ramen i

"Hey, buddy!"

Yuusuke glanced up from the magazine he had been flipping through (only because there was an interview in it somewhere with Jin and Toya, and not because Ruka graced the cover, of course not). A blonde girl with a big red bow on her head stood at the counter, a glare on her face as she placed her hands on her hips. "Uh, yeah?"

"This the undercover spirit business?" She reached out and rapped her knuckles on the table. Yuusuke put away the magazine, trying to decide whether or not the girl was being rude. Well, a customer was a customer...

"Yeah, you need something, lady?"

"Yeah." The blonde splayed her fingers out as she leaned forward, slapping the counter this time. Yuusuke stared. "You need to shut that shit down."

"What the hell?" While he had been curious earlier, now he was just annoyed. He turned his back onto her, flipping on the television. "Get out of here before I get angry."

"I'm just warning you!" the blonde said. Yuusuke glanced over his shoulder to see that she was practically all over the counter. "See, I got a girl who's in the business too, so you need to pack up your things and get on out—"

"You've got to be kidding," Yuusuke said. He rolled up the magazine and started swatting at her. "Get off my counter, you batshit crazy—"

"—and no matter how much you pout your juicy little lips and blink those pretty brown eyes at me, I won't be afraid to put my foot down and kick your ass outta town!"

Yuusuke stared. "The hell did you just say to me?"

"You heard me." The girl stood back, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"Okay, first of all, if your friend was really that good, she shouldn't be having problems with business," Yuusuke said. "Second, you're the craziest—"

"Ugh, there you are."

Both Yuusuke and the blonde girl turned as the cover to the ramen stand rustled. A girl with dark hair and the oddest eyes stepped in, glancing around calmly. "Ramen again, Minako? You're going to die of a heart attack."

"Am not!" Blondie—Minako—protested. "Ami said my heart was doing fine, thank you very much. And how dare you accuse me of scrounging for food when I'm here to defend your honor?"

So this was the other girl? She didn't seem like she was that special. Then again, he wasn't exactly the spokesperson for Reikai either... Yuusuke gave her a look-over as she raised her eyebrows at her friend. Well, she was hot, at least. "Defending my honor?"

"Hey, the Goddess of Love has always got your back, Rei-chan." Blondie winked. Rei-chan rolled her eyes gloriously. Yuusuke assumed she did that often. "Anyway, this guy said he'd back off, so we're all good to go."

"Alright, lady, I don't care, I'm about to kick your ass," Yuusuke retorted once he caught her words. He gave her the ugliest look she could manage; she recoiled, eyes wide, clutching Rei's arm. Rei, however, yanked her arm away.

"You're kidding. After I already told you I don't have time for your stupid detective thing—"

"But Rei-chan," Minako whined. Rei cut her off abruptly.

"If you're so interested, why don't you do it yourself?"

Minako's lower lip wobbled. "Because I thought it was something we could do together..."

"Mina—"

"Besides, I can't even see the damn things," Minako quipped with a scowl on her face. "It's so unfair, why do black-haired people get all the fun?"

Rei rolled her eyes again. She glanced at Yuusuke, who was staring at them with the utmost expression of bewilderment. "I apologize for my friend, if she's said anything stupid to you."

"Uh," Yuusuke said, blinking. This wasn't at all what he'd expected. "Yeah, whatever. Just don't do it again."

Rei looked like she wanted to say something. Instead she looked back at Minako disdainfully. "You are so embarrassing."

"Just the way you like it," Minako said, flipping her emotions in a complete 180. Yuusuke wondered if that was healthy. "Anyway, Urameshi, right? I hope this doesn't mean we have bad blood, you know, 'cause I'd love to eat here one day."

She smiled at him, blinking her large blue eyes. Yuusuke scowled.

"Sure, you can eat here. I'll just charge you up the ass for everything you order."

Minako gaped. "Hey, what happened to our truce?!"

"What truce? I never signed anything!"

"Oh come on, don't tell me you weren't taken in by my pretty blue eyes—"

"Rei-chan, whatever your name is," Yuusuke said, "you'd better get your friend out of here before I hurt her."

"It's Hino," Rei said flatly, giving him a sullen look. "And don't boss me around. Minako, come on."

"Ouch, Rei!"

Yuusuke watched as Rei grabbed Minako and dragged her out of her seat. She proceeded to yank the blonde down the street, ignoring her—but before Yuusuke could dismiss the two as random weird girls, Rei glanced over her shoulder to look at him. He wasn't a psychic like Kuwabara, and he was nowhere near as intuitive as Hiei or Kurama, but he could have sworn that he felt something in that gaze of hers.

Just as abruptly as the moment had come, it passed when Minako spotted another ramen stand across the street. "Dude, Rei, you totally have to treat me after I saved your ass from last time!"

"Ugh," Rei grumbled as she broke eye contact and followed after her friend. Yuusuke scratched his cheek absently, wondering what that feeling was.

"Woah, who were they?"

Yuusuke blinked as Keiko flopped down into the vacant seat in front of him. He turned around and immediately began making her usual. "Some crazy chicks, I dunno, got on my nerves and didn't even order anything."

"Hmm," Keiko said, cupping her chin in her hands. "Maybe you really are getting popular, Yuusuke. Better cut it out before you put my family out of business."

"Yeah right, like I'd let that happen." Yuusuke flashed her a grin as he started slicing the pork. "I'd rather buy your shop so we could run it together."

Keiko was silent. Yuusuke paused, turning to face her. Her face was bright red.

"Hey, you okay? You're—"

"Shut up!" Keiko squeaked, patting her cheeks while looking everywhere except for at him. "You're burning my noodles!"

Easily distracted, Yuusuke whipped back around. She was right. "Ack! Sorry, Keiko!"

"Idiot," Keiko mumbled, but she was smiling all the while.

an just a series of shorts dealing with yuusuke, his ramen stand and the senshi. maybe there'll be a plot later, maybe not. standard disclaimers apply. enjoy!