A/N: Thanks for sticking by so far! Enjoy the next installment!
"HA! YAROU!" Hiei shouted as he submerged himself in blazing ki. Kurama's eyes widened once he noticed that the pictures turned into a crispy black amongst the impressive inferno.
"Why me? Alas, my partner in crime," the redhead cried theatrically, throwing a limb across his eyes and sarcastically weeping. Hiei smirked triumphantly and walked toward the 'troubled' kitsune.
"Now you all have witnessed the debonair craftiness of Jaganshi Hiei," the cocky fire demon announced proudly, turning his nose up at the now hysterical Kurama.
"WHYYYY! I'm so hurt that I can't even talk to you! I can't even LOOK at you! That's how horribly thou hath betrayed me!"
Yusuke's eyes rolled down to half-mast. "Dude…cut the Shakespeare crap. He's been dead for what was it…thousands of years or something?" He involuntarily looked toward HIS partner in crime for the answer. But to no avail. He was still knocked out thanks to the freakily possessed Robot Krabs (who had uncanny timing to make his cameo appearance once Spongebob was in fact mentioned).
"Well, there's no use in crying over spilt ALCOHOL," Kurama hollered as he sat in a random corner. "I think I'll sit HERE. Out of the WAY. Studying Biology and minding my own business!" Yusuke and Botan exchanged a very worried glance.
"My money's on Kurama, that it is…" Kenshin noted.
"Yep…he's got more pictures…" Kaoru added, shaking her head at the now cackling hi-youkai.
"Hey, Kurama? Wanna, uh, gimme some help? I'm just barely passing Biology 23..." whined Yusuke.
"Why, sure, I'd love to bestow upon you some of my great, AP Biology knowledge with you," Kurama replied, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, then," Yusuke began, "What's with all that cell respiration mumbo jumbo..."
He was interrupted by Kurama's overly-loud laughter. "That's funny. You thought I was serious." He then commenced to return to his trusty, thick-spined biology text book. Yusuke, frustrated by the grinning Kurama and the cackling Hiei, turned on Kenshin and Kaoru, interrupting their conversation about plans for their upcoming wedding. Kenshin held up a hand before the rambunctious teen could even begin to talk.
"Not now, Yusuke," Kaoru pleaded.
"Well, jeez..." Yusuke muttered, very put out by every one ignoring him. He put his back against the wall near where Youko was just rousing from his unconsciousness and slid down until he hit the floor. Youko blinked a few times and perched himself into a sitting position, rubbing the large bump that had formed on the back of his head. "Good, you're awake," Yusuke said, rubbing his hands together menacingly.
"Um, Yusuk, I really don't like those looks you're giving to everyone on the other side of the car..."
"Well, what the hell am I supposed to do when everyone's freaking ignoring me? How would YOU like it if, for one thing, some accursed FOX," Yusuke paused dramatically, evil eyeing the aforementioned kitsune, "ignores your desperate plea to pass class?"
Youko scratched his head vaguely. "Man, first off, I don't have that kind of problem in school. Like I said before, I'm in college…"
Kurama smiled at the prodigy, Yusuke just rolled his eyes, "Dude, you're not supposed to make me look like crap here."
"Well, let's see it from a different point of view," Kurama interposed, jabbing a finger in the air. "Hiei has never been to school before and I am sure that you are smarter than he is." Hiei's eye suddenly twitched madly at the thought of dragging him into the argument.
"Kitsune! Shut up! I thought that I had finally kept you quiet after I burned those accursed things!"
Kurama sighed in a semi-defeatist manner. "Hmm, right I forgot all about those pictures. Darn…" Snapping his fingers lethargically and proceeding to read his Biology textbook, Yusuke was tempted to either freak out, or scream manically.
"That's it! Who here is getting really annoyed with Kurama!" The teen shouted, pointing fingers at the poor, innocent student.
"I know for one thing, I am…" Hiei muttered cynically.
"You don't really mean that, guys?" Kurama inquired, standing up and banging his foot on the ground.
"Yup," Sanosuke muttered. "Yusuke's mad at ya 'cause you didn't help him out before. Well, that and the fact that you're being pretty stuck up." Kenshin's eyes widened as he listened to the colorful words that his best friend happened to be saying.
"Sano, that isn't nice, that it isn't!" Kenshin defended.
Yusuke only snorted in disgust. "Well, Whaddya expect, here? It's bishounen helping bishounen. All right then! If that's the way ya wanna play, then we're splitting up into teams! It's me, the Youk-man, Hiei, and you Sano! Get over here! Everyone else, don't cross this line!" Yusuke folded his arms smugly and laughed at his own commando-ing accomplishments. Kurama just put a hand up to his forehead and sighed heavily.
Kurama closed his eyes, shaking his head. "We are not demeaning ourselves to the point of physical combat..." Kurama trailed off as he opened his eyes to find Yusuke's spirit finger pointing straight at his forehead. Kurama put up his hands, nervously smiling and slowly backing away while Kenshin automatically protectively shielded Kaoru with one hand as he put the other on the hilt of his sword. Sanosuke cracked his knuckles as Youko looked around and shrugged, ready for whatever. Hiei menacingly glared at his most hated bishounen of the moment, his flaring temper matching his inner fire demon.
Almost anticlimactically, one of the remaining windows of the train burst open, revealing a large form that came tumbling into the room. Before the newcomer could say, "Oy, fuckas!" Kenshin was off, starting into one of his (almost)deadly attacks. Kenshin screamed "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu Sho Sen!", launching his attack at the seemingly Australian visitor. "What was that? Trayn-sah-late yahself, mate!"the Aussi screamed right back, but before Kenshin could give him an answer, he was sent flying, in slow motion, towards the back of the car. Youko and Sano looked in amazement as his body was sent flying backwards. Hiei and Yusuke were far too involved staring at Kurama evilly to notice.
"Hey, Kenshin! I didn't know your sword could slow down time, too! That's sweet!" He and Youko high-fived until they got near-deadly stares from Yusuke and Hiei. "Um..." Youko stuttered, "We, uh, we meant, uh, Kenshin sucks! Go Mr. Aussi!"
"Yah freaks neahly beat thah crap outta me! What in ahl tha blazes is goin' ohn!" The Aussi screamed, passionately waving his hands in the air.
"You tell us, baka ningen…" Hiei muttered angrily, folding his arms across his chest, feeling a bit too smug for everyone else's tastes.
"I duhno how the heeel I got heah! I mean, maybe it was that ninjeeh…"
Yusuke cocked an eyebrow questioningly. "Shinobi? You mean Jin or something?"
The Aussi paused for a moment. "Who's Jihn! Nah, he wahsn't tha guy… I was on this quest befohh…" Hiei balled up a fist, unable to deal with the Australian's heavy accent.
"Oh no, I don't have a good feeling about this, that I don't…" Kenshin muttered, eyeing the temperamental fire demon and the foreigner. Demon. Foreigner.
"….Kono yarou! Jagan no chikara o nameru dayou! Ensatsu KOKURYUUHA!"
All eyes landed on the poor Aussi who had (un)fortunately managed to tick Hiei off even further. "And you didn't even translate for him," Kaoru noted forlornly, staring down at the pile of ash that was now the random traveler… who, for some strange reason, had decided to come aboard the train of raging freaks in the first place.
"Wow…Hiei… I know that you've got a short fuse but how come you took out all your anger on this dude, rather than wasting Kurama?" That said bishounen suddenly flinched and Hiei glared menacingly at poor Kurama. "YES!" The Tantei screamed, punching a victorious fist into the air. "Now that that random loser is gone, let the war commence!"
Sanosuke suddenly hung his head. "I liked that random loser for some reason…"
Yusuke scrunched up his forehead in confusion. "War is better, buddy. Trust me. Take it from ME! The pro at killing evil scum!" Kenshin rolled his eyes.
"I do believe that he has been exposed to too much violence for today…"
"Not quite," quipped Hiei, "We're just getting our revenge out now. After all, Kurama still hasn't paid for the humiliation he's put me through."
Kurama suddenly had a mysterious twinkle in his eye. "Hmm… and I do believe…that I am not finished…"
"Shit!" Youko wailed in a defeatist tone, throwing his arms up in defeat. "MORE FREAKISH SCHEMES, NO DOUBT!"
Faster than Kurama could say "Rose whip!", Hiei jumped on Kurama, forgetting completely his speed, skill with a katana, and fire demon powers. The redhead let out a blood curdling scream as the pair entangled themselves in one compromising position after another. Kenshin, using the swiftness of his sword, forced the air towards the fray, pushing Kurama and Hiei into the next car.
"Now that that's over with..." Kenshin and Kaoru both breathed sighs of relief.
They were about to sit down and continue their interrupted wedding conversation when Yusuke burst out, "What the EFF do you think you're doing! That was gonna be an AWESOME BRAWL!" As Sanosuke went off to sulk in the corner over his dead Aussi friend, Yusuke lunged at Kenshin going out for a full-frontal physical attack. In one fluid movement, our other redheaded bishounen had taken the juvenile delinquent's two balled fists and tied them behind his back.
"Think about it, Yusuke. Your troubled soul, your bottled up anger, and your lesser experience than mine. Do you really think you can win this without getting seriously injured?" Kenshin questioned in his best dramatic voice.
"Oh! Don't EVEN go all Rent-a-Shrink on me!" Yusuke hollered back, delivering a rather strong kick to Kenshin's groin.
Kenshin had heard himself shriek like a schoolgirl once he had felt the obvious pain that was delivered by Yusuke's wrath. It was inevitable really. "Next time you go and give me those screwed up lectures, think about your balls going BYE BYE!" Kenshin hugged his knees on the floor before promptly hearing noises coming from the next car. Kurama and Hiei no doubt. The question on everyone's minds was: were they both even alive? Considering Hiei's fiery temper, probably not.
"I got bets on FLAME BOY!" Youko shrieked, waving 5,000 yen in the air frantically. Yusuke rose to the challenge. He waved 7,000 yen in the air.
"Dude..." Sanosuke muttered. "You really don't look like you'd be the type to carry a lot of cash around... did you steal it?"
"Err...no... and anyways, that's not even the point, is it?" Sanosuke shrugged. "So how bout you, Kenshin? You in?"
The redhead delivered the Reikai Tantei a malevolent glare. "I just got kicked by you...and now you're asking if I want to participate in a foolish bet? Just who do you take me for?"
"Er... an idiot?" Yusuke suggested, his face enveloped in a certain pensive demeanor. Screams could suddenly be heard from the aforementioned car in which Hiei and Kurama were...supposedly killing each other.
"Get ready to cough up 12,000 yen, bud!" Youko screeched, ever ready to see what the result of the hard-core brawl would be. Of course he'd be doing the coughing if Kurama somehow came out unscathed in Hiei's stead.
With a sudden thud, all in the next car fell silent. As the door swished open, Youko and Yusuke held their breath, waiting to see which demon fighterwould emerge victorious. Kurama's red head bobbed through the door and Yusuke screeched at the top of his lungs, jumping on top of Kurama. Youko hung his head, sulking over to one of the benches that lined the steel train car.
After Yusuke was done screeching and congratulating Kurama, he walked over to Youko to collect his earnings. The valedictorian took the money out of his back pocket, preparing to reluctantly hand it over to his juvenile delinquent pal, as the aforementioned troublemaker called over his shoulder, "I know how to bet 'em, eh, Kura-chan?"
Just as Kurama was about to respond to Yusuke's arrogant and annoying comment, his feet were pulled out from under him and he was seemingly sucked back into the other car, from which Hiei's furious shouts and…were those moans! Hmm. "La, la, la, LA!" Kaoru shrieked, drowning out the, erm...odd noises from the other car, Yusuke's cursing, Youko's shouts of hope, and Kenshin's groans as he grabbed gingerly onto his pained lower region.
A/N: Just what ARE those moanings all about? O.O;; Next chapter: coming soon! Please review! Ja ne...!
Son Christine and TheNautiDolphin