"It's me, silly, did you really think I'd let you stay up here?"Yusuke cupped his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
"Not really."Kate admitted, her words muffled by Yusuke's rather large hand.
"These guys, you can't fight them, alright? Despite how much you and you friends want to, I'm not going to let you."said Yusuke coolly.
"That's what you think."Kate smirked, and then sighed,"Fine. I'll go."
"Really?"Yusuke uncupped his hand over her mouth, and backed away, his hands in his pockets, surprised.
"No freaking way, Yusuke!"Kate grinned, sprinting out the door,"You guys can't beat all of those de---WOAH!"
Kate ran right into the portal.
***
"Dammit, they caught you too, huh?"Kat muttered. Kate nodded.
"I didn't know the portal was invisible. Yusuke must have transported it upstairs. I was so close.."she glared at the celing she had just fallen out of.
"Yeah, watch, Amb's gonna fall from the celing next. Real soon, too."Kat lay down on her bed.
***
"One more to go."Yusuke jumped from the top of the stairs, landing flat on his feet. Amber stood in front of Yusuke, still.
"Where's the portal?"she asked tonelessly, obviously not wanting to leave.
"Ah.. upstairs.."Yusuke scratched the back of his head, pointing to where the portal was. Amber looked back at Kurama, and walked up the stairs.
"Luck."said she before jumping into it, sensing where the large energy sorce was coming from.
"That was easier than I thought."Yusuke grinned. Hiei burst through the wall just next to them.
"HIEI!"the two exclaimed in unison.
"You two just kept fooling around!"he complained,"Now, fight!"
***
"How'd they get you?"Kate asked, throwing a ball up.. and down.. up.. and down.
"I kind of just walked into it.. hey, can we get to the library? They have old newspapers there, right?"Amber asked them. Kat nodded.
"Yeah, they date all they way back to.. ah.. 1806 or something like that."she nodded. Amber grinned.
"Good, I need to get there. Fast. I'll see you guys later, unless you want to come?"Amber asked them. Kat and Kate exchanged looks and shrugged.
"Sure, but why do you want to go there? It's closed, its 2:00 in the morning...!"Kate protested.
"Then I guess we'll have to break in. This is important."
"Oh, what happened to the goody goody?"Kat asked her.
"It's for a friend, I need information on the past, and it may have occurred in the human world."Ambed spoke quietly. Kate put a hand on Amber's shoulder.
"It's for your other half, isn't it."Kate spoke as if she already knew the answer,"It's for Kuronue." Amber turned away.
"Let's just go."
"What exactly do you need to find out, anyway?"Kat asked her curiously.
"Can we please just go?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because,"Kat pinned her in a corner. Amber looked around, and seeing no way out, she pulled out her white rose once again, and looked down upon it, bringing it very close to her face.
"Good bye."she whispered, as she seemed to evaporate.
"I should have known.. dammit."Kat punched the wall to her left.
"What?"Kate blinked.
"I have a feeling that this has something to do with our inew/i friends.. why else would Kuronue want her to do something like go to the library now? And why the newspapers?"Kat leaned into the wall, trying her best to come up with a logical explanation. Kate's eyes widened.
"The newspapers, the past, Kat!"
"What? Kuronue is from the Makai, not here. His past wouldn't be in any of the human newspapers."Kat rolled her eyes.
"What do you think the mosters are trying to do in the Makai? They're trying to come here, you know, take over for more space, warriors?"Kate spoke with her hands, very slowly, as to try and get it to Kat. Kat seemed rather irritated with this.
"Shut up,"she smirked,"This world wouldn't occupy Kuronue. He wants the Demon World and the Makai. Not the human world.."
"How would you know?"Kate put her hands to her hips.
"I just do, its instinct."
"Well my instinct says we wait for Yusuke."
"And Hiei."Kat added.
"Fine, we'll wait for ihim/i too."she reluctantly agreed. The celing seemed to open, and out came Yusuke, feet first, grinning.
"Oh yeah!"he jumped down onto the floor, hands still up in the air due to the amount of pride he had in himself at the time,"I told you we could beat those damn things without you girls. But would you listen? No..."
Kurama jumped down, Hiei just above him. Both jumped from the bed to the floor gracefully in unison. Hiei looked around the room with a queer look in his eyes.
"Where's the other brat? There's Kat, brat one, and there isn't a brat two."Hiei pointed out.
"They aren't brats."Yusuke and Kurama defended Kate and Amber. Hiei shrugged. Kate turned to the window to see Amber breaking one of the many windows of the Library. The Library was just a block away from the house they were in.
"What's wrong Kate?"Yusuke asked, seeing where her gaze was leading too,"Miss the books?"
Hiei walked over to the window, his arms crossed. Kat followed. Kurama chose to stay behind.
"It seems as if the goody goody has gone bad,"Hiei muttered,"Did you both just let her go?"
"She transported herself outside here, her rose has limits to where it takes her.. partly because her power comes from K-- since she's half demon."Kat almost slipped,"She's looking up past records. I don't know what she's looking for exactly though."
Kurama now seemed interested.
"Who?"
"Who what?"Kat asked him.
"Who does her power come from? She said she was only half demon. Like me.. well, human one side, and demon the other. Without another power source she's only human. Where does the power come from?"Kurama replied,"Who is it?"
"No one."Kat walked towards her bedroom door, and quietly tiptoed down her stairs. Kurama quickly followed.
"Who is it!?"he whispered urgently, grabbing her shoulders,"WHO?"
Hiei ran up behind Kurama, and pushed both of his shoulder pressure points, forcing him to collapse into Kat's arms.
"Are you hurt?"asked Hiei, picking up the fainted Kurama.
"I'm fine."Kat replied brushing her sleeves. Hiei seemed to stare, but blinked out of it when he heard Kate's voice behind him.
"Get moving."she told them. Kat nodded and led them out the door quietly.
***
"Come on..,"Kuronue's voice sounded in her head,"Hurry up, they're coming!"
"I'm trying, Kuronue!"Amber replied, flipping through newspapers,"1832..."
A sharp pain occurred in Amber's head, staying there for a little over a minute. She winced.
"I said, hurry. iUp./i"Kurnoue urged her.
"1809, right?"
"...yes."said Kurnoue, separating from Amber, making her 2/3's weaker than she was previously. She grabbed the skin layer above her heart.
"Why did you.. Kurnoue.."Amber asked through immense pain,"I thought.. you couldn't come out.."
"Oh, I can.."he replied, blowing dust off of his hat,"Now, that is. Before I couldn't, but that doesn't matter now.. find it! Find the paper where it describes the near-sub-spirit world!"
***
"Where is it?"Hiei asked Kat,"How far away?"
"That big building right there that says "Library" on it."Kat pointed sweatdropping,"We can climb through the window Amber already broke, come on!"she began to run, Hiei right along side her, leaving Kate and Yusuke behind.
"Show offs!"Kate called after them, but they ignored the comment; They seemed to be racing.
"Eh, don't worry about them,"Yusuke put his hands behind his head,"Their going to have to fight whatever's in there before we do, so just walk slowly and save energy.."
"You are the laziest person I've ever seen."Kate smirked, pushing him to the ground. Yusuke blinked and got up, looking around, completely embarrassed.
"No one saw that."
"What, afraid someone saw a girl push you down? Hm?"
***
"Dammit, Hiei, Kurama's waking up,"Kat observed. Hiei looked down, and stopped just before the broken window. Kurama fell to the ground holding his head.
"Hiei, why the---"
"You were going to hurt Kat, for something that was not her fault, nor problem,"said Hiei simply. Kurama shot a glare at him.
"I wasn't going to hurt her,"he protested,"I just needed to know where her power was coming from."
"And why, because you want the power?"Kat asked him.
"NO!"Kurama stood up, enraged,"Because she could be in a lot of trouble if her power source is Kuronue! I just needed to know if she'd be alright, is that a crime? Hm?" He looked into the building, beginning to climb through the broken window.
"It.. it is Kuronue. He's been inside of her since the beginning of second grade."Kat admitted,"He's always helped her though."
"He wanted to gain her trust, he's good at that,"Kurama spoke softly,"And now that she's matured, and he's gotten her where he wants her.. he'll go on his rein of terror, just as he nearly did about 100 years ago.."
"And he needs her why?"Kat walked up behind Kurama, putting a hand on his shoulder. He jumped into the building.
"He can use her as a shield, and as a lure. I'm the one he wants, well, mostly.. he'll go after Hiei and Yusuke if he can't get to me."Kurama began walking towards another door, Kat now jumping in, Hiei following, staying silent.
"But.. why the hell would he want you?"she shook her head in confusion,"What have you done wrong?"
"Nothing. He killed my..,"Kurama paused and turned his head as his eyes softened," my mother. She got in the middle."
"Of iwhat/i!?"Kat asked for a second time.
"It's none of your concern, go back---"
"No,"she grabbed his shoulder once again, this time a bit more firmly,"She's my bfriend/b, Kurama, I think it bis/b my concern!" Kurama turned to her face, a single tear running down his face,"Kurama, I didn't.."
"He wants Youko."
"Youko?"
"iMy/i other half. If he kills me, he'll get to Youko.. he put some kind of chemical into my blood so that would be able to happen.. Youko can separate from me, but he doesn't know that.. Kuronue can separate from Amber, and he probably already has. We can't talk right now, we have to go!"Kurama ran through isles of books, but Kat caught up with him.
"No, Kurama, what's going to happen if he has, she won't die right?"Kat asked him quietly. Hiei turned Kat to him with a single hand. Kurama remained frozen.
"Kuronue was able to escape your friend's body because of a single power. When the single power is strong enough, he'll absorb it. Kurama's mother died due to the certain power she had towards her son--"
"Hiei, stop.. just come on! And where the hell are Yusuke and Kate!?"Kurama's face was burning with both fear and hate. Yusuke hopped through the window covered in dirt, Kate following close behind, nice and clean. Yusuke pointed to his left.
"You haven't found her yet? She has sensable spiritual energy, you know."he nodded towards the left room. Kat, Hiei and Kurama exchanged looks of stupidity, and ran towards the door. It was locked.
"Amb? You in there?"Kat asked through the door.
"Kat?"a small voice asked weakly. Kurama summonded his rose whip, and slashed the doors hinges, allowing them to enter easily. Amber was against a corner, her white rose pricked of its petals.
"No more power, means no more rose whip.. or rose."Kuronue laughed,"You just keep being selfish, Kurama, and I will keep killing off the ones you care about.." Amber tried her best to stand up.
"He's not selfish,"she glared at him,"If anyone, you're the selfish one here." Yusuke felt a sudden pride.
"With the acception of Yusuke."said Kate sternly. Kurama pulled Amber to him.
"You don't.."he stared her down, preventing her from lying.
"I.. I couldn't help it.."she admitted,"I'm sorry."
"No.. no don't be sorry,"he hugged her. Kuronue put a hand on his hip and meery laughed.
"She finds great pleasure in that hug.. love,"he continued to laugh,"My power."
Kurnoue snapped, and as he did so, the floor collapsed, Kat, Hiei, Kate, and Yusuke falling through to the basement, Amber standing on a single tile, the only one other than Kurnoue's one tile that didn't fall. Her rose fell, too. Kurama clung to Amber.
"I won't let go, you don't have to hold so tightly."Amber reassured him. He smiled at her.
"I'm not holding tightly for that reason."he whispered. Amber blushed. Kurnoue disappeared, his cold laugh filled the room.
***
"Ahh crap..."Yusuke rubbed his behind,"That's gonna leave a really big---"
"Yusuke, could you mature a bit more, just for today, maybe?"Hiei glared at him,"No, I freaking order you to."
"Geez, fine.."mumbled Yusuke.
"Give Yusuke a break, Hiei, he's just trying to lighten the mood up!"Kate defended Yusuke. Hiei rolled his eyes, and helped Kat to her feet once he got to his.
"Thanks."said Kat, Hiei nodded his head up and down at the slightest angle, substituting as a reply.
"Well.. they want Youko.. so I really don't see why Kurama won't just give up Youko and go back to being a human.."Kate put her hands in her pockets,"It's not that bad being a human."
Hiei shook his head.
"We have a tornament. And to bring his mother back to life, we need to win. The prize is one wish, and Yusuke, Kuwabara and I have agreed to help him.. If Kurama loses his ability to fight demons, his mother shall remain forever in her grave."Hiei explained,"Kuronue is calling him selfish because he won't give up Youko's power.. Right now Amber is in a stage of a dramatic power loss, meaning she may in fact lose her life. If Youko is separated from Kurama, the same will happen to him.."
"Oh.. so.. hey, how come we can't fight?"Kate asked, rising her voice,"We're not weak, y'know." iWho's this Kuwabara guy? Oh well, I'll find out sooner or later, no use asking../i
"You're definately not as strong as Kurama."Hiei smirked,"Kat may be able to fight, but Kurama needs to be somewhere on the team for us to grant a wish specifically for him."
"That sucks.."Kate looked up at the two single tiles in the sky,"If Amb dies.. Kuroune won't be living much longer." Kat nodded.
"We'll kill his sorry a---"
"Just wait and see what happens."Hiei interrupted.
"Wait? There must be something we can do!"Kate protested.
"Well there iisn't/i!"Hiei shot a cold glare at Kate. The four remained silent, staring upwards.
***
"Where's your rose?"asked Kurama. Amber pointed to the floor below them.
"Don't even think of escaping, I'll find you.. you have to sleep sometime."Kuronue's voice continued to carry throughout the room. Instead, Kurama summoned his own rose.
"Can you do it with my rose?"he telepathically communicated with her.
"I.. think so.."she replied unsure of herself. Kurama transformed his rose whip back into a rose, and handed it to her. Amber looked down upon it, and held it close to her face, her eyes closed.
"Don't, you won't get away...!"his voice became louder and more intense every word. Kuronue then became visible, just in front of Kurama and Amber,"YOU'LL STAY!"he shouted, as the two seemed to evaporate.
***
"Hey, where'd they go!?"Yusuke blinked,"They just left us here!"
"No, you idiot! Come on, I bet I know where they are---"
"And if their inot/i where you think they are?"Kate interrupted Hiei.
"Then I guess we're all out of ideas. Now, come on!"Hiei urged them, running out the door. Kuroune growled in frustration.
"I'll find them..,"he hissed,"I will.."
***
Kurama and Amber soon arrived at Kurama's very own house, inside his room. Amber collapsed onto his bed.
"It took a lot of energy out of you, I see.."he helped her under his covers. She was panting hard, sweat streaming down her face. She nodded.
"I'll go get my father,"he continued softly, already starting down the stairs,"He cand do more for you than I can."
Kurama's father was sitting on the couch peacefully reading the newspaper, one leg over the other.
"Dad?"asked Kurama,"I need a little help."
"Oh, with what, Shuichi? School work? Getting Mr.Williams to forget about that detention?"his father replied, his newspaper now on his lap.
"Dad, I'll explain la---"
"No, Shuichi, you'll explain now."said his father sternly,"I understand you had an assistant, also."
"She's---"
"I'm not interested in the name, son, sit down. We need to have a talk."Kurama's father patted the seat next to him.
"Dad, she's upstairs, she's hurt!"
"Hurt? Wait, how did she get upstairs without me seeing her come through the door? And you! Where did you come from?"
"Dad, please!"begged Kurama,"I promise I'll explain this all later, just help me with this!" Kurama's father blinked, and nodded.
"You best keep your word, Shuichi."said he,"Where's the girl?"
"Upstairs, in my room."Kurama repeated, leading his father upstairs and into his room. His father stepped in first, seeing the young girl under the covers, very pink.
"What happened to her?"his father asked. Kurama remained silent.
"Shu.. ichi?"Amber sat up slowly calling him by his human name because of his father's presence, still pink in the face,"Where are our friends?"
"Don't worry about them right now, worry about yourself."Kurama sat next to her on his bed,"My dad's here now, he'll take care of you."
"Oh, h-hello Mr.Minamino."she nodded, managing a smile. He smiled back, examining her for a minute or so.
"Shuichi, I think she'll be fine.. she just needs to rest. Would you come here for a second?"Mr.Minamino stepped out of his room, Kurama quickly following.
"What is it?"Kurama asked his father.
"She's just lost a lot of energy."
"A loss of energy can't make her face bright pink, dad, there's something else. Maybe, poison, a severe wound somewhere---"
"Why must you think of the worst? Ever think that she's just embarrassed?"his father poked him in the chest accusingly. Kurama seemed confused.
"About what?"he asked.
"She's in byour/b room. Under byour/b covers. Where byou/b put her."he smiled,"I would have thought you'd figure it out earlier."
"Oh.. that.."he turned from his father,"I.. I noticed."
"Get back in there Shuichi. You're lucky I'm letting you have a young lady in your room, you two skipped detention, therefore, you're grounded. I had a talk with the girls mother, as well. She'll be wanting her home before the end of today."he turned on his heel, down the stairs. Kurama cursed under his breath. It was obvious his temper was rising each and every day. He walked back into his room, and plopped onto his bed, where Amber sat up staring at him, still pink.
"I'm grounded."said Kurama tonelessly,"I can't go to the tornament.. My mother.. she'll---"
"Sneak out, Kurama, I'll sneak out with you."Amber interrupted him. He looked up.
"I can't,"he shook his head,"My mother's already passed away, me sneaking out will terrify him."
"You go fight, and I'll pretend I'm you."Amber put her hand on his,"I can perform a spell using your rose to transform into you."
"But.. how could you teleport, and how can you use magic without Kuronue?"he asked her.
"These are things that Kate taught me, combined with the power of these roses."she smiled,"May I see your rose?" He nodded.
"Sure. But come here, I need to tell you something.."
"There's no one here Kurama, you can say it aloud."she reassured him.
"No, I can't,"said Kurama softly,"I really need to whisper it to you.."
***
"What if they're not here, Hiei, what if you were wrong, what if---"
"IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, THEY'RE DEAD!"Hiei shouted as loud as he could, fed up with Kate's paranoia.
"...Gee, thanks."she smirked. Yusuke laughed.
"Lighten up, Kate, they're most likely fine. The closest place she could have gone is Kurama's house, so they're probably in his room!"said Yusuke cheerfully,"Luckily Kurama's not a pervert."
"Unlike someone I know."Kat muttered.
"...hey."whined Yusuke,"Let's just see what those two are up to.."
"Spying!?? Eavesdropping!? Yusuke, what kind of person are you!!?"Kate slapped him. Yusuke blinked, utterly confused.
"Ah..,"he tried to think.
"You're imy/i kind of person."she grinned. Yusuke seemed to blush.
"Stop flirting, it's annoying."Kat complained. Hiei nodded.
"It is."he agreed. When they arrived at Kurama's house, they stopped below his window.
"So, who's going to check?"Yusuke asked them.
"I will."said Kate. Yusuke nodded.
"The window's a long way up. Need a boost?"Yusuke asked her sincerely. She shook her head.
"Nope,"she leaped about 10 to 15 feet in the air; Hiei stared at her oddly.
"What the..."he mumbled. Kat laughed at him. Kate grabbed on to the window ledge, and peeked into the room.
***
Amber came close to his face, just close enough for him to whisper something.
"What is it?"she whispered to him.
"Well.."he began, coming even closer, but instead of whispering to her a certain something, he pulled her into a kiss.
***
"Well?"Kat asked,"What are they doing? Anything we can interrupt? Better yet, are they alive?"
***
Please review, thank you ^.^!
"Not really."Kate admitted, her words muffled by Yusuke's rather large hand.
"These guys, you can't fight them, alright? Despite how much you and you friends want to, I'm not going to let you."said Yusuke coolly.
"That's what you think."Kate smirked, and then sighed,"Fine. I'll go."
"Really?"Yusuke uncupped his hand over her mouth, and backed away, his hands in his pockets, surprised.
"No freaking way, Yusuke!"Kate grinned, sprinting out the door,"You guys can't beat all of those de---WOAH!"
Kate ran right into the portal.
***
"Dammit, they caught you too, huh?"Kat muttered. Kate nodded.
"I didn't know the portal was invisible. Yusuke must have transported it upstairs. I was so close.."she glared at the celing she had just fallen out of.
"Yeah, watch, Amb's gonna fall from the celing next. Real soon, too."Kat lay down on her bed.
***
"One more to go."Yusuke jumped from the top of the stairs, landing flat on his feet. Amber stood in front of Yusuke, still.
"Where's the portal?"she asked tonelessly, obviously not wanting to leave.
"Ah.. upstairs.."Yusuke scratched the back of his head, pointing to where the portal was. Amber looked back at Kurama, and walked up the stairs.
"Luck."said she before jumping into it, sensing where the large energy sorce was coming from.
"That was easier than I thought."Yusuke grinned. Hiei burst through the wall just next to them.
"HIEI!"the two exclaimed in unison.
"You two just kept fooling around!"he complained,"Now, fight!"
***
"How'd they get you?"Kate asked, throwing a ball up.. and down.. up.. and down.
"I kind of just walked into it.. hey, can we get to the library? They have old newspapers there, right?"Amber asked them. Kat nodded.
"Yeah, they date all they way back to.. ah.. 1806 or something like that."she nodded. Amber grinned.
"Good, I need to get there. Fast. I'll see you guys later, unless you want to come?"Amber asked them. Kat and Kate exchanged looks and shrugged.
"Sure, but why do you want to go there? It's closed, its 2:00 in the morning...!"Kate protested.
"Then I guess we'll have to break in. This is important."
"Oh, what happened to the goody goody?"Kat asked her.
"It's for a friend, I need information on the past, and it may have occurred in the human world."Ambed spoke quietly. Kate put a hand on Amber's shoulder.
"It's for your other half, isn't it."Kate spoke as if she already knew the answer,"It's for Kuronue." Amber turned away.
"Let's just go."
"What exactly do you need to find out, anyway?"Kat asked her curiously.
"Can we please just go?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because,"Kat pinned her in a corner. Amber looked around, and seeing no way out, she pulled out her white rose once again, and looked down upon it, bringing it very close to her face.
"Good bye."she whispered, as she seemed to evaporate.
"I should have known.. dammit."Kat punched the wall to her left.
"What?"Kate blinked.
"I have a feeling that this has something to do with our inew/i friends.. why else would Kuronue want her to do something like go to the library now? And why the newspapers?"Kat leaned into the wall, trying her best to come up with a logical explanation. Kate's eyes widened.
"The newspapers, the past, Kat!"
"What? Kuronue is from the Makai, not here. His past wouldn't be in any of the human newspapers."Kat rolled her eyes.
"What do you think the mosters are trying to do in the Makai? They're trying to come here, you know, take over for more space, warriors?"Kate spoke with her hands, very slowly, as to try and get it to Kat. Kat seemed rather irritated with this.
"Shut up,"she smirked,"This world wouldn't occupy Kuronue. He wants the Demon World and the Makai. Not the human world.."
"How would you know?"Kate put her hands to her hips.
"I just do, its instinct."
"Well my instinct says we wait for Yusuke."
"And Hiei."Kat added.
"Fine, we'll wait for ihim/i too."she reluctantly agreed. The celing seemed to open, and out came Yusuke, feet first, grinning.
"Oh yeah!"he jumped down onto the floor, hands still up in the air due to the amount of pride he had in himself at the time,"I told you we could beat those damn things without you girls. But would you listen? No..."
Kurama jumped down, Hiei just above him. Both jumped from the bed to the floor gracefully in unison. Hiei looked around the room with a queer look in his eyes.
"Where's the other brat? There's Kat, brat one, and there isn't a brat two."Hiei pointed out.
"They aren't brats."Yusuke and Kurama defended Kate and Amber. Hiei shrugged. Kate turned to the window to see Amber breaking one of the many windows of the Library. The Library was just a block away from the house they were in.
"What's wrong Kate?"Yusuke asked, seeing where her gaze was leading too,"Miss the books?"
Hiei walked over to the window, his arms crossed. Kat followed. Kurama chose to stay behind.
"It seems as if the goody goody has gone bad,"Hiei muttered,"Did you both just let her go?"
"She transported herself outside here, her rose has limits to where it takes her.. partly because her power comes from K-- since she's half demon."Kat almost slipped,"She's looking up past records. I don't know what she's looking for exactly though."
Kurama now seemed interested.
"Who?"
"Who what?"Kat asked him.
"Who does her power come from? She said she was only half demon. Like me.. well, human one side, and demon the other. Without another power source she's only human. Where does the power come from?"Kurama replied,"Who is it?"
"No one."Kat walked towards her bedroom door, and quietly tiptoed down her stairs. Kurama quickly followed.
"Who is it!?"he whispered urgently, grabbing her shoulders,"WHO?"
Hiei ran up behind Kurama, and pushed both of his shoulder pressure points, forcing him to collapse into Kat's arms.
"Are you hurt?"asked Hiei, picking up the fainted Kurama.
"I'm fine."Kat replied brushing her sleeves. Hiei seemed to stare, but blinked out of it when he heard Kate's voice behind him.
"Get moving."she told them. Kat nodded and led them out the door quietly.
***
"Come on..,"Kuronue's voice sounded in her head,"Hurry up, they're coming!"
"I'm trying, Kuronue!"Amber replied, flipping through newspapers,"1832..."
A sharp pain occurred in Amber's head, staying there for a little over a minute. She winced.
"I said, hurry. iUp./i"Kurnoue urged her.
"1809, right?"
"...yes."said Kurnoue, separating from Amber, making her 2/3's weaker than she was previously. She grabbed the skin layer above her heart.
"Why did you.. Kurnoue.."Amber asked through immense pain,"I thought.. you couldn't come out.."
"Oh, I can.."he replied, blowing dust off of his hat,"Now, that is. Before I couldn't, but that doesn't matter now.. find it! Find the paper where it describes the near-sub-spirit world!"
***
"Where is it?"Hiei asked Kat,"How far away?"
"That big building right there that says "Library" on it."Kat pointed sweatdropping,"We can climb through the window Amber already broke, come on!"she began to run, Hiei right along side her, leaving Kate and Yusuke behind.
"Show offs!"Kate called after them, but they ignored the comment; They seemed to be racing.
"Eh, don't worry about them,"Yusuke put his hands behind his head,"Their going to have to fight whatever's in there before we do, so just walk slowly and save energy.."
"You are the laziest person I've ever seen."Kate smirked, pushing him to the ground. Yusuke blinked and got up, looking around, completely embarrassed.
"No one saw that."
"What, afraid someone saw a girl push you down? Hm?"
***
"Dammit, Hiei, Kurama's waking up,"Kat observed. Hiei looked down, and stopped just before the broken window. Kurama fell to the ground holding his head.
"Hiei, why the---"
"You were going to hurt Kat, for something that was not her fault, nor problem,"said Hiei simply. Kurama shot a glare at him.
"I wasn't going to hurt her,"he protested,"I just needed to know where her power was coming from."
"And why, because you want the power?"Kat asked him.
"NO!"Kurama stood up, enraged,"Because she could be in a lot of trouble if her power source is Kuronue! I just needed to know if she'd be alright, is that a crime? Hm?" He looked into the building, beginning to climb through the broken window.
"It.. it is Kuronue. He's been inside of her since the beginning of second grade."Kat admitted,"He's always helped her though."
"He wanted to gain her trust, he's good at that,"Kurama spoke softly,"And now that she's matured, and he's gotten her where he wants her.. he'll go on his rein of terror, just as he nearly did about 100 years ago.."
"And he needs her why?"Kat walked up behind Kurama, putting a hand on his shoulder. He jumped into the building.
"He can use her as a shield, and as a lure. I'm the one he wants, well, mostly.. he'll go after Hiei and Yusuke if he can't get to me."Kurama began walking towards another door, Kat now jumping in, Hiei following, staying silent.
"But.. why the hell would he want you?"she shook her head in confusion,"What have you done wrong?"
"Nothing. He killed my..,"Kurama paused and turned his head as his eyes softened," my mother. She got in the middle."
"Of iwhat/i!?"Kat asked for a second time.
"It's none of your concern, go back---"
"No,"she grabbed his shoulder once again, this time a bit more firmly,"She's my bfriend/b, Kurama, I think it bis/b my concern!" Kurama turned to her face, a single tear running down his face,"Kurama, I didn't.."
"He wants Youko."
"Youko?"
"iMy/i other half. If he kills me, he'll get to Youko.. he put some kind of chemical into my blood so that would be able to happen.. Youko can separate from me, but he doesn't know that.. Kuronue can separate from Amber, and he probably already has. We can't talk right now, we have to go!"Kurama ran through isles of books, but Kat caught up with him.
"No, Kurama, what's going to happen if he has, she won't die right?"Kat asked him quietly. Hiei turned Kat to him with a single hand. Kurama remained frozen.
"Kuronue was able to escape your friend's body because of a single power. When the single power is strong enough, he'll absorb it. Kurama's mother died due to the certain power she had towards her son--"
"Hiei, stop.. just come on! And where the hell are Yusuke and Kate!?"Kurama's face was burning with both fear and hate. Yusuke hopped through the window covered in dirt, Kate following close behind, nice and clean. Yusuke pointed to his left.
"You haven't found her yet? She has sensable spiritual energy, you know."he nodded towards the left room. Kat, Hiei and Kurama exchanged looks of stupidity, and ran towards the door. It was locked.
"Amb? You in there?"Kat asked through the door.
"Kat?"a small voice asked weakly. Kurama summonded his rose whip, and slashed the doors hinges, allowing them to enter easily. Amber was against a corner, her white rose pricked of its petals.
"No more power, means no more rose whip.. or rose."Kuronue laughed,"You just keep being selfish, Kurama, and I will keep killing off the ones you care about.." Amber tried her best to stand up.
"He's not selfish,"she glared at him,"If anyone, you're the selfish one here." Yusuke felt a sudden pride.
"With the acception of Yusuke."said Kate sternly. Kurama pulled Amber to him.
"You don't.."he stared her down, preventing her from lying.
"I.. I couldn't help it.."she admitted,"I'm sorry."
"No.. no don't be sorry,"he hugged her. Kuronue put a hand on his hip and meery laughed.
"She finds great pleasure in that hug.. love,"he continued to laugh,"My power."
Kurnoue snapped, and as he did so, the floor collapsed, Kat, Hiei, Kate, and Yusuke falling through to the basement, Amber standing on a single tile, the only one other than Kurnoue's one tile that didn't fall. Her rose fell, too. Kurama clung to Amber.
"I won't let go, you don't have to hold so tightly."Amber reassured him. He smiled at her.
"I'm not holding tightly for that reason."he whispered. Amber blushed. Kurnoue disappeared, his cold laugh filled the room.
***
"Ahh crap..."Yusuke rubbed his behind,"That's gonna leave a really big---"
"Yusuke, could you mature a bit more, just for today, maybe?"Hiei glared at him,"No, I freaking order you to."
"Geez, fine.."mumbled Yusuke.
"Give Yusuke a break, Hiei, he's just trying to lighten the mood up!"Kate defended Yusuke. Hiei rolled his eyes, and helped Kat to her feet once he got to his.
"Thanks."said Kat, Hiei nodded his head up and down at the slightest angle, substituting as a reply.
"Well.. they want Youko.. so I really don't see why Kurama won't just give up Youko and go back to being a human.."Kate put her hands in her pockets,"It's not that bad being a human."
Hiei shook his head.
"We have a tornament. And to bring his mother back to life, we need to win. The prize is one wish, and Yusuke, Kuwabara and I have agreed to help him.. If Kurama loses his ability to fight demons, his mother shall remain forever in her grave."Hiei explained,"Kuronue is calling him selfish because he won't give up Youko's power.. Right now Amber is in a stage of a dramatic power loss, meaning she may in fact lose her life. If Youko is separated from Kurama, the same will happen to him.."
"Oh.. so.. hey, how come we can't fight?"Kate asked, rising her voice,"We're not weak, y'know." iWho's this Kuwabara guy? Oh well, I'll find out sooner or later, no use asking../i
"You're definately not as strong as Kurama."Hiei smirked,"Kat may be able to fight, but Kurama needs to be somewhere on the team for us to grant a wish specifically for him."
"That sucks.."Kate looked up at the two single tiles in the sky,"If Amb dies.. Kuroune won't be living much longer." Kat nodded.
"We'll kill his sorry a---"
"Just wait and see what happens."Hiei interrupted.
"Wait? There must be something we can do!"Kate protested.
"Well there iisn't/i!"Hiei shot a cold glare at Kate. The four remained silent, staring upwards.
***
"Where's your rose?"asked Kurama. Amber pointed to the floor below them.
"Don't even think of escaping, I'll find you.. you have to sleep sometime."Kuronue's voice continued to carry throughout the room. Instead, Kurama summoned his own rose.
"Can you do it with my rose?"he telepathically communicated with her.
"I.. think so.."she replied unsure of herself. Kurama transformed his rose whip back into a rose, and handed it to her. Amber looked down upon it, and held it close to her face, her eyes closed.
"Don't, you won't get away...!"his voice became louder and more intense every word. Kuronue then became visible, just in front of Kurama and Amber,"YOU'LL STAY!"he shouted, as the two seemed to evaporate.
***
"Hey, where'd they go!?"Yusuke blinked,"They just left us here!"
"No, you idiot! Come on, I bet I know where they are---"
"And if their inot/i where you think they are?"Kate interrupted Hiei.
"Then I guess we're all out of ideas. Now, come on!"Hiei urged them, running out the door. Kuroune growled in frustration.
"I'll find them..,"he hissed,"I will.."
***
Kurama and Amber soon arrived at Kurama's very own house, inside his room. Amber collapsed onto his bed.
"It took a lot of energy out of you, I see.."he helped her under his covers. She was panting hard, sweat streaming down her face. She nodded.
"I'll go get my father,"he continued softly, already starting down the stairs,"He cand do more for you than I can."
Kurama's father was sitting on the couch peacefully reading the newspaper, one leg over the other.
"Dad?"asked Kurama,"I need a little help."
"Oh, with what, Shuichi? School work? Getting Mr.Williams to forget about that detention?"his father replied, his newspaper now on his lap.
"Dad, I'll explain la---"
"No, Shuichi, you'll explain now."said his father sternly,"I understand you had an assistant, also."
"She's---"
"I'm not interested in the name, son, sit down. We need to have a talk."Kurama's father patted the seat next to him.
"Dad, she's upstairs, she's hurt!"
"Hurt? Wait, how did she get upstairs without me seeing her come through the door? And you! Where did you come from?"
"Dad, please!"begged Kurama,"I promise I'll explain this all later, just help me with this!" Kurama's father blinked, and nodded.
"You best keep your word, Shuichi."said he,"Where's the girl?"
"Upstairs, in my room."Kurama repeated, leading his father upstairs and into his room. His father stepped in first, seeing the young girl under the covers, very pink.
"What happened to her?"his father asked. Kurama remained silent.
"Shu.. ichi?"Amber sat up slowly calling him by his human name because of his father's presence, still pink in the face,"Where are our friends?"
"Don't worry about them right now, worry about yourself."Kurama sat next to her on his bed,"My dad's here now, he'll take care of you."
"Oh, h-hello Mr.Minamino."she nodded, managing a smile. He smiled back, examining her for a minute or so.
"Shuichi, I think she'll be fine.. she just needs to rest. Would you come here for a second?"Mr.Minamino stepped out of his room, Kurama quickly following.
"What is it?"Kurama asked his father.
"She's just lost a lot of energy."
"A loss of energy can't make her face bright pink, dad, there's something else. Maybe, poison, a severe wound somewhere---"
"Why must you think of the worst? Ever think that she's just embarrassed?"his father poked him in the chest accusingly. Kurama seemed confused.
"About what?"he asked.
"She's in byour/b room. Under byour/b covers. Where byou/b put her."he smiled,"I would have thought you'd figure it out earlier."
"Oh.. that.."he turned from his father,"I.. I noticed."
"Get back in there Shuichi. You're lucky I'm letting you have a young lady in your room, you two skipped detention, therefore, you're grounded. I had a talk with the girls mother, as well. She'll be wanting her home before the end of today."he turned on his heel, down the stairs. Kurama cursed under his breath. It was obvious his temper was rising each and every day. He walked back into his room, and plopped onto his bed, where Amber sat up staring at him, still pink.
"I'm grounded."said Kurama tonelessly,"I can't go to the tornament.. My mother.. she'll---"
"Sneak out, Kurama, I'll sneak out with you."Amber interrupted him. He looked up.
"I can't,"he shook his head,"My mother's already passed away, me sneaking out will terrify him."
"You go fight, and I'll pretend I'm you."Amber put her hand on his,"I can perform a spell using your rose to transform into you."
"But.. how could you teleport, and how can you use magic without Kuronue?"he asked her.
"These are things that Kate taught me, combined with the power of these roses."she smiled,"May I see your rose?" He nodded.
"Sure. But come here, I need to tell you something.."
"There's no one here Kurama, you can say it aloud."she reassured him.
"No, I can't,"said Kurama softly,"I really need to whisper it to you.."
***
"What if they're not here, Hiei, what if you were wrong, what if---"
"IF THEY'RE NOT HERE, THEY'RE DEAD!"Hiei shouted as loud as he could, fed up with Kate's paranoia.
"...Gee, thanks."she smirked. Yusuke laughed.
"Lighten up, Kate, they're most likely fine. The closest place she could have gone is Kurama's house, so they're probably in his room!"said Yusuke cheerfully,"Luckily Kurama's not a pervert."
"Unlike someone I know."Kat muttered.
"...hey."whined Yusuke,"Let's just see what those two are up to.."
"Spying!?? Eavesdropping!? Yusuke, what kind of person are you!!?"Kate slapped him. Yusuke blinked, utterly confused.
"Ah..,"he tried to think.
"You're imy/i kind of person."she grinned. Yusuke seemed to blush.
"Stop flirting, it's annoying."Kat complained. Hiei nodded.
"It is."he agreed. When they arrived at Kurama's house, they stopped below his window.
"So, who's going to check?"Yusuke asked them.
"I will."said Kate. Yusuke nodded.
"The window's a long way up. Need a boost?"Yusuke asked her sincerely. She shook her head.
"Nope,"she leaped about 10 to 15 feet in the air; Hiei stared at her oddly.
"What the..."he mumbled. Kat laughed at him. Kate grabbed on to the window ledge, and peeked into the room.
***
Amber came close to his face, just close enough for him to whisper something.
"What is it?"she whispered to him.
"Well.."he began, coming even closer, but instead of whispering to her a certain something, he pulled her into a kiss.
***
"Well?"Kat asked,"What are they doing? Anything we can interrupt? Better yet, are they alive?"
***
Please review, thank you ^.^!