Standard disclaimer applies. As you already know, these characters 
except Tasuki and Bulma are created by our wonderful Yoshihiro Togashi-
sama. Actually, Tasuki is from Fushigi Yuugi and Bulma is from 
Dragonball, which in this fic is both the creators of ‘Occult Worshippers’ fic. 

Yaoi? Umm… guess… okay, you win. It is yaoi. Mild Yaoi. 

A fanfic by ~> Bulma Briefs and Tasuki-chan  

					***********

				   Occult Worshippers


The teacher smiled. "Minamino, you can be the prince," she 
announced. Noises were heard. "I wanna be the princess," said a girl 
named Yuri. The teacher smiled. "Chotto matte," she said, scanning the 
names in the file.

        Minamino had to attend the drama practice. Someone had written 
down his name and the teacher was so happy that he decided to join in. 
Telling the teacher that he wasn't interested was only going to break 
her heart.

        So he sighed, trying desperately not to find that idiot who 
signed up his name and give him to his Makai, flesh eating plants. And 
because of this, he had to stay back after school. 

        "Tasuki, you become the Emperor and Bulma, you can be the 
Empress," said the teacher. They nodded. Kurama glanced over at the two 
characters. Tasuki and Bulma. Both were the seniors of Meiow High School 
and seemed to be popular among them. Of course Kurama was popular too, 
but not many of the seniors know him well as he was only in form 2.

        Both faces were serene, almost serious. Smiled softly if were 
spoken to and gave very good response on everything. Looks like a couple 
of responsible students, just like Kurama himself. But looks can be 
deceiving. These two are the seniors' most cunning occult disciple Meiow 
High could produce. They have no bad intentions though. 

  	But no one knows…

        Tasuki and Bulma walked over to the table and looked at the 
script. They took it and handed it to everyone. 

        "Tasuki-san, Bulma-san, I want to go to the toilet. Can you take 
care of them first?" requested the teacher after she finished giving 
everyone their characters. 

        Tasuki nodded. Bulma took the script and flipped through the 
pages. "I am going to divide you guys into different groups. "Group 1, 
Palace inhabitants. Group 2, normal citizens and group 3, the bandits. 
You know which group you are in, and get into it now," she said. 

        All of them nodded. Kurama looked at his character. Must be in 
the 'Palace Inhabitants' group. He smiled, thinking of the way she 
represented it. She's weird. He decided.

        The Palace Inhabitants group consists of the Emperor, Empress, 
Bishop, Royal Guards, Prince, and a few other characters more.

        Tasuki smiled at Kurama. "Nice to have you here, Minamino-kun," 
he told Kurama. Kurama nodded. "Let's start by reading our lines. Follow 
who you are, don't mess up," said Tasuki.

        Bulma was first to speak, but then she paused. She looked out 
the window and frowned. Tasuki narrowed his eyes at her. "Daijobu, 
empress?" he asked, slightly smiling. Bulma turned back her attention to 
Tasuki. "Em… nothing. Can I talk to you later?" she asked. Tasuki 
nodded. "Yeah, sure…," he said.

        Kurama bit his lower lip. Did Bulma actually feel Hiei? Kurama 
knew he was out there. And what did he want?

        The teacher came back shortly afterwards and guided them. Kurama 
was new in this stuff and was having quite a hard time trying to 
impersonate the character's expressions and voice control. 

        He finally turned to Bulma for her help since Tasuki was too 
busy with repeating a line for another cast member. 

"To make your voice snotty…," she said, coming up with a jar of peanut 
butter and a spoon. She scooped a spoonful out. "Put this inside your 
mouth and stick it on your palate," she said, pointing at the roof 
inside of her mouth.

        Kurama put the peanut butter and placed it on his palate. He tried 
hard not to swallow it. Bulma looked at him. "Now, try saying… Hello," she 
suggested.

        Kurama swallowed and opened his mouth. "Hyelrow…," he said. Bulma 
smiled. "Try harder, practice makes perfect," she said and went over to 
the others.

        It ended at nearly 5 o'clock. Kurama rushed home to do his homework. 
"Tadaima, kaasan!" he called out. "Aa… Shuu-chan, why are you late?" asked 
Shiori. "Gomen kaasan, I was having a play practice in school," he said. 
Shiori smiled. "Have you eaten lunch?" she asked. Kurama nodded even though 
he hadn't eaten anything. He just had enough of peanut butter.

        Tasuki and Bulma were responsible for locking the hall after their 
use for the play. Bulma was clearing the tables when she saw a script book 
under a few other papers. She took it and looked at it.

        :… Shuuichi Minamino …: she read. :… Silly, you'll need this to 
practice. He must be in a hurry or something …: she said and took it 
together with his other papers.

        Tasuki and Bulma walked out of the school together. "Ano, what is 
it that you wanted to talk about?" asked Tasuki. "I felt an unusual qi 
just now. Not a reiki, but a youki," she told Tasuki. 

        "Really? What's it doing in the hall?" he asked. "No, it's not 
inside… but outside. Seems like it's looking over someone," she said. 
"Nah, don't worry. Maybe it's just another of those small devils," he 
smiled. Bulma nodded and shrugged. "But I think it has to do with Minamino 
Shuuichi," she added. Tasuki blinked. 

        Tasuki widened his eyes. "Honto ka?" he asked. Bulma shrugged. 
"It's just a maybe… I'm not too sure. But the worried looks on 
Minamino's face were… Nah, just forget it," she shrugged the subject 
off. Tasuki shrugged and touched Bulma's hand. 

        "Care to come to my house later this evening? I found a new 
spell in the basement," he told her, slightly smiling. Bulma returned 
the smile and nodded. "Yeah sure… but I wanted to find out more about 
this Minamino-kun. I think there's something more to it than a mere top 
junior student," she said in her normal suspicious tone.

        Tasuki laughed. "Yeah, and tell me weather if he's a youkai or a 
living dead," he joked and turned to the left to his house. "Ja na," he 
waved goodbye at his partner. Bulma nodded and walked to the park.

        :… Now what excuse can I come up with to see Minamino? …: she 
asked herself. Then her eyes gleamed excitedly. "Yeah, I'll just give 
him back his script book and dig some information from him," she said to 
herself, slightly giggling evilly.

        If this Minamino guy is a youkai or something associated to 
that, it'll be fun to ask him to join them.

        Kurama had even wrote his address on the script book. So that 
was a no problem in finding his house.

        "Ano Shuu-chan, kaasan would be… ah! Konnichiwa Hiei!" greeted 
Shiori as she went into the kitchen. She wanted to tell her son that she 
wanted to go and do some grocery shopping. Hiei gave her a small nod. 
"Kaasan is going to get some groceries. Take care, cook your own dinner 
would you? I think I would be late," she said, winking at her son. 

        Kurama nodded and smiled back. "Have a good time with Hatanaka-
san!" he hollered from the kitchen. Shiori blushed and closed the door 
behind her. 

        "What's with all that?" asked Hiei. "Kaasan is going out on a 
date," he told the koorime. "Date? Hn… ningens…," he muttered, walking 
over to the fridge. Kurama turned and put the tea on the table. "Now, 
eating that would spoil your appetite, botchan," he joked. "Shut up. I 
eat what I want," snorted Hiei and opened the carton of ice-cream.

        "Sweet snow…," he uttered almost amazingly like every time he 
opened the ice-cream carton. Kurama tossed him a spoon. "You love that 
so much, you can take it to bed with you," said Kurama sarcastically, 
sipping his tea.

        "Good idea," said Hiei sarcastically back. "I would love to 
cuddle up with sweet snow instead of a warm perverted fox whose always 
craving for sex," snapped the koorime. Kurama frowned. "That's not 
completely polite to say, Hiei," said Kurama. 

        Hiei looked at Kurama from the corner of his eyes. "I could tell 
you more 'polite' stuff if you want. Just keep annoying me while I eat 
this," he gritted his teeth. Kurama smiled. "You snotty little darling," 
sighed Kurama, sipping more of the tea.    

        Bulma pushed the doorbell and waited for a moment. "Looks like 
we have company Hiei," said Kurama, standing up heading for the door. He 
managed to brush his slender fingers between Hiei's hair as he passed 
the koorime who's busy eating ice-cream.

        Kurama opened the door and was met with solemn crystal blue 
eyes. "Ah, Bulma-san… ohairi," he invited her in, stepping aside to give 
her room. Bulma nodded and walked in. Kurama closed the door and smiled. 
"Is there anything I could help you?" he asked.

        Bulma paused as she sensed the exactly same youki. This time it 
was clearer and it was definitely in this very house. "I came to return 
your stuff you left in the hall," she uttered in a smooth liquid tone. 

        "Ano… doumo arigatou, Bulma-san. I was in a hurry just now," 
said Kurama, taking back his script book and papers. "Why don't you come 
and have tea with me in the kitchen," he offered. Bulma looked at her 
watch and shrugged. "Mochiroa, I still have time," she said.

        Bulma followed Kurama into the kitchen. There! that source of 
youki. That figure sitting over there… eating ice-cream?! What's wrong 
here? A devil eating ice-cream? Is Minamino raising youkais?

        Bulma eyed the little red eyed boy who seems to be eyeing her 
too. "Please, have a seat," said Kurama while making tea. She got a 
place across Hiei and narrowed her eyes at him. Hiei paused at shoving 
ice-creams and thought that this was a staring competition, deciding 
that he would participate in it. 

        Kurama came back and sighed. "Why Hiei… don't glare at people 
like that, would you?" he said. The angry youkai broke the stare and 
returned to his ice-cream. Kurama placed the tea in front of Bulma and 
she took it, sipping carefully.

        "Actually, I have another reason to come by," she said, still 
looking at the koorime from time to time. Kurama widened his eyes. He 
was sure there was something unusual with this girl and he's going to 
dig it. 

        "I know this guy was around before," she told Kurama. Hiei stop 
eating. He was finished and held the hilt of his katana that he placed 
on the chair next to him. 

        "He's that youkai just now, wasn't he?" asked Bulma. Kurama 
narrowed his eyes. "How did you know?" asked Kurama. Bulma smirked. "I'm 
an occult disciple. I could sense youkis and devastating reikis," she 
explained. 

        "My partner Tasuki is a powerful occult apostle. He had somehow 
managed to get powers as powerful as a higher B-class youkai," she told 
them. "B-class?" echoed Hiei. Bulma was surprised with the low tones 
that Hiei produced, despite his small lithe body.

        She nodded. "That's why I suspected that you're somehow 
connected to the youki outside just now and decided to check you out. 
Are you raising devils?" asked Bulma. 

        He stood. "He doesn't raise me! I…" but Hiei was silenced by 
Kurama who put a finger on his mouth. Bulma bit her lower lips. She 
could sense a very powerful youki rise just now from within Hiei's body.

        "He's dangerous," noted Bulma. "Okay, since we're in the same 
line… I might as well tell you. But don't get this spread all over 
school okay?" Kurama made a deal. Bulma smirked. "Does anyone in school 
knows I'm an occult disciple?" she asked Kurama. Kurama smiled.

        He told Bulma about who they really are and Bulma told Kurama 
and Hiei about Tasuki, who got challenged by a powerful Makai creature.  

        "I and Tasuki alone can't possibly win the challenge," said 
Bulma. "What's this challenge about?" asked Kurama. "Well, this woman 
named Mukuro had found me and Tasuki in her territory and captured us. 
We told her that we're just practicing occult humans and we're trying to 
understand devils. Tasuki told her that he's as powerful as a B-class 
youkai and she challenged him," Bulma told Kurama and Hiei. 

        Hiei stood up in mentioning Mukuro's name. "You know Mukuro?" 
asked Bulma, gesturing Hiei. Hiei smirked. "Well, you'll definitely 
loose," he said casually. "Why? We haven't tried yet," argued Bulma. 

        "She's an S-class. You're just B-class. It takes all the B-class 
youkais to defeat even an A-class. A B-class dreaming of defeating an S-
class youkai?" reasoned Hiei. 

        Bulma bit her lips. "Well, when we agreed to the challenge we 
didn't know that she was an S-class demon! Oh great! What am I going to 
do now?! Tasuki will be fried for sure!" Kurama took a glance at the 
koorime but Hiei's face remained expressionless, as if he didn't have 
any care in the world. "Maybe we can help you," Kurama hinted, still 
looking at Hiei, who’s stubbornly remaining silent. Bulma frowned then 
stood up. "I have to tell Tasuki about this! Can I use your phone?" 
Kurama nodded and pointed the phone out to her. Grabbing the receiver 
she dialed Tasuki's number.

"Moshi-moshi?"

"Hello Tasuki! This is Bulma. We are in very big trouble!"

"Huh? Why?"

"Mukuro's an S-class demon!"

"Nani?! Y-you're not serious?!"

"Well I got it from a reliable source that..."

	All the while Bulma was on the phone with Tasuki, Kurama and Hiei 
meanwhile were having a whispered argument of their own. 

"Well, why didn't you say anything? This is Mukuro they are 
talking about! You know very well they don't stand a chance against 
her!" 

Hiei shrugged. "Well, what do you want me to say? It's not like I 
could do anything about it!" Kurama frowned at him. "You could talk to 
Mukuro. You know she'd listen to anything that you would have to say." 
Hiei answered him with a small "Hn" and continued sulking in silence at 
the table. 

Kurama was about to say more when Bulma-san appeared at the 
doorway, a sad expression on her face. "Tasuki told me not to worry; 
that he would train hard to beat Mukuro but we all know that's near to 
impossible!" She slumped down on the chair, shaking her head, "I just 
wish there was some way to help him!" Kurama bit his lip; he felt sorry 
for Bulma and a little bit irritated at Hiei's insensitivity. 

Hiei meanwhile just sat in his chair like a lump, the ice cream 
dripping on the tabletop unnoticed by now. 

Bulma then looked up, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Even 
S-class demons have their weaknesses right? I mean, there must be 
something that can stun her at least just a bit, right?" Kurama raised 
an eyebrow at her. 

"What I mean to say is," Bulma said, trying to explain herself, 
"That if there are any visible weaknesses you know about Mukuro I would 
be forever grateful if you could tell me! It would help Tasuki a lot, 
you know..." Kurama took another glance at Hiei and when he didn't 
respond, Kurama turned back to Bulma and asked politely, "Would you like 
to stay for dinner? Maybe then we can figure out a way for you both to 
get out of this." Bulma nodded her thanks and Kurama went about setting 
the table up. 

Trying to be a good host, Kurama served the food first before 
letting his guest get back to the problem. When they were both finished 
eating Kurama leaned back against his chair and Bulma looked at him 
worriedly. Kurama shrugged, catching sight of the expression on her 
face. "Well, I don't know Mukuro much so I am not really the right 
person to ask," he admitted with regret. Bulma leaned forward, "Even any 
small piece of information I can use, I'd be very glad," she prodded. 
Kurama scratched his head. "Well, I know she's a Makai warlord and one 
of the three main rulers of the place." Bulma's eyes widened and she 
slumped back. "Oh, that's certainly going to help!" she said 
exasperated, "Now I really feel doomed!" 

"Hey, it's okay!" Kurama said soothingly, patting her back, "Don't 
worry. I told you we'll try to find a way out of it for you guys. Just 
head home and take a rest, Bulma-san. You look like you really need it!" 

Bulma stood up, a sad expression on her face. She waved goodbye to 
her two hosts. Kurama walked her out to the door, trying hard to cheer 
her up. When he had seen her off down the road he returned to the 
kitchen to find Hiei's place empty and Hiei himself gone. Sighing, 
Kurama picked the dishes up and started to rinse them out. When he had 
finally rinsed out the last dish, Kurama headed upstairs for a small 
nap. 

He had just changed into a fresh new pair of clothes when he heard 
the doorbell ring from downstairs. Wondering who would be ringing the 
doorbell at this time, Kurama trudged downstairs to open the door, only 
to find a very worried looking Bulma standing outside.

"Gomen nasai," she told Kurama before he had the chance to say 
anything, "But I passed by Tasuki's house just a few minutes ago and he 
wasn't home. H-he… he left me a note instead…" Kurama cocked his head to 
one side. "Well, what did it say?"

"He's gone to finish up Mukuro!" Bulma screeched, almost on the 
bridge of hysterics, "Right after I called he left and he didn't tell me 
anything about it because he didn't want me to get hurt. He knew that if 
he had dragged me along both of us would have had to suffer, but instead 
he just left himself so I would be kept safe. Kurama, we have to do 
something! Tasuki's gonna die if we leave him in the hands of Mukuro!" 

Kurama nodded. "Stay calm," he told her, "We'll help him don't 
worry… just stay calm, okay?" Bulma nodded. "So how long ago did he 
leave?" Kurama asked. Bulma frowned. "He's been gone for hours already 
and I took so many detours on the way home that I didn't get to Tasuki's 
house that fast. I wasn't even planning to go but something just told me 
to check on him. Imagine if I didn't, he'd be Tasuki-toast by now!" 

"Who said he wasn't already?" Kurama told her. "Kurama!" she 
belted out as he laughed. "I'm just kidding," he told her, "Just let me 
lock the doors and we're out of here!"

Tasuki panted as he tried to support himself from the ground. He 
was covered with lacerations and had a billion head wounds slashed 
across his face. Well, it felt like a billion anyway as his head started 
throbbing like mad. Mukuro meanwhile stood her ground a few feet away 
from him, a triumphant smile on her lips. "It's not everyday I get a 
sparring partner as determined as you," she told him smiling wryly, "But 
I always get my way in the end anyway so it's time to say your last 
good-byes, twerp, before I finish you off." 

Tasuki pushed himself back up to his feet, his balance just a bit 
rocky. "I told you, I'm not giving up!" he gasped out. Mukuro gave an 
evil laugh and shrugged," Suit yourself. It's not my funeral!" Mukuro 
put her hands together, forming a very strong qi-ball to hurl at him 
while Tasuki tried to stand his ground. So busy were they both to win or 
stay alive that they didn't notice a rustle in the bush. One look at 
Tasuki and Bulma let out a high pitched scream. Before Mukuro could 
react, Bulma stood squarely in front of Tasuki to protect him and  
raised her hands forward. "Cha ah no su ma!" she chanted and hurled a 
gigantic qi-blast that looked like a spiral electric wave at Mukuro. 

Taken by surprise, Mukuro’s qi-ball exploded right in her face, 
sending her slamming into a tree. When she didn't get up, Bulma shivered 
and dropped limply to her knees. Tasuki crawled over to Bulma and put 
his arm around her while she continued shivering. "What are you doing 
here?!" he hissed. 

Bulma shrugged. "Well, it's not as if I didn't save your life you 
know. If I didn't come when I was supposed to do, you think you'd still 
be alive right now?" she shot back. 

Tasuki smiled at her softly. "So go already. I can manage. Thanks 
a lot, okay? Now go!" 

Bulma pulled away from him. "Well, thanks a lot! Is that how you 
repay an act of kindness?! You know, you're to stubborn for your own 
good Tasuki. Can't you get it in your thick skull that you can't beat 
her alone!" she told him angrily. Tasuki frowned. "It's not that, 
Bulma," he told her seriously and shaking, he stood up, moving in front 
of her. 

"Mukuro isn't dead yet or even hurt in the least bit, I think. 
Something fishy is going on here and I'm telling you...I don't really 
like the smell of things." Bulma looked around. She saw Mukuro move a 
little but… that was it! 

She was about to give Tasuki another reprimand when something, or 
‘someone’ zipped past her. 





To be continued… ^_^

Send your comments, death threats, praising to…

Tasuki-chan
UIN# 10102128
kimiento@hotmail.com

Bulma Briefs
UIN# 13254597
bulma_v_briefs@hotmail.com
https://members.tripod.com/~Bulma_Briefs/manga_mansion.html