The End of Hell - Ch. 2
Title: The End of Hell
Chapter: 2
Fandom: Dragon Ball Z, YuGiOh, Sorcerer Hunters, Yu Yu Hakusho
Character(s): Bakura Ryou, Botan
Genre: Drama, action, romance, friendship, family, hurt/comfort
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimers: Dragon Ball Z © Akira Toriyama, YuGiOh © Kazuki Takahashi, Sorcerer Hunters © Satoru Akahori, Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi
Notes: Take four parts anime plus two parts literature based on the Salem witch trials, add a dash of insanity and mix with one particularly strange high school student, and what do you get? This story.
Yeah, so around the time my high school class read The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, I was really into the four anime/manga mentioned above. And, rather interested with the topic of the Salem witch trials...I meshed all four of those fandoms together and decided to write this. Reading through it now, though, gives me a headache because of all the old English, and it's just a really bizarre idea in the first place.
Summary: "Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas." ~ Shoseki
[Chapter 1]
~*~*~*~
At that certain time of day, which, by then was very close to midday, the people of the town of Salem were preparing for the Harvest Festival, for later that evening. At the festival, everyone celebrated a time of a bountiful harvest, and, at the end of the festival, prayed for another good year.
As a requirement, all the able-bodied people were to help set up for the celebration. However, like of this day and age, the young 'adults', often times, grouped together to talk of the latest gossip, and hardly helped with any work at all. Today was no exception.
"Art thou certain there be strangers in Salem?" Yugi asked his friend.
"Ay, I am," Katsuya replied.
"Hast thou seen them?"
"Um…nay…"
"Then how doth thou knowest of them?"
"Talk amongst the town," Hiroto replied.
"Talk need not always be true," Anzu replied.
"But some hath claimed to see them," Malik rejoined.
"I hath heard that the color of their hair be a bright scarlet," stated Marik, "and that they arrived early this morn, when the town just begun to awake."
"I heard they speaketh to no one," Ryouji said. "They simply passed through the town and on their way."
"Simple speculation doth not make a story true," Yami answered.
"Verily," replied Seto. "Without proof, one cannot say what be true and what be not."
"But there be many who claim to hath seen them," chimed Mokuba.
"Ay," said Mai. "I overheard Maron talking about them, claiming to hath seen them for himself."
"True, they may be hither in Salem," Isis stated, "but how are we to knoweth what they art like?"
Shizuka looked on, listening to the conversation her brother and friends were having about the mysterious strangers that seemed to have disappeared after their arrival into Salem. Turning around, she waved as Ryou and Bakura came into view.
Seeing the group that had accumulated, the two twins made their way over. "Good morning, Shizuka," greeted Ryou.
"Good morning, Ryou," replied she, no longer paying attention to the other conversation. "Good morning, Bakura."
He, as always, did not answer, but instead, nodded to her.
Yugi, seeing another of his friends, left the previous conversation to join the new one. "Good morning Ryou. Good morning Bakura."
"Good morning, Yugi," replied the shorter twin. Bakura, again, nodded.
"Hath thou heard the rumors about the mysterious strangers that cometh to town?" asked the girl.
"Ay," answered Bakura, "but hath not paid much attention to them."
"Truly?" Yami asked, as the others finally noticed the arrival of the two.
"Verily."
"But thou enjoy the talk around the town," Marik said.
"Ay. But there be something better than stories, methinks."
"What may that be?" Katsuya asked.
Bakura smirked slightly. "The three travelers , the very ones that are already so famous in town as of late, art staying in our house."
That very statement captured the whole of their attention.
"Bakura," said his twin, "I believeth Father asked of us not to speak of the matter."
The one spoken to simply shrugged, turning away.
"What art they like?" Marik asked, making his way to the taller white-haired twin.
Before Bakura could answer, his brother shook his head vigorously. "We cannot," said Ryou to the group. To his brother, said he, "Father and Kurama asked us not to speak of this. We cannot."
"We wouldst like to know more about these new persons who visit our town," said Yami.
He shook his head again. "I am sorry," replied him, "but we cannot speak of them."
At that moment, as the statement was last said, passed by Carrot, Maron, and Uubu. Mention of the strangers, the middle stopped, turning his golden eyes to the group. It had been but a few hours since his own witness of them, but Maron could not help but think of them. Especially the one who had stopped in front of him for but a moment.
Carrot, as though sensing something different, stopped, forcing the one behind him to abruptly stop as well. Both, turning around, came to look upon Maron standing a little away from the group of teens that were gathered there.
Approaching his brother, the older one asked, "Maron?"
"They are talking about the strangers," said the quiet one.
"The rumored strangers from this morn?" asked Uubu.
"Ay." He made his way through the crowd, to where Ryou and Bakura stood, his brothers behind him.
The teens already there talked amongst themselves about the strangers, left up to their own imagination due to Ryou's reluctance to tell them. Nobody seemed to mind as the three Glace brothers made their way through.
Upon reaching the two, Maron said quietly, "Ryou, Bakura, doth thee truly knoweth of the strangers that are so talked of in town?"
Ryou looked up at the taller boy. "Ay," answered he, "however, my brother and myself are not allowed to say anything about them."
"Pray, I ask, wouldst thou tell me their names?"
"Why wouldst thee wish to know?" asked Bakura. "For what purpose, Maron?"
"For my own knowledge. I myself hath seen them, and wish to know of whom I hath seen. Pray, I only ask for their names."
Bakura glanced at his brother, who seemed at a loss at what to do. With a small shake of his head, finally he answered, "The strangers are a man and his two sisters. The man is called Kurama Misu, the older sister, Chocolat, and the youngest is Tira."
Ryou looked at his twin. "Bakura!" said he, surprised. "Father told us not to speak of them to the town!"
"Worry not, Ryou," replied the other. "What harm wouldst it do?"
But already the group of young persons talked amongst themselves about the said persons; Kurama, Chocolat, and Tira. Even Carrot and Uubu spoke of them. Maron, however, thought quietly to himself, the names turning in his mind. Tira, as the minister's son had stated, had been the youngest. She had been the one that he had seen, who had stopped in front of him. He could not help but wonder why she had done so.
More people gathered to participate with the preparations of the Harvest Festival. As they gathered, more teens also came together and talked. Among them was Gateau Mocha, who was actually considered a man at ten and nine years of age, followed by his younger sister, Éclair, who was about Maron's age of ten and six years.
The first to notice their arrival was Ryou. Desperate for a distraction to draw his friends' attention away from the three visitors, he called, "Greetings Gateau, Éclair!"
And surely, the growing group of teens, for the moment, ceased talking about the fireheads (as some had begun to call them), as their attention turned to the two approaching them.
"Greetings," replied the burly man, for Gateau was well known for his strength and muscles.
"Greetings," repeated Éclair with her own. Unlike most women, Éclair kept her hair at the short length of a man's. No one understood why, though many did question her about the issue, and failed to receive an answer from her.
The group responded with their own greetings to the two. Then, to Ryou's dismay, Malik inquired to them, "Doth thee knoweth of the three strangers that arrived in Salem today?"
Gateau raised a curious eyebrow. "I hath heard of them, ay."
"As hath I," replied his sister. "But I hath heard they vanished soon after."
"Not so," Marik replied. Pointing to his best friend, continued he, "Bakura claims that they be staying at the minister's house."
"Is this true?" asked the blond man.
"Verily," replied the younger teen.
"Wilt thou tell us about them?" wondered Éclair.
"Nay, he cannot," stated Ryou firmly. "We cannot."
"We merely wish to learn more about them," said Uubu.
"Indeed," replied Seto. "Who knoweth what they art capable of?"
But the snow-haired boy shook his head, a firm gaze in his brown eyes. "We art not allowed to speak of them around town."
"Not allowed to speak of who?" inquired a cheerful voice.
Carrot turned towards the direction of the new, yet familiar voice. "The three visitors of the town, Dotta. Perhaps thee hath heard of them?"
The mentioned young adult, stepping up to stand behind the other teen, nodded. "Ay, indeed." She giggled slightly. "Among many of the rumors as of late stated that the young man traveling with the two women is quite handsome, as even those who art happily wed to a husband couldst not help but turn their heads as they walked by." She giggled again.
The last statement was what truly captured the young women's attention, as all tried to imagine what such a man would look like. Noticing this, the men, especially those either courting or wed to one of the girls, could not help their jealousy from flashing in their eyes.
"Ah, canst this be so?" asked a voice, as Pan and Bra made their way toward the group. Bra gave a mischievous smile. "Can there really be such a person who can turn the heads of married women?"
Dotta, giggling again, nodded. "Ay," answered she. "Even the most loyal of wed women, such as thyself, Miss Bra Son, can be turned by this man's charm, so sayest the rumor."
Dotta was commonly known as one who flirts with men. However, even with such a fascination with men such as hers, she had never been known to be with a man. As much as she enjoys the company of a man, she refuses to commit to a relationship, and sometimes appears lonely. Mostly, however, Dotta's appearance to others is that of a cheerful, flirting young woman.
Bra, her mischievous smile widening, turned to her best friend and niece-in-law. "Perhaps then, Pan, we can finally wed you off."
The mentioned girl scoffed slightly. "I believeth not," replied she. "I have no intention to marry yet, lest with a stranger who arriveth to town only today."
"He wouldst do you well," stated Bakura. "Kurama doth appear to be a gentleman."
"We shalt see."
As the conversation above passed, no one noticed the sudden nervous behavior Uubu began to express. Though, as it had been mentioned before, Uubu had indeed begun to court Pan Son, because of his Indian nature, as Indians were associated with the Black Man, their performance of courtship had been in secrecy, in his fear of scorning her good name. His relief was shown as the young woman laid the subject to rest with her last answer.
"Doth thee hast any other things to do besides gossiping?" a new voice asked.
"Greetings, Kazuma," said Yugi.
The newcomer to the group nodded to the greeter. "There be much work to be done for tonight," said he, "yet thee standst hither as though in secrecy."
"Hast thou not heard the rumors around town, Kuwabara?" Katsuya asked.
"I cannot say so, Jounouchi."
"Thou hath not heard of the strangers come to town?" Yusuke asked, approaching the group, Keiko by his side. "Thou be more a fool than my first impression of thee," continued he teasingly.
"Urameshi, thou must learn how not to speak," replied Kazuma.
Ignoring the two, Keiko smiled at the others in the group. "Greetings everyone," said she.
All the others returned her greeting, as well as greeting Yusuke and Kazuma, who nodded in reply.
"So, who be these persons who come hither to town?" asked Kazuma. "Whither they come from?"
"We canst sayeth not," replied Isis. "So few know about them. Only the twins Ryou and Bakura knowest about them, for they stay with the minister."
The quieter of the two mentioned groaned slightly. "Please, sayeth not so loud," he pleaded. "Father and Kurama asked of my brother and myself not to speak of such."
As this statement was spoken, passing by at the time was Hiei and Yukina Koori. Hearing the name of the stranger, the girl stopped, looking at the gathered crowd of her and her brother's friends. She then took her brother's hand. "Hiei," she said softly, "thou knowest a person named Kurama, dost thou not?"
Hiei's crimson orbs glanced at his twin sister, then at the group. As the name Kurama was mentioned again, his eyes narrowed slightly. "It may not be the same Kurama," said he.
"Thou wilt never know unless thou asks," replied the girl. Then, turning toward the crowd, she began to walk towards them.
"Yukina…" said the black-haired boy, following after her.
The brown-haired girl reached the two teens in the center, looking at them with questioning crimson eyes. "Pray," said she, "the stranger thou talks about. Perchance is he known as Kurama Misu?"
Everyone's focus settled on this girl, as her brother came up behind her.
"Ay," Bakura replied. "That be his name…"
Yukina turned to her brother, as though trying to prove her point.
Looking at his sister, the teen then looked away. "It may not be the same one," insisted he.
"Dost thou knoweth Kurama?" asked Bakura.
"I know of a Kurama. It may not be the one to which thou refer to."
"The Kurama thou speaketh of," continued the teen. "Doth he hath hair like fire? Or rather, the color of thine eyes?"
"Ay."
"And wouldst his eyes be the color of leaves on the trees after the winter passes?"
"Ay," said Hiei again.
"Dost thou know if the Kurama thee knoweth hath two sisters?"
"Ay, he doth."
"Pray, what be their names?"
The teen spoken to hesitated slightly, searching for the names in the back of his mind, for it had been so long since had remembered them. Finally, after a moment, he answered, "I believeth their names to be Chocolat and Tira."
"And all these things be true to your memory?" persisted Bakura.
"Ay," replied Hiei, beginning to grow impatient.
The white-haired teen smirked slightly. "Then the Kurama thou knoweth is indeed the one of which we speak in this group of ours."
The black-haired teen stared at the other, his eyes looking questioningly and incredulously. Could it be, after so many years…?
Ryou sighed. "Please," pleaded he, that is enough. We canst not talk of them anymore. Father and Kurama hadst asked us not to."
"Ryou, thou worries too much," his twin replied. "What good doth secrecy do for him if he wilt publicly show himself in the Harvest Festival tonight?"
A great murmur rose through the crowd.
"Indeed, but Father and Kurama told us not to talk of Kurama and his sisters so they canst stay in Salem in peace. Now that all here knowest where they stay, many may try to go to our house to see them. Not only doth that disturbs the privacy of Kurama's family, but our own as well."
His twin was silent. The thought never occurred to him. But, now that the other teens in the group knew of the three strangers and where they dwelt, there was high chance that they would tell another, until the whole town knew of where they stayed. Then, many would crowd at the door of the minister's house for the chance to take a glimpse at the red-haired strangers.
Both Bakura and Ryou were both pulled back to reality as they noticed that the group they were among had suddenly hushed. Looking on, they watched as a young girl, about ten and seven years, came towards them.
Finally reaching the two twins, she bowed slightly. "Greetings," she said quietly.
"Greetings, Miss Botan," replied the two boys, as was the formal greeting for the judge Koenma's sister.
"I couldst not help but over hear thine talk," said she. "Pray, doth thee speak truly of these strangers? Art they truly staying in thy house with thee and the minister?"
"Ay," rejoined Bakura. "We speak truly so."
"I see. The name of the young man who came into town today…pray, canst thou sayeth again?"
"Kurama Misu."
"Kurama Misu…" repeated the girl. Tucking a strand of her golden brown hair behind her ear, she then asked, "And the name of his two sisters?"
"Chocolat and Tira."
She nodded. "Hast thou gotten to know them well?"
"Nay, not I," said Bakura. "Ryou, I believeth however, stayed with Kurama to converse for a moment before we came hither."
Turning to the quieter of the two, she asked, "Canst thou tell me more of them?"
"I would, if I were allowed to," replied Ryou. "However, both Father and Kurama himself hadst asked of my brother and myself not to speak of them."
She nodded again. "I understand," said she gently. Then, without another word, she bowed slightly to the two, then turned from them, walking out of the crowd and away from them.
All the teens there stared after her, silence looming over them all. Finally, Gateau stated, "That Botan be such a strange one."
"Ay," agreed Yusuke. "I believeth this was her first encounter with us."
"She's very lonely," stated Bra," yet she refuses to talk to anyone, save her brother."
"Then why doth she speak to us now?" inquired Ryou.
His twin scoffed. "Most likely she was asked by her brother to find information about Kurama and his family."
"Ay," Marik said, nodding. "Most likely she was."
The group of young adults continued to converse among themselves, touching on lighter, causal subjects, before they were dispersed by the minister to help with festival preparations.
TBC
[Chapter 3]
Chapter: 2
Fandom: Dragon Ball Z, YuGiOh, Sorcerer Hunters, Yu Yu Hakusho
Character(s): Bakura Ryou, Botan
Genre: Drama, action, romance, friendship, family, hurt/comfort
Rating: K+/PG
Disclaimers: Dragon Ball Z © Akira Toriyama, YuGiOh © Kazuki Takahashi, Sorcerer Hunters © Satoru Akahori, Yu Yu Hakusho © Yoshihiro Togashi
Notes: Take four parts anime plus two parts literature based on the Salem witch trials, add a dash of insanity and mix with one particularly strange high school student, and what do you get? This story.
Yeah, so around the time my high school class read The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, I was really into the four anime/manga mentioned above. And, rather interested with the topic of the Salem witch trials...I meshed all four of those fandoms together and decided to write this. Reading through it now, though, gives me a headache because of all the old English, and it's just a really bizarre idea in the first place.
Summary: "Truth only reveals itself when one gives up all preconceived ideas." ~ Shoseki
[Chapter 1]
~*~*~*~
At that certain time of day, which, by then was very close to midday, the people of the town of Salem were preparing for the Harvest Festival, for later that evening. At the festival, everyone celebrated a time of a bountiful harvest, and, at the end of the festival, prayed for another good year.
As a requirement, all the able-bodied people were to help set up for the celebration. However, like of this day and age, the young 'adults', often times, grouped together to talk of the latest gossip, and hardly helped with any work at all. Today was no exception.
"Art thou certain there be strangers in Salem?" Yugi asked his friend.
"Ay, I am," Katsuya replied.
"Hast thou seen them?"
"Um…nay…"
"Then how doth thou knowest of them?"
"Talk amongst the town," Hiroto replied.
"Talk need not always be true," Anzu replied.
"But some hath claimed to see them," Malik rejoined.
"I hath heard that the color of their hair be a bright scarlet," stated Marik, "and that they arrived early this morn, when the town just begun to awake."
"I heard they speaketh to no one," Ryouji said. "They simply passed through the town and on their way."
"Simple speculation doth not make a story true," Yami answered.
"Verily," replied Seto. "Without proof, one cannot say what be true and what be not."
"But there be many who claim to hath seen them," chimed Mokuba.
"Ay," said Mai. "I overheard Maron talking about them, claiming to hath seen them for himself."
"True, they may be hither in Salem," Isis stated, "but how are we to knoweth what they art like?"
Shizuka looked on, listening to the conversation her brother and friends were having about the mysterious strangers that seemed to have disappeared after their arrival into Salem. Turning around, she waved as Ryou and Bakura came into view.
Seeing the group that had accumulated, the two twins made their way over. "Good morning, Shizuka," greeted Ryou.
"Good morning, Ryou," replied she, no longer paying attention to the other conversation. "Good morning, Bakura."
He, as always, did not answer, but instead, nodded to her.
Yugi, seeing another of his friends, left the previous conversation to join the new one. "Good morning Ryou. Good morning Bakura."
"Good morning, Yugi," replied the shorter twin. Bakura, again, nodded.
"Hath thou heard the rumors about the mysterious strangers that cometh to town?" asked the girl.
"Ay," answered Bakura, "but hath not paid much attention to them."
"Truly?" Yami asked, as the others finally noticed the arrival of the two.
"Verily."
"But thou enjoy the talk around the town," Marik said.
"Ay. But there be something better than stories, methinks."
"What may that be?" Katsuya asked.
Bakura smirked slightly. "The three travelers , the very ones that are already so famous in town as of late, art staying in our house."
That very statement captured the whole of their attention.
"Bakura," said his twin, "I believeth Father asked of us not to speak of the matter."
The one spoken to simply shrugged, turning away.
"What art they like?" Marik asked, making his way to the taller white-haired twin.
Before Bakura could answer, his brother shook his head vigorously. "We cannot," said Ryou to the group. To his brother, said he, "Father and Kurama asked us not to speak of this. We cannot."
"We wouldst like to know more about these new persons who visit our town," said Yami.
He shook his head again. "I am sorry," replied him, "but we cannot speak of them."
At that moment, as the statement was last said, passed by Carrot, Maron, and Uubu. Mention of the strangers, the middle stopped, turning his golden eyes to the group. It had been but a few hours since his own witness of them, but Maron could not help but think of them. Especially the one who had stopped in front of him for but a moment.
Carrot, as though sensing something different, stopped, forcing the one behind him to abruptly stop as well. Both, turning around, came to look upon Maron standing a little away from the group of teens that were gathered there.
Approaching his brother, the older one asked, "Maron?"
"They are talking about the strangers," said the quiet one.
"The rumored strangers from this morn?" asked Uubu.
"Ay." He made his way through the crowd, to where Ryou and Bakura stood, his brothers behind him.
The teens already there talked amongst themselves about the strangers, left up to their own imagination due to Ryou's reluctance to tell them. Nobody seemed to mind as the three Glace brothers made their way through.
Upon reaching the two, Maron said quietly, "Ryou, Bakura, doth thee truly knoweth of the strangers that are so talked of in town?"
Ryou looked up at the taller boy. "Ay," answered he, "however, my brother and myself are not allowed to say anything about them."
"Pray, I ask, wouldst thou tell me their names?"
"Why wouldst thee wish to know?" asked Bakura. "For what purpose, Maron?"
"For my own knowledge. I myself hath seen them, and wish to know of whom I hath seen. Pray, I only ask for their names."
Bakura glanced at his brother, who seemed at a loss at what to do. With a small shake of his head, finally he answered, "The strangers are a man and his two sisters. The man is called Kurama Misu, the older sister, Chocolat, and the youngest is Tira."
Ryou looked at his twin. "Bakura!" said he, surprised. "Father told us not to speak of them to the town!"
"Worry not, Ryou," replied the other. "What harm wouldst it do?"
But already the group of young persons talked amongst themselves about the said persons; Kurama, Chocolat, and Tira. Even Carrot and Uubu spoke of them. Maron, however, thought quietly to himself, the names turning in his mind. Tira, as the minister's son had stated, had been the youngest. She had been the one that he had seen, who had stopped in front of him. He could not help but wonder why she had done so.
More people gathered to participate with the preparations of the Harvest Festival. As they gathered, more teens also came together and talked. Among them was Gateau Mocha, who was actually considered a man at ten and nine years of age, followed by his younger sister, Éclair, who was about Maron's age of ten and six years.
The first to notice their arrival was Ryou. Desperate for a distraction to draw his friends' attention away from the three visitors, he called, "Greetings Gateau, Éclair!"
And surely, the growing group of teens, for the moment, ceased talking about the fireheads (as some had begun to call them), as their attention turned to the two approaching them.
"Greetings," replied the burly man, for Gateau was well known for his strength and muscles.
"Greetings," repeated Éclair with her own. Unlike most women, Éclair kept her hair at the short length of a man's. No one understood why, though many did question her about the issue, and failed to receive an answer from her.
The group responded with their own greetings to the two. Then, to Ryou's dismay, Malik inquired to them, "Doth thee knoweth of the three strangers that arrived in Salem today?"
Gateau raised a curious eyebrow. "I hath heard of them, ay."
"As hath I," replied his sister. "But I hath heard they vanished soon after."
"Not so," Marik replied. Pointing to his best friend, continued he, "Bakura claims that they be staying at the minister's house."
"Is this true?" asked the blond man.
"Verily," replied the younger teen.
"Wilt thou tell us about them?" wondered Éclair.
"Nay, he cannot," stated Ryou firmly. "We cannot."
"We merely wish to learn more about them," said Uubu.
"Indeed," replied Seto. "Who knoweth what they art capable of?"
But the snow-haired boy shook his head, a firm gaze in his brown eyes. "We art not allowed to speak of them around town."
"Not allowed to speak of who?" inquired a cheerful voice.
Carrot turned towards the direction of the new, yet familiar voice. "The three visitors of the town, Dotta. Perhaps thee hath heard of them?"
The mentioned young adult, stepping up to stand behind the other teen, nodded. "Ay, indeed." She giggled slightly. "Among many of the rumors as of late stated that the young man traveling with the two women is quite handsome, as even those who art happily wed to a husband couldst not help but turn their heads as they walked by." She giggled again.
The last statement was what truly captured the young women's attention, as all tried to imagine what such a man would look like. Noticing this, the men, especially those either courting or wed to one of the girls, could not help their jealousy from flashing in their eyes.
"Ah, canst this be so?" asked a voice, as Pan and Bra made their way toward the group. Bra gave a mischievous smile. "Can there really be such a person who can turn the heads of married women?"
Dotta, giggling again, nodded. "Ay," answered she. "Even the most loyal of wed women, such as thyself, Miss Bra Son, can be turned by this man's charm, so sayest the rumor."
Dotta was commonly known as one who flirts with men. However, even with such a fascination with men such as hers, she had never been known to be with a man. As much as she enjoys the company of a man, she refuses to commit to a relationship, and sometimes appears lonely. Mostly, however, Dotta's appearance to others is that of a cheerful, flirting young woman.
Bra, her mischievous smile widening, turned to her best friend and niece-in-law. "Perhaps then, Pan, we can finally wed you off."
The mentioned girl scoffed slightly. "I believeth not," replied she. "I have no intention to marry yet, lest with a stranger who arriveth to town only today."
"He wouldst do you well," stated Bakura. "Kurama doth appear to be a gentleman."
"We shalt see."
As the conversation above passed, no one noticed the sudden nervous behavior Uubu began to express. Though, as it had been mentioned before, Uubu had indeed begun to court Pan Son, because of his Indian nature, as Indians were associated with the Black Man, their performance of courtship had been in secrecy, in his fear of scorning her good name. His relief was shown as the young woman laid the subject to rest with her last answer.
"Doth thee hast any other things to do besides gossiping?" a new voice asked.
"Greetings, Kazuma," said Yugi.
The newcomer to the group nodded to the greeter. "There be much work to be done for tonight," said he, "yet thee standst hither as though in secrecy."
"Hast thou not heard the rumors around town, Kuwabara?" Katsuya asked.
"I cannot say so, Jounouchi."
"Thou hath not heard of the strangers come to town?" Yusuke asked, approaching the group, Keiko by his side. "Thou be more a fool than my first impression of thee," continued he teasingly.
"Urameshi, thou must learn how not to speak," replied Kazuma.
Ignoring the two, Keiko smiled at the others in the group. "Greetings everyone," said she.
All the others returned her greeting, as well as greeting Yusuke and Kazuma, who nodded in reply.
"So, who be these persons who come hither to town?" asked Kazuma. "Whither they come from?"
"We canst sayeth not," replied Isis. "So few know about them. Only the twins Ryou and Bakura knowest about them, for they stay with the minister."
The quieter of the two mentioned groaned slightly. "Please, sayeth not so loud," he pleaded. "Father and Kurama asked of my brother and myself not to speak of such."
As this statement was spoken, passing by at the time was Hiei and Yukina Koori. Hearing the name of the stranger, the girl stopped, looking at the gathered crowd of her and her brother's friends. She then took her brother's hand. "Hiei," she said softly, "thou knowest a person named Kurama, dost thou not?"
Hiei's crimson orbs glanced at his twin sister, then at the group. As the name Kurama was mentioned again, his eyes narrowed slightly. "It may not be the same Kurama," said he.
"Thou wilt never know unless thou asks," replied the girl. Then, turning toward the crowd, she began to walk towards them.
"Yukina…" said the black-haired boy, following after her.
The brown-haired girl reached the two teens in the center, looking at them with questioning crimson eyes. "Pray," said she, "the stranger thou talks about. Perchance is he known as Kurama Misu?"
Everyone's focus settled on this girl, as her brother came up behind her.
"Ay," Bakura replied. "That be his name…"
Yukina turned to her brother, as though trying to prove her point.
Looking at his sister, the teen then looked away. "It may not be the same one," insisted he.
"Dost thou knoweth Kurama?" asked Bakura.
"I know of a Kurama. It may not be the one to which thou refer to."
"The Kurama thou speaketh of," continued the teen. "Doth he hath hair like fire? Or rather, the color of thine eyes?"
"Ay."
"And wouldst his eyes be the color of leaves on the trees after the winter passes?"
"Ay," said Hiei again.
"Dost thou know if the Kurama thee knoweth hath two sisters?"
"Ay, he doth."
"Pray, what be their names?"
The teen spoken to hesitated slightly, searching for the names in the back of his mind, for it had been so long since had remembered them. Finally, after a moment, he answered, "I believeth their names to be Chocolat and Tira."
"And all these things be true to your memory?" persisted Bakura.
"Ay," replied Hiei, beginning to grow impatient.
The white-haired teen smirked slightly. "Then the Kurama thou knoweth is indeed the one of which we speak in this group of ours."
The black-haired teen stared at the other, his eyes looking questioningly and incredulously. Could it be, after so many years…?
Ryou sighed. "Please," pleaded he, that is enough. We canst not talk of them anymore. Father and Kurama hadst asked us not to."
"Ryou, thou worries too much," his twin replied. "What good doth secrecy do for him if he wilt publicly show himself in the Harvest Festival tonight?"
A great murmur rose through the crowd.
"Indeed, but Father and Kurama told us not to talk of Kurama and his sisters so they canst stay in Salem in peace. Now that all here knowest where they stay, many may try to go to our house to see them. Not only doth that disturbs the privacy of Kurama's family, but our own as well."
His twin was silent. The thought never occurred to him. But, now that the other teens in the group knew of the three strangers and where they dwelt, there was high chance that they would tell another, until the whole town knew of where they stayed. Then, many would crowd at the door of the minister's house for the chance to take a glimpse at the red-haired strangers.
Both Bakura and Ryou were both pulled back to reality as they noticed that the group they were among had suddenly hushed. Looking on, they watched as a young girl, about ten and seven years, came towards them.
Finally reaching the two twins, she bowed slightly. "Greetings," she said quietly.
"Greetings, Miss Botan," replied the two boys, as was the formal greeting for the judge Koenma's sister.
"I couldst not help but over hear thine talk," said she. "Pray, doth thee speak truly of these strangers? Art they truly staying in thy house with thee and the minister?"
"Ay," rejoined Bakura. "We speak truly so."
"I see. The name of the young man who came into town today…pray, canst thou sayeth again?"
"Kurama Misu."
"Kurama Misu…" repeated the girl. Tucking a strand of her golden brown hair behind her ear, she then asked, "And the name of his two sisters?"
"Chocolat and Tira."
She nodded. "Hast thou gotten to know them well?"
"Nay, not I," said Bakura. "Ryou, I believeth however, stayed with Kurama to converse for a moment before we came hither."
Turning to the quieter of the two, she asked, "Canst thou tell me more of them?"
"I would, if I were allowed to," replied Ryou. "However, both Father and Kurama himself hadst asked of my brother and myself not to speak of them."
She nodded again. "I understand," said she gently. Then, without another word, she bowed slightly to the two, then turned from them, walking out of the crowd and away from them.
All the teens there stared after her, silence looming over them all. Finally, Gateau stated, "That Botan be such a strange one."
"Ay," agreed Yusuke. "I believeth this was her first encounter with us."
"She's very lonely," stated Bra," yet she refuses to talk to anyone, save her brother."
"Then why doth she speak to us now?" inquired Ryou.
His twin scoffed. "Most likely she was asked by her brother to find information about Kurama and his family."
"Ay," Marik said, nodding. "Most likely she was."
The group of young adults continued to converse among themselves, touching on lighter, causal subjects, before they were dispersed by the minister to help with festival preparations.
TBC
[Chapter 3]