Koenma looked over the mercenary's record. It was far too long for a person that young. He sighed, and glanced back over the name and completed missions chart. D, huh? What kind of name was that? Though he knew all too well it was probably code for something, he hardly cared what for. Better yet, he tried to imagine what kind of power the Japanese Spirit World would have if this, well, teenager, completed their research. What good could come of it? But no, he had no choice over hiring them. His father had recommended them, after all. Their bloodline, too, was impressive. He sighed once more before ringing in his ogre, George.

"Yes, Koenma-sama?" The blue, horned, servant of the Spirit World said stumbling in with another stack of papers Koenma needed to sign.

"Find and hire them." The toddler like ruler commanded. George put the papers on Koenma's desk, then took the file he was given.

"Right away, Koenma-sama." George was then ushered out of the room, with the file in hand, sent off on yet another task. On his way to find a ferry girl to give him a ride to the human world, he glanced over the thin folder. D? Poor child had such a poor name, he thought simply. But then, glancing over the rest of the packet, he saw who the recommendation was from. Gulping, with his eyes nearly popping out of his head as he reread it, he briefly pondered if he was going to be cremated or not when he was dead. Then, shoving the file under his arm, he found a ferry girl to give him a ride. Thanking her profusely, he didn't hesitate to tell her that if he wasn't back within the week, that they should have a funeral service for him, and that she was invited.

----------- ---------- ----------

George was quite the happy fellow the afternoon he was set to meet D, after all, should he die, all arrangements were in order. His mother would be sent a sweet letter explaining his death, and a new batch of flowers for her garden, and his little sister would get whatever came out of his life insurance to go to her schooling. Yes, he was quite satisfied by the plan, and so, sitting down on a park bench in the middle of America didn't bother him at all. He wasn't even bugged by the staring that some mothers gave him. But time came and went, and shuffling in his huge overcoat, he wondered if this D would ever come out. Soon the park was empty except for he, and standing up to stretch his sore muscles, he saw a dark figure heading toward him slowly along the road. The figure wasn't small, but wasn't large either. It was around human size, though he couldn't see much, even with such a bright moon out. He sat back down on the bench, waiting for it to come close enough to talk to. His nerves were staring to get to him, and soon enough, he had to gulp to keep his heart down. The figure walked up along the gravel road, and when it reached him, he watched it all too closely. It sat down, folding one leg over the other, and leaned back. Now the bench wasn't large, and George being an ogre, he took up a good half of it. But the figure fit well in the middle of the other half, it seemed comfortable.

"Beautiful moon out tonight, isn't there?" It said voice mellow, neutral. George couldn't tell if it was or wasn't a guy. He gulped, his response was to the point.

"How much would it cost to have you come complete your research for us?"

The figure chuckled, its chest shaking slightly with amusement. "Straight to the point, now aren't we?"

George tensed further, wondering if this was his end. Seeing this, the figure laughed a little more, the stopped to tell their response,

"I'd say a good quarter million, American dollars, upfront fee. Then a 100,000 per year that I work, for research fees, of course, I expect an annual examination of progress, those things are common, right? Then a million or two, however much I need at the time of task completion."

George near fainted on the sight, he had no idea what type of research this person was doing, but that wasn't a lot of money. He swallowed to clear his throat, then asked the last thing he needed.

"That's no problem, when and where will we be expecting you to show up, and will you live in Japan?" He soon got his response.

"I'll live in Japan, probably an apartment. I'm a swift learner, so I'll take lessons. You will see me when you see me, no more than a week from tonight. See you then, George." Then the figure got up and walked away. As if it was a ghost, George paled dramatically. When did he tell them his name?

---------- ---------- ----------

D inwardly sighed as she waited for Enma's son to see her. She had been here for 30 minutes already, and he was still stamping away at those papers of his. Then, she watched as he blinked, then turned his head to stare up at her. She knew what he saw didn't look like anything he had seen, but a human. Meaning, her gender was untellable. Of course, she was wearing a pretty long trench coat, and her bandana was wrapped in a way about her head to show none of her brown hair at all, as it shadowed her blue eyes. It's not as though she liked dressing this way, it's just she found that more people respected her as an equal if she looked like a man. He blinked again, as if he was wondering what stranger would have the nerve to interrupt him and his important work, before it hit him. She was D. The real, true, in person, D. Of course, he gulped and sat back in his chair, before folding his arms over his chest, trying to look as composed as possible, for a good first impression, of course. Clearing his throat, he spoke.

"D, am I correct?" He watched as the teenage human nodded.

"Well, as you probably already know, I'm Koenma. You must not know much Japanese, so I'll speak in English, do you understand?" He watched as the, as he had now decided it, boy, smirked, then nodded again.

"Well, a bank account, with the Spirit Worlds United Bank, has been opened and has your money in it. It's international, so you can use it anywhere; it's similar to the debit system, so you can spend any time. It takes on the form of the most popular debit card out there, so you can use it in both the Human and Spirit Realms. Your pay will be added to it, if you have any problems, we have many Spirit World Bankers, even a few in this very building."

Well, that's useful, D thought, and nodded to show he may proceed, which he did.

"It seems you're very wanted for a mercenary, so I find that you do other jobs while still researching is acceptable. However, there will be a yearly check to see your progress; it seems you were aware that that'd be necessary." He paused, glancing downward, before continuing, "Your record is credible, and it shows that you've worked on both sides, the government and the, well, other side. If that's all, where will you be staying?"

"An apartment in the human world, that's all you really need to know. I'll come here whenever I feel the need." D answered calmly, in perfect Japanese. Looking at the princes shocked expression; she coolly turned around and walked out of his office. Yes, he'd be hearing from her very soon.

---------- ---------- ----------

D stepped up the stairs easily, there was only 17; she had counted earlier. Her apartment was on the second floor of a small, downtown apartment building. Well, her main one was, at least. She had three stationed across Japan, this was in the middle of the most spiritually saturated area. The gray concrete outside flooring, and the eastern design style reminded her of America, so she had rented it. The door was a dark green color, with the door handle a shiny steel color; she took it all in as she walked inside. Immediately to her left was a small living room, with two couches facing each other and a coffee table in the middle. To her right was a bar, with three seats. It was the kitchen area, which she had previously stocked with the necessities for cooking. Straight ahead there was a small hallway, which led to a bathroom door to the right, laundry room to the left, and her bedroom door, the middle one. She walked straight ahead and opened the door to her bedroom, which held very little. A small chest of drawers, with a king mattress on the floor beside it, and a small lamp on the floor to the other side of the bed. This was her new sanctuary. She fell unto the bed, and sighed contently. This is going to be great, I'm away from everyone I used to know out here, and no one I don't want to know can reach me, she thought blissfully. Slumber came to her quickly, at least, quicker than before.

---------- ---------- ----------3 months later.

D climbed the steps to Genkai's temple, those endless, endless steps. She knew she wouldn't pass out from exhaustion, but she sure did feel like it. Finally, when she reached the top, she felt the rewards of her efforts already. The old lady that lived here had a great amount of spiritual energy, she could feel it. She smiled, allowing the residue waves of spirit energy that was left wherever someone went to hit her. She examined it inwardly; it had a definite feel about it, as all spirit energies do. Everyone's was different and unique, and this was no exception. Yet, she couldn't help but sense the feeling of death coming off of it. Not like fresh blood was spilt here recently, then she would feel more traces than one, but the feeling that whoever's trace this was, was close to death. She almost pitied the lady, but then, she hadn't met her yet. D walked up to the temple, and stepped up unto the surrounding walk way carefully. She lifted her hand in a fist, about to knock, when the door slid open.

"Idiot, you don't knock on sliding doors." An old lady with graying pink hair, and a lot of wrinkles said. She was on the short side, probably around 4'. But of course, that didn't stop her from having an extremely fierce look to her.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't know that, I'll keep it in mind. I'm D, and I want to know if you, Genkai-sama, would be kind enough to answer a couple questions for me?" D said, rubbing the back of her head.

"I know who you are, and don't try that innocent crap with me. I've heard all about you." Genkai stated, staring up a D. D decided something at that precise moment. She would Never, Ever, pity this lady. Not even when she died. Genkai turned around and walked back inside.

"You coming or not, American?" Genkai yelled back at D.

Pausing, and tilting her head, D chose to follow, being sure to take off her shoes at the entrance. After jogging to catch up with Genkai, she followed her into an empty room, where there was already tea set out for two. Genkai sat down, grabbed her tea took a sip of it, and sat it back down. Looking annoyed, she snapped at D.

"What are you, an imbecile? Sit down and drink your tea!" Jumping, D did what her elder said, well, the sitting down part, at least. She didn't drink tea much.

"Well, what did you want to know?" Genkai asked, staring at D.

"Well, the truth is, I would like to see you perform Reihado, I need to see it before I ask anything else." D said simply, this was just research; she needed to see what type of vibrations came off and went in when such a powerful move was done.

"Not on your life, kid. If that's all you wanted, then leave. I have better things to do than amuse little brats." Genkai snapped. D twitched, she hadn't been called a brat since, well, a long time. But she was still persistent; she really needed to see it.

"Please, I need to see it for my research! I'm working with the Spirit World! I would never use it!" D was almost begging with her tone. She really wanted to see it; it was for the betterment of her research.

Genkai hardly seemed the least bit moved. "I'll tell you what kid, when I find a good successor, you can try to rip it off of them, but not from me."

D blinked, successor? She hadn't heard of that yet. So the old lady needed one, eh? Smiling, she stood up. "Alright, will do. Please, do tell me when you find one, I would like to examine their process of training, the information would be invaluable. Besides, if their good enough to be your successor, perhaps they're good enough to survive a couple of my tests. I'll be in contact." With that, she turned around and started to leave.

Genkai watched her leave, before smirking to herself. So this was how the word would get out, is it? It amused her, to see such a young girl, well she thought it was a girl, be so content with so little. But then again, she might just keep in contact, because if she really was working for the Spirit World, they would need to.

---------- ---------- ----------3 weeks later

Genkai picked up the phone and dialed the number Koenma had given her.

"Hello?"

"D? It's Genkai; I've picked my apprentice, would you like to come over for some tea? He needs to meet people who can give him connections."

"Ehhh? Genkai-sama, are you calling in for a favor? Or will I actually have a little fun? You interrupted me in the middle of something very important, you know."

"Just get over here. Now."

"Yes ma'am, I'll be there as soon as possible."

"Good." Genkai hung up the phone right before her apprentice walked in.

"Oi, grandma, who were ya talkin' to?" Yuusuke Urameshi asked rudely, sticking his pinky in his ear to clean it. He had black, slicked back short hair, and brown eyes.

"That's for me to know and you not to, dimwit. Get back to work, now." She commanded almost demonically. Without even a yes ma'am, he went straight back to it, though he did complain along the way.

----- ----- D's apartment

D stretched happily after her phone call from Genkai. She had been doing something important, but she considered meeting Genkai's successor more fun. After all, sleeping was only cool when you dreamed, and even though that happened often, she didn't last night. So she got up and got dressed in her usual outfit. This was going to be really fun, and informative.