Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Two Hearts, Two Minds, One Soul ❯ Haunting Memory and the Evil Scientist ( Chapter 22 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Mitsukai no Awai 
Gwen remembers her mother's death at the day of round two.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.03.2005 | Updated On: 08.03.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 169 | Status: Completed
Gwen remembers her mother's death at the day of round two.
Anime/Manga: Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 08.03.2005 | Updated On: 08.03.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 169 | Status: Completed
Well, I noticed more people are reading my fic. As I'm typing, I have 423 visits on this fic. I feel so loved! *hugs myself* The funny thing is that I have 11 reviews. I seem to think that's funny. *laughs a bit*
Sorry if my updates are turning slow mo. I have a busy week taking tests and the finals are coming up this week as well. This is my last week in school also. *throws confetti* I'm graduating! My last day of school is June 2nd. So after June 5, I will probably be writing almost every day.
Hiei: tojikomeru and get on with the fic, onna.
MNA: Fine! *sticks out tongue* Meanie!!!
Hiei rolls his eyes as Kuwabara walks in the room with Yukina, talking about how he LOVES her and whatnot.
MNA: Hey, Baka! Do the disclaimer, k?
Kuwabara: *looks at me* Under one condition...
MNA: *thinking of the worst* What...?
Kuwabara: CASH!!!!!
MNA: *sighs in relief* Yoroshii. I'll give you $1 if you do the disclaimer.
Kuwabara: Yay! After you give me that dollar, I'll have $1.99!
Hiei and MNA: o_oU Uh....See how stupid he is!?
Kuwabara: MNA doesn't own me or YYH.
MNA: T_T I wanna own Hiei and Kurama... I also don't own "Into the West" by Annie Lennox from the LOTR Return of the King soundtrack.
Yukina: Please Read and Review.
Note - [Blah Blah] is "Into the West" I'm using only parts of the song.
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Two Hearts, Two Minds, One Soul
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haunting Memory and the Evil Scientist
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The next day was boring enough. The girls just lounged around, eating junk food and watching television. Later that night, they played card games while Gwen sat by the window, worried about Carnation.
'Where are you, girl?' Gwen thought as she watched the island night life. 'I hope you get back here...'
Ever since the boys left, Gwen had been getting a bad vibe...as if one of them was hurt.
'I hope that they're all right,' Gwen thought as she stepped away from the window. She bid good night to the girls and walked to her room. Picking out her white long-sleeved nightgown, she changed and collapsed onto the bed and into a deep sleep.
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Carnation walked briskly through the forest, wanting to see if Hiei was all right. She found her way out of the forest, emerging near the ocean below. She carefully walked to the edge of the rocky cliffs, scanning the area until she spotted Hiei. As she watched, he bent over, pressing his forehead to the rock where he knelt and clutching his wounded arm. The Kokuryuuha had taken its toll on the caster as well as the victim, and she had heard Kurama say that Hiei may have lost the use of his right arm forever.
Carnation sat down, looking at him closely. She knew that he knew she was there. He was just in too much pain to acknowledge her, she figured, until he finally managed to say, "What do you want?"
~Just to see if you will survive. From the looks of it, you seem to be in so much pain,~ she replied. Her stare never wavered as his glare was fixed at her.
"Hn."
~You're so much like her...~ she blurted out.
"Why do you say that?"
~She hides her pain, just like you. I don't know if you do this, but she hides most of her feelings as well, unless they relate to the situation.~
"Feelings are weak," he said bluntly. "They just get in the way."
~She is right. You are confusing,~ Carnation said as she licked her paw. ~But I can see you _have_ feelings for her and that you have liked her for a very long time. You're not the only one who can read minds,~ she replied when his eyes widened in shock, only for a second.
"Aren't you lucky I'm injured, or else that head of yours would've been sliced off seconds ago."
~Hai, but you do know that I'm Gwen's inner self. And I could just slip something into her mind before you even slice my head off.~
"Just leave me alone, feline."
~Sou ka. But just remember this conversation. Gwen might fall in love with you someday. Who knows? Well, Gwen's worried about me, so I should leave, anyway. And she's worried about you too.~ Carnation walked away from him, going back to the hotel, knowing he was staring after her in shock.
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[Lay down
your sweet and weary head]
Gwen opened her eyes, listening to the familiar melody and looking for the source. She sat up, and saw a woman with whitish-blonde hair and gray eyes cradling a sleeping young girl, singing a soft lullaby.
[Night is falling...]
The image faded, but another image appeared. The same woman and girl were at a park, surrounded by Falcons, the girl about ten feet away from her mother.
[Sleep now...]
"You will not harm my child or me!" the woman cried out, trying her best to get to her daughter, but was attacked by the Falcons.
It was like watching a film...a film that she cannot stop...
[Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?]
When she had the chance, the woman grabbed the child and flew away from the Falcons, only to be stabbed in the back and forcing her to the ground, separating her from her child. The girl stood up, running to her mother.
[Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away...]
"Mommy! I'm coming!" she yelled.
The woman stood up weakly and took great pains to turn her head around, seeing a knife embedded in her lower back. She turned around completely, seeing her daughter running to her. She looked behind herself again and saw the Falcons once again flying toward them, wind screaming past their wings.
[Safe in my arms...
You're only sleeping...]
"Gwenevere! Leave this place now!" she shouted.
"Mother...?" Gwen spoke softly. "She's Aliana, my mother?"
Suddenly Aliana heard a scream, and whipped her head back in the direction of her daughter. Gwen looked at her younger self being held by a Falcon, pointing a knife at her neck. Her younger self was holding onto her necklace, crying. Her mother stood there, shocked for only an instant before being overcome by pure hatred.
"Leave my child out of this, you cowardly bastard!!!!!!"
[What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea a pale moon rises...]
She levitated mere inches off the ground, eyes burning with anger. She flew at the Falcon holding her daughter, being surrounded by a golden aura of ki.
[Love will turn to silver glass,
A light on the water,
All souls pass...]
Gwen stood still as stone, watching this horrible event take hold. She watched as Aliana was pierced in the back by a second knife, watching the Falcons whooping and leaping, watching as they cawed with triumph. Gwen shook her head, not wanting to see her painful death. Her eyes didn't listen, though, as if they wanted, needed her to see her own mother's painful demise. Tears poured down her face as she watched the gallons of blood pouring from Aliana's back. Aliana looked to Gwen's younger self.
[Hope fades...into the world of night,
Through shadows falling...out of memory and time.]
"Gwenevere...Mommy will always love you..." Aliana managed to choke out to Gwen, falling to her death.
[Don't say we have come now to the end.
I have chose a calling...
You and I will meet again...]
"Mommy! No! Don't leave me!!" the young girl screamed out.
[You'll be in my arms...just sleeping...]
"I don't want to see this! Take me away! No... Mother...why...did you have to die?" Gwen cried, covering her face with her hands. The haunting melody rang in her ears and the words "It's your fault" echoed softly, never fading...the image and melody drifted slowly away...
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Gwen woke up, trembling and felt sweat pouring down her face.
"So...that was what it felt like to lose someone close to you..." she whispered as she moved her knees to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins. Gwen bowed her head to her knees and cried.
Carnation walked in the suite, finding no one in sight. She had taken a nap on the way back to the hotel and woken up to find morning had arrived.
~Ohayo? Anybody here?~ Carnation asked, as she jumped on the kitchen counter, smelling something good. She found a small bowl of rice next to a couple of strawberry mochis. There was also a note in Botan's handwriting. So, curious as she was, Carnation peered over to read it.
Dear Gwenevere,
Shizuru, Keiko, and I have gone off to the stadium already. We saw you were still sleeping, and we didn't want to wake you, so when you're up, come to the stadium with the ticket and floor pass I placed on your dresser.
Ja ne!
Botan =^_^=
~Hm... Time to wake Gwenie!~ Carnation thought slyly as she jumped off the counter, padding into Gwen and Botan's room.
~Oh...Gwen! Time to-~ the cat started to say, but stopped when she saw Gwen awake already and crying. Carnation, concerned, jumped on the bed and rubbed against Gwen. ~Gwen? What's wrong?~
"Carnation...I saw Mother die..." she choked out through her tears.
~...Koenma knew this would happen... That's why he couldn't tell you... Mother was very powerful, and cared for you dearly. She risked her life to save yours. She doesn't want you to cry for her. She wants you happy. So you shouldn't be here moping around. Go to the stadium. The gang is waiting for you.~
"But...I can't just be happy after I've seen that!" She raised her head to see her Spirit Beast.
~You can always try. Come on.~ Carnation used her psyche to pick up Gwen and place her on her feet.
Gwen didn't talk back, but stayed quiet, fighting back the tears that still threatened to fall. She made the bed, and picked out a long-sleeved forest green shirt with leaf imprints on the cuffs, collar, and hem; baggy, dark brown jeans, and her dark brown boots. She put her all pink hair back in a braid, putting a leaf barrette on the right side of her hair.
~Gwen, take the ticket and floor pass on the dresser. The girls already left, giving you breakfast,~ Carnation said as Gwen grabbed the ticket and pass, both leaving the hotel, the mochis in hand, ready to be devoured.
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Gwen looked side to side, walking through the forest.
~Are you sure you know where you're going?~ Carnation asked, perched on Gwen's shoulder. Gwen didn't respond, still looking around. Carnation sighed as she looked ahead. ~Kurama?~
Gwen looked where her cat was gazing at, seeing Kurama. "Ohayo, Kurama. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the stadium?"
"Hai, but I was looking for Hiei. Do you know where he is?" he asked as he walked up to her.
"No. But I can help you look for him."
~I'll go to the stadium,~ suggested Carnation.
Kurama nodded his head, and the three of them went off in a different direction, Carnation walking to the stadium and Kurama and Gwen looking for the fire demon.
Kurama looked at Gwen, seeing her eyes saddened and wondering why she wasn't with the girls. Of course he would've asked if she was all right, but couldn't as her head snapped up. "Hiei, there you are!" she said in relief.
Hiei was holding onto his arm while walking toward them, eyes to the ground. He looked up, and let go of his arm, grunting a "Hn" as Kurama and Gwen approached him.
They all stood silent, until they heard a crack. They gazed about swiftly, looking for the source of the noise. They spotted two frightening youkai, each some sort of warped lizard-leopard cross, who were smirking, and rather cockily, I might say.
"So two of the Urameshi team members aren't at the fight either," said one of the youkai.
"Let's kill them now, we would've fought them in the stadium now anyway," proposed the other.
"Hai, but let's keep the hanyou. She's looks good to eat."
All three of them glared at the lizard-leopards, drawing out their weapons, ready to fight. After sharing a knowingly glance, they ran at one of the lizards, Hiei at Gwen's right, and Kurama at her left. The boys slashed at the youkai as Gwen merely jumped on him, bouncing off his chest as he fell, and landed between her friends, grimly looking at the other youkai.
The youkai was nervous, but then his smirk came back. "I was wondering why Dr. Itchigaki gave me this remote for his experiment, but now I know why." He pulled out a remote and pushed at a button. Suddenly, they heard rumbling and saw a huge machine come stomping toward them.
"Half machine, half youkai. It feels no pain, no fear. It was amazing how the scientist could make such experiments, even with ningens who were stupid enough to fall for his lies about curing an ailing ningen sensei."
The machine stopped and its arms had stretched out in front of them, aimimg toward Kurama, Hiei, and Gwen. They ran at different directions, trying to lose the arms. One arm followed Hiei, and the other followed Kurama and Gwen. She looked behind to see the arm still coming at them. Kurama held onto her hand and ran faster. Then they heard a rumble, and they stopped, seeing Hiei being pinned against a tree by one of the arms.
"Hiei!!!!!!!" they both shouted, then dodged the arm coming at them. Using quick thinking, Kurama ran a different direction, trying to get the arm away from Gwen and still trying to make his plan work. He went running towards the other arm that was pinning Hiei, vaulting over it. Surely enough, the arm pursuing him hit the arm pinning Hiei, knocking it away.
Kurama kept running while Gwen ran to Hiei. Both Hiei and Gwen heard an explosion where Kurama was.
"Kurama!!!" they yelled, running to him. When the smoke cleared away, they clearly saw Kurama, standing amidst the remains of the robot's arm with his Rose Whip wrapped around several of its inner mechanics.
"You are wrong on two counts," Kurama said shortly. "Even the hardest substance can be broken when crashed into itself. And the ability to feel pain is not a weakness; it's a strength. Pain tells a creature its vulnerabilities and not to expose them to attack. Your robot is dead, he finished with the slightest hint of a smirk. "And so, I'm afraid, are you."
All three of them gazed at the lizard-leopard, but he was running away. Hiei disappeared from Gwen's side to stand in front of the lizard. "Going somewhere?"
Gwen stood behind the youkai, making sure he wouldn't escape. "Tell us where the sensei is!"
"I'm not saying a word!" he wailed. She looked behind to see Kurama fixing the mechanical youkai, and then in front of her to Hiei.
Sighing, she muttered, "Fine. Have it the hard way." She quickly crouched on her knees, and sending her leg out, tripping the lizard to his back. "But I warned you. You could've had it easy with me. Now he'll probably torture you till you beg for death." She stood up, pointing to Hiei, who was grinning at the youkai.
Hiei walked forward and took the youkai by the collar. "Tell us where the sensei is!"
"I...I don't remember!" he shouted nervously.
"Wrong answer," Hiei snapped, savagely tearing at a nearby tree. "Your tail is next."
"I - I don't remember - in a cave somewhere!"
Hiei growled, and the youkai cowered. "Ten miles east!"
"Thank you very much," Gwen said as she walked by, kicking the youkai unconscious. Kurama, Gwen, and Hiei walked eastward, approaching mountains. They walked the rocky path, looking for the cave where the sensei was supposed to be.
Gwen stopped and looked inside a cave, seeing a figure lying on the ground. "Kurama! Hiei! I found him!" They ran to her, and they entered the dark cave.
Kurama knelt down beside the man, checking his pulse. "He's still alive. Let's get back to the forest. I found some plants that can help him."
With the man on his back, Kurama led Hiei and Gwen back into the forest. He set the man down against a tree trunk, disappearing to get the plants. Hiei and Gwen stood very quiet, waiting patiently for Kurama's return. Gwen tried her very best not to think about the dream so that Hiei wouldn't know from reading her mind, but it was very difficult. She bit her lip to prevent another wave of tears and almost failed, but fortunately, Kurama came back with the plants, interrupting her train of thought, and led her mind focus on the recovery of the sensei.
After making the potion, Kurama poured some in the man's mouth, letting him drink it. The man opened his eyes, looking around at his surroundings. "Where am I and who are you?"
"I'm Hakusa Gwenevere, and my friends are known as Kurama and Hiei," Gwenevere said politely, indicating Hiei and Kurama when she introduced them. "We saved your life."
The man sat up, looking at them. "Arigatou. But you still haven't answered my first question."
"We're on an island where a tournament of youkai battle it out. I'm here because I'm watching my friends compete."
"So...these two are youkai?"
"Hai, and I'm half...but not all youkai are evil, sir. You should know that your pupils are fighting in the tournament, but we think that they are fighting against their will by undergoing an experiment that a scientist persuaded them to do to save your life. We believe the scientist has tricked them."
"Nani? Let's go then to this tournament!" he shouted, standing up shakily. The three exchanged a glance, and Gwen and Kurama looked at Hiei, hoping that he will take the sensei to the stadium since he was the quickest. Hiei "hn'ed" and took the man to the stadium in a flash. Kurama walked to the mechanical youkai and jumped on it, landing on it's shoulder.
"Well? Ready to go?" he asked. Gwen smiled and jumped on the machine, landing on the top of it's head.
When they were at the stadium, Hiei appeared on the other shoulder of the machine. "Took you two long enough," Hiei remarked.
"Why not we just crash the party!?" Gwen shouted as the machine punched a huge hole in the stadium, ending up destroying one sixth of the benches youkai were sitting on, watching the fight. They saw Kuwabara on the ground outside the ring with Botan by his side. Yusuke was looking at them, but then gazed back at the masked fighter whose mask was unveiled to be a young woman with pink hair and brown eyes. Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei looked from the young woman to Gwen and then back at the mystery fighter.
"She's looks just like you, Gwen," Kurama stated.
"Hai, except for the eye color," Hiei said.
Gwen and the woman stared each other down, never blinking.
~Genkai...~
~Remember, don't tell. I'll probably tell the dimwit tomorrow though.~
Gwen nodded as the Young Genkai put her mask back on, and Yusuke and she started fighting the three brainwashed pupils again. Kurama and Hiei jumped down to join the fight, but the announcer, Koto, said, "Sorry, boys, but these fighters have agreed on a three on three match. If you enter the fight, your team is disqualified."
"Nani?!" Yusuke shouted.
"Watch out!" Genkai said as she ran between Yusuke and one of their opponents, seeing Yusuke distracted by Koto's announcement, and getting hit out of the ring, landing against the wall.
"Masked fighter!" Yusuke shouted as she wouldn't get up. "That's it! I don't care that you're brainwashed ningens, and I don't like it if I lose and have to give up my body to that baka doctor dwarf!" Rage spurring him on, Yusuke darted forward, beating on the three ningen students as he did.
Suddenly he stopped, gazing into the pupils' eyes. Red tears streamed down their cheeks, and they looked at him piteously. "Kill...kill us..."
"Nani? Tears of blood?" Yusuke asked.
"It's blood of the people they killed, I guess," Gwen said as she jumped off of the machine, walking to Genkai.
Yusuke stood still, not really wanting to kill them, but he figured that it was the only way to save them from the thing attached to their backs, the thing making them brainwashed.
"I'd say this is gonna hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you, but I don't like to lie!" Yusuke shouted as he jumped up in the air, getting ready for his final attack, his Rei Gan.
Genkai saw this, and jumped to his side, saying, "This isn't the only way out. Let me finish them off while still saving their lives."
Yusuke agreed, and landed with Genkai. He walked away, wondering what she was going to do.
She began chanting as the pupils ran toward her. She had made a shield of ki around her, and moved her arms in an arc to the ground. A blinding blue light enveloped the stadium, freezing the boys in their tracks, and she leapt up, piercing each of their hearts. When the light cleared and everyone could see, the boys lay on the ground, motionless.
Yusuke walked up to Genkai, yelling, "You killed them anyway! And I was about to do that!"
Genkai shook her head, replying, "I did what I had to do, nothing more."
Suddenly, the boys stood up. Everyone except Genkai was amazed.
"How come we're still alive?" one of the boys asked.
"We killed a lot of people..." said another.
"But you didn't kill them willingly. You survive because of your pure hearts," Genkai explained.
"But what about sensei?" the third asked.
They all looked at Itchigaki, who was very mad by now at losing. "How could this be?! I put in all the calculations!"
Kurama, Hiei, and Gwen stood a couple feet away from the scientist.
"Calculations can also make false assumptions. And we have saved the sensei's life. You were the one to make him ill in the first place, correct?" Kurama questioned.
Itchigaki looked behind him and saw the sensei walking toward the ring. "You horrible monster!" he shouted.
"We have caught up with two of your associates, killing one of them, and interrogating the other," Gwen said seriously.
"I had to threatened the lizard, seeing as he 'forgot' where you've hid the ningen. His memory improved very quickly, and we found him ten miles away from there. Kurama made a potion easily once he found out what was wrong with him," continued Hiei.
"I have also found some suitable poisons on this island. Care to try one, Doctor?" asked Kurama.
"No, Kurama. He doesn't deserve to be poisoned. I'll take care of this myself," Yusuke said, cracking his knuckles.
Itchigaki threw a fit of laughter before taking out a syringe full of unknown liquid. "Heh, heh. Haven't you guessed with a man with incredible intelligence would have made a plan B?!" he cackled as they grew terrified, wondering what he was thinking. He injected the needle into his arm, transforming into a huge, hideous green creature. He cackled again as his arms stretched out, reaching for the Reikai Tantei. They dodged, but Yusuke was hit to the ground. Hiei stood in front of him, sword drawn, as Gwen ran to Yusuke's side.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Gwen," he replied, standing up. "Hiei, let me take him out."
Hiei looked back, and stepped aside. Gwen walked away from Yusuke as well.
Itchigaki's arms stretched out to Usuke, but Yusuke gripped each arm, swinging around, and releasing them, watching the mad scientist fly into the stands.
Koto raised her hand. "The winner, Team Urameshi!"
The crowds booed and jeered, seeing as they hated the Reikai Tantei.
"Tough crowd," muttered Gwen as she saw the sensei and pupils reunite. But the pupils turned their backs on their sensei.
"Why are your backs turned?" the sensei asked.
"We have disgraced you, sensei," said one of the pupils.
"We don't deserve to be your pupils," said the other.
"We killed a lot of innocent people...and we couldn't stop it," said the third.
"But it wasn't your fault," the sensei said. "And all I care is that you're safe."
The pupils turned around and the four embraced.
"I knew they were good guys," Kuwabara said as Botan and Gwen led him to a bed to rest.
Once in the room, Kuwabara woke up again, having passed out on the way there.
"Whoa! I'm in heaven, seeing girls around me!" Kuwabara smiled. Gwen sighed as she smacked him.
"What was that for?"
"For being a baka," Gwen answered.
"I'm not a baka."
"Think what you want, Kuwabara."
Then, they heard shouts from the ring. "I'll go check it out," Gwen said, running out of the team room, heading to the ring. When she arrived, she gaped, and shouted, "NANI?"
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I think I'll leave it off there. It a long chapter compared to others I've written. I'm not too happy with this one, but this chapter was necessary.
I think I'm failing Math. I'm getting so confused because since this is my last week of school, my math teacher decided to do one more chapter and gave the class twice as much homework and teaching two lessons a day! I am so overwhelmed! I need a vacation...
I also thought of how you people pictured Gwenie. If you guys are artists, I'll be so happy to give you credit for drawing how you think she looks. I have drawn her several times myself, but I can't upload any of my drawings since it takes too much space. Stupid computer. I drew this one pic without even thinking where Gwen...well, I don't want to spoil the later chapters... I'm evil, huh? Well, your drawings would be appreciated by me and I would like to see pics of Gwen, Hiei, and Kurama together. I'm not the best when it comes to Hiei and Kurama. Well, I did make a kawaii chibi Hiei during math class. Anyway, thanks for staying with me this long, and please review!
Sorry if my updates are turning slow mo. I have a busy week taking tests and the finals are coming up this week as well. This is my last week in school also. *throws confetti* I'm graduating! My last day of school is June 2nd. So after June 5, I will probably be writing almost every day.
Hiei: tojikomeru and get on with the fic, onna.
MNA: Fine! *sticks out tongue* Meanie!!!
Hiei rolls his eyes as Kuwabara walks in the room with Yukina, talking about how he LOVES her and whatnot.
MNA: Hey, Baka! Do the disclaimer, k?
Kuwabara: *looks at me* Under one condition...
MNA: *thinking of the worst* What...?
Kuwabara: CASH!!!!!
MNA: *sighs in relief* Yoroshii. I'll give you $1 if you do the disclaimer.
Kuwabara: Yay! After you give me that dollar, I'll have $1.99!
Hiei and MNA: o_oU Uh....See how stupid he is!?
Kuwabara: MNA doesn't own me or YYH.
MNA: T_T I wanna own Hiei and Kurama... I also don't own "Into the West" by Annie Lennox from the LOTR Return of the King soundtrack.
Yukina: Please Read and Review.
Note - [Blah Blah] is "Into the West" I'm using only parts of the song.
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Two Hearts, Two Minds, One Soul
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haunting Memory and the Evil Scientist
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The next day was boring enough. The girls just lounged around, eating junk food and watching television. Later that night, they played card games while Gwen sat by the window, worried about Carnation.
'Where are you, girl?' Gwen thought as she watched the island night life. 'I hope you get back here...'
Ever since the boys left, Gwen had been getting a bad vibe...as if one of them was hurt.
'I hope that they're all right,' Gwen thought as she stepped away from the window. She bid good night to the girls and walked to her room. Picking out her white long-sleeved nightgown, she changed and collapsed onto the bed and into a deep sleep.
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Carnation walked briskly through the forest, wanting to see if Hiei was all right. She found her way out of the forest, emerging near the ocean below. She carefully walked to the edge of the rocky cliffs, scanning the area until she spotted Hiei. As she watched, he bent over, pressing his forehead to the rock where he knelt and clutching his wounded arm. The Kokuryuuha had taken its toll on the caster as well as the victim, and she had heard Kurama say that Hiei may have lost the use of his right arm forever.
Carnation sat down, looking at him closely. She knew that he knew she was there. He was just in too much pain to acknowledge her, she figured, until he finally managed to say, "What do you want?"
~Just to see if you will survive. From the looks of it, you seem to be in so much pain,~ she replied. Her stare never wavered as his glare was fixed at her.
"Hn."
~You're so much like her...~ she blurted out.
"Why do you say that?"
~She hides her pain, just like you. I don't know if you do this, but she hides most of her feelings as well, unless they relate to the situation.~
"Feelings are weak," he said bluntly. "They just get in the way."
~She is right. You are confusing,~ Carnation said as she licked her paw. ~But I can see you _have_ feelings for her and that you have liked her for a very long time. You're not the only one who can read minds,~ she replied when his eyes widened in shock, only for a second.
"Aren't you lucky I'm injured, or else that head of yours would've been sliced off seconds ago."
~Hai, but you do know that I'm Gwen's inner self. And I could just slip something into her mind before you even slice my head off.~
"Just leave me alone, feline."
~Sou ka. But just remember this conversation. Gwen might fall in love with you someday. Who knows? Well, Gwen's worried about me, so I should leave, anyway. And she's worried about you too.~ Carnation walked away from him, going back to the hotel, knowing he was staring after her in shock.
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[Lay down
your sweet and weary head]
Gwen opened her eyes, listening to the familiar melody and looking for the source. She sat up, and saw a woman with whitish-blonde hair and gray eyes cradling a sleeping young girl, singing a soft lullaby.
[Night is falling...]
The image faded, but another image appeared. The same woman and girl were at a park, surrounded by Falcons, the girl about ten feet away from her mother.
[Sleep now...]
"You will not harm my child or me!" the woman cried out, trying her best to get to her daughter, but was attacked by the Falcons.
It was like watching a film...a film that she cannot stop...
[Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?]
When she had the chance, the woman grabbed the child and flew away from the Falcons, only to be stabbed in the back and forcing her to the ground, separating her from her child. The girl stood up, running to her mother.
[Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away...]
"Mommy! I'm coming!" she yelled.
The woman stood up weakly and took great pains to turn her head around, seeing a knife embedded in her lower back. She turned around completely, seeing her daughter running to her. She looked behind herself again and saw the Falcons once again flying toward them, wind screaming past their wings.
[Safe in my arms...
You're only sleeping...]
"Gwenevere! Leave this place now!" she shouted.
"Mother...?" Gwen spoke softly. "She's Aliana, my mother?"
Suddenly Aliana heard a scream, and whipped her head back in the direction of her daughter. Gwen looked at her younger self being held by a Falcon, pointing a knife at her neck. Her younger self was holding onto her necklace, crying. Her mother stood there, shocked for only an instant before being overcome by pure hatred.
"Leave my child out of this, you cowardly bastard!!!!!!"
[What can you see on the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea a pale moon rises...]
She levitated mere inches off the ground, eyes burning with anger. She flew at the Falcon holding her daughter, being surrounded by a golden aura of ki.
[Love will turn to silver glass,
A light on the water,
All souls pass...]
Gwen stood still as stone, watching this horrible event take hold. She watched as Aliana was pierced in the back by a second knife, watching the Falcons whooping and leaping, watching as they cawed with triumph. Gwen shook her head, not wanting to see her painful death. Her eyes didn't listen, though, as if they wanted, needed her to see her own mother's painful demise. Tears poured down her face as she watched the gallons of blood pouring from Aliana's back. Aliana looked to Gwen's younger self.
[Hope fades...into the world of night,
Through shadows falling...out of memory and time.]
"Gwenevere...Mommy will always love you..." Aliana managed to choke out to Gwen, falling to her death.
[Don't say we have come now to the end.
I have chose a calling...
You and I will meet again...]
"Mommy! No! Don't leave me!!" the young girl screamed out.
[You'll be in my arms...just sleeping...]
"I don't want to see this! Take me away! No... Mother...why...did you have to die?" Gwen cried, covering her face with her hands. The haunting melody rang in her ears and the words "It's your fault" echoed softly, never fading...the image and melody drifted slowly away...
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Gwen woke up, trembling and felt sweat pouring down her face.
"So...that was what it felt like to lose someone close to you..." she whispered as she moved her knees to her chest, arms wrapped around her shins. Gwen bowed her head to her knees and cried.
Carnation walked in the suite, finding no one in sight. She had taken a nap on the way back to the hotel and woken up to find morning had arrived.
~Ohayo? Anybody here?~ Carnation asked, as she jumped on the kitchen counter, smelling something good. She found a small bowl of rice next to a couple of strawberry mochis. There was also a note in Botan's handwriting. So, curious as she was, Carnation peered over to read it.
Dear Gwenevere,
Shizuru, Keiko, and I have gone off to the stadium already. We saw you were still sleeping, and we didn't want to wake you, so when you're up, come to the stadium with the ticket and floor pass I placed on your dresser.
Ja ne!
Botan =^_^=
~Hm... Time to wake Gwenie!~ Carnation thought slyly as she jumped off the counter, padding into Gwen and Botan's room.
~Oh...Gwen! Time to-~ the cat started to say, but stopped when she saw Gwen awake already and crying. Carnation, concerned, jumped on the bed and rubbed against Gwen. ~Gwen? What's wrong?~
"Carnation...I saw Mother die..." she choked out through her tears.
~...Koenma knew this would happen... That's why he couldn't tell you... Mother was very powerful, and cared for you dearly. She risked her life to save yours. She doesn't want you to cry for her. She wants you happy. So you shouldn't be here moping around. Go to the stadium. The gang is waiting for you.~
"But...I can't just be happy after I've seen that!" She raised her head to see her Spirit Beast.
~You can always try. Come on.~ Carnation used her psyche to pick up Gwen and place her on her feet.
Gwen didn't talk back, but stayed quiet, fighting back the tears that still threatened to fall. She made the bed, and picked out a long-sleeved forest green shirt with leaf imprints on the cuffs, collar, and hem; baggy, dark brown jeans, and her dark brown boots. She put her all pink hair back in a braid, putting a leaf barrette on the right side of her hair.
~Gwen, take the ticket and floor pass on the dresser. The girls already left, giving you breakfast,~ Carnation said as Gwen grabbed the ticket and pass, both leaving the hotel, the mochis in hand, ready to be devoured.
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Gwen looked side to side, walking through the forest.
~Are you sure you know where you're going?~ Carnation asked, perched on Gwen's shoulder. Gwen didn't respond, still looking around. Carnation sighed as she looked ahead. ~Kurama?~
Gwen looked where her cat was gazing at, seeing Kurama. "Ohayo, Kurama. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at the stadium?"
"Hai, but I was looking for Hiei. Do you know where he is?" he asked as he walked up to her.
"No. But I can help you look for him."
~I'll go to the stadium,~ suggested Carnation.
Kurama nodded his head, and the three of them went off in a different direction, Carnation walking to the stadium and Kurama and Gwen looking for the fire demon.
Kurama looked at Gwen, seeing her eyes saddened and wondering why she wasn't with the girls. Of course he would've asked if she was all right, but couldn't as her head snapped up. "Hiei, there you are!" she said in relief.
Hiei was holding onto his arm while walking toward them, eyes to the ground. He looked up, and let go of his arm, grunting a "Hn" as Kurama and Gwen approached him.
They all stood silent, until they heard a crack. They gazed about swiftly, looking for the source of the noise. They spotted two frightening youkai, each some sort of warped lizard-leopard cross, who were smirking, and rather cockily, I might say.
"So two of the Urameshi team members aren't at the fight either," said one of the youkai.
"Let's kill them now, we would've fought them in the stadium now anyway," proposed the other.
"Hai, but let's keep the hanyou. She's looks good to eat."
All three of them glared at the lizard-leopards, drawing out their weapons, ready to fight. After sharing a knowingly glance, they ran at one of the lizards, Hiei at Gwen's right, and Kurama at her left. The boys slashed at the youkai as Gwen merely jumped on him, bouncing off his chest as he fell, and landed between her friends, grimly looking at the other youkai.
The youkai was nervous, but then his smirk came back. "I was wondering why Dr. Itchigaki gave me this remote for his experiment, but now I know why." He pulled out a remote and pushed at a button. Suddenly, they heard rumbling and saw a huge machine come stomping toward them.
"Half machine, half youkai. It feels no pain, no fear. It was amazing how the scientist could make such experiments, even with ningens who were stupid enough to fall for his lies about curing an ailing ningen sensei."
The machine stopped and its arms had stretched out in front of them, aimimg toward Kurama, Hiei, and Gwen. They ran at different directions, trying to lose the arms. One arm followed Hiei, and the other followed Kurama and Gwen. She looked behind to see the arm still coming at them. Kurama held onto her hand and ran faster. Then they heard a rumble, and they stopped, seeing Hiei being pinned against a tree by one of the arms.
"Hiei!!!!!!!" they both shouted, then dodged the arm coming at them. Using quick thinking, Kurama ran a different direction, trying to get the arm away from Gwen and still trying to make his plan work. He went running towards the other arm that was pinning Hiei, vaulting over it. Surely enough, the arm pursuing him hit the arm pinning Hiei, knocking it away.
Kurama kept running while Gwen ran to Hiei. Both Hiei and Gwen heard an explosion where Kurama was.
"Kurama!!!" they yelled, running to him. When the smoke cleared away, they clearly saw Kurama, standing amidst the remains of the robot's arm with his Rose Whip wrapped around several of its inner mechanics.
"You are wrong on two counts," Kurama said shortly. "Even the hardest substance can be broken when crashed into itself. And the ability to feel pain is not a weakness; it's a strength. Pain tells a creature its vulnerabilities and not to expose them to attack. Your robot is dead, he finished with the slightest hint of a smirk. "And so, I'm afraid, are you."
All three of them gazed at the lizard-leopard, but he was running away. Hiei disappeared from Gwen's side to stand in front of the lizard. "Going somewhere?"
Gwen stood behind the youkai, making sure he wouldn't escape. "Tell us where the sensei is!"
"I'm not saying a word!" he wailed. She looked behind to see Kurama fixing the mechanical youkai, and then in front of her to Hiei.
Sighing, she muttered, "Fine. Have it the hard way." She quickly crouched on her knees, and sending her leg out, tripping the lizard to his back. "But I warned you. You could've had it easy with me. Now he'll probably torture you till you beg for death." She stood up, pointing to Hiei, who was grinning at the youkai.
Hiei walked forward and took the youkai by the collar. "Tell us where the sensei is!"
"I...I don't remember!" he shouted nervously.
"Wrong answer," Hiei snapped, savagely tearing at a nearby tree. "Your tail is next."
"I - I don't remember - in a cave somewhere!"
Hiei growled, and the youkai cowered. "Ten miles east!"
"Thank you very much," Gwen said as she walked by, kicking the youkai unconscious. Kurama, Gwen, and Hiei walked eastward, approaching mountains. They walked the rocky path, looking for the cave where the sensei was supposed to be.
Gwen stopped and looked inside a cave, seeing a figure lying on the ground. "Kurama! Hiei! I found him!" They ran to her, and they entered the dark cave.
Kurama knelt down beside the man, checking his pulse. "He's still alive. Let's get back to the forest. I found some plants that can help him."
With the man on his back, Kurama led Hiei and Gwen back into the forest. He set the man down against a tree trunk, disappearing to get the plants. Hiei and Gwen stood very quiet, waiting patiently for Kurama's return. Gwen tried her very best not to think about the dream so that Hiei wouldn't know from reading her mind, but it was very difficult. She bit her lip to prevent another wave of tears and almost failed, but fortunately, Kurama came back with the plants, interrupting her train of thought, and led her mind focus on the recovery of the sensei.
After making the potion, Kurama poured some in the man's mouth, letting him drink it. The man opened his eyes, looking around at his surroundings. "Where am I and who are you?"
"I'm Hakusa Gwenevere, and my friends are known as Kurama and Hiei," Gwenevere said politely, indicating Hiei and Kurama when she introduced them. "We saved your life."
The man sat up, looking at them. "Arigatou. But you still haven't answered my first question."
"We're on an island where a tournament of youkai battle it out. I'm here because I'm watching my friends compete."
"So...these two are youkai?"
"Hai, and I'm half...but not all youkai are evil, sir. You should know that your pupils are fighting in the tournament, but we think that they are fighting against their will by undergoing an experiment that a scientist persuaded them to do to save your life. We believe the scientist has tricked them."
"Nani? Let's go then to this tournament!" he shouted, standing up shakily. The three exchanged a glance, and Gwen and Kurama looked at Hiei, hoping that he will take the sensei to the stadium since he was the quickest. Hiei "hn'ed" and took the man to the stadium in a flash. Kurama walked to the mechanical youkai and jumped on it, landing on it's shoulder.
"Well? Ready to go?" he asked. Gwen smiled and jumped on the machine, landing on the top of it's head.
When they were at the stadium, Hiei appeared on the other shoulder of the machine. "Took you two long enough," Hiei remarked.
"Why not we just crash the party!?" Gwen shouted as the machine punched a huge hole in the stadium, ending up destroying one sixth of the benches youkai were sitting on, watching the fight. They saw Kuwabara on the ground outside the ring with Botan by his side. Yusuke was looking at them, but then gazed back at the masked fighter whose mask was unveiled to be a young woman with pink hair and brown eyes. Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei looked from the young woman to Gwen and then back at the mystery fighter.
"She's looks just like you, Gwen," Kurama stated.
"Hai, except for the eye color," Hiei said.
Gwen and the woman stared each other down, never blinking.
~Genkai...~
~Remember, don't tell. I'll probably tell the dimwit tomorrow though.~
Gwen nodded as the Young Genkai put her mask back on, and Yusuke and she started fighting the three brainwashed pupils again. Kurama and Hiei jumped down to join the fight, but the announcer, Koto, said, "Sorry, boys, but these fighters have agreed on a three on three match. If you enter the fight, your team is disqualified."
"Nani?!" Yusuke shouted.
"Watch out!" Genkai said as she ran between Yusuke and one of their opponents, seeing Yusuke distracted by Koto's announcement, and getting hit out of the ring, landing against the wall.
"Masked fighter!" Yusuke shouted as she wouldn't get up. "That's it! I don't care that you're brainwashed ningens, and I don't like it if I lose and have to give up my body to that baka doctor dwarf!" Rage spurring him on, Yusuke darted forward, beating on the three ningen students as he did.
Suddenly he stopped, gazing into the pupils' eyes. Red tears streamed down their cheeks, and they looked at him piteously. "Kill...kill us..."
"Nani? Tears of blood?" Yusuke asked.
"It's blood of the people they killed, I guess," Gwen said as she jumped off of the machine, walking to Genkai.
Yusuke stood still, not really wanting to kill them, but he figured that it was the only way to save them from the thing attached to their backs, the thing making them brainwashed.
"I'd say this is gonna hurt me more than it's gonna hurt you, but I don't like to lie!" Yusuke shouted as he jumped up in the air, getting ready for his final attack, his Rei Gan.
Genkai saw this, and jumped to his side, saying, "This isn't the only way out. Let me finish them off while still saving their lives."
Yusuke agreed, and landed with Genkai. He walked away, wondering what she was going to do.
She began chanting as the pupils ran toward her. She had made a shield of ki around her, and moved her arms in an arc to the ground. A blinding blue light enveloped the stadium, freezing the boys in their tracks, and she leapt up, piercing each of their hearts. When the light cleared and everyone could see, the boys lay on the ground, motionless.
Yusuke walked up to Genkai, yelling, "You killed them anyway! And I was about to do that!"
Genkai shook her head, replying, "I did what I had to do, nothing more."
Suddenly, the boys stood up. Everyone except Genkai was amazed.
"How come we're still alive?" one of the boys asked.
"We killed a lot of people..." said another.
"But you didn't kill them willingly. You survive because of your pure hearts," Genkai explained.
"But what about sensei?" the third asked.
They all looked at Itchigaki, who was very mad by now at losing. "How could this be?! I put in all the calculations!"
Kurama, Hiei, and Gwen stood a couple feet away from the scientist.
"Calculations can also make false assumptions. And we have saved the sensei's life. You were the one to make him ill in the first place, correct?" Kurama questioned.
Itchigaki looked behind him and saw the sensei walking toward the ring. "You horrible monster!" he shouted.
"We have caught up with two of your associates, killing one of them, and interrogating the other," Gwen said seriously.
"I had to threatened the lizard, seeing as he 'forgot' where you've hid the ningen. His memory improved very quickly, and we found him ten miles away from there. Kurama made a potion easily once he found out what was wrong with him," continued Hiei.
"I have also found some suitable poisons on this island. Care to try one, Doctor?" asked Kurama.
"No, Kurama. He doesn't deserve to be poisoned. I'll take care of this myself," Yusuke said, cracking his knuckles.
Itchigaki threw a fit of laughter before taking out a syringe full of unknown liquid. "Heh, heh. Haven't you guessed with a man with incredible intelligence would have made a plan B?!" he cackled as they grew terrified, wondering what he was thinking. He injected the needle into his arm, transforming into a huge, hideous green creature. He cackled again as his arms stretched out, reaching for the Reikai Tantei. They dodged, but Yusuke was hit to the ground. Hiei stood in front of him, sword drawn, as Gwen ran to Yusuke's side.
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Gwen," he replied, standing up. "Hiei, let me take him out."
Hiei looked back, and stepped aside. Gwen walked away from Yusuke as well.
Itchigaki's arms stretched out to Usuke, but Yusuke gripped each arm, swinging around, and releasing them, watching the mad scientist fly into the stands.
Koto raised her hand. "The winner, Team Urameshi!"
The crowds booed and jeered, seeing as they hated the Reikai Tantei.
"Tough crowd," muttered Gwen as she saw the sensei and pupils reunite. But the pupils turned their backs on their sensei.
"Why are your backs turned?" the sensei asked.
"We have disgraced you, sensei," said one of the pupils.
"We don't deserve to be your pupils," said the other.
"We killed a lot of innocent people...and we couldn't stop it," said the third.
"But it wasn't your fault," the sensei said. "And all I care is that you're safe."
The pupils turned around and the four embraced.
"I knew they were good guys," Kuwabara said as Botan and Gwen led him to a bed to rest.
Once in the room, Kuwabara woke up again, having passed out on the way there.
"Whoa! I'm in heaven, seeing girls around me!" Kuwabara smiled. Gwen sighed as she smacked him.
"What was that for?"
"For being a baka," Gwen answered.
"I'm not a baka."
"Think what you want, Kuwabara."
Then, they heard shouts from the ring. "I'll go check it out," Gwen said, running out of the team room, heading to the ring. When she arrived, she gaped, and shouted, "NANI?"
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I think I'll leave it off there. It a long chapter compared to others I've written. I'm not too happy with this one, but this chapter was necessary.
I think I'm failing Math. I'm getting so confused because since this is my last week of school, my math teacher decided to do one more chapter and gave the class twice as much homework and teaching two lessons a day! I am so overwhelmed! I need a vacation...
I also thought of how you people pictured Gwenie. If you guys are artists, I'll be so happy to give you credit for drawing how you think she looks. I have drawn her several times myself, but I can't upload any of my drawings since it takes too much space. Stupid computer. I drew this one pic without even thinking where Gwen...well, I don't want to spoil the later chapters... I'm evil, huh? Well, your drawings would be appreciated by me and I would like to see pics of Gwen, Hiei, and Kurama together. I'm not the best when it comes to Hiei and Kurama. Well, I did make a kawaii chibi Hiei during math class. Anyway, thanks for staying with me this long, and please review!