Disclaimer – "Yu Yu Hakusho" and all known related characters do not belong to me. I get no monetary benefit from this. My benefit is the enjoyment of dealing with beloved characters.

"What Goes Around . . . "
by DragonDancer5150

Chapter 8 - Alarm

Yusuke grumbled from the kitchen at the ringing telephone, noting that his mother was too far unconscious for it to wake her even though she was lying nearly on top of it, curled up over the arm of the couch and onto the end table as she was. Idly, he wondered what time she had finally rolled in, heavily intoxicated and only half conscious. It amazed him every morning to find her home and not in jail somewhere - or a hospital.

Atsuko murmured and shifted, settling back down, as Yusuke pulled the telephone free of her arm and lifted the handset to his ear. "Hello?"

"Yes, hello. Is this the Urameshi residence?"

The woman's voice sounded vaguely familiar but it was the thick worry in her tone that struck him the most. "Yeah."

"May I speak to Urameshi Yusuke, please?"

"Y'got him. What's up?"

"I'm so sorry to bother you and so terribly early in the morning. My name is Minamino Shiori. I understand that you are a friend of my son, Shuichi?"

She means Kurama, Yusuke thought. Shuichi was the name by which he was known to the humans around him who were unaware of his half-youkai nature. Only partially awake himself this early in the morning, he startled to full consciousness as he realized that he was talking to Kurama's mother. She had never called before and from the sound of her voice something was very wrong. "Yeah, we, ah . . . hang out from time to time." Being a year older - not to mention a much better student - Kurama went to a different school than he did. He could not tell her that he knew her son because they chased supernatural creatures together on occasion. "Is something wrong?"

"Well, I don't know. I was hoping maybe you could tell me where he is. He never came home last night."

Yusuke startled at that. Kurama and Hiei were going to check in with Koenma after leaving his place yesterday, then Kurama had specifically told Yusuke that he would be going home. Kurama's not one to just disappear without at least telling his mom something to keep her from worrying. Yusuke knew that Kurama was concerned about her and, as much as he hated lying, Kurama always made sure to tell her something, no matter how far from the truth. "Ah, no. Sorry. I'll let you know if I find out anything, though. What's your number?"

Mrs. Minamino expressed her heartfelt thanks as he dug up a pencil and a scrap of paper. Taking her phone number, he shoved the scrap into his jeans pocket. It was the only way he knew he would not lose it - not that his mother would throw it away by accident or anything. Gods forbid that she should ever actually pick up around the house. He no sooner hung up the phone than loud banging started at the door. Now what? he groused silently.

"Urameshi? Hey, Urameshi, you home?"

Kuwabara? Yusuke thought. First, Kurama's mom, now Kuwabara, the big dope who usually slept in until noon on a weekend. All right - now I know something's up. "Yeah, yeah! I'm comin'!"

Kuwabara nearly took the door off its hinges as Yusuke unlocked and began to open it. "Damn, Kuwabara! You look like you haven't slept in a week. Stay up all night thinking about Yukina?"

To Yusuke's surprise, Kuwabara waved off the jab. "Urameshi, you heard anything from Kurama?"

"What? You, too?"

"Whaddya mean, me too?"

"Well, I just got off the phone with his mom. He didn't go home last night." Yusuke shrugged. "Probably got side-tracked by some girls wanting homework help - or his phone number," he added with a laugh. "Or maybe him and Hiei got put on another assignment or something. They were gonna go see Sucker-Face when they left here yesterday."

"This isn't funny, Urameshi! Somethin's happened . . . somethin' bad."

Yusuke looked again at Kuwabara. "What's got you so upset? Hell, if something's happened, don't you think Botan would have - "

He stopped when Kuwabara gasped at something behind him. He jumped when a hand gripped his shoulder. "Yusuke, something terrible's happened! Kurama - "

Yusuke spun around on his heel, slapping her hand away. "Dammit, Botan! Don't sneak up on me like that! You about gave me a freakin' heart attack. Do you want me to die again?"

Botan was shaking her head. "Never mind that. We have to get back to Tarukane's."

Kuwabara was nodding. "Yeah, I was thinkin' the same thing."

"Why? What's at Tarukane's except a rich guy and his lackeys - and two dead guys in the fighting arena," he added with a wink at Kuwabara. Kuwabara only winced, still hurting from yesterday's brutal fight.

"More than 'two dead guys'," Botan corrected. "A whole bunch of dead guys! Tarukane, his staff, all of them are dead - and everyone in the Spirit Realm thinks Hiei did it!"

"What? No way. That's ridiculous!"

"Huh?" Kuwabara startled at the same time. "But . . . dincha say somethin' about a severe punishment if Hiei ever killed a human?"

She nodded. "Not just Hiei. It's true of any youkai."

"So what's this got to do with Kurama?" Yusuke wanted to know, glancing back and forth between the two.

Botan huffed at him in sudden irritation. "Yusuke, you can be the densest - ! Oh, never mind. Kurama and Hiei are partners under Spirit Realm's justice system. Anything that affects one affects them both. Anyway, they'll be heading over to Tarukane's once - um . . . I mean, soon . . . to find out what really happened."

Yusuke did not miss the deep, uncharacteristic concern in her voice and her face. He gazed at her silently for a moment, finally asking in a soft voice, "Botan, what's going on? Are Kurama and Hiei all right?"

"Y-yes," she hedged, wringing her hands. "They . . . they're with Master Genkai right now. They'll be leaving for Tarukane's . . . later this morning. They'll meet you there." Before Yusuke could question her, she stepped back, holding out her hand. "I have to go now. It's going to take you guys a couple of hours to get there, so you'd better hurry. I'll see you there!" she told them hastily as her oar materialized. With that, she disappeared.

Yusuke huffed. "Well, you heard the lady. Let's get going. I just hope I have enough for the bus." He started rummaging for Atsuko's wallet.

Kuwabara shook his head. "Don't worry about the bus. My sister's driving. She doesn't work on Sundays so she's offered to take us."

"Your sister?" Yusuke gaped. "Shizuru?"

"Duh! She's sensitive, too, remember? Come on. We're wasting time. She's waitin' for us in the car down on the street."

"Hold the phone! Whaddya mean, 'she's sensitive, too'?"

"I had a couple of dreams last night, Urameshi - nightmares. They were about Kurama and they woke her up, too. C'mon, already! Shizuru's waitin'." Kuwabara barely gave Yusuke the chance to lock the door behind them before hauling him down the stairwell and onto the street. They were starting for Shizuru's car when a female voice stopped them both cold.

"Yusuke!" Yusuke froze as Keiko hurried down the sidewalk to intercept the pair. "And where do you think you're going this time?"

"Oh! Uh, heh-heh. Hi, Keiko," Kuwabara waved sheepishly. "What're you doin' here?"

"Meeting Yusuke for our date - or did you forget already?" she huffed, turning on her boyfriend.

Yusuke scratched at the back of his head. "Um, yeah . . . park . . . feed the ducks, watch the sunrise over the mountains. That's why I'm up this friggin' early to begin with," he grumbled under his breath. "Listen, Keiko. Something's kinda come up - "

"Hey, princess! Wanna come along for the ride?" Shizuru called through the car window.

Keiko startled. "Oh! Shizuru, I didn't see you there."

"Huh? You two know each other?" Yusuke queried.

"Yeah," Kuwabara nodded. "When that pyro torched your last apartment, Keiko's hair got singed when we pulled your body out."

Keiko blushed. "Kuwabara took me back to his place. Shizuru's the one who gave me the new hairstyle and she loaned me some clothes." She looked between the three of them. "So, what's going on?"

"Some friends of ours are in trouble. Me an' Urameshi're goin' out to the mountains to help out. Shizu's drivin' us."

"'Friends in trouble,' huh?" Keiko looked at them skeptically, having heard that story before but, this time, Yusuke knew she had to be able to see the truth of it in their eyes. "Well, okay - but I'm coming, too."

"No! Um - I mean, that wouldn't be a good idea," Yusuke stammered. "It could be dangerous."

Keiko rolled her eyes at him. "Come on, Yusuke! You always say that. Does this have to do with that detective agency again? You're only an apprentice. It can't be that dangerous - "

To her surprise - and Yusuke's relief - Shizuru spoke up again just then. "Hey, kiddo, tell ya what - we'll drop off the boys, then you and me can go do some shopping until Kazuma calls to be picked up. You do remember my new cell number, right, little bro?"

Now it was Kuwabara's turn to roll his eyes in irritation. "Sis, do ya hafta embarrass me in front of my friends like that?"

"I could just let you walk."

"No, no!" Yusuke gasped, pushing Keiko and Kuwabara into the car. "We'll remember. Let's just get going, okay?"

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Genkai stood on the porch of her shrine, a mug of steaming oolong tea cupped in both gnarled hands. She stared out over the mountains of her home, appreciatively watching the sun stretch its first rays through the mountain pass. So, morning has come without further incident, hm? she thought tiredly. Well, it won't hurt to leave the safeguards in place for a few more hours, at least.

It had been a long night. After sending Botan on her way with the pack of first aid supplies, Genkai had turned her attention to preparations for the two arriving refugees - and any possible pursuers. First order of business had been to purify herself and the grounds in general, then the room that her patient was to occupy. She knew the tumultuous energies that he would likely be carrying with him and made sure that the room was cleansed of any negative energies of its own. He would need that space of peace and safety within which to deal with the demons of his psyche. Such troubled energies were all but inevitable after an experience such as the boy had suffered. She had set clean linens and clothing in the bathhouse and checked that she had the supplies for healing drinks and salves, as well as extra food for his companion. Then she had turned her attentions to the complex's defenses. Mystical wards and alarms covered the grounds, both obvious and unseen. She had made the entire grounds of her complex into a magical "null zone" - impossible for outside forces to scry or listen in by any means. Any being of evil intent, be it youkai or human, who tried to cross her boundaries were in for a variety of surprises as well.

She sensed Botan's arrival before the ferry girl made herself visible to the living. She frowned in concern. Botan looked exhausted.

"Yusuke and Kuwabara are on their way to Tarukane's," Botan reported quietly, dispelling her oar.

Genkai nodded. "What about you?"

"Huh? Oh, um . . . n-no, I'm fine." She pulled herself up a little straighter and managed a smile.

Genkai shook her head fondly. She'd known the ferry girl too long to be fooled. "Nonsense. You haven't slept all night. You need to recover Reiki. Come on. You can settle down in my room for a while."

"But . . . what about Kurama and Hiei?"

Genkai turned her eyes to the guesthouse. "Kurama has not yet awakened and Hiei finally nodded off about an hour ago."

"Oh, good," Botan murmured before a yawn overtook her. Without further resistance, Genkai led her into the shrine.

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