Previously Kurama was greeted with a bullet to the chest in which Midori sacrificed her health to heal. Summoned by mysterious notes, the gang soon gathered at Kurama’s home to find a new threat to the world. They set out for the Foliage Fortress in attempts to divert this threat and were ambushed by none other than the kids of the first spirit detective. Joining forces, they enter the fortress together but what awaits them and why were they forewarned of this impending danger?
Episode 16 : Betrayal
[Kaisei and Fubuki lead Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei through hallways composed of plants. Occasionally hands extend to push aside protruding limbs.]
Kaisei: Let’s see, we should make a right here.
[The group rounds the corner.]
Yusuke: [muttering] Hey Hiei, do you think Kurama is keeping close by, or scouting up ahead to make sure these brats don’t steer us the wrong way?
Hiei: It is hard to tell while his presence is masked. Judging the correct way is also hard since this labyrinth is alive.
[A vine makes a rattling noise as it rises up and over Kuwabara’s shoulder. Kuwabara looks over at it and his face turns blue.]
Kuwabara: [gulp] Oh, geeze! This place is creepy!
[Kuwabara rips the vine off and stomps on it. The vine slithers back to its root and reattaches itself. A bunch of vines also start rattling and coming away from the wall towards the gang.]
Fubuki: You better hurry up guys or we’ll leave you behind!
Hiei: [to Kuwabara] Keep going, don’t let them distract you.
[Yusuke and Hiei pass Kuwabara. Eyeing the rattling vines, Kuwabara bypasses the bunch. The vines slither along the walls and ground, following the group.]
Kuwabara: Yeah, easy for you to say. I bet if we had a torch, these demon plants would open a path right to the center for us. [falling] Ack!
[Yusuke and Hiei turn to face Kuwabara.]
Yusuke: Wow, Kuwabara. Getting so old you forget how to walk?
Kuwabara: No, I was tripped!
Yusuke: [sarcastic] Yeah, sure.
Hiei: If you’re going to make up an excuse, make it a good one.
[Hiei and Yusuke keep walking. Kuwabara looks back to find a vine wrapped around his ankle. Another vine slithers by to wind up Yusuke’s leg, causing him to fall as well.]
Yusuke: [falling] Hey-AH!
[Yusuke rises to his knees. The rattling noise increases as more vines emerge to wind themselves around Kuwabara and tie him to the floor. More drag Yusuke towards a wall. Some vines from the opposing wall fight their way around Hiei. All three grunt as they struggle to get out of the tangled plants.]
Kaisei: [calling] Hurry up! We’re not waiting for you any longer!
Fubuki: [calling back] Seriously, you old geezers are so slow!
Yusuke: Stupid kiddie brats! We’re not old! Just [struggling] tied up at the moment.
* * *
[The gang’s struggling can be seen on a screen in Koenma’s office.]
Koenma: [thoughtfully] Old geezer? [pleasantly] Ha, take that Yusuke! Serves you right for all the times you called me a toddler!
George: Uh, sir? Shouldn’t you be more worried about the vines?
Koenma: The vines aren’t the ones being called names.
George: But they’re trapping the guys.
Koenma: Take a chill pill, Ogre. You should know by now that something simple like that won’t keep our boys down.
[George looks down to see Koenma’s feet knocking nervously under his desk.]
George: [sarcastically] You’re confidence is reassuring, sir.
* * *
[The vines continually wrap around Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Hiei as they struggle to break free.]
Yusuke: What is with these vines? Every one I tear out, ten more take its place!
Kuwabara: Perhaps it is because we’re struggling? If we relax, maybe they’ll stop.
Hiei: Just give up and let them choke us to death? I’ll pass.
Kuwabara: I’m serious guys! It’s like a Chinese finger trap puzzle. The more you struggle to get out the more of a strain you put on yourself. Naturally one defends when attacked. So intruders will be caught, while the person knowing the secret can easily get out.
Hiei: And what makes you so sure these weeds are one of those puzzles?
Kuwabara: I got a feeling, okay? Trust me.
Yusuke: Sure, Kuwabara, you first. If the plants don’t eat you alive, we’ll know it works.
Kuwabara: Why do I hafta be the guinea pig?
Yusuke: ‘Cause it’s your idea!
Kuwabara: We should do it together as a team. Your movements are tensing up the vines over here!
Yusuke: Well I’m sorry. I can’t seem to relax when my personal space is being invaded by hissing vines that are trying to choke me!
Kuwabara: Just take a deep breath. If that doesn’t work, I’ll sing a lullaby.
Hiei: For sanity’s sake, don’t.
[Kuwabara stops struggling, takes a deep breath, and closes his eyes. Yusuke and Hiei clench their mouths as they refrain from fighting against the vines. More vines wrap around them, pulling each closer to the wall or floor that the vines are pulling from. Kuwabara exhales calmly as the vines pull him through the floor.]
Yusuke: KUWABARA!
[Kuwabara disappears as the vines on the ground stop moving.]
Hiei: The fool is gone.
[Yusuke and Hiei resume their attempts to push the vines back. Yusuke begins to power up, using his energy to push them back, but the vines pull him through the wall and Hiei through the opposing wall. The hallway is still.]
* * *
[Koenma and George blankly stare at the scene shown on the screen.]
George: I thought you said our boys could handle it.
Koenma: [sweating] Well, they could have. They must not have used their resources properly.
George: Why didn’t the detectives go back and save them?
Koenma: Their prudent desire to not be slowed down blinded them to the danger the others were in.
George: Should we check on them? Maybe they don’t realize the others are no longer following?
Koenma: If silence doesn’t tip them off first. Oh, well, I guess they’re on their own now.
[Koenma searches for his remote and pulls it out. He pushes a button. The screen goes blank.]
George: But if someone experienced like Yusuke didn’t make it through, how can you expect them to?
Koenma: We’ll just have to trust them. [looks at screen, pushes button again] Come in! [pushes the button again hard] I said come in! [continuously pushing the button] Come in! Come in! Come in! Come in! Come in!
George: Uh, Koenma sir, what are you doing?
Koenma: [irate] I can’t get a lock on the detectives!
George: Do you think that could be because of whatever is covering up that mysterious power is now covering them up too?
Koenma: That’s nonsense! Power and screening are two different things. A spiritual storm must be interfering with the reception! I knew we should have switched to digital.
George: Maybe we should check other stations to see if they’re coming in?
Koenma: [brooding] Hm…
* * *
[Kaisei and Fubuki continue up the path in the plant-filled labyrinth.]
Kaisei: We’re almost there!
Fubuki: We’re making pretty good time without those dummies slowing us down.
Kaisei: We’ll have this case closed before those dummies even catch up!
[The detectives laugh. A shadowy cloaked figure appears in front of them. They look at it seriously.]
Cloaked Figure: I see you made it past the rattlesnake vines. How unfortunate for you.
***COMMERCIAL BREAK***
[Kuwabara falls into a room filled with vegetation.]
Kuwabara: Ow. Eh. Well, I’m still alive. [looks around, calling out] Hey guys, are you around? [no answer; starts walking] Told them that the bad guy probably wanted to split us up…[passes some demon berries growing on a wall and his tummy grumbles] Oh, man! I haven’t eaten since breakfast! I bet Kurama would know if this stuff is edible for humans. [keeps walking] After all, there are some pretty dangerous plants out there. I bet all these demon ones are ten times worse! [bends over a bush in the middle of the path] Leaves of three, let it be! I should stay away from that stuff. [sees berries that resemble small grapes nearby and tummy lets out a loud grumble, shouts] I am so hungry!
[Some bushes rustle to the side. Kuwabara turns his head and catches some movement.]
Kuwabara: Huh? Hey, is that you Kurama? I mean, I’m glad to have someone else around, but you know I can see you, right?
[Kurama comes out of the bushes and walks up to Kuwabara.]
Kurama: Oh, sorry. I suppose I was distracted.
Kuwabara: Really? By what?
Kurama: Nothing of real consequence. I couldn’t help but overhear you talking to yourself; if you’re hungry, I know of some human safe food nearby. Come this way.
[Kurama leads Kuwabara around plants.]
Kuwabara: Oh good, you’re a lifesaver! After I settle my stomach, we can focus on regrouping.
Kurama: An excellent idea.
Kuwabara: And then we’ll find our way to the center of this.
Kurama: That should be the easy task.
Kuwabara: Really? You mean you figured out how to navigate through here?
Kurama: Naturally. The trick is simple once you realize it.
Kuwabara: Awesome! We’ll be home in time for dinner!
[Kurama stops. Kuwabara also stops. Kurama waves a hand towards some vegetation at their feet.]
Kurama: Here we are.
Kuwabara: Sweet! [looks down] Uh, what is it?
Kurama: Kohlrabi. It is a human hybrid vegetable, kind of like a cabbage. The stem is edible, and it’s high in vitamin C.
Kuwabara: Nutritious, huh? I hope it tastes just as good. Good thing I ran into you.
[Kuwabara bends down to pick the kohlrabi. Kurama’s eyes twinkle and giant leaves grow and wrap up Kuwabara.]
Kuwabara: HEY, WHAT GIVES? Kurama! Get me out of this!
[Kurama chuckles and brings a closed hand out of his pocket.]
Kurama: I’m sorry, it may be easier if you were unconscious from this point out; but don’t worry. I’ll get you to the center where you want to be. And the others should join you shortly.
[Kurama opens his hand and blows pollen towards Kuwabara. Kuwabara starts to look sleepy.]
Kuwabara: What…are you…do-…
[Kuwabara blinks his eyes then slowly closes them as the scene blurs and fades out.]
* * *
[The shadowy cloaked figure that confronted Kaisei and Fubuki travels down an earthy corridor. Kaisei and Fubuki are tied up, swinging on either side from the cords supported around the cloaked figure’s shoulders. The figure enters a dark stony room, and another cloaked figure turns to acknowledge the arrival.]
Cloaked Figure: Master, I caught these two children prowling around the fortress.
Cloaked Master: [deep feminine voice] Such a shame.
Cloaked Figure: What shall I do with them?
Kaisei: Excuse me! Don’t talk about us like we’re not here! You should let us go and then we’ll show you who’s boss around here!
Fubuki: Yeah! You wouldn’t have caught us if we knew about that sleazy trick of yours!
Cloaked Master: Tsk, tsk, tsk. Ignorant children.
Kaisei: This is your only warning. Stop your mischief and let us go, or face the consequences!
Cloaked Master: Pity. [addressing the detectives] You two weren’t supposed to be here.
Kaisei: Wha-
Cloaked Master: This party was by invitation only. [addressing the cloaked figure] Oh well, M7, I guess we’ll have to make arrangements. Set them in the corner.
M7: Yes, master.
[The Cloaked Master raises her right hand towards the corner; One finger bears an emerald ring that has a glowing, rose-shaped ruby attached. M7 walks over, the cords around his shoulders drop Kaisei and Fubuki, and then he steps back. The Cloaked Master flicks her hand up, and bamboo chutes shoot from the ground to cage the detectives.]
Cloaked Master: I’ll use resources here to deal with these two. Now go to the canyon; we’ve already lost enough time as it is.
M7: Yes master.
Cloaked Master: I hope we don’t have any more surprise visitors.
* * *
[Koenma sits back in his office chair with his hands folded across his stomach.]
Koenma: [sighing] Ayame, has the analysis come back yet about that energy?
[Ayame appears through the wall, carrying a clipboard of data sheets.]
Ayame: None yet, sir. All the possibilities of it being a threat come out as negative when run in the scenarios.
Koenma: So this must be a new form of energy that is being stored and hidden.
Ayame: There are still some more tests to run.
Koenma: Well, keep it going and try to figure out what it is. We can’t counter it if we don’t know at least that much!
Ayame: Yes, sir.
[Ayame bows and exits through the wall.]
Koenma: [calling out] And get someone to check on the viewer’s reception. What am I suppose to do about this if I can’t see what’s going on?
George: Perhaps all the paperwork that has been piling up?
Koenma: How can you think of that mundane stuff at a time like this?! If we don’t get this crisis solved, we’ll have paperwork to keep us busy for the next forty thousand years!
George: Whoa! Really that much?
Koenma: That’s what I said.
George: This is really serious.
Koenma: Of course it is! Now go check on the antenna!
* * *
[The Cloaked Master has her hands raised to the corner where the detectives were placed, which now has plants weaved into a tight surface around the area. Kurama enters, dragging a rolled up Kuwabara.]
Kurama: I have one of them.
[The Cloaked Master waves her right hand as the ruby rose of her ring glows.]
Cloaked Master: About time plans started falling into place. Hook him up to the Energy Extractor and set it to maximum. His energy should make a useful contribution to our Death Beam.
[Kurama crosses with Kuwabara, but stops while passing the Cloaked Master.]
Kurama: [whispers] Seeing me didn’t surprise him, master.
Cloaked Figure: Is that so? That can only mean one thing. He will certainly cause a problem for us. No matter, we must work harder. For now only time will be on our side.
Kurama: Yes, master.
[Kurama continues walking. The Cloaked Master turns, and Kurama stops.]
Cloaked Master: Actually, have the Energy Extractor a few notches below maximum so we can keep this one alive for a bit.
Kurama: As you say.
[Kurama resumes walking. Freeze frame.]
Narrator: Entered as a group, but now split apart. Divide and conquer works against our heroes as an ally has defected to the terrorist power. But by what motive does the foe operate, and who will prevail in the end?
“Hey it’s Yusuke here. So doofus-brain fell for the oldest trick in the book; what are they teaching him at that university he’s going to? Well, while Kuwabara’s wasted, I’m in a wasteland of my own but at least I don’t have to hike it! And Kurama? What’s his deal? If you ever wondered what it would be like if the two of us fought: yeah, sit tight because next time you’ll get to find out. I mean, I’m curious too, but couldn’t he have picked a better time to try his skills against mine? Take away the time constraint, and we’d have a pretty sweet fight on our hands. So take advantage of this and tune in to see what happens next time on YuYu Hakusho Beyond!"
