Chapter 13 Makai Moon-Whiskey

"So much for getting acquainted over a pint," Chu said ruefully. "Luckily, I packed a spare. Or fourty." He plopped his own pack on the ground in front of him and dug through it. They lodged in a spacious cave; though rocky, it was dry and devoid of bats and bat poo. A yellow fire crackled merrily nearer to the entrance, where they all leaned against the walls on their bags to rest. Chu pulled several red bottles that fit comfortably in his huge hand. "Makai Moon-whiskey. Technically it's a cross between beer and whiskey because it takes one moon to make." He said triumphantly, "Don't let the size fool ya', they'll knock you on your arse in a sip."

"I'll have a swig o' tha'." Jin said, raising his hand. Chu tossed him a bottle, which he caught with his raised hand. "Any other takers? I got plenty!" Chu grinned; Yusuke raised his hand and received an airborne bottle, followed by Hiei, then Touya. Jin and Yusuke spoke at the same time, "Touya?" "Hiei?" to which the ice and fire masters answered simultaneously, "Maybe it will dull my senses enough to drowned out your voice." The somber fighters glanced at each other, stared for a while, then toasted one another and drank.

"How about you, little Sheila? It might be fun t' let loose."

"I have no desire to become zonked, tidly, sizzled, spiflicated, squiffed, tanked, lushed, or intoxicated in any shape or fashion. Why are you drinking anyway? You're already more plastered than a fresco." She said tartly, stealing Yusuke's quote. He roared with laughter, "She said 'tiddly!' Wa ha ha ha!"

"Drunken whirling is his fighting style, Gabi, it throws the opponent off. I've seen it during the Dark Tournament." Kurama said, raising his hand.

"Et tu Kurama?"

"I might as well; if you don't want to get drunk, then you can keep watch." He said sipping the alcohol, the proof of which was higher than the ancient youko's age. "Ah, feel that hand-eye coordination just melt away…"

"Oi, any one who is still conscious and wants to play a drinking game, raise y' hands." Chu said reaching for another bottle of Moon-whiskey. Four hands went up: Jin, Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama; Touya and Hiei had passed out because they drank theirs too fast. Gabi sat stubbornly away from them with her arms crossed.

"Okay, the rules are easy; we make up a song one line at a time. If ya words come out and we can't understand 'em, or you pass out, you lose. Jin, take it away!" (For the tune to this song, watch 'whose line is it anyway')

Jin: "OOOOH aidy-daidy daidy-daidy daidy-daidy dai! I went into a little bar-"

Yusuke: "And there I saw a man-"

Chu: "With an eye patch, and a wooden leg-"

Kurama: "And a hook instead of a hand!"

Jin: "I ask him where he came from-"

Yusuke: "I asked him 'what's your name?'"

Chu: "He said he was a sailor-"

Kurama: "Of lineage and fame!"

Jin: "I asked him how he lost his leg-"

Yusuke: "He said a shark had ate it-"

Chu: "I asked him how he lost his hand."

Kurama: "From his wrist a pirate separated."

Jin: "I asked him how he lost his eye-"

Yusuke: "Then he gave me a look-"

Chu: "A seagull crapped into his eye-"

Kurama: "The first day with his hook!"

All: "The first day with the HOOOOK!"

The four drunkards promptly drained their bottles and fell backwards unconscious. Amid her giggles, Gabi realized she was technically alone, when her comrades had built a fire for all to see and made a world of racket for the rest to hear. The fire chose this moment to snuff out in a pitiful breeze, spreading the scent of humans into the forest. A wolf howl cut through the night air; life just got better and better. She jumped up and pulled her shepherd's crook out of her bag. Her jeans, mountain boots and tank top gave her little protection against any kind of attack, unlike the sturdy tweeds and thick leather of her shaman garb.

A pair of green pinpoints lit up like Christmas lights. If she had not just gone at the bus stop, she would have peed her pants. "Filthy humans in our cave!" an animalistic voice made her shiver. The pair of eyes came closer, followed by others. Gabi tied a small stone to the handle of her staff; it cast an eerie blue light up to a few yards away. There were eight wolves of monstrous size. She drew a shaky breath, "Please, do not harm us; we did not know this cave belonged to anyone. We were going to stay at the inn in the village but it was attacked and destroyed."

The leading wolf slowly approached her, smelling her with his huge muzzle, standing seven feet tall. "You are human, but some of your companions are not. What are you doing here in the forest?"

"We were sent to investigate the yokai territory that was killing travelers."

"Koenma's bitches, eh?"

"I am no one's bitch! I'm a shaman!" she snarled. The pack laughed roughly. "Calm down, little pup." The lead wolf laughed. "You and your pack can stay in our cave for the night, but just for tonight. When tomorrow comes, you must leave. Ever since the yokai in the next territory over started acting strange and killing every one, we have been short of a source of food. We all are a bit… famished."

"I'll be gone before the sun comes up, eh heh heh. But I can't say the same for my friends; they're drunk on Makai moon-whiskey."

"Ah, the draught of the bold-but-stupid."

"I hardly know half of them, don't try to make any connection between me and them!"

"Calm yourself, little pup; come, sleep with us tonight and we can protect you. But first you must drag your friends to one side; they stink of sweat and liquor."

The morning came cold and bright; not the best combination with a hang over. Yusuke sat up; his head swam. He looked around the cave, trying to see past the huge grayish-lumps beside him. His vision cleared and he felt his heart skip a beat. Huge wolves surrounded him. They lay between him and his comrades and the exit of the cave. The closest person to him was Kuwabara. He shook him awake, "Huh? Wha-" Yusuke covered his mouth and put a finger to his lips signaling silence. Kuwabara's eyes became very wide as he looked around him. "Lets wake the others and get out of here." Kuwabara nodded in agreement. They woke Kurama next; he wrinkled his nose at the bright sunlight, feeling a headache coming on. He picked up the scent of other animals and sat bolt upright, which didn't help his headache. Yusuke gestured to him and they looked for another of their friends among the sleeping giants.

Kurama waved his hand frantically, pointing towards the biggest of the animals. The lead wolf was sleeping with his head on one paw, and Gabi between his front legs, next to his head, leaning on his other paw. His warm breath and thick fur had kept her warm, while the others, drunk off their asses, had not brought out a blanket or anything. They approached the wolf as quietly as they could; Yusuke reached out to wake Gabi when a deep thundering rumble shook his bones. The wolf was perfectly awake.

"Please, Mr. Wolf, don't eat us! We just want to get our friend and get out of here."

"Let the pup sleep, human, she's been up late dragging your stinking carcasses around." The wolf said, raising his huge head to look the detective in the eye.

"She… let you in here?" Yusuke asked, quivering.

"This is our cave, human; I let you in here!" Kurama stepped in between them. "This is all just a misunderstanding," he said peacefully. "If you wish for us to leave, we will swiftly exit, but we cannot leave our companion behind."

"She will stay as long as she may. You all are sent by the Reikai prince, yes?"

"That is correct."

"Then I want you all to be a rested as possible to solve the strange problem in the valley. The well-being of my pack depends on it." Kurama bowed respectfully, "We'll do our best, mister…" The wolf gave a wry chuckle to himself.

"We animals do not carry with us any label. You humans name each other because you forget who you are. We only choose names when dealing with other races."

"Ah." The others began to wake up, Chu first, followed by Jin and Touya and Hiei. Each had to be held down with a hand over their mouths to keep from screaming or doing harm to their 'hosts'. "We should leave now, the sun is up and time is of the essence." Hiei said, standing on a rock above the wolves and his cowering companions. The lead wolf nudged Gabi, "Wake up pup, your friends are leaving." He said. She rolled over covering her eyes, "Five more minutes."

SHLUP!

"BLUH-EH!" he had licked the side of her head with his huge tongue, slicking her hair straight up. "WTH is wrong with you!"

He laughed his wolf laugh. "That is how we wake our young! Now go, you and your friends have work to do." She stomped angrily out of the cave, muttering about dog spit. As the others followed suit and went down the trail, Gabi stopped and turned back to he wolf, "You know, my foster father calls me pup, too."

"Does he now?"

"Yes. Small world, huh? Thanks for letting us stay the night."

"You shall be welcomed in our lands anytime, young shaman. But… you would do well to leave your friends behind when intoxicated."