PART SEVEN
INTO THE LION'S DEN

Hiei blinked until the stars cleared from his vision. He was in a quiet room, cloaked in blackness. He shifted, prying himself out of Katachi's grip and glanced around. He could see nothing but faint silhouettes of some sort of furniture.

"Damn, it's dark in here," he heard Yusuke whisper. "Hiei, would you mind...?"

He grunted an affirmative and opened one of his palms right side up. He poured a trickle of ki and watched a small ball of fire materialize inches above his skin. He made sure not to make the light too strong, and so the chamber was illuminated by a low orange glow. Hiei studied the contents of the chamber. It was full of crates, and barrels, and other storage objects.

"This looks kind of like the supply room in Keiko's restaurant," Yusuke commented quietly.

"It's the storage rooms," Katachi explained. "We are in the basement of House Tasuno. I brought us here so Jumon's guards wouldn't discover us so easily. That is not to say," she added quickly, "that we won't eventually be found. It is difficult to wander around undetected in the manor of such a powerful demon. But at least we will have some advantage."

Hiei nodded. It made sense to him. They were three, and the gods only knew how many followers Jumon had hanging around waiting for intruders to slaughter. "So where would Jumon be?" he asked.

Katachi tapped her lips. "Lately he rarely seems to leave his rooms. It is not often that he out and about anymore. To be safe, we should assume that he is either in his room or the Throne Room."

Throne Room? Hiei wondered. Does he think so highly of himself that he believes himself worthy of a throne?

"So what are we waiting for?" Yusuke asked. "Let's go kick some ass."

They crept to the door of the storage room. Hiei kept his ball of fire burning for light, and Katachi slowly turned the knob. The large wooden door creaked slightly as it opened a crack. Yusuke peeked out, looking from side to side.

"Coast is clear," he announced from over his shoulder.

"Then we go now, while we can," Katachi declared.

They slipped outside and shut the door behind them. The basement of the manor they were in was large and dark. There were torch holsters along the walls, but they weren't lit, leaving Hiei's fire as the sole source of light.

"I knew bringing you would be a good idea," Yusuke said, patting Hiei's shoulder and smiling.

Hiei didn't reply. True, he didn't mind having been selected as the one to accompany Yusuke...but he'd rather have stayed with Kurama. After all, as he'd said to his lover the day before, any one of them could be the next victim of the blindness. That included Kurama, and the nightmare he'd had as he'd slept off the damage from his battle with Itsuwari hadn't aided in assuaging his fears at all. If Kurama went blind without Hiei there to protect him, Hiei didn't know what he would do. He hadn't wanted to reveal to Kurama how worried he was, but he'd been ready to stay behind. If Kurama had expressed even the faintest discomfort about his going with Yusuke, Hiei would have remained in Ningenkai and left Kuwabara to aid Urameshi.

"The stairs to the first floor are very near," Katachi whispered, leading the way.

"I don't suppose there are any secret passages around here, are there?" Yusuke asked dryly. "It would make this a hell of a lot easier."

"I'm afraid not," Katachi replied. "Jumon is simple, and he has no need for such things."

"Lady Katachi?"

Hiei froze for a moment, and then spun around to see who had called to them, aware of his companions doing the same. Ahead of them, within the darkness, were two pairs of glowing yellow eyes. As they came closer, walking into the light of Hiei's fire, he was able to determine their species. Galians; somewhat lizard-like; excellent night vision; fairly strong; not very agile. They were clad in leather breastplates, and over the left breast Hiei could make out the symbol of a rampant lion. They were armed with short-swords. Their muscular green legs were bare.

"And who might you be?" one of them asked.

No more provocation was necessary. Hiei threw the ball of fire, his movement so quick, neither Galian had time to prepare a counterattack. The flaming sphere struck the one on the left in the chest. Hiei was on him before he could scream, katana flying from its scabbard and slicing the guard's head from his shoulders. He turned and swung his sword, ripping the other sentry's leather armor before overtaking him, running him through with the blade. The Galian gurgled, coughed up some blood, and then slumped to the ground.

Hiei pulled his sword out of the dead sentry, savoring the sound of steel sliding along tissue. How long had it been since he'd truly been in battle...? He wiped the blade clean on the guard's armor and sheathed it. He turned back to his allies, lighting another ball of fire. Yusuke was giving him a flat stare. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

Yusuke folded his arms. "Hiei, as cool as that was, do you think you could maybe save some for me?"

Hiei rolled his eyes. "I'll try."

The former Tantei glanced down at the bodies. Hiei followed his gaze to the lion symbols. "What's with the lion?" the human inquired.

"Ah, that," Katachi sighed. "The Rampant Lion is Jumon's insignia. He chose it himself, since he believes he is courageous and brave...and powerful. He adopted the sign not long after...after the woman he loves was taken away from him. He sees himself as the only one worthy enough to have her." She nodded toward the bodies. "We should hide them," she said urgently. "Before anyone notices."

Hiei looked at Yusuke. Yusuke stared back. "...You're carrying the head," the former Tantei said.

Hiei snorted. "Wimp."

Stealthily, they moved the bodies into the storage room and closed the door. Then they started up the stairs, with Katachi thanking the gods that many of the servants that would normally be about were now in the kitchens preparing breakfast.

Hiei squinted as they emerged from the darkness into the light when they reached the top of the stairs. They had just appeared at the entrance to the stairway when Katachi gasped and halted. Hiei soon saw why. Down the hall, he could make out the shapes of a group of possible guards - Guards that were making their way towards them.

"In here!" Katachi hissed, tugging at their arms. She rushed them to the left and into another room. She shut the door. "We should be safe here."

Hiei waited for his eyes to adjust to the rapid transition from dark to light to the dimness of the room they were in now. Then he looked at his surroundings...and almost gaped. Almost. "What...?"

Yusuke blinked and rubbed his eyes, as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing, "Oh...my...God..."

The room was full of statues, clay figures, busts, and paintings. Some were colored, some not. But nevertheless, they were all depicting the same woman. She was in many positions; sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, and sometimes lying down. Sometimes she was clothed in elaborate silk garments, and other times she was naked. She had wavy, red-gold hair and deep blue eyes. The only word Hiei could find to describe her was "beautiful".

Yusuke looked around the room and shook his head. He touched Katachi's shoulder. "Your brother," he said, sounding awed, "has a serious crush on this chick."

Hiei looked at the Tasuno woman. "Is she the one?"

Katachi nodded. "She is the woman Jumon loves."

Yusuke whistled quietly. "I can see why," he commented, leering at one painting depicting the woman naked and sprawled on a large bed with an inviting smile on her face. "Look at this lady."

Hiei elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Respect," he growled. He was opposed to a lot of things, and one of them was the erotic exploitation of women who probably hadn't consented to it.

"Don't you already have a life partner?" Katachi asked, looking somewhat shocked and mildly offended at the human's remark.

"Hey, Keiko and I have a rule," Yusuke said defensively. "It doesn't matter where we are when we get hungry, so long as we come home to eat."

Hiei rolled his eyes. "Forget it. How are we supposed to get around here?" he asked Katachi. "We can't play hide and seek all over the place forever."

"I know. There must be some way we can--"

The doorknob started to turn. Yusuke shot Hiei a look, and Hiei nodded, understanding what the human had in mind. He drew Katachi with him to stand behind the door as it opened. Yusuke remained in view, pretending to stare at one of the busts.

"Hey," a voice began, "you shouldn't be--"

Hiei pushed the door shut and smiled at their new guests. Guards. Three of them. How lucky could one get?

"Mother!" Kurama shouted as he tore across the street toward his parents' home. "Mother!" If she was hurt...if that bastard had taken her eyes... Of all times for her to be left alone... His stepfather and brother, she'd told him a couple of days before, were away on a fishing trip, and had left her at the house. How long had she been blind? How long had she been trapped in the world of whiteness with no one around to help her? "Mother, I'm coming!"

He leapt up the front steps and nearly broke the door off its hinges in his haste to gain access to the house. He was prepared to dash into the home, but choked in surprise as the back of his T-shirt was seized and he was yanked back.

"Keep your head," Kuwabara warned before releasing the fabric.

Kurama glared at the other man over his shoulder, but took a deep breath before hurrying through the foyer, making his way into the kitchen. He entered a still battlefield. Itsuwari and the woman they had met the day before were staring each other down. Or rather, that's what it looked like to anyone who just happened to pass by. In actuality, they were each focusing their Spirit to try and shield the other; a battle of sheer determination. Kurama spied Shiori slumped in the corner between the counter and the fridge. She was unconscious. If she was seriously hurt, however, that he could not tell without going to her.

"Itsuwari!" he roared, shattering the tableau.

The cloaked woman turned to them in shock. "You?!"

Itsuwari glared at them. "You meddling little--" He drew his blade of air and then gave Kurama a grin. "Hey, why aren't you running along behind your little swordsman? Did he dump you?"

"Get away from my mother," Kurama snarled.

"Your mother?" Itsuwari asked, blinking. "Gods, I just keep picking on the wrong people, don't I?"

"Get out," Kurama snapped.

"Pushy, pushy. Is that any way to treat a guest?" Itsuwari sliced his blade through the air. "Maybe I don't want to."

"You don't have a choice," Kurama shot back, reaching into his hair and pulling out a rose. With a twist of his wrist, he created his signature weapon. "Rose Whip!"

Itsuwari blocked the whip with his blade. Kurama was aware of Kuwabara drawing his Spirit Sword, and then the battle began.

It took a few minutes, some cursing about style, and a couple of exchanges to find appropriate sizes, but soon Hiei, Yusuke, and Katachi were clothed in the armor of Jumon's sentries.

"I can't believe I'm wearing this crap," Yusuke said with a grimace. "It's all sweaty and itchy..."

"Deal with it, Urameshi," Hiei replied. He made a face at the breastplate he was wearing. It was too big and it stank. "At least you don't smell like you spent a year in a sty."

"At least we won't be easily spotted," Katachi pointed out. "Let's go. We don't want to keep my brother waiting."

They crept out of the trophy room and fell into march, trying to look as though they were on patrol. Katachi was in the lead since she knew the way, and Yusuke and Hiei were flanking her. They made their way down the hall with steady strides, casually glancing around at their surroundings, but doing their best not to attract any unwanted attention.

The white and silver-clad servants they passed gave them slight bows, usually while balancing trays and piles of towels on their arms. Hiei and his allies didn't acknowledge them and simply kept on, the soft taps of their boots on the tiles the only sounds echoing off of the palace walls.

"What floor are we on?" Yusuke barely whispered.

"One," Hiei reminded him, just as quietly.

"...How many floors are there?"

"Five," Katachi replied in the same, hushed voice.

"...Aw, damn... Five floors of these uniforms...?"

Hiei didn't reprimand the human for thinking about such trivial things. Instead, he agreed. Gods, he was going to stink after this....

It wouldn't be long now, Jumon mused, smiling up at the portrait. They had had a few mishaps, but that could be allowed, he supposed. Nothing was foolproof, of course. But Itsuwari was doing a fine job, all things considered. He shifted his gaze to his mirror and smiled at his reflection. It was only a matter of time before he completed his task, and the links could be completed. Then he would have what he needed - then he would have the means to exact his revenge. Once he had the--

The door creaked open. "My Lord Jumon...?" the little imp uttered hesitantly.

He caught the creature's eye through the mirror. "This had better be important," he said evenly.

The imp swallowed and nodded quickly. "F-forgive me, my Lord," it began shakily, "but the Honor Guard say that we may have intruders running through the manor..."

Jumon cocked his head. "...Trespassers?" he pondered. "Are you certain?"

The imp nodded again. "Quite certain, my Lord."

Jumon took a moment and reached out with his ki. Ah, yes... There they were. Three ki signatures. Two unknowns...and... "Kata," he breathed. Kata was here. Kata was a trespasser. Kata... Sister...you... Do you truly mean to ruin me...?

"My Lord?"

Jumon shook himself out of his trance. "Have some guards welcome them. But try not to kill them." He looked at the portrait again. She was so hospitable and polite... She would be upset with him if he... "It's been so long since we've had any...fun...around here, and killing guests would be rude." First entertainment, then hospitality, and then he would explain himself to the newcomers. Kata must have seduced them into thinking what he was doing was wrong. The poor girl simply couldn't understand him. He would talk to the others who had come with her. He would explain everything to them. Surely they would understand what he was trying to do. And Kata... If he could not win her back, he would have to be rid of her.

"What floor are we on again?" Yusuke whispered.

"Two," Katachi replied curtly. "Stop asking."

Hiei shifted his gaze back and forth. The main hall of the second floor was lined with bedrooms that he figured were for guests. He couldn't see the need for them, however, since from what Katachi had told him of her brother, Hiei didn't have the vaguest notion why anyone would want to spend the night in the manor. "Katachi."

"Yes?" she answered without turning her head.

"What is your brother's medium?"

Katachi was silent for a moment. "Oddly enough, my brother's talents lie in the powers of Spirit and Fire. We don't know where he gained the affinity for them, because my family's talents tend to lie toward Air and Ice. Jumon is an exception in many ways."

Hiei silently agreed with her. Nearly all demons possessed some skill with Spirit, but those who actually specialized in the power were very rare. "Does he have any ability we should be aware of?"

"Jumon's skills vary - which makes him all the more dangerous. As you know already, his abilities to veil and shield are incredible, and he can--"

"Stop."

Hiei blinked and flickered his gaze to Yusuke. The former Tantei rolled his eyes to gesture that they were being followed. Wonderful... He kept his march steady, not wanting to make them any more suspicious than they probably already were. Of all the luck, he mind-spoke to Yusuke. I thought we'd last longer than this.

"Hey," a gruff voice behind them spoke. Katachi calmly slowed to a stop. Hiei mimicked her, and through his peripheral vision he saw Yusuke do the same. "Could we trouble you for a moment?"

As one, they turned around to see who had confronted them. More Galians. Part of him could suspect why. While Galians were not a physically weak species, they were not strong in their youki. Many of them could simply fill themselves with ki, yet could do nothing with it. Others had sparse amounts of talent in some areas, but overall, unless they could sneak up on their opponent before the other noticed them, they were in constant danger of being killed. For them to flock to a secret House - a kind of haven where they were in no immediate danger - was most probably due to their drive to survive. After all, Hiei had to admit, if he had been a demon with no magic in Makai who had to choose between remaining in the Demon World wilderness - where one often had to fight for the right to see the next sunrise - or swearing fealty to an outcast lord in exchange for security, he would have to select the latter.

"What is it?" Yusuke asked, his voice sounding irritable.

One of the Galians tilted his head to the side and frowned. "I don't recall seeing your faces before," he said. "What division are you in?"

"We were stationed on the first floor," Katachi replied abruptly. "We--"

"--Don't belong on the second floor, then," the Galian answered. "So what are you doing here?"

Hiei tensed, his hand prepared to slip behind him and unsheathe his katana if the need arose. Yusuke's fists were clenched, and he looked ready to spring into action at any moment.

Katachi folded her arms. "Are you a commander?" she countered. "No, you are not. Therefore, what we do with our time is of no business of yours. You just concentrate on your duties, and let us worry about ours."

"You should worry," the other Galian replied. "I don't suppose you've received word that there are trespassers roaming about the manor, have you? Of course not," he answered his own question right away, "how could you, if you were not at your posts to get the information?"

"You wouldn't know anything about these intruders, would you?" the gruff-voiced Galian asked. "Have you seen them?" His yellow eyes glinted menacingly at them. "Is that why you're running around instead of remaining at your posts?"

"We've seen them," Yusuke stated, his right fist clenching and relaxing rhythmically.

Hiei raised an eyebrow at the affirmation. So soon?

Yusuke's reply sounded forced and strained with effort.Well, I'd planned on bantering with them for awhile, but we're kind of pressed for time. Problem?

Not really. I'm just hoping you know what you're doing.

Of course I know what I'm doing. When haven't I?

...I'm not even going to dignify that with a response...

"Have you, now?" the Galian mused. They stepped closer, and Hiei's arm snuck behind his back to grip his sword's hilt. "Perhaps you could inform us of their whereabouts so we may relay the information to the Lord Jumon."

"Gladly," Yusuke replied. "They're right..." one moment he was standing with them, the next he was in front of the Galian on the left, "here!" he finished, his glowing fist connecting with the Galian's jaw. The creature stumbled backwards and tried to unsheathe his sword, but Yusuke was on him in an instant. Hiei's katana flew from its scabbard and he attacked the other, disarming him and decapitating him with hardly any effort. Galians were simply not fast enough to match him.

Yusuke made a face at him. "Would you stop doing that? It's disgusting."

"Stop being a wimp," Hiei shot back. He turned to Katachi. "They know we're here. There's no use in hiding the bodies."

"Agreed," the woman replied. "Come!" she cried, starting for the stairs.

"Finally," Yusuke sighed. "It's ass-kicking time." Hiei almost smiled at the human's eagerness and followed the demon woman. "Hey!" Yusuke called as he jogged after them. "Does this mean we can take these damn uniforms off?"

Hwang sighed as he sorted through the mound of paperwork on his desk. He stopped to inspect each one, determining whether the matter could be handled by himself, or if it should be given to the High Lady. There was nothing seriously amiss - three newer Children had been caught sneaking food from the kitchens late at night and leaving a mess. One newcomer was prepared to take the Trial. That required the High Lady's presence. Of course, nothing could compare with what was happening at the moment. Before Jumon's movements, three honeycake thieves would have been a tad shocking and a method of discipline would be utilized to make them see the errors of their ways. Perhaps something involving stuffing the children full of cakes until they could not stomach another. That would be a suitable punishment - not for taking the food, but for leaving a mess. The fact that there were servants in the Palace for such things did not mean that late-night excursions to the kitchens past mealtimes were permitted to be messy.

But that had been before. Now, with Jumon moving ahead with his plans much quicker than they had thought him capable, Hwang could not afford to waste his time thinking of punishments for misbehaving Brothers and Sisters who should know better now that they were of the Hand. He dipped his quill in the ink and scribbled down a mediocre penalty for the thieves before shoving the paper aside to his "dealt with" pile and moved on to another.

That was when the knock on his door came. Before he could give permission for the one outside to enter, the doors to his office opened and one of the younger Brothers entered without so much as an "Excuse me, Brother Hwang".

"This had better be urgent, child," he warned, taking in the youth. He was a short blonde. Hwang thought his name was Rinto, or something of the sort. "For you to enter without my assent," he added.

The young one blinked and lowered his head. "Forgive me, Brother Hwang... But this may be something the High Lady might like to hear."

Hwang raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is wrong?"

"Sister Shiryoku," the youth replied. "She...she is gone."

Hwang's blood ran cold. "No," he breathed. "How did she get out? Why did she get out? Why did the guards let her go?" He realized he was staring down at the boy, who looked a little frightened. Odd - he didn't remember standing up. "When did you discover that she was missing?"

"O-only minutes ago, Brother. I swear it. I came and notified you right away."

Hwang shook his head. This wasn't good. It wasn't good at all. They had been supposed to keep Shiryoku away from Jumon. "You are dismissed, my child. Go. Tell no one of this yet."

"Yes, Brother Hwang," the boy said eagerly, already inching away. With a bow, he turned and dashed out of the room.

Hwang immediately strode from his office to the chambers of the High Lady. She was seated at her desk when he barged through the door. She looked up at him in surprise. "Hwang," she said simply. "What is it?"

"Shiryoku," he pronounced. The Lady's eyes widened. "She is gone, my Lady."

Waiting was boring, Jumon decided as he lounged in his throne. At least, waiting for trivial events to happen was boring. Waiting for something incredible - something that took a great deal of planning - that he could handle. But this type of waiting, this was nearly unbearable. What was taking them so long? He hadn't made things extremely difficult for them, after all. Why were they taking so long to make their way to him? He was the one they wanted, wasn't he? If not him, who else? They certainly wouldn't find Itsuwari here - not lately. And Kata...she was probably leading them.

He frowned and began bouncing a tiny ball of fire along his fingertips. He was growing weary of waiting. He had many other things to attend to. He watched the flame dance from one finger to the other...one finger...to the other...one finger...to the other...

"Jumon..."

That voice. Her voice. He sat up sharply, his flame vanishing in a quick second. He looked down the dais at the figure - Beauty incarnate - standing in the center of the throne room. The long, red-gold hair...those incredible blue eyes...the white teeth... It was Her. If he'd been holding anything, he'd have dropped it. She was here. She was in his home.

"Jumon," She said again, Her voice sweeping over him like sweet music.

He surged to his feet and was about to run to Her, but She backed up a step, looking slightly frightened. He didn't want to scare Her - not after all She had probably been through to return to him. He rooted himself before his throne, and tried three times before he was able to speak Her name. "Sh...Shiryoku," he breathed. "Shiryoku...Shiryoku...Shiryoku..."

She shook Her head slowly at him. "Jumon," She said softly, "what have you become...?"

"Only more deeply in love with you," he replied honestly. He ached for Her...how he did! He wanted nothing more than to hold Her...to touch Her...to kiss Her...

"Oh, Jumon..." There was a saddened look in Her eyes. "Please...do not say such things."

"How did you escape?" he asked. "How were you able to get away? Did they scare you?" He glared. "If they dared to lay a hand on you, I shall--"

"Jumon."

He stopped talking. "Yes?"

"Please...I...we must talk."

He eyed Her longingly. "May...may I come closer to you?"

She stared at him for a long moment. But at last, She nodded. "You may."

He nearly bounded down the steps to reach Her. He stopped a couple of meters away, not wanting to overwhelm Her. "What do you wish to say? Ask anything of me, and I will grant it, for you."

That look appeared in Her eyes again. Sad, sorrowful, and strangely enough, a trace of pity could be seen as well. "I want you to tell me...what you are planning. What do you plan to do to the Hand?"

Why would She ask such a thing...? Then he noticed Her outfit. She wore the emerald robes of...them. "Why...?" He struggled to form the words. "Why do you dress as they do? What have they...?" He felt himself become angry, but not at Her. Never at Her. At them. "What did they do to you to make you act this way? Did they Compel you? Did they?"

"No, Jumon...no. No, they did not. I do this of my own free will - just as I came here of my own free will, to speak with you. I...I do not want them to hurt you. I love you, you know that."

His heart soared. She loved him...She loved him... "I love you, too, Shiryoku... I love you more than life itself..."

There was that look again. "Jumon, please, tell me why you are doing this."

He stepped closer and reached out, his fingers grazing Her face. The muscles in Her cheek clenched, as though She were trying hard not to flinch. "I... I will tell you. Because you asked it of me." His hand drifted to the side to play with a strand of Her hair. "Because you asked it of me..." The hand moved over Her shoulder and down the front of Her chest. He wanted to go lower...to touch Her breast...but he would not venture there without Her permission. "Because I could never deny you anything..."

"Ji'ch'e," Hiei hissed in his native tongue. From the corner of his eye, he saw Katachi raise her eyebrows at the vulgarity. Well, if she expected him to mind his language simply because she was present, she had another thing coming.

They were behind some bushes in the gardens of the third floor. Hiei still found it somewhat astonishing that the demon had gardens within his manor, but frankly, he had been a little too busy to give it much thought. They had been chased into the chamber and had managed to elude the sentries only because of the foliage. The guards they had been forced to deal with on their way up from the second floor hadn't been challenging in any way, but their sheer numbers were becoming overwhelming. They didn't have much time to play with the lesser demons. They had to do away with Jumon before he decided to make an escape.

He whipped his head sideways at the soft, barely audible, rustling of grass. He relaxed slightly when he saw that it was Yusuke returning. The human rolled onto his stomach and joined Hiei and Katachi in watching for the guards through the leaves.

"Well?" Hiei prodded quietly.

The former Tantei exhaled softly. "I've got good news and bad news." He grinned up at Hiei. "How do you want it, baby?"

"Hard and fast."

"Well, the good news is that they haven't found us yet."

Hiei wanted to moan. "And the bad news?"

"Uh, we have to go through them."

"Wonderful."

"They can't be far!" they heard one of the guards shout. "We've surrounded them. There's nowhere for them to escape to."

"We don't plan on escaping," Yusuke snapped in a whisper. "We're gonna go right through you bastards."

"Don't be so hasty," Katachi cautioned. "We can't afford to be stopped now."

"They won't stop us," Yusuke assured her. "We're more than a match for them."

"That may be," Hiei admitted, "but there are far more of them than there are of us. You might get hurt - and if that happens, you'll make me look bad."

Yusuke leaned closer to him. "Aww... Thanks, Hiei. I love you, too."

"Stop that."

"Oh! That got me right here." Yusuke tapped his heart.

"You may as well come out!" another sentry called. "You're surrounded! Surrender or we'll be forced to harm you!"

"That sounds like a threat," Yusuke noted.

"I don't take kindly to threats," Hiei added.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"This is your last warning! Come out or we're coming to get you!"

"That," Hiei replied.

They leapt out of the bushes armed and ready for battle; Yusuke with his glowing fists, Hiei with his sword, and Katachi produced a trio of throwing stars from somewhere in her tunic. The mass of soldiers they saw gaped in surprise at their not-quite-an ambush, and raised their weapons to defend themselves.

Hiei cut down the four Galians that stood in his path like they were twigs. He hacked and slashed at the soldiers, his strikes quick as lightning and just as fierce. He saw Yusuke plowing through his own adversaries, and Katachi seemed to be doing very well with the ones that had come for her. They fought their way to the doors of the garden, dispatching any and all sentries. When at last they reached the exit, it seemed like it had taken forever for them to get there - though Hiei knew it had been only a minute or two, three at most.

"Well, that was a nice workout," Yusuke declared, and cracked his knuckles.

Hiei smacked his arm. "Don't do that," he ordered.

Yusuke blinked and rubbed his arm - probably just for effect, Hiei hadn't hit him very hard. "Don't do what?"

"Crack your knuckles. Don't do it. I hate it."

"Wimp," Yusuke snorted.

"They're bones," Hiei stressed, "they're not meant to be cracked."

"Whatever." Yusuke glanced at the Galian corpses and then back at them. "Are there any more surprises that await us out there?"

Hiei concentrated on reaching out with his rei, searching for signs of other demon ki. There were many others, all signatures he didn't recognize, but none were near them. He was about to say so, but Katachi gasped. He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?" Yusuke asked.

The ice demon looked at them with fearful eyes. "She..." She swallowed. "She's here."

Hiei blinked once. "She?" he and Yusuke echoed as one.

"Shiryoku," Katachi breathed. "The woman Jumon loves. She's here. I felt her when I was probing for other demons. She's here. She came."

Hiei's grip on his sword tightened. "Where is she?" Please tell me she had more sense than to go straight to him...

"She's upstairs. In the Throne Room."

Damn it.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Yusuke demanded. "Why would she do that?"

"She doesn't hate him," Katachi explained hurriedly. "She probably went to try and talk some sense into him!"

Hiei almost groaned. Almost. Fool woman. "Doesn't she know he's 'not well', as you put it?"

"She knows...but still..."

"But nothing," Yusuke interjected. "Now she's probably in danger, too. We have to get up there."

"Come," Katachi bade them, opening the doors to the gardens and urging them to follow her. "We can still make it. Maybe she has sense enough not to get too close to him! Come on!"

They left the gardens behind and broke into a run, racing down the halls as fast as they could.

Kurama's Rose Whip deflected another of the strange woman's fireballs, sending it sailing toward Kuwabara and Itsuwari, who were dueling with their magic swords. Both warriors dodged it, and Kuwabara used the moment of distraction to slash the ball of flame, making it vanish before it could harm anything. Kurama stared hard at the demon woman, trying to anticipate her next move.

"Why can you not mind your own business?" she demanded heatedly. "I told you not to interfere with my duty!"

"You're not the only one involved!" Kurama snapped back at her. "We may not know the entire tale behind all this, but we do know that that demon--" he nodded toward Itsuwari, "--has hurt people we care about." He glared at her, hoping she would be able to understand what he was trying to say. "A friend of a friend of mine, my good friend's lover, and my mother." He stressed the last word, gesturing to Shiori's still form.

The woman paused, lowering her hands. "Your...mother?" She pointed at Shiori. "That woman is your mother?"

Kurama nodded, realizing that she had probably been too preoccupied and angry to have heard him say so beforehand to Itsuwari. "She is."

She stared at him for a few moments, and then stepped back. "Then go to her, demi-human. I will not fight you while you tend to her."

Kurama blinked at her sudden change in behavior. Maybe she isn't so bad after all, he mused. He turned away from the fight and rushed to his mother's side. He dropped to his knees and leaned back on his ankles, lifting her into his arms. "Mother," he moaned, "please tell me you're all right..." He listened to her breathing and heartbeat, and sighed in relief. She would be fine, she'd merely fainted.

Her eyelids fluttered. "Shuuichi...?" she asked. She lifted her hand and he grasped it. "I...I tried...call you... Weren't home..."

I'm sorry, Mother... "Mother, you're going to be fine. Don't worry."

"Tried calling...tried..." She trailed off, and the hand he was holding went limp. She'd lost consciousness again.

Kurama took a deep breath and looked up at the cloaked woman. "You see? My mother is suffering because of Itsuwari. Why won't you let us help?" He glanced worriedly at Kuwabara. The human was faring well, it seemed, but how long could he hold out?

"It is not your affair," the woman repeated. "You simply do not understand. I cannot let you meddle--"

"Itsuwari is our common enemy," Kurama interrupted. "And you are in no position to tell us what we can and cannot do. We are far from inexperienced at this sort of thing." He hoped fervently that she would reconsider. It would do no good to fight having to worry about three separate sides being involved. "We want him dead as much as you do," he continued. "Don't make us your enemy, when we are already allies."

The cloaked woman stared at him for several moments. Kurama stared back, holding his mother gently in his arms, and worrying about how Kuwabara was doing. He waited for what seemed an eternity, and then she stepped forward, walking toward him with what looked like fierce determination. Kurama's breath caught in his throat. He tensed his muscles, waiting for the blow.

Yukina chewed her lip worriedly as she poured the tea into the two cups. She was too worked-up to want to sit down and drink it, but figured it would perhaps help Ikari and Keiko. She set up a tray with some cookies on it, added the mugs, and headed to the dining room. She set the tray on the low table.

"I've brought some tea and cookies," she said to the two humans that were seated quietly on the cushions. Gingerly, she guided their hands to the cups and showed them where they could reach the treats. They murmured thanks to her, and Yukina announced that she would be cleaning up the kitchen, just so they knew where she was in case they needed her.

She returned to the room she'd just exited and pulled a drawer open, taking out a rag to wash the counters and tables. She ran the water and warmed the temperature to a fraction below boiling and wet the cloth. She ran it over the flat surface of the counter, but her mind was anywhere but on the task at hand. Where were Kazuma, her brother, and the others now? Were they safe? Had they stopped Itsuwari? Finished with the counters, Yukina moved to begin cleaning the table, wiping it in wide, strong sweeps of the rag.

It happened so fast that at first she didn't realize it. One second she was staring at the brown furnished wood of the kitchen table, and the next it was like she'd been submerged in a pile of cotton balls, or milky clouds. She heard the telltale sound of glass breaking, and suddenly realized that she'd knocked over the vase in the center of the table. Frantically, she swept her gaze over the table to see the mess she had made...and saw nothing but white. Her heart stopped as she realized what had happened.

She had White Blindness.

Hiei bounded up the stairs alongside Yusuke, Katachi leading them to the fourth floor of the manor. They stopped when they reached the large doors. There were two, each with half a lion's face embedded on each of them. Katachi pulled once on the handles.

"Locked," she said. "Perhaps we can--"

"Reigan!"

"--just burst it open," she finished as Yusuke's Spirit Gun hit the doors at full force and blew them off the hinges.

They barged into the Throne Room. It was large and bare, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, tiled floors and purple curtains all along the walls to cover the windows. Far at the other end was a dais with what must have been Jumon's throne atop it. Hiei's eyes fell on the two people in the center of the room. One was a woman with hair like the sun, and the other was a man that must have been Jumon. He was silver-haired, like Itsuwari and Katachi, and was holding a golden scepter, its top carved in the head of a lion.

Katachi's sudden shout confirmed it. "Jumon!" she shouted.

The woman had turned to stare at them in shock, and Jumon quickly pulled her behind him, as though he planned on protecting her. "Kata! It's about time you and your little friends got here." He smiled at them. "I've been waiting for you."

"I'm sure," Hiei muttered, flexing his grip on his sword's hilt.

Yusuke rushed forward until he was only several feet away from the silver-haired demon. "Why are you causing the White Blindness?" he demanded.

Straight to the point, Hiei mused, walking forward to flank the human. He'd always liked that about Urameshi. Hiei wasn't very fond of...what was the human expression..."dilly-dallying".

"White...blindness...?" Jumon echoed. Then his eyes lit up. "Ah, you mean the weaving of the spirit threads."

"The what?" Yusuke demanded.

"Don't ask questions!" Katachi ordered. She removed some throwing stars from her tunic. "We have to stop him before he completes his plan."

Jumon held up his hands. "Don't be so hasty," he soothed. "Kata...Sister... Please, calm down. I know you don't understand what I am about to do, or why I am doing it, because you don't want to understand." He gestured toward them. "But these two...these poor souls you have deceived, they do not know. They know only what you have told them." He looked at them imploringly. "Will you listen to me? Will you allow me to explain myself? I believe you will understand me if you hear me out."

Hiei saw Yusuke's hands clench into fists. Don't strike, he hissed to both the human and Katachi. Katachi, you said he was not well, and could not focus his powers unless he actually thought about doing so. Is that true?

To a degree, yes. He is very powerful, but is often distracted. He forgets to do little things, such as reach out with his rei to sense other ki signatures, or focus his concentration on seeing whether anyone around him is embracing their magic.

So if he is distracted and is not expecting an attack, it would be easier to strike him.

Yes.

Then keep him talking.

What are you going to do? The question came from Yusuke.

I'm going to get that woman out of the way, and then you're going to knock his head off his shoulders.

Sounds like a plan to me.

Katachi? He supposed he'd have to check to see if that was all right with her, of course. Jumon was her brother, after all.

I... I agree. Shiryoku will probably hate us...but this is best for everyone.

Yusuke took a step toward the silver-haired demon. "Jumon," he began, "why are you doing this?"

Jumon spread his arms in a grand gesture. "Revenge," he replied. "To have vengeance for what they did to Shiryoku."

"Revenge on who?" Yusuke prodded.

"On the Hand. I will do away with them and their organization, and destroy their world so that they may never again corrupt another innocent soul."

"No!" the woman behind Jumon - Shiryoku - cried. "Jumon, don't be like this! You aren't like this! I know you aren't."

Jumon glanced over his shoulder at her for a moment, and Hiei took the opportunity to inch closer, preparing his youki to form a shield of Spirit. Maybe if he caught the demon by surprise...

"What are the 'spirit threads'?" Yusuke asked. "Tell me what they are." Hurry up, Hiei.

Don't rush me.

Jumon faced Yusuke again. "Ah...the spirit threads are a type of magic I weave. You see, it is not easy to reach the Hand. They are hidden safely away from the people who hate them, and they have tremendous power. However, I know something they do not."

"And that is...?"

"The ancient source of their power... They have lost it, and I know where it is. So, I am weaving the spirit threads to call it back."

Shiryoku's eyes had widened in shock. Yusuke took another step forward. "And what is that? What is the source of their power?"

Jumon's eyes were ablaze with a passion that could be seen even from where they were standing. He smiled at Yusuke, and his grip tightened on his scepter. "Ah... That... It..." He closed his eyes.

Now, Hiei decided. He flit from his spot near Yusuke to behind Jumon. He faced Shiryoku. Come, he mind-spoke, hoping he was compatible with her.

"...It is called--"

Shiryoku nodded once, and Hiei took her arm, preparing to flit away with her in tow.

"--Don't touch her!"

The sudden shout made him jump. He spun around in time to see the golden scepter swinging at his head.

Kurama bent over and covered his mother's head with his body, waiting for the woman to strike. Nothing happened. Tentatively, he raised his head and blinked when he saw the hand poised to help him up. He set his mother down and took it.

"I am Fukuro," she said simply.

"Kurama," he replied.

"Now let us rid the worlds of this renegade."

Kurama nodded and called forth his whip once again. Together, they strode toward the battle in time to see Kuwabara stumble backwards. He was panting heavily, but smiled when he saw Kurama with the woman at his side.

Itsuwari's reaction was not as amiable. "So it has come to this, hm? Three of you against little me?" He touched the back of his hand to his forehead dramatically and made as though he were about to swoon. "Oh, whatever will I do?"

"You will surrender now and save yourself the agony of a drawn-out, painful death," Fukuro advised him.

"Oh...I'm..." he grinned, "shaking in my boots!" Then he glanced down at his feet. "Hey, what do you know...I'm not even wearing boots."

He's insane... Kurama thought. He brandished his whip. "He won't listen to reason. We'll have to kill him."

"You're welcome to try," Itsuwari taunted. "Come on and...show me what you've got!" He broke into a fit of laughter. "Humans have a silly expression for everything!"

Kurama tightened his grip on his whip, Kuwabara raised his sword, and Fukuro prepared a ball of fire. It was now or never.

Hiei swerved, doing his best to avoid the blow. He ducked and weaved. The scepter missed his head, but struck his shoulder with a sickening crack, the sheer force of the swing sending him sprawling across the floor.

"Stay away from her!" Jumon roared. "Don't ever touch her!"

He hit the tiles on his good shoulder and had to roll immediately to avoid the second swing. The scepter slammed into the floor where his head had been only seconds before. At the time of the third swing, he'd managed to unsheathe his sword and parry it.

"I'll kill you if you soil her!" Jumon screamed at him. "Do you hear me? I'll kill you!"

"Jumon, stop it!" he heard Shiryoku shout. "Stop it now!"

"Reigan!"

Jumon cried out as the ball of spirit power sailed toward him at incalculable speed. He broke away from Hiei and leapt out of range. Hiei did the same, taking the opportunity to forcefully slide a shield of Spirit between Jumon and his youki. He saw Jumon's eyes widen in surprise, and knew he had succeeded.

"Shot Gun!" Yusuke shouted, showering the silver-haired demon with a dozen balls of light. Jumon evaded them all. He turned to Yusuke, but was immediately overcome with dozens of icicles from Katachi. He broke through some of them with his scepter, but some managed to graze his arms. Hiei sent a trickle of ki into his sword and wrapped it in an aura of flame. He rushed at Jumon, hoping to melt the staff with his sword. Jumon parried his strike, and they danced around one another as they exchanged blows. Hiei concentrated on keeping his shield up. If he had more Spirit talent than he did, he may have been able to tie off the shield, but as it was, the strength he did have in Spirit was largely due to his Jagan.

"I thought," Jumon panted between strikes, "that you would understand me. I thought...I thought you would help me."

"You thought wrong," Hiei informed him. "We're here to stop you."

"So...you won't help me...?" Jumon asked almost timidly.

"No."

"I see..." Jumon sighed. "I see... In that case..." His eyes lit up dangerously. "In that case..."

"Jumon!" Itsuwari cried, startling all three of them. Kurama blinked as the silver-haired demon looked from side to side frantically. "Intruders? But how? Jumon! Damn!" Without another word, Itsuwari vanished in a puff of smoke.

"What the hell?" Kuwabara cried. "What happened?"

"He's gone," Kurama moaned. "We lost him."

"I know where he is," Fukuro stated. She had her head lowered, and Kurama could have sworn he saw a faint glow coming from under her hood. "I can follow him."

"We," Kuwabara stressed. "We."

Fukuro nodded. "We."

"How can you follow him?" Kurama asked.

"When he got away from me - us - last time, he did not teleport directly back to Jumon. He teleported from one place to another, to cover his tracks, before going back to his home." She folded her arms. "Your friends must be causing quite a ruckus, if he decided to go back." She offered them her hands. "Come. We will follow him."

Kurama took her hand and was pulled close against her. One moment he was in his mother's house...

...the next he was staring at a large manor. It was gray, very dull-looking, and several stories high. Kurama blinked at it. "What... Where is this?"

"This must be House Tasuno," Fukuro stated.

"Then why aren't we inside it?" Kuwabara asked.

"The veil and the shield," Fukuro explained. "The veil prevented us from finding out the location, and the shield prohibits anyone else from entering. Now that I know the location, however," she added, "I should be able to weave through the shield and let us in." She stepped forward and set to work.

Kurama looked up at the higher floors of the manor. Hiei, are you up there? Are you and Yusuke all right?

Hiei felt the trickle of ki seconds before he realized what it meant. Jumon snarled at him. "In that case...you die!" he finished, and punctuated his sentence with a powerful blast of Spirit that pounded down Hiei's shield, knocking it over like a bull tearing through a red sheet. Hiei heard himself yelp as the blast knocked the wind out of him. He stumbled back several paces, sword flying up in time to block another swing of the scepter.

Hiei, do you need help? Yusuke's Voice asked tentatively.

The thought crossed my mind...

Oh, I'm sorry - I thought you were hogging him.

Oh, you're funny.

I aim to please.

Hiei broke away from Jumon and leapt away. Seconds later, Yusuke was on the demon, his fists flying with all their force, but Jumon was parrying every blow.

"Are you all right?" He turned his head. Katachi was beside him, staring worriedly at his shoulder. "Is it dislocated?"

"Don't think so," he replied curtly. He didn't have time to think about it, anyway.

"Please don't kill him," Shiryoku pleaded, staring at the two warriors. "Please... He's not well... He doesn't realize what he's doing..."

Hiei frowned first at her, and then at Jumon. The demon was mad. Hiei pitied him. "He ripped through my shield like it was paper," he commented. "I'm glad he can't focus his powers all of the time." They'd be in serious danger if he could. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Yusuke and Jumon battle, watching the strikes, the parries, the evasions... And then Yusuke simply stopped. He stood still, as though he were frozen. Hiei blinked. What the hell...? Jumon took advantage of the situation and swung the scepter. Hiei winced as Yusuke went hurling through the air and sliding across the floor, stopping inches away from them.

Katachi sped forward, her right hand quickly weaving a blade of ice to do battle. Hiei knelt next to Yusuke and shook his shoulder. "Urameshi?" The human was trembling slightly, his eyes wide and unfocused. Hiei shook him again. "...Yusuke?"

The young man swallowed. "I..." His right hand groped around until it seized the sleeve of Hiei's cloak. His left followed, closing on the white scarf around Hiei's neck. "I... I can't see anything."

Hiei's breath caught in his throat. "Oh, no..."

"It's white, Hiei," Yusuke continued, using the fabric of Hiei's clothing to pull himself into a sitting position. "All I see is white... I'm blind...I'm blind..."

"Yusuke--"

"What am I going to do? I'm blind... I'm blind!"

Hiei opened his mouth, but saw the ball of fire headed their way and decided to dodge instead of speak. He grabbed Yusuke and flitted away. Katachi was sprawled on the floor several feet away. She looked unconscious. Then Hiei noticed that Jumon had decided they were next. The silver-haired demon appeared in front of them.

"You could have helped me," he said. "You could have helped me rid the worlds of an evil cult. But you listened to Kata. That decision will be the end of you."

Hiei glared. Yusuke tugged on his cloak. "What's going on? What's he up to?" Hiei tightened his grip on Yusuke's shoulders, preparing to flit out of range.

Shiryoku leapt in front of them. "Wait! Jumon, stop this! Stop it now!"

Jumon relaxed visibly. "But, Shiryoku... He touched you. No one else has the right to touch you..."

"Jumon, please, if I mean anything to you at all, stop this. We'll go and get you some help. You'll be just fine."

For a moment, Jumon looked like he was considering it. But then he shook his head. "No... My beloved Shiryoku...they have truly Compelled you. They have misled you. They're evil, those so-called 'Chosen Ones'. I'll make them pay. Wait until I get the Orb, and they will pay." He motioned for her to move. "Step aside. I will get rid of them, and then I will begin the ritual."

"But, Jumon--"

"I said, stand aside!" he snapped. "Just do as I say so I can protect you!"

"No, Jumon. No."

He growled at her and took a step forward. She stayed her ground. Hiei tensed up, ready to step between them if Jumon made a move.

"Hiei!"

Kurama? Hiei looked to the doorway of the Throne Room. Kurama was there. With Kuwabara, and the hooded woman they had met. "How...?"

"Kurama?" Yusuke asked. "Kurama is here? I heard his voice..."

Hiei's shoulder started to throb. His adrenaline was running low, making way for pain. "Kuwabara's here, too. And that woman."

Jumon retreated to the dais. Hiei watched him as he ran behind the throne and started up the stairs.

"Jumon!" Shiryoku shouted. "Come back!" She started to follow.

"Get back here!" Hiei ordered. "Don't follow him by yourself!"

Shiryoku rounded on him with a glare worthy of Keiko. "I can look after myself. I know him better than any of you. I have to stop him!" She turned away and started running again.

"Fuck," Yusuke cursed. "We have to go after him."

Hiei bit his lip. "Yusuke...you..."

"Firefly!" Kurama cried in relief when he reached them. "Yusuke!"

"Yusuke is blind," he informed Kurama. He handed the human to the youko and stood. "We have to follow Shiryoku before she gets herself into more trouble."

"Right."

"Come," the hooded woman said. She was already running toward the dais. "Quickly!"

Hiei waited for Kuwabara and Kurama to switch burdens - so that Kuwabara carried Yusuke and Kurama Katachi - and then they followed. The flight of stairs wasn't nearly as steep as the other floors, and soon they found themselves in what had to be Jumon's chambers. A quick look at the portraits on the walls confirmed it. Both Jumon and Itsuwari were in the room. Hiei winced as his arm throbbed more violently, and stepped forward to stand beside Shiryoku.

"Come back with me," she was saying. "Please, Jumon. We can help you, if you would only let us. Please? Please come back?"

Jumon shook his head. "My love...you have asked me the one thing I cannot grant you. You must come with me." He tapped his forehead. "We will rid you of that hideous marking the Hand gave you." Hiei glanced at her, and noticed that she was wearing a silver headband. It matched her hair so well, he hadn't noticed it before.

"Hideous?" the cloaked woman roared, appearing beside him.

"Fukuro?" Shiryoku sputtered.

"Hideous?" the one called Fukuro repeated. "You have no right, Jumon. No right. By the order of the High Lady herself, I am obligated to kill you."

"No!" Shiryoku cried.

"Silence, Sister," Fukuro snapped. "You are too close to this situation to have any say in the decision." She reached up and pulled off her hood. Sugar pink waves of hair fell about her shoulders. Then Hiei saw why she had worn the hood and almost squealed in surprise. Almost.

Fukuro was Jaganshi.

"No!" Shiryoku cried again. "No! Jumon, stop before you get hurt! Itsuwari, please make him stop!"

Itsuwari tugged on his brother's sleeve. "Jumon, we are outnumbered. We don't have time for this now."

Fukuro growled and sent a fireball at them, but Itsuwari absently batted it away. "You are right," Jumon agreed. "Now is not the time to fight."

Itsuwari bowed to them. "Perhaps we will continue this later?" he suggested. "Until next time..." He waved his hand, and both he and Jumon vanished.

Fukuro gasped and staggered. "He...he shielded me!" she exclaimed. "Without even thinking about it! Jumon shielded me!"

"I told you not to interfere!" Shiryoku snapped. "You should have stayed away!" She raised her hand as though planning to slap the other woman, but changed her mind and instead folded her arms angrily. "I could have talked to him. I could have made him listen to reason, if you hadn't gotten in my way."

"And a fine job you were doing, I might add," Fukuro shot back. "Sometimes I am inclined to say that this entire mess is all your fault!"

Hiei clutched his arm and inched away from the two women. He was in enough pain as it was. He didn't need to get trapped between a...what was the term...'cat fight'. He walked to the wall and slid down to sit on the floor. His shoulder hurt... Jumon really knew how to swing a stick...

"Firefly...?" Kurama asked softly, settling down next to him. "Are you all right?"

Hiei shook his head and gestured to his left shoulder. "I think it's dislocated," he replied, just as softly. He sat still, trying not to wince as the youko examined it.

"I think it is," the redhead confirmed. "But I...can't do anything for it here."

"I know." Hiei let Kurama ease him down to rest his head in the youko's lap. He frowned at the heated discussion Fukuro and Shiryoku were having. When he felt the seed brush his lips, he opened his mouth and swallowed it without even asking what it was.

"Stop arguing," Kuwabara snapped, silencing the bickering demon women. "Ripping each other's faces off isn't going to solve anything. We have to decide what we're going to do now."

Kurama sighed. "Jumon could be anywhere by now... Yusuke is blind... Hiei and Katachi are hurt..."

"Our 'perfect plan' has gone to Hell," Kuwabara commented bitterly.

"Then we will return to the Fifth and regroup," Fukuro announced. She motioned to Shiryoku. "Come, Sister."

"But what about them?" Shiryoku asked. Hiei knew she was talking about himself and the others, and turned his head to see Fukuro's reaction.

The other Jaganshi thought about it for a long moment. But then, at last, she nodded. "If you don't mind, we will take you with us to the Fifth. You can recover from your injuries there, and we will decide what to do about Jumon." She paused and stared at Hiei. "And I would think...that the High Lady would like to speak with you..."

Hiei raised an eyebrow, but his surroundings were going in and out of focus, so he didn't really care what was going on around him. Kurama must have given him a drug to make him sleep until his arm could be treated. He glanced at Yusuke. The former Tantei was on Kuwabara's back, his arms draped lazily over the other boy's chest. His eyes were open, but he looked...like he was asleep. Or...he was awake...but not caring.

"We will leave in a few minutes," Fukuro told them. "I must build enough youki first. Shiryoku can teleport herself easily, but is no help when it comes to groups, and even I will have some trouble with six people."

"That's fine," Kuwabara said. "We can wait."

Shiryoku knelt down next to Hiei. "How is your shoulder?" she asked him.

"Bad," he replied sleepily.

"I gave him something to tide him over until we can get help," Kurama said. "He can rest while we travel to...the 'Fifth', as you call it."

Hiei yawned. He was drifting off quickly. Kurama's drug had been powerful. But there was something he was dying to know... "Shiryoku?" he asked around another yawn.

"Yes?"

"Jumon...loves you very much... Apparently he wants to rescue you because you were stolen from him... How...many years has it been?" He yawned again, hugely, but managed to cover it with a fist. "How long ago were you his lover...?"

Shiryoku looked at him for a long time. And then she shook her head sadly and lowered her eyes. "I...am not his lover. I've never been his lover..."

He heard the rest of her answer as his eyes slid shut.

"...I'm his mother."

So? Did I shock anyone?

PART EIGHT - THE FIFTH
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