The halls of the Reikai palace were full of ogres, 'grim reapers', and the souls of the dearly departed, as per usual. The one unusual thing was the living creature, accompanied by eight guards and heavy restraints, being escorted through the hustle and bustle of the Reikai. The elite guards brought the living being into the main office which belonged to Prince Koenma, who took on the form of a toddler despite being thousands of years old.
"So, do you know why you're here?" the toddler asked.
The guards stepped away from the person to reveal a girl with long dark hair that possessed a crimson tint in the light. Her eyes were a fiery red. She had a crimson sun seemingly tattooed on her forehead. Another indication of her inhumanity was the fox ears and tails, the same color as her hair. Her outfit consisted of a maroon kimono that extended to her mid-thighs where she wore black leggings. She had a formfitting, gray breastplate on her torso with a purple-checkered sash around her slim waist.
"Not so much," the girl said boredly. "And I was so enjoying my prison cell. You disturbed my midday nap."
Koenma's eye twitched. "You're to be executed tomorrow," he said.
"All the more reason for me to sleep today," the girl said with a shrug. "After all, tomorrow I'll be free of you wretched souls."
"Watch your mouth, fox," the captain of the guard said.
"What gonna kill me for it?" the girl asked. "Oops, King Enma beat you to the punch. And I have a name, Otake."
"Hisaki," the toddler said, drawing the fox demoness' attention. "I'm giving you a choice in the matter of your execution."
"Beheading or hanging?" Hisaki asked. "I know you haven't updated those methods in a few centuries."
"Death or life, you fool!" Koenma yelled, effectively stopping the demoness' sarcasm.
Hisaki's eyes grew serious for a moment. "If you're joking, Koenma, I swear in my next life, I shall be your murderer," she said. "If you're not, what's the catch?"
"Your strength and skill as a fighter are well-known throughout the Reikai and Makai," Koenma said. "You were a cunning and bloodthirsty thief, eluding the Reikai authorities for centuries with Y-"
Hisaki's eyes flashed red, sclera, iris and pupil. "Do not speak his name," she growled out as the temperature in the room rose significantly. "You have no right to speak of my mate when your father's men killed him."
"My apologies," Koenma said hastily. "Those seals should completely block off your power. The fact you could access them is a testament to your strength."
"You didn't bring me out of jail just to tell me how strong I am," Hisaki said, as the temperature returned to normal. "And your stupid seals are eating away at my power, I've fallen to a middle C-class." She sighed. "I'm ashamed of the strength I possess now. I was stronger as a kit."
"Even so, your strength may still prove useful," Koenma said. "I want to offer you a job under my watch instead of your death sentence." Hisaki raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. "I would like for you to become an assistant to my new Spirit Detective for Japan."
Hisaki started laughing outright at the toddler. "You must be out of your mind! Have you remained in your toddler form for too many years?" she laughed. Slowly she realized he was being completely serious with her. "You want me to go baby-sit your new detective who probably knows nothing of what he's getting into."
"That's an accurate way of putting it bluntly," Koenma said, nodding.
Hisaki frowned. "I'd be a traitor to my own kind," she said.
"You already were a traitor to your kind," Koenma pointed out. "Most of your thefts involved the murdering or ransacking of high-ranking demons."
Hisaki considered the options. "Feared and praised by the demons, hunted by the spirits, unknown to the humans…" she said. "It's like a new life."
The toddler nodded. "Of course you'll be limited to the city, the detective's side or the Reikai until you prove trustworthy," Koenma said. "Your strength will also be reduced further to match your detective."
'And then those rumors…' Hisaki thought before sighing. "I'll agree to your terms, Koenma. Grudgingly, but in agreement."
"Very well, you're to remain in human form unless your demon form is required," Koenma said as the Captain of the guards imprinted a limiting tattoo on Hisaki's neck. "You will be escorted to the detective and you're to remain within the perimeter of the city. The limiting seal also doubles as a tracking device. Now I'm going to assign him his first case, three thieves have broken into the vault and stolen the Dark Artifacts."
Hisaki smirked. "Ah… the Orb of Baast, the Forlorn Hope and the Shadow Sword," she said. "And they successfully raided you? Perhaps this won't be as boring at I believed it to be."
After pulling the Detective from school, Koenma explained the Artifacts to him. "The Shadow Sword will make a monster of whoever it cuts. The Forlorn Hope emit's a cryptic power under the full moon. The Orb of Baast can capture living souls, especially those of children."
"Cheery, who came up with that one?" the Detective asked.
"Those three Artifacts were made from darkness to prey on the weak and desperate. Their only purpose is to balance the Universe, the whole yin-yang thing if you get my drift. In the hands of evil, though they can destroy the world."
"Who said that?" the detective yelled.
"Ah, I trust you made it here safely?" Koenma asked as Hisaki walked into the light.
"May I suggest driving lessons to your ferry girls?" she asked, cracking her neck. "The perky one doesn't have the attention span for it."
"Who the hell're you?"
Hisaki eyed the Detective up and down. Not so bad looking for a human. He looked like a punk with his hair slicked back. Undoubtedly he could bark and his appearance and posture suggested he could bite, but there was something honorable in his eyes. Something lacking from most greedy humans and heartless demons. Something honest about him.
"This is Hisaki," Koenma introduced. "She will be your assistant alongside Botan, only she is working off community service. Hisaki, this is Yusuke Urameshi, the new Spirit Detective."
"I heard your last one went crazy and disappeared," Hisaki said, still looking at the human. She couldn't place the familiarity she saw in him. "I hope you're in for a crazy ride."
"All these rich kids… all shopping… how does Koenma expect us to find 'em in all this mess?" Yusuke asked, flopping down on an empty bench. "Some help he was: we think they're somewhere in the shopping district, he says."
"The leaders of the Reikai are panicking because the power of those objects is vast," Hisaki said, sitting down next to the human detective. "Plus they don't like to be made fools of."
"And how would you know?" Yusuke asked. "I bet you're one of those goody-goody ferry girls like Botan."
"I'm a demon," Hisaki scoffed, crossing her arms. "And for your information, I'm only stuck as your assistant because it was either this or be executed."
Yusuke blinked at the shorter girl. "Executed?" he repeated. "You're a criminal?"
"Was," Hisaki corrected. "In exchange for my life, limiting my power and a new slate, I'm on probation as your assistant. I stole something from the vault while I wasn't thinking clearly and they caught me."
"I think I'm starting to like you, Hisaki," Yusuke said before a dark energy engulfed the air. "Hello, that feels a little awkward." The soul of a child floated passed the two of them. "I think that's what we'd call a lead."
"After it," Hisaki said. They ended up following the soul into an alley full of thugs. The vixen instantly noticed one of the thugs was a demon. "Check out that one's pockets with the Spyglass."
"Why- oh… I see it now," Yusuke said, noticing the man's horns. "There it is… the Orb… thingy."
"Very descriptive," Hisaki muttered. The demon stretched before ducking down another alley.
Before Hisaki and Yusuke could go after him, a thug came up to them. "Hey, cutie, why don't you ditch the loser?" he asked.
"Afraid not," Yusuke said, moving in front of Hisaki.
"But we'll make it fun," another thugs said, putting his hand on Hisaki's shoulder.
Hisaki tensed up. "Get your filthy hand off me, vermin," she growled out.
"Or what-" the thug started until Hisaki slammed her elbow into his stomach as Yusuke punched the first one.
"Yup, I think we'll be great friends," Yusuke said, grinning.
"I'm not despising you as much as I thought I would," Hisaki admitted with a smirk. "Now after the demon."
"He got away," Yusuke said.
Hisaki sniffed the air. "Walked away; he's still nearby," she said. "I can track him from here."
"Lead the way, lassie."
"I'm a fox, not a dog!"
"Great… the rain has washed the scent away," Hisaki muttered.
"I don't think we need it anymore," Yusuke said, pointing. Above the trees ahead, there was a bright light which clearly was keeping the rain out. They proceeded to walk towards the area. The demon Hisaki and Yusuke had followed was about to punch another demon.
"Cheerful neighbors, are you?" Yusuke asked, halting all three demons. "Couldn't help but notice there's no rain falling here. Maybe the next time you guys go stealing some magic toys, you should hide where it's not so obviously sunny. Just a tip."
Hisaki rolled her eyes. "That's right, idiot," she said. "Give advice to the criminals."
"I'd watch it, dog-girl," Yusuke said. "You're a criminal too."
"Ex-criminal and I'm a fox, damn it!"
"Who are you and how do you know about the artifacts?" the shortest of the group asked.
Hisaki grinned. "Well, well… it's been a long time Hiei," she said.
I don't associate with humans," Hiei said, spitting out the last word with disdain. "How do you know me?"
"If you can't recognize me, I'm offended and won't tell you," Hisaki teased.
"Give us your names."
"I hoped you'd ask," Yusuke said. "The name's Yusuke. I'm a spirit detective."
"Spirit detective?" the large demon repeated.
"Don't worry; they're just Koenma's fools," Hiei said. "Must've been the only humans they could round up. Their spirit energies are pathetic."
The redhead of the group eyed Yusuke and Hisaki before turning and walking away. "Hey! Where are you going?" Yusuke asked.
"I don't have time to be arrested," he replied.
"Stop, Kurama! You can't just walk out on our plan!" Hiei yelled, running after him.
"Hey, don't leave yet, guys. I just got here," Yusuke said. "So much for manners."
"Don't be offended by Hiei," Hisaki said, dismissively. "You'll find he has a natural way of pissing people off. Get used to it now, Detective."
"Right, I'll keep that in mind when invite him over to a sleepover," Yusuke muttered.
"Don't feel bad, kids, I'm much more polite then those two brats," the demon said. "I'll turn myself in if I can't rip off your head."
"Sounds like a deal, just don't pull my hair," Yusuke said. "Hey, I got this one. Go call Botan and tell her I'm getting the Orb back."
"You sure you can fight the demon on your own?" Hisaki asked. He nodded and she shrugged, walking into the forest. "Now how to go about contacting the ferry girl… well killing a human and waiting for her would take too long. I'm giving the kid a few minutes until he messes up somehow. Hey, toddler! I know you're watching me! Send the ferry girl down here!"
The vixen only needed to wait five minutes until a pink blur was racing at her from the skies. "Hisaki! Why aren't you with Yusuke?" the ferry girl cried out.
"He told me to go call you!" Hisaki yelled. "You know I'm getting tired of you people yelling at me like this!"
The ferry girl grabbed the vixen by the wrist and dragged her back towards Yusuke. "Never mind that. Tt turns out that Gouki has a previous record and it more dangerous that we initially thought. We don't really know much about Hiei or Kurama, but they are undoubtedly the brains behind the theft."
"I'm acquainted with Hiei and I'd say you're correct in that assumption," Hisaki said, slinging the Ferry Girl onto her back. "Hang on tight. You're going to pretend to be angry villagers while I transport you around the clearing. A demon of Gouki's intelligence will fall for it without thinking."
After some convincing voice acting on the ferry girl's part and the speed of the vixen, the two girls scared Gouki off without any fighting. They then brought the unconscious Detective back to his house to rest.