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EPISODE FIVE: THE MAN WITH CROSSES IN HIS EYES

Kurama immediately knew something was wrong, Kazuma, and Kari screaming helped tip him off...but Yusuke seemed unaware…A smile had slowly curled on his face, which had twisted, and now looked slightly crazed, his eyes were blank and dead. He laughed strangely; the same laugh Kuwabara had given when Sensui had killed Yusuke not too long ago. Yusuke reached for Kuwabara, "Ha good one Kuwabara...you look weird. Did'ja...did'ja fake your death Kuwabara? You clever son of a bitch! How'd you do it…huh? How'd you do it?" He slowly approached him, Kurama screaming at Yusuke to stop.

Kuwabara looked at Kurama, and Kurama's breath stilled, "Kuwabara your eyes." Kurama had noticed the strange crosses in his eyes. Kuwabara sneered at him, and then looked back down at Yusuke who had stopped in front of him. His shoulders were pushed forward, and his hands were shaking as he reached to grab a hold of Kuwabara's cloak. Kurama, Kari, and Kazuma gasped as this strange new Kuwabara grabbed Yusuke, and hugged him. Yusuke's dim crazed eyes became less dim as he rest his cheek on Kuwabara's chest, as the taller man hugged Yusuke tightly.

The sight looked so peaceful that Kurama and Kuwabara's parents relaxed. Yusuke and Kuwabara were reunited…things were back to normal. Kuwabara held Yusuke safe in his arms, "Urameshi…" he whispered, Yusuke opening his eyes as Kuwabara began to bend down towards him. Kuwabara's nose moved to Yusuke's ear and he whispered, "Notice something missing?" Yusuke's eyes snapped open, and he pulled back as much as he could, for Kuwabara had a fierce grip on his shoulders.

"Your...Your..." Yusuke tried to gasp out the words but it was like trying to breathe underwater. He just couldn't say it.

Kuwabara placed his hand on his chest, "I have no heart beat!" He laughed, and removed his hand from his chest, "See these tattoo's? My father thought I should have these so you could see the black string...the black string I so proudly wear!"

Kazuma approached him, missing the point Kuwabara was making, "I didn't want you to have tattoos!" Kuwabara glared at the man, "Not you human, my real father!" And that was when Sage entered the small hut smiling, "Now son, be kind to our guests." Kazuma's face twisted angrilly, and he grabbed the smaller man, "HE IS MY SON NOT YOURS!" Kuwabara grabbed Kazuma and threw him through the hut wall, Kari screaming and running for her husband. "Don't touch my father with your filthy hands!" Kuwabara growled angrily.

Kurama was now shaking Yusuke who hadn't moved to make an escape from Kuwabara. "Yusuke! Yusuke com-" Kuwabara punched Kurama in the face, and he to went flying. That seemed to snap Yusuke out of it, and he shoved Kuwabara off him. "You...You are not Kuwabara!"

Kuwabara smiled, "I am the new Kuwabara...THE BETTER KUWABARA!" He laughed as Kurama helped Kazuma up who was staring at his son. "No...not my boy..." Kazuma whispered.

Meanwhile in the necklace, the real Kuwabara was going insane.

He pounded on the red jewel walls, and screamed, until his voice was hoarse. His fists were bruised, and stung his skin as they began to become rubbed raw and chapped from the constant contact. He sunk to his knees crying angrily, tears dripping down his face. "He's not me! It's Batto! BATTO! THAT MAN IS BATTO-HE'S NOT ME!! I'M IN HERE! I'M KUWABARA!" He fell back, and smashed his hands over and over into the wall. He had to get out he had to. "You bastard. You touched my parents, touched my friends, you hit Kurama, and now you're fucking with my BEST friend's head! I SWEAR I'M GONNA GET OUT AND KILL YOU!"

Kuwabara stopped screaming when he heard Yusuke's laughter.

Yusuke had fallen down to his knees, and was laughing, eyes closed. Everyone was looking at him, and finally when Yusuke stopped he stared at the fake Kuwabara before him with such a look, they all had never seen before. "You've got to be kidding...If this is Kuwabara...then your fucked...SOMEONE WITH A PURE HEART HAS TO OPEN THE GATES, AND HE'S NO LONGER PURE HEARTED!" Sage chuckled silencing Yusuke. "Yes he is. This, my son, is being controlled...by me of course. Your friend is seeing everything that is going on but is not taking part of it. I have brain washed your dear, dear Kuwabara and now look at him! He has become my wonderful son!"

As Sage laughed, inside the necklace Kuwabara was screaming, and hitting the walls harder, he also had started kicking at the red glass walls. "NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! THAT'S-NOT-ME! NOT-ME! URAMESHI-HE'S-A-FAKE-THAT'S-NOT-ME!" After every word he slammed his fists into the glass wall, followed by a solid kick. Kuwabara finally pressed his head to the wall in exhaustion. "No...no please...please stop! Please…please…URAMESHI, KILL THAT THING!"

Yusuke stared at the man who he believed was Kuwabara, "It's not him! I know it's not!" Yusuke whispered though he didn't sound so convinced himself. Sage laughed and looked back at Kuwabara, "Son, take care of him." Kuwabara smiled at Yusuke, though the smile was Batto's and not the real Kuwabara's. He ran forward, and his glowing orange sword was out within a second. Kurama jumped in front of Yusuke rose whip out. Kuwabara laughed, and smashed his brow with Kurama's.

'His strength...it's that of a demons!' Kurama's mind told him as he stumbled back, reeling from this hit. He opened his eyes slowly, and found himself looking deep within Kuwabara's pale blue eyes. The crosses in those eyes scared him, and he now knew for sure, Kuwabara had seen the gates. Kuwabara smiled eyes closed, hiding those crosses, which meant so much, and let out a childish giggle before smashing his fist into Kurama's stomach, and sending him crashing into another hut.

Yusuke sat on the ground staring at what could not be Kuwabara. This couldn't be Kuwabara! Kuwabara was kind, gentle, and cared about all living things. He had a goofy grin, and laugh. During horror movies his mouth would always be hanging open from utter terror. Kuwabara would break into unbelievably violent shivers when around an aggressive spirit, but when Yusuke placed a hand on him Kuwabara would give this smile that showed how thankful he was. That was Yusuke's best friend; this…this thing standing before him couldn't be his best friend…could it?

Yusuke heard footsteps and watched as his best friend came to him, and Yusuke stared up at him, eyes glazed over with confusion, and self hate. Kuwabara raised the sword, to slice Yusuke's neck, but when he brought it down, he stopped a mere inch away from Yusuke's neck.

Batto was getting into his act of "a brain washed and controlled Kuwabara."

He made Kuwabara's body tremble, and his sword went away, as he grabbed his head.

The real Kuwabara, called out, "Batto you bastard! STOP THAT DAMMIT! STOP MESSING WITH URAMESHI!"

Sage frowned, wondering what Batto was doing. Realization quickly flashed over his eyes, and he smiled secretly to himself. "Kuwabara" moaned with pain and dropped to his knees, "Ura...meshi..." He gasped out. Kari had to be held back by her husband who was crying out for his son. Kurama stood a little ways behind Yusuke eyes wide, and rose whip hanging in his limp grip. Yusuke's mouth came open, and as Kuwabara fell forwards Yusuke caught him. "Ura..." Kuwabara whispered, "Run Uram...run...ru..." Kuwabara pointed to his chest, and whispered, "Evil." Yusuke shook his head, "No...No you're not evil! You're not evil! Hang on buddy...I'll get you out of this!"

Inside the red jewel, Kuwabara sat limply, and let tears wash down his face. He was helpless…Kuwabara hadn't felt this helpless and useless since Sensui. Kuwabara's dead eyes looked at Yusuke, knowing those words Yusuke were saying was truly meant for him. "Please Yusuke kill it...I don't want him in my body anymore...even if it means I'll be here forever...even if I'll never see you or anyone else again, you gotta kill my body and stop Batto! Please…please Urameshi…stop...KILL HIM!"

Batto smiled as Yusuke held him, and calling Kuwabara's sword, quickly changed rolls again, and stabbed Yusuke in the gut. The sword was not shoved far in thought, because then, "Kuwabara," ripped himself from Yusuke holding his head and groaning. Sage snapped his fingers, and the other tattoo that read "miniera" glowed, and electricity washed over Kuwabara's body. Batto did not feel the pain, but Kuwabara inside the jewel did. He screamed, and that was what his friends heard. Sage sighed, "My dear son don't betray me again!"

"Kuwabara," stood weakly and stared down at Yusuke. Tears fell down his face, as he raised the sword looking at Yusuke. Batto was a very good actor. Yusuke laid on the ground, shoving his hand into his wound, face white. "No Kuwabara..." Kurama cried out running for Yusuke, knowing he wouldn't get there. Inside the jewel, Kuwabara swayed, and collapsed. He stared down at Yusuke, and closed his eyes, fainting from the pain of the electricity that had shocked his very soul. Kuwabara's sword was about to be thrust into Yusuke's chest, when another blade stopped his.

"That's enough human."

Kuwabara stared coldly at this new man.

Sage growled with frustration.

Yusuke stared at him in shock.

Kurama couldn't resist smiling.

Kari looked on in confusion.

Kazuma stared with blinking eyes.

Hiei had stopped Kuwabara's blade…Hiei was finally here.

He looked at Kuwabara's eyes, and sighed, "So, you've seen the gates of hell...and you're dead too. Wow...why does none of this surprise me?"

Kuwabara pulled his sword away, and held it out in front of him. "Ah Hiei...nice to see you again." His face twisted into something ugly, "Why didn't you come to see me after everything was done in that damn tournament? Too big and bad to come see a fellow comrade…see a friend?" Batto had access to all of Kuwabara's memories, and was using it against Hiei. Hiei winced, and that was all the time Batto needed to use Kuwabara's sword, and cut Hiei's side. Hiei winced and dropped to one knee. Kuwabara raised his sword again, but something flew over his head, and smashed into him.

The strange beasts had arrived sensing the battle and distress of the men that brought them here. Kurama helped Kari, and Kazuma onto one of the beasts, Kazuma moaning in pain. Kurama hopped on behind them, "HIEI! GET YUSUKE ON THE SECOND ONE!" Hiei nodded, and scooped up Yusuke, who was bleeding badly, and no longer even trying to stop it. As they flew off, Yusuke stared at Kuwabara, who watched them go. Yusuke scrunched up his face, and screamed, "NOOOOOO!" as they flew off.

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Yusuke was asleep.

He was bandaged up, and had fallen into a deep sleep as soon as Hiei had landed the beast. Hiei and Kurama looked at him taking care of his injuries, and then tended to Kari and Kazuma. Kazuma had broken ribs, which he said didn't bother him. His eyes were filled with sorrow. He simply thanked them for tending to him and he laid down, his wife curled up beside him. She was singing a song that made Kurama's stomach turn over. It was a song Kurama's mother used to sing to him when he was little, and he had a feeling Kari sang that song to Kuwabara when he was baby.

"Hiei," Kurama said looking at the short demon as he wrapped himself up, "Thank you." Hiei glared at him, "I only came back because I owe Kuwabara…something." Hiei turned away from Kurama who smiled. Hiei jumped as two teardrops decided to stream down Kurama's beautiful face. "You can't give him anything now...he's gone." Hiei didn't look at him, "No..." Hiei whispered hoarsely, "Sage said he brainwashed him. Kuwabara is somewhere in that shell you know he is!"

"Who are we all kidding?"

Hiei and Kurama jumped shocked at the voice. Hiei and Kurama looked over at Yusuke who had just spoken his eyes now open. "We'll never get him out. The only way to save him would be to kill him." Hiei sighed looking at Yusuke, "Do you really think you could do that Yusuke? You think you could kill the human?" When Yusuke rolled over and said nothing Hiei grew angry. "Well?! Do you think you could kill him?! YUSUKE DAMMIT ANSWER ME!!" Hiei demanded harshly Kurama placing a hand on Hiei's shoulder to calm him down.

"Then so be it...if we must, we will. That time hasn't come yet, so for now...we don't have to dwell on it." Yusuke said calmly, "Now shut up you two…I'm trying to sleep." And with that Yusuke fell asleep...or at least was faking it.

"Poor Yusuke…" Kurama whispered feeling his throat close.

"He didn't mean any of what he said…if we can't get the fool back to his old self it'll be us that will have to ki…" Hiei trailed off suddenly angry. He cursed under his breath, rose and left to go be by himself. Kurama sat still between the slumbering Yusuke, and Hiei's fading back. This was not how Kurama expected things to be when they were all reunited.

"Why did this happen?" Kurama asked mournfully, but he received no answer.

Yusuke slept on, and inside his head, inside his dreams he stayed. In his dream he was nowhere special, he had laid leaned up against some tree, his injury given by Kuwabara still bleeding. The wind tousled his hair, and he looked off at the blue sky remembering better times.

"He hurt you..."

Yusuke turned, and sat up staring at a transparent Kuwabara. His friend before him, was in white clothes now, and had scratches all over him. He walked over to Yusuke and dropped to his side, and looked at the injury, "He hurt you bad." Kuwabara sat down on the ground next to his best friend, looking just as miserable. Yusuke leaned against the tree, and Kuwabara did as well, their shoulders barely brushing just for the sake of contact.

They sat in familiar silence.

"Kuwabara...you really did die?"

"I lost my soul."

"I'll get you...I'll set you free."

"That's not me...kill it...KILL IT! It's not me."

Yusuke turned to look at Kuwabara and saw the misery in his eyes. He was fading away, and Yusuke reached out for him. "You bastard! Don't you go-DON'T GO!" Kuwabara smiled at him, and Yusuke jumped in shock. Kuwabara was crying. He smiled at Yusuke as the tears raced down his face and took Yusuke's hand, "I'm begging you! Begging, Urameshi! Kill it! It's my body, but not my soul! Please Yusuke..." Yusuke stared at him, and saw the ghostly tears running down his face. His friend was quickly fading, and Kuwabara realizing this gasped, "That thing that hurt you it isn't me, it's-"

Kuwabara was gone, and Yusuke woke up…to find that like his dream Kuwabara was still…gone.

End of this chapter

Kuwabara is struggling to get out, but things are definitely not going as planned. Sage and Batto toy with the poor man, while the three remaining Rekai try to make a plan to stop what is happening.