Chapter Twelve
Oh my goooood I haven't updated since Octobeeeeeer I'm so sooorrrry. I know a lot of people aren't all that interested in this story like STSG but this one is sorta my passion project. ANyway, quick update, I've moved (and will move again sometime this year ugh yay) and went to London on a family trip (didn't get to see TomSka my favorite British youtuber but that's ok I got to see other things and be an HP nerd). Moving on to the story (that is long overdue and I am so sorry)
"Yuki-san, could you help me wash the vegetables?" Yukina pointed to a bag of cucumbers, carrots, and other veggies in a bag on the counter.
"Sure," Yuki made his way over to the counter and took the knife the small demoness handed him.
"If you don't mind me asking, do you know who's coming over for dinner tonight?" Yuki asked, chopping a particularly long cucumber.
The ice demoness seemed shocked. "Genkai-san didn't tell you?"
"Ah, no she didn't tell me anything about who was coming over."
"Oh." Yukina looked away. "Koenma has sent some people over to help watch over you during your trip to Demon World."
"Trip to Demon World?" Yuki repeated. "Sorry, what?"
"She didn't tell you about that either?" She looked back his way and then averted her gaze once more. "I apologize."
The white haired shapeshifter was puzzled. "What are you apologizing for?"
"Well..."
"Yukina-chan!" cried a voice from near the entrance to the kitchen.
The orange haired human from the tournament came barreling in with neither grace nor subtlety.
"Hello Kuwabara-san," Yukina smiled.
"Oh hey, you're that demon that we met at the tournament!" Kuwabara pointed his finger at Yuki once he noticed they weren't alone.
"Er, hi again," Yuki awkwardly waved.
"How's it going?"
"Well... aside from having my every move recorded and being watched by what is probably the scariest old lady on the face of the planet, fine."
"Preach man!" came a new voice.
This one belonged to the black haired human named Yusuke.
"I know how you feel dude," Yusuke laughed, pushing his way into the now crowded kitchen.
"Is everyone from Team Urameshi here?" Yuki asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well duh!"
The white haired demon shrugged in response.
"Yuki-san, why don't you let me handle the cooking for now?" Yukina told him.
"Will you be ok doing everything on your own?" Yuki looked back at the demoness.
"Yes, of course. I believe Genkai and the others will want to speak with you."
"Yup! 'S why I came back here in the first place. Koenma wants us all gathered so he can brief us," Yusuke grinned.
"Brief us?" Yuki parroted.
"For our mission."
"Oh."
"No one told you?"
A shrug. "I'm getting used to it."
"Hello, Yuki," Koenma's voice greeted.
"You're Koenma?" Yuki asked.
The Koenma he knew looked like a toddler with a pacifier. This Koenma looked like a young man in his early to mid 20s doing some sort of deranged cosplay.
"Yes?"
"Oh."
"You like to say that a lot don't ya," Yusuke snickered.
Yuki glanced at the Spirit Detective before looking around.
The long haired red head, Kurama, sat on a couch sipping a cup of tea, Yusuke sat on the same couch grinning, Kuwabara sat on a single recliner looking mildly out of his element, while the black haired demon, Hiei, leaned against the far wall next to a window.
"So, I've gathered you five here because of a lead I have concerning Yuki," Koenma started, sucking on his pacifier a little. "I've found someone that is an original Jagan user."
Yuki wasn't sure what a 'Jagan' was, but it certainly seemed to be interesting to the others since they all perked up at it.
"A Jagan user?" Kurama asked, setting his cup gently onto the coffee table in front of him. "A natural one?"
"Indeed," Koenma replied. "It's a demon that has rarely been seen and practically impossible to find."
"Before you go any further, am I allowed to know what a 'Jagan' is?" Yuki raised his hand.
Koenma's eyebrows furrowed together as he silently debated whether or not he should.
"You've already seen one," he finally sighed. "Back when you were first interrogated."
Yuki glanced over at Hiei who's fiery red eyes screamed distaste.
"It's a third eye?" Yuki turned back to Koenma.
"Yes. It allows the user to read minds and sense energies, among other things."
The white haired demon didn't miss the slightly nervous glance the Spirit World ruler shot at Hiei.
"Oh. So what does that have to do with me?"
Koenma's face turned serious. "You are going to be interrogated for a second time." He turned to Yusuke. "You four are going to take Yuki to the demon for the interrogation."
"What? Why all four?" Yusuke complained. "I should be enough to take care of him by myself!"
"I would assume the reason is that he could have accomplices that could easily overtake you. Remember Yusuke, there are demons out there stronger than you and I," Kurama commented.
Koenma nodded. "Precisely."
"So? When do we go?" Yusuke asked after a little bit of grumbling.
"Preferably as soon as possible. The demon isn't known for staying in one spot for very long, and flees when someone gets close."
"So I guess we'll be leaving in the morning," the detective sighed. "Great."
"Did you have plans, Yusuke?" Kurama asked.
"Yeah. Keiko and I were sort of planning on going to a movie. But it looks like I'll be in the doghouse soon."
"You should give her some flowers when you get back," Yuki commented.
Yusuke raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "What? Will that make her forgive me?"
"No, definitely not. But she'll be more likely to be lenient in her punishment. And you should make sure to take her on another, preferably better, date."
"Yuki does have a point Yusuke," Kurama smiled. "You should make it up to her."
The Spirit Detective rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I'll take her out on a date when I get back."
Kurama turned back to Koenma. "Koenma, I was wondering why you haven't made contact with this demon. If we had a prior 'appointment', wouldn't this be a lot easier?"
The Spirit World Ruler cleared his throat. "Actually, there's a very good reason for that. We did try to contact the demon. The problem is that it's very... anxious. It killed most of the few messengers I sent."
"I see. And what became of the ones that returned?"
"There was only one that came back. He said that the message was successfully delivered, but it didn't seem that the demon cared... or actually, understood."
"So it's dumb?" Yusuke made a face. "Then how is it supposed to interrogate Mr. Unknown over here?"
"I find it very unlikely that it's of a lower intelligence, Yusuke," Kurama glanced at him. "There must be another reason."
"I thought so as well so I did some digging, and as it turned out, these creatures have a very low fertility rate. And an even lower rate of carrying offspring to term. The demon must have a child. Or at least is prepared to have one."
"Gross," Yusuke stuck out his tongue.
"It's nature. Suck it up, Urameshi," Kuwabara frowned.
"So you want me to be interrogated by a pregnant, currently insane, murderous demon?" Yuki tried to keep his voice even, although it almost broke at the 'murderous' part. "Did I get all that right?"
Koenma shifted in his seat. "Er, well, when you put it like that it certainly does seem awful."
"I think I have to agree with Yuki on this. Koenma, this is too risky, even for you," Kurama cut in.
"I'm well aware of the risks I'm asking you four to take," Koenma hung his head. "And I can't tell you the reasons why, but this is low compared to what might happen if you don't do this."
"And I really don't want to have to do this, but I will force you all to take him if I have to," the Spirit World Ruler raised his head back up and stared ahead with cold brown eyes. "This isn't a mission I can afford to fail."
I'm certainly becoming more and more of a potential enemy, aren't I?
"Hold up, does that mean I have to go too?" Kuwabara raised his hand.
"No. You weren't under my employment to begin with, so you're exempt from this," Koenma replied.
The pompadour teen gave a deep sigh of relief. "Thank god."
Dinner was strained that night, what with a high risk mandatory mission hanging over the heads of humans and demons alike. Genkai seemed content to eat and sip tea like usual while Yukina tried her best to keep spirits up. Kuwabara was happy to compliment her cooking, even if he was also feeling down. Kurama seemed deep in thought for the majority of the meal and up until he politely excused himself to his room. Yusuke had called Keiko and told her he was leaving, and even though there was some very loud yelling on the other end, there was a tearful goodbye and a quiet wish for him to come back safe. Hiei had gone off immediately after Koenma had left the temple. Probably punching trees or whatever else an angsty emo demon did to blow off steam. Yuki ate less than usual, and even though Yukina obviously noticed it, she didn't make a comment.
It was very early in the evening when Yuki excused himself and went to his room.
So I have to go to 'Demon World' to get interrogated by a psychopath, and I'm probably connected to a dangerous plot, if the whole "I will force you if I have to" deal from Koenma was anything to go off of.
The white haired demon felt a twinge in his neck as he thought of the frosty, detached look Koenma had given the group. He absently rubbed the spot as he tried to focus on other things, like creating a new, more familiar weapon.
Nice to see you again, Yuki.
Melanie opened her eyes and was greeted by the white blankness for the first time in a while.
"I was wondering where you went."
I've been with you, don't worry. I just didn't want to interrupt all the fun.
"I'm going to interrogated by a pregnant psychopath demon. In all honesty, that's not what I call fun."
I think it's great fun! I love watching Koenma and his little detective group! They're all so much fun.
"You've met them?"
I know them, yes.
"Do you plan on giving me any advice for this?"
Not really, no. Did you want some?
"Kind of. I am, after all, risking my life for your entertainment. The least you could do is help me survive."
Oh don't worry. Mitsu won't hurt you.
"Mitsu?"
The demon? The interrogator? Ring any bells?
"Oh."
Anyway, Mitsu is harmless. She won't do anything to you. Probably.
"Probably?"
She's shielding herself from me. I can't see her right now.
"I thought you were God?"
Even I can't do anything about a true Jagan user actively trying to block me.
"Why does everyone keep saying 'true, natural, or original Jagan user'?"
Well, you remember little Hiei, don't you?
"Yeah?"
He's an artificial user.
"Artificial?"
He had his Jagan surgically implanted.
"Oh."
Oops. Maybe I shouldn't have told you that.
"What? Why?"
Don't you want to befriend them? It wouldn't do to know everything beforehand. That wouldn't be interesting, now would it?
"I guess..."
Anyway, I should let you get some rest. Can't have the detective group getting suspicious, now can we? Oh, and I forgot to mention, take everything Mitsu says with a grain of salt. She likes to play tricks.
Even though Yuki was reassured by the weird voice's advice, he still felt scared of going through the very ominous looking hole in the fabric of space. It was dark and gleamed a sick purple.
"Everyone all set?" Yusuke called out, stretching his arms.
"I believe so," Kurama replied, glancing at the rest of the group.
"Even though this is mandatory, please stay safe," Koenma sucked on his pacifier a little harder than usual.
"You better come back alive, Urameshi! I don't want to have to go in there and drag your beaten ass out!" Kuwabara shouted.
"Oh don't worry, Kuwabara! I'll come back and give your orange hide a good lickin', so don't you go chickening out on me!" The Detective returned, grinning.
Yuki smiled a little at their antics before turning back to the portal.
Well, here goes everything.
Holy feces on a piece of toast was this chapter hard to write! But I'm proud of it. It's probably one of the best ones I've written... ever! Mitsu was a creation I had when I was drawing some of my favorite things and I thought she was a great addition to the universe. Don't worry, she isn't a Mary Sue. (Although I worry that Yuki /Melanie is a little bit of one) In fact, Mitsu is the least human creature I have come up with to date. Oops, was that a spoiler? Oh well.
Anyway, I always wondered if there were natural Jagan users. Hiei had his implanted, and they never show one (in the show at least, Raigo was a natural user but I don't know how canon to treat him) aside from him.
NEXT TIME: DEMON WORLD
DFTBA!
