New revised version!
EPISODE ELEVEN: WAKING FROM BLISS
It was nighttime now, and Kurama was staring at the moonless sky. He never felt so much hate for one of his old friends in his whole life. For enemies…for strangers…for old "acquaintances," yeah he could easily hate them with this much passion. Kurama was even at the state where he thought of his and Kuwabara's friendship as something in the past…and was it? Kurama felt so betrayed, and thought bitterly that deep down maybe Kuwabara really wanted to kill Hiei. Hiei was never nice to Kuwabara…they were always fighting, and could never get along, even for a moment. Kurama growled as he sat up, and bitterly whispered, "You wanted this the whole time didn't you human? You hated Hiei…you couldn't WAIT to kill him!" Kurama's voice grew louder and a soft sound moved his green eyes to two figures.
Kari was sleeping curled up next to her husband, wrapped in his arms. They clung to each other, and Kurama realized with a sick feeling Kari's cheeks were damp. Kurama looked at her face, and thought of his own human mother, and let a soft sigh. He rose, and wandered away from the group, and went to the clearing where Yusuke slept. Kurama knew why he slept away from them. From this spot you could get a clear view of Sage's large building that included glimpses of a possible sighting of Kuwabara. Kurama remembered what Yusuke had said to him, only an hour or so ago.
Flashback…
Yusuke and Kurama sat in silence, and Yusuke whispered, "Kurama stay with Kazuma and Kari tomorrow. I'm going out to...to find and kill Kuwabara."
Kurama looked at him angrily, "Let me go! I can help! You won't be able to carry out this mission! You care for the human too much!"
Yusuke's face twisted in anger, and he looked at Kurama. "The human? Since when has that mattered to you? Since when have you called Kuwabara just as 'the human,' Kurama?"
Kurama glared at him, and Yusuke sighed and reached out touching Kurama's arm gently. "Hiei was my friend too, but so is Kuwabara. If I let you come...you wouldn't kill Kuwabara quickly, now would you? You'd torture him…he doesn't deserve it. Kuwabara was a good man, and if you care to remember he went with Sage to save us."
Kurama glared, and spat back, "He does deserve to be tortured! Brainwashed or not, he deserves it!" Kurama slammed his fist hard on the ground and then got closer to Yusuke to grab him so he could shout more. But Kurama calmed down at the look on Yusuke's face. Yusuke looked so lonely and pathetic, his eyes were dim and there was this distant look about him, as if he wasn't connected to anything around him. "Kurama would you let me kill Hiei if the roles were switched? Would you let me have a go at your best friend if he killed my best friend? Or would you hope that I would let you do it…so you could spare him the pain I would cause…" Yusuke asked his voice soft and wavering.
Kurama opened his mouth, but he couldn't find anything to say to him. He growled and snapped, "Well I want him dead! Do it right, or I'll do it!" As he stormed away, he heard Yusuke whisper, "What ever you say demon..."
End of flashback…
Kurama looked down at the sleeping Yusuke, and realized he just sounded like any bloodthirsty demon right now, always ready for blood and killing. He sat down looking out at Sage's building where Kuwabara was. "Hiei," Kurama whispered into the air. "Am I wrong in this? Wanting to kill one of our friends to revenge you? What have I been saying about Kuwabara…he was…is…my friend? What would you do?" Tears sprung to Kurama's eyes as he realized how unsure of everything he was right now, "Oh my God...what...what am I thinking? I want to kill Kuwabara to revenge you, Hiei? Even you...you would never kill him the way I want to right now. I know…Kuwabara never wanted…would never have wanted to kill you…dammit. You saw Kuwabara's suffering…you would kill him to end his shame...but I..." Kurama grabbed a tree next to him, and sunk down to the ground, "But I just want to kill Kuwabara! What type of friend am I? Kuwabara...dammit...why did you have to do this...why? Why am I so confused…Hiei help me." Whatever else Kurama was saying went unheard his tears and soft sobs destroying his words.
1234
Kuwabara woke in his own bed, in his own room, in his own apartment.
That was nice…this feeling of being home.
He rose, popping his back, and rolling his shoulders. He wearily went to the kitchen to make some eggs, and eat some breakfast. Shizuru was there reading the paper, while at the same time trying to put on her coat.
"Going to work?" he asked startling her.
Shizuru smiled, "Yes, I'll see you around seven okay?" Kuwabara nodded with a smile, and she came over giving him a peck on his cheek. "Don't lose your mind today," Shizuru warned, and with a laugh Kuwabara managed out an, "Okay." Kuwabara ate his breakfast, watched some morning show, showered, and got dressed.
It was hard to believe just yesterday he'd been on the floor at Genkai's withering in pain.
He lazily fell back on the couch, and pet his cat when she came to him meowing. Kuwabara heard the door, opened, and sat up tensely, "Sage?" he called voice low awaiting the answer. Yusuke came in, a worried smile on his face, "No buddy...he's gone, it's just me…just you and me now buddy." Kuwabara flushed with embarrassment, "Sorry...it was just..." Yusuke flung himself over the back of the couch, half way landing on Kuwabara who cursed at him angrily. Yusuke chuckled and said, "No sweat. You went through hell, it's okay buddy." Kuwabara smiled faintly at his best friend, well more like the back of his head, "Yeah, well I shouldn't be acting like a baby." Yusuke punched his arm, and smirked as Kuwabara rubbed it glaring at him. "Kuwabara, you're not a baby...you never are..." Silence filled the room at the soft words, only to be broken when Kuwabara tackled Yusuke.
"DAMMIT KUWABARA!"
"Got ya now you cocky bastard!"
"What the HELL was that for? What do you think you're doing you low-life!"
"I think I'm FINALLY about to beat you Urameshi!!"
Yusuke and Kuwabara wrestled and threw punches at each other for a good half hour, laughing and yelling. The only reason they stopped was when Kuwabara jumped off Yusuke and his wide eyes began to stare at something in his door way. It was Sage…he was there. Sage was standing there, with his strange staff, and holding the necklace Kuwabara had been imprisoned in. He held it out small eyes narrowed pointing at the necklace, where it was apparent Sage wanted Kuwabara to return. Yusuke saw his friends face, and turned, but he saw nothing.
"Kuwabara?"
The copper haired teen jumped, and looked at Yusuke. His face was pale, and he gave a weak smile, "Can we get out of here?" Yusuke nodded silently, and helped his friend up, keeping an arm around him. Yusuke guided him out looking over his shoulder, glaring at the things Kuwabara saw, and the things he couldn't see.
"What are you seeing Kuwabara?" Yusuke finally asked when they were a block away from the apartment complex.
"Things from my dreams...it was so real," Kuwabara, whispered with a sigh, "I just want things to get back to normal."
Yusuke smiled, and gripped Kuwabara's shoulder, "They will, come on you just recovered, things don't get better just like that," Yusuke said snapping his fingers.
Kuwabara nodded, "No. They don't."
Yusuke sighed, "Now I'm getting all depressed."
Kuwabara smiled apologetically, "Sorry Urameshi."
Yusuke smacked Kuwabara's arm, "Ah shut up already! Come on, we're hitting the arcade!"
And that's what they did.
Kuwabara snickered when Yusuke got the highest score by tapping the strength-testing machine. And Yusuke smiled broadly at Kuwabara when he made the highest score at the rock paper scissors game. The played the racecar games, and on purpose they crashed both their cars into each other, for that was the best part. The chairs would shake and almost throw you off the seats if you crashed into another car. They played some more games, shooting games, basketball, and what had happened earlier just melted away. Everything was right in the world, just perfect.
"YUSUKE!"
Kuwabara and Yusuke turned when Yusuke's name was called. Kurama was there, smiling, and dragging Hiei inside to join them. "How are you feeling Kuwabara?" Kurama asked. Kuwabara smiled and laughed, "Good! Sane, healthy all that jazz." Hiei looked at him and muttered, "You're never sane," Kuwabara was about to say something when Hiei continued, "but that's what makes you such a good distraction." Kuwabara growled irritably, and jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
Kuwabara was staring at himself.
But the one before him had crosses in his eyes, the word, 'Miniera,' tattooed on his chest, and little black rings all over his fingers which were those all too familiar tattoos of death. The Kuwabara in front of him had his hair down, and looked half dead. Bracelets on his body, earrings in his ears, a necklace with a red jewel in the middle, bare feet, a cape, and a staff that looked almost identical to Sage's. The Kuwabara in front of him smiled, and spoke with a voice not his own, "Hello Kuwabara, it's Batto…remember me?"
Before Kuwabara knew it, he was running, and running fast. He ran across the street, nearly getting hit by an angry driver once. He didn't stop running until he was in the park, and had tripped over a tree root. He sat up painfully, panting, and looked at his pants. They were ripped at the knee, and he was bleeding, but he felt no pain. And then he knew it. That's what had been missing from this place even though he hadn't realized It'd been missing from the start…that physical pain aspect, what let you know you were alive. All he felt in this place was his own tortured dealings from mental pain…he couldn't remember once feeling physical pain here. He heard the sounds of leaves crunching under feet, and he charged up his spirit sword. He jumped out, sword out, and almost stabbed his best friend.
He stopped just an inch before Yusuke's neck, and stared into the eyes of Kurama, Hiei, and Yusuke. They all looked stunned, and Kuwabara took a step back, and let his sword fade away. There was a long silence, before Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara and held onto him tightly. "It's okay man...it's okay." Kuwabara stayed in Yusuke's arms for a moment longer, and then pulled away looking out at the park. "I have to go where it began," He said softly.
"What are you talking about?" Kurama asked gently.
"I'm not so sure myself anymore...but I have to go to that tree." Kuwabara whispered. Yusuke looked at Kuwabara, and sighed, "Lead the way then." Kuwabara looked at his friends, and smiled. He was lucky he had them, though he'd never say it out loud. Even if these were just images of his friends…even if they were fake he was so happy to have met these people in his life.
Kuwabara lead the way to the tree where he'd woken up at, and he and his friends cried out in surprise. There was a crack in the tree, and light was pouring out of it. Kuwabara looked at tree that was glowing and then his friends' startled faces. He smiled, and took a step away from them. He smiled miserably, his three friends looking worried. "Urameshi…Kurama…Hiei…I am sorry but…" Kuwabara smiled lightly at the stunned group before him.
"What is…Kuwabara get over here…get away from that tree," Kurama warned.
Kuwabara smiled shaking his head lightly, now was not the time to run.
"Kuwabara?" Yusuke gasped, and the copper haired teen smiled at him. He stood there looking at them all, taking in their faces.
"I've known since I woke up here that this wasn't real," Kuwabara whispered sadly, smiling gently at them all, "it has all been a dream, a truly wonderful dream. You don't have any strings around your fingers, how could you be real…but I ignored the facts…I just did. It's too bad that I have to wake up now, but I guess living out my life in something fake isn't a good idea either. It was nice...seeing all of you again. I'll take this with me as I wake, it'll give me strength. Don't worry about me, I am the amazing Kazuma Kuwabara after all!" He laughed and turned away from them leaping through the crack in the tree.
He heard his friend's call for him, but he didn't look back. If he did look back, he wouldn't be able to go forward, and that was what he wanted. When you have something to do, you can't look back if you expect to go forward. 'I'm a man,' Kuwabara thought, 'and my Father told me a man must never look back, he must always press forward, that is what a man does, and I'll be damned before I ever disappoint Dad.'
Kuwabara heard a man screaming in his ear, and then felt a strange jolt. He opened his eyes and touched his face. It was solid, and his hands weren't see through. There were no red-jeweled walls in fact the necklace was in his hands. He looked down at the necklace the crack in the jewel had gotten larger, and then shattered when Kuwabara woke. Kuwabara touched his face again, eyes wide.
"I'm...I'm free..."
End of this chapter.
Yup, Kuwabara's somehow escaped from his imprisonment, and now it's time for him to escape from Sage! but...as Kurama listens to Kari, and Kazuma tell the story of how they were imprisoned the words he said to Yusuke, "I want him dead! Do it right, or I'll do it!" come back to haunt him. He changes his mind too late that he didn't mean what he said, and now, a finally freed Kuwabara will have to pay for it.
Smooth move Kurama!
