Love is a Battlefield
Part 6
By Sonya-chan

"Ko... Koenma-sama..." said Kurama.

"Botan..." added Kuwabara.

"I'm afraid he's right guys... The news aren't good..." Yuusuke stepped inside, he obviously just came back from a battle.

"Oh my!..." Yukina rushed to Yuusuke to heal him, but he prevented her to do so with a gesture. "But you're hurt..."

"It isn't much..." replied Yuusuke. "Was Hiei attacked by Bui?"

"Hai, he was... Hiei is... well..." started Kurama.

"He isn't dead?... Is he?" asked the dark haired boy, he regretted saying it when he saw the look on Makoto's eyes.

"No... Our In-house Youkai is in some sort of cocoon..." Kuwabara explained.

"HE'S IN A WHAT???" asked Yuusuke.

"In a cocoon..." quickly Kurama explained to Yuusuke what had happened. "What about you?..." asked the redhead. "What took you so long to come here..."

"I hate to burst everyone's bubble but we have a meeting to go to..." Taiki reminded everyone. "At Rei's Temple."

Yuusuke nodded. "I'll tell you guys there..."

"Are you sure about this Michi?... She's going to be mad..." said Haruka as she started her car.

"Nonsense..." Smiled the aqua haired woman next to her. "Hurry up Hotaru-chan..." Hotaru giggled and took her place in the back seat. "Anyway..." continued Michiru. "Kuronue won't fit in your car with us... So he might as well take Setsuna with him..."

"Aren't you afraid your plan will backfire on you?" asked the blond woman as she shifted the gear on reverse.

"I think those two need a few moment by themselves..." Winked Michiru. "Whether they like it or not!"

Haruka's car was speeding away when Setsuna got out of the house running. "MATTE! MATTE!" Too late, the car sped away and disappeared around a corner. "Of all the nerves!..." spat Setsuna. "I've lived thousands of years and no one ever did that to me..."

"Ha the youngens..." said a deep voice behind her. "They never respect their Elders..." Kuronue smiled to himself. "Why I remember once, Kurama was so eager to go rob a treasure trove, he left me behind... Lucky for him, I didn't hold a grudge and rescued him from that prison..."

Setsuna smiled and shook her head. "Ever the protective father, weren't you?"

"Hey, but it worked didn't it?... I mean look where he is now!" He smirked.

Her expression turned serious. "Hai... But, it almost got you killed..."

"I wasn't dead... Although he thought I was... He mourned me, he's a good kid..." He replied with a smile.

Setsuna turned to him. "You know, it's almost weird that you call Kurama a kid... He's over 700 years old... and that would make you?"

"Milady..." Kuronue bowed as he opened the car door for her. "I am your humble servant, but as for my age... It wouldn't be very gentlemanly to ask yours..." He closed the door and He got to his own place and started the car. "So you'll understand if I don't want to disclose my age..."

"Why?" she chuckled. "Are you afraid I'd find you too young?"

"Quite the contrary my dear... Quite the contrary..." He whispered as he turned the ignition and started to back the car from the driveway.

When they arrived at the Temple, Kurama spotted Kido. The red haired boy walked straight for him.

"Listen..." Kurama growled as he faced the blond haired young man. "I don't know what your game is... But you better leave Yaten alone from now on... Am I making myself clear?"

"C... Crystal..." replied Kido, wondering why Kurama was so mad at him for. But the feral gaze the redhead was giving him was enough to silence any questions. "I'll leave Yaten alone..."

"Good!" replied Kurama, he turned around and went back to stand next to Yaten. As he walked he tried to hide the anger that was in him. I'm glad that's over, he thought, if he thinks he can get Yaten away from me... He's got another thing coming...

Kaito looked from Kurama to his friend Kido. "What's wrong with Minamino-san?"

"Beats me!" replied Kido. "Maybe he's got his rose whip on too tight!" He was a little angry. Of all the nerves, he thought, so I had a crush on his Sailor Star Healer...

"Did you do something stupid like send her flowers?..." asked Kaito.

Kido facevaulted. "What? Of course not!"

"No he didn't... I would have known, remember, I'm his roommate..." said Yana, looking as bewildered as Kido.

"Mmmm..." wondered Kaito. "I wonder what's eating Minamino-san..."

They shrugged and rejoined the others near the scrying fires.

"Huh... Urameshi?..." said Kuwabara as he realized that his friend was carrying some water jug filled with something weird. "What do you got in there?"

"Ani-san Toguro..." replied simply Yuusuke.

"WHAT?" said both Kuwabara and Kurama.

"Who?" said about everyone else.

"Ani-san Toguro..." repeated Koenma. "Bui then Ani-san Toguro attacked respectively Hiei and Yuusuke"

"Who are those guys?" asked Usagi. "And why have they attacked you and Hiei?..."

"Feh..." said Yuusuke. "They are sour losers..."

"Sour losers?... I don't understand..." said Minako, puzzled.

"A year and a half ago, we were called to fight in the Ankoku Bujutsukai: The Dark Martial Art Contest. We were invited guest but we soon learned that we were the intended targets too." replied Yuusuke.

"We battled many foes until we came upon the ones who had 'invited' us to the tournament: The Toguro Team. Toguro, Ani Toguro, Bui and Kurasu."

"I battled with Kurasu." started Kurama. "Kurasu was a skilled warrior but he also had powers. At first, I thought he used his ki to blow up his opponents..." Kurama paused as the Senshi gasped. "At the time I thought only in my Youko form I would be able to battle him... Unfortunately it wasn't so..."

"You see Kurasu's powers enabled him to summon explosive spirits..." Kurama stopped at everyone looked at him wide eyed. "I made a slight calculation, but I thought I would be able to beat him in my Youko form. I couldn't control my transformation then, I could only transform, I found out by taking the Zense no Mi: the Fruit of Past Life. It's a drug, if you drink it or breathe in the fumes it produces, you get reduced in age. I took some and it returned me to my Youko years. I found out later that prolonged usage of this drug enabled me to transform into the Youko more easily..."

"But I tarry..." Kurama corrected himself. "Our fight soon took a toll on me and I momentarily lost my ki..." Yaten shuddered. "I took a lot of bomb attacks, I almost died then..." The silver haired went to him, shivering, trying to imagine the horror of seeing his love all bloody and mangled. Yaten closed his eyes and could see Hiei and how they found him.

Kurama paused to reassure Yaten, the silver haired light smiled shyly, feeling a little bit stupid, of course Kurama was okay...

"I finally was able to beat him by using my last remaining strength I made a Vampire Plant that sucked Youko blood... The rest is history..." concluded Kurama.

Koenma fidgeted. I assumed that Kurasu body has been disposed of but we don't have reports of his death in the Reikai. He shrugged, it must have been Enma Daioh, my father, who took care personally of that creepy Youkai. Hai, that must be it...

"I battled that creep in the bottle..." said Kuwabara, pointing to the jar that was holding Yuusuke. "Anyway... How the heck did you manage to put him in there?..."

"It wasn't an easy battle..." admitted Yuusuke. "But at one point I wanted to put some distance between him and me, so I jumped a wall. He wanted to follow but he couldn't jump... but there was a small hole in the wall. So he started to slither inside and I placed that big water jug and he entered in... When he realized what was going on, he tried to get back out but I pushed him forward with a well placed Reigun..."

"And... that's how you caught him?" Seiya looked incredulous. "But if he managed to get in there... why doesn't he get out..."

"Allow me to explain..." said Botan. "He can't get out because... He doesn't have enough space to move... He doesn't have enough leverage to break the glass nor move about... The stopper is magically reinforced also."

Taiki laughed. "That was brilliant Yuusuke! But tell me, how did you know that a water jug would just be enough to contain him?"

"I didn't..." replied Yuusuke. "I guess I was just lucky!"

Everyone fell backward sweatdropping.

"Sasuga Yuusuke-kun*..." nervously laughed Kurama.

"Happy the ignorant, for the Reikai will be waiting for them..." sweatdropped Kuronue.

"Riiiight..." whispered Setsuna.

"But... If Kuwabara defeated him... Why was he attacking you?" Ami asked Yuusuke.

"Would you believe this twit wanted to avenge his brother's death?..." replied Yuusuke. The Senshi facevaulted.

"You mean you killed his brother!" asked Seiya, incredulous that Yuusuke actually killed someone.

"At the Ankoku Bujutsukai, in the finals, it was killed or be killed..." replied Koenma. "The only ones that didn't kill their aggressor were Kuwabara and Hiei... We all know now, what a mistake that was..."

Makoto paled. "The... The man that attacked Hiei... It was the one he didn't kill in the Ankoku Bujutsukai, ne?..."

"Hai..." answered Kurama. "That was Bui... He told Hiei to kill him at the Tournament... Let's just say Hiei doesn't like to be told what to do so he left him there..."

"I don't understand..." Makoto eyes started to fill with tears again. "Why?... Why did he want to kill Hiei?... Why?..."

"Who knows Mako-chan... an injured pride?... A desire to wipe out the only person who bested him?... I don't know..." replied Kurama.

"Demo! If Hiei let him live... Why did he want to destroy him? Hiei let him live!... He could have killed him..." Makoto sobbed openly now. "He didn't!... Maybe it wasn't kindness... But Hiei didn't deserve THAT!" Makoto broke down and the Inners gathered around her.

Yaten's own eyes were stinging, he could feel Makoto's torment, asking herself why so much pain for nothing? "Guys..." Yaten said in a heavy voice. "I think Mako-chan has heard enough today... We better let her rest a little..."

"I agree..." said Usagi, they were about to help Makoto up when Koenma interjected.

"No... There is still much to be said here today..." He started. "I'm sorry, Kino Makoto, it might not be easy for you to hear this... but you must know..."

Makoto looked up to the godling, a fear started to creep up her spine. "What... What do you mean?"

"It's about Hiei..." started Koenma. "He may be recuperating, but that might not be a good thing..."

"What are you talking about?" Usagi was getting nervous. She didn't like Koenma's tone of voice.

"I have to know... Do you think Hiei won't be as strong as he was?" asked Makoto, fearful of Hiei's health.

"No... and that is what worries me..." started Koenma.

"Could you please stop talking in riddles?" asked Yuusuke.

Yaten didn't get why Koenma was turning around the question. He turned to look at Kurama who had paled considerably. "Koibito?..."

Koenma looked up and saw that Kurama was thinking the same thing that he did. "I wish there was an easier way of saying this..." He paused and turned to Makoto. "Makoto-san... We will have to take Hiei away from you... for your own safety..."

"What?... What for?... I mean..." started Makoto. Usagi was outraged.

"What do you mean take Hiei away from her?... You better explain yourself real quick!..." warned Usagi.

Koenma facevaulted at Usagi's outburst. Well he thought she is the future ruler of Crystal Tokyo... it shouldn't surprise me. Koenma was about to reply when Kurama said.

"Minna... I'm afraid he's right..." He looked apologetically at Makoto. "I'm sorry, Mako-chan... But I have to side with Koenma..."

"Ku-chan..." started Yaten. "But why?..."

"I'm afraid..." announced Koenma. "That Hiei might be too dangerous when he wakes up..."

"Too dangerous?..." repeated Yuusuke.

"Hai..." Koenma explained. "You see, there has been other Ice Maiden who had gone into "small death" early in their life... And those who did... emerged... well not really stable..."

"Hai... There was once a rampage... You remember don't you, Kuronue?" asked Kurama.

"Oh yeah... I remember. I think her name was Aylsha. She even called herself Aylsha the Mad. She was quite... disturbed. She froze the lake where we were bathing in, just for the heck of it... We were lucky you heard her cackle before we were transformed into instant icicles... Damn! That was close..."

"Hai..." added Kurama. "But I heard she eventually got better."

Koenma nodded. "After a month... You can imagine the amount of destruction she caused... Now Hiei is a Jaganshi and the Master of the Black Dragon..."

"OH MY GOD!" yelled Kuwabara. "You're right!... he could easily level Tokyo in a month... If not more!"

Makoto got up, so angry, she was shaking and crying. "DON'T SAY THAT!!! Hiei would never do that!"

"If he's a raving lunatic he would..." replied Kuwabara. "You realize your boyfriend is a killing machine!"

Makoto slapped him. "Never repeat that in my face... Hiei is not as bloodthirsty as you think!"

"Maybe so, Mako-chan..." Kurama intervened. "But Hiei once harbored a great hatred of the Ningens. True, he was misguided by the Jagan, but if he isn't in full control of his mind... Then the consequences might be dire..."

"Where would you take him then?" asked Makoto.

"In one of the Reikai Palace donjon..." replied Koenma. "It might not be the best of places... But it's the only ones we know of that might be able to contain his fury..."

"NO!" yelled Makoto. "Hiei didn't do a thing... You can't throw him in a dungeon! I won't let you..."

"Please Kino-san... Be reasonable..." started Koenma.

"No! You will listen to me... If you put him in a dank, cold place when he wakes up... You'll irritate him... If I am there with him, he'll listen to me..."

"Mako-chan..." started Yuusuke. "We're not doing this to harm Hiei... but to protect people... He may not be himself..."

"NO!" Makoto wouldn't listen. "He's been put aside all his life... considered a pariah! We are his friends... If he feels our love and friendship for him. He will not fall prey to insanity... But if you cage him like an animal..."

"Those are noble sentiments, Kino-san..." said Koenma. "But you must realize you put everyone in Tokyo at risk..."

"No... I won't abandon him..." Makoto determinably said. "Too many people let him down... Kurama, Yuusuke, Kuwabara... You of all people must know that!"

"Hai we know..." said softly Yuusuke. "We know Hiei's life must have been hard... And I know it hurts my heart to say so. But my head tells me we must do what Koenma said... For everyone's safety."

The tall orange man came to stand next to Yuusuke, Botan and Koenma. "I'm sorry... but I feel this is for the best..."

Yukina looked at him with sad eyes. "Kuzama-san..."

Kurama lowered his head and stood next to Koenma. They could all see that his decision was not an easy one to reach.

"Well I won't stand for that!" said Usagi. "Makoto is right... You can't treat Hiei like that... You might just be encouraging the behavior you want to avoid." She went to stand next to Makoto. "I vote that Hiei stays with Makoto..."

Minako, Ami and Rei went to stand next to Makoto, grimly approving her decision.

Seiya, Yuukana and Taiki did the same, Yaten hesitated. "Ku-chan, won't you reconsider?... If it was you..."

"If it was me, Yat-chan... I would expect the Reikai Tantei would take the same initiative... I'm sorry..." Kurama told him, he extended his hand to Yaten.

Yaten shook his head. "Ku-chan... I'm sorry... But I have to agree with Makoto... If the situation was reversed and it was you... I wouldn't hesitate to fight make sure you were okay..." Yaten quietly went to take his place with Makoto.

"Yaten..." whispered Kurama. "It's because I'm afraid for your safety that I do this..."

"Kurama..." replied softly Yaten. "I know... But still I follow my heart on this..."

"Forgive me, Koibito..." Kurama closed his eyes. "But I'm afraid, I'm not as strong as you..." The two lovers looked at each other with sad eyes, both wishing it wasn't turning this way. Understanding the other's reasons yet not wanting to change their own.

Yukina stood next to Makoto. "Whaaa... Yukina-san... We're over here!" said Kuwabara.

Yukina shook her head and couldn't suppress the tears that were slowly falling from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Kuzuma-san. Bu my brother has suffered too much of exile... I won't tear him from his beloved..."

"It seems we are more numerous than you are..." started Usagi. "We outnumber you ten to five..."

"Matte!" said Haruka as she went to stand next to Koenma. "I'm sorry Princess..." She was soon followed by the rest of the Outers and Kuronue. "But our mission is to protect you Usagi as well as the future Crystal Tokyo... If Hiei is a threat... We must act accordingly regardless of our emotions..."

"You are wrong Haruka-san, Michiru-san, Setsuna-san, Hotaru-chan..." said Usagi. "Hiei doesn't merit to be thrown in a cage because it's convenient..."

"Usagi-san... Please..." said Setsuna. "We are not doing this out of joy..."

"Hiei is a reasonable Youkai..." said Kuronue. "He would have agreed with us..."

It was a stalemate, they were at equality ten for the momentary imprisonment of Hiei and ten that he stayed with Makoto.

"May I suggest something?..." said Kaito. "Since, there is no immediate danger now... Would you consider leaving Hiei to the care of Makoto and start to monitor, in a week, if he's about to emerge or not..."

"We could..." admitted Koenma. "But! If there is any problems Kino-san... We must bring Hiei in a deserted area... Is that understood?"

"Hai..." replied Makoto.

Later that night, after the concert that Setsuna and Kuronue attended.

"It was a very lovely evening..." said Setsuna.

"Was?... My dear... It just started..." smiled Kuronue. Setsuna shook her head.

"I'm afraid that in the light of what happened today... I'm not in a festive mood..."

"Hai, but Setsuna-san... Don't you think this full m..." he stopped and looked up in the sky. "Okay then, this three-quarter full moon romantic..." He did a grand gesture to demonstrate.

Setsuna blinked, then tried to keep a straight face. But when she looked at his smile she just couldn't hold it in anymore. She laughed.

Kuronue looked at her with an innocent look. "What is something I said?..." That made Setsuna roar in laughter even more. She was laughing so hard, she had tears in her eyes.

Kuronue looked at her with a triumphal smile. "Made you laugh..." He came next to her and took her gently into his arms, she gasped.

"Kuronue..."

"Hush... Setsuna... I must tell you... I..." Kuronue paused, she had put her hand lightly on his lips.

"Matte... I'm... I'm not ready... yet..." She said. She could feel her heart beating furiously in her chest. Why? she asked herself, why was I forbidden to love?

He could feel her start to shiver, doubt clouded her beautiful magenta eyes.

"I... I can't..." She started.

Kuronue bit his lip, she might hate him for that but he felt he had to do this. He cradled the back of her neck and pulled her to him. He kissed her.

It wasn't a chaste kiss, he kissed her with all his feeling, all his heart was in that kiss. She was wide eyed for a few seconds but the intensity of his kiss made her close her eyes. As the kiss lingered, she found herself responding to it, shy at first but each passing seconds made her wish that the kiss would last the night.

Suddenly, he pulled back and peered his purple eyes into her pools of magenta. "Now..." he breathed. "Look me in the eye and tell me you want me to stop kissing you..."

She shivered, she never felt like this with anyone before. She thought of her duty as a Sailor Senshi and what Queen Serenity had told her. But the pull to be with this man, was even stronger than her duty.

"Iya..." She whispered back, her eyes fixed on his lips. "Iya... Don't stop..."

Kuronue held her close to him. Their lips locked once more. This time instigated by both at once. As they kissed Setsuna felt as though time was standing still around her.

Makoto was getting ready for the night. She stood in the doorway to her room looking at the now opaque cocoon on her bed.

"Hiei..." She whispered as she let her hair go down on her shoulders. She went to sit on the edge of the bed, her hand trailing on the cool, smooth surface that covered him.

"I love you, Hiei-chan... Please be okay..." She hugged the chrysalis, it was so cold compared to him. She could see Yuki curled up in the pillow next to his head. "Come back to me, Hiei... I miss you so much..." She snuggled to the coffin. "We'll show them wrong you and I, ne?... We'll show them, you are a kind and gentle soul... Hiei..." She started to cry softly. "Hiei... I know that if things would have been different, you would have been treated with kindness your life not been so harsh..."

"Hiei... I love you... no matter what! My fierce dragon tamer please, come back to me... I long to hold you in my arms... I love you and if we were to meet again... I would fall in love with you all over again. I just know it... Hiei... Hiei-chan..."

Makoto cried softly next to him, cradling his form. She cried and between each sobs told him she loved and wish he was there with her. She promised that she would cook him his most favorite dishes, she would spoil him rotten, if he would let her.

She fell asleep crying against him that night, as Yuki watched over both of them.

End of part 6

sasuga = displaying expected or characteristic traits.

Sasuga Yuusuke = +/- only Yuusuke, as expected of Yuusuke, how like you, Yuusuke, etc.

Love is a Battlefield
Part 7
By Sonya-chan

Makoto was walking in a darkened corridor. Where am I? she wondered as her bare feet treaded upon the cold stone floor. The corridor was creepy to say the least, it reminded her of the corridor she had taken to find the lair of Queen Beryl so long ago.

The walls were different though, they looked unstable, thick, ugly and creepy plants were growing in the cracks. The walls were patched up this way and that by repairs that didn't look strong enough. She heard a child crying.

A child?... Here?... She thought as she rushed to the sound. As she neared it she also saw that the repairs seemed sturdier, made of solid beams of oak. Underneath the support beams the walls seemed less chaotic, the wall no longer rotting away as if someone had decided to take the place in charge.

As she neared the frightened child's voice, was faced with strong cold winds. She gasped when she felt creepy shadows passing her by. Wails of some unknown creature was assailing her, she was getting scared, like this was an horror film.

"GO BAaAaAaACK!" A voice that seemed to come from beyond the grave told her. The voice was thunderous and she yipped without meaning to. She could swear she had felt cold hands in the back of her neck. "GO BACK NINGEN!!!!" The voice yelled at her. "I WARN YOU!"

But Makoto couldn't abandon a child here. So even though she was scared she pushed on. The wind died, she thought she had passed through this horror. It was calm, dead calm.

Makoto took a few steps forward and then long strands of black oily like tentacles rushed to grab her. She screamed as she heard a Machiavellian laugh ring through her head.

Makoto screamed and sat up in her bed. Panting, she looked around, she was in her room. It was just a nightmare. And what a nightmare it was, she was trembling all over, shaking like the proverbial leaf. She needed Hiei's strong arms around her to wash away this fear. She turned to him, wondering why he hadn't stirred when she cried out.

She remembered when she looked down at the chrysalis. How could I forget? She told herself. "Hiei..." Her eyes were filling with tears. She hugged Hiei's form in the cocoon. "Come back to me, Hiei-chan... I need you..."

Her alarm clock rang, telling her it was time for her to get up and go to school. I must have forgotten to take it off, it's Sunday today. Hiei had promised to spend the day with me, take me to the park. Will she ever be able to do that now?...

Setsuna woke up that morning, wondering what had gone through her head, last night. She and Kuronue had kissed. She still felt giddy it happened.

The way he held her in his arms, the way his purple eyes looked down on her, sent delicious shivers down her spine. She wanted the kisses to never stop, it had felt wonderful.

A tear crept in her eyes. Oh Majesty! I never wanted to go against what you had told me, she thought. Queen Serenity, my liege, why must I be denied love?...

But no one answered her, no ghost gave her counsel. No Queen of yonder years came to tell her it was all right.

What shall I do? I... I... I can't love him... My duty forbids it. She trembled, why? It's so unfair! I have passed so many centuries alone. Couldn't I be allowed to love?

She got up closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Setsuna, you're not a child, you know you have a duty to perform. You have no choice, you had done it before, you can do it again now.

Setsuna got dressed armed with a resolution. No matter how she herself felt about this situation, she would tell Kuronue, she was flattered but that she couldn't return his affection.

And... that, would it... thought Setsuna, nothing more nothing less she concluded. She never realized she was trying to convince herself.

"Yat-chan!" Said Kurama happily when he opened his door. "Ready to help me with the brunch preparation?"

"Hai! That's why I'm here..." the silver hair boy chuckled.

"Ooooh..." pouted the bishonen redhead. "I thought it was just to see me..." As he closed the door, Yaten did a little pirouette and when it stopped he was now a she.

"But of course, Ku-chan..." She purred as she hugged him and gave him a kiss. "You know I always want to be with you..."

"Hai... Me too..." said softly Kurama, as he kissed her. She smiled through the kiss as they hugged tenderly.

"Mmmmm... As much as I like this my Kitsune... I'm afraid we don't have much time..." Said Yaten who giggled when he was teasing her, nibbling on her neck.

"Mrrrr... I've got my brunch, rrrright here... mmmm..." he mock growled at her. Then he let her got but not before stealing from her another kiss.

"You wish..." she said, then frowned and sighed. "I bet Mako-chan won't come... If Hiei can't..."

"I know Koibito... Maybe we'll ge visit her this afternoon, how does that sound?..." Asked the redhead.

"I'd said you're a genius... now... Where's that waffle iron?"

"In the kitchen, of course..." He smiled and they both headed for his small kitchen and started the preparations.

Kuronue got up with a smile on his lips. Setsuna was the first thing he thought of this morning, just like she was his last thought as he had fallen asleep.

He got up and smiled, he had been invited for brunch by Kurama, this morning. As he got dressed, he thought about how he would ask her to come with him.

He got out of the guest room with a spring in his step. He hadn't felt this good in centuries. But he skidded to a stop when Setsuna looked at him from across the room. She had a detached and calculated look in her eyes.

"Kuronue..." she started but at the tone of her voice the old Youkai's heart sank. He knew what she was about to tell him.

"Setsuna..." He said. "I know you believe your duty as Sailor Senshi..."

"Is very important, Kuronue..." She continued. "I cannot allow myself to fall prey to distractions..."

"Dis... DISTRACTIONS?..." repeated Kuronue shocked. "Is that all that you think of me?... A distraction?..."

"I..." Setsuna hesitated, she was regretting her choice of words. But it was the only one she could find. "I'm sorry... It just wouldn't work out..."

Kuronue looked at her, not believing what she was saying. He was trying to get recognition from her, but she wouldn't look him directly in the eyes. He sat down, he had to have eye contact with her, if only so she could see his feelings.

"Setsuna... Please... Look at me... Tell me you were joking..."

Setsuna bit her lips and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression..."

Kuronue swallowed hard. How could he reach her if she was denying her own emotions in the name of her duty. How can I even compete? If my opponent was a man, I could try to win her back. But how can I fight her convictions?

"I... see..." Kuronue said, defeated. Setsuna felt her own heart sinking by his resignation. She had hoped... But no, it was better this way.

"OH MY GOD!" screamed Hotaru in the other room. "COME QUICK!"

Hotaru's calling had been urgent, so both Kuronue and Setsuna ran to the recreational room.

"Ah?" said Yaten surprised when she heard the door chime. "Don't tell me everyone is early?... We're not done!"

"I don't think so... They never come calling this early..." said Kurama. "I'll go answer, Koibito..." Kurama kissed Yaten and rushed to open the door.

"Hai?" He asked when he saw a delivery boy.

"I have a delivery for Yaten Kou..." said the boy.

Kurama facevaulted. No one knew Yaten was here except his friends. "He's... here, I'll give it to him..."

The delivery boy nodded and gave Kurama the package and ran off.

"Who was it?" asked Yaten as she wiped her hands.

"Delivery... for you..." replied Kurama, but already, attached to the package, he could smell the small card and the scent on it... Kido...

"Oh?..." Yaten frowned. "Who the heck knew to send it here?..."

Kurama turned around, he could feel his blood boiling. I told Kido to stay away from Yaten... How dare he do that? The nerves of that guy, he was coming here this morning. I invited him and he DARES to send presents to Yaten after I explicitly made myself clear.

Yaten peered inside. "Chocolates... want some?" She asked Kurama.

"No... Thanks..." He replied flatly.

"Ano?... Ku-chan... Are you okay?... You sound mad..." asked Yaten.

Kurama mentally slapped himself. Baka, Yaten isn't responsible for this... You shouldn't act like a jerk. He turned around and smiled to her. "Gomen... It's nothing..."

"You sure?..." She asked. "You know I get tons of stuff sometimes, like love letters and small gifts... But Ku-chan, they mean nothing to me... I can throw these in the garbage if you'd like..."

"I'm sorry..." He said holding her in a tight embrace. "I... I just don't like the idea of someone, sending you love gifts..." Especially, he added mentally, when they are friends that were supposed to stay away from you...

Yaten smiled and held him tight. "Oh Ku-chan... I love you and no other... No matter how many gifts I have... You're my greatest treasure..." And with that, she kissed him.

Kurama kissed her back. "Arigato, Koibito... I'm sorry... I just want to keep you to myself..."

"You have no competition, my Kitsune... I love you and only you..." She said snuggling in his embrace.

"I don't know what I did to deserve you..." He whispered as he closed his eyes for a kiss.

Yaten's eyes went wide. "WAFFLES!"

Kurama blinked. "Huh?"

"They're burning!" Disengaging quickly they rushed into the kitchen, just in time to prevent the entire apartment to get filled with smoke. He opened the windows. "Next time, Ku-chan..." said Yaten as she dumped the burnt waffles in the trash. "Let the door ring..."

When Kuronue and Setsuna rushed in the rec. room, Haruka and Michiru were looking at the screen with wide eyes. Hotaru was pointing the television screen, it was a live coverage of Scotland.

"Scientists are baffled, here near Edinburgh at the most famous Loch Ness. Not one but five 'monsters' were seen." The reporter then sidestepped and they all saw a thing they would never thought possible. Five 'Nessies' were placidly swimming in the Lock.

"Is this some sort of joke?" asked Setsuna.

Haruka shook her head. "No... We changed channel and they had the same news... This... is the real thing..."

On the television the coverage continued. "With me, live next to the Loch Ness, we have the Professor MacEwan... Professor, finding the Loch Ness monster or Nessie as the folks around her call the mythical beast, has been a life long research for you... How does it feel to wake up one morning and see five of them..."

The professor, a sturdy orange haired Scott man in his prime answered. "To tell you the truth... I thou' I'd taken too much Guinness last night. When I woke up and looked at the Loch as it is my habit, I nearly had a heart attack seeing 4 adult specimens and a wee one not far behind."

"Professor... No one ever saw the creature before... Only brief shots of it were ever filmed... It was always considered that Nessie was camera shy... How do you explain this appearance?"

The professor looked genuinely baffled. "I don't know... It's as though they just appeared out of thin air... They do resemble what the archeologist refer to a diplodocus... We will monitor this phenomena quite closely..."

Setsuna blinked. Could they be prehistoric beings?... How was that possible?... She felt no disturbance in the flow of Time. Even if she didn't have her powers, she could feel anomalies. She felt none.

The news broadcast came back to the Tokyo studio. The news reader continued with more news. "Also in Tokyo this morning... A groups of period recreationists of the Meiji period were attacking a group of teenage punks. We have pictures..."

They all looked at the screen and saw a group of people with katanas being subdued by the police force. The men were wearing clothes from the Meiji period. They were yelling they were attacked by Youkai and were defending themselves. They all talked using an old dialect, so understanding them was hard.

"It seems like those recreationists took their roles a little too seriously. As of now, no recreational troop of the Tokyo area has come forward to identify those trouble makers..."

"Next in the news..." Haruka closed the television set.

"What was that all about?"

Setsuna shook her head, she didn't know.

Kuronue got up. "It's probably a coincidence... Ha... I... I have to go to Kurama's apartment... I... I was invited for Brunch... I'll see you guys later..."

"Ano..." said Michiru. "Isn't Setsuna going with you?"

"No... I'm not..." said dryly Setsuna as she got up. "Michiru, I would like you to mind your own business..." With that Setsuna walked back into her room, took her purse and got out the house.

"Ano..." asked Hotaru. "Did you and Setsuna-mama had a fight?..."

Kuronue shook his head. "I... wouldn't call this a fight, deary..." He sighed heavily as he looked at Setsuna as she was walking away from the house.

"Mo!..." said Michiru baffled. "I don't understand... When you two came back last night..."

Kuronue looked down. "They say night bring counsel... It doesn't say if it's good or ill... I... better get ready..." The old Youkai walked away and went back into his room to get ready to go.

"Michiru-mama?..." asked Hotaru. "What happened?..."

"I don't know Hotaru-chan..." said resolutely Michiru. "But believe me... I'll find out..."

Brunch was ready, Kurama and Yaten had just made it in time when the door chime rang again. Kurama went to open to door.

"Yuusuke?... My, you're here early..."

"Atsuko let me in so I could kick him out of bed..." said Keiko.

"She isn't kidding..." grumbled Yuusuke. Someone called from the corridor.

"OI! Urameshi! You're here already?..." said Kuwabara, escorting a sad looking Yukina.

"Yukina-chan... Kuwabara-kun..." said Kurama. "Come in, come in..." The bishonen said with a smile.

Yuusuke brought a little something for his hosts and gave Yaten a bouquet of wild flowers. "Hope you like them..."

"Thanks Yuusuke... I'll put them in a vase... They'll do nicely on the table." said Yaten as she took the bouquet and returned to the kitchen.

There was a knock on the door and when Kurama went to answer, he was surprised to see Kuronue looking down. He found that strange, his old friend was usually cheerful.

"Kuronue?..." asked Kurama. "Are you okay?..."

"Oh... Don't mind me... Kurama... I... Just didn't sleep too well..." replied the old Youkai.

Kurama frowned, he could tell he was lying. He knew the old Youkai too much, something was making him feel like that. He wished he hadn't called this brunch, he could at least know what was wrong with his friend. He would have to do so, when the others would leave.

Kurama was about to close the door again when someone called. "Hey! don't close that door!"

Kurama chuckled, it was Yana. The tall blond with the hair that defied gravity entered, followed by Kaito.

"Good morning, Minamino-san..." said Kaito. His once fellow student from Meiou College entered the room. Kurama welcomed them with a smile.

But his smile was short lived when Kido entered after. Kurama stared the boy that just entered down. Many could feel the tension, Yuusuke turned around and sensed Kurama's ki flare up. The dark haired young man wondered what was wrong with his fellow detective. Kurama seemed ready to jump on Kido.

Yuusuke placed a firm hand on Kurama. "Everything's cool?..."

Kurama blinked and relaxed somewhat. "Hai..." He turned around and walked to the kitchen.

"What's eating him?..." growled Kido. "I haven't done anything..."

"I don't know..." replied Yuusuke. "But Kurama isn't the one to loose his cool like that..." The dark haired detective frowned something must really ticking Kurama off to make him act this way.

Kido shrugged and he smiled when he saw Yaten. He still couldn't believe she and the Idol Singer Yaten Kou were the same and one person. He thought she was so beautiful, she was better off as a woman. Kido advanced towards her, unknown to him Kurama was watching him.

"Excuse me... Yaten-san..." Kido took a CD from his jacket. "Since we were coming here... I was wondering..." He blushed as he extended the CD and a pen. "Could I have your autograph?..."

"Oh!" replied Yaten. "Hai, of course... And your name is?... Sorry, I don't remember..."

"Kido... Asagi Kido..."

Yaten took the pen and wrote her name on the small booklet next to her picture. She didn't see why she wouldn't do it. She had done it countless of times in the past.

Kuronue sat down at the table and the others followed his example. They began to have a good conversation going, sharing stories of past exploits. Everyone's mood was joyous, even Kurama got back to his old self as Yaten held his hand.

Everyone that is, except Kuronue. The old Youkai played around with his food, he took a couple bites but his plate was almost as full as when he got it. Yaten noticed and since she was sitting next to him, she asked him what was the matter.

"Me, child... Oh! Nothing..." He sighed. "Don't mind an old fool like me..."

"No..." said Yaten. "Something is definitely wrong, Kuronue... And you can't hide it from me, because I can feel your sadness... You know it's hard to hide such things from an empath you know..."

Kuronue smiled a little. "I'll tell you, maybe later, child... I don't think what's bugging me should be discussed here..."

"Wakatte..." replied Yaten. "But you give me your word?... I know you took care of Ku-chan when he was younger and for that I'm grateful..." She said with a smile. "So if there's anything I can do, please tell me..."

"Hai, child..." replied the Youkai. "But somehow, I doubt you can help me..."

Yaten was about to reply when the door chimes ringed yet again. Kurama got up, he thought maybe Makoto had reconsidered and had decided to join them.

But it was another delivery boy...

"Delivery for Yaten Kou..." said the man as he presented Kurama with the biggest flower bouquet this side of creation. He took the bouquet and thanked the delivery man but in between the scent of the fragrant flowers, Kurama could smell Kido's scent. He was so mad his hands had started to shake.

"Wha?..." said Yuusuke. "A bouquet for Yaten?"

Kurama watched closely Kido. The thin young man told Yaten with a smug smile. "I bet it's a fan pledging his undying affection to you..."

Kurama saw red.

It happened so fast that Yuusuke barely had time to feel Kurama's ki flare up. Kido's breath got knocked out of him as Youko Kurama was slamming into the wall.

"How dare you?..." Kido looked directly into Kurama's golden eyes. The Youko held him by the throat with his talons. His voice was low and feral. "I told you to keep away from her..."

"KU-CHAN!" cried Yaten, totally surprised by Kurama's reactions.

"KURAMA! RELEASE HIM!" yelled Yuusuke.

"What's the matter with you?... You're jealous?" spat Kido, not being one who liked to be bullied, especially when he knew he didn't do anything wrong. He knew he hit a nerve when he felt Kurama's hit him square in the jaw. He could taste the blood on his tongue.

Kuronue cursed his inaction, he went to his former prot�g� to stop him from hurting seriously the young man. The Youko backhanded him and sent him flying.

"Stay out of this... This is between me and him..." spat Kurama.

The Youko suddenly felt himself taken into a headlock. He didn't have to turn around to know who held him.

"URAMESHI... Let me go!" growled the fox-spirit.

"No way... Kurama calm down..." said Yuusuke as he glowed. "I'm warning you! I won't hesitate to transform into my Mazoku Form to stop you..." Yuusuke held on to him but Kurama kept fighting to get free.

"I'm going to teach him a lesson... Kisama!" growled the Youko.

"CALM DOWN!" cried Yuusuke.

"He's been sending Yaten gifts when I told him to leave her alone... I'm going to teach him not to defy me again..."

Yana took his roommate away. "But he didn't..."

"SHUT UP! I KNOW WHAT I SMELLED!!! HIS SCENT WAS ON ALL THE GIFTS CARDS. HE'S THE ONE THAT SENT ALL THOSE GIFTS TO HER... THE BASTARD!!!!"

Yuusuke could feel his grip slipping from Kurama's struggling. He was praying for a small miracle when he heard the distinct sound of a slap, then another.

Kurama froze enough for him to see what had happened. Yaten was standing in front of him, she was visibly upset. She held gaze with the somewhat subdued Youko.

"HOW COULD YOU?" She cried angrily, she was shaking from being so angry. "What's gotten into you?"

Kurama felt dazed. He looked around and saw Kuronue, unconscious on the ground.

"Don't tell me you don't remember?... You slammed him on the wall... Yukina had to heal him... Kurama!" said Yaten as tears started to stream down her face.

"I... I thought... he was..." Kurama stuttered.

"How could you?..." Yaten said before she turned around and fled the apartment, crying.

Love is a Battlefield
Part 8
By Sonya-chan

Kurasu looked around the corner with mirth. He had to restrain himself not to laugh as he saw Yaten Kou ran out of the apartment building.

"My plan is working perfectly... Hahaha... Kurama, Kurama, Kurama..." He smiled beneath his mask. "You've become so predictable now that you have a human form... I knew my gifts would make you act irrationally... The powder I put on them, made sure of that... It contained something to make your hatred of that boy Kido much stronger..."

He looked down at the box he was carrying. He actually petted the box. "Patience my little one... You shall meet with Yaten Kou, soon... Oh! He'll get a bang out of you... I'm certain of it..."

Kurasu started to laugh as people on the sidewalk gave him a wide berth. He smiled.

"Hai... Let's get you to the messenger service shall we, my pet?..."

The dark man went with a light step. "When my deed is done, Kurama, I shall come to you and give you... the kiss of Death..." He chuckled at his own choice of words as he entered the building where the messenger booth was.

"It's not such a beautiful today outside, Hiei-chan..." said Makoto as she looked outside. She pulled on her drapes to let what little light could come in. "No... I didn't go to Kurama's for brunch... I just couldn't leave you behind..."

There was no answer back, although Yuki looked at her. He was perched on Hiei's chrysalis, he resumed what he had started to do, clean his front paw.

Now anyone entering the room might I thought she was addressing the cat, when in fact she was addressing the man that was held in the cocoon. Makoto talked to Hiei, hoping he could hear her voice.

"I know... I know... I should have gone..." She said waving her hand. "But it wouldn't have been the same without you Hiei... I would have been dull for the others..." She sat next to the unmoving cocoon. "I'd rather stay and talk to you... Even if you don't answer back..." She giggled a little and hear a rasping at her door.

"I wonder what that could be?..." wondered the brunette as she got up. "Keep Hiei company, Yuki, I'll go see who it is?..."

Yuki didn't do much but yawn. He then turned around on the cocoon until he found a nice place to sleep and closed his eyes.

Makoto reached her front door and looked in the spyglass she had. She was surprised to see Yaten on the other side, hurriedly wiping the tears from his eyes. The brunette frowned, something was amiss, she could tell.

Makoto opened the door. "Hi Yaten-kun!..." she smiled but her smile just vanished when she saw Yaten enter hurriedly and change into a girl.

"Go... Gomen, Mako-chan..." She started. "I came to see... How Hiei was doing... I... I..." Yaten found back her tears, Makoto frowned and when she put her hand on Yaten's shoulder, she just shook her head. "I'm okay... Just have a darn... something in my eyes..."

Makoto looked at her. "Yeah right... Try another one, Yaten-chan... Has something happened at the brunch?..."

Makoto knew she hit it square on the nose when Yaten looked back at her with sad eyes. "Y... Yes..." She croaked.

"Did you and Kurama had a fight?..." asked Makoto.

"No... Yes... I don't know what it was..." started the silver haired girl. "Ku-chan... he just... attacked..." Yaten started to tremble and cry. "Mako-chan... I never saw him like that!"

"Shhh... Calm down... Sit, I'm going to make us some tea..." Makoto held the trembling girl and made her sit on her sofa. She put the water to boil and when she came back she said.

"Now... Take a deep breath and tell me what happened..."

Yaten wiped her tears and started to tell Makoto what had happened earlier.

Kurama was sitting in a corner of his apartment. What have I done? He repeated over and over in his head.

"Kurama-san..." a soft voice said.

Kurama lifted his head, Yukina smiled gently at him. "Are you back to your old self now?..."

"I... I think so..." replied shakily the redhead. He was shivering, he felt sick, how could he have acted the way he did?

"Oi... Kurama..." a masculine voice called. Urameshi Yuusuke extended a hand to help his friend get up. "You okay now?..."

Kurama nodded. "I'm sorry..." He babbled."... I don't know what came over me..."

Yuusuke nodded gravely, he never saw Kurama react this strongly over something before. "Come... We have to figure out what happened..."

"What happened is..." replied the red haired bishonen. "Is that I lost my temper and I was such an asshole I made Yaten cry and run away..."

Yuusuke shrugged. "Yeah so?... Just proves you're human like the rest of us, Kurama... Take it from me... Ask Keiko, she tell you how much I can be an ass..." Yuusuke grinned as Kurama looked at him, then slowly on his lips a small smile sketched itself.

"That's more like it..." winked Yuusuke. "Now... Let go to the others ne?"

"Demo... What about Yaten?..." asked Kurama.

"She'll be all right... Keiko leaves mad sometimes... But she always comes back... I'm sure Yaten needed to vent... You'll see..."

Kurama nodded, but he could only see the hurt that was sketched in her eyes. She had looked at him trying to find something in his eyes. The way she had cried, she had been disappointed in him. Kurama blinked, he felt a little dizzy. Yuusuke frowned.

"That's twice you do this?... How do you feel?..."

"Dizzy... Hard to focus..." He replied.

Yuusuke nodded. "You were right, Yukina-san... he was drugged..."

"Nani?..." asked Kurama. Yuusuke helped him sit down. Yukina went to sit next to him.

"Kurama-san... Have you eaten or drunk something special today?" she asked.

"No... I only hate what everyone did..." He frowned. "Wait a minute... I drank a tea... my mother sent me three days ago... Told me to drink it early in the morning... It was to... to..." Kurama frowned. "I don't remember... Yukina-san can you check the drawer to your left?... Her letter is there..."

Yukina did so, Kuronue looked at the letter.

Since when does your mother sends you something by the post?" asked Yuusuke. "She doesn't live far... I'm sure she would have rather gave it to you..."

Kurama was taken aback, that was true. "What are you hinting at?"

"I think..." said Kuronue, showing the letter to all. "That it wasn't your mother who sent you the letter... See... It's written with a weird type of ink..."

"Looks like dried blood..." remarked Kuwabara. "And all those weird symbols on it... The letters seem to move..."

Kurama looked at him as though he was mad. "What are you taking about?... This is my mother's letter, her calligraphy is very delicate and refined, it's certainly very visible..." Kurama looked down on the paper. "Weird symbols... It's a flowered stationary for crying out loud..."

Everyone in the room looked at each other. This wasn't what they were seeing. What Kurama was holding wasn't a letter written by a nice lady. It was yellowed and looked sinister, the strange marking looking more like cabalistic signs that flowers.

"Read the letter Kurama..." said Kuronue.

"It's personal..." replied Kurama.

"It's just your mother... it isn't a love letter from Yaten..." countered Kuronue.

Kurama sighed and started to read. "My dear Shuuichi, How are you, my son? I have sent you this tea, be sure to drink..."

Kurama stopped reading, they all looked at him as his eyes glazed over and he got up. They were about to stop him when Kuronue made a gesture to let him pass.

Kurama went into his kitchen and got out a small metallic container. When he opened it, they all smelled a putrid stench that made their nose wrinkle. Kurama didn't seem to notice and he put the container to his lips. Kuronue moving quickly, took it away from him and closed it back.

Kurama blinked, he looked around, disoriented. "What?... What am I doing here?... I... "

"What's the last thing you remember Kurama?" asked Yuusuke.

"I was... reading my mother's letter..." He looked at the piece of paper he was holding and facevaulted. "What the heck is that?"

Kuronue took the paper from him and burn it in the kitchen sink. "I think the spell is wearing off... What have you found Kaito?"

The boy adjusted his glasses by pushing it back with his index before replying. "Just like suspected Kuronue... There's a good quantity of powder on the bouquet..."

"Is it dangerous?..." asked Kuwabara eyeing the bouquet.

"No... If you ask me, it's harmless by itself but..." started Kaito.

"BUT!" Kuronue continued. "If a certain person was to touch the powder after drinking this..." Kuronue showed the metallic container. "I'd say the result would be... explosive..."

"Mmmm... A two part drug, taken separately, they are quite harmless..." said Kaito. "But combine them..."

"What was it for?..." asked Keiko.

"My guess is... to augment Kurama's feelings of jealousy and push it to hatred..." replied Kaito.

Kido who had been silent up to that point got up. "Kurama... Listen, I may have had a crush on Sailor Star Healer... But I'm not stupid enough to try and take her from you... The way she looks at you... I knew I hadn't a chance in a million years..."

"But..." Kurama frowned trying to understand. "Why did it have his scent on it then?..."

Kuronue transformed back into his Youkai form. "My nose isn't as good as Kurama but..." He frowned. "He's right... It does have Kido's scent on it..."

"But I never sent those things!" Kido was getting tired of the accusations and it was getting on his nerves. Kaito, his friend stepped forward.

"There must be a explanation... Because Kido isn't intelligent enough to come up with a compound like that... I should know I'm the one helping him in chemistry..."

"Gee..." grumbled Kido. "I wonder if I should insulted or relieved." Kido looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Kurama.

"Kido... I'm sorry I doubted you..."

Kido shrugged. "Hey man... If I was at your place... I would have reacted the same way, I guess..."

Yana slapped his forehead. "THE OLD LADY!"

"Huh?" everyone blinked at his outburst.

"Kido!" He said excitedly. "Remember that woman?... A couple of days ago, she gave you cards..."

The pale blond haired man frowned, recollecting. "Yeah... I remember now... She gave me cards... only to take them back..."

"Mmmm..." said Kuronue. "So that's how your scent got on those cards... The real question remains though... Why?"

"Beats me..." Kurama reached for the phone.

"What are you doing?" asked Yuusuke.

"I have to make sure Yaten is okay..." replied Kurama. He lifted a hand so that his friends wouldn't talk while he was talking. "Moshi moshi?... Seiya?... Sorry to wake you up... Is Yaten there?... He... He hasn't come back?... no... no nothing... Just he left and well I wanted to tell him something... Could you tell him to call me when he comes back?... Thanks... Ja... Sorry to have woken you up..."

"He's still in bed at one o'clock?..." asked Keiko.

Yuusuke grinned. "Maybe he's got someone waiting for him there..."

Keiko bashed him on the head. "BAKA!"

Kurama grabbed his coat and was about to rush out when Kuronue stopped him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa... Where do you think you're going?" asked the old Youkai.

"I'm going to look for Yaten... I can't let her think..." started Kurama.

"Kurama... I think you better let the effects of that potion wear off first... It's making you act irrationally... Now sit down and calm down... I'll go talk to her if it makes you feel better okay?"

Kurama nodded to his old friend but he couldn't help but feel worried for Yaten. Who had set them up? And more importantly who was the target, him or Yaten?....

Michiru was helping Hotaru make cookies when the phone rang. She hurried to the phone, she knew Haruka wouldn't answer because she was working in her car in the garage. Yet again, she shook her head with a smile, sometimes I wonder if she loves that car more than me. Silly girl, she scolded herself, you know better.

"Moshi, moshi..." she said into the receiver.

"Moshi moshi... Michiru-san..." started a familiar female voice.

"SETSUNA-SAN!" hiccuped Michiru. "Where are you?... I was worried!"

"You don't need to..." replied the woman on the other end.

"Still..." Michiru replied. "How could you leave like that?... Poor Kuronue..."

"I'm sure Kuronue is MATURE enough to understand my reasons..."

Michiru let out a small exasperated cry. "Oh... And I suppose running away is mature?..."

"I have my reasons..." replied the dark green haired woman. "I'm at a Temple... I'm going to stay there for a week to meditate..."

Michiru was infuriated. "MEDITATE???... Okay then meditate on this! You have a chance for love and you're going to throw it all away, Setsuna... Maybe this opportunity won't represent itself again! When Love comes calling Setsuna... You just can't ignore your emotion... You're courting disaster! I'm such the Princess would agree with me!"

"Please, don't bring the Princess into this..." started the woman. "I know what is best... There is no other way..."

"Have you looked for another way?... Have you even tried?..." accused Michiru. Haruka came in the kitchen. She had heard Michiru clear from the garage and was wondering what was pissing her off so much.

There was a long pause on the phone. Setsuna hesitated. "No... I.. I haven't..."

"Then you can't do this!... Not when you haven't tried." replied Michiru. "I want you to answer me frankly... You love him, don't you?..."

Setsuna hesitated. "Michiru... It's not..."

"ANSWER ME!"

"... ... ... I do..." Michiru was about to say something when Setsuna hung up.

"I don't believe her!" Michiru out of frustration slammed the phone back on its hook. But Hotaru and Haruka looked at her a little disturbed by her lashing out. "She may be older than everyone else in the world but she's as clueless as..." She stopped and sighed, Haruka was gently massaging her shoulders.

"Shh... Michi... I know you're upset, but Setsuna... Maybe she has a point.... Ever since that Youkai has been in her life... Her powers... well have been kind of hay wired..."

"And they will remain so..." said Hotaru mysteriously. "Until she learns to accept the truth..."

"And what truth is that, Hotaru-chan?..." asked Haruka, she sweatdropped Hotaru could sound so much older sometimes.

"The truth is the one she must herself seek... There are different truths and one may see a truth and not see the nuances in it... It all depends on your point of view... For each of us, our truths are as different as we are..." replied the small girl.

"Errrrr... Hotaru-chan... I think you saw Star Wars one time too many..." sweatdropped Haruka, Hotaru could sound older sometimes but at time like these it was a little too weird for the blond Senshi.

Michiru nodded. "Are you telling us that Setsuna needs to find her own truth?... But what if she's blind to it because of her duty..."

Hotaru smiled. "Setsuna has Time on her side..."

"And then..." Yaten paused as she wiped her tears. "He attacked Kido and Kuronue... He tried to stop him... Yukina had to heal him... I never saw him like that!... He was like a totally different person..."

Makoto paused. "You know... I experienced something a bit like that with Hiei..."

Yaten blinked. "How?... You never told us..."

Makoto smirked. "You don't tell all either... ne?"

Yaten blushed. "I see your point..."

"Here's the story..." The brunette started as she poured the silver haired another cup of tea. "One day Hiei and me were walking when I was accosted by these two guys. They started to give me some very lewd comments on my... ample proportions..." She gestured with her hand what she meant. "Anyway, Hiei told them to leave me alone but the guys probably thought he was my younger brother and started to pick on him..."

Yaten flinched. "Those guys must have been beaten to a pulp..."

"No..." said Makoto.

"NO?!" repeated Yaten completely baffled.

"Hiei took the abuse silently and they were mean to him. So mean at one point I wanted to punch one of the guys... But he held my hand gently, telling me with his eyes that it wasn't worth it..." Makoto replied, she had a wistful smile on her lips.

Yaten blinked. "Wow... I never thought Hiei could be patient..." Makoto smiled.

"There's much you don't know about Hiei..." Makoto told her. Her tone was so tender just then. Yaten smiled in spite of herself, it was sad that Hiei was trapped in his cocoon, she thought. This was a side of Hiei, she never suspected.

Makoto continued her story. "No Hiei didn't hit them... well.. That is until the incident happened..." She paused and looked at the cocoon on her bed. "One of the guys shoved me in an alley and started to grope me around... There was a blur of black and next thing I saw was the two guys all bloody, nose broken, missing a few teeth. Hiei looked at them with hatred then, the hand where he had his dragon tattooed was shaking. I put my hand on his and told him it wasn't worth it. He told me then. "I didn't care what said or did to me... But this... I couldn't let that go unpunished!" " Makoto paused and returned her gaze on Yaten. "When we came back home, he held me so tight, as if he was sorry it had happened... Afraid his outburst would make me love him less..."

Yaten nodded. "I see... Kurama did that because he wanted to protect me..."

"I think so... He does love you more than anything..." replied Makoto, smiling. "I think maybe he overreacted a tad... or he knew something you didn't about Kido and he snapped..."

Yaten slowly nodded. "Should I call him then?..."

"Let me check on Hiei then I'll call and make sure thinks have cool down, okay?" replied the taller girl. Yaten nodded and Makoto got up and checked on Hiei. The silver haired girl watched as the brunette check on him with the utmost care, she even whispered a few words to him.

Yaten blinked and reaching in one of her pockets she took out a small notebook and scribbled hurriedly a few sentences. She had the inspiration for a song, looking at Makoto tending to Hiei.

She was still writing when Makoto called Kurama's apartment. "Moshi, moshi?..."

"Ah... Hello... Makoto-san?... Isn't it?" said a voice that Makoto could only identify as:

"Kuronue-san... Listen, Yaten is with me... What happened?" asked the brunette.

Kuronue told her what they had found, that Kurama had been drugged. Makoto relayed the information to Yaten who seemed relieved and at the same time worried. Makoto smiled and asked if she wanted to talk to Kurama. The silver haired girl nodded.

Back at Kurama's apartment, Kuronue called. "Kurama? Would you like to talk to Yaaaa..." The old Youko didn't have time to finish his sentence, Kurama had rushed to talk to the phone, taking the receiver away from Kuronue.

"Koibito?..." He said as soon as he got the phone.

"Ano!... No it's Makoto... I'll pass you Yaten immediately..." There was a few background sounds and Kurama could hear Yaten's voice.

"Moshi... Ku-chan?..."

"Hai, it's me Koibito... Gomen... I'm sorry for what happened... I didn't want to make you cry..." said Kurama.

"It's okay... You were drugged... Demo, Ku-chan, who could have done that?..." asked Yaten.

"I don't know... But it's from someone who seems to monitor your coming and goings... Yat-chan... I'm going to Makoto to get you. Do you understand? I think it's more safe if you're not alone..."

Yaten agreed and after sending him a kiss, the Idol singer hung up.

"Kurama?..." Kuronue inquired. "Are you all right now?..."

"Hai." nodded Kurama. "But I'm afraid for her safety..."

The older Youkai nodded and let him go. Kaito went to stand next to Kuronue. "I think he's right... Someone is trying to get at him or Yaten... But is it safe to let them by on their own?"

"Kuwabara and me will go check out the apartment building of the Three Lights. Kido, Kaito and Yana you stay here... Just in case, Keiko..." Yuusuke turned to his girlfriend. "You and Yukina try to contact Botan, just in case... Kuronue..."

"I'm way ahead of you, Yuusuke..." said Kuronue as he transformed into his Youkai form. "I'll follow him... Make sure both of them are safe..." He opened a window, whispered a few arcane sentences and disappeared. They heard the flapping of wings and they could sense the departure of the Youkai.

"I didn't know Kuronue could do that..." said Kuwabara.

"Me neither..." frowned Yuusuke. There isn't much we know about him. In a way he was even more mysterious than Hiei...

Two bishonen were hurrying to the Three Lights' apartment. Many girls turned around to look at them, one was Yaten Kou, Idol Singer from the group of the Three Lights. Some other girls recognized Minamino Shuuichi but one thing they remarked was how close they were walking to each other.

"Let's hurry, Koibito... I have a bad feeling..." said Kurama.

"I know what you mean..." replied Yaten.

They finally reached the apartment, Seiya and Yuukana were inside, connected to the internet and chatting with a few friends they met online.

"Yo!" called Seiya. "Yaten... By the way... Kurama called... He seemed nervous..."

"I know..." replied Yaten. "He's with me..."

"Ah..." said absently Seiya as he replied to one of his online friends.

The was a ring at the door, Seiya yelled to Yaten to get it. The silver haired bishonen grumble but opened it. He couldn't believe it, another delivery boy.

"Package for Yaten Kou."

"It's me..." He grumble and closed back the door angrily. "That's it! I'm shoving that crap down the garbage chute. NOW!" He stormed in the kitchen.

Doing so he passed Kurama, the redhead felt something, youki. And it wasn't any ordinary youki, the young man knew exactly who could use that kind of magic.

"YATEN!" he cried and took the package from Yaten.

It was a ordinary afternoon, no traffic jam, people were casually down the street when chaos erupted.

They all looked up when they heard the explosion. A ball of hellfire was spewing from one of the Penthouse apartment.

People cleared the area as razor sharp shards rained down on the street followed immediately by pieces of the outside wall and some wood.

"OH MY GOD!" screamed a girl. "I think it's the Three Light's apartment!"

"AAAAAH! OH! NO!" cried another.

"SHIMATTA!" Said Yuusuke. "We're too late!... Come let's see if they're okay!" Both he and Kuwabara ran into the apartment building and started to climb the stairs.

In a nearby park, Kurasu gloated. "One down... Oh... Poor Kurama, I'm afraid to announce the death of Yaten Kou... HAHAHAHAHA!" He got up and started towards Kurama's apartment. "Hehehehe... Poor Kurama... I'm afraid that when I come calling announcing this news... You'll burst at the seems and become undone... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

He stopped laughing and his face turned feral. "And then... I'll kill you..."

Love is a Battlefield
Part 9
By Sonya-chan

"WHERE THE HECK IS HE?" A woman voice growled.

"Mu... Mukuro-sama... We don't know... Hiei your second in command hasn't come back from the Ningenkai yet..." replied a Youkai who was sniveling in front of her.

"I don't care if you have to go to the Ningenkai and bring him back!... You get him!" Fumed Mukuro.

The woman fumed, how dare he, she thought. That.. That... YOUKAI! I give him permission to be with his little ningen girl and what does it get me?... More impertinence from his part!

Mukuro, one of the most powerful woman of the Makai fumed. She had expected Hiei to come back in the morning. Yet again he had defied her. She thought that maybe she would have to defeat him in battle again for him to understand that SHE was his boss and NOT the other way around!

When she won that battle with him, she let him live, in exchange, he would be in her service. I went to soft on him, she thought, I thought, he might have feelings for me... Hn! Yeah right... She looked herself in the mirror who would desire this?

She looked in the reflective surface and saw her own image. Half her body was ravaged and replaced by various mechanical and magical devises. Who would indeed? She smiled bitterly.

She turned around and smashed the mirror, then she went back to her desk and pulled out a special dossier she had. She opened it and peered into the photographs and bits of information. "Kino Makoto..." She read out loud, looking at the green eyed brunette. Hn! What does she have that I don't? She remarked... She isn't disfigured... That's for sure... Didn't think you'd fall for a pretty face, Hiei... I thought you had more brains than that... She would have to thank Arella for these pictures, bah she had already paid her enough for them.

Mukuro blinked and looked to the window, she felt a presence and a familiar ki.

"Talk of the fox-spirit and you see her tail..." said out loud Mukuro. "Get out Arella... I know you're there..."

There was a light chuckle and with fluid movement a fox-spirit appeared before her. She was obviously female, with golden eyes and mane, she bowed in front of Mukuro.

"Mukuro-sama..." said the female fox with a sensual voice.

"I know that tone... What have you found... and how much?" spat Mukuro. She knew the fox-spirits too well... When they came to you it was because they wanted something out of you. The only one she knew that didn't act like that was Kurama.

"Well... I can tell you why your second in command isn't here yet..." She purred, combing her tail.

"If it's to tell me he's warming that Ningen girl's bed I already paid for that information!" sneered Mukuro.

Arella laughed. "Oh no... What I have is quite entertaining... And... You WON'T Be seeing him for a while..."

"What do you mean?..."

"Are you interested in my information?..." asked the female fox.

Mukuro grumbled and threw her a bag of gold. "There's more IF you're story is entertaining..."

Arella smiled. "Hiei has gone into Small Death...."

"What?... Give me back my gold!" Spat Mukuro. "Your story doesn't water! It's too early for him!"

"But it's true... Remember a few weeks ago... This man, Bui who wanted to be in your service?..." asked the kitsune.

"Hai... The asshole disappeared four days ago... Why?..." Mukuro was in a foul mood, Arella thought it would be better to tell her about what she knew and stop taunting before the woman singed her beautiful fur.

"That Bui is the same one, Hiei battled in the Ankoku Bujutsukai. Your second in command let him live. I guess Bui didn't share the same gratefulness, Hiei had for you..."

"Hiei lost?..." Gasped Mukuro.

"Not quite... You see his little Ningen girlfriend came calling just as Bui was throwing him a car... I guess she disoriented him enough because she was now his target. Hiei, jumped like a Knight in Darken armor shoved her aside and was squashed like the proverbial bug..." She paused before continuing. "But he wasn't dead, his wounds were so severe, he went into small Death, I guess it's also a sort of defensive system..."

"I'm going to dispatch a few Youkai around them... That Bui might try to kill him again..." said Mukuro as she was about to toss another bag of gold to the Youko.

"I think not... You see he's quite dead..."

Mukuro facevaulted. "Who killed him?... Urameshi? Kurama, not that idiotic ningen Kuwabara..."

"Oh no... None of them did that..." said Arella. "You see... That little ningen girl... She transformed into a Sailor Senshi... Jupiter I think, and she fried Bui on the spot..."

Mukuro blinked, then she had a wicked smile. Sooo... It does explain itself, she thought. "Good job..." Mukuro said as she tossed not two but three more bags of gold to Arella. The female Youko bowed again before disappearing.

"Nnng..." Yuukana felt a heavy weight over her. Groaning she opened an eye then another, when her vision cleared, a cry got stuck in her throat.

Over her, protecting her from a beam was Seiya. He was unconscious and had a vicious gash on the side of his head. The blood slowly pouring from the opened wound.

"Seiya... Oh my god... SEIYA!" She tried to get up but The Idol singer's weight and the beam that was on his back was too much for her. She panicked a little fighting tears. "I have to do something!... Think, stupid girl think!..."

"Rrrrrraugh..." roared Youko Kurama as with all his strength he pushed back the rubble covering him. Underneath him, looking at him worriedly was Yaten a few nicks and scratches on his face but other than that he was fine. Youko Kurama's sheer size had protected him from the blast.

"Ku... Ku-chan?... Are you all right?"

"Hai... Good thing I changed into a Youko... I can sustain heavy amounts of damages. How about you?..." asked Kurama as he helped him up.

"I'm okay... Thanks to you..." Yaten gasped and turned around as he heard someone kick the door down.

"HEY! ARE YOU GUYS OKAY???!!!"

"Yuusuke..." said Kurama as he changed back. "We're in the kitchen... well... What's left of it..."

Yuusuke and Kuwabara made their way to them slowly. Then Yaten gasped.

"Oh no!... Yuukana... Seiya!"

Just then they heard Yuukana cry out Seiya's name. Yaten sprang forward and ran to Seiya's room, he was horrified by the damage. He could also see Yuukana pinned down under Seiya, his brother was covered by rubble and a huge beam was on the side pinning one of his legs.

"Stars... Seiya..." breathed Yaten. "SEIYA! Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama help me move that beam... We have to get them out of there!"

They all rushed the room but as they took a hold of the beam, they could see that it was the only thing that still held the roof. To move it might make the ceiling and roof crash down on them.

"Stars... Stars... What are we going to do?" Yaten was beside himself with worry. Kurama had an idea, he transformed back into a Youko and with his back he braced the ceiling.

"Ngggg... Go on... Free them... I'll hold it..."

"Demo... Ku-chan!"

"GO! I don't know how long I can hold it..." he yelled back already his legs were starting to shake, the sheer weight of the roof almost too much for him.

Yuukana frowned, there must be something she could do. "GAIA ETERNAL POWER... MAKE UP!" When the transformation was completed, she could feel a new strength flowing into her. She still wasn't used to using her Senshi self.

Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Yaten worked fast to clear the rubble off Seiya. Sailor Gaia helped them as well as she could, they were able to clear Seiya and were getting him out when they hear a low rumble the roof was about to cave in.

"KURAMAAA!" cried Yaten, he was about to run to his aid when Yuusuke grabbed him. "LET GO! KU-CHAN NOO!"

"A... arigato... Yuusuke..." breathed Kurama, he could feel his strength waning, if he let go of the roof, it would cave in on him. He prayed it didn't hurt too much.

Yaten was frantic it took the combined strength of Yuusuke and Kuwabara to held him back. "LET ME GO... KU-CHAN!"

"Be reasonable... Yaten... There's nothing we can do..." said Kuwabara. He had a small prayer for Kurama.

Yuusuke was raging there was nothing he could do to prevent his friend's injury and he was trying as well as he could to hold back Yaten who desperately wanted to save him. Even through the flash of light that accompanied her transformation into Sailor Star Healer he held on to her.

Yaten was crying in frustration, her powers could do nothing, she knew it but she wanted to be with him. Even if it meant her own death.

Sailor Gaia watched wide eyed as the tragedy unfurled, Kurama had put himself in danger to save Seiya and her. And yet she was unable to help him back. "I have to do something..." she kept repeating. But she was at loss as to what.

There was a long crack and the time seemed to froze for a few seconds for Gaia. Something deep within her, something dormant that wanted to get out. As the roof was about to cave in on Kurama, words came into mind, without hesitation she yelled.

"GAIA! ROCK PILLAR!"

Pillars of rock appeared in the room next to Kurama, who when he felt the weight from off his back ran forward and out the room. Once he was out Healer was holding him tightly crying into his mane. He held her as tight his arms trembling as the adrenaline was leaving his body. His legs got weak and he slumped to the ground with her.

Healer followed him on the ground, crying. "Arigato... Gaia..."

Gaia smiled but slumped herself, Yuusuke helped her. "Whoa, are you okay?..."

"Hai... I'm just not used to... I did it?..."

"You sure did..." Yuusuke smiled back.

"Thank goodness..." She sighed, she smiled when she heard Seiya stir.

"Ugh... ngh... What?..." started the Idol singer. Sailor Gaia rushed to him and cleaned his wounds. Seiya was lucky his wounds were less severe than everyone thought.

"What caused the explosion?" asked Kuwabara.

Healer looked at Kurama. "Hai... How did you know there was a bomb in there?..."

"It wasn't any ordinary bomb..." said a voice. "Wasn't it Kurama?"

Kurama blinked. "Ku?... Kuronue?" The old Youkai appeared.

"I can feel some residual Youki... Strong one..." said Kuronue.

"Youki..." said Yuusuke.

"And an explosion..." continued Kuwabara. "No way!... He... He was dead."

Kurama still looked at Kuronue a little shocked. Kuronue never could turn invisible before. He shrugged maybe during the time they were apart the Old Youkai learned new tricks. "I'm afraid not... Just seconds before it exploded I felt Kurasu's Youki... He's still alive and seeks revenge?..."

"But why hit us?" asked Seiya.

"Because of my relationship with Yaten... He's warped..." replied Kurama.

"Hai the guy's a raving lunatic! He kills people he loves and gets some perverse joy from it..." added Kuwabara as Kurama sweatdropped.

Yuukana and Seiya looked at Kurama weird. "So... He's one of your old dates?..." asked Seiya.

"NO WAY!" replied Kurama totally disgusted. "I wouldn't want to be near that guy even if he was the last person alive in the Three Worlds. He's a sicko!"

Healer was so mad. "Sicko or not... He's going to learn NOT to mess with this Senshi's boyfriend!"

They all developed huge sweatdrops when Healer said that.

"But Koibito... He's very dangerous..." started Kurama.

"Me too!... Wait till I get him a Star Sensitive Inferno where the sun doesn't shine... That lurch..."

Kuwabara gulped and murmured. "Note to self, do not make Yaten mad at you... She's more dangerous than Kurama."

"Oh no!... Yana, Kido, Kaito!" cried out Kurama.

"What about them?" asked Yaten.

"They are at my apartment.. They're in danger..." Kurama sprang up and ran out with Healer, Yuusuke and Kuwabara. Leaving Yuukana and Seiya behind.

"I wish I could go with them..." Said Seiya.

"Hush... Stay with me... I'm sure they'll be okay..." As she said that a group of rescues arrived. They both winked, silently agreeing that they didn't know what had happened.

Makoto had just finished her chores, she was feeding Yuki and sitting down to have dinner, but she wasn't hungry.

"I made too much food again Yuki..." She sighed. "If Hiei..." She stopped, she couldn't help but think of Hiei who laid in a cocoon on her bed.

"I'll go check on him..." she declared, getting letting her dinner cool on the table. Yuki looked up then finished his plate.

Makoto got into the darkened room as she flicked the switch, she frowned. She thought the cocoon was bigger. Maybe it's an optical illusion, who can something so hard grow?

She put her hand on the cool surface. She closed her eyes and breathed his name.

She felt something, it felt like, Hiei was here with her. She felt his warm arms around her, she smiled, eyes still closed. If this was a dream she didn't want to wake up just yet.

She could feel his breath upon her neck then little butterfly kisses on the skin. "Hiei..." She breathed. She could feel herself being reclined, she hugged the coffin and fell asleep.

When she woke up she was in that strange cave again. She got up and heard a child wailing again. This time she thought I am prepared, it won't take me by surprise again. What ever it was...

"GO BACK NINGEN!... GO BACK!!!!" an evil voice told her.

"SHUT UP!" She yelled. "YOU WON'T SCARE ME YOU HEAR?"

The voice just stopped and she continued forward. "Good!... Glad to see you have ears with that big mouth of yours..." She said as she advanced. She proceeded to a new room, one she didn't reach before.

Once inside she felt herself being watched. She turned around and realized the room was pitch dark. She eyed from right to left, from front to back, only darkness. She could still feel eyes on her.

"SHOW YOURSELF! I know you are there!" She spat defiant. "Or are you afraid of me?"

She didn't feel any movement but suddenly, she saw an eye, followed by another and another. Soon, she was surrounded by eyes that seemed to be able to peer down into her soul.

"Why?" The eyes asked. "Why do you wish to continue?"

"WHY?" She replied. "I heard a child, crying, I made this dream before and you startled me and I woke up... But not this time Buster!"

"Oh... a dream?" The voices replied amused. "Is that was you think this is Ningen girl?"

It isn't? thought Jupiter. Quicker than lightning something cut her. She hissed in pain.

"Is it possible to bleed and experience pain in Dreams?..." asked the voices taunting her. "No Onma... If you die here you die in the real world... You still wish to continue?..."

"HAI! If it saves an innocent child from your clutches!" she said getting ready to attack.

"Innocent child?..." the voices said then they broke into an evil laughter. "Innocent indeed... No one is innocent... Not even you, not even your Moon Princess..."

"Leave her out of this... This is between me and you!" Jupiter stood her ground. "I may have done things in my life that..."

"Hai... You even killed!" said the voices accusingly.

"I... I never..." she objected. They eyes reflected to her in vivid detail, the instant she killed Bui.

"See there?... You did kill!... Look at the hatred in your eyes. You were glad he fried..."

"No... I..." she defended.

"YES!" The voices roared around her head. "You killed him. So he wasn't human so what? the crime and the deed was done. Even though he wasn't human, he still had friends and a family. Why did you kill him?... Why?... WHY?????"

"BECAUSE!..." she cried she sank to her knees. "Because he hurt Hiei... I couldn't forgive him for what he did to Hiei..."

The voices seemed appeased. They spoke more gently. "There you see... Do you see what I meant by no one is innocent?..."

Jupiter thought an instant, she did understand. For good or for evil sometimes we did things that others might think as amoral, whatever the means of what we think is right. She thought the eyes to be evil, just like Bui. Maybe Bui wasn't evil but misguided and she didn't give him a helping hand, she just destroyed him. "Hai... I understand..."

"I am neither good nor evil... I am what the people who used me made me into... Now think Soldier of Light and remember it well for one day it might save your world. Life exist because there is Chaos..."

"But..." Sailor Jupiter replied. "Isn't it a goal to wipe out all Evil?..."

"Dear child... What is good without evil but a bad taste in the mouth?..."

"I don't understand..."

"What does a tree need to grow and prosper?..." asked the voices.

"Earth, Air, Light..." replied Jupiter.

"Said simply, yes... But what if you take Light away?... Will the tree die?..."

"Well hai..." she responded, still not comprehending where all this was leading them.

"The same holds true for air and earth... Wouldn't you say?..."

Jupiter nodded, she was beginning to understand.

"Law has always tried to eradicate Chaos. Yet Law cannot exists without it... It's all a part of Life's Paradox. Light needs Darkness so they can justify themselves..."

"So... Good needs Evil?..." She shook her head. "It can't be this simple can it?"

"Good without evil in entropy... Good would then corrupt until Evil would come back... it's an ever ending loop..."

Jupiter stood back up. "Why are you telling me this?..."

"Because I am neither good nor evil but I know their place in the world. One day, your Queen will try to eradicate all evil... For the sake of all life... I pray that you remember our conversation..."

"If you are neither good nor evil... Why are you holding prisoner a child?..." Jupiter asked as she saw a passage open before her.

"We are not holding him prisoner..." The voices said.

"Then what are you doing with him and who is we?" asked Jupiter as she advanced into the corridor.

"We protect him..." The voices replied. "As for your second question, you will need to continue on your journey to discover the answer. But choose wisely warrior, your actions here, will have repercussions in the real world..." The voices echoed off in the distance. Makoto sweatdropped.

"This 'dream' or whatever it is... Is getting cornier than a Dungeons and Dragon game..."

Nevertheless, the Senshi of Lightning continued on, determined to see this through.

"AAAARRRRGH!" cried Kido as he saw his leg explode. Beside him lay unconscious on the ground Kaito. He couldn't bare to look at his friend whose body showed gaping wounds made by Kurasu's Youki.

"I have asked nicely... Ningen dog... Where is KURAMA???" spat Kurasu. "I come to collect him and I find a couple of rodents in the fox's den... Answer me... Or I'll make sure you suffer before you die..."

"G... Go to hell..." spat Kido. He saw Kurasu's eyes flash with anger, bad move. He felt like his right arm had just been wrenched out of his socket. He half expected his arm to be blown away, he was half hoping it was.

"HAHAHAHA! No thanks... I just came back from there..." laughed Kurasu. "But I'll be happy to send you if you don't answer me..."

Kurasu's hand started to glow. Kido closed his eyes. "I won't betray my friend!"

"Oh really then DIE like the Martyr you are!..." gloated Kurasu.

"MATTE!"

Both Kurasu and Kido turned around. In the doorway was Kurama.

"I'm the one you want, Kurasu..."

Love is a Battlefield
Part 10
By Sonya-chan

"I'm the one you want Kurasu..." said Kurama.

"Ah?... You were hiding from me Kurama?..." sneered Kurasu. "Would you be afraid?... You had more guts than this before..."

"Can the big talk Kurasu... I'm here now... and this time I'll make sure you stay dead..." hissed Kurama.

"Ah... This is more like it... Prepare to die..." Kurasu lifted his hand.

"MATTE!... I thought you preferred a fight..." Said Kurama.

Kurasu's hand went down. "Hai of course... I'd like to have my fun first, then kill you..." Kurasu's eyes slanted even more. "Oh yes... I forgot to tell you... Your little darling must be dead now..."

"What?..." said Kurama, getting pale. "Yaten?... What have you done?..."

"I sent him a last parting gift... One of my biggest bomb, to explode when he would get it... HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Ya... Yaten's... dead?..." Kurama was in shock.

Kido gritted his teeth and grabbed one of Kurama's table legs that one of Kurasu's explosion has destroyed. He leaped to the Dark Youkai. "KISAMA!!!" He yelled.

"KIDO! NO!" cried Kurama, but it was too late. The blond haired boy impaled Kurasu with his makeshift weapon. Unfortunately, Kurasu moved and Kido only slashed his arm.

Kurasu cursed and send Kido waltzing in a wall. His eyes blazed with fury. "Miserable insect... You DARED!..." Kido yelled out in pain when he felt the explosion somewhere on him, he was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

"KIDO!" Yelled Kurama as he launched himself at Kurasu.

The tall Youkai eyes narrowed. "You are not Kurama..."

Setsuna sighed, she felt much better. This refuge she had taken was only accessible to women, men weren't allowed. She smiled to herself, he could never come and cloud her judgment here.

She was enjoying a nice cup of green tea when a familiar voice asked. "Excuse me... Is this place vacant?..."

Setsuna looked up and blinked. "Genkai-san?... ah... Shizuru-san... What are you doing here?..."

Genkai raised an eyebrow. "We're here to relax. I come here each year to do my purification ritual... So does Shizuru... I helps with our Spirit Powers... Isn't that why you are here too, Warrior?..."

"Errr... Hai... Hai of course..." replied Setsuna as Genkai and Shizuru sat down. "Purification..."

"Of course, Obaasan..." said Shizuru. "Setsuna-san is not like those air heads that come here for a beauty stay or to avoid a man..."

Setsuna facevaulted. "Nani?..."

Shizuru continued. "Oh it's the latest trend... Some baloney magazine claimed that going to certain spring would make you prettier and younger looking... It's not like you need that..."

"Oh..." said Setsuna. "What do you mean avoid men?..."

"Many great concubines came to the Springs to remain chaste all their lives..." said Genkai solemnly. "Although, I bet they had a lover probably hidden here..."

Setsuna sweatdropped. "You don't say..."

"Or maybe their lover was another woman..." gossiped Shizuru.

"Ano... Are you sure this is the kind of conversation to have when you want to get purified?..." said Setsuna.

"Relax..." said Genkai. "We haven't started yet and there is nothing like taking of that before purification... and drink this..." She slammed a big bottle of sake on the table. It was huge, Setsuna had seen a couple in her life big like that. They were usually meant for a festival or a wedding. She had a huge sweatdrop on the side of her head.

"I don't drink..." she quickly added.

"Aw... Come on Setsuna-san... We don't have to finish the bottle... Besides it's just to relax you... what do you say?" said Shizuru, pouring sake to Genkai and Setsuna.

"Hai, Setsuna-san... Look around you, everyone is drinking sake..." said Genkai. "You can go back to drinking tea afterwards.

Setsuna sighed. "Very well... Kampai..."

"KAMPAI!"

Behind a bush, away from prying eyes, Haruka and Michiru were watching the whole scene.

"That's their plan?... Get Setsuna drunk?..." asked Haruka sweatdropping.

"You have a better idea for her to open up?..." asked Michiru.

"I still don't know why we aren't there with her instead of Genkai and Shizuru..." puffed Haruka.

"Because... " started Michiru. "If it were us, she would be on her guards. She has no reason to doubt them since even we are not supposed to know she's here..."

"Maybe... But when Shizuru blurted something about women coming here to avoid men... I was sure she was going to know we sent them away... What's your plan anyway?..."

"To make Setsuna-san realize that she has needs too..." replied Michiru.

"I fail to see how making her drunk will do that..." said Haruka. "By the way... How did you know she would be here?..."

"I had the phone traced..." answered Michiru to which the tall blond facevaulted. "A friend of mine owed me a favor... I thought it was time for her to repay me..."

"What kind of favor did you do for her to owe you that much?..." asked Haruka a little bewildered.

"Oh not much, I played the violin for her sick daughter at the hospital..." replied Michiru with a smile, then her smile faded. "She was a fan, it was the least I could do..."

"You say was..." started softly Haruka. "Is she?..."

"Hai... She had leukemia... and she hadn't much time... It was her dream to come to my concert and meet me... I came to her..." Michiru replied her eyes getting wet. "She was so happy..."

Haruka held her close and kissed her cheek. "You know... You're something special... I'm one of the luckiest woman alive..."

Michiru snuggled in Haruka's arms. "I love you, Ruka... Now do you understand why I want Setsuna to be happy?..."

"Hai... I do... And you're right... She deserves happiness too..." The blond added with a mischievous smile. "Whether she likes it or not..."

Haruka lay down, bringing Michiru with her. The aqua haired woman snuggled into her love's embrace. "Shouldn't we be checking her?"

"Setsuna-san's into good hands for now..." whispered Haruka before bringing Michiru in for a kiss. "How about we enjoy the scenery..."

Michiru smiled.

In Makoto's apartment all was quiet, even Yuki was taking a small nap along with his masters. There was a glow of light and Makoto transformed into Eternal Sailor Jupiter. But she was still as though sleeping, but the stillness of the place didn't keep.

In the middle of the room shimmered a portal. From out of it, three youkai got out. They looked around nervously.

"If Hiei-senshu is here... He won't be too happy about this..." said the first one.

"Would you rather make Mukuro-sama mad at you?" asked one of him companion.

"You have a point..." The first one concluded, he spun around when he heard a hissing sound.

Yuki was the one hissing and spitting in the Youkai's direction. "What's that?" asked the last of them.

"Dunno... Must be a Ningen pet..."

"Well... Hello, what have we here... I think it's Hiei-senshu in the chrysalis..." said the first of the gang.

"You sure, Kame?..." asked his companion.

"Hai, Tide... I'm sure... Feel his You-ki..." replied Kame.

"It's getting stronger..." said the last of the Youkai. Tide shrugged.

"No matter... Mukuro-sama asked him to be brought back... We do..." He swatted Yuki away as the poor cat was trying to bite down his tough skin.

Kame then noticed Eternal Sailor Jupiter's unmoving form. "Saaa It is Hiei-senshu's Ningen girl?... Hehehehe... I wouldn't mind doing some ningen fraternization right now... Hehehe..."

"Are you mad?..." gasped Tide. "When Hiei gets out of there you're dead meat if he learns you touched his ningen..."

"And who's going to tell him?..." said Kame as he tried to rouse Jupiter from her slumber. "She isn't waking up... This is perfect... I'm not letting this opportunity pass..."

"YAMETE!" A female voice said behind them.

All three Youkai turned around slowly. Against the window was the silhouette of a small woman. She seemed to be dressed in the same way as the one that was lying on the bed. But because it was dark and she was lit from behind, they couldn't make out her costume.

"Go away... This doesn't concern you..." said Kame.

Tide frowned, that ningen had Youki in her... She wasn't an ordinary girl.

"I have plenty of concern... Now, go back to Mukuro and don't come back..." She said in a menacing tone, she cracked her knuckles. "Or else, you'll have to deal with me..."

"You don't scare us, frail..." said the third Youkai.

She smiled in the darkness, lightning started to streaked the sky. "Your funeral... I didn't do my morning exercise today. You'll do just fine..."

"AAAARGH!" 'Kurama' was sent flying. He crashed through a wall and Kurasu sent him a bomb for good measure. As soon as he was injured Yana retook his real form.

"Little worm... You thought you could fool me?... Granted your feeble power could have fooled me for a couple of minutes but when I saw the way you reacted when I announced Kurama's paramour was dead, I expected him to start the battle at that moment. You didn't..."

Kurasu was quite fed up. "You worms have wasted enough of my revenge time..." He picked Yana up. "WHERE IS KURAMA????"

Yana was about to tell him something that wasn't so nice when he gasped. Vines were encircling Kurasu's arms and legs, sharp needles dug themselves in the Youkai flesh.

"Let him go..." This time there was no mistake, it was Kurama.Kurasu let Yana down like he was a vulgar sack of potatoes.

"Finally... You got here..."

"Hai..." said flatly Kurama, his face was now devoid of emotion as each time he was in a serious life or death battle.

"It's HIM?..." Sailor Star Healer arrived next to Kurama. "That's the bastard that tried to kill me?..."

"Heh?..." frowned Kurasu, he looked at the woman next to Kurama, the eyes, the hair, the same aura of power... "Yaten Kou..." He smiled. "Looks like I missed... I won't miss twice though..."

"LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS!" spat Kurama.

"What?... And separate True Love?..." mocked Kurasu. "Oh... I could never forgive myself..." He half closed his eyes. "I'd rather kill both of you..."

Healer frowned. "You know you should be a comedian... 'cause you make me laugh..."

"Laugh?... Laugh?..." repeated Kurasu.

"Kurasu... It's between you and me..." growled Kurama.

"You don't know how much it is true Kurama... I will battle you... Fear not..." And with that, Kurasu leaped on the balcony then leaped up. Kurama and Healer ran after him.

"No Yaten, please stay... Yana, Kido and Kaito need help..."

"Which Yuusuke and Kuwabara are capable of giving..." As she replied Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Kuronue were taking care of the wounded. "I'm going Ku-chan... He tried to make you think things that weren't true, he doesn't fight fair... I'm afraid he might try something else. I'm the monkey wrench in his plans Ku-chan... I need to be there..."

Kurama sighed but he also nodded. "I just don't want you to get hurt..."

"Me neither..." Healer concluded as they leaped also to the roof. She wished the battle would be somewhere else, that Youkai Kurasu was too full of nasty surprises.

"Welcome..." said Kurasu. "Still that wretched ningen form, Kurama?... Let me help you with THAT!" As soon as Kurama and Sailor Star Healer touched the roof, Kurasu threw a small vial. As soon as it struck the floor at their feet, the content of the vial condensed and formed a thick smoke which totally enveloped them.

"Hope you like this new variety of the Fruit of Past, Kurama... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kurasu laughed as he say the two lovers being overcome by the smoke.

"And then I told her... My dear, Marie-Antoinette wasn't nearly as wild as you were... Believe me... I know..." Said Setsuna, she was laughing and having a great time with Genkai and Shizuru. She had to admit she had misgivings about drinking sake but after a couple of rounds, she felt perfectly relaxed.

"Boy... I bet you met a lot of many interesting people..." said Shizuru.

"Well... Only when I could get away from the Gate of Time..." Setsuna reflected. "But hai I did meet a lot of interesting people."

"Any regrets?..." asked Genkai.

"Regrets?..." Setsuna stopped, she could feel a ball of emotion rising to her throat. No... Not now, she thought as the bitter emotion played havoc with her heart. Her eyes started to get wet, she tried to contain her tears but it just wouldn't work anymore. The faucet of her emotion was wide open and she couldn't close back the valve and the more she tried the harder it became.

Genkai placed a hand of the Senshi of Time. "Setsuna-san... Let it go... You'll never get rid of this pain if you do not let it go..."

Setsuna started to cry, she didn't want too, but there she was, crying her eyes out. The Eldest of the Senshi cried, like she never cried before the tears she shed in from of Michiru were nothing compared to now. Feelings of guilt, resentment, lost love and loneliness came rushing to her like a implacable tidal wave.

Setsuna felt hands on her, Shizuru was helping her get to her room. Genkai followed behind them and when they came into the room, she closed the shoji * behind them.

The tall brunette helped Setsuna sit on her futon while she and Genkai sat down on the tatami.

"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have cried like that..." said Setsuna.

"Setsuna-san..." interrupted the old woman. "Believe me, it is better to cry than to keep it inside. When you keep your sadness inside, it gnaws at you like a cancer, eating away your strength and character. You shouldn't be ashamed to cry..."

"I don't understand..." The dark green haired woman said. "I never felt like this before..."

"Before what?..." asked Shizuru.

"Before... Before I met Kuronue..." Setsuna broke down again. "Why do I cry so much?... Why?... I don't understand... I always been alone. Why does it hurt so now?..."

"The question you must ask yourself is what causes your pain?" said calmly the old Master.

"It's him..." She sobbed. She paused, then shook her head. "No, not him... I can't blame him... He's been... so very nice to me..."

"Do you have feelings for him?..." asked the brown haired girl who was wishing she could smoke right about now.

"Hai... I do... But I cannot... My duty... I was forbidden..." replied between sobs Setsuna.

"Why?... Why can't you have someone to hold and to love?..."

"Shizuru, please..." said Genkai. "You're exhausted, Setsuna-san... We can talk about this later. The ritual takes a couple of days, we have time... please get some rest..." She got up followed by the younger woman. When Setsuna moved to rise, she told her to stay down.

As soon as the shoji closed back, Setsuna let herself fall on the futon. She looked up to the lantern that was illuminating her room. All she could see was Kuronue's face, his purple eyes, his raven hair, the kisses they shared. How she wished he was here with her, how she wished she wasn't a Senshi and could love him.

"Am I asking too much to love and be loved?..." she whispered as her lamp waned out, as tears flowed freely from her eyes. She felt asleep crying, heaving a longing sigh.

Jupiter was walking alone in the darkened corridor. She could hear the child weeping more louder now. Such loneliness, such sadness in the cries. "How can a child cry so pitifully?..." She whispered as she entered a zone of darkness.

"This child weep because no one wanted him, people used and abused him..." Jupiter froze, the voice seemed to come from the darkness around her.

"Who's there?... Are you the same as the 'Eyes'." asked Jupiter not knowing how to call the thing she encountered earlier.

"Yes and no..." replied the Darkness, Jupiter could make out two burning yellow eyes in the darkness. She had seen those eyes before, but now, she couldn't place them.

"That doesn't help me much... The 'Eyes' told me you weren't holding the child against his will. But you do not do a thing to recomfort him..."

"It is not our duty to do so... The 'Eyes' and me... We offer protection and a certain amount of power to him..."

"What are you?" Jupiter finally asked.

"You will understand... I know you mean him no harm..." The Darkness cleared and let her pass. "You may go to the child... May you be able to help him... Me and my companion cannot..."

Makoto frowned, the 'Eyes' told her she would know who they were and why they were here, but she was walking in a real mystery. Undaunted and hearing the pitiful mewing sounds she advanced forward.

She entered the room and tried to see through the darkness there. She saw a little form all shivering in a dark piece of fabric. As she got closer the little bundle shied away from her, afraid. Little growling sounds could be heard, trying to sound fearsome so she would go away.

Poor child, she thought, too scared to trust someone. What was done to this child for him to act this way. What atrocities has he endured and do I really want to know?...

"It's okay... I won't hurt you... don't be scared..."

"That's all what they say..." the little voice gruffly said.

Jupiter smiled a little as she extended her hands. "I carry nothing that can harm you..."

The little form seemed to consider it. "You don't... No one has ever come here before... Here... It was always safe..."

"Won't you come out then?..." asked Makoto trying to peer into the darkness that the child gathered around him.

"Are you my mommy?..." asked the child, all gruffness removed.

"I'm afraid I'm not..." said Jupiter as she reached for him. "But I'll be proud to call you my friend... Won't you come out?"

The bundle shook. "Each time I go out... Bad people come and hurt me..."

"I promise... As long as I am here, no one will hurt you..."

"You promise?..." asked the child, his voice seemed less sad.

"Hai, I do... but you have to come out..."

"Okay..." The bundle shifted until the child was able to come out of the big dark cloak.

Jupiter's eyes went wide, at first she saw spiky unruly black hair all dirty and unkempt. The real shock came to her when she saw his face and he looked up to her with red eyes. His white tuff of hair up front was all dirty and grayish, not white like she was used to. His poor little body was gaunt and skinny, the skin marred with bruises and cuts. There was no mistake in her heart, the way he looked at her, it could be no other.

"Hi... Hiei..." Then the eyes, she thought and the Darkness. She gasped the yellow eyes: it was the Black Dragon. The eyes... that was the Jagan...

Hiei blinked at her. "You know my name?... That's my name... Even though people call me runt, bastard, slave, maggot... You're the first person who called me Hiei..." He had a small shy smile.

"I never will call you these bad names Hiei-chan... Never..." Jupiter smiled.

"Why?... Everyone does..." asked Hiei.

"Because you are too dear to me... I want to protect you, Hiei-chan... I love you very much..."

The child looked at her with eyes that started to get wet. Suddenly Hiei ran to her and buried himself in her arms, crying.

No one has even held you nor told you they loved you, haven't they Hiei-chan? But I do... I love you Hiei... Jupiter powered down and hugged the trembling child in her arms. Why is he a child here? She wondered.

"You're inside his soul here..." replied a soft alto voice. Makoto gasped she knew this voice.

"Kurama?..." she gasped.

Kurama's form shimmered before her. "Hai... It's me or rather how Hiei sees me..." He moved a little and she saw other shimmering forms, Yuusuke, Kuwabara, Yukina and all her friends and Hiei's.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. "Couldn't you comfort him?..."

"Here I am but as a memory, a strong one, happy one, loving one..." Kurama replied "But that's all I am a memory..."

"But... That means you were once with Hiei?..." asked Makoto as she comforted the child in her arms.

"Hai, Once Hiei and me were in love..." Admitted Kurama. "But you mustn't feel afraid, I am happy that Hiei choose you... You have touched in ways I never could..."

"What do you mean?..." asked Makoto.

He gestured Hiei in her arms. "You were the only one who saw his true self, I never was able to get this close to him..." He smiled. "I tried, but Hiei wouldn't let me... I was able just to follow you and see the treasure Hiei kept through your eyes..."

"Treasure?..."

"Hai... Mako-chan, Hiei trusts you with his heart and soul..." He started to vanish. "I would envy you... If I didn't have someone to whom I trust my own heart and soul to..."

"Yaten..." whispered Makoto as Kurama, with a nod, vanished.

Hiei looked up, wondering who she was talking to. Makoto smiled he didn't see Kurama... He only see me... She kissed his Jagan less brow and he smiled to her, a smile, that was full of joy and happiness, as thought hardships had been forgotten.

She saw a bowl of clean water and a towel. "Let's get you all cleaned up, okay?"

Hiei nodded and let her wash away the wounds and take care of them. "Can you sing me a song?..."

"I can sing you a song..." She told him after a few moments of reflections. "... that my mother sang to me..."

Hiei nodded and leaned back to her, snuggling and closing his eyes. Makoto started to sing softly.

"What's your name?" asked Hiei.

"Makoto... You can call me Mako-chan... or Mako if you like..."

"Mako..." Just then she felt as though his voice had gotten older, then he looked up back at her. "You're so pretty and nice... I hope I can love you forever..."

Makoto bit back tears as he returned in her arms. I hope too, Hiei, forever and a day...