Chapter 3: Signs (ED: 00014)

In his office, the Prince of Spirit world worried, he wasn't so far gone as to be panicking, he was actually waiting on the detective for that, but he was worrying, so much so that he was in danger of wearing out his pacifier. "Ogre!" he called out.

"Yes, Lord Koenma!" George, a blue ogre and Koenma's assistant raced into the office.

He looked out of breath, as if, like all those running back and forth behind the doors, he had been doing the same. "Where are they? I sent Botan to get them hours ago!"

George glanced at the clock. "Actually, Sir, it's only been fifteen minutes."

"That's beside the point!" Koenma snapped. "This is important! The most important event in over millennia and they're late!"

"They're here!" A girl with blue hair raised in a ponytail and wearing a pink kimono raced into the room on a flying oar, behind her a group of four teenage boys entered.

The one at the front was a red-head, with emerald eyes and wearing a magenta school uniform, a school bag still in his right hand. Not far behind him was the shortest of the four; spiky black hair, a starburst of white hair at the front and a bandanna over his forehead, his red eyes found Koenma and pinned him with a glare.

The third, on the red head's other side, wore a green uniform, his black hair slicked back, his manner laid back. The last one was the tallest, orange hair, blue school uniform; the expression on his plain, to be kind, face annoyed.

"Great timing Koenma, for once I was glad to actually be called in."

"In another words, you had a test." The red-head said, his voice calm and a little amused.

"Yeah, wouldn't you know, the only day I go to school and they spring a test on me."

The red-head chuckled lightly. "Perhaps you would have known if you'd attended more classes, Yusuke."

The other snorted. "I have better things to do than waste my time there."

"Well I was ready!" The orange-hair complained loudly. "Shizuru had me studying until late last night." He glared on Koenma. "This better be good."

"Enough!" Koenma slammed his hands on his desk, surprising the four, although two didn't show it.

"Sheesh Koenma, calm down, what the heck's got your diapers in a bunch?"

Koenma's eye twitched. As much as he disliked Yusuke's way of putting things, he didn't have any time to argue with him.

"Listen, all of you. Something bad has happened. Normally this event is confined to one dimension, however this time it seems that it has reached out further, and our world's been included." Sweat beaded on his brow as he thought about it.

This was bad.

Bad enough that many of the events that had happened in that dimension had happened in this one as well, and the influence had been indirect.

He feared what would happen if the events suddenly transferred to this world, in the hands of a demon intent on conquest. He shivered. It would not be pretty.

"Perhaps you could start at the beginning." Calm as always, Kurama recalled Koenma's attention back to the conversation.

"Yes, of course." Koenma leaned back on his chair. "Well it all began…"

Twenty minutes, due to interruptions from Yusuke and Kuwabara, later he had given them an explanation of the history until now.

"I thought there was something weird about that light last night." Yusuke remembered now; He'd been making his way home when he'd seen it.

"What light?" Kuwabara looked at Yusuke. "I didn't see any light."

"Of course you wouldn't fool."

Kuwabara glared at Hiei. "What did you say?"

"You heard me." Hiei glared back. "Only those who are qualified saw the light. Since you didn't see it, it obviously means that you're not worthy enough to take part in this."

Kuwabara gritted his teeth. "Oh yeah, and you saw it!"

Hiei smirked up at Kuwabara. "Of course."

"No way! Why would a little shrimp like you be chosen!"

Hiei's glare returned. "I'm far more-"

"I saw it too." Kurama interrupted before the argument could escalate. "A golden flash descending to earth." He'd felt there had been more to that light, even now he still remembered it, there had been a feeling of hope and determination in it, yet at the same time a sadness he couldn't understand; all of this feelings he'd felt emanating from the light before , seconds later, it vanished.

Kurama tilted his head slightly to the left, as if listening, then he glanced at Hiei and nodded, the movement unnoticed by all but Hiei, who gave no sign he'd seen it, his eyes on Koenma.

Koenma nodded in answer to Kurama's observation. "That's the one." He picked up a remote and clicked the on button.

The screen turned on to show a valley from a bird's eye view. "I'm sure you've heard of it. This valley is located in the human world, the states, more specifically California."

He looked at the four, not surprised when only Kurama nodded.

"The Silicon Valley if I'm not mistaken."

"The what?" Yusuke asked. Kurama glanced at him. "It's not that far from San Francisco,' when Yusuke still looked confused Kurama elaborated. "The Golden gate bridge."

"Oh yeah; I've heard of that place, what about it?" Yusuke asked.

"Not that place exactly.' Koenma continued, now that that had been cleared up. "It's more the energy that is gathering there, in that valley. I believe that's where it'll take place, whatever it is. Even I'm not sure about that; however you must get to the Right before anyone else. I'm sure you won't be the only ones seeking it, in whichever form it's decided to appear in, you'll know once you've set eyes on it." He looked at the four. "Pack up; you're going on a trip."

"Now that sounds more like it!"

"This isn't a vacation, Yusuke." Koenma warned the grinning detective.

"Sure, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy it."

Koenma sighted. 'Maybe I should have let father deal with it.' But no, his father's methods would have probably made the situation much worse. Force wasn't always the best way to do things.

"Botan will be accompanying you." He look over at the Grim Reaper who held up a peace sign. Koenma blinked. "When did you…"

Botan smiled. "Well it's always good to be prepared." She said in her spunky English accent.

The blue hair girl was wearing sunglasses and at some point had left to change into blue jeans and a long sleeved pink shirt. Two black suitcases stood at her left.

"Botan this isn't a vacation!" Koenma exclaimed annoyed.

Botan grinned. "I know, I know, but like Yusuke said; it doesn't mean we can't have some fun."

"Nice to see we agree on something." Yusuke grinned back at her. Next to him Kurama chuckled silently.

Kuwabara, still a little put out grumbled. "Guess I better go tell Shizuru, huh." Koenma nodded. "Yes, you have six hours to get ready. Be at the airport at nine exactly."

And so six hours later; and half an hour later, the plane having thankfully been delayed, the four spirit detectives and one grim reaper found themselves en route to the States.

AN: I guess this chapter's a little shorter than my others, but I wanted to set this up. The group won't show up till chapter six now, but once they do show up again they'll be staying for good. Reviews and constructive criticism welcome, as I said this is my first time doing a story and I'd like to know how I'm doing. As for the characters, hopefully I kept them well in character.


Oh yeah one more thing; if anyone was wondering, ED stands for Earth Dimension, and the number states its numerical order from the earth where the story originally takes place.