Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ A Well Too Deep ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Story rating: R

Chapter rating: PG-13

Aenima: Thank you. I had a basic idea of where this story was going when I first began. The details of the plot itself were generally decided, but are still being worked out. As I go, I notice that the story manages to write itself to some extent. I might write in a certain event and the personalities of the characters and pure logic dictate what the consequences of that event will be.

Sorry to the couple of you that had trouble with reading the dialogue, I'll work on that. Also, Morana's character won't really be introduced until the end of Part I and possibly not until the start of Part II.

Kudos and five reviews (or a short fic by request if you don't have any stories posted) to the first person that reviews with the correct explanation as to why Morana's army is named the `Plague.' The same goes to whoever can fully explain the title of this story. Careful, that is a trick question.

Warnings: Profanity, gore, shounen-ai

I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho - duh.

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A Well Too Deep: Chapter 3

Kurama impatiently tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, staying focused on the unconscious Kuwabara. He had used passionflower nectar solution to drug the carrot top. Kurama couldn't afford for him to awaken during the procedure.

Kurama had wrapped his hands in bandage strips, usually used for warding Hiei's black dragon, to prevent himself from being cut and infected.

As he had stated should be done, Kurama was removing what of the projectiles imbedded in Kuwabara's body that he could. The barbed wire was hopelessly entangled in the man's tissues - there was no thought of yanking it free. Kurama didn't want to imagine what might be dredged out along with it. The wires had been cleanly cut from the weapons' main shafts with a blade grown from saw grass.

Since the shaft in Kuwabara's arm was protruding from both ends, Kurama had to lay the arm sideways with the point facing towards Kuwabara's torso. Kurama positioned himself on the opposite side of the larger man's body. His left hand was used as leverage (gripping the arm), while his right hand gripped the shaft's square end and pulled away from his body. The sticky, dried sweat on Kuwabara's body wasn't making the process any easier.

The edges of the spike dug painfully into his hand. Kurama winced, grateful for the bandages.

With a squelching sound the spike came loose followed by a short but rancid flow of liquefied, bloody puss. Kurama managed to pull away in time to avoid the liquid spill.

He removed a bayberry seed from his hair and forced the root system to grow, while preventing the growth of the stems and leaves. These roots were torn off and packed carefully into both sides of the wound to counteract infection before he bound it tightly.

He wiped his own sweaty forehead on his sleeve before turning to face the cold spike lodged deep within Kuwabara's abdomen and preparing to repeat the process.

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Hiei was standing on the pine tree's very top branches, unconsciously adjusting to the slight breeze rippling through the leaves. The motion was similar to standing in a small boat upon wave lapped waters. His bandana had been removed and hidden beneath his cloak. His jagan opened wide, forever unblinking, to the smatterings of trace energy lingering along their `road' home.

The massive army marching toward them, however, was far more eye catching.

"Hn. So, the hunt has overridden the greed…perfect." This was horrible news for their now disabled team.

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"Cheap, monkey fucking piece of shit work already!" Yusuke fumed through gritted teeth. His impatience and sense of urgency were getting the better of him.

The purple communication mirror had abruptly stopped working when the four of them had entered Morana's territory nearly five days ago. And now, on the fringes of her land, the mirror was beginning to again show signs of technological life.

Finally, in the hopes of canceling the effects of Morana's energy barrier, Yusuke charged the mirror with a concentrated force of reiki. It worked, though Yusuke had created a beacon that told all energy sensitive creatures in the vicinity that he was there - rash but effective, the epitome of Yusuke Urameshi.

"Yusuke, What's taking you so long? Do you have the pendent?" said Koenma.

"Good to see you too asshole. We got the artifact, but we're having a little trouble with the delivery. Kuwabara's hurt bad and there's nothing we can do for him."

Koenma's face had by now deepened to an angry scarlet of indignation at the lack of respect given him by HIS detective. However, Kuwabara's condition was of higher priority than Yusuke's incurably bad manners.

"Well that's no good. I'll send Botan out immediately so that she'll at least be waiting when you arrive. Hopefully she'll arrive in time to aid in your travel. Anything else?"

"Yeah, what the hell is this thing we are risking our lives over anyway?"

"A vessel used to house powerful spiritual energy. May you never have to know more Godspeed."

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Having nothing more to say, Koenma hung up his end of the line and leaned his elbows wearily upon his large desk, his chin resting in his hands.

"Lord Koenma, sir?" A blue ogre named George poked his head in to the demi-god's office before strolling fully inside, "I have the information you wished for. The next full solar eclipse will be tomorrow night."

"What! I thought we had at least a week! They won't make it in time…and if they still possess the stag pendent when that time comes…." A dense silence floated through the stagnant air. Neither ogre nor god wished to think of the possible consequences of this mission, but could fill their minds with nothing else. Just which one of their friends was going to die?

Koenma shook himself to refocus, "What about the other 23?"

"Ishi from surveillance believes that Morana has them all." George was feeling more and more dispirited with each passing moment. Koenma's body language reflected the same.

"And the summoning table?"

"You already know - "

"Just tell me anyway!"

"Ishi believes that Morana has had the table for 7 years." George startled as the loud thud of Koenma's head slipping from his hands and onto the desk sounded. A sort of strangled, high-pitched moan followed.

"George," Koenma's voice was muffled, as his face was smashed into the desk's surface, "find Botan. Tell her to leave immediately."

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Hiei was as an agile cat on his climb down to rejoin the rest of the group.

Kuwabara was still unflatteringly unconscious surrounded by his own dripping infected-yellow fluids, though Hiei positively noted that what could be seen was mostly old puss. Besides a slight tinting, the bandages still appeared clean. His breathing remained too fast and his colour too pale, but at least the wounds were now somewhat taken care of. Leave it to the largest, most cumbersome person to fall chronically unconscious, a massive deadweight that would have to be carried.

Hiei wished for Kuwabara's recovery if for no other reason than he would no longer be such a burden on the team - a lethal one too, if Morana had anything to say about it.

Kurama. Hiei's expression turned from one of annoyed worry to genuine concern and beautiful affection. The feminine red head was sitting with his back leaning against the absolutely huge tree trunk. His head was tipped forward in slumber. It wasn't like the fox to sleep in such an unstable atmosphere. But his breathing was even.

Hiei knelt down in front and to the side of him, just watching. Something felt off about this gorgeous creature. Every once in a while a practically unnoticeable tremor would travel across Kurama's skin. And he was sweating more than was normal. On one hand, thought Hiei, it could just be from stress. He knew the workings of the kitsune's mind and Hiei wouldn't be surprised if Kurama blamed himself for Kuwabara's injury.

"Self-centered bastard," Hiei whispered, amused.

He chose to let Kurama sleep. Until Yusuke decided to show, there was no point in waking him.

Hiei wanted nothing more than to snuggle in next to the fox, but had too much respect for Kurama and too much disdain for himself to do so. Forbidden. He was the child of Forbidden things why would one more cause him any harm? No, Hiei reminded himself, no it wouldn't hurt me. I am already shunned. One more infraction wouldn't hurt. Yet he still couldn't even bring himself to touch the sleeping man to tuck a loose lock behind his ear. Because, buried beneath all of his respect and disdain and rebellion was his fear.

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Kurama was dreaming.

He was lying flat on his back, each limb so exhausted that they flopped limply whenever he tried to move them. So tired….

He could just not move…and he realized he didn't even want to move. Why should he? This was nice, just resting here. No he didn't want to move…and so he didn't and couldn't all the more.

All brown, all dusty air - it was all around him. It was himself. He couldn't breathe the air - wait! He wasn't breathing, he didn't need to breathe.

On either side of him was a well. No bucket, no anything except for the well's walls. They were old, gray brick coated in brown dust. The water level of the right hand's side was lowering, while that of the left hand's side was increasing.

Tired.

Brown.

Empty.

Full.

Awake.

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End Chapter 3

Please Review this chapter!

As a warning to all my readers, I will likely not be posting another chapter for a few weeks due to events that I cannot control. But DO NOT worry. Another chapter WILL BE POSTED in time.

And for those who didn't read the preface to this chapter: