AN: Heh, sorry for such a long wait, everyone. My stupid disk that
had all of my chapters for this story was COMPLETELY erased, so I had to
salvage everything I had from the depths of my poor mind and my trusty
notebook. To add to those issues, I have started high school now and my
brain lately has been utterly fried. Ugh, I feel like a failure as an
author (well, at least the next post will come sooner than this one).
Anyway, here's the next chapter, and I hope everyone enjoys!
Could someone tell me at what shrine Hinageshi worked at? And, does anyone know what Kuronue's name means and what kind of demon Kuronue actually is? I know his name means "Black something", just don't know what the something means. And I've heard that Kuronue is something in between that of a bat or a crow.
Ah, and so I won't forget, the disclaimer stated in the first chapter goes throughout the story so I won't have to repeat it CONSTANTLY!
Another note: If you had read the first three chapters of this story, they were actually the first chapter in separate segments (so that means the first chapter is the first three everyone read compiled together, even better than they were when they were separate). So this chapter is actually a new chapter or part of the chapter, not some rewrite or anything. (If I am confusing you, it's all right if you ignore this and don't understand; you'll get it eventually. I barely understand the situation myself, actually.)
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"This is speech."
'This is thought.'
//This is Youko or flashback.//
Once Loved, Never Forgotten
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"Where are you going, Kurama?" Botan inquired worriedly as she watched Kurama step outside onto the temple grounds. Without a misplaced step, Kurama continued his way to the exiting stairways. When the light- blue haired girl realized that Kurama was not going to turn around, she lost her temper. "You jerk! What happened to polite Minamino Syuuichi? Argh, if you can hear me, Youko Kurama, you're a jerk! You're just a jerk who can't get over your dead girlfriend!"
With that statement, Kurama immediately froze in his place; Botan clapped a hand over her mouth, seeing she had gone too far with her words. 'Oh, great job, Botan. What a way to stick your foot into your mouth.' As Kurama silently stood in his place, Botan tried to find the words to apologize. "Kurama, I'm--I'm sorry, I didn't mean--"
"I only wished to prevent you from meeting her fate, priestess. But as I can see, you can take well enough care of yourself," Kurama darkly muttered as he turned to glare at the apologetic girl. The other three Spirit Detectives inwardly flinched at Kurama's dark scowl, his eyes a golden emerald. With that said, Kurama left the temple; not even Hiei dared to stop the fox. 'You idiot, what do you think you are doing, Youko?!' Syuuichi angrily demanded from his own self. '//You are going to walk away from all of these emotions, Syuuichi and clear your mind! You cannot be affected by this sympathy, by HER!// Affected by her? Youko, did you hear yourself when you said that to Botan? She more than affects you! //Shut up, Syuuichi! Do not speak about this anymore!//'
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'Why do I have to have such a big mouth?' Botan sighed as she thought miserably to herself, tapping her mechanical pencil against her school desk irritably. 'Kurama hates you now, and you know it's completely your fault; good job, Botan, for sticking your foot in your mouth like that. Why don't you try sticking the Human World into while you're at it.'
A week had past since anyone had seen and spoken with Kurama, and everyone, including Hiei, grew worried about Kurama's condition; and a few days after the meeting at Genkai's temple, Yusuke had given the redhead a phone call. When Minamino Shiori had instead answered the phone, Yusuke had diligently urged to speak to Syuuichi. Shiori had kindly and politely replied that Syuuichi had been under the weather for a while and did not wish to speak to any of his friends; however, Yusuke would not hear of it. After being rather persistent, Urameshi had finally swayed the worried mother's mind and was speaking to Kurama. Sadly to say, after a curt greeting, Kurama informed Yusuke he was not feeling well and did not desire to converse with anyone at the current moment; the half-fox demon had even added that he did not wish for any of the Spirit Detectives to come by his home to see how he was doing. Kurama then gave a cold farewell and hung up on Yusuke. And much to Keiko's dismay, Yusuke went into a rage and destroyed some public property to sate the frustration he had towards Kurama's obnoxious behavior. 'Because of you,' Botan moaned in a sorry way, 'Kurama has been avoiding everyone, including Hiei. I wonder if Yusuke is still angry with Kurama.'
As Botan's thoughts continued to dwell on Kurama and the awkward moment from last week, the cold, final words Kurama had tonelessly uttered repeatedly rang through her head. //I only wished to prevent you from meeting her fate, priestess.//
"Kurama's voice was so cold when he said that; it was as if a different side of Youko took over him, and Syuuichi was completely gone, as if he never existed. Uh, Kurama was so angry he didn't even bother to call me by my name. And what did he mean by that last sentence?" Botan whispered thoughtfully to herself; she mindlessly toyed with the black buttons on her green jacket. "Does Kurama think I'm going to die the same way Barako did? Does he think--" Botan suddenly cut herself short on her thought. "But according to everyone, Kurama is the one who killed Barako. He was the one responsible for Barako's cruel twist of fate. So--Was Kurama warning me? Or was he threatening me?"
Her face paling at the new thought, Botan felt her eyes well up with lukewarm tears. She pouted, "Well, I did deserve what he said, even if it was a threat on my life; I shouldn't have spoken badly about Barako. I'm actually surprised Kurama hasn't killed me yet."
"Miss Urameshi!" A large hand roughly slammed onto Botan's desk, making the blue haired girl jump up in her desk in surprise.
"Eek!"
The other students within the class looked up from their class work and notes, preparing themselves to watch another vindictive scene of the teacher picking on the new student, Urameshi Botan. Boys and girls alike flinched in great sympathy for unfortunate Urameshi; it was just too unbearable to go through the day and see the girl tortured constantly as she was.
"Miss Urameshi, I see that my lecture is in lack of interest to you, as you are thoroughly amusing yourself by speaking to your invisible imaginary friends," Mr. Iwamoto sneered, glaring darkly at Botan through narrow slits for eyes.
Botan squirmed uneasily in her desk as she looked into the sniping face of her enraged instructor. "Ah, it's not like that at all, Mr. Iwamoto; the Muromachi Period is rather fascinating. Actually, I am really interested in that time period," Botan honestly responded, giving Mr. Iwamoto a nervous smile. And in truth, Botan had meant what she said; since she had lived her human life through that ancient era, Botan was curious how life was like for her during those difficult, archaic times. The girl gripped at her
The teacher growled at Botan's calm, kind response. "Like your despicable cousin, Miss Urameshi, I see that you don't mind lying through your teeth," Mr. Iwamoto replied indifferently, fighting the fiery urge to slap his student.
'How dare he say that about Yusuke!' Botan hastily clenched her teeth in fury to keep her from speaking, her knuckles turning white from making a fist beneath her desk. A rush of flashbacks returned to former Death. When Yusuke had first died, Botan had not understood the young boy's pure hate for the teachers until now; the former ferry girl could see that Yusuke's judgment of his teachers' characters were fairly accurate. "But sir, I'm not--"
"Report the principal's office immediately, Urameshi," Mr. Iwamoto barked harshly, pointing an angry finger at the classroom door. "And don't come back to this class until you've fixed that attitude of yours."
Without argument (knowing things would only get worse), Botan collected her belongings and walked quietly out the door. Keiko, sitting a little ways in front of Botan, sighed at the injustice; it made the brunette wonder how Mr. Iwamoto was allowed to move up from the junior high school and teach at the high school, nevertheless continue to teach at all.
"And to think," Keiko groaned inwardly, "this all started just because Botan need to come to school. Ugh, I hope Botan doesn't get in as much trouble with the principal like she did the last time." Needing a valid identity to go to Keiko's high school, Botan had borrowed Atsuko and Yusuke's name and become a "cousin" of theirs, not to mention live with them for the next few years (all with their permission); however, there was a side affect to Botan's adopted identity. Right when Botan had entered the high school, every single person, aside for Keiko, had given the poor girl loathing glares and malicious sneers; the school was utterly terrified of the new, unidentified Urameshi. For the first few days of school, everyone had avoided Botan just in case she would be like her cousin and send him or her to the hospital with broken bones. Luckily, most of the student body realized Urameshi Botan was nothing more than a cheery, bubbly cream puff that enjoyed making friends. The teachers, however, were a harder bunch to convince.
"When Yusuke hears about this, he's going to blow a fuse," Keiko sighed, flopping her heading into her arms.
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"Oh, trouble again in History, Botan?" the principal's secretary, an elder gentle lady, inquired sweetly as Botan slumped into a seat in the waiting room. Nodding glumly, Botan sighed despondently.
"Wow, I'm quite surprised with you, Botan; your other teachers don't appear to have a problem with you. This is the third time this week you've been sent to the office for this class. I do wish you and Mr. Iwamoto would get along, Botan. Either that or I'm afraid that you're going to have to change your class or even have to transfer. And we wouldn't want that, would we, with you only being here for a week now. Well, the principal will be with you in about fifteen minutes, Botan. He's at a board meeting right now."
Right then, Mr. Takenaka, who had also moved up to high school from junior high, entered the attendance office. Upon spotting Botan being seated in the office, Mr. Takenaka's eyes grew wide. "Why, Miss Urameshi, what are you doing here?" the surprised teacher asked.
Botan smiled sheepishly at her language teacher. She playfully stuck out her tongue and gently knocked the top of her head. "Ah, I was misbehaving and wasn't paying attention in History today, so I got sent to the office by Mr. Iwamoto."
"Really now?" Mr. Takenaka questioned curiously. "That is unlike you, Miss Urameshi, to behave disorderly and letting your attention wander." Although it sounded as if Mr. Takenaka was reprimanding Botan, the man knew that Botan's trouble was entirely Mr. Iwamoto's fault. The sinister teacher had always been like this toward students in which he found dislike.
Botan smiled pleasingly. She knew that the middle-aged man was only worried about her as a student under the coarse tutelage of Mr. Iwamoto, like a loving father to a daughter; Botan also knew that Mr. Takenaka was keeping an eye on her to somehow make up for Yusuke, who was not going to the high school. A feeling in Botan's heart told her that Mr. Takenaka wanted at least ONE Urameshi (even if she was not a real one) to do well in life. Botan was actually grateful for Mr. Takenaka because he was the only teacher in the school that was not wary of her; the man was the only adult who was not afraid to put his trust in her. Botan made a mental note to give Koenma a good word about Mr. Takenaka when she returned to work for the Spirit World. "Well, it was really my fault, Mr. Takenaka, so I guess I'll just have to work harder in that class to keep my grade up," Botan replied cheerfully.
Mr. Takenaka nodded in approval, his blue eyes twinkling in sincere pleasure. "That is the positive attitude, Miss Urameshi, that I wish I could find in all of my students, or at least awaken."
"I'll be right back," the secretary sighed as she rose from her desk. "I need to get more paper for the printer here. Mr. Takenaka, would you mind staying here for a moment until I return?"
"Not at all, it's my planning period anyway," the man replied, allowing the elderly woman pass by him and leave the office. Now it was just the wise teacher and Botan; and the silence was leaving Botan to her troubling thoughts that had kicked her out of class.
'What should I--no--what can I do about Kurama? I know that I should go and apologize to him, but when can I do that? Should I go by his house? No, he said that he didn't want anyone going by there, and I'm not going to start my apology by antagonizing him.' Botan hissed in frustration as she gripped the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls in her jacket pocket; the girl was to go nowhere without the Sacred Jewel (while Genkai had merely suggested it, Hiei had commanded that the Sacred Jewel should never leave Botan's grasp or sight). "If I only hadn't said those stupid words!"
"Is something the matter, Miss Urameshi?" Mr. Takenaka inquired as he took a seat beside the student, suddenly reminding Botan that she was not alone in the office.
Blushing a cherry red, Botan looked to the ground as she nervously shuffled her feet, her hand still wrapped around the Sacred Jewel. The radiation of so much Spirit Energy somehow was settling to Botan. "Ah, nothing really important, sir. It's really nothing to worry about, really."
"You seemed rather disturbed by your thoughts."
"Did I really?" Botan wondered as she stared at her teacher's weathered and solemn face.
"Yes, and you still do; you look far too serious for any adolescent your age, Miss Urameshi. This wouldn't be the reason why you weren't paying attention in class today, now would it?"
"Well, I guess I am rather bothered with my dilemma," Botan admitted reluctantly, blushing even more, "and I should be too, the way I've been to my friend. It's a wonder why I haven't died from guilt." At another reminder of her mistake, Botan sighed at stared cheerlessly at her shoes.
"Would you like to talk about it? Maybe I can help you sort out your problem."
"Well," Botan started, "recently a good friend of mine and I got into an argument about how I should be carrying myself while I was--uh--in town. My friend thought that I should be a little more careful and selective, and he pretty much wanted me to stay locked up in my house. Although my friend had a good point about keeping me safe, he was basically cutting me off from life; he was just being far too strict, all because he didn't want me to be like his old girlfriend. We didn't look at each other eye to eye on the subject at all, and the argument just got worse from there; in the end, I said something terrible about his old girlfriend, and now I haven't spoken to my friend for over a week. I feel too awkward to do anything."
"Ah, yes, I see."
"But I know that I have to apologize to him," Botan finished, slightly frowning. "The comment I said was uncalled for; I have to do something to make things right again."
Mr. Takenaka nodded in agreement. "Yes, you should apologize to him, and I say the sooner now the better. I don't know why you waited for a whole week, Miss Urameshi."
"I'm just scared because he might not want to be friends with me anymore," Botan whispered. "I know I hurt him really bad after what I said, and I don't know if apologizing would do anything."
"Don't worry," Mr. Takenaka assured as he placed a firm hand on Botan's shoulder. "A person such as yourself, Miss Urameshi, is quite easily forgiven. You have a light that cannot be denied nor rejected. I am quite sure that your friend will forgive you."
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"Syuuichi?"
Syuuichi, looking up from his work, turned around to face the speaker of his name, his heart wanting the girl behind to be a certain sky blue haired deity. Unfortunately, it was only one of Syuuichi's fellow classmates. Syuuichi could not help but to frown slightly; like most girls he knew, this girl was pretty, well figured, and absolutely gifted with looks. However, like most other lovely ladies Syuuichi was introduced to, this fellow classmate was not like Botan, a girl of personality. "Yes, what is it, Mitsuko?" Syuuichi answered politely.
"Ah, Minako said that there is some high school student at the front gate waiting for you; she said it was important to meet you as soon as you were available. I can finish the rest of the work here for you, Syuuichi, so you don't keep your friend waiting," the girl suggested, blushing during the process; she was unable to maintain eye contact with Syuuichi for more than ten seconds without turning a beet red.
Although he knew perfectly well the young woman had a crush on him, Syuuichi smiled obliviously; acting like this had become his daily routine since junior high. "All right, I appreciate that. Thank you for the message, Mitsuko. I promise to make it up to you at our next club meeting." And with that, Syuuichi quickly collected his belongings and walked out to the campus' gate. As soon as the college student spotted familiar sky- colored locks, a grin came upon his face.
"Botan." Syuuichi, sighing in relief, felt a little thankful that Botan had sought him out instead of him pursuing her; he did not know if he had the heart to take back Youko's heartless words from their last encounter. '//Watch what you say, Syuuichi! Those words were from you as well!// Youko, you should not dare to argue and place the blame somewhere else. It was your pitiless words and your harsh personality that pushed everyone away. If you had not been your arrogant, fearful self, you would not be in this situation.'
Removing Syuuichi from his quarreling thoughts, Botan greeted, "Good afternoon, Syuuichi, I'm so glad that you were still here at college. I was worried that I had missed you." Botan grinned jovially as she walked up to the gorgeous young man. The young high school student was ignorant of the college girls and boys surrounding her and her old friend, whispering and muttering quietly about her.
"Who is she? Is she Minamino's girlfriend?"
"Who cares? She's cute."
"No, she's hot."
"She can't possibly be with Minamino; she's way too young for him and completely not his taste. Besides, you haven't heard Minamino mention anything about a girlfriend, have you?"
"Maybe she's his cousin."
Syuuichi, a little bit of Youko's personality coming out of him, smirked at the silly fear surrounding him and Botan. Here were young, intellectual men and women, who were future CEO's of major companies in the making, worrying about whom was going out with whom as if it were like the high school days where it meant the end of the world; and to think, with the awesome power Botan held in her pocket, the Three Worlds could easily be destroyed with a thought and be the end everyone's worries.
"No, I stay at the school a little later to do some extra work on my assignments. I am a little surprised that you traveled across town to see me, Botan. You really went out of your way to get here. How have you been doing since our last meeting?" Syuuichi asked apologetically as he gave her a warm smile. "I hope that I had not upset you too much from my last farewell."
Botan looked to the ground in embarrassment, a nervous giggle escaping her lips. "No, you didn't upset me that night, Syuuichi. And even if you had, it wasn't your fault because it was mine. And about that, I just wanted to say--"
"Hey, Minamino, are you coming to the game tonight?" a masculine voice suddenly called out, cutting Botan off from her thought. Syuuichi turned around and Botan looked behind the taller young man. A handsome brunette haired lad dressed in a football uniform grinned as he waved and ran towards Syuuichi.
"No, and Hatsume, what are you still doing here?" Syuuichi pondered as he amiably greeted his classmate. "I thought you would be gone by now; you hate staying at the school." The athlete's smile grew larger as he spotted the girl behind Syuuichi. Having an eye-catching smile, the stranger and his captivating cerulean eyes was making Botan feel warm and cheerful inside. She was beginning to think this new arrival seemed strangely familiar.
"Nothing really. Our football practice just ended now. Who is this lovely lady?" Syuuichi's friend asked as he took Botan's hand, kissing it politely. "She's really cute, Minamino."
Botan blushed; a pleasant, friendly aura surrounded this person, and Botan actually felt somewhat attracted to it. "Ah, my name is Urameshi Botan."
The football player blinked in surprise, his sapphire eyes almost with the look of shock. "Urameshi? Are you related to Urameshi Yusuke from Sarayashiki Junior High?"
"You know Urameshi?" Syuuichi wondered, staring at his friend. "But Hatsume, you went to Meiou."
"Yeah, I knew Urameshi back in junior high school; I used to go to Sarayashiki Junior High before I moved, and then I started going to Meiou High. I was in my last year at Sarayashiki when Urameshi was a first year. I think I was the only one in my year that respected him, which was slightly a surprise. When he just enrolled, a few of my friends decided to pick on him and some of the new classmen. Heh, my idiots for friends didn't even suspect that Urameshi wasn't a kid to pick on; in fact, that's how Urameshi started his reputation in junior high," Hatsume explained. The young man then turned his sights on Botan. "I can sort of see a resemblance between the two of you; both of you have some spunk, and I can tell that you two don't take trash from anyone."
"Really?" Botan inquired.
Hatsume chuckled as he began to walk off. "Sure! You are family, and it doesn't surprise me. Well, I have to get going now; you know, my day job. I'll see you later, Minamino, and I hope I get to see you sometime, Urameshi!"
When the boy was out of sight and his affable presence out of range, Botan turned and asked, "Who was that, Kura--I mean--Syuuichi?"
"That was Hatsume Soijiro, a first year like me at the college. He is in a few of my classes, and we shared some classes at Meiou High too. Surprisingly, we are actually close, and Hatsume is a good friend." Syuuichi then turned around and faced Botan again. "So what were you going to say before Hatsume cut in, Botan?"
"Ah, well, I nearly forgot the reason why I came here. Actually, I'm here to--" Botan looked around and realized that everyone within a twenty feet radius was intently listening in on the conversation. A sweat drop rolled down Botan's head. "Syuuichi, could we go somewhere together a little more private?" Botan suddenly asked as she grabbed Syuuichi's hand. The redhead could feel his body tense at the contact.
'//You are losing, it Syuuichi. You cannot lose control now.// Shut up, Youko. You are not getting your chance to have your say because you will probably scare her off, AGAIN. //She is up to something, Syuuichi. She is trying to lure you into a trap. Just as she did five hundred years ago.// What kind of trap, Youko? Like an apology? Is that a trap? And whatever for? You should be the one luring her into a trap.' A hint of pink hue coming onto his cheeks, Syuuichi nodded in agreement at the suggestion, "Ah, sure, Botan. Why not? Where should we go?"
"Oh, well, while I was walking here, I saw a nice park near the café. Why don't we go there?" Botan suggested cheerfully as she pulled gently at Syuuichi's hand. By slightly tugging him along, Botan pretty much had Syuuichi on an invisible leash. "I'll even be the one treat, Syuuichi."
As Syuuichi and Botan walked off hand in hand, Syuuichi's female college classmates were left on campus to fume in abhorrence; while at the same time, Syuuichi's male comrades were growling in jealously as well, since now it was apparent that the high school student was not Minamino's cousin. Botan shivered as she felt the weak but negative Spirit Energy emitting from the individuals behind her. She disliked when humans were hateful and angry; they released unpleasant sensations that Botan could easily detect because of newly awakened her priestess powers. "Are you all right, Botan?" Syuuichi asked curiously. "Are you cold?"
'//Stupid boy//,' Youko spat in the human boy's mind. '//Barako's powers are taking an effect on her. Now she is able to sense Spirit Energy and an accumulation of emotion from other human beings. Besides, why are you worrying about her? Let yourself loose from this trap before it is too late!// No! You will not be set free this time, Youko! This will be handled without your heartless expertise.'
"I'm all right, Kurama; I just forgot that I'm a little more sensitive to Spirit Energy than I was before," Botan answered, smiling at Kurama now; the couple was far enough from any prying ears, and Botan could finally talk to the real person she had wanted to see. "Heh, I didn't realize, Kurama, that you were so powerful. I mean--I knew you were strong, but I never realized that you had so much Spirit Energy."
Kurama smiled as he tried to hold back a chuckle. "Then you will get chills when we see Hiei or Yusuke again; unlike me, Hiei shows off his Demon Energy so lesser demons will get the message and quickly learn not to irritate him. Yusuke just has not learned how to control his Energy output."
Cringing, Botan grinned, "Oh, I can't wait to see everyone again."
The couple silently walked down the street, the chilly autumn air and vibrant flying leaves being their conversation. Kurama's crimson locks were blowing past his face, the unique ruby hairs mixing into the burgundy, orange, and gold of the fall. Staring at her friend, Botan observed, 'As Syuuichi, Kurama is like the autumn, cool and calm, changing from one season to another. Youko is like the winter, never changing, frozen in time. He can't move on from his past. How can two different people be the same person still?'
'//She is staring at you. She is giving you this strange look, Syuuichi. It is almost like the look Barako used to give. It is unnerving, damn it,//' Youko muttered. 'Would you shut up already, Youko? Of course she is staring at you. She has a lot on her mind, and most of her thoughts are probably on you because of that one night.' Kurama sighed inwardly as he continued to look forward; the fox did not dare to return Botan's gaze.
Not much needed to be said to one another; Kurama and Botan found enough comfort in each other's company, and in that, the two found the assurance of apology. It was a long moment before someone broke the tranquil silence. Kurama, still not turning to his walking partner and instead staring straight on ahead, began, "Botan, I know I need to apologize to you, and I should. I am sincerely sorry about--"
"Ah!"
Kurama did not get to finish his sentence as Botan was suddenly snatched away before him. The half-demon barely had the chance to catch glimpse of Botan's immediate kidnapping. A huge black claw had formed a cage around Botan, the demon already flying off far into the sky. Kurama hastily recognized the type of demon that had its filthy clutches on Botan; it was a fair-sized crow demon, meaning it was nearly the size of a private jet. "Hold on, Botan!" Kurama yelled as he chased after the kidnapper.
"Kurama, help me!" Botan pleaded helplessly.
Kurama, with his lightning speed, raced up along the side of a building and jumped into the air, bringing out his trademark Rose Whip, but he missed miserably due to the fact that the flying demon was flying away too fast. Gracefully landing on top of another building, Kurama tried again and raced after the humongous crow. This time, instead of trying to strike the demon, Kurama had his Rose Whip tie around the apparition's leg instead. "Be careful, Kurama!" Botan warned as she watched Kurama dependently.
The demon, noticing its extra passenger, quickly flailed its captured leg and then tossed Kurama roughly into a side of a concrete building before flying off. Botan began to cry as the sight of a falling Kurama; the girl felt helpless since she was both being kidnapped and unable to help her unconscious friend. Botan could only pray that Hiei, who was always near by Kurama or Yukina, would find and help Kurama soon.
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"How the hell did a weak demon like that get through into the Human World?! Where are the new Spirit Detectives?" Yusuke demanded angrily as he and his friends raced through the forests of Maikai. Urameshi was having a time jumping over fallen logs, stray boulders, and various random traps that lied on Maikai's forest floors.
Kurama growled to himself, cursing to the truth that the crow demon had been weak, yet he, Youko Kurama, had been easily defeated AND stolen from. Unlike Yusuke, Kurama effortlessly spotted the traps and dodged them here and there with great ease.
"Oh, shut up! We're supposed to be the ones watching Botan, Urameshi," Kazuma barked back to his friend as he tried to keep up to the demons and part-demon. "Besides, we don't need other Detectives to do our work; and Botan is our friend."
"What the Detective meant was why aren't the new Detectives preventing weak demons from entering the Human World and keep something like this from happening," Hiei snapped, already in an irritated mood. One could tell the fire apparition was upset about Botan's unexpected kidnapping, and it was not because of the deadly blue Hiei's uncovered Jagan was glowing. "Damn, I swear that girl is more trouble than she is worth."
"Koenma has not been able to commission new Spirit Detectives yet," Kurama responded, answering Yusuke's question; Kurama was running beside his friends as Youko Kurama. "There has not been any time to do anything much before you returned to the Human World, Yusuke. King Enma and Koenma were worried to see how you would turn out after the tournament here three years ago. Also, there was Kuwabara and myself, so Enma and Koenma did not take any other steps on hiring another Detective."
Yusuke growled. "What a lame excuse. If those two were going to fire me, nevertheless kill me, they should have prepared someone already to fill in as soon as I was gone. Stupid Spirit World, thinking its all high and mighty just because they accept the dead people."
"Heh, you sound just like a demon, Yusuke," Kurama chuckled as he continued to run. "I think you have stayed in Maikai for too long."
"Well, I am a descendant of Raizen, Kurama," the teen smirked as he followed the fox demon in good humor. "Besides, if I hadn't stayed so long, Maikai currently wouldn't be here right now."
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"I found her! They're heading to a small village in the Eastern Region right now," Hiei shouted with little relief as he jumped down from his post high up in the ancient Maikai trees; the petite demon had been on the search with his Jagan eye for about an hour now.
"The Eastern Region?" Kurama questioned as he started off running again, the other Detectives at his heels. "Why would that blasted demon want to go there?"
"I thought there wasn't anything in the Eastern Region," Yusuke muttered as he followed Hiei and Kurama. "Enki told me that only weak demons with no power at all lived in those parts." Kazuma, having no specific knowledge on Maikai like the others, just ran beside Yusuke silently.
"No," Kurama replied, "Enki was wrong, and I would not hold him to fault with his poor information; not many know about Maikai's Eastern Region, not even demons themselves. Weak demons would not even dare to come near the Eastern Region. This part of Maikai is run by half-demons and humans. They are just considered weak demons because of the Human Blood within the land."
"Human Blood?" Yusuke repeated in a whisper.
"If we don't hurry, we're going to lose them again," Hiei hurried, racing ahead of Kurama. "That demon is already attacking a nearby village."
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"More outsiders?!" a villager shouted in alarm. People dressed in old Japanese style clothing ran around in frenzy as they tried to put out the flames that were their village.
The Spirit Detectives ignored the panicking villagers and ran toward the crash site where the crow demon had decided to rest. While running toward the small wooden structure, Kurama spotted a bow and a quiver of arrows on the ground. '//If we ever find Botan, maybe these will come in handy,//' the fox demon thought as he picked up the weapons.
"Hurry up, Kurama!" Yusuke yelled, now ahead and already entering the crow's chaotic nest. "We got you trapped, birdie," Yusuke grinned as his right index finger was pointed straight towards the crow. Small, glowing particles of Spirit Energy could be seen gather at the tip of the Detective's finger. A sweat drop visibly slid down the demon's head as it realized that it was trapped in the tiny human building and lacked the energy for an escape (while the demon had been resting, it had also tried to retrieve the Sacred Jewel from Botan, but the girl had somehow put up a barrier that kept the demon's grasp for the Jewel at bay).
"Let go of the priestess and the Sacred Jewel then perhaps we shall allow for you leave unscathed," Kurama murmured dangerously, cracking his thorny whip; his golden eyes were narrow and icy, and if looks were able to kill, the bird would have been utterly destroyed.
The crow shuffled slightly, causing Botan, who was knocked out, to lose her grip on the Sacred Jewel, causing it to roll across the wooding floor of the structure. As the demon was about to grab the glowing sphere, Hiei stomped his foot and surprised the bird. "Make a move near it and die. Do not force me to use my Dragon of Darkness Wave on you, slime," Hiei spat. "It will be a waste of my energy and my time." His Jagan eye kept close watch on the crow's razor claws, the rolling Sacred Jewel, and the unconscious Botan.
Out of nowhere, Kazuma launched himself at the bird from behind. "Got you!" Pandemonium broke loose as the crow demon tried to evade Kazuma's Spirit Sword. Realizing the possibility of Botan being crushed, Kurama dived in between the crow's feet and barely saved the girl from being gored through the chest. The crow twisted its body beneath Kazuma's body slam, eventually slamming Kazuma unconscious against the wall.
Without wasting a moment, the demon swallowed the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls and flew out into the strangely colored sky of Maikai as fast as it could. "Damn it!" Kurama cursed, quickly following the Jewel thief outside and with Botan still in his arms. "The bastard ate the Sacred Jewel!"
"Then let's have some roasted crow!" Yusuke quickly responded, right by Kurama's side. "Spirit Gun!"
Yusuke shot a large, not to mention powerful Spirit Gun bullet; however, the blast of Spirit Energy missed its target. The Jewel-enhanced crow was now faster than Hiei or Kurama could detect. "Damn it, that bird better stay still! Dumb ass bird!" Yusuke spat.
"Do not waste any more energy on him, Yusuke" Kurama advised, his Rose Whip ready. "With the aide of the Sacred Jewel in its stomach, that demon is now the most powerful being in the Three Worlds." Botan suddenly then began to stir in Kurama's hold.
"What's going on? Kurama?" Botan gasped at the sight of Youko. "Why-- Why are you here, Kurama? Where am I?"
"You do not remember? You were kidnapped by a low-class demon and then taken to Maikai, Botan. The crow demon that kidnapped you just ate the Sacred Jewel, and now we cannot even get near the demon," Kurama explained. An idea abruptly sparked in Kurama's mind. Handing the bow and arrows to Botan he had recovered from before, Kurama placed Botan on his back.
"Hold on tight, Botan." The newly awakened girl barely grabbed a hold when Kurama began to speed off after the crow demon. Kurama and Botan appeared to be a white blur streaked with sky-blue.
"Hey! Kurama, Botan, wait for us!" Yusuke yelled, throwing the unconscious Kazuma over his shoulder. Unfortunately for Urameshi, Youko and former ferry girl were too far ahead.
"Just leave the lout, he's only going to slow you down," Hiei smirked mischievously. "Besides, he'll be all right, if we remember to get him."
"That's the thing, Hiei," Yusuke growled through his teeth as he tried to keep up with the fire demon and lug Kazuma at the same time. "We won't."
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"Kurama, what am I supposed to do with these?!" Botan demanded loudly as she tried to keep a hold on Kurama and on the bow and arrows at the same time. Her sky-blue hair was blowing and whipping into her face, and Botan was also trying to keep her uniform skirt from fanning upwards, making matters more difficult for the poor girl.
"Shoot the demon, of course," Kurama replied coolly. "And do not yell into my ears. It hurts!"
"Sorry," Botan whispered regretfully as she let go of her skirt's bottom and positioned an arrow ready onto the bow; she prayed that no one was looking up at her from the ground. The duo was steadily nearing the escaping demon, their position almost beneath it; Kurama took a final leap into the air and gave Botan her cue.
"NOW!"
Pulling the string as far as she could, Botan took careful aim. 'Please, Priestess Barako, help me. Help me defeat this foe. Lend me your master skills!' "Help me, Barako!" Botan shouted as she released the arrow.
Kurama held his breath as he followed the arrows course. 'Please, let it hit. Let Botan's arrow hit! //It is not going to make it, Syuuichi!//'
And Youko's instincts were right; just as Botan's arrow was about to reach the raven-like demon, it sank and whistled towards the ground. Kurama glared and frowned in utter disappointment. Botan's shot was one of the most embarrassing things he, Youko Kurama, had seen in all of his years of Life. "You call that a shot, woman?!" the fox demanded furiously. "Hinageshi could have made a much better one than that!"
Botan glared right back at her carrier, fighting the urge to punch Youko in the back of the head. "Hey, I'd like to see you shoot a bow and arrow five minutes after you've just woken up from banging your head hard!"
"Barako would have never missed such a pathetic target," Kurama hissed.
"Barako would have killed you by now!" Botan retorted snappishly in return. With that comment, Kurama came to an immediate stop and threw Botan off of his back Botan landed on her already sore bottom with thud. The other Spirit Detectives caught up to the pair right then.
"Did she get the demon, Kurama?" Hiei inquired, looking down at a dusty, disgruntled Botan on the ground.
"No, she failed miserably," the white demon replied, turning to continue the chase. "Now the demon has a three-minute head start. We have to hurry, Hiei, Yusuke, Kazuma! We have to catch the demon before it completely merges the Sacred Jewel to its body."
The three Detectives nodded to each other and chased after Kurama through the Maikai forest as Botan was left sitting on the ground in a daze. 'What--what the hell was that about?' Botan puffed her cheeks, her face reddening. 'Did I just get ditched? Did Kurama just say I'm worthless?! Why, the nerve of that guy!' "Argh, Kurama, you jerk! You're going to pay!" Botan roared as she grabbed her weapons and ran after her friends.
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"Hiei, watch out!" Kurama barked; however, it was too late. Hiei found his self trapped beneath a paralysis spell, a new ability the Jewel- powered crow demon had just discovered. Kazuma and Yusuke, after thirty minutes into the battle, had become helpless victims of this power.
'This sucks!' Yusuke screamed inside his head, his hands digging into the dirt in frustration. 'We don't have much time before the Jewel is permanently fused with that damn demon!'
Kurama tried his best to dodge the crow's numerous attacks, but alas, he fell beneath the large bird's speed and agile blasts of energy. And as soon as Kurama became a victim to the spell, Botan, entirely out of breath, entered the battle scene. Seething with anger against both her kidnapper and Kurama, Botan glared at her fox "friend" and muttered dangerously, "I'll show you who's useless, Kurama."
The fox spirit tried to ignore the chills that ran down his spine.
Drawing the last bow left in the quiver (while running, Botan had lost most of them) for a second shot at the demon, Botan readied her aim towards the beast's heart. Just as she was about to fire, the over-sized ebony poultry soared right at Botan, ready to tear off Botan's head. 'Watch out, Botan!' Yusuke yelled out with his thoughts, praying that Botan would notice on her own.
'Duck! Kazuma shouted in his head as well.
Feeling her friends' warnings through sensations of emotions, Botan dodged the attack in time, but broke her bow and arrow. Kurama could not believe the misfortune he was going through right now. "Damn, now she's defenseless too," Hiei growled, voicing Kurama's thoughts.
'//That girl is completely useless,//' Youko thought bitterly.
"That stupid bastard! Just who the hell does he think he is? I'll make that damn demon pay for stealing the Jewel from me!" Botan screamed angrily as she rose onto her feet. "I'll make that jackass see that I'm not a girl to mess around with!" Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kazuma, who were still paralyzed to the ground by the bird demon's spell, stared at Botan in utter shock. Kazuma's mouth had hit the mossy ground; Yusuke was presently trying to find words in his mouth; Hiei, like Yusuke, was tongue-tied as well; Youko Kurama was absolutely frozen in sudden shock. Had the sweet, innocent, bubbly Botan just swear her mouth off?
"Hn, I didn't know she had it in her," Hiei scoffed as he concentrated on his Demon Energy to a central point so that he could free himself.
"Whew, that was close--But wait," Yusuke muttered, finally finding his mouth and fighting against the crow's paralysis spell, "how the heck is Botan going to shoot that damn bird?! It's flying too fast!"
"Yeah!" Kazuma exclaimed, fighting against the binding spell as well. "Besides, the bow and arrows that Botan was just using were destroyed a few minutes ago!"
As Botan formed her arms into an arching position, blue Spirit Energy began to take shape as a bow and arrow in Botan's hands. At first, the Energy was just sparks and flashes of light, then a irregular mass, eventually forming into solid forms of weapons. "I WON'T MISS!" Botan yelled with determination as she fired her Spirit Arrow.
Like awesome blue lightning, Botan's arrow soared through the sky. The Spirit Detectives felt their breath get taken away. "Yes!" Botan exclaimed as the Spirit Energy arrow hit its target.
Sadly to say, the girl's moment of triumph was short lived. As soon as the arrow sunk into the body of the demon bird, an enormous surge of Spirit and Demon Energy began to radiate from the pierced carrion bird. A sphere of light enveloped the demon for a fleeting moment, only to have hundreds of shooting rays of light cast out from where the crow was frozen in midair; the lights lit up the Maikai sky like never before it the World's history. 'What is this?!' Botan cried out. She was too frightened to use her voice; foreboding feelings were rushing about her body as she continued to witness the fading of the hundred rays of light. Once the rise of Energy and the lightshow were gone, Botan, Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kazuma (the Detectives were now free since the demon was now dead) looked up into the air and saw a small glowing mass slowly descend into the forest.
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"Are you sure the Sacred Jewel fell around here, Hiei?" Kurama demanded as he willed plants to instantly bend over. The fox demon quickly scanned through the demonic shrubs, allowed them back into their normal positions, and moved on to the area near the last.
"Would I lie about something as serious as this, Kurama?" Hiei snapped back, obviously agitated. "Besides, my Jagan never makes mistakes, Kurama; you of all people should know that." The small fire demon's Jagan eye was uncovered and glowing a pernicious blue, searching the area around the Spirit Detectives as well.
"I don't think the Sacred Jewel is here, you guys," Kazuma sighed as he looked around the forest the Detectives were currently searching.
Hiei hissed in irritation at the taller human and bared two sharp, glinting fangs. "Didn't you hear me a minute ago, you over-sized idiot?! I just told the fox that it's here! The damn Sacred Jewel of Four Souls is here SOMEWHERE!"
Kazuma growled in response, "Well, maybe you saw something else, shorty, because I sure as Hell don't sense the Sacred Jewel around here. And EVERYONE here knows that I have sharp Spiritual Senses."
"Who needs to sense the damn Jewel when I saw it with my eye?" Hiei retorted. "Anyway, your sixth sense if far from reliable, you moron; with Spirit Power as pathetic as yours, it's a wonder how you became a Detective, nevertheless live for so long."
"Cut it out, you two!" Yusuke snapped, his Spirit Energy flaring to extraordinary levels. "If both of you don't shut up right now and just concentrate on looking for the damn jewel, I'm shooting both of you with my Spirit Gun at point blank; and I don't care what Koenma is going to do about it afterwards." Hiei and Kazuma quickly held their tempered-tongues and went their separate ways in the continued search. Watching from a distance, Botan giggled quietly to herself as she preceded her own search of the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls. An unexpected glint caught Botan's eye, causing the girl to shout out in relief.
"Oh, hey! I found it, you guys!" The four Spirit Detectives speedily faced Botan, hopeful expressions on their faces; they did not want to comb through all of Maikai to search for the damn thing. Kurama, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kazuma hiked through the forest shrubs and stood in a semi-circle around Botan crouched on the ground.
"Thank God you found it, Botan," Yusuke sighed. "And here I was afraid that we were going to--"
"Uh oh."
Kurama's silver fox ears twitched in nervous reaction; he was too afraid to ask Botan. "What is it now, woman?" Hiei demanded for Kurama; surprisingly, the fire demon had not read Kurama's mind. "What's this 'uh oh'?"
Botan turned around slowly and reluctantly held out her palm to her friends; right in the middle of her pale, delicate hands was a pink glowing sliver, a single fragment of the former crystal sphere. "Well, at least I found a part of the Sacred Jewel," Botan laughed nervously.
First a wave of shock and then a wave of anger washed over the horrified fox apparition. Absolutely furious at the sight before him, Kurama exploded, "What in the Seven Hells happened to the rest of the Jewel?! What did you do to the Sacred Jewel, woman?!"
Botan laughed nervously as she put her free hand behind her head in apology. "Well, what I think happened, Kurama, is when I hit that bird demon with my arrow, I hit and shattered the Sacred Jewel in its body too. And the bright lights we saw shooting from the demon's body wasn't just Demon Energy it was releasing but the Spirit and Demon Energy in the Sacred Jewel from all of the shooting shards."
Kurama, in slight shock from what Botan had just told him, groaned as he dropped his face into his hands. "Damn, why did it have to go all wrong? Why did such a simple mission to steal the Sacred Jewel go so wrong? Why?"
Unexpectedly, a twig snapped. Quickly recovering from his sorrow, Kurama jerked his head back up; the thief sniffed the air as his ears reached out for sound. Faint rustling could barely be made out between the trees, and Kurama was definitely sure he caught the scent of other humans and demons. "We're surrounded," the demon murmured in the deadly tone, causing everyone to go on alert.
"Wah!"
The Spirit Detectives whirled around to face Botan; what the four saw did not please them.
"Who are thee? Name thy self!" a red haired woman demanded, her long bow stretched with a stone-head arrow aimed at Botan's heart.
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Could someone tell me at what shrine Hinageshi worked at? And, does anyone know what Kuronue's name means and what kind of demon Kuronue actually is? I know his name means "Black something", just don't know what the something means. And I've heard that Kuronue is something in between that of a bat or a crow.
Ah, and so I won't forget, the disclaimer stated in the first chapter goes throughout the story so I won't have to repeat it CONSTANTLY!
Another note: If you had read the first three chapters of this story, they were actually the first chapter in separate segments (so that means the first chapter is the first three everyone read compiled together, even better than they were when they were separate). So this chapter is actually a new chapter or part of the chapter, not some rewrite or anything. (If I am confusing you, it's all right if you ignore this and don't understand; you'll get it eventually. I barely understand the situation myself, actually.)
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"This is speech."
'This is thought.'
//This is Youko or flashback.//
Once Loved, Never Forgotten
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"Where are you going, Kurama?" Botan inquired worriedly as she watched Kurama step outside onto the temple grounds. Without a misplaced step, Kurama continued his way to the exiting stairways. When the light- blue haired girl realized that Kurama was not going to turn around, she lost her temper. "You jerk! What happened to polite Minamino Syuuichi? Argh, if you can hear me, Youko Kurama, you're a jerk! You're just a jerk who can't get over your dead girlfriend!"
With that statement, Kurama immediately froze in his place; Botan clapped a hand over her mouth, seeing she had gone too far with her words. 'Oh, great job, Botan. What a way to stick your foot into your mouth.' As Kurama silently stood in his place, Botan tried to find the words to apologize. "Kurama, I'm--I'm sorry, I didn't mean--"
"I only wished to prevent you from meeting her fate, priestess. But as I can see, you can take well enough care of yourself," Kurama darkly muttered as he turned to glare at the apologetic girl. The other three Spirit Detectives inwardly flinched at Kurama's dark scowl, his eyes a golden emerald. With that said, Kurama left the temple; not even Hiei dared to stop the fox. 'You idiot, what do you think you are doing, Youko?!' Syuuichi angrily demanded from his own self. '//You are going to walk away from all of these emotions, Syuuichi and clear your mind! You cannot be affected by this sympathy, by HER!// Affected by her? Youko, did you hear yourself when you said that to Botan? She more than affects you! //Shut up, Syuuichi! Do not speak about this anymore!//'
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'Why do I have to have such a big mouth?' Botan sighed as she thought miserably to herself, tapping her mechanical pencil against her school desk irritably. 'Kurama hates you now, and you know it's completely your fault; good job, Botan, for sticking your foot in your mouth like that. Why don't you try sticking the Human World into while you're at it.'
A week had past since anyone had seen and spoken with Kurama, and everyone, including Hiei, grew worried about Kurama's condition; and a few days after the meeting at Genkai's temple, Yusuke had given the redhead a phone call. When Minamino Shiori had instead answered the phone, Yusuke had diligently urged to speak to Syuuichi. Shiori had kindly and politely replied that Syuuichi had been under the weather for a while and did not wish to speak to any of his friends; however, Yusuke would not hear of it. After being rather persistent, Urameshi had finally swayed the worried mother's mind and was speaking to Kurama. Sadly to say, after a curt greeting, Kurama informed Yusuke he was not feeling well and did not desire to converse with anyone at the current moment; the half-fox demon had even added that he did not wish for any of the Spirit Detectives to come by his home to see how he was doing. Kurama then gave a cold farewell and hung up on Yusuke. And much to Keiko's dismay, Yusuke went into a rage and destroyed some public property to sate the frustration he had towards Kurama's obnoxious behavior. 'Because of you,' Botan moaned in a sorry way, 'Kurama has been avoiding everyone, including Hiei. I wonder if Yusuke is still angry with Kurama.'
As Botan's thoughts continued to dwell on Kurama and the awkward moment from last week, the cold, final words Kurama had tonelessly uttered repeatedly rang through her head. //I only wished to prevent you from meeting her fate, priestess.//
"Kurama's voice was so cold when he said that; it was as if a different side of Youko took over him, and Syuuichi was completely gone, as if he never existed. Uh, Kurama was so angry he didn't even bother to call me by my name. And what did he mean by that last sentence?" Botan whispered thoughtfully to herself; she mindlessly toyed with the black buttons on her green jacket. "Does Kurama think I'm going to die the same way Barako did? Does he think--" Botan suddenly cut herself short on her thought. "But according to everyone, Kurama is the one who killed Barako. He was the one responsible for Barako's cruel twist of fate. So--Was Kurama warning me? Or was he threatening me?"
Her face paling at the new thought, Botan felt her eyes well up with lukewarm tears. She pouted, "Well, I did deserve what he said, even if it was a threat on my life; I shouldn't have spoken badly about Barako. I'm actually surprised Kurama hasn't killed me yet."
"Miss Urameshi!" A large hand roughly slammed onto Botan's desk, making the blue haired girl jump up in her desk in surprise.
"Eek!"
The other students within the class looked up from their class work and notes, preparing themselves to watch another vindictive scene of the teacher picking on the new student, Urameshi Botan. Boys and girls alike flinched in great sympathy for unfortunate Urameshi; it was just too unbearable to go through the day and see the girl tortured constantly as she was.
"Miss Urameshi, I see that my lecture is in lack of interest to you, as you are thoroughly amusing yourself by speaking to your invisible imaginary friends," Mr. Iwamoto sneered, glaring darkly at Botan through narrow slits for eyes.
Botan squirmed uneasily in her desk as she looked into the sniping face of her enraged instructor. "Ah, it's not like that at all, Mr. Iwamoto; the Muromachi Period is rather fascinating. Actually, I am really interested in that time period," Botan honestly responded, giving Mr. Iwamoto a nervous smile. And in truth, Botan had meant what she said; since she had lived her human life through that ancient era, Botan was curious how life was like for her during those difficult, archaic times. The girl gripped at her
The teacher growled at Botan's calm, kind response. "Like your despicable cousin, Miss Urameshi, I see that you don't mind lying through your teeth," Mr. Iwamoto replied indifferently, fighting the fiery urge to slap his student.
'How dare he say that about Yusuke!' Botan hastily clenched her teeth in fury to keep her from speaking, her knuckles turning white from making a fist beneath her desk. A rush of flashbacks returned to former Death. When Yusuke had first died, Botan had not understood the young boy's pure hate for the teachers until now; the former ferry girl could see that Yusuke's judgment of his teachers' characters were fairly accurate. "But sir, I'm not--"
"Report the principal's office immediately, Urameshi," Mr. Iwamoto barked harshly, pointing an angry finger at the classroom door. "And don't come back to this class until you've fixed that attitude of yours."
Without argument (knowing things would only get worse), Botan collected her belongings and walked quietly out the door. Keiko, sitting a little ways in front of Botan, sighed at the injustice; it made the brunette wonder how Mr. Iwamoto was allowed to move up from the junior high school and teach at the high school, nevertheless continue to teach at all.
"And to think," Keiko groaned inwardly, "this all started just because Botan need to come to school. Ugh, I hope Botan doesn't get in as much trouble with the principal like she did the last time." Needing a valid identity to go to Keiko's high school, Botan had borrowed Atsuko and Yusuke's name and become a "cousin" of theirs, not to mention live with them for the next few years (all with their permission); however, there was a side affect to Botan's adopted identity. Right when Botan had entered the high school, every single person, aside for Keiko, had given the poor girl loathing glares and malicious sneers; the school was utterly terrified of the new, unidentified Urameshi. For the first few days of school, everyone had avoided Botan just in case she would be like her cousin and send him or her to the hospital with broken bones. Luckily, most of the student body realized Urameshi Botan was nothing more than a cheery, bubbly cream puff that enjoyed making friends. The teachers, however, were a harder bunch to convince.
"When Yusuke hears about this, he's going to blow a fuse," Keiko sighed, flopping her heading into her arms.
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"Oh, trouble again in History, Botan?" the principal's secretary, an elder gentle lady, inquired sweetly as Botan slumped into a seat in the waiting room. Nodding glumly, Botan sighed despondently.
"Wow, I'm quite surprised with you, Botan; your other teachers don't appear to have a problem with you. This is the third time this week you've been sent to the office for this class. I do wish you and Mr. Iwamoto would get along, Botan. Either that or I'm afraid that you're going to have to change your class or even have to transfer. And we wouldn't want that, would we, with you only being here for a week now. Well, the principal will be with you in about fifteen minutes, Botan. He's at a board meeting right now."
Right then, Mr. Takenaka, who had also moved up to high school from junior high, entered the attendance office. Upon spotting Botan being seated in the office, Mr. Takenaka's eyes grew wide. "Why, Miss Urameshi, what are you doing here?" the surprised teacher asked.
Botan smiled sheepishly at her language teacher. She playfully stuck out her tongue and gently knocked the top of her head. "Ah, I was misbehaving and wasn't paying attention in History today, so I got sent to the office by Mr. Iwamoto."
"Really now?" Mr. Takenaka questioned curiously. "That is unlike you, Miss Urameshi, to behave disorderly and letting your attention wander." Although it sounded as if Mr. Takenaka was reprimanding Botan, the man knew that Botan's trouble was entirely Mr. Iwamoto's fault. The sinister teacher had always been like this toward students in which he found dislike.
Botan smiled pleasingly. She knew that the middle-aged man was only worried about her as a student under the coarse tutelage of Mr. Iwamoto, like a loving father to a daughter; Botan also knew that Mr. Takenaka was keeping an eye on her to somehow make up for Yusuke, who was not going to the high school. A feeling in Botan's heart told her that Mr. Takenaka wanted at least ONE Urameshi (even if she was not a real one) to do well in life. Botan was actually grateful for Mr. Takenaka because he was the only teacher in the school that was not wary of her; the man was the only adult who was not afraid to put his trust in her. Botan made a mental note to give Koenma a good word about Mr. Takenaka when she returned to work for the Spirit World. "Well, it was really my fault, Mr. Takenaka, so I guess I'll just have to work harder in that class to keep my grade up," Botan replied cheerfully.
Mr. Takenaka nodded in approval, his blue eyes twinkling in sincere pleasure. "That is the positive attitude, Miss Urameshi, that I wish I could find in all of my students, or at least awaken."
"I'll be right back," the secretary sighed as she rose from her desk. "I need to get more paper for the printer here. Mr. Takenaka, would you mind staying here for a moment until I return?"
"Not at all, it's my planning period anyway," the man replied, allowing the elderly woman pass by him and leave the office. Now it was just the wise teacher and Botan; and the silence was leaving Botan to her troubling thoughts that had kicked her out of class.
'What should I--no--what can I do about Kurama? I know that I should go and apologize to him, but when can I do that? Should I go by his house? No, he said that he didn't want anyone going by there, and I'm not going to start my apology by antagonizing him.' Botan hissed in frustration as she gripped the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls in her jacket pocket; the girl was to go nowhere without the Sacred Jewel (while Genkai had merely suggested it, Hiei had commanded that the Sacred Jewel should never leave Botan's grasp or sight). "If I only hadn't said those stupid words!"
"Is something the matter, Miss Urameshi?" Mr. Takenaka inquired as he took a seat beside the student, suddenly reminding Botan that she was not alone in the office.
Blushing a cherry red, Botan looked to the ground as she nervously shuffled her feet, her hand still wrapped around the Sacred Jewel. The radiation of so much Spirit Energy somehow was settling to Botan. "Ah, nothing really important, sir. It's really nothing to worry about, really."
"You seemed rather disturbed by your thoughts."
"Did I really?" Botan wondered as she stared at her teacher's weathered and solemn face.
"Yes, and you still do; you look far too serious for any adolescent your age, Miss Urameshi. This wouldn't be the reason why you weren't paying attention in class today, now would it?"
"Well, I guess I am rather bothered with my dilemma," Botan admitted reluctantly, blushing even more, "and I should be too, the way I've been to my friend. It's a wonder why I haven't died from guilt." At another reminder of her mistake, Botan sighed at stared cheerlessly at her shoes.
"Would you like to talk about it? Maybe I can help you sort out your problem."
"Well," Botan started, "recently a good friend of mine and I got into an argument about how I should be carrying myself while I was--uh--in town. My friend thought that I should be a little more careful and selective, and he pretty much wanted me to stay locked up in my house. Although my friend had a good point about keeping me safe, he was basically cutting me off from life; he was just being far too strict, all because he didn't want me to be like his old girlfriend. We didn't look at each other eye to eye on the subject at all, and the argument just got worse from there; in the end, I said something terrible about his old girlfriend, and now I haven't spoken to my friend for over a week. I feel too awkward to do anything."
"Ah, yes, I see."
"But I know that I have to apologize to him," Botan finished, slightly frowning. "The comment I said was uncalled for; I have to do something to make things right again."
Mr. Takenaka nodded in agreement. "Yes, you should apologize to him, and I say the sooner now the better. I don't know why you waited for a whole week, Miss Urameshi."
"I'm just scared because he might not want to be friends with me anymore," Botan whispered. "I know I hurt him really bad after what I said, and I don't know if apologizing would do anything."
"Don't worry," Mr. Takenaka assured as he placed a firm hand on Botan's shoulder. "A person such as yourself, Miss Urameshi, is quite easily forgiven. You have a light that cannot be denied nor rejected. I am quite sure that your friend will forgive you."
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"Syuuichi?"
Syuuichi, looking up from his work, turned around to face the speaker of his name, his heart wanting the girl behind to be a certain sky blue haired deity. Unfortunately, it was only one of Syuuichi's fellow classmates. Syuuichi could not help but to frown slightly; like most girls he knew, this girl was pretty, well figured, and absolutely gifted with looks. However, like most other lovely ladies Syuuichi was introduced to, this fellow classmate was not like Botan, a girl of personality. "Yes, what is it, Mitsuko?" Syuuichi answered politely.
"Ah, Minako said that there is some high school student at the front gate waiting for you; she said it was important to meet you as soon as you were available. I can finish the rest of the work here for you, Syuuichi, so you don't keep your friend waiting," the girl suggested, blushing during the process; she was unable to maintain eye contact with Syuuichi for more than ten seconds without turning a beet red.
Although he knew perfectly well the young woman had a crush on him, Syuuichi smiled obliviously; acting like this had become his daily routine since junior high. "All right, I appreciate that. Thank you for the message, Mitsuko. I promise to make it up to you at our next club meeting." And with that, Syuuichi quickly collected his belongings and walked out to the campus' gate. As soon as the college student spotted familiar sky- colored locks, a grin came upon his face.
"Botan." Syuuichi, sighing in relief, felt a little thankful that Botan had sought him out instead of him pursuing her; he did not know if he had the heart to take back Youko's heartless words from their last encounter. '//Watch what you say, Syuuichi! Those words were from you as well!// Youko, you should not dare to argue and place the blame somewhere else. It was your pitiless words and your harsh personality that pushed everyone away. If you had not been your arrogant, fearful self, you would not be in this situation.'
Removing Syuuichi from his quarreling thoughts, Botan greeted, "Good afternoon, Syuuichi, I'm so glad that you were still here at college. I was worried that I had missed you." Botan grinned jovially as she walked up to the gorgeous young man. The young high school student was ignorant of the college girls and boys surrounding her and her old friend, whispering and muttering quietly about her.
"Who is she? Is she Minamino's girlfriend?"
"Who cares? She's cute."
"No, she's hot."
"She can't possibly be with Minamino; she's way too young for him and completely not his taste. Besides, you haven't heard Minamino mention anything about a girlfriend, have you?"
"Maybe she's his cousin."
Syuuichi, a little bit of Youko's personality coming out of him, smirked at the silly fear surrounding him and Botan. Here were young, intellectual men and women, who were future CEO's of major companies in the making, worrying about whom was going out with whom as if it were like the high school days where it meant the end of the world; and to think, with the awesome power Botan held in her pocket, the Three Worlds could easily be destroyed with a thought and be the end everyone's worries.
"No, I stay at the school a little later to do some extra work on my assignments. I am a little surprised that you traveled across town to see me, Botan. You really went out of your way to get here. How have you been doing since our last meeting?" Syuuichi asked apologetically as he gave her a warm smile. "I hope that I had not upset you too much from my last farewell."
Botan looked to the ground in embarrassment, a nervous giggle escaping her lips. "No, you didn't upset me that night, Syuuichi. And even if you had, it wasn't your fault because it was mine. And about that, I just wanted to say--"
"Hey, Minamino, are you coming to the game tonight?" a masculine voice suddenly called out, cutting Botan off from her thought. Syuuichi turned around and Botan looked behind the taller young man. A handsome brunette haired lad dressed in a football uniform grinned as he waved and ran towards Syuuichi.
"No, and Hatsume, what are you still doing here?" Syuuichi pondered as he amiably greeted his classmate. "I thought you would be gone by now; you hate staying at the school." The athlete's smile grew larger as he spotted the girl behind Syuuichi. Having an eye-catching smile, the stranger and his captivating cerulean eyes was making Botan feel warm and cheerful inside. She was beginning to think this new arrival seemed strangely familiar.
"Nothing really. Our football practice just ended now. Who is this lovely lady?" Syuuichi's friend asked as he took Botan's hand, kissing it politely. "She's really cute, Minamino."
Botan blushed; a pleasant, friendly aura surrounded this person, and Botan actually felt somewhat attracted to it. "Ah, my name is Urameshi Botan."
The football player blinked in surprise, his sapphire eyes almost with the look of shock. "Urameshi? Are you related to Urameshi Yusuke from Sarayashiki Junior High?"
"You know Urameshi?" Syuuichi wondered, staring at his friend. "But Hatsume, you went to Meiou."
"Yeah, I knew Urameshi back in junior high school; I used to go to Sarayashiki Junior High before I moved, and then I started going to Meiou High. I was in my last year at Sarayashiki when Urameshi was a first year. I think I was the only one in my year that respected him, which was slightly a surprise. When he just enrolled, a few of my friends decided to pick on him and some of the new classmen. Heh, my idiots for friends didn't even suspect that Urameshi wasn't a kid to pick on; in fact, that's how Urameshi started his reputation in junior high," Hatsume explained. The young man then turned his sights on Botan. "I can sort of see a resemblance between the two of you; both of you have some spunk, and I can tell that you two don't take trash from anyone."
"Really?" Botan inquired.
Hatsume chuckled as he began to walk off. "Sure! You are family, and it doesn't surprise me. Well, I have to get going now; you know, my day job. I'll see you later, Minamino, and I hope I get to see you sometime, Urameshi!"
When the boy was out of sight and his affable presence out of range, Botan turned and asked, "Who was that, Kura--I mean--Syuuichi?"
"That was Hatsume Soijiro, a first year like me at the college. He is in a few of my classes, and we shared some classes at Meiou High too. Surprisingly, we are actually close, and Hatsume is a good friend." Syuuichi then turned around and faced Botan again. "So what were you going to say before Hatsume cut in, Botan?"
"Ah, well, I nearly forgot the reason why I came here. Actually, I'm here to--" Botan looked around and realized that everyone within a twenty feet radius was intently listening in on the conversation. A sweat drop rolled down Botan's head. "Syuuichi, could we go somewhere together a little more private?" Botan suddenly asked as she grabbed Syuuichi's hand. The redhead could feel his body tense at the contact.
'//You are losing, it Syuuichi. You cannot lose control now.// Shut up, Youko. You are not getting your chance to have your say because you will probably scare her off, AGAIN. //She is up to something, Syuuichi. She is trying to lure you into a trap. Just as she did five hundred years ago.// What kind of trap, Youko? Like an apology? Is that a trap? And whatever for? You should be the one luring her into a trap.' A hint of pink hue coming onto his cheeks, Syuuichi nodded in agreement at the suggestion, "Ah, sure, Botan. Why not? Where should we go?"
"Oh, well, while I was walking here, I saw a nice park near the café. Why don't we go there?" Botan suggested cheerfully as she pulled gently at Syuuichi's hand. By slightly tugging him along, Botan pretty much had Syuuichi on an invisible leash. "I'll even be the one treat, Syuuichi."
As Syuuichi and Botan walked off hand in hand, Syuuichi's female college classmates were left on campus to fume in abhorrence; while at the same time, Syuuichi's male comrades were growling in jealously as well, since now it was apparent that the high school student was not Minamino's cousin. Botan shivered as she felt the weak but negative Spirit Energy emitting from the individuals behind her. She disliked when humans were hateful and angry; they released unpleasant sensations that Botan could easily detect because of newly awakened her priestess powers. "Are you all right, Botan?" Syuuichi asked curiously. "Are you cold?"
'//Stupid boy//,' Youko spat in the human boy's mind. '//Barako's powers are taking an effect on her. Now she is able to sense Spirit Energy and an accumulation of emotion from other human beings. Besides, why are you worrying about her? Let yourself loose from this trap before it is too late!// No! You will not be set free this time, Youko! This will be handled without your heartless expertise.'
"I'm all right, Kurama; I just forgot that I'm a little more sensitive to Spirit Energy than I was before," Botan answered, smiling at Kurama now; the couple was far enough from any prying ears, and Botan could finally talk to the real person she had wanted to see. "Heh, I didn't realize, Kurama, that you were so powerful. I mean--I knew you were strong, but I never realized that you had so much Spirit Energy."
Kurama smiled as he tried to hold back a chuckle. "Then you will get chills when we see Hiei or Yusuke again; unlike me, Hiei shows off his Demon Energy so lesser demons will get the message and quickly learn not to irritate him. Yusuke just has not learned how to control his Energy output."
Cringing, Botan grinned, "Oh, I can't wait to see everyone again."
The couple silently walked down the street, the chilly autumn air and vibrant flying leaves being their conversation. Kurama's crimson locks were blowing past his face, the unique ruby hairs mixing into the burgundy, orange, and gold of the fall. Staring at her friend, Botan observed, 'As Syuuichi, Kurama is like the autumn, cool and calm, changing from one season to another. Youko is like the winter, never changing, frozen in time. He can't move on from his past. How can two different people be the same person still?'
'//She is staring at you. She is giving you this strange look, Syuuichi. It is almost like the look Barako used to give. It is unnerving, damn it,//' Youko muttered. 'Would you shut up already, Youko? Of course she is staring at you. She has a lot on her mind, and most of her thoughts are probably on you because of that one night.' Kurama sighed inwardly as he continued to look forward; the fox did not dare to return Botan's gaze.
Not much needed to be said to one another; Kurama and Botan found enough comfort in each other's company, and in that, the two found the assurance of apology. It was a long moment before someone broke the tranquil silence. Kurama, still not turning to his walking partner and instead staring straight on ahead, began, "Botan, I know I need to apologize to you, and I should. I am sincerely sorry about--"
"Ah!"
Kurama did not get to finish his sentence as Botan was suddenly snatched away before him. The half-demon barely had the chance to catch glimpse of Botan's immediate kidnapping. A huge black claw had formed a cage around Botan, the demon already flying off far into the sky. Kurama hastily recognized the type of demon that had its filthy clutches on Botan; it was a fair-sized crow demon, meaning it was nearly the size of a private jet. "Hold on, Botan!" Kurama yelled as he chased after the kidnapper.
"Kurama, help me!" Botan pleaded helplessly.
Kurama, with his lightning speed, raced up along the side of a building and jumped into the air, bringing out his trademark Rose Whip, but he missed miserably due to the fact that the flying demon was flying away too fast. Gracefully landing on top of another building, Kurama tried again and raced after the humongous crow. This time, instead of trying to strike the demon, Kurama had his Rose Whip tie around the apparition's leg instead. "Be careful, Kurama!" Botan warned as she watched Kurama dependently.
The demon, noticing its extra passenger, quickly flailed its captured leg and then tossed Kurama roughly into a side of a concrete building before flying off. Botan began to cry as the sight of a falling Kurama; the girl felt helpless since she was both being kidnapped and unable to help her unconscious friend. Botan could only pray that Hiei, who was always near by Kurama or Yukina, would find and help Kurama soon.
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"How the hell did a weak demon like that get through into the Human World?! Where are the new Spirit Detectives?" Yusuke demanded angrily as he and his friends raced through the forests of Maikai. Urameshi was having a time jumping over fallen logs, stray boulders, and various random traps that lied on Maikai's forest floors.
Kurama growled to himself, cursing to the truth that the crow demon had been weak, yet he, Youko Kurama, had been easily defeated AND stolen from. Unlike Yusuke, Kurama effortlessly spotted the traps and dodged them here and there with great ease.
"Oh, shut up! We're supposed to be the ones watching Botan, Urameshi," Kazuma barked back to his friend as he tried to keep up to the demons and part-demon. "Besides, we don't need other Detectives to do our work; and Botan is our friend."
"What the Detective meant was why aren't the new Detectives preventing weak demons from entering the Human World and keep something like this from happening," Hiei snapped, already in an irritated mood. One could tell the fire apparition was upset about Botan's unexpected kidnapping, and it was not because of the deadly blue Hiei's uncovered Jagan was glowing. "Damn, I swear that girl is more trouble than she is worth."
"Koenma has not been able to commission new Spirit Detectives yet," Kurama responded, answering Yusuke's question; Kurama was running beside his friends as Youko Kurama. "There has not been any time to do anything much before you returned to the Human World, Yusuke. King Enma and Koenma were worried to see how you would turn out after the tournament here three years ago. Also, there was Kuwabara and myself, so Enma and Koenma did not take any other steps on hiring another Detective."
Yusuke growled. "What a lame excuse. If those two were going to fire me, nevertheless kill me, they should have prepared someone already to fill in as soon as I was gone. Stupid Spirit World, thinking its all high and mighty just because they accept the dead people."
"Heh, you sound just like a demon, Yusuke," Kurama chuckled as he continued to run. "I think you have stayed in Maikai for too long."
"Well, I am a descendant of Raizen, Kurama," the teen smirked as he followed the fox demon in good humor. "Besides, if I hadn't stayed so long, Maikai currently wouldn't be here right now."
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"I found her! They're heading to a small village in the Eastern Region right now," Hiei shouted with little relief as he jumped down from his post high up in the ancient Maikai trees; the petite demon had been on the search with his Jagan eye for about an hour now.
"The Eastern Region?" Kurama questioned as he started off running again, the other Detectives at his heels. "Why would that blasted demon want to go there?"
"I thought there wasn't anything in the Eastern Region," Yusuke muttered as he followed Hiei and Kurama. "Enki told me that only weak demons with no power at all lived in those parts." Kazuma, having no specific knowledge on Maikai like the others, just ran beside Yusuke silently.
"No," Kurama replied, "Enki was wrong, and I would not hold him to fault with his poor information; not many know about Maikai's Eastern Region, not even demons themselves. Weak demons would not even dare to come near the Eastern Region. This part of Maikai is run by half-demons and humans. They are just considered weak demons because of the Human Blood within the land."
"Human Blood?" Yusuke repeated in a whisper.
"If we don't hurry, we're going to lose them again," Hiei hurried, racing ahead of Kurama. "That demon is already attacking a nearby village."
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"More outsiders?!" a villager shouted in alarm. People dressed in old Japanese style clothing ran around in frenzy as they tried to put out the flames that were their village.
The Spirit Detectives ignored the panicking villagers and ran toward the crash site where the crow demon had decided to rest. While running toward the small wooden structure, Kurama spotted a bow and a quiver of arrows on the ground. '//If we ever find Botan, maybe these will come in handy,//' the fox demon thought as he picked up the weapons.
"Hurry up, Kurama!" Yusuke yelled, now ahead and already entering the crow's chaotic nest. "We got you trapped, birdie," Yusuke grinned as his right index finger was pointed straight towards the crow. Small, glowing particles of Spirit Energy could be seen gather at the tip of the Detective's finger. A sweat drop visibly slid down the demon's head as it realized that it was trapped in the tiny human building and lacked the energy for an escape (while the demon had been resting, it had also tried to retrieve the Sacred Jewel from Botan, but the girl had somehow put up a barrier that kept the demon's grasp for the Jewel at bay).
"Let go of the priestess and the Sacred Jewel then perhaps we shall allow for you leave unscathed," Kurama murmured dangerously, cracking his thorny whip; his golden eyes were narrow and icy, and if looks were able to kill, the bird would have been utterly destroyed.
The crow shuffled slightly, causing Botan, who was knocked out, to lose her grip on the Sacred Jewel, causing it to roll across the wooding floor of the structure. As the demon was about to grab the glowing sphere, Hiei stomped his foot and surprised the bird. "Make a move near it and die. Do not force me to use my Dragon of Darkness Wave on you, slime," Hiei spat. "It will be a waste of my energy and my time." His Jagan eye kept close watch on the crow's razor claws, the rolling Sacred Jewel, and the unconscious Botan.
Out of nowhere, Kazuma launched himself at the bird from behind. "Got you!" Pandemonium broke loose as the crow demon tried to evade Kazuma's Spirit Sword. Realizing the possibility of Botan being crushed, Kurama dived in between the crow's feet and barely saved the girl from being gored through the chest. The crow twisted its body beneath Kazuma's body slam, eventually slamming Kazuma unconscious against the wall.
Without wasting a moment, the demon swallowed the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls and flew out into the strangely colored sky of Maikai as fast as it could. "Damn it!" Kurama cursed, quickly following the Jewel thief outside and with Botan still in his arms. "The bastard ate the Sacred Jewel!"
"Then let's have some roasted crow!" Yusuke quickly responded, right by Kurama's side. "Spirit Gun!"
Yusuke shot a large, not to mention powerful Spirit Gun bullet; however, the blast of Spirit Energy missed its target. The Jewel-enhanced crow was now faster than Hiei or Kurama could detect. "Damn it, that bird better stay still! Dumb ass bird!" Yusuke spat.
"Do not waste any more energy on him, Yusuke" Kurama advised, his Rose Whip ready. "With the aide of the Sacred Jewel in its stomach, that demon is now the most powerful being in the Three Worlds." Botan suddenly then began to stir in Kurama's hold.
"What's going on? Kurama?" Botan gasped at the sight of Youko. "Why-- Why are you here, Kurama? Where am I?"
"You do not remember? You were kidnapped by a low-class demon and then taken to Maikai, Botan. The crow demon that kidnapped you just ate the Sacred Jewel, and now we cannot even get near the demon," Kurama explained. An idea abruptly sparked in Kurama's mind. Handing the bow and arrows to Botan he had recovered from before, Kurama placed Botan on his back.
"Hold on tight, Botan." The newly awakened girl barely grabbed a hold when Kurama began to speed off after the crow demon. Kurama and Botan appeared to be a white blur streaked with sky-blue.
"Hey! Kurama, Botan, wait for us!" Yusuke yelled, throwing the unconscious Kazuma over his shoulder. Unfortunately for Urameshi, Youko and former ferry girl were too far ahead.
"Just leave the lout, he's only going to slow you down," Hiei smirked mischievously. "Besides, he'll be all right, if we remember to get him."
"That's the thing, Hiei," Yusuke growled through his teeth as he tried to keep up with the fire demon and lug Kazuma at the same time. "We won't."
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"Kurama, what am I supposed to do with these?!" Botan demanded loudly as she tried to keep a hold on Kurama and on the bow and arrows at the same time. Her sky-blue hair was blowing and whipping into her face, and Botan was also trying to keep her uniform skirt from fanning upwards, making matters more difficult for the poor girl.
"Shoot the demon, of course," Kurama replied coolly. "And do not yell into my ears. It hurts!"
"Sorry," Botan whispered regretfully as she let go of her skirt's bottom and positioned an arrow ready onto the bow; she prayed that no one was looking up at her from the ground. The duo was steadily nearing the escaping demon, their position almost beneath it; Kurama took a final leap into the air and gave Botan her cue.
"NOW!"
Pulling the string as far as she could, Botan took careful aim. 'Please, Priestess Barako, help me. Help me defeat this foe. Lend me your master skills!' "Help me, Barako!" Botan shouted as she released the arrow.
Kurama held his breath as he followed the arrows course. 'Please, let it hit. Let Botan's arrow hit! //It is not going to make it, Syuuichi!//'
And Youko's instincts were right; just as Botan's arrow was about to reach the raven-like demon, it sank and whistled towards the ground. Kurama glared and frowned in utter disappointment. Botan's shot was one of the most embarrassing things he, Youko Kurama, had seen in all of his years of Life. "You call that a shot, woman?!" the fox demanded furiously. "Hinageshi could have made a much better one than that!"
Botan glared right back at her carrier, fighting the urge to punch Youko in the back of the head. "Hey, I'd like to see you shoot a bow and arrow five minutes after you've just woken up from banging your head hard!"
"Barako would have never missed such a pathetic target," Kurama hissed.
"Barako would have killed you by now!" Botan retorted snappishly in return. With that comment, Kurama came to an immediate stop and threw Botan off of his back Botan landed on her already sore bottom with thud. The other Spirit Detectives caught up to the pair right then.
"Did she get the demon, Kurama?" Hiei inquired, looking down at a dusty, disgruntled Botan on the ground.
"No, she failed miserably," the white demon replied, turning to continue the chase. "Now the demon has a three-minute head start. We have to hurry, Hiei, Yusuke, Kazuma! We have to catch the demon before it completely merges the Sacred Jewel to its body."
The three Detectives nodded to each other and chased after Kurama through the Maikai forest as Botan was left sitting on the ground in a daze. 'What--what the hell was that about?' Botan puffed her cheeks, her face reddening. 'Did I just get ditched? Did Kurama just say I'm worthless?! Why, the nerve of that guy!' "Argh, Kurama, you jerk! You're going to pay!" Botan roared as she grabbed her weapons and ran after her friends.
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"Hiei, watch out!" Kurama barked; however, it was too late. Hiei found his self trapped beneath a paralysis spell, a new ability the Jewel- powered crow demon had just discovered. Kazuma and Yusuke, after thirty minutes into the battle, had become helpless victims of this power.
'This sucks!' Yusuke screamed inside his head, his hands digging into the dirt in frustration. 'We don't have much time before the Jewel is permanently fused with that damn demon!'
Kurama tried his best to dodge the crow's numerous attacks, but alas, he fell beneath the large bird's speed and agile blasts of energy. And as soon as Kurama became a victim to the spell, Botan, entirely out of breath, entered the battle scene. Seething with anger against both her kidnapper and Kurama, Botan glared at her fox "friend" and muttered dangerously, "I'll show you who's useless, Kurama."
The fox spirit tried to ignore the chills that ran down his spine.
Drawing the last bow left in the quiver (while running, Botan had lost most of them) for a second shot at the demon, Botan readied her aim towards the beast's heart. Just as she was about to fire, the over-sized ebony poultry soared right at Botan, ready to tear off Botan's head. 'Watch out, Botan!' Yusuke yelled out with his thoughts, praying that Botan would notice on her own.
'Duck! Kazuma shouted in his head as well.
Feeling her friends' warnings through sensations of emotions, Botan dodged the attack in time, but broke her bow and arrow. Kurama could not believe the misfortune he was going through right now. "Damn, now she's defenseless too," Hiei growled, voicing Kurama's thoughts.
'//That girl is completely useless,//' Youko thought bitterly.
"That stupid bastard! Just who the hell does he think he is? I'll make that damn demon pay for stealing the Jewel from me!" Botan screamed angrily as she rose onto her feet. "I'll make that jackass see that I'm not a girl to mess around with!" Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kazuma, who were still paralyzed to the ground by the bird demon's spell, stared at Botan in utter shock. Kazuma's mouth had hit the mossy ground; Yusuke was presently trying to find words in his mouth; Hiei, like Yusuke, was tongue-tied as well; Youko Kurama was absolutely frozen in sudden shock. Had the sweet, innocent, bubbly Botan just swear her mouth off?
"Hn, I didn't know she had it in her," Hiei scoffed as he concentrated on his Demon Energy to a central point so that he could free himself.
"Whew, that was close--But wait," Yusuke muttered, finally finding his mouth and fighting against the crow's paralysis spell, "how the heck is Botan going to shoot that damn bird?! It's flying too fast!"
"Yeah!" Kazuma exclaimed, fighting against the binding spell as well. "Besides, the bow and arrows that Botan was just using were destroyed a few minutes ago!"
As Botan formed her arms into an arching position, blue Spirit Energy began to take shape as a bow and arrow in Botan's hands. At first, the Energy was just sparks and flashes of light, then a irregular mass, eventually forming into solid forms of weapons. "I WON'T MISS!" Botan yelled with determination as she fired her Spirit Arrow.
Like awesome blue lightning, Botan's arrow soared through the sky. The Spirit Detectives felt their breath get taken away. "Yes!" Botan exclaimed as the Spirit Energy arrow hit its target.
Sadly to say, the girl's moment of triumph was short lived. As soon as the arrow sunk into the body of the demon bird, an enormous surge of Spirit and Demon Energy began to radiate from the pierced carrion bird. A sphere of light enveloped the demon for a fleeting moment, only to have hundreds of shooting rays of light cast out from where the crow was frozen in midair; the lights lit up the Maikai sky like never before it the World's history. 'What is this?!' Botan cried out. She was too frightened to use her voice; foreboding feelings were rushing about her body as she continued to witness the fading of the hundred rays of light. Once the rise of Energy and the lightshow were gone, Botan, Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kazuma (the Detectives were now free since the demon was now dead) looked up into the air and saw a small glowing mass slowly descend into the forest.
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"Are you sure the Sacred Jewel fell around here, Hiei?" Kurama demanded as he willed plants to instantly bend over. The fox demon quickly scanned through the demonic shrubs, allowed them back into their normal positions, and moved on to the area near the last.
"Would I lie about something as serious as this, Kurama?" Hiei snapped back, obviously agitated. "Besides, my Jagan never makes mistakes, Kurama; you of all people should know that." The small fire demon's Jagan eye was uncovered and glowing a pernicious blue, searching the area around the Spirit Detectives as well.
"I don't think the Sacred Jewel is here, you guys," Kazuma sighed as he looked around the forest the Detectives were currently searching.
Hiei hissed in irritation at the taller human and bared two sharp, glinting fangs. "Didn't you hear me a minute ago, you over-sized idiot?! I just told the fox that it's here! The damn Sacred Jewel of Four Souls is here SOMEWHERE!"
Kazuma growled in response, "Well, maybe you saw something else, shorty, because I sure as Hell don't sense the Sacred Jewel around here. And EVERYONE here knows that I have sharp Spiritual Senses."
"Who needs to sense the damn Jewel when I saw it with my eye?" Hiei retorted. "Anyway, your sixth sense if far from reliable, you moron; with Spirit Power as pathetic as yours, it's a wonder how you became a Detective, nevertheless live for so long."
"Cut it out, you two!" Yusuke snapped, his Spirit Energy flaring to extraordinary levels. "If both of you don't shut up right now and just concentrate on looking for the damn jewel, I'm shooting both of you with my Spirit Gun at point blank; and I don't care what Koenma is going to do about it afterwards." Hiei and Kazuma quickly held their tempered-tongues and went their separate ways in the continued search. Watching from a distance, Botan giggled quietly to herself as she preceded her own search of the Sacred Jewel of Four Souls. An unexpected glint caught Botan's eye, causing the girl to shout out in relief.
"Oh, hey! I found it, you guys!" The four Spirit Detectives speedily faced Botan, hopeful expressions on their faces; they did not want to comb through all of Maikai to search for the damn thing. Kurama, Yusuke, Hiei, and Kazuma hiked through the forest shrubs and stood in a semi-circle around Botan crouched on the ground.
"Thank God you found it, Botan," Yusuke sighed. "And here I was afraid that we were going to--"
"Uh oh."
Kurama's silver fox ears twitched in nervous reaction; he was too afraid to ask Botan. "What is it now, woman?" Hiei demanded for Kurama; surprisingly, the fire demon had not read Kurama's mind. "What's this 'uh oh'?"
Botan turned around slowly and reluctantly held out her palm to her friends; right in the middle of her pale, delicate hands was a pink glowing sliver, a single fragment of the former crystal sphere. "Well, at least I found a part of the Sacred Jewel," Botan laughed nervously.
First a wave of shock and then a wave of anger washed over the horrified fox apparition. Absolutely furious at the sight before him, Kurama exploded, "What in the Seven Hells happened to the rest of the Jewel?! What did you do to the Sacred Jewel, woman?!"
Botan laughed nervously as she put her free hand behind her head in apology. "Well, what I think happened, Kurama, is when I hit that bird demon with my arrow, I hit and shattered the Sacred Jewel in its body too. And the bright lights we saw shooting from the demon's body wasn't just Demon Energy it was releasing but the Spirit and Demon Energy in the Sacred Jewel from all of the shooting shards."
Kurama, in slight shock from what Botan had just told him, groaned as he dropped his face into his hands. "Damn, why did it have to go all wrong? Why did such a simple mission to steal the Sacred Jewel go so wrong? Why?"
Unexpectedly, a twig snapped. Quickly recovering from his sorrow, Kurama jerked his head back up; the thief sniffed the air as his ears reached out for sound. Faint rustling could barely be made out between the trees, and Kurama was definitely sure he caught the scent of other humans and demons. "We're surrounded," the demon murmured in the deadly tone, causing everyone to go on alert.
"Wah!"
The Spirit Detectives whirled around to face Botan; what the four saw did not please them.
"Who are thee? Name thy self!" a red haired woman demanded, her long bow stretched with a stone-head arrow aimed at Botan's heart.
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