The Tantei and their partners stood at the edge of the paved trail leading into the forest. They were to each take a part of the valley; Yuusuke and Keiko would head towards the apex while Sumi and Atsuko would take a side, the Kuwabaras searching the other. Kurama and Botan would search from above.
The youko had been hesitant about leaving his lover, but Hiei had cut off his objections brusquely, growling that he wouldn't be doing much good for him by playing nursemaid.
Now, as Kurama seated himself gingerly behind Botan, he pried his mind off the fire demon to ask about the demi-god they were to search for clues on.
The blue-haired ferrygirl kept her eyes ahead as she answered. "Sumi-chan says that if the belief in the god fades, so does the god. She's hoping there are still some old shrines left this deep into the mountains. People rarely came this far in, if ever." Botan spared a peek back at her passenger. "Anything?"
Kurama closed his eyes, letting his awareness seep down to the plants below. He traveled the complex system of roots that ran under the moss-laden ground, seeking out the strange youki of the Menehune or anything else that was likely to help his lover.
Following the plants up the mountains, he felt something strange as he passed the entrance to a cave; not youkai, but not normal ghosts, either. Kurama tapped Botan on the shoulder, indicating the way. The youko held on for dear life as the ferrygirl zipped through the air like lightning.
Yuusuke picked his way through the damp forest, muttering at the plants that seemed to purposely place themselves in his way. Behind him, Keiko followed at a more sedate pace, careful not to damage anything unnecessarily, admiring the ferns and flowers as she went. As the moved further into the valley, they were unaware of the ghostly eyes on them.
On their side of the mountains, Kazuma and Shizuru climbed uneasily. As psychics, they could easily sense the spirits of the dead occupying the various burial caves in the side of the mountain.
Shizuru frowned, rubbing her forehead, her ever-present cigarette held unlit in her other hand. "Kazuma, you get the feeling that we should be headed for that side?" She pointed to the same cave Kurama had sensed.
Kazuma narrowed his beady eyes, concentrating on a particular cave. Sure enough, there was something odd about it; like the air was shimmering slightly to his Sight. "Aa, neesan." As one, they began the trek across the valley.
"Just a little more, Atsuko-san," Sumi told the dark-haired woman.
"That's easy for you to say," huffed Atsuko, pulling herself up to stand by the blond youko. She took in the sight before her. "Sugoi."
The heat from the lava flow made the air above it shimmer. Even from afar, the two women could feel it like a slap in the face. Sumi held out her hands, gathering moisture from the air and sending it at the lava, cooling it. Billows of steam rose with a hiss, temporarily obscuring their view. Fortunately, the brisk winds carried the white mist away, revealing two figures on an oar barreling towards them.
"Sumi-chan! Atsuko-chan! Over there!" Botan motioned to the cave they were headed for. From her higher vantagepoint, the ferrygirl could see Yuusuke, Keiko, Kazuma, and Shizuru converging on their goal. Seeing Sumireina's wave of response, Botan was off, hurrying to the cave.
Kurama peered curiously into the gloomy depths of the cave. "There's definitely something in here," he murmured.
"Yosh! What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Yuusuke cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
As the group made to enter, the sudden smell of gardenias filled the air. Kurama sniffed appreciatively. "Nice."
Sumi looked at the others in surprise. "What is?"
Keiko gave the vixen a bemused look. "Don't you smell it?" she asked. Sumi looked blank. "There's a heavy smell of flowers, but I don't see any."
"It's a warning," Sumi said softly. "If you smell flowers, don't go in. Wait for me." She crossed the cave's threshold. Suddenly, there was a flash of light, blinding the others. When their vision cleared, Sumi was gone.
Kuwabara looked at the cave entrance, his sixth sense informing him of the youko vixen's return. "She's coming!"
A pale Sumireina emerged into the sunlight, her eyes holding a curiously dead look. When she was questioned, she merely shook her head, saying that she didn't remember what she had been doing for the last hour. "We should get off this island," she said in a hollow voice.
"And then?" Kurama was certain his friend knew all that had happened in the hour she had been in the cave, but didn't press.
Sumi looked at the redhead sadly. "And then we wait."
The youko had been hesitant about leaving his lover, but Hiei had cut off his objections brusquely, growling that he wouldn't be doing much good for him by playing nursemaid.
Now, as Kurama seated himself gingerly behind Botan, he pried his mind off the fire demon to ask about the demi-god they were to search for clues on.
The blue-haired ferrygirl kept her eyes ahead as she answered. "Sumi-chan says that if the belief in the god fades, so does the god. She's hoping there are still some old shrines left this deep into the mountains. People rarely came this far in, if ever." Botan spared a peek back at her passenger. "Anything?"
Kurama closed his eyes, letting his awareness seep down to the plants below. He traveled the complex system of roots that ran under the moss-laden ground, seeking out the strange youki of the Menehune or anything else that was likely to help his lover.
Following the plants up the mountains, he felt something strange as he passed the entrance to a cave; not youkai, but not normal ghosts, either. Kurama tapped Botan on the shoulder, indicating the way. The youko held on for dear life as the ferrygirl zipped through the air like lightning.
Yuusuke picked his way through the damp forest, muttering at the plants that seemed to purposely place themselves in his way. Behind him, Keiko followed at a more sedate pace, careful not to damage anything unnecessarily, admiring the ferns and flowers as she went. As the moved further into the valley, they were unaware of the ghostly eyes on them.
On their side of the mountains, Kazuma and Shizuru climbed uneasily. As psychics, they could easily sense the spirits of the dead occupying the various burial caves in the side of the mountain.
Shizuru frowned, rubbing her forehead, her ever-present cigarette held unlit in her other hand. "Kazuma, you get the feeling that we should be headed for that side?" She pointed to the same cave Kurama had sensed.
Kazuma narrowed his beady eyes, concentrating on a particular cave. Sure enough, there was something odd about it; like the air was shimmering slightly to his Sight. "Aa, neesan." As one, they began the trek across the valley.
"Just a little more, Atsuko-san," Sumi told the dark-haired woman.
"That's easy for you to say," huffed Atsuko, pulling herself up to stand by the blond youko. She took in the sight before her. "Sugoi."
The heat from the lava flow made the air above it shimmer. Even from afar, the two women could feel it like a slap in the face. Sumi held out her hands, gathering moisture from the air and sending it at the lava, cooling it. Billows of steam rose with a hiss, temporarily obscuring their view. Fortunately, the brisk winds carried the white mist away, revealing two figures on an oar barreling towards them.
"Sumi-chan! Atsuko-chan! Over there!" Botan motioned to the cave they were headed for. From her higher vantagepoint, the ferrygirl could see Yuusuke, Keiko, Kazuma, and Shizuru converging on their goal. Seeing Sumireina's wave of response, Botan was off, hurrying to the cave.
Kurama peered curiously into the gloomy depths of the cave. "There's definitely something in here," he murmured.
"Yosh! What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Yuusuke cracked his knuckles in anticipation.
As the group made to enter, the sudden smell of gardenias filled the air. Kurama sniffed appreciatively. "Nice."
Sumi looked at the others in surprise. "What is?"
Keiko gave the vixen a bemused look. "Don't you smell it?" she asked. Sumi looked blank. "There's a heavy smell of flowers, but I don't see any."
"It's a warning," Sumi said softly. "If you smell flowers, don't go in. Wait for me." She crossed the cave's threshold. Suddenly, there was a flash of light, blinding the others. When their vision cleared, Sumi was gone.
Kuwabara looked at the cave entrance, his sixth sense informing him of the youko vixen's return. "She's coming!"
A pale Sumireina emerged into the sunlight, her eyes holding a curiously dead look. When she was questioned, she merely shook her head, saying that she didn't remember what she had been doing for the last hour. "We should get off this island," she said in a hollow voice.
"And then?" Kurama was certain his friend knew all that had happened in the hour she had been in the cave, but didn't press.
Sumi looked at the redhead sadly. "And then we wait."