Yu Yu Hakusho

Chapter 13: Forgive and Forget

Kurama had complete control over any plant with this new tree at his disposal, but this tree was a tree of knowledge, not to mention that it had a mind of it's own.

"Yokaryu. What did you really hope to accomplish by killing innocent children?"

"I wanted to get them out of our way! They did nothing but cause pain! I wanted revenge!"

"'out of our way?' Or out of your way? Revenge is nothing. It only leaves a hole. It does nothing but cause more pain and sadness. It doesn't provide any fulfillment at all. I know this by experience."

"Stop this! why are speaking in riddles?!?" Yokaryu was begining to grow fearful.

"Maybe," he thought, "I'm not good enough to protect her..."

The tree's roots were edging closer...

"Maybe I'm not good enough for anything! I don't deserve to live!!!"

It was then that he fell to his knees in tears. He couldn't understand why he seemed to fail at everything.

"I can't let you get away with this, Youko Kurama!" In no time, the dying FireGlow Tree began to grow upwards once more, and was shooting out towards Kurama. It's branches were forming a claw-like shape, and were ready to crush Kurama to death.

"I already have. Heh."

But it was no use, the tree Kurama had grown was stopping it dead in it's tracks.

"Yokaryu, let me tell you a little something about this tree." The knowledge tree began to sway in Yokaryu's direction, and began to lift him off the ground. Yokaryu struggled to break free, but was too weak.

Ikaida watched in fear of what Kurama might do to him. She had no idea that her new friend was really a demon, and she was even more frightened that he might be even more of a threat than Yokaryu.

"You see, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil is a very complex being because it is neither good nor evil. It could even kill me were I careless enough to allow it. It is an all-knowing plant of sorts, which is why your ridiculous tree falls in it's presence; it knows everyone and everything's weakness It's also quite intelligent in other ways. It can read minds."

The tree's branches were tightening themselves around him, and he was only getting closer to death. But Youko Kurama had different plans for the demon.

"Yokaryu! Yokaryu! Please speak to me!" Ikaida was struggling to stand on her own, but was still quite weak from the beating she received and was leaning on Kuwabara for support.

"I don't think he can hear you, Ikaida." Yusuke was as frightened as anyone else. He was hoping so much that Kurama wouldn't kill him, but he knew that telling him to stop wouldn't be an option.

Yokaryu was fading out of consciousness, and was barely alive. He had very little strength left, and wasn't even sure if he was still alive now. Ikaida's voice was still calling for him, but he couldn't answer. She was fading out. He couldn't keep going any longer.

"Yokaryu. Can ya hear me? Yokaryu? Wake up!"

Someone was calling him.

"Yokaryu, I sure hope you're in there. Please don't give up on yourself yet."

"H-hello? Who's there? Who's calling me?"

"Don't be silly! It's me, Ikaida!"

"I-is this... a dream?"

He had no idea what was happening, but suspected that he was dead. It couldn't have been Ikaida. He was still struggling to survive on the outside, and Ikaida was praying with everything in her that he would be okay.

"Why'd you fall asleep? Don'tchya wanna play with me anymore???"

"Play?"

"Uh-huh. You were playing the bad guy, and I was playing the good guy. You were winning until I pulled out my new toy daddy got me, then you fell asleep."

"I... fell asleep?"

"Uh-huh. You said you weren't good enough, and then you fell asleep! Did you forget?"

"But I 'm not good enough..."

Although he couldn't see her, he knew her voice better than anyone. It was the same voice she had when she was little. She sounded happier than ever, and a little sad. It was then he realized what was going on.

"Yokaryu! Please, speak to me! You have to wake up!" She was shouting and crying; hoping to get a response from him, but he was still lost in his thoughts.

"What'cha mean you're not good enough?"

"I'm not good enough for anything. I'm not good enough to play with you, I'm not good enough to protect you, and I'm not good enough to be your friend."

"Why you say that?"

"Because it's true!"

"No it's not. You're always good enough for me!"

"But what about when I'm supposed to do something, and then I don't get it right? Everytime I do something, I mess it up for you."

"Nuh-uh. I like when you try to do something nice for me. Like when you got me the cookies from the kitchen when mommy told me not to eat any? He he he!"

"You mean you're not still mad at me for trying to hurt your friends?"

"Nope! I know you mean well, and that's all that matters! Remember what you said? You said that being good, and being the best you can be, is all that matters. As long as you right your wrongs and forgive 'em, then everything will be okay!"

Yokaryu finally understood what he did wrong. He now knew what Kurama meant.

"Maybe Kurama was right," he thought, "maybe revenge isn't everything..."