Awakening the Youko

First Impressions

Jin and I continued with light conversation and exchanged a few greetings with a few people milling around in the school grounds.

"You're popular," Jin observed. I just laughed.

"They're mainly just curious about you." He shot me his excitable, mischievous grin.

"Do you think so?" I chuckled and nodded. His smile only widened. "Hey! Let's go say hi to someone!"

"You already did," I pointed out, getting up and following him towards the nearest student, who was sat on a bench reading a book. We sat either side of him.

"Hi!"

"Hello Sakimura-kun."

"Hello." And he went back to his book. I thought maybe we should leave him be, but something told me Jin had other ideas.

"I'm Jin!"

"I know. I think the whole school knows." That threw him for a moment.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Sakimura sighed.

"That depends on your point of view. If it was me, I'd see it as a bad thing. I . . . Look, will you just leave me to read my book in peace, please?" Jin opened his mouth but I interrupted before he could say anything.

"Come on Jin, let's go. Sorry we disturbed you, Sakimura."

The next attempt was more successful; a group of girls who seemed a little nervous but still very curious. They giggled and looked at the floor when we came over, but soon opened up.

"So, how long have you been a demon?" a small girl named Kalyia asked after a while. Jin just shrugged.

"All my life."

"But, then, how come demons have only just started appearing?"

"Er . . ."

"Where do you come from?"

"Um . . . from a long way away." An onslaught of questions followed. None of them were easy to answer.

"Argh . . . er . . . um . . . I . . . What if . . . What if I said that I come from a completely different world, the barrier to which has only just been lifted for us to freely pass through as we please." I froze. Unexpectedly, the girls laughed it off, believing it to be a joke. A girl with short brown hair (which reminded me somewhat of Keiko) and large round glasses looked intently at us. I thought her name was Hanaté.

"No really, tell us."

"Um . . ." Jin looked at me nervously.

"Oh please! You're not talking to him are you? He's a freak." Tsunai Akira was walking across the courtyard towards us, a harsh look on her face.

"Hello Akira." I thought I may as well try and start things off pleasantly. She just looked at me like something she'd scraped off her shoe.

"I don't understand you, demon-lover."

"I'm sorry?" Did she just say what I thought she did?

"You heard me. I don't see why you've lowered yourself to that level, Minamino. Hanging around with demons? Ha!"

"Okay, so just what is your problem?"

"Isn't it obvious? These so-called 'demons' are dirty scum. The school shouldn't have let them in." I stared at her irritably; enough to make her unconsciously take a step back. Jin must have sensed the change in my youki, as he put a steadying hand on my shoulder. I took a few deep breaths. Meanwhile, Akira addressed Jin for the first time.

"Okay, see if you can persuade me. What exactly are demons, then? What are they for?"

"Um . . ." Jin didn't seem sure what to make of his new critic.

"That's a stupid question, Akira," I said quietly.

"What?"

"It's a stupid question," I repeated. "It's like asking 'what is the point of humans'. Demons are just a different species. They don't have to have a purpose." Everyone seemed a little taken aback by what I'd said. I guess it wasn't exactly the kind of thing 'Minamino' would have said. Or the way he'd say it; quiet and calm with a tiny, hidden but definitely present, underlying threat to it. No, not something Minamino would have done.

Hi everyone, I'm really sorry I've not updated in so long. For some reason I've had a bit of a non-writing session, where I can't get into anything. There's no excuse, I know I'll go sit in a corner and think about my actions.

I'll post the next chapter as soon as I can, so please bear with me!

This one's for Jazzmonkey, who PMed me, to request a new chapter. It really motivated me to get into gear and keep going with this – so thanks for that well-needed kick up the backside!

Anyway, I shall finish my meaningless ramble with the usual "I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, or the characters. Only the storyline and OCs are my own."

Hope you liked it.

P3