Previously our heroes defeated the almighty Cell…except he was really the sought-after Ditz in disguise. Hiei’s and Raven’s actions seemed to have pleased the Sinister Voice that is holding Kurama hostage and ponders the next path to take.
Title “Master of the Marionettes: Part 1” Flashes on the screen
*Hiei slowly comes to and looks around the ceiling of a dome-shaped room. Sitting up he sees Raven sitting beside the bed he is in, reading a book.*
Raven: *flatly without looking up from the book* Good morning.
Hiei: What happened? Where are we now?
Raven: *while still reading* I located a way back into the Tower of Terror, but those Z-Fighters insisted that we stay here and rest. I agreed because I thought it would be safer to go after Kurama with you standing on your own two legs rather than having me carry you around.
Hiei: How long have I been asleep?
Raven: Long enough for me to collect myself through meditation.
Hiei: So you needed to recover from your attack as well.
Raven: Look. What you saw…was something…that should never be let loose. It has to do with my father…
Hiei: *cutting Raven off* I am a demon, in case you forgot. You may label it dark or evil-I don’t care. The dragon you saw me use others called evil and forbidden, but I still mastered the art of controlling it. You have a great power yourself. Do not fear that power.
Raven: So even if my very existence will usher in the end of everything…that doesn’t bother you?
Hiei: You haven’t done so yet, and you don’t strike me the type that would. As long as you can master what is inside you, you shouldn’t worry about it.
Raven: uh *stares in amazement at Hiei’s acceptance*
Hiei: *abruptly* We have both recovered so we should get moving.
Raven: *normal* Right.
*Hiei and Raven walk out of the room. In an attempt to leave the house, Goku greets them.*
Goku: Hey! Nice to see you’re better! That was some stunt you pulled on Cell back there! Perhaps we could spar together sometime!
Hiei: >.> In your dreams.
Goku: ToT Aw, come on, just a quick little face off? It will be fun ^o^
Hiei: No.
Goku: It won’t take too much time, and I promise not to hurt you.
Hiei: Fool.
Goku: If you do, I’ll show you a really big Kamehameha wave!
IN THE SINISTER ROOM WITH THE SINISTER FIGURE AND A BOUND KURAMA
Sinister Voice: *small sinister laugh* It won’t be much longer now, and just when you started to get comfortable. *medium sinister laugh* Although, I am curious on how you would have been in that situation. To bad it wasn’t you who was there to comfort her, being an expert of dark and mysterious pasts yourself… *big sinister laugh* …perhaps they need a little bit more dark and mysterious, just to prolong your rescue that much longer. *gargantuan sinister laugh*
IN THE HALLS OF THE TOWER OF TERROR
*Hiei and Raven walk down the hallway closely and cautiously, prepared for anything to spring. They both stop at the sense of movement around the corner. Eying the corner, they see a tall, mysterious, dark and handsome man with blue rock-like skin and silvery wired hair*
Hiei: And just WHO are you?
Mysterious Man: *Lifts eyes to look at the couple* My name is Zelgadis…and I am your doom.
Raven: Oh joy.
Hiei: And why do you care to even fight us?
Zelgadis: Because I want to return this cursed body back into my former human self, *draws sword* and I was promised such if I destroy you two.
Hiei: Hn. This shouldn’t be too much of a challenge… *readies to draw katana but there is nothing there* Right. It broke with Cell.
Zelgadis: That is too bad, I’d hate to do this to the defenseless.
Raven: *levitates* We’re not completely defenseless.
*A pair of hands holding a katana materialize from the wall.*
Hiei: *eyes shift to the wall* How convenient.
Raven: It may be a trap…
Zelgadis: Enough talk AH! *lunges at Hiei*
*Instantly Hiei dives to grab the katana and unsheathes it in time to block Zelgadis’s attack. He jumps back and strikes again. (Lots more sword action cut out ^^ Just imagine it then read on) Hiei counters and twist Zel’s sword around.*
Hiei: Ha you’re open! *swoops in for Zel’s gut but gets nothing but cloth as the new katana breaks* wha- *eyes wide open*
Zelgadis: *stands straight to show off unwounded abdomen* The rock golem part of my chimera being is very useful in times like this. *shine sweeps across the showing rock belly*
Raven: Great defenses. And you want to give it up?
Zelgadis: I’m tired of looking like a freak AH!
*Zelgadis resumes swinging at Hiei and Raven alternatively. Hiei dodges and Raven dodges and blocks while they discuss the situation.*
Raven: I can take care of him like I did Cell.
Hiei: I don’t think he is as tough, my Dragon will end this quickly.
Raven: We don’t have time to wait for you to hibernate again.
Hiei: Oh, and I suppose we can just wait for you to meditate for the next few hours.
Zelgadis: This ends now! *sweeps sword down on Raven*
Hiei: FIST OF THE MORTAL FLAME!!!
*Hiei hits Zelgadis with a flaming fist in the back that knocks him down the hallway rolling into orange putty. Ditz overcomes the dizziness and scurries off laughing before Hiei and Raven can go after him. Hiei sits on the ground.*
Raven: Nice, but he got away again. *looks down on him and then stops levitating* Your neck is bleeding.
Hiei: Oh really I didn’t even notice. Let's get going.
Raven: *slices a section of cloak off to use as a bandage* You should cover that up so it doesn’t get infected. *drops down to knees and wraps cloth around Hiei’s neck* It probably happened while you were grabbing the sword-right before you blocked Zelgadis and pushed his blade back. *ties knot and wipes sweat from brow*
Hiei: Wait. *Jagan twinkles* You have some too.
Raven: Huh?
*Raven gets nervous as Hiei gets closer to her, his eyes staring at her. His hand extends to hold the side of her face. He gets closer, and closer; those eyes staring. His chin lifts to bring his mouth closer. Ravens eyes get big. They are almost touching. Raven can hear Hiei’s breath. And then he closes in and starts…licking one of Raven’s temples. Raven looks in confused shock then spots that her hand which wiped her brow wiped more than just sweat.*
Raven: >~> And my friends thought I was creepy. ~-~
Hiei: *licking pauses* Do you have a problem with it? *resumes licking*
Raven: No, go ahead and suck me dry, vampire.
Hiei: *almost laughing* hn. *done licking* There. The cut probably came from that fool while I was casting the Mortal Flame. *stands up*
Raven: *rising and dusting knees off* I think I need to meditate.
Hiei: Go ahead. I’ll go rescue Kurama in the meantime. *walks down the hall*
*Despite meditational needs, Raven follows Hiei. They pass many doors as they turn left and right through the maze.*
Raven: (thinking: I need to be there to save Kurama, I’m the one that got him into this. I can’t let Hiei go off on his own, what if he ends up in the same predicament as before? Kurama was really nice to me, but Hiei…Hiei accepts my dark side…I wonder if Kurama would…and would Kurama really try to erase my memory? Hiei wouldn’t…Ack! Why am I thinking like this? Hiei said he doesn’t have girlfriends…but when he…) *raises hand to temple for a moment, recalling the touch of his tongue* (thinking: And just now he sounded almost gentle telling me that I could take the time to meditate. Am I going to save Kurama…or to protect Hiei? I really need some time to think things through, my emotions are screaming to be let out. I need to keep them under control.)
*Hiei and Raven stop in front of a door with a hanging sign with kanji scribbled on it. Subtitles pop up saying “Not the master’s chambers”*
Raven: That’s not suspicious.
Hiei: Kurama is just inside…along with Him.
Raven: *barely audible* Kurama…
To Be Continued…
