, his eyes narrowed. "Let's get Kurama down here. Maybe he'll have better luck."

Smiling even in a bad situation, Kuwabara opened the communicater, he still carried around out of habit. Ever sense he had found out about Yukina being pregnant, nothing seemed to wipe that grin from his face.

"Hey, Kurama. I know, it has been a while...yeah, I'm in the East Garden...That's right...We need you. You know, to help find some clues...I'll explain when you get here so hurry up."

Kuwabara closed the communicater, his attention once more on Yusuke, "He's just over the wall with Kikiyo and Keinomi."

Even as he said it, Yusuke watched Kurama climb over the wall. The way he moved was fluidly, almost as a Kitsune was supposed to. Kurama, however, was now Ningen and though he still worshipped Lord Inari, he didn't consider himself a Kitsune.

"Okay, so what happened?"

Yusuke sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Some guys came through and knocked Lavender out before kidnapping the twins. The only clues we have are from this garden, but we're not good with plants. So...think you could help?"

Kurama nodded slightly, kneeling beside a flowerbed that was situated at his feet. The others were silent as he worked, his eyes focused on the flowers. He couldn't only control plants, but he could talk with them. Most people didn't believe that plants were alive, that they could see, hear, and feel things as well as anything else, but Kurama did. It was almost as if the bond between the Kitsune and the plants were never broken.

Yusuke could only shift and watch, his eyes glued ont he connection between the two. It almost felt as if he was invading a private matter, his eyebrows raised as he watched Kurama lightly caress the flower.

Kurama turned hiw eyes to them, speaking softly, "The man was tall, about 6 feet. He was muscular with scars crisscrossing his body. He spoke perfect English, but his voice is raspy and hoarse. He knocked Lavender out with the butt of his axe."

Yusuke winced, his gaze turning up towards the window when he thought of the pain that had to of inflicted on her. He could already feel the anger growing inside of him at the thought of another guy hutting a woman. If anyone had even said something about hitting a girl when he was near them, he would have knocked the guy out at the very least.

"Did it say anything about where the guy headed?"

Shaking his head sadly, Kurama sighed, "Only that he disappeared through a portal."

//

Alisee sat down as she returned to camp, sadly staring at the ground. Rain and Leena paid her no heed as they left to patrol, chattering animatedly as they disappeared. Yoshi sat across from her, his eyes glued on her as he watched her cup her head in her hand.

"Are you all right?" he asked, gently stroking the fire to keep it burning so they had light and heat.

"Do I look okay to you?" When he remained silent, she sighed, "Look, I'm sorry. It's just...I should be doing something better than this. I fight Koro and automatically I'm downgraded to a guard!"

Yoshi nodded slightly, his eyes trained on the fire, "That's the thing. That's all we ever are." He glanced up at her, nearly smiling at her look of confusion, "When we're younger, we protect the things that are dear to us. Our friends, family, lives, treasures. When we get older we protect only those dear to us. The treasures, the things don't matter anymore.

"We're not just guarding some portal," he spoke softly. "With the way the energy is being drained from the barriers, we might have more than guarding to do soon. Right now though we're guarding the lives of those that don't have the strength to protect themselves."

Alisee started at him a moment before laughing, "Wow. Who would have thought a Ninja would have philosophical thoughts about guarding people. You know, Yoshi, you surprise me sometimes."

He smiled slightly, nodding, "Ninja's are inclined to think about what matters to them so they have a reason to die or live fighting. Otherwise what's the point in continuing with teaching Ninjitsu ways to people?"

She shrugged, picking up the canteen that was at his feet, "That's a good point, but what does it matter if they have a reason to fight other than to save their own asses?"

"Then they won't just go murdering people when they get angry. Everything has to have a reason."

Nodding, she drank deeply from the canteen, a thin stream of water dribbling down her chin. She wiped it away on her now dirty hand, her gaze shifting to Draco as he entered the camp. With a slight smile, she returned to his side, leaving a perplexed Yoshi behind.

//

Hiei once more searched the sky, his eyes narrowed against the cold wind that blew furiously at him. he had yet to see the Koorime's Isle and he was becoming angered. He needed to get to them, to get the Elixir if he wanted to save Sinamon. What got to him was that he couldn't understand why he couldn't find the Isle when so many times he used to see it. Then it had always awoken an anger in him that was something he would have thought he could deal with.

"Where the hell are you?!" he yelled in frustration, slamming his hand into the ground.

He could the fear clog his throat, his hands curling into fists as he fell to his knees. He was terrified about losing Sinamon when he had finally found the love he had been searching for for so long. the tears he would norammly refuse to have, came without his thoughts. They fell into crystaline jewels that gleamed off the snow before him. It was only that the color symbolized fear in the color of deep blue. Even as he stared at it, he was unable to stop the tears that fell.

He couldn't fail Sinamon, the woman who had been able to break through his barriers. She was counting on him to save her life.

"Why can't I just find the Isle? Then I could be sure I could save her," he said as if someone could him.

"I think I could help. Since you are of Koorime Origin, I believe it would be all right to return you there. Besides, it's what Hino would have wanted."

Hiei looked up, his eyes searching for the feminine voice that seemed to flow on the wind. A young woman stepped out into the small clearing, her hands clasped before her. Her hair was a soft white, the snowflakes sticking to it blended almost perfectly. Her skin was pale and unblemished as she stood before him. What he found siconcerting was her eyes. the pale blue orbs stared unseeingly at him, almost as if she knew he was there. Clothed like most Koorime's, she wore a thin white kimono that trailed behind her slightly in the snow.

"My name is Aset. I'm an Koorime and believe that you wish for my help. Correct?" she asked.

Nodding slightly, he stood, "I need to find the Elixir that rest within the heart of the Isle. Without that I have nothing."

Smiling as she took his head, she replied, "I will help as I can. Come. Later you will tell me the story."

//

Satoru smiled at the young girl, watching her cough as she fought the disease. She was strong, moreso than she seemed. Even though she was unconscious he could tell she would last longer than the others had, but he couldn't be sure just how long, not with how powerful the curse was. Luckily, he knew that once she drank the Elixir than she would become immune to the curse and thus would be able to stay with Hiei.

Hiei, he thought, there's a boy that knows how to get the Elixir.

Since he had lived in the icy realm of the Makai nearly his whole life, he knew nearly everything that the Lady of the Isle would do to test Hiei worth. Only then would he be able to have the life he wanted to live.

"I won't worry ya, youngun. He be back with da Elixir and then you two'll be better," he whispered as he tucked the blanket tighter around her.

Much to his shock, she sat up quickly, her eyes scanning the room before leaning on him, "Where's Hiei?"

Satoru sighed, nearly smiling at the girl, "He's gone ta get ya the Elixir. It'll save ya. Now back ta bed."

Even as she laid back, she continued to stare at him, her eyes wide and innocent, "He's in trouble. Someone will hurt if I don't do something."

Nodding, he became worried when she suddenly passed out once more. Even though she was stronger than normal, it seemed that the curse was working twice as hard to bring her down. If it was true then he could only hope that Hiei hurried to find the Elixir or else soon it would be useless. Without Sinamon, Satoru knew Hiei would return to the life of a brutal killer that had a heart black as the abyss and cold as the Koorime's blood.