Authoress here.

I truly, completely, deeply loathe Writer's Block. That's all there is to it.

Yujo Chronicles: The Final Chapter
Chapter Fourteen: Slap-Dash Decisions

Katsu was getting increasingly nervous as Emiko lead her through the wild landscape of Demon World. Armed with only a pair of coordinates and an extremely out-of-date map supplied by Koenma from some time back, Emiko was having difficulty navigating her way. She squinted at the fading lines on the map and swore lightly beneath her breath.

"No luck?" Katsu asked nervously. Her grip tightened on the golf club she held. As they had traveled to the small portal, Katsu had spotted the rusted old relic poking halfway out of a dumpster. She had grabbed it, although she doubted it would have much of an effect against demons. But just the feeling of the heavy club made her feel a little more useful.

"I wouldn't say no luck." Emiko muttered. "Anyways, I need to give you something before we go any further."

"Huh?"

Emiko didn't answer right away; instead she fumbled in the too-big bomber's jacket she wore. A moment later she drew out a battered purse.

"I don't get it." Katsu was nonplussed as Emiko offered it to her.

"It'll hold the tulips until you need them."

"Oh, now it's crystal clear." Katsu's voice was sarcastic.

"Stop it." Emiko sighed, a smile playing over her lips. "It'll hold the tulips I'll be creating. The explosive ones."

Katsu nodded slowly as she accepted the bag. "Still a little lost…"

"It's something new I was developing. You know, in all the spare time we've had." Emiko explained. She cupped her hands, and with an accompanying flare of energy, three large yellow tulip blooms appeared in her palms. "I've infused them with energy, and once you throw them, they'll explode when they come in contact with anything."

"Oh…" Katsu accepted the blooms and set them carefully into the purse. "Will they work with me?"

"Yes. I think." Emiko created a few more, and then returned her attention to the map. "Bringing you along probably wasn't my smartest move; but at least this way you can protect yourself."

"Thanks." Katsu wasn't sure whether to feel insulted or grateful. She decided on a happy medium of indifference- either way she was now a greater help to the mission then before.

"I just don't understand it, though." Emiko sounded as if she was merely speaking aloud to herself, not actually directing a question to her friend.

"Understand what?" Katsu adjusted the purse over one shoulder.

"How these demons could find a place to safely keep three prisoners under hypnosis." Emiko muttered, now glaring at the rather useless map. "The other locals wouldn't let them go about their business unhampered, especially with such wanted beings like the boys-"

"Probably in a large, wall-surrounded building?"

As an unfamiliar voice sounded behind them, Emiko and Katsu whirled around. Katsu had nearly dropped her golf club in surprise, but regained her grip and swung wildly.

"Watch it!" A male voice boomed irritably, and a hand caught the shaft of the club. Katsu and Emiko peered down the length of the arm into the face of Ran Fujimiya.

"A-Aya?" Emiko asked, looking quite bewildered.

"Yes." The redheaded man didn't smile as he released the golf club. "But I'm called Ran now. And please be careful;" –this was directed at Katsu, who blinked in surprise- "You nearly hit Narrin."

"Narrin?" Emiko repeated stupidly. "The evil goddess?"

"Ahem, ex-evil goddess." Narrin stepped around her husband's protective form and smiled in a pacifying way at the two teens before her.

Emiko seemed to have regained her composure and was now glaring at Narrin in complete odium. "You."

"No need to sound so murderous." Ran's voice lowered angrily. "She's-"

"Ran, darling." Narrin's voice was sweet, but still firm. "She's got every right to not trust me. Now, Emiko, isn't it? I have to apologize to you-"

"Like hell I'm listening to this!" Emiko snarled. Katsu thought that if Emiko had been an animal, her hackles would be rising and her teeth would be bared.

Narrin didn't look at all perturbed, only slightly contrite. "I know we didn't meet under the best conditions last time, but I-"

"You what?" Emiko cut her off. "You were planning to make my friends and me your mindless slaves?"

"Yes." Narrin's visage was completely calm, her voice patient. "But I have seen the error of my ways and I've changed."

"And I'm supposed to believe this?" Emiko said coldly.

"Emiko," Ran spoke up again. "Trust her or not. Either way, Koenma-sama sent us here to help rescue Yusuke and the others. And, if you don't believe that, then believe this."

He extended a piece of paper, and Emiko took it and studied it briefly. "A map?"

"Koenma-sama and Boton-san found out who the demons were, correct?" Ran explained. "They also tracked down the site on which the Spirit Detective is being held."

Katsu peered over Emiko's shoulder. "Where exactly are we on this thing?"

"About here." Ran moved over to them and jabbed a gloved finger down on the lower south region of the map. "You were heading in the right direction, although continue on in your exact course and you'd be too east."

Emiko nodded, and then stuffed their old map into a pocket in the bomber jacket she wore. "Let's go. Katsu, why don't you update Seto and Kiamo? We can see if this new information gives them any more leads."

Katsu nodded, and the group moved off towards their destination.

Somewhere in Demon World

Everything Tei had been holding in her arms dropped to the floor with a clatter as she stared openmouthed at Kahiru.

"What did you say?"

Kahiru sighed. "We're selling at the highest bid tomorrow."

"That's what I thought I heard!" Tei ranted, usually expressionless face heated and angry. "Kahiru, I saw today's highest bid. A measly three million! That's less than eighteen percent profit!"

"We do not have a choice!" Kahiru snapped. "The fox tried again three times to die just this morning, and that bumbling excuse for a scientist Tokuiwa nearly kept Kurama out of hypnosis for two minutes. We were getting readings of conscious brain activity before we were able to put him under again."

"Is there any way to keep him from killing himself without shutting his nanite system down?" Tei asked desperately, pacing over to a computer and typing furiously.

"You know if there was a way I would have found it." Kahiru's tone suggested a hint of menace.

Tei turned slowly from the computer screen, sending a look of hate at the third submersion tank where Kurama was experiencing another nightmare. "I know that, Kahiru. I apologize."

Tei had just gone to pick up her dropped armful of various things when an alarm sounded.

"Not again-!" Kahiru cursed under his breath while running to the nearest command console. He looked at the screen and had to double take when he saw the information listed there.

"It's Urameshi!"

"What?" Tei was incredulous.

"Urameshi just tried to kill himself! This cannot be happening…Damn it!" Kahiru swore again as a second alarm went off. "That damn fox-!"

There was no more time for anger; the nanites needed to be shut down. A few tense moments later and the systems were down. Tei slumped against the wall, hand still resting on her keyboard. "Fine….tomorrow's highest bid."

Meanwhile, down in the submersion tanks, Kurama felt the tube at his ear retract slightly, and the horrible pictures fled from his mind. As he savored the blissful darkness, the fox demon allowed himself a triumphant smile. He could now control the images he was being shown, and manipulate them into another fatal situation. Every time he tried, the nanites were shut down. Although he didn't have full control over his body, his mind was more or less his own- he could try and think of a way out.

During his last brief respite from the nanite-induced nightmares, Kurama had tried contacting the others using the mind-to-mind energy channel most demons had mastered.

Yusuke! Kuwabara! Try to kill yourselves! It'll shut down the machine briefly!

In a small prickle of understanding, Kurama felt Yusuke reply.

What the hell?

Time was quickly running out, as the fox heard a hum of a generator roar to life from somewhere above him. He sent a more urgent message, directing all of his cognizant energy into the message.

Our captors need us alive! Try to die in the dreams and they'll shut down the machine!

Oh-!

Yusuke's reply was cut off by the tubes connecting into their ears started reinserting nanites into their brains. Another nightmare started, but Kurama felt slightly consoled. There was a weak point; now all they could do was try exploiting it.

End Chapter

Authoress here and hiding from rotten fruit.

I realize it's been awhile…a long while. I have excuses. They're not too good, but I'll use 'em anyways.

Finals. Lost of evil math. A new story of Fictionpress. Lots of crap happening all around the spectrum.

So, be content with a new chapter! I'll try to be better updating in the near(er) future.