Chapter 29
The Urameshi team was on its final mile in making it to Natsu's Palace to save Hoshiko. How would things be for her now? They could not longer trust her but nevertheless they had to stop Natsu from taking her powers for his own sick use. Kurama was taking this harder than the others, although he did not show it. But Hiei knew, they all knew him well enough to see that he was in love and still in shock with the fact that Hoshiko had betrayed him, them. He was still determined to save her, to find out why.
"There they are!" came a familiar voice. The team turned with annoyance not that Botan was bothersome only that they told them to stay behind.
****An hour earlier****
"Why can't we come?" Botan asked with a pout.
"It is safer if you just stay here with the others." Yusuke said.
"You guys might need our help. Or is it because we are girls?" Kayko asked slyly
"That is absurd Machiko is a girl." Kurama said, "If you would please stay here, for your safety." He said
"Alright, fine." Botan said as they left. She was crossing her fingers behind her back.
***An Hour and some later***
"Ha, we found you." Botan said catching up with them, Kayko and Yukina not far behind.
"We told you to stay behind." Hiei said in his warning tone.
"Heh, um well, you guys will need our help. Call it woman's intuition." She said.
"It's late and I'm tired so lets discuss this in the morning." Yusuke said as he took a spot on the leafy ground.
Kayko and Yusuke were entwined in each other's arms. Kuwabara slept alone for Yukina had gone off to think. Botan was sleeping on her ore in the air. Kurama was leaning up against a tree to keep watch. Hiei and Machiko were standing in a tree that grew right about where Yukina decided to sit.
"You could tell her now." Machiko pressed.
"Why do you push me, woman?" Hiei said, faking his annoyance at the statement.
"If you not do it now you could lose her. I lost my sister and I would give anything to wish it were not so." She said, "Either way, look at her," he did, "something distresses her."
With out a word he jumped from the tree and sat next to her.
"Oh, Hiei, you scared me." She said, "What is wrong?"
"Oh, n-nothing. I wanted to ask you the same thing." He lied only looking for the right time to tell her.
"Me? Well I've decided to stop looking for my brother because I will never find him. I only wish I knew what he was like? If he remembers me." She said, "Sounds silly doesn't it?"
"No!" he said desperately then cleared his throat. "I mean I'm sure he remembers you." Trying to sound as reassuring as he could.
"I cannot go on with this lie." She said abruptly. "If your sister were looking for you, would you tell her? Knowing that it may bring her happiness?" she asked and slid closer to him as if studying him for the first time.
Did she know? "What do you mean?" he tried playing dumb.
"Hiei." She looked at him, "why couldn't you tell me?" she asked sadly.
"How do you know?" he asked
"Well it did not click until this morning. I have always felt a faint presents watching over me, and whenever you are near me I can feel it. Somehow I did not notice. I know that you are my brother and I know that you have been looking out for me." She looked down at her cold hands. "Thank you."
Hiei did not know what to say, what to do. He was lost. He snapped out of his trance when he felt her hug him. He hugged her back, oh how he had secretly longed to hug her.
"You don't have to be alone anymore." She whispered. "Now I will watch over you."
"Yukina. Thank you," he whispered back,
"I have found you." she said and let him go, "it is getting late and I think we should all get some sleep." She got up and went to sleep in Kuwabara's arms. Hiei found Machiko asleep in the tree so he went to speak with Kurama.
"So you told her." Kurama let out his usual smile.
"Hn."
"Well I'm happy for you," he said.
"You still love that traitor, don't you?" Hiei asked out of the blue.
"I--do not know." He looked down. "I don't think it was her fault."
"Get some sleep. We shall find out tomorrow. I'll take over watch." He said.
****************************
"The moon will be full tonight, my divine one." Natsu said. "Why don't we get started now?" He said
"What?! No." Hoshiko yelled, "the moon is not out yet." She said
"They will not save you. Buying time will not save you." he told her, " and as for the moon part, as long as the last drop of blood comes out while the moon is out that will be enough. Thus giving you time to ponder about the afterlife." He laughed and pulled out his knife.
"Kurama." She whispered.
"Oh dear, he will never save you. they do not know where we are." Little did he know that Hoshiko had contacted Kurama the night before. Would he make it in time to save her? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the knife plunge into her arm.
"This will be very slow and painful. First I will cut your arms and legs, then your hands and every inch of you (not there. For you nasty people) until I have every ounce of your blood, I shall end by stabbing you in the heart." He pressed the knife harder, filled with the lust for killing her.
%%%%%%%
He let out a gasp of pain. "Kurama? What is it?" Yusuke asked.
"He is hurting her," he said
"What? You mean to say you can fell her pain?" Kayko asked as they were all packing for the day ahead. Kurama nodded.
'We are wasting time here.' Hiei thought.
'I agree.' Kurama replied. And turned to Botan. "I want you and the others to stay here." His green eyes pleaded.
"Alright Kurama." But of you need us just use the communication mirror, okay?"
"I will." Thank you," he said.
"Machiko." Hiei turned to her. "I want you to watch over them." He said, "and yourself." She smiled and nodded.
After all was said and done the Urameshi team set off to find the castle, Kurama used the sense of pain to find her, and it was getting worse by the moment, I will save her, he vowed.
*****************
"Please stop." Hoshiko begged admitting she was weak only because she had nothing to believe in, for even if Kurama came to save her it would only be because of the mission.
"No. You fail to see the beauty of my plan."
"Killing innocent people is not beautiful. You sick bastard!" she spat at him.
"Big mistake." He said and placed the knife gently over her left arm, pierced he skin softly, making her cringe, and very slowly pulled the knife down her arm. The crimson blood trickled down into buckets on the ground beneath her. She passed out from the pain, it had only been and hour and the day had just begun.
%%%%%%%%%%%
"This is where he is." Kurama said as the group stopped at the entrance of an ordinary cave. Making it through the land of lost souls was easy for them, for they were all pure of heart and were willing to do whatever it took to save the three worlds.
"Oh, what a nice evil fortress." Yusuke said sarcastically. "Honey I'm home!'" he yelled and his voice echoed through the cave.
"This is no time to play around." Kuwabara said, trying to be noble once more. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Kurama said. "Notice how the entrance is unguarded? Why do you think that is?" he asked, "This place must have an abundance of death traps. We mustn't be too hasty." He said.
"Kurama is right I can feel a strong and powerful being waiting for us." Hiei added
"Well lets go." Yusuke said and with that said they entered.
The first room was a four-wall death trap that was covered with statues. There was a statue at every corner and one pedestal in the center of the room. "What is this?" Kuwabara asked himself.
Kurama stepped up to the center pedestal and read the writing that was etched all the way across. It read:
--To get to the one you adore
One must take the parts of four
To make one more
The fifth statue will show you the door. —
"What does that mean?" Kuwabara asked when it was read aloud.
Kurama pushed the question aside and went to the corner to his left and examined a statue of a dog. He felt it with his hands, looking for a catch. He found one, he pulled off the head of the statue and in the center was a blood red gem, which was curved at looked like an upside-down J.
Seeing this, the others picked the other corners and when all the pieces were collected. Kurama placed them down on the pedestal and began to arrange the shapes. In the end the center statue was a blood red heart with a pure white star in the center. The star began to glow and in front of them a door appeared with the same glowing star in the center. "Lets move ahead." Kurama said.
The next room was a long hall of some sort. Kuwabara was not looking and a spike came out from the ground, luckily Hiei say it fast enough to pull him out of the way. "Next time I will not save you." he said which was a lie because he had promised Yukina that he would protect the clumsy fool.
"Well, okay watch out for spikes." Yusuke said," is that all?" he asked and picked up a rock and threw it. Hoping to reveal where all the spikes were, but not only did he do that, but he triggered the real traps. About twenty swinging scythes were swinging right and left. And fire began bursting from the celing every five seconds. They would have to time their trip and they had to be swift to get to the next door.
"Okay. Spoke too soon." Yusuke swallowed.
*******************
The hours past and the moon was about to show its self. Hoshiko was awake once more. She was covered in her own blood and wishing for death. She had not given up hope that Kurama would save her. But that thought diminished along with the time she had left.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
They had survived a boiling lake of rising lava, a collapsing wall, a river of snakes, and a room of liquid darkness. The team was exhausted. Kuwabara was scratched and panting hard. Yusuke was tired of walking, Hiei and Kurama though tough, also were beaten and bloodied. But they had to go on.
**************************
"What will you do now? The moon will show it's self in only moments." Natsu's smile twisted. He then pulled out a sword that was made of pure gold and was dressed in gems of many colors. He held it above her heart prepared to make the final blow.
"Stop, Natsu." Kurama's voice filled the air.
"Ku--rama." Hoshiko said when she saw him.
"What! How did you get here?" Natsu asked
"Your traps were of no help to you." Hiei said, "the only this you accomplished was angering me so I can't promise you a quick death."
"I see." he said and plunged the knife into Hoshiko. He had spilled all of her blood. Her spirit was seeping into him. "I shall be all powerful." He laughed
"No! Hoshiko." Kurama was angry with himself for not being able to save Hoshiko and he was mad at Natsu for what he had done. "Rose Whip." He said in he demon form. "Rose whiplash!" he said but Natsu knocked it out of the way.
"We have to work together on this one." He said.
"Right." Kuwabara said, "Sword get longer!" and lassoed Natsu, Kurama used his Rose Whip to hold him as well. Hiei used his Dragon of the darkness flame (which he had somehow mastered) along with Yusuke and his Spirit wave.
Natsu had no chance to survive, since all the pain and suffering Natsu had caused was pulling into the one monstrous attack by the Urameshi team. He was reduced to nothing but ash.
It was over finally. Hoshiko's soul was free to move on. Kurama was heart broken. The team seemed to notice and wanted to give him a few moments with her.
"Why didn't I save you in time? If I only you knew how I feel, how much I need you here with me. I am sorry." He said, "it must have been hard for you to endure such pain and never be free of the voice in your head, I was too late to save you." and traced her cold blue lips with his soft fingers. Then he picked her up and carried her off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime had passed and everyone was bathing in their time off. Hiei spent days catching up with his sister. But when Yukina was hanging around with Kuwabara, Hiei was with Machiko. The missing girls had their memories erased and were back in school. Yusuke and Kayko were just enjoying their time together. Sadly they had not seen Kurama since the unpleasant incident.
One sunny day, the last day of their vacation, the team got together to have a small party. Koenma had a surprise to share with the others. They were all in on it. Botan was in charge of finding Kurama and the others had to prepare for the day.
Botan found Kurama in his garden, he was sad and depressed. He was planting black roses. They seemed to go along with his feelings, although he tried to hide them. "A party?"
"Yes, it is the last day of our vacation and we have not seen you since—well, will you please come?" she asked.
"Okay." He said sadly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Machiko, Kayko, Yukina, and Koenma (in his "cool" teenage form) waited for Kurama to enter. When he did, all eyes were on him. He was a wreck, but not on the outside. It was the inside that had a scar that just would not go away.
"Now, I don't do this often and I would be punished if my father were to find out." He said But Kurama, if you would be so kind as to go out into the hall."
"Why?" he asked but did as he was told. He was alone in the hall until he saw a figure turn around. He silver and gold hair was as radiant as ever and her clear eyes were compelling. "How can? No you are not real." He closed his eyes. But opened them when he felt her soft hands on his cheeks.
"Kurama. Remember the night you told me you were falling in love with me?"
"Of course." He said melting at the sound of her voice. "I'm no longer falling." He said, "For I am in love with you," he said
"I'm in love with you too." She said. His lips were coming closer to hers and he brushed them lightly and pulled away. Hoshiko was pouting.
"We have a party to go to." He said but Hoshiko would not let him go.
"you won't get off that easy." She said. And kissed him hard on the mouth. He kissed her back with lustful passion. When the kiss was ended they proceeded to the party.
DAS ENDE... (the end)
Star
The Urameshi team was on its final mile in making it to Natsu's Palace to save Hoshiko. How would things be for her now? They could not longer trust her but nevertheless they had to stop Natsu from taking her powers for his own sick use. Kurama was taking this harder than the others, although he did not show it. But Hiei knew, they all knew him well enough to see that he was in love and still in shock with the fact that Hoshiko had betrayed him, them. He was still determined to save her, to find out why.
"There they are!" came a familiar voice. The team turned with annoyance not that Botan was bothersome only that they told them to stay behind.
****An hour earlier****
"Why can't we come?" Botan asked with a pout.
"It is safer if you just stay here with the others." Yusuke said.
"You guys might need our help. Or is it because we are girls?" Kayko asked slyly
"That is absurd Machiko is a girl." Kurama said, "If you would please stay here, for your safety." He said
"Alright, fine." Botan said as they left. She was crossing her fingers behind her back.
***An Hour and some later***
"Ha, we found you." Botan said catching up with them, Kayko and Yukina not far behind.
"We told you to stay behind." Hiei said in his warning tone.
"Heh, um well, you guys will need our help. Call it woman's intuition." She said.
"It's late and I'm tired so lets discuss this in the morning." Yusuke said as he took a spot on the leafy ground.
Kayko and Yusuke were entwined in each other's arms. Kuwabara slept alone for Yukina had gone off to think. Botan was sleeping on her ore in the air. Kurama was leaning up against a tree to keep watch. Hiei and Machiko were standing in a tree that grew right about where Yukina decided to sit.
"You could tell her now." Machiko pressed.
"Why do you push me, woman?" Hiei said, faking his annoyance at the statement.
"If you not do it now you could lose her. I lost my sister and I would give anything to wish it were not so." She said, "Either way, look at her," he did, "something distresses her."
With out a word he jumped from the tree and sat next to her.
"Oh, Hiei, you scared me." She said, "What is wrong?"
"Oh, n-nothing. I wanted to ask you the same thing." He lied only looking for the right time to tell her.
"Me? Well I've decided to stop looking for my brother because I will never find him. I only wish I knew what he was like? If he remembers me." She said, "Sounds silly doesn't it?"
"No!" he said desperately then cleared his throat. "I mean I'm sure he remembers you." Trying to sound as reassuring as he could.
"I cannot go on with this lie." She said abruptly. "If your sister were looking for you, would you tell her? Knowing that it may bring her happiness?" she asked and slid closer to him as if studying him for the first time.
Did she know? "What do you mean?" he tried playing dumb.
"Hiei." She looked at him, "why couldn't you tell me?" she asked sadly.
"How do you know?" he asked
"Well it did not click until this morning. I have always felt a faint presents watching over me, and whenever you are near me I can feel it. Somehow I did not notice. I know that you are my brother and I know that you have been looking out for me." She looked down at her cold hands. "Thank you."
Hiei did not know what to say, what to do. He was lost. He snapped out of his trance when he felt her hug him. He hugged her back, oh how he had secretly longed to hug her.
"You don't have to be alone anymore." She whispered. "Now I will watch over you."
"Yukina. Thank you," he whispered back,
"I have found you." she said and let him go, "it is getting late and I think we should all get some sleep." She got up and went to sleep in Kuwabara's arms. Hiei found Machiko asleep in the tree so he went to speak with Kurama.
"So you told her." Kurama let out his usual smile.
"Hn."
"Well I'm happy for you," he said.
"You still love that traitor, don't you?" Hiei asked out of the blue.
"I--do not know." He looked down. "I don't think it was her fault."
"Get some sleep. We shall find out tomorrow. I'll take over watch." He said.
****************************
"The moon will be full tonight, my divine one." Natsu said. "Why don't we get started now?" He said
"What?! No." Hoshiko yelled, "the moon is not out yet." She said
"They will not save you. Buying time will not save you." he told her, " and as for the moon part, as long as the last drop of blood comes out while the moon is out that will be enough. Thus giving you time to ponder about the afterlife." He laughed and pulled out his knife.
"Kurama." She whispered.
"Oh dear, he will never save you. they do not know where we are." Little did he know that Hoshiko had contacted Kurama the night before. Would he make it in time to save her? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the knife plunge into her arm.
"This will be very slow and painful. First I will cut your arms and legs, then your hands and every inch of you (not there. For you nasty people) until I have every ounce of your blood, I shall end by stabbing you in the heart." He pressed the knife harder, filled with the lust for killing her.
%%%%%%%
He let out a gasp of pain. "Kurama? What is it?" Yusuke asked.
"He is hurting her," he said
"What? You mean to say you can fell her pain?" Kayko asked as they were all packing for the day ahead. Kurama nodded.
'We are wasting time here.' Hiei thought.
'I agree.' Kurama replied. And turned to Botan. "I want you and the others to stay here." His green eyes pleaded.
"Alright Kurama." But of you need us just use the communication mirror, okay?"
"I will." Thank you," he said.
"Machiko." Hiei turned to her. "I want you to watch over them." He said, "and yourself." She smiled and nodded.
After all was said and done the Urameshi team set off to find the castle, Kurama used the sense of pain to find her, and it was getting worse by the moment, I will save her, he vowed.
*****************
"Please stop." Hoshiko begged admitting she was weak only because she had nothing to believe in, for even if Kurama came to save her it would only be because of the mission.
"No. You fail to see the beauty of my plan."
"Killing innocent people is not beautiful. You sick bastard!" she spat at him.
"Big mistake." He said and placed the knife gently over her left arm, pierced he skin softly, making her cringe, and very slowly pulled the knife down her arm. The crimson blood trickled down into buckets on the ground beneath her. She passed out from the pain, it had only been and hour and the day had just begun.
%%%%%%%%%%%
"This is where he is." Kurama said as the group stopped at the entrance of an ordinary cave. Making it through the land of lost souls was easy for them, for they were all pure of heart and were willing to do whatever it took to save the three worlds.
"Oh, what a nice evil fortress." Yusuke said sarcastically. "Honey I'm home!'" he yelled and his voice echoed through the cave.
"This is no time to play around." Kuwabara said, trying to be noble once more. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Kurama said. "Notice how the entrance is unguarded? Why do you think that is?" he asked, "This place must have an abundance of death traps. We mustn't be too hasty." He said.
"Kurama is right I can feel a strong and powerful being waiting for us." Hiei added
"Well lets go." Yusuke said and with that said they entered.
The first room was a four-wall death trap that was covered with statues. There was a statue at every corner and one pedestal in the center of the room. "What is this?" Kuwabara asked himself.
Kurama stepped up to the center pedestal and read the writing that was etched all the way across. It read:
--To get to the one you adore
One must take the parts of four
To make one more
The fifth statue will show you the door. —
"What does that mean?" Kuwabara asked when it was read aloud.
Kurama pushed the question aside and went to the corner to his left and examined a statue of a dog. He felt it with his hands, looking for a catch. He found one, he pulled off the head of the statue and in the center was a blood red gem, which was curved at looked like an upside-down J.
Seeing this, the others picked the other corners and when all the pieces were collected. Kurama placed them down on the pedestal and began to arrange the shapes. In the end the center statue was a blood red heart with a pure white star in the center. The star began to glow and in front of them a door appeared with the same glowing star in the center. "Lets move ahead." Kurama said.
The next room was a long hall of some sort. Kuwabara was not looking and a spike came out from the ground, luckily Hiei say it fast enough to pull him out of the way. "Next time I will not save you." he said which was a lie because he had promised Yukina that he would protect the clumsy fool.
"Well, okay watch out for spikes." Yusuke said," is that all?" he asked and picked up a rock and threw it. Hoping to reveal where all the spikes were, but not only did he do that, but he triggered the real traps. About twenty swinging scythes were swinging right and left. And fire began bursting from the celing every five seconds. They would have to time their trip and they had to be swift to get to the next door.
"Okay. Spoke too soon." Yusuke swallowed.
*******************
The hours past and the moon was about to show its self. Hoshiko was awake once more. She was covered in her own blood and wishing for death. She had not given up hope that Kurama would save her. But that thought diminished along with the time she had left.
%%%%%%%%%%%%
They had survived a boiling lake of rising lava, a collapsing wall, a river of snakes, and a room of liquid darkness. The team was exhausted. Kuwabara was scratched and panting hard. Yusuke was tired of walking, Hiei and Kurama though tough, also were beaten and bloodied. But they had to go on.
**************************
"What will you do now? The moon will show it's self in only moments." Natsu's smile twisted. He then pulled out a sword that was made of pure gold and was dressed in gems of many colors. He held it above her heart prepared to make the final blow.
"Stop, Natsu." Kurama's voice filled the air.
"Ku--rama." Hoshiko said when she saw him.
"What! How did you get here?" Natsu asked
"Your traps were of no help to you." Hiei said, "the only this you accomplished was angering me so I can't promise you a quick death."
"I see." he said and plunged the knife into Hoshiko. He had spilled all of her blood. Her spirit was seeping into him. "I shall be all powerful." He laughed
"No! Hoshiko." Kurama was angry with himself for not being able to save Hoshiko and he was mad at Natsu for what he had done. "Rose Whip." He said in he demon form. "Rose whiplash!" he said but Natsu knocked it out of the way.
"We have to work together on this one." He said.
"Right." Kuwabara said, "Sword get longer!" and lassoed Natsu, Kurama used his Rose Whip to hold him as well. Hiei used his Dragon of the darkness flame (which he had somehow mastered) along with Yusuke and his Spirit wave.
Natsu had no chance to survive, since all the pain and suffering Natsu had caused was pulling into the one monstrous attack by the Urameshi team. He was reduced to nothing but ash.
It was over finally. Hoshiko's soul was free to move on. Kurama was heart broken. The team seemed to notice and wanted to give him a few moments with her.
"Why didn't I save you in time? If I only you knew how I feel, how much I need you here with me. I am sorry." He said, "it must have been hard for you to endure such pain and never be free of the voice in your head, I was too late to save you." and traced her cold blue lips with his soft fingers. Then he picked her up and carried her off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sometime had passed and everyone was bathing in their time off. Hiei spent days catching up with his sister. But when Yukina was hanging around with Kuwabara, Hiei was with Machiko. The missing girls had their memories erased and were back in school. Yusuke and Kayko were just enjoying their time together. Sadly they had not seen Kurama since the unpleasant incident.
One sunny day, the last day of their vacation, the team got together to have a small party. Koenma had a surprise to share with the others. They were all in on it. Botan was in charge of finding Kurama and the others had to prepare for the day.
Botan found Kurama in his garden, he was sad and depressed. He was planting black roses. They seemed to go along with his feelings, although he tried to hide them. "A party?"
"Yes, it is the last day of our vacation and we have not seen you since—well, will you please come?" she asked.
"Okay." He said sadly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Machiko, Kayko, Yukina, and Koenma (in his "cool" teenage form) waited for Kurama to enter. When he did, all eyes were on him. He was a wreck, but not on the outside. It was the inside that had a scar that just would not go away.
"Now, I don't do this often and I would be punished if my father were to find out." He said But Kurama, if you would be so kind as to go out into the hall."
"Why?" he asked but did as he was told. He was alone in the hall until he saw a figure turn around. He silver and gold hair was as radiant as ever and her clear eyes were compelling. "How can? No you are not real." He closed his eyes. But opened them when he felt her soft hands on his cheeks.
"Kurama. Remember the night you told me you were falling in love with me?"
"Of course." He said melting at the sound of her voice. "I'm no longer falling." He said, "For I am in love with you," he said
"I'm in love with you too." She said. His lips were coming closer to hers and he brushed them lightly and pulled away. Hoshiko was pouting.
"We have a party to go to." He said but Hoshiko would not let him go.
"you won't get off that easy." She said. And kissed him hard on the mouth. He kissed her back with lustful passion. When the kiss was ended they proceeded to the party.
DAS ENDE... (the end)
Star