I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Only Sharnana is mine.
Chapter One- Infected
Kuwabara grumbled to himself as he trudged across the forest landscape, seemingly alone. Why was he always the bait? He would think of past missions where he had been bait, but he didn't have to be. The other three would have been just as suitable and yet, they didn't volunteer for the task; it was always him. But this time, it had be me. Koenma made that clear:
"Me!? Why does it have to be me- again!?" Kuwabara had demanded.
"I'm sorry, but the demon has a taste for human flesh and you are the only pure human on the team. Besides, the others will be keeping track of you from hiding. Once you draw him out, your team mates will emerge and all four of you will apprehend him if you can, kill him if you cannot. Oh and one more thing. The demon is a tiger. They are quite aggressive out of all the cat demons and also avoid the claws and teeth as they are the most dangerous parts of him."
Well, duh, Kuwabara thought as he roamed the tiger's forest home. The claws and teeth of any animal or demon are the most dangerous parts. No need to tell us that.
The rustling of bushes and grass made him nervous but he wasn't scared. He was capable of fending off demons and, if he got into trouble, he knew that Yusuke and Kurama would help him out. Hiei would also pitch in, but only to strengthen himself, not because they were friends. Hiei hates me and I, frankly, hate him. But unlike him, I would help him if he was in trouble.
He heard more rustling but this time, he also heard growling he associated with big cats on the hunt. Then a deep, rumbling voice sounded around him. "What's this? A lone human. I sense strong spirit energy from you. That will make your flesh quite delectable."
"Dream on. You're not eating me," Kuwabara shot back.
"Oh, is that what you think? You may be an able fighter, but I am a tiger demon. I am far faster and more aggressive than any human could hope to be. I will pin you down and have taken a bit of your flesh before you even realize that you are down."
Kuwabara sensed movement behind him, waited a few moments, and then leaped aside as the demon leaped forward and landed where he had been. The demon was taller, at least two feet more than him. His arms and legs had large muscles and were orange with black stripes. His hands and feet sported long sharp claws and were white-fleshed. He wore only a loincloth which exposed a back covered in orange and black and a long tiger's tail. The back of the head was orange and black and had a pair of tiger ears on the top. He turned and Kuwabara saw a white face with a human mouth full of sharp teeth. He had black strips all over his cheeks, a black nose, whiskers, and gold cat eyes. "How could you have dodged me?" he snarled. "That's impossible!"
Kuwabara summoned his sword. "Heh, I am not just any human."
"Clearly." The demon stepped sideways into a thicket of trees and vanished from sight. "I shall have to employ other techniques to deal with you."
Not likely. I had to fight in darkness once and I'm stronger now than I was back then. Plus, I'm not alone. His teammates were now visible to him and their eyes darted about to sight their opponent.
"Where is he?" Yusuke growled in annoyance from his hiding spot.
"He's above you, Kuwabara!" Kurama shouted.
Kuwabara lunged to one side as a smaller version of their target landed. The teen blinked at it. A decoy. It's only two feet tall, has no demon energy, and no real independent movement. Clever. So, where…?
The next few moments were a blur for Kuwabara. All he knew was he had been grabbed and he screamed in pain as he felt teeth sink into his left shoulder. He then heard the tiger scream in pain before he was released. He sank to his knees, eyes closed and gripping his injury while his teammates battled the demon. There was a truncated scream from the tiger and then silence.
"Kuwabara, let me take a look," came Kurama's voice. He removed his hand and opened his eyes to see Kurama tear the cloth from the shoulder and examine it.
"No flesh missing, just torn from his teeth. I should have herbs and plants to heal it and wrap it to keep it from getting infected." The redhead pulled seeds from his hair and set about repairing the damage.
"Kurama, he bit me and Koenma said to avoid the claws and teeth," Kuwabara said, wincing a little at the herb's sting.
"Yes. We will need to question him on that."
Koenma stared at Kuwabara's wrapped shoulder and then at his face with a look of fear and sorrow. "I take it that this is bad?" Kurama asked.
"Oh, yes. It's bad. Tiger demons crave humans so they do not try to eat demons. If a human escapes, but is scratched or bitten, they will eventually become a tiger demon as well."
Kuwabara felt as if the blood had drained from his face. "I'll become a tiger demon?" he choked.
"I'm afraid so. There's no antidote. The saliva's already in your blood and it will change your body."
"Will I be exactly like the one who bit me?"
"Yes," Koenma said in a resigned tone. "Though there may be small differences in the body's appearance, every human infected will act as all tiger demons do. The odds of escaping are rare and none had strong energy like you do. You may either overcome the flesh-eating tendency or become the most dangerous, vicious tiger to live."
Kuwabara didn't like the sound of the second possibility, naturally. But I might be a tiger demon who doesn't eat humans.
"I will do more research and send whatever I find along with Botan."
"Appreciate it. Thanks." Kuwabara and Kurama left the office and met up with Yusuke and Hiei at the gate. Kuwabara kept walking even as Yusuke asked, "What'd Koenma say?" Kuwabara was still in shock at what he had heard and couldn't bear to answer. If only I had kept moving after the decoy ploy, this wouldn't have happened.
"We have learned why we were to be cautious about the claws and teeth or rather why Kuwabara had to be careful," Kurama spoke up.
"Yeah? Why?" Yusuke asked.
"If a human escapes with a scratch or bite, then he or she will eventually become a tiger demon."
Yusuke blinked at Kurama and then at Kuwabara's back. "You're gonna be a demon?"
"Yeah," he choked. "Just like the one we fought, though I may look a little different."
"There is the possibility that Kuwabara will become aggressive and vicious like tigers are, but there is a chance that he will be a benign tiger demon due to his strong energy."
"If that happens, that means I won't eat humans, right?" Kuwabara asked hopefully.
"I am quite sure that is correct."
"What does his energy have to do with being a demon?" Yusuke asked.
"Humans until now had very weak energy and succumbed to the tiger's nature and change quickly. It's possible that Kuwabara's energy may help him be able to resist the nature and slow the change."
Yusuke clapped the back of Kuwabara's right shoulder. "Yeah, he can fight it. I know he can."
"Hn," Hiei grunted. "I seriously doubt it. Once he starts acquiring the abilities, he'll give in like all the other humans."
Kuwabara gave Hiei a glare over his shoulder. The fire demon has always underestimated him and what he could do. He had proven himself to be an extraordinary human and in possession of unusual skills. His Dimension Sword almost made him a psychic like Genkai. Wait! Genkai! Maybe she can help. After all, she's fought all kinds of demons. I'll ask her if she can stop my change.