A/N: So, it's been over eight years since I last actually worked on this story. Thanks to my husband buying me the entire series of Yu Yu Hakusho on bluray for my birthday last month and my subsequent marathon of watching it, I decided I will return to this story. Also, you should probably thank him for getting me the Kotobukiya Kurama figure that came out in early January. He's sitting on my mantle being gorgeous and encouraging. I went back and edited some of the previous chapters. I was pretty embarrassed by some of my writing immaturity. I'm sure I'll feel worse if I check out some of my other stuff from a decade ago. I guess we call that progress! You finally get to meet the villain in this chapter! There actually is one! I don't know how often my updates will be, but I'll do my best! 4/27/14
Chapter Seven:
Kurama stretched his back and propped his feet on the seat across from him on their private plane. Yusuke had awoken from his refreshing five hour nap about thirty minutes ago and relieved Kurama from his babysitting role over the cockpit's autopilot setting.
Now, Kurama's eyes were sore from reading and a lack of sleep. He had been reading the Epic of Gilgamesh for some time now hoping to find a clue about where in Iraq to go to exactly. He had just gotten to the introduction of Enkidu the wild man. Perhaps he was a youkai? It would explain his animal-like description.
The whole treasure hunt ordeal seemed like an elaborate goose chase. Who was Sir Slate really? Was he someone that knew either him or Kagome from their previous lives? Did the endangered grandchildren even exist? And why were Hiei and Botan involved? He'd find out soon enough, but the rational and studious mind of Shuuichi wasn't comfortable just accepting such a suspicious situation. Don't get him wrong, he didn't mind the company. He had spent the last four years as an academic recluse.
They had traveled over the Atlantic on the way to Iraq with Yusuke at the helm of the airplane when a leaf of paper fell out of the middle of the Gilgamesh book. Kurama picked it up before it hit the floor. Was it a red heron?
"I don't think we need to go to Iraq," Kurama said reading the advertisement on the flyer.
"Are you serious?" Yusuke called out from the cockpit. "We're almost to mainland Europe. Please tell me the new destination is close. If it's back in the Americas I'm quitting. That Slate fellow can fork over the cash for all I care."
"Oh it's close," Kurama said. It was an advertisement for The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona Spain.
'Sweet! This is on your bucket list!' Youko thought.
'I don't have a bucket list,' Kurama argued.
"Did you find something?" Kagome asked taking off her headphones. She was sitting across from him with her computer tablet open. She'd been reading through virtual pages for hours studying up on Gilgamesh and ancient Sumeria hoping to pinpoint an exact location. With one hand she was scrolling through information online and the other hand was holding her third cup of coffee. Staying up for days straight was certainly hard on all their bodies.
"Yeah, we'll be going to Spain for the Running of the Bulls," Kurama answered. The screen on Kagome's tablet drew his attention. It wasn't a book she was researching, but it appeared to be a music video. "What are you watching?"
Kagome quickly shut the tablet. "Nothing important."
'That's suspicious behavior. You should investigate,' Youko suggested.
'I intend to,' Kurama assured him.
"Then you won't mind me seeing," Kurama said reaching past her and snatching up the tablet. He opened it to see a youtube video playing. He unplugged Kagome's headphones and the sound of a strange techno song flooded his ears. "What is this?" He wasn't sure if he should be amused or disgusted by the display of people dressed as various animals ('Furry cosplayers?' Youko suggested) dancing about and making strange animal sounds.
"It's a popular video. It's called What does the Fox Say?" Kagome explained trying to unsuccessfully take her tablet back. "It's just something silly. Sir Slate sent me an email with the video as an attachment. He thought it might be entertaining on our taxing journey."
Kurama held it out of her reach and shook his head in dismay. The actors on the screen were wearing fox ears and making all sorts of bizarre noises as if they were speaking in a fox dialect. "Foxes don't make any of these strange sounds. They sort of bark," he said puzzled by the lyrics.
"It's funny. It's not supposed to be taken seriously," Kagome said.
Kurama handed her back the computer. It was a terrible insult to kitsunes everywhere. He didn't think it was funny at all. Maybe Kagome was suffering from caffeine overdose and lost her sense of humor. "Do you know this Sir Slate well? Has he sent you these sorts of videos before?"
"No, but I've never worked for him like this before either. Maybe he was trying to lighten the mood," Kagome said defensively. "He has been the financial support behind our digs. One week of insanity is a small price to pay all things considered."
"You do realize that part of me is a fox demon," Kurama pointed out.
"That's why I didn't want to show you the video," Kagome said. "So why do you think we should go to Spain?"
Kurama pulled his long, red hair into a loose ponytail at the base of his neck. The air conditioner was failing miserably to make the trip more tolerable. He handed her the flyer and then went to the cockpit beside Yusuke.
His dark haired friend glanced over at him when he sat in the copilot seat. "Do you need help altering our course?"
"No, I'm good." Yusuke put the plane on autopilot while he inserted the new destination into their navigational system. "You did say Pamplona, Spain?"
"Correct," Kurama confirmed.
"Do they even have The Running of the Bulls this time of year? Or is it an annual celebration?" Yusuke asked.
"The flyer is for a festival happening right now. It's a seven day event and its already in progress," Kurama said.
"You think we have time to run it?" Yusuke asked with a mischievous grin.
"Youko says its on his bucket list," Kurama answered.
Kagome moved to the edge of the cockpit.
"Hey, you need to be buckled into your seat, young lady," Yusuke said with a frown.
"You are worried about me being buckled into my seat when you're up here talking about the possibility of being gored by an angry and disoriented bull?" Kagome asked waving the flyer in her hand.
"Yes, so buckle up and you can lecture us from your seat," Yusuke said.
Kurama could see that this was about to turn into a match of two stubborn wills between Yusuke and Kagome. He stood from the copilot seat and took Kagome's elbow and led her back to a row of seats. He sat next to her and picked up her tablet. "Well, I have a headache from all this travel. Can you play some relaxing music or something? Preferably, nothing about foxes and their speech? I'm going to try and sleep for a few hours."
"Are you seriously thinking of running with the bulls?" Kagome demanded unmoved by his request.
"Even if we were to do so and become injured, or gored as you've suggested, as a priestess wouldn't you be capable of healing us?" Kurama challenged.
Kagome shrugged. "I could possibly heal you or I could accidentally purify the demon aspects of you both. I am out of practice. My skill focused more on eradicating dark miasma corruptions." She turned to him and her eyes were wide in concern and her lips pinched in worry. She was quite pretty when she was worried. "Okay, so we'll do our best not to become injured."
'Pushover,' Youko chided him.
"I'm worried about this whole treasure hunt. Our week is almost up and I don't have any idea if we're towards our final clue or not." She searched his face earnestly. "What do you think, Kurama?"
"I think the whole situation is strange." He was sorely tempted to contact Koenma and see why Hiei and Botan were involved and whom their employer was because Koenma was somehow involved now too. His former boss had gotten into trouble a time or two after a bad bout of gambling. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to assume that might have played a role in their current predicament.
So far, the only good things to come out of the whole misadventure was his reunion with his old friend Yusuke and the opportunity to work with a pretty girl. Even with his history as a master thief in the Edo period, the time in Japan that followed the Feudal Era, he'd never been put on such a bizarre series of errands. And he'd been to the spirit realm to steal rare artifacts to save his human mother's life!
"I can see a hundred thoughts running through your mind," Kagome said looking at him closely.
Kurama shrugged. "I'm just thinking about some past treasure hunts that I've been on. Do you think that somehow the story of Gilgamesh is involved in the Running of the Bulls festival?"
"Honestly, I don't know. The flyer could just be a distracter from what we really need to be investigating."
"Just so you know, the flight trajectory has been altered and I'm not changing it. So if you decide that we're not going to Spain you need a new pilot," Yusuke called out over his shoulder.
"If worse comes to worst I can fly," Kurama said.
"When did you learn how to fly?" Yusuke asked.
"If you were able to learn I am sure I would be able to figure it out as well," Kurama said with a sly grin. "I am a genius after all. You left me up in the cockpit for five hours earlier. I could have learned a lot during that time." Regardless of the reason behind their treasure hunt he was glad for the company.
With a satisfied smile on his lips, Kurama stretched out on a row of seats and went to sleep. Unfortunately, his dreamscape was interrupted by telepathic interference. A very old friend with a very short temper was determined to track them down at their next destination.
OoO
Kagome was peeved. Instead of helping her to search for whatever their next or maybe their final clue was her make-shift teammates were preparing to run in front of a herd of rambunctious bulls. She was so hyped up on caffeine that her patience was non-existence. The flyer was obviously planted inside the text of Gilgamesh, but there was no rhyme or clue written on it for them to puzzle over. Her best hope was to see if there was something from the book of Gilgamesh along the route of the run.
She also didn't have a good feeling about the flyer in general. She had tried to confirm the festival by looking online, but couldn't find any appropriate websites. Everything had a website associated with it these days. Kagome's instincts screamed at her that this was a trap. She vowed to be on her guard and hope for the best. It wasn't as if Naraku had followed her into the modern world.
Maybe there would be a statue reminiscent of one of the stories? Or maybe one of the fountains was to represent Gilgamesh's search for the eternal waters?
"You figured out where you're going to look?" Kurama asked coming to her side. He'd changed into a more protective outfit for his anticipated run. He had leather chaps over his jeans, boots, and a leather jacket over his shirt. He tugged on his jacket. "You think the leather is going to upset the cattle?"
"Even if it does, won't you just run faster?" Kagome asked. She was loath to admit it, but Kurama was very handsome and dashing in his ensemble. It was almost worth the annoyance of solving the clue herself just so that she could look at him. She thought she had a thing for silvery-white haired youkai, but maybe redheads could be her new thing.
"Good point," Kurama conceded. He looked around the area. "I sense a great deal of energy here. Something powerful is going to happen."
"I hope it happens soon. I need a nap," Kagome said fighting off a yawn.
OoO
The game was ridiculous. Byakuya, the last surviving detachment of Naraku — the bane of the Feudal Era, saw his opportunity. He'd been watching over Shippo for some time now. The kitsune had been masquerading as an eccentric human for years and practically painted a bull's eye over the priestess. What Byakuya hadn't expected was for Youko Kurama's new form to be right alongside the priestess.
He hated that fox demon. He'd been on the cusp of manifesting his true powers when that accursed kitsune thief stole the mirror that held the majority of his power. It had taken him a century to re-acquire that lost power. And just when he had found Youko and was ready to kill him, the fox vanished. That had been twenty-three years ago.
He'd caught on to their little treasure hunt game. He decided to play along. He was able to teleport at ease regardless of the distance. He'd see to it that those two paid for his pain and suffering over the past centuries.
His illusions were beyond compare. He could fool even the most experienced demons and priestesses.
OoO
Kurama and Yusuke shared an excited look with each other. They were ready to run with the bulls. It wasn't particularly crowded, but there were enough people. The start signal went off and the enraged bulls were released. Kurama and Yusuke set off at a brisk run, evading the charging animals.
Yusuke began to run backwards and was more active about dodging the sharp horns. Kurama, knew it was foolish, but decided to give his other half a thrill. He began to mimic Yusuke's actions. It was then that he realized that the amount of people in the crowds had lessened.
The other participants in the run with the bulls didn't seem to be reacting right either. Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out his rose whip. He hadn't been forced to use his trademark weapon, but he always kept it hidden on his body somewhere. He unleashed the whip and shattered the image of a running bull. Standing before him was no bull, but a base-level demon.
"Yusuke!" Kurama shouted, warning his friend.
Yusuke's brown eyes widened. "What's the deal, Fox boy? They're not real bulls?" He leveled his hand in the form of a gun and shot his spirit gun revealing another base-level demon in the place of a bull.
"The part where I wondered if this was a trap," Kurama said, standing back to back with Yusuke. "I believe we have our answer now." He continued to utilize his rose whip, destroying the images of the bulls and revealing and severely injuring the demons. He would have preferred to reason with the creatures, but their eyes glowed an iridescent red and they were beyond rational thought.
"It's been a while since I've used my spirit gun," Yusuke confessed.
"Wind Pedal Waltz Configuration!" Kurama shouted. A cloud of pink and red rose pedals formed around him and Yusuke and began to shred the demons around them returning them into the spirit world.
"Who brought these here?" Yusuke asked. "There are rules! They can't be walking about the human world without permission!"
Kurama scanned the area. He saw Kagome near a fountain, most likely looking for clues, but completely oblivious to their plight. How could she not notice the commotion? Was the illusion so strong?
Hovering in the air just above Kagome was a very powerful demon. He seemed to be sitting on an origami crane. His skin was pale and his hair dark as pitch. He wore a dark blue vest with a brown hakama and sandals — he looked like someone wearing a costume piece from the Feudal Era.
Hiei stomped onto the edge of the fountain. He created a barrier of ice between Kagome and the flying enemy. "I don't think so. This one is mine," Hiei said glaring at the older demon.
"Yusuke! Kurama!" Botan cried out, flying towards their position on her old Grim Reaper oar.
"Stay back, Botan!" Yusuke warned. He shot his spirit gun just past her shoulder and took out a gigantic demon.
"I guess we're experiencing a team-up," Kurama said. He glanced anxiously back in Kagome's direction. He wasn't sure which was the real danger - the new arrival creating all the illusions or the temperamental Master of the Evil Eye that could surely see through any illusion.
What he did know was that Kagome didn't stand a chance being caught in their cross-fire!