Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest - The forbidden Forest ❯ Scene 10 ( Chapter 11 )

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

Well, sorry for another long wait, my few faithfuls. I've been kinda in a slump since one of my YYH stories, Life Goes On, was removed from FF.Net and I was banned from being on there for a few days because of my "writing style" violating their 'no script format' policy. I don't know why just that story and not everything I've put on there, unless they just haven't got around to the rest of my stuff. Now I'm worried that my "style" won't be welcomed anywhere. Personally, I don't see what the problem is with submitting stuff in script format. Perhaps someone needs to open a website for just script-style adult fanfiction. Please tell me if I'm violating some rule against this type of format that I might have overlooked in here.

Sorry, just a little bit of ranting. Anyhow, for anyone who's still interested this story continues...

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Scene 10 ------------------------------------------- The Forbidden Forest

* The journey for the small group of demons has been pretty safe so far throughout most of the day. Even amongst themselves there has been no more serious outbursts and only one minor confrontation with another demon that was easily defeated. Kurama and Yusuke stay in lead of the group. Shishi and Suzuki keep their senses alert for any other signs of danger. Yusuke half glances up at the kitsune beside him.


Yusuke- How much further? Seems like we've been travelling for days.


* Kurama, who decided it best to stay in his youko form, motions toward a mountain that looms just ahead of them.


Kurama- Tha cave is near the top of that mountain.

Yusuke- Will we be there by nightfall?


* Kurama looks at Yusuke.


Kurama- (Quietly) Is the forest starting to bother you?

Yusuke- No.. It's something else.. I'm just not sure.. But it feels like somebody is in trouble.. But they're not close..


* Kurama stops and turns to look their group over just to be sure that they're all there. Yusuke watches the demon fox's eyes settle on Shishi and Suzuki, then he goes over to converse with them. As Yusuke watches the friends talk, memories of his last dealings with those two demons during the tournament three years ago slowly become clearer to him. Indeed, these demons were no longer his enemies. Kurama returns to find Yusuke daydreaming.


Kurama- Yusuke?


* The smooth voice jolts the Toushin back to the present and Yusuke looks up when Kurama touches his arm.


Yusuke- I'm here.

Kurama- Neither Suzuki nor Shishi are having any of these feelings.

Yusuke- Well, we need to get to that cave then get the h--- out of here.

Kurama- Indeed, but we should keep our steady pace.. If we travel too fast it will attract more demons.


* Yusuke just turns and continues walking. Kurama twitches an ear as he studies him, puzzled for a moment, then shakes his head and hurries to keep pace beside him again.


Kurama- You know, I'm not usually known to keep company with confusing people.

Yusuke- Is that why there's not a significant woman in your life?


* Kurama half glances toward Yusuke.


Kurama- Many factors contribute to that, Yusuke.. The line of work I've chosen for myself in Human World isn't safe to expose a human female to..

Yusuke- Really? So what are you exactly? A stuntman?


* Kurama chuckles in his usual manner that triggers more memories for his travelling mate.


Kurama- Actually, I had to be one for one of my cases.

Touya- Yeah. That was one fun case.


* Yusuke watches Kurama nod as he glances back toward the ice master who is keeping pace right behind them.


Yusuke- Case? Then you're still working for..?

Kurama- No. My last case for Koenma was about.. two years ago.. I'm my own boss now.. sorta.. I'm a private investigator.

Touya- Kurama has a good nose for sniffing out bad humans.


* Now Yusuke half glances back at Touya.


Yusuke- Yeah. Guess that's why he first came to me all those years ago.

Kurama- Your memory is one of the things that confuses me, Yusuke.. It always gets the facts twisted somehow.


* The group continues on, chattering away and keeping their tone normal and minds occupied. But in the rear something completely different is taking place. Lazurama, who had decided to bring up the rear, stops when his nose catches a certain, subtle scent. The others continue on, not noticing that the younger kitsune has pulled up to a halt. Lazurama's tail twitches as he watches the others continue on. He becomes torn between continuing on with them or follow the scent. Then he gets a stronger whiff and can resist it no longer. He must investigate the enticing scent. The younger fox demon demonstrates his prowess as a hunter by quickly, silently slipping aside without being noticed. He then darts off through the woods following the invisible trail. But it's not very much longer when Kurama stops talking and turns. The others turn when they notice Kurama's eyes begin to search.


Yusuke- What?

Kurama- Where did Laz go?


* They all notice now that Lazurama is missing. Suzuki raises one of his hands and sweeps it around. Kurama moves closer to him.


Suzuki- He's moving off to the side.. As if he's.. following something..


* Shishi moves back the way they came until he catches the strange scent for the first time.


Shishi- It's.. some kind of a scent.. It's very faint..


* Kurama and the others hurry back to where Shishi is. The youko quickly raises his hand to cover his nose and turns away.


Kurama- Something has.. lured him away..

Yusuke- Can you follow it?

Kurama- We have to.. If Laz is exposed to that scent for too long he'll get disoriented..

Yusuke- Won't it bother you, too?


* Kurama moves away from the scent, reaches into his hair, and pulls out a yellow rose. Yusuke watches him breathe its scent in deeply a couple moments before coming back.


Kurama- I'll be okay. Let's go.


* Yusuke glances toward the mountain, then rolls his eyes and hurries off with the others. They follow Kurama as he trails the scent in a quicker, straighter path than Lazurama took until they reach a larger clearing. Kurama suddenly stops, sniffs the air all around, then begins to scan the area with his eyes.


Shishi- It's gone.. It just.. disappeared..

Kurama- Yes. This isn't good.. Suzuki, can you sense Laz around?


* The blonde raises both of his hands and turns searching. He slowly shakes his head. Kurama growls and moves to him.


Kurama- Nothing?!

Suzuki- Nothing.. Wait... There was a barrier somewhere close.. Yes, it was up in that direction.


* They all take off in the direction Suzuki has indicated, down a narrow path through the thick brush until they come to another clearing. Touya spots a freshly gouged tree nearby as the others survey the messed up ground that was obviously some sort of massive scuffle.


Touya- Shishi, look here.


* The blue-haired samurai moves over to touch the tree.


Shishi- This wasn't made by your brother, Kurama.


* Kurama returns the yellow rose to his hair. He catches the scent of familiar blood immediately.


Shishi- This swipe was made by a wolf demon.. A very strong one.

Kurama- I.. smell his blood.. It's everywhere..


* Yusuke begins to move around the perimeter of the area trying to peer through the thick trees for any movement, his right hand braced by his left, finger at the ready.


Suzuki- The barrier surrounded this area.. That's why we didn't hear anything..

Yusuke- Hey, guys!


* They all hurry over to where Yusuke is. The Toushin tilts his head toward a mangled, decapitated body that's snared to a tree by a mass of thorny vines. Kurama sniffs, then shakes his head.


Kurama- That's not Laz, Yusuke.


* Suzuki goes over closer to the body. After a couple moments the blonde turns back toward the clearing to watch holograms of the battle that took place here. The others can only watch Suzuki expressions as he becomes deeply enveloped in what he's experiencing. Kurama, Shishi, and Touya quiet Yusuke when he starts to speak up since they're more familiar with how the blonde psychic demon works. When Suzuki witnesses the final blow that's dealt to Lazurama he jerks himself away from the scene and turns away to cover his eyes. Kurama bows his head. Shishi moves to touch Suzuki now and draw him back to reality. The blonde shakes his head to clear it, then looks sadly at Kurama.


Suzuki- Do you.. need to know..

Kurama- (Coldly) Yes.


* Yusuke looks at Kurama again.


Suzuki- He killed that one.. Then the rest of the pack.. ambushed him.. He fought hard, Kurama.. But there were just too many.. It's a very large pack..


* The whole group looks up when they hear a howl off in the distance. Kurama growls.


Kurama- All of this blood.. it is his..


* Before Suzuki can answer Kurama snarls again. Yusuke watches the kitsune's eyes flash. He reaches out and stops Kurama when he starts in the direction of the howl.


Yusuke- Hold on..


* Kurama glares at Yusuke.


Kurama- They killed my brother.

Yusuke- And we'll annihilate them for that.. But we don't need to lose our heads. Suzie says it's a large pack.


* Suzuki scowls at Yusuke who looks back at him.


Yusuke- Get over it, blondie. How many of them were there?

Suzuki- There was more than a dozen.. that I could see.. But I felt as if there were more.. hiding back.. They migt have been the ones controlling the barrier.. They're an ancient pack that have used these woods for a long time..

Kurama- They lured my brother here.


* Suzuki motions toward the body.


Suzuki- They used that young grunt to lure him right into this ambush.

Yusuke- How could he just follow that scent without alerting us?

Kurama- Wolf demons have used the Makai Fox Bane on many of our kind.. Other predator demons like bears and cats have used it as well..


* Kurama closes his eyes to get his anger under control as he continues.


Kurama- When it's burned under their spell it becomes a scent that their chosen prey can't resist.. They must have been scouting us out for a while before they decided on him.

Yusuke- So that's why he's the only one that caught the scent originally?


* Kurama nods. His brain begins to function and plot again.


Kurama- Once they choose their victim they burn the plant with the enchanting spell. When the scent catches the.. prey's attention it's difficult to refuse unless you're aware of what it truly is and can conjure up a counteractant..

Yusuke- Your yellow rose.

Kurama- Yes. I used my energy to enhance its sweet scent.

Touya- To use something like that.. here is this forest..


* The kitsune nods again.


Kurama- Very deadly.. Especially in this forest.. These wolves must be very d--- smart.


* Now Yusuke scowls and looks around alertly.


Yusuke- Do you think they'd try this again?


* Kurama growls lowly getting the Toushin's full attention back.


Kurama- They won't have the chance.. They may be smart,.. but they've just met their match.


* Kurama looks around.


Kurama- (Quietly) Let's go back to the larger clearing and make our plans.


* Yusuke nods, realizing that Kurama is in full battle mode. The Toushin takes a last look around at the mess and knows that Kurama is well within his rights to take revenge according to Demon World laws. The group moves back the way they came more alert now that they know the actual threat.