Hi! Sorry it's been awhile, but I've been trying to work on my other stories, particularly Vampire Lover. I've got some of the second chapter written, and I've got a scenario for when Hiei becomes a vampire, all I have to do is finish them up! Oh, I'm looking for another story, if you remember reading a story that's AU where Kurama and Hiei grew up together, then Hiei moved away for some reason I can't remember, please tell me the title!
Chapter 8: Kemuri
"AIIEEEE! What the hell! Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled, running outside to spit the stuff out.
Yusuke was rolling on the floor, roaring with laughter. Kurama had covered his ears, first because of Kuwabara's shouting, now because of Yusuke's racket.
"Yusuke, would you mind shutting up?" he asked, shrinking back towards the wall a little, away from the noise.
Hiei flitted over to Yusuke, hit him over the head to send him face first into the floor, and sat back on the windowsill. Kurama gave him a grateful smile as Kuwabara came back in, face slightly green.
"What the hell was that for Urameshi?" he inquired weakly.
"For sleeping on the job. And, more importantly, for sleeping when I'm not."
Kuwabara looked ready to start screeching again, when fortunately for everyone (except Hiei) Yukina walked in.
"Is everything alright? I heard screaming…"
The boy's face broke into an enormous grin, and he pranced over to the ice maiden. "Everything is wonderful now that you're here, my dear Yukina!" Kuwabara said, taking her hands.
Yusuke made gagging motions at Kuwabara's back. Hiei glared. Kurama looked relieved that there wouldn't be anymore shouting. Yusuke strode over to Kuwabara, who was proclaiming his undying love to the small ice maiden, and smacked him, hard, on the head.
As he dragged the stunned orange-haired boy away from her, he muttered, "Why can't you ever just say a simple, 'Hi there, it's nice to see ya'?" Yusuke plopped Kuwabara down in the middle of the floor and sat next to, leaving Yukina standing at the door with a slightly confused expression.
Kurama smiled at her, "Come on in, Yukina, is there anything you need, or were you merely coming to check on us?"
The girl returned the smile and said, "Oh no, I'm fine, I was just making tea, would any of you like some?"
Both Kurama and Kuwabara accepted the offer while Yusuke and Hiei politely declined.
Another hour went by during which the team discussed their mission.
"Um, did Koenma ever tell us the identity of the demon we are to capture? I seem to remember him saying he knew who the host was, but he never told us…" Kurama trailed off, looking around at the others.
"Huh. Now you mention it, he didn't. Crap, how are we going to know who to bring in now?" Kuwabara said, scratching his head.
"Trust that idiot to forget to tell us one of the most vital pieces of information." Hiei grumbled, getting up to stand next to Kurama.
"Well, err, maybe Botan will know." Yusuke spoke up hopefully.
"Know what?" the grim reaper's cheerful voice inquired from behind the boy.
"Whoa," Yusuke cried, scrambling away from her, "Don't do that!" He suddenly froze when he saw who was with Botan. Keiko was standing there, and she didn't seem happy.
"Uh-oh." He'd forgotten to tell her about the new mission, and now she was going to give him one of her 'lectures'. Probably one that involved pain. He loved the girl like a sister, but she could be incredibly violent.
He scurried over to Kurama and hid behind him, holding the fox's shoulders to keep him in front of him. Immediately afterwards, Yusuke realized what he's just done. Shit. Now Keiko and Hiei were mad at him, and neither would hesitate to give him a good beating.
"Eh heh heh, sorry Kurama." Yusuke said, releasing his friend and brushing imaginary dust off his shoulders.
Before he could find someone else to use as a shield, Keiko caught him. All in all, he got off pretty easy, with only a few bumps on the head and a couple of red handprints on his face.
Botan came forward rather timidly, "Um, I guess I should tell you about the mission now…"
"Yes please do Botan." Kurama said; picking Yusuke up off the ground and shaking him awake again.
"Uh, okay, well, you'll be going to the eastern part of Makai, the demon's been wreaking some havoc in the forest up there. Lord Koenma already gave you the wards, so I guess that means we're good to go."
She turned to go outside so she could summon a portal when Kurama called her back.
"Wait, did Koenma tell you who exactly we're looking for?"
"Oh! Yes, he did. It's a demon by the name of Kemuri. He's pretty strong even power amplification. I think an A-class originally; the mirror's energy has made him S-class. He shouldn't be difficult to spot, (he'll be the one killing everything that moves) but here's a description of his abilities and what he looks like.
Kemuri is a snake demon with control over shadows. He can manipulate shadows, make then into tangible forms to use against an opponent. He's more or less humanoid, except he's completely covered in black and green scales and has neon green hair."
"A Shadow Serpent, I haven't heard of them for a long time." Kurama said, almost to himself.
"Yes, well, he's very dangerous so you're going to have to be extra careful. Now come on, let's go outside so I can send you off."
Yusuke grabbed the bag that held the wards Koenma had given them, then he and the others followed the ferry girl out of the temple.
All done with this chapter! Review for me please! I'm having a little trouble writing this story right now, because I have to write a fight scene soon and I've never done one of those before.