Hello again! Decided to post up another chapter for this week since it took me a while to get 7 up. Heh heh, 7up.
I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, Darker Than BLACK, or any of its characters. I only own my OCs.
Yoh walked into the apartment. It was late and he was in dire need of some proper sleep. Tonight would be the first night in weeks that he would be able to sleep soundly on an actual futon and he was looking forward to it. He walked into the end of the hallway towards his shared room until he saw Mei sitting on the couch in the living room. "What are you doing up this late?" Mei looked up from her book. Actually, she was reading a manual she found in one of the cabinets for a coffee machine they didn't own. "And why are you reading a manual?"
"I was waiting for you and Rin to come back and there was nothing else to do."
Yoh glanced at the wall clock behind Mei, 10:30. "I'm here for the remainder of the night. Go to bed. I'll take you to go get some books in the morning."
Mei closed the manual and left it on the couch. Yoh watched her as she nimbly made her way past him to her room. Yoh flicked the switch for the living room lights off and went into his own room for the night.
As he was getting the two-person futon ready all he could think about was the report he had pulled from his pile of old assignments back at HQ. The particular assignment was when he had first encountered a demon or, in better terms, one particular hanyou.
As Yoh laid down to rest his travel weary body he thought about today's work and how much trouble he would be in if the Syndicate were to ever find out that he had led his team to associate themselves with a demon. They would be executed to make sure none of it got to Reikai, but with the Hanyou on the loose there was no way for them to make sure he would keep quiet. They couldn't kill him because that would alert Enma and thus breaking their contract with Reikai resulting in total annihilation of their kind. But they also couldn't just let him go and hope he would keep the secret of the entire existence of contractors. What would they do? Bribe him with a cookie and hope he doesn't go running to the little demigod?
That's right; Yoh was quite knowledgeable about the existence of the Maikai and Reikai. Contractors like him were forced to sworn an oath that they would never reveal what they were and including their little secret society to anyone outside their own. They were especially and specifically told not to ever associate or even imply the knowledge of demons. Because of a demon's nature, if any were to ever find out of a contractor's existence and what they were capable of all hell would break loose. Contractors make the perfect weapon, and if some demon was audacious enough to gather and build an army of soulless beings then the Ningenkai would be in serious trouble.
All these risks and yet he still chose to go about the assignment this way. As soon as Yoh had heard about the rumors of Shizen he knew almost immediately. There is no history of any contractor ever having the ability to use their powers without equal payment. There is only one way for someone like Shizen to control the elements without that and that is to be a demon.
Shizen was a demon and Yoh knew it. He had been frustrated ever since the assignment was given to him. Was the Syndicate playing a crude joke with him? Or were they just clueless and really believed Shizen to be some sort of exceptional oddity they wanted back for experimentation? The Syndicate had appointed Yamori, one of its own council men, to head the assignment. They must be desperate to get him back under custody.
As sure as he was, if Shizen was a demon then Yoh would have to find some sort of medium between the two races to find and capture him. And the young hanyou he had met years ago on that assignment was exactly who he needed.
Yoh shifted his body and looked to his right at the unoccupied space of the futon. If anyone contractor was qualified to obtain the assistance of a demon under wraps, it was Rin.
"So let me get this straight. You want me to help you capture this rogue, possibly a demon, guy because you cannot associate yourself with demons. But somehow you were able to sneak around and use stupid tactics, like KIDNAP my girlfriend, to get my attention, and I am your safest bet to do this without having your boss know?" Yusuke was flinging his arms in overly dramatic gestures.
"Yes," was all Rin said as she nodded her head.
"Do you know how crazy you sound? And when are you going to take that mask off? It's creeping me out!"
"Until I can ensure that you will help us to retrieve this man I cannot reveal my identity to you."
"Yeah whatever, Jason." He itched his head in confusion. "And what exactly am I getting out of this?"
Rin sighed. How much should she reveal until he would agree to assist them? She was already treading on thin ice just talking to him. "If you want to prevent a mass execution, possibly a war, and hundreds perhaps even thousands of injured lives, then I suggest you help me."
Yusuke's eyes widened in shock, "You didn't say anything about a war breaking out or people dying."
"As you said before, you are my safest option if I want to capture this man without compromising this assignment. All of this can be prevented if you can agree to do so."
"You don't even know for sure he's a demon."
"My team lead seems to think so."
"Oh yeah? And who would that be?"
Damn it. Rin had accidentally revealed Yoh's identity to him and mentally slapped herself for it. Switching tactics, Rin decided on another approach, "Never mind that. What is it going to take for you to agree to this? Do I need to dangle that girl in front of your face?" Yusuke's face grew dark. His eyes sent a menacing glare in her direction.
"Don't even joke about that. It's bad enough that you did it once."
Rin sighed a bigger one this time. She was getting impatient and was running out of options. "I'm going to lay this out for you one more time. There is a rogue man on the loose causing havoc with his mystical demon like powers and attracting unwanted attention. My job is to capture him and bring him back before he decides to hurt or kill anyone. Unbeknownst to my 'employer' there is a high chance of this man being a demon and because of that I cannot touch him unless I want to risk the lives of thousands of people."
"And why is that anyway?" Yusuke interrupted.
Rin tapped her fingers on her arm going over what she should tell and what she should not. "That part is a little complicated." Yoh was going to give her hell for this, but damn it all! "Let's compromise. If you agree to help me catch this man, then I will take you to meet my team leader. He can tell you all about us and what we are doing. You can ask any other questions you may have to him. I will also call off my men and leave your significant other unharmed."
Yusuke thought it over. He really didn't want to get into the middle of this, but if what she said is true then thousands of lives would be at stake but from what? "I just have to help you catch the guy, right? I don't have to hurt him do I?"
"No, as soon as you can bring us to him we will take care of the rest."
"What is 'take care of the rest'? Are you gonna kill him?"
"You ask too many questions. Agree to help and I will bring you to someone who will answer them."
"Well, you can't blame me for asking. You are asking me to help you after all."
Rin was really irritated now, but her rational side told her she shouldn't be, "Yes or no?" She asked raising her voice.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jeez, no need to get your panties in a bunch," and mumbled, "If anyone should get angry it should be me." Rin didn't miss the comment but let it slide anyway.
"Good. Meet me here again tomorrow night, same time."
"Whatever," Yusuke turned his back and started to walk out but before he could exit Rin had one more things to say.
"I have one condition. I need you to keep this quiet. No one hears about this, do you understand? This is between you and us."
Yusuke twitched his eyes and turned around, "You tell me this now?!"
"Trust in me that I will do no harm to you or the people around you as I have decided to placed my trust in you to keep this quiet, despite the more rational side of my brain saying that I shouldn't."
He gave a long and exasperated sigh. "Okay, I agree to help you and to keep my trap shut about it, but I want answers to all of my questions. Got it?"
"Yes, I will make sure that you get them."
"Good, now are we done here? I'm hungry and I haven't eaten all night."
"Go as you please."
Yusuke stepped out of the warehouse and didn't look back. What did he just get himself into? Just as things were finally settling down some crazy lunatic of a woman had to come and disrupt his peace. Even after all those years of working for Koenma, saving the world, and getting his as beat every now and then he still couldn't catch a break.
He turned back around to find that the warehouse behind him was dark and empty once again. He had hoped he would never have to come to this place again, but his past couldn't seem to leave him alone and he would have to be here once more tomorrow.
Yusuke was still very suspicious about this group of people, if they even are people. Regardless of the unintentional promises she made he still couldn't trust her. To make sure nothing fishy was going on behind the scenes he would have to seek advice from an old friend.
It was nearing midnight when Rin had finally returned to the apartment. Yusuke's incapability to comprehend and Rin having to repeat everything had drained her. She walked into her room and started to strip down to her unmentionables. She found Yoh already fast asleep and got under the covers next to him.
It wasn't uncomfortable for her at all that she was nearly naked and sharing a bed with another man. It's not as if there were any feelings involved. Besides, if Rin was looking to get a good night's rest then this spot was the only option. This wouldn't be the first time anyways.
"Yoh," she said quietly, "I need to talk to you." Yoh groaned sleepily and turned over to face Rin. He peeked at her with one lazy eye.
"Can it wait till tomorrow?"
"...Sure." Yoh closed his eye and immediately went back into his slumber. Rin turn on her side away from Yoh and closed her eyes as well. She would have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow.
Morning came and Mei was the first one up. The sun had just barely broken through the horizon when she started on breakfast. Both Rin and Yoh had come home rather late last night and neither of them had dinner. Mei decided she would prepare a little something extra to help her colleagues get through the day.
She was rolling the last bit of the tamago when Yoh walked out from the bedroom dressed in just a shirt and some jeans. "It's going to be a bit cooler today. I suggest taking a sweater with you."
Yoh didn't say anything as he turned around and went back inside the room to grab a sweater. He quietly made his way around the futon where Rin was still asleep, careful not to make any sudden noises that might wake her. A slight breeze fluttered through the curtains. Mei was right. Fall was finally making its way around the corner which meant winter wasn't far off. Yoh always found it a bit difficult to work during the winter mainly because the cold would usually give him a headache whenever he decided to use his abilities.
Rin sighed in her sleep and turned over, the blanket falling below her shoulders. Taking notice of Rin's lack of clothing, Yoh went over to shut the window and pulled the covers back up to her neck. "If I didn't know any better, Id thinks you two were actually a married couple."
Yoh looked up and saw Mei standing by the doorway. "I have a lot of things for her to do and I can't afford her getting sick."
"Breakfast is getting cold." Mei turned away from the room and went back to the kitchen. Yoh followed her and grabbed a seat at the table. He quickly ate enough to sustain his body for majority of the day. "What took you so long to come home last night?" Mei asked suddenly.
Yoh paused for a few second before putting down his chopsticks, "After I met with Shin I had to write up a report for Yamori. The closest carrier was an hour train ride from here."
"Couldn't you just have Jin send it for you?"
Yoh smiled at Mei, "You know me I'm old fashioned."
There he goes, flashing that fake smile of his. "What about Rin? I didn't even notice her come in last night."
"I'm not sure myself; you'll have to ask her once she wakes." Yoh took a look at watch and got up to wash his dishes. "Speaking of which, let's go before she wakes up."
"Why?" asked Mei. She was in the genkan putting on her shoes.
"I think she was too tired to realize that she got into bed half naked again.
"But she always does that. It's nothing new," and it was true. Rin was a nudist at home. She didn't care for the modesty of clothing when there was no one around to see her. At least that was how it was when she was managing her assignments alone. Although, she has been trying to remind herself that she had traveling companions now and stripping down to her birthday suit would be rude and uncomfortable, especially for Mei who was still a budding young lady. Yoh, on the other hand, was a different story.
"Yes, but I'd rather not be here when she wakes up. Let's give her some time to work off that nudist hobby of hers so that we can come back to a fully clothed Rin." That was another thing. Rin would sometimes forget that Yoh and Mei were around and would walk out from under the covers and forget that she was almost bearing it all in front of them.
Mei nodded her head in agreement and the two walked out. "So what kind of books are you thinking of getting, Mei?"
"Maybe some mystery books. You and Rin have been lacking in the exciting department with your assignments lately. I need my fix."
"Fair enough. Well, let's get you some mystery books then."
Rin woke up to the heat of the sun beating on her face. She turned her head slightly and looked out the window from the futon. It was another beautiful day and she would have to get up soon if she was planning on being useful today. Rin got up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She noticed Yoh's side of the futon was empty and frowned in disappointment. She was hoping to talk to him before he left, but it didn't look like she would get the chance.
Proving Yoh's earlier comment about Rin's nudist habits, she walked out of the room towards the bathroom without even a second thought as to what clothing she was lacking. There wasn't anything else she could do since Yoh had already left so a hot shower was in order for the chilly day ahead of her.
We got a little bit more info on our clan of contractors here as well as some of Rin's odd habits. Rin? A nudist? Naaaaaahhh... _
lilnightmare17: Thanks for the review! I really appreciate you taking your time to read this as well! So far you're my only one :( lol. Yeah, it took quite a bit of chapters for those two to finally meet, but I just wanted to make sure I had most of everything set up before hand. The juicy parts will come! I promise you :p
Thanks a mil for reading and see you next time!
