Scarlett awoke on a couch inside a small room. She didn't open her eyes yet, though. There seemed to be several people talking. Their voices were quiet. She could only clearly recognize one of them. The rest were vaguely recognizable. How many were there? From the voices, there were… three? What were they saying? "… I don't know who she is, but it's strange for a human to come into contact with a demon. Also, she knew my name." That was one. Scarlett mentally grimaced. So it hadn't been a dream. She really had come into contact with a character from a fictional show.
"He's probably talking to the others then?" Scarlett rationalized. She supposed that they hadn't realized she was awake yet. Then it's logical to let them stay that way until she figured out a story to tell them. "If this really isn't a dream, though, could it be that I've really gone insane?" The thought was depressing, but she didn't have time to dwell on it.
"But how does she know? Is she a physic or something?" another voice asked… loudly.
"Kuwabara…? Yeah, I think that's him," Scarlett thought, trying not to grimace. It wasn't because of the character, but it was because this was really getting out of a hand. When she dreamed of anime, it was merely one or two characters, not several. This was becoming more and more real, wasn't it?
"I believe the word you're looking for is psychic. However, I highly doubt that, Kuwabara," Kurama's voice replied. "I doubt that she's anything supernatural for that matter. I sense very little spirit energy coming from her."
"WHAT…! Very little spirit energy?!" Scarlett could stop her lip from twitching. Sure it was normal for a normal person, but it sounded much like an insult to her ears. Her fingers clenched at her sides.
"It's not like you to do something so illogical, Kurama. You should have erased her memory and left her there!" This voice caused Scarlett's eyebrow to twitch. One of her veins bulged as the male went on. "She's only a weak human girl. She knows nothing." More twitching and more bulging veins came from said 'weak human girl.' "For all we know, she only knows your name because of the Dark Tournament."
That was it. She couldn't take it anymore. "I'LL SHOW YOU WEAK HUMAN GIRL!" Scarlett yelled as she sat up. Her glare was directed to the one who had insulted her. His glare was stronger, and the teen almost wavered. "Just because I'm human doesn't mean I'm weak, Hiei! Or do you forget how Yusuke kicked your ass?" She forced a laugh. "I can't wait until Kuwabara-kun can kick your ass, you tree hugging asshole!"
By then, she realized how big of mistake she made.
All the room's occupants stared at her with suspicious eyes. Of course they would. How the hell did she know all of their names? Scarlett mentally beat herself up for being such an idiot. She chuckled nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck. Kurama was the one who stepped forward. "How did you come across this information?" he asked.
"I say we kill her," Hiei almost hissed. He was probably pissed because she had the gull to hope that Kuwabara defeat him. This was bad, Scarlett thought.
"Um… Would you believe that I'm a seer and can see into the future?" The teens known as Yusuke and Kazuma shared a look. Clearly they were thinking about it. However, Kurama and Hiei seemed incredulous. Finally, the two humans returned suspicious eyes to her. "I guess not," she muttered. Scarlett didn't really come up with anything to tell them. Should she lie?
"How much do you know?" Kurama asked. Scarlett's feet touched the floor, yet she didn't stand. Hiei's hand was inching toward his concealed weapon. Scarlett sighed heavily.
"Properly everything…" she answered, gloomily. "Are you gonna take me to Koenma's now?"
"You know Koenma, too?!" Kuwabara pointed a finger. Again, Scarlett mentally bashed her head into a wall. "Who are you?!"
"My name is Scarlett Tate," she replied with a shrug. "Believe me when I tell you that I'm just as confused as you all. I think… I come from a different world from this one."
"Spirit World?"
"Demon World?"
"Uh… none of the above…"
The room was silent for a moment. "This is becoming annoying," Yusuke frowned. "Pacifier breath probably needs to know about this."
"I'm not a thing, Yusuke," Scarlett sighed out. "But I think you're right. I don't belong here, and I kinda want to go home. He might know how to get me back."
"Very well…" Kurama announced, causing the girl to look his way. His green eyes, though, were focused elsewhere. "Botan, open the portal please."
"Botan…?" Scarlett repeated, confused "I don't see-"
"Sweet, sassy ferry girl at your service!" The grim reaper appeared out of no where. Scarlett literally jumped from her seat. "One portal coming up!" Botan smiled brightly. Once her heart rate decreased, the girl point a finger.
"Don't do that! You want me to have a heart attack?"
"No need to get snippy! You're much too young to have one of those!" Botan cheerfully replied. Scarlett's eye twitched. She and her mother really were alike. "Here's your portal!" Botan announced. A swirling void appeared before her. Kuwabara went in first. Then Botan, and then Scarlett went in next.
0-0
"That wasn't a bad landing if I do say so myself," Scarlett said, happy that she didn't land in an awkward position.
"That's only because you landed on me!" Yusuke yelled from under the dog pile. The young woman lowered her eyes.
"Actually, Yusuke, I landed on Botan, who landed on Kuwabara, who landed on you!" she corrected. "I thought you were smarter than that. I suppose I have to reevaluate you guys. You must be different from your canon counterparts, right?"
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, but get off me already!" Yusuke yelled.
"What brings you guys here at this hour?" Koenma asked. His voice caused all present to look up. The office looked just how it did in the show. The young ruler of Spirit World had not looked up from stamping papers. He really did appear like a toddler.
"We've got a huge problem," Yusuke said.
"I'm not really a problem, am I?" Scarlett thought, glaring down the Spirit Detective. Finally, she jumped from the dog pile, allowing everyone else to untangle themselves and stand.
"Is it a demon?" Koenma asked. Still, he did not look up.
"No, it's actually a human," Kurama answered. "But she seems to know us… All of us. Also, she states that she comes from a different world entirely."
"Everyone seems to know us recently," Koenma murmured. His beady eyes finally lifted from his task. His gaze settled on Scarlett. He suddenly stood and slammed his palms on the table. "Why have you brought a living human here?! My father will not like this!"
"So he really wasn't paying attention!" Scarlett thought.
"We wanted to know what you would like us to do," Kurama said. Koenma didn't say anything for a long time. His eyes were closed, causing him to appear as though he had dosed off. Scarlett was not a very patient type of person. When her patient finally snapped, she snapped as well. She briskly walked forward, and then slammed her hands on the desk. Koenma jumped as the stacked papers did.
"YO…! EARTH TO TODDLER BREATH! YOU BETTER SPEAK NOW BEFORE I FOREVER SHOVE KURAMA'S ROSE WHIP TEN INCHES DOWN YOUR THROAT!" she hissed angrily. "And I don't mean that in a good way!" Noticing how quiet it became, Scarlett turned her eyes back to the group behind her. "What?!"
"Nothing...! It's just that sounded like something I'd say," Yusuke answered. He grinned. "I think I might like you." Scarlett quickly calmed down. How embarrassing, she thought.
"Maybe it's because you did say something like that," Scarlett bowed her head a bit. "Anyway, Koenma-sama," she coughed lightly. She began to explain what happened before she encountered the demon and Kurama. She even told him that where she came from, they were only fictional characters. After she was finished with her explanation, she stared at the young ruler expectedly. "Do you think you might know what's going on?"
"It seems that you're from a different dimension," Koenma said after clearing his throat. "I don't remember seeing your picture and I have every file of everyone in the three worlds."
"My name is Scarlett Tate, but my friends call me Scar-sama," Scarlett announced. "I'm pretty smart. I'm determined and confident. I'm not afraid to speak my mind as you all just witnessed. I'm an only child. My height is 5'5. I'm not telling you my weight. My blood type is 'A' positive. My hobbies include reading, writing, and laughing."
"What is this—an online dating ad?" Yusuke rolled his eyes.
"Any questions?" Scarlett asked, ignoring the smartass remark.
"Uh… yeah actually… Why would your friends give you a name like Scar-sama?" Kuwabara asked.
"Well, my first day at a Japanese school, this guy was making fun of me because I'm American, and I did not like that at all," Scarlett shrugged her shoulders.
"So what happened?" Yusuke asked.
"Let's just say that I left a mark," Scarlett answered, smirking. She crossed her arms. "And that's how I got the nickname. Apparently, he was the school bully, and everyone just started calling me that."
"Oh," Yusuke said.
"Yeah… So what I want to know is…" Scarlett returned her attention to Koenma. "How do I get back?"
"I… I… I have no clue," Koenma responded.
"What…?! Bu-But why?!"
"I'm afraid I do not have that information. Traveling through dimensions isn't exactly common, you know," Koenma answered. "I suppose I will have to speak with my father on the matter."
"Oh, good… for a moment, I thought I'd be stuck here," Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief. Not that she didn't want to be here, but it was great that she had a way back home. "So where is your dad?"
"Um... unfortunately… he's on vacation."
"And how long will it be till he returns?" Scarlett asked, voice rising with everyone word. Also, her eye was twitching.
"Uh… two and a half months," Koenma said quietly.
"Excuse me, I couldn't quite hear that… Can you repeat it?" Scarlett asked.
"I said two and a half months," Koenma said slightly louder. Scarlett blinked a few times, and then she breathe.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS?!" she yelled.
"It's not my fault you decided to drop in from some other world!" Koenma yelled back.
"Oh, so now it's my fault, huh?!" Scarlett retorted. "You think I wanted to be here?! I'd rather be in Inuyasha with that brother of his!"
"What? Who…?" Koenma asked.
"… Th-That's not important!" Her face became flushed. How embarrassing would it be if they found out she had a crush on someone who wasn't even real? Then again, she had thought they hadn't been real. Perhaps, she could get dropped into the Inuyasha universe next time? Scarlett shook her head. This was seriously not the time to be thinking of that! "What is important is where am I going to be living until your dad comes back!" Scarlett rubbed her temples. "You make my head numb. I can't take this." The two began to bicker about that.
"She's yelling at Koenma-sama," Botan thought. "Is this the appearance of another Yusuke?" She sighed heavily.
"This girl gives me a weird feeling…!" Kuwabara thought. "But she can't be all bad if she hopes I kick Hiei's ass! Haha!" He grinned as he continued to watch the girl and Koenma argue.
"GO SCAR!" Yusuke thought, smirking. It was about time someone else yelled at Koenma.
"…" Hiei narrowed his eyes. "This is ridiculous."
I like her. She's got one heck of a mouth on her. I wonder how she tas-
"Control yourself, Yoko," Kurama warned his alter ego.
As usual, you're no fun.
"Fine then…!" Koenma hissed. "Choose between one of them!" He pointed a chubby finger at the group.
"Fine then, I will!" Scarlett shouted. She whirled around, focusing her attention on the group. She honed in on Yusuke. "No," she said, and then moved on to Kuwabara. "Hell no!" Her eyes turned to Hiei. "Something tells me my life would be at risk if I'm with you." The fire demon's eyebrow twitched in agreement. Scarlett ignored the nod she saw Hiei give. She looked towards the last one. "Then I guess it's you, roommate."
"What?" Kurama asked.
"Didn't you hear? I'm sleeping at your place!" Scarlett said.
"But I… This is sudden," Kurama began.
"Indeed it is. However, you are probably the only one who I can get along with," Scarlett explained. "Yusuke and I would probably behave like siblings towards each other, playing, fighting—things like that. We wouldn't get anything accomplished. If I were to room with Kuwabara-kun, we're bound to fight over his cat. Hiei would ultimately kill me because of my antics. You have to deal with these three on the daily bases, and yet you haven't killed them yet. It's safe to say that you are my best option." Kurama blinked, and then released a soft sigh.
"By that logic, I suppose you are correct," his eyes narrowed. "-Which makes me wonder how much you know about us individually."
"You'd be surprised how much my world knows about you. I'm not an exception," Scarlett murmured. She crossed her arms. "I know you probably don't trust me, but that's okay. I wouldn't trust a strange girl either. Still, if I try anything, you could always overpower me. I'm not that much of a threat when it comes to demons and super powered humans."
"So I guess its settled!" Botan clapped her hands.
"Great, when do we leave?" Scarlett asked.
"You can leave after they formally introduce themselves," Koenma said. The girl sighed heavily. Something like that wasn't necessary. "These are the people that you will see often while you stay here are Urameshi Yusuke, Kuwabara Kazuma, Hiei, and Kurama. In the Human World, he's known as Shuichi. You will also see Botan from time to time."
"Like I said, I already know you guys," Scarlett nodded her. She pointed at the ferry girl. "Botan, your happy nature is refreshing, but tone it down sometimes." She pointed to the leader of the detectives. "Yusuke, you're badass, so I'm going to like you. I'm pretty sure we're going to be get along, but your cockiness might rub off on me, so tone that down, too."
"I can't promise you anything."
"Kuwabara-kun, you need to use that brain of yours because I know you can," Scarlett pointed at the carrot top. "I'm challenging you since I like you so much!"
"HEY!" Kuwabara shouted.
Ignoring the outburst, Scarlett moved over to Hiei. He didn't like her eyes examining him. "Do you think you understand me?" She blinked, and then walked over to him.
"Can… Can I hug you?" Scarlett asked.
"What? No!"
"Aww, come on, I'll give you sweet snow."
"…"
"I know you want it~!"
"… This is why I dislike human women." Hiei turned his back on Scarlett. She took this chance to latch onto him from behind. "Get off!" He shoved her away. "If you weren't human, I'd kill you." Luckily, his threat was the only thing he did. Scarlett sighed, and then shifted her attention to the last member of the group. She circled him a few times before coming to a stop. She narrowed her eyes.
"Forgive me, Kurama, but I just have to know if it's true," Scarlett murmured. She then grabbed his collar and shoved him against the wall. Without warning, she kissed him full on the lips. The red head became so shocked that his lips parted, allowing Scarlett to slip her tongue past. Her tongue found his quickly, and went to work enticing him to respond. To her utter surprise, Kurama slowly returned the sudden kiss. Scarlett wasn't the only one shocked. Their jaws dropped.
Americans women were bold, after all.