Suddenly, however, the mirror cracked with a loud pop, and the glowing stopped. Kurama fell on his stomach on to the hard pavement of the ceiling, Tamaki popped backwards on her back, both of them completely confused. Kurama was scared, after the dull confusion faded, he sat up.
"I'm alive..." he said, softly. Tamaki wasn't moving at that moment, and panic flooded through his veins until he saw her slowly sitting up. Mayu ran over to Tamaki, "Are you okay?" she asked, feeling the need to check the girl's help before the boys.
"..I am...I am okay..." said Tamaki, her voice full of shock and awe. Her eyes were still flooded with tears, but she wasn't crying, She took her sleeve to her eyes, "Wh-What is going on?" she asked, looking over to Kurama. A big booming voice spoke up.
"You two have proven...to be very selfless." the mirror said, "I have taken so many lives, because they didn't know the price of their wish to be rich or famous. But, you two, you both risked your live for other lives..." the voice was that of an old powerful man, even though it was obviously coming from the reflective object on the ground, "I will grant your wish, and spare your lives. Both of you."
Kurama was stunned, and almost didn't believe it until a doctor came up on to the roof, "Shuichi! It's a miracle, your mom is suddenly recovering!"
Yusuke ran over to the mirror and picked it up, 'recovering', "It's..broken..but the wish is granted...?" he asked, a bit shocked. Botan flew to his side.
"I guess the spirit was so shocked by the selflessness it released itself..." she said softly, taking the mirror and packing it inside of her Kimono. Tamaki struggled upwards, with Mayu's help. Mayu looked at her like she was stupid.
"That was very dumb, Tamaki, you have to be smarter then that." said Mayu, not using an honorific, "If the forlorn hope had taken your life, rather then Kurama's, don't you think HE would have been sad?" she asked, a bit sharp on her for an unknown reason.
Tamaki felt like she was being scolded and sank back, "D-Don't talk to me like that! He.." she said, biting her lower lip...she was so mad, she forgot to count the person she was doing it for, didn't she? Mayu shook her head, and Kurama came over there.
"Thank you three for everything, letting me make my wish..." he said, bowing quickly but not looking Tamaki in the eyes, running down for his mother. Tamaki was feeling left out.
"Is he..mad at me?" she asked, feeling like a child who's parents were disappointed.
"He had tears in his eyes, he probably didn't want you to see them." said Mayu, her eye's lowering, "..And maybe a little bit mad." she said, having to be honest. Tamaki sighed and separated from the taller girl.
"I'll..have to apologize for being so reckless." said Tamaki, rubbing her head and trying not to think about it, "..I was wrong on a lot of points, wasn't I? My parents..they wouldn't want to see my die too soon..too..."
"One person can affect lives just by being alive. If you feel like you are alone right now, you don't know who you'll meet and help the next day. That's a basic rule of life, survival. Don't throw it away recklessly." she said. Tamaki nodded and got away from her, running down towards the stairs to go to talk to Kurama and check on Shiori.
Yusuke blinked and walked over to Mayu, "You are being to hard on the chick, man, she was just trying to help."
"Kurama will get his too, from you I hope." said Mayu, her eye's still lowered and looking over to Yusuke, "You of all people should be angry, having died and come back. Life is to precious to just throw away, even if you think you are being noble, you are going to hurt someone."
Yusuke sighed, "You are just a hard hearted ol-"
"Finish that sentence and you'll find out just how 'Hard Hearted' I am. You know I am right, it was before both of their times. Thank god it worked out for Kurama's mother, though.." she said with a sigh, following Tamaki. Yusuke sweat dropped and looked over to Botan.
"What the hell is her problem?" asked Yusuke.
"It's just the way she was brought up, it's pretty reverse at her Dojo. Suicide is considered the lowest form of death, as opposed to a Samurai or something." laughed Botan nervously, trying to cover for her.
"It wasn't suicide, it was..erm...eh, whatever," said Yusuke, brushing off Mayu's bad feelings, "At least everyone is happy, lets go check it out." he said, him and Botan finally going down to the hospital room.
Tamaki was at Kurama's side, gripping his sleeve carefully and smiling as Shiori was sitting up and smiling and everything. The evidence of her having been sick was there, she was covered in a fine layer of sweat and there was still redness in her cheeks. But she looked..refreshed. Excited and happy. She was a perfect picture of health.
"We can't figure out how it happened, but she seems to have made a full recovery!" said the doctor, the very doctor that told Kurama she was doomed himself.
Kurama smiled and took a step toward his mother, Tamaki still attached to him lightly and hugged her with one arm, not wanting to shake Tamaki off. Tamaki got the idea that he wanted her hug her and let go softly, letting Kurama squeeze her tight.
"I knew you could do it, I knew you could!" said Kurama, completely happy. Shiori smiled and patted him on the back, "Yes..I couldn't have made it if I didn't know I had you to return to.." she said.
Kurama looked up at her, "What..?" he asked softly.
"If I didn't know...that Shuichi would be all alone without me...or at least feel like he would be...I wouldn't have made it, thank you. You are the reason I made it, Shuichi!" he said happily. Tamaki teared up a little.
Kurama smiled a little bit, "Thank you, mom, I love you very much.." he said, patting her on the head. Tamaki patted Kurama on the head, "Um...sorry if I was reckless..in getting here." she said, quickly, knowing Kurama would understand what she meant.
"It's okay, Tamaki, we were all worried...and you told me some things I probably needed to be told.." he said gently, looking up at her with forgiveness. Tamaki was relieved.
"And thank you for getting better, Shiori-san.." she said softly. Shiori smiled.
"Thank you for being kind to me." she said politely. Kurama pushed her down, "Now, you just recovered so please get some rest."
"She can come back home first thing tomorrow." said a cheerful, and apparently faith renewed nurse, "I'll get the discharge filed over night."
"Thank you!" said Kurama, for the umpteenth time today. He stood up and turned to Tamaki, "I'll make sure you get home okay, okay?" he asked. Tamaki smiled and nodded. He turned to Mayu and Yusuke, who were just standing in the doorway trying not to be seen.
"Thank you two, as well..." said Kurama. Mayu nodded a bit, and opened her mouth to speak her mind but Yusuke cut her off.
"Whatever makes everyone happy, man!" he said. Mayu glared at him. Botan giggled.
"You just have to recover one more artifact now, are you to up for it?" she asked them, unable to be seen by anyone but Tamaki, Kurama, and those too.
"Yeah, the sword, that doesn't seem like such a big job." said Yusuke with a nod.
"It will be. Hiei will be strong." said Mayu, a slightly laziness overtaking her, "We were extremely lucky to get two back as quickly as we have, but we will have to make sure we use the extra time to prepare ourselves for him."
Kurama came into the conversation, "She's right." he whispered, "You two best be careful. He'll probably use all his strength to claim his last asset." Tamaki sighed.
"If there is anything we can tell you to help..." she started, trailing a bit.
"No, not really.." said Botan, nodding a bit, "You two get some relaxation, for a while, okay? You need it after all of this..trouble." she said, trying to avoid a word like drama.
"Understood." said Kurama, "I am going to get Tamaki home now, good night." he said, heading down the hallway and for the doors to the elevator. Yusuke turned to Mayu and Botan.
"I told you guys he wasn't evil!" he said.
"I agreed with you..." said Mayu, crossing her arms irritatedly, "Lets get out of here, as well...we need a plan of attack." she said.
"It's simple. I go in, and blast him, and we take the sword." said Yusuke feeling confident and punching his hand. Mayu sweat dropped.
"That's a bad idea..maybe I should fight this one.." said Mayu, rubbing her head.
"No way, I don't want to see a girl get her butt kicked." said Yusuke, laughing heartily before falling to the ground..he was on so much adrenaline from the drama, he was on empty now. Mayu grabbed his collar and dragged him, not feeling like carrying him.
"My mistake." she said Sarcastically. Botan sighed, "We'll figure something out. We just got to find Hiei first." she said. All of a sudden, a rock fell down above her head and it hit the ground in front of her, with a not tied to it.
"....I have Keiko?" asked asked Botan, looking over at her, "Who's that?" Botan gasped.
"Oh my god, oh my god, we are screwed! He must have taken her and sent someone to give the message!" she said, landing and smacking Yusuke with the oar, "Yusuke, Yusuke get up!"
Yusuke woke up from his drained and dragged state, "...What?" he asked, now tired obviously, "..Why am I on the ground...?"
Mayu sighed, "Someone by the name of Keiko, I think Hiei has captured her, do you know that person?" she asked. Yusuke shot up.
"Is that some sort of fucking prank!?" he asked, yelling at Mayu at the top of his lungs.
"...Oh my god, that's Yusuke's girlfriend!" she said, smacking her forehead for being so darn dense. Yusuke groaned.
"She's not my girlfriend, but we got to go get her!" yelled Yusuke, running forward adrenaline powered again. Mayu was worried.
"This isn't going to work, he's practically a zombie!" she said, following after him. Even on empty, he was faster.
"There has got to be a way to transfer him some extra energy.." said Botan. Mayu sighed a bit.
"I don't know a technique like that, do you?" she asked. Botan nodded, "Yes, I do..." she said with a sigh, grabbing Mayu's shoulder, "I'll give him some of your power for now, so he can make it okay?"
"If you say so, it's the only thing that's gonna work." she said. Yusuke was the spirit detective, not her, it would be the proper procedure if Yusuke was going to refuse to stop running. Yusuke wasn't even slowing down, not in the least. He needed to save Keiko..she was his best friend, as hard as it was to admit. She was annoying as hell, but damn it if she was going to die because he was too 'tired' to save her. Screw that! He suddenly felt himself powered with a sort of red energy, flowing through his veins hotly. It was uncomfortable, but any energy was welcome at this point.
Mayu was struggling to stand, Botan had taken to much, "I think...I better...fall back and let you handle this, Yusuke." she called, forward. Botan was mouthing apologize. Yusuke sighed, "Yeah, yeah, whatever! I am in a hurry!" he yelled. Mayu nodded and let herself collapse a bit, heading over to a bench and sitting on it. Yusuke just kept running, and before she knew it she was asleep.
Hiei stumbled overhead, not having sent someone as Botan had thought. Great, two hostages will make the situation even more dire. He'll get revenge for him ruining his plans, and make sure Yusuke's death made him feel as low possible. He grabbed Mayu by her collar, ironically, and began to run off back to his hide out.
He had to do this. He couldn't believe Kurama had betrayed him like this, but fighting him wasn't a safe option. He'll get his revenge on the spirit detective, then proceed on his plans best he could.
Kurama was taking Tamaki home with a gentle expression of happiness on his face. He couldn't believe it, everything was working out to everyone's best. The detective would stop Hiei, and everyone would be able to live semi normal lives. He turned to Tamaki.
"...So...I was right, you're parents are.." he said, confronting her mildly.
"Yes, they are..." she said softly, "I shouldn't have lied to you, but I am glad you forgive me," she said.
"It must be a pain to pay off all of the left over bills, are you doing okay financially?" he asked, stopping in front of her house. Tamaki nodded, "Yeah..." she said. It was hard, but she always managed at the end of the month. Kurama curled his lips.
"You could stay with us, still." he said, "Kokoda still believes your house is being fumigated. It might be for the best." he said, trying to make it easier on her. He was probably all she had now, and he felt bad for almost throwing that away for her. Tamaki was tempted.
"..Would it be a trouble..?" she asked. It could help. She could sell this old place and move on...use the money for college, and stuff like that...she was really tempted.
"You can stay as long as you need, Shiori loves you." said Kurama with a small, not exaggerating. Tamaki rubbed her head.
"Okay...well...I guess if it's not a burden.." she said, laughing a bit. Kurama smiled, "Okay, lets just head on home then." he said, passing her house and going on to his. It would be awkward, living with a girl who wasn't related, but he was sure it'd work out best for everyone. It'd be wonderful.
