Alright! As you can see, I've started a new series! Yay, right? Well, in any case, I'm setting a new rule for myself. I'm not posting any more stories until I have five reviews for that chapter! Sorry, but it's taking it's toll on me now, and it seems to be to no avail... Anywho, read on! I hope you like it! So read and definately review!!!
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"Koenma!!" Botan screeched.
The bubbly grim reaper flailed her arms madly, running through the halls of the Spirit World. Yusuke chased after her, stuffing an eggroll into his mouth as he went. He did a spin move to evade a head on collision with the big blue Ogre that was Koenma's right hand man as he rounded the corner. The ogre was oblivious to the fact that he almost lost the skyskraping stack of papers in his hands.
"Oh, ho hup, Hohan!" Yusuke shouted, spraying bits of eggroll everywhere.
Botan ignored him, and continued to run. And whine.
"Wahhhh! Koenma!"
Botan burst through the Reikai Ruler's door, nearly blowing it off of its hinges.
"Koenma-sir, Yusuke ate the eggrolls I was saving for- !"
"Don't be a baby, Bo- !"
Both stopped short. A young woman stood in front of a teenage Koenma. She turned to the door as soon as it had flown open. Long black hair cascaded down her back, a red ribbon criss-crossing the back of her head tying her hair together. Her creamy skin seemed to give off a distinct glow, her black kimono cotrasting that. A small decored hand fan was tucked into her red obe. But what stood out most was her bright turqouis orbs. The colors of blue and green seemed to swirl in her gaze. Koenma glared at Botan and Yusuke, torn between the urge to shred them into pieces, and scolding them for thier typical immature behaviour. Botan blinked several times. Yusuke's jaw dropped, and whatever was left of the eggroll rolled off of his tounge and onto the floor.
"Yusuke, Botan," Koenma began, restraining himself from doing either of the above actions,
"This is Mizuki Kotone. Kotone, you remember Botan, and Urameshi Yusuke, the head spirit detective."
The ghost of a smile passed over Kotone's lips as her gaze lingered on the unsuspecting detective. Yusuke quickly closed his mouth when he realized that he was being watched.
"Hello, detective," She greeted.
Her voice was like a symphony to his ears. Yusuke swallowed several times, searching for the right thing to say. Collecting himself together, he gazed down at Botan's eggrolls in his hands, then up at Kotone. He said what every other gentlemanly spirit detective would have when meeting someone new.
"Ummm... uhhh... Eggroll?"
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"So how have you been, Kotone?" Botan asked, chipper.
"It's been so long since I last saw you... You've changed!"
Kotone shrugged.
"You get that impression sometimes, especially when the last time you saw that person was when you were delivering them to the afterlife..."
Botan nodded sadly. Yusuke choked on his third eggroll.
"Afterlife?!" He blurted.
His eyes went to Kotone... Not that they already hadn't been.
"You're dead?!"
"Yes, she's dead, Yusuke," Koenma replied solemnly.
"She died at the hands of the Toguro brothers shortly before the Dark Tournament three years ago. Just today, she was granted temporary leave, and she came straight here."
Koenma beamed at Kotone, as if highly pleased that the first place she went was to him. Yusuke did a double check over her.
"She looks alive to me..."
"Can't you feel it Yusuke?" Koenma asked.
"Her spirit energy is unstable. She is undoubtedly dead."
Botan's face lightened.
"Maybe we could try and bring her back?" She suggested.
Koenma glanced to Kotone, hopeful. Kotone shook her head.
"I would love to be alive again, don't get me wrong... but it isn't right. I've lost at the game of life fair and square, and now I'm paying the consequences."
"But you never did anything wrong!" Botan whined.
"You were just at the wrong place at the wrong time!"
"It doesn't matter, Botan," Kotone replied firmly.
"I am dead. Nothing can change that."
"What about if I could find a suitable task in order to bring your body and spirit back together?" Koenma suggested.
Yusuke listened in. Kotone just sighed, shaking her head.
"It has been three years since my death. Three very long years. My body is without a doubt decomposing as we speak."
She gave Koenma a look as if suggesting he was childish and naive for even bringing up the idea. Koenma grinned.
"You know that demonic bodies decompose at a slower rate than mortals?" He reminded her.
Kotone nodded.
"Yes, I am aware, but I am still only half demon. Human blood still runs through my veins... or, at least it used to."
Yusuke gawked.
"Half demon?" He repeated.
Botan pressed a finger to her lips before continuing to listen to Koenma and Kotone.
"Because of your demonic blood, if even just a little, your body has most likely not even begun the proccess of decomposition... yet. Besides, I made sure that your body was preserved very carefully. Even in death, you were always my favorite spirit detective."
Yusuke's eyes widened.
"Spirit detective? Her?!"
Kotone's gaze snapped to Yusuke.
"Is there something wrong with that?" She asked.
Yusuke felt sweat run down the back of his neck.
"Ummm... No, nothing's wrong..."
He quickly turned to Koenma, suddenly wanting a change in subject.
"So, Koenma... what were you saying about being able to bring Kotone's body back?"
Kotone shook her head.
"Nothing can bring me back, detective, Botan, Koenma,"
She pursed her lips as she gave a stern look towards the ruler of Reikai.
"It makes no difference how well my body is faring. My spirit cannot be reunited with it. No task can bring me back."
"So, fill me in on what happened!" Yusuke urged.
Koenma sighed, defeated.
"It was shortly before you were killed, Yusuke," Kotone began.
"I remember my death very clearly. In fact, it is the only thing I remember from my past life. It is like someone is always pressing the rewind button on those last moments of my brief life."
Yusuke nodded, urging her to continue.
"I was on my way to the Dark Tournament with my team. The others were told by Koenma to stop Sakyo and his hired Team Toguro from opening the gates between the Living and Demon Worlds. They were sure that they had the upper hand because, well, because it was supposed to be an ambush. But we had no clue, Koenma had no clue, that we were walking right into the palm of thier hands."
Kotone took a deep breath.
"Laios, a member of my team, insisted that I go on to the tournament grounds when they attacked, once we realized that we were expected. They didn't want me, they didn't know I was there... They just wanted Laios for spoiling former plans of thiers. But I refused. He got away, the rest of my team ran... And I was killed."
"That's bull!" Yusuke raged.
"Your own team left you alone to fight against all six of them?!"
Kotone frowned.
"It was later proved, after my death, that four of the other five of my teammates were paid by Sakyo to betray Team Mizuki. Laios himself was in charge of that operation. Kenshin, the only one who had refused the offer, tried to warn me. Laios and the other made sure he didn't The whole set up was a farce. A scam, just to get me out of the way. They killed Kenshin after they did me, and they were paid thier sum. I have heard that Laios was devoured by his own greed and attacked Team Toguro. He didn't stand a chance. Loki was executed for treason against Koenma, and I belive that Angra Mainyu is still alive and kicking after he escaped your wrath, Koenma sir?"
Koenma looked irrate.
"Yes," He admitted bitterly, "But we have several of my best spirit detectives on his case!"
"Your best, huh?" Yusuke grumbled. "Then how come I never heard anything about any Angera Mansyou?"
"Angra Mainyu," Kotone corrected. "And probably because he had this case open since my death, also before you were ever a spirit detective."
Koenma sighed.
"There's something you may want to see again," Botan murmured, getting to her feet.
She guestured for Kotone to follow, sitting atop her broom.
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Kotone inhaled deeply before reaching out to touch her former body. She gingerly reached out towards her face in the casket... and her hand went right through. Yusuke's eyes widened.
"Her physical body's even hotter than her spirit's..."
Kotone opened her body's eyes. Her pupils stared straight ahead at nothingness. Her once vibrant turqouis orbs that had swirled like pastels in rain were now dark and laiden with death. Tints of blue and green could be seen, but they didn't move. They stayed still, frozen in time. Heaving a final sigh, she reclosed her eyes. Scanning over her pale skin and ebony hair one last final time, she turned her back on her body.
"This is depressing," Botan remarked.
Yusuke nodded in agreement. Giving the former Kotone a final glance, he gently closed the casket.
"I want to see the new spirit detective team," Kotone announced, sitting on Botan's broom.
Yusuke's eyes lit up, the first contrast against the dreary death plane.
"You'll love them!" He proclaimed.
Botan gave him a stern look, then quietly told him to get on the broom so they could return to the Reikai.
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"Hey, guys!"
"Cut it out, shrimp!"
"Hn. It isn't my fault you're weak."
"It isn't my fault you're cheating!"
"I am not. You're just pathetic."
"Please, could you both just play quietly? This is a really good book, and-"
Yusuke cleared his throat.
"Guys!!"
Red flashing letters blinked on the t.v. screen, "Player 1 Wins!!" The shortest of the three boys smirked cockily, folding his arms across his chest. The tallest, a bulky, orange-haired Elvis Presly, hung his head in defeat. Then there was a boy with long red hair, the only one who looked up when Yusuke had called the second time. He marked his spot in his book, snapping it closed. With a smile, he stood up to greet Yusuke.
"Welcome back," He greeted, approaching Yusuke. His gaze met Kotone's, and he swallowed.
"Kurama, this is Kotone. Kotone, Kurama, the kitsune demon."
Kurama held out his hand, his cheeks tinting red. Kotone only stared sadly at Kurama's hand.
"I am sorry. I cannot shake your hand, Kurama, for I am..."
Kotone searched for words as Kurama lowered his hand, confused. Yusuke decided to take the initiative to explain.
"You see," He began, "Kotone isn't exactly like us, Kurama."
Kurama chuckled lightheartedly.
"We aren't exactly like anyone else, either, Yusuke."
Yusuke laughed nervously.
"Well, you never guess..."
"Hey, Urameshi! I hope you brought food back- !"
The orange haired boy froze as he caught a glance at Kotone. She could have sworn she saw hearts fluttering around his head and in his eyes.
"Wow! You're a real babe! Be my woman!"
The guy lunged before Kotone could react. He fell straight through her and onto the shocked spirit detective. Yusuke growled, shoving him off and back through Kotone's spirit.
"Why don't cha ask before you try and tackle people, Kuwabara, you freaking ogre!"
Kuwabara sat on the ground, stunned. Kurama appeared equally confused as he studied Kotone, chin in his hand.
"Is she... an apparition?"
The black haired short boy decided to see what the comotion was about, and sulked over to the rest of the group. Kotone took notice of his incredible crimson eyes as an invisible fire seemed to dance in his eyes.
"Well, yes, that pretty much sums it up," Yusuke replied. "She's the last spirit detective before me... and she's dead."
Kuwabara's face fell. His leecherous smile was replaced by a look of sheer horror.
"She's a ghost?" He shrieked.
"Yeah... she was granted temporary leave from the Spirit World."
The room was quiet, until Kurama made the first move.
"So... is she staying here, Yusuke?"
Yusuke glanced at Kotone.
"If she wants to."
Kotone shrugged.
"It makes no difference to me. Being dead, there is not really anywhere that can make me feel at "home"."
Kuwabara finally stood up. He glanced down at Kotone.
"She's still really hot for a dead chick..."
Kotone felt a bead of sweat trail down her temple. Yusuke smacked Kuwabara on the back of his head.
"Show some respect, dobe!"
Kurama sweatdropped as well.
"Well, I would have said it differently, Yusuke..."
"What? Now you're standing up for him?"
"No! I'm just saying, couldn't you have been a little more modest?"
"Hello! I'm standing right here! I can defend myself!"
"Yeah right! You couldn't stick up for your kitten!"
Kuwabara's kitten, Eikichi, meowed in protest from the couch. Kuwabara's temple bulged.
"You wanna say that to my face, Urameshi?"
"I just did, idiot!"
"I'll take you on anytime, anywhere, punk! Bring it!"
"It's been brought!"
"Please, will the two of you please calm yourselves?"
Kotone held her elbows in her hands as she walked over to stand beside of the black haired youkai, whom she was slightly shorter than. (A/N: I'm giving him a growth spurt- Hiei is awesomeness, but his shortness drives me NUTS!!!)
"Are they always like this?" Kotone asked him.
The boy didn't even give her a second glance.
"Hn."
He turned, leaving her alone with the other three.
"That's Hiei," Kurama explained.
He had given up on trying to becalm the two combatants. Kotone turned to him.
"He doesn't talk much. And when he does, the things he says aren't exactly the kindest."
Kotone glanced back at Hiei's retreating back.
"So, we've got a hothead, a pervert, a kitsune, and a moody youkai... This should prove to be a most interesting experience."
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And that's all! Remember, that statement I made at the top doesn't just apply to this YYH series. It applies to ALL of my series! Once I get five reviews, I'll post the next one. On my Shika series, I have four. On my Wolf's Rain series, I have three. On Gaara, I only have two!! This is really starting to take its toll on me, but I would never give up writing. Five reviews, then I'll post!