Hey guys,
Yes I know, I know! I long overdue update! I am very sorry, but I actually do have a good reason. Well, due to the end of the semester coming up, teachers have been piling on the workload. And, as if that wasn't enough, basketball has been becoming increasingly more difficult. Poo. I will try my hardest to update quicker in the future. Please forgive me, to err is human, and sadly, that is all I am.
Reviews are always welcome, and they make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
On with the show!
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Botan landed softly in the field in front of the old psychic's home, and Yusuke carefully dismounted, mindful of Kurama's many wounds.
They walked into the main room, where Genkai was currently meditating.
"Master Genkai, please help Kurama, he's not doing to well, and needs healing." Yusuke still hadn't told Botan about the Rasputine.
"Lay him on the futon." Yusuke obliged, and crossed the room to put the old fox down.
"Hey, Master Genkai, have you ever heard of Rasputine?"
"No," The old woman knelt down next to the ailing kitsune, preparing to heal him.
"No stop! Kurama's infected with something called Rasputine, and Shintaro said that healing him won't help."
"Well it can't hurt him either. Let's see if this Shintaro was bluffing or not." Genkai summoned energy and attempted to heal the redhead.
Immediately she was thrown back, and Kurama's eyes shot open. The fox let out a pain filled moan and shivered, as if cold. However, the next moment, he stopped. Kurama blinked and took in his surroundings.
"How did we get here?"
"Botan came to get us and—oh crap! We forgot Hiei and Kuwabara! They're gonna kill me!"
"I'm on it." Botan summoned her oar again, and sailed out through the window.
After she left, Kurama noticed that the spirit detective was bleeding.
"Yusuke, your shoulder will need to be tended too."
The young detective had almost forgotten about the gash in his shoulder. "I'm fine."
"No you're not. Without treatment it will become infected." Everyone looked up to see that Yukina had entered. "But first, I'll need to bandage up Kurama."
The redhead had passed out again, and Yukina removed his tunic to bandage his wounds. The damage taken to his abdomen looked like it was the worst of them, but his forearm and calf would need to be looked at as well.
"I suppose you heard that Kurama was poisoned and cannot be healed."
Yukina blinked. "No, I just assumed that since you did not heal him, Master Genkai, it was not the best option."
The old psychic smiled. "I knew there was a reason that I took up an apprentice. You're a whole lot better than that idiot over there."
"Thanks grandma—hey Yukina have you ever heard of Rasputine?"
The ice maiden's eyes furrowed in concentration; "I'm sorry, I don't think I've ever heard of it."
"I can't believe you forgot us Urameshi! I mean, shorty I can understand, but me?...Yukina-san! Did you miss me?" Kuwabara attempted to stand up, but with his injured knee he came crashing to the ground.
"Kuwabara-kun!" Yukina rushed over to the teen and healed his kneecap.
"Thanks Yukina-san, you're the best."
"Of course." The demoness walked over to Yusuke and tried to heal his shoulder; until he grabbed her wrist.
"I don't deserve it. Heal Hiei instead." Yukina looked puzzled for a moment, but nodded and walked over to the fire apparition. Instead of letting his sister mend his broken ribs, Hiei held up his hand.
"I'm fine."
"Stop this macho act, both of you! We can't heal Kurama anyways, so denying help will not get you anywhere." Genkai stood up and repaired the relenting Yusuke's shoulder, while Yukina took care of Hiei.
"Now why don't you tell us what happened."
"Long story short. Got into a fight with the mongoose, Shintaro. After about ten minutes of us losing, Kurama got poisoned with the Rasputine. Let's see…..then we kicked Shintaro's ass, but he wouldn't tell us where to find the antidote."
"Did he mention any symptoms?" Everyone turned to look at the ice maiden. She blushed. "Just so we know what to expect."
"Umm." Yusuke wracked his brains, trying to remember exactly what the mongoose had said.
"He said that it thins the blood, and that he would bleed out within a week. I believe he also said, 'The side effects are also quite fun to witness,' meaning that it can't be anything good."
They were all silent until Kurama showed signs of waking up.
The redhead slowly opened his eyes to see that the entire gang was looking back at him.
"Well I seem to be the center of attention." He tried to sit up, but found that he could not without the aid of Yusuke.
"Hey Kurama, have you ever heard of Rasputine?"
"Hmm. I think I have, hold on for a minute." Kurama's mind slid backwards. He remembered awful pictures of demons that could not stop bleeding, and died slow, horrific deaths.
"Yes, the victim cannot stop bleeding and eventually did. Let me guess, this is what I am currently infected with. Nods from Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara were all that he needed. "Let me think…..an antidote for Rasputine….I know. I have never actually come upon it, but I am certain that Taiya Weed is the antidote….forgive me, but that is all I know."
"Taiya Weed……from Makai I assume?" Kurama nodded at the koorime. "I'll find it."
"Hiei take this," Yusuke handed him his Communication Mirror. "You'll need it in case you need to call us."
With a nod of thanks, the fire apparition became a black blur. As he would have said, 'Enough time has been wasted.'
"Someone will need to call my kasaan. She will be w-w-worried." The old fox swayed and fell back, unceremoniously back onto the futon, unconscious.
"Idiot, why weren't you supporting his back! He's got enough wounds already!"
"I know, I know." Yusuke grabbed a spare blanket, and carefully covered Kurama with it.
On the other side of the room, Genkai was looking up 'Suuichi's' home phone number. She picked up the phone and called his house.
"Mrs. Minamino?"
"This is Winly Kantorek from the Young Scientist's group. Your son Suuichi has been selected to undergo training dealing in Microbiology. He will be staying in Yokohama for about two weeks. I apologize for the late notice."
"Thank you very much."
"Goodbye."
Upon seeing the group goggling at her, she chuckled. "Yes well sometimes it is necessary to come up with a convincing story in a matter of seconds. I've had years of practice."
"That, I'll believe."
"Shut up dimwit."
Yusuke's punk demeanor melted into a concerned one as he looked down onto Kurama's lifeless form. He noticed that the stark-white bandages covering the kitsune's torso were beginning to turn a dark red.
"Hey Yukina, it looks like Kurama's gonna need some new bandages soon."
Genkai raised a hand. "I have an idea. The Rasputine keeps Kurama's blood from clotting on its own, right? But, it can't stop an outside force from forming a barrier to keep his blood in for him." Noting puzzled looks from Yusuke and Kuwabara, she kept going. "In simpler terms; since Kurama can't keep his blood in by himself, maybe the bandages will keep the blood in for him."
"It's worth a try."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
While Yusuke and the others were attempting to help the ailing fox demon, Hiei was trying to find a portal to Makai.
He undid the bandanna covering his third eye in order to use the Jagan to find the portal. The Jagan glowed for a moment, searching the entire city. After scanning for a minute or two, Hiei found the closest door to demon world; behind a bush in one of the cities many parks.
Becoming the, oh so familiar, black blur, Hiei arrived at the park only moments later.
"Oh perfect. There just had to be ningens about." He slunk back to the portal when something stopped him.
"Hey mister, what are you doing back here in the bushes?" Hiei turned around to see a little girl with pigtails looking at him. "And why—AHH!" She had just noticed his Jagan and gone off screaming for her mother.
The fire demon rolled his eyes and tied his bandanna back on. He put one foot through the portal when he remembered. He was on probation, meaning that he was not permitted to enter Makai with out Koenma's consent. If he did go in, he would be punished; not only that but Kurama would be as well.
After a few minutes of reasoning with himself, the fire apparition decided that he would rather get a living Kurama into trouble, rather than playing it safe. If he went to see Koenma to granted permission to travel into Makai, precious hours would be wasted.
Stepping through the portal, Hiei disappeared from the living world.
A/N: Yes I know it's kind of a filler chapter, please bear with me, I'm trying. I hope all of you have a great New Year's Day! Please review, I need inspiration! Hopefully I will have the next chapter up within the coming month.
Hugs,
MightyMongoose/Mary Kate
