[Back in the cave of Kurama’s siblings, the fox demons are gathered around a fire and feasting on meat. Kurama sits between Yokira and Okiya. He is calm amidst their devilish laughter.]
Okiya: [leaning on Kurama] Or how about the time we bristled [slipping down to lie on Kurama’s lap] our way into the palace at Delmas Kar and swiped [dramatically motioning with arm] the golden hairs of the conjuring warlock? Heh, heh. [pinching Kurama’s cheek] Little Yoko almost got caught then!
Osuko: Haha [takes a bite then waves bone towards Kurama] I loved our adventure of frying the Fellon Forest and all the globerknots in it! [throws bone into fire]
Endoya: [oozing] Oh but Little Yoko has long lived in the Human Realm! [reaches across to Kurama] He probably has plenty of stories to share! [caresses his face, leaving a trail of water]
Yokira: Not to mention Spirit World! [picks cup up and tilts it towards Kurama while looking at the others] You know, he’s even been inside King Yama’s most sacred, guarded vault! [takes a sip of thick red liquid]
Remayolo: [shows interest in the conversation for the first time] Oh really? [smirks] Did you botch that burglary up too?
Kurama: Actually, my associates and I were able to retrieve the Three Artifacts of Darkness unharmed.
Remayolo: [scoffs] I find that hard to believe.
Okiya: Can you show us? [sits up] Do you have the Orb of Baast here with you? [checks Kurama’s pockets]
Remayolo: [taunting] Yes, show us! [stands up and walks around out side the circle over to Kurama] I would be interested in the Shadow Sword myself. [looms over Kurama’s shoulder]
Kurama: [turns face away from Remayolo with a stubborn frown] I am afraid I cannot do that.
Remayolo: [straightens up] What?
Kurama: The artifacts have been returned to King Yama’s vault.
Remayolo: [crosses arms, closes eyes, and smiles] So you got caught after all!
Kurama: It’s not like that. I gave myself in.
Okiya: [hands resting on Kurama’s leg, stretching a pouting face up to meet his] Oh come now, why would you do such a senseless thing as that?
Kurama: [look of blatancy] After I made my wish upon the Forlorn Hope, I had no need of them.
Osuko: [eyes flicker] Imbecile. You could have had all the worlds begging at your feet!
Remayolo: [raises hand to silence Osuko] Wait a moment… [bends down, supporting arm on a knee and speaks into Kurama’s ear] you mean to say you made a wish on the Forlorn Hope and survived? [arises and laughs] How ludicrous. Such a hoax can only be expected from a fake. You must have feigned it.
Kurama: [unaffected] Think what you will.
Endoya: [dreamily] What did you wish for?
Kurama: That is in the past and of little importance to you.
Remayolo: Or more like the wish didn’t work and that is how you still breathe.
Yokira: [closed eyes] Oh, his wish came true, he wished for his human mother to recover from her deadly illness. I have seen that she has recovered and to this day she has remained in perfect health.
Kurama: [warningly] Yokira.
Yokira: It’s an interesting story; if you won’t tell it, then I will!
Osuko: You mean to tell us you gave your own life to save a human? Ha!
Kurama: Actually, I did not give my life as you can see I am still very much alive.
Remayolo: [pats Kurama’s head] But you were willing to do so. [rests hand on back side of Kurama’s head] Willing to give your life for this human…
[Kurama’s eyes go blank as Remayolo sees images of Shiori raising Suichi.]
Okiya: [while Remayolo is still reading Kurama’s memory] How sweet, she must have been something to make such a sacrifice...something scrumptious!
[Remayolo bears a devious smile as he removes his hand from Kurama and resumes his former position. Kurama remains in a daze.]
Endoya: [scoffs] So you’re trying to tell us that you [points to a finger] wished on the Forlorn Hope, [points to another finger] got your wish, [points to third finger] yet didn’t loose your life? [spreads out hands, sending out rain drops] That doesn’t hold water.
[A few drops land on Kurama’s face which brings him out of the trance. After shaking it off, he sits in silence and shrugs.]
Yokira: [nudges Kurama] Don’t be so modest. [explaining] He survived because the Spirit Detective who was sent to recover the items intervened by offering his own life!
Okiya: Oh! So you conned the detective to sacrificing himself in your place. [throws arms around Kurama’s neck] You’re so devious!
Kurama: [blinks] Actually, that was not my intention. Besides, the mirror chose to grant the wish without taking either of our lives.
Remayolo: [analyzing the story] Hmm…I think we’ve had enough reminiscing for the moment. [turns to Kurama] Brother? How about you change back into your true form so we can have some fun like in the old days?
Kurama: I would rather not, thank you.
Remayolo: How about for your mother? [reaches over fire and waves hand to create an image of Shiori’s smiling face in the middle of the rising smoke] The one that you were going to give your life for anyway?
[Kurama sits rigid, but Yokira stands up and faces Remayolo, almost to the effect of defiance, yet still an undertone of pleading.]
Yokira: You’d have to go through me first.
Remayolo: [turns] What?
Yokira: [averts eyes] I-I ensured his human mother’s safety if he would come visit us for a month, providing we still want him after the first week. [regains strength] So if you want to lay a finger on that woman, you’ll have to go through me.
Kurama: [smiles] Yokira.
Yokira: [weak smile] Devious we may be, but still honorable.
Remayolo: Indeed? [whisking the incident aside] Well then, we can spend this “first week” in reunion. [to Kurama, sinisterly] And in that time, I’m sure we will be able to alter your mind. [clap] Come siblings! Let us dance for our brother!
Okiya: Splendid! [materializes a pipe out of thin air and plays music]
Remayolo: That’s right. [claps the beat] Just like so.
Endoya: [gets up to join Yokira as they dance around the fire] Let’s show them how to do it sister!
Osuko: Oh yeah! [sways, moving the flames with him]
[The glistening fire effect causes the dancing shadows on the walls to flicker as the spirit foxes persist in merriment.]
* * *
[Outside on a grey edge of a cliff many demons sit on rocks waiting and preparing.]
Sukeyuay: Aw man! We didn’t get to learn anything useful yet!
Ehay: Hn.
Sukeyuay: Instead we get stuck with doing stupid initiations first!
Ehay: What did you expect? For them to tell everyone who cares? It wouldn’t be a secret then.
Sukeyuay: Well, Zerk the Jerk could have at least mentioned a clue or something.
Ehay: It sounded like he was mentioning something useful when you had to point out our old “friend” there. [tilts head towards Risho]
Sukeyuay: Well, excuse me! I thought it strange that he would be here. Do you think he might know more about this organization, something that interests him enough to bring him here?
Ehay: [shrugs] How would I know?
Sukeyuay: There’s one way to find out, [pounds fist into other hand] I’ll go and interrogate him!
Ehay: Now is not the time, fool.
Sukeyuay: How are we supposed to find answers if we don’t ask? I’m sure Modaruk would spill the beans.
Ehay: Use your brain! I thought you understood the importance of our mission.
Sukeyuay: [thinks; arms crossed] Hmm…I suppose if Modaruk just told us what is going on, then our covers would be blown. [brings up arm from crossing and extends index finger] But hey! If he’s on our side, why do I have to come along? Can’t he just sneak off to Kokou and tell her everything you guys want to know?
Ehay: Because fool, when the time comes all our talents will be exploited; we all have a part to play. We are doing more than just simply gathering knowledge.
Sukeyuay: Yeah, we’re getting freakish marks on our bodies.
Ehay: On these bodies, that’s all.
Sukeyuay: Oh yeah, this undetectable demon transformation thingy is pretty sweet.
Ehay: It won’t remain “undetectable” for long the way you keep bringing it up.
[A burley grayish-green demon approaches the demons gathered on the cliff. He is clothed like a task master with whip in hand.]
Initiatory Demon: [yelling] All right you slackers, the time has come to get this started!
