Chapter 7 – Leech

"Rise and shiiiiine!"

Yusuke groaned and pushed his face into his pillow. "Piss off…"

His blue-haired assistant walked into his room from the doorway, placing a cup on a bedside table. "A mug of coffee for the Spirit Detective!"

He slowly opened an eye, glaring at her. She just continued to smile. "What time is it?"

"Seven AM! Time for a morning workout!"

He slowly heaved himself into a sitting position, rubbing his eyes. "...Morning workout? Why?"

"The other boys are training on the roof garden. Kuwabara wants you to get up so he can 'kick your ass'." She made quote marks with her fingers.

A long sigh left Yusuke's lips. "...Alright... lemme shower first."

Botan nodded. "Mm!" She linked her hands in front of her.

Yusuke shifted his legs out from under the covers, picking up the coffee and sipping some. It was hot and bitter. Helped to knock some of the lingering sluggishness from his head.

He eyed Botan as he drank. She hadn't moved. She was still standing there, smiling at him. It was a bit unnerving.

"...Is there something on my face?"

She quickly shook her head. "No! ...Mm... would you like something to eat?"

"Maybe in a bit."

"I'll make it for you!"

Her abrupt answer took him slightly aback. "...Nah it's fine. You've already brought me coffee."

"It's my duty, as the Spirit Detective's assistant!"

"...Since when? You never made me food before?"

Botan's smile wavered a bit, a slight frown touching her brows. "Umm... well... I'm going to start trying harder from now on!" She held up a fist. "Rice? Cereal? Toast?"

"Really. It's fine." He stood from the bedside and stretched his back.

The reaper girl looked a bit frustrated, like he wasn't giving her the answer she wanted. "...You really don't want anything?"

"I said that didn't I? Quit pestering me."

Botan hissed a bit between her teeth, eyebrow twitching. "...Well you don't need to be like that." She folded her arms. "The others are waiting for you. So hurry up." She droned at him with a completely different tone, turning and leaving the room without a second glance.

Yusuke continued staring at the doorway for a moment. "...What the hell?" He murmured under his breath. He slowly gathered some clothes from his gym bag and left his room for the bathroom, glancing down the hallway as he did. The blue-haired girl was gone.

Hiei's words from yesterday were still ringing in his ears.

Mate with a girl like that?

He grit his teeth, cringing that he even let that thought cross his mind. He walked into the bathroom and dumped his clothes on the floor, staring at the western style shower.

A cold shower is exactly what he needed.


Kuwabara paced the roof garden impatiently.

Across from him, Kurama and Hiei were engaged in a sparring match. Hiei was jabbing his blade at the kitsune, pressing him backward with a rally of bobs and weaves. It didn't take much effort for the fox demon... but as they crossed the threshold onto a patch of greenery, he came to a sudden stop, stumbling to avoid something on the ground. Hiei seized the moment and pressed the tip of his sword to Kurama's throat.

"Ah," he smiled. "I'm dead."

The swordsman perked a slender brow. "Age must be catching you up. Improve your footing, lest your enemies slaughter you."

Kurama chuckled softly, regaining a tall posture as Hiei sheathed his sword. "Not even our play fights may take precedence over innocent life..." He knelt down to a small red flower at his feet, smoothing the petals. He'd been inches from squashing it flat. "...You're safe now young one."

Hiei snorted, but didn't comment.

The door to the roof swung open, and the Spirit Detective made an entrance, hands in his shorts pockets.

Kuwabara turned to him with a grunt. "'Bout time punk!" He cracked his knuckles and assumed a boxing stance. "Get over here so I can kick your ass."

Yusuke advanced on his friend, looking him up and down. "Do we have to do this now?"

Kuwabara frowned. "Uhhh, yeah?! Put ya guard up pussy! We're fightin'!"

With a long sigh, Yusuke lifted his own arms into a guard. "Let's make this quick..."

Immediately the taller boy laughed, huffing and puffing a bit as he started hopping on the spot, bobbing like a boxer.

Yusuke just remained motionless, fists high and his arms in close to his torso.

His friend tried to fool him with a few feints, but Yusuke didn't so much as a flinch. Kuwabara continued this for a few moments, exerting a lot of energy, but hardly moving anywhere. Until, finally, he lunged. His first curled into a powerful right hook sailing directly for Yusuke's jaw.

Only then did Yusuke move. He ducked below the blow and closed the distance between them, nailing Kuwabara's body with a hard uppercut.

"GAAGH!"

Kuwabara doubled over, clutching his stomach as the air was struck out of him.

Yusuke resumed a normal posture as he watched his friend fall to his knees. "Satisfied?"

The taller boy groaned hard, and shook his head. "H-Hell no...!" He heaved himself up on shaky legs, still holding his stomach. "...Sneaky bastard. Ya got me there..." He lifted his arms back up and resumed the same movements as before, albeit with an expression of pain.

Yusuke sighed and lifted his fists again. "Just hurry up and punch me assho-"

...

"GAHHH!"

Kuwabara yelled out again, falling to his knees once more. But he hadn't been hit this time.

...

The Spirit Detective blinked, watching his friend groan and clutch his head. "...Uhh... you okay...?"

"De..." His friend grumbled, shaking his head between his hands. "...Demon energy..."

"Demon energy...?"

"It's gotta be... the last generator..." He heaved himself up to his knees. "...I can feel it in my damn skull... they musta set that shit up."

"Huh? You can feel it?"

"He's right!" Kurama approached the two boys. "It just came over me too... my senses aren't as sharp as Kuwabara's, but it's definitely there."

"Damn..." Yusuke looked back to Kuwabara. "...You okay? Must be a powerful one to hurt that bad."

"Oh yeah... the others didn't hurt this damn bad..."

The door to the roof opened once more, and Botan ran out to greet them. "Boys! Boys...!" She was holding her Demon compass above her head. "I'm picking up a signal!" She joined them with a huff, holding the compass out to Yusuke as she caught her breath.

The device beeped every few seconds, with a red flash.

"It was going crazy a moment ago. Must've been a really big power surge." She looked Yusuke in the eyes. "Do you think it's the last generator?"

He ground his teeth. "...Kurama, let's get that map out."


Back in the apartment, the group huddled around the coffee table to plan their next move.

"It's this one here?" Yusuke pointed to the last point of the pentagon map. It was the only one without a label.

"That's right." Kurama replied softly. "It's in an area of wilderness I've never visited. Looks like there's a station in a nearby village, we could get off there and walk the rest of the way..." He left the table to pick up a rail guide book. "...We'll probably have to change train lines a few times. I'll need a moment to figure out our route."

Hiei was next to leave the table. "Notify me when the plan is ready."

Kuwabara placed his hands on his hips. "Let's train some more Urameshi! Get warmed up for our next fight."

Yusuke nodded. "I need to eat first."

"Oh!" Botan immediately piped up. "Don't worry yourself Detective, preparing your breakfast is my duty! Start your training and I'll bring it to you when it's ready!" She gave a mock salute and headed for the kitchen.

Yusuke watched her go. "Huh..." He shared a shrug with Kuwabara, before heading for the door.

They left the apartment and began ascending the stairway to the roof. Their footsteps echoed through the cool dark stairwell.

"...What are you thinkin' Urameshi?" His friend asked quietly.

He glanced over his shoulder. "About the generator?"

"Yeah... you think the boss is gonna show his face?"

"Dunno." Yusuke looked back ahead. "He won't be happy when we nail this last one though. I know I'd wanna show up and kick our asses if I was him."

"So would I..."

"Not scared are ya?"

"M-Me? Scared? Hell no!" He forced a laugh. "...Are you...?"

They reached the door, and stepped out onto the sun soaked roof garden.

"Nah." Yusuke stretched his neck from side to side. "Whoever this dude is, he's dead."


The two boys trained for a good while. Sparring, followed by sets up push ups and crunches. Kuwabara was as unsubtle as always, groaning and complaining his way through the exercise.

Eventually Botan joined them on the roof with a tray of food. "Good training boys?"

They looked her way, both panting and sweating. Kuwabara just grumbled in response.

She walked to their side and handed something to the taller boy. "Here! I bought some of those special sports drinks from a drinks machine! We'll need the extra energy!"

Kuwabara's eyes lit up as the cold bottle was passed his way. "Music to my ears!" He grabbed the bottle and took a long chug of it contents.

"I have one for you too Yusuke, and some breakfast." She smiled at the Spirit Detective, presenting small bowls of rice, soup, and grilled fish. "I wasn't sure what you liked so I went traditional!"

He looked over the food. "Looks good as hell... thanks Botan..."

She seemed happy with his response, grinning wider. "Good!" She then stepped backward slightly, and motioned with her head. "...Do you mind if we chat about something in private?"

Yusuke eyed her face over. Considering her recent strange behaviour, there was no telling what she wanted to discuss. He couldn't ignore his increased heart rate though...

"Sure..." He got up from the ground and brushed off his shorts, following Botan to the other side of the roof.

"Here! Eat up young man! I won't take up much of your time." She passed him the tray.

He took it and seated himself on the grass, picking up his chopsticks. "So... what's up...?"

She knelt opposite him with her hands on her knees. "How are you feeling about our next fight? Confident as ever?"

He shrugged, lifting some rice to his mouth. "Yeah. This case is a piece of cake." He spoke while chewing.

She nodded slowly. "That's good... I just wanted to make sure that you were okay..." A moment of silence passed over the two, and she shuffled on the spot. "...Koenma wants to talk to you."

Yusuke paused chewing. "...What does he want?"

"It's something... important..." She looked visibly uncomfortable.

"Does he wanna talk right now?"

"Yes... if you don't mind, that is."

Yusuke sighed slowly, swallowing his mouthful. "Might as well get it over with."

"Thank you." She shuffled across to Yusuke's side, retrieving her communication mirror from her pocket. She flipped the device open and held it in front of them.

Immediately a face appeared on screen.

Childlike, and angry.

"-o no no! I said that way! If you tilt it like that I can't see the screen!"

The image tilted from left to right, as the child god screamed at someone off screen.

"M-My apologies, Koenma sir! Is this better...?" Another voice begged.

"Ugghhhh, more THAT way."

The screen moved some more. "...H-...how about this?"

"YES YES FINE. It'll do." Koenma yelled, shooing the other person away with a hand. "Go and wait outside. I'm busy." The small prince cleared his throat, adjusting his hat on his head. "...Ahem. Can you hear me?" He asked loudly.

Yusuke stared back with disinterest. "Yeah. I hear ya. Let's hurry this up."

Koenma leaned back. "Fine, I've got more important things to do anyway..." He inspected the nails on his right hand. "...I'm pulling you out of this assignment."

A frown formed on the Spirit Detective's brow. "Huh...?"

"I said I'm pulling you out." Koenma repeated. "You're off the case."

"What the hell are you talking about?! You can't pull me off, this is my damn job aint it? I'm the Spirit Detective!"

The god pointed at him through the mirror. "Your job is to follow my orders and complete cases I assign to you. This is no longer your case, so now your 'damn job' is to step down from it."

Yusuke glared at him with a slack jaw, sparing a glance toward Botan. She winced. "...You mind telling me what the hell is going on here? You realise me and the guys have been nailing this case up til now. One more generator to go and this case is done. We're nearly finished dumbass."

Botan placed a hand on his leg. "Watch your language...!" She warned in a hushed voice.

Koenma didn't care. He just folded his arms. "Whinge all you like, you don't have a choice. This is for your own good." He lifted something from his desk. It was flat and yellowed, like an old piece of cloth. It was covered in inky black markings. "This arrived at my door this morning, from the Demon World."

"What the hell is it."

"A threat." Koenma unfurled the cloth to read from it. "...'Your soldiers have had their fun, but my patience for games has run out. Cease your attempts to disrupt my plan, or your servants will be murdered. And once they're gone, I will come for YOU'... what do you think of that? Nice bit of morning reading to go with breakfast isn't it."

Yusuke slowly placed his chopsticks down. "...It's gotta be from the demon behind the generator plan."

"It most certainly is. He goes into great detail about the difficulty of replacing those damn generators." He tossed the message back onto his desk.

"Well fuck that guy! Let him come, we'll kill him."

Koenma released a long sigh. "I haven't gotten to the point yet... this message is written in Cellar Speech. It's a language I haven't come across in hundreds of years."

"So what?"

"Cellar Speech is only used by a rare tribe in the Demon World caverns. Their true name escapes me, but in the Spirit World we call them Leeches." He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I can't tell you what they look like. Nobody can... there's barely any records of anybody surviving an encounter with one."

The Spirit Detective processed his words. "...So nobody has ever killed one of these guys."

The child god leaned closer to the screen. "Not even my own soldiers, Yusuke. Centuries ago my father was having trouble with one of these Leeches and sent two hundred of his soldiers to kill him... every single one of them died, including the Spirit Detective at the time."

A slow breath left Yusuke's nostrils. "...Sounds like bullshit. You telling me these demons are that powerful, but nobody ever sees em just walking around? Anyone could feel that power level from miles off." He shook his head. "They just pop up every few hundred years to kill a bunch of guys, then disappear again? Bullshit man."

"I don't blame you for thinking that way. In fact, most demons consider them to only live in myth... but something killed my father's men that day." He folded his arms again. "I could only find a couple of survivors accounts. The details are murky. Both described the demons as 'tall', and made particular mention of a creaking noise they made as they moved."

"So you think these tall creaking demons are gonna kick our ass?"

"Honestly I'd rather not find out." Koenma pointed at the screen. "And that is why you're stepping down. I need to rethink my plans. You do deserve credit for the generators you broke, that's given us more time. But the last one is off limits."

A hiss left Yusuke's mouth through bared teeth. "We already know where it is! You know how powerful me and my team are! We've killed demons ten times more powerful than this Leech piece of shit. Give us one day and this guy will be soup on the ground."

Koenma waved his hands. "Shut it Yusuke, or you're fired. The case is over. I have nothing else to say. Botan, end the call."

"Now hang on a sec-!" Yusuke rose from the ground, ready to shout at the god, but his reaper girl had already folded the mirror shut, ending the call. He slumped back to the ground. "...Did you know about this shit Botan...?"

The reaper girl shook her head. "N-No...! Not until I was making you breakfast... he told me to get you in a call... and that our assignment was over... he hadn't told me why though."

"It's fucking bullshit!" He threw up his hands. "What does he think we are, fucking nobodies off the street? Calling off our whole plan, just cos he doesn't think we're strong enough? The longer we wait, the closer that Leech fucker can get to finishing his plan. And then EVERYBODY'S gonna be fucked."

"I know... I know..." Botan lowered her head, defeat in her voice.

"We already have a plan! We can get this finished today! Can't that dumbass just let us try?"

"He wants to protect us..."

Yusuke waved his arms. "I don't need protecting. It'll be our choice to do this shit, and if we die, it's on us. Least I'll die doing my job, actually trying to save these people." He motioned outward to the city around them. "Koenma aint pulling us out to save us. He just wants to save his own ass. Cos he knows if we die, then that Leech is coming for him next."

Botan sighed slowly. "...I don't know what his though process is..."

The teenager stared at her for a moment, before releasing a long growl from between his teeth. "Some fucking ruler. I thought he at least had more back bone than this..." He picked up his bowl of miso and sunk it in one.

The blue-haired reaper girl watched him carefully. "...So what will you do?"

He put the bowl down hard. "What do you think I'm gonna do? I'm gonna find that last generator, and kill this Leech bitch. Koenma can fire me for all I care."

A few seconds passed, before something subtle rose to Botan's lips. A smile. "I'm glad you said that."

Yusuke blinked a few times. "...Yeah? ...You not gonna take Koenma's side in this?"

"I am employed under Koenma... but first and foremost I am your assistant." She reached out and placed a hand on his knee. "I have faith in you Yusuke. You've defeated spirits and Demons that were once deemed invincible. I know whatever we face today, I'll be safe, because I'm with you."

The boy felt his heart thumping in his chest. Eyes lowered to the hand on his knee. Those words, coming from her, felt good. So good that it surprised him. He swallowed and met her gaze, hoping his face didn't look as hot as it felt.

"He might fire ya."

She grinned. "Good luck finding someone to replace me! I'll have you know I'm top of my field! ...And besides, like you said, it's our job. There are innocent peoples' lives on the line."

Yusuke patted her arm. "Fuckin' A Botan. This is why I love ya!"

Immediately, her face changed.

Pink eyes stretched wide, and a noticeable dose of red splashed her cheeks.

"...What did you say...?"

"Huh?"

"...You said... you love me..."

His stomach twisted hard. "O-Oohh! I didn't mean like that!" He raised his hands. "You know... like... I love ya! Cos you're cool! ...Like a friend!"

Something about those words didn't sit right with him. And judging from Botan's face, she wasn't impressed either.

Her expression of surprise faded to something more neutral. "Oh... of course, silly me..." She released his knee and got up from the ground. "Right, I should ask Kurama and Hiei if they have any information to offer on these Leeches." She put her hands on her hips. "Eat up young man, you need your strength."

And with that said, she left.

Honestly, he felt a bit sick watching her go.

Whatever that moment had been, he'd liked it... but somehow he'd gone and killed it.

Kuwabara could be seen getting up from the grass, and walked across the roof to join him. The boy was gulping down his sports drink with a sigh. "Missing her already?" He wiggled his brows.

"Shut up." Yusuke picked up his chopsticks and carried on eating his breakfast.

"What'cha talk about? Kissing and stuff?"

He ignored him.

His friend took another long gulp. "...Seriously though bro, I get the feeling she likes you."

Another thump in his chest. "What the hell are you talking about."

Kuwabara shrugged. "The way she looks at ya. Her eyes get all goo-goo lovey dovey." He batted his eyelashes.

"You don't know shit man. She's just my assistant, that's why we hang out."

"If you say so man..." Kuwabara sat down beside him. "...Try telling her that."

Yusuke just continued eating. And for a moment, they sat in silence.

"...He's waiting for us at the last generator."

Kuwabara turned to him with narrowed eyes. "How d'ya know that?"

"You asked what me and Botan were talking about. Koenma called. He got a letter from their boss, telling us to stay away from the last generator or he'll kill us."

His friend's eyes widened. "You're kidding..."

He shrugged. "That's what it said, apparently."

"Holy shit... guess we were right huh. He is pissed."

"He'll be even more pissed when we kick his ass."

"Aint that right." Kuwabara smirked. "D'ya get his name?"

"Nah, but Koenma said he's a 'Leech' demon or some shit. Supposed to be super powerful."

"Leech? Like a blood sucking worm?"

"Hell if I know."

Kuwabara necked the rest of his drink. "Come on, let's hear the plan from Kurama. I'm ready to stomp some ass."


Yusuke and Kuwabara reentered the apartment.

"Did Botan tell you what Koenma said?" Yusuke asked the others in the room.

Kurama was sat with his arms folded, brows low in a frown. "She did. I must admit, I'm confused..."

"Whadd'ya mean?"

"This 'Leech' demon he mentioned... in the Demon World they're known as Kiiroime. Do you know much about them?"

He shook his head. "Only what Koenma told me."

"Supposedly they can absorb the life force of other demons and take on their strength, hence the nickname Leeches." He raised his hands. "They're reputation is terrible. But honestly, I wasn't even certain they were real."

Hiei piped up from across the room. "They're mere fiction."

Kurama turned to him. "I'm tempted to agree... but when was the last time you heard of one announcing itself like this? It's a strange claim to make if it's not true. And the use of Cellar Speech is particularly bizarre."

"Curb your fantasies Kurama. Koenma's knowledge is false, Cellar Speech was also used by the Wanijin of the Red Marshes. It's a very real language."

"The reptile tribes of the Red Marshes died out a long time ago. Other than them, Kiiroime are the only remaining speakers."

"Supposedly."

"Quite..." Kurama looked back to Yusuke. "...I found the 'creaking' observation rather fascinating. Regardless of my own beliefs, I'm intrigued of what awaits us."

"You think it's a bluff?" Yusuke looked between Kurama and Hiei. "You thinks it's just a regular ass demon trying to scare us?"

Hiei glanced over his shoulder. "...Anything is possible, Detective..."

Yusuke chewed at the inside of his cheek. "And what do you think of Koenma's advice? Asking us to step down."

Kurama shrugged. "His jurisdiction applies only to those under his employment. Act however you please, but Hiei and I shall continue with or without your aid, invaluable though it may be."

"I aint goin' nowhere. We're finishing this together."

A smile passed the kitsune's lips. "I expected no different." He rose from the sofa and returned to the map. "I've planned our train route. We know where we're going, and to a degree what we're facing. So the only question standing, is are we ready?"

The group exchanged glances.

A grin from Kuwabara, a nod from Hiei... and from Botan, a tender smile. The feeling of excitement returned to Yusuke's stomach. Something about that girl got to him...

"I'm sick of waiting around." He planted a fist into an open hand. "Let's pay this Leech a visit."