Disclaimer: Yadda yadda yadda . . . Don't own Yu Yu Hakusho . . . yadda
yadda yadda *insert whining here*
KKC: *STILL cleaning room from Yusuke's last visit* He is never, and you can quote me on this, NEVER TOUCHING MY STUFF AGAIN!!!!!!
Kurama: *peeks in* . . .You're still cleaning up that mess?
KKC: Yeah. *Tosses another book into a cardboard box* I really should sell some of these . . .
Kurama: *picks up a book from the top of the pile* "The Human Difference"? *Flips through* I didn't know you were into psychology . . .
KKC: Don't ask . . .
Kurama: But psychology?
KKC: Yeah . . . well, I was bored and snagged it from my mom's bookshelf.
Kurama: *sweatdrop* You guys keep books like this around the house on a normal basis?
KKC: I was doing some research for an extra-credit project at school. What's wrong with that?
Kurama: Nothing, nothing . . . Shouldn't you get to work on the thirteenth chapter?
KKC: Oy vey . . . the unlucky number thirteen. *Shudders* Hey, want to help me clean? Please? *Puppy dog eyes*
Kurama: No.
KKC: Why not?
Kurama: You need to type, and I have to be included in this fic.
KKC: Fine. I'll get Jin to help me, he cares.
Kurama: Just start writing.
KKC: *whimpers, but starts up her computer and starts typing. Kurama is hanging over her shoulder* Excuse me! Go sit somewhere else!
Kurama: Where? Everything's covered with junk . . .
KKC: *cheerfully* Hey, guess what! I have a trunk full of rat asses downstairs! Want one?
Kurama: *looks at KKC oddly* Nooooo . . .
KKC: Good, 'cause I wasn't gonna give you one anyways (It basically means, "I don't give a rat's ass." Lovely, neh? I use it often.).
Kurama: o.0 . . . I . . .don't get it . . .
KKC: -_-* I don't give a rat's ass where you sit, just get away! *Shoos Kurama away* Shoo! Go! Leave! I need to concentrate!
Kurama: *still doesn't get the joke, but manages to clear away a small section of the bed so he can sit down. He picks up "The Chronicles of Chrestomanci -Volume II" and starts to read*
KKC: Now let's get this thing over and done with! *Cracks knuckles*
Kurama: *doesn't even bother to look up from the book he's reading* That doesn't sound right . . .
KKC: Just shut up and read your goddamn book!
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When we last left the confused Lyra and the now oh-so cuddly Kurama . . . (* KKC coos and scratches the fox kit Kurama under the chin* Soooooo Cyute! ^-^ *Kurama bites her finger* OW! Brat . . .)
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"Alright, here's the plan. You act like a normal fox and I'll pretend I found you, then . . . we just kind of let the fact that you're missing and stuff blow over . . . No, that's a crappy alibi. But I guess we don't really have a choice, do we?" Kurama just stared at her as if she had temporarily lost her mind. "What? Do you have a better idea? If so, then please tell me." The fox's silence wasn't helping much with her little brainstorm, but then again, what did she expect? A sudden moment of enlightenment from King Enma himself? Not very likely to happen. "Well . . .I can start checking the academy library once the tournament is over, and Holly and Lyra probably wouldn't mind helping me; I know they can keep this under wraps. What time is it?" She checked her watch and groaned. "Seven AM . . . We better get going, I'm sure everyone else is worried about us."
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"Where the heck is Lyra? We've been waiting for over an hour . . ." Lark whined, but Holly chose to ignore her. "I dunno . . . think maybe the spring spirit attacked her?"
"Holly! You should know better than to joke around like that!" Lark glared up at the wind witch, who was lounging around on the front steps.
"I'm not joking. You DID sense all that energy, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah. Of course I did, and I didn't sleep through it either."
"You know me . . . I sleep like the dead."
"The dead don't sleep well around here, ya know. Always re-awakening and causing all sorts of trouble . . . In fact, we haven't had any come around since the Midterms, except for those Crowlers. But they're always hanging around in the forest." Lark pursed her lips over this new thought and absent-mindedly twirled a blade of grass between her fingers. Holly sighed. "Maybe they finally set up a permanent barrier and the undead can't get through . . ."
"Nah . . . they tried that centuries ago, back when Senior Ryo was a student here."
"Hey, spells and barriers can be improved in two-thousand years." Holly shrugged, and looked up towards the boys' bedroom window. "Aren't they awake, yet? It's almost eight in the morning!"
"I would be sleeping this late too, if you hadn't insisted on setting the alarm so we could up at three in the morning to do a scanning spell for my sister and Kurama." Lyra stood up from her spot on the dead grass and stretched her back. From the upstairs bedroom, Kuwabara's clock went flying through the open window and landed a few feet away from the girls. "Um . . . does that answer you question, Holly?"
"Yep. Sure does . . ."
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Something was scurrying right by his ear, and Jin brushed it away. Funny, it felt as if there was a whole mass of bugs and spiders crawling all over him . . . Again he lazily brushed his clawed hand at the imaginary insects, but this time they weren't imaginary. "For the love of Mike! What the hell- " Jin grumpily sat up in his mussed bed, and got a good look at the horde of tiny sootballs before jumping out with a panicked screech. "Flippin' hell is going on?! Rogerik, you idiot!"
The blonde boy thumped down the stairs, holding a box of Nerds candy. He got one look at the freaked out wind master, covered in the little soot spiders, and started to laugh. "Guess they really like you, Jin." He managed to spurt out. Jin plucked one off from his pearly horn and flung it on the ground. "Yeah, yeah . . . but what the hell are they?"
"What do they look like? Spiders."
"I know that! But they're made of . . ." Jin brushed the fine powder between his fingers. " . . .They're made of . . .soot?" Rogerik nodded, and whistled for the little arachnids. They clustered around his feet and the boy poured the contents of the Nerds box into the crowd, then watched as they dragged it all into a tiny crack in the wall. Jin stared as every last one of them crawled off and swooped into the tiny crevice with their artificially flavored treats before heading upstairs. "Hey, Where're you going, Jin?"
"To take a shower . . . I've had all the weirdness I can take this morning."
"Just wait'll you fight Holly, Lark, and Lyra! You ain't seen nothing yet." Rogerik called up to the demon, who just incoherently mumbled something and closed the door.
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Another fine morning . . . The birds were singing, the early December sun shone through what was left of the plum tree's foliage, and the kitchen was a goddamn mess. "Remind me never to let Kuwabara cook again." Yusuke said to Hiei, both of them cleaning up pancake batter from Kuwabara's attempt at making breakfast. Hiei was down on his hands and knees, gnawing on a blueberry muffin and cleaning up the lower parts of the disaster area, while Yusuke stood perched on a ladder and scraped batter off the ceiling. "I told him to follow the instructions, but noooooooo . . . he had to do it his own way." Some batter dripped onto Yusuke's forehead and he grouchily wiped it off with a finger, then tasted it while Hiei wasn't looking. "Hey . . . not bad. Now maybe if he hadn't put the mixer on 'liquefy' we wouldn't be cleaning up the mess that he made."
"He is doing the laundry for us, and I, personally, would rather clean the kitchen than wash your tighty whities." Hiei casually dodged the batter Yusuke flung at him and kicked the unsteady ladder. "Ack! Jerk!" Yusuke clung onto the cabinet handle with one hand and tried to fling more batter at the shorter demon with the other. Hiei fingered the handle of his katana, but thought better of it. There was no way Kuwabara was going to fight a girl and Kurama wasn't likely to show up soon (although he had a nagging feeling that the fox was around ~somewhere~), which left himself, Yusuke, and Jin in the ring. Not that it would be much trouble to beat the girls, he could do it himself in a heartbeat, but killing wasn't allowed. That meant Jin and Yusuke couldn't use their full strength and he was stuck without his Black Dragon Wave. "Rapture . . ." Hiei darkly muttered, and tossed the sponge he had been using into the sink. It bounced out and whacked Yusuke in the face.
"Hiei . . ." The younger boy grabbed the bucket of soapy water he had perched on the ladder's top rung and went to dump it on the demon, but slipped and dropped it on himself. Hiei snickered and left the cursing Yusuke in the kitchen, still gnawing away at his muffin. Stepping outside, he tripped over a flesh-colored lump that was sprawled on the front steps. "Wha? Lark, get up."
"Sooo tired . . ."
"What? You didn't sleep? Tough shit. Now move." Hiei nudged her in the ribs to emphasize his point, but the water manipulator just flipped him the finger and continued her nap. This time, Hiei grabbed her by one arm and dragged her up to her feet, then pushed her out of the way. "Why don't you go do something? Like write one of those stupid stories you're always talking about."
"They're not stupid! You're just pissed 'cause you can't write half as well as I can." Spying the muffin in his free hand, she pointed to it. "What's for breakfast? Anything good."
"No. Now go away and leave me alone." Hiei let go of her wrist and stalked off, searching for Kurama's energy. However, a blunt and heavy object was thrown at his head, and Hiei barely dodged it. Looking down at the intruding missile, he wasn't at all surprised to see Kuwabara's cow clock by his feet. 'Does that thing never leave me alone? I swear it's cursed . . .' Lark broke the demon out of his concentration with a well-aimed blast of water. "Hey! Don't be too long! The finals start in a few hours, and we're leaving early to meet Koenma!"
"I thought you saw him yesterday. Not like there's much to see . . ."
"Nope! He sent an e-mail saying he had some paperwork to pick up and that he wouldn't be able to spend the night at the guest house."
"Hn . . . Don't worry, I'll be there on time." Hiei waved and continued down the gravel drive.
"You better! Oh, wait! Lyra wanted me to give this to you in case she didn't come back to the house after her trip to the spring . . . now where is it? Ah, here it is!" Lark dug a small charm out of her pocket and tossed it to Hiei, who caught it and stared. "What for?" Lark shrugged and held out her palms. "Beats me. She said it was an early Christmas gift, but I think it's really supposed to give you good luck or something like that. Why don't you ask her later? Supposing she hasn't gotten lost in the woods."
"Whatever." Hiei stuffed the pendant into his pocket. Pearls weren't really his thing, and he didn't need any good luck against the girls; if anything, maybe he could sell it downtown for some extra pocket money.
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" Morning, Jin!" Holly cheerfully called out to the demon from her spot on the living room couch, he was still pretty grouchy after the spider incident that morning. "What are you so happy about? Its eight-freakin'- thirty."
"Not a morning person, eh Jin?"
"No, I'm not. Rogerik's 'pets' woke me up early. How's that lil' bird? He still doing okay?" Jin's bad mood was slowly fading as he talked to Holly.
"Yeah. In fact, he was trying to fly out the window this morning, but he still could be sick." The witch caught Jin's sigh out of the corner of her eye. "What's wrong Jin? You seem to be a little down."
"Eh? Nah, its nothing much."
"I'm serious. And don't pull that 'nothing much' crap on me either."
"Really, its nothing!" Holly just stared and crunched her ice (an annoying habit, I know. I do the same thing all the time.). Jin could feel her eyes boring holes through his skull even as he walked into the kitchen, which was considerably cleaner than it had been twenty minutes ago. "If you ever want to talk, I'm always free. Just ask." Jin turned, and smiled. "Yeah, thanks. Huh?" He caught the fragile object Holly tossed at him and watched it dangle from the thin chain. "What's this for?" He asked the witch. "An early Christmas gift. Enjoy." Jin watched her squeeze past him into the kitchen and leave through the front door. "Um . . . thank you?" Shrugging, he carefully clipped the delicate chain around his neck and tucked the stone charm under his shirt.
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"All right . . . so we turn south here and continue down that path . . ." Lyra pointed to the well-worn trail that cut through the majestic forest on their way to the dorm. Kurama poked his head out of her messenger bag and growled. "Oh, really. Well then, why don't you lead the way, Oh mighty Kurama?" Lyra scooped the boy-turned-fox kit out of her bag and placed him on the ground in front of her. Instinctively, his bushy tail curled underneath his cream-colored belly and he started whining. Lyra sighed and kneeled, opening her bag so that Kurama could hop in. As soon as the kit saw what she was doing; however, he straightened his tail and held his delicate head up, then trotted off down the path. Lyra giggled at the macho act and slowly followed, careful not to pass Kurama or accidentally step on his tail.
It wasn't long before he was perched on her shoulders, barking out directions and guiding her through the dense wooded area. "Um . . . Kurama, I don't think we're close to the dorm . . . " Lyra glanced at the kit from the corner of her eye and once again took out her crystal pendulum. Kurama rolled his green eyes, and yawned. How many more times was she going to check that thing? He could smell the familiar herb garden even from way out in the woods. Downwind, a twig snapped and both fox and girl turned towards the sound.
Kurama hopped down from Lyra's narrow shoulders and went over to sniff at the nearby bush. "Kurama, be careful. It could be an undead." It seemed that Lyra had apparently jinxed them, as a rotting Satyr corpse strode out of the bushes. Kurama yipped and skittered back into Lyra's messenger bag. The satyr walked over to them, the bones in its left leg sticking out of the black, maggoty flesh with every step. Lyra flung up a defensive shield and started to run down the trail "We just get all the luck, don't we?" She panted to Kurama, who settled back farther in the bag and whimpered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lark peered down the laundry chute, swinging the hematite pendant in her hand. Luckily, Kuwabara wouldn't be too far from the chute and she could drop it in without him noticing the amulet actually fall. Soon, the red head came into view and she took careful aim, and then dropped the necklace. It thudded on his skull and Lark winced. So much for stealth . . .
"Huh? What's this?" Kuwabara watched the thick chunk of rock swing from its chain before tucking it in its pocket. "Guess I'll ask one of the girls if it's theirs . . . Oh no! I forgot fabric softener!" Lark shook her head in disbelief. Kuwabara was in the finals of the annual tournament, and all he could think about was laundry? "He is a sad, sad man . . ." She muttered to herself as she walked down the hall.
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"What the hell are you eating?" Yusuke stared as Rogerik took a bite out of a soy energy bar. The younger teen chewed and swallowed before replying to Yusuke, "I couldn't find much else. I don't really get hungry until later in the day, anyways."
"Yeah, but a soy bar? We do have muffins and stuff."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier, then? These things are disgusting." Rogerik tossed the half-eaten bar in the trash barrel and went over to scrounge in the pantry's far corners for baked goods. Yusuke leaned back on the corner and lazily gazed out the window, watching as the gulls flew in spiraling circles. "So . . . Have you seen Lark, Lyra, and Holly fight last year?" He asked; it was a poor conversation starter if anything else. Rogerik turned around, his search for a decent breakfast apparently unfruitful.
"Um, yeah. Why?"
"Nothing just curious."
"You want some pointers, huh? Info, perhaps?"
"Really?" Yusuke eagerly listened, but the look in Rogerik's eyes made him groan. "What do you want this time?"
"You learn quickly. Ten bucks, dude."
"What?! That's robbery!" Yusuke recoiled away from Rogerik, his hand possessively hovering over his wallet.
"It'll be even worse if a couple of school-girls beat the winners of the dark tournament.
"That isn't going to happen, Rogerik. Those three don't even stand a chance. "You don't know that much about their tactics; which is pretty sad since you've been living with them since late August. So . . ." Rogerik checked the calendar hanging on the wall before continuing. "It's almost mid-December now and you still haven't got a clue. The girls have probably been up late studying those tapes for over a week now." Damn . . . Yusuke had forgotten all about those tapes Koenma had sent Lark.
"But ten dollars? Don't you think that's a little high for info that's out of date, Rogerik?"
"Out of date? Whatever made you think I would swindle you like that?" Yusuke just balefully looked at Rogerik, and the blonde sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll give you a discount. How's five dollars sound?" He hopefully asked, not really expecting Yusuke to agree. Surprisingly, the Japanese boy grudgingly handed Rogerik a crumpled five-dollar bill. "Cool. Lyonell loaned me the tapes from last year's tournament and we've both recorded some of their last 'Offensive Tactics' classes. You can borrow the computer in my room, it can play DVDs." Rogerik fished out a small a small disc from his pocket and carefully placed it in Yusuke's hands. "Better hurry. The actual fight starts at noon and it already eleven"
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Jin floated outside the guesthouse, impatiently waiting for Kayko and Botan. "How long does it take to get ready?" He griped. Hiei stood on the branch of an old, dilapidated oak tree that totally ruled the front lawn. "Depends on who it is. Kurama can take longer than this when he feels like it." The two demons lounged around in silence for a couple minutes, until Holly zoomed by on her broom. "Whoa! Oi, Holly! Where're you off to in such a rush?" The witch skidded to a stop and hovered in mid-air, Kyuro clinging onto her for dear life. "Something's not right. Lyra should've been here hours ago! I'm going to go look for her and Kurama out near the spring. See ya later!" She gave the boys a peace signal and zoomed off again, heading slightly northwest.
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Lyra tripped over a tree root and stumbled, but regained her balance and quickly strengthened her shields. The satyr corpse swiped at her and lost its balance, toppling over onto its disfigured face. The monster lay still, face down on the needled covered forest floor. Kurama struggled out of Lyra's messenger bag and nervously sniffed at the prostrate cadaver. "Is it dead?" Lyra peered over Kurama's furry shoulder, ignoring the fox's glare, which basically said, 'No . . .really, Captain obvious?'
"LYRA!" The wind witch wheeled her broom around and called down to her friend. Lyra was down in the thick forest, poking a corpse with a stick. Holly floated down even lower and called out to her oblivious friend once again. "Lyra! Hey! Up here!" Holly onto the polished handle with one hand and waved down. Lyra finally noticed her and waved back up, totally ignoring the dead body. A small kit Lyra was traveling with hopped onto the water-manipulator's shoulder and started to loudly bark, trying to get the girl's attention as to what was going on behind them.
The monstrous being struggled to its feet in jerky movements, stretching up a grisly hand in an effort to take a swipe at Lyra. "Eep!" Holly dived down and stretched out a hand, which her friend managed to grab. As the two girls and their animalistic companions tore out of the woods like a bat out of Hell, Holly turned to Lyra. "What took you so long? We were worried sick." The older girl managed to balance her heavy bag on the back of the broom and righted herself. "Kinda busy . . . boy, I really was going in the wrong direction." She said, looking out over the horizon. Holly's broom kept climbing into the air, the girls desperate to get away from the hideous satyr.
"I'll say . . . You were heading away from the main campus. Have you seen Kurama?"
"Um, about that . . . can you promise not to tell anyone?" Holly stared at Lyra, barely dodging an incoming bird, and nodded. Lyra sighed in relief and whispered into the young witch's ear.
"Whoa! No kidding? That little fox really is Kurama?"
"Yeah . . . DUCK!" Holly skillfully swerved out of the way of a migrating flock of ducks and continued to stare at Kurama, who was looking a little sick. "Stop staring and hurry up! I want to take a shower and get changed before the match starts."
"Right-o. To the house! But, really, I didn't think he'd turn out to be so cute and fuzzy." Kurama growled a warning, and Holly quickened the pace. 'If the rest of the day is anything like this,' the witch thought, ' its gonna be World War Three back at the dorm.'
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KKC: It's done! Yes!
Kurama: You didn't even start the final match. All that work just to build up the early morning?
KKC: I have the gift of gab. Now, off to the Faire! *Dons medieval- style clothing*
Kurama: *sweatdrop* Faire? King Richard's Faire?
KKC: Correct, good sirrah! Now I must be off, for my carriage awaits! * Bows and runs out the door*
Kurama: You mean the family sedan?
KKC: Call it what ye may, Sir. I care not! To all reviewers, thy fourteenth chapter shall be up before next Wednesday! And may another section of "Wheel of Torture" grace your presence next week, as I am sure to have many new ideas of pain and suffering after visiting the Royal dungeon!
Kurama: -_-+ Can it and get going! *Pushes KKC out the front door and shoves her into the car. KKC is complaining all the way*
KKC: Sir, unhand me this instant or I shall unleash the dogs of war upon thee!
Kurama: *straps her in the car next to her brothers and talks to Chris* She's all yours. Have fun.
Chris: Oh, we will . . . we will. *Pulls out CD player and a Britney Spears CD*
KKC: *Looks at the CD in horror* *whimpers* Enma help me . . .
KKC: *STILL cleaning room from Yusuke's last visit* He is never, and you can quote me on this, NEVER TOUCHING MY STUFF AGAIN!!!!!!
Kurama: *peeks in* . . .You're still cleaning up that mess?
KKC: Yeah. *Tosses another book into a cardboard box* I really should sell some of these . . .
Kurama: *picks up a book from the top of the pile* "The Human Difference"? *Flips through* I didn't know you were into psychology . . .
KKC: Don't ask . . .
Kurama: But psychology?
KKC: Yeah . . . well, I was bored and snagged it from my mom's bookshelf.
Kurama: *sweatdrop* You guys keep books like this around the house on a normal basis?
KKC: I was doing some research for an extra-credit project at school. What's wrong with that?
Kurama: Nothing, nothing . . . Shouldn't you get to work on the thirteenth chapter?
KKC: Oy vey . . . the unlucky number thirteen. *Shudders* Hey, want to help me clean? Please? *Puppy dog eyes*
Kurama: No.
KKC: Why not?
Kurama: You need to type, and I have to be included in this fic.
KKC: Fine. I'll get Jin to help me, he cares.
Kurama: Just start writing.
KKC: *whimpers, but starts up her computer and starts typing. Kurama is hanging over her shoulder* Excuse me! Go sit somewhere else!
Kurama: Where? Everything's covered with junk . . .
KKC: *cheerfully* Hey, guess what! I have a trunk full of rat asses downstairs! Want one?
Kurama: *looks at KKC oddly* Nooooo . . .
KKC: Good, 'cause I wasn't gonna give you one anyways (It basically means, "I don't give a rat's ass." Lovely, neh? I use it often.).
Kurama: o.0 . . . I . . .don't get it . . .
KKC: -_-* I don't give a rat's ass where you sit, just get away! *Shoos Kurama away* Shoo! Go! Leave! I need to concentrate!
Kurama: *still doesn't get the joke, but manages to clear away a small section of the bed so he can sit down. He picks up "The Chronicles of Chrestomanci -Volume II" and starts to read*
KKC: Now let's get this thing over and done with! *Cracks knuckles*
Kurama: *doesn't even bother to look up from the book he's reading* That doesn't sound right . . .
KKC: Just shut up and read your goddamn book!
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When we last left the confused Lyra and the now oh-so cuddly Kurama . . . (* KKC coos and scratches the fox kit Kurama under the chin* Soooooo Cyute! ^-^ *Kurama bites her finger* OW! Brat . . .)
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"Alright, here's the plan. You act like a normal fox and I'll pretend I found you, then . . . we just kind of let the fact that you're missing and stuff blow over . . . No, that's a crappy alibi. But I guess we don't really have a choice, do we?" Kurama just stared at her as if she had temporarily lost her mind. "What? Do you have a better idea? If so, then please tell me." The fox's silence wasn't helping much with her little brainstorm, but then again, what did she expect? A sudden moment of enlightenment from King Enma himself? Not very likely to happen. "Well . . .I can start checking the academy library once the tournament is over, and Holly and Lyra probably wouldn't mind helping me; I know they can keep this under wraps. What time is it?" She checked her watch and groaned. "Seven AM . . . We better get going, I'm sure everyone else is worried about us."
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"Where the heck is Lyra? We've been waiting for over an hour . . ." Lark whined, but Holly chose to ignore her. "I dunno . . . think maybe the spring spirit attacked her?"
"Holly! You should know better than to joke around like that!" Lark glared up at the wind witch, who was lounging around on the front steps.
"I'm not joking. You DID sense all that energy, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah. Of course I did, and I didn't sleep through it either."
"You know me . . . I sleep like the dead."
"The dead don't sleep well around here, ya know. Always re-awakening and causing all sorts of trouble . . . In fact, we haven't had any come around since the Midterms, except for those Crowlers. But they're always hanging around in the forest." Lark pursed her lips over this new thought and absent-mindedly twirled a blade of grass between her fingers. Holly sighed. "Maybe they finally set up a permanent barrier and the undead can't get through . . ."
"Nah . . . they tried that centuries ago, back when Senior Ryo was a student here."
"Hey, spells and barriers can be improved in two-thousand years." Holly shrugged, and looked up towards the boys' bedroom window. "Aren't they awake, yet? It's almost eight in the morning!"
"I would be sleeping this late too, if you hadn't insisted on setting the alarm so we could up at three in the morning to do a scanning spell for my sister and Kurama." Lyra stood up from her spot on the dead grass and stretched her back. From the upstairs bedroom, Kuwabara's clock went flying through the open window and landed a few feet away from the girls. "Um . . . does that answer you question, Holly?"
"Yep. Sure does . . ."
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Something was scurrying right by his ear, and Jin brushed it away. Funny, it felt as if there was a whole mass of bugs and spiders crawling all over him . . . Again he lazily brushed his clawed hand at the imaginary insects, but this time they weren't imaginary. "For the love of Mike! What the hell- " Jin grumpily sat up in his mussed bed, and got a good look at the horde of tiny sootballs before jumping out with a panicked screech. "Flippin' hell is going on?! Rogerik, you idiot!"
The blonde boy thumped down the stairs, holding a box of Nerds candy. He got one look at the freaked out wind master, covered in the little soot spiders, and started to laugh. "Guess they really like you, Jin." He managed to spurt out. Jin plucked one off from his pearly horn and flung it on the ground. "Yeah, yeah . . . but what the hell are they?"
"What do they look like? Spiders."
"I know that! But they're made of . . ." Jin brushed the fine powder between his fingers. " . . .They're made of . . .soot?" Rogerik nodded, and whistled for the little arachnids. They clustered around his feet and the boy poured the contents of the Nerds box into the crowd, then watched as they dragged it all into a tiny crack in the wall. Jin stared as every last one of them crawled off and swooped into the tiny crevice with their artificially flavored treats before heading upstairs. "Hey, Where're you going, Jin?"
"To take a shower . . . I've had all the weirdness I can take this morning."
"Just wait'll you fight Holly, Lark, and Lyra! You ain't seen nothing yet." Rogerik called up to the demon, who just incoherently mumbled something and closed the door.
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Another fine morning . . . The birds were singing, the early December sun shone through what was left of the plum tree's foliage, and the kitchen was a goddamn mess. "Remind me never to let Kuwabara cook again." Yusuke said to Hiei, both of them cleaning up pancake batter from Kuwabara's attempt at making breakfast. Hiei was down on his hands and knees, gnawing on a blueberry muffin and cleaning up the lower parts of the disaster area, while Yusuke stood perched on a ladder and scraped batter off the ceiling. "I told him to follow the instructions, but noooooooo . . . he had to do it his own way." Some batter dripped onto Yusuke's forehead and he grouchily wiped it off with a finger, then tasted it while Hiei wasn't looking. "Hey . . . not bad. Now maybe if he hadn't put the mixer on 'liquefy' we wouldn't be cleaning up the mess that he made."
"He is doing the laundry for us, and I, personally, would rather clean the kitchen than wash your tighty whities." Hiei casually dodged the batter Yusuke flung at him and kicked the unsteady ladder. "Ack! Jerk!" Yusuke clung onto the cabinet handle with one hand and tried to fling more batter at the shorter demon with the other. Hiei fingered the handle of his katana, but thought better of it. There was no way Kuwabara was going to fight a girl and Kurama wasn't likely to show up soon (although he had a nagging feeling that the fox was around ~somewhere~), which left himself, Yusuke, and Jin in the ring. Not that it would be much trouble to beat the girls, he could do it himself in a heartbeat, but killing wasn't allowed. That meant Jin and Yusuke couldn't use their full strength and he was stuck without his Black Dragon Wave. "Rapture . . ." Hiei darkly muttered, and tossed the sponge he had been using into the sink. It bounced out and whacked Yusuke in the face.
"Hiei . . ." The younger boy grabbed the bucket of soapy water he had perched on the ladder's top rung and went to dump it on the demon, but slipped and dropped it on himself. Hiei snickered and left the cursing Yusuke in the kitchen, still gnawing away at his muffin. Stepping outside, he tripped over a flesh-colored lump that was sprawled on the front steps. "Wha? Lark, get up."
"Sooo tired . . ."
"What? You didn't sleep? Tough shit. Now move." Hiei nudged her in the ribs to emphasize his point, but the water manipulator just flipped him the finger and continued her nap. This time, Hiei grabbed her by one arm and dragged her up to her feet, then pushed her out of the way. "Why don't you go do something? Like write one of those stupid stories you're always talking about."
"They're not stupid! You're just pissed 'cause you can't write half as well as I can." Spying the muffin in his free hand, she pointed to it. "What's for breakfast? Anything good."
"No. Now go away and leave me alone." Hiei let go of her wrist and stalked off, searching for Kurama's energy. However, a blunt and heavy object was thrown at his head, and Hiei barely dodged it. Looking down at the intruding missile, he wasn't at all surprised to see Kuwabara's cow clock by his feet. 'Does that thing never leave me alone? I swear it's cursed . . .' Lark broke the demon out of his concentration with a well-aimed blast of water. "Hey! Don't be too long! The finals start in a few hours, and we're leaving early to meet Koenma!"
"I thought you saw him yesterday. Not like there's much to see . . ."
"Nope! He sent an e-mail saying he had some paperwork to pick up and that he wouldn't be able to spend the night at the guest house."
"Hn . . . Don't worry, I'll be there on time." Hiei waved and continued down the gravel drive.
"You better! Oh, wait! Lyra wanted me to give this to you in case she didn't come back to the house after her trip to the spring . . . now where is it? Ah, here it is!" Lark dug a small charm out of her pocket and tossed it to Hiei, who caught it and stared. "What for?" Lark shrugged and held out her palms. "Beats me. She said it was an early Christmas gift, but I think it's really supposed to give you good luck or something like that. Why don't you ask her later? Supposing she hasn't gotten lost in the woods."
"Whatever." Hiei stuffed the pendant into his pocket. Pearls weren't really his thing, and he didn't need any good luck against the girls; if anything, maybe he could sell it downtown for some extra pocket money.
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" Morning, Jin!" Holly cheerfully called out to the demon from her spot on the living room couch, he was still pretty grouchy after the spider incident that morning. "What are you so happy about? Its eight-freakin'- thirty."
"Not a morning person, eh Jin?"
"No, I'm not. Rogerik's 'pets' woke me up early. How's that lil' bird? He still doing okay?" Jin's bad mood was slowly fading as he talked to Holly.
"Yeah. In fact, he was trying to fly out the window this morning, but he still could be sick." The witch caught Jin's sigh out of the corner of her eye. "What's wrong Jin? You seem to be a little down."
"Eh? Nah, its nothing much."
"I'm serious. And don't pull that 'nothing much' crap on me either."
"Really, its nothing!" Holly just stared and crunched her ice (an annoying habit, I know. I do the same thing all the time.). Jin could feel her eyes boring holes through his skull even as he walked into the kitchen, which was considerably cleaner than it had been twenty minutes ago. "If you ever want to talk, I'm always free. Just ask." Jin turned, and smiled. "Yeah, thanks. Huh?" He caught the fragile object Holly tossed at him and watched it dangle from the thin chain. "What's this for?" He asked the witch. "An early Christmas gift. Enjoy." Jin watched her squeeze past him into the kitchen and leave through the front door. "Um . . . thank you?" Shrugging, he carefully clipped the delicate chain around his neck and tucked the stone charm under his shirt.
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"All right . . . so we turn south here and continue down that path . . ." Lyra pointed to the well-worn trail that cut through the majestic forest on their way to the dorm. Kurama poked his head out of her messenger bag and growled. "Oh, really. Well then, why don't you lead the way, Oh mighty Kurama?" Lyra scooped the boy-turned-fox kit out of her bag and placed him on the ground in front of her. Instinctively, his bushy tail curled underneath his cream-colored belly and he started whining. Lyra sighed and kneeled, opening her bag so that Kurama could hop in. As soon as the kit saw what she was doing; however, he straightened his tail and held his delicate head up, then trotted off down the path. Lyra giggled at the macho act and slowly followed, careful not to pass Kurama or accidentally step on his tail.
It wasn't long before he was perched on her shoulders, barking out directions and guiding her through the dense wooded area. "Um . . . Kurama, I don't think we're close to the dorm . . . " Lyra glanced at the kit from the corner of her eye and once again took out her crystal pendulum. Kurama rolled his green eyes, and yawned. How many more times was she going to check that thing? He could smell the familiar herb garden even from way out in the woods. Downwind, a twig snapped and both fox and girl turned towards the sound.
Kurama hopped down from Lyra's narrow shoulders and went over to sniff at the nearby bush. "Kurama, be careful. It could be an undead." It seemed that Lyra had apparently jinxed them, as a rotting Satyr corpse strode out of the bushes. Kurama yipped and skittered back into Lyra's messenger bag. The satyr walked over to them, the bones in its left leg sticking out of the black, maggoty flesh with every step. Lyra flung up a defensive shield and started to run down the trail "We just get all the luck, don't we?" She panted to Kurama, who settled back farther in the bag and whimpered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lark peered down the laundry chute, swinging the hematite pendant in her hand. Luckily, Kuwabara wouldn't be too far from the chute and she could drop it in without him noticing the amulet actually fall. Soon, the red head came into view and she took careful aim, and then dropped the necklace. It thudded on his skull and Lark winced. So much for stealth . . .
"Huh? What's this?" Kuwabara watched the thick chunk of rock swing from its chain before tucking it in its pocket. "Guess I'll ask one of the girls if it's theirs . . . Oh no! I forgot fabric softener!" Lark shook her head in disbelief. Kuwabara was in the finals of the annual tournament, and all he could think about was laundry? "He is a sad, sad man . . ." She muttered to herself as she walked down the hall.
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"What the hell are you eating?" Yusuke stared as Rogerik took a bite out of a soy energy bar. The younger teen chewed and swallowed before replying to Yusuke, "I couldn't find much else. I don't really get hungry until later in the day, anyways."
"Yeah, but a soy bar? We do have muffins and stuff."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier, then? These things are disgusting." Rogerik tossed the half-eaten bar in the trash barrel and went over to scrounge in the pantry's far corners for baked goods. Yusuke leaned back on the corner and lazily gazed out the window, watching as the gulls flew in spiraling circles. "So . . . Have you seen Lark, Lyra, and Holly fight last year?" He asked; it was a poor conversation starter if anything else. Rogerik turned around, his search for a decent breakfast apparently unfruitful.
"Um, yeah. Why?"
"Nothing just curious."
"You want some pointers, huh? Info, perhaps?"
"Really?" Yusuke eagerly listened, but the look in Rogerik's eyes made him groan. "What do you want this time?"
"You learn quickly. Ten bucks, dude."
"What?! That's robbery!" Yusuke recoiled away from Rogerik, his hand possessively hovering over his wallet.
"It'll be even worse if a couple of school-girls beat the winners of the dark tournament.
"That isn't going to happen, Rogerik. Those three don't even stand a chance. "You don't know that much about their tactics; which is pretty sad since you've been living with them since late August. So . . ." Rogerik checked the calendar hanging on the wall before continuing. "It's almost mid-December now and you still haven't got a clue. The girls have probably been up late studying those tapes for over a week now." Damn . . . Yusuke had forgotten all about those tapes Koenma had sent Lark.
"But ten dollars? Don't you think that's a little high for info that's out of date, Rogerik?"
"Out of date? Whatever made you think I would swindle you like that?" Yusuke just balefully looked at Rogerik, and the blonde sighed. "Okay, okay. I'll give you a discount. How's five dollars sound?" He hopefully asked, not really expecting Yusuke to agree. Surprisingly, the Japanese boy grudgingly handed Rogerik a crumpled five-dollar bill. "Cool. Lyonell loaned me the tapes from last year's tournament and we've both recorded some of their last 'Offensive Tactics' classes. You can borrow the computer in my room, it can play DVDs." Rogerik fished out a small a small disc from his pocket and carefully placed it in Yusuke's hands. "Better hurry. The actual fight starts at noon and it already eleven"
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Jin floated outside the guesthouse, impatiently waiting for Kayko and Botan. "How long does it take to get ready?" He griped. Hiei stood on the branch of an old, dilapidated oak tree that totally ruled the front lawn. "Depends on who it is. Kurama can take longer than this when he feels like it." The two demons lounged around in silence for a couple minutes, until Holly zoomed by on her broom. "Whoa! Oi, Holly! Where're you off to in such a rush?" The witch skidded to a stop and hovered in mid-air, Kyuro clinging onto her for dear life. "Something's not right. Lyra should've been here hours ago! I'm going to go look for her and Kurama out near the spring. See ya later!" She gave the boys a peace signal and zoomed off again, heading slightly northwest.
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Lyra tripped over a tree root and stumbled, but regained her balance and quickly strengthened her shields. The satyr corpse swiped at her and lost its balance, toppling over onto its disfigured face. The monster lay still, face down on the needled covered forest floor. Kurama struggled out of Lyra's messenger bag and nervously sniffed at the prostrate cadaver. "Is it dead?" Lyra peered over Kurama's furry shoulder, ignoring the fox's glare, which basically said, 'No . . .really, Captain obvious?'
"LYRA!" The wind witch wheeled her broom around and called down to her friend. Lyra was down in the thick forest, poking a corpse with a stick. Holly floated down even lower and called out to her oblivious friend once again. "Lyra! Hey! Up here!" Holly onto the polished handle with one hand and waved down. Lyra finally noticed her and waved back up, totally ignoring the dead body. A small kit Lyra was traveling with hopped onto the water-manipulator's shoulder and started to loudly bark, trying to get the girl's attention as to what was going on behind them.
The monstrous being struggled to its feet in jerky movements, stretching up a grisly hand in an effort to take a swipe at Lyra. "Eep!" Holly dived down and stretched out a hand, which her friend managed to grab. As the two girls and their animalistic companions tore out of the woods like a bat out of Hell, Holly turned to Lyra. "What took you so long? We were worried sick." The older girl managed to balance her heavy bag on the back of the broom and righted herself. "Kinda busy . . . boy, I really was going in the wrong direction." She said, looking out over the horizon. Holly's broom kept climbing into the air, the girls desperate to get away from the hideous satyr.
"I'll say . . . You were heading away from the main campus. Have you seen Kurama?"
"Um, about that . . . can you promise not to tell anyone?" Holly stared at Lyra, barely dodging an incoming bird, and nodded. Lyra sighed in relief and whispered into the young witch's ear.
"Whoa! No kidding? That little fox really is Kurama?"
"Yeah . . . DUCK!" Holly skillfully swerved out of the way of a migrating flock of ducks and continued to stare at Kurama, who was looking a little sick. "Stop staring and hurry up! I want to take a shower and get changed before the match starts."
"Right-o. To the house! But, really, I didn't think he'd turn out to be so cute and fuzzy." Kurama growled a warning, and Holly quickened the pace. 'If the rest of the day is anything like this,' the witch thought, ' its gonna be World War Three back at the dorm.'
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KKC: It's done! Yes!
Kurama: You didn't even start the final match. All that work just to build up the early morning?
KKC: I have the gift of gab. Now, off to the Faire! *Dons medieval- style clothing*
Kurama: *sweatdrop* Faire? King Richard's Faire?
KKC: Correct, good sirrah! Now I must be off, for my carriage awaits! * Bows and runs out the door*
Kurama: You mean the family sedan?
KKC: Call it what ye may, Sir. I care not! To all reviewers, thy fourteenth chapter shall be up before next Wednesday! And may another section of "Wheel of Torture" grace your presence next week, as I am sure to have many new ideas of pain and suffering after visiting the Royal dungeon!
Kurama: -_-+ Can it and get going! *Pushes KKC out the front door and shoves her into the car. KKC is complaining all the way*
KKC: Sir, unhand me this instant or I shall unleash the dogs of war upon thee!
Kurama: *straps her in the car next to her brothers and talks to Chris* She's all yours. Have fun.
Chris: Oh, we will . . . we will. *Pulls out CD player and a Britney Spears CD*
KKC: *Looks at the CD in horror* *whimpers* Enma help me . . .