Spirits of War
Chapter 5
Rest But No Relaxation
All were silent. No one could believe what was happening. It was no mere coinicidence that Kayko and Team Urameshi were kidnapped. Someone was definately after them...or perhaps, someone else. No matter the case, Koenma was determined to get everyone back...
KOENMA: resting chin on his hands, sighs Oh, what to do? What to do!
BOTON: Sir? What if I go down to the Human World and look for any clues of who kidnapped them?
KOENMA: Boton, I don't want you disappearing, too. If you vanish, then we'll all be in trouble...especially me...
BOTON: What was that, sir?
KOENMA: Uh...nothing...I just don't want you kidnapped, too, that's all. looks at vidscreen Hey, where's Genkai?
BOTON: looks to vidscreen That's weird. She was there just a minute ago. cups hands around mouth, yells Hey, Genkai! Are you there!
KOENMA: rubbing inside of his ear with his pinky I'm sure she'll answer you now!
BOTON: Hey look! There she is!
GENKAI: Who's screaming at me! rubs her eyes You're giving me an even bigger headache.
BOTON: Oh, sorry, Genkai. Um, were you...sleeping?
GENKAI: Sort of. rubs her head
KOENMA: sarcastically So you left us to take a two-minute nap?
GENKAI: I never left you in the first place. And who opened this comlink? I locked this up in the desk in my kitchen.
KOENMA: You took it out after Kayko left, remember?
GENKAI: Well, I must have missed Kayko because I did not see her.
BOTON: But you were just explaining to us earlier what Kayko told you.
GENKAI: Which was...?
KOENMA: Genkai, what is wrong with you! You told us that Kayko told you that Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, AND Kayko were kidnapped!
Genkai just gave Koenma her usual stare. Koenma felt like a fool at first. But then he realized something about Genkai before...
KOENMA: Genkai? Do you remember having a cup of tea while you were talking to us?
Genkai did not understand why Koenma was asking her such a silly question. But she answered anyway...
GENKAI: I haven't had any tea since last night. What does that have to do with anything?
BOTON: Yes, I would like to know, too, sir.
KOENMA: It is quite simple. When Genkai left a little while ago, she must have hit her head and got amnesia.
GENKAI: That's very clever, Koenma, except for one thing: I didn't hit my head on anything and I don't have amnesia! But I do remember someone coming to my house this morning. I opened the door to see who was knocking and before I knew it, something hit me in the head. I got a small glimpse of the person at my door before I went unconcious, but I don't know what the person looked like because of the cloak he or she was wearing. All I could see were two glowing eyes in the darkness of the hood.
BOTON: And we just woke you up?
GENKAI: in a grumpy tone Yes, you did, Boton.
KOENMA: So if you've been unconcious from this morning until now, then...who were we talking to just a while ago?
The sun and gusts of wind were brutal. The golden sand being blown in the wind felt like needles, each grain a sharp, stinging sensation. The four trudged on, their feet dragging along the sand. Yusuke and Kurama took the head of the group, whereas Hiei and Kuwabara followed...
YUSUKE: panting I can't...take this...anymore...
KURAMA: holding his wounded shoulder Neither can I.
KUWABARA: panting At least...you're walking ahead of us...My feet keep sinking in the sand...
YUSUKE: Maybe, by chance, it will rain.
KURAMA: That's highly unlikely...with this kind of weather. Besides, there are...no clouds.
KUWABARA: Aw, try to be...a little positive...Kur-- falls onto the sand
YUSUKE: What was that?...Kuwabara?
Kurama and Yusuke turned around to see Kuwabara flat on his face in the sand. Both trudged over to him and lifted him up...
KUWABARA: I'm ok, I'm...ok spits sand out
KURAMA: looks back behind Wasn't Hiei with you?
All turned to see that Hiei was even farther behind them. Yusuke left Kuwabara and attempted to run over to Hiei. He was also face flat. His leg, which had been wounded earlier, was bleeding through its bandage. Yusuke shook Hiei's shoulder in hopes of getting a response. But Hiei remained silent and motionless...
YUSUKE: calling back Hiei's passed out!
KURAMA: calling back Bring him over!
KUWABARA: turning to Kurama, now standing on his own I guess he couldn't take the desert anymore. cackles I guess we know who is the weakest now.
KURAMA: This isn't a good time for jokes, Kuwabara. I think it's his leg. as Yusuke approaches with Hiei Look there, you see? pointing at Hiei's leg
Kuwabara gave no reply to Kurama's observation. He decided not to give a remark, for he knew that Hiei was much stronger than he, plus Hiei was wounded badly. Yusuke walked by the two. Without words, Kuwabara pulled Kurama's good arm over his shoulder. Kurama just gave a smile of thanks and walked through the sand with the others.
An hour had passed; the four were exhausted from their travelling. One by one, they fell into the sand. Kuwabara went down first, closely followed by Kurama who was still leaning on him. Yusuke fell as well. Both he and Hiei plopped down onto the ground. Yusuke tried to stand back up, but could not. He had enough energy to turn his head towards the back. Yusuke dropped his head into the golden sand. He could barely see because of the sun in his left eye. Before he blacked out as well, he could see a shadow coming towards them. It had large wings that spread out far, blocking some of the sun in Yusuke's eyes. But before he could see the shadow land, Yusuke was out.
Yusuke awoke in the shade of many large trees. There was a stream running right next to his head. After rubbing his eyes, he noticed the stream and dunked his whole head. The water felt ice cold, which Yusuke thought was odd since it was in a desert. But the cold water felt too good for him to ponder enough about it. He took several gulps to satisfy his thirst. Yusuke cleaned his arms and legs while he was at it. After doing so, he stood up to see where he was. The trees around him were large around the middle and were thinner as they reached the sky. There were bushes with long, wide, flat leaves that drooped to the ground, which felt soft under Yusuke's bare feet. Most of it was sand, but near the stream, it was a mixture of mud and dry dirt. Yusuke was about to sit back down and snooze a little when he heard coughing and gagging noises. He followed them through the brush. There were large, flat rocks and thick foliage in his way. Yusuke jumped onto the rocks and pulled back two large leaves. He could see Kurama leaning up against another flat rock and Kuwabara climbing one of the trees. Yusuke jumped through, his feet firmly landing into the soft sand...
YUSUKE: with glee in his voice Kurama! Kuwabara! You're both ok!
KURAMA: And you're all right, too, I hope?
YUSUKE: Yeah, I'm fine. looks up What's Kuwabara doing up there? Looking for his monkey-relatives? chuckles
KUWABARA: calling down I heard that, Urameshi!
KURAMA: laughing He found some fruit at the top of the trees. He's bringing some down for us.
YUSUKE: All right! I'm starving.
Yusuke sat down in front of Kurama. He noticed that Kurama's arm was in a sling and his cuts were clean...
YUSUKE: Who did that?
KURAMA: Oh this? Magic did, of course.
YUSUKE: Oh man! Magic's been kidnapped, too? Wait, back up a sec, what is Magic doing here?
KURAMA: She lives here. Well, not here in the Goane Desert, which is where we currently are. We were thrown into a wormhole that transported us to Magic's world, Felius Repta.
YUSUKE: Oh, Fel-ee-us Reptah...of course. shrugs shoulders
KUWABARA: Hey! I got some! INCOMING!
Kuwabara dropped some fruit onto the ground, right where Kurama and Yusuke were sitting. One of the oddly colored fruits hit Yusuke in the head and another in his lap...
YUSUKE: Watch where you're aiming! mumbling Wise guy...
Kuwabara lost his balance and fell right behind Yusuke. He was holding more fruit to protect them from being crushed. He sat up and rubbed his head...
KUWABARA: Check these out. They're delicious! takes bite
YUSUKE: What are they? gives an odd look at the fruit
KURAMA: Magic said they were called grum fruit. picks up fruit They have a taste similar to pears. takes a big bite
KUWABARA: More like apples and pears mixed together.
YUSUKE: Hmm...it looks...weird...Is it supposed to be black?
KURAMA: It tastes fine, Yusuke. Just try some.
Yusuke picked up a piece and brushed the sand off. He was about to take a bite when he heard coughing and gagging noises again...
YUSUKE: Hey, you guys hear that?
KURAMA: Hear what?
YUSUKE: Those noises! It sounds like someone's coughing up a lung or something.
KUWABARA: Try blood.
YUSUKE: Blood? How do you know?
KURAMA: It's Hiei. Remember his leg wound?
YUSUKE: Yeah, what about it?
KURAMA: He was bitten after we landed from our flight in that tornado. Something called a sand-striker bit his leg while he was stuck in the sand, and it made him gravely ill.
YUSUKE: Gravely! Is he gonna die!
KURAMA: It's a possibility. But Magic is caring for him right now. So he should be fine.
YUSUKE: Ok, so where are they? Over here?
Yusuke stood up and took one step, just before Kuwabara grabbed his wrist...
KUWABARA: Trust me, Yusuke, you don't want to walk over there. I made that mistake when I woke up. Took me a long time before Kurama convinced me to eat the fruit here.
YUSUKE: Come on. How bad can coughing be?
Yusuke jerked his arm away from Kuwabara and walked over to where he could hear Hiei. He pulled back the leaves of the giant bush. He could see Magic sitting on the ground rubbing Hiei's back; Hiei was on his hands and knees coughing up small amounts of blood every few seconds. Both their backs were turned to Yusuke. They did not notice him at all. Yusuke let go the leaves and sat back down...
YUSUKE: Ok---that was gross.
KUWABARA: I did warn ya.
YUSUKE: Shut up.
KURAMA: He's been at it for a long time now, since before Kuwabara and I woke up.
YUSUKE: Like you said, Magic will help, right?
KURAMA: Actually...
YUSUKE: Yeah...?
KURAMA: Magic never said she could cure him, for good at least.
KUWABARA: Because of the poison.
YUSUKE: What poison?
MAGIC: A sand-striker injects poison into your bloodstream when it bites you.
Magic came out from the brush with Hiei's arm over her shoulder. She laid him down just a few feet away from Kuwabara. Hiei was silent; his body was soaked from sweating and shaking because of the poison in his body. Magic sat down in between Hiei and Kuwabara...
MAGIC: Hiei needs to rest a bit before we head out.
YUSUKE: What's excatly wrong with him?
MAGIC: Well, since you are so interested, I'll explain what the illness does to you. Oh, Kuwabara, you might want to stop eating.
KUWABARA: Um...ok. puts down fruit, swallows
MAGIC: When a sand-striker's poison is in your bloodstream, it travels all through your body. Then it makes its way to your chest cavity and stomach; a good lot of it stays in your stomach, though. The poison causes your blood to coagulate, making it hard for you to do anything really. When in your stomach, it causes you to cough up blood frequently in small amounts. When in your chest cavity, it makes it hard for you to breathe. And lastly, your body shakes and perspires uncontrollably, which causes your body to lose water at an irregular rate.
KUWABARA: That sounds...disgusting.
KURAMA: But there is a cure, right?
MAGIC: looking to Hiei There is not a cure. However, there are methods of slowing down the process before the poison has a chance of killing him. By rubbing Hiei's back, I was forcing the poison out of his chest cavity and down to his stomach--
YUSUKE: How does THAT help?
MAGIC: Hang on a sec! By moving it to his stomach, Hiei can breathe easier. This also loosens the blood so it can flow throughout his body. Along with that, resting and drinking pu-ma juice helps his stomach settle down. The juice tastes incredibly horrible, but it soothes the stomach muscles and throat.
KUWABARA: Eww...So, do we have any of that juice stuff?
MAGIC: Back at home I do. We'll leave here shortly, though. Hiei needs to rest just a little while longer.
YUSUKE: Will he be all right after the poison is gone?
KURAMA: Hehe, I never knew you cared so much, Yusuke.
YUSUKE: Hey I'm just concerned! Ya know, in case it happens to one of us...or...something...
MAGIC: If the poison leaves his body entirely, then Hiei will need to eat a lot of pu-ma fruit and keep getting enough rest until he feels normal again.
KUWABARA: I don't like how you said "if".
YUSUKE: Neither do I.
MAGIC: sighs No one that I know of has ever been bitten by a sand-striker. So naturally I don't know if someone such as Hiei can survive something like that. My brother, Bart, has told me of a sand-striker bite, but only because he lives in the desert.
YUSUKE: scrathes head Hey, if he lives in the desert, then why didn't he come to save us?
MAGIC: Just be greatful Koenma sent me here when he did. Besides, Bart lives more than 2000 miles west of here. He would have never made it to you. That and you four were closer to my home anyway.
KURAMA: So, I suppose that everyone knows we are missing.
MAGIC: Yep. And Kayko, too.
YUSUKE: Well of course Kayko knows we're missing.
MAGIC: No, I mean that she is missing as well.
YUSUKE: bursts out WHAT DID YOU SAY!
MAGIC: I was told that Kayko went to Genkai's for help, then went home later. Then when Genkai called her at home, she got some weird message saying that Kayko was "with the others". I was guessing that she was with you four. But I was wrong.
YUSUKE: So Kayko is lost somewhere on this weird planet! jumps up, heads toward desert Come on! We gotta go find her!
MAGIC: Yusuke! Do you have any idea how big Felius Repta is? We don't have the time to search the whole planet, ya know.
YUSUKE: stops Then what do you suggest we do, huh! What do we do!
MAGIC: I have four other siblings in four other areas on the whole planet that should be able to find her. And my friends here will help as well.
YUSUKE: How are we supposed to trust them? What if they end up wanting to eat her or something?
MAGIC: You dope! When have you ever seen me eat meat? All catgons are vegetarian, duh. She will be fine, just trust me on this one. But I'm afraid I have worse news. stands up I'll explain when we arrive at my home.
KUWABARA: What could be worse than us being stranded in a desert? Hey where are you going?
Magic walked out into the desert, just outside their small oasis. Her wings appeared from their hidden tucked-in position. Magic summoned all of her energy; her body began to glow white; her body took on another shape and size. Magic's body had trippled in size. Her wings had a huge wingspan of twenty-three feet in diameter; her claws were three times as long as before, and her hair turned a purple color and became shorter. Magic had performed Transformation 4, a dangerous move, but it was the only way for her to carry everyone home.
All stared at Magic's new appearence, their mouths gaped wide open. Magic took a step into the oasis, careful of not stepping on anyone. She bent down and opened her claws, telling everyone to walk onto her back. Yusuke climbed up first. He was fearful of Magic, but he trusted his friend. Kuwabara followed closely behind. He helped Kurama climb up Magic's arm. After everyone was situated on her back, Magic carefully scooped up Hiei in her claws and held him close to her so that he would not fall out. Magic flapped her immense wings. Sand and small plants were picked up off the ground. Magic jumped high into the air and glided down toward the ground until she picked up enough wind to fly away.
End chapter 5