Chapter III
In front of a hidden cave entrance stood a silver haired fox demon. 18 years had passed but it feels as if just yesterday he was running through the woods to get into this cave with his bat demon friend Korunue. "This lair will be filled with the most valuable treasure from all the 3 realms one day, ne Kurama? He can still recall the bat demons words while smirking in a friendly way. That had been Korunue's last day before he got killed while in their mission to steal another treasure from makai. "I need your help right now Bat." Youko whispered smiling at how ironic it feels to be here in makai, in his cave once again thinking about treasures, only this time the treasure he seeks is not for his own gain nor for its value but for the purpose of helping someone important in his life which he never had in his past Youko life. He walks into the cave and the smell, the feeling the memories all came to life as déjà vu hit him. He walked deeper into the cave, went past an indoor garden surrounded by a small lake while patches of sunlight can be seen showering the different colored flowers and at last he came into a narrow passage almost invisible because it's being concealed by a protruding wall of uneven rock. He walked for a couple of minutes until he arrived into a dead end.
Hundreds of miles from Youko's cave a demon with black wings lays on the ground in front of the skull filled underground altar. He can hear his rasping and ragged breath echoing all around him. The echoes mocking him, reminding him that he's all alone in this underground hell. The fallen demon couldn't move. Paralyzed with torn wings, the only part of him that shows life are his anger filled silver blue eyes. Torn away from his body he vanished into nothing more than a floating powerless spirit, he couldn't believe that his soul would be able to go back to his body after 500 years. "Finally you have awakened, and so have I..You can't escape me anymore."
Botan was fixing the hem of her kimono in front of the portal to Makai when Kairan and 2 other Spirit warriors arrived. She realized that this is actually the first time she saw the spirit warriors. It is rare to see them walking around the palace. Even while guarding the king they are hidden somewhere. She also noticed that Kairan seems to be the youngest of all 3 of them and he is the only not wearing silver armor around the shoulder. "Maybe his rank is lower?" thought Botan. She greeted them cheerfully and Kairan, like he did the first time bowed his head to her. She found it a bit uncomfortable but nonetheless gratified that he held her in such high regards. "Are you ready Botan San?" he asked while the 2 other warriors remained silent. "Always ready!" she said feeling comfortable with Kairan. They all stepped inside the portal and suddenly Botan felt the heavy cold wind of Maikai blowing on her face. It feels weird coming here in Makai with other people. She misses the Urameshi Team even though Kairan is not a bad company as well. "Maybe I can introduce him to them! I'm sure they will like him :3" Botan glanced at him from the corner of her eyes. His glorious golden eyes look alert as if sensing if there is danger around ready to strike if any demon decides to attack. She smiled to herself "I know he will protect me."
The oldest in the group who insist for everyone to call him "Kaichou oji chan" was the first to speak. "There will be a rainstorm coming soon its best if we run." He said looking at them with his good natured face. Like Kairan both of the warriors are wearing a kimono and a hakama but they have silver armor around their chest and shoulders. Kaichou started running, his blue kimono flowing with the wind, while the other spirit called Saijin looked up at Botan and Kairan. "I'll go ahead and scout the area. Keep close behind." He said mainly to Botan since Kairan already knows the team formation. Before Botan can answer there was and flash of green blur and he was gone. "He is the fastest among us." Explained Kairan casually. Botan was reminded of Hiei and she suddenly remembered that he is currently residing here in Makai.
"I wonder where Hiei is right now." She though as images of Saijin and Hiei having a marathon in Yusuke's school. She giggled inwardly and Kairan looked at her from the corner of his eyes. "At least she's happy." He thought smiling sadly..
In Reikai Palace..
The toddler Koenma was sitting in his usual desk but unlike his usual activity he is not stamping tons of documents, instead he is looking through scrolls as old as his father and as big as he is.
"where is it…where is it…" are the words that can be heard from the prince for a couple of hours already. "Ayame!" he shouted as the black kimono appeared from the wall.
"Yes Koenma sama?" said the voice of the emotionless woman.
"Bring me the Black Book." He said without removing his eyes from the scroll. Ayame hesitated and she saw a painting of a the three realms and 7 orbs floating around it. 1 of the orbs has turned black and 2 others are gray, while 4 remained pure white orbs.
"Ayame hurry this is very important!" Koenma said startling the usually calm spirit.
"Koenma sama the Black Book cannot be touched by anyone aside from King Enma, You and your mother. It is also inside your father's room which I cannot enter" she said in her usual way.
Koenma let out a sigh; he doesn't want to be in his father's quarters even though the king is not in the palace right now. "Alright you can leave now." He said as he went to his father's room while the hairs in his arms stand on their ends.
He left the office leaving the scrolls open. Ayame couldn't help but be curious on the scrolls. She moved closer her heart beating fast, she knew that these scrolls are sacred but doesn't know what it contains. She saw the words '7 Sacred Lights' written somewhere in the scroll. She looked at the pictures and realizing how important is in the scripture she decided to just leave it alone. Her respect for the Reikai king is far too great to intrude into the most dangerous secret of the kings and queens of Reikai. Ayame walked out of the room determined to bury everything in the most hidden part of her mind not knowing that she just discovered a part of the secret past of her closes friend in Reikai, her friend who is now currently trekking the dangerous forest of Makai.
It's been almost an hour already and Botan is flying alongside the running Kairan using her oar, she was wondering who will win if Hiei and Saijin ever have a marathon when suddenly Kairan asked her to stop. She hopped down from her oar suddenly sensing danger from all directions. She panicked when suddenly..
"Botan san trust me.." Kairan said picking Botan up as he starts running while carrying her. More than 20 demons are running after them! He runs faster than any of them and Botan wasn't scared. She looked up at him and saw surprise turning into annoyance registered in his facial features which made her shift her eyes to the position she was looking and there in front of them, 50 demons were standing. Kairan didn't stop running he continued, Botan closed her eyes shut waiting for the impact but nothing happened and they keep running still. She opened her eyes and the demons are gone. She looked back and saw the other demons that were behind them earlier standing far behind as if they are not sure whether to follow or not. One started running and another and soon all of them are following them again. A lizard demon leaped and was closing in from behind "Kairan behind us!" Botan panicked "Hold tight." He said in a whisper as he suddenly faced the enemy and blew lightly on the wind. Little glittering lights flowed out into the air from his mouth and suddenly a light green spirit ball appeared, multiplied and charged straight to the 7 demons nearest to them. As the energy spheres touches each demon they suddenly froze and slowly vanished in thin air as if they are ashes being blown by the wind. A few seconds passed, Botan was speechless. No blood, no scent, even their spirits vanished. This is the first time Botan witnessed this kind of power, a power than can erase even the spirit of a living creature. She tensed up as goose bumps crept all over Botan and she realized how dangerous Kairan could be but that's not all, somewhere behind the back of her mind she thinks she knows someone else who have that kind of power. Kairan sensed her getting tensed but he kept on running even though the rest of the demons that was destroyed weren't following anymore. He looked at her and saw "Botan san are you alright?" He asked knowing that Botan got scared of what happened. "Kairan…what happened?"
He had no choice.."It is my gift Botan san or curse if you prefer to call it. Lesser beings if touched by my energy waves will cease to exist. As much as I hate to use my power I don't have any other choice but to destroy those demons or we will be dead by now." He said without looking at her.
Botan was quiet for a while still looking behind them. "For some reason I think I know someone who uses the same ability but it seems that I forgot who. Hehehe.. gomen Kairan kun it's just that it bothers me a bit as if..oh forget about it! It's my fault for not paying much attention on the history of the old spirit warriors. I might have read it somewhere." She said in a half hearted laugh. It bothers her that someone has the ability to erase a living being and Kairan noticed this. He glanced down at Botan who have a troubled look in her eyes. She's still looking behind them; the nagging feeling won't go away giving her an uneasy feeling. She felt sorry for the souls that vanished just like that, being a soul guide made her see all the sides of the deceased ningen and youkai. Even the most evil youkais had asked her to give them some time to see their families and love ones even for just a few minutes before she takes them away forever. "Those youkais no matter how bad they are will surely want to see their love ones one last time.." she thought sadly and as her thoughts moved towards Kairan's power the eerie feeling came back again and she can't stop thinking who that person is. She tried hard thinking one by one of her friends, allies and youkais and humans with powers that she has encountered. One of them has the same power and she's quite positive about that but who is it? She didn't stop thinking as Kairan never stop running under the darkening sky of Makai, the onset of the storm is nearing.
Flash. Lightning strikes out of nowhere.
"Kyaahh!" Botan suddenly screamed and she shuts her eyes tightly.
Flash.
"Botan san we're almost there." She heard Kairan's voice as she felt a raindrop hit her cheek. She opened her eyes and look around, the rain is making everything so blur. Flash. A strike of lightning lightened up the whole surrounding and for a fraction of a moment Botan saw a silver haired demon dressed in pristine white standing in the middle of the rain looking up the sky as a blue haired woman glowing in the raining night slowly ascends from heaven into his arms.