Kurama's Spring Flower

Chapter Forty Two

The team were running up the stairs that would hopefully lead them to the final Saint Beast and the whistle, but suddenly Kuwabara pauses when he gets a sudden feeling, making him call out, "Stop!" Hiei, Kurama, and the Urameshi twins pause and turn to him curious as to why he is stopping them. "What now? Got cramps?" Yusuke asks with impatience and annoyance in his voice. "My whole brain just felt like an ice cube. Something bad's happening, I think back on Earth." Kuwabara informs them. "No telling how long we've been hear, the Beasts have most likely organised a counter assault using the Makai." Kurama says, making Hiei look to him and say, "Only one more. Let's not waste time." Everyone nods at his words and resume running up the stairs. 'I just hope Keiko is alright.' Yusuke thinks to himself unaware of the danger he's in whilst Akina thinks to herself, 'It is a good thing I made Goro return, otherwise our home will be defenceless.'

They had then left the stairway to end up on a large open platform that had the entrance to the top tower that sits above the castle, and they begin running towards it. "Hurry up!" Yusuke calls out to no one in particular, causing Kuwabara to shout, "Shut up!" Suddenly lightning strikes, making the group come to a pause and stare at the tower ahead of them. "What the hell is that thing?" Yusuke asks. "It's the watch tower. I'm sure that's where he's hiding." Hiei answers Yusuke, leading to Akina saying, "Then let's get moving." And with that they all continue running again.

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Keiko has been cornered by the infected. "Take your punishment, Yukimura!" Infected Iwamoto growls and reaches to grab her, but thankfully she runs away to the side that was thankfully unoccupied by any infected. Unaware that all the sweat that her body was producing was allowing a certain half Dog Demon to smell her and know where she is. As Keiko stands by some bushes trying to plan her next route to run, Goro quickly pushes his hands through the branches of the bushes to grab her and pull her through and keep his right hand over her mouth as he and Botan watch the infected run past them.

When seeing they were gone he let's go of Keiko and says, "Sorry about that. Didn't want them to spot us." Keiko stares at Botan instead of the person giving her an apology and blurts out, "Hey, you're that girl." Botan asks, "Keiko, have they hurt you in any way?" To which the girl answers, "I think I'm fine. Can either of you tell me what's going on?" Botan fishes out her communicator whilst Goro focuses on keeping an eye out for any infected that may spot them. "Yusuke, this is Botan, you copy?" Botan speaks through her communicator.

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This time the team doesn't pause when hearing Yusuke's communicator ring out, as he thankfully pulls it out whilst running and answers it, "What now?" Suddenly the image of Botan and Keiko's faces pop up on the communicator as Botan says, "Small problem." Yusuke releases a noise of surprise and gasps, "Keiko?" But Botan doesn't focus on his reaction as she reports to him, "Me and Goro had to pick her up from school, Yusuke. It seems that every infected person in the area is looking for her." This information makes the team come to a halt as Yusuke asks, "What?" This makes Akina and Kuwabara also stare at the communicator with worry. "And I don't think they want to talk." Botan says before noticing Goro's gesture for the girls to lower down and go quiet as the infected seem to be inspecting the area they are hiding in. When seeing an infected leave the bush they are occupying Botan continues, "I'm almost certain they mean to kill her!" This makes the three Humans in Maze Castle gasp. "Did you say Kill?!" Yusuke asks in disbelief of what he is hearing. "So, that was my premonition was." Kuwabara says.

"The Beasts must be using the Makai whistle to order the-" Botan says but is interrupted when Goro yells, "Move!" He tries to get the girls to run, but they are scared by the fact that they have been found by an infected Iwamoto, who shouts, "Cockroach!" And tries to hit them, but thankfully Goro grabs the girls and leaps into the air away from the infect and lands not far away from them as he acknowledges that he is holding a Human who is still unaware of the existence of Demons and what Yusuke is now forced to do. "Are you two alright?" He asks the two girls, but neither could answer as three infected appear before them, making him release a growl of irritation and hisses out, "Let's go!"

However, Yusuke was unaware of what was happening as his communicator was only showing static on the screen. "Botan! Are you there?! Botan!" Yusuke yells at the screen with his figure trembling in fear and anger. "I don't have a good feeling about this." Kuwabara couldn't help but say. Akina then places her hand on Yusuke's shoulder and says, "I sense irritation in Goro, which means Keiko is alive and under his care, however, Goro is only able to keep her safe by making them run to where his nose deems safe. The Beast has clearly done this counter attack to nock your concentration, Yusuke. Don't allow this, trust Goro and Botan to keep her safe. If you don't then you will fail to defeat this Beast and Keiko will die." Yusuke nods at his sister's words before glaring at the tower and says, "We've got to smash that whistle as fast as we can!" And with that they presume running again.

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Akina's POV

We continue running as the stakes have just risen higher than they were at the start, and I most certainly wasn't going to let someone get killed by people infected by Demon bugs in a school. I didn't want Yusuke to experience the pain of losing someone he clearly loves. If I found losing Emi painful, who was a close friend, I dread to think how painful it will be to lose someone you love romantically. We then come to a stop as we get incredibly close to the entrance of the watch tower. "Okay guys that is a spooky watch tower." Kuwabara says to all of us, and I gotta say I partially agree with him, but mostly find it weird looking. "The last Beast should be on the top floor." Kurama informs us, leading to Yusuke starting to march to the entrance as he says, "Then let's climb some stairs."

I suddenly sense something bad very close, making me rush forward and take hold of my brother's shoulder, and thankfully Yusuke seems to also sense something as his eyes narrow. It is now our gaze focus on the two archways placed on either side of the watch tower, and inside them we see what looks to be a green humanoid figure come out with many following behind. "Hey, who are those people?" Kuwabara asks as an army of them stand in front of the entrance to the watch tower, making me say, "Apparently footmen." Kuwabara continues to stare at them with fear and says, "Whatever those guys are, there sure are a lot of them! It's going to take us about a year to beat them all!" Kurama then says, "Yes. On time restraints this could be a problem." To which Hiei then informs us, "I've had dealings with Cultivated Humans before. They do not feel pain or fear." This leads to Kuwabara saying, "How twisted do you have to be to turn Humans into monsters like that?! I think Keiko's in serious trouble!" 

And with that Yusuke yells, "Like hell she is! Stupid monsters trying to slow us down, I'll blow them all away with my shotgun!" But before he could prepare his attack I see Kurama place his hand on my brother's shoulder, making him stop and looking to Kurama curiously. "Let's use our heads." Kurama tells him, but sadly my idiotic brother doesn't understand what he means as he says, "What!? You want me to headbutt them?!" I facepalm at this question. "It's not wise to waste your Spirit Power. The more impatient we are, the more mistakes we make." Kurama tells Yusuke, in hopes of getting him to stop acting on impulse and form a plan. "Well how is headbutting gonna help?! My shotgun is the only way we're gonna get past them!" 

And with that I headbutt his head very hard, making him cry out in pain and yell, "What the hell, Akina!?!" I glare at him and yell back, "It has nothing to do with headbutting and your  shotgun isn't the only option so shut up and listen!" It is then Hiei speaks, "She is correct." This makes everyone face him. "So you got an idea?" Kuwabara asks him to which he nods and stands in front of our group as he speaks, "Set your eyes on the first tower window. That is your door." His words intrigue me, but sadly mean nothing to Yusuke as he says, "Well I'm sorry, Mr Mysterious, but it turns out I forgot to bring my pogo stick!" Kuwabara glares at Hiei and says, "Yeah! How do you expect us to jump that high?" To which Hiei speaks calmly and ignores the boys close mindedness, "I need you to listen closely."

Hello Fellow Stars, I hope you all are well and are enjoying the book. Sadly it comes to that time again where I let you guys know that my university is sending me off to a placement to work so I will not be posting regularly. I will try to throw an update where I can as I will be on this placement for over two months or so. Till next time 🙋🏻‍♀️🌹