Kurama bent to the will of his siblings and has again donned the appearance of the notorious Yoko Kurama. Soon after, Remayolo revealed a plot to go after power-enabling treasure. Simultaneously, Yusuke and Hiei were offered to go on the same journey, but without the knowledge of the power the legendary Ziberian Crystals hold. Now is the time to prepare, but who will succeed?

Episode 10 : The Crystal Caverns

[The sun is setting on the shore where the Mermaid rescued Sukeyuay. Sukeyuay leans against a rock, waiting. Splashes are heard among the water, and then the Mermaid appears and sits on the shore. Sukeyuay walks over and crouches down beside her.]

Mermaid: So good of you to come.

Sukeyuay: You best appreciate it. It was hard enough to sneak away from that ‘special training’ they’re having me go through.

Mermaid: Then let’s get down to business. But first, drop the disguise?

Sukeyuay: What?

Mermaid: You wondered what treasure I acquired from Draconta. Well, with it I can see that you and your friend are fakes.

Sukeyuay: [miffed] Well, well, isn’t that something.

Mermaid: You are a lot cuter the other way. [reaches and strokes the side of Sukeyuay’s face] I’d prefer to drown and rescue the real you.

Sukeyuay: [sways Mermaid’s hand away] On second thought…I don’t need a rain check. [stands up] I saw your ‘real you’ once and it wasn’t pretty.

Mermaid: [rises on feet] Do you want me to expose you to the rest of Zerka?

Sukeyuay: Do you have any proof? As far as I see it, you could have some goons hiding out here waiting to see if I’d expose myself. [turns and begins to walk away] But you’re barking up the wrong tree; so that ain’t going to happen.

Mermaid: [grabs Sukeyuay from behind, whispers] You have friends for enemies and enemies for friends. I could help you distinguish who is who.

Sukeyuay: And just what side are you on?

Mermaid: Yours…all it takes is an alliance…sealed with a kiss.

[Teen Koenma, Botan, and George have been observing this meeting from behind a hill covered with fake bushes.]

George: Do you think he’ll accept?

Botan: He better not, Kayko would kill him!

Teen Koenma: But on the other hand, what is all this talk of friends and enemies?

Botan: To me, she sounds like an enemy herself!

Teen Koenma: Be quiet so I can listen!

Sukeyuay: [turned, looking down at the Mermaid] hmmm…Say! Do you like shiny things?

Mermaid: [perplexed] Shiny?

Sukeyuay: Yeah. When I’m done with the training, I’m going off on a little expedition for Zerk to bring back some shiny crystals. I’m bringing them back to show the council my great leadership skills, so obviously these aren’t your average gems at the store. [rubbing finger under nose] I could bring an extra one back for you. You don’t tell, I don’t tell, and you’ll help me distinguish. What do ya say? Sounds better than a dumb little ol’ kiss!

[The Mermaid bites thumb in calculating thought.]

Mermaid Voiceover: He couldn’t be referring to the Ziberian Crystals could he? The fool wouldn’t be giving them away so easily if he realized their power. But then again, he may be unfamiliar with the legends. This would be an interesting gamble to see if he could actually deliver…

Mermaid: em…All right. I’ll keep quiet for now, but I won’t help you until you bring me one of those crystals!

[Behind the fake bushes, Teen Koenma, Botan, and George anime fall. They get back up.]

Botan: Well that’s one way to do it I guess.

Teen Koenma: But now we have to wait for Yusuke to get back to learn about the enemy’s friends!

George: What should we do in the meantime?

Teen Koenma: Ogre! I want you to go with Yusuke and Hiei and bring me back a crystal!

George: Huh?

Teen Koenma: [noble stance] Such a rare and precious gem would be most befitting for a mighty ruler of Spirit World! [waves crash behind]

[George and Botan sigh with a sweatdrop.]

* * *

[Yukina sweeps the porch of Genkai’s shrine. Kuwabara arrives.]

Kuwabara: Hey Yukina! How’s it goin’? [wink]

Yukina: Hello Kazuma.

Kuwabara: I…eh… [presents bouquet that was being held behind back] brought you some pretty flowers!

Yukina: [takes bouquet] Thank you, they’re lovely. I’ll go and put them in a vase. [leaves]

Soketsu: Hey Kuwabara.

Kuwabara: Oh hey Soketsu. What’s up?

Soketsu: This place makes a pretty sweet sanctuary, you know? A lot of the other demons here were about to start a little friendly tourney. You in?

Kuwabara: Well, with being a scholar right now and Urameshi gone, I don’t fight as much any more.

Chu: [walking up to join conversation] ‘Ere now. We’ll be ‘avin’ a rip-snorter of a brawl you don’t want to miss! See everyone fights everyone an’ the bloke with the most wins is the winner!

Soketsu: Kind of like training in actual combat, without the killing. Like Raizen junior said, “If you’re dead, then you can’t fight.”

Chu: Yeah, ya might even pick up a trick or two ta try out on Urameshi next you get the chance…that is if there’s anythin left of ‘im after I had my rounds!

Kuwabara: Well, if it’s just between friends, sure I’m in. I can spend a couple of days up here while school’s on break. [sees Yukina come back] Hey Yukina! I’ll be staying up here a bit while we have a little tournament, so you and I can also do some fun things while I’m here like play at the beach!

Chu: [nudging Kuwabara] Oh I see, ya just agreed so you could find an excuse to spend more time with the little missus!

[Chu and Soketsu laugh while Kuwabara blushes. Rinku appears behind Chu and hangs from his shoulder.]

Rinku: [to Chu] Don’t even try to hide the fact that Natsume still creams you! You’re only doing this because you want to get strong enough to beat her!

Chu: [reaches to hit Rinku on the head] Watch et bludger!

Kuwabara: [quietly] I’ll fight as well as play at the beach…

Yukina: I’m sure you’ll do fine, Kazuma.

Kuwabara: [dramatically] Don’t worry baby! [grabs Yukina’s hands] With you watching I’ll be sure to win this with the power of love shining through!

* * *

[Midori is at her apartment. She places some dishes in a cupboard and closes the door, revealing a hanging calendar with most of the days crossed off. She sighs. As she thinks, a ghosted layer of Yoko Kurama and his siblings running through a forest of living plants and ferocious animals fades on and continues through her monologue. In the ghosted layer, Yoko Kurama and Remayolo continually ward off the different plants and animals that threaten the fox pack with their plant and animal manipulating powers.]

Midori Voiceover: I can hardly wait to see you again, Suichi dear. Just a few more days until you return. It seems so long since you left. [reaches out to touch the calendar] You will be coming back, right? You said you would. I believe in you… [pulls hand back] but what if? You were a demon much longer than a human. What if you find it more comfortable to live there, the way you used to? [turns] No! [walks to the living room] I can’t think of that. I mustn’t. [walk slows down] But…what if something happens to you…where you can’t? [slumps into couch and stares at scrap booking material spread on the coffee table, a happy picture of her and Kurama on top the mess of photos] I must believe. I know you can do it and you’ll make the right choices… [picks up photo] but, what if? What if you don’t? Or if the right choice is for you to stay there? [sets photo to the side and picks up a few more photos] What if you never come back? [sees a picture of Genkai] What if you leave? [flips to see a picture of her as a young child with her parents] In the end, everyone leaves. [drops pictures as tears swell] Please…don’t leave me… [falls to laying position] I can’t do this on my own! [cries]

[In the ghosted layer, the fox siblings reach a clearing of the forest across from the portentous miasma which stretches high and wide. Midori fades away as the ghosted layer takes full visibility.]

Remayolo: Here we are, siblings, the legendary Crystal Caverns.

Yokira: With all the mist, how can you tell? [kneels, putting a hand to the ground]

Remayolo: A little birdie told me.

Yokira: [rises] This miasma has abolished the very earth it touches. A crater lies under that wall of mist, but there is land that hovers within. Considering it remains, either the miasma does not touch it, or it is made of near-invincible construction.

Remayolo: These are smart caverns. If any of us tried to go alone, with our abilities over a single element, the cave would spring traps to counter and destroy us individually in the process. However, working together—each using our powers at the appropriate time—will ensure our victory.

[Okiya blows at the miasma to test it. The air pressure dents it and ripples out. She nods to Remayolo. Yoko Kurama sticks a twig in the miasma, pulls it out, and examines the deterioration.]

Yoko Kurama: I can reinforce a bridge with lichen that compliments the composition of the miasma.

Remayolo: Very well. Okiya, Yokira.

[Okiya causes a tunnel to form in the miasma while Yokira extends the earth in the air tunnel and Yoko Kurama causes lichen to spread across the newly formed surface. The pack proceeds towards the caverns.]

***COMMERCIAL BREAK***

[Sukeyuay and Ehay are saddling up a couple of griffins and de-poisoning the berries.]

Sukeyuay: Man! I thought I was done with that kind of training when I passed Grandma’s evil boot camp.

Ehay: I suppose you’d rather grow soft and weak. That would make a very disappointing challenge next time we fought.

Sukeyuay: Don’t worry, I still have enough edge for a fight against you to be interesting. Don’t tell me that’s the only reason you brought me along…just so I could improve my skills.

Ehay: Hn.

Sukeyuay: Ugh. With all the energy I’m putting into these berries, I’m wondering if it would take me less energy to just fly myself.

Ehay: Your energy will replenish during the flight this way. That will prove valuable once we reach the caverns.

Sukeyuay: Well, I think we got enough of their favorite treat, so let’s head off.

* * *

[The foxes are shielded from the miasma in front of a solid wall of ice. Endoya carefully liquefies the ice barrier. It gently drains back towards the woods. Okiya enthuses over the gaseous quality of the miasma from behind. The others wait around.]

Yokira: I don’t think Endoya has been so excited in centuries…finding a liquid that is so pure that the mere touch of it would leave a rash.

Yoko Kurama: Hm.

Osuko: Too bad if I burned a hole through this barrier, there would be spontaneous combustion that we would unlikely survive. [laugh]

Yokira: [observing Okiya] Even if the crystals that may be in the center of all of this turns out to be nothing but a myth, this escapade has already proven fruitful. I can’t wait until I get my hands on the earth inside.

Yoko Kurama: [to Remayolo] Brother. If these crystals do exist… [cut off from forced stopped breathing]

Remayolo: Do not worry about that now. Be grateful for this time we share as siblings. Even you and I have discovered new species that are beneficial to our abilities.

[Remayolo turns to oversee Endoya’s progress. Yoko Kurama resumes breathing.]

Kurama Voiceover: His end goal…what does he plan to do with those crystals? If they truly exist, what is his intention on getting them?

Yokira: [pounces on Yoko Kurama from behind] Yes, let’s be grateful for this time together. What? Are you afraid you’ll enjoy it?

Yoko Kurama: [glaring at Remayolo] No, it’s not that…

* * *

[Sukeyuay and Ehay fly high above a treacherous forest on the griffins.]

Sukeyuay: Hey! We’re almost to the caverns!

Ehay: Don’t let your guard down.

Sukeyuay: I can’t believe we haven’t really learned anything useful yet. Are you sure this isn’t just a demon-style frat club?

Ehay: You’re the fool who volunteered us for this chore.

Sukeyuay: Who’s worse? The fool or the fool who follows him?

[Sukeyuay stifles a laugh but is interrupted by branches shooting up around him and Ehay. The branches grab the griffins’ wings, causing them to fly around and upside-down. Sukeyuay and Ehay fall off. The griffins fly up to free themselves from the branches and fly back towards Zerka headquarters. Sukeyuay grabs Ehay’s wrist with one hand and his magic feather with the other in attempt to fly, but with the extra weight from Ehay they glide down through the canopy and land in the forest. Eyes shine from the dark brush surrounding them.]

Sukeyuay: No one’s watching now, right?

[Sukeyuay transforms back into Yusuke; then Ehay transforms back into Hiei.]

Yusuke: Whew! Back as a Stud! And feeling fine!

Hiei: We don’t have time to fight. We should avoid any unnecessary struggles.

* * *

[Past the ice obstruction, the foxes wait while Osuko and Yokira work on creating a bridge through a wall of molten rock.]

Remayolo: The last element took too long, but after this we should be to the terrain that Yokira felt present. Good thing we’re not in a hurry or anything.

Yoko Kurama: The month is… [cut off from forced stopped breathing]

Remayolo: Tut, tut. You act as though we’ve been here for weeks. You must have lost your sense of time since we arrived.

[Remayolo turns with a smirk, allowing Yoko Kurama to breathe again.]

Kurama Voiceover: You’re wrong. As sure as the cycle of the Earth’s moon, I have only a few more days. I won’t let you force me to stay. I can’t! I must stay alert. For you brother, seek to exploit me, then dispose me. But I will not fall for your trickery again!

***FLASHBACK OF THE FOXES WHEN THEY WERE CUBS***

[Six small fox spirits tussle in a den. The smallest one is pushed to the bottom of the group and can’t make his way up or out of the pile. His ears and tail are continuously nipped at. After a while, the other foxes run off except one. She licks the small fox’s cheek until he gets up on his paws. The two run in a different direction from where the others had left. They run through fields, digging holes, dropping seeds in, and then scurry through bushes. The small fox puts his paw on a dead bush, causing it to grow and yield a giant fruit. Just as he is about to enjoy the fruit, one of the other fox cubs approaches. The small fox stands stiff as the newcomer snatches the fruit for himself.]

Kurama Voiceover: Why does he have such power over me? I broke free once before, can I again?

[The small fox runs and runs.]

Kurama Voiceover: Search…I must search for the answer…

[Approaching a cliff, the small fox jumps but unexpectedly springs backwards instead of across the chasm. He runs to a river, but in attempt to cross it, swims backwards to where he began. He runs to a mountain range and starts climbing but ends up tumbling back down. Faces of the other foxes being happy appear in the background as the small fox continues to run in search of a escape. The laughing foxes grow and overpower the memories of the small fox until their happiness confounds all trace of running toward freedom.]

***END FLASHBACK***

[Yoko Kurama clenches his fist. His teeth grit together as sweat trickles down his face.]

Kurama Voiceover: Has he acquired the very power to control my memories? Is it because of him that I am forgetting how I got away the first time? This can’t go on, this life without agency. But he won’t let me refuse.

Osuko: The vulcanization is complete.

[Yoko Kurama returns from his thoughts as he looks over to Osuko and Yokira. Remayolo crosses over to them.]

Remayolo: Excellent.

Osuko: Fascinating how these two barriers could stand so close to one another. The effort in construction proves there is something inside worth guarding!

[Yokira walks up to Yoko Kurama and kneels to face him.]

Yokira: Hey brother, I need some energy replenishing herbs.

* * *

[Yusuke and Hiei sprint through the forest, keeping their distance from pursuing beast and dodging attacks from the surrounding plants. When they seem to be in the clear, Yusuke looks back and trips. His arms take the brunt of the fall, and an elbow lands in a small stream of liquid that is trickling by.]

Yusuke: OW! [stands up and blows on his elbow] What the heck is that stuff?

[Hiei comes over to inspect the liquid.]

Hiei: It does not appear to be natural.

Yusuke: Well, I think it’s going to leave a rash!

Hiei: [pointing with sword] It’s coming from there.

[Hiei runs along the liquid towards the source. Yusuke follows.]

Yusuke: Hey! Did you hear what I said? [sigh] Tch, punk.

[Hiei and Yusuke cross a barren area away from the forest towards the portentous miasma. They look up as they are close enough to tell that is where the liquid is coming from. They are taken aback at the tunnel that greets their eyes.]

Yusuke: Well, well, it looks like someone’s already been here.

Hiei: [touching some lichen at the edge] That is rather suspicious.

Yusuke: It’s where we’re headed. Should we take it?

Hiei: [crumbling some lichen between his fingers] Yes.

Yusuke: Aw man, that means we did all that training torment for nothing.

[Yusuke and Hiei enter the bridge into the Crystal Caverns.]

“Hey it’s Yusuke! So that was awfully nice for someone to pave the way to the what’s-it-called crystals that we’re after…and I do mean awful! Who should we find ahead of us but Kurama and all his siblings! And they don’t look too happy to see us. But come on! There should be enough crystals to share so what’s the big deal? They’d rather duke it out, so I get my rematch against Yokira sooner than expected. But with the pack all together, whose side is Kurama on? Surely he wouldn’t fight us for the kill…or would he? Find out next time on YuYu Hakusho Beyond!”