~High Voltage~
. . .

Chapter Two: The Search
. . .



The Shadow was a light sleeper, who woke up at the slightest sound or motion. Having no home to speak of, the Shadow often slept in trees, secluded in the forest where it could not be discovered. Being discovered was not something the Shadow could afford...

It's eyes snapped open. Gazing at the scenery around it and recalling what had happened the night before, the Shadow sat up and reached into its belt pouch for the small green cube it had stolen the night before. Examining the object carefully, the Shadow hoped that this item was the one it had been searching for all these years. But how to activate this little cube and access the power within?

The Shadow placed the cube on its palm and watched it closely. Mists in various shades of green began to swirl around inside as the cube began to glow again. Suddenly an image formed from the swirling mists; a person. The Shadow recognized the person at once. Behind the person was a stone wall, that of a dungeon. Two chains hung high on the wall, and the person suddenly began to back away from an unknown threat. But the Shadow knew what it was. The Shadow watched without flinching as the mystical cube replayed an event from the past; as the person in the cube was hung from the chains on the wall. Watched as the person in the cube was tortured--burned, whipped, electrocuted, beaten--while uttering not one sound. Teeth clenched, body tense and stiff, eyes burning with hatred and determination, receiving every blow and acting as though it was nothing.

But it was all an act. The Shadow knew all too well the extent of pain this person had gone through. Just because one can endure pain better than most does not mean it will hurt any less. The image disappeared as the Shadow looked away, not wanting to view anymore. This cube did have incredible power, as the rumors had said.

However, this was not the object the Shadow was after.

"Useless," the Shadow muttered, placing it back into the belt pouch along with the numerous other priceless items that had been stolen over the years. It would appear that the Shadow was now back to square one.

. . .

"So what did this Shadow guy steal, anyway?" Yusuke wondered as the group wandered through the deep woods of Spirit World.

"What, you mean besides the other two hundred sixty-five priceless magical objects that have mysteriously disappeared within the past four years?" Botan asked from behind him.

"Uh...yeah," he answered.

"This time the Shadow stole the Cyun Cube--an item that enables the user to look back on moments of his or her past that have been forgotten, such as the cause of a certain fear or trauma, or events that have been blocked from the mind."

"So it does the same thing as hypnosis?"

"Well...sort of." Botan sighed. Close enough.

"This is really stupid," Kuwabara complained from the back of the group, where he was stuck carrying the big bag Botan had brought along. "We look like a bunch of dorks, following Shorty through the woods like this. And why do I have to carry this stuff?"

"Just quit complaining, Kuwabara," Yusuke told him. "I mean, if that bag is too heavy for you I would gladly take over," he said with a smirk.

"No way, Urameshi!" Kuwabara clutched the bag to his chest as if Yusuke was going to try to take it from him.

"Any luck, Hiei?" Kurama asked from ahead of Yusuke.

Hiei's eyes narrowed; he was obviously irritated at having to play the hound dog for the group. "No," he replied shortly.

"Well, maybe this will help," Botan reached into her jacket pocket and withdrew an object that looked similar to a watch. "Remember your old demon compass, Yusuke?"

"You mean the one that blew up? Tch. Yeah, a lot of help that was," he answered.

"This one is an improved version of your last one," she continued. "It was made to track certain demons like the Shadow; if he's a demon. Here, why don't you try it?"

"I guess it couldn't hurt," Yusuke shrugged and took it from her.

"Hn. You think that's going to help?"

"It's worth a try." Yusuke glanced at Hiei, remembering what had happened with the other demon compass. He stared down at the new one. "Whoa! This thing is going crazy, Botan. Are you sure it's working right?"

"Either that or there are tons of demons just like the Shadow around here," she replied. "And somehow I doubt the latter is true."

From the front of the group, Hiei scowled. He disliked wandering the woods endlessly when he had better things to do. If he hadn't had the rest of them here slowing him down, he'd have located this 'Shadow' by now--probably killed him, too. A slight smirk crossed his face as he thought of this. Koenma wanted this person alive, but sometimes things just...happen.

. . .

The Shadow hadn't moved from the spot in the tree all morning, contemplating what the next move should be. The Cyun Cube had not been helpful at all, but the Shadow had decided to keep it for future reference. Besides, what was the point in returning it now?

The Shadow thought of a substance it had heard rumors about--the Dein Water. Kept inside a small vial made of saphire, it was said that the water could release one's hidden power as well as immortalize whoever drank it. The Shadow was not after immortal life, having no desire to live for all eternity and eventually wish for an unattainable death. However, this was something that could always be used as a last resort... Suddenly the Shadow stiffened. Standing up, it gazed off in the direction the spirit energy it sensed was coming from. Someone--no, there were more than one. They were searching for the Shadow. This was not an uncommon occurrence, though--many others had tried to apprehend the thief in the past. Tried and failed.

'Let them come. I'll rather enjoy killing them,' it thought. 'I could use some practice--I've become a bit soft lately.' Letting a smirk cross its face, the Shadow decided to play a little game with the ones fool enough to seek out a match with a formidable adversary whose previous opponents had not lived to tell of.

. . .

Next chapter: The Hunt...The Game

AN: Sorry, I know these chapters have been short. They'll get longer as the story progresses, I promise.