Chapter 1 – Another Case
Ningenkai (Human plain) - Circa 1992.
It was mid summer. The sun sat high and bright over a small city.
A long stoic building stood proud in the city's suburbs. Sarayashiki High School. A grand structure, fitted with rows of windows and its very own clock tower. Though it represented nothing more than crushed dreams and sorrow for its many students.
All of the attending teenagers were sweltering in their packed classrooms. That is, all except one young man, who stood alone on the roof of the school.
He didn't look typical for his age. Muscular, with large fierce eyes, and slicked back hair. Even his uniform didn't match that of his classmates. An olive green set of jacket and trousers, worn as a lazy act of rebellion against the dress code.
His hands were stuffed into his pockets and his eyes were fixed on the horizon longingly.
"Fuck this place..."
School was just an inconvenience to him. How could somebody in his position take it seriously? He'd seen things these children would never understand. He'd been through inconceivable things. He was a god. That's why he was here now. No god should have to suffer an hour of maths. The empty school roof was much more favourable.
Soon a trill ringing met his ears. It brought a grin to his lips. An angelic sound; the lunch bell.
He walked to the roof door, whistling innocently as he kicked it open and descended the stairs with his hands still stuffed in his pockets. He reached the bottom of the stairs and entered the school hallways. They were packed with other students, conversing and making their way to classrooms to eat. He navigated his way around them, making his way to his own classroom. His stomach already growled in anticipation.
"YUSUKE!"
He froze. Approaching footsteps were heard behind him, followed by an open-handed slap on the side of his head. He clutched his ear with a groan. "Agh! What the hell!?" He turned to face his assailant.
A girl his age stood opposite him. She was cute, soft-featured and unassuming, with brown plaits and round dark eyes. A stern frown sat on her brows. "You cut class again! That's the third time this week! Ruin your grades if you want, but don't go ruining our class attendance."
Yusuke rubbed his ear. "Jeez, cool it Keiko. I just felt sick is all. You don't want me straining myself in maths when I've got a sickness, do you?"
Keiko tensed her neck, teeth clenched as she resisted the urge to lash out. He'd always been stubborn. And at times like this he pushed her straight to the edge. A slender eyebrow twitched as she hissed from between her grit canines. "Cut the crap Yusuke. I'm sick of covering up for you. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be allowed within 100 feet of this school. Can't you at least turn up to lessons like everybody else?"
Yusuke waved a hand at her. "Yeah, right, I will, don't sweat it. But I didn't have a choice this time, I really felt ill, okay?"
Keiko sighed and shook her head, visibly giving in. It was always the same. She never stayed angry at him for long. He knew exactly how to play her feelings. "Fine..." She gave him a stern nod and turned her back to him. But before walking away, she spared a momentary glance over her shoulder. "...Will you wait for me outside the gates after school?"
Yusuke nodded, a small smile touching his lips. "Sure."
Keiko formed a smile of her own, before retreating down the hall to meet her friends.
He watched as she left, before taking his own leave, continuing the journey to his classroom.
Yusuke shoveled rice into his mouth and chewed on it loudly. He was sat at the back of his classroom, lounging in his chair with his feet propped on his desk, stuffing his face from his lunchbox. His classmates stayed well away from him. His reputation around school wasn't exactly the best. Punk, bastard, devil, he'd heard it all. Not that he cared. He hated them all anyway.
Eventually though, one student did approach him. "Urameshi." The boy greeted him with a hoarse voice.
Yusuke paused eating, swallowing his food as he looked up.
A tall ugly boy was stood at his side. Gaunt faced and eagle eyed, with a strong steady stare. He had thick reddish hair, combed into a drooping pompadour, and he wore his uniform thuggishly. Tinny rock music spat from a set of headphones around his neck.
Yusuke raised a hand. "Kuwabara."
He pulled a chair up to Yusuke's desk and planted himself in it. He opened his own bento box and readied his chopsticks, before beginning to eat just as messily. "So..." His voice was muffled and rice spilled from his full mouth. "...Got your ass busted by Keiko again?"
Yusuke snorted. "How'd ya know?"
Kuwabara swallowed. "I could hear her shouting from down the hall."
"That girl has a 12 foot pole up her ass."
"…Could say the same about you."
Yusuke shrugged. "Don't get me wrong, I don't hate her. We've known each other since we were kids. And I know she's tryin' to help me... but I'm sick of her breathing down my neck all the time. If she wants good grades, cool. She should spend more time studying than following me around and chewing me out."
Kuwabara nodded, eyeing his friend as he continued to eat his lunch. "...You should try studying sometime Urameshi. It's real good for your brain. It's, like, the secret key to getting good grades."
Yusuke snorted and shook his head. "Right. I forgot you're a working stiff now."
"You gotta be a working stiff if you wannna make a living. And as men, it's our duty to work, so we can make money to protect and feed our women and children."
"Alright grandpa. Thanks for the lecture."
Before Kuwabara could reply, a strange sensation snatched Yusuke's attention. A soft humming and whirring from his pocket. He reached into it and pulled it out. It looked like a flat compact mirror.
Kuwabara blinked curiously. "What's that?"
"It's the communication mirror Botan gave me..." He flipped it open. A small circle of glass now faced him, but instead of showing his reflection, it showed somebody else.
"Good afternoon Spirit Detective!"
An attractive female face beamed at him from the small mirror. She looked human for the most part, but her bright blue hair and fuchsia irises hinted at other-worldly powers.
"What is it this time...?" Yusuke droned with a frown.
Kuwabara shuffled closer to get a better look. "Oh! Botan! What's up?" He grinned at her.
The spirit girl smiled at him. "I'm very good Kuwabara! Thank you for asking. He never seems to care..." She directed a playful frown at Yusuke.
Yusuke placed his chopsticks down with a sigh. "Did you just call for a chat or what? I'm eating my lunch here."
"I'm afraid not. I'm calling to deliver information from Koenma."
"Lemme guess, another case?"
"Bingo!"
He sighed and ran a hand over his greased hair. "Pass. I'm taking a break from work."
"Yusuke, don't be silly! You're the Spirit Detective, you can't take holidays when you feel like it. It's your duty to follow up the cases Koenma gives you. You really have no choice."
The Spirit Detective waved a hand at her. "Well I'm changing the rules. From now on, I can take breaks when I like. Just give the case to my secretary here." He gestured toward Kuwabara.
The tall boy eyed him for a moment, processing the insult, before shoving his shoulder. "You lazy asshole! You can slack in school, but you can't slack on cases! There's innocent lives at stake man!"
Botan giggled and fist-pumped. "That's the spirit Kuwabara! You show him!"
Yusuke growled and shook his head. "...Fine, whatever. Just tell me what the stupid case is."
"Sound less enthusiastic would you!" She cleared her throat gently, before leaning closer and hushing her voice. "...An unusual burst of demon power popped up in your area last night. Koenma has narrowed the source down to an abandoned factory in the south of the city. We need you to investigate, and destroy any demons you might come across."
Yusuke glanced to Kuwabara. "...Is that it?"
She nodded. "That's it!"
"Pff, this'll be a cakewalk. Let's go now. I'll be done before the end of lunch break."
Botan frowned and shook her head. "No more skipping! I'll pick you up from your home at seven o' clock, so make sure you're ready."
Kuwabara clicked his fingers to get her attention. "Hey, don't forget about me! I'm the Spirit Detective's partner, so I have to come."
Yusuke nudged him. "Won't you miss out on your precious studying?"
Botan ignored Yusuke's comment and tapped her chin. "…Well, if you can be ready and at Yusuke's by seven, then you're more than welcome to join us. We could always use the extra help!"
Kuwabara tightened his hand into a fist. "Nice! I've been itching for some action."
Botan clapped her hands excitedly. "It's settled then! I'll pick you both up from the Urameshi household at seven. Enjoy the rest of your classes!" She blew them a kiss, before fading out of sight. Now only their reflections stared back them.
Yusuke folded the mirror shut and slipped it back into his pocket. "What a weirdo..."
Hope this isn't too bad for an intro!
Please drop a review and lemme know what you think. I'm new to fanficiton, so it'd be great to get some feedback!