Inverted Maze Castle
Dane Soar
Hiei plan is somewhat different here, things being inverted after all. It wasn't very creative, but I thought it might work. I got the idea from the first YYH Movie (The shorter one). I thought it was odd how quickly Yusuke figured out what Kuwabara was planning. I wanted to explain this here.
Chapter 10 Hiei's Plan
(Kuwabara's POV)
"Hack, cough, gasp.
Wheeze, cough, hack.
Cough, hack, pant."
"Jeez, Yusuke, cough up your lung while you're at it, would you." he glared at me, then launched into another coughing fit.
It was a full five minutes since Seiryu had died. Right after he had, the ice had shattered and Kurama and Yusuke had been released. Yusuke was still coughing, though Kurama was fine. Guess nonhumans can hold their breath longer.
"Are you okay?" I asked the demon.
He nodded "Yes." And I noted that he wasn't holding his hand to the stomach wound anymore, it looked like it had stopped bleeding. 'Must be nice to heal that fast.'
"Wheeze, cough, hack.
Cough, hack, pant.
Hack, cough, gasp."
Hiei raised an eyebrow, "If he's going to die, could he hurry up with it?"
Casting an angry look over at the midget, I slapped Yusuke on the back a few times. "Come on you heard the man, hurry up with it."
"Hack, cough, gasp.
Wheeze, cough, hack… Shut up." he spluttered out, "I'm working on it." from the sound of it, he was. Four more minutes later he climbed to his feet breathing at a more normal rate.
"Alive?" I asked him.
He sighed. "Yeah, sadly."
Kurama stepped in on our tentative male bonding, suggesting. "We don't have much time, I suggest we go on."
Yusuke and I left off our glaring and agreed with him, we headed in the direction of the stairs.
Just before we began up the stairs at the far side of the room Yusuke turned to Hiei. "I saw you melting that ice while I was frozen," He put a hand to the back of his head in resignation, "Man this sucks, if you use those moves next time we fight, I'm going to be screwed."
His hands in his pockets Hiei pushed by him. "Maybe." he said quietly. We all gaped at his back. Yusuke blinked in surprise.
Shading my eyes I squinted at the retreating shrimp. "And where I thought he was going to say 'Well of course, you fool.'" I commented.
Kurama smiled, "Hiei is going through a tricky change. It appears he is beginning to like you, Yusuke." Yusuke looked forward at Hiei with an odd look in his eye, but then the corner of his mouth twitched upward. I knew that smirk. It's the one he uses when considering someone he grudgingly respects.
A shiver ran down my spine, now that is scary.
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Back in human world the humans possessed with Makai Insects began to lumber toward a new goal.
"Kay…ko." One of them said in a long drooling drawl, "Kill… Kayko Ukimura…"
(Kuwabara's POV)
Our shoes clattered on the steps loudly, and we hurried up them toward the top of the long flight. The really, really long flight.
The something hit me like a bolt from the blue, making me gasp and stop on my step.
On a step above me Yusuke turned back. "What now?" He snapped. "Got cramps?"
"My whole brain just felt like an ice cube, I think something bad's happening," I frowned. "on earth."
"No telling now long we've been here," Kurama pointed out. "The beasts have most likely organized a counter assault using the Makai Insects."
Hiei cast a glance back at us. "Only one more," he reminded us. "let's not waste time." Yusuke, Kurama, and I nodded in agreement.
As we headed on, Yusuke looked worried, as if his thoughts were elsewhere.
(Kurama's POV)
Yet again we ran, up the steps up until at last we came to the top.
"Hurry it up!" Yusuke shouted to none of us in particular, mostly voicing frustration.
"Shut up!" snapped Kuwabara instantly.
'Stunning word play, gentlemen.' I thought on an open broadcast to Hiei, not wishing to waste actual breath on it. My wound was closed, but throbbing resentfully. The skin didn't enjoy having to heal the same area twice in as many days. I kept a hand to it lest it reopen.
A storm always raged around Maze Castle, but no rain ever fell, and a large crackle of thunder sounded as lightning lit a building in the distance. Yusuke and Kuwabara in the front pulled up suddenly at the sight of it.
"What the hell is that thing?" Yusuke asked, seeming to speak for both humans.
'Hiei, I never got this far when I came here,' I sent to Hiei wordlessly. 'I studied floor plans, but I don't remember this tower, though how I could forget it is beyond me. Do you know if the last Beast is in there?'
Hiei replied aloud, not being one to waste words "It's the watchtower. I'm sure that's where he is."
Clenching his fist, Yusuke said. "Fine then, let's drag him out."
Thunder and lightning boomed again and we were off. The running resumed until Yusuke's pants pocket chirped. He didn't stop, digging out the Com. Mirror on the run. "What now?" he snapped.
"Small problem," I heard Botan say. Hiei and I exchanged raised eyebrows.
Sweat seemed to pop out on the back of Yusuke's head. "Ah! Kayko?!"
'Who?' Hiei asked me.
I wasn't surprised Hiei didn't recall. 'The girl remember?'
'Oh. Her. This could be bad.'
'I think Kuwabara's feeling 'something bad' before might have been a premonition for something after all.'
'I doubt it.' scoffed Hiei.
"I had to pick her up from school, Yusuke," Botan continued. "it seems that every infected person in the area is looking for her."
Yusuke's expression was stony as he stopped. "What?"
There was real panic in her voice as Botan said. "And I don't think they want to talk." 'She has a talent for understatement.' "I'm almost certain they mean to kill her!"
"Did you say kill?" asked Yusuke, surprised.
"So, that's what my premonition was," Kuwabara said solemnly.
'Ah, see I told you,' sent I to Hiei who spared a second long glare for me, then turned his gaze back to the Com. Mirror.
"The Beast must be using the Makai whistle to order…ah!" Botan broke off and there was some muffled shouting as the glimpse of the screen I caught over Yusuke's shoulder showed anything but static.
Shouting at the Com. Mirror, Yusuke shook it as if it would help. "Hey, Botan, are you there? Botan!"
There was no response.
"I don't have a good feeling about this." said Kuwabara.
Yusuke slid the Com. Mirror into his pocket. "We've got to smash that whistle as fast as we can!" he took off running and we followed.
The running part could be a problem if we kept up much longer, I was down to some of my last dregs of energy, most of it going to patch up my stomach wound. Hiei, I was sure was most likely in a similar predicament, the way he had been the last to start running hinted at it, however I had no idea about Kuwabara. We needed it get this over with.
Once near the watchtower we stopped again to collect our wits. "Okay guys that is one spooky tower." Kuwabara commented.
I frowned. 'If the cliché holds…' "The last beast should be one the top floor."
"Then let's climb some stairs," Yusuke determinedly said, and I wanted very badly to groan.
That urge was squelched quickly as Yusuke paused, and his head turned toward one of the little entrances beside the main door. Slowly, something emerged from it in a shambling gait.
As soon as I saw them I knew what they were, there was no mistaking the leaf like hair and green skin, these were Cultivated Humans.
"What are those people?" Kuwabara asked, shocked. There was a large number of the Cultivated Humans spread out in front of the door, silently blocking our way. "Whatever those guys are it's gonna take us a year to beat them all."
Which is exactly what the last Beast wants. "Yes, considering out time restraints," I said. "This could be a real problem."
"I've had dealings with Cultivated Humans before. They don't feel pain, or fear." Hiei commented his voice steely.
Kuwabara was furious, "What kind of twisted monster do you have to be to turn humans into something like that? Where ever Kayko is she's in some trouble."
"Like hell she is!" snapped Yusuke then muttered. "Stupid monster humans trying to slow us down. That's why I'm blowin' them all away with my Shotgun!"
I put a restraining hand quickly on his shoulder suggested. "Let's use out heads."
"What, you want me to head-butt them?!"
Ignoring him I went on, he would listen if he saw sense in it, "It's not wise to use your Spirit Energy. The more inpatient we are, the more mistakes we make." 'I'm not falling into that trap again, believe you me.'
"Well how is head-butting them gonna help?!" he yelled, not seeing sense. "My Shotgun is the only way we're going to get past them!"
"No." It was Hiei who had spoken. We both turned to face him.
Kuwabara leaned in, "So, you got an idea?" he asked, half a question half a taunt.
He walked between Yusuke and I and halted in front of us staring at the tower, "Set your eyes on the first window," three windows were set high in the wall above the entrance, "that is your door." Hiei claimed.
"Well I'm sorry, Mr. Mysterious, but I forgot to bring my pogo stick." Yusuke said, stress easy to read in his voice.
"Yeah, how do expect us to jump that high?" agreed Kuwabara, I didn't say anything knowing Hiei would explain.
"I'll need you to listen closely." he began. There was a lightning strike and we all considered his plan.
"I might just work." I commented.
Kuwabara snorted at the idea that Hiei could come up with a good plan.
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Kuwabara gritted his teeth in determination as he readied himself.
"You'd best not blow this, Kuwabara." Yusuke reminded him, though he wasn't listening.
"Don't worry, I'm like an ox!" Kuwabara shouted back to him taking off toward the tower. Hiei and I were right behind him hands to our weapons as we dash headlong.
Bowling into the Cultivated Humans, Kuwabara sent them scattering the sides, taking out my Rose Whip I cut down the three on my side as Hiei started to clear the ones on the other, keeping them from Kuwabara.
The human meanwhile had set his feet and summoned his Sword. "Okay Urameshi, come on!" he shouted, and Yusuke started running. "I just hope you aren't too heavy. Spirit Sword Extend!" as the orange Spirit Sword grew long Yusuke jumped up and landed on the blade.
With a grunt of exertion, Kuwabara swept the Spirit Sword up and over, catapulting Yusuke up into the air. The momentum sent him face first into the ground, but his eyes, like ours, were riveted to the Detective flying through the air.
"It'll be close." I said.
And it was. Yusuke caught the sill by his fingertips only, quickly scrambling up into it.
Kuwabara laughed in relief picking himself up. "We did it!"
Turning back to look down on us, Yusuke grinned. "Remind me to try out for the cheerleading squad." he muttered, then shouted. "You guys have fun with the veggie-heads!"
"Don't die on me, okay?" Kuwabara shouted back to him. Yusuke gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared from view.
The Cultivated Humans drew closer, "Poor guys." Kuwabara turned back to the enemies. "I'm gonna feel bad kicking your butts!" his fist knocked one to the ground.
I backed off from him, leaping up and landing in the middle of another group where I would have full range for my weapon, and Hiei did the same.
'Five.' he sent to me, meaning the number he'd dealt with.
Smiling I held up the coiled Whip and set to work.
'Nine.' I replied a minute later.
'Twelve.' Hiei retorted.
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TBC2:34 (at night).