The Tablet

Chapter 7: Pieces of the Puzzle

       Manoa had indeed been willing to share information with Itani, so she and Kurama had spent the greater part of the last two days talking with him.  Her notebook was fast filling up and she would have to go compare these notes to those on her laptop.  She hadn’t brought the tablet itself, but there were several detailed photos of it in her files.  She was eager to compare.

       They hadn’t told Manoa why they wanted this information, or what Yusuke was searching for in the forest, but he hadn’t pried, merely giving them all the information he could.  He had a few Daigi texts, which he loaned to Itani, and a rough knowledge of the translations of them.  That would be very helpful if the symbols were the same as those on the tablet.  Still, it would take hr several days at least to put together a basic translation matrix with which she could get a fairly accurate interpretation of the tablet.  Of course, there was no guarantee that it held any answers.  Still, she clung to the hope that the anomalous carving would hold something.

       Thanking Manoa the two rose and started the return trip to their accommodations.  In the distance they could hear Yusuke complaining loudly.  He appeared to be approaching them.  He and Botan had spent the last two days combing through the surrounding forest, but had so far been unsuccessful.  Kuwabara had chosen to search the opposite side of the forest, trusting his own unusually acute spiritual awareness to guide him.

       Suddenly Yusuke and Botan rounded a building, coming into view. 

       The Spirit Detective was obviously in a dark mood, and no one could blame him.  Time was running short and they had come no closer to narrowing the location of the sphere.  They were positive it was near the temple.  At first Kurama had been wary of the monks, believing one of them might have been responsible for summoning it here. But Tao seemed to have little interest in anything but grounds keeping, and he’d certainly done nothing suspicious.  And Manoa, despite his obvious interest in religions of all kinds, was simply too friendly to be hiding such an evil.

       Yusuke suddenly stopped walking, turning on Botan “You’d think something this important would be easier to find!” he growled, his look one of pure frustration.  “But it’s been weeks and still nothing!  How are we supposed to find this thing if we don’t know what to look for?  Tell me that!”

       Botan was a bit startled at his outburst and threw up her hands in a helpless gesture.  “I don’t know.” She defended.

       “Well, why not?” he snapped.

       Her face twisted in irritation and she placed her hands on her hips, “You’re the Spirit Detective,” she said sharply, “start detecting and find it!”

       He growled, fists clenched, “You’re my assistant, so assist already!”

       “I’m trying!”

       He shook his head, trying to calm himself, “Don’t you have some sort of item for this?” he managed in a steady voice.

       Botan looked down at her feet, her own anger evaporating along with his, “No, I’m afraid not.”

       He looked at her in shock, “Why not?”

       “Because no one ever dreamed we’d have to go looking for it!” her shout echoed off the trees, startling everyone – including Botan.

       They just stood there for a moment, until a loud noise drew their attention and they turned to see Kuwabara barreling toward them.  He skidded to a stop, panting a little, and looking at them uncertainly.

       “Uh... is everybody alright?  I thought I heard Botan yell.”  No one answered him.  After a moment Botan shifted uncomfortably.

       She sighed, “I’m sorry Yusuke.”

       He shrugged and rubbed the back of his neck, “me too.”

       “Me three!” Kuwabara piped up.

       Yusuke speared him with a look of ridicule, “You didn’t do anything.” He pointed out harshly, “you don’t even know what we’re talking about!”

       Kuwabara laughed nervously, “It just seemed like the thing to say.” He offered weakly.

       Kurama and Itani exchanged amused glances.

       Yusuke rolled his eyes.

       After a moment of awkward silence Itani stepped down from the temple steps and onto the ground, drawing Yusuke and Botan’s attention for the first time.

       “I think we should call it a day.” She suggested.

       “But it’s barely past noon!” Yusuke protested, pointing at the sun.

       Itani was unfazed, “But we’re all tired.  At this rate Botan would probably walk right by the sphere without realizing it.  We need to get some rest, clear our heads.”

       Kurama could tell Yusuke didn’t want to listen, “She is correct Yusuke.  A rest will do us all good.”

       Yusuke frowned, and actually appeared to be considering the suggestion, “Alright,” he relented, “I guess we can take a break today.” He looked at them sternly, “but tomorrow we’re back on track.” He warned.

       “Of course,” Kurama agreed easily.  After all, this was important, they couldn’t just take a few days off and hope that whoever or whatever was controlling the power wouldn’t do anything.  But if they killed each other before they could find it, well... that wouldn’t do them any good either.

***

       Unfortunately, a half day’s rest didn’t seem to do anything toward cooling Yusuke’s heated temper.  At the end of the third night, after more useless searching and a lot of swearing on Yusuke’s part, he was more worked up than before.

       “This is stupid!”  His frustrated exclamation even managed to draw Kuwabara out of his dazed reverie.  Kurama wondered if the man actually got lost in thought, or just lost in general.  But he would, of course, never voice such a rude thought aloud.

       “We should just leave, look somewhere else.”

       Kuwabara frowned, “But the demon guy said-”

       “Who cares!” Yusuke’s fist slammed on his thigh, “Maybe they were wrong.  Or maybe it’s left already.”

       Botan shook her head, secretly glad he had hit his leg instead of the table this time.  She had spent an hour picking up stuff the last time he had felt the need to release his frustrations in physical activity.  “This is the place Yusuke.” She said quietly, not stirring from her seat on the bed.

       “Are you sure?” he moved toward her, head tilted slightly, “Because we’ve been here three days and so far all we’ve found is a nice collection of religious fairytales for Itani’s fricken’ notebook!”

       Kurama arched a brow and cast a quick glance at Itani, who was too absorbed in her studies to notice Yusuke’s ranting.

       “That was uncalled for, Yusuke.” He chided gently.

       Yusuke whirled, spearing him with a disdainful look, “Maybe if you’d help us look instead of staring at Itani all day, we could get something done.”

       Kurama stared at him with unflappable calm, “Itani’s study of the tablet may provide us with the solution to this problem,” he stated calmly, “It will do us little good to find the sphere if we can do nothing to stop it.”

       Yusuke scowled, “Whatever fox boy; say what you want, but you can’t fool me.”

       “Yusuke!” Botan jumped out of her seat, “You need to calm down.”

       “Um... guys...” they ignored Kuwabara’s interruption.

       “I can’t calm down!  I am so sick of this!  We haven’t a clue and this thing is evil.  We can’t just-”

       “Guys!”  Kuwabara’s voice was a little louder this time and Yusuke actually stopped speaking – although he looked mad enough to chew the other man out royally.

       “What?!” he snapped.  Kuwabara didn’t answer and Yusuke was about to walk over and pound him – just for the fun of it – when he noticed the man’s distracted air.

       The taller man was staring out the window as if mesmerized.  Only now did Yusuke realize that Kuwabara had been strangely silent during their argument – which was very unusual, especially since Yusuke had been yelling at a girl.  It was as though he hadn’t even heard the argument.  Yusuke moved up behind him to stare at the window and noticed that Kurama and Botan had come as well.  They peered out the window and then glanced at one another.  Kurama shook his head.  There was nothing there.

       Kurama was the first to move.  Gently he rested a hand on Kuwabara’s shoulder.  “Kuwabara-” he began.

       “Did you see it?” It was as though Kuwabara hadn’t even noticed Kurama begin to speak.  “Something just disappeared into that tree.”

       “Really...” the word was drawn out and skeptical.

       Kuwabara nodded, ignoring Yusuke’s implicated insult, “It looked like a sleeve.” He stated, “I think one of the monk guys went into that tree.”

       Yusuke cocked an eyebrow, “You sure you didn’t imagine it?  You probably just lost sight of him in the forest.”

       Kuwabara shook his head, seemingly emerging from his trance, “No way.  I know what I saw!” he insisted,

       “Right.” Yusuke clapped him on the shoulder, “Maybe you should get more sleep.”

       Kuwabara stood angrily, brushing off his hand.  “I’m not tired, and I didn’t imagine it.  It disappeared into the tree!” he shoved his hands into his pockets, staring down at his toes.  “And it isn’t the first time.” He mumbled.

       “What?!”

       Kuwabara looked back up at Yusuke and shrugged.  “I thought I saw something yesterday too – twice – same tree.”

       “Why did you not inform us?” Kurama inquired.

       Kuwabara’s response was defensive, “Because I knew you’d think I was crazy!”

       “We don’t think you’re crazy Kuwabara.” Botan assured him.

       “He does!” Kuwabara roughly indicated Yusuke.

       “Well, yeah!” Yusuke gave a half shrug, “people don’t disappear into trees where I come from.”

       “I’m telling you, something did.  I don’t know how, but it did.  And I’m pretty sure it was a monk this time.”

       “Intriguing.” Kurama glanced out the window, “perhaps we should investigate.”

       “Really?” Kuwabara sounded ridiculously excited; probably due to the fact that someone seemed to be seriously considering what he had said.

       “You can’t be serious!” Yusuke protested.

       “Why not Yusuke?” Itani’s voice, close behind them, startled them and they whirled about.  “It makes more sense than sitting here arguing.”

       “When did you come over here?” Yusuke asked suspiciously.  She had been so absorbed in her research that their loud argument had not disturbed her.  Why had this?

       She seemed unaffected by his tone, “Just a moment ago.  Are we going or not?”

       They all looked at Yusuke expectantly.  He scowled, but finally grudgingly conceded. 

       “Waste of time.” He muttered darkly as they headed outside.

***

       Unfortunately, Yusuke appeared to be correct for once.  They had spent twenty minutes combing the area around Kuwabara’s tree and had found absolutely nothing.

       “Are we finished now?” Yusuke snapped.

       Even Kurama and Itani were nearly ready to concede defeat, but Kuwabara was not.

       “I’m telling you, something went into that tree.” He insisted, “And if we stand here long enough it’ll come out the same way.”

       “Kuwabara!  This is stupid!”

       Kuwabara scowled, but didn’t answer.  Instead he went and stood in front of the tree, arms crossed.

       “Kuwabara!”

       “Yusuke,” Botan scolded and the Spirit Detective frowned, but stayed silent.  Botan went to Kuwabara, laying a hand on his arm sympathetically.   “Kuwabara.” She said gently, “We believe that you saw something.” Yusuke snorted and she sent him a squelching look.  “But there’s nothing here.  Maybe we missed him.”

       “Maybe.” Kuwabara said grudgingly, “but he was there!” he shot a defiant glare at Yusuke.

       “Who was there?” the voice of Manoa interrupted them. Behind him stood his sullen brother, eyeing them angrily.

       “Yeah, who?” Yusuke asked with a triumphant smirk.

       Kuwabara’s jaw dropped, “B-b-b-b- but... I...”

       Yusuke rolled his eyes, “Give it a rest Kuwabara.” He turned and headed into the forest, “later,” he gave a careless wave.

       “Yusuke!” Botan called, glancing between his retreating form and Kuwabara as though uncertain, “Where are you going?”

       Yusuke didn’t turn around.  “Might as well get something done while I’m out here.”

       Botan glanced at the others for help, but they didn’t seem disturbed.  “Wait for me, Yusuke!” she ran to catch up with him and they were soon out of sight in the forest.

       “I do not like to pry,” Manoa spoke again, reminding the remaining three of his presence, “but are you all well?”

       “No need to be concerned,” Kurama assured him, “Yusuke just needs to let off some steam.  It will be fine.”

       The monk nodded, “Very well then, good day.” And the brothers continued on their way. 
       “I know what I saw.” Kuwabara muttered after they had left.

       Itani smiled, “We know Kuwabara.  There’s likely a very logical explanation.” He smiled back.  “But, for now,” she continued, “we should probably get back to work.”

       “Indeed.” Kurama agreed.

       “Alright.” Kuwabara followed them back to the room, but he kept casting glances back at the tree. 

       <I know what I saw>