Hiei's Harem - Pt. 14 - Changing

Welcome back to all of my regular readers!

Sorry for not getting back in yesterday. My arthritis has been horrible because of this cold weather. Since this sequel is a short one, I’m going to be adding a scene or two every day to get through it if I can. Don’t let this hamper your burning desire to review, though. LOL. ;o)

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Scene 2 ------------- Spirit World


* As fortune would have it, Koenma and George had been monitoring Kurama. The godling, himself, is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Kurama’s first child. He and George have laid bets on what the gender will be so the godling hasn’t even peeked inside the folder that he’s placed in his middle drawer. George looks down at his boss when they watch Shura take off with a malicious snicker.


George- Now just what do you think that brat is up to, sir?

Koenma- Obviously no good.


* George grunts and crosses his arms.


George- He’s just dying to make trouble for Kurama.. Why he’s probably jealous enough to go and tell Yusuke and frame Kurama for it.


* The Toddler looks up at George a moment, then gives a yell as he leaps into the air.


Koenma- Open the portal to Yusuke’s! Right now, ogre!


* George runs over to his console. When the portal opens Koenma shifts into his Teen form as he hurries through it. When he skids out of the portal into Yusuke’s office the Toushin and Hokushin both look up surprised.


Yusuke- What the h---?

Koenma- Yusuke, I must speak with you.. privately.


* Yusuke scowls.


Yusuke- I’m in the middle of business here.

Koenma- This is important!


* Yusuke sighs and looks back down at the list in his hands.


Yusuke- Alright, Hokushin. I’ll have the Salandrian Lizard, lightly braised.. For the sides I’ll have mashed Hodanzoes, I love those, and.. I’ve been hungry for beans for some reason. See what the cooks can do about that.


* Koenma’s temple throbs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. Hokushin just writes down the order.


Yusuke- Just plain coffee to drink.

Hokusin- Any appetizer today?

Yusuke- What’s the soup?

Koenma- Yusuke, please!


* Yusuke glares back up at the Prince.


Yusuke- Are you staying for supper?


* Before Koenma can answer another monk enters and bows.


Broshin- Excuse me, sir. You have a communication from Gandara.

Yusuke- Is it Kurama?

Koenma- No. It’ll be Shura.

Yusuke- Sh-who-a?

Hokushin- Prince Shura is Lord Yomi’s son. Remember?

Yusuke- Oh, yeah. What the h--- does that brat want?


* Broshin mutters to Hokushin puzzledly, but Yusuke and Koenma are too busy yelling at each other to hear him.


Broshin- It looked like Kurama to me.


* Hokushin shrugs.


Koenma- It’s what I need to talk to you about!

Yusuke- Ohh-kay!


* Yusuke looks back up at Hokushin.


Yusuke- Just give me a bowl of whatever the soup is. And those happy berries for dessert.

Hokushin- Happy..? You mean the Smilonin Berries?

Yusuke- Yeah. Whatever. I don't think he’s staying for supper*.


* Hokushin nods, takes the list, and leaves. Yusuke looks at the other monk.


Yusuke- Put the little Goat on hold for a few, then patch the message in here to my screen, Bro.


* Broshin nods, bows quickly, and leaves. Yusuke leans back in his chair to look up at Koenma.


Yusuke- Now what’s got your daipers in a bunch?

Koenma- Demon World is beginning to gear up for the next Royal Tournament.

Yusuke- Yeah, I know. I just got the manual a couple days ago. Have you seen it? That d--- thing’s bigger than Tokyo’s phone book.. And they expect me to actually read all that crap, too.

Koenma- Well young Shura has already read it and submitted his name.

Yusuke- I’ve already sent my name in, too. If he’s calling here just to taunt me..

Koenma- Not exactly. He’s calling to tell you that Kurama knows where Hiei is.


* Yusuke blinks up at the Teen.


Yusuke- Big whoop. So do you. I’m the only one that doesn’t.

Koenma- Shura will tell you and expect you to be enraged and storm right over to Gandara in your usual brash manner, demanding to know more.

Yusuke- Really? Why should I not do that?

Koenma- Because the scheming brat is trying to drive a wedge between Kurama and his Father.

Yusuke- Because of the d---ed tournament.

Koenma- Yes.

Yusuke- Well, I happen to know..


* Yusuke glances toward the blinking light near his large monitor.


Yusuke- That Kurama’s not competing because of his two pregnant mates.


* Yusuke opens a drawer to search for his remote.


Koenma- Shura’s wanting to make sure Kurama is out of the way. His Father gave Kurama strict orders not to reveal what they’ve learned about Hiei’s recent activities to anyone.


* Yusuke finds the remote and looks back up at Koenma.


Yusuke- So if I.. “brashly storm to Gandara”.. Yomi will ground Kurama or something?

Koenma- Or something. It was a direct order.


* Yusuke scowls.


Yusuke- Alright. Let me handle this kid.


* Koenma moves back against a wall so he won’t be seen. Yusuke flips the monitor on. He’s surprised to see ‘Kurama’.


Yusuke- Yo.. Uh, hold on a sec, ‘Rama.


* Yusuke pauses the communication and looks at Koenma.


Koenma- He’s learned to do that recently.

Yusuke- Uh huh.. Then let’s bring him out, shall we?


* Yusuke unpauses the connection.


Yusuke- Hey, sorry ‘bout that..

Shura- Lord Ura.. Uhh, I mean.. Yusuke,..

Yusuke- Drop the act, kid. I can see right through your little charade.


* ‘Kurama’ scowls in a very uncharacteristic manner.


Yusuke- I’m not interested in whatever you’re selling.


* After a moment the face on the screen shifts back into Shura’s. Yusuke just snickers at the boy’s obvious anger.


Shura- I’m not selling anything! I’m calling on behalf of Lord Kurama. He has news about that little mutt you both call a friend.

Yusuke- Could you be a little more specific? A lot of my friends are little mutts. Like you, for instance.


* Shura snarls.


Shura- Hiei, you..!

Yusuke- Oh, him.. Short, dark guy with a nasty temper?

Shura- Yes, d--- it!

Yusuke- Ohh. I should come right over there and tell your Father what a potty mouth you have.


* Shura visibly steams.


Shura- No. You should come over here and demand to know more!

Yusuke- Do you know what Kurama knows?


* Shura’s anger dissipates to confusion.


Shura- So what if I do?

Yusuke- Then why don’t you just tell me and save me the trip across Demon World. The Hot season is starting, ya know.

Shura- I’m not going to tell you anything. Kurama has to tell you.

Yusuke- Look, ya little brat, I don’t have time to play your games. If Hiei is getting on with his own life why the h--- should I care?

Shura- Because he’s getting ready for the next Royal Tournament.. He’s planning on taking you out, Urameshi.


* Yusuke looks toward Koenma. The Teen shakes his head negatively at the silent inquiry.


Yusuke- So is half of Demon World.. I suppose that includes you, too, don’t it, Little Boy?


* Shura crosses his arms.


Shura- If my Father don’t beat me to it.

Yusuke- Well, then, you better go find a better way to get ready. Because I’m not planning on holding anything back in this Tournament. Not against your Father or Hiei.. and certainly not you.

Shura- Are you coming here or not?!

Yusuke- If Kurama wants to tell me anything he knows my number.


* Yusuke clicks the remote closing the connection and looks back up at Koenma.


Yusuke- You know what’s going on.


* Koenma nods as he moves closer to the desk again.


Koenma- Of course I do.

Yusuke- You wanna share with me or do I have to wait until the friggin’ Tournament starts?


* Koenma quietly considers his options a moment, then concedes with a sigh of defeat.


Koenma- What I tell you must not leave this room.

Yusuke- Is Hiei in trouble?

Koenma- No.

Yusuke- Causing trouble?

Koenma- No.. At least not for you or Human World.

Yusuke- Then what’s the big deal?

Koenma- Mukuro has passed.


* Yusuke tilts his head.


Yusuke- Passed? What? A kidney stone?

Koenma- She’s left this plane. Her spirit is awaiting her turn to cross over the bridge.


* Now Yusuke’s brain processes what he’s just heard. He slowly stands to lean on the desk.


Yusuke- She’s dead?! - No f---in’ way..!

Koenma- Keep your voice down!

Yusuke- There’s got to be some kind of mix-up.. Yomi and I would both know..

Koenma- Hiei requested that I keep her mobile fortress shielded so her loss hasn’t been detected yet.

Yusuke- Hiei? How could he make such a request? He told her to shove her position up her..

Koenma- Yes, he did. But Mukuro didn’t listen, of course.. She refused to remove his name from her records.


* Yusuke settles back down into his chair slowly.


Yusuke- Then.. that means that Hiei is now..

Koenma- He’s reluctantly accepted her orb into himself already.. Although it was a little less painlessly than the way Raizen put his into you. (1)


* Yusuke stares up at the Prince.


Koenma- Her power is locked inside him.. The same as Raizen’s is locked inside you.


* Yusuke swallows hard.


Yusuke- D-does he.. know.. what he’ll have to do to..?

Koenma- Hai. The same as you do.


* Yusuke slowly slumps back into his chair. He shifts his gaze to somewhere outside his large window. Koenma moves back toward the portal. He pauses before entering to turn back to Yusuke.


Koenma- This Tournament may decide a lot more than just.. the next Ruler.


* Yusuke looks back up at Koenma. The Prince disappears into the swirling rift.


Yusuke- Hey! Wait just a god d---ed minute, Junior!


* Yusuke hurries over and leaps through the portal before it closes.


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(1) I'm going by the theory here that Raizen did this during their last fight when he bit Yusuke. Not too much of a stretch, is it? Raizen did seem to lose a lot after that exchange.