[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.
