Kurama held Tamaki's body in his lap as they sat in the clearing with Gouki, "I heard a rustle." he admitted, patting her hair softly out of an incredible urge to do something with his hands. She had pretty soft hair.
Hiei concurred, "Yeah, I think I heard it too." he said, playing with the sword for a bit, posing and swinging it all about.
"I'll take care of it." said Gouki, standing up, "I should be more then enough, it might get me a couple more snacks as well." he added. Kurama shook his head.
"Let us all wait and see for a while, I want to discuss some things with you.." he said.
"Keep in mind you aren't in much of a position to make 'suggestions' Kurama." said Hiei, using his sword as a teacher like pointer to the Orb of Destruction Gouki was idly tossing with his hands, no threat of dropping and breaking it apparent.
Kurama paused out of cautious worry before standing up. "Yes, I'll just go ahead and walk away now instead then, we'll meet back here later to discuss further plans?" he asked, wondering what to do with her...her parents, foster or otherwise, surely will be frustrated to learn their daughter was comatose. Should he just keep her for now?
"Okay, but don't you dare think about escaping." said Hiei, "There is no way for you too without her soul." he said. Kurama looked down, a bit defeated. Tamaki looked..blank. Beings aren't bodies with souls, they are souls with bodies. While a Dead man looks peaceful..one that had his soul taken away so forcefully..they look almost in pain in expression.
He hated this expression on her, but not as much as he hated Gouki and Hiei at the moment for putting it on her. He had to get the soul back..he couldn't wait and have his wish wasted...suddenly, with now warning, he used his rose whip to knock the orb out of Gouki's catching range, and on to the ground. A few souls popped out and started running for their masters..luckily, one being Akina's.
Kurama did have a luck streak after all. Hiei was livid and pulled out his sword.
"That was a big mistake, Kurama!" he growled, running at him. Kurama ran for it for a while before using his powers to simply dissipate without warning, Hiei dissipating and following his trail quickly. Gouki blinked.
"Hey guys, don't leave me here.." he said, unable to catch up and follow them as well. The 'rustle' came back and Gouki felt a fair amount of energy behind it, grabbing the orb off the ground and facing it, "Who's there!" he shouted.
Yusuke popped through the the bushes, smirking at him, "I am Yusuke, the spirit detective!" he introduced himself, seeing the orb as one of the missing artifacts immediately. He slicked his hair back, confidently. Mayu was waiting in the bushes in case of anything. Botan asked her to help if necessary, and she wanted to see Yusuke do it on his own.
Gouki seemed as confident as Yusuke, if not more. Almost relieved, "Ah, another human, I prefer children's souls but I just lost a few." he said, rubbing his tummy. Yusuke got a disgusted look on his face..damn this thing was ugly.
"Okay, listen here buddy, you are going to hand over that orb and I am going to let you be taken in alive. Sound fair?" he cat called, trying to get him intimidated. Gouki laughed.
"You couldn't put a scratch on me!" he said, taking a soul out of the orb and helping himself. A little snack before a battle would make him more powerful...Yusuke looked on with disgust.
"Don't you dare eat that! That's some kid soul!" he yelled out, running up to him and punching him in the stomach. No effect...he saw a glow start to emit from it, while Gouki laughed.
"Sorry, kid, but there is nothing you can do!" he said, picking Yusuke up and throwing him into a tree. Yusuke rebounded a bit and landed into the ground, losing his breath but wiping his lower lip and continuing.
"There isn't no one I can't beat, and you won't be the first!" he shouted, standing back up and coming back at him, no effect again. Gouki flipped him and started beating him in the stomach.
"You little punk, you don't even know how to use your spirit energy!" he snarled, continuing to beat his stomach in. Mayu watched in sheer awe...Botan hadn't shown him his spirit energy yet? What did she expect her to do? EVERYTHING? She stood up and sent a fire ball flying past his head for a quick distraction, but ducked down. Yusuke took the chance to stand up and grab his head in a wrestling position, trying to make him submit.
"You are coming..with me..whither you like it or not!" Yusuke screamed, punching him in the head again and again, getting payback for the abuse dealt to his stomach. Gouki was getting agitated, but no real damage was being sustained. Botan finally got the word that the plan was failing and flew in, throwing her voice.
"I think I saw something this way..." "..Really?" "Yes, it was floating, we must hurry!" she called out, making it sound like they were surrounded. Gouki chickened out and threw Yusuke away from him again, running into the forest. Botan went to Yusuke.
"Yusuke, are you all right?" she asked, looking over to Mayu.
"...Botan, I love you, and you know that...but why didn't you teach him how to use his spirit energy before sending him into the city to look for them?" she asked, trying to show her mistakes before she herself was scolded for not jumping in.
"..I thought you were going too..." Said Botan, face palming carefully, "Oh my..this really is all my fault, I should have pressed more training on you first Yusuke." she said, scooping him up and and balancing him on his oar.
"..I probably wouldn't have taken it, anyway, but SERIOUSLY I COULD HAVE GONE WITH SOME KICK ASS POWERS!" yelled Yusuke, apparently healthy enough to get pissed off.
Botan rolled her eyes, "Look, we have a week, lets get home and get you cleaned up and a crash course so we can get these in time." she said, beginning to take off.
Mayu looked up, "Call me when my assistance is necessary, I have to get home for a check in." she said, waving off Botan and Yusuke quickly. Botan flied Yusuke home fast. Meanwhile, Kurama was still evading Hiei's wrath for as long as possible. Tamaki's soul found its way, yes. But she was still passed out for some reason.
"I don't want to see another loved one in the hospital.." he said to himself, surprised he came out. It was a simple yearning thought but it poured past his lips. His eye's lowered in pain. Why? Was this more atonement for his years of thieving? He didn't see himself as full of angst, but he was certainly stressed at the moment.
He carried her to the hospital to talk to Shiori. He would lie and say she collapsed of Heat Exhaustion. Nothing serious. And lay her on the couch as he spoke with his mother.
Shiori looked at him with a gentle weak expression as he did just this, "Shuichi.."
"Mother, are you feeling any better?" he asked, patting Tamaki on the head one more time before going over to her and holding her hand.
"Yes, I am feeling a lot better now that you are here." she said, smiling, "..I am glad you are carrying on so well..." she said, cryptically.
"Carrying one? Are you assuming Tamaki and I-"
"I'm...sick...not blind." she said, saying that sentence she pondered since they first arrived together the other day, "..But, please, don't mind anything I say. I just want you to be happy, okay?" she asked.
"I will be, mother, when you are better. Please do not give up on recovering just yet, if you can last the week...I have a great feeling." Kurama confessed, giving his mother as much reason to fight as she could. It didn't seem to have much effect.
"I see..I'll do my best for you, Shuichi." she said, half heartedly. She knew her time was coming soon. There was that unmistakable feeling of hearing the seconds tick by, ever so slightly, and it was getting louder each day. The doctors said she might be hearing her heartbeat, but she knew that was a lie. Some things can't be explained so easily.
Kurama heard the halfheartedness and was in despair, but turned over to Tamaki on the couch and went to her side, shaking her a bit..she finally came to.
"...Kura..." she started in a half dream like state before noticing Shiori and jumping straight up, "Shuichi!" she changed her name, before getting dizzy and leaning back down.
"Don't over exert yourself, heat exhaustion isn't serious but you still must be careful." said Kurama, keeping up with his lie quite quickly. Tamaki picked up the game.
"Ah..sorry for being careless, did you carry me all the way here?" she asked, a bit worried that had happened. Kurama shook his head, "No...I flew part of it." he said, picking on her.
"...That's not funny, you could have..erm..gotten heat exhaustion as well." Tamaki said, blushing at her mistake, but unable to keep from smiling. He was really nice to have done that.
Kurama smiled and patted her on the head again, a new found habit, "Lay down and get some rest, okay? You two, mother." he called over his shoulder, standing up to a straight back position. Shiori smiled.
"It's rude to force you to be in a room with two people who are asleep." she said, refusing to go to sleep just yet. Kurama shook his head.
"I just what wants best for you too, Conversation can occur anytime. Your recovery can only occur now." said Kurama, sitting down in the seat next to Shiori's bed.
"But I am really fine, Shuichi-kun.." said Tamaki, sitting up and crossing her legs, "I don't want to go to sleep...I've slept enough today." she said with a smile. Kurama chuckled a bit.
"What am I going to do about you two? Honestly?" he asked, wondering how he grew up..or came to know, technically, around such stubborn women.
Shiori just smiled, "I love you, Shuichi.." she said fondly, "...Maybe you should go ahead and take Tamaki home, okay?" she asked. Kurama nodded.
"I think I will do that.." He said, sadly..he didn't want to leave his mother yet, but Tamaki needed to get home so she could be warned to stay away from Hiei. Even though she probably already figured out on her own that he couldn't be trusted anymore, if any in the first place.
Tamaki slowly stood up, she was a bit wobbly but she was sure she could make it, "Okay..lets go." she said with a smile. Kurama nodded and headed for the door.
"I love you too, Mother." Kurama finally replied, opening it up. Tamaki got in the door way, turned around and bowed respectfully.
"Have a safe trip, okay?" she called out as the finally left the room, leaving her in a peaceful Zen and silence. Kurama turned to Tamaki.
"I am taking you to my home, not your own." he admitted, not wanting to be this forceful but it being the only thing that made sense, "I can't take any risks for Hiei using you as a bargaining chip." Tamaki winced..the lie was she HAD parents, wasn't it?
"Should..I call my family when I get to your house and try to make up something?" she asked, needing to make sure he wasn't going to try to reach a family that wasn't there.
"I'll say something, if your excuse requires it." said Kurama.
"I already have something in mind, don't worry about it." said Tamaki, looking to the ground..she had something in mind, if she had someone to say it too, anyway. She hated lying..half lying was a little better. Kurama smiled.
"Okay, the house isn't far, if you are sick of walking let me know." he said. Tamaki smiled.
"It's not a problem, really." she said, glad for everything he had been able to do for her.