CHAPTER 4 – The puppeteer
The doors to the Spirit World office opened, Klarise and Kuwabara coming in view. It didn't take him long to open his mouth, shaking his fist angrily at them.
"Sure, go on a mission and leave me out. You always do that. I had to get called out here like being called to the principal's office and get scolded for not keeping my eyes on you delinquents." Kurama chuckled hiding his mouth with his hand when he met Kuwabara's eyes.
"In our defense only Lya knew about the mission." He turned to Hiei. "However I don't know how you knew where we were." He said prying knowing perfectly well he had followed them there. The only response Hiei gave was diverting his eyes away from the sly fox crossing his hands over his chest.
Lya passed the group and placed the ring on the desk. The ruler frowned, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"You could have washed it."
"Don't be a princess." The girl positioned herself to a spot where she could easily see everyone and what they were talking. Myra hid a laugh behind her hand, giggling to herself.
"Speaking of" Yusuke intervened "How come Lya was the only one who knew about the mission? I thought you wanted a team no?"
Klarise tapped her nails on the desk seeing how they were all eager to know what she was hiding.
"I do. This was a postponed mission actually, one I gave her before the team." Lya watched their heads turn to her.
"She's a very picky demon. I can only assume she liked the company so she decided to bring you along." Yusuke's face slapped on a big smile and he went closer to Lya pointing a finger at her.
"I knew you liked us." The girl exhaled through her nose and her eyes danced to Kurama. He nodded once his eyes softening understanding what she wanted.
"Yusuke, don't push it. Let her have her space."
Lya also nodded a small thank you to Kurama as Klarise watched delighted. They developed their own language, even if it did limit itself to him having Yusuke back off her.
"Perfect, I like the progress this time around. For that" she mentioned pulling out an envelope "Kuwabara will take you all out for drinks." She placed the envelope on the desk and he took it counting the money inside.
"Wow, this is a lot." She smiled creeping him out leaving him to gulp although his mouth and throat dried out instantly.
"I find it fitting to reward you." As the gang celebrated and talked among themselves what to drink and where to go, Hiei glared at the ruler sitting behind the desk.
"I don't need your money, I have no use for it." The voices shushed as her smile grew bigger but darker.
"Trust me you will need it since your stay in Human World doesn't have a departure day." He kept his eyes locked with hers, a well-trained neutral face, but the anger was crawling in his veins. Myra spoke not letting it escalate.
"I would kill for a martini so let's all go and enjoy our poison."
The let Kuwabara chose the bar since he also was entrusted with the money for their drinks. With the location set they all headed out on a heated terrace and stood in front of an empty table. Kurama shook his head at the obvious awkwardness in the group. He was the first to take a sit, Yusuke following his lead sliding next to him on the bench, Kuwabara taking his left side. The girls took the bench opposite of them Lya going in first, letting Myra take the middle, acting like a buffer for her and Rin. Hiei was the last one to take a stand as he grabber a chair and placed it at the head of the table, Kurama at his left, Lya on his right.
After a run across the menu and with the drinks served at the table, Kuwabara nodded proud. This was good. They were all finally sitting together. Now all he had to do was make them talk. No one was opening their mouths. Instead they were just staring each other down like trying to find the bad guy amongst them. Kurama sensed him friend's pain and decided to take action asking the girls about their hobbies. They knew enough about them, but they knew something close to nothing. Also this was walking on neutral ground. It was safer. His eyes drifted to Myra, waiting for her to go first. She swallowed a mouthful of cocktail, blinking fast at the sudden attention she received from the table.
"Alright, well I like to read, mostly old literature. I didn't get to finish high school, but I still like to learn new things. Perhaps where will come a day when I can go back." Hiei rolled his eyes, gulping down on his beer. He didn't need to sit with them and hear their idle chit chat. He needed to lure out their secrets, break them.
"Well it's not that bad. I also didn't finish my studies." Yusuke tilted his glass to hers. "Cheers!"
Myra smiled sweetly, clinking her glass to his then looked over at Rin.
"Whatever I say not like you will believe me." Her eyes drifted from Hiei to Kurama since they were the most suspicious of her. Of course they would be, one of their own was to die by her hands. Kurama motioned for her to try, his eyes not leaving her face. The fact that he couldn't guess who it was made him keep his guard up more than usual. The girl rolled her eyes and rested them on Kuwabara who stood rigid his mind racing.
"I like hiking up mountain, anything to do with outdoor activities really." Hiei scoffed in his glass and her glare met his. The table finally turned to Lya and she just took a few seconds to look at her beer before responding.
"Dancing."
"We figured that." Hiei's stated annoyed and her eyes bore into his.
"I didn't ask for your input half breed." His eyes flared as he drew closer with criminal intent. Her words struck a core that should not be messed with ever. It was his curse, the reason he was who he was to that day.
"Six more days then I get my turn. I'll enjoy breaking you." Her upper lip twitched slightly trying to suppress her emotions, but her eyes widened slightly anger feeling her for a brief moment before returning back to the stone cold façade she held.
"Trust me there is nothing more you can break." She had voiced out that sentence so low that even he barely heard her, but his eyes narrowed in surprise. Was she referring to him in particular or to her in general?
Kuwabara drew their attention putting an end to the tension.
"Leave her alone Hiei, plus with Klarise you never know who you're going to get next. If you will at all."
Rin slammed her empty glass on the table.
"We really aren't toys. If this really needs to be done with a fucking guard dog on out heals we should settle for one and stick to that person. Right Kurama?" he felt his hair stand on end as she delivered such a calm dangerous stare despite her tone. Seeing his face she laughed.
"You are so easy."
Myra placed a hand on Lya's leg and she turned to look her way, eyes softening a bit and she nodded understanding what she was saying without even having to verbalize it. Placing a gentle hand on top of hers Myra was assured nothing bad will come that night.
Yusuke snickered having Kurama nudge him slightly.
"Don't be rude."
Rin looked at them puzzled, Kuwabara eyeing Yusuke suspiciously seeing that dumb expression playing on his face.
"If they make out I swear I am getting drunk tonight."
Kurama let out an exasperated sigh as Kuwabara voiced out an amazed "Ahhh." Myra glared and removed her hand the tips of her ears changing colour.
"I can hear you know."
Rin looked at Lya and then at Myra.
"We didn't know you two were together."
Hiei stopped with his glass near his lips as Lya got up.
"That's enough for tonight."
Early morning Rin left her apartment and proceeded walking down the empty streets. Hiei was keeping track of her from the building tops. To his disappointment she wasn't planning something as he initially thought and hopped, but went to work. Why was she keeping that up if everyone now knew she was a demon and an assassin? She should be plotting her way out of this world, not playing human with Kuwabara's sister. There was no need to sit around watching her cut hair all day.
Myra was of no interest for him either. He was human. While she was also hiding something, she would break apart far easier than the other two. But she was Yusuke's problem for the time being and he didn't want her boring him to death with her books. She was aloft just like all humans.
However his mind was still going back to the interaction between him and Lya. Jumping from building to building he put a lock on her managing to find her quickly. She was evidently lost in her musical world, walking slowly down the streets with no apparent purpose, stopping from time to time to window shop. His mind settled quickly. He planned to follow her, analyze her behavior and not be caught off guard again when his week came.
Her posture was rigid and her body tense, giving off a small vibe that her walk was robotic. It could have also been due to the high heels that were making an annoying clicking sound on the pavement. Her hands were edged in the pockets on her jacket, hair tied up in a loose bun on top of her head. Hiei sneered his teeth. Back in the cave her moves were lose and natural, her body relaxed flowing in a rhythm only she could depict. Now he had the feeling he was looking at a wind up porcelain doll. Her figure stern, her eyes spewing venom.
Building top after building top, until she took a turn in a park. That was not a problem for Hiei, he would continue his pursuit on foot, concealing himself behind trees. Lya stopped near some vending machines and pushed some money into one, waiting for the coffee to be poured in the cup. He rested his back against the tree bark. Why was he following this girl around like that? She was in a city surrounded by humans, there wasn't any way she would do something apart from being totally boring.
He glanced over to her spot suddenly felling a hot liquid covering his face. The impact made him take a few step back surprised. She stood in front of him, eyes wide a thing he took at first glance as fright. But he was mistaken as his vision cleared, that look had nothing to do with her being scared, it wasn't anger either. It was pure hate.
"Stop following me you creep." A loud growl escaped him throat as his sleeve wiped away at his face.
"You'd better have a good explanation for what you just did." The annoyance never wavering from his features. Her face took back that stoic expression making him wonder if what he really say in her was hate.
"What did you expect when you are acting like a stalker?"
He soon concluded he has had enough of this woman and jumped her both landing on the ground, him pinning her down. A hand pressed hard on her mouth as to not let her voice escape repeating the scene at the temple, the other hand pressing down on her sternum. Lya stood still looking in his eyes.
"Fight back!" he instigated raising his voice to which she mumbled something against his skin. He slightly raised his hand and listened closely.
"You're not worth it."
Was she serious? Did she know who he was?
He raised his hand that pressed her chest and landed it back down with force causing her eyes to widen and her back to arch on the impact. His other hand gripped her jaw tight making sure she felt the pressure on her bones. Finally she punched his sides him not letting go of her. Lya's right hand went beneath his making Hiei lose control of her jaw his nails leaving red streaks on the sides of her face. Her other hand grabbed his shirt yanking him off and soon they were both on their feet ready to fight.
They plunged forward his fist interacting with her ribs and hers with his left cheek. That was it, he spit to the side and drew his sword.
"You're mine now."
"Hiei stop!"
He turned to the side and Lya also glanced over at Kurama. His former partner looked cross, a look he did not give him often. He set his sword back in its place, his look still spelling disapproval for interrupting their fight. Kurama came closer to Lya, his eyes not leaving Hiei. He needed to ensure he wouldn't jump for her again.
"I expected something else of you Hiei." The cold critical remark hit his former partner spiking more anger yet he clenched his teeth and kept quiet as Kurama's eyes trailed to Lya analyzing the claw marks on her face.
"Go Hiei, please."
But that "please" was not polite. Hiei was out of site leaving a blur where he once stood and the girl looked up at Kurama.
"I don't need you to save me." He smiled apologetically, but more for his friend's behavior than his own.
"I told you this is a mission so stop following me Keiko."
In the end he didn't tell her what Myra suggested. He did say he had to ensure a new team is formed with the help of the others. Leaving out that the new members were girls. Excluding the fact that one of them was Rin. And since she's been busy with University, Keiko didn't get a chance to speak with Yukina and Shizuru yet.
"I still don't understand why you can't tell me more."
He saw Myra wave at him and quickly turned to Keiko.
"It's complicated, trust me now this is not a good time."
Myra puffed her cheeks annoyed and went to them patting the ex-detective on the shoulder. He gulped and turned around.
"Are you ignoring me Yusuke?"
He scratched the back of his head laughing nervously causing both girls to stare at him oddly.
"Now why would you think that?" leaving out the part that Yusuke was acting strange, Keiko turned her attention to the girl that was eyeing her boyfriend. The realization hit her and she spoke surprised.
"She's on the team?"
Myra turned her amethyst eyes and smiled sweetly at the girl.
"You must be Keiko Yukimura, nice to meet you, I'm Myra." She extended her hand out and Keiko took it still confused by the lack of answers.
"Yusuke can't stop talking about you. Honestly I know how in love he is, but we still need him to focus on the missions." Yusuke smiled and mentally thanked her for the impressive save. However Keiko still had her eyes on the newcomer. She was almost as tall as Yusuke, her body fit and shaped firm from all the training. Her violet eyes were lined with black enhancing the color, her thin pink lips mostly curved in a smile, blonde hair tied up. She had to ask. She just had to know.
"Who else is on the team Yusuke?"
Myra looked at them and slapped him across the head then turned away and started walking down the street.
"That bitch. Get back here!" he yelled out ignoring Keiko's constant questions.
"Call me when you sort your shit out stupid."
He turned hearing his girlfriend tapping her foot on the pavement annoyed.
"Well?" he delivered another nervous laugh.
"Funny story."
Hiei stormed on the University campus looking for Kuwabara. He needed to have a talk with the so called ruler of Spirit World and he was the only one keeping contact with her. He hated the fact that he had to ask for help from a human, but there was no other way around it. Not like he could scream out her name at the skies until she decided to come down.
His former team mate was attending classes as Hiei soon found out. He frowned eyeing the window to the class room. He didn't have time for this.
"You really take stalking as a new hobby?" he spun around to see just the woman he was looking for. Eyeing her up and down he assessed her human attire.
"What are you doing here?"
She tilted her head to the side with a quizzical expression. He insulted her, of course she has been watching. She surely saw their little quarrel in the park. The woman sat on a bench, legs crossed, her hands resting on her lap as she waited for his to get to the point. Hiei crossed his hands over his chest delivering her one of his best glares.
"Tell me about the girls." He demanded while she remained in the same position looking up at him.
"I can't do that. There was one term to our agreement and that was not to share their past." His eyes narrowed slightly.
"What are you hiding?" she same creepy smile revealed itself. The one that only formed on her lips, but never in her eyes.
"Nothing. You can get that information by earning their trust. I'm sure even you in your own distorted way can form a bond with them. Just look at the mission in the cave. Lya saved you and Yusuke. Myra saved Kurama. You and Lya also defeated a demon together." He scoffed looking to the side.
"That woman hates me."
"Perhaps, but regardless of what you think her opinion of you is, the fact still remains: she didn't let you get hit." He looked at her again. Her phrases never gave away too much. He loathed that.
"I don't need her help." She just gave one concise nod, but there was something else going on in her mind.
"What?"
Klarise got up and approached the angry demon bending a bit to his height.
"Take what I am about to say as an advice. Lya is very picky with the people around her and you being the brute you always are will not win you any favor points. The more you push her, she will push back. And hear me well Hiei." Her sapphire eyes bore into his crimson jewels.
"Violence will not end things well. You need to consider your actions very carefully because everything has repercussions." His glare intensified but he did not break eye contact with her. He felt more like laughing at that statement.
"Just assign her to me." She came closer to his ear and whispered pushing her index finger to his chest.
"She….will…crush…you."
Klarise stood up straight and winked at him, passing the demon making sure to leave him in a deep state of confusion and anger.
In a music shop Kurama and Lya were looking over several albums. The sides of her face still had pink marks, but they would fade away by the end of the day. Her face didn't bruise. Maybe Hiei wasn't that forceful. Kurama watched her eyes sliding over the various artists and he edged closer to her. As soon as she decided she wanted to know what he had to say she rose her eyes to him and he offered her a small smile.
"Can you even listen to what music you want?" she gave him a small nod.
"I have a device on which I can add any music I want."
"But if your favorite artist is in town, you couldn't enjoy the concert." She looked around and took him near a set of large speakers that were blasting music. She was certain he was acting simple minded just to get her talking, but she didn't mind.
"I may not hear outside sounds" she took his hand and placed it on the speaker "but I can feel them. So can you." He appreciated the information feeling the vibrations.
"I do believe you feel sounds at another level. Can you feel a heartbeat?" her eyes traveled to his chest for a brief moment and she nodded her eyes softening.
"Impressive. Can I make a pack with you?" a spark of curiosity hit her eyes as she waited for him to continue.
"If I can make correct assessments about you, can I rely on you to be honest and tell me if I am right or wrong?" she considered her answer before extending her hand out to him.
"Whatever makes you sleep better at night Yoko Kurama." His hand wrapped around hers, his heart rate intensifying. Has she ever met him in the past?
Klarise returned to Spirit World to find Koenma in the office who was watching the monitors in her absence.
"I'm surprised you went all the way to Human World to speak with Hiei." She passed him without so much as a hello.
"I actually went to get a coffee." He turned to her stunned.
"You actually condone his behavior?"
"Maybe, but I gave him fair warning. If he doesn't learn to handle Lya differently, it will not end up good for him. But after this week they will end up with their permanent partner."
"Why do I have a feeling this won't be what I imagine?" she laughed in his face.
"That's because you're simple minded brother. They will need to firstly accept their mentors before accepting one another. Trust me, nothing is ordinary." He came closer resting the palm of his hands on the desk.
"They won't like it will they?" her chin raised, a smirk forming on her lips.
"They won't, but they will learn to love to hate."
