Author's note: Well, I am warning you now that Oto is rather out of character. I don't want flames because you didn't read my warning; I put it up for a reason!
Part Nine: A New Start and Some Familiar Faces
Alexi begins to feel timid and shy when they land at the airport. It was a new country he wasn't used to filled with unfamiliar people so he stays close to Jeremy almost hyperventilating. "Easy, kiddo, it's all right," the half-demon assures him, "Everything is fine."
"I-I've never been here before," Alexi whispers once again ashamed of his inability to be less like a four-year old child. Jeremy gently squeezes his shoulder.
"Don't worry 'bout it, 'Lexi. It's only natural for ya to react like this. Just breathe deeply and stay close. You'll get used to it in due time," Jeremy tells him. Alexi takes his word for it and focuses on breathing.
They hail a taxi after leaving the airport and Jeremy gives directions. "She wants us to meet Oto. He's probably going to take us to a portal. We're staying in her temple in the Makai," Jeremy remarks. Jordan finally joins the conversation.
"Why does she want us to stay there?" the blond asks.
"She thinks it would be easier on the both of you to be in a world where they don't think you having the power to control fire is weird and where Alexi isn't judged for what has happened to him," Jeremy answers softly. He looks down at the address on a piece of paper once they get out of the cab. He looks for the number and finding it, smiles. "I should have guessed it would be a coffee shop."
"Why?" Alexi inquires.
"The major way you know Oto was human once is his love for coffee. He has to drink it in the morning or he's unhappy for the rest of the day and an unhappy Oto is not a good thing at all," Jeremy responds. Alexi and Jordan look at each other worriedly. "Don' worry, midgets. He just gets grumpy is all. He'd never hurt a fly…well, unless he was challenged but that it not anything that concerns you. Genkai, Ani, Karasu, and Bui will make sure that he gets his coffee." Relieved both teens give weak smiles. Jeremy shakes his head before opening the door to the coffee shop and letting them both walk in. It doesn't take Alexi too long to recognize the bulky frame of Oto
"He's at the table in the far right," the redhead says quietly to Jeremy. The half-demon looks and gives a grin.
"Good eyes, kiddo. Let's go over and say hello to the Makai's resident champion body-builder."
"I don't think saying that to his face would be a good idea," Jordan remarks.
"Nah, I wouldn't, I'm not THAT suicidal," the half-demon agrees. The trio heads over to the table. "Afternoon, Oto."
"Jeremy," Oto answers before looking at Jordan and Alexi. The redhead sees him smile slightly at him. "Hello, Alexi."
"Oto," he murmurs feeling suddenly shy and nervous.
"The blonde's Jordan. He's gonna be a load of fun between his normal teen rebellion and pyrokinetics," Jeremy remarks nodding towards Jordan.
"I've handled Karasu," the burly demon responds nonchalantly.
'Yeah that's true, though Jordan has a natural ability to get himself into trouble."
'"All children do."
"Be nice, Oto."
"I am being nice. They are still children, especially when they are compared to me."
"You are highly arrogant, Oto."
"And you Jeremy, are obnoxious." Right there in front of Alexi and Jordan occurs the single most startling event; Oto and Jeremy begin to insult each other.
"Indolent," Jeremy fires at Oto.
"Pesky," Oto returns.
"Unrepentant."
"Impulsive."
Jordan and Alexi look at each other. "They have issues," Jordan murmurs.
"Yeah, I kinda noticed," Alexi agrees. He watches the verbal sparring match for a few more minutes before adding in, "Immature, both of you." Much to his surprise, they both chuckle at that.
"The midgets are grownin' weary of our antics," Jeremy remarks.
"It definitely shows," Oto agrees.
"Well, the last time I checked, Jordan and I were, as you so kindly put it, Oto, the children not you. We have a license to bicker. Yours expired eons ago," Alexi teases them both.
"Ouch! He's got a sharp tongue, that one," Jeremy snickers. Oto smiles and Alexi relaxes as he hadn't been sure that teasing the older men had been wise.
"Well, we should get them back to Genkai and get them settled in. Ani's looking after Karasu and Bui by himself and the Spirit Detectives are there," Oto says. Jeremy looks concerned and nods.
"Yeah, we'd better get there before Karasu forces Ani to have to do something drastic to refrain from any blood shed," the half-demon remarks. Oto nods and heads for the door. Jeremy, Jordan, and Alexi follow him outside and to an abandoned building three blocks away.
"Koenma's opened a portal inside hoping that no curious humans wander in,"
he comments noting the confused expressions on Jordan and Alexi's faces.
"Yeah, well humans ARE known for their curiosity," Jeremy answers staring pointedly at Jordan. Alexi looks at the lanky seventeen-year old and realizes that he's rather red in the face.
"Don't bring it up again, Jeremy, please," Jordan pleads.
"Oh come on, midge, it wasn't THAT bad!"
"Speak for yourself, Jeremy! You saved me. You're life wasn't in danger!" Jordan retorts. Now Alexi really wants to know what happened.
"I hate to be nosy but what exactly are you two talking about?" he asks.
"I did something incredibly stupid and was lucky that the only thing bruised was my pride," Jordan answers.
"He walked into a portal," Jeremy explains, "It was right there in plain sight and blonde here got curious…"
"It wasn't my fault," Jordan grumbles.
"Actually, midge, no one MADE you go in there. Anyway, Einstein enters the portal and ends up in a marauder's camp. Well, said marauder wasn't too happy to be landed upon and decided to teach Jordan a lesson about trespassing. He shoves Jordan off of him and dimwit here decides that because he doesn't like that that he is going to punch the demon. You can imagine the marauder's reaction to that. Well, luckily for Jordan I was nearby and came upon them just as the demon was about to start slicing Jordan's skin off. That was about two months ago and I've been stuck with him ever since." Alexi shakes his head at the story. That definitely would be enough to keep him from gong where he didn't belong. "Oh, did I fail to mention that Jordan was clothed only in his underwear?" Now Alexi snickers as Jordan blushes a bright crimson.
"You're cruel, Jeremy," the blonde gripes.
"Midge, I'm part DEMON. I am supposed to be cruel," Jeremy responds. Alexi sees Oto shake his head and smirk. He, of course, was decked out in his usual green jacket and sunglasses. Alexi wonders if he ever took the shades off and then decides that the answer was rather irrelevant.
The group heads into the abandoned building and walks through the portal. Jeremy and Oto retain their balance while simultaneously helping Jordan and Alexi keep from falling. Alexi grips Oto's muscular arm as he rights himself. "It takes practice to keep your footing," Oto tells him.
"Yeah, took me 'bout three weeks to keep from landin' on my rear," Jeremy agrees. Oto snorts. "Hey, it wasn't ALL my fault. You shoved me in a few times." The burly demon doesn't answer; he merely looks at him with a slight smirk before continuing on towards the temple. Jeremy follows muttering various curses under his breath as he does so. Alexi and Jordan are behind them snickering the entire way back.
Arriving at the temple, Alexi hears more yelling like the last time, though unlike last time, the tone is more fondly exasperated. Oto smiles before saying, "Karasu is pestering Kurama again. Ani sounds like he is at the end of his rope. I think we should give him some assistance."
"Or we could walk away and come back later," Jeremy responds. Oto looks at him. "I mean it. I have heard enough about Kurama to know that if provoked he can get really nasty. I say just let them alone and let Karasu learn why he shouldn't pest the Legendary Bandit Yoko."
"As entertaining as that sounds, I don't really want my brother in the middle of it,' the burly demon answers walking through the door. Alexi follows him back inside and upon entering the living room, sees Ani standing between Karasu and a fuming Kurama.
"Karasu, stop goading Kurama!" Ani snaps.
"But Ani," he starts but the shorter demon cuts him off.
"No, Karasu! Koenma made it quite clear that you are NOT to vex Kurama! You will obey this order and leave him alone or you will answer to me! Do you understand?"
"I highly doubt that he will ever understand the meaning of that," Oto says alerting the occupants of the room to their arrival.
"Brother, you're back how wonderful. Do you mind keeping this violet-eyed nuisance from pestering Kurama? He doesn't seem to want to heed my warnings," Ani asks before looking at the other three behind him, "Welcome back, Jeremy. I am sure things will be just as interesting as they were the last time you were here. Alexi, it's good to see you on your feet and healthy. Genkai has been waiting all day for you to arrive so that she can talk to you."
"I am sure she does," Alexi murmurs, "It's good to see you, too, Ani."
"Ani, this is Jordan," Jeremy says pointing to the blonde. Ani observes him for a moment.
"Welcome, Jordan. Things are not always so loud here," he tells him.
"Yeah, midge, sometimes it's worse," Jeremy agrees. Jordan looks slightly unsettled and Alexi doesn't blame him.
"Welcome back, Alexi," Genkai says entering the room.
"Genkai," he answers softly hearing the disappointment in her voice.
"Was it that bad, Alexi?"
"Yes, I couldn't take it. I couldn't deal with my parents' refusals to admit to what happened and I definitely couldn't deal with being a punching bag for some close-minded bastard! Add that to the faculty not helping me catch up and you have the reasons why I tried to kill myself!" he yells not caring who heard. He grits his teeth as tears from again. "I can't take this, Genkai. I don't want to live in a world where no one wants to try and help me. I can't do it…I just can't do it." He looks tired and defeated. His gray eyes are filled with only misery and pain.
"You don't have to do that, Alexi, not anymore. That's why I brought you here. You aren't ready to face the rest of society. You shouldn't be forced into something you aren't ready for and you won't be," the woman answers. Alexi looks at her dubiously. "I mean it. You aren't going to a school until I think you are ready to be around other people. If you are never ready, then that's all right as well. No one who truly cares for you will ever blame you for whatever you decide to do or not to do nor will they ever think any less of you." He closes his eyes and tries, once gain, to get his emotions under control.
"I'm sorry," he whispers finally as he calms down. Once again, he is ashamed
of his inability to keep himself calm.
"There's no need to apologize," Genkai assures him, "You've gone through enough pain to warrant your outbursts."
He then feels a hand on his shoulder and looks back at Jeremy. The half-demon smiles softly. "You are gonna be just fine, kiddo, just give it time." Weakly, Alexi nods hoping that Jeremy is right because he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life terrified of other people because of Sakyo.