Chapter Fifteen: Kidnapped

Kainna sat with her legs neatly tucked underneath her on Kuwabara's surprisingly clean floor. At first, she felt uncomfortable going to Kuwabara's, especially since she was going to be the only girl there with two boys. However, when Yusuke knocked on his door while yelling for Kuwabara to open up; Kainna was happy to find a young woman had open the door instead. After some quick introductions, Kainna was informed that the woman was Kuwabara's older sister Shizuru. Kainna greeted her happily, her eyes curiously looking over Shizuru's brown hair and uncaring expression, trying to find the resemblance between her and her sibling, which was surprisingly hard. Especially with their hair color being so different. Shizuru didn't have red hair like Kuwabara, she instead had beautiful chestnut colored hair that paired well with her delicate features. The two similarities Kainna could find between them was their height, being that Shizuru was a tall woman, and that they had the same type of eyes.

Shizuru also did her own analyzing of Kainna, her eyes going over the younger woman in front of her. She had a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach, like seeing a stray dog. You want to pet it but are unsure if it would bite you. Shizuru was feeling something similar, she couldn't place it but she felt as if she should be afraid of this girl. This girl in the short fighting kimono with a kind smile on her face. Shizuru shrugged it off for now and instead led them up to her younger brother's room. Once there the doorbell had rung again, leaving the trio to themselves.

"Hey Kainna! Finally surprised Yusuke at school, huh? I was wondering when you were going to, it was hard to keep it a secret." Kuwabara spoke excitedly to the two in front of him as he set up a sitting area for them on the floor. Kainna rolled her eyes at Kuwabara as she sat down along with Yusuke.

"You only had to keep it secret for two days, how hard could that have been?" Kainna questioned. Kuwabara made an annoyed face but before he could answer, Yusuke interrupted the two and started asking about a VCR, explaining why they were there in the first place. Within the next few minutes, the door to the room opened again to show that Botan had arrived, wearing her human clothes.

"I see you guys started the party without me." Botan said good naturedly as she took a seat on the floor with the group.

"Has my brother offered you guys anything to drink?" Shizuru asked. Kainna shook her head in the negative causing Shizuru to roll her eyes in annoyance. "Of course not. I'll go brew some tea for everyone." She stated with a glare towards her brother before leaving the room.

"Alright now that Botan's here, can we watch this video now? My sister will be back any second." Kuwabara rushed the group. They all moved closer to the small television as Kuwabara pushed the VHS tape into the player and looked once more back at the group, his gaze settling on Yusuke. "One more thing Urameshi, before I press play, I'm letting you know there is no way I'm getting involved!" Kuwabara warned him. Kainna rolled her eyes, Kuwabara was a stick in the mud sometimes.

The video started immediately after with a cheesy logo of Koenma holding a torch and an ogre acting like a lion with horrible fake roars. Kainna covered her mouth to stop the laughter while Yusuke rolled his eyes at it and nudged Kainna in disbelief at Koenma's antics.

"They go all out, huh?" Kuwabara asked with the same disbelief as Yusuke showed.

"Either he's full of himself or he's really bored." A small giggle escaped Kainna's lips before she managed to control herself just as the video changed to Koenma sitting in his usual red chair.

"Welcome! How do you like my video?" Koenma asked the group in a smug tone. Kainna thought her eyes were going to get permanently stuck in the back of her head by how many times she had rolled them in the pass few minutes. "The great Koenma, ruler of the spirit world, has yet another important case for you."

"This is seriously the guy you get your jobs from? This little mini toddler?" Kuwabara asked as he pointed to the screen. Kainna simply shrugged her shoulders as a response; she had seen Koenma in all of his forms so she wasn't as judgmental of his toddler form as others were. She actually knew his power while she suspected Yusuke hadn't a clue.

"I said the same thing when I met him and Botan hit me in the head." Yusuke grumbled. Kainna grinned as she watched Botan wave off Yusuke.

"Perhaps that's why Koenma is doing a video this time. He can't bear these first reactions." Botan explained with a tease. Kuwabara chuckled, his finger still pointed at the screen as he continued to laugh at the toddler.

"This mission will be another doozy, hopefully you will survive. And by the way, don't worry about people entering the room, this video will appear as annoying fuzz to anyone without heightened Spirit Awareness." At the moment Shizuru opened the door. Kainna was the only one who notice as she was seated further back than the others and was the closest to the door. Kainna watched as Shizuru's eyes focused on the television and seemed to understand and see Koenma speaking. Kainna's eyes shifted to Kuwabara, it would make sense that heighted awareness was also passed down to his sister. Kainna choose not to say anything, who knows... maybe Shizuru would be an asset to the team as well.

"Now, your mission is search and rescue except without the searching. Watch my magic snap." And with the snap of his fingers the image changed to that of a forest.

"Oh, come on! That's just a cheap camera trick." Yusuke complained while Botan laughed nervously, she knew Koenma could hear him.

"Spirit world intelligence found that the captive is being held in a mountain stronghold around some miles from your city. And not being driving age yourself, you will have to take the bus."

"Or Hiei can escort us." Yusuke teased, his eyes shifting to Kainna. Kainna stuck her tongue out at Yusuke, hoping her face didn't betray her with a blush.

"The mountain is a base of criminal activity. Normally I don't mind that but the humans have made ties with some very nasty demons. The captive's name is Yukina, she is an ice apparition, very rare... as rare as the jewels she can produce which is why the criminals have captured her." Koenma held up a clear crystal jewel in his hand. "The criminals hope to profit off of her and force her to create these jewels at an unnatural pace. And by force, I mean torture." Kainna's eyes narrowed into slits, she already knew how the jewels were being produced. While she had never met an ice apparition, she knew the stories of their tears.

"That's horrible." Botan sympathized.

"You see, there is only one way to make the jewels, her tears." Koenma explained what Kainna already knew. She shifted impatiently; she could only imagine what forms of torture they were using to get her to cry. Ice apparitions were strong for reasons just like this, it would either have to be very painful for her or mentally unbearable.

"Which is where you'll come in to play, Kainna." Kainna's gazed snapped back to the television once she heard her name. "The human behind the operation is Gonzau Tarukane. He is a collector of sorts and has made his name in the black-market selling jewels and other rare commodities." Kainna wrinkled her nose as Koenma showed a photo of Tarukane.

"Eww he's too ugly to be human." Kuwabara groaned in disgust.

"He's too ugly to be anything." Yusuke supplied.

"Being a collector, Tarukane is looking for anything rare, demon or otherwise. With the unknown state of Yukina, we worry that even sending you guys out on the mission... it might be too late for her. This is why we need Kainna. While Yukina is known to have some healing powers, we fear all her spirit energy might be spent trying to fight off her captures. One of our informants is currently working for Tarukane, he is the one that told us of Yukina's whereabouts and of Tarukane's greed. We told the informant to spread stories of the battle of Maze's Castle and of the last known moon demoness. Tarukane bite the bait, so to speak, and demanded he have the last moon demoness in his collection. Willingly or not." Koenma looked seriously at the camera now.

"Kainna, we have arranged for you to be 'captured' and taken into Tarukane's mansion. We believe he will put you in the same cell as Yukina. The informant tells me Tarukane would like to ensure Yukina won't die before producing the number of jewels he needs. He heard of your healing powers and wishes to use them for his own, along with having the claim of a moon demon." The group looked over at Kainna before Yusuke huffed and crossed his arms.

"Like anyone would believe Kainna could be captured so easily." Kainna couldn't help but agree with Yusuke.

"I agree Yusuke-" Koenma started. Yusuke looked over at the television in confusion.

"He can hear me?"

"Which is why we also told them a false story of Kainna being sent on a solo mission and of her returning in bad shape. Our informant tells us their demons will intercept her on her way back to Genkai's and capture her while her spirit energy is low. Kainna will need to dispel any extra energy she cannot hide and will need to appear beat down, almost to unconsciousness." The group looked over at Kainna to see her reaction. She knew what Koenma wanted her to do, her fingers played with the small jewel on her necklace as she thought the mission over.

"I'll do it."

Kainna jogged lightly through the forest, her mind distracted as she wondered if the make-up Botan had put on her made her look like she had been through a fight. They had ruffed up her hair, smeared some make-up on her skin to look like dirt from a fight, and tore a few holes in her tights. All the while the video continued on, although Kuwabara wasn't there for it. He had gone all gooey eyed when seeing the ice apparition and, in his excitement, ran off without even knowing their destination. But during his absence, they had learned something important about the ice apparition, she was the sister to Hiei.

Kainna stopped jogging, a practiced worried expression on her face as she pretended to pant out of breath from exhaustion. Her eyes scanned the forest quickly. She had felt the spirt energy of 2 demons for a while now, they were slowly gaining on her. She had noticed them a while back but needed to make it seem like she was tired and not alert. The only thing that worried her was her intuition telling her to run.

"I know you're following me. Why don't you two come out and fight like true demons." Kainna taunted. In a normal fight, she would have never alerted them to her knowledge of being followed. She would have laid a trap for them by now or fought them with the element of surprise. But they didn't know what type of moon demon they were fighting, and since she had to get captured it was better for her if they thought she was stupid.

Out from the thicket of the forest appeared two demons, a tall well-built one with short black hair and glasses, and the other a shorter demon with long straggly hair who was perched on the taller one's shoulder. Again, Kainna had to fight her instincts to run. Her intuition was telling her something her mind was missing.

"Kainna, one of the last moon demons. And such a pretty one too." The short one cooed at her with a disgusting lick of his lips. Kainna didn't have to pretend with her reaction this time, her sneer back at him was an honest one.

"And who are you?"

"Well, I'm not surprised you don't know us on sight, but maybe our names will make you come quietly." The short one snickered at her. Kainna narrowed her eyes at him but decided to turn her gaze to the one who has yet to speak. He smirked at her.

"We are the Toguro brothers." A cold shiver erupted down Kainna's spine. Well, at least she wouldn't have to fake her fear. Kainna took a shaky step back in response, she had heard stories of the Toguro brothers and none of them were good. If Kainna had known these two were the demons working for Tarukane, she wouldn't have stored most of her spirit energy away. It was inaccessible to her now. Either way, she couldn't abandon her mission.

"You'll be coming with us." The smaller brother said. Kainna sneered at him.

"Like hell I will."

"You're no match for us with such low spirit energy. You might as well come willingly." The smaller brother continued to talk as the taller one reached into his pocket and produced something that made Kainna's blood run cold.

"Now, will you be compliant or will I have to waste even more of that precious spirit energy?"

In another part of the woods, Hiei was sat on a tree branch. His eyes were narrowed into slits as he started at the sun that was slowly descending, his mouth twisted into an irritated scowl.

His informant was late.

Hiei couldn't tell how late he was, but considering he was able to finish the bento Kainna had given him long ago and by how far the sun had travelled, he could tell it has at least been more than an hour since he had arrived. Hiei glanced down at the bento he had tucked into the tree branch, an unfamiliar feeling twisted in his stomach. The food was good, as he had expected. While he was sure somewhere in this realm there was someone who could cook better than her, there was something to be said of having a meal that was homecooked. Something he hardly ever had in life, unless you counted the fish and hard-boiled eggs he had cooked himself over his campfire as 'homemade'. In the demon realm he usually would stop at restaurants or taverns along his travels, as he normally was a nomad. From what he could remember, moon demons had a village of their own, like his sister with her fellow ice apparitions. It must be deserted now, as the genocide happened on their own lands. He wondered whether Kainna's family were nomadic or stayed to their own lands, as moon demons were known to do both. He wondered if she had a preference, if she would mind traveling. Hiei sighed and leaned against the tree, his face returning to a frown. What good would it do to know that; he couldn't even secure a day alone with her. He already had so many things to do now, especially with his little deal with Koenma. Hiei looked up at the sky, now noticing the sun was about to set as the shadows grew around him and covered him in darkness. His eyes narrowed as he realized how late his contact was.

Hiei stood up on the branch, his fists clenched in his pockets. He didn't like waiting. As if the demon could sense his displeasure, Hiei felt spirt energy getting closer to his location. He jumped down from the branch into the clearing below just as the other demon broke through the brush.

"Took you long enough." Hiei growled his distain at the demon opposite of him. The other demon scoffed at the remark.

"Hey, I'm putting a lot on the line for you here. You should be grateful." The demon challenged back, his clawed hand running through his green hair. Hiei rolled his eyes.

"Grateful? I paid for information and have yet to receive it." Hiei removed his hands from his pockets, preparing to attack in case things went south. But instead, a scroll was tossed his way. Hiei caught it with ease, a curious expression on his face. This would be the second scroll he received today and although he had no reason to believe it, he had a feeling it wasn't a coincidence.

"There, now are you happy? That scroll shows a map of the mansion in which the ice apparition is located." The demon informed him. Hiei unrolled it and glanced at it to make sure it was indeed what the demon said before rolling it back up and putting it in his pocket. "And here is some free advice, I would go soon to retrieve her." The demon continued talking. Hiei's eyes scanned the demon's face curiously.

"And why is that?"

"Tarukane will have his hands full today with another rare demoness. Supposedly, he got himself one of the last moon demons." Hiei's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he sped towards the other demon, grabbing him by the neck. The demon, not expecting an attack, could only wrap his hands around Hiei's arm in hopes of pulling him away. But nothing would have broken his grip in that moment as he raised the demon above him threateningly.

"A moon demoness? Where would they get one of those? And tell me quick, your life depends on it." Hiei spoke without emotion but the demon could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Ok! Ok! I'll tell you. Just loosen the hold, will ya?" Hiei let go of the other demon, the action causing the demon to drop to the ground. But before it could feel relief, the point of Hiei sword was press against his throat.

"Well?" Hiei pressured, his patience growing even thinner.

"Rumor spread of Koenma having a moon demoness in his control. Supposedly she went on a difficult mission today and returned badly beaten, barely conscious. Tarukane sent his goons to go and capture her in her weakened state. When I left, they were already bringing her there, trapped in those energy cuffs they transport slaves in to keep their spirit energy under control. She won't be escaping any time soon. Too bad too, she had such pretty blue eyes, it's a shame he's going to have her now." Hiei had heard enough, and although it was tempting to kill the other demon with how much anger he had, he sheathed his sword instead. The other demon breathed a sigh of relief but when he looked up, Hiei was already gone.

Hiei's thoughts were wild and murderous as he planned mentally how he was going to invade the mansion. It was hard to think logically at first with how much anger he held in his body. But one thing his mind was able to focus on was trying to decide who to blame. He was wasn't sure who he was angrier at: Tarukane for having yet another person that was import to him, Yusuke for letting Kainna get captured, or Koenma for sending Kainna alone on a mission that she clearly wasn't prepared for. Either way, his wrath will be felt. If he had a heart, he would feel sorry for whomever got in his way. Hiei's scowl grew as he ran, he should have said no to Botan this morning.