The wind blew through their hair as Kurama and Hiei walked slowly through
the front of the hotel. Hiei's arm was burned to a fine brown, almost
black, colored arm. Pain shot through his arm like a sledgehammer to the
fingers. He faltered as the cool breeze stung his arm. Kurama stopped at
the doors and waited for his friend to catch up. Not long before, Kurama
had found Hiei crippled in pain by the water and had taken him to the
hotel, hoping to try and relieve the pain with some herbs he left in their
room. The most difficult part on getting to their room, they discovered,
were the enormous groups of people in their path. Kurama knew very well
that if anyone decided to hit Hiei's arm, heads would most likely be
rolling. They were lucky enough to find part of the commons that was half
as crowded, even though that pathway only stretched three feet wide. After
navigating through the jungle of people, Hiei and Kurama had reached the
elevator. Not having to wait very long, they were soon up on the correct
floor and heading to the guys' small room. Searching aimlessly through the
piles of clothes and bags, Kurama finally found what he was looking for.
"Here Hiei, these should help. I have more if we will need it." He said with relief. Hiei wrinkled his nose at the herbs Kurama was holding. They smelt of suntan lotion and pepper. He hated the potency.
"Hn, they better taste better then they smell." He said, turning his head away. Kurama smiled at Hiei's dislike for the plants' scent.
"I can't promise you that!" he laughed. Sitting down and tugging off small portions of the plants, Kurama started making his healing potion.
*****
Lost. He was completely and utterly lost. Why on all days, when something bad happens, he would have to find himself lost in a pack of demons? This is not my day; this is SO not my day. Dammit, where the hell is the hotel??? Kuwabara trampled through the sinister, dark eyed, demons. They were all staring at the "prize" or "fair" he was said to have in his arms.
"Hey, Ningen, why don't you trade me that girl for my claws?" One demon hissed, the look of death in his eyes.
The demon clicked his claws impatiently. Kuwabara was in a fix soon enough. Every demon out there was after this girl, another problem to be beset upon him on his bad day. Pretty soon, these perverted demons caught on to where he was trudging to and caught him off guard when a score of them made a blockade in front of the hotel. Kuwabara was outraged by their behavior, but couldn't expect anything more from the low class demons there.
"Move it!!" he implored them. "I have to get into the hotel! Now!" Kuwabara was running this way and that, all possible ways in blocked by another pestering demon.
This is ridiculous! He thought hopelessly. He gazed up at the pewter sky and wished for a miracle to happen, anything to happen as long as it would benefit him in some way. Then he noticed something. Something small, box shaped and kind of blue. a window! A window was open! He stared in awe as he saw a familiar figure lean out and sit on the window sill.
"Hiei!! Hiei, down here!" Kuwabara yelled to his comrade. He didn't get a response.
He grumbled, "Hey, Shrimp Boy! Why don't you use your eyes and look!!!!"
Hiei's ear twitched at this remark and his eyes fell on Kuwabara who was. surrounded by low class demons?? Tch, that figures, Hiei thought with irritation. What's that fool trying to do now? Get himself killed before the second round? Wait. Hiei caught site of something in his arms. Is that a demon? The idiot is carrying a full fledged demon in his arms??
"You fool, what do you think your doing???" Hiei crowed. Kuwabara's face light up at the notice of him down below.
"Hiei, it's about time you noticed me! I need help!!!"
"With what? And why do you have a demon with you? Don't you know that the moment it wakes up, it will probably cut your head off?" Hiei barked.
"No, you don't understand, she's hurt! You gotta help me get inside! These demons won't let me through!" Kuwabara pleaded back.
"WHAT??!!" Hiei looked, astonished.
The reflex made him lunge out the window and dive straight for the pack. Just a soon as he unsheathed his katana and land, the demons crumbled a second later. He nonchalantly slid the katana back with a quiet 'click'. He strode lightly to the daunted Kazuma. He stared at the fool in front of him.
"A girl?? What were you thinking??? Bringing a stray demon here??? You're too soft, why didn't you just leave her?!" he growled; "Now we will just have to help her. You dumbass." With that, Hiei turned around and paced back into the hotel, Kuwabara following close behind.
"And that's exactly what happened! Please say you got something that can help her! I promised I would!" Kuwabara begged after he told his story to the two bewildered demons. Hiei was almost speechless.
"She even told you to leave her and you still brought her?! She didn't want your help! It would have been better if you had just left her there!" Hiei complained after a few minutes.
Kurama sighed and brought his eyes to the sleeping Teri on his bed. He had fixed up the wound just before Kuwabara had finished talking. Now she just needed to wake up.
~*~Flashback~*~
Young Teri cried for the umpteenth time that dead night. Her brother was trying everything he could to make her feel better, even though he was crying just as much. In human years, it must have been at least four days since they were captured by these demons, and they were not the kindest beings in the Makai. They were tough, crude and extremely difficult to get away from. The two children were sitting under a large tree, a small campfire illuminating only a few feet of space. This was light, but not the kind of light they were hoping for. The orange flames reflected off their tired faces, giving them a golden glow. Teri looked up to the royal blue sky.
"Touya?" she asked her brother after a bit of time went by. He turned to her.
"Huh?" He answered.
"What's a. sunset?" She asked innocently. Touya thought for a moment before answering. Finally, he remembered what his mother had said before Teri was born.
"A sunset is said to be the most gorgeous phenomenon I heard the sun can do. I think its when only half of the sun is showing, turning the sky into an array of bright colors. Everyone who has seen one said it was a great experience." He said, repeating what his mother had told him years ago. Teri stared in awe.
"Do you think we will ever see one?" She asked excitedly. Touya's seriousness softened into a grin.
"Maybe someday, Teri. Someday."
~*~end~*~
Teri woke up with a start. Unfamiliar with her surroundings, she backed into the corner of the bed; eyes never leaving the strange people in front her.
"What?! Where am I?! Who are you?" she noticed Kuwabara, who was waving at her. Her eyebrows arched into confusion. "Kuwabara?"
"Yup! That's me!" Kuwabara replied, smiling at her remembrance of his name.
His eyes widened when he noticed she was about to have a heart attack from the other strangers in front of her.
"Oh yea! Sorry, Teri, this is Kurama and Hiei. Kurama used some plants he found to help your wound. You should be back to normal health pretty soon!"
"Yes. Hello, Teri."
"Hn."
Teri was appalled.
"What?! You mean you. you helped me anyway? Why? I have never been given help in my life! Well. what I mean to say is-thanks." She said with a bit of frustration. After calming down, she stood and walked to the window. It was late in the afternoon and she would probably have to leave. Her time there was beyond expended.
"Well, I should leave. I don't want to burden you any longer then I have to," she sighed. Kuwabara flew from his chair at her comment.
"NO! You can't go back! You just healed! You're hit there again and I'm pretty sure you won't live! You have to stay here. Actually, you should never go back. Besides, you got the change to." Teri's eyes glowed with sorrow at the mention of running away.
"I can't, Kuwabara. I can't leave them until I find him."
"What??? What do you mean him?" Kuwabara sputtered. Teri turned to them.
"My brother. I gotta find him and as long as I stay with the Mashoutskai team, I'm sure I will. You have no idea how many times I wanted to run away. You see, there are two parts I need to get through before I can leave. I have finally completed the first step," she said slyly, holding up an orb about the size of an egg. "This is a sphere that my leader always held. Incased inside is all my spirit power. The only problem is it will only break when he dies. The second part is finding my brother. Then and only then can I leave," she finished.
"Hey, maybe I can help find your brother I'm already helping someone else," Kuwabara suggested, "Do you remember what his name is?" Teri put some thought into the question.
The memory she had earlier had mentioned the name, but it was blurry, like the pages of a book splashed with colored water. She tried hard to remember.
"T-t-t. Uh. I can't really remember. T-toa? I'm not sure. The name is really vague; I haven't heard it since I was a child. All I remember is that he was kind, strong-willed, and calm, maybe about my height, but that's all I know." She strained her mind to think of anything else, but was unsuccessful. Kuwabara thought on what she said.
"Okay, I think that's pretty good information for now, but hey, why don't you just spend one night here? I'm sure they aren't going anywhere, what with the tournament and all-" Kuwabara was about to say something more when a furious knock came at the door. Kurama stood up and paused before he unlocked it, glancing through the eyehole to make sure no one was going to ambush them. What he saw confused him. He pointed at the eyehole.
"Isn't that. the Emcee of the tournament? What's here name, Koto? What's she doing here?" Hiei and Kuwabara turned, confused. Teri turned, overjoyed.
"Oh, Koto?! Let her in, Kurama! She's a good friend of mine!" Teri called, running to the door.
Kurama seemed surprised at her sudden reaction. He slowly opened the door, only to be trampled by an upset cat demon. Koto hugged Teri, glad to see she had recovered.
"Crap, Teri! How many times have I told you not to scare me like that?" Koto said, mocking herself. Teri laughed at her joke.
"Hey," Teri said, "look what I got!" She opened her hand, revealing the orb to Koto, who in turn rejoiced at Teri's success.
"Oh my god, Teri! How did you manage to pull that one off? That's amazing!" Koto said between her happiness.
"Well, it didn't really go as I had wanted it to go, but in any case, I got it." Teri responded bluntly. Teri's happiness had swelled to great heights. Neither she, nor Koto had been that happy before. At last, their plan had finally taken a large step forward.
"Alright! Thanks for all your help, Urameshi team! We can take it from here." Koto returned. Teri bowed to them.
"Sayonara, Kazuma. Thank you for saving me and for offering to help me find my brother," she said, then turned her head to the others and nodded, "You too, Kurama. And you, Hiei." Teri thanked them once more and left with Koto for a good night of rest.
Koto woke with a start the next morning. Snatching the clock off her dresser, she gravelly discovered she had slept in.
"Oh my god! It's ten o' clock!!! I'm gonna be so late!" Koto practically dove into her dresser drawer, clawing through shirts and pants until she found her Emcee outfit for the tournament. She pivoted around after dressing herself to find she had neglected to put her stuff away. The room was a sty.
"Whoops. Guess I'll have to fix that when I get back. Teri! Are you up yet?!" Koto shouted from the next room.
She ran to through her whole apartment to find the blankets on the couch where Teri had slept were folded and one of the cabinets was open. Teri had left.
"Oh man. Where'd she get to now?" Koto puffed with irritation. "Now I'm really gonna be late." Seconds later she was there and out the door.
"Here Hiei, these should help. I have more if we will need it." He said with relief. Hiei wrinkled his nose at the herbs Kurama was holding. They smelt of suntan lotion and pepper. He hated the potency.
"Hn, they better taste better then they smell." He said, turning his head away. Kurama smiled at Hiei's dislike for the plants' scent.
"I can't promise you that!" he laughed. Sitting down and tugging off small portions of the plants, Kurama started making his healing potion.
*****
Lost. He was completely and utterly lost. Why on all days, when something bad happens, he would have to find himself lost in a pack of demons? This is not my day; this is SO not my day. Dammit, where the hell is the hotel??? Kuwabara trampled through the sinister, dark eyed, demons. They were all staring at the "prize" or "fair" he was said to have in his arms.
"Hey, Ningen, why don't you trade me that girl for my claws?" One demon hissed, the look of death in his eyes.
The demon clicked his claws impatiently. Kuwabara was in a fix soon enough. Every demon out there was after this girl, another problem to be beset upon him on his bad day. Pretty soon, these perverted demons caught on to where he was trudging to and caught him off guard when a score of them made a blockade in front of the hotel. Kuwabara was outraged by their behavior, but couldn't expect anything more from the low class demons there.
"Move it!!" he implored them. "I have to get into the hotel! Now!" Kuwabara was running this way and that, all possible ways in blocked by another pestering demon.
This is ridiculous! He thought hopelessly. He gazed up at the pewter sky and wished for a miracle to happen, anything to happen as long as it would benefit him in some way. Then he noticed something. Something small, box shaped and kind of blue. a window! A window was open! He stared in awe as he saw a familiar figure lean out and sit on the window sill.
"Hiei!! Hiei, down here!" Kuwabara yelled to his comrade. He didn't get a response.
He grumbled, "Hey, Shrimp Boy! Why don't you use your eyes and look!!!!"
Hiei's ear twitched at this remark and his eyes fell on Kuwabara who was. surrounded by low class demons?? Tch, that figures, Hiei thought with irritation. What's that fool trying to do now? Get himself killed before the second round? Wait. Hiei caught site of something in his arms. Is that a demon? The idiot is carrying a full fledged demon in his arms??
"You fool, what do you think your doing???" Hiei crowed. Kuwabara's face light up at the notice of him down below.
"Hiei, it's about time you noticed me! I need help!!!"
"With what? And why do you have a demon with you? Don't you know that the moment it wakes up, it will probably cut your head off?" Hiei barked.
"No, you don't understand, she's hurt! You gotta help me get inside! These demons won't let me through!" Kuwabara pleaded back.
"WHAT??!!" Hiei looked, astonished.
The reflex made him lunge out the window and dive straight for the pack. Just a soon as he unsheathed his katana and land, the demons crumbled a second later. He nonchalantly slid the katana back with a quiet 'click'. He strode lightly to the daunted Kazuma. He stared at the fool in front of him.
"A girl?? What were you thinking??? Bringing a stray demon here??? You're too soft, why didn't you just leave her?!" he growled; "Now we will just have to help her. You dumbass." With that, Hiei turned around and paced back into the hotel, Kuwabara following close behind.
"And that's exactly what happened! Please say you got something that can help her! I promised I would!" Kuwabara begged after he told his story to the two bewildered demons. Hiei was almost speechless.
"She even told you to leave her and you still brought her?! She didn't want your help! It would have been better if you had just left her there!" Hiei complained after a few minutes.
Kurama sighed and brought his eyes to the sleeping Teri on his bed. He had fixed up the wound just before Kuwabara had finished talking. Now she just needed to wake up.
~*~Flashback~*~
Young Teri cried for the umpteenth time that dead night. Her brother was trying everything he could to make her feel better, even though he was crying just as much. In human years, it must have been at least four days since they were captured by these demons, and they were not the kindest beings in the Makai. They were tough, crude and extremely difficult to get away from. The two children were sitting under a large tree, a small campfire illuminating only a few feet of space. This was light, but not the kind of light they were hoping for. The orange flames reflected off their tired faces, giving them a golden glow. Teri looked up to the royal blue sky.
"Touya?" she asked her brother after a bit of time went by. He turned to her.
"Huh?" He answered.
"What's a. sunset?" She asked innocently. Touya thought for a moment before answering. Finally, he remembered what his mother had said before Teri was born.
"A sunset is said to be the most gorgeous phenomenon I heard the sun can do. I think its when only half of the sun is showing, turning the sky into an array of bright colors. Everyone who has seen one said it was a great experience." He said, repeating what his mother had told him years ago. Teri stared in awe.
"Do you think we will ever see one?" She asked excitedly. Touya's seriousness softened into a grin.
"Maybe someday, Teri. Someday."
~*~end~*~
Teri woke up with a start. Unfamiliar with her surroundings, she backed into the corner of the bed; eyes never leaving the strange people in front her.
"What?! Where am I?! Who are you?" she noticed Kuwabara, who was waving at her. Her eyebrows arched into confusion. "Kuwabara?"
"Yup! That's me!" Kuwabara replied, smiling at her remembrance of his name.
His eyes widened when he noticed she was about to have a heart attack from the other strangers in front of her.
"Oh yea! Sorry, Teri, this is Kurama and Hiei. Kurama used some plants he found to help your wound. You should be back to normal health pretty soon!"
"Yes. Hello, Teri."
"Hn."
Teri was appalled.
"What?! You mean you. you helped me anyway? Why? I have never been given help in my life! Well. what I mean to say is-thanks." She said with a bit of frustration. After calming down, she stood and walked to the window. It was late in the afternoon and she would probably have to leave. Her time there was beyond expended.
"Well, I should leave. I don't want to burden you any longer then I have to," she sighed. Kuwabara flew from his chair at her comment.
"NO! You can't go back! You just healed! You're hit there again and I'm pretty sure you won't live! You have to stay here. Actually, you should never go back. Besides, you got the change to." Teri's eyes glowed with sorrow at the mention of running away.
"I can't, Kuwabara. I can't leave them until I find him."
"What??? What do you mean him?" Kuwabara sputtered. Teri turned to them.
"My brother. I gotta find him and as long as I stay with the Mashoutskai team, I'm sure I will. You have no idea how many times I wanted to run away. You see, there are two parts I need to get through before I can leave. I have finally completed the first step," she said slyly, holding up an orb about the size of an egg. "This is a sphere that my leader always held. Incased inside is all my spirit power. The only problem is it will only break when he dies. The second part is finding my brother. Then and only then can I leave," she finished.
"Hey, maybe I can help find your brother I'm already helping someone else," Kuwabara suggested, "Do you remember what his name is?" Teri put some thought into the question.
The memory she had earlier had mentioned the name, but it was blurry, like the pages of a book splashed with colored water. She tried hard to remember.
"T-t-t. Uh. I can't really remember. T-toa? I'm not sure. The name is really vague; I haven't heard it since I was a child. All I remember is that he was kind, strong-willed, and calm, maybe about my height, but that's all I know." She strained her mind to think of anything else, but was unsuccessful. Kuwabara thought on what she said.
"Okay, I think that's pretty good information for now, but hey, why don't you just spend one night here? I'm sure they aren't going anywhere, what with the tournament and all-" Kuwabara was about to say something more when a furious knock came at the door. Kurama stood up and paused before he unlocked it, glancing through the eyehole to make sure no one was going to ambush them. What he saw confused him. He pointed at the eyehole.
"Isn't that. the Emcee of the tournament? What's here name, Koto? What's she doing here?" Hiei and Kuwabara turned, confused. Teri turned, overjoyed.
"Oh, Koto?! Let her in, Kurama! She's a good friend of mine!" Teri called, running to the door.
Kurama seemed surprised at her sudden reaction. He slowly opened the door, only to be trampled by an upset cat demon. Koto hugged Teri, glad to see she had recovered.
"Crap, Teri! How many times have I told you not to scare me like that?" Koto said, mocking herself. Teri laughed at her joke.
"Hey," Teri said, "look what I got!" She opened her hand, revealing the orb to Koto, who in turn rejoiced at Teri's success.
"Oh my god, Teri! How did you manage to pull that one off? That's amazing!" Koto said between her happiness.
"Well, it didn't really go as I had wanted it to go, but in any case, I got it." Teri responded bluntly. Teri's happiness had swelled to great heights. Neither she, nor Koto had been that happy before. At last, their plan had finally taken a large step forward.
"Alright! Thanks for all your help, Urameshi team! We can take it from here." Koto returned. Teri bowed to them.
"Sayonara, Kazuma. Thank you for saving me and for offering to help me find my brother," she said, then turned her head to the others and nodded, "You too, Kurama. And you, Hiei." Teri thanked them once more and left with Koto for a good night of rest.
Koto woke with a start the next morning. Snatching the clock off her dresser, she gravelly discovered she had slept in.
"Oh my god! It's ten o' clock!!! I'm gonna be so late!" Koto practically dove into her dresser drawer, clawing through shirts and pants until she found her Emcee outfit for the tournament. She pivoted around after dressing herself to find she had neglected to put her stuff away. The room was a sty.
"Whoops. Guess I'll have to fix that when I get back. Teri! Are you up yet?!" Koto shouted from the next room.
She ran to through her whole apartment to find the blankets on the couch where Teri had slept were folded and one of the cabinets was open. Teri had left.
"Oh man. Where'd she get to now?" Koto puffed with irritation. "Now I'm really gonna be late." Seconds later she was there and out the door.