(I forgot to do this in the beginning, but I do not own Harry Potter or Yuyu Hakusho. Oh, and the ten tailed fox is my own creation. You'll find out how she came to be soon. Suffice is to say that she was not brought into existence naturally. Hope you like it, and thanks for all the reviews!)
Part 4
Yusuke, Heiei, and Kurama all stood in front of their boss. The small baby with a binky in his mouth.
The baby-whose name was Koenma-looked at the three spirit detectives. ''Boy's I have a job for you.'' He said, nodding to someone standing by his side.
Yusuke looked, and saw a shadow grow larger until it was a large snake! The shadow grew until it was taller than even Kuwabara!
''The creature in front of you is a shadow. Shadows have been thought to all be dead, since their masters were all gone. But this shadow tells me that their new master has been forced to go somewhere.'' Koenma said, nodding at the snake.
''Our prince was forced to go, in order to save one who he cares for.'' The snake said.
''Who is your prince? And why should we care to even help you?'' Heiei asked.
The snake looked at him. ''Our prince is most precious to many, and he has helped you all.'' It said mysteriously.
''The person you need to rescue is a Shaedow, and when they were alive, Shaedows were the most powerful demons around, with only one other demon as their equals.'' Koenma said through his binky.
''What were the other demons?'' Kurama asked softly.
''They were the Elementals, beings purely of nature and light. Elementals could ask the very worlds to come alive and they would. They were the kings of the light.'' He said, looking at some papers. ''Shaedows were the kings of the dark, able to use their shadows for anything. They could learn information, kill, they could even use shadows to fight. And there was no way to fight them since everything had a shadow. Even minds have shadows, and they could use those as well.''
''Okay, so we have to rescue this Shaedow guy.'' Yusuke said, cracking his knuckles with a smile.
''That's not all Yusuke. This person is not just a Shaedow. He is also an Elemental. To be exact, he is the last elemental and Shaedow in existence. And he is the heir to both the dark thrown and the light thrown. And if we don't save him, he may get angry, and both Elementals and Shaedows had deadly tempers. '' Koenma actually sounded panicked.
The snake shook its head. ''No, master does not lose his temper. He has faced many things, but never did he lose temper. Master always smiles and gives love. Master is unlike other masters before. Master allowed us all to have forms and names.'' It said lovingly.
''You have a name?'' Kurama asked.
''yes, name is Speaker, for I speak mortal languages best.'' Speaker said proudly.
''How did your master give you form?'' Koenma asked. He was curious; it took great power to give something without form true form.
''Master created a pool of his blood. Then master call all shadows that exist to take one drop of blood. All shadows come to master's forest and take a drop. But master's blood is blood of nature. Now all shadows can become any creature we see.'' To demonstrate, Speaker changed until it looked exactly like Kurama, but with black hair and red eyes. The others in the room were shocked. ''Master loves us all, and he loves all creatures. So master brings creatures that are in danger to his forest. Master's forest is full of all things that live.'' Speaker said happily. His voice was different from Kurama's, but the resemblance was still uncanny!
''Master just wants peace, and to stay in forest. Will you help master? Will you save him from cruel wizards?'' Speaker asked, looking at them sadly.
The three detectives looked at each other, but finally, they looked at Speaker.
''Sure, I've always wanted to meet wizards.'' Yusuke said with a wide grin.
''I'd like to meet your master.'' Heiei said in his dark and low voice.
''I would love to see your master's forest after this is all done.'' Kurama said softly. Perhaps that forest would be a bit like the forest he had seen long ago.
Speaker smiled hugely at them. Koenma smiled too. ''Good, now that that's settled, there's one more thing I should tell you. The one you're going to save is an ancient in his power and knowledge.'' He looked at them seriously. ''But in years he's been alive, he's only eleven years-old.''
What?
All three detectives thought the same thing. Only eleven years-old? How?
They didn't have long to get over the shock because Speaker nodded toward a strange doorway by his side. ''Through here to go to forest. You must go there to get weapons and gifts from master.'' He said happily.
The three looked at the doorway suspiciously. It was like a hole in space, and it was creeping all of them out. Finally, Heiei jumped through. Shortly after, Yusuke followed, and Kurama went after him. Finally, with a smile at Koenma, Speaker walked into the shadow-way too.
The three fell onto soft grass, and when they opened their eyes, they stared at the place where they stood. And at the same time, they all spoke the same words.
''I've been here before.''
They looked at one another in shock.
''How?'' Kurama was the one to finally ask the question.
''Because Cub saw you all hurting.'' They turned toward the voice and came face to face with a man who looked like a wolf demon. But he had black hair and fur, and he did not smell at all like a demon.
''Hello Silver.'' Speaker's voice came from behind them.
The man-Silver-grinned at Speaker as he saw him. ''Hello Speaker, are these the ones who will bring back our little Cub?'' he asked, nodding toward the detectives. Speaker nodded and Silver's grin became toothier. ''Good, I can smell the blood they have spilled, and the red haired one smells of fox and roses. It reminds me a bit of Cub. Though Cub smells of all animals and all plants.'' He said lazily. Then he jumped up and landed on a tree limb. ''Good hunting fox brother, and may you bring Cub home before he bathes the earth in blood.'' He said, laughing wildly as he ran into the forest.
Kurama found his voice first. ''Who… what was that?'' he asked Speaker.
Speaker smiled at him. ''That was Silver, leader of the Death wolves. They are the wolves that live in the space between living and dying. All who they find, they eat and devour.'' He said, walking forward. He walked through the trees without following any path. ''Come, we must go to forest heart before dark comes.''
''Why?'' Yusuke asked, running to catch up.
''When dark comes, forest becomes dark and deadly. Because when dark comes, dark creatures wake.'' And with those haunting words, Yusuke shivered.
The three caught up with Speaker quickly.
''Tell me Speaker, how is it that the three of us have been here before? And who exactly is your master?'' Heiei demanded, glaring at Speaker.
Speaker smiled, but it wasn't he who answered. The forest answered instead.
As the four walked, a mirage took place.
Heiei saw himself as a child in the snow. He had just gotten the operation for his third eye. And he was trapped in the snow. He looked like he would die, but then as he watched, the snowflakes seemed to form together and become a small creature. Heiei looked into the green eyes of a very small demon child. The child took his hand, and with a smile, he took Heiei away.
He brought you here, and he nursed you to health. He loved you because he knew the pain you had felt.
Heiei didn't know what the voice was, but he suspected it belonged to the forest. He remembered that day in the snow, when he had been saved by what he had believed-and still believed-to have been an angel.
As he watched, Heiei saw Yurameshi. It seemed it was his turn.
Yusuke saw himself walking, when he heard crying. The crying was coming from the woods near the park. Yusuke would be late for school, but he had to find the one crying. So he headed for the woods. It was dark, but he kept going, and then he found the kid crying yusuke had never seen a cuter kid!
He went over to the kid, and sat beside him. He asked the kid what was wrong, and the kid told him. Apparently, his parents had died for him. And he had just realized the truth about it. He had never been told.
Yusuke held the kid, and eventually made him feel better. After that, the kid smiled at him. When Yusuke had to go, the kid smiled and said he would be okay. As Yusuke left, he realized that he was in a different forest than the one he had gone into. But when he left the forest, he forgot about it. But he never forgot about that kid crying in the woods.
You helped him when he had no other who would. For that, you are welcome here, and for that, we thank you.
Yusuke knew that whatever was talking to him was powerful. And that it cared about the kid. Yusuke smiled, and watched as the scene changed again. Looked like it was Kurama's turn.
Kurama watched as the scene changed to a day he remembered very well. It was the day his mother had died. And it was the day he decided to study all plants.
Kurama was sitting alone in the forest, his eyes glazed and full of sorrow. He sat in a clearing, not seeing anything at all. He knew his mother was dying, and there was nothing that could ease her pain.
He was lost in thought, so he did not hear the boy walk toward him, but he did feel the boy sitting by his side. Kurama looked up, and into the greenest eyes he had ever seen. The boy smiled softly at him. The boy told Kurama about the death of his own parents, and of how he had felt his heart break. But then he said how he was happy. Because his parents were in a safe place, a place where they were happy and safe. So he could be glad that they would no longer be in pain.
When Kurama asked him why he was comforting him, he said because someone had comforted him when he had been alone and crying, so he knew that everyone needed comforting sometimes. Then, with a smile, the boy had taken Kurama's hand, and taken him deep into the most magnificent forest he had ever seen. As they walked, the boy had taken seeds and given them to Kurama, telling him their names and what they did. At last they reached a large lake, with a magical house on its surface.
The boy had taken some water in a small flask and given it to Kurama. He said that the water would let his mother feel the warmth of his love and that it would erase all the pain.
When Kurama returned home, he gave his mother the water and some of the fruit the boy had given him. The water had done its work, and when his mother ate the fruit, she had cried and said that she could see his father. His mother had died happily and peacefully. And from that day on, Kurama had loved plants and had tried to learn everything about them. But he had always dreamed of the forest that had given him so much.
Kurama still dreamed about the forest and about the small boy.
He felt joy at the joy you felt. And for the light which you showed him. He had seen so much tainted love, but you showed him that love could still be pure.
Kurama instinctively knew that the forest had spoken to him, and what it had said made him feel warm inside.
The group of four walked through the forest, feeling safe in the whispers of the trees and the sweet laughter that they could hear from deep within the trees. They felt as if they were being watched, but not by anything that would wish to hurt them. So they walked on.
They stood in front of the small house on the water. Yusuke couldn't help but stare at the clearing with wide eyes.
It was beautiful, with a small house that looked to be made of roots and plants. And on the water were trails of white flowers. Flowers that were moving on their own in a strange and hypnotic dance.
It was beautiful, and they all thought the same thing.
Is this paradise?
The three spirit detectives stood in front of the lake. Speaker had told them what they needed to do. They were to go to the wizard school and find Hari, then they would watch and protect.
When Yusuke asked how they would go there undetected, Speaker had smiled and told them that they would be in different forms. And now they were standing in front of the lake, having been given new weapons and cloaks. (you'll find out what they are later)
The detectives watched as Speaker came toward them with a small cup in his hands.
He walked toward them and smiled. ''Please drink the water. It will let allow you to help master more easily.'' He said with a smile, holding the cup full of a strange glowing blue liquid toward them.
End of part 4