Sorry about not updating yesterday, but I can assure that it was due to
circumstances beyond my control. Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter 14: Upon Awakening (ever notice how your mouth always tastes like cotton soaked in sheep urine when you wake up, even when the closest sheep is over 100 miles away?)
After everyone had awoken from the nightmare of last night, they all went into the common room for a breakfast of leftovers. Everyone was still jumpy and when Yukina knocked over a bowl accidentally, nearly everyone jumped at the noise, expecting an attack. Only Hiei, Kurama, and Kenshin were not a complete bundle of nerves; Hiei and Kurama because they knew what their enemy was trying to do, and Kenshin because he'd had nightmares similar to that ever since the revolution.
Sensing all of the tension everyone was putting off, Yusuke snapped. "Hnnngh, this is insane! One little nightmare and we're all afraid of our own frikin' shadows?! What happened to us!? We've dealt with people who did stuff like this before! Remember Toguro? Everyday of the tournament, he nearly had me crap my pants when he so much as looked at me! And yet I beat him! That's exactly what we are gonna do here, at least if I have anything to say about it! So this guy gave us all a nightmare, so what? None of us actually died! We are all FINE, dammit! This is exactly what this guy wants us to do, and if I have any say in the matter, we're gonna do the exact opposite of what he wants! He wants us scared? We stand our ground! He wants us to run? We fight till there is nothing left to fight! He wants us to hate and distrust each other? We stick together and listen to each other!" Yusuke screamed. He then started to pant heavily. Everyone was startled by his huge outburst, but Sanosuke rallied behind him.
"He's right, guys. We can't let this bastard do this to us. That night was the first night I have been afraid since I became a fighter, and I intend to make this guy pay because of it! He made all of us feel weak; as though we couldn't beat his little pet. Well I've never been weak, and I'm gonna make sure that he never messes with Sanosuke Sagara or any of his friends AGAIN!" Sano yelled, smashing a wall in his fury. Thinking that the time was right, Kurama put in his two cents.
"Yusuke and Sano are correct. Our enemy has merely tested a time honored technique: Psychological Warfare. For now, all he has done is frighten us, and that is his mistake. I suggest we use this fear as our motivation to seek this person out and make sure that he sees justice. Or as painful a death as we can supply." He explained. Kenshin and Hiei said nothing, but they nodded their agreement.
"Well if that's all we have to do, then let's get started. We all know what to do, but I have some questions like: how in the hell are we gonna do it? I mean, we don't even know what this guy looks like, or his real name, or how powerful he really is. Let alone where his lair might be. Maybe we should try to get some information or something. Wait, Urameshi! Do you still have that compass thingy, I remember you mentioning it once back when we fought Rando. Maybe that could help us out a bit." Kuwabara asked, and everyone else was hoping that his idea would actually work.
"Uhh. . . sorry guys. I meant to tell you. I mean I did get it, it's just like, not working. Ever since we got here, it's been acting kinda funny. The needle is just swirling around the dial. I mean, I don't think it's broken; I mean its always been in pocket and it isn't cracked or anything." Yusuke explained sheepishly, as he pulled the Spirit Compass out of a pocket. Botan grabbed it, and it was indeed just swirling around, just as Yusuke had said. Seeing this, Botan took a grim expression on her face as she explained the bad news.
"Oh boy. Yusuke, You're right, it isn't broken. I wish it was though, I really do, because then it wouldn't mean what this does mean. The reason it can't hone in on an exact location is for the same reason none of us can sense any energy. It's like trying to find New York City in the middle of Times Square. And that is because it's all around you. This demon is very, very big."
No one was happy (or particularly surprised) to hear that.
****************
"Baum, baum, baaaaauuuuuuuum! Don't you just hate it when you realize you have absolutely no chance of defeating something that wants to kill you. Heheheheheheheh."
Yeah, I do agree, that does kinda suck. (the rest of this epilogue should be imagined as being done by a 1960's narrator for a superhero cartoon) How will our heroes overcome this turn of events? Will Yusuke and his friends defeat the evil voice in the dark? Will sheep ever gain the right to vote? And if so what about horses, cows, and other barnyard creatures? When did my life turn so horribly, horribly wrong? Why does no one love me? Why did my wife leave me for our daughter? Where is Jerry Springer when you need him?
Chapter 14: Upon Awakening (ever notice how your mouth always tastes like cotton soaked in sheep urine when you wake up, even when the closest sheep is over 100 miles away?)
After everyone had awoken from the nightmare of last night, they all went into the common room for a breakfast of leftovers. Everyone was still jumpy and when Yukina knocked over a bowl accidentally, nearly everyone jumped at the noise, expecting an attack. Only Hiei, Kurama, and Kenshin were not a complete bundle of nerves; Hiei and Kurama because they knew what their enemy was trying to do, and Kenshin because he'd had nightmares similar to that ever since the revolution.
Sensing all of the tension everyone was putting off, Yusuke snapped. "Hnnngh, this is insane! One little nightmare and we're all afraid of our own frikin' shadows?! What happened to us!? We've dealt with people who did stuff like this before! Remember Toguro? Everyday of the tournament, he nearly had me crap my pants when he so much as looked at me! And yet I beat him! That's exactly what we are gonna do here, at least if I have anything to say about it! So this guy gave us all a nightmare, so what? None of us actually died! We are all FINE, dammit! This is exactly what this guy wants us to do, and if I have any say in the matter, we're gonna do the exact opposite of what he wants! He wants us scared? We stand our ground! He wants us to run? We fight till there is nothing left to fight! He wants us to hate and distrust each other? We stick together and listen to each other!" Yusuke screamed. He then started to pant heavily. Everyone was startled by his huge outburst, but Sanosuke rallied behind him.
"He's right, guys. We can't let this bastard do this to us. That night was the first night I have been afraid since I became a fighter, and I intend to make this guy pay because of it! He made all of us feel weak; as though we couldn't beat his little pet. Well I've never been weak, and I'm gonna make sure that he never messes with Sanosuke Sagara or any of his friends AGAIN!" Sano yelled, smashing a wall in his fury. Thinking that the time was right, Kurama put in his two cents.
"Yusuke and Sano are correct. Our enemy has merely tested a time honored technique: Psychological Warfare. For now, all he has done is frighten us, and that is his mistake. I suggest we use this fear as our motivation to seek this person out and make sure that he sees justice. Or as painful a death as we can supply." He explained. Kenshin and Hiei said nothing, but they nodded their agreement.
"Well if that's all we have to do, then let's get started. We all know what to do, but I have some questions like: how in the hell are we gonna do it? I mean, we don't even know what this guy looks like, or his real name, or how powerful he really is. Let alone where his lair might be. Maybe we should try to get some information or something. Wait, Urameshi! Do you still have that compass thingy, I remember you mentioning it once back when we fought Rando. Maybe that could help us out a bit." Kuwabara asked, and everyone else was hoping that his idea would actually work.
"Uhh. . . sorry guys. I meant to tell you. I mean I did get it, it's just like, not working. Ever since we got here, it's been acting kinda funny. The needle is just swirling around the dial. I mean, I don't think it's broken; I mean its always been in pocket and it isn't cracked or anything." Yusuke explained sheepishly, as he pulled the Spirit Compass out of a pocket. Botan grabbed it, and it was indeed just swirling around, just as Yusuke had said. Seeing this, Botan took a grim expression on her face as she explained the bad news.
"Oh boy. Yusuke, You're right, it isn't broken. I wish it was though, I really do, because then it wouldn't mean what this does mean. The reason it can't hone in on an exact location is for the same reason none of us can sense any energy. It's like trying to find New York City in the middle of Times Square. And that is because it's all around you. This demon is very, very big."
No one was happy (or particularly surprised) to hear that.
****************
"Baum, baum, baaaaauuuuuuuum! Don't you just hate it when you realize you have absolutely no chance of defeating something that wants to kill you. Heheheheheheheh."
Yeah, I do agree, that does kinda suck. (the rest of this epilogue should be imagined as being done by a 1960's narrator for a superhero cartoon) How will our heroes overcome this turn of events? Will Yusuke and his friends defeat the evil voice in the dark? Will sheep ever gain the right to vote? And if so what about horses, cows, and other barnyard creatures? When did my life turn so horribly, horribly wrong? Why does no one love me? Why did my wife leave me for our daughter? Where is Jerry Springer when you need him?