Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Shura's Quest ❯ Scene 20 ( Chapter 20 )

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

* Kuwabara, Kurama, and the others are gathered once more in the main sitting room trying to plan on what their next move will be. They all look up when Yukina makes her way into the room.


Kuwabara- Yukina.


* Kuwabara hurries over to help her over to the couch to sit beside him.


Kurama- Are you well enough to be moving around, Yukina?

Yukina- I am much better.. Thanks to your healing skills, Kazuma.


* The red-head grins with a blush.


Kuwabara- Aww, anything for you, Yukina.


* Kurama looks at his demon friends grinning.


Kurama- Some things haven't changed.


* Kuwabara turns to look at Kurama.


Kuwabara- Yukina and I are just vedry good friends, Kurama.


* Yukina half glances at Kuwabara, then smiles as best she can at Kurama.


Yukina- Yes.. Kazuma and I.. came to an agreement to just be friends.


* Before anything more can be said they all feel a new presence and look up as Botan materializes before them. When she sees who all is there she hugs her oar.


Kuwabara- Hey,.. Botan...


* Kuwabara scowls slightly and discontinues his greeting as he watches the ferry girl look at them all sadly. Her eyes then settle on Kurama and she swallows.


Botan- Kurama,..


* Kurama stands and moves to face her until she steps back. He can smell the slight fear on her.


Kurama- What's wrong, Botan?


* Botan shakes herself, then raises her eyes to look right into Kurama's green ones.


Botan- Don't lie to me, Kurama... Tell me you did not commit those terrible things that we saw you do...

Kurama- Which things are you referring to, Botan?


* Botan fights her fears so she can attempt an angry glare up at the fox in human form, 'Oh, he's grown so much taller..'


Botan- The murders of all those Border Guards!


* When Kurama continues to stare at her she lowers her eyes and notices the sword on Kurama's hip. Her eyes widen.


Botan- You're carrying a sword?!


* She steps back again when Kurama raises a hand to grasp the vine-sheathed sword.


Kurama- This is Hiei's sword..


* Now Kuwabara leaps up.


Kuwabara- Wait a minute, Botan!


* He hurries over to stand beside Kurama.


Kuwabara- You think Kurama killed.. Umm... Did you say.. ALL of the Border Guards?

Kurama- I am innocent, Botan.

Botan- B-but I.. seen the.. recordings!


* Shishiwakamaru is the next one to come over to Kurama's defense.


Shishi- Kurama has been with all of us...


* All the others stand and come over to begin declaring Kurama's innocence. Botan studies them a moment, settles herself, then calmly takes a DVD out of her sleeve. She'd secretly pirated it from the footage George had shown them when Koenma was discovered to have been captured.


Botan- You need to see this, then.

Suzuka- Yeah, Pinkie? Well we have something you need to see, too!! We salvedged some communication from this sector's Sentry Post!


* Yukina now stands.


Yukina- There is an entertainment system in Master Genkai's playroom, Botan. I'll show you where it is.


* They all follow the ice maiden down the hall and into a den-like room. When she opens the wall cabinet revealing the entertainment system area Rinku hurries over to take the remote.


Rinku- Our disc is still in from earlier.


* Rinku hits the play button and they all watch the DVD. It is mostly garbled, but they can make out the last communication of Mukuro requesting Hiei's aide in her personal chamber. The request ends in a scream. The last thing they hear is Hiei trying to get Mukuro to respond until the footage goes to all static.


Shishi- We found Hiei's sword stuck in a wall in the control room.

Kuwabara- It was used to kill a giant nose.. shaped guy...

Kurama- Duoso was Hiei's assistant. Whoever killed him meant to make it look as if Hiei had committed the crime.

Kuwabara- But Hiei would never leave his sword behind.


* Botan glances between the two, then lets Rinku take her disc. The boy demon hurries over to place it in the player. Botan watches Kurama as they all watch the footage of Lazurama killing each of the guards. When Kurama sees the shot of Lazurama fully facing the camera his eyes widen.


Kurama- Pause it there, Rinku!


* Rinku has to back the DVD up some to get it paused in the right place. Kurama takes a couple steps closer to get a better look at the kitsune staring at him through the screen.


Kurama- (Quietly) No...


* They all look at Kurama, except Kuwabara who grunts and crosses his arms.


Kuwabara- Well,.. it certainly does look like you, Kurama.. But I still don't believe that it is!

Kurama- It is not me.

Botan- Can you prove it? I mean, you're the last silver kitsune.. Right?


* Kurama stares at the screen a moment more, then sighs and shakes his head as he turns to move away, 'Why, Lazzie?' he wonders silently, 'There must be a very good reason..' Botan's shrill voice brings him out of his thoughts.


Botan- Kurama?

Chu- Hey, jus' cuz its a bleedin' kitsunie doesn't mean it's our bleedin' boss, sheila!!

Touya- Yes... There are some demons who can change their appearance for short periods of time.


* Kurama half glances at Touya.


Botan- Well, I guess you do have a point.. I didn't want to believe you were doing that, Kurama! This is why I.. came on my own.. when George tracked you here.


* Kurama turns to look at her.


Kurama- I thank you for your faith and for showing us this, Botan.. Now, if you'll excuse me.


* Kurama starts for the door.


Botan- Hey! Woah!! Where are you going?!

Kurama- To catch this.. imposter.

Botan- You can't go to Demon World! You'll be hunted down...

Kurama- Won't be the first time.


* Botan hurries to quickly intercept Kurama before he reaches the doorway.


Botan- Kurama,.. King Enma's orders.. They're not to just hurt you this time...


* Kurama meets her eyes.


Botan- King Enma's orders last time were just to wound you in hopes that you would see the error of your ways.. But this time...


* Botan lowers her eyes and raises a hand to her lips as she mutters to herself.


Botan- (Muttering) Oh dear, I could lose my job...

Kurama- I don't need to hear anymore, Botan.. Go back to Spirit World...


* Botan gathers her resolve and looks back up at Kurama.


Botan- No! You need to know, Kurama! King Enma has ordered you to be brought before him for judgment.. He has his SDF troops searching all over Demon World for you.. They're to capture you.. as well as anyone...


* Botan glances around the room stopping her gaze on Kuwabara.


Botan- Anyone.. found aiding you.

Touya- Well, that's just balmy.


* Touya crosses his arms and turns away to control his anger when Kurama glances toward his friends.



Suzuka- The Big Guy's this ruffled over a few ugly demons being hacked?


* Botan eeps when she realizez what she'd forgotten to mention.


Botan- No! He didn't order this because of the killings..


* Kurama looks at her again.


Botan- It's because you.. er.. him...


* She waves toward the TV.


Botan- He was recorded capturing Lord Koenma.


* Kurama's eyes widen yet again as the others in the room voice their surprise at this news.


Kurama- What? -- He...? -- When??

Botan- Just before sunset this evening.. on a beach near Misumi...

Kuwabara- Misumi? Way over there?! That's clear across the country, Botan!!


* Yukina comes over to stand beside Kuwabara.


Yukina- Now I know Kurama is innocent, Botan.. He and his group.. and Kazuma have been here with me since just after noon today.


* Botan looks down at Yukina. She sees some of the bruises that are still not completely faded.


Botan- Oh dear. You've been hurt...

Yukina- Earlier today a gang of demons came through the gateway and caught me by surprise.. They beat me up very badly and left me thinking I was dead since I forced myself to go into a semi-hibernative state... If it weren't for Kurama bringing Kazuma here so he could use his healing abilities, I would still be in bad shape.

Kuwabara- Kurama and those two..


* Kuwabara motions toward Shishi and Suzuka.


Kuwabara- Went through the gateway to check on Hiei while I finished healing Yukina. Then I went over to join them.

Shishi- And we weren't over there long enough to fly clean across Japan.. or Demon World, either, Lady!!


* Kurama holds up a hand when Shishi begins to sprout his horns. Kuwabara gulps and moves away from Shishi to Kurama's other side.


Kurama- Enough, Shishi.. Calm down.


* Botan sighs.


Botan- King Enma is very angry about Koenma right now, Kurama.. You can't go into Demon World.. He thinks you're already there. King Enki and he reached an agreement about a year ago that allows King Enma a few more liberties in Demon World.

Touya- I still hate politics!

Kurama- I can't stay here. I have to go find.. him...


* Kurama motions toward the TV.


Kurama- I've committed many crimes in my past.. But I've long since laid that lifestyle to rest.. I must go and prove my innocence of these crimes and confront the actual perpetrator.


* Botan looks back up at Kurama.


Botan- You.. know him.. don't you?


* Kurama looks away then moves back to face the TV again.


Kurama- Yes. Our mothers always told us that we should've been twins from the same litter.. But we are nearly a couple hundred years apart.


* Kuwabara's eyebrow twitches.


Kuwabara- A couple.. hundred..?

Botan- Merely a blink of an eye in demon years, Kuwabara.

Kurama- Yes. I'm really only a hundred and fifty years older than him.. He is my half brother.

Chu- Blimy.


* Rinku comes over to look between Kurama and the screen.


Rinku- He sure does look like you, Ku.

Kurama- We have the same father.. That kitsune's name is Lazurama,.. last son of my father... He and I are the last two silver kitsunes to my knowledge.

Botan- Oh my.. Is there any way to tell you two apart?


* Kurama thinks a moment, then turns to look back at Botan.


Kurama- I can take this form, he can't.

Kuwabara- Good point.


* Suzuka, who'd also been studying the screen, suddenly chuckles. Everyone looks toward him.


Suzuka- I can tell the difference.


* Suzuka moves closer to swipe at the TV screen, then nods and points to what he'd tried to wipe away.


Suzuka- Pretty boy has a beauty mark.


* Kurama slowly turns to look at Suzuka as the others groan and roll their eyes. Kurama then shakes his head and turns to head toward the door again.


Kurama- I'm going to that beach to pick up his trail.. You guys...

Touya- Don't even try to make me stay here, Fox! I'll freeze dry you so fast...!


* Touya starts after Kurama who wisely gives no argument. The others follow them out onto the front porch of the temple. Kurama stops to face them all.


Kurama- I'm not going to ask anyone.. else...

Shishi- Who said you had to ask?

Botan- Kurama, I have to do something to help you.. I can use this new portal thing Koenma invented to get us to that beach quicker.

Kuwabara- Hey, that's great!! It'll save us a lot of time, Botan!


* Kuwabara turns to look at Kurama adamantly.


Kuwabara- Right, Kurama?


* Kurama recognizes the determination in Kuwabara's eyes and knows it's no use arguing with him, either. He bows his head in a positive gesture with a smile.


Kurama- Yes, Kazuma. It will.

Yukina- I must stay here and do my best to guard the temple, Kurama.


* Kurama looks down at her as she bows.


Kurama- Of course. I understand.


* Kurama turns to look over the small group of friends. His eyes fall on Chu and Rinku.


Kurama- Chu, Rinku..

Both- Boss?

Kurama- I have no doubts that both of you would go through fire for me..

Chu- Through, over, or around it, mate.

Rinku- You know it, Ku!

Kurama- But until we can get this gateway closed and guarded again Yukina will need help.


* Kurama glances toward Yukina again. Rinku looks at her, blushes, and raises his arms to place them behind his head as he always does.


Rinku- Yeah. You're too pretty to be hurt like that again.


* Chu looks at Kurama.


Chu- So you want us two to guard this ice sheila?

Kurama- Please.

Rinku- Well, I'd rather stay with you.

Kurama- This is very important to me, Rinku.. She's a very good friend, as well as Hiei's sister..


* Kurama leans to place a hand on the boy's shoulder.


Kurama- Her safety is very important to me.

Kuwabara- Me, too.


* Chu nods. Rinku brushes his nose and nods, too.


Rinku- Understood, Boss.

Chu- Jus' you come back in one piece, Kurama.

Kurama- I plan on it, Chu. Thank you, guys.


* Kurama turns to look at Botan again.


Kurama- Okay, Botan. Let's go before it gets much later.


* Botan takes the small portal remote out of her other sleeve and presses the button.


Botan- To the beach! (Giggles) I already had the co-ordinates set in. I was going to go there myself next.


* They all move toward the column of light. Shishi casts a half glance toward Touya.


Shishi- Now this is a ride!


* The ice master scowls at Shishiwakamaru.


Touya- I'll give you a ride...



* Kurama pays his venting friends little mind as he sets a look of worried determination on his face and leads them into the portal.