Disclaimer: I do not own Yuyu Hakusho. I own the story plot and Inazuma, but little else.
Hatoko: Well, here we are, with chapter eight, and I'm amazed that you guys haven't gotten sick of me yet. n.n;; Well, a toast to all my reviewers! n.n
Fire-Crow: Sorry! I didn't know! Oo;; Thankies for the review, and, I like your new username! n.n
Hiei's Gothic Angel: You're welcome! Thank you so much for reviewing since the beginning, and for the e-mails! n.n Hahaha... yeah... Don't worry, he'll get his, in the end... (I think... Oo;;). Probably by a homicidal kitsune... n.n;; Hahaha! That's just how I think Yukina would act. I think she would be very sweet and very forgiving. n.n And, I was very happy when you brought her back. n.n Hahaha... yeah... about the door... I just needed a way for him to get out somehow, and I realized that before, I had never mentioned Inazuma shutting the door, so... yeah... It was basically just a cop out from any real thinking that I might've had to do... n.n;; And, don't worry about making your reviews too long! I really enjoy them! n.n Thank you for reviewing!
LoversPastForgotten: Oops... I never meant to make anyone hate Rui... n.n;; She is trying to get him back, though! she really is! And, we all know that Inazuma is just there to piss people off, so... n.n;; Oh, don't worry. They'll save him soon enough. (Hopefully... Oo;;) Thank you for the review, and I'll try to update sooner!
Tbiris: Umm... thanks, I think...? Oo;; Thankies for reviewing! n.n
Lynn (Agent Dark Moose): Thankies very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! n.n OO;; Wow... I'm impressed... You're the only one who got that! Just don't tell anyone okies? It's supposed to be a secret... n.n;; I'd say that it made you extremely smart... n.n;; Yay! I'm proud! Good deduction! n.n Thankies for the review!
Midnight-Sunset: Hahaha! Kurama's tryin', he's tryin'! I think hanging around with Yusuke and Kuwabara is starting to get to him... n.n;; Yukina's trying her hardest! Also, she had Rui, which means insider info, which means she'll hopefully get there soon! Thankies! Noooooo! Come back, Hi-chan! (Starts typing at incredibly fast speeds) I'll get you back yet! Thanks for the review! n.n
Ame-tennyo AKA Hyena Frog: I hate it when that happens... Anyways, thankies for taking the time to come back and review! n.n
Silvermane1: Thankies for the review! n.n
GoePan: Thank you very much! I'm glad you like it! n.n You're right though... The extra shot was kinda weird... Even I thought so, and I wrote it... n.n;; Thankies for the review! n.n
Dragon Tamer103088: Thank you! I'm glad you think so! Thanks for reviewing! n.n
MasterFranny: Thank you very much! I will try to update as soon as I can! n.n
Imomen: Hahahaha! But, you just had to throw it at me and break it, didn't you? n.n Yeah, Inazuma is... well, I won't say "dumb", but... n.n;; You know what I mean... I'm not about to insult my own character. n.n;; And, he probably won't necessarily rape Hiei... Probably... n.n;; Hahaha! Kurama is the only allowed that privelege! n.n But, I ain't makin' no promises... Oo;; Hmm... Maybe by looks, he might look a teensy little bit like Ayame, but their personalities are completely and totally different. I'm feeling shocked and upset in your general direction for poor Ayame. Instead of yelling at Inazuma, though, Kurama yells at Yusuke and Kuwabaka. Is that a good enough substitute? n.n;; T-T Wow... that's a long name for a hampster. Oo;; I wonder if its small brain can even comprehend all that... Anyways, it might've been funny to you for Yukina to do that, but... most people wouldn't think so... n.n;; Wow... Kurama was just in chapter eight! Oo;; It was only a chapter ago! Jebus... Oo;; I will complain if you don't review... 'cause I'll cry if you don't! ...Okay, maybe not. But, the sentiment was there... n.n;; Hey! I'm not a hypocrite, because I'm not the one who said it. The one who said it was Yukina, and she never fights, so she's not a hypocrite, either. I just think you are confused... n.n;; Anyways, thankies for the review! n.n
Kirby-Chan263: Hahaha... n.n;; Yeah... cliff hangers are a lot less irratating when you're the one writing them... n.n;; Gomen ne! Here is your update! Thankies for reviewing! n.n
Inuyashapup: Hahaha! Of course I don't mind updating! Although, sometimes it is a hassle, getting it out on time, but... yeah. n.n;; Here's your chapter! Thankies for the review! n.n
Hatoko: Arigatou gozaimashita, minna-san! I really appreciate the reviews! n.n Before we start, I would like to take this time to deticate the chapter of this story. A round of applause, everyone!
Detication:
This chapter of "The Day the Hiroseki Fell", by Hatoko (YokoYoukai), is hearby deticated to Agent Dark Moose, who is
Hatoko's second longest reviewer, and has reviewed all chapters, before, and since
the second chapter, when she first started reading.
Arigatou, Lynn-sama! Hatoko hopes you enjoy this chapter!
The Day the Hiroseki Fell
"Right..." Kuwabara mumbled, sticking a finger in his ear, as if to stop the ringing he was currently hearing. "I knew that..."
Yusuke shook his head as he walked away.
"So, fox-boy," he added, addressing Kurama. "We ready to head north?"
"Won't it be hard?" Kuwabara interrupted. "Like, to get there?"
"No worries, Kuwabara-kun!" Kurama said cheerily. "Where there's a will, there's a way!"
Chapter Eight: Complaints and Confessions
After eight hours of walking, even Yusuke was starting to think it was a little absurd. Sure, he had run for five days straight and not even broken a sweat, but that was across flat turrain! Right now, they were trying to navigate their way through the fifth forest in three hours. Even Kurama was having troubles with the surrounding vegitation, as much as he hated to admit it. Not to mention, Kuwabara was lagging further and further behind, which meant, that to make his complaints and pleads for a break be heard, he had to shout louder than usual. Which was very rapidly giving Yusuke a headache. He glanced behind him, and almost laughed out loud. The only thing that proved Kuwabara was even still following them, and not taking his own self appointed rest, were his ever-increasing-in-volume complaints.
Taking pity on the carrot top, Yusuke looked forward to Kurama, who was a few paces ahead of him.
"Oi, Kurama," he said. "Maybe we should take a rest. I mean, Kuwabara's been screaming for three hours, and I can't even see him behind us anymore."
Kurama turned to face Yusuke, and was suprised to not see Kuwabara as well. He had been shouting so loudly, Kurama thought he had been with them the whole time.
"You know, Yusuke, I believe you're right. We will stop and gather our strength," Kurama said.
Yusuke nodded, and shouted behind him, "Yo, Kuwabara! We're takin' a break, but you can't until you catch up to us!"
"WHAT?" was heard through the trees, scattering any birds in a two mile radius. "THAT'S NOT FAIR!"
"Hey, it's not our fault you're slow and can't keep up!" Yusuke yelled back.
About half an hour later, Kuwabara came panting into the clearing where Kurama and Yusuke had settled.
"About time!" Yusuke chided his friend, earning a glare from the taller boy, who had yet to catch his breath.
"Alright, Kuwabara-kun," Kurama started. "We'll let you rest for ten more minutes before we start again."
"HUH?" Kuwabara cried. "Why only ten minutes?"
"We've already been here for half an hour too long," Kurama responded coldly. "So be thankful for the time you get to rest."
Kuwabara stared dumbfounded at Kurama, while Yusuke chortled and slapped the carrot top on the back.
"He's right, Kuwabara," he grinned. "Beggars can't be choosers, as the old saying goes."
"Dammit..." Kuwabara mumbled, flopping onto the ground.
And, sure to Kurama's words, ten minutes later, the three were marching through the woods, in the same order: Kurama in the lead, Yusuke in the middle, and Kuwabara a few feet behind, the caboose.
An hour later, once they seemed to be devoid of forests for a while, it suddenly got cold. Like, real cold. And really suddenly. You wouldn't have guessed that it would suddenly be so cold. Kurama pulled his school jacket closer around his thin form, while Yusuke was shivering, Kuwabara's teeth were chattering, and both were complaining about how much they needed Hiei there so they could all gather around him, and draw warmth from the excess fire ki that radiated off of his petite form. After about ten minutes of this, Kurama was about ready to snap. After about ten more seconds, he did.
"Will you PLEASE be QUITE?" he shrieked.
Immediately, Yusuke and Kuwabara's bickering died out as they stood and stared incredulously at their friend.
"Hiei is NOT here, so I would appreciate it if you would stop bringing it up by wishing him to be! This whole thing has been trying my patience enough already, and I don't wish to here about how much you all CLAIM to miss Hiei just because you want him to be here so you won't be cold! Am I the only one who actually misses his presence as a person?" he continued, getting more and more hysterical. "The way you two act, it's like you don't even CARE what could be happening to him! He could be being tortured right now, and it would be all my fault..." he added, getting quieter and quieter, until he was slumped on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
Yusuke and Kuwabara stared for a few more seconds until the shorter of the two moved forward quickly and wrapped an arm around the kitsune's soulder. The redhead shrugged it off, but Yusuke was unperterbed. Kuwabara came to kneel by him as well.
"You're in love with him, aren't you, foxy-boy?" the hanyou murmured quietly.
Kuwabara whipped to Kurama, shocked, while Kurama looked up into Yusuke's eyes, and, upon seeing the understanding and gentleness in them, let tears leak down is cheeks once more. He simply the gave the smallest of nods, barely perceptable to the other two, even with both of them so close. Yusuke smiled sympathetically, while Kuwabara turned away, still too shocked to think very straight.
"Well!" Yusuke proclaimed, standing up, putting both his fists on his hips, and smiling very widely. "I guess that means that we're just going to have to pick up the pace a little, ne?"
Kuwabara, who had finally gotten over the initial suprise and alarm of the fox-boy being in love with his rival, nodded vigorously, and added, "No more complaining from me, Kurama. That's a promise."
"Pfff!" Yusuke exclaimed. "Let's just see how long that lasts..."
"Oi, Urameshi! You're supposed to be supporting Kurama, not making jokes!"
"I am supporting Kurama! Just that fact alone doesn't help the fact that you're a baka!"
"Yeah, that's tru- HEY!" Kuwabara yelled, grabbing Yusuke by the collar of his shirt.
Yusuke had been about to punch Kuwabara in the face, when he heard the familiar chuckle that sounded like a chime in the wind on a fine summers' day. Both punks turned to Kurama to see him giggling at their antics, tears still in his eyes, but sincerely laughing non-the-less. They both smiled, seeing their (well, Yusuke's... Kuwabara was acting how he normally would've) goal completed.
Kurama wiped the tears out of his eyes as he said, "Arigatou, Yusuke-kun, Kuwabara-kun. I needed that."
"No problem, man!" Yusuke said proudly. "We were happy to help!"
Kurama nodded, and still smiling, stood up, and turned towards the north.
"If we keep going, I think we could get a few more miles in before it gets completely dark!" he said happily.
Yusuke and Kuwabara exchanged grimaces, but said nothing.
They began following Kurama without a word as he strolled along in the cold air, feeling worlds better than he had in a long time; since before Hiei's kidnapping.
Night fell, and the three companions made camp, managing to light a small fire, without the much debated hiyoukai, and settled down for the night, after eating some sort of Makai herb that Kurama had promised them was anything but poisonous. They deemed that because Kurama was also eating from the same bush they were, that it was, indeed, alright.
After a while, when Yusuke had heard the oaf's breathing even out and become the deep breathing of sleep (or, in Kuwabara's case, the deep snoring of sleep), Yusuke turned to Kurama. Although Kurama's eyes were presently closed, and his breathing quiet, Yusuke knew Kurama was still awake. Taking a deep breath, he called out to him in a soft voice.
"Kurama?"
Kurama cracked an eye open in a very Hiei-esque fashion, and said, "Hai, Yusuke-kun?"
"Are you sure you're alright?" Yusuke inquired worriedly. "I mean, with what you told us this afternoon..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortably off to the side.
"I am fine, Yusuke," Kurama said, assuredly. "What I told you may have been because I was frustrated, but I meant all of it. We will find Hiei, and everything will be alright."
"Right," Yusuke agreed, grinning. "Hiei'll be fine. Whelp, I'm gonna hit the hay. 'Night, K'rama!"
"Good night, Yusuke-kun," Kurama watched as Yusuke turned himself onto his side, facing away from Kurama. "See you bright and early."
A groan was heard coming from Yusuke's direction as Kurama snuggled into the bed of grass he had made softer with his ki.
The next morning, however, only one of those promises came true. Surely, it was early; even Kurama could vouch for that. It was, in fact, so early, that the sun had only just begun rising. As Yusuke woke up after gentle shaking from Kurama, he peeked out from under his eyelids and moaned. It wasn't even daylight yet. Damn Kurama.
After ten minutes of shaking Kuwabara, Kurama looked back at Yusuke, who was just sitting up, exasperated.
"How deep does he sleep?" Kurama asked Yusuke, incredulous, as Yusuke moved passed Kurama towards Kuwabara.
"Heh," Yusuke chuckled. "You haven't known the oaf as long as I have. It takes a certain something to get him up."
Kurama looked away as he felt a pang in his heart as Yusuke used Hiei's favourite nickname for Kuwabara. Kurama looked back at Yusuke, who had leaned over Kuwabara, and was now beginning to speak to him.
"Kazuma-chaaaaan... " he sang in a voice sounding uncannily like Shizuru's. "Time to get up, itouto. You wouldn't want to make nee-chan, angry, now would you?"
Immediately, Kuwabara was up like a shot, and bowing before whom he thought to be Shizuru and quivering. Yusuke was laughing to hard, he had become deprived of oxegyn, and his laughter silent. Kurama was just looking at Kuwabara with a facial expression that would count as a mix between confusion, humor, and pity. Quite the interesting combination, one which was only making Yusuke laugh harder.
Kuwabara peeked an eye open, and nearly went homicidal when all he saw was Yusuke laughing his ass off, and Kurama looking confused/amused/pitying, instead his nee-san there, ready to knock his block off for sleeping late.
"Shut up, Urameshi," he yelled, sitting up and brushing himself off indignantly, with a light blush forming on his cheeks. "If you had a nee-san like mine, you would've done the same thing."
"Ka-kazuma-chaaaaaaaaan..." Yusuke wheezed, still almost completely out of breath from laughing so hard. "Don't talk that way about... about your n-nee-san..." he trailed off, as his laughter subsided, and took great long breaths, looking as if he had just won the Tour de France(1); really out of breath.
Kurama looked between the two and smiled. Their arguing really had a way of making someone feel better. Maybe they should open a clinic for depressed people, and have he patients watch them argue so they won't feel so bad about themselves... No. That idea was squashed by Kurama before it even had time to surface. I mean, them? Open a clinic? Hah! That was almost as ludicrous as a hiyoukai falling for a kitsune! ... The world is doomed. However, Kurama didn't know how possible his analogy was (the hiyoukai/kitsune part... Oo;;) at the time. If he had... well, he just would've thought up a better one.
Kurama, who was riled from is thoughts by a sudden very Kuwabara-sounding scream, looked up in time to see Yusuke secure the aforementioned carrot top in a headlock. Sighing, he clapped his hands twice, calling the two punks' attention on to him.
"As mch as I enjoy watching you two rough house," Kurama lectured. "There are much more important things we could be doing right now. I think you both know what those are."
Both boys nodded apologetically, though Kuwabara cursed rather loudly when Yusuke dropped him on the ground without warning. Kurama clapped again, making the two boys come to order before the fight even began.
"And, please," he added, tiredly. "Try to contain yourselves."
Both boys saluted and allowed Kurama to pass them as they continued their way through the tundra.
Another couple of hours passed as they went through the now-frozen wasteland, with suprisingly few complaints from the younger two of the party. Yusuke was about to suggest a break, however, when Kurama, who was once again, a few feet ahead of him, stopped. Yusuke, intruiged, walked the remaining distance between the two of them, and stopped once he was next to Kurama.
"Yo, fox-boy," Yusuke called, using one of his favourite nicknames for Kurama. "What's up?"
Kurama didn't even spare Yusuke a glance, as he stared disbelievingly ahead. Yusuke followed Kurama's line of vision until he spotted what Kurama was staring at. His eyes widened. They had made it. They were there.
When Kuwabara finally caught up to the two in front, he was suprised to see them just standing side by side, staring off into the distance.
"Urameshi? Kurama?" he called uncertainly, standing on Yusuke's other side. "Whatcha guys lookin' at?"
Yusuke pointed ahead of them to a looming castle about an hours walk away, that Kuwabara was amazed he had missed in the first place, considering its size.
"Is that...?" he asked, his voice trailing off.
Yusuke answered the unfinshed question.
"That's it," he nodded. "The keep were they've got Hiei and Yukina."
-Owari-
(1): The Tour de France: It's a big bicycle race in which the course takes the contestants all around France. If any of you have seen the movie "Pee Wee's Big Adventure", staring Pee Wee Herman, the dream he has at the beginning of he movie is of him winning the Tour de France.
Hatoko: Tee hee hee hee! Wasn't that a horrible place to stop? Anyways, I just wanted to clear up a few things that have been bothering me: one) I said a few chapters back that Hiei's main reason for not telling Yukina that he was her brother was because she was pure, and that stuff, well... I just wanted to say, that, I know that his payment to Shigure was to not tell Yukina as well, but, once Shigure was dead (twice!), I figured that it didn't matter much anymore. I'm not sure if anyone actually cared, but it's been bugging me, so I had to say something about it.
(IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION!) Two) The Kurama-tacchi chapters are happening at the same time the Hiei-Yukina chapters are. Like, at the end of last chappie, Hiei was with Inazuma in his office. While that was happening, Kurama and the gang had reached Rui's keep (they don't know that Hiei was relocated yet), and Rui was telling Yukina the truth. So, at the beginning of this chappie, when they were walking, was equivalent to the time when Hiei woke up in the dungeon, at the beginning of last chappie (Yukina was still knocked out during that time).
Hatoko: I wasn't sure if that was clear to everyone, so I had to make a note of it. Anyways, thank you for reading, and please review! n.n
Hatoko-
P.S. Sorry if this chapter was shorter than the last one; I tried to make it longer, but I wanted to make the time intervals of the chapter events even. If you get what I just said, Congratulations. Have a cookie. Oo;; (I'm not even sure I got it... n.n;;). Anyways... I'll be off now! Ja ne! n.n