Disclamer: I don't own Inuyasha and Yu Yu Hakusho. Only this story belongs to me.
War Of The WorldsIY YYH crossover. What happens when a whole lot of demons come after Kagome for the Shikon shards? Kurama falls in love with Kagome while protecting her. Will Kagome remain faithful to Inuyasha or will he risk losing her forever.
Chapter Twenty Two The Reikai Tantei
When you are faced with an adversary so great,
That it threatens to blow you apart…
What do you do?
Kurama flew, that was the only word for it. He raced through the trees, not even bothering to inform Yusuke and Kuwabara of this new predicament.
He had rushed through the halls, not caring whether anybody saw him or not, the only thing that was going through his mind was Hiei's words.
Kurama. Help.
Though Hiei had also asked for help the last time, he hadn't sounded like…
Like he was dying.
Hiei's voice had been laced with so much fear, which was uncommon for Hiei as he did not display emotions very often, deeming them as weaknesses. And Hiei's voice had so much fear, and so much pain, so much horror, so much.
He couldn't allow another of his friends to die. Not again.
He couldn't let Death catch hold of another one of his friends ever again.
He hadn't been able, or hadn't been brave enough, hadn't been strong enough, to save Kuronue. And he had hesitated in helping him. But not now. He had been through a lot as a human and he wasn't going to let one of his most trusted partner and friend to die on a mission. They had been through a lot. And that was an understatement. A lot just didn't seem to cover the amount of effort, training, pain and troubles that they had encountered together as a team.
Him, Hiei, Kuwabara and Yusuke, their team leader. The four of them. The Reikai Tantei.
Hiei was the quiet one, the cool one, the arrogant one, the insufferable one, the pessimist, the sarcastic one, the rude one, the one who would not say that he was not alone anymore and he was the one that would encourage them in his own way when they were going to give up.
Kuwabara was the loud one, the one human in their team, the one with the comical actions, the one with pride and morals, the one who was like a knight, a gentlemen, the one who was most sensitive to others and he was the one who had the wisdom of things and of people.
Yusuke was rowdy one, the strong one, the one that was brave and would risk his life for anyone, the head-strong one, the one with explosive powers, the forceful one, the optimist and the one that kept them together. He was their team leader, and he had that ability to make another his friend, no matter whether they were the enemy or not. He had that distinct aura that feel, that ability to make anyone trust him.
And Kurama was the one with the fox in him, the logical one, the one who would always analyze things, made plans, the somewhat genius, mischievous, rarely flirtatious (when Youko felt like it), the one with nature, and he was the peacemaker, the one who watched over the others.
And they made up the Reikai Tantei.
And they were his friends, his companions, his partners. And he couldn't let one of them die.
Not after what they've been through.
He couldn't.
Hiei.
Hiei.
Images of Kuronue flashed in his head.
And his voice.
The blood.
That stupid gem he always swung around. Flashing.
Where the hell are you Hiei!
He couldn't stand it any longer.
Images of the cold, brooding youkai with his eyebrow arched up and then covered with blood made Kurama ran faster through the trees.
Well, don't worry. We'll save him. We'll save him this time. Voiced Youko, trying to sooth his counterpart.
Kurama hoped that was true. He shook his head to clear the negative thoughts away. He would succeed in finding Hiei and saving him. He didn't have time to tell Yusuke and Kuwabara but he hoped they would be informed by Botan and rush here. But now he had to concentrate on finding Hiei.
He cast out his senses. There was a weird jyaki coming from the north of where the school was and Kurama's eyes narrowed.
His eyes momentarily flashed amber.
Death shall not prevail.
I will.
xxx
As Botan and Yukina ran up the stairs, to find the toilet allocated in the second floor to find their friends, the impending sense of doom was weighing heavily on them. When they finally saw their friends, Botan was panting and Yukina had to sit down before her legs collapse underneath her,
"Botan! Save me from this slave-driver!" Yusuke pleaded, as Keiko tried to strangle him out of irritation. Kuwabara was so exhausted he had to resort to leaning on his broom for support. He hadn't notice Yukina at first but then he had renewed energy and had stood before Yukina, telling her about how much a bastard Yusuke was.
"Kurama left!"
That statement caused Yusuke and Kuwabara to stop their antics. Silence reigned.
"WHAT!" Yusuke had shouted unnecessarily. Botan winced slightly.
"What do you mean left!" Kuwabara demanded, unusually serious.
"He.. He suddenly stopped walking when we were all headed towards the classrooms and he hurriedly informed Kagome that he needed to go. He had, you know!" At this Botan flung her hands and gestured comically.
"He had that… Ah! That mind-reading look on his face! Hiei must have communicated him!" Botan said finally.
"Yes, I think Hiei-kun must have communicated with Kurama-kun and that he had asked for help." Yukina said, a hidden meaning in her words.
If Kurama had rushed to find Hiei without informing them, it must have been very serious indeed. Kurama wouldn't have done anything rash. He was after all, the supposedly calmer and matured one in their group.
"Shit! Hiei must be faced with a tough enemy if he had asked for help! The last time he did, we weren't there!" Yusuke all but shouted.
He had proceeded to jump out from the toilet window when Kuwabara stopped him.
"Urameshi." Kuwabara said suddenly, in a very sombre voice.
"What!" Yusuke snapped. Couldn't the baka realize they had to go now?
"Don't you sense it?" He said, a tiny hint of desperation in his voice. "Hiei, he…" He couldn't continue. Kuwabara just wrung his hands and gave Yusuke a look.
That look seemed to have said it all.
Yusuke saw the fear in his companion's eyes. Panic. A cold coil of dread was slowly rising from the pit of his stomach. Kuwabara had the most acute sixth sense among them, and he seemed to know things that Yusuke could not comprehend. Not to mention Kurama. At times, Kuwabara would seem to sprout of nonsense but then, once in a while, he could get insights on how people felt, how he saw light emanating from certain people, how he knew that he was going to rain and how the wind loved certain people, and many many more. Even Kurama would get shocked at the things Kuwabara would say sometimes, and Kurama was the smartest among them.
Slowly, Yusuke relaxed, and slowly cast out his senses, suddenly acutely aware of a nagging feeling that had resided at the back of his consciousness, Hiei's aura, was…
They had to hurry.
"What? What's going on?" the girls had asked, but Yusuke and Kuwabara had exchanged a glance and had unisonly jumped down, and ran towards the north.
Both were struggling to regain their composure. Hiei, their arrogant yet extremely skillful companion was in danger, and they were not there with him.
They were supposed to be a team dammit!
The Reikai Tantei. They were assigned to do this together, to fight together, and Hiei wasn't supposed to do this alone! Arrogant bastard.
Yusuke muttered curses under his breath as he ran alongside Kuwabara.
How could Kurama leave before telling them, they were a team! If Hiei was injured, or needed help, Kurama should have come to find the both of them, and they would have solved it together. Together as a team.
Shit! With every passing moment, Kuwabara could feel Hiei's aura disappearing, and he was afraid. They had fought and he hated the short hybrid but, he was his friend. Sort of. And that bastard wasn't this weak! How could his aura disappear? Something that happened when one gives up on his hold on life. How could that pompous arrogant jerk give up?
Questions raced through his mind.
Yusuke ran faster. Hiei's aura momentarily disappeared.
The coils of dread and fear took hold of them.
Dead?
As if to retort back, Hiei's aura appeared back, though weak. But, it was slowly vanishing.
Hiei was slowly dying.
He can't die. He's Hiei. He just can't.
Kuwabara shuddered as he felt the intensity of the jyaki of where they were heading.
"Will we make it." Was it a question, or a statement?
"We will." Yusuke said firmly as he glanced back.
"Really?"
"Shut up Kuwabara! And run!"
He can't die. He won't. He must not!
But as Hiei's life flickered back from life to death and back again, Yusuke seriously doubted his ability to save Hiei.
Would they make it on time? Would they be able to bring him back to Genkai to recover?
Kuwabara sensed the direction of Yusuke's thought and contemplated on using that.
Kuwabara stopped in his tracks. Yusuke soon followed suit.
"What are you doing?" Yusuke yelled as he saw Kuwabara crouched down and composed a ball of energy in his hands.
"Urameshi. I'm going to use my power." Kuwabara said somberly.
Yusuke looked on numbly. But that would mean…
Kuwabara would die.
Would Death really catch hold on anyone of them?
Hiei?
And now, Kuwabara?
"You would die. Do you realize that?"
"Duh, I know that if I give this life force to Hiei, he would be safe. And I know the consequences to follow. Oba-san had already warned me long ago." Kuwabara said calmly, quelling the fear that was rising.
"But…" Yusuke stuttered, getting paler, a rush of hope yet a gale of panic followed through.
"Get going idiot! You need to save Hiei! Don't bother bout me! After all, I always seem to live after a near-death experience." Kuwabara manage to joke.
But.
Risking his morals for his dumb cat.
Studying hard, ignoring insults, got beaten up; for a friend.
Fighting together, bloody, yet satisfied. Together as friends.
His face; red, smiling idiotically at Yukina. Hiei looking on, annoyed.
Images of the burly orange-head walking towards Toguro. For them.
That idiot collapsing in front of the door, carrying his friends and an enemy. Again, for his friends.
Fighting for him. Risking his life, the only human then, fighting the Dark Angel and the Gate Keeper.
And now, for Hiei.
"Get lost jerk!" He yelled, instantly waking Yusuke.
"Kuwabara…" Yusuke started but as he saw the look on his face, he shook his head and smiled bitterly. No use persuading him, Kuwabara would do anything to ensure the lifes of his friends; it was his faith to do so.
And they both knew that Hiei would die if Kuwabara did not do this. Yet, it would mean Kuwabara's death. How ironic.
Life is one big irony.
He left.
Kuwabara shook his head. He had to do this. He may hate Hiei. He may mock the shortie and call him names, but he was part of his team. And Hiei was his companion. And he had to play a part to save his friend, even if it was to risk his life. He had to do something to save him. And he had the means to do so, and he would not back out. Even if he meets Death instead.
He tapped deeper into his acute sixth sense and his power changed. A white light encased him; Genkai had told him that he somehow had extraordinary purifying powers, one that only mikos or powerful monks had. She had said that he had it from his bloodline. He had not known how to use his powers and only knew how to use it for this purpose.
To give his life to another.
He manipulated his aura, his energy, life. He modified it to sustain another's life. Hiei's.
"Cocky bastard!"
"Hn."
"Why you!"
"Bakero."
"Argh!" Kuwabara screamed. He could feel the life receding from his body. The ball of energy, of life burst and shot upwards like a firework, shining and gleaming with life.
His life force, his energy, was now being sent to Hiei. To keep Hiei's aura from disappearing, to keep Hiei from dying. At least now Kurama and Yusuke had a chance to save Hiei and keep him alive.
Kuwabara panted, beads of sweat forming, dripping into puddles.
Darkness shrouded his view. He couldn't feel himself any longer.
He fell back. And that darkness changed.
A glaring light. It was too bright all of a sudden.
Kuwabara briefly wondered if he was already dead.
Voices seemed to call him.
You're here.
He closed his eyes. He smiled as he did that. Ha. Hiei. You'd better not give up after all that I've given you.
Come.
Cool fingers grasped him.
Come.
He went.
The difficulty is not so great to die for a friend, as to find a friend worth dying for.
xxx
Yusuke continued his journey, casting glances back again and again, fearing the determined.
A blast of orange went the sky, bursting into a multitude of colours.
Beautiful. Life was somewhat beautiful.
The lights disappeared, no doubt going in to Hiei's body to sustain his already fleeting life.
Yusuke cast out his senses.
Hiei lives.
Kuwabara has gone.
A tear slid down.
xxx
Kurama stopped mid way in his tracks, the bright light in the sky momentarily shocked him.
Fireworks this early?
Then he realized something. It was no firework.
Kurama's heart clenched painfully and as he cast out his senses, a mantra was going through his head – Please. Don't let it be true. Please.
But, it was a futile prayer.
Kuwabara had made the ultimate sacrifice.
Kazuma Kuwabara has left. Forever.
xxx
Well, how was it? Not my best attempt, I know. Sorry for the late updates. I promise to try to make it up by posting regularly for the coming week. Though by next week, I won't be able to do so caused I'll be dead.
So, gimme your comments and I'd like some feedbacks on what I'm about to suggest k.
1.I'm editing my past chapters and I'd done chapter one and two and it's quite different form the current one. More information is given, and I might have to edit all the chapters to accommodate the changes I'd made. However that might take some time, so should I finish the story first then post it in or take my time to finish editing it up first, (chapter 1 -21) and post it before I continue?
2.I'm thinking of an alternate ending? Whadya think?
3. Any flames? And I feel crappy bout my work, please tell me my weaknesses in writing so that I can improve myself.
And thanks for reading my mediocre fic. Feeling down. Sorry for the laments.
Our votes now accumulate to…
Kagome / Kurama – 165
Kagome / Inuyasha – 138
Well. Review and vote!
Yours truly, Nicolet.
Thank you for reviewing and voting. I really appreciate it.
xxx