The Blood Red Rose
Chapter Eleven: Follow the Bread Crumbs Pt. 2
"BOOM!"
Yoko's eyes snapped open and he jumped back, narrowly missing the lasers. The bomb had just yelled, scaring him half to death. He scowled, clenching his fists. A thin, scraggly neck with an over sized head emerged from the wires. It had one large eyeball. The center cracked open and it began speaking.
"Hahaha, gotcha! I wish I could have seen your face," the bomb said in Karasu's voice. "Congratulations, you passed level one of the game. Let me tell you a secret. This wasn't a real bomb."
Yoko's eye twitched. Not...a...real...bomb?
/That sadistic bastard./
Yoko blinked. Red, have I been a bad influence on you?
"You see, what's the point of putting a real bomb in a building with no one in it? So this is why level one was just a test to see if you would take the bait. But I can assure you my dear fox, the next locations will have real bombs, killing everyone in the vicinity. I will give you two clues because they apply to the next two locations. Clue one is: an institution highly regarded by humans. Clue two is: a place where experts join together to enlighten others. You have until 8:30 to defuse the bombs in both locations."
Yoko grabbed the fake bomb and exited the office. Once the door shut behind him he threw it onto the floor and stomped on it. He made sure to crush it entirely before scooping up its remains and placing them in the secretary's desk.
Biggest waste of time in my life.
/When I see Karasu, I will rip him limb from limb using my Ojigi plant./(1)
Yoko smiled evilly. Now there's something I would enjoy seeing.
Leaving the building was a bit of hassle because Yoko had to find every plant he used. Although it took him longer to leave, it was much easier than actually having to find a bomb and then defuse it.
Once outside, Yoko gave back all control to Kurama. Any feature changes returned to normal. It was a half past three. He was in the middle of a large city with only two clues for the next two bombs. Four and a half hours was ample time to save the world, so to speak.
/So, what institutions do humans highly regard?/
Kurama pondered that thought as he walked aimlessly through the city. Well, there are government buildings, such as an embassy..
/But that's not pertaining to you./
I realize that. There's a church or a temple.
/You're not religious./
Kurama sighed. I'm just pointing out ideas.
/They're stupid ideas, Red./
I don't see you coming up with any.
/I like to bide my time./
Kurama rolled his eyes. Sure you do. After saying that, he tried to shut out Yoko using the usual mental barriers he put in place around Hiei. Sure, he and the fire demon were friends, but Hiei enjoyed using his Jagan Eye far too many times for his own entertainment when he was bored.
He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up into the sky. The full moon was tomorrow night. Hopefully that was when he would find Karasu as well. The last time they fought while he was in his human form, it didn't go as well as he planned.
He glanced at the watch Yoko had stolen. It was four a.m. He had been wandering for about two hours. Two hours wasted when he could have been figuring out the riddle. Kurama was taking his time going back home. It was easier to think when he was alone in a sleeping city. It was an unusually quiet night. There were no sirens blaring. The few people wandering the city were vandals, but they paid no attention to Kurama. He walked through shadows and alleyways, occassionally leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
It was a little past four o'clock when the silver fox demon in his head, who had been silent for quite some time, decided to speak again.
/All this moping around won't help you solve the riddle./
First of all, I'm not 'moping around' as you so blatantly put it. Besides, that's what you're for. And, for your information, I'm contemplating on the riddle.
The voice in his head snorted. Kurama cringed. No one really knew how annoying that is until a silver fox decides to make his presence known in their subconscious.
/I live in your head. You, my dear red head, are love sick. You are blaming yourself for her kidnapping. I spent so much time getting rid of the conscience of yours while growing up. When in the seven hells did it come back?/
Kurama rolled his eyes.
/Hey, I saw that./
The red head rubbed his temples. Now his migraines were caused by an annoying voice in his head. Life couldn't be better. Maybe if he played it up enough, he could pass it as a mental illness and get drugs from a human psychiatrist to block the irritating thief. He sighed. The therapy sessions would probably cause him even more grief.
After what seemed like eternity, Kurama finally made it home. He unlocked the front door without using the key and walked silently to his room. Half past four. He had four more hours. He collapsed on his bed after setting his alarm clock. One hour of sleep should help him think.
An hour passed by too quickly for Kurama's liking. He woke up even more tired and frustrated than before. He raked his fingers through his hair. He stared at his clock with bloodshot eyes. Quarter till six. He was running out of time, and fast. He groaned. He had to reach Maya in time. He just had to. If anything happened to her, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
He didn't realize how much he missed her smile and the casual way she would blow her bangs out of her eyes. He found himself playing with a piece of loose thread on his shirt as he lost himself in his memories.
The thundering footsteps of his step brother snapped him out of it. It was six. Shuichi had to wake up earlier to get to school since it was much farther than Meiou High.
School.
/Huh?/Even Yoko was a little dazed and sleepy. Although, the spirit fox didn't need sleep...
School,repeated Kurama.
/How can you think of learning when your girlfriend is in trouble?/
Kurama ignored him and began explaining as he changed his clothes. School is an instiution humans highly regard. Without education, you can't get a good job, which equals a horrible life financially. It's mandatory for all children to go, so it's important. It's also the place where experts come to enlighten others. Teachers. They teach their students in the subject they majored in.
Yoko thought it over. /That's brilliant. It's personal as well. Wait, does that mean we have to break into two schools?/
Two schools...Of course, Karasu said it applies to two locations. My school is obviously one of them, but the other...
The door in Kurama's room was open a crack. He saw his brother with his backpack slung over his shoulder. He was slowly walking towards the stairs.
Shuichi!shouted Yoko and Kurama together mentally.
We'll go to his school first; it's farthest.
Kurama was already out of the house before his brother even sat down for breakfast. He sprinted towards his school, which was sadly on the way to the building they just came home from. He cut through side streets and weaved through through trees and other obstacles. He jumped over trash cans and came across a street that was impossible to cross; an accident had occurred, blocking the entire intersection. If he tried another route, he would lose valuable time.
His eyes locked on a supermarket that always opened earlier. He ran through it and exited it from the back. He reached a dead end in the alley. Looking back, he saw no one there. He backed up and ran toward the tall wall. He leaped over it with ease. He saw it. Shuichi's school. He climbed over the chain link fence in two easy moves.
Like before, Kurama gave control over his body to Yoko. The now in control fox sniffed the air. He could smell Karasu's stench faintly. Tonight was the full moon. Today, his powers in the human's body was the strongest. He grinned. Karasu was not anticipating something like this.
He stalked through the playground with a fiery look in his eyes. His putrid scent was leading him straight to it. This was going to be an easy job, especially since there was only a total of three humans in the building. They were all on the opposite side of where he needed to be.
Inside the building, Yoko passed by a bulletin board that announced an assembly today at 8:15 in the auditorium. His grin grew. Lady luck stroke again. It was the perfect place to hide a bomb. The scent led him straight to the auditorium. It was a large rectangular room that was barren except for a podium and a few chairs set up for the teachers. The students had to sit on the floor. Behind the podium was a stage. That's where he looked first.
He parted the red curtain. His eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. His scent was everywhere. Yoko dug through boxes and upturned stage props. There was a door on the stage that led into a small hallway that was mainly used for costumes. He looked through the neatly hung clothes and found a small box in the very back. Opening the box, his grin turned into a frown. There was only a pair of shoes in there. He scowled and shoved the box against the wall before turning around.
Yoko blinked. He thought he just heard a squeak. A squeak that came from the shoes. He grabbed the box and took the shoes out. There was nothing at the bottom. He sighed, grabbing the shoes on the ground to put them back. But he only grabbed air. He looked to his side astonished. One of the shoes was walking away from him.
In the blink of an eye, he grabbed the shoes. He flipped it upside down and tore the bottom off. There was a mass of wires and a digital timer. They were pumps, so there was ample room for a bomb. This surprised both counterparts that Karasu would pick a shoe as a bomb.
What an interesting use for shoes.
/You have to admit, it is clever. Clever, but strange. I don't think I'll look at shoes the same way again./
Yoko scanned the inside of the shoe bomb. He ripped out the majority of the wires that did nothing. They dropped to the ground near his feet in a pile that resembled much like snakes. That was when the job become a little more difficult. The wires on the floor wrapped around his leg, constricting his blood flow. Yoko tried kicking them off, but it was to no avail.
/Looks like your luck just ran out./
It's your body these wires are mutilating, Red.
Kurama snorted. It was Yoko's turn to cringe.
That is annoying.
Yoko bent down as if he were trying to tie his shoes. He pried a few of the wires off, but before ripping them so much that they couldn't wrap themselves around anything. Then an idea hit him. He pulled a rose from out of his hair. The thorns covered every inch of the stem, making it seem like a saw. He methodically used it to cut through the wires several times.
He wiped the sweat from his brow when he was done. He returned his attention to the shoe bomb, which had failed in its attempt to run away again. Yoko's left eye twitch. This was completely ridiculous and absurd. He made a mental note to find that little fairy tale book in the garage that contained the Hansel and Gretal story. He was going to rip it to shreds, then make a bonfire. Finally, he would flush its ashes in the toilet.
Without even looking at which wire he picked, Yoko just cut one. He blinked in surprise after a few seconds. He grinned.
Today is my lucky day.
/You just picked a completely random wire!/ Kurama was completely shocked at what his counterpart just did.
So?
/We could have been blown up, you idiot!/
Don't call me an idiot. You're calling yourself an idiot. And stop yelling.
Kurama groaned. /Just give me back control./
Fine, but you're on your own when the principal bursts in here in about 10 seconds.
/What?!/
It was too late. Kurama was back in control, and the door opened. He jumped into the racks of clothing, hoping he could blend in. At least Yoko had placed the bomb back in the shoe box. The principal was a middle aged woman. Her hair was in a tight bun that seemed to pull her face as well. She had hawk-like eyes that narrowed as she scanned the enclosed space.
"I don't know what the useless janitor was complaining about. There's nothing in here," she said and left.
Kurama sighed in relief as he climbed out.
/You handled yourself quite well, Red./
Shut up.
Kurama walked out of his brother's school with the shoe box in his arms. He dumped it into a dumpster in a near by alley. He walked a few steps when he heard a small explosion. He ran back and opened the lid of the dumpster. Smoke came out.
Yoko?
/Yes./
You suck. I'm disarming the next one.
/But it's not even eight. It's hardly 7:45./
It's probably motion sensitive.
Yoko snorted. /With what I put that shoe through, I doubt it./
Wait, did you say 7:45?
/Crap./
Forgetting the smoking dumpster, Kurama raced to his school. When he reached it, the halls were barren and not a sound could be heard; classes had already begun. Thirty minutes was all he had. He skidded through the halls, thinking of where this bomb could be located. Yoko was no help either, well, not until Kurama would apologize for making fun of his bomb disarming abilities.
If Karasu can make bombs out of every day objects, do you think he did the same here?
Yoko didn't reply. Kurama let out an exasperated sigh. Fine, I apologize! Are you happy now?
/Not really, but it'll have to do until you can properly apologize. Now, I have this hunch he put the bomb in your history class./
What?Kurama stopped suddenly and hid inside the men's restroom when he saw a teacher patrolling the halls.
/You spend way too much time here. Do you have a bladder problem?/
Yoko! We have a problem at hand. Stay on task.
/At the moment, our problem is your bladder, but I'm willing to put it aside for now. Anyway, like I said, I'm sure Karasu put the bomb in that class./
Great, now all I have to do is just waltz in there and say, 'Bomb threat. Please exit this classroom calmly and quietly and don't call the bomb squad. I'm fully capable of handling it myself, even though I'm not trained. I have a voice in my head that can help.' Oh, yeah, wonderful idea.
/Think outside the box moron./ Yoko paused for dramatic effect. /Fire alarm./
Kurama blinked. Brilliant.
Yoko sighed. /What would you do without me?/
I would be a lot better off.
/That was a rhetorical question./
I know, replied Kurama mentally with a smug smile on his face.
He stuck his head outside the door and looked both ways. No one was in sight. He silently inched towards the fire alarm. He broke the glass encasing it. Making sure to cover his hand with his jacket sleeve, he pulled the lever. He ran back into the restroom and exited again as the floor cleared. Room 201A was, luckily, on this floor. He turned the door knob, but it was locked. He cursed silently at the school's fire code.
After some expertise lock picking, he was inside. He closed the door behind him and locked it. He looked through the teacher's desk first, then the students. Nothing. He traced the chalk holding ledge of the blackboard. He craned his neck out the window to see if the bomb was outside. (The room faced the back end of the school. Students had to meet at the front end during a fire.)
He rummaged through the closets in the back of the class. He threw out jackets and bags into a pile. There was still nothing.
/Hurry. I hear someone coming./
Kurama was running out of ideas. The door knob jiggled. He silently jumped onto a desk and grabbed a hold of the fluorescent light panels that made rows along the ceiling. Flinging himself over it, he leaned on his stomach against the hot light. The door was knocked down. The person was a firefighter, trying to find any stragglers and the source of the so called fire. He left the room, scowling.
Kurama jumped back down, rubbing his stomach. His shirt had been beginning to smoke and the slight traces of a burn was visible. He had only one last idea of where to look. That was underneath the desks. He went through each one, grimacing at the amount of gum that had magically come back.
He was nearing closer and closer to the window until he found it. The bomb was attached underneath Maya's desk. The shape of this bomb was similar to a CD, except several inches thicker. He grabbed it and without a second thought, he jumped out the window. Behind the school was a large alley used mainly by cars leaving the parking lot if the area was too congested. The first thing he saw was the school dumpster. Running toward it, he dove next to it, making sure his appearance was blocked from the school windows.
He extracted the lid and tossed it aside. There was a whole mess of wires. Luckily, he had been paying close attention when Yoko was disarming bombs. He immediately recognized the useless wires and found the ones that could trigger an explosion. There were three of them, and he had no idea which one to pick.
/You have less than five minutes./
Which do I pick?
Kurama heard the chattering of students as they walked back into school. He concealed himself better in the alley.
Well?
/I'm thinking!/
Kurama was getting impatient, and time was running out. If they didn't pick a wire, it would explode. If they picked the wrong one, it would explode. Either way, there was going to be an explosion. He closed his eyes and pulled on which ever wire he touched first.
Ten very tense seconds passed.
/Did you just close your eyes and pick a wire?/
It worked, didn't it?
/You're a hypocrite. I did that and you yelled at me. Do you have any idea how much that hurts?/ Yoko paused. /Well, here's your just desserts./ He screamed, loudly.
Kurama held onto his head until his screams died out. He stood up, shaking and the disk fell to the floor in a clatter. Like in his father's company, a long thin neck emerged from the bomb with an over sized head. It's one eyeball cracked open once again as it spoke.
"Well, well, well, it seems like you've defused three of my bombs. Excellent job, Kurama. I never doubted you for a second. I'm sure you're justdying to see your human lover," said the bomb in Karasu's voice.
"Not my lover," mumbled Kurama. (/You deny that now./)
"This is your final clue for finding a bomb. When you disarm it, it will give you a clue pertaining to our location. You will not have to disarm any bombs, just fight me. So, without further ado, your clue: memories are made and shared here; people are shaped here. You have until 9:15."
This time, the bomb itself burst into flames. The ashes drifted down to the ground.
"Well, that was interesting," said a familiar voice.
(1)The Ojigi plant is the man eating plant Yoko used during his fight with Karasu in the Dark Tournament. (In case no one can place the description of the attack with the name.)
CrazyDreamerGirl:So, can anyone solve the clue? And who showed up? Random, but Maya's name has the origin in Sanskrit and it means illusion. Apparently Maya is also the name of the birth mother of Buddha. Just an interesting little fact. I'm sure there are various other meanings. I just found one. Also, I am extremely sorry for the longest wait ever! My only excuse is that school is seriously cutting into my fanfic time. Another thing, I did not spell check this. Sorry for any silly mistakes.
Thank you Dark ring of hope, Sora Sotara, ani05tersrVIP, LoveAnime18, Vaxl (x3), Cupcake-Cult, Dragoon-Yue, MoonlitSorrow, Kealli, hawkman714, and Pure Shikon for reviewing.