The Aftermath

Scene 38 ------------------------------------------- Kuwabara Stadium

* Teen Koenma and Yusuke step out of an oval of swirling colors. Yusuke turns to holler back into the portal.

Yusuke- Better keep it open, George! Junior might need to make a quick escape!

* The blue ogre's head juts out of the portal.

George- What about you?!

* Yusuke huffs.

Yusuke- I'm not the one that lied to 'em. I'll just distract them with baby pictures or something.

* Koenma sighs, rolls his eyes, and smoothes his outfit as he heads toward the wide double doors.

Yusuke- Just keep it open, George.
George- Right, Boss... er... I mean...

* Yusuke waves a hand dismissively over his shoulder as he goes over to Koenma. George's head disappears back into the colors. As soon as Koenma and Yusuke step out into the stadium area they see Touya, Jin, and Chu sitting on the large steps waiting. Koenma pauses to glance at Yusuke.

Koenma- (Quietly) You stay here, Yusuke... This is my mess to fix...

* Yusuke sticks his hands in his black jacket pockets.

Yusuke- Sure is... Better go Toddler, they might be less inclined to kill a baby.

* Koenma's temple pulses a couple moments, then he looks back toward the Shinobi. Yusuke sighs.

Yusuke- (Quietly) Hey, I got your back.

* Koenma nods and goes over to face the three waiting demons. Jin, floating on his pillow of air, tilts to wave at Yusuke.

Jin- Hey, Urameshi!! Glad ta see ya standin' up agin!

* Yusuke waves his return greeting. Chu stands to look around.

Chu- So where's the runt..?
Touya- And Shishi?
Koenma- Yeah, about that...

* Touya settles his cold, gray eyes on the Teen godling.

Touya- You lied to us.
Koenma- Not exactly...

* Touya stands.

Touya- You better not try to tell us that Shishi is still in that region.
Koenma- If you'll calm down I can explain...

* Jin and Chu turn glaring eyes on the Prince. Koenma takes a step backwards.

Chu- Where be our Banshee buddy? And Rinku?
Koenma- Now, let's not get violent... I have my mufuu...

* Koenma removes his pacifier, but a large gust of wind blows it out of his hands. Yusuke easily snatches it as it hurtles toward him. Koenma turns to watch Yusuke place it in his pocket. He turns back when Touya forms his ice sword. Now Yusuke sighs and moves forward.

Yusuke- Guys, listen...

* Yusuke stops, placing himself between them and Koenma. He calmly reaches out and touches Touya's sword.

Yusuke- The godling did bend the truth a little...
Jin- Why don't ye be strait'nin' it out fer us, then.
Chu- Yeah, Urameshi.
Yusuke- We think that Shishiwakamaru has been captured by the same creep.. or gang of creeps that has Hiei...

* Touya glares at Koenma again.

Touya- So you call us out?!
Yusuke- Yes, I...

* Yusuke lowers his eyes a moment, then decides to go ahead with his story.

Yusuke- I asked Junior to get the rest of you out of there before I lost anymore friends.

* Chu lowers his eyes to look down on the Toushin.

Chu- An' what about Rinku?

* Koenma starts to speak, but Yusuke shoves his pacifier back in his mouth.

Yusuke- You've made enough of a mess. Let me do this, Junior.

* Yusuke looks back up at Chu.

Yusuke- He's.. partially why I made that decision... I wanted to get you guys out of there before you ended up.. the same way.

* For a couple moments there is silence. Touya slowly lowers his sword. Chu sits back down and lowers his eyes sadly.

Chu- I need to know... What happened to th' lad?

* Yusuke takes a deep breath.

Touya- He's dead.

* Yusuke scowls at Touya.

Yusuke- D---, you are cold.

* After a brief staring match, Touya shakes his hand releasing his ice sword. He then turns and starts walking away.

Yusuke- Hey,...
Touya- I'm going back for Shishi.
Yusuke- Didn't you hear me?! I said I don't want no more lives lost!! -- Please, Touya.

* The Ice Master stops walking, but keeps his back to them.

Touya- Tell me, Urameshi.. How did you come to your conclusion?
Yusuke- My...?
Touya- That Hiei and Shishiwakamaru are together.

* When Yusuke hesitates to answer, Koenma now takes up his position.

Koenma- Because I received a birth notification. Shishiwakamaru.. is pregnant.

* Yusuke and Koenma exchange glances when Jin grabs Chu and quickly floats a few feet away. Touya turns, raising his aura once more.

Touya- Pregnant?!!
Yusuke- To Hiei.

* Touya turns back away, his energy spiking still more. Koenma starts to raise a hand, but Yusuke grabs it.

Koenma- Whoever has them... is very strong... With a very dangerous jagan.
Chu- Hiei has a...
Koenma- This one is more powerful than Hiei's. This one can wipe out minds, not just.. control them.

* Touya slowly settles his energy to a slow burn, then turns back around to look at them.

Touya- So you think we'll just leave him there?!
Yusuke- No!

* Yusuke moves forward to face Touya, glaring eye to glaring eye.

Yusuke- I refuse to give up on Hiei.. or Shishi! Do you think I don't want to storm there and blow up that whole d--- region?!! Wipe it clean off the f---in' face of Demon World??!
Touya- Then why don't we both...?!
Jin- Well, the way I sees it... That would kinda put them in worse danger.

* Now Touya breaks his gaze from Yusuke's to look at Jin.

Koenma- If this jagan-wielder gets nervous we won't get Hiei or Shishi back in time... We need a better plan than just storming blindly into the Shikyo Valley.

* Now Chu takes a deep breath and looks toward his squad leader.

Chu- Touya... I think the Princey be right, mate.

* Chu lowers his eyes again.

Chu- Rinku was young, but he was no pantywaste weakling.
Jin- An' Shishi isn't a wee bit less...

* Touya looks away. Slowly his energy drops, as does Yusuke's.

Touya- (Quietly) Shishi's... loss... lies on me...
Yusuke- We're not blaming...
Touya- I knew... I should've grounded him, but...
Jin- Ye knew what?

* Touya takes a deep breath as Chu gives Jin a slightly miffed shove. The Wind Master looks at his tall teammate puzzled.

Touya- That the Banshee was going into his cycle... But I thought we'd be in there and back out before...
Chu- (Murmured) Jin, ye should be blonde.
Yusuke- We both have s--- to deal with, then... I could've allowed Mr. All-Powerful over there...

* Koenma's eyebrow twitches.

Yusuke- To stop Hiei from running away from Satjiyu's place... I never considered that he'd end up in a mess like this...
Chu- It be a wee more personal than what Icie's sayin', Yusuke.

* Touya turns to glare at Chu until Yusuke speaks.

Yusuke- You and... Shishi were mates?
Touya- No!

* Touya turns to leave again, but yusuke stops him. The Ice Master takes a deep breath.

Touya- Well,.. not yet... We were... talking...
Yusuke- Then I understand your anger... More than you know, Touya.

* Touya looks up at Yusuke again.

Yusuke- I... care for the little guy.. For Hiei a lot... Not just because he's had twins to me... It goes back even further than Satjiyu's... H---, it goes back further than that stupid Dark Tournament... You dig?
Touya- Yes.
Jin- This be jus' dandy, it is...
Chu- So now what do we do?
Koenma- We can't do anything until Shishi's baby is born.

* The three Shinobi look at Koenma again.

Touya- Three months?!
Jin- Why be that, now?
Koenma- That's when we'll know exactly where they're being held. It'll be on the birth certificate.

* Just then Koenma's communicator beeps. The godling moves away some to answer it.

Koenma- This better be good, Ogre!
George- Lord Yomi wishes to speak with you...
Koenma- Tell him I'll get back to him.

* Koenma closes the communicator quickly. He turns to look back at Touya.

Koenma- Please tell me that you'll wait until I contact you again, guys.
Touya- You're not our Boss. You can't force us to wait...
Koenma- No, I can't... But I will be the one that processes your deaths.. or theirs... the same as I did Rinku's.
Yusuke- I don't want to lose anymore friends, Touya. Please... as a favor to me...

* Touya glances at Yusuke a moment, then turns to leave again. This time, Yusuke makes no move to stop him.

Touya- (Quietly) For you.. it will be over in three months... For us,... Shishi and I,... it is already over.
Yusuke- What?
Touya- The Banshee is... tainted...
Yusuke- Look, I don't think either of them had much of a choice in the matter... We have no way of knowing enough to judge either one...
Touya- It's not a matter of judgement, Yusuke. Shishi is and always will be my friend. My teammate... But in the.. other matter... My clan will no longer allow me to bring back a mate that has had a child to another... It would ruin their purity...
Yusuke- Then screw your pius clan and their archaic...

* Touya looks at Yusuke in a manner that silences him.

Touya- Would you walk away from your people?

* Touya's words cause Yusuke to remember that he actually did have that opportunity when he first learned where Hiei was. The Toushin turns away lowering his eyes.

Yusuke- (Quietly) No, Touya.. No, I didn't... I'm sorry.

* Yusuke starts back toward the double doors. Koenma looks at the Shinobi as Chu and Jin go over to join Touya.

Koenma- I'll bring them back if I have to go get them myself... Our main priority is to bring them back alive... and safe.

* Chu slowly nods.

Chu- At least we agree on that, Princey... Right, mates?
Jin- Indeedy.

* They both look at Touya. The Ice Master just turns and starts to walk away.

Touya- I will not risk Shishi's life.
Koenma- I'll contact you as soon as I know anything.

* Chu and Jin both nod and hurry off after their leader. Koenma turns and follows Yusuke back toward the portal to Spirit World.