CHAP. 12

Walking alone on a misty field, Yomi was all by himself. The fog was nothing to him after all. Ever since he lost his eye sight, he has learned to rely on his other senses, and thus, became even more powerful. It has been 3 months since his son Shura and him have returned from their journey, just in time for the coming battle to decide who the next leader of Makai would be. All this time, he have patiently trained his son to be a deserving leader. He was still thinking of their hard training when he felt a familiar presence drawing near.

"Dare da?" he demanded.

"Why Yomi, how easy of you to forget." replied a voice.

"Is that you..." asked Yomi, "Mayef."

"In the flesh." the other replied as he drew nearer.

"What do you want?"

"I have returned to reclaim what is rightfully mine, Yomi," he continued to draw closer. "Or have you forgotten? I only lent my followers to you. Now that I am back, I need them to conquer all of Makai."

"Makai is not yours to conquer, Mayef, not any more." replied Yomi.

"And who are you to tell me that?" hissed Mayef. "You who came crawling at my feet when you first lost your sight?"

"Makai no longer needs you, Mayef. The youki are all happy the way they are..."

"Or are they?" interrupted Mayef.

Just then, the mist suddenly vanished as countless youki appeared behind Mayef.

"As you can see, my army is still strong and sturdy, and they are not as happy as you say they are." he looked at Yomi with a mad smile upon his face. "This invitation serves as a warning, old friend." he continued. "If you are not with us, you are against us."

"You are crazy!" cried Yomi. "I will never join you!"

"So be it." Mayef said with such calm that it sent shivers down Yomi's neck.

"Mayef!" yelled Yomi, "I will not let you do this!"

With that, he threw his arms to his sides, gathering the energy from his surroundings. An invisible sphere formed around him, covering him protectively. With a thrust, he aimed it at the mob behind the other youki.

"I know I am nothing against Mayef," he thought to himself, "but if I could but finish half of his army..."

A Gigantic cyclone formed before Yomi, sending deadly sparks all over the place. It hissed as it approached Mayef's army, but suddenly vanished with a flick of the youki's hand.

Baka! said one of the followers, you can't hurt us! Mayef-sama shall protect us till the end!

The youki started to attack, their screams enough to open the heavens and awaken the gods in their slumber.

An out numbered Yomi was forced to run away, cursing. When he reached the comfort of his own home, he immediately decided to contact Mukuro and Enki about the problem at hand.

"You," he said, pointing to one of his messenger. "send news to Enki and Mukuro at once, tell them that the rebel god have returned."

The messenger didn't move. "What are you waiting for?" he asked annoyed. "I'm sorry, but I am faithful only to my lord Mayef." was the reply.

"Kissama..." cursed Yomi.

"You see, Yomi," said a voice behind him, "All my servants are loyal to me."

Yomi froze. Sweat dripped down his forehead as he turned around and was face to face with Mayef. His eyes cold and lifeless. He was still dead, Yomi noticed, as long as Fera was away from him.

"You will die with me!!" he yelled as he held on to the cold corps before him.

With that, Yomi collected all the power he could ever muster, more than he have ever done before, and with a shout of rage, the whole place went up in flames. An inferno fit for the demon within it.

Moments later, what used to be one of the strongholds of Makai was left in ashes. An enourmous crater was the only thing left. In the middle, hardly able to breath, was the tattered body of Yomi.

"Please..." he silently prayed, "let him be gone..."

The prayer was answered by a figure walking in the distance, as it came near, Yomi lost all hope for Makai. Before him stood Mayef, barely scratched, smiling coldly at him.

"Sayonara." he said as he raised his arm, a thin ray of light emerging from his hand.

He sent his fist rushing at the dying youki, but as he did, Yomi suddenly vanished from thin air.

"Hmph...A teleporting spell."

"How is he doing?" asked Jin.

"He've lost so much blood, I'm not sure he could live." replied Touya.

"Let me have a look." said Mukuro as she pushed the rest behind. "He'll be fine as long as he gets enough rest."

"I don't think he has a choice." Chu piped in with a grin.

"Will you be serious for once" said Natsume.

"I will if you give me a kiss..."

"BLAG" went Chu.

"But do you think he'll get the rest he needs?" asks Shishiwakamaru.

"He's right, we can't afford to stay in one place for too long." reminded Suzuki.

"We have no choice, the only thing left to do is to leave him with Kitakami and the rest. (*)" replied Mukuro.

"Where?" asked Chu, trying to stand up.

"You know, that guy who looked after Raizen?" said Ringo.

"But wasn't it their place that Mayef destroyed first?" asked Shishi.

"Don't worry," said Jinda, "they have left with Enki and kouko to a safe place."

"Hai," said Touya, "They are taking refuge in the koorime village."

"For some reason, Mayef haven't destroyed their domain yet." said Satsume thoughtfully.

"Perhaps he likes the pretty maidens living there." joked Chu. Satsume gave him a warning look.

"Perhaps you're right." said Mukuro. Everyone looked blankly at her. "Then it would be best to go there. But first, we must warn Yusuke and the rest about all of this."

"But how?" asked Ringo, "all passages to ningenkai are tightly guarded!"

"Leave that to me." Mukuro answered back. "I still have a couple of loyal sages left."

George paced back and forth in front of Ko-Enma's office. He made strict orders that he is not to be disturbed. He had lots of paper work to do, and is already way behind schedule. But of course if he only did them in time instead of playing around as soon as his father left, he wouldn't be in such a hurry now.

"Sigh." said George, "He is still a baby after all."

He was about to knock on the door but voted against it. Finally making up his mind, he took a deep breath and knocked on the door three times.

"Ko-Enma-sama, you've got visitors."

"Go away!" was the reply.

"But Ko-Enma sama, they've got urgent..."

"I said go away!"

"But, sir, it's a message from Mukuro...!"

There was a short pause of silence, then Ko-Enma's plump face suddenly appeared behind the tall doors.

"A message from Mukuro? Then why didn't you say so in the first place?"

Ko-Enma grabbed the small glass ball from George's hands and threw it against the wall. A fog of mist filled the place and the image of a hooded person emerged from it.

"Greetings Ko-Enma." said the hologram. "I send this message to warn you and to ask for your help as well. The rebel god known as Mayef has returned and started a revolution here in Makai. He have gathered millions of youki with plans of conquering the whole land and entering the ningenkai as well."

"Mayef..." Ko-Enma whispered with a frown.

"Enki have already fallen and taken refuge here in the Koorime village with us," continued the message, "so have Raizen and myself. We know not how long we could hold against Mayef. We are no match against him. All passages to ningenkai and reikai are already blocked, in fact, it would be pure luck if this message ever made it at all. Please send us help soon."

With that, the hologram vanished. Ko-Enma didn't remove his gaze from the wall, a thoughtful look in his young facade.

"This is bad, isn't it, Ko-Enma sama?" asked George.

"Call for Botan. Quick."

With a big yawn, Shion felt his way blindly along the dark corridor. He made his way to the kitchen and opened the ref, the light blinding him a bit. He was about to reach for the pitcher of water when the door suddenly opened and in came a blue haired girl floating in an oar, followed by a tall young man with a pacifier in his mouth.

"WHAAAA!!!" yelled Shio.

"KYAAAA!!!" yelled Botan, almost falling from her oar.

"Da...da...dare...da..." stammered Shion.

"Oh, it's just you!" said Botan cheerfully, "don't you recognize

me? It's me, Botan!"

"..." Shion staired at the two, still surprised.

"What's going on in here?!" asked Genkai as she burst inside the room with Kuwabara and Kurama trailing behind.

"Hmph." said another voice as Hiei appeared on the table.

"Good, you're all here." said Ko-Enma, pocketing his pacifier. Shion was stairing at the 'JR' mark on his forehead. "Except for Yusuke." he added after looking around.

"So Ko-Enma, what brings you here?" asked Kurama with a bug-eyed Kuwabara beside him.

"I've got a message from Mukuro" said he. Hiei looked at him with interest. "It is a call for help for the rebel-god Mayef have started a revolution and conquered most of Makai."

"Mayef again?!" belowed Kuwabara, "That jerk really is stubborn, isn't he?!"

"He is also a very stong youki, infact, he have already defeated Enki, Yomi, and Mukuro."

Everyone fell silent. An enemy this powerful was almost far beyond belief.

"Botan," said Ko-enma after a moment of silent.

"Hai, Ko-Enma sama!" replied Botan as she took a laptop from her side and handed it to him.

"I have collected all the data I could find about Mayef," said Ko-Enma, "but I'm afraid it is still not enough..."

"Mayef, date of birth unknown, but he was already around when the reign of the Mozoku tribe was still strong." said Botan as the figure of a tall youki with long blond hair appeared in the screen.

The youki wore a golden armor with a dark red cloak, his pine green eyes gentle and full of life. Above his brow was a golden ring which covered most of his forehead.

"He doesn't look that tough to me!" said Kuwabara.

"The Mozoku tribe used to be the strongest tribe in all of Makai." continued Ko-Enma, as the image was replaced by that of a sharp looking mozoku "It was held by one ruler, those of whom are Raizen's direct ancestors, as well as Yusuke's."

"This mozoku is Senshin," said botan, "He is Raizen's Father, and the last leader of the Mozoku tribe."

"According to reports, Mayef was already in the tribe even before Senshin's rule, but was closest to him. He became Senshin's adviser. They say his rule was the most peaceful times in Makai history."

"As if there ever was any." piped in Hiei. Ko-enma gave him a slight look and went on with his story.

"As I was saying...His rule was impressive, but not all the Mozoku were happy about it. Others, overcome by greed and jealousy, started a revolution, saying that the leader was a pet of one of the gods and was not fit to rule over them. "A war to decide the rightful ruler was soon at hand,"

"A war that ended in bloodshed." said Botan.

"But before Shenshin went to battle, he made Mayef promise that he would look after his newborn son and to make sure that no harm befalls him." Ko-Enma said, "He knew he would never come back alive, for all Mozokus died that day."

"All except Raizen." said Kurama.

"Hai." replied Ko-Enma.

"But if Mayef was so powerful, then why did he let Senshin die?" asked Kuwabara scratching his head.

"Baka." replied Hiei, "Gods are not allowed to mingle with the fights of youki and humans."

"He's right, Kuwa-chan." said Botan. "There was nothing he could do. All they can do is watch over them and give them advise every now and then."

"But where does Fera fit in?" asked Shio who was just as engrossed to the story as the rest of the group.

"Nonde?" asked a soft voice from behind them.

Everyone turned around and saw a sleepy looking Menear behind them, a blanket around her small body as she rubbed her eyes with her fists. She gave a yawn, showing her sharp little canines to the group before her.

"Ah, ko-Enma," said Kurama as he noticed how the lad blushed at the sight of the beautiful menear before him. "Let me introduce you to Fera."

"...ano...Hajimemashite...!" said Ko-Enma, his eyes still on the Menear.

"Hajimemashite!" replied Fera with a sweet smile, making Ko-Enma blush even more.

"So, Ko-Enma, tell us where Fera comes in." said Genkai. "Ko-Enma?"

"Ah...Hai!" replied a startled Ko-Enma. "As you all know, Mayef took care of Raizen as his own son and have never left his side, though Raizen was nothing like his late father."

A figure of Raizen in his younger years appeared on the screen. Fera didn't seem to notice it, she sat beside Genkai and curled up like a kitten.

"It was more than 5 centuries when he met Fera. It is said he fell in love with her and took her from her father." Ko-Enma looked at Fera who was beginning to sleep, "He killed her Father and claimed his lands, as well as his daughter."

"Is that the reason why they fought each other?" asked Kurama.

"Actually, they were both in love with each other," said Botan.

"But as time went by, Raizen grew tired of her and started abusing her." said Ko-Enma, "But when the Menear reached the age of 16, the rest of the menears came for her, it is said that it was also at this time that Mayef left Raizen It was also said that Raizen seemed to have lost it for some time, then started to work for other youki to terrorize ningen villages."

"Guess you never know how much something's worth till it's gone." said Shio softly.

"Exactly." said Botan, "but that is also the time he met Yusuke's mother."

"You mean his ancestor." corrected Ko-Enma. "The problem is, for some reason, Fera came back, and in finding him in the arms of someone else, turned to Mayef and started a revolution against Raizen."

"That was the time Raizen implemented the new rule that no one was to enter Ningenkai." said Kurama.

"So when Fera and Mayef were caught terrorizing a village near Shinoko yama, they were punished accordingly." said Shion.

"Actuallty, only the Menear was punished, she was imprisoned in the heart of Shinoko yama. Mayef disappeared together with his followers and was never heard of again." said Ko-enma, "It is said that they joined different clans or formed their own groups, awaiting the return of their mistress."

"And now that the Menear have awakened..." said Genkai,

"Mayef have reclaimed his rule..." Ko-Enma continued. "He's preparing Makai for Fera's arrival."

All eyes fell on Fera who was sound asleep by Genkai's side, an innocent expression on her face.

"To think that Raizen could hurt something as innocent as this." thought Ko-Enma.

"To think that something as innocent as this can be the cause of such destruction." said Genkai.

"I at least know how Mayef must have felt." said Kurama.

"What do you mean?" asked Kuwabara.

"They say that Mayef was in love with Fera, and still is." replied the red head.

"No wonder he went to such great odds just to get her back." thought Shion.

"Hai." replied Kurama, "It was Raizen who drove them mad. Raizen and no one else.

(*) Ummm...he's the head of the guys who looked after Raizen in the last days of his life, don't know if it's right, if not, please correct me...

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end of chapter xii

Hey there, next part goes back to Fera's past and what Raizen exactly did to her.