Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest - The forbidden Forest ❯ Scene 1 ( Chapter 1 )

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

Okay, welcome to this part of my Shura's Quest series. I know the summary out there wasn't the greatest, but hey, if you're a faithful reader you know what's going on here. If you haven't read the first part, appropriately called "Shura's Quest', please do so before reading this story or you won't understand where the saga is at this point. While I'm severely tempted to "eventually" turn this into a yaoi story, I'm going to leave it here for now. If the situation changes because of certain circunstances in future sequels I'll warn ya so you'll know where to go. I hope this won't be a problem, as it seems that most of my reviewers from the first story, ahem-thoth-ahem, seem to frequent my yaoi stories that I've done, also. Feedback on this would be appreciated.

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Scene 1 ------------------------------------------- The Forbidden Forest

* After a couple days of traveling Yusuke and his group finally arrive at the edge of the dark forest. Yusuke looks at Puu when the bird halts in midair and chirps worriedly.


Yusuke- Easy, Puu.


* Yusuke looks at Kuwabara who is settled between himself and Clint. The human picks up his sudden worry and looks at Yusuke.


Kuwabara- What? I'm not afraid of going in there, Urameshi!


* Before Yusuke can answer Kurama orders his glider plant to take him up so he can speak to Yusuke.


Kurama- We all need to land and strategize, Yusuke.


* Yusuke nods. He'd learned long ago to trust the kitsune's instincts and advice.


Yusuke- Yeah. Set us down, Puu.


* Puu trills and lands gently. As Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Clint get off the bird's back the rest of the group lands nearby. Shishi and Suzuka stand looking toward the ominous forest as the others gather together a few feet away.


Suzuka- Ever been in there before?


* Shishiwakamaru shakes his head.


Shishi- No.. But I've heard the stories.. Have you?

Suzuka- I attempted to go through once..

Shishi- Attempted?

Suzuka- All these stories you heard.. probably don't even compare.


* The Samurai looks at his blonde-haired friend.


Shishi- I heard that the evil in one's heart can be brought to the surface in there.

Suzuka- Yes.. If a demon has any evil at all in its heart..

Yusuke- Hey, you two!


* Shishi and Suzuka look toward the others.


Yusuke- The meeting is over here, boys!

Shishi- Boys?


* The blue-haired samurai feels a shiver of anger start to swell inside him until Suzuka looks at him questioningly. Without a word, though, Suzuka moves off toward the others. Shishiwakamaru glances back toward the forest then follows quietly.


Kurama- Thank you for joining us.


* Suzuka and Shishi glance at Kurama who has reverted back to his redheaded human form. He ignores Lazurama, who is now sniffing at him curiously, to look at Yusuke again.


Kurama- As I was saying.. It won't be easy to go into this place, Yusuke.

Yusuke- Okay, fill us all in since you seem to know all about these woods.


* Kurama motions toward the trees several feet away.


Kurama- There's a good reason why this is called the Forbidden Forest, Yusuke.. It's to keep out any demons that are weak-minded or fearful.. Most demons lower than C refuse to even come this near.


* Kurama half glances toward Suzuka and Shishi, making the demons glance at each other.


Jin- An' it def'nantly be no place for a human.


* The group all look toward Kuwabara. The big human crosses his arms.


Kuwabara- I told Yusuke and I'm telling you.. I'm not afraid of going in there!

Shishi- Especially not foolish humans.. If you go in there, you will not come out.. By all rights, you shouldn't even be here in Demon World..!


* Everyone looks at Shishi who has his eyes locked on Kuwabara. Kurama moves a hand to grasp the samurai's shoulder.


Kurama- Shishi, look at me.


* With considerable effort Shishi obeys.


Kurama- You're feeling the affects already.

Yusuke- Hey, all of us are above C class here.. Right?


* Yusuke looks at Clint. Shishi raises a hand to rub his forehead.


Clint- Uh, well.. Almost.. I'm actually only this much..


* Clint uses his thumb and forefinger to indicate a short measurement.


Clint- Less than C.

Yusuke- Right.. So you'll be guarding Puu, then.


* Clint crosses his arms mimicking the human beside him.


Clint- D--- right I'm not going in there.. Besides, somebody does have to stay out here to watch the human, too.


* Kuwabara scowls down at Clint.


Kuwabara- You don't hear well for a cat..


* Kurama sighs and looks at Lazurama who had started to grow a plant after turning his back from the group.


Kurama- Laz. Now.


* The younger silver kitsune turns to face Kuwabara and blows the plant's pollen into his face. Kuwabara coughs, sputters an angry curse, then drops face-first like a ton of bricks. Lazurama wills the plant in his hand back to a seed.


Yusuke- Okay. That settles that.

Kurama- He won't be waking up for a while.


* Clint pries his eyes off the fallen redhead to look up at Lazurama who is placing the seed back into his long silver hair.


Clint- Uh.. and what was that?


* Lazurama fixes his gaze on Clint.


Lazurama- Do you really want to know?

Kurama- Laz.


* Clint backs off raising a hand.


Clint- No, not really.


* Lazurama relaxes and looks at his humanized brother.


Lazurama- If that frightens the kitty he wouldn't survive in there.. And why the h--- are you hiding in this form?


* Kurama levels his gaze up at his brother.


Kurama- I'm saving as much of my energy as I can for our journey.. Of this whole group I'm probably the only one who has gone all the way through this forest,.. brother.

Yusuke- Okay. Will somebody clue me in to what's going on here? I can feel all of your energies getting weird.. And, quite frankly, it's starting to..


* When the others all turn glares at Yusuke he suddenly gets the idea. Kurama calms himself down and nods.


Kurama- Now you're beginning to understand the problem.. There's something in this forest that amplifies the true desires of a demon.. I used this forest for a sanctuary about a thousand years ago when my band of thieves were chased and scattered.. There were only three of us that were brave enough to go in there.. Myself,.. Kuronue,.. and Yomi.


* Kurama looks toward the forest sadly.


Kurama- Unfortunately, only Yomi and myself survived reaching the inner sanctuary that surrounds that mountain you see in the distance.. That is where the Bukimi Cave is located.

Yusuke- Kuronue? You told us he was killed during one of your..

Kurama- I was under the influence of a very strong delusion at that time, Yusuke..

Yusuke- Okay. So what really happened then?

Kurama- Yomi and I trusted each other explicitly.. at that time.. Yomi, however, didn't have the same trust for Kuronue.. I guess there was some jealousy between them over me..


* Kurama glances at Yusuke to see how he's reacting to that bit of information. The Toushin doesn't react so Kurama continues.


Kurama- I awoke one night to the sound of the two of them fighting.. Then Yomi chased after Kuronue.. He returned alone the next morning.. I never saw Kuronue again.. I never asked, Yomi never told. (1)


* Kurama drops his eyes. Yusuke looks around at all the other demons around him. It suddenly occurs to him more than ever that all of them, except Kurama, Clint, and Lazurama, were once his enemies.


Yusuke- O-kay. I see the problem now.. Look, we have to go in there and find this all-important Aga-guy.

Kurama- And we will have to go in together.. Mostly only demons of S Class or higher are known to venture in there now so we will need the strength of our numbers.

Touya- If we're attacked we'll have to fight together to beat demons that are that strong.

Jin- I hear there also be wolves in there.


* Everyone looks at the floating demon.


Jin- Indeedy, a pack of wolf demons is what I heard.

Yusuke- Well, I'm a high S Class.. I know Kurama is, too, so we'll be able to control ourselves.. Right?

Lazurama- He's not an S Class in this form.

Kurama- Maybe I'm only an A Class in this form, but I'll be back in my full form when we go in there.. Laz, what class are you?

Lazurama- You know what..!

Yusuke- Okay! That's enough, already.. Keep this up and I'll go in there by myself.


* All eyes turn on Yusuke once more. After a couple moments, one after the other, Shishi, Suzuka, Jin, Touya, and Lazurama turn and start toward the forest. Kurama looks at Yusuke again.


Kurama- We need to stay together.


* Yusuke nods and looks at Clint.


Yusuke- We'll be back when we get back.. Take good care of Puu.


* Yusuke turns toward the forest with Kurama.


Clint- What about this guy?


* Yusuke pauses to look back down at the snoring redhead a moment.

Yusuke- Do whatever you have to do to keep him out here.

Clint- Right. Please be careful, YuYu.


* Yusuke waves over his shoulder as he hurries and catches up with the others. He stops in front of them and looks each of them in the eyes.


Yusuke- The past is behind us.. Let's do this together, guys.

Kurama- Agreed.. We've all settled our differences long ago.


* When they all nod Kurama melds into his kitsune form once more. The group continues quietly into the darkness of the thick trees.


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(1) I know, I know. I swayed a little from the 'cannon' version of Kuronue's demise, but I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.