Disclaimers- I still don't own Yuyu Hakusho or Weib Kruez but I still wish I do.
Blood
Agony.
Aggrieve.
Afflict.
Anguish.
Those were just the A's Kurama had thought of in what he was feeling right now that he had woken up from a very uncomfortable sleep. Though they only mean one thing, pain. He had sat up from the bed and his side sent waves of pain coursing through his body. He surveyed the room which was simply decorated with two beds, one he was occupying and the other next to him housing Yuko still in vixen form. A table between the beds became the divider and the window gave way to the light outside. The room was comfortably colored in green and there was another table on the right side of the room containing bottles and bandages.
He strained to remember how he got there and the wound on his side and that was when he remembered the trackers and the shot. He had heard the trackers aiming at them but it seemed that Yuko was too busy to hear. When he heard the trigger go off he pushed himself in front of Yuko to save her, ending up with the shot on the side. He turned to Yuko who was still laying on the bed. She looked up and struggled to stand up. She jumped from the bed and landed on Kurama's middle section. She collapsed on him and breathed unevenly.
"You shouldn't push yourself too much."
Yuko stood up again and changed her position. She was now facing her bed and she placed her paws on his side where the wound was. She rested her head there and Kurama had no choice but to lay down on the bed again. Kurama placed his hand on the vixen's body and stroked it as they both lay there feeling each other's pain. Just as Kurama was about to fall back to sleep he left something warm. He tried to move but something was holding him back. He raised his head a little and saw one of Yuko's paws on his left chest and his hand just above her heart.
The vixen glowed light silver while he was glowing a red one. So the ki connection was established and they were currently healing each other. For some reason Kurama was worried that something was going to happen. He felt his limbs and flesh regrown in a matter of seconds but there was something tugging inside him. When the connection was finished he felt the vixen grow and transform. The lustrous fur was suddenly growing and the paws had slowly turned to hands.
Yuko was returning to her Cerenian form. Kurama sat up on his bed and saw Yuko slowly sliding out of the bed. He took hold of her hands and pulled her to him. His body was still sending slightly painful waves in his brain but the pain in his heart was more noticeable than the ones the body was sending him. He was healed but why is she still weakening? He took her in his arms and carried her to the other bed. She had her eyes closed, she was paler than usual and her breathing was uneven. He pulled the blanket higher and rushed to the door.
"Rairan come quickly!"
He had shouted the words with urgency in his voice. When he looked down from the railings he saw four heads look up to him. The red head was hurrying up the stairs and looked Kurama questioningly.
"What's wrong?"
"Yuko, she's back in her Cerenian form. I'm healed but why is she still weak?"
Aya entered the room and went to Yuko's side. He felt her temple then her pulse. It was weak all right and the energy she had released was beyond her control in her present condition. He looked up at the faces that was around them and turned to the girl shifter.
"What can we do? She'll be safe as long as she's inside this room but her pulse is weak, also her energy is really spent. We can't go out the blue forest, trackers are waiting."
"Send for Yuna. She'll know what to do as for now we need to stop the release of energy."
"What do you propose we do? We can't stop training the three of them and Kurama is behind them."
"I'll hold her down, you continue practicing and Rairan can call for Yuna."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'll try."
"What the hell is going on here?"
Everyone looked at Kurama who was sitting on the other bed holding his side.
"She is currently experiencing a burn out. Her energy levels are beyond control and if she keeps releasing them she'll die."
"In the real world when she has a burn out she just collapses or goes silent and weak but in this world it's much severe."
"How severe?"
"Weakening, fever, hallucinations, extreme misuse of her powers and then death."
"How long?"
"10 days max."
Kurama stood up and looked at Rairan. "How do you find this Yuna?"
"Don't do it." The girl shifter said placing her hands on top of Yuko's chest and sending some ki into her.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"If you haven't felt it yet you're weakening as well. There's no way to cut the connection between the two of you. If you collapse on the way to Yuna or back there's no way of saving you from the trackers."
"That's just a risk I have to take."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why take the risk Kurama?" The girl said as she looked up at the Youko. Kurama growled at her and turned around.
"You wouldn't understand."
Aya threw a scroll towards Kurama. "Follow the path to the dark forest, once there someone would bring you to Yuna. The trip would take three days max. By the time you return she might be near dying are you still certain you want to do this?"
"What more can you do if I can't do it by that time?"
He did not wait for an answer he had left the room and Yuko had opened her eyes. She looked at the girl and held her hand.
"Where's Kurama, Kathrin?"
"He went to find Yuna, you're burned out princess."
"Why did you let him go."
"He wanted to go princess we couldn't stop him."
"Rairan..."
"I know but we can't stop someone if their bent on doing what they want. You better rest. He'll be back."
"How can I rest?"
"What do you mean?"
"The trackers got to him already. There's no way of stopping the thing inside him. I wasn't even able to reach it. If Yuna won't be able to help him I have to kill him."
"What are you talking about? Kurama's just fine to me." Yusuke said catching the words Yuko had said.
"There is something in his heart, something remotely evil. He's fighting it as well as feeding it. If he could not be healed I have to kill him. The bullet that missed me was not just any ordinary one. It had seemed that if it went to me I wouldn't be here with you but with my father."
"There will be no need to kill anyone princess. Everything would be just fine. Yuna is the strongest among us. She'll know what to do. Have faith."
"Kathrin, if only there is such a thing in Subete."
After that she had closed her eyes and went limp though she was still breathing as though she has given up on something. Aya had pulled the blanket higher and nodded to the three guardians. He looked at the three figures that was looking at the girl and nodded to himself.
"You heard her. We have to continue practicing. If you guys would want to reach the same level of power we have you have to train for the rest of our stay here. We have too."
"What is so important about winning in this world?"
"You do not fear the same thing we do because the things we fear are not found in your world. Whatever happens to us in the real world is nothing to the things that can happen in this."
"Is that what she meant by if there is such a thing as faith?"
Aya had looked at the others this time not knowing what to say anymore. Yoji shook his head and headed out the room followed by Aya and Ken. Omi had patted Yuko's hand before turning to the other three figures.
"We can't force you if you do not wish to fight or train with us but there is something you must understand. Yuko had lost her faith and her will to live in Subete because of the same thing that sent her to the other world in search of us and Kurama."
"And what could that be?" Hiei asked looking up from his gaze at the girl.
"Love." With that Omi had left the room and Yusuke looked at Hiei and Kuwabara.
"So what do you think?"
"I'm not so sure about this."
"How could you say such a thing Hiei?"
"We do not know what are behind those faces that they show us. For all we know they can be lying to us to get us to leave the other world."
"If that was true then you wouldn't be here with us but in the palace getting ready for the tournament." Kathrin said looking up at Hiei.
"There's no need to trust us but there is no reason not too."
"So do we have a choice here?"
"You who do not live in Subete always have a choice, follow your hearts or follow your minds?"
Kathrin had turned back to Yuko and closed her eyes. She had seemed to glow a soft violet. Yusuke had turned to the others and nodded.
"We train then?"
"And Kurama?"
"He can take care of himself. Besides this Yuna character can help him."
They went out of the room and went back to the four guardians to train themselves again. Meanwhile Kathrin had slowly pulled her hands away from Yuko's chest and looked out of the window. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. She had felt so tired ever since the princess left Subete and now that she's back she's even weaker. The princess never had burn outs when she was here how hard the pressure was on her there was not a moment that she was burned out, not this bad. She turned around to the princess and saw the light silver aura going out of the princess body. She, Kathrin would be holding this until night while Aya would definitely want to change with her by night time. He'll insist on doing the shift until morning and then Omi would change him. While she, Aya and the others train the warriors.
She looked at the direction of the warriors and the guardians. She had to admit the four figures do have potential and untapped powers especially Hiei and Kurama but Kurama being corrupted by the trackers and the time given to them was not making the things they need to do easier. Of course Kathrin had faith on Yuna to cure Kurama, she had always come through for them but there was no way they would be able to unleash the untapped powers in under a month's time. She needed to find the material to do it, even force them out and then there was also the problem about the trackers.
The Blue forest was the safest place to be because trackers were forbidden inside it. It was called by many a sanctuary and for some reason the trackers have no power inside this particular forest and as long as they are inside the forest grounds there was no way trackers could possibly find or see them. Yuko had thought of this immediately when she informed the messenger to ready things everyone had not wasted any moment in preparing. The house they live in now was replenished by the nymphs in the forest, protected by the spirits and guarded by the beasts that reside inside the forest. The food and medicines that was inside was brought by the animals that were under the princess and of course the clothes were from Yuna. There was no way around the forest unless the entities living in it gave out permission. They were safe, safe for now anyway...
"What do you mean you can't find them?"
"You're highness there is no trace of them anywhere. When the portal opened only eight people arrived: the four guardians of the princess, a fire demon, a Youko, a human and a demon that's a son of Raizen. Of course there was also the fox but there was no trace of sense of the princess entering that portal."
The king placed the goblet he was holding on the table next to him and waved the servants away. The servants bowed and exited the room.
"Did you find the girl shifter? The one Yuko calls Kathrin?"
"We had been informed that she was in the Fire Inn but when the trackers arrived there, there was no girl or anyone inside the inn. We searched the place but there are still no sign of any of them."
The king nodded and drummed his fingers on the arm rest.
"The forests have they been searched?"
"The Dark, Blue and Mist forests are the only ones that are not scouted majesty."
There had been a few minutes of silence before the king nodded and said,
"There is no use in searching the Dark and the Mist forests. Those are barren waste lands that house nothing. The Blue forest is where they reside.
Storm it and bring me back the princess."
The general looked worried and frightened but he bowed and shook his head ever so slightly.
"I beg your pardon highness but we do not have any govern over the blue forest, only the princess could do that."
The king stood up and picked the goblet when he heard the remark. He threw the goblet towards the general and it bounced a few inches near the general's body while uttering the words,
"I do not care, storm it and bring her back!"
Bowing in defiance the general lowered his head and said in a stone cold voice,
"Of course highness."
Kurama had unfolded the scroll again to see if he was in the right path. He found that he was in the Mist forest, the only place that separates the Blue forest from the Dark one. Of course the path was unlike he had ever seen before. The ground was soft in places that they weren't suppose to be. As he had expected the whole forest was covered in mist and only his senses made sure that he was not moving out of the path or in any danger at all. There was nothing hindering him to find this Yuna until he got to the edge of the Mist forest.
"What the..."
He looked around and he was standing on a cliff. There was no forest, no ground nor was there any bridges. He walked a few more steps and pebbles started falling on the terrain down below. He backed a little and walked around the cliff. There was no indication that there was land there, there was also no indication that he could possibly cross the wide space separating him from the ledge on the other side. He unfolded the scroll again and studied it carefully. The path was going straight to the forest and according to it the forest was right in front of him.
He folded the scroll and tucked it in his belt. He slowly made his way to the edge of the cliff and looked down. There was nothing there but a valley. He sighed and trotted back a few steps. I have no time to stand around here figuring this out! Yuko is dying back there and I'm so close to the forest! He punched the trees and some leaves fell on the cliff. He did not notice it but they suddenly disappeared the minute they were level with the cliff. He had turned too late and wasn't able to see it. He pulled a seed from his hair and channeled his energies to it. When he looked the seed had remained a seed and it slowly wilted rather than grow. He was irritated and when he calmed down there was a nagging pain inside him.
Yuko...
That was the only thing that passed his mind and his eyes widened in realization that Yuko was slowly slipping from his senses. That's impossible! I'm not going to allow it. I had lost her once; I'm not going to lose her again. He closed his eyes and concentrated in remembering the features of Yuko, her smile, her laugh, her eyes... But as much as he tried the image slowly blurred, faded and vanished all that remained was one word,
Yuko...
"He is losing it."
"But mistress if he does not find us Yuko will die, we cannot let that happen."
"We are only watchers in this game Toma. If we even try to interfere the threads of fate would unwind and the future would ease to exist."
"But our princess, she needs our help."
A tall, slender figure turned to the kneeled young man with blue hair. She shook her head and kneeled in front of the young man. She placed her hand on his head and strokes it a few times before uttering.
"She does need our help but fate had ways of making things right. That is the price we guardians pay for maintaining the balance. You, Toma would be going through the same thing. That is why we must be strong and hidden. We can't sacrifice the balance of Subete just for our whims. Do you understand this Toma?"
"Yes Mistress."
"Good, now go and ready one of our beds. Our dear Kurama would be joining us in a little while I think."
Toma looked up his eyes widening in surprise. The lady had stood up and returned to watching the bewildered Kurama make sense of the forest. Toma had shaken his head and left the room to go do what his mistress had instructed.
Kurama had been standing there for more than an hour trying his hardest to remember what was he doing in the edge of the cliff, holding a scroll and worried for some reason. There was no answer in his mind or his heart. All that remained there was a word.
Yuko...
Just then a beautiful lady approached him and tapped his shoulder.
"What are you doing at the edge of the forest?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know a person named Yuko?"
"I'm afraid I don't. Well if you don't mind I have to go. My mistress is looking for me right now."
"Wait you can't go that way..."
Kurama was about to pull the girl away from the cliff when she disappeared into thin air. He stopped and looked around. He shook his head and jumped into the air that lay suspended between the cliff and the edge. He had closed his eyes but he had felt nothing when he jumped except the hard, wet feel of the forest ground. He opened his eyes and found himself looking at a pair of brown paws. He looked up and saw a fox looking back at him with confusion. He sat up and gave the fox the scroll he was holding. The fox nodded but did not take the scroll instead he started walking in another direction. Kurama followed the fox and looked around him.
It was different from the other forest. The trees were blossoming non stop and petals of different flowers showered their path. The leaves were of brighter hue than the ones outside the forest and the air was filled with the flower's scent. Kurama looked again at the fox that he was following and found a young boy instead. He had dark green hair and white toga. When he turned to speak to him his eyes were emerald and his smile was kind and gentle. He held in his hand a very familiar relic and his ears perked up on his head.
"Welcome friend to the Dark Forest. You wish to see mistress Yuna?"
"Yes the guardians of Yuko sent me."
"You lie my friend... The guardians did not send you; you went in your own consent."
"Does it really matter who sent me?"
"No it doesn't but it does matter why you are in a hurry."
"Yuko needs Yuna. She's suffering from a burn out and she needs some medicine."
"Why do you not feel the burn out then?"
"I don't know. All I know right now is that she needs help and I went here to get help."
"Very well follow me."
The young boy entered one of the many cottages surrounding them and Kurama followed him without much say. When he was just a few steps in the cottage he felt sleepy and everything seemed to dim and black out. In a matter of seconds Kurama had fallen on the floor and was transferred on one of the beds.
"As you have wished mistress Yuna."
"Thank you Finx. Will you tell Toma to come here and bring the herbs as well. I'll begin the treatment in a few minutes alert the others and keep watch over the blue forest. The trackers must not find its secret or its power."
"Yes, my mistress."
The general was looking over one of the tables and the blue prints that were made for the raid. One of the scientists looked at him and cleared his throat.
"General if you don't mind we can't work with you breathing down our necks all the time."
"Well I need the plan by tonight. The King is not waiting any longer."
"The plans are going to be ready at the time we said it would be."
"Then the plans are to be given to us tomorrow then?"
"Correct."
"Thank you."
"General why is it that you are so keen in following the king?"
"The tournament is about to start. He wants the princess by then."
"And if we fail?"
"All is lost and the kingdom would become free."
"I see..."
Kurama woke up in a dark place, space. It was called. He looked around and found no one but there were slight lights of writing from afar. He tried to move, his body would not let him. He tried to open his hands, they slowly followed. He tried to move them towards him, he got the same results. He turned and sat on air.
Space.
Oblivion.
Darkness.
Abyss.
Nothing.
These were the things that went inside his head as he surveyed the surrounding he was in. It was a barren waste land. Wait... Yes it was barren but it wasn't a waste land. There was nothing to see to define it as a land or waste. It was just simply empty and barren. Kurama closed his eyes and thought of where he was.
"You are exactly where you see you are... In oblivion, in space."
Kurama opened his eyes and saw a tall, slender figure in a flowing, fit cream dress stand in front of him. She had her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes were golden much like Yuko's.
Yuko? Who is Yuko?
"Ah it seems you have forgotten the person you came here for?"
"How did you know?"
"As I had said my dear Kurama… You are in space, in oblivion, your oblivion, your space. In this place your thoughts run free and all you need to do is catch them and you will know."
"What am I doing here?"
"For treatment. Though I must admit I do not like you're version of space. It is too dark, too barren, just like your heart. Empty, dark, continual, acarpous..."
"I get the point."
"Ah do you, now."
"Who are you? And why can you stand in this oblivion?"
"I am Yuna, the destiny seeker and keeper. It is my job to walk through different creature's oblivion. Yours is the most difficult to trend though."
Yuna? Isn't that the name of the person you were suppose to ask for help? What if she is? The thoughts echoed freely and Yuna smiled towards him while Kurama turned to see where the voices came from.
"Kurama you are not here to fight against yourself. You're here to find yourself."
"I don't understand."
"You will in due time."
"Wait!"
Kurama shouted at the fading creature but he's shout was not heeded for she vanished before he could even ask. In anger Kurama threw something towards the small lights causing immense pain in his head. He closed his eyes to block off the pain he was feeling and in a matter of seconds he was fast asleep again. He woke up not knowing how many hours or days he was asleep. He stood up and found himself in a forest. Yuna was standing in front of him looking at a distance. Without looking back she uttered,
"Good you're awake."
"Where am I?"
"In a place we liked to call playhouse."
"Playhouse? What am I doing here then?"
"To face the four trials the fates had given you."
What are they?"
"I can only tell what they are one at a time."
"I don't have that much time!"
"Why don't you have much time?"
"I... I don't know"
"See you're in no hurry at all. The first trial is called Trial by Lightning."
"What is it that I need to obtain?"
"An orb called Tama Inazuma, it is in the temple at the center of this forest."
"Is there a time limit I must be aware off?"
"No, as long as you get the orb and get past the obstacles ahead you have passed."
Kurama nodded and looked around him. There was nothing strange in the forest except that the grass was a blue green color and the sky was a sickly red. It was awfully quiet and there was nothing he could have considered as a treat.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Then you can begin, I will be waiting for you at the temple."
With that Yuna disappeared and Kurama had walked to the right. He had been careful where to walk and what direction he takes, his heart was yelling to him that he had not much time left and there were others things he needs to do but whatever it was he could not seem to remember. He had stopped somewhere between the trees and heard rustling from the bushes. He took out his rose whip and prepared to attack whoever the creature was. In the few minutes that time seems to stand still Kurama had thought what kind of obstacles Yuna was talking about. He was about to let his guard down when two figures came out of the shadows.
"Botan, Keiko... What are you doing here?"
They looked at him without replying. Kurama had stood still, his rose whip still raised. There was nothing different or strange about the two except that how could they possibly be here when they were suppose to be back at the real world. Botan was holding her oar and Keiko was holding up a sword. They advanced towards him and started attacking him for no particular reason.
"Wait! Botan, Keiko it's me Kurama."
There were no replies just attacks from the oar and the sword. Kurama jumped out of the sword's way but got hit by the oar. He slammed on one of the trees and before Keiko could put the sword to his heart he jumped upward towards the branches. He could not understand why two of his friends were attacking him. He jumped down again and looked around; there were no sign of them. A sound from behind and he turned just as Keiko was brought the sword down on him. He evaded by moving backward. Botan appeared on her oar and pushed forward after Kurama. There was no more choice; he could not fight with two girls, moreover his friends, so he ran.
He dodged the branches and jumped the roots that were in his way. He did not understand but his senses were more alert and more in command than anything else in his body. Botan was following him with the oar, flying towards him while Keiko ran down below. Kurama was surprised as how fast Keiko could run; it was really quite different when they were back home. He ran faster towards the direction he chose and suddenly he could not feel them anymore. He turned and found either two of them behind him. He sighed and when he turned in front there stood the two with a blue haired ice maiden.
"Yukina..."
Suddenly everything was trapped in the blizzard of snow from the ice maiden. Kurama shielded his eyes and struggled to see where he was going. A sword almost came in contact with his arm, it was a close call. When he was able to look up and see, icicles were heading straight for him. He dodged them but two of them caught him by the shoulder and pinned him on one of the trees. He flinched in pain, blood started gushing out of the wound and he saw the three girls slowly move forward towards him. Keiko's sword raised high, Botan's oar emitting a green aura and Yukina suspending icicles in front of her, ready to strike. Kurama struggled to pull the icicles holding him to the tree; they were slowly melting but not fast enough for him to escape. His left arm was growing numb from the cold and from the pain. With one last effort he pulled the icicles and dropped to the ground just as the sword and the icicles came in contact with the tree. He sighed but was suddenly jerked back with the connection of the oar's handle to his stomach.
He pulled a flower and used the petals to distract the three girls and he fled. He ran continuing in the direction he was going in. He endured the cold, numb and pain of the frozen plain from Yukina. He struggled to fight the biting cold winds and the cruel blizzard. He had shielded his eyes with his uninjured arm. Though it was considerably freezing he was thankful, for with the freezing weather his injured arm numbed over, causing the pain to slip away from his mind. There was nothing more in his mind but to keep moving forward. He wasn't sure how far he had traveled or walked but he needed to go forward whatever happened. When exhaustion and numbness took over his body and he couldn't run or walk anymore, he had let the cold take him over causing him to stumble forward. He felt the slightly cold surface of rock and felt the stinging pain or dust on his frozen face.
He had not noticed that he had stumbled towards the entrance of the temple. He looked up and saw the pillars and the vast space it housed. He pulled himself up with so much difficulty that the pain was unbearable. He couldn't stand straight anymore thus using one of the pillars to support him as he surveyed the temple he was in. There was darkness, something he could not help but expect. His body was still shivering from the place he had just come from and the pain on his left arm. He held on to it using his right and walked forward. Fire ignited from the lamps that were located a few feet above him. He looked up and longed for a fire to warm him as well. He continued on walking towards the darkness that was in front of him. Unknown to him three pairs of eyes watched him enter and another three watched him as he was slowly making his way towards the center.
He stopped in one of the chambers and leaned on the wall. He was tired and all he wanted was to close his eyes. His body was strong and his mind was firm but for some reason he was tired, weak and unstable. Something was pulling him down, drowning him with feelings, deafening him with words, blinding him with pain. He was able to ignore them for a while but now that he was still and thinking they seemed to increase two fold. He pulled himself out his trance and continued unto the next chamber but was greeted by an orange haired young man. Kurama felt something different, something wrong.
"Kuwabara? What are you doing here?"
There was no reply, his senses were screaming at him to be on guard. He tried to pull a seed from his hair but before he could the lightning sword was already heading for him. He jumped and landed a few steps back. Kuwabara advanced towards him, holding the sword high up his head. Kurama dodged him and ran towards the next chamber not really caring if Kuwabara was following him. He held on to his left arm and ran towards the few chambers left. Just as he saw the brightly lit room another figure emerged from the shadows sending blue energy balls straight towards him. He moved out of the way causing him to collide with the wall, sending new waves of pain shooting through his already exhausted body.
A black haired boy appeared before him holding out his hand as a gun. Yusuke... His mind shouted. There was an evil smile on his lips and the dull gleam of his eyes made Kurama realize that he wasn't facing his friends instead clones, imitations of his friends. With this new found realization Kurama had found his strength and as the energy gathered on Yusuke's finger Kurama swept under him causing him to fall on the ground giving Kurama enough time to stand and head for the last room. He had just stepped into the room when pain exploded on his middle section, pushing him backward. He was able to stop standing and looked at the person; there stood Botan with a deadly grin on her face, her oar position for another attack. Kurama rushed towards her and then jumped over the oar.
He landed a fair distance from Botan but his senses felt something coming towards him and he spun around just in time to see Hiei bringing his sword towards Kurama. Kurama stopped it by catching the blade between his hands even with the extreme pain from his left arm. He threw the blade sideways causing Hiei to fall, when he stood up a couple of energy balls was heading his way. He jumped backward in attempting to dodge the balls. He had hit the wall and found no way out. He looked up and seeing a loose brick wide enough to use as footing he pulled his rose whip and used it to pull himself upward. He surveyed the room below and found the Tama Inazuma at the edge of the altar, glowing softly and suspended above the ground a fair distance of 10 feet.
He jumped towards that direction and found the six people he considered friends waiting for him, their weapons raised and ready except for Botan who was flying around above them, anticipating something. He had his rose whip in his hand and he readied this while pulling a strange flower from his hair. He twirled this around and blossoms seemed to shower them. After this he moved forward eyeing the orb above them. He evaded Kuwabara's lightning sword, the flame Hiei threw as well as the icicles Yukina delivered but as he was moving sideward he was hit by the energy ball on the side, sending him towards the wall. Keiko rushed towards him, sword raised. With pain exploding through his body he used Keiko as leverage to jump towards Botan who was flying a few feet above the orb. He whispered something and the blossoms falling on them turned into deadly daggers that rained on the clones. He was able to grab the oar's tail and pulled himself upward, after acquiring a stable position he jumped towards the orb. As he reached for the orb icicles rained on him from below and showered him with cuts. He was sent towards the wall across the room with the energy ball Yusuke threw him. He collided with the wall with a force so strong he created a dent on it.
He fell from the said wall unto the ground as the six clones rushed towards him. He struggled to stand up but instead of standing he was forced to kneel, he closed his eyes breathing heavily from all the torture he had endured from them. After a few minutes of waiting something soft and smooth passed his cheeks and opening his eyes he saw different petals rushing towards him, falling from some unknown place. He looked down and on his hands lay the orb glowing brightly. He looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw a figure advancing towards him. Kurama found Yuna stopping a few inches from him, kneeled and smiled at him.
"My dear Kurama... You passed your first trial. I congratulate you."
Kurama did not reply, he was too exhausted to do anything else. His body was bruised, tortured, tired and unmovable; his mind was slowly shutting down as well, refusing to process what she had just said. He raised his hand bearing the orb and let it fall on Yuna's lap. After that he closed his eyes, letting exhaustion have the better of him and fell forward towards Yuna, who was just too glad to catch him and gently laid him on the floor. The petals were still raining on them.
Blood
Agony.
Aggrieve.
Afflict.
Anguish.
Those were just the A's Kurama had thought of in what he was feeling right now that he had woken up from a very uncomfortable sleep. Though they only mean one thing, pain. He had sat up from the bed and his side sent waves of pain coursing through his body. He surveyed the room which was simply decorated with two beds, one he was occupying and the other next to him housing Yuko still in vixen form. A table between the beds became the divider and the window gave way to the light outside. The room was comfortably colored in green and there was another table on the right side of the room containing bottles and bandages.
He strained to remember how he got there and the wound on his side and that was when he remembered the trackers and the shot. He had heard the trackers aiming at them but it seemed that Yuko was too busy to hear. When he heard the trigger go off he pushed himself in front of Yuko to save her, ending up with the shot on the side. He turned to Yuko who was still laying on the bed. She looked up and struggled to stand up. She jumped from the bed and landed on Kurama's middle section. She collapsed on him and breathed unevenly.
"You shouldn't push yourself too much."
Yuko stood up again and changed her position. She was now facing her bed and she placed her paws on his side where the wound was. She rested her head there and Kurama had no choice but to lay down on the bed again. Kurama placed his hand on the vixen's body and stroked it as they both lay there feeling each other's pain. Just as Kurama was about to fall back to sleep he left something warm. He tried to move but something was holding him back. He raised his head a little and saw one of Yuko's paws on his left chest and his hand just above her heart.
The vixen glowed light silver while he was glowing a red one. So the ki connection was established and they were currently healing each other. For some reason Kurama was worried that something was going to happen. He felt his limbs and flesh regrown in a matter of seconds but there was something tugging inside him. When the connection was finished he felt the vixen grow and transform. The lustrous fur was suddenly growing and the paws had slowly turned to hands.
Yuko was returning to her Cerenian form. Kurama sat up on his bed and saw Yuko slowly sliding out of the bed. He took hold of her hands and pulled her to him. His body was still sending slightly painful waves in his brain but the pain in his heart was more noticeable than the ones the body was sending him. He was healed but why is she still weakening? He took her in his arms and carried her to the other bed. She had her eyes closed, she was paler than usual and her breathing was uneven. He pulled the blanket higher and rushed to the door.
"Rairan come quickly!"
He had shouted the words with urgency in his voice. When he looked down from the railings he saw four heads look up to him. The red head was hurrying up the stairs and looked Kurama questioningly.
"What's wrong?"
"Yuko, she's back in her Cerenian form. I'm healed but why is she still weak?"
Aya entered the room and went to Yuko's side. He felt her temple then her pulse. It was weak all right and the energy she had released was beyond her control in her present condition. He looked up at the faces that was around them and turned to the girl shifter.
"What can we do? She'll be safe as long as she's inside this room but her pulse is weak, also her energy is really spent. We can't go out the blue forest, trackers are waiting."
"Send for Yuna. She'll know what to do as for now we need to stop the release of energy."
"What do you propose we do? We can't stop training the three of them and Kurama is behind them."
"I'll hold her down, you continue practicing and Rairan can call for Yuna."
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'll try."
"What the hell is going on here?"
Everyone looked at Kurama who was sitting on the other bed holding his side.
"She is currently experiencing a burn out. Her energy levels are beyond control and if she keeps releasing them she'll die."
"In the real world when she has a burn out she just collapses or goes silent and weak but in this world it's much severe."
"How severe?"
"Weakening, fever, hallucinations, extreme misuse of her powers and then death."
"How long?"
"10 days max."
Kurama stood up and looked at Rairan. "How do you find this Yuna?"
"Don't do it." The girl shifter said placing her hands on top of Yuko's chest and sending some ki into her.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"If you haven't felt it yet you're weakening as well. There's no way to cut the connection between the two of you. If you collapse on the way to Yuna or back there's no way of saving you from the trackers."
"That's just a risk I have to take."
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why take the risk Kurama?" The girl said as she looked up at the Youko. Kurama growled at her and turned around.
"You wouldn't understand."
Aya threw a scroll towards Kurama. "Follow the path to the dark forest, once there someone would bring you to Yuna. The trip would take three days max. By the time you return she might be near dying are you still certain you want to do this?"
"What more can you do if I can't do it by that time?"
He did not wait for an answer he had left the room and Yuko had opened her eyes. She looked at the girl and held her hand.
"Where's Kurama, Kathrin?"
"He went to find Yuna, you're burned out princess."
"Why did you let him go."
"He wanted to go princess we couldn't stop him."
"Rairan..."
"I know but we can't stop someone if their bent on doing what they want. You better rest. He'll be back."
"How can I rest?"
"What do you mean?"
"The trackers got to him already. There's no way of stopping the thing inside him. I wasn't even able to reach it. If Yuna won't be able to help him I have to kill him."
"What are you talking about? Kurama's just fine to me." Yusuke said catching the words Yuko had said.
"There is something in his heart, something remotely evil. He's fighting it as well as feeding it. If he could not be healed I have to kill him. The bullet that missed me was not just any ordinary one. It had seemed that if it went to me I wouldn't be here with you but with my father."
"There will be no need to kill anyone princess. Everything would be just fine. Yuna is the strongest among us. She'll know what to do. Have faith."
"Kathrin, if only there is such a thing in Subete."
After that she had closed her eyes and went limp though she was still breathing as though she has given up on something. Aya had pulled the blanket higher and nodded to the three guardians. He looked at the three figures that was looking at the girl and nodded to himself.
"You heard her. We have to continue practicing. If you guys would want to reach the same level of power we have you have to train for the rest of our stay here. We have too."
"What is so important about winning in this world?"
"You do not fear the same thing we do because the things we fear are not found in your world. Whatever happens to us in the real world is nothing to the things that can happen in this."
"Is that what she meant by if there is such a thing as faith?"
Aya had looked at the others this time not knowing what to say anymore. Yoji shook his head and headed out the room followed by Aya and Ken. Omi had patted Yuko's hand before turning to the other three figures.
"We can't force you if you do not wish to fight or train with us but there is something you must understand. Yuko had lost her faith and her will to live in Subete because of the same thing that sent her to the other world in search of us and Kurama."
"And what could that be?" Hiei asked looking up from his gaze at the girl.
"Love." With that Omi had left the room and Yusuke looked at Hiei and Kuwabara.
"So what do you think?"
"I'm not so sure about this."
"How could you say such a thing Hiei?"
"We do not know what are behind those faces that they show us. For all we know they can be lying to us to get us to leave the other world."
"If that was true then you wouldn't be here with us but in the palace getting ready for the tournament." Kathrin said looking up at Hiei.
"There's no need to trust us but there is no reason not too."
"So do we have a choice here?"
"You who do not live in Subete always have a choice, follow your hearts or follow your minds?"
Kathrin had turned back to Yuko and closed her eyes. She had seemed to glow a soft violet. Yusuke had turned to the others and nodded.
"We train then?"
"And Kurama?"
"He can take care of himself. Besides this Yuna character can help him."
They went out of the room and went back to the four guardians to train themselves again. Meanwhile Kathrin had slowly pulled her hands away from Yuko's chest and looked out of the window. She sighed heavily and closed her eyes. She had felt so tired ever since the princess left Subete and now that she's back she's even weaker. The princess never had burn outs when she was here how hard the pressure was on her there was not a moment that she was burned out, not this bad. She turned around to the princess and saw the light silver aura going out of the princess body. She, Kathrin would be holding this until night while Aya would definitely want to change with her by night time. He'll insist on doing the shift until morning and then Omi would change him. While she, Aya and the others train the warriors.
She looked at the direction of the warriors and the guardians. She had to admit the four figures do have potential and untapped powers especially Hiei and Kurama but Kurama being corrupted by the trackers and the time given to them was not making the things they need to do easier. Of course Kathrin had faith on Yuna to cure Kurama, she had always come through for them but there was no way they would be able to unleash the untapped powers in under a month's time. She needed to find the material to do it, even force them out and then there was also the problem about the trackers.
The Blue forest was the safest place to be because trackers were forbidden inside it. It was called by many a sanctuary and for some reason the trackers have no power inside this particular forest and as long as they are inside the forest grounds there was no way trackers could possibly find or see them. Yuko had thought of this immediately when she informed the messenger to ready things everyone had not wasted any moment in preparing. The house they live in now was replenished by the nymphs in the forest, protected by the spirits and guarded by the beasts that reside inside the forest. The food and medicines that was inside was brought by the animals that were under the princess and of course the clothes were from Yuna. There was no way around the forest unless the entities living in it gave out permission. They were safe, safe for now anyway...
"What do you mean you can't find them?"
"You're highness there is no trace of them anywhere. When the portal opened only eight people arrived: the four guardians of the princess, a fire demon, a Youko, a human and a demon that's a son of Raizen. Of course there was also the fox but there was no trace of sense of the princess entering that portal."
The king placed the goblet he was holding on the table next to him and waved the servants away. The servants bowed and exited the room.
"Did you find the girl shifter? The one Yuko calls Kathrin?"
"We had been informed that she was in the Fire Inn but when the trackers arrived there, there was no girl or anyone inside the inn. We searched the place but there are still no sign of any of them."
The king nodded and drummed his fingers on the arm rest.
"The forests have they been searched?"
"The Dark, Blue and Mist forests are the only ones that are not scouted majesty."
There had been a few minutes of silence before the king nodded and said,
"There is no use in searching the Dark and the Mist forests. Those are barren waste lands that house nothing. The Blue forest is where they reside.
Storm it and bring me back the princess."
The general looked worried and frightened but he bowed and shook his head ever so slightly.
"I beg your pardon highness but we do not have any govern over the blue forest, only the princess could do that."
The king stood up and picked the goblet when he heard the remark. He threw the goblet towards the general and it bounced a few inches near the general's body while uttering the words,
"I do not care, storm it and bring her back!"
Bowing in defiance the general lowered his head and said in a stone cold voice,
"Of course highness."
Kurama had unfolded the scroll again to see if he was in the right path. He found that he was in the Mist forest, the only place that separates the Blue forest from the Dark one. Of course the path was unlike he had ever seen before. The ground was soft in places that they weren't suppose to be. As he had expected the whole forest was covered in mist and only his senses made sure that he was not moving out of the path or in any danger at all. There was nothing hindering him to find this Yuna until he got to the edge of the Mist forest.
"What the..."
He looked around and he was standing on a cliff. There was no forest, no ground nor was there any bridges. He walked a few more steps and pebbles started falling on the terrain down below. He backed a little and walked around the cliff. There was no indication that there was land there, there was also no indication that he could possibly cross the wide space separating him from the ledge on the other side. He unfolded the scroll again and studied it carefully. The path was going straight to the forest and according to it the forest was right in front of him.
He folded the scroll and tucked it in his belt. He slowly made his way to the edge of the cliff and looked down. There was nothing there but a valley. He sighed and trotted back a few steps. I have no time to stand around here figuring this out! Yuko is dying back there and I'm so close to the forest! He punched the trees and some leaves fell on the cliff. He did not notice it but they suddenly disappeared the minute they were level with the cliff. He had turned too late and wasn't able to see it. He pulled a seed from his hair and channeled his energies to it. When he looked the seed had remained a seed and it slowly wilted rather than grow. He was irritated and when he calmed down there was a nagging pain inside him.
Yuko...
That was the only thing that passed his mind and his eyes widened in realization that Yuko was slowly slipping from his senses. That's impossible! I'm not going to allow it. I had lost her once; I'm not going to lose her again. He closed his eyes and concentrated in remembering the features of Yuko, her smile, her laugh, her eyes... But as much as he tried the image slowly blurred, faded and vanished all that remained was one word,
Yuko...
"He is losing it."
"But mistress if he does not find us Yuko will die, we cannot let that happen."
"We are only watchers in this game Toma. If we even try to interfere the threads of fate would unwind and the future would ease to exist."
"But our princess, she needs our help."
A tall, slender figure turned to the kneeled young man with blue hair. She shook her head and kneeled in front of the young man. She placed her hand on his head and strokes it a few times before uttering.
"She does need our help but fate had ways of making things right. That is the price we guardians pay for maintaining the balance. You, Toma would be going through the same thing. That is why we must be strong and hidden. We can't sacrifice the balance of Subete just for our whims. Do you understand this Toma?"
"Yes Mistress."
"Good, now go and ready one of our beds. Our dear Kurama would be joining us in a little while I think."
Toma looked up his eyes widening in surprise. The lady had stood up and returned to watching the bewildered Kurama make sense of the forest. Toma had shaken his head and left the room to go do what his mistress had instructed.
Kurama had been standing there for more than an hour trying his hardest to remember what was he doing in the edge of the cliff, holding a scroll and worried for some reason. There was no answer in his mind or his heart. All that remained there was a word.
Yuko...
Just then a beautiful lady approached him and tapped his shoulder.
"What are you doing at the edge of the forest?"
"I'm not sure. Do you know a person named Yuko?"
"I'm afraid I don't. Well if you don't mind I have to go. My mistress is looking for me right now."
"Wait you can't go that way..."
Kurama was about to pull the girl away from the cliff when she disappeared into thin air. He stopped and looked around. He shook his head and jumped into the air that lay suspended between the cliff and the edge. He had closed his eyes but he had felt nothing when he jumped except the hard, wet feel of the forest ground. He opened his eyes and found himself looking at a pair of brown paws. He looked up and saw a fox looking back at him with confusion. He sat up and gave the fox the scroll he was holding. The fox nodded but did not take the scroll instead he started walking in another direction. Kurama followed the fox and looked around him.
It was different from the other forest. The trees were blossoming non stop and petals of different flowers showered their path. The leaves were of brighter hue than the ones outside the forest and the air was filled with the flower's scent. Kurama looked again at the fox that he was following and found a young boy instead. He had dark green hair and white toga. When he turned to speak to him his eyes were emerald and his smile was kind and gentle. He held in his hand a very familiar relic and his ears perked up on his head.
"Welcome friend to the Dark Forest. You wish to see mistress Yuna?"
"Yes the guardians of Yuko sent me."
"You lie my friend... The guardians did not send you; you went in your own consent."
"Does it really matter who sent me?"
"No it doesn't but it does matter why you are in a hurry."
"Yuko needs Yuna. She's suffering from a burn out and she needs some medicine."
"Why do you not feel the burn out then?"
"I don't know. All I know right now is that she needs help and I went here to get help."
"Very well follow me."
The young boy entered one of the many cottages surrounding them and Kurama followed him without much say. When he was just a few steps in the cottage he felt sleepy and everything seemed to dim and black out. In a matter of seconds Kurama had fallen on the floor and was transferred on one of the beds.
"As you have wished mistress Yuna."
"Thank you Finx. Will you tell Toma to come here and bring the herbs as well. I'll begin the treatment in a few minutes alert the others and keep watch over the blue forest. The trackers must not find its secret or its power."
"Yes, my mistress."
The general was looking over one of the tables and the blue prints that were made for the raid. One of the scientists looked at him and cleared his throat.
"General if you don't mind we can't work with you breathing down our necks all the time."
"Well I need the plan by tonight. The King is not waiting any longer."
"The plans are going to be ready at the time we said it would be."
"Then the plans are to be given to us tomorrow then?"
"Correct."
"Thank you."
"General why is it that you are so keen in following the king?"
"The tournament is about to start. He wants the princess by then."
"And if we fail?"
"All is lost and the kingdom would become free."
"I see..."
Kurama woke up in a dark place, space. It was called. He looked around and found no one but there were slight lights of writing from afar. He tried to move, his body would not let him. He tried to open his hands, they slowly followed. He tried to move them towards him, he got the same results. He turned and sat on air.
Space.
Oblivion.
Darkness.
Abyss.
Nothing.
These were the things that went inside his head as he surveyed the surrounding he was in. It was a barren waste land. Wait... Yes it was barren but it wasn't a waste land. There was nothing to see to define it as a land or waste. It was just simply empty and barren. Kurama closed his eyes and thought of where he was.
"You are exactly where you see you are... In oblivion, in space."
Kurama opened his eyes and saw a tall, slender figure in a flowing, fit cream dress stand in front of him. She had her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes were golden much like Yuko's.
Yuko? Who is Yuko?
"Ah it seems you have forgotten the person you came here for?"
"How did you know?"
"As I had said my dear Kurama… You are in space, in oblivion, your oblivion, your space. In this place your thoughts run free and all you need to do is catch them and you will know."
"What am I doing here?"
"For treatment. Though I must admit I do not like you're version of space. It is too dark, too barren, just like your heart. Empty, dark, continual, acarpous..."
"I get the point."
"Ah do you, now."
"Who are you? And why can you stand in this oblivion?"
"I am Yuna, the destiny seeker and keeper. It is my job to walk through different creature's oblivion. Yours is the most difficult to trend though."
Yuna? Isn't that the name of the person you were suppose to ask for help? What if she is? The thoughts echoed freely and Yuna smiled towards him while Kurama turned to see where the voices came from.
"Kurama you are not here to fight against yourself. You're here to find yourself."
"I don't understand."
"You will in due time."
"Wait!"
Kurama shouted at the fading creature but he's shout was not heeded for she vanished before he could even ask. In anger Kurama threw something towards the small lights causing immense pain in his head. He closed his eyes to block off the pain he was feeling and in a matter of seconds he was fast asleep again. He woke up not knowing how many hours or days he was asleep. He stood up and found himself in a forest. Yuna was standing in front of him looking at a distance. Without looking back she uttered,
"Good you're awake."
"Where am I?"
"In a place we liked to call playhouse."
"Playhouse? What am I doing here then?"
"To face the four trials the fates had given you."
What are they?"
"I can only tell what they are one at a time."
"I don't have that much time!"
"Why don't you have much time?"
"I... I don't know"
"See you're in no hurry at all. The first trial is called Trial by Lightning."
"What is it that I need to obtain?"
"An orb called Tama Inazuma, it is in the temple at the center of this forest."
"Is there a time limit I must be aware off?"
"No, as long as you get the orb and get past the obstacles ahead you have passed."
Kurama nodded and looked around him. There was nothing strange in the forest except that the grass was a blue green color and the sky was a sickly red. It was awfully quiet and there was nothing he could have considered as a treat.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Then you can begin, I will be waiting for you at the temple."
With that Yuna disappeared and Kurama had walked to the right. He had been careful where to walk and what direction he takes, his heart was yelling to him that he had not much time left and there were others things he needs to do but whatever it was he could not seem to remember. He had stopped somewhere between the trees and heard rustling from the bushes. He took out his rose whip and prepared to attack whoever the creature was. In the few minutes that time seems to stand still Kurama had thought what kind of obstacles Yuna was talking about. He was about to let his guard down when two figures came out of the shadows.
"Botan, Keiko... What are you doing here?"
They looked at him without replying. Kurama had stood still, his rose whip still raised. There was nothing different or strange about the two except that how could they possibly be here when they were suppose to be back at the real world. Botan was holding her oar and Keiko was holding up a sword. They advanced towards him and started attacking him for no particular reason.
"Wait! Botan, Keiko it's me Kurama."
There were no replies just attacks from the oar and the sword. Kurama jumped out of the sword's way but got hit by the oar. He slammed on one of the trees and before Keiko could put the sword to his heart he jumped upward towards the branches. He could not understand why two of his friends were attacking him. He jumped down again and looked around; there were no sign of them. A sound from behind and he turned just as Keiko was brought the sword down on him. He evaded by moving backward. Botan appeared on her oar and pushed forward after Kurama. There was no more choice; he could not fight with two girls, moreover his friends, so he ran.
He dodged the branches and jumped the roots that were in his way. He did not understand but his senses were more alert and more in command than anything else in his body. Botan was following him with the oar, flying towards him while Keiko ran down below. Kurama was surprised as how fast Keiko could run; it was really quite different when they were back home. He ran faster towards the direction he chose and suddenly he could not feel them anymore. He turned and found either two of them behind him. He sighed and when he turned in front there stood the two with a blue haired ice maiden.
"Yukina..."
Suddenly everything was trapped in the blizzard of snow from the ice maiden. Kurama shielded his eyes and struggled to see where he was going. A sword almost came in contact with his arm, it was a close call. When he was able to look up and see, icicles were heading straight for him. He dodged them but two of them caught him by the shoulder and pinned him on one of the trees. He flinched in pain, blood started gushing out of the wound and he saw the three girls slowly move forward towards him. Keiko's sword raised high, Botan's oar emitting a green aura and Yukina suspending icicles in front of her, ready to strike. Kurama struggled to pull the icicles holding him to the tree; they were slowly melting but not fast enough for him to escape. His left arm was growing numb from the cold and from the pain. With one last effort he pulled the icicles and dropped to the ground just as the sword and the icicles came in contact with the tree. He sighed but was suddenly jerked back with the connection of the oar's handle to his stomach.
He pulled a flower and used the petals to distract the three girls and he fled. He ran continuing in the direction he was going in. He endured the cold, numb and pain of the frozen plain from Yukina. He struggled to fight the biting cold winds and the cruel blizzard. He had shielded his eyes with his uninjured arm. Though it was considerably freezing he was thankful, for with the freezing weather his injured arm numbed over, causing the pain to slip away from his mind. There was nothing more in his mind but to keep moving forward. He wasn't sure how far he had traveled or walked but he needed to go forward whatever happened. When exhaustion and numbness took over his body and he couldn't run or walk anymore, he had let the cold take him over causing him to stumble forward. He felt the slightly cold surface of rock and felt the stinging pain or dust on his frozen face.
He had not noticed that he had stumbled towards the entrance of the temple. He looked up and saw the pillars and the vast space it housed. He pulled himself up with so much difficulty that the pain was unbearable. He couldn't stand straight anymore thus using one of the pillars to support him as he surveyed the temple he was in. There was darkness, something he could not help but expect. His body was still shivering from the place he had just come from and the pain on his left arm. He held on to it using his right and walked forward. Fire ignited from the lamps that were located a few feet above him. He looked up and longed for a fire to warm him as well. He continued on walking towards the darkness that was in front of him. Unknown to him three pairs of eyes watched him enter and another three watched him as he was slowly making his way towards the center.
He stopped in one of the chambers and leaned on the wall. He was tired and all he wanted was to close his eyes. His body was strong and his mind was firm but for some reason he was tired, weak and unstable. Something was pulling him down, drowning him with feelings, deafening him with words, blinding him with pain. He was able to ignore them for a while but now that he was still and thinking they seemed to increase two fold. He pulled himself out his trance and continued unto the next chamber but was greeted by an orange haired young man. Kurama felt something different, something wrong.
"Kuwabara? What are you doing here?"
There was no reply, his senses were screaming at him to be on guard. He tried to pull a seed from his hair but before he could the lightning sword was already heading for him. He jumped and landed a few steps back. Kuwabara advanced towards him, holding the sword high up his head. Kurama dodged him and ran towards the next chamber not really caring if Kuwabara was following him. He held on to his left arm and ran towards the few chambers left. Just as he saw the brightly lit room another figure emerged from the shadows sending blue energy balls straight towards him. He moved out of the way causing him to collide with the wall, sending new waves of pain shooting through his already exhausted body.
A black haired boy appeared before him holding out his hand as a gun. Yusuke... His mind shouted. There was an evil smile on his lips and the dull gleam of his eyes made Kurama realize that he wasn't facing his friends instead clones, imitations of his friends. With this new found realization Kurama had found his strength and as the energy gathered on Yusuke's finger Kurama swept under him causing him to fall on the ground giving Kurama enough time to stand and head for the last room. He had just stepped into the room when pain exploded on his middle section, pushing him backward. He was able to stop standing and looked at the person; there stood Botan with a deadly grin on her face, her oar position for another attack. Kurama rushed towards her and then jumped over the oar.
He landed a fair distance from Botan but his senses felt something coming towards him and he spun around just in time to see Hiei bringing his sword towards Kurama. Kurama stopped it by catching the blade between his hands even with the extreme pain from his left arm. He threw the blade sideways causing Hiei to fall, when he stood up a couple of energy balls was heading his way. He jumped backward in attempting to dodge the balls. He had hit the wall and found no way out. He looked up and seeing a loose brick wide enough to use as footing he pulled his rose whip and used it to pull himself upward. He surveyed the room below and found the Tama Inazuma at the edge of the altar, glowing softly and suspended above the ground a fair distance of 10 feet.
He jumped towards that direction and found the six people he considered friends waiting for him, their weapons raised and ready except for Botan who was flying around above them, anticipating something. He had his rose whip in his hand and he readied this while pulling a strange flower from his hair. He twirled this around and blossoms seemed to shower them. After this he moved forward eyeing the orb above them. He evaded Kuwabara's lightning sword, the flame Hiei threw as well as the icicles Yukina delivered but as he was moving sideward he was hit by the energy ball on the side, sending him towards the wall. Keiko rushed towards him, sword raised. With pain exploding through his body he used Keiko as leverage to jump towards Botan who was flying a few feet above the orb. He whispered something and the blossoms falling on them turned into deadly daggers that rained on the clones. He was able to grab the oar's tail and pulled himself upward, after acquiring a stable position he jumped towards the orb. As he reached for the orb icicles rained on him from below and showered him with cuts. He was sent towards the wall across the room with the energy ball Yusuke threw him. He collided with the wall with a force so strong he created a dent on it.
He fell from the said wall unto the ground as the six clones rushed towards him. He struggled to stand up but instead of standing he was forced to kneel, he closed his eyes breathing heavily from all the torture he had endured from them. After a few minutes of waiting something soft and smooth passed his cheeks and opening his eyes he saw different petals rushing towards him, falling from some unknown place. He looked down and on his hands lay the orb glowing brightly. He looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw a figure advancing towards him. Kurama found Yuna stopping a few inches from him, kneeled and smiled at him.
"My dear Kurama... You passed your first trial. I congratulate you."
Kurama did not reply, he was too exhausted to do anything else. His body was bruised, tortured, tired and unmovable; his mind was slowly shutting down as well, refusing to process what she had just said. He raised his hand bearing the orb and let it fall on Yuna's lap. After that he closed his eyes, letting exhaustion have the better of him and fell forward towards Yuna, who was just too glad to catch him and gently laid him on the floor. The petals were still raining on them.