Chapter 11: Wishes on the Wind
"You're looking a little disturbed." A voice said from behind him, and Peterson jumped a half-foot into the air before spinning around so fast his polished uniform rustled loudly over the hum of computer, "Find something I should know about?"
"Damnit Matthews!" Peterson gasped, holding a hand over his chest, "You scared the hell out of me, Sir."
"Your pardons," Matthews smiled without an inch of sincerity, "Found something interesting, did you?"
"You could say that." The tech replied, shrugging his coat off his shoulders and hanging it on the back of the office chair, "We've got problems."
"Problems?"
"A good amount of our ready made serums are missing from the vault." Peterson said gravely, glancing over his shoulder at the calm aide, "At least two or three from each subject. I think they've been stolen."
"Stolen?" Matthews pressed noncommittally, "Do you know who did it?"
"He was very careful." Peterson told the blue-eyed strategist, "He managed to shut off all the camera and motion sensors in that area before making his move. Near as I've been able to determine, this has been going on for a while, and he's never made a mistake."
"Unfortunate." Matthews told him flatly, "Keep digging, and tell me if you fin-"
"Except once." The Tech cut him off intently, "Just once, he left a camera on."
For a long moment, neither man moved. Reflexively, the aide ran his fingers down the arm of his coat, smoothing out the wrinkles. The silence stretched on continually, and Matthews shrugged out of his coat entirely, hanging it on another chair. Without warning, Peterson slammed his hands down on the desk hard enough to make the keyboard rattle against the wood.
"Damnit Sir, Those serums are dangerous!" He raged, "Our best men haven't taken an eighth of what you've stolen, and they're already showing signs! You can't handle that much!"
"On the contrary, I know of a way to contain it." That caught Peterson off guard, as Matthews flipped a computer disk out of his back pocket, and then slide it into the computer drive, "Call up the file on that, and I'll show you."
Nodding slowly, Peterson worked the keyboard and slide through the lines of code to the file itself. He did not notice the cold aide's hands sliding down the back of his chair, nor did he see those hands disappear into Peterson's coat and come up with the seldom used, but none the less issued, sidearm. As Peterson's eyes read the first line of text, 'Oh, Cruel World', he felt the barrel of the gun pressed against his temple and saw Matthews' gloved fingers at the trigger.
"Such a shame you've been so depressed lately." The aide smiled thinly, eyes as calm as ever, "Goodbye Peterson."
"You won't get away with this." The tech blustered, "I've sent everything I know to one of my friends, and if I don't check in.."
"I'll deal with that when it comes to it."
The keyboard and monitor was top of the line, with every bell and whistle imaginable on it. As the crimson blood spread jagged lines across their surfaces, both continued to function as they were supposed to. The organization had, of course, spared no expense.
No expense at all.
***
"I knew it!" Hiei burst out, slamming his hands down on the table, sending a small shower of forks and spoons sliding toward the now inclined center, "I knew we were fools to trust in him! This is what he was after all along."
"I concur." Kurama added calmly, "He knew that security around the Forlorn Hope would be minimal. The mirror, in its current state, would be completely useless to anyone but him. None of us foresaw the possibility of a demon with multiple lives; it's really very clever."
"How long do we have until a full moon?" Kuwabara asked worriedly, idly chipping off bits of a plastic cup.
"Tonight." Kurama informed his gravely, "As I mentioned, it's very clever. You'll notice he waited until Winter solstice as well."
"Longest night of the year." Yusuke groaned, "Well isn't that just perfect?"
"Indeed so." The Kitsune put in, "You have to admire the planning that went into this. It's clear this is what was intended, from the very beginning. The sun sets in a half hour, but the moon won't be sufficiently bright until another half hour after that. We have that long to find him."
"That would be like looking for a needle in a haystack." Kuwabara grumbled, "How are supposed to find him when he can be anywhere in this city?"
"That's assuming he IS in this city." Hiei added sourly, "Were he smart, and he seems to be, he'd be making his wish from as far away from us as is possible."
"No."
The demon and two full humans turned back to the fox spirit wearing identical expressions of confusion. Cutting off their questions, Kurama sighed at them, waving his hands in exasperation.
"I don't know how I know." He said, glancing at the floor, "But I know he's in this city. More then that, he knows that we're going to find him, because there's only one place he would try this."
"And where's that?"
"The one place in this city where the meridian lines cross, and would increase the power of the wish that much more." Kurama said slowly, "Any demon would careful when making a wish as powerful as what he, or I, conceived. And, just like me, he would use it in the one place he could be assured of it working."
Walking to the window, his red hair shining in the sunlight, he pointed toward the tall building, shining in the center of town. His eyes clouded with memory, he turned back to them.
"The hospital."
***
Suzaku watched the sunset, fascinated with the aerial display of light and fire that the human kind regarded has routine. Cradling the precious artifact in his palm, Suzaku idly traced his thumb over the shattered edges of the mirror. In a way he knew is symbolized himself; broken, defeated, and useless, but nonetheless capable of succeeding beyond anyone's wildest dreams in the right situation.
"Brother." Two said respectfully, pulling Suzaku from his thoughts, "They're on their way here."
"We knew they would be." Suzaku sighed, glancing up at the sky for a long set of heartbeats, "They do not understand that which we do. You understand what's at stake, and what we need to do. Take all but Five and Seven, and do what must be done."
"Will do." The military straight duplicate inclined his head politely, and turns on his heels toward the others.
"Wait." Suzaku waved over his shoulder, and the clone born of magic glanced back at him, "Try not to hurt them too much."
"Of course." Two bowed respectfully, "We're part of you after all."
"That's what I worry about."
***
A battle plan had been devised, energy had been gathered and Yusuke looked up at the hospital as the building caught the last glimmers of the setting sun. A buzz of energy as Kuwabara's spirit sword blazed into existence, a solid thump as Kurama's rose whip coiled behind his feet, and a scrape of metal on leather as Hiei's sword came out. Meeting their eyes one at a time, Yusuke knew they were ready.
"I wonder where all the people are tonight." Yusuke observed curiously. It was late, true, but the lights were off throughout the hospital, and they hadn't seen one single person on the way.
"Good question." Kurama wondered aloud, "Perhaps he's using some power we're not usually familiar with, to keep the weaker humans away?"
"That doesn't make any sense." Hiei countered grimly, "If it was then the lump would have found an excuse to leave."
"Can it, shorty!"
"Shall we knock?" Yusuke asked flippantly.
"I don't think that'll be needed." Kurama noticed sardonically as the sliding glass doors opened. Four darkly shaped people stepped out onto the concrete, spreading out as they did so to give the others room to maneuver. As they stepped into the light, four sets of purple eyes met theirs opponents.
"Yusuke." The first said, with what sounded like genuine regret in his voice. His voice was light, but the air literally crackled with energy between the two parties. Either would start the fight at a moments notice.
"Clone." Yusuke replied, inclining his head in return. Stepping off to the left, Kurama spoke next.
"Why this Suzaku?" he asked, "This is too much for you, surely you know that. Why betray us all for the sake of power."
"You don't understand. This isn't about power."
"Then what is it about?"
"Sorry." Yusuke interrupted, "But we don't have time for the speeches right now. You'll forgive us if we skip the pleasantries."
"Of course." Suzaku nodded slowly, his left food sliding behind his right as he dropped into a combat stance. The others around him followed suit, their eyes crackling with orange energy.
"And you'll forgive me, I hope." Hiei sighed, "If I skip this entirely. The best way to kill a snake is to cut of its head, after all." The short demon blurred as he leapt up the side of the building onto the roof, where they knew the original Suzaku would be. One of the clones started to cry out in protest, but the first one cut him off,
"They can take care of themselves!" He barked, "Let's finish this here!"
"Eat this, you bastard!" Yusuke screamed, pulling his fingers up as he called the Spirit Gun. The Suzakus blurred, the energy crackled, the rose whip snapped, and the fight was on.
***
"Did you really think you were going to get away with this?" A voice said from behind him, and Suzaku glanced over his shoulder at the black-haired Hiei, "Or is this just to keep you entertained."
"I wouldn't expect you to abandon your fellows." Suzaku noted clinically, as if lecturing on a boring section of Japanese history. This was difficult, as the demon's katana was sharp and Suzaku knew, quite well, how skilled he was with it. The presence of two of his clones behind the demon helped some, however.
"They'll manage." Hiei explained shortly, "So I thought I'd just take care of the ones hiding up here and see who finished first."
"Take care of us?" Suzaku asked incredulously, "I think you underestimate us."
"Of you overestimate yourself."
"We'll see."
With a harsh battle cry, Hiei threw away his scabbard and charged.
***
Yusuke cursed under his breath as he bounced on his hand, flipped, and landed on his feet again. Brushing blood off the side of his mouth with the back of his hand, he straightened up again. He was sure that, in a stand up fight, he could have beaten these Suzakus, but that wasn't the way things turned out. The clones were double teaming any aggressor, forcing them back away from the door. Once this was done, they were not pressing their luck but rather stepping back to wait.
"They're stalling us!" Kurama agreed, swing his whip forward and entangling one of them, then forced back by two of the others, "They can keep this up for too long!"
"Damnit, get out of my way!" Kuwabara said, swinging a sword in each hand, sending sparks off the clone's fist. As the first started to weaken, a second stepped up and sent the youth flying backward with an electrical punch to the chest. Skidding to a halt, Kuwabara growled with feeling, and Yusuke heartily agreed. A tremor ran through the ground as the top of the building crackled with energy.
"Try and block this one!" Yusuke yelled, his fingers pointed as the Spirit Gun gathered on the end. Instead of stopping where he normally did, Yusuke kept pulling power, putting all three bullets into the blazing energy he controlled. The streets shinned with blue light as his power gathered together, and it reflected off the clones' eyes. A brief glance at each other, and the four Suzakus scattered away from the blast zone.
Which is exactly what Yusuke wanted, "Now!"
Letting the energy die, Yusuke sprinted full tilt at the doors. Putting his shoulder into the blow, the glass shattered across the reception area. Kurama and Kuwabara, the latter barely missing a reflexive shot of energy from the deceived demons.
"Sword, get longer!" Kuwabara ordered, and his blaze of yellow energy extended several feet out the hole Yusuke had created. A startled oath from outside, and the doorway was effectively blocked, "Go on, I'll hold them off here."
"Be careful, Kuwabara."
"Just don't keep me waiting too long!"
***
The demon was fast, there was no question about that. The katana arced and flashed like a living fire, and it took all of Suzaku's energy to keep himself one step ahead of the blade. The two demons blurred, appearing only momentarily for a single moment of vision. A missed sword stroke, a barely parried counter attack, a dodged ball of orange energy from one of the clones, all rolled into a battle for existence between forces that would not, could not, surrender.
Suzaku knew he had to do something, and quickly. Bit by bit, inch by inch, he was losing fractions of second between his dodging and the sword stroke. The speed was already too fast for him to think about a counter-attack, and the Fire Apparition was only getting faster. He had to find a maneuver, something that the logical demon would not expect. Something to catch him off guard. And with a burst of insight, he knew what to do.
Reaching up with both hands, Suzaku caught the sword. The sharp bladed hand bit deeply into his palm and fingers, and he felt the warm blood running down his arm. Involuntarily, he grunted with pain, and Hiei smirked as he pressed down on the blade, forcing the other demon to his knees. The smirk faded as Suzaku's hands gripper tighter on the blade, slicing even more of his fingers. A crack of thunder above them, and Hiei's eyes lit with comprehension. With a desperate effort, he pulled on the sword, sending a semi circle of blood over the concrete, but Suzaku caught the edge tightly between his bloody fingers.
The clouds cracked again, and a fork of lightning blazed forth from nothing, screamed down to the roof, past momentarily through the caller's body, traveled through the sword, and into Hiei. The dark-haired Yokai screamed automatically as his body was enveloped in electricity, stumbling back a few steps. Before he could recover, two blurs resolved themselves into the forgotten clones. The first, sideways in midair, kicked hard at Hiei's head, folding the short demon over the foot drilling into his stomach from front. Abruptly laying on the rooftop, still twitching from the shock therapy, Hiei only dimly felt the twin punches that send him sprawling against the floor several yards over.
Holding his bloody hands together, his face lit with rapture, Suzaku pulled the Forlorn Hope from his robe, and the little mirror shown with white energy as it caught the moonlight. Turning to the full moon in the sky, Suzaku pulled immense power of the artifact to himself. It was time.
"Grant now my deepest wish!" He shouted at the sky, "Give me now what I wish for, Forlorn Hope. Take my lives and grant my wish!"
Yusuke hit the door to the roof with his shoulder so hard that the wooden frame splintered and came off its hinges. Squinting his eyes against the blazing energy, the Spirit Detective's throat was suddenly tight with disbelief. Kurama skidded to a halt behind him, and the youth could only whisper.
"We're too late."
"You're looking a little disturbed." A voice said from behind him, and Peterson jumped a half-foot into the air before spinning around so fast his polished uniform rustled loudly over the hum of computer, "Find something I should know about?"
"Damnit Matthews!" Peterson gasped, holding a hand over his chest, "You scared the hell out of me, Sir."
"Your pardons," Matthews smiled without an inch of sincerity, "Found something interesting, did you?"
"You could say that." The tech replied, shrugging his coat off his shoulders and hanging it on the back of the office chair, "We've got problems."
"Problems?"
"A good amount of our ready made serums are missing from the vault." Peterson said gravely, glancing over his shoulder at the calm aide, "At least two or three from each subject. I think they've been stolen."
"Stolen?" Matthews pressed noncommittally, "Do you know who did it?"
"He was very careful." Peterson told the blue-eyed strategist, "He managed to shut off all the camera and motion sensors in that area before making his move. Near as I've been able to determine, this has been going on for a while, and he's never made a mistake."
"Unfortunate." Matthews told him flatly, "Keep digging, and tell me if you fin-"
"Except once." The Tech cut him off intently, "Just once, he left a camera on."
For a long moment, neither man moved. Reflexively, the aide ran his fingers down the arm of his coat, smoothing out the wrinkles. The silence stretched on continually, and Matthews shrugged out of his coat entirely, hanging it on another chair. Without warning, Peterson slammed his hands down on the desk hard enough to make the keyboard rattle against the wood.
"Damnit Sir, Those serums are dangerous!" He raged, "Our best men haven't taken an eighth of what you've stolen, and they're already showing signs! You can't handle that much!"
"On the contrary, I know of a way to contain it." That caught Peterson off guard, as Matthews flipped a computer disk out of his back pocket, and then slide it into the computer drive, "Call up the file on that, and I'll show you."
Nodding slowly, Peterson worked the keyboard and slide through the lines of code to the file itself. He did not notice the cold aide's hands sliding down the back of his chair, nor did he see those hands disappear into Peterson's coat and come up with the seldom used, but none the less issued, sidearm. As Peterson's eyes read the first line of text, 'Oh, Cruel World', he felt the barrel of the gun pressed against his temple and saw Matthews' gloved fingers at the trigger.
"Such a shame you've been so depressed lately." The aide smiled thinly, eyes as calm as ever, "Goodbye Peterson."
"You won't get away with this." The tech blustered, "I've sent everything I know to one of my friends, and if I don't check in.."
"I'll deal with that when it comes to it."
The keyboard and monitor was top of the line, with every bell and whistle imaginable on it. As the crimson blood spread jagged lines across their surfaces, both continued to function as they were supposed to. The organization had, of course, spared no expense.
No expense at all.
***
"I knew it!" Hiei burst out, slamming his hands down on the table, sending a small shower of forks and spoons sliding toward the now inclined center, "I knew we were fools to trust in him! This is what he was after all along."
"I concur." Kurama added calmly, "He knew that security around the Forlorn Hope would be minimal. The mirror, in its current state, would be completely useless to anyone but him. None of us foresaw the possibility of a demon with multiple lives; it's really very clever."
"How long do we have until a full moon?" Kuwabara asked worriedly, idly chipping off bits of a plastic cup.
"Tonight." Kurama informed his gravely, "As I mentioned, it's very clever. You'll notice he waited until Winter solstice as well."
"Longest night of the year." Yusuke groaned, "Well isn't that just perfect?"
"Indeed so." The Kitsune put in, "You have to admire the planning that went into this. It's clear this is what was intended, from the very beginning. The sun sets in a half hour, but the moon won't be sufficiently bright until another half hour after that. We have that long to find him."
"That would be like looking for a needle in a haystack." Kuwabara grumbled, "How are supposed to find him when he can be anywhere in this city?"
"That's assuming he IS in this city." Hiei added sourly, "Were he smart, and he seems to be, he'd be making his wish from as far away from us as is possible."
"No."
The demon and two full humans turned back to the fox spirit wearing identical expressions of confusion. Cutting off their questions, Kurama sighed at them, waving his hands in exasperation.
"I don't know how I know." He said, glancing at the floor, "But I know he's in this city. More then that, he knows that we're going to find him, because there's only one place he would try this."
"And where's that?"
"The one place in this city where the meridian lines cross, and would increase the power of the wish that much more." Kurama said slowly, "Any demon would careful when making a wish as powerful as what he, or I, conceived. And, just like me, he would use it in the one place he could be assured of it working."
Walking to the window, his red hair shining in the sunlight, he pointed toward the tall building, shining in the center of town. His eyes clouded with memory, he turned back to them.
"The hospital."
***
Suzaku watched the sunset, fascinated with the aerial display of light and fire that the human kind regarded has routine. Cradling the precious artifact in his palm, Suzaku idly traced his thumb over the shattered edges of the mirror. In a way he knew is symbolized himself; broken, defeated, and useless, but nonetheless capable of succeeding beyond anyone's wildest dreams in the right situation.
"Brother." Two said respectfully, pulling Suzaku from his thoughts, "They're on their way here."
"We knew they would be." Suzaku sighed, glancing up at the sky for a long set of heartbeats, "They do not understand that which we do. You understand what's at stake, and what we need to do. Take all but Five and Seven, and do what must be done."
"Will do." The military straight duplicate inclined his head politely, and turns on his heels toward the others.
"Wait." Suzaku waved over his shoulder, and the clone born of magic glanced back at him, "Try not to hurt them too much."
"Of course." Two bowed respectfully, "We're part of you after all."
"That's what I worry about."
***
A battle plan had been devised, energy had been gathered and Yusuke looked up at the hospital as the building caught the last glimmers of the setting sun. A buzz of energy as Kuwabara's spirit sword blazed into existence, a solid thump as Kurama's rose whip coiled behind his feet, and a scrape of metal on leather as Hiei's sword came out. Meeting their eyes one at a time, Yusuke knew they were ready.
"I wonder where all the people are tonight." Yusuke observed curiously. It was late, true, but the lights were off throughout the hospital, and they hadn't seen one single person on the way.
"Good question." Kurama wondered aloud, "Perhaps he's using some power we're not usually familiar with, to keep the weaker humans away?"
"That doesn't make any sense." Hiei countered grimly, "If it was then the lump would have found an excuse to leave."
"Can it, shorty!"
"Shall we knock?" Yusuke asked flippantly.
"I don't think that'll be needed." Kurama noticed sardonically as the sliding glass doors opened. Four darkly shaped people stepped out onto the concrete, spreading out as they did so to give the others room to maneuver. As they stepped into the light, four sets of purple eyes met theirs opponents.
"Yusuke." The first said, with what sounded like genuine regret in his voice. His voice was light, but the air literally crackled with energy between the two parties. Either would start the fight at a moments notice.
"Clone." Yusuke replied, inclining his head in return. Stepping off to the left, Kurama spoke next.
"Why this Suzaku?" he asked, "This is too much for you, surely you know that. Why betray us all for the sake of power."
"You don't understand. This isn't about power."
"Then what is it about?"
"Sorry." Yusuke interrupted, "But we don't have time for the speeches right now. You'll forgive us if we skip the pleasantries."
"Of course." Suzaku nodded slowly, his left food sliding behind his right as he dropped into a combat stance. The others around him followed suit, their eyes crackling with orange energy.
"And you'll forgive me, I hope." Hiei sighed, "If I skip this entirely. The best way to kill a snake is to cut of its head, after all." The short demon blurred as he leapt up the side of the building onto the roof, where they knew the original Suzaku would be. One of the clones started to cry out in protest, but the first one cut him off,
"They can take care of themselves!" He barked, "Let's finish this here!"
"Eat this, you bastard!" Yusuke screamed, pulling his fingers up as he called the Spirit Gun. The Suzakus blurred, the energy crackled, the rose whip snapped, and the fight was on.
***
"Did you really think you were going to get away with this?" A voice said from behind him, and Suzaku glanced over his shoulder at the black-haired Hiei, "Or is this just to keep you entertained."
"I wouldn't expect you to abandon your fellows." Suzaku noted clinically, as if lecturing on a boring section of Japanese history. This was difficult, as the demon's katana was sharp and Suzaku knew, quite well, how skilled he was with it. The presence of two of his clones behind the demon helped some, however.
"They'll manage." Hiei explained shortly, "So I thought I'd just take care of the ones hiding up here and see who finished first."
"Take care of us?" Suzaku asked incredulously, "I think you underestimate us."
"Of you overestimate yourself."
"We'll see."
With a harsh battle cry, Hiei threw away his scabbard and charged.
***
Yusuke cursed under his breath as he bounced on his hand, flipped, and landed on his feet again. Brushing blood off the side of his mouth with the back of his hand, he straightened up again. He was sure that, in a stand up fight, he could have beaten these Suzakus, but that wasn't the way things turned out. The clones were double teaming any aggressor, forcing them back away from the door. Once this was done, they were not pressing their luck but rather stepping back to wait.
"They're stalling us!" Kurama agreed, swing his whip forward and entangling one of them, then forced back by two of the others, "They can keep this up for too long!"
"Damnit, get out of my way!" Kuwabara said, swinging a sword in each hand, sending sparks off the clone's fist. As the first started to weaken, a second stepped up and sent the youth flying backward with an electrical punch to the chest. Skidding to a halt, Kuwabara growled with feeling, and Yusuke heartily agreed. A tremor ran through the ground as the top of the building crackled with energy.
"Try and block this one!" Yusuke yelled, his fingers pointed as the Spirit Gun gathered on the end. Instead of stopping where he normally did, Yusuke kept pulling power, putting all three bullets into the blazing energy he controlled. The streets shinned with blue light as his power gathered together, and it reflected off the clones' eyes. A brief glance at each other, and the four Suzakus scattered away from the blast zone.
Which is exactly what Yusuke wanted, "Now!"
Letting the energy die, Yusuke sprinted full tilt at the doors. Putting his shoulder into the blow, the glass shattered across the reception area. Kurama and Kuwabara, the latter barely missing a reflexive shot of energy from the deceived demons.
"Sword, get longer!" Kuwabara ordered, and his blaze of yellow energy extended several feet out the hole Yusuke had created. A startled oath from outside, and the doorway was effectively blocked, "Go on, I'll hold them off here."
"Be careful, Kuwabara."
"Just don't keep me waiting too long!"
***
The demon was fast, there was no question about that. The katana arced and flashed like a living fire, and it took all of Suzaku's energy to keep himself one step ahead of the blade. The two demons blurred, appearing only momentarily for a single moment of vision. A missed sword stroke, a barely parried counter attack, a dodged ball of orange energy from one of the clones, all rolled into a battle for existence between forces that would not, could not, surrender.
Suzaku knew he had to do something, and quickly. Bit by bit, inch by inch, he was losing fractions of second between his dodging and the sword stroke. The speed was already too fast for him to think about a counter-attack, and the Fire Apparition was only getting faster. He had to find a maneuver, something that the logical demon would not expect. Something to catch him off guard. And with a burst of insight, he knew what to do.
Reaching up with both hands, Suzaku caught the sword. The sharp bladed hand bit deeply into his palm and fingers, and he felt the warm blood running down his arm. Involuntarily, he grunted with pain, and Hiei smirked as he pressed down on the blade, forcing the other demon to his knees. The smirk faded as Suzaku's hands gripper tighter on the blade, slicing even more of his fingers. A crack of thunder above them, and Hiei's eyes lit with comprehension. With a desperate effort, he pulled on the sword, sending a semi circle of blood over the concrete, but Suzaku caught the edge tightly between his bloody fingers.
The clouds cracked again, and a fork of lightning blazed forth from nothing, screamed down to the roof, past momentarily through the caller's body, traveled through the sword, and into Hiei. The dark-haired Yokai screamed automatically as his body was enveloped in electricity, stumbling back a few steps. Before he could recover, two blurs resolved themselves into the forgotten clones. The first, sideways in midair, kicked hard at Hiei's head, folding the short demon over the foot drilling into his stomach from front. Abruptly laying on the rooftop, still twitching from the shock therapy, Hiei only dimly felt the twin punches that send him sprawling against the floor several yards over.
Holding his bloody hands together, his face lit with rapture, Suzaku pulled the Forlorn Hope from his robe, and the little mirror shown with white energy as it caught the moonlight. Turning to the full moon in the sky, Suzaku pulled immense power of the artifact to himself. It was time.
"Grant now my deepest wish!" He shouted at the sky, "Give me now what I wish for, Forlorn Hope. Take my lives and grant my wish!"
Yusuke hit the door to the roof with his shoulder so hard that the wooden frame splintered and came off its hinges. Squinting his eyes against the blazing energy, the Spirit Detective's throat was suddenly tight with disbelief. Kurama skidded to a halt behind him, and the youth could only whisper.
"We're too late."