A/N: Just a little plot bunny that mugged me during the Dark Tournament saga. It gets kinda graphic in the middle. Just talk of blood and fun stuff like that. If you're okay with that, fine. If not, Caveat Emptor.
Also, MAJOR SPOILERS CONTAINED. If you have not seen the arc after Sensui's (Fourth season, Three Kings Arc) there are COMPLETE AND UTTER SPOILERS. Again, Caveat Emptor.
Kurama looked up as a bell chimed. "Attention students. The school will be closing in five minutes. Please vacate the premises by then." A quick look around the school library showed the boy that the secretary was likely talking to him. He got to his feet with a wry grin and gripped his backpack in a strong hand.
Kurama whistled a little tune as he walked out of the school gates. He looked up at the sky, only now noticing how dark it had gotten. He had to run to the hospital where his mother was being kept for the mandatory period of observation before it got too dark. He knew that his mother was recovered, but he just felt so much better when he was around her.
Unfortunately, the doctors didn't share in his surety. To them, every cough was the disease returning, every sneeze was a full-on virus, and every time she didn't finish her meals, she was getting sicker. Shiori barely said hello, how was your day? before telling him to go home before it got too dark.
Kurama sighed, a pleasant smile breaking on his lips. After defeating (read: betraying) Hiei, it was nice to sit in a comfortable chair and listen to his mother's smooth, melodic voice. It tempted him to sleep, to relax, or to simply slow down. "Shuichi?" Kurama was pulled out of his thoughts. "Yes mother?" "You should really get going. I'm not going to die if you leave me for a day or two." She teased, fondling his hair. Kurama stood up and shifted his grip on his backpack. "Good bye mother." How wonderful it was to say that phrase and hear more than the faint beeping and hissing of hospital machines.
BRR-RIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNG! Kurama groaned and peeled a bleary eye open. Who was calling this late at night? Undoubtedly some telemarketer from some other side of the world didn't realize that the area code he was dialing was in Japan. He was preparing to ignore the following message when a very loud and rather familiar voice broke the silence. "YO! Kurama! Yusuke here!" Kurama winced, wondering how Yusuke had gotten his number and how the boy had forgotten that in his normal life he was called "Shuichi". He would have to delete that message later.
Kurama scrabbled for the phone as Yusuke kept talking about something. "Hello?" Kurama held the phone to his ear, nearly holding it upside down. "Oh, hey Kurama! Sorry, where you sleeping?" Kurama gave a low chuckle. "A little late for that." He said, perhaps a bit too shortly. But Yusuke didn't seem to recognize the snark. "Yeah. Apparently, Spirit World runs on different time zones than Japan. Koenma just called and demanded you and I meet Botan. By the way, did you know that you can call people from the Spirit World? I wonder if that's considered long distance…" Yusuke trailed off thoughtfully.
Kurama rolled his eyes with a slight smile. Leave it to Yusuke to drag him out of his nice warm bed at two in the morning and still put a smile on his face. "I'll be over in a while. Where shall we meet?" "I'm meeting Botan at a pizzeria along Mochiko block. You know the one?" Yusuke asked. Kurama nodded, then realized that Yusuke couldn't see him. "Yes. I'll be there in an hour or so."
Yusuke didn't even bother to say goodbye as he hung up abruptly. Resisting the urge to lie back down and sleep, Kurama heaved himself to his feet and slid the phone back into its dock. "Now what clean outfits do I have?" Kurama muttered to himself. He passed over his stiff-necked uniform in favor of a pair of jeans and a light blue T-shirt. He topped it all off with a jacket and slid his wallet into his back pocket. No doubt Yusuke wouldn't think far enough ahead to consider bringing money, and he was too much of a gentleman to let Botan pick up the tab for Yusuke's voracious appetite.
An hour long walk-jog later, Kurama slid into the booth next to Botan. "Where is Yusuke?" He asked, glancing around. Although the pizzeria was open twenty four-seven, very few people inhabited it at the wee hours of the night. "He apparently got distracted by a video game. He should be here any-" "Yo! Boton, Kurama!" Yusuke Urameshi slammed through the door, sliding in the seat across from Botan and Kurama. "So Botan, what's the deal? Why did Lord Diaper call us here?" Botan flinched slightly at Yusuke's nickname for the Ruler of All Existence, but pressed forward valiantly. "Lord Koenma wished you to steal the Kansei no Tachi." Botan took a scroll from one sleeve and started spreading it out. "The what?" Yusuke asked.
"The Kansei no Tachi." Botan repeated, pointing to the figure illustrated on the scroll. It was a necklace designed in the shape of a sword. Kurama's sharp mind noticed it had the style and make of those belonging to the nobles of Europe's Medieval Ages. Around the sword were entwined two eastern dragons, wrapped around the blade and each other, coming to fan out on either side of the hilt. From the hilt's center sparkled a single crystal.
"And you say we must steal it? From where?" Kurama asked in a low voice, tracing the outline of the necklace with a deft finger. Botan noticed Kurama's secrecy and lowered her own voice. "That's where you come in. We recently discovered that many of our long ago recovered items have been disappearing. Nothing spectacular. A sword here, a jewel there. Definitely nothing our soldiers can't handle.
"Until now." Kurama said pointedly. It was an old trick, stealing small items to get a feel for the place's security. He himself had done it many times. "Until now." Botan confirmed, rerolling the scroll and putting it back in her sleeve. "The Spirit World has strict orders not to interfere with any of the going-ons of Demon City, so this is going to be a hush-hush mission. You didn't hear this from me. Or anyone else from Spirit World for that matter. And if you get captured… Well…don't."
"Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to follow it." Yusuke said sarcastically. "Well, there is a first time for everything." Kurama said lazily, grinning at Yusuke. Botan covered a giggle. Yusuke grabbed a fistful of Kurama's shirt. "Take that back, pretty boy!" Yusuke yelled, but the look on his face told Kurama that he was only joking. "Yusuke!" Botan scolded, snapping him of the top of the head with the scroll. "If Demon City finds out that we sent people here on "business", they will insist on the same. We are already having trouble keeping the Saint Beasts within their walls. The last thing you need is another mission…" Botan stood up and hurried away. "Koenma needs me. I'd suggest that you complete this mission as soon as you can." With that, she disappeared through the door and into the night.
"So, Kurama, you're the genius. Please explain." Yusuke laced his fingers behind his head and leaned back. Kurama rubbed his head. "I don't remember much. It was a sword found and owned by a powerful demon named Kansei. He was taken out by a large group of priestesses and psychics, but it turns out that the sword was the real evil, since it was forged in a dragon's breath and had its own consciousness. The only remaining psychic sealed the sword's power away with the use of wards, which, I assume, is where the dragons come from. The sealing isn't complete, but it cannot latch into someone's spiritual energy as it can with their demonic energy and control their will."
Yusuke whistled. "You know, when I don't remember much, I don't remember anything. When you don't remember much, you're like a walking encyclopedia." He grumbled to himself. "And that thing can control our minds? Isn't that a touch dangerous?" Kurama nodded. "'Our' being a subjective term, of course. I am the only one in danger of being possessed. I still harbor demonic energy, although it is well hidden. You have no trace of demonic energy, so you will be safe. Unless you have an ancestor you're not telling me about…" Kurama said in mock suspicion. "Nope!" Yusuke said, unlacing his fingers and slamming them down on the table. "Now, I don't know about you, but I'm starved. Do you have money?"
Yusuke's head swung in a slow arc, taking in the sight of the abandoned parking garage. Meanwhile, Kurama slid his hair behind his ear and closed his eyes. "What are you-" Yusuke started, but Kurama cut him off, slamming a hand over the boy's mouth without even opening an eye. A minute later, Kurama's fingers found purchase on a hidden door and he peeled it and his eyes open. "Where does that lead?" Yusuke asked before the greenish haze filtered through to Earth. "Hurry through, hurry though." Kurama muttered, ushering the Spirit Detective through the door before shutting it behind himself.
"So this is Demon City. Very nice. What do we do now?" Yusuke tried to shove his hands in his pockets, only to realize his pajamas had none to offer. He settled for crossing his arms over his chest as he looked at the giant castle looming over them. "Is that the castle we need to infiltrate?" Kurama glanced at it and shook his head with a wry grin. "No, and hope you never have to. That's the castle of the Saint Beasts. But the rest of Demon City isn't so imposing. It's just like a demonic Earth. Just don't be surprised by our appearances." Kurama smirked, motioning for Yusuke to follow him.
There was something different in the way that Kurama looked and acted. Perhaps it was the late night, or perhaps his demon blood was stirring. Whatever the case, Yusuke followed in silence. The two of them stuck to the shadows, halting at the first sight of movement. At last they came to their destination: a smaller castle than the one they had saw on their arrival.
Kurama trailed a hand along the thin ivy growing along the side of the dilapidated wall. "This should work." He muttered to no one in particular. He transformed the ivy into a similar plant with thicker, tougher roots that was more suited for climbing and led the way to the top of the roof. "I can see why Pacifier Breath wanted to have you tag along." Yusuke whispered.
On the castle's peaked steeple, Kurama stopped for a quick breather. According to the maps that Botan had provided, the room where the necklace was being held was being held was right below them. He pressed his hands together pensively as Yusuke huffed to the top beside him. "That was the best and worst workout of my life." He groaned, rubbing sore muscles. "Quiet." Kurama hissed. "Demons hear better than humans." Yusuke shrugged, mouthing, "oops."
Kurama padded over to the window inlaid into the bottom of the steeple. It was small, just meant to let the light through and little else. Kurama could probably squeeze through with his thin physique, but Yusuke's broad shoulders wouldn't allow him to get in. If only Hiei was here. He could zip in and get out within a few seconds. And he could fit perfectly. Kurama chuckled at the thought of Hiei overhearing that thought. Suppressing the thought, Kurama pulled an ivy vine off the edge of the castle and encouraged it to grow.
He handed one end to Yusuke, motioning for him to hold tight and when Kurama pulled twice to gently pull him back. Then he trailed the vine around his legs and chest before slowly climbing through the window. The vine grew slowly and deliberately, lowering him inch by inch into a high-ceilinged room swarming with guards. A guard was posted at every entrance and exit, as well as a group standing with their backs to the beautiful prize. Kurama tsked to himself. This was going to be too easy.
With the fluidity that came from millenniums of practice, Kurama used one of the offshoots of the vine to tie back his long hair, while he slowly inched the other towards the pedestal. It was like that human game, Barrel of Monkeys. He was always good at that game. It was a test of dexterity and cleverness, two of his strongest points. Within a few seconds, the vine was wrapped around the necklace and on its ever-so-slow ascent to where Yusuke was waiting. A single bead of sweat ran down his cheek and he wiped it away carefully. A single hasty move and-
"AACHOOOO!" A loud sneeze echoed around the vaulted ceiling, followed by a well-placed expletive. Kurama winced as dozens of guards in the hall swung their heads up, focusing on the redheaded thief. Kurama hissed and tugged on the vine, and the same time, ordering it grow shorter quickly. There was a whistle as an arrow flew by Kurama's ear, knocking aside some of his hair. A second arrow grazed his cheek, and a third caught the edge of his jacket sleeve before he hastily slid out the window. Yusuke shot an apologetic look as he slipped the necklace around his neck, having no pockets to put it in. The last of the vine unwrapped itself from Kurama's body as the pair escaped, ducking and weaving through the streets of Demon City.
Kurama shoved Yusuke through the door back to the human world and leapt through it himself, kicking it closed. "Well that was close." Kurama said, brushing his clothes off. "You're telling me. Are you okay?" Kurama wiped the blood away with the back of his hand. "I'll be fine. You can give that to Botan on your own, I presume?" Kurama asked as he and Yusuke walked out of the parking lot and along the trail that lead right next to it. Yusuke nodded.
Kurama was about to take his leave when a figure with considerable spirit energy appeared from around the bend. Kurama gripped Yusuke's arm warningly before reaching into his hair an drawing out the rose seed that quickly grew into a rose in full bloom. To Kurama's surprise, Yusuke relaxed, and a giant grin broke over his face. "Hey Kuwabara! Haven't beaten you up in a while. Are you here to fix that?" The tall and broad boy, about three or four inches taller than Kurama growled, jogging closer. "I could beat you alone. Tell your little posse to but away the rose and fight like a man!"
Kurama raised an eyebrow but remained quiet. The orange-haired boy was obviously well-muscled and extremely strong, but he was a few tails short of a nine-tailed fox. "My name is Shuichi Minamino, but you may call me Kurama." Kurama said with a bow. "I am not here to fight. I can't say the same thing for Yusuke, unfortunately." Kurama gave a small smile. Kuwabara gave a small nod of acknowledgement before turning to face Yusuke. From the look on Kuwabara's face, he hadn't even assumed Kurama a threat. Kurama momentarily entertained the idea of laying out Kuwabara from behind but dismissed the idea with the same speed.
"Well, I ought to get going." Kurama said with a farewell wave. "Bye Kurama! Say hi to your m-" Kurama looked curiously at Yusuke, who seemed to freeze for a second before shaking his head. "Sorry. Brain fart." He apologized, somehow making the phrase grosser than it had right to be. Kurama gave a lopsided grin "Good nigh-ah…morning." Kurama turned to leave, hands stuffed in pockets, when Kuwabara's voice made Kurama's head swivel. "Yusuke? You okay?" Kurama groaned. Demon World must have had more of an effect on the Spirit Detective than either of them had realized. Suddenly, Yusuke's position changed.
The Spirit Detective was pointing his finger right at Kurama, his other hand bracing it. Kurama had seen Yusuke using that position in the fight against Hiei. But what was he using it here for? He got his answer soon enough as a pulse of spirit energy came shooting for Kurama, heading straight for the fox demon's chest.
DUN DUN DUUUUUN! Stay tuned for chapter 2?
Oh, and in case you were wondering why Kuwabara was outside at, like, 3:30 in the morning, Eikichi was very sick, so he took her to the vet and was just walking home. See! He really is a sweetie!