The next chapter is up and ready to go!
It's a longer chapter, eh?
It was updated pretty quickly, right?
Shocking twists and turns ahead of course!
Lots of stuff going on in this chapter so pay close attention because s**t hits the fan!
Thanks for all the reviews! You gave me exactly what I needed! You got the brain working and I hope you love it!
Sorry I haven't been updating so quickly- I got a permanent job and it's kicking my butt. I will try really hard to update more often and keep the chapters somewhat long-I read all the comments and take them very seriously! You guys ALL keep me moving and writing! I actually reread some comments and was like 'I have to get on this now!' Though I do like to leave cliffhangers so sometimes they have to be a bit shorter! ^.^
Last Chapter: "Bring her back Kurama," she pleaded.
Kurama nodded and took off after Yusuke. Kat took the children to her room. Hiei couldn't move. His mind was racing. Then he looked up and flitted out of the hallway.
Hatorra raced down the halls and jumped through an opened window. She needed air and she needed it quick. Her paws hit the dirt and she stumbled and fell. She rolled to a stop in the middle of Yusuke's territory. She was panting heavily and her eyes were wild.
I need to try to calm down…
Soon, her panting came under control and she rested on the ground contently. As she rested she felt the ground moving beneath her. She made sure to shut everything out and close her mind off. She remained in her wolf form and didn't move.
"Hatorra!" a voice cried.
She didn't even bother picking her ears up.
I can't believe he thought I meant Kasei…he actually thought I was thinking of killing her…
Yusuke's face appeared before her gold eyes. He looked concerned.
"Are you alright?" he asked, letting his hand rest on her head.
Hatorra didn't want to worry him. He didn't think she wanted to kill Kasei. She turned her head and licked his hand kindly before resting it on the ground again. Yusuke sighed.
"What the hell happened?" he asked calming some.
The wolf stared at him with her golden eyes, but made no move to respond. Yusuke gently rubbed her head.
"So you're knocked up again, huh?" he asked and the wolf let out a low whine.
Yusuke nodded.
"We'll handle it like usual. Don't worry so much," he smiled, but Misa touched his shoulder.
"It's not that simple Yusuke," she said quietly.
He looked at her confused. Misa looked to Hatorra for permission before speaking. She then explained to Yusuke what the situation was. When she finished, his eyes were wide with uncertainty.
"W-What are you gonna do?" he asked the wolf nervously.
The wolf stared off into the distance. What she wouldn't have given for a run through the woods. She took in a deep breath and huffed.
What am I gonna do?
It was a good question. She slowly stood back up. Yusuke pet her fur gently.
"Kat and Keiko are with the kids. Why don't you change back and we can all sit and talk about this?" he suggested and Hatorra sighed and transformed.
She stood up and looked at Yusuke, who offered her a weak smile. Then her wolf ears picked up something.
"Do you hear whistling?" she asked and Yusuke and Misa frowned.
"No, why?" he asked looking to Misa, who shook her head.
Hatorra shook it off.
"I think I'm losing my mind," she joked and Yusuke and Misa chuckled.
They all turned back to the mansion and watched as it blew up.
Hatorra's eyes widened in terror as she watched the mansion become consumed in roaring flames and smoke. Then she heard more whistling.
"It's bombs. They're bombing us Yusuke!" Misa yelled turning to see an army rushing their way.
Yusuke turned to Hatorra quickly.
"Get everyone out of the mansion and take them away from here! Try to reach Mukuro!" he yelled to her and she nodded quickly.
Yusuke grabbed her arm.
"Hatorra, make sure to—"
The ground shook beneath them and then rose up. Hatorra let out a yelp as something hard connected with her head and then everything went black.
Time Unknown…
Hatorra's eyes opened slowly. Sound returned to her ears. Explosions and yelling. Smell returned to her nose. Blood. Sight returned to her eyes. Demons everywhere. Pain shot through her skull as her eyes shifted. A body lay on top of her. She froze slightly before realizing she didn't know who it was, only that the demon was dead. She pushed him off and sat up becoming dizzy immediately. A demon dropped next to her, an arrow sticking out of his head. She covered her mouth.
I'm in the middle of a war! The mansion...it blew up. The kids!
She forced herself to her feet and held her head. She felt the dried blood matting some of her hair to her scalp. She skimmed over the battlefield trying to find a familiar face. Yusuke and Misa, who she remembered being close to her, were nowhere to be seen.
"Aunt Hatorra!" a strangled cry came from her left.
She turned just in time to see Daisuke go down with a demon. He held the vicious thing back while it tried to snap at him. Hatorra's eyes widened and she raced over to him. Her canines grew as she launched herself at the demon and bit into his neck, causing him to shriek. She ripped out his jugular, her eyes burning gold as she dropped him to the ground. She walked over and grabbed Daisuke by the shoulders.
"On your feet Dai! Are you alright?" she asked him.
The young boy was bloodied, but he managed a nod.
"Where are the others?" she called scanning the land, making sure no one was too close to them.
Daisuke shook his head.
"W-We got separated," he mumbled in shock.
Hatorra nodded and kissed his forehead quickly.
"We're going to find them! We're going to be okay! Just stay by me alright?" she yelled over the screaming and burning flames.
A few stray tears escaped his eyes as he nodded. They took off for the burning palace careful to keep their ki hidden and their faces down. If they were recognized they'd become targets. Hatorra's heart was racing. She scanned the battlegrounds with her wolf eyes.
"Are we going to go in the palace?" Daisuke had to yell as the roaring flames grew louder.
Hatorra nodded.
"We have too! They could still be in there!" she yelled back to him.
They were about to head for the door when there was a loud rumbling.
"It's coming down!" a demon shrieked and demons began running off away from the palace.
Hatorra's eyes widened watching the large palace quiver and begin to fall. She turned and grabbed Daisuke.
"We have to get out of this zone! Hold onto me!" she yelled and transformed into the white wolf.
Daisuke climbed onto the back and she took off.
"What are we gonna do now?" he screamed holding onto her tightly.
"I can't leave Kas and the others behind!" Hatorra spoke and Daisuke's eyes widened.
"You can talk in this form?" he called and Hatorra sighed inwardly.
She ran past hundreds of fleeing demons.
"Yes, let's keep that between us though," she said quickly.
"I don't think Kas and the others are in the tower! We got out when the attack first started! But then we were hit when a bomb landed nearby! When I woke up I was alone!" he yelled.
The palace crumbled causing smoke and ash to rise, hiding them from all eyes. Daisuke coughed and buried his face in her fur.
"You can see through this?" he called.
"Yes! Don't breathe this in! Stay close to my fur; it'll protect your face!" Hatorra called back.
Daisuke nodded into her fur.
"Kas? Kas, can you hear me?" she linked.
There was a small pause before…
"M-Mommy?" Kas linked back.
She's alive. Thank goodness.
"Mommy, where are you? Is Dai with you? Hideki and Yuki are with me. Mommy, please come get us! We're hiding in the rubble…" the young girl linked back.
"I'm coming right now Kas! Just hang on! I have Dai with me! We're coming! Where in the rubble?" she linked and made a U-turn.
"What are you doing?" Dai asked and Hatorra sped up, pushing her legs to go faster.
"I know where Kas and the others are!" she responded quickly.
"A lot of demons are fighting by us and I don't see daddy or anybody! Please hurry mommy! Hideki's hurt and I don't know what to do!" she linked afraid.
Fear crept into Hatorra's chest.
"It's alright! Everything will be alright, but I need to find you! Tell me something where I can identify your location!" she said firmly.
There was another small pause and Hatorra was about to speak again when Kas spoke up.
"I see you! Turn to your right!" she linked and Hatorra skidded and turned sharply to her right.
She was about to ask what to do next when Kasei jumped out of the rubble with Yuki. Hideki's arm was draped over Yuki's shoulders. The boy was clearly holding him up. Hatorra stopped only for a moment.
"Get on my back now!" she yelled at them and Daisuke helped Yuki pull Hideki on her.
Kasei transformed into her black wolf form.
"You're carrying too much! I'll run beside you!" she said quickly and Hatorra looked at her.
"Stay close. We're heading to the forest. Don't stop unless I do," she commanded.
"What about daddy?" she yelled and Hatorra shook her head.
"You're father is capable of handling himself! I have to make sure you kids are safe! Now follow!" she snapped and Kasei nodded.
The two wolves took off, the white one carrying the three boys on her back. They were close to the entrance to the forest when a demon struck out and took Kasei off her feet. The young pup went crashing to the ground and tumbled with the demon. Hatorra growled venomously and charged the demon raising his blade about to kill her daughter. She tackled him, causing the boys to fall off of her back and rolled with him a few feet away disappearing into the smoke that still polluted the air.
"M-Mom!" Kasei yelped.
Daisuke sat up and went over to Hideki. He draped the young boys shoulder over his own and rose with him.
"What do we do?" Yuki cried nervously.
"She'll come back for us. I know it," Daisuke mumbled.
The kids waited, hidden within the smoke, trying to stay alert. Suddenly, the white wolf reappeared, blood coating her fur. Kasei's red eyes widened.
"M-Mom…" she trailed off unable to take her eyes off all the blood.
"G-Get on my back! We need to move now!" she commanded and Daisuke and Yuki got Hideki on before climbing on.
Hatorra clenched her teeth as the kids situated themselves on her back. She turned to Kasei.
"Let's go! Keep up!" she yelled and the group disappeared into the forest.
A Few Hours Later…
Kasei dropped to the ground panting heavily. Hatorra turned to her daughter and stopped running. She hurried to her side nudging her muzzle with her wet nose.
"Kas?" Hatorra called and Kasei glanced up at her.
Daisuke lifted his head up.
"It's getting dark. We've been moving for hours. Let's find somewhere to stay for the night," he suggested and Hatorra let them slip off her back.
Kasei transformed into her human form and stood up weakly. She was about to fall again when Daisuke caught her and scooped her up.
"I'll carry her," he said and Hatorra smiled in thanks.
She walked over to Yuki, who was holding Hideki up. The boy was unconscious. Hatorra kneeled down and touched the boy's face.
"He's cold, but breathing. You're right, we need to find shelter," she said and picked him up.
She held Yusuke's son close to her and her wolf eyes scanned the darkness.
"There," she said seeing a cave overlooking a cliff.
The group got to the cave and Daisuke let a couple of seeds drop from his pocket. They sprouted and lit up, creating a dim light within the cave. She lay Hideki down, close to the plant and furthest from the entrance to the cave. Her eyes scanned his wounds. The one on his arm was the deepest.
"How did this happen?" she asked the group.
Kasei sniffed, causing Hatorra to look at her daughter.
"Because of me," she muttered and Yuki shook his head.
"Don't say that Kasei," he tried, but she shook her head.
"When we got separated we looked for somewhere to hide. We ran into a demon and he charged me. Hideki took the hit for me instead," she said wiping her wet eyes.
Hatorra processed the information.
"I'll clean and wrap his arm tightly. All the other cuts look shallow," she said ripping off her sleeve.
Yuki walked up to her and froze a stone. Kasei stepped forward and touched it. Hatorra's eyes widened as the frozen stone began to melt. She cleaned Hideki's wound and then bandaged it tightly.
The bleeding stopped at least…
Everyone tried to get settled. Hatorra bandaged her wounds carefully, also managing to stop the blood. She cleaned up Daisuke, Kasei, and Yuki next. Thankfully, their injuries were minor. Hatorra turned slightly and looked out of the entrance to the cave. Her eyes widened. Fire and smoke covered most of Yusuke's territory. They had gotten out just in time.
"Do you think the others got out alright?" Yuki asked quietly.
"Sure they did. My dad likes fire," Kasei said trying to sound confident.
Hatorra looked to Daisuke. The oldest boy stood quiet watching the flames tear through the territory.
"Dai…they'll be alright," Kasei said walking up to him and taking his hand in hers.
Daisuke looked at his cousin briefly before looking back out at the burning land.
"Yeah…" he whispered and gave her hand a squeeze letting her know he'd be alright.
She smiled weakly and walked back over to Hatorra. Yuki sat against the wall watching Hideki for a short while before closing his eyes. Kasei sat near her mother.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Hatorra asked her daughter softly.
Kasei nodded slowly.
"I'm fine. Dai found me first and then we found the others. He got us all out of the mansion alive. He saved us all mommy. But then we got separated. He got a demon to chase after him so we could escape. He was going to die for us. I'm worried about him," she said in a whisper.
Hatorra's eyes widened slightly before they lowered. To be so young and ready to die. He shouldn't have had to do that. She touched her daughter's cheek lovingly.
"Are you mad at daddy?" she whispered uneasily.
Hatorra sighed lightly and shook her head.
"No, not anymore. Now I just want him here with us," she admitted.
Kasei nodded.
"You're having another baby," Kasei stated more than asked.
Hatorra shrugged.
"With what's happened…I'm not even sure anymore," she admitted weakly.
"Are you okay with it if I still am?" she asked and Kasei looked away almost angrily.
"Not if it keeps hurting you," she said and Hatorra's eyes widened.
She looked just like her father in that moment. Kasei reached out and touched Hatorra's stomach.
"If you're still in there, stop hurting mommy. Get stronger on your own. Stop stealing her ki," Kasei spoke to her stomach sternly.
Hatorra would have laughed if it was any other situation. But instead she just watched as Kas let her small fingers graze over her stomach.
"If you hurt her again, I promise that when you're born, I'm gonna kick your ass," she said and Hatorra couldn't hold back anymore.
A small laugh escaped her lips and tears rolled down her eyes. Kasei looked up shocked.
"Mommy, are you hurt?" she asked quickly.
Hatorra shook her head and held her arms out towards her daughter.
"No, now come here," she said and Kasei crawled into her arms happily.
"You're gonna be the best big sister ever," she said and Kasei grinned at her.
She waited until Kasei fell asleep to slowly sit up and make her way to the entrance of the cave. She sat carefully next to Daisuke.
"You should be resting. You're wounds are pretty bad," he said not looking at her.
Hatorra nodded and looked out into the burning territory.
"You can't put out those flames from here, no matter how intently you watch them," she said and he looked at her.
"I'm just…thinking…" he trailed off unsure if he should tell her.
Hatorra stared at him, waiting.
"I'm thinking we should infiltrate Shura's territory," he admitted and Hatorra's eyes widened.
"Dai…" she whispered shocked.
"He needs to be removed from the equation now. He's causing too much chaos and we already have those two stronger demons to think about," he said leaning against the wall of the cave.
"What's your plan?" Hatorra asked quietly.
Daisuke shook his head.
"We can't stay here past tomorrow, so we should rest up. In the morning we should move south towards Mukuro's territory. Hopefully everyone else is there and safe…though I have my doubts," he said lowering his eyes.
Hatorra draped her arm around her nephew and pulled him close to her.
"That's a very good plan Dai. You did well," she said to him and he sighed and leaned into her tiredly.
"You shouldn't be making such heavy decisions such as sacrificing yourself for the group. You're still so young. Rest now, I'll take watch for the rest of the night," she said and he went to protest as his eyes slid shut.
Hatorra watched him fall asleep and then looked to the territory. She opened her link. It was worth a try.
"H-Hiei?" she linked almost inaudibly.
There was silence on the other line and she closed her eyes tightly.
"Hatorra? Where are you? Are you alright? Do you have Kasei?" Hiei linked back quickly.
Hatorra's eyes snapped opened and her heart beat faster.
"Y-Yes she's with me. I have all the children. We're away from the territory," she linked back.
"That's good. Where are you?"
"We're in a cave overlooking Yusuke's territory. Are you alright? Are there any others with you?" she linked as fast as she could.
When she received no answer she panicked slightly.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared at the entrance of the cave startling her. She grasped onto Daisuke tightly and growled viciously. She let her gold eyes scan the darkness.
"It's me," Kat said quickly and Hatorra's eyes widened.
Daisuke woke up and his eyes widened as well.
"Mom!" he yelled surprised and shot up hugging her.
She hugged him back tightly closing her eyes. Hatorra stood up slowly.
"How'd you—"
"—Hiei told me where you guys were. He linked it to me and told me to meet with you. Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke stood back to fight my mother and Hiroku," she said uneasily.
Hatorra gasped.
"They were there?" she said startled.
Kat nodded.
"Working with Shura," she revealed and Hatorra felt sick.
"They could need help—"
"—no Hatorra. Let them handle it. They were holding their own when they told me to go. We have to head towards Mukuro's palace. She's been notified and has a strong hold up for us," she explained.
Hatorra managed a nod. Kat grabbed her shoulders lightly.
"They're going to be okay," she tried.
"What about Keiko, Kuwabara, and Yukina?" she asked quickly, after remembering hearing nothing about them.
Kat's eyes lowered and she shook her head.
"We can't find them," she whispered and Hatorra's face drained of all color.
Kat turned and looked behind Hatorra.
"But I'm sure they're fine," she tried to comfort a tearful Yuki.
She looked to Hideki. Hatorra turned to her.
"We need to get him proper treatment. I know you can't heal, but can you see if I tied it right?" she asked and Kat nodded quickly walking over to him.
"The bad thing is that someone probably followed me here. I wasn't hiding my ki too well. We should leave now," Kat said checking his bandage and nodding.
Hatorra looked out from the entrance.
"Then we will move. Does this cave have a back entrance?" she asked and Daisuke shook his head.
"Well then let's make one," she said quickly.
"Well alright," Kat said and froze the back wall before putting her foot through it.
It shattered into millions of tiny frozen pieces.
Hatorra picked up Hideki as Kasei stood by her side, Yuki on the other.
"Stay together now at all times," she said and turned.
"Dai, what are you doing?" she asked and Daisuke dropped several seeds at the entrance of the cave.
"Leaving them a good bye present," he said quietly and they all took off out the back.
When a few demon soldiers reached the top of the cave and stepped on the seeds, vines sprung out attacking them and wrapping them up.
"What'd you leave for them Dai?" Kas asked curiously.
"Man eating vines," Daisuke smirked as screams could be heard from the cave.
Hatorra and Kat sweat dropped.
Maybe Kas isn't the scariest of them all…
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