[Kuwabara sits back at his desk and ponders.]
Kuwabara: Lets see, I’ll want to put in all my examples of discovering my best friend was a demon, oh and how the love of my life is one, too, and all the nasty things humans did to her. Leading up to how demons like the Toguro brothers use to be human and how humans like Sakyo and Sensui were the real ones causing trouble. That should turn the tables on their ideology.
[Shizuru walks in with some packets.]
Shizuru: How’s the paper coming?
Kuwabara: [irritated] I’m writing it.
Shizuru: Well, that’s good, but are you writing it right? No fragments, no run-ons, all your commas in the right places?
Kuwabara: Checkin’ it twice!
Shizuru: You better be! They’ll flunk you if you use the wrong ‘to.’
Kuwabara: Gosh darn it Shizuru! Why do you keep nagging me?
Shizuru: So you don’t slack off, but since you’ve been working so hard, how ‘bout a break?
[Kuwabara scoots his chair back.]
Kuwabara: [annoyed] Sis! I gotta get my thesis done! [smiles] But if you insist… [chuckles]
[Kuwabara reaches for the phone.]
Shizuru: Good. Take a break to fill these out!
[Shizuru tosses the packets to Kuwabara. They hit his outstretched hand. He tries to catch them with both hands and falls onto the floor. He rises.]
Kuwabara: [screeches] What? I don’t have time to fill out paperwork!
Shizuru: [aggressive] You’ll make time because without them, you won’t get into a good internship program!
Kuwabara: But my thesis is due!
Shizuru: And these applications have deadlines!
[Kuwabara grumpily gets back on his chair.]
Kuwabara: [mumbles] Are these really that important?
[Shizuru grabs Kuwabara by the collar.]
Shizuru: Hey! You’re going to need the experience if you expect to support yourself and your girlfriend and not be a deadbeat working for minimum wage! [releases Kuwabara, calm] The world out there is highly competitive. [hand reaches into pocket to hold Sakyo’s lighter] Even when you try your hardest, you don’t always get what you want. You need to be prepared so when the time comes, you can live up to your potential.
Kuwabara: [solemn] Okay Shizuru. I’ll do my best.
Shizuru: [shouts] Then stop arguing and get to work!
* * *
[Yusuke is chained up to an Energy Extractor in the room Rose used as the Cloaked Master. The room is now devoid of plants. Ootake observes soldiers’ activity out the window while rolling Yusuke’s ring around in the palm of his hand.]
Yusuke: You really should talk to your decorator. This place has gone downhill.
Ootake: Joke now, Yusuke, but soon, you and the rest of your kind will be gone.
Yusuke: [resentful] What do you mean?
Ootake: I’m sure you recall this machine you are in from before.
Yusuke: [sarcastic] Hardly recognize it.
Ootake: To refresh your memory, this is an Energy Extractor to suck out all your energy. When we fire your extracted energy from the orb it is stored in, it will disintegrate every demon in its path. Ironic, isn’t it; using demon energy to destroy the demons?
Yusuke: What’s your deal?
Ootake: [confident] Trust me. It’s for the greater good.
* * *
[Kurama is bound with spirit ropes to a chair in the secret spirit records room. Shunjun leans against the table in front of the fire.]
Kurama: So what do you plan to do with me?
Shunjun: That depends. Let’s see what we have here.
[Shunjun looks at papers in a file about Kurama.]
Shunjun: [reading] Kurama. Human alias, Suichi Minamono. Background originally unknown. [skimming] Hm, it looks like you did a lot for Koenma in the past. [shuffles through papers] This looks added. Ah, records of a Yoko Kurama. So you use to be a fox bandit. [reads, then clicks tongue] Oh, dear. It looks like you’ve already been here before. Policy states to give demons a second chance. Your first offense was sneaking around Spirit World as a spirit fox. Stealing the Forlorn Hope in your human form was your second. Had we known of the former back then, you would have been done away with already. Lucky for you, you proved profitable for Spirit World before this connection to Yoko was made…
[Shunjun tosses the file behind him. It burns in the fire.]
Shunjun: …but your luck has run out, as now you will cease to exist.
Kurama: You seem very sure of yourself for dealing with someone wiser.
Shunjun: I am privileged to be dealing with you again, spirit fox.
* * *
[Mukuro is strapped to the table with energy rings. Hiei is bound to the wall in a similar fashion. The SDF Guy struts around them.]
SDF Guy: What a catch. Wait until we get you back to Spirit World.
Hiei: If you live that long.
SDF Guy: Huh? What’s that?
[The SDF Guy punches Hiei’s face. Hiei turns his head, unfazed.]
SDF Guy: Not so sprite now that the tables have turned. How do you like being the one tortured?
[The SDF Guy punches Hiei’s stomach with electric shocks surging out. Hiei’s eyes widen and he clenches his teeth.]
Mukuro: [dark, interrupting] What do you plan to do with us in Spirit World?
SDF Guy: Well, that is confidential information. But seeing as you won’t remember it for long, I might as well tell you the beautiful grand scheme of things.
Hiei: [grunts] Won’t remember?
SDF Guy: [smug] Not after we alter your memories.
* * *
[Kayko is on the phone with Midori while both of them are trying to put their kids down to sleep.]
Kayko: Hey, Midori, is my husband there? I haven’t seen him since he left for work yesterday, and today was his day off.
Midori: No, I haven’t, Kayko. And Suichi hasn’t come home yet either. Do you think those two are up to something?
Kayko: They must be! Ooo! When will that boy learn to tell me before he goes off on some mission.
Midori: I thought they didn’t have those missions anymore.
Kayko: But it’s odd that they both disappeared.
Midori: Have you called Kuwabara yet?
Kayko: No. I’ll check his place next. [sigh]
[Brief moment of silence.]
Midori: Tell you what. Keep track of how long they’re gone. When they get back, we’ll leave them with the kids while you and I go have a girls night for twice as long.
Kayko: [chuckles] Thanks.
[Kayko hangs up the phone. Kazuki begins to fuss and Kayko begins to rock him.]
Kayko: There, there. It’s all right, little Kazuki.
