This chapter is a suggestion from kuwayukifan91, whom I believe is a psychic because she suggested something that I had been thinking of doing. Don't play Rock, Paper, Scissors with her because she probably has amazing spirit awareness and will beat you every time.
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Kuwabara sighed in relief as he handed in his mountain of homework. He had to admit,it was good to be back at school and in a normal groove again. After his five days in the hospital and then the weekend, he'd been out an entire week...and things had changed a lot.
He and Yukina were sitting on the bleachers in the gym, waiting for the Head Teacher to make his statement. No one knew what was going on, but all the students had been paged overhead to gather here for questioning. Finally, the head teacher made his way to the podium in the center of the floor and scanned the student body.
"As you all know, Souji Kurohiko was not at school on Friday," he began, "I received a call from his parents that evening that he never came home that afternoon and has not returned since. This meeting has been called to ascertain if any of you students might know his whereabouts or anything that will help in the police search for him."
The room remained silent with the exception of a few coughs and throat clearings.
"Wait," Kuwabara whispered to Yukina, "Souji...he's in your class, right?"
"Yes," Yukina said, looking concerned, "He has not missed a day all year and is extremely dedicated to his work."
"This is weird," Kuwabara muttered, scanning the crowd of students. He saw Risa sitting with her crew at the very end of the bleachers...she was smiling, and it was not a nice sort of smile either.
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A few days later, Yukina was waiting for Kazuma in the lunchroom, letting her mind wander. Souji still hadn't returned to school and another boy from the Junior class had gone missing this afternoon.
"Don't think too hard or you'll break your brain, baby," Kazuma's voice snapped Yukina back to reality and she looked up at him with a grin.
"I was just wondering about those two boys," she admitted, "It's kind of scary that no one knows what happened to them."
"Yeah, it's spooky," Kuwabara said, sitting across from her.
As Kuwabara gobbled down his lunch, Yukina scanned the room. Risa's group sat at their usual table and Yukina focused her mind on them to see if they were going to make any rude comments today. She noticed then that Risa wasn't with them, it was just the two blondes and a black haired girl who had begun to hang out with them a few days ago.
"How come Risa isn't here today, is she sick?" one of the blondes asked.
"I saw her before school," the black haired girl stated, "She wasn't sick at all."
"She must just be playing hooky," the other blonde said, not sounding at all concerned as she sipped her cup of apple juice.
Yukina wondered vaguely why Risa would skip school without a good reason, but she brushed the though aside. After all, why did she have any concern about Risa's choices?
Students began standing and leaving the cafeteria after a while and Yukina took Kazuma's hand and they left the cafeteria together, splitting up in the hallway to go to their separate classes.
After her last class, Yukina walked out the school's front doors and stopped in surprise. Kazuma was standing on the sidewalk with Yusuke and Kurama at his side. They were deep in conversation and all three looked very grim.
"Hey, you guys," Yukina greeted as she approached the trio, they turned their attention to her and returned her greeting, "What are you two doing here?"
Kurama crossed his arms and eyed the school building with a thoughtful expression.
"Botan has informed us about your school's missing students," he said in his normally calm manner, "We were told to come and check out the school. They believe these disappearances are demon related."
"Oh no," Yukina cried, her hand raising to cover her mouth.
"We wanted to ask Kuwabara and you if you've noticed anything weird about the kids who've gone missing," Yusuke spoke up.
"Well...they were both boys, that's the only thing they have in common," Yukina stated thoughtfully, "Do you think that's relevant?"
"It might be," Kurama stated, "But it could also just be a coincidence. If it is only boys going missing, then the victims are being carefully chosen."
"Come on," Kuwabara muttered, grimly, "Let's go check out the school like you wanted to, Kurama."
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"You found nothing at the school?" Botan asked unhappily, "Oh, this is frustrating."
Yusuke, Yukina and Botan settled on the couch to discuss the case and Kurama gently pulled Kuwabara's arm, motioning him to follow to the next room. Confused, Kuwabara followed the demon and stood with his arms crossed defensively once they were out of earshot of the others.
"You must not let Yukina walk home from school alone anymore until we solve this," Kurama pointed out.
"Of course not," Kuwabara said, looking annoyed, "I'm not an idiot, Kurama."
"I know," Kurama said with a nod, then he glanced into the other room where the three others were looking at a map Botan had laid out on the coffee table. "So what happened the other day between you two. Hiei seemed incredibly smug for several hours...he mentioned something about the two of you and then left in a hurry. Did you run into him at all?"
Kuwabara raised an eyebrow.
"No, I never saw him at all," he said, "Maybe Yukina did."
"Any idea why he was so delighted?" Kurama pushed.
"I have an idea..." Kuwabara muttered, uncrossing his arms and letting them fall limply at his sides, "Yukina and I...we kind of had a falling out the other day."
Kurama looked surprised.
"But you two seem just fine," he commented, "She seemed delighted to see you after school."
"We worked it out," Kuwabara assured him, "But...it was pretty bad."
Kurama listened quietly as Kuwabara retold the events at the library, nodding when he finished the story.
"So Hiei must have thought you two were over," he said simply, "The joke is on him though. I imagine he took off to assure Yukina she was right."
Kuwabara's hand balled into fists at that comment, wishing the short demon was around for him to punch in the face.
"I almost lost her, Kurama," he said darkly, "And Hiei was happy about it?"
"You know Hiei truly cares for his sister," Kurama comforted him, "To Hiei, Yukina's choice to be in a relationship with a human is a mistake. The fact that the human is you just makes it harder for him because no one wants their sibling dating their good friend."
"Friend?!" Kuwabara laughed, "Hiei hates my guts!"
"No, he does not," Kurama replied honestly, "He respects you, Kuwabara, you've shown him over and over again your loyalty and friendship. Not even Hiei and can ignore that. You may not be able to see it, but he considers you a friend. Seeing you have a closer relationship with his sister than he himself has must be very hard for him."
"Yeah...I guess so..." Kuwabara sighed, "I remember how I felt when Shizuru would bring home her loser boyfriends. I wanted to pound them into the ground for even thinking they had a chance with her."
Kurama's face took on a strange look and his eyes flicked over to the doorway, it almost seemed like he was avoiding eye contact.
"Anyway," Kurama spoke up, changing the subject, "It sound to me like she'd finally come to a decision. I'd say you two don't have to worry about it anymore."
"She was so upset, Kurama," Kuwabara said sadly, "I just hope we are making the right choice here, I hope I'm not just being selfish and holding her back because I'm too afraid of losing her."
"Her fear is understandable," Kurama admitted, "And yours is as well...but life is full of frightening choices and our future is never certain. But it seems to me she has made her choice and learned her own mind. Love is greater than lifespans, my friend, any demon who loves a human has to understand that. Trust me, I know how Yukina feels...it would be safer for us to avoid it, but we would not be better off."
"Your mom?" Kuwabara asked softly, "You must feel the same way about her."
"Yes," Kurama agreed, "My mother...and..."
Kuwabara raised an eyebrow, wondering who else the demon had deep set emotions for, but Kurama realized what he'd been about to admit and shook his head.
"The point is, Kuwabara, that now the only thing you two need to do is live your lives to the fullest," he continued, again changing the subject, "You have to live every moment like it's all you have left. That is all we can do."
"I will," Kuwabara assured him, "I promise. And you better take your own advice. You have to give your mom all you can...and whatever other human you have on your mind."
Kurama felt a bead of sweat slip down his temple and he blushed.
"Ha, what do you mean? I don't have another human on my mind. Don't be foolish."
And, with that, the conversation was over. Kurama turned and quickly made his way into the living room to join in the conversation there, leaving Kuwabara feeling extremely lost and confused.
A loud beeping noise sounded as Kuwabara entered the living room and Botan flipped open her communication briefcase to reveal the face of Koenma.
"Koenma, sir," Botan let him know they were listening, "Do you have any new info on the missing boys?"
"I have more than info," Koenma said grimly, "I have terrible news."
The screen fuzzed and a picture popped up, making everyone gasp when they saw it. It showed a fuzzy image of what looked like a giant spider with a human torso, two of its long, spindly legs were wrapped around a teenage boy, the spider demon's fangs were inches from sinking into the boy's neck.
"What the hell is that thing?!" Yusuke yelped, backing up from the screen in horror.
"Local police have reported another boy missing from Kuwabara and Yukina's school," Koenma informed them, "His name is Yukio Enoki, his mother reported him missing when he didn't come home after school. Spirit World camera caught this image..."
"Spirit World cameras?!" Kuwabara shrieked, "You have spy cameras all over Human World?"
"I bet you spy on us all the time, you kinky little freak," Yusuke crossed his arms and squinted down at the screen.
"I...no...it's for human safety purposes only!" Koenma sputtered around his pacifier.
"What about that time you used it to watch girl in bikinis at the beach?" Jorge's voice came through the box and Botan looked annoyed at the statement.
"You traitor!" Koenma whispered off screen. A moment later he reappeared, looking composed, "Do not listen to the ogre. I came in and found him using the camera's for that purpose and stopped him, of course."
"You're a creepy littler pervert, Koenma," Yusuke laughed.
"That's not important!" Koenma shouted, "Listen to what I'm saying! Anyway, our cameras caught this image about an hour after the school let out. What you see in the image is a very particular type of demon, known to humans as a Succubus, but also known as Widows."
"Like a Black Widow spider?" Yusuke asked.
"Exactly," Koenma nodded, "Their sole purpose is to attract young males with their sexuality. Widows are usual very beautiful and outgoing, attractive to the average male human to the point of infatuation. They also release very strong hormones that attract even the males they can't attract by looks and sex appeal."
"So these boys..." Botan asked nervously.
"I'm afraid the first two who went missing are already dead," Koenma confirmed Botan's worries, "They only go after a new victim when they need to feed again. At the rate this demon is killing, she must be near to laying eggs."
"LAYING EGGS!?" Kuwabara's face turned a strange shade of green and he looked like he would be sick.
"Yes, like a spider," Koenma rolled his eyes, "I thought we established this."
"So you brought us all together to find this gross spider demon and kill it?" Yusuke asked with a sigh.
"Yes," Koenma replied simply, "I know you're not technically my Spirit Detective anymore, Yusuke, but you and your friends are the only ones able to handle this. These demons can be very dangerous."
"Fine, we'll take it out," Yusuke rolled his eyes, "But you owe me tickets to the Martial Arts World Championship for this one."
"Consider it done," Koenma agreed easily, "Botan, have you been able to find Hiei for this mission?"
Botan shook her head.
"Hiei has not been in contact with any of us for several days," Kurama backed her up, "I believe he has returned to Demon World for a while to visit Mukuro."
"Of course he would take a vacation when we actually need him around," Kuwabara muttered, earning him a dirty look from Yukina.
A voice came through the briefcase screen no one recognized and it was quiet so they didn't catch what was said, but Koenma was handed a paper which he scanned over quickly.
"This is good news," he said happily, turning the paper towards the screen, it was a map of their town and the surrounding area, a large red "x" marked a spot in the woods around Genkai's temple, "Spirit World Intelligence has narrowed down the area of the Widdow's lair to this small area in the forest."
"It figures," Yusuke said, "Remember all the horrible stuff that's in that section of the forest, Kuwabara? We had to run right through it for Genkai's training when I was looking for Rando."
"Yeah," Kuwabara replied, "Bat demons, snakes and wolves and who knows what else."
"Big ass spider women, apparently," Yusuke joked, "Well, it seems that Team Urimeshi has been reactivated so what are we waiting for? Let's get going before that Yukio kid has his insides sucked out."
"If a case comes up only every few years then I think we can handle that," Kurama stated as he stood up, "We should go."
"I am coming with you!" Yukina piped up as the boys and Botan began heading for the door. Kuwabara stopped short and turned to look at her in surprise.
"No way, Yukina!" he said firmly, "I am not letting you put yourself in danger."
"If Botan can go then so can I," Yukina insisted, "Remember, she and I are the only ones here with healing abilities, you may need us!"
"Botan won't be going into the lair with us," Yusuke pointed out, "It's far too dangerous. You should stay here."
"Yukina has a point," Kurama said quietly from the side, "The type of demon we are up against is very dangerous, there may be injuries."
"Fine, come on then," Yusuke conceded and headed for the door.
Kuwabara hesitated until Kurama and Botan had followed and pulled Yukina gently back as she passed him.
"Please, Yukina," he begged quietly, "You can change your mind, no one is going to think less of you. I just want you to be safe."
"And I want you to be safe as well," Yukina said firmly, "And I want to be there if you need me. I'm not a weak and helpless as you seem to think, Kazuma."
Kuwabara flinched slightly at her words, knowing she was right about that.
"Besides," Yukina continued, "I just have a bad feeling. You know Risa wasn't in school today."
"I think we have a lot bigger issues to worry about than Risa skipping school," Kuwabara replied.
"But what if she was captured too?" Yukina pointed out.
"Then she's already dead because she went missing before this last kid," Kuwabara stated simply, "Besides, it's taking guys. Why would it want Risa?"
"I don't know, Kazuma," Yukina was frustrated by her unexplainable concern for the awful girl, "I just have a bad feeling."
"Ok...fine, you can come along," Kuwabara reluctantly gave in as Yukina's eyes pleaded up at him, "But you do NOT come in that lair, understand?"
"Yes."
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They piled into Yusuke's car and took off, following the directions on the map that lead to a back entrance to the forest instead of taking the long way around to Genkai's temple. The sun had begun to set when Yusuke finally turned onto an old forest road and parked.
"It's not too far from here," he stated, "We'll walk the rest of the way."
"I will hold down the fort here in case Koenma calls us back with more information," Botan stated, laying the briefcase on her lap.
"And you too," Kuwabara eyed Yukina as she walked up to stand beside him.
"No, I will be going with you," Yukina said simply.
"You promised you wouldn't come in!" Kuwabara reminded her angrily.
"I said I wouldn't come into the lair," Yukina reminded him gently, laying a hand on his arm to calm him down, "But I will be close by in case you need my healing powers."
"I don't like that idea!" Kuwabara insisted.
"Well, too bad," Yukina replied firmly, "I am not a child and I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions. A Widow will want nothing to do with me, she won't even know I'm there if I keep hidden. She'll be focused on you three."
"Let her come, Kuwabara," Kurama said quietly, "Her points are all valid."
Kuwabara remained silent, a dark and angry look on his face. He crossed his arms and glared at the red haired demon.
"Hey, before you go, I have something special for you!" Botan announced, getting out of the car. She held out her hand to reveal five small items that looked like foam earplugs.
"These are a new invention from Spirit World," she said as she handed out the items, "Communication devices that run on a tiny amount of Spirit energy instead of wires or batteries, so small it won't drain your energy. It will allow us all to keep in contact with each other while you three are in the forest."
"A very good idea, Botan," Kurama commented as he pushed the plug into his ear.
"Ok, let's go!" Yusuke insisted, shoving his earpiece in and taking off at a trot towards the trees. Kurama Kuwabara, and Yukina followed after him, disappearing among the trees. Kuwabara purposely stayed in the back so he could keep an eye on Yukina as they made their way towards the lair...no stupid spider demon was going to snatch her up on his watch.
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"We should be getting close," Kurama whispered as they pushed through the underbrush, "I can smell it."
"Me too," Yusuke muttered, "It smells like...dead things."
"I don't smell anything," Kuwabara said, confused.
"Demons have a far better sense of smell," Yukina informed him, "Be thankful you can't smell it."
They pushed on until Kurama broke through a thick wall of branches and revealed a large clearing. Yusuke gasped in shock as he followed through the hole.
"Oh my god," Yukina averted her eyes as she and Kuwabara stepped into the clearing and Kuwabara just stared in shock.
The trees around the clearing were covered in cobwebs, the strands of which were thick as rope. The smell in the clearing was horrendous and Kuwabara finally realized what they'd been talking about as the scent hit his nose with a vengeance.
"Ugh, that's terrible!" he gagged.
"That's not the most terrible thing about this place," Kurama stated grimly, he pointed above them at a web that appeared older, pieces of it were torn and blowing in the wind. Something was stuck in the web, wrapped tightly...it looked like a mummy.
"Oh no," Yusuke groaned, "Don't tell me that's what I think it is..."
"Souji." Yukina whispered, affirming their fears, "He went missing first."
"Stay back," Kuwabara stepped ahead of them all, summoning his spirit sword and elongating it to cut the web around the encased body. It fell unceremoniously to the ground and Kurama stepped forward to cut off the wrappings. He only had to remove the threads around the face to reveal the severely dry, yet familiar face of Souji, his expression reflected the pain and horror of his last moments.
"I will kill this creature," Kurama stated simply, "And I will do it with delight."
"Come on," Yusuke said unhappily, "It's got to be close by."
"Yes," Kurama stood, looking away from the body on the ground, "Let's get moving."
The group continued on into the trees until they reached a second clearing, this one was full of webs as well, slightly newer looking. The second missing boy, whose name they didn't know, was found in the same manner as Souji, wrapped tight and sucked dry.
"We're very close now," Kurama said calmly, " Yukina, you should stay behind us at the next clearing. We will be facing the Widow in the next location."
Yukina nodded and followed them quietly, something in the back of her mind was nagging her constantly. She couldn't understand the strange feeling but she knew it was important.
"Here we are," Yusuke whispered up ahead, "Let's go, you three."
Kurama pulled out his rose whip and Kuwabara began to get his spirit sword ready, his palm glowing yellow in the dark. Yukina stepped back and crouched down behind a bush by the edge, giving herself a clear view while remaining hidden.
The boys flung themselves into the clearing, Kuwabara and Yusuke's usual battle cries filling the quiet air.
"Alright, you nasty arachnid bitch!" Yusuke yelled, "Come down off your nasty webs and face us!"
Yukina looked up and swallowed her horror. Her nagging feeling disappeared immediately when she saw the truth. There was another wrapped body in the webs, but this one was still moving, wiggling desperately as small grunts and whining came from it...but the creature next to it was what she couldn't look away from.
"Risa!?" Kuwabara choked, his eyes wide as he looked up at the demon in the web.
It was Risa from the bellybutton up, but she was dark purple and one hundred percent spider beneath that. She was grinning down at the three boys, two fangs stuck out over her bottom lip and they dripped a milky colored liquid.
"Kazuma," her voice was silky smooth as usual, despite her horrific form. Yukina imagined those three poor boys meeting her in her human form on the way to and from school, her swaying hips and her full lips and her piercing eyes leading them astray to their deaths, "The one that got away."
"Huh?" Yusuke looked at his friend in surprise, "You know this spider whore?"
"She...she goes to my school," Kuwabara said, distracted by the sight of the creature above them, "She...I think she was after me first before these guys!"
"This is the girl Yukina told Shizuru about," Kurama stated his thoughts out loud, "Yukina was very upset about her advances."
"So why didn't she eat you?" Yusuke asked, confused.
Rise growled angrily and moved a bit further down her web in their direction, glaring at Kuwabara with bright red eyes.
"For some reason, I could not affect him!" she hissed, "I was determined he would be my first victim, a man that size could tide me over for quite a while and...well, the sex could have been great too."
"Good to know these poor saps at least didn't die virgins," Yusuke muttered, his gallows humor coming out from the stress and discomfort.
"No, I assure you they did not," Risa grinned wickedly, "But you will, Kazuma. You had your chance and I'll not give you another."
"Can we stop talking and just kill her already?" Kuwabara was blushing a bright red and he gripped his spirit sword tightly.
"I agree," Kurama raised his whip and flung it at the web, but Risa leapt out of the way with a horrifying giggle, the web where she had been snapped and Yukio's tightly wrapped body fell to the ground.
"Nice dodge, but try and dodge this, bitch!" Yusuke aimed his finger, "SPIRIT GUN!"
The ball of energy missed its target but the surrounding energy made Risa slip and stumble slightly, falling to the ground but landing softly and uninjured, she just laughed as Kuwabara charged her and she brushed him aside with two legs.
"Damn," Kuwabara groaned, picking himself up quickly off the ground, "She's stronger than she looks!"
"She's fed recently," Kurama stated, "And she is due to lay eggs soon. She is top condition and, like any female creature, is very protective of her children."
"Gross, stop talking about eggs!" Kuwabara groaned, "I can't get the image of tiny spider demons popping out by the thousands!"
"And to think," Risa turned to look at him, "Some of them could have been yours. It's not too late, you know."
Kuwabara felt the urge to puke but held it back as he clenched his jaw defiantly.
"You said he didn't get a second chance," Yusuke reminded her, running at full speed toward his target, "And neither do you!"
His punch landed firmly into Risa's chest, sending her flying into a tree. But she simply rolled and landed on her eight legs, her human form arms clutched her chest as she groaned in pain and then she began to laugh.
"Oh, young man, you shouldn't have gotten so close," she chuckled darkly, licking her fang dramatically with her tongue. Yusuke looked down at his arm and saw two small holes in his arm near his wrist.
"Damn," he muttered as his legs began to shake, "She bit me!"
"Fight the effects, Yusuke!" Kurama yelled, but Yusuke fell to his knees and grabbed his wrist.
"You toxic bitch!" he shrieked before falling onto his side and writhing in pain.
Risa's laugh swelled into a maniacal shrieking giggle and turned her sights on Kurama.
"That whip of yours is quite dangerous," she said calmly, "We'll have to take care of that."
Kurama squinted dangerously and cracked the whip, sending it flying towards her legs, trying to trip her up. He smiled in triumph as it flew towards its target, but then his expression turned to shock as Risa turned quickly and shot out a string of webbing from her spider end, ensnaring the whips end in a tight wrap. She gripped it with her human arms and yanked it clean out of Kurama's grip.
"Kurama!" Kuwabara watched in shock as the whip was flung up into the trees.
"Clever trick," Kurama admitted with a nod, "But it will be your last."
"I don't think so," Risa laughed grimly. She turned so quickly that no one had time to react before her fangs sunk into Kuwabara's neck.
"Kazuma!" Yukina couldn't hide any longer, she burst from the bushes into the clearing and Kurama grabbed her around the waist to hold her back.
"Remain calm, Yukina, stay by my side," he ordered her gently, "Together we will defeat her."
Yukina looked up at Kurama, his green eyes were glaring daggers at the spider she began to suck the life out his friend.
"I know you have more power than you let on," he informed her, taking a step forward, "Now is the time to show us."
Yukina nodded and followed his lead, side by side they approached. Kurama reached into his hair for a second rose, remaking his whip in a split second. Yukina ducked her head slightly, glaring up at Risa through her lashes, her eyes turning pure white as her power flared up.
Kuwabara's eyes were starting flutter shut from blood loss and he was paling fast, but the sight of Yukina approaching made him gasp and wiggle in Risa's tight grip, she was stronger than he would ever have thought.
"Put your weapon away, Kurama," Yukina's voice was calm and soft, "This is personal. She's mine."
Kurama glanced down at the small demon next to him and nodded, stepping back with his whip lowered but ready. Yukina continued to step towards Risa, a cold wind began to whip around the clearing.
"No, Yukina," Kuwabara groaned weakly, "Stay...back..."
"You can't always be the one to save me," Yukina stated calmly, "It's my turn."
Risa's grip tightened but she raised her head, her fangs slipping out of Kuwabara's neck with a sickening pop sound. She licked the blood off her lips with relish and grinned.
"Your energy feels pathetic," Risa commented, "You must be less than a C class."
"Shut your dirty mouth," Yukina growled, "I've had enough of you."
Yukina raised her hand, revealing a bright white glow in her palm. She raised her eyes to look directly at Risa, the corner of her lips twitched up into a grin.
"You set your sights on the wrong man. Shimo Bashira."
Kuwabara wondered for a moment what she meant by her last statement, but Risa's loud, painful scream in his left ear made him jerk in shock and turn his head to look at her. Blood dripped out of her wide open mouth, a look of shock on her face, she began shaking slightly and then she slid away and lay on the ground motionless. Kuwabara looked down and saw hundreds of tiny ice spikes embedded in Risa's back, he looked over at Yukina in surprise.
"Y...Yukina..." he whispered before he felt his legs give out and he fell to his knees and then flat on his front.
"Kazuma!" Yukina ran forward to heal him and Kurama nodded, putting his rose whip away and walking to Yusuke.
"Botan," he spoke, activating his communication device, "It's all clear, we need you to come here."
It wasn't long until Botan pounced into the clearing, her arms full of bandages.
"Who's injured?"
Yusuke raised his arm from where he lay on the ground and Botan ran over to him and began purging the poison with her spirit energy immediately.
"It burns," Yusuke muttered grimly, "And...I can't move my other arm."
"You'll be ok soon, it's a paralytic poison but it won't kill you," Botan assured him, "It's like a normal spider, paralyzed, wrapped up and eaten alive."
"Lovely," Yusuke muttered.
Kurama had unwrapped the unfortunate Yukio and examined him closely.
"He'll be alright," he announced to everyone in the clearing, "The poison is wearing off quickly. He'll have to have his memory cleared, no one should have to remember this."
"I'm a human and I have to remember it," Kuwabara muttered from the ground between Yukina's knees, she had her hands laid on the sides of his head, all healing completed, just tracing his hairline in relief of him being alive.
"We all have our crosses to bear," Botan said simply, "Come on, let's get out of this disgusting place. Genkai will be surprised to see us."
Kurama lifted Yukio and held him up at his side, helping him walk. On their way through the other two clearings, Yusuke and Kuwabara sadly shouldered the two dead boys and the grim procession made their way back to the car.
"Um, we'll meet you at Genkai's," Kuwabara announced as he laid the nameless boy's body in the back seat with Kurama.
Yukina looked at him in surprise, his tone was not what she expected. His face was hard and emotionless and she was sure this would not be an enjoyable walk.
"Ok, but be careful, you two," Botan said happily from the passenger seat, she gave Yukina a wink as Yusuke began backing up the car, "Have fun!"
Yukina watched the rear lights of the car disappear around the trees and she felt extremely nervous for some reason. Why?
"Come on," Kuwabara nodded his head towards the opposite direction, the dirt trail continued through the trees towards the temple. Yukina fell into step beside him and they walked in silence for a long time.
"What's wrong, Kazuma?" Yukina finally asked, unable to take the quietness any longer.
"I didn't know you could do that," Kuwabara said softly, "What class of demon are you?"
"Lower B class," Yukina answered, not knowing how this was relevant.
Kuwabara looked down at her in surprise.
"How come she couldn't feel your energy?" he asked.
"I was hiding it," Yukina admitted, "My main ability is healing, but I can create and control ice and snow as well, but I've never used it to kill before."
"That's why I wanted to talk to you alone," Kuwabara admitted, "Are you...gonna be ok with what you had to do back there?"
Yukina felt her lip tremble as the realization hit her. She had just killed someone. Taken a life. Something she never thought she would do.
"I had to do it," she said softly.
"No, you could have let Kurama do it."
"No, it had to be me," Yukina said firmly, "After everything...you could have been the one wrapped up in webs and sucked dry. She wanted to kill you all along."
"But she didn't," Kuwabara reminded her.
"But she tried," Yukina replied, "And that was unforgivable. I will protect you with everything I have."
Kuwabara stopped walking and looked down at his tiny demon girlfriend in surprise.
"You already do," he said with a slight smile, "You know why her powers didn't work on me, right?"
"Because of your code," Yukina guessed.
"No, baby," Kuwabara reached for her hand and cupped it between his own, leaning down to her level to look her in the eyes, "Because all I could think of the whole time was you. I mean...I can't lie and say she had absolutely no effect, but as soon as I started to think it sounded like a good idea your face would pop into my head and it cleared my mind."
Yukina wasn't too happy to hear Risa had gotten to him even a little bit, but she knew it wasn't his fault and what he was telling her was very special. His love for her was stronger than Risa's poisonous abilities.
"So, you see?" Kuwabara finished, "You've always protected me. In the Dark Tournament too, seeing you boosted my energy like an adrenaline rush. You don't have to get your hands dirty to protect me."
"This time I did," Yukina said calmly, "I may not be proud of what I just did, Kazuma...but I am not sorry."
Kuwabara eyed her carefully for a while and sighed, releasing her hand.
"I just wanted to be sure you're alright," he said softly.
Yukina smiled honestly and she laid her free hand on top of his.
"I will be fine," she promised, "Now, come on, let's get to Genkai's."
"What's the rush?" Kuwabara asked with a laugh and a wink, "I mean...we got a whole forest to ourselves."
"Yes, we do," Yukina agreed, not really understanding, "But why does that matter?"
Kuwabara considered saying more on the subject, but he had promised Hiei he wouldn't push anything and he had promised her as well, so he shook his head and stood up straight with a genuine smile.
"Nothin'," he said with a shrug, "I guess we better catch up to the others. Hopefully Genkai will feed us, I'm starving!"
"You're always starving," Yukina giggled, but she started walking again in the direction of the temple and the two of them made their way through the woods.
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Whew, that took a long time to get this written between work and house cleaning and life in general. But this was a fun chapter!
Any more ideas? All suggestions welcome :) I'm loving it so far.