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Didn't you notice?
Chapter 8
Didn't you notice?
Chapter 8
There is always someone who stands one step ahead of the rest. Someone who, rather than be optimistic, remains realistic.
"Hiei!" Yusuke called out as he had once again lost track of the fire demon.
Hiei stopped and looked back irritably. He was a fair distance ahead of Yusuke, traveling by rooftop.
"Hi-ei!"
Said demon dropped down in front of Yusuke, a scowl on his face. "Can't you move any faster?"
"Well, yeah, maybe; but it might help just a little if I knew where it is we're going!"
"Where do you think, fool? We have to get him out of there. Now, move!" And with that he flitted off again.
Momentarily confused Yusuke just stood there. "We have to get him out of there? Out of wh-" He suddenly remembered an important part of the short message he had received from Kaito just before he had started for Genkai's. 'He's being taken to the hospital now...' "Of course!" Yusuke exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he suddenly understood. "This is all connected to his spirit energy, so there's no way anyone at a normal hospital can help him!" Without another thought he set off again, running twice as fast as he had been before. Knowing your destination really does make a difference.
Someone has to always expect the worst, and be prepared for it.
The next time the two stopped they were in front of the hospital. Hiei balanced on top of a light post from which he could see into the room that Kurama was in, while Yusuke stood at the base of the post, looking up at his teammate.
"How are we doing this Hiei?" He asked, panting slightly.
"Quickly." Hiei looked down at him. "Can you handle getting him out?"
"Yeah, but how-?"
"You'll know when."
As Hiei once more disappeared Yusuke made his way into the hospital. It was only as he stood in the middle of the crowded waiting room that he realized there was no easy way for him to get to Kurama.
"Man, now what? They're not just going to let me walk in there; how am I supposed to get to him?" He began to pace back and forth anxiously. How did it come to this? He should have been fine; Genkai said that as long as he didn't use his spirit energy he'd be alright. So then how...No. He couldn't have There's no way he would do that, he knew how dangerous it was! He stopped, clenching his fist at his side. Kurama, you idiot! What could have been so important? As far as he could make out it was the only possible thing. Kurama must have used his spirit energy at some point during the day, despite the risks attached to it. But why?
Yusuke continued his pacing, widening the area he traveled. Staying still wasn't an option, he needed to move. He passed by others who were also waiting, though most of them to be admitted. One man kept glaring at Yusuke every time he passed, which, unfortunately for him, was often. Annoyed? Perhaps. Or maybe he just had a headache and Yusuke's pacing was making him dizzy. As Yusuke walked he heard several people having casual conversations, a few people complaining about some injury or pain or another, and a man that had fallen asleep and was now snoring loudly. But there was one sound in particular that caught his attention. A woman was crying. He turned toward the sound. Standing in the far corner of the room was a woman who Yusuke immediately recognized to be Kurama's human mother, Shiori. His heart ached as he watched her, crying hysterically, her head in her hands.
A few moments later everyone started screaming. A sudden explosion had torn a giant hole in the wall, ripping one of the double doors that led into the ER off its hinges. An accident? Not possible. Dark flames licked at the edges of the hole, creeping towards the ceiling.
"You'll know when, geez, that's for sure!" Yusuke darted through he remaining door, pushing aside all of the panicked people in his way. One, two, three. Third door down. That's where Kurama was. He burst through the door, four startled doctors looking up at him as he entered. "Sorry 'bout this!" Yusuke quickly knocked all of them unconscious. Now all that was left to do was to get Kurama.
Because sooner or later...
Much as he knew he had to Yusuke couldn't find the strength to move. His friend and teammate lay before him, his features twisted in pain, his breath coming in quick, short gasps. He was nothing short of suffering.
...it will happen.
"Kurama..."
A second explosion tore him back to reality. Darn it, snap out of it!
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Carefully avoiding the doctors, nurses, patients, and everyone else that was scrambling to get away from the newest hole in the wall Yusuke ran right through it. One for a distraction and one for an escape, Hiei had known what he was doing. Yusuke looked down at the unconscious kitsune in his arms. Hang in there Kurama.
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The small back alley was closed in by buildings on two sides. It had two open passageways that led to it, but they were angled in such a way that the corner where the two buildings combined remained constantly shadowed. Here Yusuke set Kurama down, leaning him against the small corner of wall.
"Great, so then where is he?"
For whatever reason Hiei had sent Yusuke a mental image of this exact spot only moments after he had kidnapped the fox. Yusuke checked both of the open passageways impatiently, the one he had come through and the one opposite it, but the fire demon was simply not there. Suddenly Kurama let out a startled gasp. Yusuke spun around faster than he would have thought possible. Kurama had his arms crossed tightly over his chest and was leaning forward, practically curling up on himself.
"Kurama!" Yusuke knelt beside his friend, who looked like he was struggling to even breathe. His face was deathly pale, and drops of sweat beaded his forehead. "Hang on Kurama, you're gonna be okay."
Kurama opened his eyes forcefully, and Yusuke was met with a confused and pain-filled emerald gaze. "Y-Yusuke..." The weakened kitsune managed to get out before doubling up as he was swept with another wave of intolerable pain.
I can't just sit here...Yusuke thought frantically. I have to do something, Kurama's... He moved his hands in front of him, palms facing Kurama. They were soon surrounded in a soft blue glow. I have to help. If I give him some of my energy it should at least buy some time. Here goes! He placed his hands gently on Kurama. As he started to transfer some of his energy Kurama screamed a cry of such agonizing pain that Yusuke broke the connection, jumping back in his surprise. "Wh-what? Kurama! What's wrong? Kura-"
Hiei's fist connected squarely with Yusuke's jaw, sending him flying into the wall. The brown-eyed teen looked up at Hiei, stunned. "What the-"
"IDIOT! Are you trying to kill him?" Hiei looked absolutely furious.
"What are you talking about?! I was just trying to help him!"
They both turned when Kurama started coughing violently. Putting aside Hiei's bizarre behavior Yusuke moved to the redhead's side. It was then that he noticed the blood seeping through Kurama's fingers. The fox had one hand covering his mouth and the other clutching his chest tightly as the vicious coughs racked his frame. He didn't stop. Worse and worse sounding and more and more frequently the violent hacking coughs came. Yusuke grabbed Kurama by the shoulders. "Kurama! Snap out of it! Come on! Kurama!" His tone had taken on a frantic edge. Hiei looked on helplessly, his fists clenched.
It shouldn't have been possible, but Kurama's condition continued to worsen. Yusuke could barely stop himself from shaking him, wishing with all his might for this to end. Kurama was sitting in a small crimson pool of his own blood.
"I have to-"
All in the same instant Genkai appeared; Yusuke was again slammed into the wall; and Kuwabara snapped some sort of band around Kurama's wrist. Kurama's attack halted abruptly and he fell limply, Genkai catching him before he made contact with the ground. The fox's eyes were closed tightly, and he was panting with exhaustion.
Yusuke leapt to his feet. "What's the matter with you Hiei? Kurama could've died just now!"
"If I hadn't been there to stop you he would have!" The fire demon retorted angrily.
"What?" Yusuke asked, utterly confused.
"He's right Yusuke." Genkai said, walking over to him. Kuwabara was now supporting Kurama. "You can't blame Hiei for what he did. He probably just saved Kurama's life."
"What are you talking about?"
Hiei turned away, looking at the again unconscious Kurama.
"Kurama's spirit energy is being attacked." Genkai explained. "Slowly. Painfully. If you had succeeded in transferring some of your energy to him it would only have sped up the process. By trying to help him you would only have taken away a drastic amount of time that we don't have already. Any energy he is given, no matter how noble the intentions, is only going to hurt him more. Hiei figured that out already, and he was right to stop you. With Kurama in such a weakened state as this any more stress on his body may be too much for him to handle."
Yusuke looked at Kurama with wide eyes. I could have... "I-I didn't...I was just trying..."
"That's enough Yusuke. I understand. I only realized it myself earlier this morning. Now, we're putting this behind us. Understand? Kurama needs us." She turned toward the portal that she and Kuwabara had arrived through. "Let's go. We need to get him to Spirit World."
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{End Chapter 8}
{End Chapter 8}
