Chapter 2: Acceptance

I watched when Yusuke punched the ogre in the stomach, the demon smirked at him and I face palmed.

"For a detective you don't know anything at all, this is a Goki skin is solid as rock you can't hurt me!" He said with pride as he tried to punch the detective, Yusuke was able to get out of the way and the tree snapped into two.

Yusuke grabbed the huge lumber and charged at the Ogre, I widened my eyes knowing what the Baka was trying to do.

"How about a wooden stake!"

"Yusuke Don't-"It was too late, nothing happened to the Demon. He grabbed the Lumber with Yusuke with it and tossed it aside.

"Don't you see it's pointless?!"

"AHHH!"

I now unsheathe one of my Tanto readying myself, the poor detective was kicked away by the Demon and now he stomped at him many times. I was about to attack the Demon but then Botan charged at Goki with a wooden stick, she hit him hard on the back but he didn't got hurt or anything.

I face palmed knowing what Botan did was stupid, Gouki glanced down to her and showed anger to the young grim reaper.

"Huh? Who the hell is she?" Goki charged at her, when he was about to punched the grim reaper I jumped down on Goki's head and pierced his eye.

"GAHH! YOU LITTLE SHIT!" He tried to grab me but I jumped from his head and to Botan's side, I dragged her away from the fight and gave a fighting stance.

The detective kicked me on my back and I gasped in pain, He glared at me feeling really pissed and I hissed at him.

"This is my fight, stay out of it!" The Ogre got his opportunity and grabbed the detective by the head.

"I can kill eat you all, starting with my top offender!" He opened his mouth wide and I gasp in surprise when the detective placed a log on his mouth.

Botan went over to my side and pulled me up, she smirked weakly and I just stared at her.

"It was about time! I was waiting for you to open your big fat mouth!" Yusuke smiled cockily and pointed his finger in the air.

"Your skin of you monsters may be rock as a rock; I bet your insides aren't." He said as spiritual energy gathered in his pointer.

"Monster meet Spirit gun!" A blast of energy came out of his finger and into the Demon's mouth; he slumped on the floor dead.

Yusuke shot his head at me and grabbed me by the collar and Botan reacted quickly, she grabbed Yusuke's arm making him let go of me.

"You should thank her Yusuke, Gouki also killed me!" Botan scolded him; Yusuke smirked at me with disbelief in his eyes.

"Hah! See if I care! I'm not going to lose to this dude!" he said pushing me in the chest, when I was about to fall I landed on my hand and kick him on the face.

"You would have died, well then…SEE IF I CARE." He fell on his butt and looked up to me.

I was about to leave when I remembered what Kurama said, I glanced at him and stared for a minute.

"By the way Yusuke, be careful when you go outside. Hiei will advance since you got there the 1st artifact." I said leaving.

I walked through the streets of the city checking if the other Demon is still around, I watch the children playing in the park with their parents. I smiled softly when they enjoyed their time together, but then it faded away when memories appeared in my mind.

I shook my head lightly not wanting to remember everything; I left the park and headed to a convenience store. I noticed I haven't eaten anything the whole day, hunger lurched my stomach and I sighed.

Sometimes whenever I'm having this watching tasks I forget that I'm human, I went over to the last shelve of goods and grabbed a sandwich. Once again my mind stirred and memories projected in my mind, I closed my eyes giving in to whatever memory I'm remembering.

I ran through the fields being chased by my brother, we both laughed in enjoyment when he took me in his arms and spun over. We fell in the soft grass and gasped for air; I sat up slowly and smiled at him.

"Shinji, how as your work?" I asked him, he closed his eyes and smirked.

"It was tiring but I got something for you, he took something in his satchel and handed me a Japanese doll, I squeal in delight and took it from his hand. He laughed and I did the same.

The Japanese doll was wearing a shrine maiden outfit and its face was similar to mine, I hugged it once more and giggled at him. I kissed his cheek, his hands went over to my face and caressed by face.

" Brother someday, I'm going to be a great Tsukiko master like Master Izayoi and we'll fight evil demons together with Shinobu and Itsuki!" I said but his smile faded and my expression turned into a puzzled look.

"Mujakina…I just don't want you to get involve with this job, I promised myself that you can't be a Spirit detective, it's dangerous. You can get killed. And remember you're the next Master of the shrine. " He said as my happy smile turned into a frown.

"Okay Shinji…" I pouted at him; he just chuckled and ruffled my hair.

"Let's go inside the house, Master Izayoi will scold us if you're out too still have to train." He said carrying me in his arms and we both went inside the shrine.

~ Days later ~

I waited inside my room when I saw Amane; one of the servants in the household served me my early dinner. I went over to the table and ate slowly.

"My, Lady Mujakina…You don't look too well what's wrong?" She asked. I simply ignored her and drank my tea.

She took the tray away and went outside the room; I went over the doll and picked it up. I looked into its eyes and pouted.

I fell asleep early that night and woke up when I heard a lot of screaming, I shot up from my bed and carefully slid the door open.

"Huh?" I was startled when another scream echoed through the dark hallway.

That's when it all started…The murder of the Tsukiko Household.

"Um miss are you going to pay for that?" The cashier asked, I snapped back to reality and went over the counter.

"I'm sorry. Here." I handed the money to the cashier.

When I went out of the store, I went on top of the highest building and ate my sandwich; I looked down checking if there was some mischief. I closed my eye and opened them once more.

"Hawkeye!"

My eye's pupil magnified, I looked at the city once more and still there are no troubles around or any Demons. I continued eating my sandwich until it was all done; I thought about what Kurama said once again and stood up.

I went jump to a lower building and I was able to get down, I suddenly saw Botan just across the street. She was waving at me with her toothy grin, I crossed the street and I stood in front of her.

"Hey, Yusuke wants to invite you over." She said and suddenly I just had a huge question mark pop out on my head.

"First he wants to kick my ass, and then he invites me over?" I asked, the grim reaper laughed nervously and scratched her temple.

"Come on, He just want to say something~" She said musically, she grab my wrist and dragged me to Yusuke and Atsuko's home.

The Mother suddenly shot up and smiled, Yusuke's eyes widen when he saw me. He pointed at me with a shock face and I folded my arms on my chest then darted my head to Botan.

" Don't tell me-"

" I had to! Atsuko requested me to go get you Tsume." She said with her hands fanning on her face, I just huffed and returned my attention to the detective and his mother.

"Hello there, Tsume isn't it? Please join us." She said pulling me and gave me a sit just beside Yusuke, He eyed me furiously and I did the same.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" He asked, Atsuko hit the back of his head.

"MOM!"

"Yusuke! You can't just do that! He saved you from being beaten to death and he even carried you here! I was so worried when I saw you passed out. So please young man please accepts my thanks by giving you this!" She held out a strawberry cake, I stared at it and I widened my eye. It was the same cake my Brother used to give me whenever he goes out of town.

The young Detective stared at me for a minute, he then tapped on my shoulder and I realized that I was still staring at it.

"You going to take the cake or not?" He asked, I sighed deeply and grabbed the cake, I smiled at Atsuko and she did the same.

"Please let's share it together, as a celebration of Yusuke's success." He gasped at me and I just stared at him and Botan clapped her hands.

"Yeah! Great Idea!"

~ Later on at night~

After eating the cake, Atsuko drank a lot of sake and now she passed out on the floor. I stood up and grab her arm and slung it around my shoulders.

"Uhhh…Don't…Drink…My booze…" Atsuko said weakly, I smiled at her softly and slowly placed her on her bed and tucked her in.

Yusuke watched me as I took away the bottle from her hand placing it on the table; I took my things and was ready to leave.

"Hey" He grabbed me by the elbow and I glanced at the Detective.

"You have a place to stay?" He asked as I huffed, it was unusual of him. First he was an angry ogre now he started to become a bright angel.

"Well actually, she lives really far away from Tokyo…Well she doesn't have a place to stay! I always see her sleep on abandoned buildings or sometimes at the park. Koenma always forget to provide her a temporary home!" Botan explained and I glared at her furiously, she nervously laughed and I sighed.

"Well at least stay here for a while." Yusuke said taking my things away from me and threw them on the sofa, he dragged me and without thinking what will happen he threw me on it.

"You're going to sleep on the Sofa." I was shocked when he just said that.

"Why are you-"

"Well I have to thank you for helping me earlier from Gouki…and throwing a one heck of a celebration." He said turning away from me, Botan smiled at the both of us. She went by the window and took out her paddle and bolted out from the apartment.

Meanwhile I lay down on the sofa and Yusuke lay on his bed, he stared at me again and I did the same.

"So…Where you from?" He asked.

"I live just outside Tokyo along with a kind old woman Genkai, you should probably visit her. She might be able help you with your Spirit gun." I said closing me eyes.

He turned his back on me and a minute later I heard him lightly snoring, I closed my eyes but then I was startled but he started mumbling words.

"Just…Stay…Out…of my way…" He said lightly, I curled my lips into a smile.

I closed my eyes thanking the gods that I'm sleeping on something soft once more; it has been 7 months since I left home. I didn't even ask permission to Genkai that I'm leaving for a while. Koenma assigned me top look after Tokyo for 10 months, Genkai might be worried sick about me.

Once again I let darkness consume me.

~ Dream~

I clutched my bleeding eye socket; it has been 3 days when I left the Tsukiko shrine. I don't even know where to start looking for Genkai. I was never allowed to go out of the shrine until I'm 18, in the our traditions the men of the Tsukiko household are the only ones who can go out while the women are only allowed when they reached the age of maturity, we practice all the techniques and rituals what the Master and Masanori teaches us and we all try to defend and perform them if we are now outside.

But now...

They're all dead, there is no need to practice any rituals or anything anymore…

As I reached the southern part of the forest my body slumped down on the dirty ground, I can't feel my body anymore…

I just can't move on…

I want to die…

But…

Darkness clouded my mind…

Death…

I shot up from the sofa and glanced at the sleeping detective, my hand went to my temple and pressed it. It was only a dream…

I looked over the clock and it was only 3 am, I positioned myself again and closed my eyes once more.

I felt something soft and a comforting touch around my body, it was really blurry. I can see a bright face, is that an angel?

"It's okay…" Her voice was soft and comforting as if it was a mother's touch, I felt her carrying me.

Everything seemed okay now; I don't feel scared anymore…

Master?

Mother?

I wanted to call her out but everything was such a blur, I can't even talk, or feel my body.

~ End~

I shot up again from my sleep and look over to my side; it was 4:00 am. Yusuke was still snoring lightly; Atsuko was not on her bed. I stood up from the sofa and went over the bathroom; I examined myself in the mirror and noticed huge bags under my eye. I took off my jacket and realized I haven't showered for days too.

Yusuke wouldn't mind if I just take a dip right? He invited me in his house, I'm a guest. Well...

I took off all my remaining clothes and unwrapped the chest wrappings away from my breast, turned the shower, I felt the water kiss my body and it felt so good. My hands shook my hair and rinse away all the dirt on my hair, my body and my face.

Minutes later after taking a bath I wrap the wrappings on my chest, I wore all my undergarments and now my hoodie and baggy pants.

I noticed that tomorrow is the day when Yusuke and I have to meet up with Kurama at the Hospital; I put on my eye patch while looking at the sleeping boy.

"Hey you!" I got startled when Yusuke call out to me and looked at me.

"What is it?" I asked the detective, his eyes were still closed and he pointed at me.

"You can stay here if you don't have a home…..A home….." He slumped down on his bed and snored again lightly.

I just stared at him; I have to note that he talks in his sleep.

An hour later Atsuko was able to return home really drunk, I guided her to her bed and laid her gently. I once again tucked her in and she snuggled on the pillow.

I noticed the whole apartment was not appealing, it was filled with smelly clothes, dirty plates and bowls and a lot of empty wine bottles. It's much worse than master Genkai's temple, usually our rule in the temple is 'those who don't work, doesn't eat' well it seems that I have to the same here. If I'm going to stay here for a while I have to be useful.

I started by putting all the clothes on a basket, I went inside another room and thanked the heavens they have a laundry room. I placed the clothes on the washing machine and added liquid detergent, I went out of the room and took the dishes and washed them on the sink, I properly arranged them on the dish dryer.

I slowly slid the door of Atsuko and Yusuke's room closed and started moping the floor, minutes later I went back to the Laundry room and took the clean clothes.

~ Yusuke's P.O.V. ~

I sniffed lightly when I just suddenly smell a very delicious aroma; I sat up on my bed and noticed that Tsume was not on his Sofa. Probably gone.

I stood from my bed and slid the door open, I gasped when I saw the whole place clean. Mom was eating on table along with Tsume; he softly stared at me and called out.

"Yusuke, you'll be late for school. Hurry up and eat breakfast." He said as if he was my father; I sat down on the Zaisu and examined the food on the table.

It was rice, bacon, egg and sausages, Mom placed a bowl filled with rice in front of me and smiled happily.

"Yusuke, you should learn from Tsume a thing or two! He cleaned the whole place and even cooked us breakfast!" She said as Tsume smiled at her calmly.

I just rolled my eyes and dig in and unexpectedly I closed my eyes feeling a lot of star all over the place, Damn I didn't know he was a good cook! Well it can be reason for him to stay here longer.

"Hey you!"

"Yes?" Asked the one eyed freak.

"I'm going to let you stay here; you seemed to be useful after all." He suddenly had a vein pop out on his temple, well at least cleans and cooks.

Tsume just simply look away from me and continued eating, I did the same and my mother grinned ear to ear.

"Well it's nice to see the both of you getting along!" She said we both looked at her with an irritating look.

"Are you even blind?!" I asked as the one eyed guy sighed deeply shaking his head.

~ Later on ~

When I was about to leave the house Tsume grabbed me by the back of my collar and handed a bento box, I stared at him for a minute and left without saying a word.

Well… He's acting as if he was my mother. Wait… He cooks and cleans…IS there a possibility that he's homosexual? Nah! IN this generation Boys can clean and cook!

WHATEVER I'M GONNA GO TO THE ARCADE

I passed by the busy crowd, a red headed kid wearing a pink Meiou uniform was staring at me, I then ushered to him and he nodded.

"Hey, it's you…" I said when my knuckles were ready to collide to his face.

"I don't have time to fight, I promise to retrieve, meet me at the Hospital at eight o' clock, Bring along Mr. Tsume-"

"Yeah sure, whatever you say said to him, he then walked away with the crowd; well things are getting more interesting.

~ Tsume's P.O.V."

Once again I'm on my own, Atsuko left after Yusuke did. Today is the day when Yusuke and I have to meet Kurama. What does he even want?

I mean he's a Demon and all; he's the legendary Bandit, the king of thieves yet…

We have to find out tomorrow, my pocket vibrated and I took the communicator on my pocket and turned it on.

"Yes?" I asked when Koenma appeared inside the mirror, he look horrible than yesterday.

"Have you retrieved the mirror yet?" He asked as I shook my head, his hands went over to his temples and rubbed it furiously. There goes his tantrum.

"No, but Kurama promised to return it to us when his done using it, we have to meet him at the hospital along with Yusuke."

"Muja- I mean Tsume, I don't trust him, be careful." He said before shutting it, I sighed deeply.

It's been months now and I'm still not allowed to see Genkai yet, well…If I home home right now the old hag's going to beat me until I can't take anymore.

I stood up from the sofa and looked over to the clock, just a few hours left.

~ Later on ~

Yusuke dragged me to the Hospital at eight o' clock, Kurama was there waiting for us. I then move over to Yusuke to his side and stared at the red headed Kitsune.

"I must tell you, I'm known as Shuichi Minamino, not Kurama." He said while guiding us inside.

When we entered a room my eyes darted to a woman, she loom very weak and my eyes softened. She then smiled at us and Kurama walked over to her.

"Oh Hello, Shuichi." She said calmly, she kind of reminded me of Master Izayoi. The way she look at us calmly.

"Hello Mother." He said, my eye widened when I heard the word 'Mother'. She's his mother? But how?

"Shuichi, it's been a long time you've brought friends here." She said smiling once more, Yusuke looked at me and I did the same.

"Oh yes, they're friends, Yusuke Urameshi and Tsume Gekko. Mother are you Hungry? Do you want me to peal some apples for you?" He asked.

"Oh, Shuichi I'm not hungry."

"Mother you'll won't get better if you eat anything." He scolded her and she giggled lightly, He then fixed her blanket.

"Alright, we'll leave you to rest then." He said we all left the room and went up the rooftop and listen what he have to say.

"Why do you want from the Forlorn Hope?" Yusuke asked.

"I believe I have to tell you my past, Tsume must have known the story. I will also tell you both my true intentions. My name is Yoko Kurama, I was a legendary Fox Bandit searching for power and gaining riches. For a thousand years I live, I was chased and so I fled in the Human world. I suddenly got injured and I ended up inside a woman's womb, I decided to recuperate. But many years passed and I started to love it here. Mother suddenly got a disease, then Hiei found out I was Yoko Kurama." He explained further, I was a bit puzzled. Koenma told me Kurama died after being badly injured, I didn't demons could do that.

"So you left and joined Gouki and Hiei." I said softly, Yusuke look at me for a second and headed to to Kurama.

" Yes, But I felt guilty, maybe because I'm one of the mother devouring creatures, that's why I'm going to save her by using the mirror." He said trailing off, a nurse bolted at us and we were all startled.

"Shuichi, your Mother's in critical condition!" Kurama suddenly went down from the rooftop with Yusuke following him, I stood exactly where I stood and watched as the moon glow into the night. My hand went under my collar and took out a precious stone.

It was Master's Necklace, when the moon is full the brighter the moonstone becomes, this is why I have to pretend that I'm a man…

To protect the stone, in this generation a lot of greedy bastards would die just to get the moonstone. They knew that the Mujakina Tsukiko was still alive somewhere, they also knew she has it, I have it….

The moonstone has powers too, the one who possesses it will be guided by Tsukuyomi, and will be able to guide lost souls into the light, and it's also as popular as the Hiruseki stone. Tsukuyomi gifted this moonstone to a shrine maiden who decided to cast away all her attachments and dedicate her life as a priestess.

No one should touch it….

When the two headed back here I hid it inside my jacket and turned to them, Kurama placed the mirror on the ground and chanted words.

"This woman's happiness? This that what you seek?' The mirror asked.

"If it saves my mother's life then, yes."

A huge amount of energy surrounded Kurama's Yusuke pushed him out of the way and I gasped.

"Hey mirror guy! Take my life instead of his so he can enjoy his wish!" My eye widens and pushed him out of the way.

"No, take mine! I won't went a mother's son grieve for his death!" I said as he pushed me and I did the same.

"It's my wish!" Kurama pushed the both of us and I pushed him, there was a huge amount of light and everything went dark.

My eye flinched when I felt someone shake me awake, Yusuke shook me once more and I sat up. I searched for Kurama's body and stared at him.

"Your alive, I'm alive, Kurama's? But how?" I asked him, he gently smiled and we saw Botan flying over us.

"Thank goodness! You're both alive!" Botan hugged us both and I struggled, I look over the mirror and sighed.

"The mirror said it was so noble of us to sacrifice our lives just to save someone else's." Yusuke said helping me stand up.

I thank him and look over to the moon; I smiled at it and appreciated the beauty of the pure white moon.

"Hey, I appreciated what you've done earlier." He said, I glanced up to him and nodded.

"So are we friends now?" I asked him, his face turned into an angry one and looked away from me but he glanced once more and sighed, I grab the 2nd artifact and handed it over to him.

"Yeah, yeah…Something like that." He said and took it from my hands, we both left the hospital and I closed my eyes and thank the gods nothing bad happened today.

"Acceptance could be a bitch sometimes." Yusuke said in his annoyed tone and I ignored him but deep inside I felt joy.

It was so funny, I never felt this happy before, well…

The 3 artifacts arc is almost over but look at the bright side~

Mujakina's going to see Genkai again after Hiei tries to kill Yusuke! Yaay!