Yu Yu Hakusho:Kōrudokēsu

Chapter 7 Awakening

"How will that help?" a muffled, female voice asked Hideshi slowly came to. The Spirit Detective could not only hear their voices, but he also began to grasp at his other senses now. He could feel that he was lying shirtless on a sleek, polished surface, probably a table of some sort, with some thick gel lining his body.
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He sniffed the air and could pick out several fragrances from all different plants invading his nostrils.

Hideshi could even see traces of light peering through his closed eyelids. He tried to open them, but felt far too tired to do so.
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So he continued to lie there until a hand began to elevate his head from the back. It was then he began to taste something... Something citrus... Repulsive to the Detective's taste buds.
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Suddenly, Hideshi opened his eyes and leaned forward with a start, spitting the liquid of from his mouth in sheer disgust.
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As he began to gather his thoughts again, Hideshi saw that he was indeed sitting up on the surface of a table. He didn't recognize the house, nor which room he was in. As his vision became clearer, he saw that there were four figures standing around him at the table. He didn't recognize two of them, but the others were clearly Botan and Wendy, shocked expressions lining their faces.
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"Well then..." a man with long-red hair said as he bent down to pick something up off the floor "That's one way to revive a dead man..."
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"Where am I?" Hideshi asked before Wendy lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his body in a tight embrace. He touch sent a sensation of pain down Hideshi's spine and he howled with pain in reaction to her touch, which caused Wendy to back away quickly. "S-Sorry..." she muttered quietly.
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"Don't worry detective," the red-haired man continued, retrieving a spilled carton of Orange Juice off the floor "You're in good hands... My name is Shuichi Minamino, or as you may know me, Kurama."
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Hideshi looked in the man's way, his eyes widening in surprise at the man's revealed identity. "Kurama?" he asked, as if he didn't hear that right the first time around.
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He simply smiled politely and placed an arm around the shoulder of a nearby brunette woman with short hair. "And this is my Wife, Kisa."
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'Could this really be the Demon Fox Kurama?!?' Hideshi thought to himself in panic. 'No way... Why would he reveal himself to me? He knows he wanted for arrest, so why would he bring the Detective of Spirit World into his home?!?'
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"I'm sure you're wondering why I aided in healing your wounds..." Kurama continued, taking his arm off of Kisa's shoulder to gather several different roots and stems of various plants off of the dining room furniture "Truth be told, it wasn't solely based on anything heroic or selfless. In return, we have a favor to ask of you."
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"A favor?!?" Hideshi growled, a bit angry that a demon would ask him for a favor. "What makes you think I'll listen to you demon?!? You're under arrest by the order of King Yama!"
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"In your current condition, I wouldn't recommend making such bold statements..." Kurama continued in the same, mellow tone as before. "Besides, I think what I'm proposing will interest both our parties."
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"What are you saying demon?" Hideshi shot back, glancing over at Kurama's wife, who looked a bit shaken up by his yelling.
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"I'd like to turn Kurama in for my own immunity." the red-haired man stated.
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"...Wait...What?" Hideshi replied, confused as to what the demon was saying.
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"Tell King Yama that if he promises to stop hunting me and my wife down, then I shall never used my demon energy ever again, and most certainly never turn into Yoko Kurma anymore."
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Huh? He won't use his demon energy? Is this guy for real? He can't be serious, I'd trust a demon as far as I can throw one, but he just seemed...sincere... Hideshi thought to himself, giving ample consideration to what Kurama was proposing.
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"Of course, you don't have to decide anything as of right now, but please take it up with King Yama when you see him? It would be greatly appreciated..." Kurama bowed his head a bit as he spoke.
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Suddenly, Botan grabbed ahold of Hideshi's arm gently, pulling him towards her. "Come on Romano... We have to go see King Yama. He wants a full report right now!"
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"What?!? Now?!? You've got to be kidding me! I just woke up! I should be dead in a pile of blood and he wants to see me now?!?" Hideshi cried out, furious at King Yama's lack of apathy.
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"Hideshi... It's about Ginobly..." Botan whispered, which changed Hideshi's mood drastically.
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"Y-You mean he's still alive?"
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"Yes... You did a number on him from what I could tell, but he's still out there. And he says that unless you can fight him again in three weeks, he'll destroy the entire world!" Botan explained in a frantic tone, still scared about what Ginobly had said earlier.
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"...Fine... I'll go..." Hideshi agreed, and started to slide himself off the table and onto his feet. He instantly felt a deep surge of pain and began to collapse. Luckily, Botan's reflexes kicked in just in time to stop him from falling over. After realizing that she was holding him in a way so that his head was positioned next to her chest, the grim reaper blushed lightly.
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Hideshi quickly corrected this by gaining his balence once again and standing upright, using Botan as a crutch. "Sorry Botan..." he muttered. "Wendy, you go home now, I'll meet up with you later." he nodded towards the dark-haired girl.
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"Sorry Romano..." she said quitely. "But I've got to come with you..."
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Hideshi gave her a puzzled look, not fully understanding what she had just said.
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Botan looked over at the confused Detective and decided to clarify. "King Yama would like to see her as well." she then handed off Hideshi onto Wendy's shoulders. "Take him to the oar outside, I'll be out in just a minute." Wendy nodded understandingly and then made her way outside with Hideshi.
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Botan then turned to Kurama and Kisa, and gave them a small bow out of respect. "Sorry about all that... We'll be sure to bring up your request to King Yama..." Botan stated in a somewhat dismissal tone.
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Kurama nodded, then peered around her to see the Detective and Wendy mounting her oar.
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"Botan? Do you love him?" Kurama suddenly asked, much to the surprise of Botan.
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"H-How did you...?" she stuttered.
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"I can see the way you look at him. I can tell..." he explained with a small smile on his face.
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"...yes..." Botan admitted as she stared down at the floorboards "I really do..."

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