Butterflies are a Bitch
Lights aura: Hello! Sorry for the wait! I will be updating sporadically since exams are coming up.
Amu: Yes, life slowly dies when exam time comes around.
Lights aura: Anywho, I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I only own my lovely ocs. Fear them!!
Tori stifled a yawn as she followed Kurama. For the past hour, they had been in the maze. So far, they had yet to come close to the end. Stopping at a cross roads, Kurama frowned. "We've been this way before."
Tori raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"
Kurama pointed to a small glowing green plant. "I used those as markers."
Tori sighed. "Great, so we're never going to find the end."
Kurama shook his head. "Not necessarily, we still haven't gone that way." He indicated the path to their left.
Tori let out a gasp as she felt something grab her ankle and pull her to the ground. Glancing back, she saw a clay looking arm pulling her to a hole. Within a second, the Rose Whip materialized and sliced the arm off. Tori quickly stood up, eyeing the bloody mess that used to be an arm warily.
"Earth demon," Kurama said bluntly as the rose whip returned to normal, "They like to pull their prey into their holes…" He trailed off when he noticed how pale Tori was. Instantly, he was by her side, holding her hair out of the way. "Just bend over until it passes."
Tori dry retched for several minutes before she finally calmed down. When she stood up, Kurama kept his hands on her shoulders to keep her steady. "You okay?" he asked worriedly.
Tori nodded. "Sorry about that." She avoided looking at the bloody mess.
Kurama shook his head. "No, it was my fault. I had forgotten that you have not experience much fighting. With Youko in my body, I've never experienced such shock from events such as these." He sighed, "Sometimes I wish…" He trailed off as he quickly shook his head. "Never mind, let's just find our way out of here."
Tori nodded. She didn't try to pressure him into explaining himself. She knew from the many episodes she watched, that although Kurama was polite and kind he didn't open up to people. She was surprised at how much he had already said. "So," Tori said slowly, "Do you think this path will lead us to the end?"
Kurama shrugged. "Possibly." As they rounded the corner, they found themselves in a small area. In the middle of it was a rock. And sitting on that rock was the vial.
Tori grinned. "I guess we found the end."
"Oh no," said a sing songy voice. "This is only the beginning."
Yukina frowned as she dabbed Sira's forehead again. For the last hour, Sira had progressively been getting worse. Her breathing was more labored and she tossed and turned in a delirious state. She sighed as she grabbed her washcloth and quickly went to dampen it. Once she left the room, a figure materialized.
Socrates grinned as he looked Sira over. "So perfect. So…untouched." He let his hand trail over her face. Sira's face scrunched in displeasure. His grin widened as he retracted his hand. "You shall be mine."
"Hey! Leave her alone!"
Socrates whirled around to see Botan and Yukina standing in the doorway.
Socrates smirked. "I was just checking to see how our little friend was doing."
Anger flashed in Yukina's eyes as the room took on a slight chill.
Socrates laughed. "I get the message, apparitionist. I will go." He disappeared.
Yukina and Botan hurried over to Sira's bed to make sure she was alright. Yukina quickly placed the damp cloth on Sira's head. Sira let out a moan from the contact.
"I hope they hurry," Yukina said as she continued to dab Sira's forehead.
Botan nodded. "For Sira's sake, I hope they hurry too."
Kurama protectively put his arm in front of Tori as they glared at Florentine. She was hovering in mid-air above the vial.
"Well, well, well, I'm surprised you actually got here. What with all the time consistencies that are happening."
"Give us that vial!" Tori said. She wasn't in the mood to play one of Florentine's games.
Florentine frowned. "Nope, you cheated. You're not obeying the rules of the time inconsistencies."
"Neither are you!" Tori said angrily. Kurama placed a hand on her shoulder signaling her to calm down.
Florentine clenched her fists as tears welled up in her eyes. "Shut up! You cheated! Therefore in order to get the vial you need to beat him." She snapped her fingers and a rock monster appeared before them. She giggled as she sat cross-legged in the air. "Good luck!"
Kurama quickly shoved Tori out of the way of the rock monster's punch. Taking the punch, he rolled a couple of times before whipping out the rose whip. A fight ensued. Kurama almost looked like he was dancing as the rose whip lashed out at the rock creature. Rocks were being sent everywhere but unfortunately, they were being replaced by others. Tori glanced up and noticed that Florentine was completely engrossed in the battle. Taking the opportunity, Tori quickly snuck towards the rock. As she grasped the vial, she felt someone land behind her. Whirling around, she was face to face with Florentine. With a grin, she grabbed Tori by the throat and held her up in the air.
"Nah, uh, uh, you're cheating," Florentine said as she watched Tori struggle in her grasp. "And when you cheat, you are punished." She effortlessly tossed her aside. Tori slammed into a nearby wall and collapsed to the ground as she lost consciousness.
Seeing Tori's crippled form, something inside Kurama snapped. White smoke surrounded him as he started to glow. Moments later, the glow died down revealing the infamous Youko Kurama.
"Wow," Florentine said as she eyed him, "You are so handsome."
Ignoring her, Youko glanced at his hands amused. "Hm, I shouldn't have been able to do that." Glancing up at the rock creature, Youko's smirk widened. "My other half had trouble with you?" Reaching into his hair, he pulled out a small seed. He blew on it gently before dropping it. As soon as it landed on the ground, it began to grow. A giant Venus fly trap stood before him, acid dripping from its jaws. Youko flicked his wrist and the plant pounced on the rock creature. Its acid spewed everywhere as it swallowed the rock monster whole.
Hovering in mid-air, Florentine stomped her foot angrily. "No fair! I was supposed to win…" She trailed off as she noticed the plant only inches away from her. It mouth was slightly opened as it eyed her hungrily. "You haven't seen the last of me!" She said before quickly vanishing.
As soon as she was gone, the plant returned to its seed form. Youko picked it up and placed it back in his hair before turning his attention to the girl.
Bending down next to her, he took in her appearance. She wasn't gorgeous but there was something about her that made her seem to stand out. He lightly traced the outline of her face.
Tori frowned as she began to cough. Her hand immediately went to her bruised throat as she opened her eyes. "Holy freaking cow!" She gasped as she tried to back away from Youko. This proved ineffective since her back was already against the wall.
Youko chuckled. "Well, I haven't had that type of reaction before." He eyed her legs. Tori frowned as she closed them and brought them to her chest. "You're a little firecracker, aren't you?"
"No," Tori said evenly, "I just know that you go through women like a five-year-old goes through toys. In other words, you're only interested until another one comes along."
Youko smirked. "So what you are saying is that if I truly liked you then you would be one of my toys?" He stroked a piece of her hair. "I could have a lot of fun with you."
Tori flushed. "That was not what I saying."
Youko smirked. "Don't worry. My other half won't let me do anything to you." He winked as smoke started to surround him. "See you around." In an instant, Kurama returned. He looked Tori over with concern.
"Don't worry," Tori said, "He just hit on me nothing more."
Kurama looked extremely relieved. "Good," he frowned as he noticed the bruises on her throat. "You need to have that checked out."
Tori shrugged as she rubbed her neck unconsciously. "It's fine, just a little sore."
As Kurama helped her up, the maze disappeared and they found themselves back in the city. Everyone was moving at normal pace again.
"It seems the time inconsistency has passed" Kurama said. "Are you ready to go?
Tori nodded. She grinned as she held up the vial. "I bet Sira can't wait to see us."
Lights aura: See, Sira will be saved! Be happy!
Amu: Yeah, I think you would have had a lot of angry readers if you did.
Lights aura: Hence why I prefer Hollywood to art cinema.
Amu: Random
Lights aura: It sucks how movies are made with crappy endings in order to have some sort of deep meaning that supposedly Hollywood can't create.
Amu: Stop speaking about cinema. No one has any idea what you're talking about.
Lights aura: (clinches fists) What happened to the good old happily ever, after, we saved the world, freed the whales, and got the cat out of the tree moments. Are they just not good enough anymore?
Amu: Excuse the authoress, she is still ticked off about the Academy Awards. While she continues ranting, I will tell you that once again she will be updating sporadically, although lots of reviews may motivate her to update faster if she has the time. So, you know what to do! READ and REVIEW! (shakes head as Lights aura continues to rant)
