The Tablet

Chapter 8: An Inkling of Truth 

       “Found anything yet?” Kurama was leaning against the wall of the room, watching Itani on her laptop.  She had started first thing this morning, even before Yusuke and Botan had headed out into the forest again.  No one had seen Kuwabara yet today, but Kurama was fairly certain he was staking out that tree.  He seemed obsessed with it now.

       Itani shook her head and Kurama was disturbed at how easily his mind drifted from the matter at hand to the way the action caused her hair to sway around her face.  Her dark blue locks contrasted beautifully with her pale skin and chocolate eyes.  Realizing what he was thinking he shook the thought away.

       “I know it is Daigi.” She answered lifting a hand to tuck a few wild strands of hair away – that’s what she got for shaking her head so emphatically, “And I’ve got the computer working on a translation, but the language appears to be primarily poetic – allegoric even.  Once it’s translated into modern Japanese I’ll still have to decipher its meaning.”  She pushed her hair away from her eyes wearily, “So far I have a short verse stating something about a power that corrupts the very gods, and something about the gates of heaven.” She sighed, “that’s it.”

       “And the second inscription?”

       She shook her head once more making it fall from behind her ears, “Haven’t even started, the dialect is a little different on that one. The matrix doesn’t quite fit.  I may have to work that one by hand – trial and error.”

       “You’ll figure it out.” He assured her.  She turned back just long enough to smile at him gratefully.

***

       “Still nothing but trees.” Yusuke complained.  He turned to study Botan.  “You’re really sure it’s here?”

       She nodded, “Positive Yusuke,” she didn’t tell him that she was positive because she was growing increasingly weaker, “Trust me, this is not a feeling I could mistake.” She shuddered, biting her lower lip.

       Yusuke’s face clouded with worry and he moved closer to her.  “You okay?” he had been so caught up in his frustration that he had failed to notice the gradual progression of her discomfort.  But he suddenly realized how pale she was, and how tired she looked.  She looked like she’d been in a fight... and lost miserably.

       She gave a laugh, obviously forced, and tried to wave him away carelessly.  “I’m fine, Yusuke.  Really.”

       He shook his head, putting his hands on her shoulders, “No, you aren’t.  Something’s been going on with you ever since this whole thing started.  And the longer we’re here, the worse it gets.  And I think you know what it is.”  He forced her to look him in the eye, “Why wouldn’t Koenma allow you to be the fourth sealer?  Why are you so uneasy?  And how can you sense this thing when even Kuwabara and Kurama can’t?”

       Her cheerful facade broke and she looked at him pleadingly, “Please, Yusuke... I can’t.”

       He was shocked to see tears in her eyes.

       “Botan...” he studied her searchingly and she shook her head.

       “I can’t!” for a moment he thought she was going to break away from him, and he wasn’t sure what he would do if she did.  But a moment later he had greater concerns as she slumped in his arms unconscious.

       “Botan?” he shook her, eyes widening with fear when she didn’t respond.  “Botan!” he gathered her up in his arms, heart pounding – her breathing was so shallow.

       He had once joked to Genkai – albeit weakly - that between Botan, Yukina, and Kurama, they had a whole medical ward at their disposal - but what if the medical ward was the one sick?

       He could only hope Kurama would know what to do.  With that in mind he raced back toward their cabin.

***

       “Well?” Yusuke demanded anxiously.

       Botan was lying on the bed, her face contorted in pain.  Kurama leaned over her, sitting on the edge of the bed, while the others stood around them.  Kuwabara had come in shortly after Yusuke had carried Botan in.  He had evidently sensed that something was wrong.

       Kurama looked up, “I cannot determine the cause.  I’m sorry.” His eyes were filled with pain.  To Itani it seemed as though he was blaming himself for not having the answers.  Remembering their conversation about guilt, that night in the woods, she slipped up beside him and gave his hand a gently squeeze.  He gave her a sad smile.

       “What’s going on exactly?” Kuwabara wasn’t sure if he should be worried or angry.  “This is all that stupid toddler’s fault – not telling us anything!” evidently he had decided on angry, “And Genkai’s too!”

       “We should let him know Botan is sick.” Itani said.

       Kurama shook his head, “We can’t contact him.”

       Itani gaped at him, “You’re serious?  Well, that’s a brilliant system.”

       Kurama looked away, chagrinned.  “Botan usually contacts him.”

       “Only she can’t now, can she?” Yusuke snapped.

       “Calm down Yusuke.” Kurama’s steady gazed seemed to have more effect than his words. “Getting angry solves nothing.”

       “But it sure makes me feel better.” He grumbled.

       Itani and Kurama exchanged sympathetic smiles.

       Kuwabara sat heavily in a chair, hanging his head, “It has something to do with one of those monks, I know it.”

       Yusuke rolled his eyes, “Don’t start with that again!”

       Kuwabara looked up, eyes flashing, “I know what I saw!” he looked down again, “You’re just mad at Koenma and taking it out on me.”

       Yusuke clenched a fist.  “Yeah, yeah I’m mad.” His voice was building in intensity, “I’m mad at Botan for not telling me what was going – because I know that she knew.  And I’m mad at that stupid toddler for not telling us she was in danger.  ‘Cause I know he knew it too!”  he shook his fist at the ceiling.  “Koenma, you jerk!  Get down here and face me like a man!”

       “You don’t need to shout.”

       The face of Koenma appeared on the screen of Itani’s laptop.  Kurama noted this with interest.

       “Hey,” Kuwabara pulled back, a little startled, “how’d you do that?”

       Koenma sighed, “I prefer to use my own devices, but I can control any electronic device if the need arises.”

       Yusuke suddenly came out of the daze he had fallen into upon hearing Koenma actually reply to him. “Koenma!”

       “Now, Yusuke! No need to get violent.” The ruler commented as Yusuke appeared ready to swing at him. “I’m not even here.” Yusuke growled. “But I do have my reasons, and I will explain them.” Yusuke looked skeptical.

       “However,” the ruler continued, “while I can utilize any electronic device I chose, it is a little bit of a strain.  A DVD is on its way.  We’ll continue our conversation then.”  And, with that, the screen blinked back to Itani’s notes.

       “Koenma!” but it was too late.  “Great, and just how is that DVD going to get here?” Yusuke groused.

       “Well-” at that moment a knock sounded at the door.

       Kurama opened it to reveal a tall blue ogre with a horn on his forehead.  He was sweating and his eyes darted uneasily to Yusuke before he thrust a DVD into Kurama’s hands.  “Koenmasentthisbye!”

       “Oh,.. hey, that was the blue guy.  He was at the Dark Tournament.” Kuwabara said, watching him through the window. 

       “Yes.” Kurama agreed, walking over to place the DVD in Itani’s laptop.  “George, I believe.” He looked in question at Yusuke, who nodded, indicating that he should start the DVD.

       “George?” Kuwabara asked dumbly.

       “The ogre, Kuwabara.” Itani said kindly.

       “She doesn’t even know and she knows more than he does.” Yusuke muttered.

       Kurama eyed Yusuke with interest.  “That was a very Hiei- like thing to say.”

       “Whatever.  Shouldn’t we watch that thing now?” Kuwabara asked.

       “We’re lucky Itani brought all this high tech junk.” Yusuke commented.

       “I was gonna say that!” Kuwabara huffed.

       “We’ve more important things to do than fight.” Itani reminded, before Yusuke could retort.

       “Indeed,” Kurama started the DVD and the four gathered around the small screen.  Itani’s laptop was for function, not entertainment, after all.

       After a moment the screen lit up with an image of Koenma at his desk in Spirit World.  The toddler shifted, sucking furiously on his pacifier.  Yusuke’s eyes narrowed – he was way too nervous.

       “Hello, Yusuke.” His voice was even uneasy.

       Yusuke nodded stiffly, deciding to keep civil. “Koenma.”

       Koenma swallowed hard, Yusuke wasn’t buying it.  Not that the man could actually hurt him, but still...

       “Yes, well, um...” he fought the urge to pull on his collar.

       Yusuke gave up on the civil thing, opening his mouth to chew Koenma out, but someone beat him to it.

       “What are we?  Chopped onion?”

       “Liver.” Kurama corrected quietly.

       Kuwabara didn’t look at him, throwing a fist in a gesture that clearly stated that he didn’t care at the moment.  “Whatever!  Why didn’t he say hi to everyone else?” he demanded.

       Koenma sighed, “Hello, Kuwabara.” sometimes it was better just not to argue with Kuwabara.

       Kuwabara crossed his arms putting on his ‘cool’ look, “Much better.”

       Yusuke was staring at him, jaw hanging, “What?!” he suddenly exploded, “That’s what you’re upset about?  He didn’t say ‘hi’ to you?  Don’t you think we have more important things to worry about?  Or do I have to remind you that Botan is unconscious on the bed?”

       Kuwabara tilted his chin up, “It was rude.”

       “I can’t believe you!”

       “Enough!” Itani intervened just before Kurama could, “we have other things to worry about.” She pointed at the bed behind her, “like her.”

       Kuwabara lowered his head, rubbing his neck.  “Right, sorry.” He mumbled.

       Yusuke clenched a fist, returning his glare to its original target.  “Right! What the heck is wrong with Botan?!”

       This time Koenma did pull at his collar.

       “She’s unconscious, right?” it wasn’t quite a question.

       “You knew?” Kurama’s calm voice cut off whatever scathing remark Yusuke would have made.

       “I didn’t expect it to happen so soon.” The deity said wearily.

       “You knew?  Koenma!” Yusuke’s fist clenched until the knuckles were white, “You’d better have a good excuse for this!  Get your cowardly butt down here and tell us what is going on!”

       Koenma sighed, “I’d love to Yusuke, but, unfortunately, I would be incapacitated nearly upon arrival.  That’s if I didn’t go crazy and kill you all first.”

       Yusuke blinked, his anger fading as shock took its place.  “W-what?” he stammered.

       “Koenma.” Kurama’s voice, like his face and stance, was still casual – if he was at all surprised he was hiding it very well, “I think, perhaps, it is time to explain all of this to us.”

       Koenma sighed, lowering his head in a gesture that could have meant remorse, or defeat.  “Alright,” he glanced toward Botan, “I guess I really have no other choice now.  Get comfortable.”

       Kuwabara, who had stood to get closer to the screen, grabbed the chair he had previously occupied and turned it so that he was straddling it.  And Itani gratefully sank into the chair Kurama offered her. Yusuke and Kurama, however, remained standing.

       “Millennia ago,” the spirit prince began, his voice taking on an odd quality, as if he was deep in memory, “before there was a separation between the human world and the demon world, deities sometimes lived among mortals.  At that time very little was known about the abilities of the races and species of the world, and even less was known about spirit energy.  Legend says that at that time, the demon race, like the human race, possessed only a few members with such power.  But the land itself held great power. 

       “The power was unfocused, flowing freely, in a delicate balance of good and evil.  Occasionally one or the other of these powers would draw together in great quantities creating a dense fog of spiritual energy.  The mist of the positive energies was harmless, even beneficial.  But the mist of evil was dangerous.  While demons and even humans were generally immune to its powers, it was drawn to the pure of heart.  Deities, and some humans were driven mad by it, filled with an incredible rage and hatred.  They became creatures of evil.  Demons and most humans were unaffected because evil already exists within their nature – they are neither fully pure nor fully corrupt and so they are skilled at dealing with such temptations - but Deities posses no wickedness of the soul, and so they cannot withstand such pressure.  And if a deity were somehow able to withstand the attempt to taint their soul, the strain of the battle caused them to collapse, and die.  

       “The Daigi priests believed that the balance was tainted by the presence of sentient life, and that there was too much evil in the world.  They believed this was the reason for the fog of madness.  They attempted to draw the evil together in an effort to dispel it, but they were pure, and the energy they had gathered thrived on tainted innocence.  When they would not succumb it devoured them.

       “But the sphere did not stop there.  It seemed to have a life of its own, and one priest failed to withstand its seductive power.  It used him to do great harm, destroying entire villages.  The deities, protectors of the world, were unable to stop it, for to go near it was to invite disaster.  Its power existed in such quantities that the strongest of deities was no match for it, and would immediately be destroyed, or, worse, ensnared. Four powerful spirit warriors – two human, two demon – worked together to seal the sphere into the very tablet the Daigi monks had used to chronicle the history of the two powers.” For the first time his gaze focused on them, fixing on Itani, “They were probably the ones who left the second inscription.  If that’s true... you must decipher it, it may hold the key to resealing the power.”          

       Yusuke shook his head in disbelief, “Why didn’t Genkai say anything?  Why did she ask Itani and I to do this!?”

       “Genkai didn’t know, Yusuke.  I didn’t know.  I never dreamed this could happen.  I merely wanted the tablet deciphered to read the warning.  I didn’t realize the truth.”

       “And what is that?” Kurama asked.

       Koenma sighed, “I believe the four sealers broke the tablet themselves in order to prevent the power from ever being summoned again.” He paused, his brow furrowing, “Still, I don’t understand how it could have solidified unless someone had done it.  Someone had to have cast the spell, as the Daigi monks did millennia ago.  But no one should have access to those texts... the tablet was supposed to be the only copy.  I just don’t know...”   

       No one was particularly happy with what Koenma was telling them.  The tension was almost palpable as they absorbed it all.  Kurama found himself irritated with the toddler prince.  He was irritated that Koenma and Genkai had been meddling with powers they had no real knowledge of; irritated that it had caused harm to someone he cared about; but most of all he was irritated that they had stuck Itani in the middle of all of it.

       She was a normal human!

       He almost berated Koenma for his lack of foresight, but someone else spoke first.

        “So what do we do for her?” Itani asked.  She was the calmest person in the room – excluding the unconscious Botan – which made little sense as she had the least experience dealing with such occurrences. 

       Koenma shook his head, “There’s nothing you can do – hopefully she’ll awaken once you seal the power... but there’s no way to know for certain.”

       Itani nodded; the others were simply too shocked, or too angry, to respond.

       “Well,” Koenma glanced at them uncertainly, “That’s everything we know.  Please... hurry.” His gaze came to rest on Yusuke.  “I’m – I’m sorry Yusuke.” And the screen went blank.

       Itani didn’t ask how they had just conversed with a DVD.  If there was one thing she had learned over the last several weeks it was that sometimes it was better not to know.  Besides, it didn’t look as though anyone was in the mood to talk anyway.

       She moved to the laptop, removing the DVD carefully, then nearly dropped it as a fist slammed against the table.

       “That idiot.” Yusuke’s voice was low, probably a bad sign as he tended to yell.  Itani could see his eyes shimmering with tears that he refused to shed as his gaze fixed on Botan.  “How are we supposed to hurry?  Without her we don’t have a chance of finding this thing.”

       “Yusuke,” Kurama placed a calming hand on the younger man’s shoulder, “I understand your frustration, however, you must keep a cool head.”

       Yusuke actually turned on him, “Why?  It’s hopeless!  She was the only one who could find it!”

       Kurama shook his head, “That’s not entirely true.” Yusuke’s face clouded with confusion.  “Remember, it was Itani who confirmed Botan’s feeling that the power was here.  She was the one who insisted that we stay.  And apparently she was correct.” He looked mournfully at Botan.

       Itani met Yusuke’s searching gaze and sighed.  “It’s here, Yusuke.  I can feel it.  Maybe it’s because I released it, but I know it’s here, and close.”

       “But we’ve been here four days and neither of you could find it.”

       She looked dejected at the reminder.  “I know.” She said quietly.  “But we can’t give up.” 

       Kurama let his gaze linger on her, wishing he could offer some sort of reassurance or comfort.

       “I still say it’s gotta be that tree.  It gives me a creepy feeling.” Kuwabara insisted, finally tearing his gaze from Botan.

       “Wait.” Yusuke shook his head, “Now you think the sphere is in the tree too?”

       “Well,” Kuwabara defended, “I don’t hear any better ideas.  And Koenma said that something caused the power to gather together right?  And it isn’t anywhere we can see, even though we’ve searched everywhere and we know it’s got to be here!  Maybe one of the monks is messing around with that Daigi stuff and he’s hiding the sphere in that tree!  They’re the only people we know of who have access to any of this Daigi junk anyway...”

       It was hard to believe that either of their hosts was hiding the power.  And no man, monk or not, disappeared into a solid object. But... they hadn’t seen either man since the incident the day before.  Something had to be going on.

       “Kuwabara...” Yusuke groaned wearily. “People don’t-”

       “But what if one did?” Itani interrupted.

       Yusuke blinked up at her in confusion. 

       “Sherlock Holmes always said that once you’ve eliminated the impossible, whatever is left – no matter how improbable – must be the truth.”

       “But Sherlock Holmes wasn’t real!”

       “The principle is though.” Kurama mused.  “I think it’s time we give that tree another look.”

       “But-” Kurama wasn’t really listening to Yusuke’s protests, for movement in his peripheral vision drew his attention just then.  It was then that he realized that Kuwabara had stopped defending himself at some point –which was very unusual.  It was Kuwabara’s sudden movement toward the window that had caught his attention.  He followed the man’s line of sight and drew back slightly in shock.

       “Yusuke,” he nudged the Spirit Detective.

       Yusuke and Itani both turned, and Itani gasped.  Kuwabara was looking at the tree.  And they had turned just in time to see the tail end of a monk’s robe disappear into said tree.

       Kuwabara finally broke the silence, “I told you!” he said triumphantly.

       “Indeed.” Kurama agreed, “but which monk entered?  And is it really the hiding place of the sphere?”