Chickenpox

By: Agent Dark Moose

Rating: PG-13

Summary: When Yusuke and Kuwabara drag Kurama and an unwilling Hiei to the arcade, Hiei catches a terrible disease. That disease is . . . the chickenpox? (oO;)

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH. I wish I owned Kurama, but I don't.

~Guide~

~+~ Location Change

*** Time change

_. . ._ Emphasized

~*+*~ Time AND Location Change

Chapter Eight: False

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~From the Top~

Special thanks again to Blue Ice Fox!!! You're the best!!! ^o^

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Yusuke and Kuwabara approached the portal to the Spirit World, the flower clasped softly in Yusuke's hand. He glanced around nervously for any sign of danger but nothing came. Something didn't feel right . . .

The black-haired Spirit Detective shrugged it off and stepped through the portal landing with a 'thud' outside Koenma's office. He glanced through the door that had unusually been left ajar. Botan was standing in front of Koenma's desk. Her face looked pained as if she was going through an inner turmoil and Yusuke thought he heard the name Hiei muttered among their whispers.

Kuwabara landed behind him coming through the portal. "Let's go, Urameshi!" He urged. Yusuke complied, giving up on trying to hear the secretive conversation. He opened the door fully, making his presence known, and moved into the office smirking.

"Yusuke!" The demi-god exclaimed, surprised at the Detective's appearance, "You found the flower so quickly?"

Yusuke laughed at the toddler's bewilderment and held the flower out to him. It was silky to the touch and white as snow with a peach glint to the base. Black and dark cherry lines freckled the petals that curved into a teardrop shape with the tips flowing back at the top. The demi-god studied it for a moment turning it over, running his fingers over the delicate petals.

"Hmmm, I'm sorry to disappoint you Yusuke . . ." he said sadly, and looked up at the youth. "But this isn't a real Nauso Flower . . ."

"What!?" Yusuke jumped back startled. How could it not be real? He had felt it, and he could see it! "Then what is it?"

"This is a mirror image of a Nauso flower, a demon's recreation." Koenma waved his hand through the delicate petals and the flower disappeared in a wisp of red light. "But this is fortunate, in a sense."

"How the hell can this be fortunate?!" Yusuke hollered, feeling anger rise within him. "Hiei's gonna die! How the hell can you find that fortunate you conceited little monster!?"

Koenma looked up at him; his hazel eyes clouded with sadness and had slight rings around them as if he hadn't slept in a while. Yusuke felt guilt gnaw at him and he bit his lip, wishing to take the words back.

"Yusuke, I cannot control what will happen to Hiei, but you have to listen to me if you want him to live . . ." His voice was soft and helpless. It was so unlike the toddler to express such sorrow in place of his usual official demeanor. He cleared his throat as if embarrassed by his emotion. "Now, as I was saying, there is good news. In order to make the mirror image, the demon that set this trap would have to have a true one. I will re-open a portal to the Makai for you. Though this one will not last as long, seeing as I made one only a day ago and I spent a lot of energy in creating it. You should have about three days. I'll leave you in the same place as last." his eyes clouded once more "Yusuke, we're counting on you."

Yusuke nodded determinedly. He wouldn't let this go wrong.

"Ok then." Koenma said hopping out of his chair. I opened the portal about... here." He paced over a few tiles and then turned to the right. "Now, once you enter the Makai, you will have to seek out the demon that set the trap. He will most likely return to the same spot where you found the fake flower, as it seems its plan did not go as planned." He sliced his hand through the air opening the glowing portal. "Be back in three days or you will be trapped. I wouldn't normally take this risk but the need is dire. Now go, quickly!"

Yusuke nodded again and looked to Kuwabara who had been strangely quiet through the brief exchange. He was starring at his clenched fists, almost shaking with rage. How could this be happening! They had the flower there! How much time had they wasted on this wild goose chase?! He wasn't always so easy on the small youkai, but if Hiei was gone, Kuwabara would miss him a lot.

"Alright, let's go!" Kuwabara punched his fist into the air dramatically. Yusuke would of normally laughed at the stupid outburst but let it pass with an exasperated sigh and a roll of his eyes.

"Good luck, Yusuke." Koenma said officially before Yusuke stepped through the portal, Kuwabara scrambling behind.

~*+*~

Yusuke stepped through the underbrush, searching for the spot where they had seen the wolf youkai. Kuwabara followed cautiously. He could feel the presence of a strong demon but couldn't pinpoint its location. It was as if the demon were inside his head, but that was stupid. How could a demon be inside his head? Kuwabara decided it was nerves and forgot about it.

Yusuke held out a hand, stopping Kuwabara, and parted a clump of leaves in front of them to see a demon crouched in the clearing checking its trap. It was pail white with black hair that fell to the small of his back. He wore white silken pants, a black leather cap and a dark leather trench coat that reached down to mid-thigh, left open to reveal finely-chiseled muscles.

Yusuke glared at it trying to decipher what kind of youkai it was. There were no defining marks to its species or origin. It was dangerous to enter a battle not knowing what your enemy was capable of, but they didn't have much time for that now.

Yusuke was about to step out of the underbrush when he saw something gleaming in the sun from its position under a tree. It was meant to snap on your opponents legs, leaving them as an easy target, but not dead. A trap meant for games of cruelty. A snare.

The Spirit Detective scanned the clearing to find hundreds of glinting snares scattered across the clearing, prepared to lunge out at those careless enough to wander into the clearing. He growled in frustration.

'Fine, if I can't get him up close, I'll just have to do it from here.' Yusuke clasped his right hand onto his left wrist and extended his left index finger, forming the shape of a gun. He took aim and smirked. "Spirit Gun!"

The demon turned from his spot, seconds before a blinding blue light filled the clearing. The light slowly diminished leaving Yusuke to scan the area, hoping he hadn't destroyed the demon completely; they still needed the real flower. He walked cautiously into the open finding his Rei Gun had caused the traps to go off.

"Hey! Where is he Urameshi?!" Kuwabara yelled stepping out after him. A maniacal laughter filled the clearing.

"It's not very nice to attack when your opponents not looking." The voice was cold and sleek. The youkai let a pair of snake knives fall out of his coat sleeves, catching them gracefully. "No matter, I'm not very nice myself."

He smirked at the two humans from his perch in the branches above. Yusuke caught sight of him and swore under his breath. He had underestimated him. The demons sickening yellow eyes met his chocolate ones for a second.

Yusuke shuddered. He felt like something had looked into him, violated the sanctity of his mind. He shook his head and brought his hands into position again and Kuwabara drew his Spirit Sword.

"We're looking for the Nauso flower," Yusuke spoke to the demon. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." His mouth turned up to a smirk. "I think I'd enjoy the hard."

"So would I." The demon's voice held a bit of humor.

"SPIRIT GUN!" The demon dodged the blast but he heard a faint scream coming from his opponent. It was oddly familiar. And then he saw . . . her.

"KEIKO!" Yusuke screamed, eyes widening in confusion. The demon held Keiko against him, pressing a blade to her neck, causing a trickle of blood to drip down the girl's skin.

"Yusuke! What's going on?! Help me!" she screeched to him.

Yusuke just starred in utter horror, questions swirling around his mind. 'How did that monster get Keiko?! He couldn't have! Otherwise, Koenma would have told us about a demon escaping into the Human World!'

The youkai jumped from its perch and slashed at Yusuke. He dodged back and forth without attacking. He stumbled and the demon lashed out, striking him against the face.

"What the hell are you doing, Urameshi?!" Kuwabara yelled. He came up behind the demon charging. He lifted his sword above its head.

"NO!" Yusuke yelled, getting up and pushing Kuwabara away from their enemy. He fell to the ground hard. He had to think! Something only Keiko would do! Something she would do despite anything . . . During any situation . . .

"Keiko! Are your panties blue or pink today?!" He hollered, throwing in a perverted grin.

However, Keiko didn't respond but continued her screeching. Yusuke smirked, and appeared behind the demon in a burst of speed.

"Go to Hell!" He made his hands into a pistol position "SPIRIT GUN!!" A wave of blue energy flared around the demon. The fake Keiko disappeared in a wisp of red light like the flower had. The light faded and the demon lay unconscious on the ground.

***

Yusuke bound the demon before trying to wake it. He brutally kicked it in the side. He wasn't about to show mercy to that which would use someone's mind so sickeningly. The demon moaned in pain and rolled to his side.

"Wake up!" Kuwabara yelled dragging the demon up by the collar of its coat. The demon moaned again and blinked. His eyes widened and it screamed through the gag over its mouth.

"Shut up!" Kuwabara yelled throwing him back to the ground. "Now you are going to tell us where the flower is, got that?" he ripped the gag from the mouth of the demon who had stopped screaming and taken to glaring at them. He spat at the carrot-top, cursing.

"You think I am such a fool to tell you so easily? You would not kill me until you have it and I want something in return for my prize." he smirked. "Not that you have anything that would sway me."

Yusuke placed his finger to the back of the demons head. "Maybe we do need you alive." he said casually, "But a trip to the Spirit World prison might change your mind." The demons eyes widened at the bluff but calmed quickly.

"On what charges would you have me for? I have done nothing wrong but protect what is mine." Yusuke glared at the demon before searching through the dead leaves.

He picked up one of metal traps pushing it in front of the demon. "I don't think these are legal. How 'bout you Kuwabara?" Yusuke said as if to himself. Kuwabara nodded.

"I think that would be considered a convictable offence." Yusuke smirked as the demon's face fell. He hadn't thought the Detectives had seen the hidden traps. He cursed under his breath and gave a look of defeat.

"Fine." he growled, looking at the ground pathetically.

Yusuke grinned at their captive. "Alright, where's the Nauso Flower?"

The youkai sighed. "In my lair."

"And where's that?" Kuwabara asked.

"In a cave."

Yusuke growled. "Care to elaborate?"

"It's in Makai."

Kuwabara let out a yell of rage before kicking the demon across the ground, Spirit Energy glowing around his foot. "STOP BEING SUCH A SMART A-"

"The cave is about a mile from here. North." the youkai replied, sitting up groggily.

Yusuke and Kuwabara grinned at each other before turning around and dashing out of the clearing towards the youkai's lair.

"You could at least untie me first, baka ningen!" the demon yelled at their retreating backs, causing the two Spirit Detectives to smirk happily as they raced toward the cave . . . and Hiei's last chance to live.

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A/N: Gomen for the wait. I still got writer's block, no matter how much Fox did to help me . . . ;-; I'll get the next chapter up ASAP!

~Agent Dark Moose