Chapter 3
"Anything coming up on that piece of crap yet?" muttered Yusuke irritably.
Kurama glanced again at the small box's dark screen, then scanned the line of building roofs on either side of them silhouetted against the night sky. "This is the general area Koenma said she's been spotted in."
Yusuke joined hands behind his head and looked up absentmindedly. "Maybe she's given up her evil ways without telling us, and now we're running around Emmetsburo or whatever at four in the morning for nothing. Thanks a lot, sweetheart."
Kurama stopped dead in his tracks. He raised a hand to Yusuke when the boy tried to speak. "Listen."
Yusuke did so…he heard nothing except the distant commotion of cars. "What?"
"A woman laughing. You didn't hear it?"
"No, that's why I-" Yusuke gasped and whipped around. "Behind us."
Kurama turned and stared hard into the black alleyway. It came again….a soft, taunting laugh. The detector in Kurama's hand suddenly came to life, beeping furiously and flashing a large red "B" on its screen. He glared at it before shoving it back into his pocket. "She's moving down the alleyway, let's follow her."
Kurama slid a hand underneath his hair, ready to pull out his rose whip. Yusuke clenched his fists and strode into the passage; he was surprised to be suddenly plunged into inky darkness.
"I can't see a thing. Call me crazy, but this doesn't seem normal." He felt for the wall he knew must be to his right…when he made contact, the brick was icy cold. The air surrounding him was just as bad.
Kurama's voice cut through the black. "A cloaking trick she's employed…its quite effective."
Yusuke's heart skipped a beat as burning fingers caressed his neck. A sultry voice whispered in his ear. "Hello there, little ningen."
Kurama couldn't believe he hadn't sensed her before. With a thought, the tiny seed under his hair transformed into his prime weapon and he whipped it out before she could turn to look. It was soon clear that she hardly needed to; pushing off of Yusuke's shoulders, the demon shot towards the roof of the building to their left. The dark mist quickly dissipated. He snapped the whip after her to see if she could dodge it. Sure enough, she ricocheted off the wall and sailed across to the opposite rooftop soundlessly. Kurama jumped after her, followed by Yusuke.
Kurama landed on the roof and looked around. She was nowhere to be seen. They heard the laugh again, softer this time.
Yusuke sighed. "This is getting annoying. Come out here and face us like a man, you bitch!"
A shape emerged from behind the silver stairway cover and shot towards them. The two boys jumped out of the way; she passed close to Kurama, and he could feel her hair brush his arm. He turned in the air and brought his whip around with him. He saw her dark form pause and turn towards Yusuke, and Yusuke pivot to face her.
What happened next didn't make sense. Yusuke's body tensed to run forward and throw a punch- Kurama had seen the familiar stance a thousand times before- but he suddenly froze, staring blankly. The demon lunged, but he still didn't move.
What on earth is he doing?! "Yusuke!"
Her fist rammed into Yusuke's stomach. He grunted loudly and flew over the edge of the roof back down into the alley. The demon flitted out of sight. Kurama ran to the roof's edge, dropped back to the ground and landed in front of Yusuke as he scrambled to his feet.
"Yusuke! What's wrong?" The Detective blinked furiously and backed away, shaking his head.
"What the hell…where is-" He looked up at the roof and his vacant stare returned. Kurama followed his gaze.
The first thing he saw were her eyes.
They filled Kurama's vision, his entire being. Their deep golden hue burned with a fire that instantly swept through his body. It paralyzed him. He couldn't move. He could only stare. Stare into those beautiful eyes. Those beautiful, deadly eyes.
He knew that at least twenty feet separated them, and yet he felt he could reach out and touch her if he wanted to…and he wanted to. Oh, how he wanted to.
Her voice, maddeningly low and seductive, sounded in his head. Hello there, kitsune. Like what you see?
He felt her smile, and a shiver ran through him. Her aura was dark, her scent enticing.
Good. So do I.
"Kurama."
A voice he dimly recognized as Yusuke's floated past his ear. A tiny part of him urged, begged the rest of him to listen. But why should he? It wasn't important. Nothing was, except-
"KURAMA!"
A force pushed at him roughly, and he blinked. The eyes disappeared. All of his senses rushed back to him. He took a deep gasping breath and caught himself just before he hit the ground. He looked over to see Yusuke a few feet away, his hands outstretched towards him. The boys stared at each other for a moment before Yusuke dropped to his knees, panting. In a daze, Kurama glanced at the roof.
For a split second, he saw her in her entirety. She was slender and pale, her shining black hair hanging over one shoulder. She looked from him to Yusuke, then back, her gilded eyes flashing. In the next split second, she was gone.
Kurama growled and sprang to the roof, only to see the bare expanse of concrete before him. His heart pounded wildly; he pressed a hand to his chest in a vain attempt to calm it. Who are you?!
He stood almost expecting an answer. Then he put away his rose whip and jumped down to join Yusuke.
The Detective was leaning against the wall, wiping his forehead. He dropped his arm to his side and looked at Kurama. "Sorry I pushed you. But-"
"No, I'm…glad you did."
"Kurama." He hesitated, then looked up at the roof. "Did you feel that?"
Kurama knew exactly what Yusuke meant, and followed his gaze upward. "Yes."
"Damn. I'd never felt anything like that before. She looked at me and I…ugh." Yusuke rubbed his face vigorously. "I couldn't move an inch! And I-I'm so drained now. Like I've been fighting for hours."
Kurama nodded. "Me too. She is much more dangerous than Koenma thought." He looked around. "I don't sense her energy anywhere near us. I hate to say it, but maybe we should concede for tonight."
"Yeah…I guess."
They moved out of the alleyway and down the street. This is going to be a problem, thought Kurama.
Hello Shuichi.
His heart sank. What do you want, Youko?
Just offering my services. As you said, this demon is going to be a problem. You obviously need more strength than what you just exhibited to beat her.
This is a routine mission. I can handle it without also needing to handle you.
Youko's voice was a whisper. She's a beauty, isn't she, Shuichi?
Kurama almost stopped walking. Yusuke was waiting up ahead, looking back.
A real vixen.
He forced himself to proceed, taking care to nod to Yusuke as he met him. He didn't want to disturb him with news that his alter identity was being a bother. Kurama chose sarcasm for his reply.
You have no intention of fighting her, do you?
Well...you can't blame me, Shuichi.
There's no point in getting attached, Youko. She'll be dead by tomorrow.
"Kurama?" He started and looked at Yusuke, who was watching him curiously. "Which way do we turn here?"
"Oh…right, I think. Then State Avenue should be the next left."
They climbed the stairs to their apartment silently. Yusuke entered and promptly collapsed on the couch. Kurama watched him for a moment, then proceeded to the bedroom. He sat down on one of the creaky singles and laid back on the pillow, hands behind his head. He idly traced a crack in the ceiling, then closed his eyes.
Listen to me, Shuichi.
They snapped back open. I know what you want, and it is not going to happen.
A short pause. She could see me. She knew I was there. She saw past you.
Cease this, Youko.
Hehe…your chosen eye color is currently quite fitting. You're jealous.
NOW.
Admit it. She saw straight to the true demon inside. You know, we've been losing touch lately. Becoming two totally different entities. We shouldn't let that happen, Shuichi.
Leave me alone.
You're losing control…I can feel your hold slowly slipping-
Leave me ALONE, DAMN you!"
Kurama's angry yell ripped through Yusuke's fitful sleep. He jumped up instinctively and ran into the bedroom.
"Kurama, what happened? Who's in here?!" He was astonished to see Kurama on his knees beside the bed, clutching his head.
"Kurama?" he said weakly.
What the hell? This couldn't be happening. Kurama was the one always in control, and here he was kneeling on the floor screaming at nothing. He suddenly felt a surge of not-so-friendly energy coming from the demon and took a step backwards. Silence.
Kurama dropped his arms but didn't look up. "Much more dangerous," he whispered.
Yusuke was 99.9-percent-sure the kitsune had no idea he was there. "Kurama?" he repeated.
His friend was on his feet in an instant facing him, looking pretty dangerous himself. Then he seemed to regain his composure and some of that aloof serenity Yusuke couldn't have been happier to see returned to his eyes.
"Yes, Yusuke?"
"What's up, Kurama? You're scaring me here."
Kurama could barely summon half a smile. "I'm sorry. Youko was giving me some trouble, and I guess I forgot myself for a moment. It won't happen again. Go back to sleep."
"All right. Try not to hurt yourself."
Yusuke stumbled back through the dark living room to the couch, lost in thought.
If he couldn't count on Kurama…what the hell happened to me back in that alley?! Spirit Detective, champion of the Dark Tournament, killer of oh so many badass demons/rogue ex-Spirit Detectives, and one girl renders him helpless.
His face reddened as he recalled the thoughts that had flooded his mind when she had locked eyes with him. Thoughts of things he had never seriously considered doing…until now. And they weren't even with the right individual. He threw himself onto the couch with a groan.
I won't be able to look Keiko in the eye for a while. He glared into the cushion. I will NOT let that demon control me again. Not next time.
