Chapter 11: Seiryu vs Hiei

Hayami's POV

We kept running up some more stares of the tower until we found ourselves in an open room with fifteen doors on the walls.

"What! You're kidding me." Yusuke said as he stared at the doors.

"Hn, it appears we have found a maze in maze castle." Hiei said,

"Well, I guess that makes sense." Yusuke said,

"We must beware, it's something of a legend." Kurama said, "In the beginning before the barrier walls were erected around the city, hundreds of bounty hunters came and searched for the beast. None succeeded, but the beast never left their castle, letting anyone who enters forfeit their lives to this maze. There are fifteen doors, all but one leads to a dead end. There are no second attempts. Unavoidable traps lie in these incorrect passageways."

"So, choosing a random door could just easily end our lives in an instant." Hayami said,

"Alright, Mr. sensitive. This one's all you." Yusuke said to Kuwabara as he stared at each door until he stared at one door.

"Right there. The second door on the left." Kuwabara said,

"You heard the man, let's go." Yusuke said,

"How do we know he is not making a mistake?" Hiei asked,

"I'm sorry shorty, maybe it's not your thing but you just gotta have to trust me on this one." Kuwabara said as he walked in front of the door he chose. "I know, there's something big behind that door." He pushed it open, "Something scary." I saw him look down and he stumbled back, falling on his butt and making a freaked sound. "AHHH! I HATE MICE!" He said,

"Gee Kuwabara and that speech of yours is getting so dramatic." Yusuke said sarcastically,

I sweat dropped and sighed as we all got in safely. No traps had been placed on us as we walked through the long hallway. At least Kuwabara chose the correct door. We finally got out of the long hallway as a thunder strike was made, showing us where the next beast is. Both sides of the doors have dragon statues for intimidation.

"Are we supposed to be scared?" Hiei asked with a hint of anger.

"Perhaps. That is the mark of the blue dragon." Kurama said, "And judging by the odor, I say the beast is inside."

"Yeah, and he doesn't feel very nice." Kuwabara said,

The doors then started to open, letting a small form of fog escape from the room. We all walked in to see the whole room is covered by fog.

'This fog feels cold and alive.' I thought sensing the energy coming from the fog.

The door closed behind us as we wait for what was to happen next.

"This fog is alive." Kurama stated,

"Yes." Hiei agreed, "Must be a form of spirit energy coming from our beast's body."

"You have done well to have come this far." A voice was heard in the heart of the fog. "But I shall not allow you to disgrace my master."

"Where's that voice coming from?" Kuwabara asked as we all looked around for the beast.

"I don't know." Yusuke answered him, "Come our dragon! This hide n' seek game has gone pretty lame."

The fog then started to go in front of us as an explosion happened next, only to reveal the third saint beast.

"As you request." The beast said, staring at us.

"A giant!" Kuwabara said,

"You may call me Seiryu." The said beast introduced himself. "I am here to end your lives intruders." He chuckled,

"Well, he's no dragon, but he is ugly." Yusuke said,

"It is not wise to say such things to your executioner." Seiryu said, "It appears we have another guest."

A large thud noise was heard from outside the doors.

"Uh guys, I'm not sure how to tell you this but." Kuwabara said,

"It's coming from behind us." Hiei said as we looked at the doors.

Heavy breathing was all I could hear as I looked at the door. The door opened, only to reveal a very injured Byakko. Hiei immediately pulled me behind him as we all stared at the beast.

"You must help me." Byakko said to Seiryu.

"You're joking." Yusuke said,

"Please, Seiryu." Byakko begged as he walked over to Seiryu. "These cowards, they tricked me in my own lair. That half-breed, she hid her true powers from me until the end. You must help me recover."

"Hayami, you knocked that guy in the lava." Kuwabara said to me,

"I know and I don't know how he survived all of that." I responded,

"What does it take to kill this guy." Yusuke said,

"Weakling! How dare you dishonor ya further." Seiryu said to Byakko,

"Please, Seiryu." Byakko begged,

"You are no longer wanted here." Seiryu said as his fist starts to power up. "You are a disgrace."

"No Seiryu. Please, I can help you destroy them." Byakko said, "It was a small mistake."

"ICE DRAGON!" Seiryu said as he fires a cold wind toward Byakko, freezing his entire body into ice.

"He's frozen." Kuwabara said,

Seiryu jumped and kicked Byakko's body, shattering his ice body into small shards of ice, leaving his head on the ground.

"Hmm, you were right about my fog of energy." Seiryu said, "By lowering it to subzero temperature, I could wrap my enemy in ice."

"You heartless bastard! How could you do that to your own friend?!" Yusuke said,

"Seiryu...why-" Byakko said until he was completely frozen as cold blood came out of him,

"He was a weapon, not a friend and like a cheap sword, he rusted." Seiryu spits at Byakko as a small tear was formed in his eye.

I used my power to get a single tear drop from the frozen tiger and felt the emotions he felt when Seiryu killed him.

I looked at Seiryu with anger. "You are one cold-hearted beast." I said to him in a cold tone, clenching my fist to where I held Byakko's tear.

"This race of beasts has no loyalty." Kurama said, glaring at Seiryu. "Alliance is a form strictly to gain power."

"I don't what kind of raise they are. It's never right to kill off your own teammate." Kuwabara said, "Especially when they come asking for help."

"This guy has pushed me too far. He's dead." Yusuke said,

"Save your anger." Hiei said to Yusuke. "You can take their leader, I insist this fight be mine." He walked forward towards Seiryu,

"Ah, shall you be first Hiei." Seiryu said as they stared at each other.

Third POV

Hiei glared at Seiryu before looking at Byakko's frozen head. He then remembered how Hayami stared at the small tear of Byakko and knew that Seiryu killing him would anger her. Betrayal is something Hayami didn't want, and he respected that.

He took off his black coat and thought it over Byakko's frozen head, leaving him shirtless.

Seiryu chuckled, "What was that? Don't tell me you feel sympathy for this amateur." Seiryu said to Hiei, "From your actions in the gate of betrayal, I thought you had more of a warrior's spirit."

Hiei glared at him when he said that.

"He's a puzzle isn't he, Hayami." Kurama said to her,

"Yeah." She agreed, leaving Yusuke confused,

"In times before, I've seen Hiei would attack with similar cruelty." Kurama said, "But something about Byakko's execution caused great anger in him."

Hiei was in a stance as his hand was over the hilt of his sword, raising his spirit energy while Seiryu prepared his attack.

"Hiei lives with his own code as well, but it's kinda complicated to explain him, due to the changes I've seen in him." Hayami said staring at Hiei.

"But one thing is for certain, never before have we seen Hiei begin a fight with using such an extraordinary amount of his spirit energy." Kurama said,

"Good, as long as he kicks some ass." Yusuke said,

"I assure you Hiei. It is not too late to join our ranks." Seiryu said, "Prostrate yourself before my master and he will give you power and fame beyond anything you've ever tasted."

"Is that all you have to say?" Hiei asked smirking. "They're your last words you know.

"Fine. So that is your choice." Seiryu said, "Then you shall meet your faith with the other weaklings." He then released a strong fog of energy directly toward Hiei.

Hiei used his spirit energy as a shield and used his sword to slice the approaching fog in half as the two sides hit the wall. Also, nearly hurt Kuwabara.

"Hey! Be careful!" Kuwabara yelled at him after looking at the hole in the wall.

"Try blocking this." Seiryu said as he starts to freeze his right hand.

"That freeze technique. Run!" Yusuke yelled at him,

"ICE DRAGON!" Seiryu yelled as he fired his attack toward Hiei, but he swiftly dodged it and landed behind him. "I'm sorry. I have forgotten about your impressive speed. NOW LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN!"

Seiryu then started firing multiple of his attacks directly toward Hiei, but he skillfully dodged all of them. Only leaving tracks of ice from every attack that has been missed.

"He's gonna turn the whole room into a hockey rink." Yusuke said,

"Not just the room." Kuwabara said as they all looked at him, seeing the top of his head is covered in ice. "Man, I wish I had my jacket back."

"Hiei!" Hayami yelled in worry, letting the others look back to the battle. She noticed that his left leg was frozen as he landed safely,

"Hey, he's okay." Yusuke said,

"Yeah, don't scare us like that." Kuwabara said, still freezing from the ice on his head.

"No, his leg." Kurama said, "He won't be able to run anymore." They all saw that his left leg was now covered in ice.

"You see, no one ever escapes. Only begs for mercy." Seiryu said to Hiei as he gave a low growl at him. "With your leg frozen, you can't possibly move. I suggest you start groveling." He said preparing for another one of his freeze attacks.

"What can he do?" Yusuke asks

'Hiei!' Hayami yelled to him in worry through her thoughts as she watches Seiryu fire another ice attack.

Hiei stabbed his sword into the icy tile and pulled himself forward, heading towards Seiryu, dodging the freezing technique. In an instant, they both fired their attacks as Hiei landed on the ground, having his other leg and left arm frozen.

'I'm alright, Onna.'

Hayami sighed quietly in relief to hear that Hiei was okay.

"Hiei!" Yusuke yelled,

"Ha! You have escaped, but you are wounded." Seiryu said while Hiei started laughing as he stood up. "Why are you laughing?"

"So, what if your ice technique could kill your wounded friend, it won't kill me." Hiei said as he showed the frozen parts of his body started to break and shatter off.

"That's...impossible...I shall give...one final blow." Seiryu said until blood started to drip from his forehead,

"I don't think so." Hiei said as Seiryu's body started to show the slice marks and exploded into smoke as all the ice started to melt.

"When did he attacked?" Kuwabara asked as Hayami, and Yusuke ran over to him with a smile on their faces.

"Don't feel bad Kuwabara, I didn't see either after the initial hit." Kurama said as he followed suit.

"Shorty's a lot cooler than I thought." Kuwabara complimented as he followed the others.

'I should've known your resistance to cold and hot temperatures, Hiei. Must've slipped my mind.' Hayami said to him in her thoughts as Hiei smirked,

'You're not the only half-breed here, Onna.' He said to her as he face the others and puts away his sword.

"You made French fries out of the guy." Yusuke said,

"Hiei, how many times did you cut him?" Kurama asked,

"Only sixteen." Hiei said,

"Huh, I must've miscounted. I only saw fifteen." Hayami said,

"You saw fifteen?!" Yusuke asked, "Dammit! And here I thought I could keep track on seven or eight."

"That's nothing meager, after the first hit I only saw flashes of light." Kurama said to Yusuke,

"I couldn't even see the flashes." Kuwabara said sadly that he didn't see anything.

"Man, this isn't good." Yusuke said as he scratches the back of his head. "If you used those moves the next time we fight, I'm gonna be screwed."

"Maybe." Hiei said as he turned around and walked towards his coat, confusing Yusuke at his response.

"I thought for sure he was gonna say 'well of course you fool'." Kuwabara said,

"Hiei is going through a tricky change." Kurama said,

Hayami smirked, "I think he's beginning to have some respect for you Yusuke." She said to the detective as they watched the fire demon put on his coat. "And that's a good sign, coming from him."

They all continued ahead as they passed through Seiryu's room and up more stairs of the castle towers. As they all kept running, Kuwabara suddenly stopped, alarming the others.

"What now? You got cramps?" Yusuke asked,

"My whole brain felt like an ice cube just now." Kuwabara said, "I think something's bad happening, I think back on earth." He said making Hayami feel worried for her family.

Hiei caught her sudden worries and secretly held her hand in reassurance to which she was thankful.

"No doubt how long we've been here. The beast most likely orchestrates a counter assault by using the Makai." Kurama said,

"Only one more. Let's not waste more time." Hiei said as they all continued to run up the stairs, he and Hayami are still holding hands.

'Father, Ranumi, please be safe.' Hayami thought to herself as she thought about her family in the living world. 'I can't lose you both to this.'

Ranumi's POV

I kept running and running as the victims under the Makai kept chasing me. It was now late in the afternoon and almost everyone in the city has been infected by the Makai.

"Ranumi! This way!" I heard my father call me as I looked ahead and run faster in his direction to see that he also has some victims chasing him as well.

We both ran into the same alleyway, causing the victims to bump each other as they tried chasing after us.

"Father, What now?" I asked gasping for air as father placed both his hands on my shoulders.

"First, we need to find Botan." Father said, "There's no doubt that she will need our help as well."

I nodded as we ran again, in search of Botan. We pretty much beat up the infected people in order to get through, though only enough to knock them down. As we were running and my father was in front of me, I tripped and fell to the ground.

"Ranumi!" Father yelled in alarm as the victims under the Makai started to get closer.

Father wrapped me in his arms protectively, waiting for any kind of attack from them as we both closed our eyes, but nothing came. We both opened our eyes to see that the victims are all heading towards in one direction.

"Do you think Hayami and the others have done it?" I asked,

"I don't think so, water lily." Father said as we stood up with me still in his arms protectively. "Where are they all going?" He asked himself as we both saw that they are all heading towards Yusuke's high school.

"Oh know." I said in worry, "I think they all have one target if they're heading towards that school."

"They're coming for Keiko." Father said, "We must get to her before they do."

I nodded and ran as fast as we could to the school, ending up meeting with Botan who also has the same suspicions as well.

'Hayami, please make sure you all destroy that whistle soon. Or else Keiko or any of us might not come out alive on this.' I thought, praying that my sister and her friends destroy that stupid whistle in time.