(A/N: I'm so sorry! *bows* I've been so busy with classes and homework and work around the house [i.e. chores] that I've been unable to update my stories. *Crying* Between all the stuff that goes with four classes that are on campus, a lab, and an online class – I'm so busy that it's not funny, then add in helping to do some of the chores around the house and you get one exhausted person. Then add the writing of seven on-going stories and any original works to that… it's a wonder I've not just flat out said "I'm putting these stories on hold for now" but if I did that then I'd never start writing on them again! *Tears continue to stream down face* I do hope you all will keep reading these stories. And please Read and Review, reviews help authors become better writers and to know if they need to make changes to their stories to help improve the tales; so, please review. And, I'll stop talking now…)

Because I Care

A Yu Yu Hakusho Fanfiction

Chapter 9: Advice and Plots


*NOTE(S) FOR CHAPTER: if written as following it means it is as stated…

Normal text is normal, what is happening kind of thing

Underlined text is/are flashbacks

Italics, unless stated, are thoughts

Bold and Underlined and Italic and Underlined text is/are people conversing mind to mind

Bold, Italic, and Underlined text is a little of what happened in the previous chapter*


"A month or so passed and I was to get my life back. And she appeared, she was like me… heck, she even looked like me! She was looking for someone, and she wanted my body to use. Said that if I gave her ten years that I could have it back… I said 'no'." Botan stared at her feet, Yusuke watched Sonja, Lopt and Kurama were silently watching, and Sonja refused to look at anyone. "She tried to steal my body when everything was ready; we fought and… I'm not sure how but I won. It was at that moment that we became bound, since we had been fighting inside my body." She shook her head, "Sonja and I began to work for Koenma; I did what I could. With time, Sonja and I became close; she told me of her past… of her brother and her best friend. I learnt that my brother, Hikaru, was also her brother… Zuko had done as Kurama." Sonja turned around. "I didn't want you two to die for different reasons. Yusuke for his Mother's sake… Kurama, Yoko, for two reasons. One, your human Mother; Two, because Sonja didn't want to watch you die again."

"Sonja... Dragoon?" Kurama asked.

"Yes."


Morning came and they went their separate ways but only after Sonja promised Lopt that they'd celebrate, after the case was over. Yusuke had school as did Kurama, it turned out, and Sonja was to search the city for the still MIA demon with a sword.

Lopt and Sonja spent a good half of their day looking for Hiei with no luck before deciding that they should eat and come up with a new plan of action. "I'm so going to kick that twerp's ass when this is all over." Sonja muttered as they were deciding where to go to eat.

Lopt laughed, "You'll show 'em why not to mess with Sonja, for sure."

Her lips twitched, "Not just Sonja Dragoon, but Renee Leonhart too. Koenma may be my boss but I'm so sick of playing detective."

"You know, that must be odd having two different names… Wouldn't it be nice to be… Sonree! Or would you prefer Renja? Either way I understand not liking being ordered around…"

Sonja stared at Lopt for a few moments, "As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I think I'll stick with the names I have now. Humans that are not involved with our world call me 'Renee' and everyone else calls me 'Sonja' and I'm fine with that." She glanced at the different shops around them. "It's not the orders that I mind, it's the orders that don't fit my job that I mind. I'm a Soul Bound, we don't play detective like Yusuke; my job is to collect information and if the job is low classed enough deal with it. Yusuke's job is to take any mission that is above a certain level. Plus the fact that this is Yusuke's first mission means that it should be him and his assistant taking care of it."

Lopt shrugged, "It's a compliment of your abilities perhaps that's why you're on this mission? This all seems like a lot to leave to a new kid and his assistant… But have you mentioned your concerns to Koenma?"

Sonja snorted, "My first mission was bigger than this one; life or death for a whole nation. I think it's more of a 'make-sure-he-doesn't-screw-up' kind of thing, Heaven knows that's the kind of missions Koenma would give to me on my first week in a new country." She scowled and crossed her arms. "I wouldn't bother telling that toddler such things. He wouldn't listen even if I did."

"Well, if it's that way then I say… Make the best of it! If nothing really can be done at least you can try and enjoy yourself. Food, company, and fun is a great start."

Sonja laughed, "Lopt that sounds like a great idea." Sonja smiled a mischievous grin while tapping her fingers together.

Lopt was silent for a moment before a grin of her own took over her lips. "What are we plotting?"

Sonja's grin widened as she turned to Lopt, "A little surprise for Koenma."

"Yes! What to do to a toddler prince…" Lopt's hands clasped together thoughtfully as she tried to contain her excitement.

"Have you ever played a prank on a little prince before Lopt?" Sonja asked, truly curious.

"Well no, I've not… All the more exciting!"

"Yes, it is exciting…" Sonja said as a faraway look entered her eyes; her thoughts turned to the dragoness's past. She chuckled at the memory of a prince staring up at her in shock as she stood on the wall that surrounded his castle with some of his greatest treasures in her hands before she took a step backwards and seemed to fall to her death.

"I mean, the boy does mountains of paper work apparently, we could switch up his stamps, but that is too mild… too obvious. He has a strong fear of daddy, but we don't want anything that may invoke his wrath at us…" Lopt was trailing off in thought as well.

"Hmm… I wonder… would Yusuke like to help us? He doesn't seem too fond of the little ruler."

"Oh, perhaps… The more the merrier." Lopt said, smiling like a Cheshire cat again.

"Hm… Oh and maybe we could get some of Koenma's ogres and Ferry girls in on it?" Sonja clasped her hands together as she giggled, "We could get a horribly wonderful prank set up." Her eyes had a wicked gleam to them.

"…With all this excitement we almost forgot to look for food!"

"How about there?" Sonja pointed to a random restaurant.

"Sure~" Lopt answered and the two made their way over to the Yukimura Diner. The diner was a homey family run restaurant.

"Welcome!" a man and woman said with a smile each.

"Please sit anywhere you like." The woman continued.

"Um, sure." Sonja said with a polite smile.

"Seems nice here," Lopt stated as they sat down.

"Yeah, it does." Sonja replied as she picked up her menu and looked over the different choices.

After looking over the menu, Lopt set it down and stated, "I've picked what I'm getting. This prank will be awesome…"

Sonja grinned as she put down her own menu with a nod, "How do you feel about turning his office upside down?" Sonja asked as she folded her hands on the table in front of her.

"Hmm that's a great start."

"But of course, it wouldn't be any fun to just leave it at putting his office on the ceiling. Maybe something with his sweets?"

(A/N: I was so tempted to leave it at this point, but decided I'd be nice and give you all a little more story since I've been so busy with school recently and haven't had a chance to update any stories and this is the only story that I've got stuff already ready to be posted for. *sighs*)

"Oh that is mean! I love it! We should either replace his sweets with something else entirely or put something in them…"

"Why not replace half of them and put something… sour… into the others?" Sonja asked with a slight tilt of her head.

"That would be a nice little thing to do, maybe have some really spicy ones too…"

"That sounds lovely."

"Poor boy won't know what to do!" Lopt said just before someone came to get their orders.

"Yes, poor boy indeed." Sonja said.

Only after they had received their food did the two start to talk again. "So, now that we've decided about that matter. What to do about the Flying Shadow?"

"Well… We don't know a whole lot about him, so luring him out seems difficult…" Lopt replied.

Sonja frowned, "I think a certain someone might be able to give us some information... He owes me many favors." Her eyes were hard as they focused on her now empty bowl.

Lopt tilted her head, "There are many things you've not told me, hm?"

"There has not been enough time for such. Koenma has had me do many jobs over the last six years, jobs that almost always took my life; he owes me for this damn thing that I must wear around my neck." Her voice was low and filled with venom. "Botan, she was not an assistant back then, was almost always having to come find me after a mission."

"Well, at least you have someone looking out for you…"

Sonja laughed, it was harsh and bitter, "I don't call having a collar that is too tight wrapped around your neck 'someone looking out for you'." Sonja sneered as she pulled the choker down to show the intricate Celtic knot that looped around her throat. "This is a limiter, it makes it so I can only access so much of my power; IT is why I have almost died on every mission I have been sent on."

Lopt frowned, "Sorry to hear that. I'm guessing you cannot find a way to remove it without Koenma?"

Sonja pulled her choker back into place. "Koenma is the only one who can remove it, that is why it is a collar. I feel like I'm a mutt, forced to obey a master that I don't want. Dragons obey no one and yet… I must."

"You could always leave. If you could live with the inhibitor, you could live at least more freely if you chose to not associate with him. Right?"

"I wish I could leave, but…" Sonja looked around them slowly, eyes narrowed. "I've more enemies now than I ever did. And… Hikaru, I could never leave him and yet never force, ask, him to come with me into hiding. He is happy in this world."