"No! Impossible!" Juyie screamed in rage, shaking the reflective mirror he held tightly between his palms, wanting to throw it across the room yet not quite daring to. Instead, he contented himself with glaring into the cold, hard vision it presented him of the courtyard, youkai bodies strewn about in disarray, small crackling lights still shivering between one fold of cloth or flesh and another without regard to the death cloaked so thickly in the air. He paced back and forth before the gathered shadows in the corner, thick pale green cloaks swirling in a cloud of velvet behind him. The shoulder-length waves of his golden hair hung in limp, curling locks, teasing at the collar of his clothes as he whirled and began his pace yet another round. "This is not happening!!" He sent a flash of ki into the mirror and watched in still anger as the two humans ran down one passageway, the half-breed and silver youko gaining on their trail. Off in another passageway - one set to intersect the previous - the infuriating sight of Shenjin and that damned Chimera pup also running nearly sent Juyie into another rage. His anger focus and shot out as he whirled to face the chilling, arctic gathering of shadows at his back. "You! This is all your fault! My wards are strong - the strongest in the Makai - nothing can get past them! But you insist that that wretched Chimera stay alive and look - just look at what he's done!! He shattered my wards as if they were nothing - nothing!!" With a wave of his hand the mirror disappeared, leaving Juyie's hands free to wave about as he howled in fury, indicating one huge, closed - and ultimately locked - pair of doors resting silently off to the side. "Then you took the kistune girl in there - my kitsune girl - she was mine, as was her brother!! - and not a sound from her since! I want to know what's in that room, and I want to know now!" He stomped the ground hard with one prim, shiny silver boot, the heel clicking against the marble so hard it left a chipped indention to mark its place.

The shadows swirled and rose up for one brief, terrifying instant before calmly drawing back to reveal the Master where he stood, cloaks drawn in casual darkness about his form, his long black hair tumbling across his shoulders in such a beauty and grace Juyie couldn't hope to match. His blue eyes were filled with an unconcerned blandness, his voice laced in dispassionate self-possession. "As I have said before, it is none of your interest. You would not understand it even if you were perchanced to see it."

The Master smoothly turned his gaze away, and the whole effect rocked through Juyie not as if he had just been spoken to - but slapped with a glove. A metal glove. With spikes.

A low, threatening growl gathered in the youkai's throat as his ki flared in golden and green lights about his form. The display slowly drew Master's blue eyes; lazily that gaze drifted back to him in an off-handed manner that bespoke of how fickle an action it truly was. Without a word spoken upon his lips the shadows lashed out, flicking at the fiery green and golden mass of flesh and ki, tossing it across the chamber and into a wall so violently as to break the marbled stone into chunks and send a spider-webbing trails of cracks spanning from the floor to the ceiling. The Master turned away a second time, not even granting Juyie the dignity of his attention as the younger youkai crumpled to the floor. Silence reigned supreme for a time, before a soft, muted groan was heard as the golden-green youkai achingly pulled himself back upon his feet.

"I... " Juyie grimaced, groaning again and clutching his forehead as a trickle of pale, golden-green blood slipped free from beneath his palms to dribble down and half-conceal one unusually dark violet eye. He stepped forward in an effort to regain his balance - as well as his completely shattered dignity - and stumbled. "I... will go and stop them from... from coming."

The Master inclined his head. "Make sure that you do. And Juyie?" The green-clothed youkai had started to leave, yet flinched to a halt at the sound of his name.

"H-Hai?"

"Leave the little kitsune and the Chimera alone. I would still wish to speak with them."

Wearily Juyie nodded, tears filling his eyes as he bowed his head, his voice a bare whisper across the distance between them. "Hai... Master."

Yuusuke skidded to a halt, whipping his hand up and pointing down an adjoining hallway, his ears straining to identify the sounds coming from it as beside him Kuwabara summoned his rei ken. Kurama and Hiei came barely a pace behind him and stood in wait as well, all silent until -

Shenjin burst into the light and let out a strangled yelp, his feet skidding and slipping out from beneath him, throwing him to the floor. Which actually turned out to be a good thing as a very startled Yuusuke shouted and let a blast of his ki fly. It connected with the wall opposite, just narrowly missing the thief as Kaidei muttered and curse and dodged, tripping over Shenjin and landing in the pearl-green youko's lap. Five pairs of glaring eyes landed on Yuusuke - who gave a discomfited laugh and sweatdropped, inching back a pace. "G-Gomen... "

Kaidei huffed a snort - very unlike his normal cheerfulness - and gingerly disentangled himself. Once he had gained his feet once more he reached down, hauling Shenjin to his feet as well with a surprising amount of strength.

Meanwhile, a slim hand gripped the collar of Yuusuke's shirt in a grip of iron and yanked him back another pace. A low, alto voice murmured in his ear, quiet enough as to be heard by only one other person - and the fire-demon wasn't exactly the talkative type. "Be glad that shot missed, Yuusuke."

Yuusuke swallow convulsively and fervently thanked his Urameshi Luck, almost falling to his knees in relief as the decidedly dangerous silver youko at his back released him.

"My, my, my, look what we have here, Guhra. Rats in the castle."

Kaidei whirled to face the voice, as did Shenjin and the rest with a start. The pearl-green youko at his side gave a strangled cry of terror and faltered; only the thief's quick instincts and firm grip held him from falling back to the ground as across the hallway Juyie gave them each a cold, domineering smile. The huge youkai that had carried the thief through the winding passages of the fortress the very day before now hovered at Juyie's side, adding force to the beauty of golden and green within their presence.

"Master... " Shenjin whispered faintly, his silver eyes wide, the pupils dilated as his ears flickered to lay tightly against his scull. Slowly, very slowly recognition, remembrance, anger - fury - gathered within those silver orbs, over-riding the first, initial sense of all-empowering terror. "What have you done to Leina, you bastard?!" Shenjin tore himself free of Kaidei's grasp and leapt at the figure, intent upon ripping every shred of green and golden cloth and flesh from bone. He never quite made it that far, as a wall erected itself before him, a clamping vise of stone wrapping around his throat.

"Ah, my beautiful little kitsune." Juyie sighed, a smile teasing around his lips as he tossed the short, curling locks of his golden hair over his shoulder. There was a trail of blood smearing his temple and obscuring the pale grace of his features, yet with all his haughty demeanor it truly mattered not. "How I have missed your raging fire. We left on such bad terms. You didn't fight much that last time. Will you fight more for me this round?" His perfect lips formed into a pouting moue as he batted his dark violet eyes. "I truly hope so. Onegai? For me?"

"Kisama - let him go!" Yuusuke darted forward a half-pace, his hand up and darting between the target of the huge youkai - 'Guhra' - who held Shenjin by the throat, and the Master - Juyie. A thickly muttered curse - along with the soft hiss of metal against scabbard - and a low, evenly thick and thrumming growl - accompanied by the cracking of a whip - signified that Hiei and Kurama were still there and still battle-ready. Kuwabara, not to be outdone, stepped forward to match Yuusuke's half-pace and lifted his rei ken, his voice booming in the passageway around them.

"I, Kuwabara Kazuma, shall take you on and enreate justice upon you with my own -"

His monologue was broken by smooth, feathery tremors of laughter. Juyie pressed a palm against his belly and lifted his chin, rolling his eyes to the side as Kuwabara uttered an indignant sound of anger. "Come, come, ningen. Do you truly think that I would be so easily defeated? Not even my beautiful little kitsune here could take me down with the untamed power of his storm." He drew closer to Shenjin, his hand burying itself in his short, ragged hair as he murmured the last of this in the kitsune's flickering ear. A grin escaped his lips as Shenjin closed his eyes tightly and whimpered; yet that grin faltered and disappeared as he purposefully let his hand drift down to lift the long, silken mass of the pearl-green youko's tail.

"You took him when he was a child." A strong, ethereal voice broke through Juyie's contemplative frown, shaking the members of the Reikai were they stood. All eyes turned to Kaidei where he stood tall and proud in his short, dainty height, his wings folded tightly at his back. "He didn't know what power he held then, nor how to correctly wield it. He's never had the chance to learn, to listen, to become what he should have become when he was introduced to life. Do you think you would actually survive if he did?"

"Ah, the despicable Chimera trash." Juyie forced another grim, ferocious smile. "Pity you're still alive." Gingerly - so as not to damage the beautiful fur - he released the kitsune's tail, his eyes lifting to rove over the other members of the group, dismissing the thief as easily as if he were nothing more than another low-level demon. His first fatal mistake.

None of the others held any interest for him - nothing did, unless it was beautiful - until his eyes alighted last upon Kurama. "Mm." He wet his lips appreciatively and leaned toward Shenjin again. "The brother you screamed curses upon when you were tortured, I presume? My, and he is a beautiful one, I shall guarantee you that, little kitsune. Not as beautiful as your sister, but with such a mature grace that you yourself lack. Even I am one to admit that you are too young for my preferences but him... " A slow, malicious smile of delight revealed two extremely long canine fangs.

Shenjin stirred for the first time within Guhra's claw, his hands prying uselessly at the demon's fingers as he spoke in a slow, hoarse growl. "Don't you... touch him... "

"Maa, why so protective of a sudden? Will you fight for him as you fight for your sister?" Juyie grinned at the thought, his eyes narrowing. "Perhaps I shall let you watch as I take him, so you can truly see just what I am capable of... and what you shall be witness to once he is through with you."

Abruptly he jerked back a leap, dark violet eyes widening in shock as a trail of blood trickled down the pristine turn of his unmarked cheek. Hiei stood a pace away from the spot he had so recently vacated, his arm up, his katana held back, blade following the slim curve of his forearm. His crimson eyes were narrowed, almost black with anger, and dangerous. "Enough talk."

Juyie glared. "Very well, then. But I promise you," his eyes lifted and settled upon a mutely seething Kurama, still in the background, rose whip in hand. "The silver one shall be mine."

"No." Hiei muttered thickly. "He will not."

Kaidei stepped forward. "And neither shall Shenjin."

Juyie gathered his ki about himself and forced another grin, even as something within the thief's gaze made the very depths of his soul tremble. There was something much too similar in that Chimera's gaze - something that reminded him too much of the Shadow Master he had left behind. "We'll see about that. Guhra, released my little kitsune." Shenjin was unceremoniously dropped to the marble floor, where he stiffened, curling in upon himself and groaning. Kaidei walked up boldly - defiantly, even, and helped Shenjin to his feet, completely ignoring the huge youkai towering over them. "And you two," Juyie flickered his fingers and looked away, appearing bored - almost as if he could care less as he muttered, "Run along. You're not even worth my time."

The thief snorted, gathering a very unsettled and coughing Shenjin against his chest. He began to lead the boy past them and into another adjoining passageway, but the boy resisted, a hand delicately touching his own gem-wrapped throat as he whispered hoarsely, "No... Kurama... Kaidei, we can't leave them - they don't know - his power... "

"Don't question a crow at midnight, Shenjin." Kaidei replied evenly, ignoring the kitsune's weak motions to return and continuing to push him forward. "There are other deaths that await you and I."

It began almost immediately; the battle for dominance and power. None of them were fighting for their lives this time - none of them considered this mission to be that serious, although why, only the gods know. Even in acting upon it, it seemed somewhat surreal. The Reikai Tantrei broke apart as usual, Yuusuke and Kuwabara paired against the huge youkai known only as Guhra - Kurama and Hiei against he who called himself Juyie. It was a fair match; Guhra's huge bulk and very nearly impenetrable hide made up for what he lacked in wit and intelligent thinking. Even Kuwabara, with an actual weapon as opposed to Yuusuke's still somewhat wild blasts of rei, was having trouble getting close enough to the demon to strike it. One gargantuan arm swung out at one point - kind of lazily, like a cat teasing a bird that it didn't realize was too small to play with - and nearly threw Yuusuke straight through a solid stone and marble wall. Dazed from the impact he rose to his feet a bit unsteadily, muttering an indignant curse as he held his throbbing head with one hand. The wincing grimace that traced across his features and within his brown eyes was nothing; only a semblance of the pain he felt beginning to drum its way through his brain. Already he was tiring after such a short time, and the monster known as Guhra appeared to be not only indifferent, as well as only half-paying attention. This was going to end up being a long battle...

Kurama and Hiei, on the other hand, were matched in all areas of their own personal expertise. Hiei's speed was doused and fickle, yet his sword arm was steady and firm. Already he had gathered enough of his ki for black flames to lick along the length of his blade, leaving wisps of searing ice-like heat behind with each after-stroke as he attacked with a vengeance. Juyie merely smiled.

The silver youko was much better off. Whatever Kaidei had done, the little Chimera had done it well, and all of Kurama's plant-wielding powers were returned to him, still burning with that strange, outside influence that boosted it and energized his fight by three-fold. He more than made up for what his fire-demon partner currently lacked in skills, his whip snapping forward, cracking the air, slicing through it from one second to another.

And Juyie merely laughed.

"What?" Shenjin caught and steadied him and they stood that way for a moment in the shadows, each still and focused, pale pearl-green ears twitching as they sought out the sound of which had alerted the thief.

Kaidei was just as intent, his chin snapping around to stare in each direction separately. He could feel that tantalizing Out World power calling to him... and could feel the essence of the kitsune girl... but was confused as to exactly where they each were. At times he would feel one off to the left, the other to the right - then it would shift and he would feel them both, together, at his back. The Shadow Master's parting words had left an imprint in his soul and there was no doubt at all as to what the mage had in mind for the kitsune girl; the only remaining factor was Shenjin.

Kaidei risked a glance up at him, at that smooth, slim jaw, that delicate turn of his cheek, those large silver eyes that were so wary and so guarded, darting here and there in search of the only some-what imagine threat. The thief then left his eyes fall to his own hands, where he still clutched two small fistfuls of Shenjin's shirt. He was pressed against the young youko, and there was no mistaking as to why, now; Shenjin's arms were wrapped around him almost protectively, and the stiffness to the kistune's slim frame spoke of such things as blatantly as if the boy were not trying to protect a friend, but a lover.

That thought brought a depreciating sort of smirk to Kaidei's lips, for not only was it he who would end up protecting Shenjin, but also - it was he as well who held not the courage to dare and become more than 'just friends'. He wanted to - but it couldn't be. Not as things were now. Not... like this.

His own words, spoken quietly, yet off-handedly none-the-less, came back to haunt him, replayed and accompanied by Kurama's unexpected question;

He couldn't let the youko be harmed; the factor that Shenjin represented had to be eliminated.

"Kaidei... "

The thief blinked and looked away, his eyes wide as he stared at the stone floor. He couldn't... he had to. Shaking his head, he denied the action within his own mind, even as he enacted it out, his hand clenching upon the boy's shirt as he pulled away, urging Shenjin to come with him. The words themselves were uttered in the span of a breath, yet he had no thought with which to utter them; "Come. I know where your sister is." Shenjin resisted, putting a hand upon the thief's shoulder and stepping forward in an effort to meet the Chimera's gaze; Kaidei looked away, and refused. "She's waiting for you."

That one got him; Shenjin stilled, and allowed himself to be taken as they once again resumed their trek through the darkness of the castle, Kaidei following only the instincts within his warring mind, and the traces of the Out World power whispering so keenly across his very thoughts.

Kurama's whip lifted and barked crisply within the air, silencing the golden-green demon and muting his abrupt anger. "And do you really think," he murmured thickly, each of his words tinged with steel and laced with ice, "That I would allow you to take him back?"

"He is mine!" Juyie shouted, stepping forward in his anger and yelling at the youko before him. "Mine! I found him - I bought him - I fed and tamed him! By all rights, he belongs to me!!"

"He is my brother!" Kurama shouted back, bristling and baring long, sharp fangs in a snarl of rage. Hiei - who had been preparing for another attack - abruptly and quite noticeably halted, his gaze whipping around to see the full of Kurama's fury - and beauty, for indeed with that youko the two could never be separated. He was standing there within the middle of the chamber, his long silver hair tousled and windblown, lying like a blanket across his shoulders. The thin silken robes he naturally wore clung to his body still damp from the rain, leaving little to the imagination. His spine was stiff and straight, his chin lowered in the dog-eat-dog mentality of ferociousness, his ears lying tight against his skull in anger. His golden eyes were narrow and unusually bright; he was not simply angered, he was pissed - and in the kind of way Hiei and only seen once or twice, if even so often as that.

The fire-demon glanced at Juyie. He glanced at Kurama. He stepped back.

It was no longer his affair; in truth, it hadn't really been his in the beginning. The Master had stated he was after Kurama, but it had been all too clear that he cherished Shenjin over the silver youko - more mature, more beautiful, with more spirit or no. He honestly thought Shenjin was his - and had been the whole time. His second fatal mistake.

"Hn." Hiei sheathed his katana and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back against the wall off to the side, easily blending in with the shadows there. He would watch, and if Kurama showed signs of seriously needing his help he would come to his youko's aid but until then... he was on his own.

Neither Kurama nor Juyie appeared to notice his absence; Juyie, for his part, appeared to realize for the first time that he might have made a mistake - and a big one at that, if the vines that were now creeping up along the walls and slithering across the floor were any hint or clue to the situation. It hadn't taken him long to realize that this youko's ability lie low within the use of plants. Well, his own power had held up against Shenjin's storm - it could handle a few simple things as a couple hundred weeds, right?

And so he threw his head back and laughed. That cold, chilling laughter echoed off the stone walls and chamber floors, causing a low, drab growl to curl over itself within Kurama's chest. The vines slowly growing around them began to rustle menacingly, and then more - and more. Kurama blinked and set back, looking up and around, searching out some invisible force of which he could feel gathering within the chamber. It was a powerful sense of ki - Juyie's ki - yet had an illusive, indirect feel to it, such that he couldn't recognize... his silver hair began to whip around his shoulders; the rustle in the vines grew steadily louder and more violent. What once had begun as a simple breeze lifted and grew stronger - it became a full wind, swirling and thrashing within the small containment of the chamber.

Juyie's laughter rang clear above it as the wind began tearing the vines along the floor and wall apart, small green and silver leaves lifting up to dance with the illusive ki-shaded air in a myriad dance. "Behold, Kurama - my power!"

He had only one moment - one brief, flickering moment - to reach back and finger a few seeds in the mane of his hair, his free palm flexing around Rose Whip's handle as he did so - before the harmless wind turned into a gale, and all sight was lost in the flurry of golden-green and silver leaves.

"Aa." Kaidei said quickly, tugging the pearl-green youko at his side down a hallway darkened by the shadows of the Master; the closer they went, the darker it became. "Go to them."

Shenjin stumbled again. "Nani?"

The thief shook his head, even as the whisper of bell-chimes echoed above them once more; the pearl-green youko's silver gaze fled to the darkness of the ceiling, to behold nothing. "Not you, Shenjin."

"Then -"

A small, slim palm clamped itself over his mouth; Kaidei's dark magenta-violet eyes were serious. "Don't ask, Jin-chan." Not now... not ever. Lightly he reached down to clasp the boy's hand in his own, intertwining their fingers, giving the youko's hand a tiny squeeze of reassurance as he did so. His gaze shifted to the huge chamber doors beyond the Shenjin's shoulder where they stood, tall, massive, immobile, silent. Waiting for them.

Kaidei stared at the intricate designs of marble and stone uneasily; Shenjin was still a factor, one which had not yet been dealt with, and one which must be handled as soon as possible. If he interfered - if he got in the way or Touched the sword...

"Shenjin, listen very carefully to what I'm about to say." Kaidei reached out and took the boy's chin in his hand, forcing him to meet his gaze. When we walk through those doors, you will be silent. You will not say a word. You will ask nothing. Shenjin's silver gaze widened to encompass surprise at the low, intent voice speaking within his mind. With each word that passed a little more fear was added to that sparkling silver at the intensity of the warnings that Kaidei - who had been unsure if the youko would understand in any other way - was feeding directly into his thoughts. You will stay by my side no matter what, and you will respond only to the sound of my voice. If you do not, if you react to any other, I will use my ki to manipulate the patterns of your thought and speech and I will forcibly render you immobile and silent. I will not use my power from the outset because I trust you and I believe that you will do as I say. However, this is a very delicate matter and what you see within that room you must tell no one of. Kaidei released his chin, his hand drifting up to cup the youko's smooth cheek as the thief's own gaze softened in response. "There's no need to be frightened, Jin-chan." He whispered aloud, trying to offer the boy a sad, uneasy smile. "I would not have you hurt, and I ask these things of you so that I may protect you." Slowly, timidly Shenjin nodded behind Kaidei's palm; with a sigh the thief released him, two small hands reaching out to press flat against the stone of the chamber doors. Not so much as a muscle was strained before the door swung upon, baring before them a huge thrown room much like - if not exactly like - the room in which Kaidei had been accosted.

The set up was exactly the same; dark, velvet curtains lining the wall, laced with shadows, a massive stretch of empty marble floor and stone, and there, in the very center, the sword of Out World power. There was no massive out-rush of ki this time, only a pulse - once, twice, thrice - that sent ripples of borealis-tinted power to echo around them and beyond, travelling through the walls to some unknown destination almost leisurely in its movements. Kaidei stepped into the room of his own will this time, Shenjin by his side and a little back for safety precautions. His eyes flittered across the surface before lifting to the great sword hovering feet above the ground, settling not upon it in all its glory, but the small, fragile creature above it. There the kitsune child hung, her eyes closed, her head lying back upon her shoulders as if she had been drugged. Her ears were lax and set at half-back; her two tiny hands lay out before her as if to clasp the sword hilt, only a bare few inches from touching the softened leather.

Kaidei's eyes narrowed into thin, sharp slits as he stiffened, his fists clenching by his side.

Shenjin cried out, taking a step forward at the sight of his sister held suspended so far above the ground - yet the thief's sharply uttered mental command halted his movements. Jin-chan, no!

Not a word... he wasn't supposed to speak aloud, but... Shenjin thought to the Chimera as hard as he possibly could; She could be hurt!

Kaidei flinched. He wouldn't dare to harm her, not yet. Still, he could see the pearl-green youko's nervous gestures out of the corner of his eye. I swear to you, Shenjin. The only danger that she's in now is if she touches that Sword, and I won't allow that to happen. Before Shenjin could even think to ask, the thief sent him thoughts of what would happen if anyone - the girl, the Shadow Master, or Shenjin himself - touched the Sword. The body would be shredded, the soul stolen, the heart devoured, and the very mind itself shattered beyond repair. Nothing would remain behind for any to even hope to recover from. This only served to heighten Shenjin's fear, until Kaidei sent him calm thoughts of reassurance. I will never let that happen.

"I was wondering when you'd come." Their silent conversation was cut abruptly short as the shadows about the room shifted and doubled over, rushing together to form one solid pillar of darkness before solidifying into the figure of the Shadow Master. There was a certain calm, yet smug look to his eyes, to the smile teasing so mockingly about his lips, that set the thief's nerves on edge.

"And so I've come. Get her down."

"Ah-ah." The Master-mage shook his head, the teasing smile blossoming slowly upon his features. "I am no fool, despite what you may think. You see, as I'm sure you understand, I control that little kitsune girl up there. The shadows in her mind are enough for my ki to infiltrate and that they have done. Leina," Pale, ice-violet ears flickered - the only indication she was even still alive. "Leina... sing for me." Slowly, in soft, sultry tones, she began to sing that same haunting melody both Shenjin and Kaidei had heard so many times before, her left ear flickering forth and back as she did so. "That's enough, child." She hummed the end of the line she was on and grew silent; the ear grew still. "Such a lovely voice." The Shadow Master smiled. "And now that I have demonstrated, you see well that if you do not do as I say, she will obey my command to touch that sword of yours. I doubt even you could save her then, ne?"

Kaidei's teeth ground together; his response was short and forced, barely a self-contained growl. "No."

The Master's voice hardened. "Then do as I say and she will be spared. Give it to me. By one way or another - I care not which method you use - just give me the Power!"

The thief snarled - then smirked. "Go touch it yourself. Then, you can have all the Power you want." He took one aching step forward, pressing against the warring urges to not only go to the sword, but run away from it. "Death is such a small price to pay and so easily overcome - if you're so eager to have it, that is."

The Master growled. "You don't believe me? I tell you now - I will not hesitate to end her life, nor any other of your companions for what I seek."

"The answer is still no." Kaidei deliberately shook his head, his wings fluttering restlessly at his back. He could feel Shenjin's fear and tension humming beneath the fragile mind-link he had woven - he could sense Leina's unconscious dreams and the Master's sick demeanor. But above even those he could feel the pain within his own heart, the opposing halves warring within his soul. On one side there was mortality, compassion, friendship, and Shenjin... on the other side, however, there was the Sword. He was as loathe to step back as to step forward - yet either way in which his decision would fall, the Shadow Master must be handled, if not destroyed. A creature such as he could not be allowed to live.

Shenjin bit his lip, hard, as he glanced from the Master to Kaidei and back again. He was confused, disoriented - the only sure thing he knew of was Kaidei's stance by his side and the reassurance of the thief's presence in his mind. With that knowledge clear, he accepted his stance. He had known Juyie as the Master, although he had never had an actual name to set with the face. Yet now that he stood here, before this Shadow mage, the familiarity was all too evident in the very feel of his ki. There had not been one Master; there had been two. All those times when he had glanced fearfully at the disembodied voice floating out from the shadows he had assumed in his terror that it had been Juyie. But now... now he knew the truth. All those times when the Master had shown disinterest in him, or upheld his promise not to hurt Leina - that had not been Juyie; that had been this... the shadowed being standing now before him, with such dark, cold, and relentless blue eyes.

Uneasily his gaze slid from the Master, back to Kaidei. There they remained, riveted upon the small Chimera's ferocious, snarling lips and narrowed crimson-violet eyes. There had been so much laughter within the thief, so much light-heartedness when they had first met, that Shenjin had seriously doubted the little creature even knew what it felt like to be serious or angry. Now however... a chill worked its way along his spine. Somehow, seeing the thief's delicate, almost childish features hardened in an emotion that could very well have been complete and utter fury was one of the most frightening things he had ever had ever been witness to.

The Master's eyes flickered up the briefest of moments - yet that tiny motion caught both Shenjin as well as Kaidei's awareness.

There were no thoughts then, only motion as the Master's hand lifted to issue a blow upon reflex and Shenjin shouted a warning. He was leaping away from the thief, his arms lifting to cross before him as he turned his face away, flinching from the expectancy of the impact that came and he dove between it and its intended target. Chaos broke free in those moments, a chaos borne from terror and heart-wrenching loss as two voices called out to him simultaneously, one within the physical realm, the other silent in his mind, only seconds before the whole of his world faded into white, searing hot agony.

He started, his chin jerking up as his gaze snapped to the invisible ceiling far, far above them. He could have sworn, by every instinct within his soul that he had heard the sounds of bells...

He glowered, his eyes moving back to the swirling mass of wind and leaves; yes, that was definitely the sound of jingling bells... a flash of some pale cloth appeared briefly within the funnel of maelstrom. It was ripped from its own path and traveled with the flow for a brief thrice-second interval before a figure fell like cobble-stone to the floor. It hit with a thud and went rolling free. As it stilled it halted propped up on its backside, and was vaguely seen to resemble a very short - very odd - looking midget-creature with... a long, red and white stocking-like hat that hung free down its back, making it appear more like an Christmas elf than Hiei would readily admit under the circumstances. The creature shook its head, dazed for a second, and promptly fell back to the ground before it managed to gather its wits enough to stand. Once it had attempted to do so - and failed twice - it finally made it to its feet and balled its tiny hands by its thighs, sending a deadly, stubborn little glare to the whirling concoction of winds and leaves only a bare leap from its nose. Tiny, delicate shoulders set back as the creature bowed its head; a small, tear-drop tuft of a tail waggled comically, accompanied by the sound of the jingling bells. The little demon valiantly began marching back into the fray, disappearing amongst the wind and leaves once more as Hiei stared dubiously in its direction, quite sure that it had wholly and completely lost its fragile little mind.

Whatever it did, however, solved the problem of Juyie and Kurama's battle there-of; the tornado of leaves dispersed almost as instantly as it had come, leaving the silver youko whirling unsteadily on his feat, disoriented and quite abruptly lost. Hiei - without questioning as to why he did so - flittered closer to stand by his side, just in time to catch him as Kurama lost his balance and fell. Of course, the youko was bigger and the fall was unexpected; they both went sprawling to the ground, Hiei pinned beneath him. Kurama started, then blinked. He stared down at Hiei, thoroughly confused as to how exactly he had gotten to that point. Of course, the youko had never been one to question how he ended up lying on someone, especially one so sexy as the fire-demon. He smiled, the slim fingers of his hand splaying across the black material covering Hiei's chest in a slow, seductive caress. "Mm. Baby... you know, we gotta fix your timing."

The fire-demon flushed. "Baka kitsune." He grumbled thickly, narrowing his eyes, yet doing nothing more than that to free himself from Kurama's weight.

Kurama, however vaguely, took note of this change. "Yeah." He whispered, licking Hiei's ear and then breathing upon the dampened skin, nuzzling the corner of his jaw as he did so. He shifted slightly; Hiei's eyes widened; Kurama gaze a soft, sensuous little laugh. "Next time, we'll have to find a place that's a little more secluded, ne?" His hand inched up to the fire-demon's throat, where his fingers teased around the collar of his black tank-top. Gently the youko pulled this away, revealing a few extra inches of flesh and skin, which were then instantly submitted to the tremulous warmth of Kurama's nuzzling licks and sharp little nips. Unconsciously Hiei's eyes fell closed and his back arched, exposing his throat to more of the same; Kurama bared his teeth in a feral little grin, his tongue darted out to taste the surprisingly tender conjunction of neck and shoulder, oblivious to all outside the quiet little realm in which he and his fire-demon lay.

Until Juyie groaned, that is.

Quite abruptly the happy little down-time (<<*snickers*>>) was cut short as both demons stiffened; Kurama suppressed a yelp of surprise as half of Hiei's katana blade slid between their two heated bodies; Hiei's fist clenched around the hilt as his dark, roiling crimson eyes snapped to the side, the fury and violence within them only thinly shielded. Kurama himself tossed his head, forcing the mass of his long silver hair over one shoulder so as to give him better view of their opponent - although he had yet to actually move from his position. (<>)

They needn't have worried nor prepared so; Juyie was curled up within himself upon the ground a leap away, trussed up like a Christmas tree, wrapped liberally in about a million strings of tear-gem wards. (Frankly, he looked like a fly wrapped up in spider-web netting.) He was unconscious; only a second faint, painful groaned revealed the fact that the gold-green demon still drew breath. Warily Kurama disentangled himself from Hiei and approached the Master; the latter obviously wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

"Hn." Hiei stepped up by his side, re-sheathing his katana with the soft, metallic hiss of metal.

Kurama, by now having known the fire-demon long enough to be able to interpret his quiet grunts, agreed. "You're right. That was weird." He stood up, glancing around the chamber room for more danger, quickly assessing the situation. From the sounds coming from a disclosed hallway, it sounded as if Yuusuke and Kuwabara were still going up against the nameless youkai guard. Youko Kurama looked down at his companion with a mischievous smile. "I for one am not going to question it. What say you - should we help Yuusuke or find the kids?"

Hiei grunted again, his crimson eyes sliding away. "Yuusuke can take care of himself."

And indeed he could; the fire-demon, although loathe to be 'part' of the Reikai Tantrei in the first place, always came to the aid of the other members - if they truly needed it. Right now, Hiei didn't think Yuusuke needed their help - and he was a very good judge on those sort of things.

"Hai." Kurama's smirk faded into grim silence as he looked up to the direction Shenjin and Kaidei had gone. "Let's go."

And so they went, following the trailing feel of Shenjin's fickle ki and the Chimera's faint scent. Strange, but there was a residual trace of something - something not quite ki and not quite power or essence - along this trail as well; every few leaps the thin trace would suddenly widen into what was, in all descriptions, a mess of spilled essence. It was invisible, but to two demons with as much capability as The Forbidden Child and Youko Kurama - the traces were as bright as day. Hiei appeared to ignore them, but Kurama was growing more uneasy by the moment. Whatever had created these splashes of ki along the trail appeared to be... well, 'leaking' it, for lack of a better word. And the farther they went - the closer they got to their goal - the more incongruencies they ran into. It didn't help to ease his discomfort at the fact that each splash of essence echoed that which still teased around and boosted his own ki.

They both hauled up short to a stop as they came to a wide-open chamber door, beyond which lay a huge thrown room. The youko's golden eyes quickly took in all sight they could see - the Master - the Sword - Leina - Shenjin - the thief - before snapping back to the Shadow mage in preparation to fight. A snarl was beginning upon his lips at the very moment that the creature became aware of his presence; a hand was lifted and there was no time - none at all - to dodge the cloying burst of power that came straight for them.

And Kurama watched in horror as it did come, as Shenjin shouted something unintelligible to his ear, as the boy dove into the path of the Shadow Mage's power, taking the blow that had been meant for Kurama and Hiei.

If he had screamed, it wouldn't nearly have appeared so devastating. If he had cried out, or made a sound - any sound at all - it would have been a faint, if sickening form of reassurance, but he didn't. The instant the power hit him Shenjin was ripped from his feet and thrown across the room where he hit the ground, skidding across the marble stone to come to rest only a leap from the hovering Sword. There was no utterance of a cry, no sound that accompanied this action save for the dense blow of his body hitting the floor, and the unfettered shout that ripped itself free of Kurama's throat at the sight.

Shenjin didn't scream - but Kurama did. He howled the boy's name and all else was forgotten as sheer panic consumed his being and he ran toward the pearl-green youko, his golden eyes trained upon the fierce, crackling black shadows snapping around the boy's pale form. He fell to his knees by Shenjin's side and grabbed his hand, intent only upon making sure he was alive and doing all he could to keep him that way.

Hiei remained at the threshold of the chamber, his bloody gaze taking in all that happened with the silent, immobile calm he held during battle. Nothing could move nor faze him - nothing, save for the sight of his silver youko grabbing his brother's hand - and promptly collapsing to the floor beside him. The black shadows which had once only been upon Shenjin leapt out greedily to enfold Kurama as well, flickering silver as well as ice-green and black as if it strove to bind the two unconscious forms in one. With a snarling curse Hiei flittered to their side and blindly grabbed Kurama's shoulder to rip him away from the Mage's spell.

Both Kaidei and the Master watched in unfeeling silence as the fire-demon, too, fell victim to the shadows, a dark, roiling crimson shade joining that of the silver and pearl-green within the flickering darkness surrounding them. The thief's hands were still clenched as the panic he had felt upon seeing Shenjin hit slowly faded down to a mute rumble in his thoughts; he had shouted the boy's name without thinking, not out loud, but silently, and felt greatly chastised for that fact. He had lost his calm. In that one chaotic moment between one action and another he had been terrified and had lost control of his ki; the Sword had reacted and now there was a pale, almost invisible borealis-shaded bubble of power approximately nine feet in diameter surrounding the Sword. Shenjin, Kurama, and Hiei were within this bubble.

There were good points and bad points to this fact. The good... was within the knowledge that none of them could be harmed by any outside force while being protected by the Sword's reactionary bubble. The bad... was within the knowledge that Kaidei had made a mistake in his fearful panic. He had lost control of his ki, and reacted instinctively in the urge to protect Shenjin - by any means necessary. This had triggered his ki to send out a tendril of power directly through to the boy's mind and erected a shield around it, locking him within a world not unlike the dream realm. This would protect him from everything - both physical as well as mental assaults - and nothing could harm him so long as the shield stood. The shield itself would stand until Kaidei's unconscious was assured that he stood in no more danger, wherein it would disappear and Shenjin would awaken as if from sleep, unfazed by any of the actions which had gone on surrounding his form, safe and sound.

Set alone, there was no harm nor danger in such a shield being set in such a way. But coupled with the bubble created by the Sword - within which both Kurama and Hiei as well as Shenjin had been accepted - the shield around Shenjin's mind was altered. By touching Shenjin, Kurama had connected himself to the boy directly through the Shadow Mage's spell - and thus linked his mind to Shenjin's via the thief's mind-shield. Hiei had touched Kurama - and fallen to it as well. In doing so, Kurama had been sucked into Shenjin's dream world to live it with the boy; Hiei would be one view aside, only able to see, not directly enact upon it, as Kurama would have the ability to do.

Already, the thief could sense the dreams beginning. Like a pale, rolling fog the visions teased the very back of his mind; sights and sounds of Shenjin's dreams. They were calm for now; Shenjin was safe. He needn't worry over the boy's safety any longer. The factor known as Shenjin had been eliminated. And so...

Kaidei collected himself, turning hard, crimson-violet eyes to the Master.

The Mage's eyes were wide, his jaw slack, his voice a bare hiss of sound. "Impossible!" The shadowed demon whirled upon the thief, his blue eyes blazing in anger and disbelief. "It was in the Book! You wrote it within the Book! 'None may be protected by the Power of the Sword in which I instill unless they be the Wielder of its Power or the direct Chosen of such' - that's what you said!"

Kaidei smirked, his claws flexing by his side as he took one slow, advancing step forward; the Shadow Master wavered fearfully and fell back a pace in reaction. Did the fool really think that by quoting his own words back to him - that it would make them any less his own? "I lied."

"No!" The Mage gasped and took back another pace, raising his hands in supplication. "Please. Don't -"

"Don't what?" The thief asked, feigning all innocence as he advanced yet again. "What could I do - little mortal old me? That's all I am, right? Just a mortal. That's how you perceive me. A harmless little creature with very little to no ki - a Nothing, without that Sword. Easy to break, easy to overcome. Easy to manipulate and wield to your own purposes, ne?"

"I -" The Master stumbled upon his own cloaks and feet, his eyes widening. There around Kaidei's form was growing a pale, borealis shaded light, laced through with black and crimson-violet mystics. His blood-red eyes were hard as burnished crystal and flecked through with violet shards of such darkness and such fury... In facing such a creature as that - delicacy and size be damned - there was only one thing to say. "Please... "

Kaidei stopped. He settled back and relaxed, cocking his head to the left. The long, silken strands of his black hair and a few of his braids slid forward, teasing the pale yellow and orange tuft of fur resting against the curving indention of his shoulder as he appeared to contemplate the fear of the demon before him. For a moment it looked as if he would take pity upon the trembling Shadow Mage... but only for a moment. The threat must be destroyed, bar nothing. "I don't think so."

Slowly he moved, the Master's gaze trained upon his small form in acid-burning terror as he held his arms out wide. His dark eyes closed as he tilted his head back... and released all the maturing constraints upon his ki. His mind reached back, past the feel of his power gathering and roiling out from him in waves, past the Master's frantic screams, past the dismay of his own fault in being reduced to such actions, past everything... to touch upon Shenjin's mind where it lay still linked to his, easily crossing the threshold of the shield erected around it to be witness to the dreams that held the boy amidst the chaos beyond.