Only You

by Misty

Chapter 8

Ironically, it was Hiei who broke the silence that followed Kurama’s grim statement.

“Maybe we could lend our ki to them,” he suggested quietly.

“Right,” Kurama agreed. “I think that is the best thing that we could do.”

“Um…Kurama?” Shizuru started hesitantly. “I think Keiko once told us of the time when she had to transfer some of her reiki to Yusuke…you know, that first time he died? Anou, I think she had to…transfer her energy through his mouth…I mean, she had to kiss him.”

Silence.

 “Is there -uh- no other possible alternative?” Naomi asked, sweatdropping.

“I don’t know,” Shizuru said honestly.

“Well then, Shizuru,” Kurama ventured, “Maybe you should kiss—er—transfer your energy to Kuwabara now. Him being your brother, I’m sure there’s no--”

“I’ll go first,” Hiei said softly. He walked over to Yukina. I can’t let her die like this, Hiei thought gravely. I would do everything just to protect her…she is even more important to me than my life is…

He leaned over the pretty Koorime, and prepared to lend her his ki, when a sudden gasp from Shizuru stopped him.

“Shizuru-san,” Kurama said, turning to her. “What’s wrong?”

“Botan-chan…” Shizuru replied. “We’ve got to help Botan-chan, I..I think she’s in trouble!”

Naomi turned to the brown-haired young woman. “Where is Botan-san now?”

“Um…”Shizuru said, then paused. “I don’t know…I think someone is chasing her…I don’t know, I just have this really strong feeling that she’s in trouble!”

Hiei, whose Jagan was now opened, muttered a short “Hn,” and said, “She’s right. Botan is in the forest, and is being chased by a youkai. One of those despicable mud types.”

“Come on, let’s help her,” Kurama motioned for the others to follow him, but then, Naomi stopped.

“Matte, Kurama,” she said. “Didn’t you say a while ago that you were going to the Ma Kai to get that weapon we could use to save Yusuke? Yusuke could get free any minute now, and I think you and Hiei should go now to get the weapon. I can handle that mud demon by myself, and get his source of ki so Yukina-san and the others can finally wake up.”

“I think that’s a great plan,” Shizuru agreed. “I’m going to stay here to watch over the others.”

“But…” Kurama began to protest, but Naomi stopped him.

Naomi grinned. “Come on, now, Kurama, I may be weaker than I was before, but I can still handle a mud youkai. Are you insulting me?”

“No, I’m just…worried about you.”

Shizuru, seeing Naomi redden slightly, smiled.

“Well, don’t worry,” Naomi said hastily. “I’ll be fine.” With that, she went out the door, and headed towards the forest.

Kurama,running towards the opposite direction of where Naomi had gone, looked back at her departing figure. He sighed, hoping she would be just fine. Geez, since when did I start worrying about my rival? he thought, smiling to himself.

Botan tried to escape from the youkai, but she couldn’t. All her efforts to make her paddle fly faster were in vain. The youkai just increased his speed, and caught up with her in no time.

Please… I have to get to Kuwabara and the others, she thought. The Rei Kai needs their help. Koenma-sama needs their help!

She increased her speed, and went on, as her eyes blurred with tears. What if something happened to Koenma-sama now? She shook her head vehemently, trying to clear her head of the grim possibility. No he’s fine, and we’ll all get through this--

 “Aaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!” she screamed. A wet, slimy thing suddenly wrapped around her, stopping her in her tracks. She was slowly lifted into the air, and she struggled to free herself from the demon’s grasp.

The youkai was the first of his kind that she had ever seen. She shivered in terror. The demon looked like one big blob of mud, with fiery glowing eyes, and barely distinguishable hands. Botan tried to free herself, but to no avail.

“Let me go, you stupid mud thing!! Yukina! Kuwabara! Shizuru! Help!!!” she screamed, fervently hoping that they would hear her.

“Quiet, you pesky little girl,” the youkai said in annoyed voice. “Even if they could hear you, they wouldn’t be able to help you.” He grabbed her paddle, and threw it aside.

“No!” Botan yelled, staring at her paddle, as it flew into the air and landed on a tree far from where she was. “HELP! SOMEBODY!!!!”

“SHUT UP!” the youkai barked. “I said, no one will be able to help you, so you might as well keep quiet!”

“Do you really think so?” a new voice piped up. The youkai turned around, and suddenly, a girl with long, emerald-colored hair stood there, a challenging look in her dazzling azure eyes

“What the—“ the youkai said, but was cut short as Naomi leaped up, and as her fire blade shot out of her hand, she sliced the youkai’s hand. Botan fell to the ground, a little stunned, but unharmed, nevertheless.

Naomi landed on the ground, her fire blade still in her hand. Orange and yellow fire burned steadily in the weapon she held, forming a sword that could slice almost anything that comes into contact.

“Are you all right?” Naomi asked Botan worriedly.

“Yes, I’m fine—look out!” Botan suddenly exclaimed. Naomi turned around, but she was too late. A muddy hand suddenly enclosed upon her, and lifted her up on the air. The fire blade shot out of her hand, but the youkai was too quick. He suddenly threw her to the ground with a tremendous force.

“Seiko-chan!!!”Botan yelled, and watched in horror as Naomi sailed into the air. Botan never even saw where she landed, for the mud youkai suddenly reached for her again.

She managed to escape from his grasp, and she broke into a run.

 “You will never be able to defeat me,” the youkai said, running after her. “I am Doromono, the invincible. I feel no pain, I feel nothing! Even if you did cut my hand, I can always produce another one.” He laughed cruelly.

Botan ran swiftly, and tried to flee from the hideous monster that was chasing her.

“I will get you!!!” Doromono shouted.

Botan decided to turn right.

She looked back, and gave a sigh of relief. I think I lost him, she thought joyfully. Now all I have to do is to look for Seiko-chan…

She rounded a corner, when suddenly, Doromono appeared in front of her! “I got you now!!!” he said.

In haste, Botan ran in the direction where she came from.

She felt really scared now. Where did Doromono come from? She never even saw that youkai coming. Would she be able to escape from him? She began to panic, and it took a huge effort to try and think clearly.

Suddenly, she tripped on a small rock in the pavement. With a cry of alarm, she fell, facedown on the ground.

She looked behind her. In a few seconds, Doromono would get her. Hurriedly, she tried to stand up, but found that she couldn’t, for she had a really bad sprain. 

What was she to do now?! Think!!! THINK!!! her brain screamed, but her body refused to respond.

There was no escape now. And as Doromono’s hand reached out to grab her, Botan screamed. Only a miracle could save her now…

 And a miracle did come, for suddenly, coming out of nowhere, a figure stepped in front of her, and threw a fireblade right at Doromono’s eye. Momentarily stunned, Doromono stopped.

“What in the --?” Botan blurted out. “Seiko-chan?”

Naomi narrowed her eyes, and summoned enough ki into her hand. With a shout, she released her power to the youkai. Out from her hand came out a swift blast of fire, and Naomi made sure it did not come into direct contact with the youkai. It just swirled around the youkai, burning, creating intense heat around him.

Finally, Naomi made the fire stop, and it dissipated, as if nothing happened.

Does that girl think that she can beat me with that? He grinned…or tried to, and then realized that he couldn’t.

He could not believe this. What happened? He could not move any part of his body. Why couldn’t he move? Move! Move!  But no matter how much effort he put into trying to move even just one finger, all his efforts were in vain. Curse the whole Ningen Kai! His whole body hardened with heat of Naomi’s fire blast, and now he couldn’t move.

Botan stared at Doromono. She looked at Naomi, impressed.

Naomi smiled, and winked at  Botan.

She raised her hand again, and formed a large fireball. With a shout, she threw it to Doromono.

The mud demon exploded.

“Ouch!!!” Botan cried out, as a big piece of the hardened mud from Doromono fell on her.

Naomi jumped up, and reached for a glowing piece of rock from the air. She landed on the ground, and smiled at Botan, and helped the blue-haired girl up.

“Surprised?” Naomi said cheerfully.

Mishina stared at the TV screen, livid. Damn that Kurama! Why did he have to interfere now, when I am so close to victory?!

 I know about that weapon Kurama’s going for, Mishina thought, furious at herself for not forseeing this. He died because he wanted to get that weapon…

“Toki!” she called out from her chair.

Toki came out of the shadows, and bowed in front of Mishina. “What is it, Mishina-sama?”

“Go release Saisho from Kurama’s tree,” she ordered sharply. “Quickly. And tell some of my soldiers to go the Ma Kai and attack Kurama and Hiei there, for they just went to the Ma Kai to get a new weapon. This weapon very powerful, it can emit a beam which can suck out the spirit of anyone it hits. Since Saisho is the one using the body, his spirit would be the one that would be sucked out. Tell him to beware.”

“Yes, Mishina-sama.” Bowing, the blonde-haired boy departed.

 “Genei!” Mishina then barked.

This time, Genei entered the room, dragging a bloody Koenma with him. Genei pushed the Rei Kai prince aside, and turned to Mishina, eyes lowered in respect.

“Where is the mirror?” Mishina abruptly asked.

Genei got the mirror from his pocket, and handed it to Mishina.

Mishina stood up, and smirked. “Well, well,” she said, “Now that the moon has risen, I can make a wish to this mirror. Come with me, Genei, and bring Koenma with you.”

Koenma, barely conscious, stared at Mishina, trying to comprehend what she just said. Why does she have to make me come with them? They know how to use that mirror…they’ll make a wish and the mirror will…

Suddenly it him, jerking him to his senses.

The mirror will ask for a life in return, he thought, panic beginning to seize him. And they will offer my life to the mirror…!!!

“That was great!” Botan said, puzzled and impressed at the same time. “Are you a youkai?”

 “Yup,” Naomi said, smiling. “In this world I am known as Nakajima Seiko. In the Ma Kai, I am known as Naomi. You know, sort of like what happened to Kurama?”

Botan stared at her. “Kurama? So you know about Kurama, too?”

Naomi nodded. “Yes,” she said. “We were rivals back then in the Ma Kai.”

 “Oh, I see,” Botan said, finally comprehending it all.  “Anyway, thanks for saving my life!!!”

“Don’t mention it,” Naomi replied. She suddenly turned serious. “Why was this youkai chasing you?”

“A certain youkai attacked the Rei Kai. I was able to escape, but Mishina sent Doromono to bring me back.”

Mishina? Naomi’s heart skipped a beat.  Just as she suspected. So Mishina had already carried out her plans of taking over the three worlds, and all these were part of her plans. She clenched her fists. Would Mishina never be satisfied? First, she planned to kill the members of their group then, now she wanted to be queen of the three worlds. What next?

“Are you all right, Seiko-chan?” Botan said, breaking into her thoughts. “I mean, Naomi-chan.”

“I’m fine,” Naomi replied, and sought to change the subject. “Anou, if you were escaping from the Rei Kai, that means you’re from the Rei Kai too, ne? That means you’re not a normal Ningen. I saw you flying on that paddle-thingy.”

“Oh, you saw me on my oar,” Botan said cheerfully. “I’m a Rei Kai ferry girl, here to bring spirits to the Spirit World. Oh, and I serve as an assistant to Yusuke and the others.”

“Ah, I see,” Naomi said. “So, shall we go now?”

“Sure!”

Along the way, Naomi filled Botan in on what happened to Keiko and the others. After that, there was just silence between the two of them, for both had a lot on their minds.

Botan was still wondering about Seiko a.k.a. Naomi. Why did Naomi seem so familiar? She knew that she had heard of Naomi before—but when?

Botan stopped. But of course!

“Wait, you’re THE Naomi I was looking for!” Botan exclaimed suddenly.

Naomi gave her a quizzical look.

“You were part of Mishina’s old group!” Botan said. “You were a notorious group of thieves in the Ma Kai, until you separated.”

Naomi looked surprised. “How do you know all this?”

“Oh, I read it in the Reikai files,” Botan replied. <She read it from AraZhi’s site? ^_^> “Koenma-sama told me to ask about you, so we could get some information on Mishina. We knew she was going to attack. We just did not know when.”

“Oh.”

“Why did you and your group separate anyway?”

“It’s a long story.” Naomi said, and looked away. At last, they reached Kuwabara’s house, where Shizuru was waiting for them.

Hiei and Kurama quietly exited a large palace, careful not to be seen. Kurama was holding a glowing crystal ball. He hastily put it inside a small sack, and continued walking.

Once safely out of the palace, Hiei spoke. “Good thing we got that now.”

“Yes,” Kurama agreed. “I’m glad nobody saw us, or we’d be dead meat. I died because I wanted to steal this weapon.”

Suddenly, Hiei brought out his katana, and with his renowned swiftness, swung it at an invisible enemy. His sword struck metal, and Kurama saw a big mace, which Hiei struck, hitting into a tree.

“Show yourself!” Hiei barked. Kurama prepared his rose whip, ready to fight, if necessary.

A group of fifty or so demons came out of the shadows. Hiei gripped his sword tighter.

The group of demons all held big, deadly weapons. One of them, apparently their leader, stepped forward, and yelled, “ATTACK!!!!”

And the demons came at them, from all their directions, throwing their weapons at the two.

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