6 Months Earlier

July 10th

Echigo Province

Something terrible happened in Spirit World, and it was something no one saw coming. A renowned fox demon and his band of thieves had snuck past security and stolen a valuable treasure which belonged to Prince Koenma. A treasure that not even Demon World was privy to knowing. To put it bluntly, this was no ordinary transportation device.

Because of Koenma's ever-growing curiosity surrounding the Feudal Era of Human World's history, his father had gifted him this treasure. It was supposed to be nothing more than an object to entertain his fascinations, something he could peer into and learn how the humans once adapted against demons and vice versa. It was a piece of history copied and pasted, and it ran in a continuous loop deep within a golden orb. Never changing and always repeating its timeline, during a time when humans and demons co-existed but not in harmony.

Youko Kurama had taken it to seize a chance to escape the bounty placed on him in Demon World and recreate a new beginning into Human World's past. However, where he and his group of malicious thieves vanished was not the loop itself, but the literal past. Because this object acted as a doorway into the Feudal Era. If she and the other spirit detectives didn't stop him soon, the loop to that piece of history would shatter, and present-day Human World would change.

For the worst!

While on a pursuit of the thieves, Botan dreaded to think what might become of Human World's past now that of Demon World's most deadly demon had escaped into it. How Youko Kurama knew about the fabled device hidden behind Spirit World's tight security was beyond her, but one thing was certain. Capturing him and his group of thieves wouldn't be easy.

"Oh! I knew the orb would bring us trouble one day!" Botan said, her ivory hands clenched tightly around the shaft of her flying oar. "If not for our latest invention, we might not have been able to time-travel after them…"

A beeping noise drew her attention to the communicator tucked within the obi of her pink kimono, and quickly retrieving it, she flipped over the pad, revealing an assortment of buttons and switches. What was once a normal compact mirror had transformed into a two-way phone, with a screen manifesting the appearance of Lord Koenma.

"Botan! What's the status on their capture?!" Koenma's booming voice filled the space of the late evening air.

"I'm afraid we're still pursuing them, sir. We've already lost a handful of men…"

Koenma grumbled and wrapped his small hands around his head as he leaned forward on his desk. "At this rate, my father will destroy the entire human race!"

"Don't forget, Youko and his band of thieves aren't familiar with this world as we are. We may still have a fighting chance! I'll do everything in my power to stall them!"

"We're probably better off bringing Yusuke and his friends to handle this!" Koenma said, grumbling. "I'm watching from the monitors for now, Botan, so I'll be in contact! Don't let me down!"

A flash appeared on the screen suddenly, showing that the prince of Spirit World had left the conversation, and not wanting to risk losing any more men in this pursuit, she quickly dialed the central office. Before long, she saw an image of all the workers from a camera and soon took control of the loudspeakers.

"This is Botan speaking! I'm requesting backup in portal four! Backup in portal four! I need all hunters on the case to capture Youko Kurama! Location spotted North near the seas of Echigo Province! This is an emergency!" She said, raising her voice. To her satisfaction, the alarms within the office sounded, and everyone soon scattered from their seats, their paperwork flying. I just hope we're not too late…

The last thing she wanted to happen was for the group to stumble upon any innocent bystanders and somehow change the events of the past. Knowing Youko and his past attempts to conquer all the Demon World and eliminate all upper-class demons, there was nothing standing in his way this time. After all, even though this was Human World's past, a great majority of demons still wandered the lands, especially one's falling just short of S rank.

If Youko wanted to, he could easily eliminate everyone in his path, and no doubt recreate a name for himself. It could mean the end of all humanity as she knew it! If that happened, the future of this world would transform into a hellish place. Botan hated to think what that would entail for Spirit World and herself later down the line, but there was no time to think about the what-ifs!

As soon as she caught up with the SDF group, she made a note of the tatters in their clothing and the blood seeping from their wounds. Fortunately, they were minor injuries, but that was nothing compared to the bodies littered miles behind them. Taking a risk, she flew ahead of the fighters, closing in rather close behind the thieves over the tree line.

Botan shifted her gaze in the direction they charged, and she gasped. "At this rate, they'll completely massacre that village!"

That was the last thing anyone wanted, and deciding to put her life at further risk, she quickly flew past Youko and his group at great speed. There was no helping it. If she let those innocent humans die, she'd never hear the end of it. After all, even one fatal casualty could disrupt the flow of time and change the future.

Another jingle from the communicator alerted her that Koenma likely realized the situation, but there was no time to answer it. Instead, she reached into the satchel at her side and pulled out a cylindrical device with a jagged rod at its base and leaped from her oar into the center of the small fishing village. The moment she landed, a chorus of screams followed, but there was no time to quell their fear.

Without wasting a single second, she planted the device into the soil at her feet, and just before Youko and his group closed in on the village, a barrier sprang up. A blast of static prevented them from entering, and relieved to see them bypass the village, with the SDF group chasing after, Botan released a heavy sigh and wiped her brow. "I didn't think I'd make it in time!"

"It's a demon!" Someone cried.

"Run! Everyone, hide!" Another cried.

Botan sweat dropped and raised her hands. "I'm not a demon! Hey, I'm one of the good guys!" But there was no point trying to change their minds. After all, compared to everyone else in this era, she stood out like a sore thumb. Deciding against staying any longer, she grabbed the device just before someone ran at her with a pitchfork and leaped back onto her oar to chase after the group. They won't remember anything in the morning, anyway.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the only village Youko and his thieves ran toward, and once again, Botan repeated this task, until something knocked into her from behind. The momentum of the attack nearly knocked her off her oar, and when she glanced right, she saw the reason.

It was the second infamous thief in Youko's band. Kuronue. As the records showed, he was a chimera demon. Raven and bat mixed. But unlike his ruthless companion, this one preferred playing mind games with his victims, toying with them before ultimately abandoning them to a far crueler fate. Either way, Botan spared him anything less than a scowl, but when she noticed a familiar device in his hand, she gasped.

"H-hey! Give that back!"

The chimera demon chuckled and dangled the device by his two fingers. "Oops! Didn't see you there, but I appreciate the gift!"

"You no good troublemaker! Give that back!" She said, pointing her finger as the demon laughed, flipping through the air without a worry. When he failed to respond, speeding away to fly alongside his companions, Botan finally answered her communicator. "Koenma, sir, now isn't the time! I've already called in reinforcements!"

"Botan, what the hell is happening in Spirit World?! I just got a call from Koenma spazzing about a runaway demon!" A familiar voice asked, blaring through the speakers.

It was Yusuke Urameshi, accompanied by his girlfriend, Keiko and Kuwabara, and from the looks of it, they were seated at a diner with plates of food in front of them. The mere phone call left her exasperated. No surprise Koenma had reached out to them on the verge of panic, but there was no reason to get him and his friends involved just yet.

"Is everything okay over there, Botan?" Kuwabara asked, bending over Yusuke with ketchup smeared along his lip. "If you need us, just say the word!"

A blast of spiritual energy nearly knocked her off her oar, and barely avoiding the aftermath, she flew higher over the trees. From her spot, she paused, squinting her eyes when she suddenly realized luck was on their side. The SDF had cornered the group of thieves, with Youko and his band caught in the middle, with reinforcements blocking their escape.

It was too good to be true!

"Botan! Hey, are you listening?! What the hell is going on over there?!"

"You don't need to worry. For the time being, we've got this under control. If worse comes to shove, I'll call for you and the others. Right now, I just ask that you get ready just in case! We'll talk soon!" She said, closing the communicator before flying closer to the scene.

From her vantage point, she watched the battle unfold, raising her fist high as the group of trained fighters fought against them. Amethyst eyes shifted to Youko, who stood in the center of the chaos without batting an eye, and she reached into her satchel once more. Even if they failed to capture the rest of the demons, he was the primary target, and glancing down at the contraption in her hand, she wondered if she would come out of this alive.

"This is the riskiest thing I've ever done…" She said. But what was dying twice? It wasn't like she couldn't return. Sure, she was a grim reaper who ferried the souls of the dead to Spirit World, but she was also a fighter in her own right! "He's been a problem for over a millennium, and if nothing is done to stop him, then we're screwed."

There was no use waiting, and mustering up her courage, she flew down into the trees, allowing the branches and leaves to conceal her as she slowly drew closer to the scene. As soon as she arrived, just out of earshot of shouts and multiple blasts of spiritual powers from the SDF's guns, Botan flipped the switch on the device.

As soon as Youko came into view, his back still turned toward her, she swallowed the lump in her throat and lunged forward. Just as she was prepared to toss the device and trap him, something snagged her ankle, and she fell forward. Startled, she glanced back, noticing a vine tendril rooted to the ground and snaked around her leg. Botan's heart sank the moment she glanced back at the fox demon.

Those steely, golden eyes watched her, his head faintly turned to stare at her over his shoulder, and she went rigid. All this time, he'd known she was there, even from this distance. Unable to look away, knowing that the slightest movement might be her last, she tried to discern his mind. What was going on in that head of his? Try as she could, there was nothing there, and that wasn't a surprise.

Is this how I die?

Before long, someone else had noticed her, a young woman bearing a striking resemblance to the chimera demon, but she did not attack her. Instead, Botan watched as the woman landed beside Youko with a lifted chin, followed shortly by the rest of his band of thieves. The sight of everyone gathered together unexpectedly alerted her that something terrible was about to happen, but there was no time to warn the others.

As perspiration fell from her brow, the forest suddenly distorted around her and a tremor tore through the ground. The trees twisted, their once lofty stems and branches growing bigger and bigger until not even the sky was visible. It was then Botan realized something. This entire time, she thought they had cornered the infamous fox demon, but he had instead lured them into a trap.

Author Note:

Just a reminder. Youko Kurama and Shuichi Minamino are in no way connected to each other in this fanfic. Kagome won't end up with the red-haired Shuichi in this story. :P