By Hatsuri Botosai
DISCLAIMER- I don't own Yu- Yu Hakusho, any of the characters, story plots, etc. I do, however, own my own characters (Hatsuri, San-Chen, etc.) and story plots. Anyone who uses my original characters or story plots will suffer a most untimely, vicious, yet quick death (i.e. I will vampire bite you) Enjoy!
Chapter 1- A Most Unusual Treasure Hunter
"Who are you?" Hiei breathed heavily. He held his katana firmly in his hand, even if it was wet with sweat. The white-clad, veiled young woman stared blankly at him. Her silver hilted katana was held high. Even after their hour-long duel, she seemed to be unaffected, while Hiei was almost exhausted.
"If you really must know, my name is San-Chen. I have no last name," The demon replied. She glared at him through the slit for her eyes. "And who are you?"
"I am Hiei," Hiei whipped sweat from his brow.
"Hmm," The girl lunged at the man, and tried to skewer him on the tip of her blade. Unfortunately for San-Chen, he was very fast, and dodged out of the way. "Why did you attack me?" San-Chen turned to see Hiei behind her. "I was simply passing through these woods. They do not belong to you, why did you attack?"
"Simple, I was bored," Hiei sheathed his katana. "Why are you passing through these woods?"
"I am a traveler who likes to explore and discover new things," San-Chen sheathed her own sword.
"You're a treasure hunter, aren't you?" Hiei looked her over.
"Yeah, so?" San-Chen. "Got a problem with that?"
"Absolutely not. I was a bit of a treasure hunter myself once," Hiei gave San-Chen a rare smile. "Now, I'm a Spirit Detective for Koenma,"
San-Chen's eyes bugged. "Well, I have to be going then," She made to run, but Hiei grabbed her by the arm. "Relax, I'm on vacation. And, I was looking for a bit of adventure. How about I join you?"
"Why would you possibly want to do that? What's in it for you?" The demon was suspicious. She had heard about this Hiei, and knew he did not easily get messed up in other people's affairs.
"The sheer pleasure of the chase," Hiei thought for a bit. "And I might get to kick some serious ass. What are you searching for?"
"It's something called the Face of Paradise. It's a mirror, and it is one of the most ancient and powerful weapons of the spirit world. Supposedly, you can use it to make three wishes after you spill the blood of a loved one on the face of the mirror."
"Sounds like my kind of treasure," Hiei thought of how many magical katanas he could get: one that reflected spirit attacks, one that could set fire to things, one that could kill instantly, etc.
"Are you sure you want to? It will be a long, dangerous quest," San-Chen looked at Hiei curiously through the slit in her veil.
"Perfect," Hiei smirked.
* * *
"San-Chen is in place, Karasu. Hiei will never expect this plan," A tall, long and brown haired demon ran her fingers through Karasu's long, silky, black hair. Her cool, mint green eyes looked deep into his purple. Hatsuri looked good in her white, Greek- style dress.
"Good. Everything is going smoothly. I am very pleased, Hatsuri," Karasu's hands ventured to her waist, then down to her hips. Her full, supple lips looked very tempting in the moonlight. "How is San-Chen doing?"
Hatsuri smiled. "She's been sleeping all night, until she had to venture into the woods. She'll be back to Hiei in about a minute, though."
"I hope she is a good asset. Otherwise, she might have to disappear," Karasu looked hard at Hatsuri.
"I understand," Hatsuri swallowed hard.
"Enough about business," Karasu drew her close. Hatsuri could feel his lips through his mask as he kissed her neck.
"Why don't you take this off?" Hatsuri's hand went up to Karasu's face. "Things would be much more interesting then,"
Karasu's hand caught hers sharply and quickly. "Never touch my mask," he snarled. Then, his grasp became gentler, and he put Hatsuri's hand around his neck. She voluntarily put the other one with it's double. "Why do you do this, Hatsuri? You could use your powers for many great things. Why waste them on helping me destroy my enemies?"
Hatsuri dropped her gaze, and her face fell. "You know why, I told you when I brought you back to life,"
"The most complicated bit of spirit work in the spirit world. I do remember that you were unconscious for five days after you did. But, I don't remember what you said before you went unconscious."
"I told you that I still loved you, even after you died. It had been five long years before I saw you again at the Dark Tournament. I saw you then, and I was happier than I had ever been in my life. You were changed; more cutthroat, dark, and evil. I didn't think that was bad, it just seemed to make you more appealing. And now, fifteen years later, Karasu, I still love you,"
Karasu soaked in these words. He cupped his hand around Hatsuri's chin, and brought her gaze back up to his. "After all these years, and me being dead, I still love you to,"
* * *
San-Chen and Hiei walked through the woods at a slow pace; something that irked Hiei.
"Where are we going? Do you even know where the Face of Paradise is?" Hiei scowled.
"No, but we're going to someone who can give us some answers," San-Chen played with her long veil. Her long, white burka ripped around her sandaled feet.
"Who?"
"A Cleric. He's one of the best," San-Chen walked out of the woods, and onto a smooth sidewalk.
"A Cleric in the human world?" Hiei was shocked. "Who is she?"
"He is the best," San-Chen corrected him.
"I have a question," Hiei looked hard at the veiled demon. "How are we going to pass as humans the way we're dressed?"
"Simple," San-Chen pointed a finger at Hiei, and he was suddenly out of his usual black robe, and in a green outfit that looked kind of like Yusuke's.
"WHAT? I am not walking around like a mortal schoolboy!" Hiei gritted his teeth knowing he had no choice. "And what are you wearing?"
"This," San-Chen pointed to herself, and she was in a green schoolgirl uniform. Hiei looked at her face. She had rather pretty brown hair that fell down past her shoulders. Her dark green eyes were big, and her prettiest feature. Her face was slender, and her skin was the color of café au latte. She twirled around, she had not worn a skirt in the longest time. "What do you think?"
"I'm wondering what we should do with the swords," Hiei gestured to the sword that still hung from his belt.
"Hmm," San-Chen thought about it, and then waved a hand. The katanas shrank into midget size. Hiei was appauled.
"I hope you know how to unshrink them,"
San-Chen blushed. "Oops. I never did. But I'm sure the Cleric can undo them," San-Chen smiled at Hiei's shocked face. "Just kidding! Of course I know how to unshrink them!" She took her katana off, and put it into one of the pockets in her skirt. Hiei did the same, only he put his in a pair of pants, not a skirt.
They walked a few blocks down the street, until San-Chen pulled him off to a small side street. They walked past a few houses until they stopped in front of a small white house. "This is it," San-Chen walked up to the front door, and rang the door bell.
A tall, brown haired young man answered. "Hello again San-Chen. Welcome back,"
"Thank you, Amitomo," San-Chen walked into the house, and slipped off her shoes at the doorway. Hiei did the same.
"Yongei will see you now," Amitomo lead San-Chen and Hiei into a small living room, and seated them.
"I don't care! I'll go if I want to!" The shout of a boy was heard in the nearby kitchen, and then a black haired teenager stomped through the living room.
"Get back here, Wasabi!" Yongei stormed into the room. With his many piercings and spiked, bleached tipped black hair, Yongei looked madder than he actually was. "Get back here right now!"
"NO! I don't care!" Wasabi turned around, and glared at Yongei with his purple eyes. "I HATE YOU!" The house shook as the boy slammed the door shut.
Yongei sat down in a chair and sighed. "He just keeps getting worse. If his mother came around more often he wouldn't be this way," Yongei then realized he had company. "Oh, uh, hi. San-Chen, how are you?"
"Good thanks. You said you had a vision and now knew where the Face of Paradise was," San-Chen seemed unnerved by Wasabi's rudeness.
"Yeah, let me think," Yongei closed his eyes.
"The Face is hidden faraway, in a distant, forest land.
The key to getting your wishes fulfilled,
Is blood from a loved one's hand.
If you do seek to get the Face, travel with good care,
Demons and darkness block your path,
But love's light will get you there.
Seek between the mountains, search by the riverside,
Flowers bloom around the base,
But what's pretty is inside.
The Face will grant you any wish, no matter what the cost,
The choice, however, lies inside,
The wishers' capacity for loss."
"That's all I have," Yongei had repeated what he had heard in his vision. "I hope it is of help,"
"Thank you, Yongei," San-Chen stood up, and gave Yongei a 10, 000 yen. "It has been of great assistance."
Amitomo showed San-Chen and Hiei to the door, and said farewell.
"That was extremely helpful. The only mountain in the spirit world with a river beside it and flowers around the base is Gingko-san Mountain." San-Chen walked a little ahead of Hiei.
"Now that we know where to look, we can truly begin to hunt it down," Hiei smiled.
"It will be a difficult journey," Wasabi's voice was heard. San-Chen and Hiei stopped and turned to see Wasabi leaning against a wall of a house. They stared at the boy.
"It will be a difficult journey, right from the start,
You will be scared, no matter how brave your heart.
If one fire dies, another will begin,
Then bring on the hate, bring on the sin.
Anger will boil beyond contestation,
Finding the Face will bring no exaltation.
Only when tears are shed for blood on the ground,
The answers you're looking for will be found,"
Wasabi looked up, and stared at San-Chen and Hiei. "What are you looking at?" He growled.
San-Chen and Hiei realized he must have no idea about what he had just said. They walled out of the street, and onto the sidewalk. They started for the woods again.
"What did that mean?" Hiei wondered.
"It meant things are going to get really bad, really soon," San-Chen replied.
* * *
"San-Chen and Hiei are getting ready for the trip back to the spirit world." Hatsuri told Karasu.
"Good. They'll lead us right to it, won't they?" Karasu smiled as he held the demon. Her long hair fell across his chest as she looked down on him.
Hatsuri smiled, "Yes, they will won't they?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hello, Suri-chan here. How'd you like that? Good or bad? Reviews are appreciated.
You might notice three characters from my other Yu-Yu Hakusho fic, The Saga of the Flame of Glory: Yongei, Amitomo, and Wasabi. In this fic, they don't know Hiei or anything. They're just being carried over from one fic to another. So, no, this is not after Saga. The upcoming, The Saga of the Elixir of Courage, though, is. It should be out in about six months to a year. It depends on how busy I am.
Well, take care!
Suri