The Trooper Report
By Seiji-chan

Just for a Visit Chapter Four: Demons and Warriors

Kori looked up from Obun's face suddenly and looked around for a moment, his eyes narrowing, then returning to normal as he looked back at the young girl. ^^Well, well. Koenma sent some of his little playmates to visit. How kind of him to think of me, but he should not have bothered. I had hoped that this time there wouldn't be any trouble. Oh well.^^ He set his cup down on the table and then walked over and knelt by Obun. "Would you please excuse me for a moment little one." He then stood and turned toward the door. "I feel a presence, an evil one that you must be protected from!"

Obun looked up, a curious look to her eyes. "The one you saved me from?"

Kori smiled grimly. "Yes little one, the one I saved you from. Please stay here." He then walked out the door.

Obun looked at the door Kori went through. "What is going on? I am being hunted by a demon? And now I am in the old haunted (?) Temple of Gembu, sipping tea after being snatched from the park? I have to do something about my habit of snooping!" She then looked out the window and watched the storm. It was one of the worst storms that she had seen since Yukichi was born. "That was some storm then, and it didn't help that Nee-chan and Kei-chan were having a scary story contest." Obun stared out at the storm some more, remembering how scared she was back then, then her eyes opened wide. "Hey, wasn't one of the stories Kei-chan told was about this temple? Yes, it was. A horrible story about a young priest and all of the atrocities that he committed." Obun snickered, "the twins had nightmares for weeks and Kei-chan and nee-chan were grounded for a month. Let's see . . . the priest's name was . . . " Obun bit her lip as she thought, "yes his name was . . . " Her voice faded to a whisper as she recalled his name. "Kori!" Her eyes widened in shock and she dropped her cup with a clatter onto the tabletop. "His name was Kori! Oh, this can't be!" Obun took a deep breath and looked around in panic. "He brought me here! And if that story that Kei-chan told is anywhere near the truth, then I am in big trouble."

"What am I going to do? He might be back at any moment!" Obun jumped up suddenly and started searching the room. "Nee-chan's demon ward! It might be my only chance! Where did my backpack go? She stopped ripping the room apart and ran into the room that she had awakened in. A few moments later she was riffling through her bag. "If Seiji saw what happened . . . and Nee-chan didn't start carrying wards until after she met Touma . . . if Touma is the reason she carries them then he must know something about demons! And if he does, then they must be searching for me!" Obun growls and pulls her hand out of her bag and dumps the entire contents on the floor. "Where is it, it has to be here? I had it earlier at Uncle's! She stares at the pile on the floor. "Don't tell me I lost it!" A moment later a smile crosses her face. "Here it is. If this thing really works, I should be safe from Kori for a little while." She looks at the thin strip of slightly crumpled paper in her hand and tries to smooth it out. "I hope."

Obun gathered up the contents of her bag, and walked back to the other room. She picked up her now cold cup of tea and walked toward the window. She was bringing the cup to her lips when she ~felt~ a slight shiver in the air. Obun turned and her cup slid from her fingers as she saw two shapes start to appear out of nowhere. Obun gasped and closed her eyes as she held out the ward in front of herself. ^^Oh Kami please let this work.^^ A few moments later, as she hears a snarl filled with pain, a cold smile crossed her lips.

~ Ten minutes earlier . . .~

"Keiko,"a whisper-soft voice called from above. "They are all inside the temple grounds." Botan floated down and looked at Katari. "Seiji and Hiei teleported ^^How did he do that anyway??^^ In just a moment ago, you can place the last ward."

"Allright, here it is." Katari looked over at Keiko and Botan. "Once this is in place, nothing supernatural will be able to cross."

The ward," whispered Botan, "I want that monster in there stopped." She looked back at the temple and her eyes narrowed and a hard look crossed her face. "I do not want it free to harm anyone ever again."

Keiko grabbed Katari's arm. "Wait a moment, if we place this ward how will they get Obun out and destroy that monster." She looked at Botan. "Yuusuke, Kurama and Hiei will not be able to cross!"

Katari looked at the other two girls, ^^What do they mean? If they can't cross then . . . are they demons? Seiji said that Hiei was a demon, but, I don't know about Kurama, but Keiko has known Yuusuke forever. And Kuwabara, he has supernatural abilities? I really don't think so!^^

"Do not worry Toum-chan and Seiji will protect her."

"Really little cousin, when you fall, you fall hard. Aren't you even worried? Your 'Toum-chan' and Seiji are going to get hurt!" pointed out Keiko. Before Katari could say anything in defense, Botan jumped in.

"I don't know about that." Botan looked back at the girls. "Keiko, don't forget about what Yuusuke said about those weapons they had. And the fact that Seiji can teleport and knew what was going on!" ^^And if Yuusuke is right about them, then they will be all right.^^ "But . . . I think that if we were inside the barrier," Botan smiled nastily, "we could help if it was needed." Botan held her ore like a baseball bat and swung it as if she was hitting something.

"Thatis right Botan," Keiko looked at Katari. "Well Kat-chan, are you coming? Though they won't admit it, the guys do need our help now and again."

Katari looked at the last of the wards she was going to use for the shield and the ones that she held back for herself and Kei-chan. ^^Toum-chan is going to be so mad at me for this, but Obun is my sister!^^ "All right, lets go." The three girls slipped in the front gate and Katari placed the last ward, sealing in all supernatural energy inside.

Obun was still standing with her eyes closed, listing to the growl of the demon in front of her, wondering what she was going to do now when she heard a familiar voice coming from next to her.

"Now Obun," whispered Seiji, "that ward is a good idea. But don't you think you should be using it against your kidnapper? Not the rescuers?"

Obun opened her eyes and looked up at Seiji and then over at the 'demon'. It was the spiky haired boy she had seen with the others earlier. And he was not happy. All three . . . Obun's fingers went lax and she dropped the ward. ^^He has three eyes. One of Keiko's friends is a demon!^^ Obun would have stepped back away from him if the wall wasn't in her way, so she slipped away from the glowing eyes by sliding behind Seiji.

Seiji looked from Obun to Hiei, Obun was just as scared as she was before and just a touch curious. Hiei on the other hand was just about ready to draw his sword and attack. "Hiei, she was just trying to defend herself." Seiji looked at the ward he had grabbed as it dropped from Obun's fingers. "She must have had one of Katari's wards on her!" He looked back at Hiei. "We are supposed to save her, and get her out of the way . . . "

Seiji is interrupted by a loud crash and a voice yelling in the distance, "I Kuwabara will defeat all . . . " The voice was silenced by another loud crash, and another voice yelled "Rei Gun," followed by a solid sounding thud of flesh hitting flesh.

Hiei looked toward the door and went through as it exploded. "Bakayaro, what are they doing?" Before Seiji could move, Hiei was gone.

Seiji looked back at Obun. "Here is your ward," He reached down and took hold of her arm. "Lets move you to somewhere safer." Just as he teleports he hears another voice yelling in the background. "Rose-whip . . . "

Obun looked around, ^^Wow just a moment ago I was in that room and I am now . . . Uhh . . . ^^ Obun looked around again. She and Seiji were standing on a balcony surrounding the temple courtyard. Off to the far end there was a rather interesting fight going on including Kori. ^^Ohh big surprise there . . . ! Wha . . . are those Keiko's friends?^^ Yuusuke, who was fighting with his fists, Kuwabara, who held a glowing sword, the demon Hiei with another -but normal- sword. And over there was Kurama, who was using a whip, made of rose vines? And most surprising to Obun; was Touma, welding a strange golden bow. Obun turned to Seiji, "Seiji what is going on?" Obun tapped Seiji on the arm to get his attention. ^^What is he looking at?^^ Obun's unspoken question was answered as Seiji spoke.

"Ladies,"said Seiji in a cold voice toward an open door, "just what are you doing in here?"

Obun watched in surprise as her sister, Keiko and a girl with blue hair slowly came out of the room.

"We came to see if . . . " Botan's explanation was cut short as Katari and Keiko dove for the small girl standing at Seiji's side.

"Obun what were you doing, following me?" demanded a very angry Katari. "Mother is going to kill you! Provided I don't do it for her!"

"Yes Obun, wandering around Tokyo all alone is the best way to get in to trouble!" pointed out and equally angry Keiko. "There are all sorts of horrible things that could happen to a small girl like you. Are you crazy or something?"

Seiji looked at the three girls that were arguing and then back to Botan. "Well?"

Botan looked up at Seiji, and tried to keep her mind on what was going on. ^^Botan,^^ she thought to herself, ^^this is an assignment, keep your mind on the job.^^ She blinked and started to explain again.

"We came to see if we could be of some help." She smiled slightly, "so far all we have been doing is watching. They have been doing all the fighting!"

"You were supposed to stay on the out side and watch over Keiko and Katari. And wait until Obun was brought out. This," Seiji indicated the balcony that they are all on, "is not the safest place for any of you! Especially Obun!"

Seiji stopped talking to Botan and suddenly his sword appeared in his hand, and he lunged over to where the other girls were.

The next thing Botan knew Kori was standing on the balcony, a few yards in front of Seiji. Botan looked down into the courtyard and gasped in dismay, "Oh no," she whispered to herself. The rest of the gang was sprawled out in various positions, barely conscious. And Kori was slowly walking toward Seiji and the girls.

Kori looked past Seiji, to Obun, and then to Botan. He stopped and tilted his head to one side. "Well Botan," he said with a cold little smile, "was that the best that Koenma could send?" He then looked at the other two girls and then to Seiji. "You only have one warrior left! And it seems that you have brought me a couple of gifts as well."

Keiko and Katari, move until they are in front of Obun and each hold out their wards. "Listen creep," said Keiko in a cold voice, "you are not getting any where closer!"

"That is right," jumped in Katari, "you just wait, my Toum-chan will stop you!" Kori looked at the girls and laughed. "Well you are right about the wards . . . for now any way. Soon they will not even bother me in the least. And for your 'Toum-chan'," Kori gestured to the courtyard. "As your only warrior has noticed, he is the only one standing."

Botanwalked up behind the girls, if she had to, she could summon her ore and fly them away from Kori. ^^Well, I could fly around the barrier, but to keep Kori contained, we would have to stay inside and play cat and m ouse until dawn!^^

Seiji kept his eye on Kori and concentrated on Touma. ~Touma, are you all right?~ He received a faint response.

~Yes Seiji, I am fine, just a little winded and sore. He packs a punch. We need to summon our yoroi.~

~Only as a last resort! What about the others?~ asked Seiji, worried.

~They look to be in the same shape that I am in. Distract him and I will be there as soon as I can.~

~Hai, just make it real soon!~

Seiji turned his full attention to Kori as he finished talking to the girls, and pointed his sword at Kori. "This is where your praying on the innocent will stop." Seiji's eyes narrow and as the girls start to walk away from him, his forehead starts to glow a soft green and Kori saw the kanji Rei appeared on his forehead.

Seiji his light/life energy into his blade and nodded to Kori, "Well?"  Kori licked his lips in anticipation, "Well now, aren't you just full of energy. This promises to be most satisfying." Kori smiles at Seiji and Shifts into shadows and encloses Seiji in his living shadow.

"Seiji!!!"

Touma looked up at the scream and saw Seiji vanish into a large shadow.

"No," Touma whispered in shock.

Yuusuke stood up and looked up in shock, Seiji was gone.

Kurama watched as Seiji was engulfed into the living shadow. He looked over at Hiei who was slowly standing up, "Hiei, can you see Seiji. Is he gone?"

Before Hiei could say anything, Kuwabara jumped up and rushed up the stairs. "I Kuwabara will not allow you to harm these ladies."

Yuusuke snarled and rushed up the stairs after Kuwabara.

Before either made it to the landing Touma darted forward and was gone.

Hiei focused his jagen on the shadow and saw that Seiji's life force was still strong, stronger than it should have been. And the light that was Seiji was still growing stronger! "He is still alive, it looks like he is using his life force to burn the gaki from the inside."

Kurama looked at Hiei, confused. "What do you mean? The gaki is trying to drain Seiji!"

"Yes," said Hiei, "But Seiji's life force is more than the gaki can absorb." Hiei smiled slightly to himself.

Kurama recognized that look, he then ran over to the far end of the courtyard. "Everyone move. Now!!!"

Yuusuke and Kuwabara looked down at Kurama and then over to Hiei. As one they turned and each grabbed a girl as Botan took off on her ore.

Touma ignored Kurama as he tried to reach Seiji. He made a swipe at the shadow with his bow, but it passed harmlessly through it. ~Seiji . . . Seiji, can you hear me? Seiji!~

~Touma, are the girls safe?~ Seiji's mental voice sounded muted, and Touma had a hard time hearing him.

Touma looked around, Botan was flying away on her ore and Yuusuke had Keiko. He then saw that Kuwabara had Katari and Obun, each under an arm. ~Yes Seiji, they are safe, how are we going to get you out of there?~

~Do not worry about me Touma. I will be fine. Get away from here as fast as you can!~

Touma heard the determination in Seiji's voice, ^^How can I leave him here?^^ Touma grunted in surprise as Kurama knocked him off the balcony.

"Move Touma, we cannot help Seiji right now. We have to move." Kurama gestured toward Hiei.

Touma stared in amazement as the demon was surrounded in black flame. "Wha . . ."

Hiei raised his arm and the bandage burned away, reveling a black dragon circling his arm from wrist to above his elbow. As he was raising his arm, Hiei called out in a commanding voice. "Jaoh Ensatsu Kokuryuha" From his arm uncurled a large black fire dragon. It roared its anger to the sky and looked around. It then dove toward the shadowy mass on the balcony. As the fire dragon reached the shadow, green lighting struck from the sky.

The shadow dissipated into the form of Kori, a rather skeletal looking Kori. He looked up just as the jaws of the dragon closed onto his now human form. With a final shriek, he was gone.

Obun looked up from where she was thrown, and saw Hiei. "Is it over?" she asked.

"Yes,"cheered Kuwabara, striking a pose. "No evil can stand the might of I, Kuwabara!"

Hiei glanced down at Obun. "Hnn, yes, he is gone." Hiei then looked around, glared darkly at Kuwabara, and in a flicker was gone.

Katari slowly stood up and kicked Kuwabara hard in the shin. "Why did you drop us, you jerk?" She then walked over to Obun. "Come on, I'm getting you home before you get into any more trouble!" Katari reached down and pulled Obun to her feet and started to pull her toward Touma.

Touma was looking around in shock; the part of the temple where Seiji was trapped was gone. And so was Seiji.

"Toum-chan, are you all right?" From what Katari could see, everyone was fine, bruised and battered but alive and well. "Where is Seiji?" she whispered softly.

The others walked over to Touma; Obun looked around with wide eyes. The others looked around. Botan sighed softly to herself. She didn't want to do this.

There was one more crash of lighting and the storm started to dissipate into a star filled night. Everyone jumped when they heard soft footsteps from behind.

They all turned as a soft weary voice spoke. "I do not want to do that ever again . . . "

"Seiji," gasped Touma. "You are alive."

Botan jumped up and down. "Yata!"

"How. . . " murmured Kurama.

Touma walked over to Seiji, and smacked him in the head. "Do not do anything that stupid again. That is what Shu is good for."

Seiji smiled weakly, "Let's leave, I really would like to get out of here."

"Sa, no kidding." Yuusuke looked at the smoldering temple; "I do not want to be here when the city officials find out that a landmark just got toasted."

After one last look at the Temple of Gembu, or what was left of it, everyone (except for Hiei) headed over to Keiko's for a snack. And give Touma and Seiji sometime to think of a good excuse for bringing Katari and Obun home after curfew.

As they walk in, they hear Keiko's mother call to them from the counter. "Konban wa minna, you are home early."

"Early?" Everyone looked at each other, then back to Keiko's mother.

"Yes," she laughed. "It is not even eight o'clock." She turned to go into the kitchen, "I thought you would be out later. I even called you mother, Katari, and told her that you and Obun were out with Keiko." She glanced over her shoulder; "you two even received permission to stay out a little later than usual!"

~ After Katari and Obun have been dropped of at their house . . . ~

"Well Touma," said a tired Seiji, "This was one strange day! This morning I would never have guessed that I would meet a Death Deity and fight with demons against a gaki to save Obun and the city!" ^^And having Izumi show up and offer all kind of help as well.^^

"Yes Seiji, normally I wouldn't have believed it either. But after clashing with that oni to save Katari and her school mates . . . "

Seiji glanced over at Touma, "Ne Touma, maybe Katari and Obun have an affinity for demons and other supernatural beings!"

Touma glared over at Seiji. "Seiji . . . that is not funny! Don't even joke about something like that!"

Seiji looked up at the now visible full moon. "We will tell everyone about this tomorrow."

"Yes, if we have to deal with things other than the Evil Empire it's better to be prepared."

The End =^_^=