Shura's Quest - Reuniting, Regrouping, Recruiting

So, did that first meeting live up to your expectations? A lot of this part of the story may seem like ramblings or "head messing", but this group still does have a lot of issues to get behind them. Thus the "regrouping" part of the title. I promise "The Boy" will be named soon. ;o)

Thanks to my two reviewers so far. I appreciated your kind words. I'll continue to try to deliver interesting plots, stories as long as I get 'em. :o) I'm already penning another, but I'm not sure where I'll put it as it contains some "heavily mature" content, but yet it contains both Yaoi and Het. Do I stick it in General still if it contains a lot of "racy" parts?

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Scene 2 ------------------------------------ A Couple Hours Later


* When everything that can be discussed has been discussed the group had fallen silent. Yusuke finally looks toward Kurama who had moved away to get the small boy settled into a comfortable bed of moss. The Toushin finally looks back at Mukakai.


Yusuke- So all this chit chat has gotten us no closer to solving this mess than when you started talking.

Mukakai- I apologize, Lord Urameshi. I didn't come here with the intention of doing any talking to you.. Master Youda and I are going to do whatever we can to keep Prince Koenma as safe as we can.. The only one that can do anything about Shura right now.. is Lord Kurama.


* Kurama stands, transforms, and makes his way back over to look down at the general.


Kurama- You have delivered the boy. You've done your part, now return to Gandera and continue your mission.


* Both Yusuke and Mukakai look up at the silver kitsune. Both have heard the slight change in his voice. Yusuke raises a hand to rub the back of his neck and just chalks it up to the same exhaustion wearing on himself. But Mukakai recognizes not just the voice, but the presence. It puzzles him and he stands to look into Kurama's golden eyes.


Kurama- Do not concern yourself with this, General. Return to Gandera now.. Shura must not become suspecious or spooked by your absence.

Mukakai- He thinks you're.. dead..

Kurama- For all intents and purposes.. I am.. Soon that boy will join me.. We'll see to that.


* Mukakai steps back and salutes, then looks toward the boy again. Hiei has come back down out of the tree and is now standing beside the mossy bed staring down at him.


Kurama- The boy is no longer your concern. He is where he belongs.


* Mukakai nods. He then turns and walks away. Just as he reaches the edge of the okunenju plateau he forms the transport sphere and shoots away. Kurama closes his eyes, settles back into his human form, and goes over to join Hiei at the small bed. For several moments he just studies the sleeping boy, then raises his eyes to look at Hiei.


Kurama- You knew Mukuro was pregnant.. Were you not preparing yourself for fatherhood then?

Hiei- It's like I told the Detective.. She decided she wanted a child and ordered me to give it to her.. That was the only..

Kuwabara- Still lying to yourself to protect yourself after all these years, huh, Shrimp?


* They both look toward Kuwabara who had come over closer. The redheaded human shows the same stupid bravery he'd always been known for.


Hiei- And you still hide your stupidity behind your supposed courage and honor.


* Yusuke comes over to stand at the head of the moss bed.


Yusuke- Seriously, I don't know how the kid can sleep with all of you yakking around him.

Kurama- He's not just sleeping, Yusuke. He's hibernating.

Hiei- You have gotten the hang of that concept after all these years, correct?

Yusuke- Can it, Shorty.. We got more important things to figure out.

Hiei- Such as?

Yusuke- What are we gonna do with this little guy?

Kurama- I believe the first order of business should be naming him.. Hiei, I believe that is your job.


* Hiei looks back up at Kurama. Before he can speak though Yusuke looks from the boy up to Kurama and back.


Yusuke- Hey, Fox.. Do me a favor.

Kurama- What?

Yusuke- Take your kitsune form again.


* Kurama tilts his head.


Kurama- I take it this isn't because you've grown fond of seeing it.

Yusuke- We can discuss that later.. Just switch, already.


* With ease, Kurama melts into his taller silver form. Yusuke looks back down at the boy. When his eyes widen Hiei and Kuwabara look down also. The single patch of hair on the boy's forehead that was red a moment ago is now silver. Yusuke waves a hand at Kurama as he keeps his eyes on the patch this time.


Yusuke- Okay. Change back.


* Kurama and the others also watch now as he returns to his human form. The patch of hair returns to red. Curiously Hiei kneels to place his hand on the boy's chest. Immediately, the patch turns white to make the boy an exact copy of himself once more. Kuwabara raises a hand to scratch his head. Hiei straightens back up. His mind recalls the general's words about all the transfusions the child was given. He looks up at Yusuke.


Hiei- Your turn, Yusuke.


* Yusuke blinks at Hiei.


Kurama- Yes, you take your demon form.


* Yusuke looks at Kurama.


Kurama- Didn't Mukakai say that he carries your blood as well as the blood of my brother Lazurama.

Hiei- And with that Fox gone, instincts have guided this kid to accepting Kurama as his next closest in line to attach himself to.. The same as Lazurama's other two kits will.


* Kurama looks at Hiei. The fire demon shrugs.


Hiei- Instincts are stronger in all demon children that become abandoned or orphaned when they're this young.

Kurama- I guess nobody would know that better than you.


* Hiei grunts and they both look up at Yusuke. The Toushin shrugs and shifts into his full demon form as easily as any of them can. When they look back down at the boy they all nearly stagger. The once mostly solid black hair is now very white. But this isn't the only change. They can make out some of the Mazoku markings on the boy's exposed arms and chest. Hiei quickly gathers himself, crosses his arms and looks up at his two friends who are both still astonished.


Hiei- Hn. Welcome to Fatherhood, yourselves.


* Kurama and Yusuke both look at Hiei. Kuwabara takes turns looking at each of them.


Kuwabara- Hold the phone here!! Are you saying that this kid belongs to.. all three of you?!

Kurama- It would seem that he'll carry our traits..


* Kuwabara eeps and steps backward.


Kuwabara- Hiei's attitude..? With your brain..? With Yusuke's temper??!


* Hiei looks back down at the boy.


Hiei- Hn.. Perhaps we should kill him now.


* Kurama and Yusuke both scowl at Hiei until the koorime sinks to sit down beside the boy. They watch him reach out to touch him gently. Again the boy turns into his perfect copy. Yusuke and Kurama settle down, realizing that Hiei was being sarcastic. The two then look at each other, each seeming to realize something else. How quickly they've both moved into being protective of the child. Kurama finally sighs deeply and sinks down to sit on his side of the bed.


Kurama- Regardless of who's traits he carries..

Kuwabara- Do you think that includes Shura's too?


* The three look back up at Kuwabara. Hiei shakes his head.


Hiei- No. Of course you would bring that up because you have no knowledge whatsoever of Demon physiology.

Kurama- Luckily for us, it don't seem that Shura was schooled in that field, either.


* Yusuke and Kuwabara finally settle down to sit on their opposite ends. The rest of the group watches. Their Demon knowledge tells them exactly why three of the four have positioned themselves as they have. Each of them realizing in their own minds that they're going to have to be a lot more careful around their new addition.


Yusuke- Well, I'm in the same boat with Kuwa on this one, guys.. Explain.


* Hiei just lowers his eyes. Kurama knows this posture, so he continues the explaining.


Kurama- It's pretty simple, really, Yusuke.. The three of us are all stronger than Shura actually is..

Hiei- In the little b------'s own mind, though, he sees himself as stronger than his Father was just because he was able to blindside the old goat and take him out.

Kurama- Yes. He no doubt infused a portion of his own blood into the boy as he was developing..

Hiei- But it did him no good.


* Kurama looks at Hiei.


Kurama- Are you going to finish explaining?

Hiei- No.


* Kurama lowers his eyes a moment, composes himself, then looks back at Yusuke.


Kurama- Hiei's S Class blood disspelled Shura's as soon as it entered his system.. So the only transfusions that have actually mixed inside our son is my brother's and yours, Yusuke.

Yusuke- Our.. son..?

Kuwabara- So Lazurama was an S Class, too?


* Kurama looks at Kuwabara to avoid Yusuke's staring eyes.


Kurama- No, Kazuma. Lazurama was about a mid-range A..

Kuwabara- Then that means that Shura is a lower A or less?

Kurama- The last time I was ever near the.. boy.. I only registered him as a High C.


* Kuwabara looks at each of them scowling.


Kuwabara- Geesh, you mean to tell me that a stupid kid that's weaker than me has caused all this mess?

Hiei- A moment of brilliance.. Enjoy it while you can, Fool.


* Kuwabara growls at Hiei. The apparition easily ducks when he takes a swing at him. The next thing Kuwabara knows he is laid out with a snarling boy on his chest. Hiei smirks when the boy turns his red eyes toward him.


Boy- Make him dead, Fathers?


* Hiei opens his mouth to speak, but Kurama quickly snatches the boy back off of Kuwabara.


Kurama- No, Son.. That one is our friend.. You go back to sleep, now.


* Hiei casts an amused look of gloating toward Kuwabara who has remained on his back, staring at the kid.


Hiei- I guess we're going to have to make sure he knows that eating humans is bad.

Yusuke- Yeah.. I guess that would be very important for him to learn.


* As Kurama settles the boy back down into his mossy bed Kuwabara finally scrambles to his feet and hurries away. Hiei looks down when the boy grasps his arm.


Boy- You stay with me now, Father?

Hiei- Hn. Go back to sleep, Boy.

Yusuke- Yeah, we're all gonna stay right here.. Not that you'd really need us to protect you I don't think.


* Kurama glances toward Yusuke.


Kurama- Of course we're going to stay here with you, Little One.. Now you obey your Father Hiei and go back to sleep.

Yusuke- We're gonna have one h--- of a day tomorrow.


* The boy giggles some then looks back up at Hiei.


Boy- You Father Hiei..

Hiei- Hn.

Boy- And you..


* He turns his head to look up at Yusuke.


Yusuke- My name is Yusuke, kid.

Boy- Father Yusuke?


* Yusuke shrugs. The boy looks next at Kurama. A brief look of puzzlement crosses his features.


Kurama- My name is Kurama.

Boy- Father Kurama?

Kurama- We'll help you to understand better tomorrow.


* The boy looks back up at Hiei.


Boy- Who am I?


* Hiei quickly reaches over to place his hand on the boy's forehead. Yusuke and Kurama watch the jagan glow softly behind the ward, then watch the boy's eyes drift shut. Hiei's face remains blank as he pulls his hand back and shifts sideways away from their eyes.


Hiei- You two sleep. I'll keep watch.. Like the Detective said, we're going to have one h--- of a day tomorrow.


* One by one, first Kurama, then Yusuke, settle down to lay where they were sitting. Neither pays much attention to the hard ground as their minds are too occupied with other thoughts until they drift away. Hiei glances back toward the sleeping boy, sighs quietly, then continues his watch.