Yuu Yuu Hakusho: Book Two
chapter 17
by Angel Ishe
CHAPTER 17: THE SEDUCTION
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Yusuke slowly looked around him. Everyone was in an emotional state. Kuwabara hung his head. His expression unreadable. He was probably feeling shocked and hurt. No matter how vehemently he denied it, Yusuke knew that he thought of Hiei as a friend and he had cared for him. Kurama was frantic and was hysterically pounding the floor. Hiei was his best friend. Yusuke could only imagine how he felt. And lastly, Yusuke turned as he heard another of one of her heart wrenching screams. Her hair hung dirtily on her face as tears flowed from her eyes. He had never seen her so sad. So hysterical, so full of pain. It disturbed him to see tears in her eyes and a frown on her lips instead of the usual bright smile that touched her eyes. He cringed as he heard her screams of pain. Someone was gonna pay for making her sad. Someone has to pay for making her feel this way! Yusuke thought as he approached Botan wanting to comfort her.
"Don't!" Kuwabara said quietly. Yusuke whirled around to face him. "Don't what? Comfort her?" Yusuke asked him incredulously. "She needs to overcome her grief by herself. Just like you did at the Ankoku Bujutsukai when Genkai died and when you thought I did." "What? You're telling me to just idly stand by and not to do a thing when she's crying her heart out!" Yusuke demanded furiously. He turned his back on Kuwabara and purposely walked towards the poor girl crying hysterically on the floor. Kuwabara laid a firm hand on his shoulder. "Leave her be. Just for awhile. She needs time to be by herself and she needs to get through this alone." Yusuke sighed in resign. "She's a strong and tough lady, Yusuke." Kuwabara said gently. He nodded his head "And what about him?" he asked his head jerking to the still hysterical Kurama. Kuwabara nodded.
They slowly approached him. Kurama felt Yusuke's hand rest on his shoulder. "Hey Kurama. Take it easy." Yusuke said in a soothing voice. Kurama was startled awake by the sound of his voice. He slowly got up and composed himself. Botan's wailing caught his eye and he sighed inwardly. "Let's leave her alone for awhile." Kuwabara whispered. He nodded reluctantly as he followed him out. Yusuke took one last look of concern at Botan, she was still pretty much out of it. It took all the self-control he had to will himself into stepping out of the room.
My mind was still in such a mess that I didn't even hear them leave. I still clutched Hiei's body tightly as I tried to deny the fact of his death.
Kiyo stood sadly watching her from the trees. Something tugged at his heart every time he saw her cry a fresh batch of tears. But for the life of him he couldn't figure out what. He grinned as he took the orb from his pocket and whispered, "You need not be sad anymore, my sweet, for you will be forever happy once you're in my arms." He smiled as the orb began to glow angrily, with a little help…
"Botan!" I heard a distant voice calling me. My eyes struggled to see who it was. The voice sounded familiar. "Hiei!" I gasped as I saw him just a few feet away from me. How was that possible? I looked down on the body I held. "Botan! Come with me" Hiei's voice whispered into the night as he disappeared. "Wait!" I called out. Quickly lying Hiei's body on the floor and running out into the balcony. I saw him standing over the banister. "Botan follow me…" he leapt off. I pulled out my oar and quickly followed him. My heart beat wildly against my chest throbbing with hope. My mind was screaming at me telling me I've totally lost it but I just couldn't live with myself if it really was Hiei or Hiei's lost soul summoning me, my heart loudly argued. I sped off and followed him into an abandoned warehouse.
Yusuke buried his fist into the nearby wall, "Damn! I feel so helpless!" Kurama merely stared off into space. Shock was now wearing off and grief was settling in. Out of all of them Kuwabara had the good sense to stay calm and focused. He sighed as Yusuke continued to punch frustratedly at the poor defenseless wall. "Calm down Yusuke! Or you'll make the roof cave in! Besides at least she's stopped wailing and screaming." He added quietly. It was true. Silence now filled the entire house. Yusuke sighed and slid unto the ground as he tried to fight the tears that was threatening to spill down his cheeks. It was bad enough that his friend had died but it was hell having to listen to Botan's screams of pain and agony knowing that he couldn't do anything to soothe her. It was like seeing himself go through Genkai's death again. "I can't help it! I feel so helpless!" Yusuke grumbled. "We all do." Kurama said quietly. No one said word after that for a long time. "Do you think we co uld talk her now?" Yusuke finally asked the others. They all nodded. Yusuke slid the door open…
Yusuke blinked twice and stared open mouthed in shock. "Guys! She's gone!!!"
Once Kiyo was sure she was inside the dim warehouse, the walls shifted and changed into a dark castle. I gasped as I saw the walls shift. Was I hallucinating? I stared at the big hallway that had materialized before me. Hiei darted into one of the chambers. There he goes again. "Wait!" I yelled quickly following him into the room. Kiyo stopped in the middle of the room as he congratulated himself on his victory. He willed the door to shut and lock behind Botan. I gasped as I heard the heavy door shut behind me. Uh-Oh ! That thud had a finality in it I didn't like. "Hiei! Is that you? Please turn around!" I pleaded my heart throbbing against my chest. Kiyo gradually turned around as he slowly transformed out of Hiei's body and into his own. As you wish, my princess.
"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE!" Yusuke roared. Kurama had enforced the help of his plants to make a groove for Hiei's body. "We'll figure out a way to bring you back, Hiei." he whispered softly to his friend, "I promise." With that he straightened himself up and prepared to handle the present crisis at hand. "Calm down, Yusuke! You'll get high blood pressure that way!" Kuwabara said warily. "CALM DOWN? CALM DOWN?!!! Yusuke continued to scream his ear off. "HOW CAN I CALM DOWN WHEN BOTAN IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE IN A VULNERABLE STATE AND BLOOD SUCKING ENEMIES ARE OUT TO GET HER!!!" Yusuke breathed heavily as he bellowed his last statement. "Maybe she went back to Koenma's to recuperate and collect her thoughts?" Kurama wondered. "Then let's call him with this thingamajig Botan gave us!" Kuwabara said enthusiastically overjoyed at doing something other than just sitting on their hands. "Koenma-sama are you there?" Yusuke spoke into his receiver compact. "Yes! Yusuke what is it?" Koenma' s face appeared on the monitor. "By any chance is Botan there?" Kurama asked casually not wanting to go through explaining all of this to Koenma. "No! Of course she isn't! She's on a mission with all of you! Why the heck would she be here?!!" Koenma burst. "Oh no it's nothing. You know women. She must be out shopping." Kurama shrugged offhandedly. "What she and the rest of you should be doing is finishing your mission and not just to--" his sentence hung unfinished as one of the oni whispered something into his ear. Koenma shouted in frustration. "Okay if that is all, I have more important things to get to. AND ALL OF YOU BETTER GET TO WORK!" he yelled before signing out. "Geesh! What a slave driver!" Kuwabra sighed.
"That still doesn't get us anywhere!" Yusuke cried. "If she's not with Koenma then she must be---" Kurama paused unsure if he should complete his thought. He didn't want to get Yusuke even more agitated than he already was. "She must be what? Kurama!" Yusuke yelled impatiently. "She must be with the enemy." Kurama concluded dejectedly. "WHAT?" Yusuke bolted out of his seat. "Just after you killed Kina tsu I saw a black shadow take the orb but before I could get to him he was gone in a flash." Kurama said. "Nani?" Kuwabara bolted out of his chair too.
"Kiyo…" Yusuke said through gritted teeth, his hands clenched at his sides.
I could only stare in shock, "You're-you're not HIEI!" I gasped as I pointed at the figure in front of me. He was stunningly handsome, so handsome he was almost beautiful. Long golden hair framed his exquisite face and he had the most radiant emerald eyes. He was also tall as tall as Kurama. He was also dressed in all white. Wait! All white I know a person who dresses that way! And looks like him. Oh my gosh! "You're--you're Kiyo!" I said turning white. I had followed an enemy! Am I stupid or what?! This was probably their lair! Well at least I got into their base but now what am I gonna do? Yusuke and the others don't know where I am and they're probably looking for me right now. I felt a finger caressing my cheek startling me out of my thoughts. He was standing in front of me now. I took a step back. How did he get so damn close without me hearing him? Oh yeah! He was the one who could teleport. "I'm so glad you remembered my name." He said in a rich voice. "Because I certa inly remember yours." He whispered softly. "What do you want?" I yelled defiantly well I hoped it was. "Don't worry, my sweet, I won't hurt you." he said softly as he took both of her hands in his. I was startled to feel his hands in mine but I quickly pulled away. When I did I saw gold bracelets cuffing my wrists "What is this?" I demanded. "Don't you worry they're just for insurance." he said slowly. "Insurance?" I repeated confusedly. What the hell was he talking about? And before she knew what was happening he grabbed her and pulled her into a long passionate kiss. Wait! What the! , I thought as I struggled against him pushing him away. I slowly felt my defenses weaken as the kiss deepened. Yusuke please help me. I felt myself falling into a deep spell. Yusuke please…
A map was laid on the floor as Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara tried to figure out where the enemy base was. Kurama pinned a red mark at the spot where they first encountered their enemy. "Kowaru was defeated here. While Kairi was located here." He pinned a blue marker on the marina. "And then Kina tsu died right here." he finished pinning a white marker on the location of Yusuke's house on the map. "And what have we got?" Kurama asked. "A triangle." Yusuke observed. "Yes and my best bet is that they're located right here." he concluded pinning a black marker at the center of the triangle. "It's the central force of the three points meaning the central point of Kuroi's power." They all nodded in agreement. "Then what are we waiting for!" Yusuke stood up impatiently. "Yeah let's go!" Kuwabara said as they all ran out the door.
Kiyo broke the kiss and stood back to admire the spell's effect on Botan. Thank God Kuroi didn't find out that he took her Book of Spells! "Kiyo?" I peered at him suddenly feeling an odd and sudden rush of familiarity and love for the man who had just kissed her. His heart skipped a beat as he heard her say his name with a tone of familiarity. "Yes, my sweet?" "I feel so cold." I shuddered as I looked down at my thin plain clothes. Kiyo's eyes brightened. "Wait here my dear." he said softly as he reached behind one of the cabinets and pulled a long beautiful gold and white gown. Oh! My eyes danced with delight. "I've never such a beautiful dress!" I exclaimed happily. "Is this really all for me?" I asked him with incredulous eyes. "Yes, fit for a princess as beautiful as you" he whispered softly. I blushed as I winked at him and said, "Wait right here!" I quickly scampered over to the dressing wall. Kiyo smiled he would wait forever if he had to.
"Come on!" Yusuke urged them to run faster as they rounded the corner. If Kiyo even harmed a hair on Botan's head! He thought grimly as he accelerated his speed.
What was I doing with this man?, I thought wildly but she couldn't break out of the spell Kiyo had over her. "Darling are you alright?" Kiyo said in concern. I stepped out of the dressing wall as an answer. Wow, he thought as he gaped at her lovely form. She was so beautiful! So much like a ravishing goddess. His heart ached for her. With one lithe move he wrapped her in his arms and whispered in her ear "You look so beautiful." I blushed at his praise. Kiyo tilted her chin up and slowly and hungrily met her soft lips.
