Riddle me This, Riddle me That
"What sort of test?" demanded Hiei.
"A riddle, dear Forbidden Child." The figure answered, voice unperturbed.
"I despise mind games woman." Hiei glared at her. His eyes widened when he realized something. "How did you know?"
"Know what Hiei?" The woman sneered as she mocked innocence.
"Kurama's name, and mine?"
"Yes, that's right. You did know my name…" Kurama said stepping over towards the boat.
"I know many things you wouldn't expect gentlemen." She paused for a moment. "Excuse me, I have been rude haven't I? You don't even know my name. It's Kisami, though you probably need not remember."
"And why is that Ms. Know-it-all?" Yusuke said cockily.
"That is because detective, you may not make it out of here alive…"
"Hey, I'm sick of all this talking. Let's pass her stupid test and get what we need from the sisters." Kuwabara complained as he gazed around, still sopping wet.
"For once I agree with you. Alright lady, what's your riddle so we can get going?" Yusuke tapped his foot impatiently.
Kisami smiled as she removed her hood, revealing white hair and pale blue eyes. "Quite confident aren't you?" She didn't bother to wait for an
answer," Riddle me this; riddle me that. Accept this ordeal and there's no turning back. If you answer correctly, there's nothing to fear, but if your answer is false, your soul shall stay here. So tell me, are you going to risk it?"
The four Rekai Tantei looked at each other the answer was plain, "Of course."
She closed her eyes and smiled, *The only one with a real chance of solving this is Kurama, and I don't think even he will be able to get it correct.* "Alright then. Here's the riddle: Six sat. Seven Sprung. From the dead, the living come. You will each get one chance to answer. To be fair to you, if the first three answer incorrectly the last one will be able to save them. But when your answer is wrong you will lose your voice and, " She smirked at Hiei, "you're ability to use telepathy, leaving you unable to help your friends. Do you understand?" They all nodded. "Good. Now who shall answer first?"
It remained quiet for a while, as the Tantei contemplated the riddle, knowing that if they answered incorrectly, their spirits would die. This thought especially made Kuwabara shudder. They looked at each other, speaking through their eyes instead of their voice until suddenly Yusuke stepped forward.
"Hell, I'll go first."
Kisami nodded her head, "Excellent. The one with the biggest mouth will lose his voice first."
Hiei snorted, " I agree Yusuke does talk a lot, but that prize would go to the ningen oaf, woman."
"Listen here shrimp—"
"Hey, will you two shut up, I'm trying to think here…" Yusuke stepped between the feuding teammates.
"To think I saved your worthless hide." Hiei muttered.
"Who's worthless!?" Challenged Kuwabara, but Hiei didn't even bother to answer.
Kisami sighed, "And your answer is, detective?"
Yusuke closed his eyes, "Friday the Thirteenth."
"Geez, and people call me stupid…" Kuwabara commented to himself.
"What do you mean by that baka? It's a perfectly good answer!"
"Oh yeah? Well prove it then!"
"Well, in the movie Jason comes back to life and kills everyone. You know, from the dead the living come… Get it? So we get to cross the river now!"
He heard laughter behind him, "Right, well unfortunately that is an incorrect answer." As Yusuke was about to mouth off to her he found his ability to speak gone. "No no. You see the deal was, you get it wrong, you lose your voice. The reason it is an incorrect answer is that you happened to forget about the first part of the riddle, and even so, the last part was wrong too. Tsk, tsk, tsk… So who's next?"
Kurama strode forward confidently. "I shall be the next and the last."
Hiei glared at him. ~*Kurama, I don't believe it's wise for you to go now. You should go last so you may have a chance to earn more clues. I know you're anxious and you want to find out more about Botan, but don't let it cloud you're judgment.*~
Kurama smiled back at his friend ~*Don't worry Hiei, I'm positive I have the answer. *~ He missed the unapproving shake of his friend's head.
"A little cocky aren't you fox? No matter, what is your answer? Oh, and please remember to think of the whole riddle before you run your mouth. I get so very tired from all these idiotic solutions." Yusuke glared.
"Six sat. Seven sprung. From the dead the living come." Kurama repeated the riddle to himself, before he gave a cocky Youko like smile. "The answer is flowers, or the seeds of them at least."
"Uh, I don't get it…" Kuwabara scratched his head.
"Let me explain. There are six seeds in the ground. When watered and grown they produce six stems and seven flower buds. They are grown in ground where other plants have decomposed. Do you understand now Kuwabara?"
"Yeah…"
"Very crafty, one of the most interesting answers yet, though not a huge surprise coming from you. Yet, I'm afraid it is incorrect, very close, but nonetheless wrong." Kisami closed her fist as if taking Kurama's voice.
Kurama's eyes widened and his voice was gone.
"This time I won't be explaining why, I have business to attend to so I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry." Kisami said nonchalantly.
Hiei stepped up. "I'm next."
Kisami smiled knowingly. "I know that you have been trying to penetrate my mind for a clue or so, but sorry to say, I have completely blocked you out. So don't bother trying anymore. Because after you answer this wrong, you won't even be able to speak with your mute friends through telepathy."
Hiei growled, "Watch what you say onna, or prepare to die."
Kisami just laughed some more, "Oh really? Didn't anyone ever tell you that you can't kill an immortal?" Hiei stepped back in shock. "Surprised? I can't blame you. That's why, as the keeper of this river and protector of the Sisters, I fear no one. But to be fair, the sisters allow me to give unwelcome visitors a small chance at living. A very meager chance might I add."
"Shut up and let's get started." Hiei glared, "My answer is snake eggs."
Kuwabara hit his face, "Now we're all doomed."
"Shut up baka, and let me finish!" Hiei seethed. "Hn. My answer is snake eggs, six of them. Those six eggs hatch plus you have the mother, so that's seven sprung. The snake's nest is in a skull of a dead animal. Got it? Come on, I don't have enough time to waste it on you." Hiei turned, his cloak trailing behind him when he heard Kisami's voice rising clear and high above him.
"Foolish Koorime. And I thought no one in this group could be any more arrogant than the Youko. But I have been proven wrong yet again. Say goodbye." Then Hiei's voice was gone.
All eyes turned to Kuwabara, who stood there dumbly, not knowing what to do. Kisami beckoned to him, "My next and last victim."
Kuwabara
gulped down his fear, "This can't be good…"
A/N: Hehehehe, I'm so evil aren't I? -lol- Cliff Hanger!!! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, it's not my best. I've had writer's block for the longest time!!! Sorry if it's been a while!! I haven't been able to update because my grandmother passed away and I didn't get a chance to update. Well, here's your teaser for the next chapter!!
Chapter Four: *Untitled for now*
So it's up to Kuwabara to save all of them, and not with his strength but with his…brains?!? How did this happen? Well, if Kuwabara does happen to stumble upon the correct answer and they do somehow get across the river they still have another obstacle to face! Something along the lines of a deadly maze that can materialize their greatest fears and use them against each other! It seems like with every step they get closer to the sisters they face something even more difficult. But they have to, for their friend…