A Single Flower
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A/N: Finishing up the Saint Beasts Arc! Let's go!
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I let the others walk ahead of me and I trailed behind through the stone corridors. I was quiet and didn't speak as we headed up the long winding staircase. It was a moment to think and sort out my priorities.
What Hiei had said earlier, it really stung. But it showed to myself, just how badly I wanted his approval. He was strong and I wanted to be strong. How else would I find my mother? If I could get his approval, I think I'd be at a point where I'd be strong enough to face her. I couldn't forget that.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts, I didn't realize the rest of the group had come to a stop. I ended up running right into Hiei's back. I looked up in time to see him shoot a glare at me which made me rethink on apologizing to him at all. Regardless, I did, and took a step back.
We had reached a large circular room and there were many doors that lined the spherical room.
"What? You're kidding me!" Yusuke exclaimed.
"Hn, it appears we have found a maze in maze castle." Hiei quipped.
"Guess that makes sense." Said Yusuke.
"We must beware. It's something of a legend." Kurama started. "In the beginning, before the barrier wall was erected around the city, hundreds of bounty hunters came in search of the beasts. None succeeded. But the beasts never left their tower. Letting anyone who entered the castle forfeit their lives to this maze. There are fifteen doors, all but one leads to a dead-end. There are no second attempts. Unavoidable traps lie in incorrect passageways. So, you see, a poor choice seals our fate." He was so calm about it.
I eyed each door with a worried look. "So…what do we do?" I asked finally speaking.
"We do nothing." Yusuke said looking at Kuwabara. "Okay, Mr. Sensitive, this one's all yours." I had remembered what Botan said about him being rather gifted in spiritual awareness. Let's see how this would come to play.
His eyes shifted warily between each of the fifteen doors. In a few moments, he managed to narrow it down to one.
"The second door on the left." He pointed out.
"You heard the man, let's go." Yusuke said apparently trusting Kuwabara wholeheartedly.
Hiei didn't move. "How do we know he's not making a mistake?" He questioned.
Kuwabara continued with his instincts and walked over to the door he had chosen. "I'm sorry shorty, maybe it's not your thing, but you're just gonna have to trust me on this one. I know. There is something big behind that door, something scary." Kuwabara proceeded to open the door. "Ah! I hate mice!" He yelled and fell over once he saw what was on the other side of the door.
"Gee Kuwabara, and that speech of yours was getting so dramatic!" Yusuke said laughing at him and I joined in.
We all walked past the surprised Kuwabara. "Oh come on now, surely the saint beast you fought was of much bigger size than that?" I teased as payback for calling me such a vile human pet name.
We walked down a long hallway, and it seemed that Kuwabara really did have a talent. We met no misfortunes that Kurama had foretold of. We kept walking until we reached a massive blue door. On either side of it were stone dragons erected as if a warning to those who actually made it this far.
The lightning and thunder that flashed outside seemed to only intensify the glares of the statues. "Well this is homey." I mentioned.
"Are we supposed to be scared?" Hiei remarked at the statues.
"Perhaps. That is the mark of the Blue Dragon, and judging from the odor, I'd say the beast is inside." Kurama explained to us.
"Yeah, and he doesn't feel very nice." Kuwabara said.
Thankfully we didn't have to try to open the door for ourselves as they opened of their own accord. Past the large doors was of course, a large room. When we all stepped in, the doors closed behind us and slowly I noticed fog seemed to seep out of nowhere into the room.
"This fog's alive." Kurama said with a tone of surprise.
"Must be a form of spirit energy, coming from our beast's body." Hiei remarked uninterested.
I took a step closer towards Hiei and Kurama. "Is anyone feeling a little cold?" I remarked.
"You have done very well to have come this far, but I shall no longer allow you to disgrace my master." A deep voice spoke and resonated in the room and through the fog.
"Where's that voice coming from?" Kuwabara asked as he searched around.
"I don't know, come out now dragon! This whole hide and seek thing is getting pretty lame!" Yusuke yelled. Impatient as ever.
At Yusuke's demand however, the fog began to disperse and I could make out the outline of a very large figure in the middle of the room.
"As you request." The saint beast spoke again and stepping out so we could all see him. So this is what a saint beast looked like.
The next saint beast resembled a large man who looked aged. He had robes similar to that of martial arts and some sort of dragon ornament adorning his shoulders.
"A giant!" Kuwabara remarked and he was right. Next to Kuwabara I felt rather tiny because he was the tallest of the group, but I presume standing next to the blue man would've made me feel particularly insignificant.
"You may call me Seiryu. I am here now to end your lives intruders." He chuckled as if he told quite an amusing joke.
"Well he's no dragon, but he is ugly." Yusuke remarked most likely making light of the situation. I could sense his energy and he was going to be strong.
"It's not wise to say such things to your executioner." Seiryu then looked past us and seemed rather aggravated as he spoke his next words. "It appears that we have another guest."
"Guys, I'm not sure how to tell you this," Kuwabara started, "but, uh…"
"It's coming from behind us!" Hiei called out and the rest of us turned around to see what the commotion was about.
The doors opened again to reveal another massive giant. He resembled a large tiger-like creature. His fur was singed and he seemed badly wounded. It was a sad sight to see.
"You must help me." He pleaded to Seiryu as he dragged himself past us.
"You're joking." Yusuke said in disbelief. That indicated that this guy had to be a saint beast from before.
"I thought…you had beaten him." I turned to Kuwabara, hoping for his sake third times the charm was a saying that actually worked. Still we all moved aside and let him make his way to his comrade.
"Seiryu, these cowards! They tricked me in my own lair." The tiger finally staggered over to the blue giant. "They hid their true powers from me until the end. Look, they even have an addition to their numbers! You must help me recover!" He remarked, noticing me as part of their group.
"I knocked that guy into lava." Kuwabara said stunned that his victory was most likely short-lived. I guess these Saint Beasts were the real deal.
"What's it gonna take to kill this guy?" Yusuke said with gritted teeth.
"You're a weakling." Seiryu finally spoke. "How dare you dishonor us further?" He seemed more agitated by his own comrade than his soon to be opponents.
"Please Seiryu!" He pleaded to the dragon man again.
"You are no longer wanted here, you are a disgrace." Fog started to gather at Seiryu's feet and his fist started to glow.
"No Seiryu!" He begged again. "I can help you destroy them!"
"ICE DRAGON!" Seiryu exclaimed completely ignoring the pleas.
Within moments, the tiger saint beast stood where he was, completely frozen and encased in ice. In a swift motion, Seiryu leapt and kicked the frozen statue, and his body shattered to pieces. The only thing left was his head and even then it was still frozen.
"You were right about my fog of energy." Seiryu turned to us completely devoid of the murder he had just committed. I felt sick to my stomach.
"You heartless bastard! How could you kill off your own friend?" Yusuke tried to reprimand him about his actions.
"Seiryu, why?" I heard the beast's faint last words and I felt sorry for him. I could understand the pain he must have felt to have someone you thought was on your side, betray you completely. Even if he was the 'bad guy', his reaction was no different from mine. It was reminiscent to what I faced with Megumi and Eido. At least I came out alive.
"He was a weapon, not a friend." Seiryu explained. "And like a cheap sword, he rusted." He proceeded to back up his opinion by spitting on the frozen head.
"This race of beast has no loyalty. Alliances are formed strictly to gain power." Kurama explained to us.
"I don't care what kind of race they are. It's never right to kill your own teammate. Especially when they come asking you for help." Kuwabara argued and for once I liked the way he was thinking.
Seiryu chuckled. Most likely to our reactions. "Do not be so distraught over the loss. You will soon join Byakko, and I believe the girl shall join him first." He eyed me and I took a step back. "Byakko was a disgrace to the Saint Beast name, but that one is a disgrace to our entire demon race. Her mixed odor is most unappealing." His voice glowered as if I was truly the worst thing in the world right now.
He was calling me out for being half human and half demon. It was the same everywhere I went. I was going to be marked. It made me angry. I wanted to take him on myself. My fists began to unclench when the spirit detective's voice rang clear.
"This guy has pushed me too far. He's dead!" Yusuke shouted and stepped in front of me ready to fight.
"Save your anger." Hiei stepped in front of him. "You can take their leader. I insist this fight to be mine." Yusuke didn't have a chance to object as Hiei took a step forward ready to face Seiryuu. With this, my hands were fully relaxed. That's right. It wasn't my fight. I'd only be a burden.
"Ah, shall you be first Hiei?" Seiryu asked looking down at Hiei.
Hiei said nothing and only took off his black cloak and threw it the ground where Byakko's head was. The frozen head of the saint beast was now out of sight.
"What was that? Tell me you're not feeling sympathy for this amateur. Also stepping in to delay the half-breed's death? From your actions at the Gate of Betrayal, I was hoping you would have more of a warrior spirit." Seiryu belittled Hiei much to my displeasure.
As to what Seiryu said…about Hiei stepping to prevent me dying, it was hard to believe with how he had acted towards me earlier. It was just as if he wanted me gone as well. After all, I was weak and Seiryu's words were ones I had heard many times. I was not wanted nor did I belong.
"He's a puzzle isn't he?" Kurama asked. "In times before, I've seen Hiei act with similar cruelty, but something about Byakko's execution has caused him great anger." Kurama said watching the battle closely. Sakura, don't concern yourself with Seiryu's words. There would've been no need for Hiei to save you if you were truly unwanted. His anger seems to have risen greatly over Seiryu's comment towards you as well.
I turned to face Kurama after he stopped communicating with me telepathically. It was hard to believe. But…Hiei said so himself. I'm just a burden. If Seiryu killed me off, surely it would be a weight off of his shoulders.
"Hiei seems to live by his own code of very complex rules, but one thing is for certain, never before have I seen Hiei begin a fight with such extraordinary amounts of his spirit energy." Kurama continued to speak out loud. It's as if he was explain to Kuwabara and Yusuke, but to also point it out to me because of what I communicated towards him.
"Good, as long as he kicks some ass." Yusuke said. We said nothing more as we all turned to watch the battle unfold.
"I assure you Hiei, it is not too late to join our ranks. Prostrate yourself before my master and he shall give you power and frame beyond what you have ever tasted." Seiryu offered to Hiei even though he was getting ready to fight.
"Is that all you have to say?" Hiei asked him. Seiryu was not expecting that sort of reply from Hiei. "They're last words, you know." He said with a smirk.
"Fine! So that is your choice. Then you shall meet your death with the other weaklings!"
Seiryu released his energy similar to the fog before but at a higher pressure and all aimed towards Hiei. Hiei merely surrounded himself with his own energy and used his katana to part the blast. He was not harmed and we were also protected from the frigid geyser.
"Hey! Be careful!" Kuwabara yelled at Hiei seeing how the stone walls crumbled from the impact.
Seiryu prepared for another icy blow as he poured energy into his fist. "Try blocking this!"
"That freeze technique! Run!" Yusuke shouted.
I watched in apprehension, but was soon relieved when Hiei easily jumped over Seiryuu's head and landed behind him as if it was child's play.
Seiryu chuckled, unfazed by Hiei's amazing speed. "I'm sorry. I had forgotten about your impressive speed. Now," He said preparing himself for another attack. "Let's try this again!" Seiryu sent what seemed like a barrage of 'ice dragons' but it was futile. Hiei dodged each with ease and the only thing frozen was the trail that followed Hiei throughout the room.
"He's going to turn the place into a hockey rink." Yusuke remarked.
"Not just the room." I could hear him Kuwabara's voice shaking. I noticed a chunk of his hair was frozen as well. "Man, I wish I had my jacket back."
I breathed out and I could see my own breath. I probably couldn't tolerate the cold much further.
"Hiei!" Kurama yelled and we all turned to see that Hiei, had stopped on the other side of the room. He was almost in a crouched like position. I noticed one of his legs was frozen.
I held my hands up to my face and I couldn't believe he had gotten hit.
"Hey, he's okay." Yusuke said since only one leg was frozen.
"Yeah don't scare us like that." Kuwabara said. I shook my head. They didn't see it.
"No, his leg. He won't be able to run away any more." Kurama explained.
"Hm, you see? No one ever escapes. Only beg for mercy." Seiryu was acting like he had already won. "With your leg frozen, you can't possibly move. I suggest you start groveling." His eyes darted back to our group. "You shall be next." He said to me.
I shook my head. I refused to believe that Hiei had lost. And, even if he had marked me, Kurama, Yusuke and even Kuwabara were still there. To protect me…I hated that. I was relying on others again.
Why was I so weak? I had to get stronger. Otherwise, I surely would die out of hatred one day. I would never find my mother and everything…would be useless…just like me.
Then get stronger.
I snapped out of my thoughts to see Hiei still on the other side of the room. Hiei?
Get stronger if you want to find your mother. Find her, kill her, spare her, I could care less. It doesn't matter if you're human or demon. That's just an excuse. You're weak because you run away. Watch carefully, Sakura.
"What can he do?" Yusuke asked.
Seiryu lunged for another attack at Hiei now that he could not move. "Ice Dragon!"
Hiei stuck his sword in front of him and used it almost as a spring to give him a burst of movement towards Seiryu. He was facing Seiryu head on. Hiei and Seiryu seemed to collide and a flash of light could be seen before Hiei landed past Seiryu.
Seiryu turned around to look at Hiei. "You might have escaped, but you are wounded."
"Hiei!" I called out seeing his other leg and now arm were frozen. Hiei seemed unaffected though as he let out a laugh and got up as if nothing had happened.
"So what if your ice trick can kill your friend? It won't kill me." Hiei moved his arm and the ice shattered as well as the ice that had once covered his legs.
"He's okay!" I said in relief.
"That's impossible." Seiryu stood in disbelief. "I shall give one final blow!" He prepared for another blow, but Hiei interrupted him.
"I don't think so." Hiei remarked coolly.
I noticed the purple blood that dripped from Seiryu's forehead. He noticed it too and let out a pained yell over the cracks in his body that were being revealed to us. Clearly in those moments of bright flashes, Hiei had swiftly slashed at the saint beast reducing him to pieces. Literally. He soon disappeared and there was nothing left of him.
"When did he attack?" Kuwabara asked. I wonder if he noticed anything at all?
Yusuke didn't seem to care and let out a laugh as he ran towards Hiei. I did too, just relieved to see that he was okay.
"Don't feel bad Kuwabara, I couldn't see it either after the initial hit." Kurama stated.
"Shorty is a lot cooler than I thought!" Kuwabara exclaimed as both he and Kurama joined us over to see Hiei after his swift victory.
"You made French fries out of that guy." Yusuke complimented Hiei.
"Hiei, how many times did you cut him?" Kurama asked.
"Only sixteen." Hiei remarked as if it was no huge feat. But it was.
"Sixteen? Damn it, and here I could only keep track of seven or eight." Yusuke said in a disappointed tone.
"That's nothing meager. After the first hit, I only saw flashes of light." Kurama tried to cheer up Yusuke.
"I couldn't even see the flashes." Kuwabara chimed in dejectedly.
"Man," Yusuke chuckled nervously. "This isn't good. If you use those moves the next time we fight, I'm going to be screwed!"
Hiei was truly strong. You faced Seiryu head on. I think I understand now Hiei. You considered me a burden before because I'm weak. You don't want me here because then you have to worry about protecting me as well, since it is part of your punishment. You're right, I do run away. My hate for humans and demons are just an excuse. Because…I still like you, and Kurama and Yusuke as well. Even Kuwabara is growing on me…slowly. You guys are strong.
I smiled to myself. I could only see flashes of light. I'll get stronger one day. I won't run away anymore. I don't want to be a burden any more. If I get stronger…can I still stay by your side?
"Maybe." Hiei said out loud to Yusuke…but I felt he was addressing me as well as he looked straight at me while he said it before he walked away to grab his cloak.
"Hiei?" Yusuked asked confused by his simple answer.
"I thought for sure he was gonna say, 'Well of course you fool'." Kuwabara's impression of Hiei was absolutely horrendous.
"Hiei is going through a tricky change." Kurama explained to us. "It appears, he's beginning to like you." He told Yusuke and I felt that it could be applied to me as well.
Thank you.
I wasn't going to mess up this chance.
We spared no more time as we all headed out the exit of the room and climbed more spiraling stairs of this castle.
I felt reenergized. I couldn't tell if it was the new found inspiration Hiei had given me or if it was the lightning that struck nearby the castle, but I could feel electricity tingle throughout my body as if my energy was slowly starting to return.
We kept climbing the steps, but Kuwabara stopped and we all stopped to see what was going on.
"What now? Got cramps?" Yusuke still had energy to tease.
"My whole brain just felt like an ice cube. I think something bad is happening. I think back on Earth." He explained.
"No telling how long we've been here, but the beasts have most likely organized a counter-assault using the makai." Kurama explained and I thought of the insects back home terrorizing humans and Botan who was left alone.
"Only one more, let's not waste time." Hiei rallied the rest of us together and we agreed as we kept climbing the stairs until we reached an entryway that led us to a large open platform with a tower on the other side in the center.
"Hurry it up!" Yusuke shouted as we continued to run to make our way towards the large tower.
"Shut up!" Kuwabara yelled.
"What the hell is that thing?" Yusuke asked referring to the tower.
"It's the watch tower. I'm sure that's where he's hiding." Hiei explained. 'He' meaning the last saint beast. Hang in there Botan, there was just one left.
"Fine! Then let's drag him out!" Yusuke suggested, but his determination was cut short by a ringing sound. He pulled out a communicator I noticed similar to the one Botan had used to contact the group.
"What now?" He asked picking up. "Gah! Keiko?" We all stopped running and waited for Yusuke to finish his call. "What?" He asked again.
"And I don't think they want to talk!" Botan said and because we all stopped running we could hear her loud and clear. "I'm almost certain they mean to kill her!" Botan exclaimed. Kill? Who?
"Did you say kill?" Yusuke yelled frantically.
"So that's what my premonition was." Kuwabara said.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"It seems Yusuke's human friend is being targeted." Hiei remarked. He nodded when I looked at him inquisitively to see if it was the same girl he had once captured.
"The beast must be using the Makai whistle to order the-" Botan was cut off and only static noises came from the communicator.
"Botan! Are you there? Botan!" Yusuke yelled again, but no words were returned. Talk about a bad omen.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." Kuwabara said and I turned to the tower again.
"We've got to smash that whistle as fast as we can." Yusuke spoke and I could sense his new found determination now that Keiko seemed to be threatened.
We all continued to run and the only sounds that could be heard was the lightning and thunder crashing around us. It was an awful storm that even drowned out the noise of our running footsteps.
"Okay, guys that is a spooky watch tower." Kuwabara remarked.
It did have an ominous look about it. It was tall and cylindrical with a large ovular top attached to it. Something you'd expect in the older black and white movies I watched as a kid.
"The last beast should be on the top floor." Kurama remarked.
"Then let's climb some stairs!" Yusuke ordered. We were going to make another dash, but a noise prompted us to stop.
On other side of the tower were doorways. Each of those doorways had green human like creatures stream out as if a sludge drain had been planted there.
"Hey who are those people?" Kuwabara asked.
"They look awfully mutilated." I remarked. They looked like green sludge and had seaweed for hair. Past the hair were bright yellow eyes and the fact they all looked identical was even scarier. I was definitely in a horror movie.
"Whatever those guys are there sure are a lot of them! It's going to take us about a year to beat them all!" Kuwabara said.
"Yes, considering our time restraints this could be a real problem." Kurama told us.
"I've had dealings with cultivated humans before. They do not feel pain or fear." Hiei explained to us as he looked at the small army forming.
"How twisted do you have to be to turn humans into monsters like that? I think Keiko is in some serious trouble!" Kuwabara exclaimed taking a step backwards.
"Like hell she is! Stupid monster humans trying to slow us down! I'm blowing them all away with my shotgun!" Yusuke pulled back his fist no doubt ready to blast the green guys out of the way.
"Let's use our heads." Kurama stepped in and prevented Yusuke from firing at them.
"What? You want me to head butt them?" Yusuke yelled at him. I covered my face embarrassed that Yusuke had made such a remark.
"It's not wise to waste your spirit power. The more impatient we are the more mistakes we'll make." Kurama had a point.
"Well how is head butting them going to help? My shotgun is the only way we are going to get past them!" Yusuke was getting antsy and was not taking in any of Kurama's advice.
"No." Hiei said cutting into their conversation.
"So you've got an idea?" Kuwabara asked sounding a bit hopeful.
Hiei nodded and walked in front of the group. "Set your eyes on the first tower window. That is your door."
"Well I'm sorry Mr. Mysterious, but it turns out that I forgot to bring my pogo stick!" Yusuke yelled at Hiei.
"Yusuke! Calm down!" I shouted.
"Yeah, he has a point! How do you expect him to jump that high?" Kuwabara bantered.
"I'll need you to listen closely." We gathered around Hiei to hear him elaborate on his plan. As soon as he told us, we all got into formation.
We had formed a line and Kuwabara was in front. I was behind him and behind me was Kurama. Hiei and Yusuke were also prepared.
"You best not blow this Kuwabara!" Yusuke yelled all the way from the back.
"Don't worry, I'm like an ox." Kuwabara reassured us.
And with those words, he ran and I followed suit. Kurama was behind me running as well. I didn't look back but I was sure that Hiei and Yusuke were trailing behind as well. "Just do me a favor guys. Try not to dig in with your shoes." Kuwabara exclaimed.
"Hey shut up and keep running!" Yusuke ordered!
Kuwabara plowed through the cultivated humans and he stopped in the center of them. He quickly braced himself.
I kept running until I was in front of Kuwabara. I outstretched my hands to both sides. I was going to use the last bit of my spirit energy. However, with the lightning that was striking around us, it provided me just the boost I needed. "Spark wave!" I shouted as I released electricity in a wide area to keep the cultivated humans in their tracks so they wouldn't interfere with the tower.
"Alright let 'er rip!" Kuwabara shouted. Kurama who had been behind me leapt and landed on Kuwabara's back. Hiei followed next. Yusuke who was at the rear, used the support of his three friends. He jumped on Kuwabara, then Kurama, and finally Hiei. With one final push, he leapt for the window Hiei had mentioned earlier.
As soon as Yusuke leapt, the tower collided and just in time as I had depleted my spirit energy creating the giant paralysis field.
"It'll be close" Kurama said observing Yusuke.
I watched nervously but once Yusuke grasped on the ledge of the windows, I took a breath of air.
"We did it!" Kuwabara exclaimed!
"You guys Have fun with the veggie-heads!" Yusuke yelled down at us from the window.
"Don't die on me okay!" Kuwabara yelled back at him.
"Be careful Yusuke! We'll join you as soon as we can!" I yelled out to him. He gave us all a thumbs up and he disappeared out of sight.
We turned our attention to the cultivated humans who were starting to move now. "Of course we can only join him once we chop these guys to pieces." I was going to help fight this time. I wouldn't run away any more.
"Poor guys I'm going to feel bad kicking your butt!" Kuwabara yelled as he entered the fray mercilessly punching at the green bodies.
Kurama summoned his rose whip and slashed elegantly at them while Hiei did the same with his sword at high speeds.
I was drained of spirit energy sure, but I still had demon energy. I summoned my weapon and ripped the cultivated humans apart as I leapt and flipped about the battle field.
I don't know how long we slashed and punched, but it seemed like a while. At one point a portion of the dome had been blast to pieces indicating that Yusuke was in a rough battle.
"Can you keep going?" Hiei asked me slashing at a cultivated human that almost snuck up on me.
I nodded. "I have too." I said noticing the large hole in the dome.
"We've got to find some way to get to Urameshi." Kuwabara said, panting from all the blows he had dealt.
"Yes Kuwabara. I have a strong sense that he needs our help." Kurama said agreeing and continued to go back whipping the heads of the green humans off.
I went back and continued to chop off their heads. It was a pain as I had to rely on demon energy to just keep my weapon summoned. If I ran out…well things were going to get tricky.
Luckily, after what seemed like ages, the cultivated humans diminished enough that we could get to the doorway.
Hiei, Kurama and I ran for it but we noticed that Kuwabara was not behind us, but rather above us. "Does he realize…we can leave now?" I asked Kurama and Hiei.
"Kuwabara, what are you doing?" Kurama yelled out to him.
"We cleared a path to the entrance. Quit fooling around." Hiei chastised him and we all ran hoping that Kuwabara would follow and not just hang around.
As we climbed yet another set of stairs, instead of expecting another door that would lead us to Yusuke, we were met by another onslaught of cultivated humans.
"They're like rabbits! They keep increasing in numbers." I said in disgust as I summoned my weapon once more.
"Let's not waste more time." Hiei shouted as he charged in with his sword and I followed behind him.
We kept fighting and only managed to move up a certain amount of steps.
"This blows! By the time we plow through all these weirdos, we'll be too tired to help Urameshi!" Kuwabara complained as he knocked another cultivated human out of the way.
"Tired hands are better than none." Kurama said prepared to attack another.
"Do what you like, I'm not stopping." Hiei said gripping onto his katana. "I'm with you guys." I commented and the three of us charged again at these nasty creatures getting in the way.
"Okay guys, I'm coming don't leave!" Kuwabara could be heard from behind us. I chuckled a little that he just didn't want to be left behind.
We made our way through the second wave and climbed even more stairs. We were getting closer I presumed as the stairs were wrapped around a much larger circumference and there was an open center. One wrong move and one could easily fall to their death.
We kept moving up the stairs but at one point stopped as the entire tower shook with tremendous vigor. I could hear lightning and thunder crash violently outside. If one day my powers could reach such a stage.
"The biggest lightning eruption by far." Kurama remarked once the shaking stopped. "Suzaku is getting desperate."
"The attack will almost surely kill one of them." Hiei said realistically.
"Don't say that!" Kuwabara said holding onto hope as he ran further up the stairs. He stopped short as the stairs before him had decided to crumble away. He took a step back.
"Oh no…" I said taking a step backwards and I felt the stairs beneath me begin to crumble. "Huh? Ah!" I could feel myself sinking with the stairs and I frantically tried to make my way to the small piece that wasn't crumbling away.
"I don't want to die like this!" I shouted.
"Sakura, you fool, shut up and climb already." I looked up to see that I was in fact dangling, but Hiei had grabbed my hand at last second. I pulled myself up with his assistance and breathed in deeply once I was safe on the small set that was still there. "Thank you, Hiei." I said through my breaths.
"Don't be so careless." He remarked with a roll of his eyes. Hiei, act all tough if you want, I'm still grateful.
"That's great Sakura is still alive and all, but now what are we going to do?" Kuwabara exclaimed.
Hiei took a step in front and he threw his sword at the nearest ledge. It struck through the stone and held fast. Kurama summoned his rose whip and lashed it at Hiei's sword allowing it to curl around the hilt. "Needless to say, hold on tight." Kurama instructed us.
Kuwabara and Hiei held on to Kurama's waist and I held onto Hiei's. To spectators, I'm sure this was a very odd sight, but we had to do what was needed. Kurama leapt off the platform and we clung on as he managed to land us safely to the other side.
I got up uneasily. "Have I ever mentioned…I don't deal with heights too well." I said.
"Recover faster." Hiei remarked. "We don't have time."
However, it seemed that time had run out as we heard a large explosion and loud shouts come directly above us.
I shook myself out of my shock and we all ran up to the room Yusuke had been fighting in.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara said as he saw Yusuke firing off his shotgun ability. I looked and gasped to see Yusuke had been aiming at not one, but seven opponents.
The room was engulfed in a blinding light and once everything subsided, the room was completely demolished.
Both the final saint beast and Yusuke were lying of the floor as if lifeless. We all ran over to Yusuke.
"Wake up Urameshi! Let's go home!" Kuwabara said but there was no response.
"Oh no…don't tell me…" I said losing hope fast. "He'll be okay right?" I said bending down to observe my favorite human.
"He's expended all of his life energy. His heart is stopping." Kurama said with a solemn tone.
"Then I'll give him some of my own." Kuwabara said as he too kneeled by Yusuke's side.
"That wouldn't be very wise. Your body is still badly injured from Byakko." Kurama warned. "Any more strain on it could kill you."
"Me and Urameshi jumped into this deal together and we're both going to come out alive or we're not coming out at all, okay!" Kuwabara refused to take Kurama's advice to heart.
I watched as Kuwabara focused his energy to transfer to Yusuke. It was moving to see how much he cared for Yusuke. Perhaps, Kuwabara was okay too. "Here goes Urameshi." I wanted to join in as well to help out.
Don't you dare think about expending your own energy.
I heard Hiei's voice in my head. Remember, if you die, I have to be punished. I'm not in the mood for that.
I smiled as I watched Kuwabara collapse over Yusuke's body. There's no need. They'll both be fine.
"Well I suppose now we'll have to return to the living world carrying both of them on our backs." Kurama remarked in a light tone.
"Like I said babysitting." Hiei said looking down at both Yusuke and Kuwabara passed out. "Here's what I don't understand," Hiei turned to Kurama, "Why would he bother saving her if he died in the process?" He asked. I got up after seeing the two would be okay as I joined my demon friends.
"Trust me Hiei there are reasons." Kurama said with a small smile on his face.
"Hn. Maybe for a person who's lived there, but I'd never do it. The challenge is enough without taking someone else's slack." Hiei commented.
I let out a laugh. "But you would have to." I remarked. "At least for me anyway." I playfully stuck out my tongue at Hiei to which he rolled his eyes, but I saw a tiny hint of a smirk waiting to emerge in his eyes. "Don't worry, I won't put you in that position. You've done enough 'babysitting' for now."
I laughed again as I helped hoist up Kuwabara and Yusuke onto Hiei and Kurama's backs. "Let's go home." I said to the two of them and they nodded and we proceeded back to the living world
-x-
A couple of days had passed and I walked past Keiko and Botan. "Yusuke up yet?" I asked.
Botan shook her head, but I waltzed into Kuwabara's room anyway. Over the past few days waiting for Yusuke to get up, I was able to meet Keiko properly and found out she was quite studious, but a very friendly girl. I could see why Botan would think her and Yusuke were smitten with one another.
I saw Kurama and Kuwabara were sitting around talking. "Morning guys! Boy wonder up yet?"
"Visiting again Sakura?" Kurama asked and I nodded. I was going to say more but we heard noises and noticed Yusuke was waking up.
"Well about time you woke up." Kuwabara said once he seemed to be aware of his surroundings.
"Where am I?" Yusuke asked looking around.
"You're in my room. Which is back on Earth." Kuwabara informed.
"You've been sleeping for three days straight." Kurama told him.
"Though I suppose you deserve it saving the world and all." I chuckled.
"School looks like a warzone and classes got cancelled for a week. I talked to your mom too, so don't worry about that." Kuwabara briefed him quickly on the world saving situation.
Yusuke didn't seem to care as he cut straight to the punch. "Okay, and what about Keiko?"
Kuwabara wants us to look sad. As if Keiko really was hurt. Kurama informed me telepathically.
In that instant I did my best to look sad alongside Kurama and Kuwabara. They wore grim expressions pretty well. Hopefully I fit the charade.
"What about Keiko and Botan?" Yusuke asked again. We said nothing. "What?" He shouted at us. He jumped off the bed and grabbed Kuwabara by his shirt's collar. "Hey! You better start doing more than clenching your teeth. Tell me what happened to her!" He demanded.
"I recognize that yell anywhere." I heard Botan's voice chime in ruining the joke. She opened the door and Keiko was behind her as well.
"Botan? Keiko?" Yusuke looked utterly confused and turned back to see Kuwabara laughing.
"Oh my gosh, that was so great!" He said enthusiastically over pulling off a joke on his friend.
"Sorry Yusuke." Kurama started. "He insisted."
I smiled. "If it makes you feel better, Kurama just informed me, so I thought, why not?" Yusuke was not pleased and started to beat on just Kuwabara. It was all a very humorous sight.
Sakura, he's awake. Are you done? I heard Hiei's voice.
I don't understand why you couldn't just check up on the detective yourself. Koenma asked you to watch over me. Not make me do errands. I communicated to him with a small smile to myself.
I said goodbye to everyone and explained how I just wanted to check up on Yusuke. I made my way outside and Hiei appeared out of nowhere. "You're so impatient." I remarked and stuck my tongue out.
"As if you're one to talk. If you want to stay, then be my guest. You're the one who wanted me to wait on you." He remarked.
I smiled and I latched onto his arm. "But of course. You're my guardian! You're supposed too." I reminded him.
Hiei shook off my arm and started to walk away. "Just follow quietly before I change my mind."
I smiled and ran to catch up with Hiei. "Can we train soon?" I asked him.
"And if I say no?" He commented.
"Not fair! You're the one who told me to not run away." I reminded him.
"Yes, but I didn't mean to bug me." He continued to walk and turned around to see that I had stopped with cross arms. "Babysitting never ends for me does it?" He turned around and continued to walk. "Are you coming? You won't get stronger just standing there."
I smiled widely and followed Hiei again. Until that day would come, I didn't mind being a 'burden' to Hiei just a little longer.
-x-
A/N: Next chapter starts the rescue Yukina arc and we get to find out some lovely information about Sakura! Leave a review to inspire me! You guys are awesome and I hope you enjoyed!