Chapter Two
Being amidst the towering grotesqueness of crags and the breathtaking plunges of ravines, the place was definitely formidable yet enchanting. The scenery was quite romantic, and yes, a little eerie. Shadows of various shapes and sizes shifted as the clouds traversed the night sky filled with stars. The moon, full and seemingly edible in its dingy cheesy color, was high in the heavens, gazing down the retiring Reikai, as its short winter night crept in.
Even in the palace, only in a few rooms were lights left open. And the prince's office certainly wasn't one of them. A decade ago, that wouldn't have been the case.
Koenma was in his bedchamber. He wasn't going through that endless piles of paperwork, sucking occasionally on his pacifier. He doesn't suckle on that thing anymore, though, it's still stuck to his mouth. In fact, he hasn't been in his toddler form for the last ten years. (Excluding the time Botan turned him back as punishment for allegedly looking down a pair of scantily clad Ningen legs while on an anniversary date. Koenma pleaded not guilty.)
Right now, his eyes darted from one dark corner to another, his ever-mysterious golden brown eyes glinting ominously as it reflected the scanty moonlight that managed to slip into the room. His ears were alert, too, perking up as he listened carefully to his companion's breathing patterns. Botan's breathing was now deep and rhythmic, sure signs of deep sleep.
"Good," he murmured. "Time to split."
He cautiously tried to roll on his side. Botan clung adamantly to his arm, making sure he wouldn't escape and creep back to his office. Finally, he was able to disengage himself from his captor. He tiptoed away but froze on the spot upon hearing a soft moan from his wife.
She was only mumbling unintelligible things. Koenma relaxed. Even in her sleep, Botan can be quite noisy.
Koenma stopped momentarily, taking time to watch her sleep serenely. She looked painfully tired, almost dilapidated. Botan, too, had to take part in shouldering the responsibility of governing Reikai. Or rather she insisted on doing so despite Koenma's protests. Enma was still the official ruler but the two of them were given majority of the work as regents while he enjoyed his retirement.
He slipped off to the next room, a part of their string of apartments. He quickly changed into warm Ningen clothes and headed for the balcony.
At first glance, the vast veranda was empty. Koenma hastily crossed the gleaming sea of expensive elaborate masonry and reached the balustrade.
"Hey!" he whispered aloud (isn't that kinda conflicting?). "I'm here. Show yourselves."
"We're here," said a voice from behind him, nearly causing Koenma to jump out of his skin in fright.
"Grappling grapes! Don't just pop out of thin air, Hiei! Geeze…"
But it was Kurama who answered. "Sorry," he said.
"Fine, fine."
"You're late," said Hiei, obviously displeased.
"I had to wait for Botan to fall asleep.
"Are you sure we should keep this from her?" said Kurama.
"She has a lot of things to worry about already. I don't want to add to her problems."
"Can her brain take all that thinking," muttered Hiei. "I mean, she's gonna be queen…"
"Hiei…" warned Kurama.
"Aren't we leaving yet?"
"We should," said Koenma. "The sooner we get there the better."
"Botan," said Kurama. "She's expecting..?"
Koenma sighed. "Yes. Hopefully this one will…" He stopped, shaking his head. "Let's get going. What if we're too late?"
"Let's not be pessimistic."
"Right."
Snow fell heavily, covering the streets with thick slush. It shouldn't be that wet what with the negative temperature. However, it had rained prior to the snowing. Snow, ice, the slightly acidic rain and the collective dust and dirt of the city mixed to form the slippery effect. Many people found it unpleasant.
Of course, most have no choice. It's business as usual for everyone, even the blind beggar on the street corner. He stood before the intimidating tower, asking for alms from passersby until finally, the guards sent him away.
No surprise. That classy five star hotel was certainly no place for one such as himself. He after all represents the dredge of humanity, an unpleasant effect of the advanced times. The unemployed has risen in the First world countries, mainly effects of the increased employment of artificial intelligence to cut down labor costs. Even so, one cannot help but think that maybe those inside are trapped deeper in the quicksand of human misery, their suffering more than physical.
Keiko watched as Yusuke looked around. She winced as a hand grazed past the wine glass, accidentally tipping it. Atsuko got it in time.
"Sorry," he said, rather sheepishly. "Things keep on getting knocked over." He removed all breakable objects in his general vicinity.
"You're pretty jumpy," Keiko remarked. "Don't tell me you're still not used to these functions."
Yusuke looked guilty. "I usually slip away after the business meetings. I don't stay around for the socializing." He frowned at the assortment of silverware set in front of him. He picked up a small fork. "What am I suppose to use this one for?"
Keiko grinned. "I wonder if they set miniature chopsticks on traditional Japanese dinners."
"Cute but nonsensical." He noticed his mother's silence. "Even, okaasan here isn't used to these stuff."
"Oh I am," said Atsuko. "I just don't join in much anyway."
"Heh," said Yusuke. "Why are we here anyway?"
"Take this as training. That's why your fath- I mean Mamurou sent you."
Mamurou was Atsuko's husband. She had only married him when Yusuke was already 23. She had raised him by herself and it wasn't easy. She was quite lucky, marrying a big time millionaire like him.
It's not that Mamurou and Yusuke don't get along. They're in good terms, just like real father and son. But Yusuke never calls him father.
Mamurou was also Yusuke's mentor. Aside from the advises, however, he does nothing to intervene with Yusuke's dealings. Well, he did give the latter loan as capital for his business, but that's been paid for years ago. On a whole, Yusuke's doing great.
"Mamurou-san's not coming?" asked Keiko. Of course, she too acquired the habit of calling her father-in-law that way as her husband did.
"Nah," answered Yusuke. "He has some business to attend to. Actually, I'll be representing our restaurant chain and mom, the company."
"Oh, where's the entourage?"
"Around." Yusuke resumed his investigative staring.
"Well, there's lots of interesting people here, Keiko," said Atsuko. "There are famous celebrities married, or at least dating these businessmen. And then there's that red head." She said this pointedly, waiting for some reaction from the other two.
"Minamino Schuichi. The famous bachelor? He's coming, too?"
"Nah," said Yusuke. "I don't think so. He's not too sociable."
"That's a pity," Keiko remarked. "All the goods looks gone to waste."
"He looks girlish. Think he's gay?"
"Yusuke…"
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Never met him."
"I think you should," advised his mother. "I've never met him either. For some reasons, Fate seems to be against our meeting…. He's a good friend of Mamurou."
"Well it is good to have connections. In the meantime…."
"I understand." Silence. "All the same, I think you should meet."
A smile crept on Keiko's face. "Why so persistent?" she asked.
A sly grin slid in place. "Well, of course I want to meet him too."
Yusuke grinned, too, in spite of himself. "Naughty, naughty, okaasan."
In an exclusive subdivision housing some of the country's riches and most famous people, the guards are busy making their rounds. By no means, are these neighborhoods scantily protected. The human security guards are their for unsaid reasons despite the presence of electronic security systems. One, it helps greatly in reduction of jobless individuals, and two, it comforts people to have someone warm and living to protect their homes. Besides, there were people paranoid enough to think robots and computers will one day take over the planet.
All the same, though it brings food on the table, scouting was hardly a favorable thing to do. Putting aside the fact that midnight was nearing, it was also snowing pretty moderately. It's cold and dark with only an occasional street light. One can't help but cast an envious look at the occupants of those snug heated homes.
One of the houses here was owned by Toyotomi Mamurou, the millionaire. Right now, only the baby-sitter and the two children are present. Mr. Toyotomi moves around much due to the nature of his work. Mrs. Toyotomi, aka Atsuko, favored this house among others and called it "home". The nanny, of course, wasn't strictly a nanny but Atsuko's all-around live-in assistant.
Jody was in the den, the incandescent lamps turned down low. She was resting on the couch, her socked feet tucked underneath her. Looking quite comfortable in her position, draped with a knitted shawl and cradling a mug of hot chocolate, she stared at a picture.
At first glance, it appeared to be a picture. It's not. Well, one can say it's a collection of pictures. It's produced so fast that the brain interprets them as a chain of continuous movement. Right, it's a television, a flat one hanging on the wall, above the blazing fire place. It's border was customized to have the style of those old carved frames, elegant and in a way, antique. It complements the coziness of the room.
Upstairs was a different case. At least, it was for Khryseis, peeking out in the darkness. They didn't have the fireplace that offered warmth and raised spirits. They had the convenience of electric heaters.
Khryseis's bed was at least three meters away from Yutaro's. She watched him carefully, noticing his repeated tossing and turning with relief.
"Hey," she earnestly called in a whisper. "You awake?"
Yutaro emerged from the beneath the mass of blankets. "Yeah," he said. "I can't sleep. Jody turned off the night light."
"I don't think she did."
"What?"
"Look it's on again." They both looked at the direction of the automatic light sensitive lamps, old but still reliable. It was 'on' alright but it flickered out soon after.
"It must be the electricity or something."
"Not it isn't," murmured Khryseis. "Yutarou…"
"Hey, you're supposed to be my oneechan!" He was angry but there was a frightened edge on his voice.
"What's that?" gasped Khryseis.
The both looked. There they were. Two red circles pulsated in the dark. It neared closer, and closer, and closer and….
CRASH!!!
The etched crystal broke into a thousand pieces. The three just stared at the remains of the wine glass on the table. Shocked, none of them spoke about the seemingly spontaneous destruction of the glass, watching as it's former contents stained the cloth red.
Atsuko jumped off her seat in a flash. She had a wild scared look about her, which made her two companions rise as well.
"Okaasan?" asked Keiko.
"What's wrong?" demanded Yusuke.
"We have to go home," Atsuko gasped. "The children…"
"Because of the wine glass?" Yusuke waved her away, pulling the her and Keiko with him as the waiter came to fix the mess. "It's just paranoia."
"How do you explain that?" countered Keiko. "I have a bad feeling, too."
"This superstition shit is stupid." Yusuke scowled. Even so, he glanced at his watch uneasily. "Well, it's a little early but we've been here for a while anyway. And this thing's dragging. We should go."
The press were bustling with energy unique to their kind. 3G phones at hand, they were ready to pounce on every celebrity, tycoon or politician who passed by. This one of the annual occasions where the country's glitz, glamour and business people gather. Of course, it was a bomb of a happening in the media world.
Toyotomi Atsuko, wife of the oil king, has just left with his son and daughter-in-law. Toyotomi Mamurou was one of the richest people in Asia, owning the few remaining oil companies as leading motors have shifted to hydrogen for fuel. Mostly commercial and industrial purposes require petroleum nowadays.
As a make-up for the loss, one of the press' favorite subjects came. He was dressed in basic all-black suit, custom-made by a world-renowned Milan-based designer. His carmine hair was tied back and a gold-rimmed pair of spectacles perched on his nose. Upon catching sight of the green-eyed Minamino Shuichi, a stampede broke out among the journalists.
Kuwabara, Hiei and the rest of his entourage tried their best to fend of the mob. They both complained about why they have to go to this gathering. They were losing precious time.
The ever-smart Kuwabara suggested using Hiei's Jagan. The latter merely insulted the former, explaining nothing about the Yusuke's protection from detection through supernatural means.
Kurama justified his decision as hitting two birds with one stone. They can finally talk to Yusuke and at the same time, he can make his appearance in this party, however minimal.
Hiei nudged his friend. "Business first before those sissy flatteries," he muttered.
Kurama nodded. He greeted a few comrades of his, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, which made Hiei roll his eyes, he asked for Mr. Toyotomi. Of course he didn't come. But they just also found out how narrowly they missed their target.
"Let's go," said Kurama, rushing out of the ballroom, dodging the reporters rushing towards him.
"Where are we going?" asked Kuwabara as they scrambled down the stairs.
"The local Toyotomi rest house. Yusuke and his family are there."
"How'd you know?"
"Well, I am an extremely rich man with the latest technology at my disposal." They rushed out of the building. "Hurry up. We might be too late."
"Where's Hiei?"
"We'll be faster on foot," he said, appearing behind Kuwabara. "Will you be able to keep up?"
"Are you insulting me again, fire elf!?"
"Guys," said Kurama in irritation as he slipped on a trench coat. "Not now."
Yusuke waited impatiently as the
chauffer drove down the neighborhood at the prescribed speed, his uneasiness
escalating to worry as they pulled up the driveway of the dark house.
"It must be the fuse," said Keiko, attempting to answer the unspoken inquiry.
They all got out of the car, approaching the door of the house rather cautiously.
"Jody?" called Atsuko. "Are you there?"
Yusuke was about to knock, knowing the manual locks have been enabled due to the supposed power failure, but the door swung open by itself. They entered the house slowly.
Keiko felt something crunch underfoot.
Glass? she thought.
"Yusuke-" she started.
Yusuke was at the moment occupied. He sensed something in the air. A very familiar scent.
"The smell of blood," he whispered, turning to the others, a horrible expression on his face. Then he ran.
"Oh my-" said Atsuko. "The children."
They scattered through out the house yelling for the children. Presently, Yusuke stumbled over a prostrated body on the floor. It was Jody, bleeding from a blow in the head.
"Call an ambulance!" he yelled. "Call the police!"
From upstairs, a scream was heard from Keiko.
"They're gone!" she wailed. "The children are gone!"
]Yusuke practically flew up to the second floor. Atsuko was already in the nursery, the wireless phone clutched tightly in her hands. Keiko was on the floor probably starting to faint.
They really were gone.
Note: He he… The delay wasn't my fault. ^^V (as if somebody's waiting ^.^) Anyway, this is definitely gonna shift away from the Hook plot from here on. Comments, complaints, suggestions! TY