Shura's Quest - A New Situation

Here's a nice long scene to keep you busy for a while. :o)

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Scene 5 ------------------------------------------- The Next Morning

* After travelling as far as they cared to after dark, across the wide barren plains of Demon World, Yusuke and his group had decided to land and make camp. Since Hiei insisted, rather vehemently, to take the night watch the others wisely backed off. He had been the only one to notice the kitsune using his stealth to sneak away into the surrounding brush after the others were asleep. But the fire demon decided to stay perched on top of the large blue bird's head. Eventually Kurama returned with a small wild makai rabbit and set to cooking it. after eating the small midnight snack, Kurama had glanced solemnly toward the fire demon then settled down to sleep on his bed of moss. The remainder of the night passed without incident. When Yusuke is the first to wake up, just as the sun rises above the far horizon, he looks around as he absently scratches at the area where that pesky beetle had bitten him in the Forbidden Forest. When the Toushin notices that Hiei is still on guard he stands, stretches, and makes his way over to stroke Puu's chest, waking the bird. Hiei glances downward when Puu trills.


Yusuke- Did he keep you up all night, Puu?

Hiei- Hn.. The bird slept all night like everyone else.


* In a blink Hiei leaves the bird's head and lands on the ground beside Yusuke in a low crouch on one knee. Yusuke notices the gesture, but pretends not to as he pets Puu's lowered head. Hiei takes notice of the dismissal and stands. Yusuke feels him use his jagan to shield his thoughts from the Toushin as he turns to move away.


Yusuke- (Quietly) We need to talk, don't we?

Hiei- No.


* Yusuke flinches slightly at the rough tone. But when Hiei stops and just stands with his back to him Yusuke goes over.


Yusuke- Okay. we can just enjoy this peace while we can.


* For several moments he just stands beside his shorter friend and they watch the sun continue to rise. Finally, it is Hiei that breaks the silence.


Hiei- (Quietly) She loved sunrises.


* Yusuke sits down to continue scratching his arm.


Yusuke- Mukuro, you mean?

Hiei- Hn.. We'd go out onto her balcony just before it would come up.. If I was done at the sentry post.. At first, I thought it was the most boring thing in this world.. or any other to do.. But I humored her.. She was my boss, after all..


* Hiei lowers his eyes.


Hiei- (Quietly) This is the first sunrise I've really watched since..


* Yusuke lowers his eyes knowing, without having to have any connection, how hard it is for this dark demon to share such thoughts.


Yusuke- So.. You grew to love her, huh?


* Hiei looks away with his usual show of annoyance.


Hiei- Feh.. She was the Lord, I was just her Second.. She woke up one morning and decided that she needed an heir the same as the other two Lords..

Yusuke- Ahh, and of course you were the obvious candidate to Father her child.

Hiei- Hn.. She warded me and threatened to.. behead me.. And I'm not referring to the one on my shoulders, Detective.


* Yusuke glances up at the use of Hiei's usual title for him. The ex-detective then sighs and examines the arm he's scratching.


Yusuke- Yeah, I had it rough with my Old Man at first.. I never knew what I really had until he was gone.. Speaking of Fathers, I was sorry to hear about yours.. How are you coping with that?

Hiei- How should I feel? I hardly knew the..


* Yusuke looks up when Hiei scowls and crosses his arms.


Yusuke- He seemed to know a lot about you.. He said Mukuro was a perfect match for you.

Hiei- He talked too much.


* Yusuke sighs and looks back down at his irritated arm. Hiei looks down when the Toushin curses Demon World's insect population.


Hiei- What's wrong?

Yusuke- Eh, I got nailed by a beetle of some kind while we were in that freaky forest.. I think it poisoned me a bit or something.. Itches like crazy.


* Hiei quickly moves around to kneel and inspect Yusuke's right arm. The koorime glances up at Kurama when he comes over.


Hiei- Fox, look at this bite.


* Kurama kneels and leans closer to sniff at the swollen bite area.


Kurama- It is a nasty bite, Yusuke..

Hiei- He says it was a beetle of some kind in the forest

Yusuke- Yeah. A really big one.. Sorta looked like a giant Ladybug..


* Kurama and Hiei look at each other and speak their thought simultaneously.

Hiei/Kurama- Blood Beetle

Kurama- When were you bitten?

Yusuke- It was on me that night I woke up while George was visiting us.


* Hiei makes a slight face at Kurama when he utters a human curse and begins to search through his hair.


Hiei- You kept yourself in that world too long..

Kurama- Don't preach to me, Hiei.. You use their words when it suits you as well.

Hiei- Only if I'm really.. irritated.

Kurama- Same here.. Where is that d---..?!

Yusuke- Guys, you wanna clue me in here?


* Hiei stands back up and looks down at Yusuke. Kurama finds the seeds he was looking for and turns aside to begin growing the plants.


Hiei- This may not be just a feasting blood beetle, Yusuke.. When that brat had me he took blood out of my right arm.. Right out of the dragon's mark..

Kurama- They took blood from Lazurama, as well.


* Yusuke looks back up at Hiei.


Yusuke- So you think Shura sent that bug after me?


* Hiei rolls his eyes and thumps Yusuke's forehead.


Hiei- What do you think?


* Kurama begins to treat the bite.


Yusuke- I think it was a really.. big.. beetle.. Ouch, Fox!

Kurama- It will sting a bit.

Yusuke- Thanks for the d--- warning!

Hiei- Do I have to hit you again, Detective?


* Yusuke glares up at Hiei.


Yusuke- My name is Yusuke! I'm not a detective no more!

Kurama- Anymore.

Yusuke- What the h--- ever!


* Kurama smirks up at Yusuke.


Kurama- Don't make Hiei hit you again, Yusuke. We have to travel soon.


* Yusuke rolls his eyes.


Yusuke- So you guys think I'm the latest blood donor?

Kurama- As Botan would say, Bingo.


* Yusuke jerks his arm away from Kurama when the salve stings again.


Yusuke- Ouch! Were you ever a doctor on any of those cases?

Kurama- Two or three, actually.. The salve will cool the itching.. I want you to try to shoot something.


* Yusuke blows at his arm.


Yusuke- Besides you, ya mean?


* Kurama nods as he notices Kuwabara making his way over. Yusuke raises his hand, pointing his index finger skyward.


Kuwabara- Morning, guys.


* Hiei starts to move away until Kurama snags the hem of his black cloak.


Hiei- Release me, Fox!


* Yusuke glances up at them then continues his concentration on his right finger.


Kurama- There's no need for you to leave.

Kuwabara- Hey, if you guys really want me to leave I can have Botan ship me back home.


* Hiei looks back at Kuwabara over his shoulder.


Hiei- Seriously?


* Without another word Kuwabara turns and starts to move away.


Hiei- This is not the time to give in to your cowardice, oaf!


* Kuwabara freezes. Kurama sighs and looks at Yusuke.


Kurama- Well, that's one way to ask him to stay.


* Kuwabara spins with a fist upraised.


Kuwabara- I'm no coward!


* The rest of the group grumbles at the four when they are now thoroughly awakened. Kurama watches Yusuke continue to concentrate and begins to notice that the effort remains fruitless as Kuwabara stomps over to glare down at Hiei. The koorime meets his glare unmoved.


Kuwabara- I came here because Kurama showed up and felt that you guys were in trouble.. I told him that I'd been having the same feelings.. I was worried about the both of you! I'm not here to play hooky from my classes..

Hiei- You really haven't changed much..

Kurama- Guys, I think we have bigger problems.


* Kuwabara and Hiei look back down at Kurama, then follow his gaze to Yusuke. The Toushin is obviously exhausted as he heaves and his right hand has begun to shake. When Kurama touches Yusuke's left arm it finally breaks his concentration. He looks worriedly at Kurama.


Yusuke- I.. I can't get my energy to come..


* Kuwabara eeps.


Kuwabara- What?!

Hiei- D---!


* Yusuke looks back down at his plain right finger. The rest of the group, overhearing the statement, hurry over to stare down at Yusuke worriedly.