"How are your injuries?" Reuel asked Hiei.
"Not so great..." Hiei said with a sigh.
"Well, you better come with me. I'll get you some good treatment." Reuel said as he carefully picked up Hiei and began to walk away. Kurama followed as they walked along a dirt road through a small town. People greeted Reuel just as they did for Koray earlier. Finally they came to a small, but well-off house.
"This is where I live." Reuel said. "My wife is a doctor, so she'll be happy to care for your wounds."
"A doctor… That's convenient." Kurama said.
"You bet it is. She's also Koray's personal doctor, since that guy can never be bothered to go to a hospital of his own free will." Reuel explained as he opened the door and stepped inside.
The house was of a similar arrangement as Koray's. They came to a sitting area upon entry. The dining room was on the far end of the house. The entrance to the kitchen was on the right, along with a set of stairs that led to the second floor. Unlike Koray's home, this place was nicely decorated. It was most likely the result of a woman's touch. Reuel sat Hiei down on the couch and motioned Kurama to sit in one of the chairs.
"Feel free to make yourselves at home." Reuel said. Then he turned and called out: "Honey! I hate to be a bother, but you've got a patient out here."
Hiei and Kurama heard footsteps from the upper floor, then a female voice:
"Honestly! What would that guy do without me? Koray, you better not be hurt too badly!"
Descending from the stairs was an absolutely gorgeous woman with thick blond hair that was tied up in a bun. Her bangs were just long enough that you could see her beautiful black eyes. She wore a simple dress that ended just above her knees and carried a case that most likely contained medical equipment. Hiei and Kurama did nothing but stare as she entered the room. This angel was married to Reuel? How'd that brawny guy pull it off?
"Hey wait," She said as she approached them. "You're not Koray. Though you look so much like him..."
"Yeah, I've been getting that all day." Hiei said with a sigh.
"Honey, this is Hiei. He's Koray's son. And that kid over there's Kurama. Boys, this is my wife Aysuna."
Aysuna did nothing but stare in wonder. Just like most people, she was surprised to find out that Koray had a child. Hiei on the other hand was starting to hate the situation. He couldn't stand this kind of awkward attention.
Suddenly Aysuna smiled and said: "Well, it's very nice to meet you Hiei. I take it you're the one who got hurt. So tell me what kind of treatment you need."
"Um, it's just some broken ribs..." Hiei replied.
"I see. That's easy enough." Aysuna sat down beside Hiei and held her hands over the wounded area. She then began channeling her aura into Hiei's body, and right away he could tell his injury was getting better.
"That's an impressive technique." Kurama said to Aysuna. "You match your aura to that of your patient so that you can manipulate it to heal faster. You speed up the process even more by using your own aura to heal as well."
"That's right. It took a lot of practice to perfect, but it comes in handy when you've got someone like Koray to take care of."
"He gets hurt often?" Kurama asked.
"Of course he does. He doesn't feel pain, and so the poor guy doesn't even know his limits. Every time I see him I have to make sure he's not hurt somewhere." Aysuna said shrugging her shoulders.
"He's been that way ever since we met him." Reuel said.
"I see." Kurama said. Hiei just laid there in his own thoughts.
At that moment, the front door burst open and Koray walked in.
"Hey guys." He said non-chalantly.
"Speak of the devil." Aysuna said with a sigh.
"Koray, you can't just burst into someone's house! It's rude!" Reuel declared angrily.
"Come on, it's not that big a deal." Koray said. "And besides, I would think that you'd be expecting me considering the mess Hiei and Kurama got into earlier. By the way, thanks for helping them out."
"You do realize that this whole thing happened because you left them all alone?" Reuel replied impatiently. "It wouldn't have killed you to stay home for a day. I mean, you're even the one who slacks off the most, and suddenly your work is the highest priority?"
"Look, you can't entirely blame me!" Koray said innocently. "I warned them not to open the door to anyone."
"Yes, but you failed to inform us of the shield surrounding your house." Kurama inferred suddenly. "Had we known, we would not have been so reckless."
"Oh, well... Never mind then..." Koray stuttered, realizing that he had been beat.
"So what was so important that you would leave your son in harm's way?" Aysuna asked.
"I was wondering when you'd ask!" Koray replied with a smile. "I was following a lead on the Black Knights."
"A lead? You never told me about this!" Reuel exclaimed with frustration.
"Give me a break. Stuff like this is easier to handle alone." Koray said. "Anyway, as I was saying, I was able to locate a major checkpoint used by the Black Knights. It's hidden in the major city to the North, and its main purpose is to supply members who act as ordinary citizens with jobs, money, weaponry, extra services and a little fun now and then. I've heard it'd disguised as a private bar so that suspicious-looking people can walk in and out without attracting too much attention."
"You really believe that load of crap?" Reuel said with disbelief. "Who even gave you this information?"
"My source." Koray said with a smirk. "Think what you like, but it's never been wrong. In two days I'm going to crash that checkpoint and you'll be eating your words."
"What is this 'source' of yours?" Kurama asked.
Koray looked at Kurama and paused for a second. Then said, "It's none of your business."
Kurama found this interesting. An unknown source which gives Koray information on the Black Knights... Kurama knew there had to be some connection to Koenma's belief that Koray is one of the Black Knights, but he couldn't piece it together yet. It would certainly help to go with Koray to the checkpoint, but he couldn't see Koray allowing it.
Hiei was curious as well. He thought about how his father was under suspicion of being one of the Black Knights, and again something seemed wrong with the accusation. Hiei found it strange that his father would be so eager to thwart the Black Knights if he really was one of them. A few useless soldiers were understandable but not a major checkpoint... Hiei stopped himself mid-thought. He wondered why he even cared. After all, it has nothing to do with him. In a few days he would be returning home, and he wouldn't ever have to think about this again.
"Hey, I've got an idea!" Koray said suddenly, disturbing everyone's thoughts. "Why don't you two come along?" He said to Hiei and Kurama.
"What?" A mix of voices exclaimed from all over the room.
"I could see from the start that these two were trouble-magnets." Koray said while Hiei glared and Kurama sighed. "This way it'll be easier to keep an eye on them."
"What the hell do you think we are, children?" Hiei yelled furiously. "We don't need chaperoning; we can take care of ourselves!"
"What Hiei means to say..." Kurama begun, in an attempt to save the opportunity. "Is that we would very much like to go, but we don't appreciate being mocked."
"Fair enough." Koray said with a smile.
"Wait, you can't just bring them along!" Reuel said to Koray. "They can't even defend themselves properly."
"Relax, we've got two days. I'll have these two shaped up in no time." Koray replied with a laid-back manner.
"What do you mean by that?" Kurama asked.
Koray smiled. "Well, we can't bring you two if you can't fight properly. Especially you, Hiei."
"Why me?" Hiei asked.
"Since you're my son, the Black Knights will most likely target you." Koray explained, though it already seemed obvious.
Hiei thought about what the Black Knight who attacked them said. The Black Knights were supposedly after him, and he wondered if that was what he meant... Or could there be more to it?
"In any case," Koray continued. "I have a special task for you, Hiei, and it's quite dangerous. So let's start your training as soon as possible."