A/N: Okay next chapter next floor.
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Chapter 10: Floor Three
Kuwabara was the one behind the group as he carried Hiei. "Why am I always carrying people?" he thought aloud. Kurama turned towards him, "I can carry Hiei if you're tired." Kuwabara shook his head feeling guilty, "Thanks, but that's okay you're hurt and barely can walk…it's alright." Yusuke sighed and held his hands out, "Fine I'll carry Hiei. I mean you're the one who carried Kurama the least I can do is carry Hiei." Kuwabara looked downwards thinking for a minute before Yusuke snatched Hiei off his shoulder. Yugure looked back at them and frowned, he was the first one and ahead of the group. They finally made it to a black door and Yusuke went up and pushed it opened. "Now we are all going to enter at once!" shouted Yusuke. They all rushed into the room and ended up in a small square room. "Damn!" shouted Kuwabara as he elbowed Yusuke in the ribs, "Scoot over, Urameshi!" The room was way too small for all of them and everyone's shouting and incentive chatter was grating Yugure's nerves. "SHUT UP!" he screamed and everyone stopped. Yugure let out a slow sigh and studied the room carefully, "We're going to exit the room and enter one at a time."
"Are you crazy, Yugure? We can't do that, if we do then someone will get trapped and be forced to fight!" shouted Kuwabara. Yugure narrowed his eyes and a spark of crimson flashed in his normally blue eyes. "Haven't you notice that there's no choice! Kurama fought alone and Hiei fought alone don't you realize that every floor someone is to fight alone? That's the only way we're getting up, now if you don't shut up and listen I'll be force to bite you in half!" Kuwabara cowered in fear behind Kurama as the normally calm and submissive Yugure snapped. Yugure sighed and handed Yume to Kuwabara, "Don't you dare harm her," he muttered as he struggled towards the door. Yusuke however opened it since he was closest to the door and smiled. Yugure snorted and they all made their way to the door and exited it one by one. Yugure and Kurama was the last to leave and as they were about to step out, a barrier covered the entrance. Kurama spun around and Yugure growled threateningly as he scanned the room. Suddenly a mist seeped into the square room through numerous cracks. "Don't breath it, Yugure," said Kurama as he held his breath. Yugure looked over to him puzzled, but it was too late as Yugure swayed violently before collapsing on the ground. Kurama closed his eyes and tried to concentrate on holding his breath, but of course it was useless as he finally gasped for air. A wave of dizziness washed over Kurama and he collapsed on the ground next to Yugure. "Kurama, Yugure are you alright in there!" shouted Yusuke as he pounded on the barrier of spirit energy. Finally the mist cleared away and left in the room was Yugure in his wolf form and Kurama in his kitsune form. Yugure slowly opened his eyes and stood up shakily. Kurama stood up too and growled the hair on the back of his neck prickling. "Kurama," growled out Yugure as he turned to him, "I didn't know you were a kitsune."
"Hn, we all have our secrets," Kurama said as he scanned the room. The roof started to slowly rise and Yugure suddenly felt water beneath his paws. He looked down and saw water rising steadily with the roof. "Shit!" shouted Yugure as the roof stopped and the water rose. Soon Kurama and Yugure we're trying their best to stay afloat and they heard Kuwabara's and Yusuke's poundings below them. Yugure's head hit the roof and he clawed it futilely. Kurama's limbs grew numb and he closed his eyes as a wave of exhaustion crept over him. Slowly he fell to the floor, "Kurama!" shouted Yugure as he watched his friend hit the bottom. The water soon engulfed him and Yugure held his breath as he swam to the bottom. Yugure swam to the barrier and clawed at it while Yusuke and Kuwabara could only watch in horror. Finally Yugure closed his eyes and he sank to the floor. "NO!" shouted Yusuke as he kicked the door only managing to stub his toe. After a few minutes the water started going down until finally the room was clear of water. The barrier disappeared and Yusuke and Kuwabara stumbled inside. They both laid down Hiei and Yume and rushed towards Yugure and Kurama. Yusuke got to Kurama and he slowly checked to see if there was a pulse. He got none whatsoever. "Kurama, don't do this," muttered Yusuke as he watched his friend sadly. Kuwabara on the other hand was checking to see if Yugure still lived. "It's no use, Urameshi!" shouted Kuwabara frantically.
"Rest in peace," muttered Yusuke to Kurama as he stood up and walked over to Kuwabara, "C'mon, let's go." Kuwabara looked up at Yusuke in horror and turned towards Yugure's still form. A laughed echoed throughout the room and Kuwabara and Yusuke instantly got into fighting position. "Isn't funny how such a simple trap could kill two members of the Reikai Tantei?" said a voice as a figure materialized inside the room. Yusuke glared angrily at him and frowned. The figure had spiky red hair and white eyes with pointy ears like an elf. A blue phoenix fluttered towards the figure's shoulder and landed there. "Shut up! We're going to kill you for what you did to our friends!" shouted Yusuke.
"For what I did…? What about for what you're going to do to them?" said the figure. The pair looked confused and suddenly snarls behind them made them glance behind. Kurama and Yugure stood on their feet their eyes glowing red. "Kurama…Yugure…?" said Yusuke as he watched the wolf and kitsune advanced.
"That's my talent. To bring back the souls of the dead…except for one little detail they become slaves under my control like my phoenix here," said the figure. The phoenix's eyes glowed red and it took to the air heading straight for Yusuke's unprotected back. "You better watch out," said the man as the phoenix clawed Yusuke's back fiercely. Yusuke closed his eyes in pain and swung around to punch the bird, but it flew above Yusuke's reach taunting him. "Come back here, damn bird!" shouted Yusuke. Kuwabara however was backed up against the wall as Yugure advanced on him. "Nice wolf," he muttered as he tried to escape. Yugure made a lunge for Kuwabara's leg and clamp down forcefully on his right ankle. "OWCH!" shouted Kuwabara and Yusuke turned around momentarily distracted. Yusuke didn't sense Kurama sneaking up on him and suddenly Kurama leapt up and pinned Yusuke to the ground biting his shoulder. Kuwabara shook off Yugure and tackled Kurama to the ground freeing Yusuke. "Thanks," he muttered as he grabbed his left shoulder in pain. Soon the two friends were back to back as Yugure and Kurama approached them on opposite sides with the phoenix hovering above their heads. The man laughed and sat down on the floor watching the ordeal with delight. Suddenly Kuwabara leapt over Kurama's head and Yusuke leapt over Yugure's head. They both landed behind the animals about to strike when they changed directions. Yusuke aimed his spirit gun at the figure and Kuwabara lunged at him with his spirit sword. The man instantly created a barrier and Yusuke's spirit gun bounced off harmlessly and Kuwabara's spirit sword shattered. "My second talent is creating barriers, oh by the way the name is Kalas and yours I presume is Kuwabara and Yusuke," said Kalas as he glanced between the two humans.
"Shut up and tell us how to make our friends come back!" shouted Yusuke as he aimed his spirit gun once more at the barrier. Kalas shook his head, "Tsk, tsk spirit detective don't you ever learn?" Yusuke growled and lowered his spirit gun. Yugure bit Yusuke's thighs and pinned him to the floor. Kuwabara turned around to help his friend when the phoenix dug its claws in his shoulder. Yusuke tried to pry Yugure away from his thigh, but Kurama bit Yusuke's hand. The barrier around Kalas faded and he watched with veiled interest as Kurama and Yugure tore Yusuke apart while his phoenix pecked Kuwabara's arms and legs mercilessly. Suddenly a katana appeared through Kalas's chest and Kalas gasped in surprise as he turned around to find Hiei leaning heavily on Yume. Slowly Hiei pulled the katana out of Kalas's chest and grimaced in disgust as blood spurted from the wound. Kalas's dead body fell to the ground and his eyes turned black. Soon Kurama and Yugure returned back to their human form and the phoenix fell to the ground its eyes turning from red to maroon. "Oh…Yusuke, Kuwabara what have I done?" said Kurama in horror. Yugure's eyes were wide with pain as he saw his recently made friends lying on the ground motionless. Yume and Hiei both rushed up to Yusuke while Yugure and Kurama went up to Kuwabara. Yusuke cracked open an eye and groaned, "Ugh…I feel like shit," he muttered as he slowly sat up. Kuwabara also sat up and winced. "Ow…" moaned Kuwabara.
"I'm so sorry!" muttered Yugure trying to hold back tears as he apologized over and over again. Kurama bowed his head and looked at the ground guilty. "Not your fault," muttered Yusuke as he stood up, "You were being possessed by that Kalas guy so…yeah." Suddenly the phoenix bursted into flames and Yume screamed as she watched in horror as a human figure appeared. She had maroon eyes and black hair, "Thank you," she said softly her melodic voice filling the room. Wings protruded from her back and they were blue in color. She walked over to Yusuke and cried letting her tears drip onto Yusuke's wounds. They healed instantly and next she walked over to Kuwabara doing the same thing. "That is the least I can do to thank you for freeing me from that evil man's clutches," she said, "My name is Suzume by the way." Yusuke and Kuwabara looked over themselves in awe as they saw no trace of their wounds. Suzume smiled and healed Kurama and Hiei's wounds too. "There," she sighed in content, "I can accompany you if you want, but I do not know how I will be of help. I'm not much of a fighter." Yusuke smiled and walked up to her patting her happily on the shoulder, "That's alright you did enough for us already. Man I feel so much better!" She blushed, "Um…thank you." Everyone nodded their thanks and she smiled. "So…how did Kalas find you?" asked Yume.
"One day as I was flying through the forests a man with arrows struck me down. He then killed me and brought back my soul. I became his servant and served him for many years…until you guys came along and saved me," said Suzume. Suzume suddenly sighed and looked up at Yume. She frowned, "Is you're name Yume?" she questioned softly. Yume looked shocked and nodded, "Yes that is my name why?"
"I knew your mother," she said sadly. Yume gaped at Suzume before finding her voice, "You mean you knew my mother?"
"Yes, she was the one who tended to my wounds way before I met Kalas. She said she had a daughter, but she was imprisoned by her father. I tried to help your mother, but we were stopped by a man who knew how to control earth, wind, and plants. He killed your mother and he trapped me in one of his tornadoes and blew me away," explained Suzume as tears filled her eyes. They slowly trailed down Suzume's cheeks, "I couldn't save your mother! I'm so sorry," she sobbed. Yume frowned and went over to her and hugged her, "It's alright," she said soothingly. Soon Suzume quieted down and sniffled a bit. She stood up and smiled, "You should all get going," she said. Yusuke and the others waved good-bye to her as they went up the stairs. "Good luck," she said hopefully as she watched the Reikai Tantei disappear into the darkness.
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A/N: Wow…that chapter was long. I'm so happy! Anyways did you like it…I created another new character when I really shouldn't have. It was probably confusing when I added Moeru in and now Suzume…sigh. Anyways Suzume was one of Yume's mother's friends. Now onto the replies:
The Sacred Bovine: Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate it that you would spend your time reviewing. They're such good reviews too! I don't think we'll be seeing Moeru…or maybe…I might.
ToCOrNot 77: Well…I hoped you liked this chapter it took me a long time to get it finished despite my pounding headache. I hope you have a fun time at your soccer tournament and your trip to Disneyland!
Akai Tenshi: Thanks I really appreciate the support! I'm glad you reviewed and complimented me! -
emma: Maybe I should explain to Kae, lol. Anyways thanks and yeah I'm glad I didn't kill Hiei. Oh by the way I'm an authoress if you're wondering.