PART SIX
THE SECOND MOVEMENT

"Kata?" Jumon asked, unsure if he'd heard correctly. He tore his eyes away from the picture in his hands and looked Itsuwari in the eye. "Kata was there, too?"

"I'm afraid so, Jumon," his brother replied, taking a seat on the edge of Jumon's bed. "She attacked me. And she wasn't the only one. A woman from the Hand was there, and so were those annoying pests who keep protecting that girl."

Jumon frowned. Why were they causing him trouble? Couldn't they just mind their own business? And Kata... Couldn't Kata see that he was trying to do something good? Why was she always trying to make him stop? He was only trying to... He glanced at the picture in his hands. He'd do anything for her... Anything...

"Continue gathering the energy," he ordered. "They can't be everywhere at once, no matter how hard they try." He smiled at his brother. "Itsu, you've done wonderfully so far. I have total faith in you."

Itsuwari stood and bowed. "My brother, you flatter me. I will do my best so that you may succeed."

Jumon reached forward and took his brother's hands in his own. "Thank you, my brother," he breathed gratefully, kissing Itsuwari's hands. "I am glad that you are still with me. Kata...Kata simply doesn't understand me the way you do."

"I will deal with Kata when the time comes, my brother," Itsuwari promised.

Jumon blinked. Hurt Kata? But...Kata was his sister... He loved her, too... But... He glanced at the picture again, running a finger along the frozen, smiling face. For her...for her, he would walk into the gates of Hell. Part of him didn't want to harm his little sister...but the other understood that is he wanted to rescue his love, he would have to do anything necessary. Forgive me, Kata...but I must get her away from those monsters.

He released his brother's hands. "Do whatever it takes, my brother," he said. "We know what we must do."

"As you wish, my brother." Itsuwari bowed once more, and then turned and left the room.

Jumon rubbed the picture over his heart. They had run into some problems, but he would not be deterred. It would take more than his sister's treason and those meddling Chosen to stop him. He would get the Orb, deal with his beloved's captors, and then he would take her with him.

And if anyone dared to get in his way...they would die.

The High Lady's room was quiet, save for the crackling sound of the fire. The candelabras lit the chamber, bathing the High Lady Eiyo in a yellow-orange glow as she meditated. Hwang pursed his lips together. The Lady had been Delving for nearly an hour, her third eye shining purple - the mingling hues of it and the firelight becoming much like the light emitted by a sunset. He loathed disturbing her - she was deep in concentration - but he had news she may not be pleased to hear.

Thankfully, he didn't have to wait long. The High Lady halted and slouched, resting her forearms on her thighs. He coronet of hair was loose now, and wisps of it had escaped the bindings. But her breathing was even though her breaths were deeper. The Lady's stamina had been part of the reason for her crowning.

"My Lady," he uttered hesitantly.

"Hwang," she acknowledged, climbing slowly to her feet. She rearranged her skirts before raising her head to him. "Speak."

Hwang hesitated. "I...have no good news for you, my Lady."

"I thought as much." The High Lady sighed softly and moved to sit in one of the wooden chairs. She touched her hair and looked at Hwang over her shoulder.

He bowed his head and stepped forward to stand behind her. He removed the pins holding her hair and place and watched the mint-green waves tumble down her back. He ran his fingers through the rippled strands, frowning worriedly as she gently tugged on the roots to relieve the tension in her scalp.

"Give me the message," she told him, her head drooping as he massaged it.

"Fukuro was able to find Itsuwari," he relayed, rubbing the tips of his index and middle fingers in circles on her temples. "However, she was unable to deal with him. She ran into some...interference."

"Interference?" the High Lady repeated. "What kind of interference?"

"Humans, among other," Hwang answered, reaching for the hairbrush on the table. "Two of them, she said, had very powerful reiki. Another was a human with youki."

"Oh?" the Lady mused. "How unusual...and quite interesting."

"Not as interesting, I'd think, as the fourth... He was Jaganshi."

The High Lady was silent for a moment. Hwang did not stop running the bristles through her long locks. "Innate?" she asked in disbelief.

"Acquired," Hwang replied. "But still..."

"A Jaganshi in Ningenkai." The Lady nodded. "Of all things, I did not expect..." She shook her head slightly. "Jumon has a Jaganshi...?"

"But they were not with Itsuwari," Hwang added. "They were fighting him. And it didn't appear to be the first time." That bothered him, despite the fact that the four strangers had been fighting their enemy. They were getting in the way. This was the Hand's affair, and they had already thwarted Fukuro's attempt to kill Itsuwari.

"Very interesting..."

"But Sister Fukuro says she will continue to track him down."

"That is all very well," the High Lady said, "but if we can dispose of Itsuwari, that still leaves us with Jumon to deal with." She lowered her head. "And until we are able to locate Jumon's stronghold, we will be unable to stop him."

Hwang drew the Lady Eiyo up and moved her hair so that it tumbled over one shoulder. Then he set to work on the buttons of her dress. "My Lady...does that mean that you were unable to...?"

"I cannot find him. I have tried for hours... Whatever intricate veil he has woven, it is powerful." She helped Hwang get her out of her sleeves. "I can't begin to comprehend how powerful he is..."

Hwang picked up the dress she stepped out of and lifted her shift over her head. He set the articles of clothing on the table and fetched a clean white shift from the closet. "At least, my Lady, if Sister Fukuro is able to do away with Itsuwari, then we will be rid of one of them."

"We can only hope," the Lady sighed, donning the new undergarment. "But this will not be easy - not in any respect."

"Things are rarely so easy, my Lady," Hwang consoled, trying his best to sound hopeful. They had to stop Jumon, and they had to do it soon. Or else the Fifth might fall, and who knew if Jumon would stop there?

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

Six.

Kurama blinked as the seventh tablespoon of sugar plunged into the mug, and suddenly remembered why he never let Hiei have coffee. Hiei liked the taste of granulated sugar, since it was so rare in Makai. However, the natural plain flavor of Yukina's brand of coffee left an unpleasant aftertaste in one's mouth - which prompted more sugar to sweeten it.

"I'll never understand how you can stand that," Kuwabara commented.

"It's good," Hiei said with a shrug. "You're not drinking it, so what's the problem?"

"I'm glad I'm not drinking it," Kuwabara replied. "Not only will you be wide awake, you'll be bouncing off the walls."

"It's good," Hiei insisted.

"It's disgusting." Kuwabara riposted.

"It's good," Hiei repeated, enunciating each word very carefully.

"Disgusting."

"Good."

"Dis-gusting."

"Go--oh, why am I even arguing with you?" Hiei wondered aloud, shaking his head.

"Old times' sake?" Kuwabara suggested.

Hiei thought about it for a moment. "I guess that's it. Good."

"Disgusting."

"Good."

"Disgusting."

"Good. G-O-O-D."

"Disgusting. D-I-S-uh--"

"G," Kurama supplied.

"I know how to spell it!"

Kurama sighed, but did so out of amusement rather than exasperation, and shot a slightly apologetic smile at Katachi, who was seated at the other end of the table.

She returned his smile with a puzzled frown. "You are...interesting," she said at last.

Kurama raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Today...today we will be facing my brother Jumon - one of the most dangerous demons I know of - and you are all...playing."

"You find that strange?"

"Quite."

"Probably just because we used do this for a living," Kuwabara reasoned, taking a sip of his own coffee. "Or...at least regularly," he lamented. "It's not really something I'd consider doing for a living. The pay isn't so great."

Kurama chuckled. It seemed so long ago, but he could remember when going to school, doing his homework, finishing his chores, and fighting renegade demons was all a part of his daily schedule. Had it really been five years since then...? He suddenly felt rather old. "We're used to this kind of thing," he told Katachi. "So we don't seem too bothered by it. But that doesn't mean we are taking the matter lightly, or being irresponsible."

"Not all of us, anyway," Hiei clarified with a smirk.

"Hiei dear," Kuwabara began sweetly, "I can't help but wonder if you are referring to me."

Hiei blinked innocently. "Why, Kuwabara darling, whoever for?"

"Mayhap that remark have been an attack on my ego?"

"Insult you? Me? Surely you jest."

Kurama rolled his eyes with a smile. He wasn't sure if Kuwabara and Hiei simply pretended to dislike each other while sharing an odd sort of friendship...or if they just disliked each other. "Besides," he continued to Katachi, "it's not good to worry too much about an upcoming battle. You won't perform as well if you do."

"I suppose," Katachi lamented. "Although, were I you, I would be quite worried about Jumon. He's unpredictable and very dangerous."

At that moment, Yusuke entered the dining room and took a seat next to Kuwabara. "All the more reason not to worry about it," he said. "We'll just play this one by ear."

"You play them all by ear," Kuwabara snorted. "How's Keiko?"

"Still sleeping. I think I tired the poor girl out," he added with a wicked grin. "I think we had one too many--"

"To yourself, Urameshi," Hiei cut in quickly, making a face.

"Aw, you guys are no fun," he mock-pouted. He glanced out the window. "Well, we're up at the crack of dawn. What's first?"

"Breakfast," Yukina announced suddenly from the kitchen doorway. She came in and poured Yusuke a cup of coffee.

"The same smorgasbord we had yesterday?" Kuwabara asked hopefully. "Your cooking is incredible, Yukina."

"No," Hiei said. "You don't stuff yourself before a fight. You should know that. A full stomach makes you sluggish."

Kurama nodded. "Hiei's right. We'll have toast, Yukina, if you please." He slid his right hand under the table to touch Hiei's thigh.

"Not a problem at all," the Ice Maiden assured him, and disappeared once again into the kitchen.

Everyone was silent for a moment. Kuwabara and Yusuke drank their coffee, and Katachi her tea. Kurama finished his coffee awkwardly with his left hand, since his right was currently holding Hiei's left, their fingers entwined together. Breakfast was served and Yukina sat with them, turning her cup nervously in her hands.

"So what will you do?" she asked. "Will...will you go right away to Dander to face Jumon?"

"Have to," Yusuke stated. "We'll deal with this problem right from its heart." He looked at Katachi. "Why is Dander shielded and hidden?"

"It is a small territory," the demoness explained. "And Jumon...is not well-liked. After he lost the--the woman he loves, he became desperate to find her - and wanted to be able to exact his revenge on the people who...who stole her from him. To do so without being attacked in his own home, he claimed the Dander lands years ago and worked up his shields. He was so powerful, it was easy to persuade servants to come and be part of his household. They were drawn to him by the offer of a good home where no one would be able to harm them."

"You'd think people would stay away from a guy like that," Kuwabara commented.

"How did he make his shields so powerful?" Kurama asked.

Katachi shook her head. "You must understand: Jumon is very powerful, but...he is not well. He has trouble using his magic to its full potential unless he is focused on something he considers very important. But, that does not mean he will not defend himself if necessary. And as far as his servants' loyalty is concerned... Jumon may be doing something wrong, but he has a soft heart, too. He has good intentions, but he is using the wrong methods. I love my brother, but he must be stopped before anyone else suffers." She paused to take a deep breath. "When I take you to Jumon's House, you will be on his territory. The danger is great. I have warned you many times of the peril, yet I say it once more: your lives will be in danger. Are you still sure about this? Going?"

Yusuke nodded. "We are," he said, glancing at the rest of them. "We have to. Two of us will be staying here in case Itsuwari comes around again, and two of us will be coming with you."

"Very well," Katachi agreed. "It will be better that way, for me. Two, I should not have a problem teleporting with. Which of you will be coming with me?"

"Me," Yusuke stated immediately. "I'm going with you."

Kurama nodded to himself. He could understand Yusuke's desire to bring justice to the one responsible for Keiko's condition. "And who's going with you?"

Yusuke thought about it for a moment. Then he smiled slightly at Kurama. "Would you mind if I borrowed Hiei for awhile?"

Kurama gave his beloved a questioning glance. Their eyes locked for a moment. "I'll go with you," Hiei replied.

"So Kuwabara and I get Itsuwari," Kurama said.

"Lucky us," the orange-haired young man commented.

"What about Keiko and Dr. Ikari?" Yukina replied. "Itsuwari was able to break through Kurama's kekkai. How will we protect them if he comes back here?"

Yusuke frowned. "Should we move them to another place?" he wondered.

"But wouldn't Itsuwari expect us to do something like that?" Kuwabara asked. "Maybe we should let them stay here."

Yusuke blinked. "But what if he knows that we know that he would expect us to do something like that?"

Kuwabara tapped his lips. "But...what if he knows that we know that he knows that we know that he would do something like that?"

"But what if he knows that we know that he knows that we know that he knows that we know he would do something like that?"

"But maybe he knows that we know that he knows that we know that he knows that we know that he knows that we know that he would do something like that?"

Kurama winced. Hiei was rubbing his temples. "Look," the Jaganshi began, "can Kurama and Yukina jointly make a shield? Would that work?"

The Ice Maiden looked to him questioningly. "Can we? Together, it would be much stronger."

Kurama nodded. "We could try."

"Then let's go now and kick that guy's ass," Yusuke suggested.

Dr. Ikari awoke when Yukina entered his room carrying a tray of medical supplies. He didn't look as pale as he had yesterday, when he had suffered the head injury during Itsuwari's attack.

"How are you feeling today?" she asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. She set the tray on he nightstand. She hadn't expected him to wake up so early with the nasty bump his head had received.

He looked from side to side. "Where am I?"

"In a safe place," she told him. "No one will harm you here."

He frowned at her in concentration. "Do I...know you?" he asked.

Yukina smiled reassuringly, even though he couldn't see her. "Not really," she replied. "But I'm a friend. You'll be staying with me for awhile, until it's safe for you to go back home." The kekkai she and Kurama had constructed was formidable - and with Kuwabara and Kurama around to watch for the renegade demon, she knew they would be safe for the time being.

"Safe?" Ikari echoed. "Am I in danger?"

Yukina kept smiling. She had to play her cards right. "Not really, but you shouldn't be by yourself right now. Remember that fall you had yesterday? I'll be helping you and another until the blindness can be treated."

"Who else is here?" he wondered.

"Yukimura Keiko."

Ikari's features twisted into a sad and surprised expression. "Her, too?"

"Her, too," Yukina confirmed, and began checking Ikari's head injury.

The sunlight was shining through the curtains, lighting the room well enough, Yusuke didn't have to turn the light on. He walked to the futon he shared with Keiko and knelt down next to her. He reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand. Her eyes opened.

"It's me," he said quickly. "We're leaving soon."

She moved her hand to grip the sleeve of his dark green shirt. "Be careful," she managed.

"I'll be back before you know it," he replied, dipping to give her a kiss. "I promise."

"You had better come back," she said, her lips curling into a smile that looked force. "Or I'll kick your ass."

"That's my girl," he laughed, kissing her again. "Keep your chin up. I'll see you soon."

"Are you okay with me going with Yusuke?"

Kurama finished pulling his slacks on and looked over his shoulder at Hiei. The han-koorime was polishing his sword. "Why shouldn't I be?"

Hiei shrugged, looking a tad uncomfortable. "I don't know," he replied. "Just making sure."

Kurama sat down next to his lover and leaned his head on Hiei's shoulder. "I trust you... Yusuke's not your type," he joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Hiei snorted and shrugged him off. "That's not what I'm talking about," he almost-snapped.

Kurama blinked, mildly taken aback. Hiei had his moments, of course, but was rarely snappish any longer. He sighed and leaned on his shorter lover's shoulder again. "Sorry," he uttered hesitantly. "Didn't mean anything."

Hiei rested his head against Kurama's. "I know... I'm sorry." He reached up with his other hand to play with his hair. "Forget it, okay?"

"Something bothering you?" Kurama inquired. Hiei was rarely nervous or edgy before a battle, and he hadn't seemed upset about anything the night before when they'd...had ice cream together - which had been the objective of the entire love-play session. Hiei had seemed troubled during the battle with Itsuwari, so Kurama had used the ice cream game to try and loosen the Jaganshi up so he'd tell Kurama what was wrong. When Hiei hadn't confided any worries to him, he'd assumed that the matter wasn't important.

"No," Hiei replied. "Nothing, Greeneyes."

"Sure?" Kurama asked, tipping his head up to kiss the bottom of Hiei's chin.

"Positive." Hiei gave Kurama a quick kiss on the lips and rose from the bed. "I'll be back after we kick Jumon's ass."

Kurama smiled. "Try to save some for Yusuke, Firefly."

Hiei sniffed. "I think you'll have to worry about Yusuke saving some for me."

Kurama chuckled and pulled Hiei into a hug. "See you later, Quickfire. Take care, okay?"

"...You, too."

"I'm going to try and get us into the cellar," Katachi explained. "We may have a long way to go, but it is better for us to climb a few floors rather than appear out of nowhere before my brother or the guards."

Hiei nodded. It made sense to him. "How will you get past the shields your brother has in place?"

"With any luck, Jumon will have been too busy with his plans to remember to block me from getting in. I'll just have to cloak you both with my ki signature, and hope he doesn't notice." She opened her arms and smiled at them. "Coming?"

Hiei blinked and exchanged glances with Yusuke. "You want us to...hug you?" the former Tantei asked uncertainly.

Katachi cocked her head. "How else do you expect to be mistaken for me? I am not powerful enough to project my ki that far."

They shrugged, and stepped closer to Katachi. She slipped her arms around their waists. "Prepare yourselves," she told them. "We're about to dance with Death."

She tightened her grip, and Hiei watched as he was wrapped in a silver aura. And then, without warning, the temple around them disappeared.

Fukuro cast her rei out as far as she was able, probing, Delving, searching for any sign of the renegade Tasuno Itsuwari's ki signature. How could she have let the bastard get away? How could those humans have let him get away? Why had they interfered? Now the demon was still at large, and another innocent human could be next.

She Looked harder. There was always a hole in a cloak. Always. No matter how hard or securely one veiled himself, there was always a way of finding a breach. Sometimes it was very difficult to find, but it was always - there!

She'd found him; he was moving quickly through the city. Knowing he would be focused totally on his task, she didn't bother to shield her ki from him as she took off in his direction.

She would not fail the High Lady, nor would she fail her fellow Chosen. She would kill Tasuno Itsuwari.

And Jumon would follow - whether Shiryoku wanted it or not.

The winds may have been calm that morning, but the youki activity was plentiful. Kuwabara frowned as he tried as hard as he could to find a trace of Itsuwari, but it was much harder than he thought. Though his psychic powers had developed well over the last five years, he was no demon.

He cast a look at Kurama. The youko was in deep concentration. His emerald eyes were shut and his body was very still. Kuwabara closed his own eyes and frowned, suddenly catching something... What was...? That energy signature...hadn't he...sensed it before...?

"Inari," Kurama breathed.

Kuwabara glanced at him. "Is that ki...?"

Kurama nodded. "The woman who was hunting Itsuwari."

"But she's moving fast," Kuwabara observed, sensing the energy's movement. "If she's on the move, that must mean..."

"Itsuwari's after somebody else." Kurama nodded. "If we follow her, we'll find Itsuwari. Let's go."

They broke into a run, tearing down the street, unhindered by any people since no one was about at this hour. Kuwabara frowned as they ran. They were headed somewhere...familiar. The direction they were running in...wasn't this the neighborhood where--

"Oh, Inari!" Kurama cried, skidding to a halt.

Kuwabara felt his eyes widen when he was close enough so that he could pinpoint the location. He gasped when it came in to view: the Hatanaka residence. Kurama's old home, before he'd moved out on his own with Hiei. He glanced at Kurama in shock.

"Mother!" the youko cried, taking off toward the house.

PART SEVEN - INTO THE LION'S DEN
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