Angel walked quickly down the hallway; There was no way she was traveling to Japan with two demons alone. She finally came to a metal door with a sign that read "Do not trespass", ignoring the sign she entered into the lab. A young man with short spiky light blue hair sat at the corner of the room working attentively on an object. Ember eyes glanced looking towards his old friend.
"Hey Nekku." she said shyly.
The gang walked through the hallways in exhaustion. They had no idea of what time it was nor how long they been here.
"Okay, I think we really need to rest." said Yusuke as Keiko was practically falling asleep on him.
"Well you are team leader." Kuwabara reminded him with a wide grin "The rules did say we had to follow you so this shouldn't get us into trouble." he said looking at Hiei.
The fire demon closed his eyes for a moment then nodded sitting away from the others near Domino. Yusuke watched a bit confused as to why the guy seemed so distance. Feeling exhausted he laid against the wall with Keiko held protectively in his arms.
"There is no way I'm sleeping in a place like this." whined Kuwabara a bit hysterical.
"Shut up and sleep." directed Shizuru grabbing him down next to her.
Kurama watched the two then resumed back to investigating the hallway. There was writing all over the walls written in blood.
"You should rest." suggested Yusuke as he watched the red head wonder around.
Kurama looked at him a bit suspiciously. "I'm sorry, the last time I trusted a stranger I ended up being here." he said coldly.
Yusuke just smiled. "Yeah but, I did take a lot of burning for you."
Kurama turned his face, he knew Yusuke was telling the truth, he knew that they wouldn't try to hurt him, but he just felt unsafe.
"I'm sorry." he whispered.
"Nah, It's not like I got a clean reputation." Yusuke said a bit regretful.
Kurama paused a while before questioning the young teen.
"Is that a confession?" he asked a bit surprised at how the teen was opening up to him.
Yusuke smiled. "Well, we're going to be going through hell tomorrow. I might as well just spill the beans just in case we don't make it." he said sounding a bit afraid.
Kurama turned his face back in front. "I see."
"My mother is a drunk a gambler and a drug addict, my father left a long time ago." Yusuke explained not looking at Kurama. "I was a real mess, yet somehow I don't remember most of my life after a car accident." he continued.
Hiei whom must have been listening flinched at the boys last sentence. Yusuke turned his attention to the floor, fist clenched strongly into a fist.
"And now, some freak tells me that my mind was erased, that I knew all of you, and that the person responsible is at the end of this damned game." he said with a shaky voice. "How am I suppose to believe that? "
A soft comforting hand touched the boys shoulder, causing him to look up into the foxes relaxed eyes.
"Do you?" he asked in such a sweet tone.
Yusuke was silent for a moment, his face was so recognizable yet he feared this was all a freakish nightmare, or that it was some kind of sick act.
"I don't know." Yusuke responded a bit dull.
Kurama sat across from him, laid back against the other wall.
"I had amnesia due to an accident almost a year ago." Kurama explained trying to put the pieces together. "I am the top of my class in university, I don't like to take my prescriptions since they give me nightmares, and now I'm here because someone believes I am Youko Kurama."
Yusuke smiled. "Wow, that sucks." he commented.
"You had amnesia almost a year ago?" asked Kuwabara a bit amazed.
"Sadly." the fox admitted.
"That's strange." he said thinking about the situation. "I was also involved in an accident, and I also had amnesia." he stated causing the boys to stare in shock.
"No way!" Yusuke said in disbelief.
"How peculiar." commented Kurama "None of us recall much of our past."
Yusuke then turned to Hiei whom was apparently ignoring them.
"Hey how about you, do you remember your past?" he asked making Hiei flinch again.
"Actually I do." he said bluntly.
The boys sighed, they all thought that they had found the source of there problem.
"Then why are you here?" asked Kuwabara a bit confused. "I mean I was here because I was told I had a strong connection with Urameshi, and they confused Shuuichi for Kurama, but what about you why are you here?"
Hiei was quiet for a while remembering his first game that almost crushed his ribs.
"Suicide." he calmly said being blunt.
The hallway fell silent, not knowing how to respond. Kuwabara felt like a big jerk, as he sat back down.
"Oh, I uh didn't mean..." Kuwabara tried to respond searching for the right words.
"Forget it and sleep." he responded coldly ignoring the comment.
Kuwabara looked back at him, he couldn't believe that the kid would try to kill himself, though it did explain how he could endure the trials so fearlessly. As if he came to a conclusion he looked back at Yusuke.
"I'm taking the on the next game." he said making Yusuke look very uncomfortable.
Yusuke felt a deep sickening feeling in his chest, somehow he didn't want the carrot head loud mouth to play the game.
"...Gotcha..." he agreed anyway.
"Who's he?" asked the kitsune in denial.
"This is Nekku." angel said presenting the blue headed man whom bowed in respect.
"Pleasure." he responded making Aristania raise an eyebrow.
"Nekku, this is Aristania and Kirin." she said presenting the other two.
"I don't trust hunters." snared Aristania.
"And I don't trust thieves, but you don't see me complaining." Nekku responded shrewdly.
"Do you want to die?" she asked giving him a death glare.
"Aries, come on we all know dead people don't serve." he said cutting the conversation.
"look, there is no way I'm traveling with demons alone. He's coming or I ain't going." she said harshly.
Aristania raised an eyebrow but nodded agreeing to the girl.
"What ever you say blondie." Kirin also agreed.
"Perfect, I'll go get my bag." she said with a smile as she ran up the stairs.
Once she was gone Nekku glared at the other two.
"I swear, if you two double cross us I'll-" Nekku threatened but was cut off by Kirin.
"Your what? Track us down and kill us?" he asked a bit of amusement in his voice.
"You catch on well, demon." he said as Angel came back down.
The gang continued their walk through the hallway until they reached a two way division, "Player to the left, team leader and followers to the right." was written in big letters. Kuwabara frowned, he didn't like the sounds of that.
"Okay..." he said a bit nervously. "Well I guess I'll see you guys later." he said bravely.
"Kazuma wait." said Shizuru said grabbing on to him.
"Don't talk me out of it." he said looking back at her.
"Don't get killed." she said giving him a fake smile.
"Ha, I won't!" Kuwabara said giving a thumbs up before disappearing into the other hallway.
Nekku stood alone in the moonlight, his bangs swayed in the breeze. He slightly turned to see a soul reaper on a river stick.
"Ayame?" he asked
"Spirit detective Nekku Nomura, Koenma has went missing." she said almost panicking.
"And so did the ex-spirit detective." he replied. Folding his arms he thought for a moment.
"What are you going to do about it?" she asked a bit concerned.
"I believe the two cases are connected, Tell George he'll be fine." he concluded as he turned back to the house.
"I hope so..." she sadly whispered.
The group finally stumbles upon a door inscribed on it was the words "Ignore your detractors". Yusuke put his arm on the doorknob and was about to turn it when Hiei stopped him.
"Just to let you know, when you are given a direction, follow it." he directed harshly as he slowly released his wrist.
Yusuke shivered he did not want to know what he meant by that, entering the room he realized that he was on the second story of the building that was missing it's floorboards, with the exception of a series of torn-apart beams, destroyed arches, and wooden planks.
"Something is telling me that our tormentor is very creative." he said looking around.
On the other end of the room was, Kuwabara stood there equipped with a mask that covers his eyes and ears so that he can't see anything and making it difficult for him to hear. He also has a collar around his neck with a chain leading from the ceiling to the back of it, attached to a winch.
"Kuwabara!" he screamed out in shock knowing if the carrot were to fall, the winch would lift him off his feet and he would be hanged.
"Urameshi!" he responded freaked out by the situation.
"Hold on, I'm coming!" he said then paused looking at the tape. Closing his eyes in fear he pressed play to hear what to do.
"Hello Yusuke. Across from you is your closest friend. He knows all your sins, yet he acts as though he hears no evil." the tape said making Yusuke swallow hard."Today, what he hears will be the difference between life and death. Yusuke you must help Kazuma to walk over the planks and get as close to you as possible. Find your own way across the beams to the key. You must get it over the last span between you."
Yusuke looked down, the second floor was filled with glass.
"If the noose around Kazuma's neck is not removed within sixty seconds, a winch will be engaged and your secret will be left hanging. Does Kazuma live or die Yusuke? The choice is yours." And with that the tape ended.
"Oh crap!" Yusuke said as he quickly got onto a plank and tried to make his way towards his friend.
"Yusuke Keep your arms stretched out to keep balance." Kurama advised to keep the boy from falling over.
"Got it!" he replied then looked around the room, spotting the key he smirked. "found it!" he said feeling much more at ease.
The boy walked down the plank and stopped the other plank was a little further away, taking a chance he jumped for it. Landing he swayed his arms back and forth almost loosing his balance.
"Yusuke don't be reckless, concentrate!" cried out Kurama in horror.
Keiko stared in horror then turned her face.
"I can't watch!" she shuttered.
"I know, I know!" he said to Kurama then looked back at Kuwabara. " Kuwabara, pay close attention to everything I say!" he screamed out loud enough for Kuwabara to hear him.
"I hear ya Urameshi." he responded feeling really frightened.
"Walk two big steps forward." he directed while he also tried to find a way across the room.
Kuwabara instantly obeyed taking two big steps forward. The boards wobbled making Kuwabara feel very uneasy.
"Now slid slowly to the right, there will be a wall." he said again trying to navigate the carrot top through the unstable room.
Kuwabara slid and wobbled.
"Urameshi what the hell is wrong with the floor?" he asked panicking.
"Just trust me!" he responded feeling very afraid of Kuwabara's life being in his own hands.
Kuwabara continued to slide as the others watched in horror.
"Hiei could you reach him?" asked Kurama a bit frightful of the situation.
Hiei looked at him a bit agitated, how could the fox not remember him yet know he could jump that far.
"If necessary, but I doubt those boards will sustain all of our weight simultaneously." he reasoned.
Yusuke finally got to the key and took hold of it eagerly. Looking back, he saw that Kuwabara was still to far from him.
"Damn I'm trapped." Yusuke yelled out angrily as he realized there was no way he could get across to unlock his friend.
"Yusuke, try to get Kuwabara closer." Kurama reasoned helping out the raven haired boy.
Yusuke looked at him then looked back at Kuwabara.
"Kuwabara! Take three steps forward."
Kuwabara obeyed but accidentally took too big of a step. Falling over, he quickly held on to the board causing everyone to scream in horror. Pulling himself back up Yusuke began to sweat nervously.
"Yusuke, be more specific!" Kurama cried out helping Yusuke out a bit.
"Alright, alright! Kuwabara take two small steps to the left!" Yusuke stated sounding very unsteady.
"You sure?" asked Kuwabara.
Yusuke was quiet, he honestly didn't know what to say. Loosing self confidence he slowly began to shutter.
"Urameshi?" Kuwabara cried out.
"I don"t-" Yusuke whispered slowly loosing his mind.
"Yusuke concentrate!" Kurama called out trying to get the boy to snap out of it.
Looking at the time, he had only ten seconds left.
"He's not going to make it." whispered Domino towards Hiei.
"Damn it." thought Yusuke. "Kuwabara, stick out your arms!" he directed.
Kuwabara obeyed.
"He's not literally about to throw that thing is he?" said Shizuru in a worried tone.
"Cup your hands together!" Yusuke commanded ignoring the women.
"He is..." responded Hiei not at all shocked.
Yusuke determinedly got ready to throw it. "Don't miss!" he begged the lord as he threw the keys at Kuwabara. The keys flew delicately threw the air making everybody's heart stop. If he misses, he loses his life.
"Pull back!" screamed out Domino as she noticed his arms were too far.
Kuwabara did what he was told right on time, he actually caught the keys and began to unlock himself.
All eyes were wide opened staring in shock at the talking dog.
"Nice going." commented Hiei.
Taking off the mask, Kuwabara took in a deep breath and screamed realizing there was no solid floor.
"Shit Urameshi, you could have killed me!" he yelled out angrily as Yusuke slid to his knees, he couldn't believe that he almost killed his friend. Kuwabara not noticing his friends state looked back at the others. "Who yelled?"
They were all stupefied, barely able to point at the dog. Hiei rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing how to explain this sudden situation.