Into the Enemy's Hideout- A Plan Revealed

Karin looked all around her. It was… there was no other word to describe it, beautiful. Rich green grass covered the floors, flowers bloomed all around, trees spiraled up towards the ceiling with majesty. The rich smell of earth, vegetation, and flora was pungent in the air.

"Is it to your liking?" Kusuma asked with a smile.

"This is incredible, I've never seen anything like it," Karin replied in awe.

"I'm glad. This will be your home…your palace from now on. You may explore it to your hearts content," Kusuma told her happily.

"I don't understand… what is it that you want?" Karin asked him.

"Living beauty," Kuzuma said with a simple shrug. "And you are that."

"There are other women better looking than I am."

"Ah, but none of them have what you do, and that is a true appreciation for nature. Your kind are all the same, treating plants and flowers as things. Carving their messages into the bark of trees, ripping flowers from their roots sentencing them to a slow death." He brushed the back of his fingers against her face. "But not you. I've seen how you care for them lovingly as a mother dotes on a child. I knew from the moment I saw you that you were to be my very own." Karin didn't know what to say. She was flattered but at the same time still rather unnerved. "Now is there anything that I can get for my lovely flower?" he asked soothingly.

"What did you do with the other women from the village?" Karin asked cautiously.

"Well I didn't eat them if that's what's bothering you. If you will follow me I'll show you just what did happen to them," Kusuma answered with a slight bow.

Karin followed him down to a room that was rather dimly lit, yet warm and humid.

"As you will see, they're all completely unharmed," he told her, giving her indication that she was free to look around. Karin had to cover her mouth to keep from gasping.

The room was filled with what looked like plants all over the room. Some of them were trees that were growing at different stages with human faces. That's when she realized that the human faced plants were the woman from the village that he had taken. "What happened to them?" Karin asked feeling quite fearful.

"Nothing life threatening," he assured her. "I merely planted my seed within them." Karin stared at him in utter confusion. "Observe…" he held out his hand and slowly, a twisted looking fruit sprouted from his skin. "I merely fed them this, and they took root. See those fruits on their branches? Once they fully mature and fall off, the women will return to normal."

"Do I share the same fate?" Karin asked eying the fruit warily.

Kusuma chuckled. "No, you have a more special purpose."

"But what's the point of all this then?"

"I wish for nothing more than for my offspring to spread greenery around the world. The humans of this world do not understand how important the plants are to them. Once I take over they will fully understand," Kusuma explained as he stared at the growing fruits. "Now come there is much to do and so little time to do it in."

Karin gave the trees one more glance before leaving with him. "This special purpose," Karin asked him, afraid to know the answer but at the same time curious. "What is it exactly?"

Kusuma smiled over his shoulder at her. "I need an heir."

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"It was a lot easier coming through here with Karin," Goku complained as yet another plant lashed out at him.

"Of course, Kusuma always did have a thing for Karin so his plants would never lay a vine on her," Ran said throwing some water on the plant. "Anyway it's just through there." She pointed at where the light seeped through the trees. After putting down a few more plants they made it to the lakes clearing. "Goku do you remember where that tunnel was?" Ran asked looking around.

"Um, I think it was this way," Goku said wandering off in a direction ahead of them.

"Don't go getting lost, stupid monkey," Gojyo called after him.

Goku glared over his shoulder at him while running. "Why don't you hurry up, you stupid water spri- IIIIITE!" They lost sight of Goku and they heard a loud splash follow his yell.

"Way to go Goku you found it again," Ran said running up to where she saw Goku vanish. "I remember Karin saying he found it by running off on his own so I figured if I let him do it again he'd find it."

"Brilliant," Gojyo said laughing.

"Well down the hatch," Ran said jumping down the hole. Gojyo hopped in after her. "Right, since we're all down here, let's get these water sacks and water guns filled," Ran said with an air of authority. The three of them quickly filled up the many containers that they had been able to carry. "Alright, now let's get out of here and meet up with Sanzo and Hakkai." And using Goku's staff, the three of them were able to climb out easily.

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Back at Kusuma's fortress Karin was trying to strike up a conversation to pass the time. "Um…so why did you only come to our village once a month?" she asked hesitantly.

"Well my dear, the seeds that I gave to the women can only be produced one at a time and it takes an entire month to grow them back," Kusuma explained.

"But then why tell us you're taking one girl and instead take a different one?"

His lips curved into a grin. "Quite simple. I'm a fickle man. My mind changes quite frequently. Plus, it was amusing to see the look of surprise on those villagers faces," he added with a lilt of laughter.

"So in the end, it really didn't matter which girl you took then?" Karin asked him looking down at the floor.

"Not particularly. Though I was kind of hoping that Ran would mellow out if given the right amount of time," Kusuma admitted. "It would be quite troublesome trying to take her back as much of a fighter as she is now."

"Okay… I was also wondering… why did you cover up the lake?" Karin asked, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Kusuma's face changed ever so slightly at the mention of the lake. "I have my reasons for that…as for now you have no need to understand."

Karin could tell she was pushing her luck so she didn't press the matter. "Out of all the villages you could have chosen, why ours?"

"Location, my dear," Kusuma said holding his hand out over the ground. Instantly a plant began to sprout up and grew as he continued speaking. "The village was in poor condition, hardly any plant growth whatsoever. So I decided to change it and make it mine." Once the plant was done growing, it bore several juicy looking strawberries. Karin hadn't had breakfast that morning and she was starving.

"Go ahead…you must be hungry," Kusuma added taking a strawberry from the plant and offering it to her. Karin drew herself back ever so slightly and Kusuma laughed at her response. "There's no need to worry, I haven't done anything to this fruit." Then as if to prove his point he ate the strawberry in his hand. When nothing happened he smiled, "See…now if you are hungry you really should eat something. After all," he said holding up another strawberry in front of her. "I need you healthy."

Karin contemplated his expression for several moments before reaching up to taking it, but he drew it out of reach and shook his head. Karin looked at him questioningly, and then realized what it was he wanted. As much as she would have preferred to decline, she decided it was best just to go along with his desires until she was given the opening she needed. She opened her mouth about an inch and waited.

He smiled approvingly before gently placing the strawberry in her open mouth. "That's right, I won't hurt you. It's best to submit to me and live a happy life," Kusuma said pleased at her behavior.

Karin chewed it and swallowed. Despite how sweet and delicious it was on her tongue, she couldn't help but feel her insides turn. She wished Hakkai were there, but at the same time she hoped he wouldn't come. She didn't want someone else getting hurt because of her.

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"This is it?" Sanzo asked annoyed.

"This does fit her description," Hakkai acknowledged. "Strange though the energy does stop right here…it doesn't continue at all."

"The stupid girl probably didn't realize that the fortress is right here," Sanzo muttered. "If she had it would have made my job a lot easier."

"Well, it is rather well hidden considering the surrounding area," Hakkai pointed out.

"Are you kidding me? A blind man could have found this place," Sanzo muttered.

"Oi! Sanzo, Hakkai!" They turned to see the other three with Goku leading the way.

"Did you find it?" Hakkai asked.

"Yep, and we got a lot of extra water," Goku answered joyfully.

"Did you find his fortress?" Ran asked breathlessly.

"You're looking at it," Sanzo said annoyed.

"You mean…the tree…I was this close the whole time?" Ran asked stunned.

"Trust me, you're not the only one astounded by your lack of observation," Sanzo said as he began to lead the way inside. Ran gave him a dirty look.

"Don't take it to harshly he's just like that with everyone," Gojyo said patting her on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go save your friend."

Ran smiled as he walked toward the door that Sanzo had created, "He really can be cool…when he wants to be."

They all went inside the hole Sanzo had made and Ran immediately headed for the staircase. "How do you know she's up there?" Hakkai asked curiously.

"They always keep the damsels in distress on the top floor…don't you guys read?" Ran replied.

The four guys just stared at her looking nonplussed. "Well, I suppose that's one way of looking at it," Hakkai laughed.

"Come on," Ran urged them. "I don't think it'll take long for him to figure out that we're here." Unfortunately she didn't realize how right she was. The moment they reached the second floor they found it completely covered in his deadly plants. "Man…I hate it when I'm right," Ran muttered dreading running through the gauntlet.

"At least we have our secret weapon," Hakkai pointed out.

"Let's just get through this…we don't have time to be playing with these guys," Sanzo said angrily.

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"It seems as if your friends have refused to heed your warning," Kusuma noted hearing a loud crashing noise come from below. "What a pity. And here I was kind enough to give them a chance to live."

Karin tensed. This is exactly what she hadn't wanted to happen. Now they were all probably going to get hurt. Ran, Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo… and Hakkai.

"My plants will take care of them in no time. If my carnivorous beauties don't do the job then the poisonous ones will finish them," Kusuma said very suavely. "Now is the time for me to truly make you mine."

He took hold of her hand and gently but firmly lead her up the stairs to a large room that had a king sized bed to one side that barely filled the room at all. Along the opposite wall was a large closet and a dresser that filled up half the wall. At the far side of the room…across from the door…there was a double glass door that led out onto what looked like a balcony.

The scent of flowers was so overpowering that Karin was almost starting to feel high off of it, but she willed herself to focus. Her heart was hammering inside her chest and she knew that she didn't have much time left.

Kusuma closed the door behind him before wrapping his arms around Karin and bringing his face close to her neck. "Just relax, Karin, in time you'll learn to be grateful for my generous hospitality," Kusuma whispered soothingly into her ear.

Karin shuddered and her stomach was twisting itself into knots. "Please don't do this," Karin whispered.

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"What you're doing is wrong. If there's nothing left but plants then the world won't be the same."

"You're right, it won't be the same," Kusuma said leading her to the bed and sitting her down. "It will be better. You'll see."

"I can't… I can't do this," Karin said turning away from him in what was supposed to look like a shy manner. "There's someone else that I like." As she spoke, she slipped a small bottle out of her pocket.

"I'm assuming that would be that Hakkai from Sanzo's party," Kusuma guessed. "I'm sorry that it comes to this but…he's not going to be here for you…but I will." He sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to him.

Karin didn't answer him, but merely sat there motionless in his arms. "Don't worry," he told her turning her towards him and she did nothing to resist. "Soon you won't remember he ever existed."

Slowly he turned her face toward his as he drew her closer still. Then to his great pleasure his lips met hers in a wondrous moment.

It didn't last very long, however. Suddenly he was overcome by terrible pain and it felt like he had swallowed acid. He gave a terrible shriek and flung her away from him. "You… what the hell did you do to me?" Karin pushed herself up and the empty vial fell out of her pocket, falling to the floor.

"I took water from that lake you covered up. I won't let you continue on like this," Karin explained her fear turning into a mixture of determination and apology.

"You, of all the humans I thought that you could appreciate what I was trying to do," Kusuma said, his breathing turning ragged. "Why did you have to go and destroy what peace there was between us?"

"Because… I have those that I want to protect, no matter what," Karin told him, sinking down into a fighting position, prepared to use everything that Hakkai had taught her in order to defeat this man. "I won't let you destroy my friends. Besides, Hakkai is a much better kisser."

"If that's really how you feel then I'll just have to completely eliminate the competition," Kusuma exclaimed as he slowly stood up. His eyes had turned red and his ears were growing more pointed. His nails grew longer into sharp claws and his usually perfectly in place hair grew wild and stood at all angles on his head. "Let's see what we can't do to change your attitude."

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"We shouldn't be that much farther," Hakkai told them as they ran up the stair case, killing plants as they went. "I'm sure I heard Kusuma yelling not too long ago."

"Maybe she already took care of him," Gojyo brought up the possibility.

"Not before I do," Sanzo stated through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, I want a piece of that guy too," Goku said.

Ran didn't say anything to afraid for her friend's life to say anything. On the floor just below the top they ran into the strongest hoard yet. "Looks like we're almost there," Gojyo said gleefully. They ran through this floor too throwing water on anything green that moved. As they reached the last staircase Gojyo noticed that Ran had stopped to catch her breath and waited with her. "You doing alright?"

"Yeah…I just needed to catch my breath that's all," Ran replied taking huge steadying breaths.

"Do you need any help getting up this last stretch? Cause you know my back is always open," Gojyo told her with a chuckle at her expression.

"No, I'm fine. Let's catch up with the rest," Ran breathed standing up like normal.

They followed the noises of what sounded like a scuffle going on until they reached a pair of huge oak doors locked by several thick vines. Ran squirted them and Hakkai used his chi to blast down the door. They all entered the room to see Karin standing over Kusuma, breathing heavily as if she had just run a marathon and she was covered with sweat and dirt from exertion.

"Karin, are you alright?" Hakkai called out as he reached for her. Karin turned to see the group and was relieved to see that they were just fine. Then she too reached out for Hakkai's hand happy to see him again.

That's when it happened. Just before they were able to reach each other a vine shot out and stabbed through the left side of her chest. Karin's eyes widened from the impact and blood spilled out of her mouth as her hand fell to her side. Then as the vine pulled itself out of her body, she collapsed to the ground in heap.

"KARIN!!" Hakkai shouted in anguish. Ran's eyes widened as she saw what happened to her best friend and her voice caught in her throat to where she couldn't say a word…only watch.

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CM: Well, wasn't that enjoyable. Next time, has the Sanzo party arrived too late? Stay tuned! And please review! _