"Did you hear they will announce the results of the exam today?" Kaito asked Nanashi at lunch a few days later. "I bet I will be at the top."
She sat next to him at lunch, picking at her food and bored. "Really? That's great," she said, feigning interest. Kurama usually beat him for the top, which meant Kaito would complain about that sooner or later.
Kaito, being a normal human being, was far too boring compared to the others. She sighed, missing a little the friendship with Kurama. Even Hiei was more stimulating in conversation than Kaito.
"How do you think you did?" he asked, drawing her attention back to him.
"Hmm?" she hummed. "I don't know. Hopefully well," she pondered.
"Increase your chances of getting into the higher level science classes?" he asked.
"Hopefully," she answered.
"Not a lot of girls go for those, especially the engineering ones you've been aiming for," he commented.
She hummed and shrugged, scanning the room. She saw Kurama sitting alone at the other end of the lunch room reading a book. She trained her eyes away, knowing now where not to look.
Kaito noticed her looking. "What happened between the two of you again?" he asked curiously.
She shook her head. "It's nothing worth talking about," she answered, thinking about the scar on her chest now. At least the scratches on her shoulders were healed up.
"Have you ever been to Mushiyori City?" he asked. "He has."
"What?" She said, turning to look over at him. "Now that the exams are over and you are not studying all the time, perhaps you could accompany me there after school today?"
She looked at him, unsure how to say no. "I can't," she said.
"Are you certain? There's an artist's house there that's rather interesting," he pressed.
She shook her head. "My aunt was wanting to go out today to celebrate me finishing the exam-" she rolled out.
"Two days afterwards? Mentioned just after you were invited somewhere?" he countered. "It's not a date, you made it clear you weren't interested in anything like that when you starting hovering around me. Perhaps that's why you're avoiding the great Minamino."
She looked at him, not sure what to say in response. "I would rather focus on school. Get better grades, so stick with the smarter guys in the school," she answered, consuming more of her lunch. "Get into those classes," she repeated her answer she had given him before. It was not untrue precisely.
"Try for just the one then after school," he said under his breath.
"What?" she said, catching his words, but not understanding them.
"Nothing," he said, looking at her curiously. "Do you know human souls usually only have one color?" he was changing the subject to such an odd topic. Better than him flirting with her. "It fades in different shades of that one color, very rarely white, or a semi transparent kind of white. So strange for someone to have two colors. It's almost natural."
"What?" she asked, not sure if she was following him again.
"Mine is a greenish-blue. What colors do you think yours are?" he asked.
She shook her head, no really listening anymore. "Not sure," she said, checking the time. Lunchtime was almost over. She tucked into her meal, trying to finish it. "I'm going to head to class early. See you," she told him. She could feel his eyes watching her. Perhaps another set was watching her as well.
The rest of the school day passed by without any incidents, beyond Kaito not being in the last class. She waited around and did see the list for the exams were indeed posted after school. She smiled to herself to see her name 25th out of all the students who took the test. That was doable to get into the more advanced science classes she had been aiming for for the next school year. Far better than she expected. She could not help but see who was at the top of the list though.
She turned from the list, heading out of the school building, stopping short when she heard someone shouting her name and Kurama's. She turned, jogging towards the sound to see Kuwabara and Botan jogging towards the school. After a brief explanation and quick read of the note about Yusuke being kidnapped, she ran with the two of them through the school in search of Kurama. When they found him, she hoped it would not be awkward, or at least manageably awkward. She kept closer to Kuwabara as he read the note, trying not to look at him. When they realized they needed to find Hiei, Botan lead them outside to a secluded area for a better chance at tracking him down.
Botan pulled out the brief case holding the spirit detective tools. She pulled out the demon whistle, blowing on it to summon Hiei. Nanashi watched Botan blow the whistle hard, but heard nothing. The wind serpent did not either. Kurama reacted, covering his ears and grimacing. Botan called out for Hiei to join them as well.
Hiei did at least, falling out of a nearby tree closest to Nanashi. She turned to kneel down next to him, but thought better of it in Kurama's presence.
"Hiei!" Botan exclaimed.
"Is this guy an insect?" Kuwabara asked.
"What was that loud noise?" Hiei grunted on the ground, pulling himself up to a standing position. He looked carefully at Nanashi and then over at Kurama. She swallowed, shaking her head slightly. She wondered what conversations the two of them have had. His eyes landed on Botan. "You again. If I can't even go back to the darkness, I'd like to be left alone."
Kurama stepped over to him, handing him the letter dictating Yusuke's kidnapping. "Look," he told him.
Hiei took the letter, reading it with a shake of the head. "It's pitiful. After wining the tournament, he thought he was the best. He'll regret it in the other world. He should know that there's always someone stronger." He looked downright disinterested, even after reading the letter.
Kurama spoke up, "and it doesn't interest you? Don't you want to know who beat Yusuke?"
"Not really. It doesn't concern me," Hiei replied flippantly. Nanashi frowned at his words, not expecting them. This was different from how he was with her last weekend. "I paid all my dues. Now I do what I want." He started walking off with Nanashi racking her brain about how to call him back.
Botan in the meantime was yelling after him. "But if you don't come, Yusuke might be killed! Don't you care about that?"
He turned back, throwing Botan a harsh gaze that made her quell. Nanashi felt glad not to be a receiving end of it. "Yeah, so what? I'm getting tired of this..." he complained. "After having a high level fight, he still finds a way to get kidnapped. I'm sick and tired of fixing other people's mistakes."
Nanashi felt like she was being chastised at the last part.
Kurama tried his hand at persuasion. "But if we were to face a new unknown power? Kuwabara and Botan told me something. After sometime, some humans possessing strange powers have appeared. Different from how power manifested in both Nanashi and Kuwabara. Different from the alchemists who created the elemental serpents as well."
That seemed to peak Hiei's interest slightly, but he still looked read to walk off just the same. "And you say that those humans kidnapped Yusuke?"
Botan heaved an exacerbated sigh. "Anyway. If you help us free Yusuke, the celestial authorities will leave you alone," she dangled.
Kuwabara asked, "do you have the right to promise such a thing?"
Botan huffed, "we don't have any time left." She turned to Hiei. "Does it suit you?"
Hiei cocked his head and nodded. "If I'm exonerated, I accept."
Nanashi turned to Botan, not quite understanding what she offered. Kurama must have read the confusion on her face. "If exonerated, he is freed from his parole in the city. With Botan or myself on official spirit detective business, he can leave the city temporarily only. If he can leave on his own volition, he can freely go back to the Demon World if he so chooses."
"Oh," Nanashi said, sad at the thought. She looked over at Hiei who did not meet her eyes.
The five of them took the subway to Mishiyori City with Kurama paying for the fare for Hiei. Nanashi felt glad she had just enough on her metro card to cover her own fare.
The train was a bit crowded, making it that the five of them had to stand close to one another. Kurama approached her quietly, standing next to her. So quiet that only she could hear, he asked, "can you manage this? He can. I can."
She went to step away from him, but found she had no space to move away. She felt a memory unbidden come to her of a time they were together when he was human. Soft hands, shy touch, careful caresses. She missed that. She looked up at him, nodding. "I can," she said determinedly.
They got to the city and to the house of the artist. It was a surreal house, to say the least. They stepped up to the front door, reading the sign: "Whomever enters this house must never say the word 'hot.'" Kuwabara tried to convince Botan not to go in with them, but she refused.
The entered the house, coming into a front room with a macabre looking chandelier. The room was hot and muggy. Nanashi felt the hairs on the back of her neck start to stick to her neck. Something was off about the room. She almost wished she had the hair clip Kurama had given her to put her hair up.
"Erps, what's this? It's really h-" Botan started.
Kurama stepped up to her, hand covering her mouth. Nanashi tried not to notice how annoyed that made her feel. "Do not pronounce the 'word!'"
Hiei clicked his teeth, standing next to her, but speaking to Kurama. "Kurama, did you notice?" She looked down at Hiei frowning.
"Yes," Kurama answered. Nanashi looked at him just enough to give him attention to understand what he was saying. "The moment we came in. It's like we entered a totally absurd space..."
"Welcome!" a familiar voice called to them from down the hallway. Nanashi blinked and gasped, surprised to see of all people, Kaito stepping towards them.
Kuwarabra reacted loudly first. "But this guy?! He's with the three guys who approached Yusuke!"
"Kaito," Kurama said simply.
Kuwabara did a double take. "What?! You know this guy?"
Kurama nodded. "We're at the same college, he, Nanashi, and I. We're not really friends. He and Nanashi seemed to have become friends recently-"
Kuwabara interrupted, turning to Nanashi, "what, are dating this creep now?"
She turned to him, frowning. "Platonic. Girls can be friends with guys and vice versa, you know."
"Yeah, but isn't it harder when you don't have someone like my sweet Yukina?" he pressed.
She gaped at him, annoyed by his words. "I just want to focus on school," she hissed out.
"Believe me, she's repeated that same excuse before," Kaito added in. "Rumor at school has it, she might not be interested in guys."
Kurama looked over at her protectively and back towards Kaito. He kept explaining. "And of course, he's not supposed to know existence of Yusuke, Hiei, or Kuwabara. Tell me, how did you know about us? Why did you kidnap Yusuke?"
Kaito gave them a cocky look, pushing up his glasses. "'Someone' informed us. We've been told that you the Dark Tournament. Minamino, you're amazing. Not only are you gifted for studies, but you also have great powers. Don't want to make a demonstration? I'd like to see you manipulate plants." He turned, looking at Nanashi. "Or the wind serpent for that matter? You ought to bring it up so we can see why your soul has two colors rather than one like everyone else does. Or explain the fallout between you and Minamino? One of your two demon trainers for the Dark Tournament?"
Nanashi gaped at him, feeling apprehensive that he knew so much about her that he should not. She brought her fist up to her mouth. She glanced over at Kurama, seeing a cold, flat, but aggressive look on his face. She noticed Hiei was looking between the three of them out of the corner of his eye.
Kaito shook his head, smirking over at Kurama. "What's with the evil look! We never saw you like that at the college. A nervous Urameshi was normal though, back when she was scrawnier when she started at our school. I recently discovered that I have a strange power. I'd like to measure my powers... That's why I invited you to come here."
Hiei drew his sword, looking impatient. "He's making fun of us?! I'll show him. Idiot, do you know who you're messing with?"
Kaito looked disinterested, pulling up a book to peruse. "I'd like to see... but you'll be wasting your time."
"Shut up!" Hiei said, irked. He charged at Kaito, moving so fast that Nanashi had no thought to stop him. Kaito did not move. Hiei swung his sword down at Kaito, but then a shield of light surrounded Kaito, protecting him and cracking Hiei's sword in half. "What?" he growled, looking down at the remaining part of the blade. "What does it mean? My sword broke before reached him."
Kaito looked amused, "You see, this room is a world where only powers have strength. Here you won't have a choice but to fight according to our rules."
Kurama spoke next, "rules... Like the paper at the entrance."
Kaito smirked. Nanashi wanted to slap it off of his face. He continued his goading, "Hiei, you maybe a master of sword and magic, but in my territory, you're like an ant."
Hiei seemed to bristle at them. Kurama tried to talk him down, "Hiei, watch out. He's provoking you!"
Hiei shook his head, "So what?! The word 'hot' should do something to me?! If I say 'hot,' you believe you can kill me?"
"Hiei!" Kurama exclaimed.
Nanashi felt nervous herself at what his on purpose saying of the taboo word.
Kaito looked amused. "Too bad... you talk too much..."
A flashing light suddenly surrounded Hiei. Another flash of different shades of black went from him to Kaito's hand. It was like a flaming ball of black fire.
Kaito smirked broadly. "In my space the one who says the forbidden word, has his soul stolen. Now I've got two hostages. Urameshi is on the first floor. The soul of Hiei is in my hand. So? Do you flee? Or do you prefer to fight?" No one responded. Nanashi looked down at Hiei, feeling her own temper rise. The wind serpent was hissing at her to be released. "In my territory, anyone who says the taboo word will lose his soul. Even if he's the most valorous warrior. I found this special talent about a month ago... I've begun to see how powerful it could be. Around the same time I saw the wind serpent dangling around Nanashi's next when I ran into her in the hallway. First, the power to create a strange space. Those who have the same power call forth the 'territory.' Mine has a radius of ten meters maximum. Anyone who has magical powers should get a strange feeling when entering my 'territory.' And as you can see, here's what I can do with it."
Nanashi watched him sitting down comfortably in a chair in the room, crossing his legs. She kept her eyes trained on Hiei's soul, ready to jump at a moment's notice to snatch it away the instant Kaito threatened to damage it.
Kurama said, "if we win, will we get Hiei's soul back undamaged?"
Kaito looked amused. "I don't know... maybe. I don't know, I've never lost. Anyway, either you go back or you fight me. Two choices, one decision. This choice is yours."
Kuwabara interjected, "No! There's a third choice! We leave Hiei here and we go ahead! It's the best choice!"
Nanashi gaped at him, annoyed he would say such a thing. Botan jumped down his throat. "What?! You can just leave Hiei like that?!"
Kuwabara argued back, "yeah, of course! That's enough! Hiei always does as he pleases, he didn't even listen to Kurama's warning! I'm too fed up to waste time just for his sake!"
Kaito turned his gaze on Kuwabra. "Hum, I also think that it's a good solution. You're not dumb after all."
Kuwabara swore at him, "mind your own business, asshole!"
Nanashi looked between the two of them, and then brought her gaze back to linger on Hiei's soul. She felt at the least, she owed him that. "I could stay behind if you all wanted to go ahead," she offered. "To ensure he's safe."
Kuwabara seemed to like her saying that. "See, he won't be completely abandoned," he said excitedly.
"Anyway, I'm ready," a voice called out from behind Kaito. The lot of them looked down the hallway, seeing another guy standing guard in front of the door.
Kaito explained, "to go further, you have to go through that door. And he's the only one who has the key."
Kuwabara ran up to the guy, who was snapping on some gum in his mouth. "Give me the key and get out of here!" he ordered.
The guy blew and popped a bubble. "Never," he said, holding the key up tauntingly. "What about kicking me to get it back, little Kuwabara?"
Kuwabara snapped, throwing a punch at the guy's face. "Take that!"
His punch never landed as a light shielded the guy, who looked rather amused as Kuwabara winced. "Heh heh heh, don't you remember already? We told you that you can't use violence." He poked Kuwabara in the forehead. "You have to be a good boy here," he laughed.
Kuwabara looked beyond irritated. Kurama ruled, "I guess we don't have any choice. We must follow their rules."
The lot of them sat down in vacant chairs in the room. Nanashi intentionally sat down closest to Kaito, watching him still holding Hiei's soul. She swallowed thickly, feeling annoyingly thirsty.
Minutes ticked by. Kuwabara broke first. "And we're here, sitting in chairs! I have the feeling we can't fight him! Kurama, there's no way to kick his ass?" Kurama spoke softly to him. Too softly for Nanashi to hear so close to Kaito. "What, really?!" Kuwabara exclaimed followed by mumbling something else. "We're not forced not to talk. We just have to not say the taboo word! Too easy!" he threw at Kaito, looking suddenly confident. "Kurama, tell us! Who's this guy? Beyond not Nanashi's boyfriend." Nanashi gave him a sharp look that he noticed. "What? You said he wasn't."
Kurama spoke up, "we're in the same class, but he hardly ever talks to anyone. Since he entered out school, he's been famous for his knowledge. He's the first real genius our school has known."
Kaito interjected without looking up from the book in his one hand. "Isn't that an indirect way to boast about yourself? You have always been ahead of me in the exams."
Kurama nodded. "Yes, but you're a literary master. You've done essays on philosophy and literature. You're known among the best as a word specialist."
Kuwabara grouched, "so you're an erudite?! We don't see it on his face."
"Thank you," Kaito responded simply.
Kuwabara was sweating more than the rest of them, unbuttoning the top of his shirt. Nanashi noticed out of the corner of her eyes. "I'm going to die with this heat. All this just for us to say the 'word.' He thinks we're idiots."
Kaito seemed slightly amused at that. "I sprout tropical plants. 85 degrees Fahrenheit with 80% humidity. For those who that are thirsty, there are cold drinks in the fridge and also food in the cupboard." He cocked his head to the side. Nanashi glanced over where he gestured, not sure if those were there before.
Kuwabra reacted first. "Yeah! Juices with truth serum?! Drink first!"
Kaito stroked his chin. "Heh... I didn't even think about it. You're sharp." He pointed over at Kuwabara, who looked annoyed.
"Should I take this as a compliment?" he asked, confused.
Botan rose up and went over to the fridge. "Let me take care of it!" she sighed. "I have something to do. I can't stand it anymore." She opened the fridge and squatted down to look at the contents. "Kuwabara, do you want an orange juice?"
"Yeah," he answered.
"I would like one, too," Kurama called out.
"Sames," Nanashi said like an afterthought. The thought of something to drink was almost as good as having a drink itself.
Kuwabara called out, "can you get me a glass, and two straws so we can share with other?"
Botan looked irritated at that. "Grr... is that all?!"
Nanashi saw light out of the corner of her eye coming from Kuwabara. "What?!" he exclaimed.
"Two," Kaito commented, catching Kuwabara's soul as it flew into his hand. It had a golden orange color and shimmer to it.
"But why?" Kurama asked in shock.
Botan stood up, stomping her feet. "Kuwabara didn't really say 'hot!' It's not fair!" She froze up. "Damn! I said it."
Nanashi watched as her soul flew into his hand, pinkish purple, yet calming color. She looked back and forth from Kurama to Kaito and back again. Kurama was standing up and shocked, but not doing much of anything else. If the moment were not so unnerving, it would be awkward. Nanashi racked her brain, trying to think of something, anything to do. "We have to help them," she sighed exasperatedly. Suddenly, a sickening feel welled up in her chest. The wind serpent came up in a feisty frenzy around her neck unbidden as a blinding light surrounded her. "No," she grumbled, feeling lightheaded. Her hands clasped in front of her chest. She closed her eyes, trying to resist it. When it took her, it was quicker than following asleep.
The next thing she knew, she was standing in a room surrounded by more plants than there had been before. She looked around the room, relieved to see Hiei revived with his soul back in place, as well as Botan and Kuwabara with theirs restored. Kaito on the other hand was frozen in time with the light surrounding him. His soul was hovering untouched on the chair he had been sitting in earlier.
"Serves him right," Botan said, nodding down at the chair.
Nanashi looked over at Kurama, confused, not saying anything. He understood the questions she asked without ever saying them. "You said 'hot' backwards in 'to help.' He was impressed you were able to resist him for a few seconds longer than the others. Then..." he broke down how he defeated Kaito and restored their souls back to their own bodies before leading the lot of them down the hallway towards the guy who had been chewing gum earlier. Kurama side stepped his prone form, seeing a letter on the door.
The guy woke up, surprised to see them all intact. He looked up at them confused at first when he stood up. "So how do you feel?" Kurama asked him as he rose up.
The guy seemed amused. "You've won against Kaito? Not bad... you're doing well..."
"Where's the third key?" Kurama insisted, playing no games. Kurama had the first two keys from Kaito and this guy, but the third one was still missing.
Botan agreed. "The second was on Kaito. The third is nowhere to be found, even with my celestial lenses."
The guy seemed amused. "You had no chance of finding it. It's hidden at the base of a tree. You did well not forcing the door... If you had done it, Urameshi would be dead."
Kurama produced a paper from behind his back. "There was this paper on the door. The one who will force the door without Yanagisawa's consent, will endanger Urameshi's life." So the guy who had been on the floor had a name, Yanagisawa.
Kuwabara complained, "the guy who designed this house is a freak. You have to be twisted to think up a room access with three doors!"
The six of them went down the hallway at Yanagisawa's lead, with Nanashi watching him carefully. When they reached a set of seven stairs, they paused.
"What's this thing?!" Kuwabara asked. "After the three doors' trick, now it's the seven stairs?!"
Yanagisawa explained, "Urameshi is on the first floor. You'll each use a different stair."
Kurama hummed, "and now, what's waiting for us?"
"You'll see. You can't do anything but what I say," Yanasigawa informed them.
"One minute! Wait!" Botan exclaimed, digging through her bag.
She pulled out the labels from the detective tools kit she had been carrying. They each put one label on each other in hopes to keep track of one another when they went up their own staircase.
Nanashi watched the others start to go up their own stairs first, listening in as Yanasigawa told someone else they were on their way. She felt nervous, almost claustrophobic in the enclosed stairs. She took the steps quickly, nearly running into the door to the first floor. She emerged from the stairs in time with the others, seeing Yusuke standing temperamentally in front of a blonde guy.
"Yusuke?!" Botan exclaimed.
"Here they are!" the blonde guy said.
"At last!" Yusuke said, relieved.
Kuwabara pointed over at him, asking, "what are you doing up there? We believed you were captured?!"
"Don't come closer!" Yusuke warned them. "This guy has the power to neutralize anyone by walking on their shadow!"
"Exactly," the guy commented. "But your opponent isn't me. He's among you."
"What?" Kuwabara voiced for the lot of them.
The guy kept explaining, "Urameshi, there's an imposter among these five people." He gestured to the five of them behind him.
"What?" Yusuke echoed.
"Urameshi, you got ten minutes to find the impostor. You four can only answer the questions he'll ask you," the guy explained.
"An imposter? Is he kidding us or what?" Kuwabara asked.
Botan added in, "it's impossible to disguise oneself so fast."
The guy shrug, "I believe I asked you to stay still. Don't forget I go one hostage in my hands. If there's an imposter among you five, it also means that I've got another hostage. If something bad happens to me, the hostage will be executed."
"Everything is well calculated," Kurama observed.
The guy looked at his watch. "Only nine minutes more. So? What did you decide?"
"But what? There's really an imposter?! They all seem authentic," Yusuke groaned.
"Eight minutes and thirty second," the guy ticked down.
Yusuke looked panicky. "Kuwabara," he shouted over to him. "Your birthday, blood type?!"
"Who, me?" Kuwabara responded. "I'll be happy to tell you, but you know all that about me?"
Yusuke groaned. "Eeh... In fact, I don't know anything."
Kuwabara looked irritated. "Then why bother? You idiot!"
"We are so dead," Botan complained.
Yusuke kept questioning Kuwabara, "and your sister's name?"
Kuwabara answered, "Shizuru! She's eighteen since the other day. She's stronger than me. Her guy's type: Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt."
Yusuke turned to question Kurama next. "Kurama! Your mother's name?"
Kurama's face went soft at just the mention of his mother. Nanashi found she missed seeing that look in his eyes. "Minamino Shiori. She's forty-three. She'll remarry this autumn," he said calmly.
Yusuke seemed excited to hear that news. "That's true? That's good news! I'll be invited?"
"Only seven minutes more," the guy behind him warned them.
"Botan!" Yusuke turned to her. "All your measurements. And in the order please!"
"What does it have to do with you?!" she snapped at him. "I don't think I told you before!"
"Of course yes!" Yusuke continued, making Nanashi frown to watch the scene. "The other day, you don't remember?!"
"But? What? No, I've told you! You're really a big pervert!" she called him.
Yusuke mumbled something inaudible to himself. He turned to Hiei next to Nanashi. "Pffh, really too stupid this game," Hiei complained before Yusuke could ask anything.
Yusuke still questioned him. "tell me, Hiei?! Your sister's name?"
Nanashi bit her lip, shocked that he would ask such a question considering how he had wanted to keep that private. Hiei replied, "it's useless to tell you. You already know it."
Yusuke looked annoyed at that, muttering some more to himself while Kuwabara started asking questions about Hiei's sister, with Kurama defusing the situation.
"Only six more minutes," the guy warned.
Yusuke groaned, shifting his gaze on Nanashi. "Nanashi!" She held her breath, a bit nervous about what question he might ask her. "In the Dark Tournament, what was the name of the demon guy you were flirting with?" he asked.
"What...?" she asked, blinking up at him. She told herself mentally not to look at Kurama. She looked at Yusuke, trying to keep her breathing steady.
"You know, the red head," Yusuke said, sounding frustrating.
She brought her fist up to her mouth, really not wanting to answer that question. Just like Kuwabara did not know about Yukina, Yusuke did not know anything about what happened between her and Kurama, and she planned to keep it that way. "Ask another question," she pleaded softly. She pulled up the wind serpent on her neck, surprised that it felt heavier than usual. She could have sworn it was an inch or two longer than normal. "Besides, I don't think he would be about to copy this."
"Ugh, come on," Yusuke responded. "Keiko says she saw the two of you flirting when he carried an unconscious me back to the hotel. You were there... He was there... Apparently, you gave him your number..."
"Oh," she clued in, blushing. "Jin," she answered. She still told herself not to look over at Kurama, now more than ever.
"Only five minutes more," the guy warned.
Yusuke groaned, but then noticed the labels. The lot of them pulled them off of each other, but who ever the imposter was, Yanagisawa copied them so perfectly down to genetics and memories that they were able to pull off the labels. When time ran out, the guy told Yusuke to hit the imposter in the face. Yusuke ran over to Kuwabara, punching him in the face. As he fell, Nanashi watched as he fell, he turned into Yanagisawa. Yusuke figured out it was Kuwabara by the process of elimination.
The guy seemed amused. "Okay, I'll give you back Kuwabara," he said. "We'll take the chance to introduce the sleeping partner as well."
Nanashi gasped, hearing the others behind gasp in time with her to see Genkai emerge from the doorway, with Kuwabara eventually coming in behind her. She berated Hiei and Yusuke before explaining that someone else was following in Sakyou's footsteps to open a tunnel between the Human and Demon Worlds in Mushiyori City. Worse, when Prince Koenma called, it was revealed the tunnel had already entered stage two, making it possible for lower level monsters and demons to enter the Human World and triggering some humans to awaken and grow stronger spiritually in response. If the tunnel were allowed to grow any bigger, any and all demons would be able to infest the Human World. All in about three weeks or less.
'Guess a mission is happening sooner rather than later,' the wind serpent thought to Nanashi, much to her chagrin.
'The worse one yet,' she agreed, feeling a weight sink in her stomach.