Reikai Tanteis
by ARaZhi
Chapter 3

"I'm taking you to Koenma-sama's office. Remember to be respectful. At a time like this he is very bad mood. And the Book of the Dead got stolen making him even more irritable than usual."

Kurapika and Killua nodded, both wondering what Koenma looks like. Killua is imagining a huge monsterous looking creature. While Kurapika is imaging an old and strict-looking royalty.

Neither of them was right, of course.

"Koenma-sama! I've brought Killua and Kurapika, as requested," Botan announced when the entered the door.

"Hello, there! I was wondering when you'd show up!"

Killua and Kurapika looked around the room, searching for the source of the voice.

"Hey! Down here!"

Both looked down and sweatdropped. A baby?! Unable to control himself, Killua's body began shaking with laughter.

"I told you to behave yourself!" Botan slapped the back of Killua's head.

"Miss, don't joke about things like this! Surely, you don't think we'll believe you that this baby is the king of Reikai!" Killua exclaimed.

"Technically, I'm the *prince*. And I happen to be more than 50 times older than you!"

"Koenma-sama!" a blue oni entered the room carrying a stack of papers taller than him. "Another stack for you to look at."

"Not another one!" Koenma groaned. "And we still don't have the Book! How am I going to verify that those deaths are correct?" Koenma sighed and climbed back up his chair, "If we don't find that book before Tousama returns, Ningenkai will suffer the most terrible fate..."

"Don't worry, Koenma-sama," Botan said, trying to cheer up her boss, "I'm sure the reikai tanteis will be able to find it!"

"That's the problem, remember? We don't have any official tanteis yet. I can't call on Yusuke's group with a problem like this. Tousama doesn't like them and if he finds out I asked for their help to recover the book I'll be in even bigger trouble. That's why they're here, remember?" Koenma pointed at Killua and Kurapika.

"Why are we here?" Kurapika asked.

Koenma began shuffling papers on his desk. "Killua Zoldyck," he read, "third son in an assassin family. Twelve years old." Koenma looked up from the paper, "Judging on how many people you've killed you'll be in trouble for a long time. A very long time."

"Hey! That was just business! Nothing personal! Besides, I've quit assassination."

"Uh-huh. Kurapika. Remaining survivor of Kurata clan," Koenma looked at Kurapika, "Only one died at your hands. You'll be in trouble too but certainly not as long as your friend."

"What do you want?" Kurapika asked, doing his best to keep his tone polite.

"I will pardon all your crimes and give you your lives back but in one condition: you will, from now on and until I terminate your services, work for me as Reikai tanteis."

"Detectives?" Killua echoed, "That doesn't sound so bad. It could even be fun! Count me in! What do we do?"

"Your first mission, which you couldn't refuse unless you want to forfeit your life, is to recover the Book of the Dead," Koenma pointed the remote on the screen behind Killua and Kurapika. "The book was stolen by them."

The screen shows the Genei Ryodan.

Sweat broke out of Killua's face. Kurapika's eyes glowed red.

Can I do this? Killua asked himself, I have to! If I don't I die! Besides, I just have to get the book back. If I do this correctly, I won't even have to face them...

Kurapika have already made up his mind, "Count me in."

"Me too."

"Good!" Koenma smiled, "There is another thing. Tell your friend Gon that if he works for me, I will help him find his father."

"You will?" Killua grinned. "Sure, I'll tell him!"

"That's settled then! Botan, please take them back. Stay in the hospital and recuperate, at least for a couple of days. Some friends of mine will visit you. They were former reikai tanteis, they'll help you out, unofficially."

Good. Because against that lot, we're going to need all the help we could get. Killua thought to himself as he followed Kurapika and Botan out of the room.

To be continued...

Author's Note: My first Hunter X Hunter fic ^__^ Please review and don't be too harsh on me, onegai? :)