Lust for Mischief

Chapter 2


The next night the entire gang minus Keiko met at a nearby manhole that would take them directly into the sewer system which lead to Cerdana’s lair. One at a time they descended into the tunnels. Botan lead the way carrying a bag on her back. She made her way through the muck with her flashlight and compact computer in hand. The small combination computer and communicator unit held useful underground blueprints and the anti-spells in its memory. Each of the Rei Kai Tantei carried a small flashlight.

Kuwabara grimaced as he trudged along in the ankle deep sludge. “This stuff is gross.”

“Shut up!…. Idiot.” Hiei snapped.

Botan glared at them both, the look promising bodily harm. Though the sewers were more than unpleasant, everyone obeyed her unspoken command and kept their mouths shut. The deity of death was in work mode, and it did not look as if she would tolerate further childishness.

Finally, they arrived at a ladder, which Botan informed the group would take them up into the dungeons. Yusuke was the first up the ladder. He attempted to push the large, rusted cover of the entrance aside, but it wasn’t budging.

“Let me try!” Kuwabara pulled Yusuke off of the ladder and took his place. He had just as much luck with the manhole cover as Yusuke. The orange haired man lowered himself back to the others and scratched his head.

Hiei looked up at him with a sour expression. “Pathetic.”

“Oh yeah?” Kuwabara yelled. “Spirit sword!” His energy weapon ared red between his clasped hands and below the flush cover. “Get longer!” The length of the sword increased and rose, penetrating the metal lid, and blowing it to bits. The debris rained down upon the gaping faces of the team.

Yusuke slapped Kuwabara on the back of his head. “Stupid! Warn us first before you do something like that!”

Kuwabara muttered curses in response and pushed past the dark haired spirit detective. He climbed through the opening and into the lower chambers of the witch’s home. Once they had all entered through the manhole, they took a look around. It seemed as if they had come upon a cave. Stalactites and stalagmites protruded from the stone roof and floor of the cavern.

Botan stepped to the front of everyone, illuminating each direction within the cave briefly and consulting her maps. The petite deity indicated that they start by going towards the right, where a clear path could een een that lead upwards into a turn around a corner.

Shining a light in the direction she would take, Botan took the leader’s position, the rest followed her closely. She was paying attention to what was in front of her and not what was at her feet, so she didn’t see the small dip the path made a few steps ahead of her. Upon reaching it, the blue-haired ferry girl shot forward and down to stony floor. Her arms flew out to take the brunt of the fall, causing her to receive a gash on the delicate underside of her left hand.

In the dim light Kurama frowned reproachfully at Yusuke and Kuwabara when they snickered at Botan’s misfortune. The red-head bent down and aided Botan in getting back to her feet.

“Are you all right?” He eyed the hand she clutched to her chest.

“I just have a little cut.” She dismissed the wound as nothing. As they continued on with Yusuke now in the lead, Kurama fell into place beside her. Without a word, he enclosed her left wrist within his long fingers and lifted her palm to his sharp green eyes.

“Little indeed.” Kurama nearly snorted.
He reached within a pocket of his school uniform, retrieving a handkerchief. Gently he wrapped Botan’s bleeding hand with the silken cloth, stopping the flow.

“We’ll need to see to that later.” He stated firmly.

She nodded in submission and quietly thanked him, blushing slightly. Further up into the underground, the group saw that they were advancing through a dungeon level. Their path curved sharply and they began passing cells carved into the rock on both sides of them. Each had thick bars enclosing the space behind them.

Botan did not dare glance inside, fearing the things she might see. Eventually she directed the others to a door that she believed should take them the a storage area and the servants’ quarters. Above that would be the first floor where the sorceress had her treasure room.

So far they had not encountered any obstacles. This, Hiei and Kurama found to be extremely suspicious. Likewise, the next level seemed empty, posing no threat. Nothing more than the usual possessions you might find belonging in a witch’s storage, and absolute quiet. All the doors to the servants’ rooms were closed and it appeared that they had settled in for the night.

“This is where we part gentlemen.” Botan pointed to a staircase, which would be taken by Yusuke, Kurama, and herself to reach their goal.

“You want us to wait at the bottom of the staircase?” Kuwabara asked for clarification.

“Yes, you and Hiei are for emergency only.” Kurama answered.

Botan rummaged through the contents of her backpack, finding another small com unit. “If we need you, we’ll contact you on this.” She handed it to Hiei who shook his head in agreement.

“Hehy dhy does the shrimp get the cool gizmo?”

“Shut your big mouth, lummox.”

“Kuwabara, Hiei, please behave.” Botan admonished.

Yusuke and Kurama followed the young woman up the stairs; the sounds of whispered threats between the koorime and the tall ningen following them as they ascended.

The steps stopped at a large wooden door. Yusuke opened it cautiously by a latch and the three stealthily crept into what seemed to be the kitchen. Botan walked slowly towards a door to the right that provided passage to the main hall.

“Where now Botan?” Yusuke whispered.

“We turn left and go down until we see double doors. They will open to a corridor, and at the end of that, should be the room we are searching for.”

The males took the lead, treading lightly upon the marble floor. They reached a set of tall doors. Kurama wrapped a pale skinned hand around a knob, twisting it noiselessly. It opened and he ushered the others in before him, closing the door softly. It wasn’t long before they reached their destination.

“This is it.” Botan sucked in a breath, taking in the heavily warded entrance to the treasure room.

::This might take a while.:: She thought.