Disclaimer: Don't own YYH.
Thanks to my reviewers:
escptheshdw835- Thanks a lot! I'm really glad you like my work. Enjoy this chapter!
A Life of Rules is No Fun- I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait a little while longer to see what happens to Runae…there's not much of him in this chapter. Thanks for the death threats against him…I try to make him a very unlikable character, so I guess I've succeeded -)
Julie Long- Hold on to your hat, 'cause it just keeps getting deeper from here!
Suma goddess of darkness- Thanks! Glad you like it!
Dreamstar22- Thanks a lot! Actually I think you're the first person to comment on the Detective levels and the language of Sparian. I make up many languages and the pronunciation is usually based on the pronunciation of Japanese, but occasionally it's mixed with English. I love creating new languages. I usually use them a lot in my stories, and sometimes I use them on my friends (They have NO idea what I'm saying…) It's great fun. I'll have to read your story when I get the chance! About Jerin…I sort of based him on Hiei without meaning to. I tried to make him an almost dislikable character but with an explanation for his personality. And you're right, Korio in the hood…that would be a very interesting plot twist indeed…
Here's the next chapter! Enjoy and please review!
…………………
Yusuke and Kuwabara awoke with stiff muscles.
"Man, sleepin' on the ground sure is tough!" Kuwabara complained while rubbing his sore neck.
Then something hit him in the head. "Ow!" he exclaimed. Another piece of something was headed toward his friend, but Yusuke neatly caught it.
The Detective looked down to see a large red something in his hand. Both teens looked up to see who had thrown it.
They saw Jerin giving them a cold glance. More of the red objects were resting in the crook of his arm. "Get used to it," he said. "You won't be getting back to your fluffy mattresses for quite a while."
Yusuke was about to reply when Korio walked in. "Good morning!" the Master Detective said brightly. He grabbed one of the red objects from Jerin and bit into it.
"Gross! What the heck is that?!" Kuwabara exclaimed as red juice flowed out of it.
Jerin glared at him and proceeded to take a bite out of one himself.
Korio swallowed. "It's a Makai fruit called nijar," he explained. "It grows wild in this area. Besides being quite tasty, it's said to have strengthening powers that help during long journeys. It's also used as an ingredient for a healing salve."
Both Yusuke and Kuwabara eyed their nijar warily, but after seeing Korio complete his, and with motivation from their growling stomachs, they cautiously took a bite.
Yusuke's eyes widened at the sweet taste and began to gobble his down hungrily. Kuwabara ate only a millisecond more slowly.
Ioe and Kir entered the cave. Both looked slightly wet as if they had taken a morning swim.
"Nijar!" Kir yelled, and dove at Jerin to get some of the fruit.
The demon hunter was caught unaware, and the young water sprite toppled him over. Red fruit went flying everywhere. Luckily, it didn't splatter as it hit the floor.
Ioe sighed with annoyance and tried his best to catch the nijar before it rolled outside the cave.
"Aronae!" Jerin spat, shoving Kir off him.
Then Jin zoomed in the cave entrance. His eyes nearly bugged out of their sockets. "NIJAR!" he yelled, and dove for some, knocking Ioe down in the process.
Kir scrambled to get the fruit before Jin did, slamming Jerin in the jaw with his foot.
"Serio ka jasai!" the demon hunter roared. The cave began to shake with his anger.
Everyone froze in place. Ioe was lying helpless under Jin, who had tried to shove three nijar into his mouth at the same time and ended up gagging. Kir had five nijar and had been trying to get his hands on more, even though his ankle was in the grasp of a very angry Sparian.
"I've had enough of you fools," Jerin spat. "Get up and cut it out." The cave stopped shaking, and everyone tried to straighten up.
Jerin then shot Korio a fierce glare. The Master Detective, along with the two human teens, was howling with laughter.
"It's not funny," the Sparian growled. "Korio, ana re saia rito setai."
Korio immediately stopped laughing. "Jerin, I..."
But the Sparian was gone faster then Yusuke could blink.
&&&&&
There was the sound of boots outside the lab. Runae muttered the password to allow his visitor inside.
"Is he dealt with?" the Junik asked without looking up from his work.
"For now," Karasu replied. "He is injured but unfortunately still conscious." His violet eyes shimmered at this statement.
"Good. I have something else planned for him, after all. Wouldn't want him to miss it."
The Master of Bombs looked down to see what Runae was working so intently on, but the Junik quickly covered it. "You'll see soon enough," he said.
Karasu looked annoyed but turned away. "I appreciate your taking me back into this world," he said coolly. "But, I do expect something in return for my service."
"You will have whatever you desire when we are finished with our work," Runae replied.
"My only desire is to kill Kurama," Karasu murmured.
Runae smirked. "Even that desire shall be fulfilled, I promise you."
A smile of anticipation lay hidden beneath the silver metal mask.
&&&&&
"Kurama!"
The fox's breathing was jerky, but Hiei could tell he was still conscious. Just barely conscious.
"Kurama, listen to me!"
He knew what slipping into unconsciousness could do to Kurama now. Once he fell asleep, he would probably never again wake.
"Kurama, please! You have to stay with me!"
The scent of his friend's blood was overpowering. He could see the crimson puddle as it continued to spread from the fox's body. It was driving him crazy.
"Kurama!"
&&&&&
"What was that all about?" Yusuke asked.
"Yeah, what was that weird stuff he said?" Kuwabara questioned.
Korio looked down and shook his head. "He's been so agitated lately..." He rose from his place on the bed and walked past Jin, Ioe, and Kir, who were picking up the fallen nijar, to the cave entrance. "I have to leave for a while. When I get back we can head out."
Before anyone could protest, there was a burst of white and blue flames, and he was gone.
&&&&&
Jerin sat in the clearing of a distant wood. It was truly beautiful. Fire had destroyed this area years ago, but nature always has a way of coming back.
The Sparian always felt at peace here. It was the place of his birth. It was also the place of his tribe's death.
The bodies lay buried on the far end of the clearing. His sister was among them. Out of all the people slaughtered that day, it was she who left the deepest scar on Jerin's heart.
He blamed himself for her death. He was her older brother. He should have been there to protect her. Instead he had been off in the forest, disobeying his parents. He should have died that day. Not her.
The trees swayed as they felt his painful memories. The grass rustled in his despair. The wind heard his thoughts and echoed the dying screams of his kin.
"I'm sorry, Jerin."
The demon hunter didn't flinch when he heard Korio's voice, and he didn't answer.
His friend sat beside him. "Listen, I know it's hard for you to work with the others. It's hard for me, too. But we can't do this alone, Jerin. We need everyone's help to win this battle."
No answer.
"Jerin, talk to me. You only come here when you're upset. What's wrong? Please tell me."
Silence.
Korio sighed. "If you don't want to talk, that's okay. I'll just go back to camp and we'll start out. You just meet up with us when you're ready."
He rose and began to walk away.
"It's not simply the humans."
Korio turned at his friend's voice.
Jerin breathed deeply. "It's just...you never know who you can trust." His eyes locked with Korio's.
((You can trust me, Jerin,)) Korio's eyes said.
The Master Detective was gone in a burst of flame.
"The question is," Jerin whispered, looking down and clenching his fists, "Can you trust me?"