Ch. 17 – Kuronue
Silence fills the room as everyone look over at Youko to see his reaction. "…Are you serious?"
"Yes. I've been informed that several other guides tried to rush there for me but he froze them and took her." Boton replies.
"How nice of him… he hasn't changed a bit. He was my 2nd in command for my tribe of thieves as well as my best friend, so we shared all the treasures. It's just like him to take the one I don't want to share." Youko states.
"Well… he's not exactly the same as you remember him. Although his personality hasn't changed much I'm sure."
"Then he's still a womanizer. Great. And he has my Kagome. Even better. What else can you add to the list?" Youko remarks sarcastically.
"Well… he hasn't returned to spirit world since he took her… so… that means he's probably still with her."
"Where?"
"… I don't know. There are many different places within the Land of the Dead that he could've taken her."
"How do we find out?"
"Well… you would have to give me her lifeless form."
"Why?"
"So I can track her." Youko reluctantly lets Boton take Kagome's lifeless body from him. Holding onto Kagome, Boton closes her eyes as her pink-colored energy surrounds them both.
(10 min. later)
Boton opens her eyes and the pink-colored energy around her vanishes. "Was she burning anything when she died?"
"She was purifying the Torture House… why?" Konton answers her.
"Because she is at the burning field."
"Ok… explain."
"There are different places a person could go in the Land of the Dead. We call these different places fields. They could end up in a place that has some sort of representation of where they died, or wherever they wanted to be as their final wish or where they were exiled to because of what they did while they were living."
"Does everyone get a final wish?" Youko inquires.
"Yes."
"What was Kagome's?"
"That Konton would remain in one piece, not disintegrate into nothingness, and could stay a demon instead of being purified and turned into a human permanently."
"She used her last wish to keep me alive!?!" Konton speaks up.
"Yes."
"Why?!"
"Because you're her friend."
"But she could've wished for anything! Now I feel bad!"
"It's ok." Ronin hugs her.
"Where is the burning field Boton? I'll bring her back."
"You will stay here." Koenma walks into the room.
"I wasn't talking to you toddler. You're the cause of all this."
"Like I said, you're not going."
"And who's gonna stop me, you? Ha! That's a laugh and a half. You can't even tie your own shoes."
"I'm older then you!"
"I'm stronger then you."
"… I'm taller then you!"
"Slightly, and even then it's only when you're in your teenage form."
"I'll put you under house arrest!"
"I'll break out within half an hour."
"I'll have you locked in the dungeon!"
"I'll kill any of your demons that come near me, ripping them to pieces in front of your eyes so you can see the pieces of torn flesh, hear the muscle tarring and the bone breaking, blood being splattered all over your office as the violence cascades into a slaughter."
"…"
"Can't come up with a better one then that can you?"
"…"
"I didn't think so."
"You work for me! I'm your boss! I order you to stay here!"
"And how many times do I follow your orders not including my working hours?"
Koenma looks like he's about to explode out of anger when he switches to his teenager form. He calmly looks over at Konton. "You can't go. Only the one who seeks her may go. Only one person can be brought to the Land of the Dead. You are lucky that my father is going to let anyone go there. Do you understand now?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. You and Ronin are dismissed." Konton leaves the room, followed by Ronin. Koenma turns his attention to Youko. "Are you ready to go?"
"Just tell me how to get there." Youko answers.
"Boton has to bring you. But you must be careful. She might not remember everything. And I'm sure Kuronue is using that to his advantage. You only have until the end of the afternoon to bring her back, any more time then that and you'll start to lose yourself."
"Alright, thanks for letting me know."
"I will keep her lifeless form with me here. Good luck."
"Time to leave Youko." Boton, back in her ferry outfit sits on her oar. "Hop on." Youko hesitantly situates himself on the oar behind her. No sooner does he make sure that he won't fall off do they fly out the window and up into the air.
Youko watches as the ground passes beneath them at an average speed. "Where is the Land of the Dead?'
"The River Styx."
"…Wait. What?"
"As the Grim Reaper, I am the pilot to the River Styx."
"What does the river have to do with this?"
"The river is the gateway to the Land of the Dead."
"How is the river a gateway – What are you doing!?! You're crazy!!!" Youko yells as they suddenly start dropping towards the ground.
"Weeeee!" Boton exclaims happily. The ground becomes more detailed as they near it. The Rive Styx comes into view below them. "Hold your breath and hold on tight! If you let go the river will take you!"
Youko grips the oar but is unable to breath in enough air before they are underwater. The water along with lack of enough air starts to take its toll on him and he slowly starts to drown. His strength weakens as he tries to remain conscious. His grip loosens on the quickly descending oar, the current starting to pull his away.
"Oh no you don't!" Boton's voice rings out over the sound of the current. Youko feels her hand grip his arm, keeping him from floating off. "We're almost there!"
In a flash of light Youko finds himself not underwater, but hovering in the air, Boton keeping him from falling off the oar. "What the?" He coughs up water. "Where are we? How did we get here?"
"I told you." Boton releases her grip on his arm no that he is fully conscious. "The river is a gateway. We just had to find the right door."
"So you nearly drown to get here."
"Well… no. Guides are already dead, so the water doesn't affect them. And since we guide the dead, it doesn't affect those we bring either. However, you are still living, so naturally the water would affect you."
"You could have warned me."
"I did."
"You could have warned me EARLIER."
"I'm not used to bringing a live person here, sorry."
"Well where are we now?"
"The Burning Field."
Youko looks down at the scene below them. The grass is black and any other plant life is covered in flames. He notices a small river, the water a dark red color. "This place looks friendly." He remarks sarcastically. "So where is she?"
"Probably still with Kuronue."
"You don't know their location?"
"No. I can only tell the field. She could be anywhere in this field." Boton lowers the oar and they gently touch down on the dead grass. "So… which direction do you want to check first?" Boton smiles cheerfully.
"I think I'll try south first, she doesn't like the cold that much."
"Ok! See you later then!" Boton hops back on her oar.
"Where are you going!? You're supposed to help!"
"I have. I got you this far. The rest you must accomplish on your own. I have to get back to work. I'll return to come get you when you're time is up at the end of the afternoon." She smiles and flies off.
Youko sighs before turning south. He follows the river for several miles before Kuronue descends from the sky in front of him. "You aren't dead yet Youko, go home."
"Well if it isn't my old partner. Haven't forgotten me I see."
"We were friends, I wouldn't forget. But unlike you, who've ended up serving humans, I have acquired a higher station."
"So I've heard… death fairy!" Youko laughs.
"It's Spirit Guide you stupid fox!"
"Where's my mate?" Youko asks, suddenly serious.
"Who?" Kuronue responds innocently.
"Where is Kagome? What did you do with her Kuronue?"
"Oh, you mean my new friend."
"I will not allow you to take her from me."
"So she is the one treasure you won't share huh?"
"Precisely. Now give her back." Youko demands.
"You already lost her."
"I've come to find her."
"You lost her to me the moment she took her last breath. She is my treasure now." Kuronue smirks.
"I'm beginning to question your orientation."
"I can do what I want. I am the leader now."
"There is no band of thieves for you to be leader of."
"I am of a higher rank then that. I am a Spirit Guide, and I am already second in command."
"… You're what?"
"Boton didn't tell you I'm her right hand guide?"
"…No. She failed to mention that."
"That's too bad. Well, I have to leave, I've wasted enough time talking to you." Kuronue stretches his wings and Youko notices that he no longer has bat wings, but is now sporting black angel wings. "I have somewhere else to be." Before he flies off, Youko manages to steal one of his feathers. But Kuronue doesn't notice and disappears into the sky.
"Now that I have something to track you with, I can find you." Youko smirks. "And just wait till I get there…" –I'll get Kagome back. There's no way you will win.- Youko takes off running.
