Chapter 10
The other, more impulsive, members of his team had been missing for a while now. Twilight had long past and the gathering night encircled Kurama. The trees swayed with no wind to bend them and the ground shifted with no cause. An energy pattern had emerged in the distance emanating the scent of his lost comrades. He followed being very cautious and wary of his surroundings. Every motion caught his attention; every sound twitched his muscles in anticipation.
'The scents are close at hand,' he thought. 'What could have happened to them? Their energy is fluctuating wildly! Could it have something to do with the overlaying power signature I am sensing?'
Suddenly a well traveled path emerged, glowing like the sun at his feet. Pausing, he considered what it meant, 'It could be a trap' he thought, but then reconsidered, 'No, it is a trap and Yusuke and Kuwabara are entangled in it' He mulled the situation over, 'There is, however, little hope of saving them if I do not also entangle myself in this farce and find out what is happening' With that he followed the glowing path while continuing to keep an eye on his surroundings.
He soon entered a small clearing that seemed to be shielded with the bodies of naturally growing trees save for an opening the path led into. They formed what appeared to be walls in a perfect circle reaching towards each other at the top forming a sort of dome. The floor glowed like the path Kurama followed to this place. In the center sat a man in the lotus position with his hands intertwined in his lap. He wore a formal, Japanese male kimono in deep hues of black and gray which off set his long, light blue hair.
Kurama stood, watching the unusual sight, 'He looks to be in a sort of trance or is he meditating…?' he thought as he gazed at the man's closed eyes and solemn look. Ever so slowly, the man opened his eyes and looked deeply at Kurama with striking gray eyes. His voice calm and distant, the man said, "So, you have arrived at last…"
Confused, Kurama replied, "You were expecting me?"
"Yes, of course." He said in a nonchalant manor.
"How could you know I was coming?" Kurama asked trying to gather all the information he could.
His tone never faltering, the man said plainly, "Your mind joined ours some time ago. I simply guided you here."
"Our minds? There are others?" Kurama pressed.
"Of course. The ones you traveled with and the ones that occupy them that are a part of me. We, who are one, live here in the world of our own creation. We bring others here to break their minds and devour them." He relied just as calmly as before.
"Who are you?" Kurama asked. He was almost afraid of the answer, fearing he was right in discovering what he was dealing with.
"I am Kumo," he bowed his head slightly and continued, "Kiri occupies the one called Kuwabara and Misu occupies the one called Yusuke. We are the 'Kuro Manto'. We are different from each other, but one in the mind. We have no true bodies, for we exist only in a dream world of our creation as beings of mist." He seemed to be bored with the explanation.
Kurama was in shock, 'It can not be…' He kept his face calm and asked, "Are you saying that you are one of the Demon plants of legend, the Shoku to be exact? I had thought you were but the product of stories of ancient origins" He was right, he wished he wasn't. "Tell me, is it true that you can remove a root from the main tree, plant it in another location and never sever the psychic connection?"
"That is true" said Kumo.
"How do you capture your victims?" Kurama asked.
"We simply attach ourselves to a blood being and take their minds into a sort of fantasy where they play out their fears or ambitions until they break. We feed on their essence. Your friends, for instance, were hungry for battle, so they fight for their lives. You were very different. A simple trick of the mind would not have convinced you, so we decided to show ourselves as we are, answer any question you may have and finally show you that there is no escape for you or your friends". With that he lifted his head and looked up into the trees.
Kurama followed his gaze only to find that Yusuke and Kuwabara were both unconscious and being fused into the trees high above their heads. Sweat began to drip from Kurama's forehead, 'I had not thought things as bad as this.'
"If you are but the collective consciousness of a demon that resides in a plant who's main body is somewhere in this world or the next, maybe even both, how have you entrapped me without sucking me into a tree like the others?" he asked trying to stall for time and to try to figure out a way out of this.
"You are not trapped like the others as of now. We have decided it would take all of us to break your mind. When they are done with the first two, we will come together. For the moment a simple seed is implanted on your neck to allow communication and for you to see your comrades."
Kurama reached around his neck only to find a sprout behind his right ear. 'How could I have not noticed that?' He knew they were in great peril, but there might be a way out of this predicament.
"Tell me, what happens when that part of your main body of which controls us is destroyed?" Kurama asked as serenely as he could.
"Why, our control over everyone in the area is terminated. But, alas for you, the piece of which you refer to lie with the Demon in the mansion. The area we control is great for we are very old."
'I had thought so. There is no way for me to escape and get there without knowing more about the Demon,' thought Kurama, slyly.
"Who is this Demon that lives in the mansion?" he asked.
"He is called Satzu Imura" answered Kumo. "He was a human until his body was transformed by those who 'Live Beyond the Wall' as a means of escaping. They are not happy with his progress, however, so they have turned their attention on another plan. Unfortunate for him."
Knowing that Kumo meant the Demon's death he did not want to press for more information about the plan mentioned. Kurama continued his questioning about the demons instead.
"The ones who 'Live Beyond the Wall', you are referring to the demons trapped behind the new barrier net that Spirit World erected in order to keep the peace in Demon world, are you not?" he asked boldly.
"The very same. They are known as the Kurayami. Although this barrier net is far older then the one that use to encompass the Demon World. There is no more to be said about them for I do not know anything further" replied Kumo. Sensing the questions cease within Kurama's mind, Kumo closed his eyes and continued to concentrate on maintaining the illusions.
Kurama withdrew into himself to ponder all he had learned. 'This situation is far deeper and more dangerous then we first expected.' He thought about the information Koenma gave them when they began on this journey. 'He was desperate to get us out on this mission. He hinted that it had to do with Kori; that she was to be protected at all costs. I wonder if this situation has more to do with her then meets the eye…' Kumo's words rang in his mind again, 'If the barrier net is older then Koenma had said, then it is safe to assume he is hiding something indeed.' He wondered again how she was connected to all of this and what importance she holds to Koenma. 'All of this is too perfect for mere coincidence…' He concluded.
He looked up towards his trapped friends and thought, 'For the time being, we have to find a way to escape from this entanglement and finish what we came to do…'
Yusuke felt that he was backed into a corner. Misu jumped around him with incredible speed attacking randomly. He jumped, blocked and dodged as well as he could, but it wasn't long until he was bruised and bleeding. He would attack but every time he did she would just dissolve into mist, laughing. There was little for him to do other then defend himself and figure a way to counter her attacks. 'Every time I even think about attacking she somehow knows!' he thought irritably. Just then he realized that she can probably read his mind or something of the same sort. An idea sprang up.
'Well, its like they say, "The best way is the most straight forward"', he thought as he jumped away from her and prepared for his grand stupid move. Using his spirit energy he shielded his fists so as to prevent the blades from hacking his hands off.
"Alright, lady! I'm getting really tired of this shit! Its time to end this!" Yusuke screamed. Yelling, he ran at her head on.
"Haven't you learned yet 'little boy'? You can't defeat me!" she called at him as she prepared for his attack.
Yusuke went in swinging as fast as he could, trying to dislodge the weapons from her hands. She countered just as fast, blocking with her blades and swinging at his exposed body when he would let his guard down.
'Either way…' he thought, 'I would rather die on my feet then cowering like a weakling, I don't care how strong she is!'
With that thought ringing in his ears, he pushed himself beyond what he thought possible and ran on instinct alone. She began to fall back slightly barely able to keep up with his attack. Her face contorted with frustration. Exclaiming angrily she jumped back from him a few yards and said.
"Well, well. You still have some fight in you yet, 'little boy' she teased and charged him again.
His fists and her blades clashed again and again. It was then that he noticed that there was no echo. 'Something is off…' he thought suspiciously. Thinking about how he got there and the look of things and an epiphany hit him, 'This isn't real… It's some sort of an illusion or mind control!' He looked at the now obvious marks again, 'It's the only thing that makes sense.' Dodge, swing, counter. 'If I am here, then the others must have fallen in to it as well. But where are they?'
Yusuke jumped back and lowered his fists. She smiled and said almost disappointed, "Awe, your not stopping are you? It was just getting fun!"
"Where are the others?" he said plainly.
Pouting, she responded, "I have no idea what you are talking about…"
"I think you do. You also know what sort of place this is," he said glaring at her.
"So what? You knowing the truth is not going to change anything. You can't escape or beat me; the same goes for your companions," she said slyly.
"So I'm trapped, am I? Heh…" he chuckled in amusement. "So this is some sort of illusion? Thought so…" He thought for a moment, and then continued, "You are right about one thing. Knowing doesn't make a difference. I am still going to kick your ass!" With that he charged and their battle continued the same as before with neither of them showing the least amount of faltering or exhaustion.
Kuwabara again hit the ground, indenting the earth with the force of his landing. "I'm getting really tired of this!" he yelled in frustration at the man laughing at him from a distance.
"Seriously… I'll never get tired of this!" gaffed Kiri as he readied his halberd to counter Kuwabara's feeble attempt to make a decent attack. "You have a great ability, but because you are so weak and clumsy you have no idea how to use it properly! Hilarious!"
"Shut up! I know how to use it!" yelled Kuwabara as he picked himself off the ground slowly. "Stupid jerk!" he muttered to himself. 'If I could get a reading on his spirit energy then I could get him! It keeps jumping around, like he isn't even there!' he thought irritably. 'His attacks feel real enough though…'
"As soon as you understand how to 'swing' the sword and not 'fling' it around, I might say the same!" His chortle was cut short when Kuwabara advanced again. Kiri dodged and countered Kuwabara's attack with ease sending him across the ground on his back. Earth and rubble flew everywhere as he skidded to a stop.
'Yep, definitely real enough…' he thought as he got up groaning.
"Hey!" started Kuwabara. "What is up with your crazy spirit energy?"
"Sorry, what are you babbling about? Did I hit you too hard in the head that time human?" he replied with false concern.
"Hey! My head is fine! It's your energy that is going all nutzo!" cried Kuwabara.
"Oh that!" said Kiri in a tone of unimportance. "'Bout time you noticed that! I thought your 'awareness' would have picked that up ages ago! Just go's to show, I guess!" his laugh rolled off his chest with ease.
"Stop laughing you hyena and answer the stupid question!" retorted Kuwabara.
"Ooo, he's mad! Oh no!" Kiri answered sarcastically, his mirth taking over again.
"Darn you! I am going to kick your tail!" said Kuwabara as he rolled up his sleeves and shook his fist.
"Alright! Alright!" said Kiri as he wiped his eyes. "Maybe it's because I am not really here and neither are you?" he finished, leering at his opponent.
"What? How can that be right! It feels real…" he replied rubbing his back.
"Well, does this place look real? How else can you explain not passing out from your other injuries?" questioned Kiri.
Looking around, Kuwabara noticed what he was not seeing before. Everything was wrong and unnatural. "If this place isn't real, then where are we!" he thought for a moment about what else was missing and continued, "And where are my friends!"
"Ah, finally noticed their absence as well I see!" Kiri began. "You are making good progress!" Clearing his throat he continued. "We…" he motioned to himself and Kuwabara, "…are in a world I created, with the help from the others like me, in your mind as a means of draining your essence and killing you. Is that simple enough to understand?"
He thought about it for a moment considering what it all meant. "If we are in my head, does that mean I am sort of in control, like a dream?" asked Kuwabara.
"No, no you are not" replied Kiri with his arms crossed in irritation.
"Well, either way I am not going to let you suck the life out of me, or whatever, without a fight! I will live and see my sweet Yukina again!"
"I have a feeling I am saving this girl from a life of misery…" Kiri muttered to himself.
"Prepare to fight for real now, you Jerk!" With that he split his sword into two swords and attacked.
"Oh! That's new. Now, at least, it is going to get a bit more interesting!" cried Kiri in excitement.
'If I can stay alive long enough I might be able to find a way out of here before they have a chance to eat my soul,' thought Kuwabara in despair.