Happy New Year! Hope your various winter holiday celebrations were good. I got tools from my parents for Christmas, and bought myself a Tesla CD. The holidays were a busy time for me, busier than I thought they would be, hence the lack of announcement about skipping a week. I didn't actually think I'd be doing much, but color me surprised. So here I am, a week and a day late.
I do hope everyone is ready for 2020, because I'm not. I'm pretty sure my brain just stayed in 2016 and never moved on. But that's whatever, and this is Choosing Weakness. On with the "sho."
Changes, time's making changes in my life.
Rearranging, can't seem to stop the hands of time.
I remember, I was so young, I was much too young to see.
Now I'm older, growing older, and I see things differently.
Oh can't you see, it's changing you and me.
Faces, strange faces cloud my mind.
Empty traces, make it hard for me to find.
Somewhere in the distance, is there someone who awaits?
For that moment I am taken over by the hands of fate.
Can't you see, the world is changing me.
- Changes- Tesla
Are Friends Really worth the Trouble?
"Huh. All this seems like a pretty major crisis for mankind," Yusuke muttered, a hand cupping his chin. He looked deep in thought after receiving the latest briefing on the most recent trouble-making demon. I hadn't come up here for a new mission. I'd come to escape the necessity of speaking with the two most irritating girls in the entire school. Instead, I was met with what was easily the worst of the two options.
"Then let's go," Botan leaned forward with a smile, and I was preparing to berate her for once more letting the mission begin without giving us proper intel. Rando had murdered and stolen the techniques of ninety-nine psychics so far, but what were these techniques? What exactly was his power? The lack of information did little to endear her to me, and considering my own alternatives, she was straying close into the valley of insignificance.
"But on the other hand," Yusuke continued as though he hadn't heard her, "It means I won't be able to do anything relaxing on this three-day weekend." Botan's arms faltered and her body went dramatically limp from shock. I raised a scolding brow at Yusuke, but he paid me no mind.
The bluenette gave a muted scream of frustration, shooting to her feet to loom menacingly over the boy.
"Mankind or vacation!?" she screeched, and I winced at her volume.
"Well they've got the same importance to me, okay?" Yusuke yelled back at her, glaring from his seat against the wall. I pressed two fingers hard against my temple to stop the headache before it got any worse.
It didn't help.
"While morale is very important," I began, inserting myself between their heated stares, "It would be difficult to maintain without the continued existence of society as we know it. I think we can suffer giving up one or two days, don't you?"
Yusuke's fuming eyes turned to me and he crossed his arms.
"Easy for you to say, you've got nothing better to do!"
… Well he wasn't exactly wrong, but that didn't make his accusation any less irritating. I narrowed my eyes, but said nothing as Botan stomped away from us, her eyes livid. She finally breathed a sigh, turning back around with a conspiratorial gleam in her eye.
"Alright you two, perhaps I forgot to tell you. There's a super special bonus for completing this mission." I gave Yusuke a skeptical look, which he returned with perfect accuracy. As one we glanced back at Botan, whose faux innocence wasn't fooling either of us.
"What?" my partner asked suspiciously, and the ferry girl reached into the pocket inside her blouse (that is not standard issue, and I will definitely be requesting custom uniforms from Spirit World in the near future) and procured two brightly colored slips of paper, ones I could barely make out the inscription on.
"Your very own tickets to the main event for the world battle match at Tokyo Dome!"
Needless to say, that had won over Yusuke easily enough. His exuberance was contagious, even if such an event was of little interest to me. Perhaps I could give my ticket away, since it had already been purchased. Did she even buy them? I had to imagine Spirit World did whatever they pleased and disregarded as many societal rules as I did. Though scalping tickets seemed somehow too low-brow, even for them.
By the end of the school day, I had made a phone call.
A bell tingled gently as I pushed open the door to the cafe. The various aromas of pastries washed over me in a warm rush of air, carrying the slightest hint of coffee beans that hit my stomach with craving instantly.
Kurama was already here, I could feel not only his energy, but his eyes on me as I walked over to the counter. The young barista smiled at me warmly as I approached. My eyes already sought out the items on display that caught my fancy. Most of it was far too sweet for my taste, but the raspberry scones looked edible.
"Good afternoon, how may I help you?" the woman asked in a friendly tone. She was dressed in a gothic style to match the theme of the small room, a black choker set under a pretty face, heavily layered in dark, Victorian-style makeup. The dress itself was a dark purple with black accents, a mauve lace trim visible under the bodice.
Other employees, when I could see them, were similarly dressed. They matched the cafe's dark ambience well, the dim lighting somewhat soothing after the stressful day.
I gave the woman my order, waiting patiently while she prepared my simple cappuccino. After I paid, I made my way over to a table inhabited by just one other. His bright magenta uniform was very out of place in the carved booth, clashing horribly with the deep burgundy cushions. The booth itself was wooden, adorned with carved crosses and subtle skulls that looked weathered and ancient.
It made sense for the cafe to be a themed one, since we were so close to the city, but Kurama's choice in location struck me as slightly odd. Not that I would complain, I was the one who told him to choose locale. The classical instrumental on low volume was preferable to the blasting contemporary on the radio at the moment, and the ambient lighting was quite comfortable to my eyes.
"Hotaru-San," he stood politely as I approached, allowing me to take my seat across from him before returning to his original position. His eyes were guarded despite the amicable smile, every movement carefully relaxed. "You seem in considerably better spirits today."
I nodded, beginning to tear my pastry into small, bite-sized pieces.
"The stress level hasn't been nearly as high the past few days. How is your mother settling in?" My question was met with a searching gaze, but he didn't hesitate to respond.
"Quite well. In fact, she's eager to resume working again. Thank you for allowing us time to adjust." His grateful smile then turned sly. "She is also quite adamant that I invite you to join us for dinner again over the long weekend. She seems quite taken with you."
I grimaced, not missing the choked laughter that he barely managed to hold back. My eyes narrowed, though there was no power behind the look.
"That will not be happening again, at least not this week. Yusuke and I have received a mission that will require our complete attention." His eyes widened curiously, demeanor shifting to something akin to anticipation. "We won't be available to contact for the next three days, and as such I wont be able to make our next scheduled meeting. I wanted to let you know, just in case you had any demonic crimes you needed to commit without supervision."
His reaction to my slight joke was delayed, but he gave a breathy laugh after a moment, tension bleeding from him visibly. His quirked lips lost the insincerity that tugged them into a strained smile. The sudden relaxation startled me, and I stared quizzically. His eyes sparkled warmly, almost disturbingly so. I canted my head to the side curiously, and he only waved my concern away.
"Apologies. When you cut the reprieve period short, I worried that something had come up that would be changing our arrangement." I nodded in understanding, humming my amusement and offering a wry smile.
"I can see why you would think that. While I briefly entertained the idea that you might accompany us, I know there is no possible way to convince you to part with your mother for a full three days. I only wanted to alert you to my position in the event that Yusuke and I are killed." I raised my cup to my lips now that it had sufficiently cooled, taking the first sip of my own personal jet fuel, and found it to be surprisingly rich. The cream did little to take off the bitterness, which I appreciated, and the natural coffee flavor was not so overwhelming that I would choke. It was a far cry from the home-brew I was use to, and I found my eyelids drooping slightly, responding to the wave of pleasure shooting down my spine from the contact.
"The drink seems to be to your liking," Kurama commented with a raised brow, and my hands subconsciously tightened around the mug, drawing it just a bit closer to my chest in an almost protective gesture. A mirthful smile lit up his features, but calmed quickly to a more serious countenance. "You speak of your own potential death so casually. If I may inquire as to the mission at hand?"
I nodded, setting down my cup and beginning my assault on the small pieces of scone in a businesslike manner.
"There is a tournament to be held starting tomorrow, by an elderly psychic named Genkai. This tournament is to decide who will become her student and undertake the training to receive the ability to perform her famed Spirit Wave." Kuramas brows disappeared into his bangs and he nodded slowly.
"Yes, I've heard of this woman. She was once considered something of a boogeyman to many select groups of demons. These demons have of course been all but eradicated. I can see why this tournament might be of interest to the Spirit World. If their own detectives obtain the power of this Genkai, it would make them that much more formidable." I hummed, feeling victorious when my own musings were proven correct. Kurama was certainly a valuable repository of information.
"While her powers are appealing, that is not the driving motivator. We have been tasked specifically with stopping a certain person from attaining her power. It is believed a demon by the name of Rando is entering the tournament... and judging by the look on your face, I don't need to explain why this is a problem." The steely glint in the emerald eyes was immediate at the mention of Rando, and if the slight snap of power wasn't enough to give me an indication of the foxes feelings on the matter, that almost murderous look certainly was.
"Now that's a strange reaction," I said slowly, leaning forward with my elbows on the table. "What do you know about him?"
Kurama took a moment to answer, taking a mighty gulp of his noticeably tepid tea and grimacing in distaste. How long had he been waiting here?
"Rando is fairly young when compared to myself," he began in a tone that did nothing to hide his true age. "He has built something of a name for himself in select circles, most notably in the rings of thieves. He specialized in stealing the abilities of human psychics, though his method always remained a mystery. Last I knew, he had collected ninety-nine and was searching various communities for mention of a possible hundredth. Why he was so adamant about having exactly one hundred is unknown to me, but he was notoriously ruthless. Each technique he gained was displayed in full force against any and all humans nearby."
I raised a brow, angling my head skeptically.
"That hardly seems like it would invoke the reaction you just gave me. You didn't care about the humans then, so what did Rando do to you specifically?" Kurama rolled his shoulders forward, leaning in to rest his chin on his knuckles contemplatively.
"He rarely involved himself with the affairs of other demons aside from seeking information, however there was one occasion he requested the services of a group of thieves. My men were meant to see him safely and quietly into the home of a particularly powerful psychic. There, he would gain the humans technique and kill him with it, liberating a certain artifact that was rather highly valued and giving it to us as payment." The fox gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw twitching with the pent up rage that threatened to spill out of his pores in toxic waves.
"He double-crossed you," I inferred, and Kurama scoffed, a menacing glint darkening his eyes at the memory.
"More than that. Upon obtaining this power, he cut them all down and left without a trace. The artifact was never there to begin with, and I lost seven men to the entire charade." I blinked, leaning away to take a slow sip of my drink and waiting for Kurama's energy to calm down. It was stifling, cracking through the air with an unchecked venom that painted the walls a dark mauve. If not for my own senses, I would not have noticed the change at all. His power meshed well with the surroundings, and I couldn't help but wonder if he had chosen this location specifically for that reason.
Eventually it came back under control. My cup and plate were empty by then, though I think I had been consuming the food very quickly. I felt incredibly lucky that he and I had never had to do battle. Not that I felt I would have lost, but my chances of winning would have been lower than I liked.
Much lower.
"Not that it would matter much, since I would be dead, but could I rely on you to avenge me should we fail?" I asked innocently, as though Kurama hadn't just made me fear the future that could have been had we been enemies. He gave a humorless smile, eyes still dark.
"If I do encounter him, you can be sure of it." I nodded, accepting this compromise.
"Good enough." I waited a beat. "Is there anything else you may be able to tell me about him? The specifics of the stolen abilities perhaps?"
To my disappointment, he shook his head. The storm in his gaze abated slightly though, which was a good thing.
"Unfortunately, he kept it all very quiet. He wasn't one to revel in the spotlight, and there were never any survivors of his rampages that could describe his power. There are only hints. The only other people who ever knew the techniques were the humans who created them and their disciples, all of whom are long dead."
The two of us left shortly after, placing our respective dishes in the return bin and bidding the barista a friendly farewell. While this hadn't been the most informational of visits, I had at least gained a basic understanding of our opponent. Old, ruthless, and clever enough to trick someone like Kurama. He had ninety-nine abilities that were all unique, but completely unknown, and he wasn't one to make his presence known until the very end. Someone quiet and unassuming, but deadly.
This didn't bode well.
"I never had the opportunity to thank you for the rune you gave me," Kurama remarked suddenly as we walked, and I turned to look at him curiously. "The injury from the Shadow Sword."
I let out a small noise of comprehension, giving him a polite smile.
"Of course, it was the least I could do. How did it hold up?"
"Until the wound was completely healed. That pen of yours is quite remarkable," he praised, and I felt inclined to give in to his unspoken inquiry, fishing the smooth pink item from my skirt pocket and handing it to him for inspection.
"It's a fairly reliable tool. Offensive or Active runes pull on the ambient spirit energy in the air to power the spell. They can be fed energy, but they only last as long as they can protect themselves against the energy of that upon which they are marked. Using a rune to slow down Hiei would have lasted two minutes maximum, and the runes cannot inflict damage upon any living thing."
Trying to burn a flowering shrub had not worked. Burning a bouquet of picked flowers, however, had shown no issues. As for animal testing, I was loathe to inflict any potential damage upon either of the cats, and settled for marking the arm of a sleeping student in a secluded section of the nurses office. When he had not gone up in flames, I decided that was enough proof of that limitation.
"Defensive or Passive runes," I continued as Kurama took off the cap and drew a short like across his fingertip, "work very differently. They feed off any power, even that of the individual they may have been placed upon. As they are not directly controlling the subject, the body considers them non-threatening. Healing and protective runes are passive, and while Yukimura had no energy to feed the mark I gave her, Botan's energy donation was sufficient. Your mark fed off your own power, and the efficiency of the runes makes for the greatest work at the lowest cost."
"Fascinating," he muttered, handing the tool back to me. I pocketed it with a smile.
"Glad you approve. Perhaps-"
I could have gone further into detail and explained how the energy inside the pen was specifically designed to boost any energy it came across, thereby making its power usage more efficient. I could have explained it to be a sort of energy-conscious lightbulb that burn twice as bright with only half the electricity. I might have even suggested that I could supply him with a pen like mine to make any demonic activity he decided to partake in harder for Spirit World to detect. I may have been able to facilitate an even greater dependency and establish myself as even greater of an ally. I could have done all of these things if I hadn't suddenly locked eyes with someone across the street.
"Hotaru-Chan!?"
My eyes widened slowly as the worlds began to collide, the normal and the supernatural guided together by some unknown, unseen force that had no idea I would hunt it down and slaughter it for this grievous transgression.
"Asako!" A warning hiss from Hitomi did nothing to stop the girl from bounding towards Kurama and me with a look of sheer excitement. She was a naive, foolish fawn in the sights of two predators, blissfully unaware of the sharpened and lethal claws that could be unleashed upon her at any second. She blundered into our territory without precaution, and I could only stand there in stunned silence.
"Oh wow, I never even thought about this! Why didn't you tell us you had a boyfriend?" My mind, already slowed by the events unfolding, grinded to a halt at those words.
"What?" I managed to sound somehow less intelligent than my brother in that single word. She winked at Kurama, who had the decency to look somewhat abashed as he looked bwteen me and the girl.
"He's a cutie! Were you afraid we would try to steal him?" Her face suddenly flipped from childish excitement with a hint of suggestiveness to suspicious with a dash of protectiveness. "You're not beating her up or something, are you Pretty Boy?"
"Hotaru-Chan, I'm so sorry," Hitomi, who had jetted across the street with inhuman speed, slapped a hand over the first girls mouth with a deeply embarrassed look. It probably rivaled the utter mortification that I failed to hide on my own face. "I wasn't paying close attention to her, please don't be angry."
Kuso, kuso, kuso, kuso!
"It's fine," I mumbled, completely unsure of what else to say. We were in public, with quite a few people staring at us in open disapproval. I couldn't become angry, so what was left for me to do?
"I can definitely see why she would miss school for you," Asako, undeterred by the hand clamped firmly over her lips, pried away the fingers and spoke around the obstruction. She looked at Kurama, her smile holding the finest touch of mischief. "I'd totally miss school for you too, just throwing that out there." Hitomi's face turned beet red as she attempted to tug her friend away (it occurred to me that I'd never heard the normally calm girl curse before today), and I imagined my face looked much the same. Movement to my right drew my attention as Kurama dropped into a generous bow.
All at once, the commotion stopped. Hitomi even relaxed her grip to stare open-mouthed when Kurama spoke, the most sincere smile, full of kind warmth and oozing charm gracing his angelic features. I could feel the magnatism of his aura, his hair seeming just a shade brighter and his skin shining with a bit more clarity. I could safely call him attractive, staring at him in much the same way as those two soon-to-be-dead girls.
"Greetings, my name is Minamino Shuichi. It's wonderful to meet friends of Hotaru's." Even his words rang with the sincerity of his friendliness, that simpering look just short of affectionate as he regarded the two girls as old friends. He hardly needed to say anything, and I could see the instantaneous change in both of them.
There was an ancient legend about kitsunes. There were many legends in fact, but only a specific genre came to mind: The tales of seduction, when a kitsune would take the form of a young, impossibly pretty woman and entrance others, either robbing or killing them. She would commit unspeakable acts in the privacy of the bedroom, draining them of their life force and moving on to her next victim. I never gave these legends much thought, as there was no sense in contemplating the nonexistent. Now I wondered if those stories had it wrong, and the kitsune was a beautiful young man, with eyes as entrancing and green as the forest from which he came.
"It's- It's nice to meet you too, Minamino-San," Hitomi stuttered out nervously, and I looked over at her blush in an incredulous daze. She seemed unable to look away from the demon, eyes bluer and more watery than I had ever seen them before. "We worried when Hotaru began to miss school... but I can see that she had little choice."
While her phrasing was odd, my irritation at her obvious attraction was even stranger. My eyes narrowed and I opened my mouth to speak, but she shook her head, flashing me an apologetic look and tugging at Asako. All at once, the aura pulled away, leaving me reeling from the sudden loss.
"I really am sorry about her," Hitomi continued, resuming her efforts to drag Asako away with renewed vigor. "We'll leave you two now." Her almost-growl finally seemed to get through to the other girl, who allowed herself to be lead away forcibly, but looked back with a mischievous grin.
"Have fun over the weekend you two, but not too much fun! Hotaru-Chan, you better tell us everything!" Hitomi cursed quietly once again, a new strength taking both girls down the street, Asako blowing an audacious kiss at Kurama before vanishing around the corner. I was left alone with the fox, whose smug smirk I could feel without looking at his idiotic face.
"You have some interesting friends," he drawled, and I whipped my head around with a dark glare.
"What did you do?" I hissed, and he had the decency to look at least a little taken aback.
"Nothing that would harm them," he replied carefully. "I only wanted you to be aware that I too am capable of such charms."
I blinked and recoiled, tilting my head.
"You too? Do you mean to say Rando can perform that technique? Is that how he convinced you to help him?"
Kurama did not respond, only giving me an unreadable stare, which I returned with question in my gaze. I waited a few beats longer, but he remained silent, assessing me with a calculating glint in his eyes.
"I see," he commented, which came nowhere close to answering my questions. I tried again.
"Was Hiei capable of this also, with his Jagan?"
Again, Kurama stared silently, but there was a hint of disbelief in the downward twitch of his lips.
"You don't..." Again, he pause, and again he did not answer my question. With a shake of his head, he turned away and resumed his trek to the train station. I followed, compelled by the troubled look on his face. "Never mind. It is only something to be wary of. There are many demon species capable of this. If Rando has the ability to charm, you at the very least will know how it feels."
My eyes narrowed, but it was clear he planned on keeping whatever was in his head secret. I chose to ignore it for the time being.
"It feels... unsettling. For the strangest moment, I actually found you attractive." My admission earned a startled noise from him, which he then covered with an amused chuckle.
"Hotaru-San, I think I should be insulted. Then again," and he placed a finger to his chin in thought. "You did once call me handsome."
I blinked.
"Surely you remember, the very first night you shared a meal with me in my home? You told me you were going to have dinner with a handsome boy." His smile widened. "And my mother is very taken with you, quite insistent that we continue to spend time together. Not to mention your lovely friends seem to think you and I are an item."
"They are not friends," I retorted with a frown, though my face was burning with every accusation. "They are ornaments. Accessories to maintain the appearance of normalcy."
"And having a boyfriend is perfectly normal for someone your age," he replied with a sly grin, setting an invasive, warm hand on my shoulder. "I wonder if perhaps such a farce might not work in your favor." The teasing, mischievous glint in his eye boiled my blood to near critical levels. I slapped his hand away, pulling out of the conversation and out of his company.
"You are particularly vexing, and I do not have to put up with this!" I turned on my heel and headed in the complete opposite direction. It would be an hours walk as opposed to a twenty-five minute train ride, but it was well worth it.
"It's a long walk home," he called after me. "There are bound to be reprobates around every corner, considering its the weekend."
"I'm counting on it," I growled, not bothering to acknowledge him. Looking for fights now, were we? Yusuke was more of an influence than I realized.
A night of complete rest and a long, hot shower seemed to be exactly what I needed to wash the strain of the previous day out of my hair. I had gone to Kurama for information and been made an absolute fool of. While this was par for the course with the fox, it did not make the inevitable attack on my sensibilities any less irritating. I would have to be sure to keep my guard up in the future. The long weekend would give me plenty of time to strategize about my next move, though damage control was out the window. Asako and Hitomi will have spread the news of my relationship as far and wide as they could.
Irritating.
I resolved not to think about that now. Besides, perhaps Kurama was correct. I could easily use 'spending time with my boyfriend' as an excuse for unexplained absences and other such scenarios. I could even play the 'sick mother' angle to gain points for sympathy. They may decide to stay away from the topic completely, giving me the space expected of every friend.
I smirked, pulling my favorite pink sweater over my head and smoothing the fabric across the flat expanse of my chest. I would have to thank Kurama for the idea, though he would probably continue to tease me. That was an acceptable price to pay.
Breakfast, rice with jako, was wrapped up to be eaten on the way, while a large thermos contained a serving of coffee that was far more than my body should be permitted. The container sat atop a second set of clothes, which were wrapped protectively around my pen and rune booklet. A full water bottle was settled into its pouch, and I was just starting to fill the remaining space with snack bars.
"You seem like you're in a good mood."
I looked over my shoulder to find Shizuru gazing from the kitchen doorway, her eyes as impassive as usual. I cocked my head warily, as by my count, she was supposed to be at work prepping the salon for the early bird customers.
"I'm no different than usual," I replied, grabbing the box that my fingers just brushed against and emptying the contents into my bag.
She shrugged with a wave of her hand in my general direction.
"Yeah, but you feel lighter, somehow. It's about your little camping trip, right?"
We would be camping, yes, so it wasn't exactly a lie. Not that my father would have an aversion to my visiting a psychic temple, the name of the psychic might give him pause. If for some reason he knew the woman or anything about her tournament, he may try to forbid me to go. While that wouldn't necessarily stop me, it would cause unnecessary conflict that I did not have the time or inclination to deal with. So, camping trip it was.
"I am looking forward to it, yes," I told her. She gave a bark of laughter, looking down at the gold watch on her wrist.
"I'll bet, you don't usually get up on the weekends this early. It's not even seven yet!" She gave a friendly smile that did not reach her eyes. "You'll be happy to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, yeah? Spend time in nature, get your hands dirty."
That was more accurate than she could possibly know.
"... Yes," I responded, waiting for her to get to the point. She glanced around nonchalantly, as if trying to find the next topic of conversation.
"Who did you say you were going with?"
"I didn't."
Her stare hardened, and I contemplated trying to shove past her. However, her height and the fact that I was weighted by my bag left little other choice but to humor her. I sighed with a frown.
"Two friends from school."
"Which two? Those girls in your class?" I subdued a growl of irritation, turning my eyes back to the pantry, emptying a second box into the limited bag space.
"No, they are a grade above me." She paused, then a look of understanding crossed her features.
"The friend with the mother?" Then, she frowned. "Isn't that a boy?"
"I am not going with him," I told her slowly, and with all the patience I had left. There was very little to speak of. "Must you be so inquisitive?"
She frowned, leaning against the door frame and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well, you haven't given us much to go on, and by the looks of it you're going to feed the entire school." I rolled my eyes, pulling the strings of my bag as tightly as they would go.
"I'm fairly certain neither of them will have the foresight to bring their own food. They're not exactly adept at planning ahead." She shrugged with a knowing look.
"Yeah, well, you would have friends like that," she muttered, and I barely stopped the question from leaving my lips. Instead, I pursed my lips and shouldered the bag, walking past her through the doorway. She didn't try to stop me, only calling after me as I reached the front door.
"Are you going to call?"
"Probably not, there won't be a phone." Without another word, I shut the door behind me.
The morning was slightly chilled in the way only early autumn could be. It was dry, but still with the biting wind that slowly killed the trees over a span of weeks, taking lives in a stunning array of colors meant to disarm your senses and make you forget that winter was soon to come. The day would warm up of course, but not by much.
I glanced up for a moment, my eyes landing on the balcony beside my own. All three upstairs bedrooms had one. It was one of the things that convinced my mother to go through with the purchase. The unique qualities the house possessed said something about the family that lived there, I imagine. Strange and unorthodox, appearing as though it may fall apart at any moment, but as far as support went, very structurally sound.
At the very least, some of us could rely on others, even if I could only rely on one.
This particular book I had tucked under my arm, Demon Attacks on Humans, had nearly ten chapters on Rando alone, as well as sections where it was speculated he was the perpetrator, but not confirmed. There were over 100 techniques listed that he could have potentially stolen. Even though his confirmed number was ninety-nine, Spirit World was unsure exactly which out of these were actually Rando's kills. As good as I am, there was no way I would remember all of them, and Yusuke wouldn't be much help in that instance.
I settled for memorizing some of the more dangerous ones, but none of them were described in great detail. The masters had clearly kept their powers close to their chest until passing them on, and not even Spirit World's vast library could help. Some of these I wouldn't mind learning myself. It was a shame we would have to kill him without extracting the techniques. Perhaps we could simply capture him like we did with our last target.
Either way, we would find out tomorrow.
I leaned away from my desk, lacing my fingers behind my head and staring contemplatively up at the ceiling. Scenarios flashed through my head, each of them involving a different technique listed in the book. The odds of Rando actually using these were… let's say relatively low. They were dangerous, but sounded flashy. In an event such as this, he wouldn't want to stand out too much, unless he was particularly flamboyant.
A shuffling sound outside my door drew my attention, and I snapped the cover on the book shut, turning my chair around to face the door. It slowly opened, and two dark eyes set in an angular face peered through the crack.
"Do you have some aversion to knocking?" I asked him, sighing internally in relief. He opened the door fully and I sat up in alarm. "Kazuma, what happened?"
His face, while not a mess of bruises, sported a black eye and a particularly nasty split lip that was bleeding profusely. The napkin he clutched to his face was collecting blood from his nose and lip, and the area around his eye was already swollen and purple. His healing factor had increased with his spirit power, I noted, and I was glad for it.
"Yusuke?" I asked, gesturing for him to come inside while I fetched the medkit from under my desk.
To my surprise, he shook his head, and I tilted my head slightly at his distracted countenance. He didn't seem to be listening to me at all, moving almost numbly to sit on my bed. I pulled out the antiseptic and a small wipe, rolling over the floor and getting to work mopping up the blood on his face.
"You're beaten this badly and Yusuke isn't the culprit. I'm almost afraid to ask who it was." Afraid wasn't the right word, but it was the most normal reaction I could think of.
"Just some punks from Mushiyori thinking they can take on a new city," he explained nonchalantly, and I frowned, pulling away just a touch.
"Simple thugs did this?" That didn't sound right. He shrugged.
"I wasn't really focusing, it was my fault. It's just, I keep seeing…" He paused, seeming to rethink his statement, then shook his head rapidly, causing me to smear blood over his cheek. "Nevermind, I bother you enough with that stuff."
"Stuff. You mean your psychic ability," I inferred, cleaning up the smudge of red. He hesitated, then nodded an affirmative. "It's causing distractions for you now?" Another nod.
"All the time. It's not just at night anymore, it's like they're everywhere now!" I gave his shoulder a sympathetic pat.
"They've always been there, you just haven't seen them." I squeezed a little ointment onto my index finger, applying it to the split on his lip. It wouldn't cover too much area, as the gap in the flesh disappeared over the curve of his bottom lip. He would heal quickly, in any case.
"I know," he said quietly. "You always have to look at them. I didn't realize how hard it was."
"You'll get use to it," I told him, checking his nose for any breaks. It seemed he was lucky enough not to have any fractures this time around.
"I don't plan on it. I'm gonna go see someone about it tomorrow." I raised a brow, allowing a slip of a smile to curl my lips.
"A psychic doctor?" I asked, and he shrugged.
"Something like that. I just hope she can help. I really don't wanna end up like-"
He jerked away from my hands, eyes wide as the terrifyingly false smile on his face, re-opening his lip.
"Well hey! Thanks for all the help sis, but I got- homework and stuff, you know?" Laughter bubbled uncontrollably in his throat, cutting off abruptly as he disappeared back the way he came. As suddenly as he appeared, our interaction was over. The whiplash had my head reeling for a moment.
I concluded that he must have forgotten something with one of his boys. His skittish behavior and the way he cut off abruptly left little room for speculation. I could only wonder what he would have said.
"I hate hiking," Yusuke grumbled for the… I had lost count, to be perfectly honest. He trudged on ahead of me in his jeans and bright green jacket, shoulders hunched as we ascended the seemingly endless flight of stairs. It was a clear day, the wind moderate despite the altitude and the lingering chill. The copious trees likely helped on that front, but I still donned my own light pink sweater over dark jeans and a grey shirt.
There were eyes on us as we climbed, peering from the wall of trees in an almost cartoonish fashion. Animal eyes, of course, but also something more sentient. The mountain itself had an ancient feeling to it, one I normally associate with shrines that contain powerful wards. The feeling of being watched increased steadily as we climbed higher and higher.
"Really? Why didn't you say so?" I muttered, but Yusuke's ears chose that moment to be particularly sharp. He turned to look over his shoulder with a glare.
"Oh shut up, you hippy. Not everyone is as crazy about the woods as you, freak." I hummed and gave him a sweet smile.
"If one can't appreciate fresh air and sunlight, they are a miserable soul." He rolled his eyes at my mother's favorite adage, mimicking me under his breath.
"Right, so what does your inner grandma have to say about appreciating wildlife? I thought we weren't supposed to touch wild animals." I raised a brow, then put a hand to my shoulder to stroke the feathers of the bird nestled in the crook of my neck.
"I think it hardly applies if the animal is the one to initiate contact."
The small creature had chosen me as a perch no more than an hour into our journey, and had stayed nearby for quite a while. It hadn't been too terrible of a nuisance, so I allowed it to stay. It hadn't begun to nest, but I'd caught it falling asleep once or twice already. The bird behaving so comfortably eased my worry of our surroundings.
It was my canary in the coal mine. If danger was near, the bird would alert me.
"Well aren't you special," Yusuke sneered teasingly. "Why do they like you so much anyways?"
I shrugged, said: "I've never figured that out. It comes in handy sometimes though," like when I requested the fish consume as much of Akashi as they could to hide whatever evidence I may have left. Or when the arsonist was devoured by the wolves.
I raised a hand to once more pet the soft feathers, and the bird fluttered onto my index finger. I raised a brow at it, and it cocked its little head in response.
Aesthetically, it was a pretty animal, with an off-white to grey base and colorful markings along its head and wings. The beak was black, fading into a mask, and a red stripe ran along its crest. The wings were fading teal to a blue-green, reflective patches on the joints, and the underside up to the chest was painted with a generous swath of red.
A fairy pitta, also called the 'eight colored bird'. It was endangered, another reason I had decided to keep it with me. It was safer where it was, at least for the time being.
It chittered to me happily as we walked, and I could feel the pressure of the forest growing. It was almost unbearable.
"So what happens when we win?" Yusuke's question caught me off guard, and I didn't answer right away. I placed the pitta back on its perch on the strap of my overnight bag with a soft pat, then regarded my companion with a questioning stare.
"I will stay with Genkai and learn her technique." He stopped suddenly, whipping around with a look of indignance. His own satchel slipped off his shoulder and dragged his hand down, dropping to the ground with a thud.
"Why do you get the cool power, huh? What if I win?" I scoffed.
"You won't. Even if you did, there is work involved in learning things like this. Work you are too lazy to do." His frown deepened to a glare and he crossed his arms.
"You saying I can't do it?"
I blinked.
"Well, yes."
He grinned, baring his teeth in a faux snarl.
"Oh, it is on!" He marched back down the few steps, poking my shoulder roughly, causing the bird to squeak indignantly. "You just wait, I'm gonna kick your ass when we get up there." I took a step to the side, looking him up and down as I tried to identify this sudden change in motives. I realized then that I had, quite unintentionally, issued a challenge much like I had the previous day. I scolded myself for the error and attempted to rectify it.
"You didn't even want to come along in the first place, let alone spend time training. Botan had to bribe you, remember?" He waved me away, crossing his arms behind his head in a mock relaxed position as he resumed his ascent.
"Yeah well, you shouldn't have said I couldn't do it!" Indignance welled up inside me, and I jogged up the steps after him.
"I was not challenging you, I was merely speaking my mind. You want to rob me of valuable knowledge just out of spite?" I asked, incredulous. He grinned maniacally, cackling with wild abandon. I was suddenly reminded of an American film, with a green witch on a broomstick, and a little red-haired girl.
"Yeah, basically!" I clenched my teeth, feeling my eyes narrow to slits, and I considered kicking his body back down the staircase. But then, an idea occurred to me. I cleared my expression quickly, darting to block his path with my hands planted firmly on my hips.
"How about this," I tell him, and he looked at me suspiciously. "If both of us are finalists, the power goes to the one who defeats Rando."
It was simple. All I had to do was stop Yusuke from engaging with the demon. That, or I could eliminate Yusuke from the competition myself. Non-lethally, of course, simply disqualifying him should suffice.
He feigned thinking for a moment, then stuck out his hand with a cocky smirk.
"Deal! I can't wait to see you choke on your self-importance!"
I took his hand with a saccharine smile. "And I can't wait until you're tripping over your own incompetence."
The idiot really was rubbing off on me. The idea of finally finding out which of us was stronger was a tempting notion, one that I found had a harder pull than the thought of knocking him from the competition early. It was an inner desire of mine to be more than I was. More than anyone else. More, most especially, than Yusuke.
"Yeah, whatever. You'll be the one tripping- all the way back down the stairs after I kick your butt!" His enthusiasm coaxed a smile from me, and it was real. But that smile, as well as his mirth, faded as we approached the next landing.
Before us on either side of the staircase stood enormous sycamore trees, a gleaming rope lashed across the air over our heads to make a sort of arch. It was an odd choice, though I'd never seen a Torii gate with protection slips. The rope glowed, I realized, from the numerous paper wards tacked to the fronds, inscriptions varying in purpose. Most of them carried enchantments specifically designed for demons, and the red wooden cloud ornaments radiated the same feeling. We were several paces away, and I could feel the energy barrier before we even breached the top of that flight. Beyond the warded rope, the green roof of the ancient temple was visible.
"Now that's a weird vibe," Yusuke commented warily, and I hummed, echoing his sentiment.
"The energy seems designed to keep demons out. It shouldn't harm us," I added, then tilted my head in thought. "In fact, it's entirely possible they stopped Rando before he could enter the tournament."
Yusuke looked over at me with a scathing expression, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he spoke.
"Yeah, these demons just hate to break rules and things by going around the 'Keep Out' signs. He probably went through the woods or something." I raised a brow, copying his countenance to the best of my ability.
"I hardly think such a renowned and experienced psychic would only ward the stairs. The barrier probably extends around the entire peak, dolt." He narrowed his eyes slightly, but otherwise didn't respond to the insult.
"Whatever, but my gut tells me he's already inside." I nodded.
"As does mine, unfortunately." We would only be too lucky for the demon to be weak enough to be repelled by these seemingly excessive wards. "We should get going."
We had lingered there for nearly a full minute, hesitating to cross the threshold. Yusuke sighed, adjusting the strings of the bag slung once again over his shoulder.
"Just pretend it doesn't exist," he muttered. I wasn't sure if he was talking to himself or me, but the suggestion didn't bring me much comfort. I followed him, crossing underneath the rope. A tingle ran through me and I jolted, startled when the bird suddenly shrieked and took off forcefully from my shoulder. Both of us turned to watch it disappear into the treeline, and I felt my comfort level dropping.
The canary stopped singing, it seemed.
"Well that's worrying," he voiced and I turned to him with a frown.
"It really doesn't bode well when the animals are frightened of this place," I said in agreement, looking back up at the rustic, peaceful-looking temple. It's colors were somewhat dulled, the wood weathered, but there were no signs of decay or mistreatment. The forest too seemed completely untouched by human hands, yet was impeccably neat and orderly, as though trees and grass didn't dare to become unruly in the face of the monument.
Still, once inside the barrier, the power the mountain seemed to possess only amplified. Something powerful resided here. Someone, rather. For Genkai to have infused the land with power just by her presence, she must be a remarkable psychic. Certainly more powerful than myself or my partner, even with our energies combined.
It only made me more eager to succeed.
"Come on, we need to hurry or we'll be late." I stepped around him, moving up the stairs hastily. Due to his trudging and constant complaining, we had lost at least a half hour, and her tournament was set to start at exactly one that afternoon. It had to be very close to that time by now.
The gates were cracked open enough for several people to slip through, and the moment Yusuke and I crossed the threshold, we halted. I can only imagine his eyes were as wide as mine as we took in the sight before us. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach that this wouldn't be as easy as I had imagined.
"Perhaps… we should have taken the long weekend," I expressed from the corner of my mouth.
"I mean, jeez," he exclaimed quietly. "I haven't seen this many freaks since that comic book convention!"
When I say hundreds of people were crowded into the neat, barren courtyard, I do mean literal hundreds, all varying in size, distribution, and power. Even from here, I could feel some of the larger players dispersed among the crowd, though the air was so muddled with energy and the odor of many bodies in one small spot it was hard to pick out if any of them were demonic. Conversations drifted about in a rumble, singular words standing out here and there. No two words were decipherable together.
Freaks Yusuke had said, and he was correct. Not that I am one to call others out on their oddities, but many seemed to have dressed simply for occasion rather than functionality. Some were in what looked like little more than costumes, while others, the more hardened ones with the darker shadows behind their gazes, were dressed more tactically. Yet a larger population dressed like they had walked in off the streets. Some bore the strangest weaponry: claws that attached to the fingertips rather than the entire hand, a short flat staff, even paper shopping bags filled with what I assume was supplies. Most, however, came empty-handed, like the two of us, not including our overnight bags.
We drew a few stares as we passed through gaps in the crowd, and it was with slight displeasure that I noted I was the only female in attendance. Perhaps there were more, but I should have anticipated my stature at the very least would draw unwanted attention. Yusuke didn't seem to notice, too busy eavesdropping on a nearby conversation concerning the psychic, Genkai. She was more well-known than I had imagined if this many contestants had shown up.
"Well, at least we aren't late," I said to the boy, and he gave me a wry look.
"Gee, wouldn't that be a shame." I rolled my eyes.
Then I froze, the back of my neck tingling as a feeling of cold dread worked its way through my skin and into my brain. Someone was close. Someone who shouldn't be here. But who do I know that would-
"Urameshi!?"
The utterly bemused look of shock on Yusuke's face told me all I needed to know, gravelly voice aside, and it only took moments for Kazuma's eyes to find me right beside my fellow detective. My brother's face grew nearly skeletal with how pale he became.
"RU-RU!?"
"Kuwabara!?" Yusuke 's voice emoted complete disbelief, and we watched with mixed feelings as Kazuma forced his way through the crowd over to us. If we weren't being watched keenly before, we certainly were now.
"What the heck is going on, what are you guys doing here? I thought you were going camping with friends," my brother added, looking down at me in concern.
"A slightly skewed version of the truth," I told him with a feigned look of guilt. "Yusuke is a friend, and I do plan on spending at least one night in the forest, assuming this takes all afternoon."
Kazuma leaned away, tilting his head to the side, looking rapidly between Yusuke and myself.
"You lied to dad? Wait, assuming what takes all afternoon? What are you guys up to way out here?" Yusuke shifted his footing, adjusting the straps on his bag as he frowned at my brother.
"We have good reasons, unlike some people," he hinted less than subtly, and Kazuma glared furiously, poking a finger sharply into Yusuke's chest, nearly punching a hole through the white shirt.
"You better not be trying anything funny with my sister Urameshi! I can tell when a punk like you has dirty things on the mind!" Yusuke stifled a grin, turning it into a smirk and leaning forward.
"Oh yeah? Dirty things like what? I didn't know your weirdo powers included mind-reading," he joked, and Kazuma's blanched face ran absolutely beet red in an instant. I found myself being dragged rather unceremoniously into a protective bear hug, Kazuma's large frame shielding me from the unscrupulous youth.
"You know what I mean you big stupid! My sister is off limits, you hear me?" I sighed, contemplating my route of escape. I could jab my fingers into his ribcage and painfully tickle my way out, or I could kick his shin. Both were equally optimal, but he released me before I could decide, pushing me further behind him. I allowed it, only to walk discreetly around his other side as Yusuke began speaking again, drawing the behemoth's attention.
"So what are you doing here, huh?" Kazuma's nose wrinkled, as though the thought of answering was beneath him. He crossed his arms seriously, giving Yusuke a side-eyed look.
"Well since you already know about this stuff, I'll tell you." Al trace of animosity was gone, his dark eyes somber. "It seems my power to see ghosts and spooky stuff has gone up greatly in the past few weeks, and it's getting to where I can't even concentrate on my fighting, you know?"
"You were going to see Genkai for that?" I asked, incredulous. The odds were astronomical. Whatever coincidences had lead to our paths crossing here, in the presence of a dangerous enemy, I made a mental note not to let them happen again.
Kazuma nodded, then looked around in annoyance. "Well I was, but look at this line! I'll never get in to see her at this rate." Yusuke and I traded looks, and I hoped he knew what I was thinking at that moment. Kazuma was a liability. He needed to leave. Now.
"Hey now, look, I agree you need therapy," Yusuke began, and I stifled a bark of laughter with a cough. "But are you sure this lady's into that? And you're right, the line is way too long! Why don't you just head on home and come back another day. We'll probably be leaving soon too, right 'Taru?"
He sent me a cheesy grin, but my brother remained oblivious to the hints.
"No way! I didn't hike all the way out here for nothing, and I'm not gonna leave you here with my sister!" He crossed his arms, not having noticed I was already in front of him again. "Master Genkai happens to be an expert at the great Spirit Orb technique. She can do just about anything with a person's spirit, and that includes turning the volume way down on mine."
"Kazuma, I don't think it works that way," I told him as gently as I could, but my efforts at being sensitive were wasted, as he completely ignored me, staring intently at Yusuke.
"Now you have to tell me what you guys are doing here." Yusuke shrugged, looking away.
"Dunno, ask your sister." Kazuma turned to me curiously. I sighed, shooting my partner a look from narrowed eyes.
"We are competing to become her student." He blinked, then to my surprise, gave me an encouraging smile.
"That's great Ru-Ru! I know you're gonna kick all these guy's butts! And if you don't, I'll just kick them for you!" His gesture warmed my cheeks. A small smile drifted onto my features, and it was real.
"As happy as I would be for your help, you can't be here right now. There is a-"
The resounding bang of a gong cut me off, along with every other voice in the courtyard. The silence descended like a thick sheet, and as one, everybody turned to face the extensive porch leading to the main building.
The large wooden doors slid open, creaking like ancient trees in the wind.
…
Naturally I am not one to make a fuss about height. I barely brush five feet myself, and my figure is easily described as twig-like. That being said, I can honestly say I've never met anyone shorter than myself who was not also much younger. Even her obvious old age should not have reduced her height, and indeed it seemed she was still standing quite straight, at approximately four feet.
"My my, quite a crowd," the elderly woman drawled sarcastically, and the smirk she wore didn't reach her ancient eyes. What I could see of her from this distance was her expression of masked disdain, and wavy, faded pink hair tumbling over her shoulders. She was dressed in traditional martial arts fashion, but unlike most of those in attendance, hers was both practical and fashionably acceptable.
The red tunic with its thick, purple trim lay over a fitted white gi, tied with a green sash at the waist, matching the fitted green pants. The top of her head was obscured by a purple formal cap, almost as ridiculously bulbous as Koenma's, and further dwarfing her.
The hushed voices broke the silence instantly, one rather loud comment piercing through them all.
"That little old hag is Genkai?" My head turned slowly, forcing as much 'why would you say that' into my expression as I could as I stared at Yusuke's balking face.
She didn't seem to have heard him, thankfully, gracing the congregation with a wry smile.
"Alright people, I suppose we should get things started." I took a steadying breath, the murmur around us growing louder. "The first of your screening tests will be… the drawing of lots."
As one, the gathered contestants fell to the ground.
Figuratively speaking of course, but it seemed the most likely reaction as all tension in the courtyard was immediately swept away by the absurdity of the old woman's words, leaving the gathered contestants completely unbalanced from pure astonishment. Even Yusuke, who had before been sobered by the announcement that the event was to begin, now looked at the woman with bulging eyes.
A drawing of lots as a way to determine worthiness? It hardly sounded logical. Hopefully, Luck was a power I could utilize.
"How is that a test?" Yusuke grumbled, though not quite under his breath. A few heads nodded in agreement with him.
"Everyone must draw a lot from this old jar," Genkai continued, pointing beside her where said jar sat, filled to the brim with small slips of paper. "Come now, we haven't all day."
From this distance, I could sense nothing particularly odd about the jar, nor the paper within. It was just that- an old jar. People began moving, passing the three of us to form a line of considerable length. I cast a glance back at Kazuma, who seemed just as confused and irrationally indignant as Yusuke. He wasn't here to compete.
"Well that figures," Yusuke muttered to himself. "The old bat's up and gone senile!"
I sighed, shrugging.
"Let's just get in line." I made my way with the crowd, knowing Yusuke and Kazuma followed me after a moment, and together we stood, packed closely next to one another to avoid getting too close to strangers.
"Gee sis, I think maybe you were right about this lady," Kazuma grunted quietly, and I raised a brow in question. "Maybe she can't help me."
"Hey, I was the one who said that," Yusuke interrupted with a frown. "I mean, come on! What's the point of having a tournament if you're just gonna leave it up to chance? Pretty stupid of you ask me."
"Hey, young man," a gruff voice growled, and the three of us turned to behold a contestant who had just stepped in line behind us. He was older by quite a bit, with a greying beard and a shaved head, wearing attire befitting a monk. It was clearly no costume, the fabric worn and faded, but in good condition. A rosary of large wooden beads adorned his neck and he leaned on a staff.
"What?" Yusuke responded petulantly. The older man narrowed his eyes, the skin wrinkling to an even more severe degree.
"You need to show more respect here- this is no place for your delinquent peevishness! The Master Genkai is very wise, wiser than you by a mile! If she deems this as the best way to determine worth, she has her reasons, and we should respect-"
"Oh get off it Grandpa," my partner sneered. "Even your enlightened ass can't make this make sense and you know it!"
"Urameshi!" Kazuma gasped, giving the other a look of outrage.
"You watch your tongue brat! If you even had half the experience the Master Genkai did-"
"I'd make people fight me," the boy answered simply. The old man grumbled, crossing his arms and leaning more heavily on his staff.
"The youth these days, no respect for the wisdom of their elders. I never saw such rudeness in my day." Yusuke's fists raised to his hips, leaning too far into the man's personal space.
"When was that, the stone age- ouch!" Without conspiring, Kazuma and I had both struck out at Yusuke, myself planting my fist in his stomach and my brother knocking the teen over his head.
"You don't talk to old people that way, you punk!" the tallest of us said authoritatively, holding his fist threateningly. I gave the older man a shallow bow of acknowledgement.
"I apologize for my friend's behavior. His mouth continues working tirelessly despite his brain being on vacation." Yusuke sputtered indignantly, so I elbowed his ribs to make my point.
As I hoped, the old man chuckled, smiling down at me.
"Well, that's quite alright young lady, I'm glad this degenerate has someone to look out for him." I gave a squinty smile and a high laugh (we were all ignoring Yusuke's grumbling at this point) and he gazed up at Kazuma with the same kind look.
"And you, fine young lad you are, perhaps don't go around calling people old, hm?" It was teasing, but Kazuma's face reddened and he rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Ha ha, right. Sorry old- er! Sir? Yeah, sorry Sir!"
The man gave a breathy laugh, then looked back at me with a look of mild concern.
"I do find it strange that three young people such as yourselves would venture so far out here just for Genkai." I tilted my head and he gave a tired shrug. "Just seems odd to me. Doesn't seem like the kind of things you'd expect from kids your age."
I gave him another smile, somewhat smaller than the last.
"My brother and I take classes in our town, and Yusuke- the rude one there- has been fighting since he could walk. I think we were all just looking for a new challenge." The old man was listening intently, but he paused, squinting at the three of us suspiciously. Slowly, his eyes returned to mine.
He began to say something, but hesitated, snapping his mouth shut. He made to speak again twice before finally settling on the right topic.
"I didn't feel it before, too much energy here and all that, but you three are… different. You're strong." I blinked, not quite sure how to respond. I could feel nothing from this man, but the air was indeed thick with auras. It was nearly impossible to tell which energy was coming from who.
"Uh, what do you mean by that?" Kazuma asked, and I remembered than that he was nearly oblivious to what was going on. Hadn't I planned on getting him to leave? Thankfully, the ever impatient and straightforward Yusuke stepped in, grabbing my arm and Kazumas.
"Come on guys, we're holding up the line. Leave the geezer alone." I almost reprimanded him, but the old man didn't seem to mind his rudeness, or even noticed it. Yusuke pulled us back (Kazuma hopping on one foot trying to regain his balance) to close the gap in the line that our loitering had created.
"Those are some interesting eyes you have, young lady."
I almost missed the old man's parting words as he was swallowed back up by the crowd. I frowned, wondering just how perceptive he had been in that brief time. Not that it mattered too much. Unless he brought up any suspicions to Genkai, perhaps telling her something to disqualify me- us.
He was strong enough to sense that we were not average teenage delinquents. Yet, I could feel so little from him. His power was likely in experience, which indicates that he could recognize me, or at least, recognize what I am. Even so, it shouldn't matter what he says, if anything. There were plenty of shady characters here already, many monsters in the flesh, and any one of them could be our target. Even the old man…
I was overthinking. There was nothing about him that even triggered my senses. He was not a threat.
I turned around, having already lost sight of him, and kept my focus on the jar that held my fate.
Slow start, I know, but everything feels so fast-paced sometimes in the show. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's difficult to translate well when you're interpreting it through a different medium. You have no idea how many times I had to watch this episode to get actions, reactions and facial expressions right. I could probably recite the entire scene from memory alone. This scene, and many others.
Next week will be on time, or should be unless anything bad happens. If I stop updating altogether, it means my roommate finally had enough of my shit and strangled me to death. So there's that. Maybe we'll end up on national news!
Meow for now!