Okay, before I write anymore, I just want to say that this is going to be the last chapter for awhile, I'm going to be working on my Teen Titan's fiction until it's done. So sorry guys, but don't worry, Fiery Blossoms will continue! …Sooner or later. n.n
Well, that seems to be it. Thanks a bunch to all my reviewers so far, and a special thanks to SapphireAngel, whose helped me with revising these chapters! On with the actual FOURTH chapter of Fiery Blossoms!
And thank you /so/ much to the patiently waiting people! I will continue typing the chapters but it might take a bit of time to upload them. X.x
It was cold. That's what I remembered. Cold… and heartless, like the grins of past demons and humans. They were always cold, and unwelcoming. I just… didn't understand. Why?
My head was in a daze, a mess of nostalgia and memories. I had no idea why they came.
'She's still out? Good. I wasn't that sure of your abilities Shoot.'
'Shut it. It worked, didn't it?'
'Yeah, but you got burned in the process.'
'Shut up!'
'Will both of you be quiet? It's awfully irritating to try and travel with you two babbling on like that.'
'Fine. Just keep moving.'
'Why would I stop?'
Why was it so cold again? Oh yeah. I can't remember.
'Hiei! Hiei, wait a sec! Sage still isn't here!'
'Tough. We're going.'
'But Hiei-'
'I said; we're going.'
'SAAAAAAAGE!'
I was lost, a prisoner of my own memories.
'Good job. Now try throwing it.'
The fire burned my hand. 'Ow! That hurt! I just can't do it!'
'Hah hah! Don't worry, let me show you how.'
'…Okay.'
Somebody help me.
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Botan blinked her wide blue eyes in shock at what her eyes told her. "No…"
The piece of yellowed parchment fluttered in the breeze as she released the aging paper into the breeze, her hands shaking slightly in nervousness at what she had just read.
Her pink kimono was a directly opposite sign that she might have been the Grim Reaper, but it was true. Her sky blue hair was pulled into a high pony-tail, currently wavering in the wind.
'This can't be true…' She thought desperately. 'It just can't be! Saggi said…'
She yelped as she came back into reality, realizing the paper was floating away into the sky.
Her light brown paddle which she used as transportation, popped underneath her as she zoomed into the sky and grabbed the paper with her hands, safely tucking it into the right sleeve of her kimono. She turned her paddle toward the direction of Yusuke's school, starting to fly away, only to stop suddenly as she heard something she dreaded.
An ambulance rang in the distant side of the city, and she floated in the air, glaring angrily at where the noise had originated.
"Not now… now of all times…" She muttered under her breath, and looked in the direction of Yusuke, and then the accident. "Maybe…" She glanced in both directions again, "Oh I hate it when things like this happen! Humans! They never can live long enough, can they?" She puffed out her cheeks in irritation.
Her irritated expression softened, as she thought, 'Maybe it's just some sort of joke… But who would joke about such things? Even so… after this one that's all I'll have for today… Thankfully.'
She began to fly off in the direction of the ambulance, "Maybe it is just a joke…" Her expression turned worried as the wind ruffled her hair, "I'll tell Yusuke after this…"
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Yusuke Urameshi stomped down the sidewalk, fuming.
He was still in his rebel green school uniform, his lesson book tucked into the curve of his arm, his hands jammed into his pockets. His black hair was slicked back, only to have some of the strands fall loose from this hair-trap and dangle in front of his face.
"Stupid school… stupid teachers… stupid algebra…" He could be heard muttering distinctly.
Flames danced in his light brown eyes, he was back in school so soon and already the teachers were berating him for not being here. He gritted his teeth in anger, the sickly sound somehow satisfying for his mood.
People avoided the red-faced teen, whispering into each other's ears as they passed him.
"That's Yusuke Urameshi. Don't mess with him, or he'll mess you up."
"Stay in school honey, or you'll end up like him."
"I heard he just got back, and he beat up a guy who looked him in the eye. Can you believe that?"
"No way dude."
"Yeah that's right! Keep talkin' everyone!" Yusuke yelled so everyone could hear. "You save the world a couple times and this is how the world repays you…" Yusuke muttered irritably.
The crowd scattered and yelped, and Yusuke kept walking around the corner… right into Shuichi Minamino.
"Oh. Kurama. Sorry about that man." Yusuke spoke, still angry but calmed slightly by the sight of his crimson haired fox-demon friend.
"It's all right Yusuke. What were you yelling about?" Kurama asked in his low melodious voice.
Schoolgirls blushed and hovered nearby in groups, unlike Yusuke's earlier crowd, eager to catch a glimpse of the attractive young emerald-eyed teen, still in his maroon school uniform. His feminine looks, with his red hair reaching down to his back and dreamy green eyes just added to this effect. His eyes were never troubled by anything, with gave them a far-away look, forever day-dreaming. They giggled, and many of them threw hopeful glances at the teen, hoping he'd look at them but quickly looking away, just in case Kurama caught one of their giggly looks.
"Nothing. Just stupid school stuff…" Yusuke grumbled, his former anger seeming sort of stupid now in the face of his level-headed friend.
"Ahh…" Kurama nodded in acknowledgement of what Yusuke had said.
"So… what's my favorite fox-boy doing on this side of town? Isn't your school, well, on the other side of town?" Yusuke asked, as the two kept walking down the bustling city sidewalk.
"Well, actually I was looking for you, Kuwabara, or Saggi. Or even Hiei for that matter. I was hoping that finding Hiei would be simpler than this, but it seems like he doesn't want to be found." Kurama looked thoughtfully at the sky.
"Oh. Why's that?" Yusuke raised his eyebrows.
"Well I-" He began.
"HEY! Guys!" Kuwabara came racing up between the two, putting an arm around each of their shoulders. "What's up? I never thought I'd find you two on my way to the video arcade!"
"Yeah yeah yeah," Yusuke took his free hand and picked Kuwabara's arm off of his shoulder, "That's fascinating." He looked around, "Where're Okubo and your other buddies?"
"Oh. They had stuff to do." Kuwabara shrugged, his light blue school uniform straining slightly at the sleeves. His normal orange hair was still fixed into its usual position. He took his other arm off of Kurama's shoulder, who had remained quiet the whole time and made a thoughtful stance with his hands while walking.
"Kuwabara," Kurama began, ignoring Yusuke's sniggering as the trio started walking down the sidewalk again. "Did you happen to notice anything last night?"
"What? Hmm… Now that you mention it Kurama, there was a weird disturbance sometime around the sunset. Why?" Kuwabara gave both of them an odd look.
The group reached the small park located in the middle of the city, and began walking down the now deserted pathway, others rushing past them to get out of the park, eager to go back to their homes or to restaurants with friends.
"Hmmm… just wondering." Kurama narrowed his eyes and stared at the ground.
Yusuke's eyes grew dark with the memories of the Dark Tournament, saying, "Why? You sayin' there's something wrong? I just beat Toguro, there can't be anything wrong. …Nothing so soon…" He murmured the last part, mostly to himself.
The threesome reached a park bench, and Kurama sat down while Kuwabara and Yusuke stood, their hands in their pockets. The whole group looked rather grim.
"So, you decided to talk without me? I feel so left out." Hiei appeared beside the bench, in his usual drab black outfit. His right arm was still bandaged heavily, up to the shoulder with raggedy faded white bandages. A silver katana lay hidden in its sheath on Hiei's side.
"Hey Hiei. Sorry about that. You tend to disappear whenever we actually need you." Yusuke responded to his greeting.
"Hn." His only response was a grunt.
"Hey…" Kuwabara looked around, as though expecting something to jump out of the bushes. "Where's Saggi?"
"Excellent question," Hiei muttered dryly.
"Oh c'mon guys, she was going to hang around with Botan today, remember? She and Botan kept telling us all yesterday. I'm sure they're out somewhere right now." Yusuke relaxed, and pulled his hands out of his pockets.
Kurama shook his head gently. "No. I don't believe that's right. I—." He began but was cut off by the sound of a quickly descending object.
"—Hello hello everyone! I've been looking all over for you four! This is just a wonderful coincidence wouldn't you say? Ever since my stupid Spirit Watch broke, I haven't been able to locate any of you! And, you know, I have something important to say!" Botan floated down on her paddle and hopped off, twirling it in her hands before resting it on her shoulder, rushing over to the four.
"Wow. Must be a miracle, Botan, you having something important to say." Yusuke grinned slyly before Botan turned suddenly, 'accidentally' whacking Yusuke with the paddle, as she innocently said her greetings to Kurama.
A large bruise started to form on Yusuke's left cheek, as he angrily got up from where the paddle had beat him to the ground. He growled irritably as he began to attack Botan; only to have the paddle hit him in the face again as she said hello to Kuwabara and Hiei.
During this process, Kurama said hello, rather lightly, trying to ignore the usual Yusuke-Botan banter, 'Well, it seems to be going along nicely today.'
Kuwabara chuckled and snorted, his hand in his mouth trying to stop from laughing, 'Urameshi's such an idiot! Hah hah hah hah… hee hee hee…'
Hiei stared at all of them like they were freaks, 'Hn.'
After Yusuke begrudgingly got back up—carefully, in fear of flying paddles—he asked Botan, "So what is this whole wonderful visitation about?" And, as an afterthought, he added, "I think I'm gonna have a bruise now Botan…"
"I don't know what you're talking about Yusuke." She said lightly waving away the matter with her hand. "But seriously boys," she began, and started to reach down the right sleeve of her kimono, "there's something we need to talk about."
She drew her hand out, and, dangling between her index finger and thumb, was a folded yellow paper, crinkling slightly at the ends with age. It was folded in half with a red seal printed on top.
"This is it."
Immediately, Yusuke grabbed the paper from her hands with lightning speed, Botan yelped slightly with surprise as the paper was taken from her grasp.
Yusuke stood next to Botan with the paper in both hands, staring at the intricate design while the others gathered around them, even Hiei.
The candle-wax seal was dull, and there was a large single crack down the center of it, seeing as Botan had obviously already opened it.
It was a strange seal, with interlocking symbols in a circle, each grasping ahold of the one in front of them, somehow. A raven clamped down over the tail of the male lion with its beak. The large creature had its paws intertwined around a thorny vine, and lastly a strange crackly symbol, which ruffled the feathers of the raven. An open mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth, and within the mouth, a simple letter of 'S.'
"Are we going to stand around staring at some stupid crest all day long or are we going to open it?" Botan asked irritably, interrupting everyone's thoughts with her speech and the continuous tapping of her foot.
"C'mon Botan, we just got it. Who knows how long you've had this thing anyway." Yusuke said nonchalantly, waving the still folded paper in front of her nose.
"Shut up and get on with it already Yusuke!" Botan yelled in his face.
The two stood fuming at each other for a few seconds; meanwhile Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara had taken the letter, opened it, and began reading.
"HEY!" The two yelled, whirling around with rage at the sight of their friends.
"Well, it certainly seemed like we'd never get it open. Your mindless arguments amaze me every time." Hiei gave them a pointless look with a hint of boredom.
Yusuke was silent for a moment, before continuing, "Okay, fine. You're right. Give it here Kurama." He said, holding out his hand. "If we're going to read it, we might as well do it together.
Kurama hesitated for a moment, then smiled warmly and handed the now open piece of paper into Yusuke's hand, who then cleared his throat and began reading.
'Oh Yusuke. You've already grown up a lot. Hard to believe that a year ago you were just some snot-nosed noisy brat of a teenager. Who would've known?' Botan smiled wryly and then listened to what Yusuke was saying.
"…Dearest of fighters.
Okay, mostly Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Hiei, but continuing on, shall we?"
Kuwabara made an odd look. "Gee that's weird. Some weirdo sends us a letter and starts it off with an attempt at humor?"
"Shush!" Botan put her hand over his mouth and they continued.
"It would seem by now that you've finally figured out that your poor friend Saggi is nowhere to be found. 'Where could she be? I assume you all are crying, 'Boo-hoo.'
Sorry, but we've taken her out for a little play date. I suppose all of you could call it a game of Intense Hide-and-go-Seek, the silly little human game that children play."
Hiei and the others tensed slightly, at the light mood of the letter. Yusuke's grip became more strained.
"She was a bit hesitant at playing with us at first, but we soon convinced her otherwise, no worries.
She's quite safe with us now, don't worry. More or less that is.
If you want to find her, please do go to the directions located on the lower part of this letter, within the next few days, of course, otherwise Saggi will have to keep hiding forever, now, won't she?
Sincerely,
The Ever-So-Devoted Members of the Fundamentals
PS. And no, Kuwabara, the name was not meant to rhyme."
No laughter came from the group. Kuwabara's mouth opened, just about to make a comment about the name. He shut his mouth with a sour look on his face, clearly upset the 'Members' had stolen his thunder.
"Well, it certainly seems that these 'Fundamentals' have done their homework." Kurama noted this dryly, as the letter was crumpled into Yusuke's right hand, which was by now was trembling with restrained fury.
Silence greeted Kurama's words, as Yusuke then began to speak. "Botan."
"Yes?" Botan asked weakly, her hands hiding inside her kimono, near the opening of her mouth, in the form of gasping. She hated that note. It was harder reading it alone.
"Contact Koenma. We need to find Saggi. Now." Yusuke grasped the note harder, 'Whoever these scumbags are they're going down.'
Kurama narrowed his eyes and looked at the sky, so sweet and innocent despite the horror unraveling on the ground. 'Where is she…?' He wondered, and glanced at Hiei.
Hiei's brows were furrowed down at a point, his eyes closed. Anger eminated from his body. Kurama thought to himself, 'This cannot be good. Yusuke is near the breaking point, Botan nervous and frightened, Hiei upset. That's all that needs to be said. Kuwabara and I are the most level-headed at this point. Though I'm not sure if that's a good thing. If our group is to overcome this ordeal, we need to stick together more than ever. If not, I fear that this mysterious group will succeed in whatever their plan is.'
The birds in the trees nearby seemed to sense the tension among the group, fluttering out of their tree and into the air, twittering amongst themselves. They slipped away into the never-ending sky, to where all people and demons wished they could escape to.
Whew! Think that'll satisfy you guys for a bit? Good! It took me long enough to finish! An all-nighter and then some! XD (( And sorry if the first part is confusing, it's supposed to be like that. Sorta. O.o ))
Please review, and I'm sorry for leavin' you guys with a cliffhanger!! n.n; but don't worry, I promise that as soon as my other fiction is done, this one will take off! n.n
If I have the extra time, I just might add a couple chapters while finishing the other one, but don't be too hopeful. n.n;
Please review and wait patiently! :D