31/10/06 - A Very Long Author's Note: A fic that's not a oneshot... I'm kind of out of my depth here I think. Updates are going to be weird and erratic because of my workload… So sometimes Chapters'll go up really close together and sometimes it'll be ages between chapters. However, my biggest problem when writing long stories in the past was that I tended to plan too conscientiously so that I got obsessed with little details that might not have made perfect sense… I'm gonna try to look at the bigger picture this time.
Don't be surprised by weird author notes in future, sometimes author's notes will just be anecdotal, off-topic or just plain random. That's just how my head works. I've tried my best to include all the characters, though sometimes certain characters will stand out more than others… I'm aiming for everyone to have some importance in this story, or at least as many as possible. I'm done rambling now.
Chapter One
"Thanks for coming to see us off, guys."
"As if we wouldn't!"
"Had to come watch you guys get on the plane, Urameshi! We've been waitin' for this long enough!"
"That keen to get rid of me, huh?"
Botan giggled and toyed with her hair playfully. "As if, Yusuke! I'm sure that's not what Kuwabara meant. We're all going to miss you!"
"We're gonna miss you too, Botan. Hey, look after Puu while I'm gone, right?"
"Of course!" Botan smiled and gestured to Kurama, who was holding the peculiar little bird-like creature, reverted to his smaller form so that he could come to the airport. "He's in safe hands!"
"Excited, Keiko?" Kurama asked pleasantly. Keiko was standing next to Yusuke, reading flight numbers from a screen hanging from the ceiling and looking for their boarding time. She glanced round at him and nodded, smiling.
"Of course. I can't wait!"
"How could ya not be excited anyway?" Yusuke chimed in, grinning. "It's only-"
He was interrupted by a tannoy announcement. "Would all passengers flying on the CI728 to Hong Kong International Airport please proceed to gate number 23, that's the CI7..."
"That's us, Keiko!" Yusuke said excitedly, before starting to sing rather tunelessly, "We're going on a jet plane…"
"Thanks for everything, guys. We'll call you when we arrive at the airport."
"No worries-"
"Puu!"
"Shh, Puu, you're a stuffed animal, remember?"
"…Don't know when we'll be back aga- ow!! Keiko, what was that for?"
Keiko rolled her eyes, but smiled. "Yusuke, people are staring."
"They can stare all they want, they're just jealous… I'm the one who's goin' round the world with the most amazing new wife ever in the whole world. You didn't have to hit me…"
Keiko laughed. "Nice try, but the guilt trip isn't working. Come on!" She grabbed his hand and dragged him off towards the gate entrance.
"Bye, guys!"
"Bye, Yusuke!"
"Bye, Keiko!"
"Bye! Stay out of trouble while we're gone okay?"
"What're ya talkin' about, Keiko, you're the one who's gonna be with Urameshi, not us!"
"Kuwabara!"
After a mad rush of goodbyes, Yusuke and Keiko were gone, leaving Botan, Kuwabara and Kurama in the emptying departure lounge.
There was a long pause as the three watched the gate that the pair had just gone through. Finally Kurama turned to Botan. "Can you stay much longer?"
"Not very," Botan replied, sounding somewhat glum. "Koenma was going to the wedding anyway, so he sort of had to let me come too… but he had to get back right after to plough through all his paperwork and I'm going to get in a lot of trouble as it is for staying in Human World for so long."
"That's a shame."
"I'm sure I'll be able to get back soon though!" she continued brightly as they left the lounge and made their way towards the main entrance of the airport.
Kuwabara grinned. "I bet - whaddaya have to do to get some time off there anyway? I bet I can think of-"
"Well! I hope Yukina doesn't hear you talking like that, Kuwabara!" Botan cut in snottily.
"'Course not! For Yukina, I'm a gentleman, got that?!"
"Hmph! And just why is Yukina so-?"
"-So you should be getting back to Spirit World around now, Botan?"
Botan stopped and glanced at Kurama as she realised that they were already outside. "Um, yes! That's right!" She looked around the busy car park. "I'll go and find someplace empty so people won't see me leaving. Give my love to Yukina and Genkai!" She waved at them both and headed off round the side of the building.
Kurama and Kuwabara left the car park and walked in silence for several blocks. Not exactly an awkward silence… just a silence. Finally Kuwabara spoke up. "Kinda weird seein' them go, right? I mean, That's Yusuke married, you know? With a missus… We're not little punks cuttin' class anymore…"
"You haven't been for some time," Kurama replied with a small smile.
"Yeah, I know. I guess this just kinda makes it final or somethin', y'know? It's like we grew up when we weren't lookin' or something."
Kurama nodded. Since he'd started his life as Shuichi, he'd realised how quickly a human being aged. In what had seemed like no time at all to him, he'd become a teenager. And then he'd grown up… now their friends were starting to get married. The saying was true. Life really was quite short.
They continued for a while without talking until they reached the bus stop. "So Kurama…" Kuwabara began slightly mischievously. "What about you? You got some girl behind the scenes that you're gonna introduce us to anytime soon? Haven't seen ya chasin' after any skirts since we first met."
Kurama simply smiled. "That's right, Kuwabara. You haven't."
"Aww, come on! Don't tell me you don't like someone out there! Big world, and there's a lotta hot-"
"Kuwabara, as your friend I think it's only fair for me to tell you that you're starting to sound a lot like a middle school girl."
"Quit changin' the subject!"
"The bus is here."
"Hey man, if you're into guys I'm not gonna-"
"Kuwabara, the bus."
Seated near the back of the half-empty bus, Kuwabara persisted. "I mean it, man! I got your back! I ain't gonna judge, no sir, because I'm one of them Mr. Sensitive types, got it?"
Kurama laughed and shook his head. "I appreciate your support Kuwabara, but you're mistaken. If I decided to find a girlfriend, she would just become another person for me to keep secrets from. I just don't know if I could do that."
"I guess you're right… sucks for you, huh?"
"Yes. Sucks for me."
-…-
"Welcome home, boys."
"Heeey Yukina! Botan's already gone back to Spirit World, but she sends her love! So how are ya, Yukina, I've missed ya!"
Yukina giggled. "Kuwabara, you saw me this morning."
Kurama put Puu on the coffee table and made his way to one of the training rooms. As he'd hoped, he found Genkai there.
She didn't even need to look round to know he was behind her. "So they got their plane?"
"Yes. They said they'd call us when they arrive in Hong Kong… it's going to be quiet without him around… and they said they'd be back when they got tired of sightseeing. Knowing Yusuke, they could be gone quite a while."
Genkai nodded and stood up. "The temple has seemed empty as it is lately," she remarked as they both went back to the main room where Yukina and Kuwabara were.
"We do seem to be low on numbers," Kurama agreed. Lately the only regulars at the house had been Genkai, himself, Yukina, Kuwabara, Yusuke and Keiko. Even Botan hadn't been around as much lately, what with Yusuke's detachment from Spirit World after quitting or being fired as Spirit Detective (it really depended on whether you talked to Yusuke or Koenma). Botan's job didn't send her to see them much anymore. Of course, others dropped by occasionally, but for the most part, it was going to be quiet. "Botan had to get back to work right away. Still… it was nice of her and Koenma to turn up at the wedding. I'm sure they're very busy."
"Busy, schmizy, Kurama, it was Yusuke's wedding!" Kuwabara cut in as he saw Kurama and Genkai enter the room. "At least they had the manners to show up!"
Kurama frowned. "Well, to be honest I never really expected Hiei to-"
"He didn't even reply to his invitation! What, you think maybe he didn't have a pen or something?!"
"Well, I do doubt that he actually owns a pen," Kurama replied with a thoughtful smile. "But I just don't think he likes big crowds all that much…"
"Whatever, I got stuff to do. I'll check in tomorrow-"
"See you tomorrow, Kuwabara."
"Bye Yukina! I miss you already, my love!"
There was a long silence after Kuwabara left.
"Kuwabara says some very funny things," Yukina remarked with a smile. "He hadn't even left yet, and he said he already missed us! He must really like us!"
Kurama smiled nervously for a second before Genkai spoke. "You haven't seen him, then?"
He shook his head. "Not really. I only see him occasionally in passing when I'm visiting Demon World, but to be honest I think he's trying to gradually break ties with us."
"He doesn't like us…?" Yukina asked with a frown.
"That's not what I meant," Kurama assured her hurriedly. "I actually kind of think that he believes now that Yusuke's contract has been terminated, he has no further business with us. He's not the type to hang around… when he's not even sure if he is expected or wanted to stay."
Yukina looked at the floor. "That's so sad. It'd be nice to see him visit sometimes."
"Maybe you will."
Genkai coughed. "Yukina, didn't you say earlier that the bird bath needed fresh water?"
"Oh, yes! I haven't changed it yet. I'll do it now," Yukina replied quickly before leaving the room.
Genkai waited until she was positive that Yukina was out of earshot before turning to Kurama. "So he has been dropping by the temple?"
"I think it's only fair to let you know who your visitors are. I happen to know that he comes here every Wednesday night at three in the morning. But he only really checks on Yukina and leaves," Kurama replied matter-of-factly.
"I see," Genkai said dryly. "So you do see him more that you're letting on to the rest of us?"
Kurama shook his head. "He's only let me catch him once or twice… I think he believes it's easier for him this way, he doesn't have to talk to Yukina… I don't think he wants to face up to what he's eventually going to have to say to her. He has a big problem with it - I think he wants her to keep her fantasy of a perfect brother for as long as possible. It's shame that's holding him back."
For a while, Genkai didn't say anything. Finally she shrugged and walked out of the room. "It's none of our business what he decides," she said as she disappeared down the hallway.
"I know…" Kurama replied, though he wasn't sure if she'd heard him.
"Puu!"
He jumped and looked round at Puu, who had clearly decided that he'd been ignored for too long.
"Puu! Puuuu!"
"Well… at least it won't be too quiet while Yusuke's gone."
-…-
"Good morning, Sir."
"Back already?"
The black-haired woman nodded and tossed a disk to her boss. "No sweat. This is the data you need, and I've called some guys and they're comin' to install it later today along with the talismans."
"I hope you've done some background checking for these 'guys', Yura."
"Of course. I'll get in trouble too if this goes wrong, you know."
"Right." The man didn't trouble himself to continue the conversation, just started up what looked to be a highly complex computer system of some kind and put the disk into one of the many slots embedded in the desk. For a long time he just stared up at the large screen above them and tapped away at a keyboard. Then he stopped tapping and just stared at the screen, completely still apart from his eyes flickering as he took in the information.
Finally he spoke. "…Yura," he said levelly, sitting back but not looking away from what was on the screen.
"Sir?"
"This is the wrong disk."
Yura blinked rapidly for a second as what her boss had just said sank in. "W-what?! But Sir, I'm sure I went to the right place - took the right box-"
"This is very advanced technology…"
"-It was definitely labelled and I read it twice before I left-"
"Yura-"
"-I even checked to make sure it didn't need a second-"
"Yura. Shut up."
Yura fell silent as the man turned looked back at her. "This is highly advanced infrared technology… so highly advanced it's insane. We can still use this to our advantage. We'll just need to take a detour."
"Oh-"
"Yura, research room. Now. I need every A- or S-class sniper you can reel in, and trust. And I need them within twelve hours."
"Of course, Sir."
"Once this is installed and combined with the talismans I think we should have a fairly good setup. Just don't screw up again. You're a good girl, but I can't afford to allow you to jeopardise what I'm doing."
"Duly noted."
The man watched Yura leave before turning back to the screen. Finally he reduced the coding and brought up a case file entitled 'Yoko Kurama', flicking through it idly before stopping on a screen with several pictures. "I think it would be nice for him to have some familiar company while he's here anyway."
-…-
Author's Note: The person I sometimes get to check my work is somewhat unreliable and so failed so actually proofread this chapter. So if anyone else spots any mistakes that I may have overlooked, please let me know. I pay heed to all reviews, and am open to suggestions or requests of any kind regarding the plot, pairings or character emphasis. I already have a good bit of it planned but I'm willing to make changes for people who take the time to read and review. After all, it's you who reads it. Many thanks for reading this chapter, I know it was a lot of talk and little action, so I'm grateful that you stuck around! This chapter might get edited a few times, but if it does you'll be informed in the subsequent chapters.
Next Chapter: A flashback, angsty contemplations, and a little action. And Hiei. I don't need to tell you that they're all linked. Sorry about his absence in this one.