PART THREE
FLAMING WINDS

"What do you mean we can't go with him?!" Kuwabara demanded, looming over the orderlies that blocked his path to the ICU.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kuwabara," the nurse behind the men apologized. "No one is allowed in here right now. Please come back during regular visiting hours."

"Don't give me that," Kuwabara retorted. "The guy's been suffering alone for hours! Someone should be with him!"

"Please let us see him," Yukina pleaded from behind him. "He's probably scared. He shouldn't be alone at a time like this."

"I assure you," the nurse explained gently, "he's in the best of hands." She looked at the clipboard in her hands. "When he wakes up, we'll ask him what he was doing and how he managed to injure himself that badly."

I'm sure, Kuwabara thought bitterly. Then you'll throw him in an asylum once you hear him claim he was attacked by some sort of demon. "Look, he doesn't have a family," he reasoned, trying to be as civil as possible. "Can't you at least let us stay with him for a little while?"

The nurse shook her head. "I'm very sorry, but I can't allow that. Just come back at regular visiting hours." With that, the nurse left with the orderlies following her like shadows. The doors to the ICU shut.

Kuwabara slammed his fist into his palm. "Son of a--" he eyed Yukina, "--gun," he finished instead. "What are we supposed to do now? Just leave him here by himself?" He folded his arms and sighed.

"Maybe he won't wake up until tomorrow sometime," Yukina offered helpfully. "We can come and visit him then, and keep him company."

Kuwabara shrugged. "I guess you're right," he lamented. "Come on, let's get out of here. I'll walk you home." He offered his arm and she accepted, hooking her elbow with his as they made their way down the main hall of the hospital.

Kuwabara was still angry about the nurse's refusal - sometimes he wondered if the staff at the hospital tried to make their patients' lives miserable. He stared straight ahead, trying to keep a hold on his temper. It would do no good to launch a tantrum in the middle of the hospital - and it certainly wouldn't impress Yukina.

Beside him, the Ice Maiden gasped and tugged sharply on his arm. "Kazuma, look at that," she hissed, pointing to the waiting room.

Kuwabara turned his head to follow her finger. When he saw what she was referring to, he blinked. The waiting room was full of people. "What the…?"

"What's wrong with them?" Yukina asked timidly. "There are never this many people here at this hour."

"The same thing that Seung was diagnosed with earlier this evening, I'm afraid."

Kuwabara and Yukina looked over their shoulders at the sound of the new voice. "Dr. Ikari," Kuwabara acknowledged.

The physician looked exhausted. The clipboard in his hands was covered in notes. Behind his glasses, heavy bags could be seen under his eyes. "There have been thirty more cases," he explained. "Forty-two, if you add the people still waiting."

"They're…they're all blind?" Yukina sputtered.

"All of them," Ikari confirmed. "They were all brought here, panicked beyond imagination, each screaming that he had gone blind in less than a moment, and each claiming that all he could see was a milky cloud of white."

"Like Seung," Kuwabara breathed, recalling Yusuke's account of what had happened the earlier that evening. Or, rather, the evening before, he corrected himself, taking a quick glimpse at his wristwatch.

"It's infected forty-two people," Ikari continued. "We have no idea if it is contagious, we don't know if it's permanent, we don't know where it came from…"

"Then what do you know?" Kuwabara demanded.

"We know it's spreading," the physician replied. "And it's spreading fast. It's possible we have an epidemic on our hands."

Kuwabara gaped. "An…epidemic?" he echoed. You mean…something like the Black Death? Yukina clutched his arm tighter.

Ikari nodded solemnly, and glanced at the people in the waiting room. "One like we've never seen. We're calling it 'white blindness'."

"Keiko, here. Drink this."

Kurama placed the mug of tea in her hands and watched sadly as she shakily brought it to her lips and drank. First Seung, and now her. Was the blindness contagious? Could blindness be contagious? He'd never heard of such a thing.

He looked up as Yusuke returned from the kitchen. The former Spirit World detective went immediately to Keiko, enveloping her in a comforting hug. "The nurse said that this blindness has infected many people," he said, stroking Keiko's hair.

"Should we take Keiko to the hospital?" Kurama asked.

"No," the girl interjected, shaking her head against her boyfriend's chest. "No. I won't… I don't want to be in a hospital with everybody else."

Kurama frowned, but could understand and respect her wishes. From what they'd heard from Kuwabara, the hospital was full of victims. There was no word of a cure or a treatment, either.

And that wasn't the beginning of the danger. Now there was some sort of deranged demon scurrying around the city with the possible intention of attacking someone else, and Reikai had apparently turned a blind eye to the situation.

"Yusuke," he uttered, feeling a tad awkward and out of place. The young man looked up at him. "I should go. I can't be of much use here." And you and Keiko should be alone right now. She needs you more than ever - and she probably doesn't know it.

Yusuke nodded. "Thanks, Kurama. For staying with her until I got back. Be careful on your way home."

Keiko raised her head. "Thank you, Kurama."

"Anytime."

He nodded once to them before letting himself out. When he turned after shutting the door, his gaze fell on Hiei, who was standing on the sidewalk with his hands in his pockets.

"What happened?" the Jaganshi asked quietly.

Kurama closed his eyes briefly. "Keiko is blind."

Hiei's eyes widened a fraction, but other than that he didn't look surprised. "Like the other human?" he inquired in disbelief.

"Like Seung," Kurama confirmed sadly, stuffing his hands into his own pockets and trotting down the front steps. "I don't know how it happened. We don't know if the blindness is somehow contagious, or…"

"And Yusuke?" Hiei ventured. "The Spirit World?"

"He's with her. And Reikai…won't disclose anything about the demon attacks. They wouldn't tell him anything."

Hiei blinked up at him. "Truly?"

Kurama reached up and brushed his fingers across his beloved's lips in a gesture of affection and gently cupped his cheek. "We don't know why. Yusuke wasn't even allowed to enter the palace. It was almost as though Koenma didn't care about what was happening."

For a moment, Hiei was silent, eyes closed and head tilted into Kurama's palm as he leaned into the touch. Then he opened his eyes. "Kurama," he began, fingers closing gently around Kurama's wrist, "when I went back to the human's house, I…I saw--"

He froze, muscles suddenly tense, his red eyes narrowing as though he was looking past Kurama instead if at him. "What…?"

Kurama frowned. "Hiei…? What's wrong?"

Hiei closed his eyes. "It's the same as…" Abruptly he pushed away from Kurama. "The roof!" he cried before taking off in a powerful leap.

"Hiei - wait!" Kurama called, reaching effortlessly toward the sky. What the hell was going on? His body acted quicker than his mind, however, and soon he found himself leaping up the front steps and barging through Yusuke's door.

"Stay with Keiko!" he ordered as Yusuke appeared in the foyer. "Go back to her! Now!"

"But--"

Without waiting for the former detective to complete his sentence, Kurama started up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He'd been in Yusuke's house many times before. Yusuke and Keiko's bedroom provided easy access to the roof.

The ki winked out the moment his boots touched the roof's flat surface. Hiei crouched in a prepatory stance, muscles tensing as he reached out with his senses, fingers curling around the hilt of his sword. I know you're here… His Jagan grew warm as it glowed against the closed eyelid, reacting unconsciously to his desire to see what wasn't there.

Show yourself. He released his Voice along some waves of energy, hoping he was compatible enough with the trespasser so that the demon would Hear his words. He watched for any kind of indication that the intruder was going to obey his demand. I know you're still here, he Called. Don't make me have to come and get you.

Several seconds went by. Hiei growled and prepared to Call again--

--The air around him constricted, pressing against his limbs, curling around his neck… He choked as he was jerked roughly into the air and held there. What…?

Impressive. The Voice was a deep, husky murmur in his ear. Hiei reflexively tried to turn around in an attempt to glimpse his captor. It did little good. How were you able to sense me?

Who are you? he demanded.

He frowned in discomfort when something that felt like fingers cupped his chin and tilted his head upwards. You are not one of them, the Voice said simply.

Hiei blinked. What? The air enfolding him constricted even more, and Hiei struggled to breathe, his lungs straining against the pressure.

Don't interfere.

Then the air shield was gone and he fell to the roof, teeth jarring as he landed hard. He unsheathed his sword immediately and spun around.

Hiei!

Kurama's Voice. I'm here, Fox.

Should I? the youko asked anxiously.

No. Wait. Hiei glanced around the roof, the nearby trees, and the night sky. Nothing. Yusuke? Is he with Keiko?

Yes.

Good. If the creature's intention had been to attack the humans that lived in the house, blind Keiko would have been an easy target. I'll join you in a moment, Greeneyes. Just as soon as I--

TSEEEEEEEEEEEEER!

He spun, raising his sword to intercept the attack. The winged demon made an exclamation of pain upon meeting metal in place of flesh, and recoiled, swerving back up to the sky. Where did that come from?

Hiei? Now?

Now.

The screech of the demon caught his attention, and he focused once more on the task at hand. He frowned up at the diving demon. The darkness of night made it hard to distinguish the species. An aviark, perhaps - or maybe a falachion. He waited patiently, not moving a muscle as the creature dove towards him, talons outstretched.

"Rose Whip!"

Hiei smiled as his lover's weapon sailed through the air in a green arc. The winged demon shrieked as the whip sliced through it, and it dissolved into dust.

What…? He frowned. An illusion of some sort?

"Hiei!"

He turned at the sound of Kurama's voice, and the youko was suddenly right beside him. "Hiei, what happened?"

"Demon," he replied curtly. "Powerful. He can mask his ki, making it nearly untraceable." He reached out with his senses, trying to find a trickle of the energy he had sensed before. "Possible Air Adept," he added, remembering the way the winds had held him prisoner. "Probably on guard now that I've found him."

Kurama tightened his grip on the smooth handle of his whip. "Would he have run away, then?"

"Who know--"

"REIGAN!"

They froze at Yusuke's sudden yell, and as one, they dashed back down to the house as fast as they could.

"Who the hell are you?" Yusuke demanded, glaring at the demon across the living room.

The demon ran a hand through his silver hair and put the other on his hip. "You don't need to know me, human," he insisted. "Move aside and don't get involved. This doesn't concern you."

"The hell it doesn't," Yusuke snapped, clenching his fists. He followed the demons movements as he made his way closer. "Stay back," he warned. "Get out of our house. Now."

The demon cocked his head and gave him a little smile. "Bold little human, aren't you? It's too bad the other humans didn't have someone to protect them."

"Other humans?" Yusuke echoed.

"Yes," the demon replied with a smug grin. "Especially that first one. He was brave, too. Nearly beat me with a chair, that one. Too bad all humans aren't so valiant."

Seung… Yusuke glared. "You…you son of a…"

"Step aside, little human."

Yusuke stood his ground, mindful to keep himself between Keiko and the creature. Whoever--whatever--it was, it had blocked his Spirit Gun. Not deflected it - halted it; disintegrated it. Was he the reason Kurama ran upstairs? he wondered. Kurama…

"I'll tell you one more time," the demon snarled. "Get out of the way. This has nothing to do with you, now stand aside."

"What did you do to Kurama?"

"You try my patience, little human."

"If you've hurt him I'll--"

The demon raised his hands and rubbed one palm over the other, as though rolling a handful of cookie dough into a ball. Yusuke blinked as a silver disc of energy began forming between the beast's hands.

"Razor Wind!"

Yusuke gasped as the silver disc sailed like a Frisbee across the room, and raised a hand to defend himself with another Spirit Gun--

"Move!"

"Ah!" Yusuke dove to the side, brining Keiko along with him as the disc was sliced to pieces. He sighed in relief as Hiei materialized where Yusuke had been, sword held at the ready. "Hiei."

The Jaganshi didn't spare him a glance. "Who are you?" he questioned roughly.

"You again," the demon acknowledged. "Why can't you mind your own business?"

"You're surrounded," came Kurama's voice from the doorway. "Now what do you want?"

"Yusuke," he heard Keiko whisper. "I'm scared."

It was an obvious statement, yet it meant so much more than just "I'm scared". She couldn't see anything. She couldn't see the demon, the battle, what was going on… "It's okay," he whispered back. "He has to go through me first."

"That's what I'm afraid of…" There wasn't an ounce of humor in her voice.

Yusuke.

Hiei's Voice barely brushed his mind. He and the Jaganshi didn't have enough compatibility with one another to mind-speak effectively, in effect making Hiei sound as though he were miles away instead of in the same room.

Yes? he strained to answer. It didn't help that he wasn't very gifted with telepathy, either, and Hiei had had a couple of centuries to perfect his skill.

Go.

What?

Take Keiko and run. As soon as we--

"Ensatsu Ken!"

"Fuuka Enbujin!"

Yusuke seized Keiko's arm and rushed past the blurred forms of Hiei and the other demon out of the living room, under the protective cloak of rose petals. He silently thanked the two demons and led Keiko out of the house and into the night.

Hiei growled as the other demon parried another of his strikes. Damn, he's fast. He blocked several thrusts. Kurama?

Yusuke's gone with Keiko. I can't get near you to help, though.

"I thought I told you to stay out of my way!" the demon spat, meeting each of Hiei's blows with his blade of air. "So stand aside!" He punctuated the final word with a powerful shove and rush of air, and Hiei stumbled back, struggling to keep his footing.

"Rose Whip!"

The other demon evaded the plant weapon easily, leaping back to stand on the coffee table.

"A plant controller," he mused. "How cute." He reached into his cloak. "I wish I had time to play with you, but I don't. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to…how do you say…'cut this short'." And then he threw his cloak over his head…and was gone.

Or not. Hiei cast his rei around the room. Careful, he cautioned Kurama, feeling the cloaks hovering in the air that were impairing his senses. He can hide both himself and his ki with hardly any effort.

So I see, the youko replied, his red hair swishing from side to side as he looked around for a possible ambush. He's the one from Seung's house, isn't he? The ki signature…

Is the same. Yes. What I want to know is what he wants-- He paused. There was a hole in the warding. The demon must have been in a hurry, to be careless. A little pressure, and--

He saw Kurama's eyes widen in sudden recognition, as though he'd been standing in a dark room and someone had just walked in and flicked on the lights. The cloak vanished and the demon's ki shone like a signal fire in the night.

"I'm going after him," Hiei said quickly before flitting away in a wisp of displaced air.

Firefly, wait!

No time. I want to get him before-- He cut off his last remark before he was finished, noticing the way the ki was winking on and off. Trying to hide yourself again… You fight fast, stranger, but your feet will never be as fast as mine.

He leapt from tree to tree, from roof to roof, following the energy and hoping Yusuke and Keiko hadn't been foolish enough to get themselves caught.

Kurama was mildly surprised he'd had the presence of mind to lock Yusuke's door on his way out, leaping down the front steps and taking off down the street. Hiei… He cast his rei around him like sound waves, searching for any sign of Hiei's and not caring if any other demons noticed him.

Kurama…?

A brush against his mind, barely audible, given Yusuke's inexperience and his own anxiety. Where are you? He frowned a little at the increased effort it took to project a message. He rarely mind-spoke with anyone but Hiei - and they were bound so tightly together that he hardly had to concentrate to make his thoughts known to his lover.

Over here. In the bushes.

Kurama sighed in relief. Yusuke's ki was well hidden. Very well hidden, he realized. Too well to have been the result of a conscious command. Once again, Yusuke's desire to protect the ones he loved has enhanced his power. Stay put for now.

We are. Where's Hiei?

I'm going to try and find him. Stay put, he repeated. I'll be back as soon as I can.

He took off again, running through the first rays of dawn.

The park was deserted.

Hiei crouched low in the trees, waiting for a sign to strike. The demon was here, but had somehow had his rei encircle the recreational area itself, making it impossible to tell where exactly he was. How is he doing this…? Just what type of demon is he?

He heard the slight rustle of the leaves and reacted reflexively, spinning to deflect the swinging blade and leap from the tree. He landed on a picnic table and was shocked at the speed with which the creature was on him. He managed to parry the first seven blows easily. The others, he mused as they danced around the grass, were more difficult. They thrust and parried and sidestepped, feet sliding on the dewy grass as they hopped around each other, blades meeting in a clash of steel and magic. The demon was an excellent swordsman, Hiei observed. Most definitely a challenge.

"Did you hide them, little one?" the other demon spat, executing an over-hand slash followed by an upper. "Do you mean to protect them? Don't be a fool! No matter how far she tries to run, I will get what I want."

Hiei parried the strikes, cursing under his breath at the effort it took to do so. "What?" he demanded. What did this creature want with Keiko--------

--------the hands fished through the darkness. Groping, searching, and delving...for the whiteness that had been lost. One hand reached within the waves of nothingness, pulling out the shimmering pale sphere--------

--------"Razor Wind!"

Hiei gasped as the scene before him reverted to the park that was currently moonlighting as his battlefield. The demon had launched an attack. Hiei countered without thinking, whipping a ball of fire like a throwing star to dissipate the other's blade of air. The fire collided fiercely with the wind, the orange flames licking the silver tendrils, merging and exploding like fresh, dry logs being added to a fire. Both Hiei and his opponent halted their duel, eerily fascinated by why they had jointly emitted, watching the two powers crackle with energy and tiny lightning bolts as it grew.

Fire and Air…a dangerous and unpredictable elemental fusion. When their merging attacks became a large gray-orange nimbus - a disaster waiting to happen - Hiei regained his composure and made to spring away, to get himself out of danger. But it was too late. The merged youki could grow no larger, and there was no one controlling it.

"No!" the other demon shouted.

Hiei threw his cloak over his head, hoping it would provide some sort of protection.

The world around him exploded.

Was there anything in the Three Worlds that could come close to rivaling her beauty?

He stared at the portrait on the opposite wall, propped up on a pile of pillows with his hands locked behind his head. Of course, the portrait - or the picture, for that matter - could not possibly do her justice. But, they were the best he had at the moment, and so he made due. But soon, he promised, soon we'll be together again. I'll rescue you. I swear I will.

"Lord Jumon?"

He growled. He hated being disturbed in his bedroom. It was rude to coax someone out of their private chambers when it was obvious they were relaxing and enjoying themselves. He took his time: sitting up, fixing his hair, taking a sip of wine, popping a couple of grapes into his mouth… After all, demons of his stature didn't have to run for very many things. "What is it?" he demanded at last.

The doors to his chambers opened and a tiny imp slipped in and bowed low - not that it had far to go, he mused. "Forgive the intrusion, my Lord," it began, "but I assumed you would like to know how the Lord Istuwari is proceeding."

A smile tugged at his lips. "Ah… Indeed. How is my dear brother doing?"

"Very well, my Lord. We've gathered enough of the stray energy to complete three links of the chain."

"Excellent," Jumon breathed.

"And, my Great Lord…"

"Yes?"

The imp shifted from foot to foot. "Your sister wishes to speak with you."

Jumon frowned. "Very well. Send her in."

"By your leave, my Great Lord." The imp bowed again and backed out of the room. Jumon had a moment of privacy before his doors were slammed open and she stormed in.

"Damn you!" she snapped at him from the end of his enormous bed, hands on her slender hips. "What right do you have to make me stand outside like a servant - like a messenger?" Her sapphire eyes sparkled in anger. "I have been standing out there for two hours - two hours - waiting to speak to my own brother!"

Jumon made a small face, moving a finer to tape his earlobe. "Kata, please. I'm right here. You don't have to shout." He smiled eagerly. "So? Have you decided to help, dear sister?"

"No. I'll have no part in…" She glanced at the portrait on the wall and grimaced. "No. I won't be involved in this."

"But why not?" Jumon asked, fingering the gold fringe of his sleeve. "Why won't you help me?" Surely the girl could see what he was trying to do. Surely she saw that he was planning a rescue.

"Jumon," his sister said, very patiently, "it's not secret that I disagree with your…intentions. And I want no part in it."

He tilted his head, regarding her with an even stare. "Then you are here to…?"

"To tell you that I'm leaving."

Jumon blinked at the declaration. Unexpected, but not unprecedented. "I see. And where will you go?"

She folded her arms beneath her breasts and shook her silver bangs out of her eyes. "I will get by, I assure you."

"The I bid you farewell, dear sister, and wish you luck. May the winds guide you to where you need to go."

"I am sure they will." She rolled her eyes and turned to leave, but paused after opening the door, glancing once more at the portrait of the fair maiden on the wall. "I think you are wasting your time, Jumon. She's happy. Just leave her be. Save yourself the agony." And then she was gone.

Happy? He stared at the portrait. No. No. She's not happy. How could she be happy? How? She was a prisoner - stolen from him and held against her will. Why couldn't his sister see that? He would rescue her. He would bring her back to where she belonged.

He lay back on the pillows and turned to his side, nuzzling his cheek against the smooth pillowcase. Yes. Soon - soon they would be together again. Then she would be safely in his arms, and he would once again be able to lay his head against her bosom and--

There was a knock at the door. "My Lord?"

He blinked, coming back to himself, realizing that he had been amorously kissing one of the pillows. He twisted around and sat up again. "What?"

The imp poked his head into the chamber. "Should we stop the Lady?" it inquired.

Jumon waved a hand. "Let her be. She poses no threat. If she doesn't want to help, that's fine." I don't need her, anyway, he assured himself. Itsuwari and I are capable of rescuing her ourselves. She's not happy. I know she's waiting for me.

"My Lord?"

Jumon waved his hand again. "Dismissed. And bring me some tea."

"As you wish, my Lord."

He smiled at the portrait as the imp left. Soon, he swore to her image. Soon.

Ikari breathed a sigh and took his glasses off, shaking his head at the multitude of papers on his desk. It just kept spreading. The blindness didn't seem to be sparing anyone. Men, women, children, the elderly… Anyone and everyone seemed to be susceptible. Gods, he was tired. So tired. He had been up since he'd received the call from the hospital earlier that night, and he and the other doctors hadn't slept since. It had been such a long night. He needed to sleep. Just for a couple of hours. That was all he needed - just a little rejuvenation.

He folded his arms on the desk and laid his head upon them. So tired…so tired… He just needed to rest…just a little…then he would get back to work on finding a possible treatment for the blindness that plagued the city…

It didn't take long for him to drift off.

He awoke to a world of whiteness.

PART FOUR - THE FIRST MOVEMENT
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