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Chapter 5

One week later…

Risika sat behind the counter at Wonderland Bookstore, studying for an upcoming math test. Though it was a Sunday and the math test wasn't for another two weeks, Risika decided to get a head start since she had nothing better to do. The afternoon rush of kids had been over for some time now and the store was relatively quiet.

Toji was curled up on her lap, taking an afternoon nap. She normally didn't take him to work, but Toji had been following her around ever since she finished her last mission. He'd been pestering her to the point where she almost gave into the temptation of chaining the damn cat to a tree and leaving him there. Toji had even started following her to school and sitting outside her classroom window while she had class. Risika was surprised no one had spotted him yet and called Animal Control.

"Serves him right for stalking me," she muttered, but she scratched him behind his ear affectionately, causing him to purr and rub his sleepy head on her thigh.

The automatic glass double doors slid opened and Risika looked up to greet the customer. She was about to welcome him when she recognized the boy in the green school uniform.

Spirit Detective, Yusuke Urameshi.

Not him again! Risika plastered a polite smile on her face as she said the usual storekeeper greeting.

Yusuke didn't seem to hear her. He was scanning the bookstore and his face brightened into a slight smile as he spotted a girl in a blue school uniform. She had shoulder length brown hair and big brown eyes. She smiled in greeting and together they left the store.

Risika let out the breath she hadn't known she'd been holding and cursed. She'd been bumping into the Spirit Detective and his friend ever since she got back. Though she had told Yusuke he was never going to see her again, she was seeing him an awful lot. Maybe they were always here, in this city but she had just never noticed them.

What am I worrying about? He doesn't know it was me. I'm just the cashier at the local bookstore to him.

With that thought in mind, she returned to her studies.

Thirty minutes later, she looked up as a group of rowdy boys in blue walked in. At the head of the group was Kazuma Kuwabara. He had a very gloomy face on and Risika noticed his friends were watching him anxiously.

"Hey, come on Kuwabara! Let's go read some comics," suggested one of Kuwabara's friends, trying to cheer him up.

"Huh? Oh, okay…" Kuwabara wandered towards the back, leaving his friends to stare after him.

"I wonder what's wrong with him…" "Maybe he lost a fight." "But he always loses a fight – against Urameshi that is." "Maybe he saw a really sad movie. "Nah, I bet he got dumped by a girl…"

The boys moved slowly to the comic book section. Risika could hear them murmuring in the back but couldn't make out what they were saying.

Just then, Toji leaped out of her lap and onto the counter. He was watching the boys too. After a few minutes, he looked up at her and Risika felt his mind brush against hers.

"Yukina? He's sulking because of Yukina?"

Toji blinked.

"Well, what did the boy expect? She had to go back to the Ice Kingdom. It's where she belongs."

Toji's eyes narrowed.

"You're wrong, I don't belong there and you know it. If you're regretting coming with me why didn't you just stay with the Ice Maiden and gone home?" Risika angrily pulled out her math study book and began working on the review problems.

She could feel Toji watching her intently.

"Would you stop it!" she hissed. "I saved the girl, stopped Toguro from killing Yusuke, and am now getting on with my life. The end! Fine! Owari! There is no 'to be continued' okay?"

The cat sighed and rolled his eyes before leaping off the counter and disappearing out the door.

"Finally," she muttered. "Peace and quiet – "

"Aisu-sempai!" exclaimed on of Risika's coworkers. "There's a new shipment of books waiting out back. They need you to sign the delivery."

Risika sighed and shut her book. "All right. Take over for me, okay?"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Risika quickly took care of the delivery and signed the forms. The delivery man asked if she needed help since the boxes contained some very heavy hardcovers. Risika declined and lifted the boxes with ease, causing the man to gape in shock. It was then that she realized her mistake but it was too late. She rushed inside before the man could collect his thoughts and shut the door in his face.

She leaned against the metal door and sighed. Her head was definitely not on right today. She should have been more careful. Normal human women shouldn't be this strong, she reminded herself. But ever since she came back from her last mission, she'd felt… off – like she was trapped in the middle of her past and her present.

I'm not the same person I was five hundred years ago. I'm not Spirit World's number one assassin. I'm Aisu Risika, class president of class 3-A at Meioh Private Academy and night manager at Wonderland Bookstore. I'm a fifteen year old human girl living on my own, end of story.

With her mind set, Risika began unpacking the boxes and registering them into the bookstore's computer. Her mind was blissfully blank as she worked and an hour later she was wheeling the books out to be shelved.

The sun had set but outside was filled with city lights. Crowds of people walked by the front door, most of them were teenagers who were probably off to see a movie. Everything was as normal as any other Sunday evening. Nothing concerning the supernatural was disturbing the Human World or her new life, and that was just how she liked it.

Suddenly, a small wave of girls swept into bookstore, giggling. Risika wondered what they were up to as she headed for the mystery section. Normally, the only group of customers the bookstore ever got was either boys coming to read comics or fan girls rushing to buy the latest teenage romance novels.

Risika climbed the ladder and made space on the shelf for the new book, Dead Before Dawn. She had just shelved the last copy of the new hardcover when she spotted the group of girls standing in a small circle on the other side of the shelf.

"Do you think he'll say yes?" asked one of the girls.

"He has to. You're a wonderful girl."

"Come on, be brave Yumi."

Risika nearly fell off the ladder at the sound of her friend's name. She climbed onto the last step and leaned over the shelf to get a closer look at the girls. Sure enough, at the center of the group was Yumi, clutching a small white envelope to her chest and looking very nervous. She smiled as the girls around her gave her encouragement. Risika also spotted Sayoko among the girls.

"Look! There he is!" pointed Sayoko.

"Everyone, quick! Hide!"

The other girls scattered, leaving Yumi alone. She peered around the corner and squeaked as Suichi Minamino came into view. The girl closed her eyes and whispered a silent prayer before jumping out in Suichi's path.

"E-excuse me, Minamino-kun. I've been watching you from afar and I know you don't really know me but I would like to get to know you so would you please go out with me?" Yumi said this all very fast and blushing the entire time as she held out the envelope.

Risika watched as Suichi's eyes widen, having been caught off guard. He managed to compose himself and he gave her a gentle smile. "Yumi-chan, is it?"

Yumi squeaked, obviously pleased that he remembered her first name and her face turned redder than Suichi's hair.

"I'm sorry but I have to decline. I am not interested in a relationship right now but I would still like to be your friend."

"Oh." The girl's disappointment was as tangible as the books surrounding the couple. "Okay… then um, I'll see you at school, Minamino-kun…"

Yumi practically ran out of the store with tears in her eyes.

The other girls rushed out of their hiding spot, which happened to be Risika's aisle, and ran after her, calling out to the heartbroken girl. One of them bumped into Risika's ladder, knocking it off its hook.

"Shit!" Risika managed to grab hold of the top of the book shelf as the ladder fell to the floor. She pulled herself on top of the shelf and sat down with her legs hanging over the edge, trying to figure out how she was going to get down.

Stupid girls…

But her heart went out to Yumi and she sighed. This was why Risika didn't bother with love or relationships. After five hundred years of living in the human world, she'd seen her fair share of friends who've died of old age. She didn't need to feel the pain of someone she loved die in her arms while she remained eternally young.

The store door slid open again and blew a cloud of dust into her face. Risika was assaulted by a barrage of sneezes that almost made her fall off the bookshelf.

"Aisu-chan?!"

Risika looked down to see Suichi gaping up at her with surprise.

"What are you doing up there?"

"Hey, Minamino-kun," she mumbled while pulling out a handkerchief to blow her nose. "Someone bumped into my ladder and knocked it down. Would you mind propping it up for me?" she asked.

I'd jump down but I've already made one mistake in front of a human today. I can't make another one…

"Here you go!" Suichi placed the ladder just below her feet and Risika quickly climbed down.

She brushed the dust off her work uniform, which made her sneeze again.

"Bless you."

"Thanks." She blew her nose again.

"You're welcome. I didn't know you worked here."

Risika shrugged. "I'm the night manager. I work sometimes after school and on Sundays."

"That's amazing. But don't your parents worry you might be overdoing it? What about your homework?"

"I live alone and I study while I'm at work so it all works out. My boss doesn't mind." But that was because Risika was secretly the owner of the bookstore – just under a different name.

Actually, Risika owned the entire chain of Wonderland Bookstores that was located throughout Japan and in many other countries around the world. Wonderland Bookstore was a very big, global corporation that she'd founded about sixty years back. The store sold books, CDs, movies, and a lot of anime merchandise that couldn't be found anywhere else. But its largest source of profit came from a small branch that specialized in selling rare books and antiques that were worth millions. It served clients from ranging famous museums to rich, private collectors. Most of the merchandise came from Risika's private storage. She had several hundred lifetimes worth of stuff to get rid of. And of course, as the owner of the company, she kept the very rarest and most valuable ones.

Some things just aren't meant to be seen again by mortal eyes. Besides, most of the stuff I bought when they were brand new and often worthless.

"Wow, your boss must be very understanding," said Suichi, bringing her back to the present.

Risika nodded. "So what can I do for you, Minamino-kun? Are you looking for something in particular?"

"I was looking for a new book that supposedly came out either today or will come out tomorrow. I kind of forgot what date it was." He scratched his head, embarrassed.

"No, problem. We carry all the latest titles. What's it called?"

"Dead Before Dawn."

"Oh, you're just in luck. The shipment arrived an hour ago and I just shelved the first batch. That was kind of the reason I was on that ladder in the first place…" She quickly retrieved a copy for him and placed it in his hands. "There you go. Anything else?"

"I'm also looking for some study books."

"Preparing for the upcoming math test?" asked Risika as she led him to the Academic section.

Suichi shrugged. "Actually, it's to get ahead in school for the next few months."

"Why?"

"I'm going to be out of town for a while and I need to keep up with my studies," said Suichi.

"Out of town? For what?"

"Family matters," he muttered vaguely. He was hiding something… but then again, everyone had their secrets, especially Risika, so she let it go.

"Well, I'm not sure what you're looking for but we have a wide variety of subjects so take your time. I'll ring you up at the cashier when you're done."

Suichi smiled. "Thank you, Aisu-chan."

Risika nodded and headed back to the register. She relieved her co-worker, who was eager to go home, and pulled out her study packet. She had finished her first page of math problems before Suichi came back with a large pile of study guides.

"Uh, wow. You're really serious about this," commented Risika as she began scanning each book.

Suichi nodded but remained silent.

Risika looked up and noticed his green eyes looked very troubled. His mind seemed to be elsewhere but he kept a polite expression on his face. The only thing besides his eyes that gave him away was the slight frown at the edge of his lips.

"Hey, Minamino-kun, are you all right?" she asked as she bagged his books.

Suichi blinked, coming back to the present. The slip in his mask of calm was gone and he once more appeared like his usual cool and collected self. It unnerved her how easily he could hide his emotions.

It's always the quiet ones…

"Yes, I'm fine." He smiled but she could tell it was a practiced one used to deceive others.

Risika frowned. "Don't try to hide it. I can see it in your eyes. Something's bothering your… something big. What is it?"

"You needn't worry. It doesn't concern you, Aisu-chan." He handed over the amount due.

Risika deposited the money in the register and handed him back his change and receipt. "If you need someone to talk to, I'll listen."

"Like the way you let me listen to your problems?" he bit back in an unexpectedly sharp tone. This caught her off guard. She didn't think the gentle Suichi Minamino could be so cold, but for some reason, it made him seem more real.

"It was girl problems, okay. I can't confide that stuff in a boy like you, especially one I just met."

"I see your point…"

"So what's on your mind, Minamino-kun? And don't give me the 'it's a boy problem'. I've already taken Health so I know all about those problems. Besides you don't strike me as one to worry about that stuff."

Suichi sighed. "Let's just say I need to find someone I've never met and if I don't bad things will happen."

"Who's this someone? Maybe I can help."

Suichi shook his head. "I've never met her but I have some friends who did, and we need to find her as soon as possible. People will get hurt if we don't."

"This is starting to sound like a hostage situation. Is that's what going on? Did you run into some trouble with a local gang?"

"Something like that," he muttered.

"I can help, if you want. We get lots of customers from all over the city so I can keep an eye out for this girl. Plus, I take the bus and it goes all around the city before I get off so I might spot her while I'm on my way to or from school."

"Thank you, Aisu-chan, but I don't think the girl will be here. You see, my friends met her while they were out of town and I've only seen her through a video tape."

"Well, give me a description anyways. You never know, right? Besides, what harm could come of it?"

Suichi seemed to be considering her offer very carefully. She suspected he was worried she'd get involved if she knew too much.

"Don't worry, I promise if I see her I'll tell you and leave the girl alone. Pinky promise," she smiled, holding out her right pinky.

Suichi sighed. "All right." He hocked his pinky in hers and they shook.

"The girl is about my height and she has amber, almost gold eyes. She was dressed in a maid outfit and she has black hair pulled back in a bun. She was also carrying a handgun and a knife so you must keep to your promise and stay away from her, okay?"

Risika tried to nod without looking tense. "I promise."

"Thank you, Aisu-chan." He picked up his bag of purchases and waved.

Risika waved back with a polite smile on her face. As soon as she was gone Risika dropped the smile and groaned.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Minamino Suichi is looking for me?! What's going on? And who are his 'friends'? Surely they couldn't be the Spirit Detective and his team?

Risika banged her head on the counter. Why was the supernatural entering her life again?! Didn't she tell Koenma that she wanted to be left alone? Didn't he promise to never bother her again?!

Furious, Risika closed the store and stormed out onto the street.

"Koenma better have a good explanation for all this. If not I'll tear his fucking baby-face head off!"

The streets were really packed that night. There was a crowd surrounding some taped off corner at the intersection. A portion of the wall had broken off and police were trying to disperse the crowd.

"Stupid humans," she muttered, taking a detour down an alley. When she came out onto the other street, she found another crowd surrounding a lookout point.

"Hey, did you hear? The parking structure suddenly collapsed!" "Yeah! They said it was an earthquake but I didn't feel anything." "Me neither."

Risika caught a glimpse of a pile of rocks that was once an eight story parking structure. Police cars and fire trucks were surrounding the area, investigating and trying to see if anyone had been trapped in the rubble.

Risika watched with disgust as people started taking pictures and sending them to their friends on their cell phones. If the police weren't there, no one would probably go to see if anyone was hurt. They'd all just stand by and watch to see if anything entertaining happens.

Annoyed with everything in the Human and Spirit World, Risika took a cab and practically shouted her apartment address at the driver, scaring the poor human as he sped off into the night.

"ACHOO!!!"

"Bless you, Koenma, sir. Did you catch a cold?" asked Ogre.

"No." Koenma rubbed his nose. "That's weird. That sneeze came out of nowhere."

"Maybe someone's talking behind your back, sir," suggested Ogre as he brought over a fresh stack of un-stamped papers. "I bet it's King Enma. He'll be returning soon and he's probably expecting all this paperwork to be done by then."

Koenma glared at the blue ogre as he resumed stamping papers.

Just then, Koenma's phone rang. He pressed the speaker button and another ogre's voice spoke, "Koenma, sir. There's someone here to see you – "

"Tell them I'm busy. I don't have time for whatever they want."

"But sir – "

"What part of 'I'm busy' don't you get?"

Suddenly the red double doors to Koenma's office flew off their hinges and landed on either side of Koenma's desk in splinters. Koenma sat in stark terror as an aura of great fury filled the room.

From the cloud of dust, a figure emerged – the source of all the fury and power that had the ruler of Spirit World nearly pissing in his pants.

"Koenma!" snarled Spirit World's retired number one assassin.

"U-uh, Sh-Sh- Shikori, what are y- you doing here in Spirit World?" stammered Koenma.

Shikori, the infamous assassin who had be inactive for the last five hundred years, glared down at the toddler. Her golden eyes had frozen over, promising whoever gazed into them nothing but death – which was how she got the nickname "Icy Death".

"You broke your promise, Koenma," she spoke in a voice so cold, it made the blood in Koenma's veins freeze.

His voice was gone; his will to survive was useless in this situation. There was no escaping her. The only thing Koenma could do was sit there as Shikori drew near.

"I'm going to kill you now … consequences be damned."