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"...Hiei..." He quickly and clumsily picked up the walkie-talkie. "The apple seems normal, but there's something more to it. I can't exactly identify what it is, but I can say that.... it's laced with something...."

"Where did you say this vendor was again?" A sharp voice crackled through the walkie-talkie.
"Down by the fountain, towards the direction Amaya and Yukina were headed."

There was silence on the other end, and a reason to be potentially concerned washed over Kuwabara.
"Hiei, you don't think that they would have had one do you? I mean, wouldn't they be able to detect--"
"I'm on my way to you." Hiei said flatly, and then cut off the line.

Kuwabara hooked his walkie-talkie back to his belt and waited patiently for Hiei to show up. Tapping his foot lightly, he had no concern that it would take more than two minutes. Everyone who knew Hiei knew he had great agility. He was one of the fastest demons that he and Urameshi had ever known.
Within seconds, he saw something moving from within the trees, then drop from a branch. Hiei landed on his feet, straightened his back, and began to walk to Kuwabara, all as inconspicuously as possible.

The instant he was within a good range of Kuwabara, he extended his hand out for the apple. Kuwabara obliged, placing it in his palm.

The next few moments were spent in silence as Hiei turned the apple by its stem, examining it once, twice, again and again. He held it close to his nose and inhaled its scent. When he was all finished, he crouched down and placed the apple on the ground.

"The scent of the pickling is so fierce that Yukina would not have been able to sense the agent the apple is laced with. Although she has heightened senses as a demon, they are not as well-trained as Kurama's and mine. Therefore, I do not think she was able to sense that the apple was tainted. As for Amaya, it is undoubtedly so that she would not have been able to tell. She is a human, and that alone is enough to handicap her senses."

Kuwabara nodded gravely. "But they wouldn't have actually bought one? I mean, who would buy a pickled apple."

Hiei stared at Kuwabara.

"Come on, you have to try new things. That's how you live life!"

Involuntarily, memories began to play through his head.

"You'd die at the age of twenty..."

"That'd be fine by me. I live to try anything once!"

Hiei shook his head, trying to clear the voices of that memory from his mind.

"I believe its safe to assume that the substance that was laced within the apple is the mind controlling substance Koenma warned us of.
Hiei put his hands behind his back and looked away, unwilling to say the next few words.
"I believe it is also safe to assume that Amaya has consumed an apple."

Kuwabara looked at Hiei completely horrified.
"Well, what are we gonna do?"
"Whatever we can." Was Hiei's only reply.

Crouching down once more, Hiei picked up the apple and, closing his eyes, he began to contact Kurama through telekinesis.

Kurama, I would like you and Yusuke to meet up with Kuwabara and I in the Southern portion of the park, close to the fountain.

-Telekinesis, Hiei? There must be something very important indeed. May I ask what?

There's some sort of food vendor this way. He's selling quite the oddity, pickled apples. And it seems that they are laced with something. I think that you should examine the apple properly. You're very gifted in the sciences, and your close nature with plants may help us to determine exactly what is wrong with this apple.

-Very well. I will tell Yusuke, and we will make our way to you as fast as possible without drawing unnecessary attention. Should we bring Amaya and your sister as well?

If you see them along the way, I strongly recommend it. However, we need you here as quick as possible. It would not be wise to spend too much time searching. If you confirm my suspicions, we will have to find and subdue Amaya as quickly as possible.

-Hiei...

It will all be explained when you and the detective arrive.

-Very well.

My feet crunched on the grass as we ventured into a forested section of the park. Yukina had sensed something there, and I hoped so dearly that it was Sho or some villain. I wanted to subdue him, or her, with Yukina and just show everyone that I am perfectly capable of handling any situation.
I was finishing the last of my apple now, the last few bites that remained before the core. Yukina turned to look at me, she wore a thankful expression.
"I can barely smell it anymore." She said happily to me, meanwhile never letting down her guard.
I chomped into my apple. It was delicious while it lasted, I might as well just finish it off.

As we continued through the forest, I kept my eye out for two things: bad guys and a trash can. We delved deeper and deeper into the woods until we were almost at the wall that enclosed the park.
"Hm," Yukina said, more to herself than to me. "I could've sworn that I sensed a peculiar presence coming from this direction."
"Maybe it was nothing," I said, spying a trash can a few feet away. I quickly jogged toward it, threw my apple core away, and jogged back. "Come on. Let's go see if we can find the others. Maybe one of them is on to something."

We turned around, and marched through the way we came.

"So," I said as we began the long trek back. "You and Kuwabara, eh?" I smiled evilly, making conversation with the ice apparition.
"Well," She was blushing heavily. "Not exactly. There isn't really anything going on between us. All he really does is grab my hands and profess his love for me. And he does this nearly every time he sees me, ask Kurama!" She was laughing now.
"Must be nice having someone who's willing to kick ass and take names later just to hold your hands."
"Yes, I can't complain. However, I cannot say that our relationship is nearly half as articulate as the one between you and Hiei."

Perhaps it was the strange apple I ate, or maybe it was the mere mention of Hiei. I felt an overpowering sensation of indigestion course throughout me.

"He's quite the charmer!" I said to Yukina, playing along with her joke. "Each time he speaks to me, I hold my breath in anticipation. Maybe he'll ask me to marry him!" I folded my hands and held them to the side of my head, pretending to swoon. "Then I can produce several lovely children who are all as arrogant and hate me just as much as he does!"

Yukina nudged my arm playfully, and we continued along. We could see the path from where we stood now. And yet, as we continued to walk, my stomach began to hurt more and more. It was very odd. I don't think it was the mentioning of Hiei's name that gave me indigestion. How disappointing. I placed my hands over my stomach as the pain worsened. I felt myself ready to puke. Yukina, detecting this, threw me a concerned look.

"What's wrong?" She asked me, coming to a sudden stop.
"I have this horrible pain in my stomach."
"Well I'd imagine so after eating that disgusting thing!"
"You really think it was the apple? How could it have made me sick so quickly?"
"You're kidding, right? Did you even bother to inhale its scent?" She asked me. "Oh well, it's no use now." She placed her hands over my stomach, and a warm light flowed out from underneath them. The pain in my stomach subsided momentarily.

I looked up from her hands to try to read her face. Her brow was furrowed, and she looked somewhat worried.

"What?" I asked her.
She removed her hands.
"It is the apple that is making you sick. We should find Kurama, I'm not quite sure what to do. There's just....something really....off....about that apple."
Great. I had gotten the rotten apple.

We made our way to the path and headed even farther north in search of Kurama or, at least, Yusuke.

Kurama twirled the apple in his fingers, frowning heavily. He examined it just as thoroughly as Hiei. Then, reaching into his pocket, he withdrew a plastic back. He gingerly dropped the apple into the bag and sealed it tightly.

"Well?" Yusuke asked.
"I have identified several components on the apple that are used to make mind controlling agents and potions. Unfortunately, I have to confirm Hiei's theory. It is most likely that I am unable to detect the true nature of the agent due to the powerful scent of the apple, as well as the fact that whoever prepared this apple was purposely trying to cover up the agent. I do believe this substance that the apple is laced with is the mind controlling agent that was stolen from Spirit World. But, as long as no one has eaten one-" Kurama cut himself off, remembering Hiei's warning of Amaya. Raising an eyebrow, he looked up at Hiei, who nodded.
"We think Amaya ate one." Kuwabara said, plainly stating what was on everyone's mind.
"Well, then. There's only one way to test that theory." Yusuke stretched his arms wide and inconspicuously made his way over to the vendor.

Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwbara stayed put, casually watching Yusuke from where they stood. His idea was not a bad one, by any means. They were practically certain that Amaya had eaten one. This would only confirm their suspicions.

Yusuke now stood in front of the cart, pretending to be nothing more than an interested passerby.

"Whatcha got here?" He asked half-heartedly.
"Pickled apples." The vendor said cheerfully.
Yusuke assessed him. He seemed a bit shifty at first glance, but upon further study, there was something familiar about him.
"Well, anyway. I'm looking for my cousin. I was supposed to meet her here an hour ago, but I showed up a little late. Do you think you might have seen her? She's about five feet tall, maybe. Short brown hair? I think she was with a friend?"
The vendor looked thoughtful for a minute, then spoke.
"Oh yeah. A girl just like that passed through here with her friend not thirty minutes ago. They bought an apple. That's how I remember." The vendor added the last part, seeming worried he'd sound strange for taking particular notice of two girls.

Yusuke put his hands on both sides of the cart, leaning in dangerously close to the vendor.

"Is that right?"

At that instant, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara appeared at his side. All were in position to fight, and closed on on the vendor, who looked startled and speechless.

The vendor made a few choking sounds, and stuttered quite a bit.

"I asked you a question. Answer me. Is that right, Sho?"

:D

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