Chapter 8: Genbu vs Kurama
Third POV
As they all walked inside the castle, Kuwabara can help but question the closeness of Hayami and Hiei and that they don't mind it at all.
"Hey, I have a question." Kuwabara said to the group,
"As long it's not a stupid one then go." Yusuke replied,
"Are these two a couple or something?" Kuwabara asked pointing towards the water and fire apparitions. "I mean it's like they're pretty comfy with the closeness they have."
Hayami looked anywhere else as her eyes widen a bit and she tried to stop the redness of her cheeks. Yusuke attempted to not chuckle, Kurama smiled softly at the two while Hiei looked away, not wanting the carrot-head to know the truth.
"Well Kuwabara, they've known each other for quite a long time and have been close ever since." Kurama said as Hiei glared at him while he smiled teasingly.
'No need for glaring at me Hiei. I know how you feel for Hayami.' Kurama said to him through telepathy,
'Just shut up fox.' Hiei replied as he looked at Hayami's embarrassed face with slight amusement.
Yusuke then started laughing hysterically as he held his stomach. Without thinking, Hayami smacked him over the head as he hits the ground.
"You're lucky that I'm your partner when training with Genkai or else you would've passed out from that." Hayami said to the detective on the ground.
Unexpectedly, Hayami's water mirror appeared as a trail of water traveled around her right arm, causing Kuwabara to jump and scream as Yusuke got up from the ground.
"For someone who's taller than the rest of us, really gets scared of the smallest things." Hayami said bluntly as she looked at Kuwabara dumbfoundedly,
"What is that thing?" Kuwabara asked, pointing at the flowing water that came from Hayami. "What's going on with her?"
"It's Hayami's water mirror." Yusuke said, "Probably her little sister calling."
"Little sister?"
"Hello, Yusuke. It's Botan and Ranumi from the living world." Botan said through the water mirror with Ranumi beside her.
"Can you guys hear us?" Ranumi asked,
"Yeah, we can-" Yusuke said but was pushed away from Kuwabara,
"Hey, what's up there ladies! This is the brave Kuwabara reporting at your service. I'm taking very good care of Urameshi." Kuwabara said charmingly to the two girls on the other side of the water mirror.
Hayami and Kurama glared at him. Personally, they both haven't met Kuwabara, but Ranumi was able to meet him since she came to watch Genkai's tournament. Though she only met him once and that was that.
Ranumi sweat dropped at him. She was flattered yet confused. The same goes for Botan.
"I'm so glad to hear that." Botan said, "We've got things under control here as well. The Makai insects only like to nest in depressed people's minds. That narrows down our search a bit."
"Father also found another spy for the saint beasts as we also found one right here." Ranumi said, "We can't just seem to figure out how they're getting past the barrier."
"See, I think there are demons who are taking orders right along the wall." Botan said as the demon they knocked out started to get up.
"WATCH OUT!" Kuwabara yelled,
Ranumi turned around and kicked him in the crotch and punched him in the face. 'I guess all that necessary defense practice I did with Hayami and father paid off.' She thought, feeling proud of herself.
"Don't worry, these guys are weaklings." Ranumi smiled as she said, "The real challenge is finding those Makai insects."
"We've only caught fifteen of those buggers, while Ryuji caught ten and we've been searching for nearly an entire day." Botan said,
"Don't worry baby-" Kuwabara was cut off by Hiei who dragged him by the ear and starts beating his face up.
'Thank you for that, I guess.' Hayami thought as her sweat dropped at the two,
"Fifteen and ten?! That's not much help!" Yusuke complained,
"Yusuke, fighting humans controlled by the *punched the demon again* insects takes time. That's why you need to get that whistle." Ranumi said as she looked back at the demon she knocked down.
"Okay we're trying, but this castle is kinda rough." Yusuke said,
"Well of course it is, no one survived before." Botan said,
"That's really reassuring Botan." Hayami said sarcastically,
"Either way, be careful all of you. Especially you Hayami. I don't want to hear my big sister getting killed in this mission." Ranumi said,
"We'll be just fine, Ranumi. Just take care of yourselves out there." Hayami said,
"You too." Ranumi said before ending the call as the water mirror disappeared,
"WAIT A MINUTE! SHE'S YOUR SISTER?!" Kuwabara practically yelled as he asked, "Wait then that means SHE'S ALSO A DEMON!"
"Yes. And if you go ahead and flirt with her again, I will have no regrets about what I'm going to do to you." Hayami threatens him as Kuwabara got chills going up his spine when he stared at her demonic glare. "Besides, I'm just a half-breed." She added crossing her arms.
Hiei smirked at her while Kurama and Yusuke chuckled as they all continued to walk through the castle.
"Kurama, what do you know about these four saint people?" Yusuke asked, "Botan pushed us down that hole like a couple of cows and I didn't have a chance to ask her."
"She wouldn't have told you much I'm afraid." Kurama said as they all stopped walking, "Ever since the barrier walls have been raised around the city, spirit world intelligence virtually have forgotten that this place existed."
"What do you know?" Kuwabara asked,
"Let's just say that when you see their bodies you may be very surprised." He said,
"Terrified. Isn't that more like it?" A deep voice was heard as they all circled up.
"Ah hey! Who said that?!" Kuwabara asked,
Laughter was only heard until it stopped to talk. "There's a door behind you. Please. Take it."
They all turned to a metal door and forcibly opened it.
"Ladies first." Yusuke said sarcastically and Hayami was the first to go inside. "Hey, it was a joke!" He said to her,
Hayami smirked, "Doesn't sound like it to me." She said, making Hiei smirk at her as they followed her inside.
Yusuke grabbed a torch and threw it at the darkest part of the room. Only to reveal one of the four saint beasts. His body is shaped like a turtle that is completely made out of rock.
He chuckled, "Welcome trespassers."
"Hah! Okay I'm surprised." Kuwabara said,
"I am Genbu of the four saint beast." The said beast introduced himself, "Do you have any request before you die?"
"Yeah, tell me how a beast is a saint, I'm lost." Yusuke said,
"This stairwell is the only way to the castle tower. You could either defeat me and go up on your own or can be dragged there once you're not breathing!" Genbu said as he smashed his tail on the stoned floor, creating a crater beside him.
"Is that supposed to scare us, because I'm disappointed." Hayami said unamused at Genbu's attempt to scare them.
"Yeah, you tell them Hayami." Yusuke said,
"Why don't you all attack me at once. So that one of you would not feel lonely." Genbu said,
"He's a rock Urameshi! How are we supposed to fight against talking rock?!" Kuwabara said in a frighten voice.
Kurama stepped forward, "I will fight him." He said, volunteering himself,
"Are you sure?" Yusuke asked,
"It will be ill-advised for all of us if we don't know his power." Kurama said as he turned to face them, "Besides, I can't let Hiei get all the credit for this mission, now can I?" He said looking at Hiei, who looked away in denial as Hayami smirked at this and crossed her arms.
"You want to die one by one. I can do that too." Genbu said as Kurama walked towards him,
"Hey! Would it be better off if we lure him back to that drop-down ceiling or something?" Yusuke asked,
"Obviously, you are underestimating, Kurama." Hiei said, making both Yusuke and Kuwabara look at him in confusion, "Do you know why I chose him to be my partner? To avoid fighting them myself."
Yusuke and Kuwabara looked back at Kurama.
"Watch. He is more cutthroat than I am when it comes to battle and unbelievably precise." Hiei said,
"I don't know you guys. He's still a talking rock." Kuwabara said making Hayami roll her eyes,
'Only you would think that you baka.' Hayami thought as she diverted her eyes to the fight.
"Sir, the first move is yours." Kurama said,
Genbu smirked as his tail went through the floor behind him.
In this, Yusuke saw it. "Hey! Stone man is doing something freaky with his tail!" He warns Kurama, pointing his finger towards Genbu,
Kurama sensed the attack coming from behind as he jumped and managed to dodge it but received an injury on his stomach. He landed safely on the ground but held the wound.
"Kurama!" Yusuke yelled,
Genbu started chuckling, "Thanks to my body structure, I could be one with any type of rock. With a little rearranging, I could make any stone my tail."
"Yeah. We're in trouble." Kuwabara said,
"And since this entire chamber is made out of stone, I have you surrounded." Genbu said, "There's nowhere to run!"
Kurama stood up, still holding his wound.
"Oh man, now he's wounded." Yusuke said,
"Maybe we should help." Kuwabara suggested,
Kurama looked back at them in reassurance. "There's no need. I've been hurt, but he will not take me by surprise again." He said looking back at Genbu.
"Ha! Wait until you see the full extent of your power." Genbu said, "Then you won't be so confident." He then started to put himself into the floor.
"He's gonna put himself into the floor." Yusuke said,
"Do something Kurama!" Kuwabara yelled at him,
Genbu's body was now completely one with the stone floor, making everyone be on their guard.
"He could be anywhere." Yusuke said looking around the room,
"I can't even sense Genbu's energy." Kuwabara said,
Genbu then showed himself behind Kurama, but he was able to sense him in time.
"Same old trick." Kurama said as he dodged the attack,
"Watch for his tail!" Yusuke warned him,
"He's getting attacked from both sides!" Kuwabara said as Kurama skillfully dodged both attacks and landed safely, but Genbu was once again within the stone chamber. "Where'd that freak go now?!" He asked no one in particular,
'Even if Genbu has Kurama surrounded, he's only relying on his abilities to hide himself and attack.' Hayami thought,
'Only a coward wouldn't face their opponents head on and just hide.' Hiei replies to her thoughts.
Genbu then appeared in front of Kurama for an attack, but Kurama was again able to dodge his attempted attack.
"You'll never defeat me by just running away." Genbu laughed,
Kurama chuckled, "Yes Genbu, I believe you're right." He said as he pulled out a rose from his hair.
"Ahh, a flower?" Yusuke said in confusion,
"Now that's weird." Kuwabara said, "If he's trying to win the beast over, I don't think it's a good idea."
Hayami and Hiei smirked and chuckled, knowing what the fox has in plan.
"It's no ordinary flower." Kurama said as the rose petals started to scatter. "ROSE WHIP!" He said, using the rose in his hand to create his whip made from the thorns of the rose, while it was raining rose petals.
"Well, everything is coming out roses." Yusuke said as he stared at the falling rose petals.
"It smells girly. I don't think I like it." Kuwabara said,
"Oh, sure! Maybe he should be a tough guy like you who's obsessed with kittens." Yusuke roasted Kuwabara,
"Shut up!"
Hayami lifted her hand as some petals fall onto her palm. 'Only Kurama would make a battle look beautiful.' She thought looking at the rose petals in her hand before looking back at the fight.
"Ha-ha you still don't understand your problem." Genbu said through the walls. "What good will a fancy whip do if you can't tell where I am."
"Yes, not being able to find you is a problem." Kurama said with a slight smile on his face as he closed his eyes,
"You just can't seem to get scared can you." Genbu said, "Well, I'll soon change that."
Everyone stayed silent as they all watched out to where Genbu is going to attack.
"Found you!" Kurama said as he jumped up to where Genbu appeared from the ceiling.
"It's over." Hiei said, "The thorns on Kurama's whip can slice through any substance, including solid stone."
"Rose whiplash!" Kurama said as he lashed his whip, slicing Genbu to pieces as he landed on the ground.
"H-How did you find me?" Genbu asked,
"Your smell. After filling the room with the rose's sweet aroma your putrid odor was easy for me to find." Kurama explained,
"Well, that's no fair." Yusuke said as they all walked up to him, "Now why none of my fights could end that quick."
"You beat him in one blow, now that's what I call a whip." Kuwabara said,
"You idiots. It only looked easy because Kurama was the one fighting." Hiei said, "If you had fought, you would've died in under a minute."
"Why does everything you say wanna make me bash your face in." Kuwabara said as he stepped closer to Hiei,
"Hah." Hiei said looking at him,
"Listen, I happened to be placed third in Master Genkai's tournament." Kuwabara said, feeling proud of himself. "The only ones who beat me were Yusuke and an evil monster and not to mention that Ranumi was there to watch everything happened."
Hayami narrowed her eyes towards him as she sweat dropped when he mentioned about her sister.
"What's your point?" Hiei asked boredly,
"You little-!" Kuwabara said as he grabbed Hiei's scarf,
"Children! Would you mind saving it for the bad guys!" Yusuke scolded them,
Kuwabara decided to let it go. "Okay but he started it." He muttered to himself,
"I guess we go up the stairs." Yusuke said looking at Kurama who nodded.
Hayami then sense a slight movement. "Kurama, it seems your fight isn't over." She said,
"What do you mean?" Kuwabara said as she looked at Genbu's body, making everyone look as well.
Genbu's body then started to rearrange itself. He then explained that even if he was sliced into pieces, he would just put himself back again. Kurama continued the fight as Genbu launched pieces of himself toward the fox demon. Kurama managed to escape from the small pieces that were launched at him.
"They're coming back!" Kuwabara said,
"Kurama!" Yusuke yelled as Kurama just stood from his position as the attack was about to hit him. "What's he doing, he's gonna get killed."
Kurama received some scratches from the attacks that Genbu threw at him as he kneeled, panting as Kurama takes in the pain he was feeling. He then began to chuckle as he looked back at Genbu.
"Yes, I'm sure of it. Now you're laughing at nothing." Genbu said until he realized that Kurama was upside down in his view. "Wha- Wait, how did you get on the ceiling?! W-What's wrong?" He asked,
Yusuke and Kuwabara started laughing hysterically, Hayami covered her mouth as a chuckle came out from seeing Genbu while Hiei just smirked.
"I heard of breast balls before but come on!" Yusuke said pointing at Genbu as he continued laughing,
"Yeah, I'd like to see him use a toilet!" Kuwabara said as he laughed as well,
"What did you do to me?" Genbu asked,
"I took this." Kurama said as he showed a red pulsing stone in his hand.
"What is that?" Genbu asked again,
"I believe it is the equivalent of the hypothalamus portion of your brain. It regulates all the function of your body, including the process of putting you back together." Kurama explained, "It regulates an energy signal when you separate, making it very easy to find."
"You can't do this! Give it back to me!" Genbu demanded as Kurama simply tossed it, "GIVE IT BACK!"
"Farewell." Kurama said as he used his whip, slicing the stone in half, making Genbu's entire body explode into orbs of light as it disappeared.
"Ha-ha, I don't think he liked that." Kuwabara said,
"Good work, Kurama." Yusuke said, but Kurama kneeled as he clutched onto his injured stomach.
They all rushed towards him, while Hayami inspects his injury as she kneeled next to him.
"Are you okay?" Yusuke asked,
"If Kurama is injured, we're going to have some problems." Hiei said,
"Don't worry, I'll just use my healing powers to heal his wound." Hayami said as she gently placed her hand on his stomach as it glowed blue, "It won't heal completely, but it will be enough for him to walk and wouldn't feel much pain." She explained as she helped him stand,
"Wait, you have healing powers?" Kuwabara asked,
"She does. But she shouldn't waste her energy too much on healing severe wounds." Hiei said, "We'll still need her in this."
"I'll be just fine, Hiei." Hayami said,
"Hn."
"Anyways, let's keep going." Yusuke said as they all went up the stairs.