Autheress here.
My rosebush, named Squishy, is sickened. The leaves are developing little brown spots, and his virgin flower (his first bloom) has dropped far too quickly. I weep salt tears for my poor liddle rosenbusher. But he's been sprayed for disease and he should be good soon. And he's got three buds developing. V for Victory!
I've realized how comma-happy I am. Seriously, in a sentence, I usually use a comma once if not more. Commas! How cute they are to me!
And now..the final installment of...KATSUKO'S STORY!! Cue the Autheress theme song!
SSsssssssssssstTTTTTTTTtttAAAAAAAaaaaaaaarRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrTTTTTtt t
Katsu was surprised that even after Hiei stopped touching her, she could still see clearly in the darkened chamber. But, his Jagon eye was still glowing, and the power was still in effect. She was grateful for it.
The door opened, and Kurama slowly stepped into the next room.
A loud noise ripped through the air, making them all jump. Kurama ripped out a rose from seemingly no ware, just brushing the nape of his neck. Emiko copied the move only two handed, bringing out twin rosebuds, both a darker shade than the brilliant bloom Kurama held. Hiei's sword lept from its sheath to his hand.
Silence. The group looked around, holding their breath. The noise came again, only this time they saw the source.
A large demon was sitting against the wall. Such was his size, they hadn't seen him at first, thinking he was a part of the wall. He was sleeping, and with each breath a enormous snore shook the room.
"We're lucky that brute was asleep." Hiei casually remarked. "We have less than a half hour left, thanks to the pride parade Emiko and Kurama put on." With that, the nimble demon jumped high, sword raised.
Katsu covered her eyes, wincing at the slicing noise Hiei's sword made, followed by a gasp, a groan, and then silence again.
"Come on." Hiei carelessly wiped his blade on the dead demon's leg before resheathing it. Katsu shuddered, but followed the group to the next and last door.
The door opened soundlessly as the others did before. But the sight that greeted them wasn't reassuring.
Dead silent, grim faced, and hundreds in number, hoards of demons faced them. The blue demon was there, in the front, grinning widely.
"So, you made it." His silky voice made Katsu want to wring his neck. "I'm surprised."
"We did the required tasks." Hiei snapped. "Where's Kuwabara and Yusuke?"
"Down that tunnel." The demon gestured behind the hoard.
A small, rat-faced demon started to whine. "Bossman, Bossman, let's get 'em!"
"Peace, Erichi." Bossman soothed. "They won't make it. All three remaining shall die."
All three? Katsu frowned. Kurama, Emiko, Hiei, and herself. Four.
They can't see you, because your Spirit Awareness is so low. Hiei's voice echoed in her mind. Kurama and Emiko can't see you either in pitch black. They only know where you are because they are used to your feeling of presence. Don't make a sound.
Katsu nodded, slightly creeped out by Hiei's telepathy. The demons were speaking again.
"I never specified what was behind the last door. Now you see why I decided just to kidnap one of you. I wanted to have you all die separately, alone, afraid, and above all, slowly." Bossman's silvery tongue caressed the words as he spoke them.
"Too bad for you, then." Hiei snarled. He was in front of Bossman in an instant, hacking sharply downward with his still-bloody katana. Bossman grabbed Erichi, who was directly to his left, and deflected the attack with Erichi's shaking body. He flung the cloven pieces of flesh away before melting back into the hoard.
"Get them."
The demons began to roar, and charged.
Three whips elongated from the flowers Emiko and Kurama held, Kurama expertly dealing death with one long Rose whip, and Emiko making closer contact combat with two shortened versions she called Dual Rose Whip. The two stood back to back, covering for one another and cutting down all who were foolish enough to get in range.
Hiei darted around, swift chops beheading a demon here, whisking a limb away there. But the sheer enormity of the demons' numbers was pushing the three friends back.
Katsu stood, back to the wall, watching in terrified wonder at the carnage before her. Several minutes of pure, bloody action had passed before her wide eyes, unable to look away. Emiko's stomach had a shallow, horizontal claw slash that was bleeding, Kurama had a cut above one green eye, and Hiei's shoulder had been severely bitten. They were still slaughtering all who opposed them, but their breath was quick and ragged. Exhaustion would be their banes.
Katsu inwardly cursed. She wasn't doing her new friends nor Yusuke any good....Yusuke! The tunnel! If no demon could see her, then she could rescue Yusuke and Kuwabara, who could help Hiei, Kurama and Emiko!
The thought terrified her. She pressed herself closer to the wall, eyes shut tight. A solitary tear slid down her cheek, and she sank along the wall to the floor. I couldn't do that! I'd get killed just trying! I'd better stay here, I could screw all of this up..
Emiko cried out for the first time, as a demon scored a hit to her thigh with a sharpened stake. She still dealt him a fatal blow, but the stake was still embedded in her flesh. Kurama turned slightly to look, and a club glanced a blow off of his jaw. He spat out blood before continuing his fighting.
Hiei was still more or less unhurt, having seemed to fight just as well with his shoulder torn open. He was also forced to stand still simply because the numbers pressing in on him didn't allow him much movement.
Katsu's internal battle raged on as the one before her grew more heated. The demons were sensing a kill, and their clumsy style grew faster and more furious.
I've got to try. Katsu squeezed her eyes shut briefly, gulped, and then began inching along the wall towards the tunnel.
A demons bumped into her, and she nearly cried out. The demon stared quizzically at her, or, to him, at the wall. His confusion didn't last long because a green, hard-as-nails whip sang through the air and into his narrow chest. He died with a gurgle, his scabby head landing on Katsu's foot.
I'm gonna throw up. Katsu clapped a hand to her mouth, and started moving again, picking her way gingerly to the tunnel entrance.
Reaching it, she burst into a run, adrenaline cooped with fear making her steps light and quick. The tunnel was dark, but Hiei's gift of this strange night-vision proved helpful. The floor was uneven, and many a time she spotted a loose brick to avoid.
Finally, the tunnel stopped abruptly. There was nothing except a dead end.
"Great." Katsu kicked it. The wall was quite solid, and she hopped around on one foot as her toe smarted angrily. "So the ugly blue-dude lied."
"Shuddap, Urameshi, I think I heard something."
The voice was unmistakable, but faint. Katsu stood stock still, holding her breath and straining her ears for any other sounds.
"I don't hear anything."
It was Yusuke! Faint, yes, but unmistakably there. Katsu ran to her left, and felt the wall, knocking to see if it were hollow. No luck. The other side was the same.
"Where are you?" Katsu muttered. She dared not call them, some demon might hear her. She glanced at her watch. Five minutes before Yusuke and Kuwabara were killed. She backed up, in hopes that she missed a passage on her wild flight down the tunnel. Instead, she tripped over a loose stone and landed flat on her back.
"Eureka!" Katsu whispered. The tunnel's roof had a circular opening! A small, black ladder extended down a few feet. But even with the ladder, the hole was a good ten feet from where Katsu could reach.
"This is gonna be interesting." Katsu chewed on her lip, studying the problem. She bent low, then leapt upwards. Her fingertips barely brushed the bottom rung. She growled slightly to herself and tried again. Her fingers curled around the bar, and held. Dangling awkwardly by one hand, she managed to swing her other arm up. Silently thanking her gym teacher for all the time in the weight's room, she hauled the rest of her body up and through the hole.
Kuwabara sat against the roughly hewn stone wall, hands bound tightly behind his back, strange kanji signs painted onto his skin. He was blindfolded.
Yusuke was a different case. He seemed suspended in the same blue coils that had first captured Kuwabara. They had also tied his hands behind him, and he too was blindfolded. The kanji was more heavily painted onto him, and a trickle of blood from a cut on his cheek showed the signs of his struggle.
"So that was your plan?" Yusuke was saying sarcastically. "Get captured so you could find me?"
"Yeah. I just didn't think they'd bind my Spirit Energy inside me."
"Way to play it, idiot."
"Shuddap."
"Yusuke, Kuwabara!" Katsu ran to Kuwabara, and pulled off the blindfold. He blinked.
"Katsu?"
"Katsu's here?!" Yusuke sounded as though he was caught between fury and joy. "She's in Spirit World?! What're you doing here?!"
"Rescuing you, ungrateful baka-head." Katsu untied Kuwabara's hands. She turned to Yusuke, but Kuwabara stopped her.
"Y'can't touch the blue coils, or you'll get hurt."
Katsu turned savagely to him. "And Yusuke has one minute to live." Without waiting for Kuwabara's answer, she stuck both hands into the tendrils and caught a hold of Yusuke's hand.
The pain was immediate and intense. Katsu couldn't scream, her mouth was open with no sound issuing from it. Her eyes shone white, she couldn't see, all she was aware of was the agony and Yusuke's touch. She dimly registered Kuwabara's hands on her shoulders, pulling her backwards, but she refused to let go.
Her hair began to raise, curling and crackling with electricity. Her clothing was sending off little sparks, her blouse and skirt raising slowly as the energy mounted.
With a sharp jerk from Kuwabara, the pain stopped. Yusuke landed on the floor next to her, and her vision slowly returned. Just as things began to focus, her world blackened as she went unconscious.
...
"And here's to Katsu's new job!" Yusuke declared. Seven shake-glasses clanked together as the toast was celebrated.
It was Monday, two hours after Katsu's successful interview. And, two days since the fateful trip to Spirit World.
After Katsu blacked out, Yusuke and Kuwabara had quickly rid themselves of the Energy-blocking kanji before taking Katsu back up the tunnel. There, they found the demons still attacking Hiei, Kurama and Emiko. The two extra fighters made quick work of the remaining demons.
After that, it was easy getting out of Spirit World. Emiko was the most injured; the wound on her thigh and stomach bandaged and healing nicely, though she still limped slightly. Kurama's jaw was still sore, but Kuwabara joked that it prevented him for saying stupid things. To that Emiko dryly commented on how she'd like to swing a club at his face as well. "I mean, with the constant flow of stupidity coming from your huge trap.." Everyone had to laugh at that.
As for Hiei's injuries, he had no sign of pain, nothing to give away he had even fought. His black cloak-jackets were baggy enough to hide his shoulder.
Katsu was feeling better, after waking up to find herself in Yusuke's arms. She found that the tremendous amounts of Spirit energy flowing through every pore made some physical changes to her. Her eyes had lost their deep hazel color, and were only the faintest shade of blue-grey, dark rims around the iris and deep black pupils. The excuse she used to her mother was she ordered colored contacts, instead of her regular ones. She didn't mind her eyes, she liked the way they looked.
Also, her skin had almost been bleached of color. The lightest shade of peach creamed her skin, and her cheeks and lips were a light pink.
Katsu's favorite change, however, was the mental change. Somehow, having large amounts of Spirit power channeled through her being, especially her brain, changed her amount of Spirit Awareness. Though not nearly as strong as her friends, she could clearly view Spirit power without Hiei's help.
Katsu sat back in the plastic booth, glancing sidelong at the boy next to her. Yusuke was laughing at a comment of Emiko's. She sighed a little. She wasn't quite sure where she and Yusuke stood, relationship wise. He was very friendly with her, giving her a huge hug after she told him about her new job. But after the untimely arrival of Kaiko in the park, he hadn't mentioned anything about his feelings.
But Katsu wasn't one to give up. She would rather be his friend than not knowing him at all, that was for sure. But still, there was a strong possibility of something more.
Katsu smiled to herself. She could wait.
"Yo, Katty, driftin' off to dreamland again?" Kuwabara, seated on her other side, poked her with his elbow.
"Nope. Just a little tired." She grinned. This was the truth; she still felt drained from the blue coils.
"I have to go home, actually." Kurama smiled apologetically, slurring slightly from trying not to move his sore jaw. "My mother needed my to help with some stuff. Emiko, you still want to tag along? Mother needs to pick out a new tree seedling for the front lawn. We could catch a movie afterwards."
"Sure. Sounds excellent." Emiko kissed him gently on the cheek, and held out her hand for Katsu to slap. "Good work on the new job. And, I do like your new look."
"Thanks. You two have fun." Katsu covered a yawn. After admitting her sleepiness, she was beginning to feel even more tired.
"Here, Katsu, I'll take you home." Yusuke stood, ushering her towards the door. She complied, waving goodbye to the others.
The walk was a short one, but they took their time, walking slowly down the sidewalk.
"So..." Yusuke lifted his face to the sky, studying the clouds. "Y'don't mind my being-"
"A Spirit Detective?" Katsu shoved him slightly with her shoulder. "No. Why would I?"
"Well, weirdoes do tend to stick together."
"Yusuke!" Katsu shoved him again, harder. He playfully punched back, laughing.
"It's true! And do you mind about what happened to you?"
"Nah." She studied her fingernail briefly. "I kinda like my eyes. And I can always go tanning again if need be."
"Cool. And Katsu-"
"Lighten up, Yusuke! You're being uncharacteristically quiet."
"And you're using big words like uncharacteristically. But I need to be serious. You need to know I might of started out thinking you were like Kaiko, but you two are so different, I'd be an idiot to think you're alike."
Katsu looked at him, a smile playing around her lips. "You're okay for a baka-head."
"Oh, shuddap." Yusuke smiled.
"You really liked her, didn't you?" Katsu's voice was softer.
"Yeah." Yusuke's voice was equally soft. "But I wasn't kidding when I said you were cute."
Katsu's spirit leapt. But logic made her choose her next words carefully. "Yusuke, it's no lie when I say I really l-like you, but-"
"But what?" He prompted.
"But I think you need to get over Kaiko, first. She was, still is, a really great person, and ment so much to you. It won't be fair to any of us if you don't wait a little."
"You're way too smart. And..you're right." He stopped, turning to her with a wide grin on his face. "But, I think I need a rain check on this."
"Definitely." Katsu felt her own lips turn up into a happy smile. She leaned forewords, and kissed him on the cheek. "You can count on that. Whenever you're ready. It's nice to be friends."
"Damn straight." Yusuke said, and they continued the walk home.
End of Katsuko's Story Start Kiamo's Story
Kuwabara waved the official looking piece of paper under Shizuru's nose. "It says, smartie, that we're being officially requested to let a student from another city come live with us for a month."
Shizuru snatched the paper away before it was demolished by her little brother's energetic waving. Her eyes widened. "Kazuma, the "student" is Seto Kaiba, multi-millionaire!"
EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeNNNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnDDDDDDDDDDDdddddddddddddDDDD
Autheress here.
I've realised how comma-happy I am. Seriously, in a sentence, I usually use a comma once if not more. Commas! How cute they are to me!
I know there are raging Kaiko-Yusuke fans, who severely disagree to my breaking them up. Though this story doesn't exactly show it, I am a little bit of a fan of that couple myself. In fact, one of the only reasons I don't support them is because my good friend, LadyKatsu, is in love with Yusuke. And, she let's me drool over Kurama (huggles Kurama) so the least I can do is set her fantasy in motion. All you Kaiko fans, feel free to erase this story from thy memories.
I'm truly excited about my next installment in Yujo Chronicles, Kiamo's Story. Kiamo is a character I've been slowly developing throughout these last two selections, and I really want to "put her into play."
(Yes, I'm one of those people who create a character, then grow to like them like real people. It also helps that my friends are the basis for my fictional people...O.o)
But I've also been noticing a similar theme in the last two stories, so I'll try real hard to make this one different, fresh and new!
(Cavorts around in a happy dance for Autheresses..)
Well, I end this story with a bow and...
CUE THE AUTHERESS THEME SONG!
CUT TO CREDITS!
Aaaaand now.....
REVIEW ALREADY!
My rosebush, named Squishy, is sickened. The leaves are developing little brown spots, and his virgin flower (his first bloom) has dropped far too quickly. I weep salt tears for my poor liddle rosenbusher. But he's been sprayed for disease and he should be good soon. And he's got three buds developing. V for Victory!
I've realized how comma-happy I am. Seriously, in a sentence, I usually use a comma once if not more. Commas! How cute they are to me!
And now..the final installment of...KATSUKO'S STORY!! Cue the Autheress theme song!
SSsssssssssssstTTTTTTTTtttAAAAAAAaaaaaaaarRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrTTTTTtt t
Katsu was surprised that even after Hiei stopped touching her, she could still see clearly in the darkened chamber. But, his Jagon eye was still glowing, and the power was still in effect. She was grateful for it.
The door opened, and Kurama slowly stepped into the next room.
A loud noise ripped through the air, making them all jump. Kurama ripped out a rose from seemingly no ware, just brushing the nape of his neck. Emiko copied the move only two handed, bringing out twin rosebuds, both a darker shade than the brilliant bloom Kurama held. Hiei's sword lept from its sheath to his hand.
Silence. The group looked around, holding their breath. The noise came again, only this time they saw the source.
A large demon was sitting against the wall. Such was his size, they hadn't seen him at first, thinking he was a part of the wall. He was sleeping, and with each breath a enormous snore shook the room.
"We're lucky that brute was asleep." Hiei casually remarked. "We have less than a half hour left, thanks to the pride parade Emiko and Kurama put on." With that, the nimble demon jumped high, sword raised.
Katsu covered her eyes, wincing at the slicing noise Hiei's sword made, followed by a gasp, a groan, and then silence again.
"Come on." Hiei carelessly wiped his blade on the dead demon's leg before resheathing it. Katsu shuddered, but followed the group to the next and last door.
The door opened soundlessly as the others did before. But the sight that greeted them wasn't reassuring.
Dead silent, grim faced, and hundreds in number, hoards of demons faced them. The blue demon was there, in the front, grinning widely.
"So, you made it." His silky voice made Katsu want to wring his neck. "I'm surprised."
"We did the required tasks." Hiei snapped. "Where's Kuwabara and Yusuke?"
"Down that tunnel." The demon gestured behind the hoard.
A small, rat-faced demon started to whine. "Bossman, Bossman, let's get 'em!"
"Peace, Erichi." Bossman soothed. "They won't make it. All three remaining shall die."
All three? Katsu frowned. Kurama, Emiko, Hiei, and herself. Four.
They can't see you, because your Spirit Awareness is so low. Hiei's voice echoed in her mind. Kurama and Emiko can't see you either in pitch black. They only know where you are because they are used to your feeling of presence. Don't make a sound.
Katsu nodded, slightly creeped out by Hiei's telepathy. The demons were speaking again.
"I never specified what was behind the last door. Now you see why I decided just to kidnap one of you. I wanted to have you all die separately, alone, afraid, and above all, slowly." Bossman's silvery tongue caressed the words as he spoke them.
"Too bad for you, then." Hiei snarled. He was in front of Bossman in an instant, hacking sharply downward with his still-bloody katana. Bossman grabbed Erichi, who was directly to his left, and deflected the attack with Erichi's shaking body. He flung the cloven pieces of flesh away before melting back into the hoard.
"Get them."
The demons began to roar, and charged.
Three whips elongated from the flowers Emiko and Kurama held, Kurama expertly dealing death with one long Rose whip, and Emiko making closer contact combat with two shortened versions she called Dual Rose Whip. The two stood back to back, covering for one another and cutting down all who were foolish enough to get in range.
Hiei darted around, swift chops beheading a demon here, whisking a limb away there. But the sheer enormity of the demons' numbers was pushing the three friends back.
Katsu stood, back to the wall, watching in terrified wonder at the carnage before her. Several minutes of pure, bloody action had passed before her wide eyes, unable to look away. Emiko's stomach had a shallow, horizontal claw slash that was bleeding, Kurama had a cut above one green eye, and Hiei's shoulder had been severely bitten. They were still slaughtering all who opposed them, but their breath was quick and ragged. Exhaustion would be their banes.
Katsu inwardly cursed. She wasn't doing her new friends nor Yusuke any good....Yusuke! The tunnel! If no demon could see her, then she could rescue Yusuke and Kuwabara, who could help Hiei, Kurama and Emiko!
The thought terrified her. She pressed herself closer to the wall, eyes shut tight. A solitary tear slid down her cheek, and she sank along the wall to the floor. I couldn't do that! I'd get killed just trying! I'd better stay here, I could screw all of this up..
Emiko cried out for the first time, as a demon scored a hit to her thigh with a sharpened stake. She still dealt him a fatal blow, but the stake was still embedded in her flesh. Kurama turned slightly to look, and a club glanced a blow off of his jaw. He spat out blood before continuing his fighting.
Hiei was still more or less unhurt, having seemed to fight just as well with his shoulder torn open. He was also forced to stand still simply because the numbers pressing in on him didn't allow him much movement.
Katsu's internal battle raged on as the one before her grew more heated. The demons were sensing a kill, and their clumsy style grew faster and more furious.
I've got to try. Katsu squeezed her eyes shut briefly, gulped, and then began inching along the wall towards the tunnel.
A demons bumped into her, and she nearly cried out. The demon stared quizzically at her, or, to him, at the wall. His confusion didn't last long because a green, hard-as-nails whip sang through the air and into his narrow chest. He died with a gurgle, his scabby head landing on Katsu's foot.
I'm gonna throw up. Katsu clapped a hand to her mouth, and started moving again, picking her way gingerly to the tunnel entrance.
Reaching it, she burst into a run, adrenaline cooped with fear making her steps light and quick. The tunnel was dark, but Hiei's gift of this strange night-vision proved helpful. The floor was uneven, and many a time she spotted a loose brick to avoid.
Finally, the tunnel stopped abruptly. There was nothing except a dead end.
"Great." Katsu kicked it. The wall was quite solid, and she hopped around on one foot as her toe smarted angrily. "So the ugly blue-dude lied."
"Shuddap, Urameshi, I think I heard something."
The voice was unmistakable, but faint. Katsu stood stock still, holding her breath and straining her ears for any other sounds.
"I don't hear anything."
It was Yusuke! Faint, yes, but unmistakably there. Katsu ran to her left, and felt the wall, knocking to see if it were hollow. No luck. The other side was the same.
"Where are you?" Katsu muttered. She dared not call them, some demon might hear her. She glanced at her watch. Five minutes before Yusuke and Kuwabara were killed. She backed up, in hopes that she missed a passage on her wild flight down the tunnel. Instead, she tripped over a loose stone and landed flat on her back.
"Eureka!" Katsu whispered. The tunnel's roof had a circular opening! A small, black ladder extended down a few feet. But even with the ladder, the hole was a good ten feet from where Katsu could reach.
"This is gonna be interesting." Katsu chewed on her lip, studying the problem. She bent low, then leapt upwards. Her fingertips barely brushed the bottom rung. She growled slightly to herself and tried again. Her fingers curled around the bar, and held. Dangling awkwardly by one hand, she managed to swing her other arm up. Silently thanking her gym teacher for all the time in the weight's room, she hauled the rest of her body up and through the hole.
Kuwabara sat against the roughly hewn stone wall, hands bound tightly behind his back, strange kanji signs painted onto his skin. He was blindfolded.
Yusuke was a different case. He seemed suspended in the same blue coils that had first captured Kuwabara. They had also tied his hands behind him, and he too was blindfolded. The kanji was more heavily painted onto him, and a trickle of blood from a cut on his cheek showed the signs of his struggle.
"So that was your plan?" Yusuke was saying sarcastically. "Get captured so you could find me?"
"Yeah. I just didn't think they'd bind my Spirit Energy inside me."
"Way to play it, idiot."
"Shuddap."
"Yusuke, Kuwabara!" Katsu ran to Kuwabara, and pulled off the blindfold. He blinked.
"Katsu?"
"Katsu's here?!" Yusuke sounded as though he was caught between fury and joy. "She's in Spirit World?! What're you doing here?!"
"Rescuing you, ungrateful baka-head." Katsu untied Kuwabara's hands. She turned to Yusuke, but Kuwabara stopped her.
"Y'can't touch the blue coils, or you'll get hurt."
Katsu turned savagely to him. "And Yusuke has one minute to live." Without waiting for Kuwabara's answer, she stuck both hands into the tendrils and caught a hold of Yusuke's hand.
The pain was immediate and intense. Katsu couldn't scream, her mouth was open with no sound issuing from it. Her eyes shone white, she couldn't see, all she was aware of was the agony and Yusuke's touch. She dimly registered Kuwabara's hands on her shoulders, pulling her backwards, but she refused to let go.
Her hair began to raise, curling and crackling with electricity. Her clothing was sending off little sparks, her blouse and skirt raising slowly as the energy mounted.
With a sharp jerk from Kuwabara, the pain stopped. Yusuke landed on the floor next to her, and her vision slowly returned. Just as things began to focus, her world blackened as she went unconscious.
...
"And here's to Katsu's new job!" Yusuke declared. Seven shake-glasses clanked together as the toast was celebrated.
It was Monday, two hours after Katsu's successful interview. And, two days since the fateful trip to Spirit World.
After Katsu blacked out, Yusuke and Kuwabara had quickly rid themselves of the Energy-blocking kanji before taking Katsu back up the tunnel. There, they found the demons still attacking Hiei, Kurama and Emiko. The two extra fighters made quick work of the remaining demons.
After that, it was easy getting out of Spirit World. Emiko was the most injured; the wound on her thigh and stomach bandaged and healing nicely, though she still limped slightly. Kurama's jaw was still sore, but Kuwabara joked that it prevented him for saying stupid things. To that Emiko dryly commented on how she'd like to swing a club at his face as well. "I mean, with the constant flow of stupidity coming from your huge trap.." Everyone had to laugh at that.
As for Hiei's injuries, he had no sign of pain, nothing to give away he had even fought. His black cloak-jackets were baggy enough to hide his shoulder.
Katsu was feeling better, after waking up to find herself in Yusuke's arms. She found that the tremendous amounts of Spirit energy flowing through every pore made some physical changes to her. Her eyes had lost their deep hazel color, and were only the faintest shade of blue-grey, dark rims around the iris and deep black pupils. The excuse she used to her mother was she ordered colored contacts, instead of her regular ones. She didn't mind her eyes, she liked the way they looked.
Also, her skin had almost been bleached of color. The lightest shade of peach creamed her skin, and her cheeks and lips were a light pink.
Katsu's favorite change, however, was the mental change. Somehow, having large amounts of Spirit power channeled through her being, especially her brain, changed her amount of Spirit Awareness. Though not nearly as strong as her friends, she could clearly view Spirit power without Hiei's help.
Katsu sat back in the plastic booth, glancing sidelong at the boy next to her. Yusuke was laughing at a comment of Emiko's. She sighed a little. She wasn't quite sure where she and Yusuke stood, relationship wise. He was very friendly with her, giving her a huge hug after she told him about her new job. But after the untimely arrival of Kaiko in the park, he hadn't mentioned anything about his feelings.
But Katsu wasn't one to give up. She would rather be his friend than not knowing him at all, that was for sure. But still, there was a strong possibility of something more.
Katsu smiled to herself. She could wait.
"Yo, Katty, driftin' off to dreamland again?" Kuwabara, seated on her other side, poked her with his elbow.
"Nope. Just a little tired." She grinned. This was the truth; she still felt drained from the blue coils.
"I have to go home, actually." Kurama smiled apologetically, slurring slightly from trying not to move his sore jaw. "My mother needed my to help with some stuff. Emiko, you still want to tag along? Mother needs to pick out a new tree seedling for the front lawn. We could catch a movie afterwards."
"Sure. Sounds excellent." Emiko kissed him gently on the cheek, and held out her hand for Katsu to slap. "Good work on the new job. And, I do like your new look."
"Thanks. You two have fun." Katsu covered a yawn. After admitting her sleepiness, she was beginning to feel even more tired.
"Here, Katsu, I'll take you home." Yusuke stood, ushering her towards the door. She complied, waving goodbye to the others.
The walk was a short one, but they took their time, walking slowly down the sidewalk.
"So..." Yusuke lifted his face to the sky, studying the clouds. "Y'don't mind my being-"
"A Spirit Detective?" Katsu shoved him slightly with her shoulder. "No. Why would I?"
"Well, weirdoes do tend to stick together."
"Yusuke!" Katsu shoved him again, harder. He playfully punched back, laughing.
"It's true! And do you mind about what happened to you?"
"Nah." She studied her fingernail briefly. "I kinda like my eyes. And I can always go tanning again if need be."
"Cool. And Katsu-"
"Lighten up, Yusuke! You're being uncharacteristically quiet."
"And you're using big words like uncharacteristically. But I need to be serious. You need to know I might of started out thinking you were like Kaiko, but you two are so different, I'd be an idiot to think you're alike."
Katsu looked at him, a smile playing around her lips. "You're okay for a baka-head."
"Oh, shuddap." Yusuke smiled.
"You really liked her, didn't you?" Katsu's voice was softer.
"Yeah." Yusuke's voice was equally soft. "But I wasn't kidding when I said you were cute."
Katsu's spirit leapt. But logic made her choose her next words carefully. "Yusuke, it's no lie when I say I really l-like you, but-"
"But what?" He prompted.
"But I think you need to get over Kaiko, first. She was, still is, a really great person, and ment so much to you. It won't be fair to any of us if you don't wait a little."
"You're way too smart. And..you're right." He stopped, turning to her with a wide grin on his face. "But, I think I need a rain check on this."
"Definitely." Katsu felt her own lips turn up into a happy smile. She leaned forewords, and kissed him on the cheek. "You can count on that. Whenever you're ready. It's nice to be friends."
"Damn straight." Yusuke said, and they continued the walk home.
End of Katsuko's Story Start Kiamo's Story
Kuwabara waved the official looking piece of paper under Shizuru's nose. "It says, smartie, that we're being officially requested to let a student from another city come live with us for a month."
Shizuru snatched the paper away before it was demolished by her little brother's energetic waving. Her eyes widened. "Kazuma, the "student" is Seto Kaiba, multi-millionaire!"
EEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeNNNNNNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnDDDDDDDDDDDdddddddddddddDDDD
Autheress here.
I've realised how comma-happy I am. Seriously, in a sentence, I usually use a comma once if not more. Commas! How cute they are to me!
I know there are raging Kaiko-Yusuke fans, who severely disagree to my breaking them up. Though this story doesn't exactly show it, I am a little bit of a fan of that couple myself. In fact, one of the only reasons I don't support them is because my good friend, LadyKatsu, is in love with Yusuke. And, she let's me drool over Kurama (huggles Kurama) so the least I can do is set her fantasy in motion. All you Kaiko fans, feel free to erase this story from thy memories.
I'm truly excited about my next installment in Yujo Chronicles, Kiamo's Story. Kiamo is a character I've been slowly developing throughout these last two selections, and I really want to "put her into play."
(Yes, I'm one of those people who create a character, then grow to like them like real people. It also helps that my friends are the basis for my fictional people...O.o)
But I've also been noticing a similar theme in the last two stories, so I'll try real hard to make this one different, fresh and new!
(Cavorts around in a happy dance for Autheresses..)
Well, I end this story with a bow and...
CUE THE AUTHERESS THEME SONG!
CUT TO CREDITS!
Aaaaand now.....
REVIEW ALREADY!