(Long time no write for this one. I was disgusted with myself that I didn't write any further on this one but I've been so freaking busy but now I'm out of work with an injury so on with the writing!)
I stared at Hiei for a while my mouth opening and closing.
"Your world?" I asked.
"Did I stutter? Yes my world Keaka. My mind." He said annoyed.
"It's a lot happier than I thought it would be." Yusuke said in his smart ass tone.
"Shut up baka!" Hiei said. I put a hand to my head trying to regain my sense of awareness better shaking it slightly from side to side.
"So which way shorty." Kazuma said using the old nick name for Hiei. I looked down at myself relieved to see that I was an adult again. The four of us walked slowly to a cliff overlooking the terrain as thunder clashed above us.
"Is he here?" I ask Hiei. Hiei gives a short nod.
"Yes." He replied.
"So then kids what are we waiting for? Let's get this show on the road and find them both." Yusuke said assuming role as leader of the team. We all nodded and began our descent down the cliff. The climb was difficult and treacherous but we made it somehow just like always. The parched ground crumbled easily under our weight as we walked across the scorched terrains of Hiei's mind. Lightning shot over head striking close to us at times seeming to just barely miss, Kazuma more than any one else. We trekked in silence which was not our usual manner on a mission but this one was different. Hiei's emotions affected us to a point our mind sets turned angry and sour. It was easier for Kazuma and myself to control it being psychics but Urameshi I was worried about. He was sweating profusely and even began to tremble.
"Hey you okay?" I asked walking beside him. He glanced at me with a typical Yusuke grin and thumbs up.
"Just fuckin' ducky." He said but I knew him and knew something was very wrong. For the time being though Kurama was our prime objective. My thoughts turned to Shuichi that evil brat. I wanted to strangle the life out of him for what he did to Yoko.
"Bastard." I whispered aloud trying to contain my anger knowing Hiei was feeding the fire unintentionally.
"Hey you guys feel that?" Kazuma said as we all stopped dead in our tracks.
"Form a circle. Watch each others backs." Yusuke said We each turned in a separate direction back to back to each other waiting for Shuichi to appear.
"He's not stupid. He will try and separate us." Hiei stated.
"Then picks us off." Yusuke replied.
"Probably." Hiei said.
"Well when have we ever been that stupid?" Kazuma asked. All three of us looked at him.
"Does Sensui ring a bell?" I asked him blandly. Kazuma fumed his face turning bright red.
"Hey! That wasn't my fault okay! Geez! You act as if I let him kidnap me." Kazuma said crossing his arms in front of him and pouting.
"Let's keep going." Yusuke said sweating heavier than before. We follow close behind surveying the surrounding area searching for something, anything that would give Shuichi away but, as I feared, this would not be an easy task. After spending so much time around Yoko Shuichi was just as cunning as the demon which created a big problem for those of us who were less tactical in our fighting styles. The air began to thin out as we reached the mouth of a cavern that was apparent went far under ground. Undoubtedly Shuichi was in there. His spirit energy practically flowed from the area.
"Shit figures." Yusuke said quietly to himself.
"Don't worry guys my spirit sword will light the way." Kazuma said.
"Turn that damned night light off you buffoon. There are torches on the walls." Hiei said walking ahead and into the cave. I followed behind him quickly joining his side. Steps formed at our feet leading down.
"Okay uh guys this is creepy like something out of a horror movie where some gross nasty creature comes out of the dark abyss and swallows us whole." Kazuma said freaking out.
"Ladies first." Yusuke said somewhat sarcastically. I glared at him and then at Hiei who stepped aside for me to go down.
"Why thank you white knight!" I spat and began the descent down. The steps were slick with water that dripped down from the stagalytes on the ceiling slowing us down a little.
"So when we reach the bottom which way do we go Hiei?" I asked.
"How the hell should I know?" He said.
"What you don't know your way around your own mind?" Yusuke asked.
"I did not create this." Hiei said quietly.
"Finally!" I exclaimed as we reached the bottom leading into a straight tunnel. We preceded all of us noting the faint smell of roses that wafted around and grew stronger the further we got.
"I think we're reaching the heart." I said noticing ahead of us lay what appeared to be a large cavern brightly lit.
"So let's go." Yusuke whispered coming to walk beside me. I nodded feeling my legs turn into lead not knowing what to expect and dreading what we would find. I searched desperately to find Yoko's energy but there was nothing there as if he were dead. I briskly shook my head; if he had died then Shuichi would have too. Shuichi still had him bound. The brightness of the room hurt my eyes as we walked in taking defensive positions. Shuichi stood in the middle of the room in his old yellow Chinese tunic he used to fight in behind him was a still unconscious Yoko. The bindings more profound and not quickly done as was the case last time, he was becoming more confident. Damn.
"Well so nice of all you to drop by. What brings this little reunion?" He said in Kurama fashion. We stared at him for a minute or two before I answered.
"You know damn well why we're here Shuichi. You have to be stopped."
"Why? What the hell did I ever do to you or to any of you? Have I hurt anyone?" He looked at Hiei then sighed.
"Well anyone who matters?" He said.
"You're heartless. You don't care even if you did seriously hurt someone." Kazuma said. Shuichi merely shrugged his comment off.
"I still don't understand why you won't let me into your life Keaka. It is a mystery to me that you would let a cruel, manipulating monster love you yet I, who am the reason why he could even love you in the first place, am threatened to be destroyed." Shuichi stated contemplating the situation.
"You're absolutely right. Kurama was a cruel, manipulative monster but he has learned from his past mistakes and made up for them more than enough times." Keaka said. Shuichi's eyes narrowed and darkened.
"He had his chance to live! This is my life, my turn! That bastard stole it from me! You think that's fair?" Shuichi said losing composure.
"Blah, blah, blah! Enough with the sob story everyone's got one. Besides when the hell is life fair? All I know is Kurama is my friend and you attacked him, that's enough for me to hate you." Yusuke said in his usual diplomatic manner. Shuichi stood up straighter than before launching himself in the air.
'Keaka when you get an opening tend to Kurama. Leave this bastard to us.' Hiei sent to me. I nodded acknowledging he had been heard. The four of us quickly disbanded readying ourselves for a fight. The most unsettling part of it was Shuichi knew all of our attacks so well. He knew when we would strike and how, he knew our weaknesses and he knew our openings. My heart pounded as he glared in my direction.
"Rose whip!" He shouted producing the infamous weapon. I quickly back flipped out of the way keeping my eyes on Yoko the entire time. I could see in the torch light his silver hair was streaked with red and continuing to grow. He was still bleeding. My breath hitched throwing my attention off long enough for Shuichi to strike.
"Fist of the mortal flame!" Hiei yelled from somewhere above to come crashing down on Shuichi. Naturally Shuichi caught this out of the corner of his eye and dodged out of the way.
Hold still!" Kazuma yelled trying to punch him.
"Oh yeah like he will if you ask him dumb ass! Move Kuwabara! Shot gun!" Yusuke yelled releasing his attack. Shuichi yelled as a few of the blasts hit him knocking him to the ground. That was my chance. I quickly ran to be by Yoko's side. Vines up rooted from the ground reaching for me as I got closer. Quickly I skidded to a stop and ran back.
"Figures." Hiei said.
"Hiei Yoko's in trouble. Shuichi attacked him earlier and he's still bleeding." I said breathlessly. Hiei glanced at me looked back at Yoko.
"This isn't working. Think Keaka what is a physical weakness that Kurama had in his human form."
"That's easy brute strength." I said remembering how physically weak Shuichi really is. We look at each other for a minute then disbanded sending Yusuke and Kazuma word of our plan. We managed to form a circle around Shuichi each of us powering up some attack.
'Just enough to knock out not to kill.' I reminded them all. I watched Yusuke charge his spirit gun while Kazuma prepared to send energy shards Shuichi's way. I glanced over at Hiei as he charged for an attack while I steadied my spirit bow and prayed we didn't kill him or worse he escaped.