I'm posting this chapter for lia-goddess, since she's so enthused about this story... And because KOU ISN'T READING THIS. ::sticks out her togune at Kou:: You know I love you, Kou! But anyway, enough of me, get to the fic!
* * * * *
Cold as Fire
by Grace Musica
Chapter Eight
The Mission
* * * * *
Tensi just barely made it in on time. She could hear her parents waking up down the hall as she climbed in though the window. She blew Hiei a kiss as she shut the window, changed clothes in record time, and had just laid down as if sleeping when her mother opened her bedroom door.
"Sakura, come on, wake up, we've things to do today."
Tensi groaned in disbelief after her mother left. "Not! Happening!" she muttered, throwing the covers over her head. "She said I had today free!"
* * * * *
Tensi found herself in downtown Toyko at midday with her mother. Tired, starving, and laden with bags and boxes, the half-demon reincarnate was trying to convince her elder to stop for lunch, or at least a rest.
"Please, Mom, my stomach is about to cave in! Can we stop for SOMETHING?!"
"Just a few more stores, Sakura, then we'll stop," Mrs. Tetsewon promised. Tensi rolled her eyes. Why did I have to be the daughter of a shop-a-holic? And why do I always voulenteer to carry her bags?! I'm half to blame here... She sighed. Dad's gonna blow his lid again when he sees all this shit.
"Hurry along now, 'Kura-chan," her mother called out, using a nickname she'd used for years. It usually prompted an eye roll from Tensi. "The faster we move, the sooner we stop."
For Tensi, moving quickly was no problem. She had managed to talk her mother into karate lessons a few years before, and practiced her other martial arts skills whenever she had time alone. And she had always been quick on her feet.
However, it's really hard to move quickly and surely with a four-foot tower of boxes balanced right in front of your eyes. Especially on a crowded street.
So, of course, Tensi bit the pavement, taking down another person with her. Both appologizing, they slowly rose to their feet. The half-demon bent to pick up her boxes, hearing her mother's approching footsteps and not looking at the person she had almost killed until he started helping her... And she caught a glimpse of bright red hair.
Green eyes met green eyes and time stopped. Kurama! You stalker!
Shut up! came the older brother tone he always used when with her. My human mother is here. Call me Suichi in front of her.
And call me Sakura in front of mine. And you're still a stalker!
"Well, well, well! If this isn't a startling surprise!" Tensi exclaimed, acting very surprised. "Suichi! Imagine running into you like this."
"Indeed. 'Running into' is the phrase, isn't it Sakura?" Kurama replied smoothly, grinning a bit at Tensi's scowl. She picks up too many of Hiei's bad habits.
"Do you know this boy, 'Kura?" Tensi's mother asked, looking from her daughter to the redhead in front of her.
"Yes ma'am. Suichi's a friend of mine from school," the girl replied as Kurama's mother came up behind her son. The two older women introduced themselves to each other and began a polite conversation, allowing Kurama and Tensi to converse with each other privately in undertones.
"Question: Do you know of Master Genkai?"
"Know of her? Of course I do! I've been to her temple a few times myself, on the job, of course."
"Good. Then half the battle's won. I need you to meet us there tonight."
"What for?"
"Yusuke's got a case, and he thought that you'd like to join us on this one."
"Tell him thanks but no thanks. You know I like to run my own show."
"Yes. Especially when you have an audience." He grinned at the look he got from his friend. "Come on, we could use you."
"...I'll think about it," Tensi grudgingly replied as their human mothers wrapped up their conversation. Calling out good-byes, the two Tetsewons continued shopping, as Kurama and his mother continued on their way.
Mrs. Tetsewon looked down at her short daughter. "Kura-chan, he's pretty cute, you know."
"MOM!"
However, Tensi couldn't resist looking over her shoulder. Not to get another look at Kurama.
She felt as if she was being followed.
* * * * *
"Damnit! How long is she going to keep us waiting?" Yusuke's outburst was enough to disturb a few roosting birds in a nearby tree, and to earn a particularly scathing look from Hiei.
"She'll come when she's ready," was all Hiei would volunteer.
Krama, however, was more forthcoming. "She said she'd think about it. There's a good chance she won't come at all."
"Well, if she's going to come, she'd better come soon," Yusuke grumbled, crossing his arms. "I hate waiting."
"Well, then. Sorry to keep you," came a voice from the entranceway. Tensi moved towards the group on her own time, then stopped about five feet from them, where they could see her clearly. She was dressed in an old-fashioned swordfighting outfit; close-fitting pants, a lace-up pesant shirt under a stout leather jerkin, leather boots. Her hand was resting on the hilt of a broadsword, and a small bag hung from her swordbelt.
"I almost didn't come, but I thought better of it," Tensi explained, looking Yusuke in the eye. "And I thought my parents would never go to sleep. After they finally dropped off, I had to run a few errands on the other side of the island." She gestured to her outfit, then drew her sword. It was showing neglect, but it was repairable. "This hasn't been cleaned in years. Why don't you start while I repair this?"
Yusuke grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
* * * * *
The inside of the temple was soon filled with the scraping sound of metal on metal. Tensi sat a bit off to the side, filing her dull, rusted blade to a new point. She looked over at her four new teammates, eyebrows raised. "Well? I'm waiting, and I don't like to be kept waiting."
Kurama shook his head. "Smart-ass..."
Yusuke raised an eyebrow at the half-demon. "Why are you fixing that old thing? From what I've heard about you, you've enough Spirit Energy to hold your own."
Tensi smiled half to herself, half to everyone else. "Actually, my half-and-half heritage has given me a type of hybrid magic--ranging from telepathy to conjuring." As if to prove a point, she cupped her hands in front of her and created a bright red ball of fire. Turning her hands out, she dispersed of the gathered Spirit Energy and picked up her file once again. "However, I prefer to do thing the hard way--by hand--for two reasons: One, I'm reminded of Grandfpa Onizuka, and how he achieved his level of power, and two--" here her smile broadened "I prefer to throw a punch at a guy instead of burning him to a crisp. It's funner, don't you agree?" She bent her head once again, returning to her labors.
Yusuke grinned a bit. I think we'll get along... "Okay, the mission. Search and capture. Doesn't initally sound too hard, however.... It's not a demon."
"Restless spirit?" Hiei inquired from his own dark corner.
"You'd think so, but no. It's a human."
Tensi left off her filing, leaning forward to look at her fellow Spirit Detective. "What's her name?"
Yusuke blinked. "You sure it's a girl?"
"I'd lay my life on it."
Yusuke grinned at her a bit. "You're pretty good. She calls herself 'Kurai Maho'. Koenma tells me she's been giving him trouble for years." He looked over at Tensi, who had gone fairly white. "You know her or something?"
Tensi leaned back. "Oh, no, no, I was thinking about someone else." She picked up her file again, picking up where she left off, and going at it with new zeal.
"So... 'Kurai Maho', eh? Dark magic. Sounds like a cheap dial-a-phycic's name," Kuwabara declaired, crossing his arms.
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll find out when we get there." Yusuke sighed and looked over at Tensi. "When can we expect your highness to be finished?"
Tensi looked down the sword, checking it for flaws, then slid it into the scabbard. Putting it point-down, she pulled a strip of black leather from her pocket and started rebinding the hilt. "I'll be ready in ten minutes."
"Good!" came a cheerful voice from the doorway. "I'll have enough time to fill you in on the details."
"Botan!"
The blue-haired girl waved at all five of them and smiled cheerfully. "Hey Tensi, how's Henageshi*?"
Tensi grinned at the mention of her own Spirit World contact. "She's just fine. We're still kicking ass, taking names."
Botan laughed. "You always did have a way with words, Onizuka."
"But of course. Anyway, what do you mean, 'details'?" Tensi asked switching strait from small talk to business
"You'll have to go through four levels to get to Kurai Maho. Each one has a different demon to get though, and they're each pretty tough."
"Hm... One for each of us," Hiei mused to himself. "With Yusuke getting the leader."
Yusuke looked over at Tensi, who was finishing binding up the hilt. "You alright with that? You've been flying solo for a good while."
"I could care less," Tensi replied, tying the leather together. "As long as I get some action." She tossed her sword up into the air and caught it. "Ready?" She grinned as she caught the determined looks on each of the boy's faces. "Let's lock and load, gentlemen."
"Wait! I'm not just here to be an informant!" Botan reached into her pockets and pulled out a tiny transparent crystal sphere. It was smoothly cut, flawlessly circular, and a suprisingly strong deep orange glow throbbed in the center.
"Oh," Tensi sighed. "A Spirit Energy Fire Crystal. Where'd Koenma pull that one out from?"
"It's directly from King Yama, actually, and it's on loan, so be careful with it." Botan handed the sphere to Yusuke, and the orange color grew stronger to a deep yellow.
"What the hell?"
"I thought they were just a rumor," Kurama muttered to himself. The two humans stared at him, and he conceeded to their silent demand. "Like Tensi said, it's a Spirit Energy Fire Crystal. It changed Spirit Energy into light energy, each flame unique to each person.. Very valuble and extrememly rare, I might add," he finished, drawing his knees up to his chest.
"Well, I've done my part," Botan declaired, smiling and throwing a mock-salute. "Good luck, gentlemen. And madam," she added as an afterthought to Tensi.
"Luck has nothing to do with anything, Botan." Tensi stood and placed her broadsword on her shoulder. "It's all skill."
* * * * *
*Henageshi is a Spirit World Guide in one of the Yu Yu Hakusho movies.
* * * * *
Cold as Fire
by Grace Musica
Chapter Eight
The Mission
* * * * *
Tensi just barely made it in on time. She could hear her parents waking up down the hall as she climbed in though the window. She blew Hiei a kiss as she shut the window, changed clothes in record time, and had just laid down as if sleeping when her mother opened her bedroom door.
"Sakura, come on, wake up, we've things to do today."
Tensi groaned in disbelief after her mother left. "Not! Happening!" she muttered, throwing the covers over her head. "She said I had today free!"
* * * * *
Tensi found herself in downtown Toyko at midday with her mother. Tired, starving, and laden with bags and boxes, the half-demon reincarnate was trying to convince her elder to stop for lunch, or at least a rest.
"Please, Mom, my stomach is about to cave in! Can we stop for SOMETHING?!"
"Just a few more stores, Sakura, then we'll stop," Mrs. Tetsewon promised. Tensi rolled her eyes. Why did I have to be the daughter of a shop-a-holic? And why do I always voulenteer to carry her bags?! I'm half to blame here... She sighed. Dad's gonna blow his lid again when he sees all this shit.
"Hurry along now, 'Kura-chan," her mother called out, using a nickname she'd used for years. It usually prompted an eye roll from Tensi. "The faster we move, the sooner we stop."
For Tensi, moving quickly was no problem. She had managed to talk her mother into karate lessons a few years before, and practiced her other martial arts skills whenever she had time alone. And she had always been quick on her feet.
However, it's really hard to move quickly and surely with a four-foot tower of boxes balanced right in front of your eyes. Especially on a crowded street.
So, of course, Tensi bit the pavement, taking down another person with her. Both appologizing, they slowly rose to their feet. The half-demon bent to pick up her boxes, hearing her mother's approching footsteps and not looking at the person she had almost killed until he started helping her... And she caught a glimpse of bright red hair.
Green eyes met green eyes and time stopped. Kurama! You stalker!
Shut up! came the older brother tone he always used when with her. My human mother is here. Call me Suichi in front of her.
And call me Sakura in front of mine. And you're still a stalker!
"Well, well, well! If this isn't a startling surprise!" Tensi exclaimed, acting very surprised. "Suichi! Imagine running into you like this."
"Indeed. 'Running into' is the phrase, isn't it Sakura?" Kurama replied smoothly, grinning a bit at Tensi's scowl. She picks up too many of Hiei's bad habits.
"Do you know this boy, 'Kura?" Tensi's mother asked, looking from her daughter to the redhead in front of her.
"Yes ma'am. Suichi's a friend of mine from school," the girl replied as Kurama's mother came up behind her son. The two older women introduced themselves to each other and began a polite conversation, allowing Kurama and Tensi to converse with each other privately in undertones.
"Question: Do you know of Master Genkai?"
"Know of her? Of course I do! I've been to her temple a few times myself, on the job, of course."
"Good. Then half the battle's won. I need you to meet us there tonight."
"What for?"
"Yusuke's got a case, and he thought that you'd like to join us on this one."
"Tell him thanks but no thanks. You know I like to run my own show."
"Yes. Especially when you have an audience." He grinned at the look he got from his friend. "Come on, we could use you."
"...I'll think about it," Tensi grudgingly replied as their human mothers wrapped up their conversation. Calling out good-byes, the two Tetsewons continued shopping, as Kurama and his mother continued on their way.
Mrs. Tetsewon looked down at her short daughter. "Kura-chan, he's pretty cute, you know."
"MOM!"
However, Tensi couldn't resist looking over her shoulder. Not to get another look at Kurama.
She felt as if she was being followed.
* * * * *
"Damnit! How long is she going to keep us waiting?" Yusuke's outburst was enough to disturb a few roosting birds in a nearby tree, and to earn a particularly scathing look from Hiei.
"She'll come when she's ready," was all Hiei would volunteer.
Krama, however, was more forthcoming. "She said she'd think about it. There's a good chance she won't come at all."
"Well, if she's going to come, she'd better come soon," Yusuke grumbled, crossing his arms. "I hate waiting."
"Well, then. Sorry to keep you," came a voice from the entranceway. Tensi moved towards the group on her own time, then stopped about five feet from them, where they could see her clearly. She was dressed in an old-fashioned swordfighting outfit; close-fitting pants, a lace-up pesant shirt under a stout leather jerkin, leather boots. Her hand was resting on the hilt of a broadsword, and a small bag hung from her swordbelt.
"I almost didn't come, but I thought better of it," Tensi explained, looking Yusuke in the eye. "And I thought my parents would never go to sleep. After they finally dropped off, I had to run a few errands on the other side of the island." She gestured to her outfit, then drew her sword. It was showing neglect, but it was repairable. "This hasn't been cleaned in years. Why don't you start while I repair this?"
Yusuke grinned. "Sounds like a plan."
* * * * *
The inside of the temple was soon filled with the scraping sound of metal on metal. Tensi sat a bit off to the side, filing her dull, rusted blade to a new point. She looked over at her four new teammates, eyebrows raised. "Well? I'm waiting, and I don't like to be kept waiting."
Kurama shook his head. "Smart-ass..."
Yusuke raised an eyebrow at the half-demon. "Why are you fixing that old thing? From what I've heard about you, you've enough Spirit Energy to hold your own."
Tensi smiled half to herself, half to everyone else. "Actually, my half-and-half heritage has given me a type of hybrid magic--ranging from telepathy to conjuring." As if to prove a point, she cupped her hands in front of her and created a bright red ball of fire. Turning her hands out, she dispersed of the gathered Spirit Energy and picked up her file once again. "However, I prefer to do thing the hard way--by hand--for two reasons: One, I'm reminded of Grandfpa Onizuka, and how he achieved his level of power, and two--" here her smile broadened "I prefer to throw a punch at a guy instead of burning him to a crisp. It's funner, don't you agree?" She bent her head once again, returning to her labors.
Yusuke grinned a bit. I think we'll get along... "Okay, the mission. Search and capture. Doesn't initally sound too hard, however.... It's not a demon."
"Restless spirit?" Hiei inquired from his own dark corner.
"You'd think so, but no. It's a human."
Tensi left off her filing, leaning forward to look at her fellow Spirit Detective. "What's her name?"
Yusuke blinked. "You sure it's a girl?"
"I'd lay my life on it."
Yusuke grinned at her a bit. "You're pretty good. She calls herself 'Kurai Maho'. Koenma tells me she's been giving him trouble for years." He looked over at Tensi, who had gone fairly white. "You know her or something?"
Tensi leaned back. "Oh, no, no, I was thinking about someone else." She picked up her file again, picking up where she left off, and going at it with new zeal.
"So... 'Kurai Maho', eh? Dark magic. Sounds like a cheap dial-a-phycic's name," Kuwabara declaired, crossing his arms.
"Maybe, maybe not. We'll find out when we get there." Yusuke sighed and looked over at Tensi. "When can we expect your highness to be finished?"
Tensi looked down the sword, checking it for flaws, then slid it into the scabbard. Putting it point-down, she pulled a strip of black leather from her pocket and started rebinding the hilt. "I'll be ready in ten minutes."
"Good!" came a cheerful voice from the doorway. "I'll have enough time to fill you in on the details."
"Botan!"
The blue-haired girl waved at all five of them and smiled cheerfully. "Hey Tensi, how's Henageshi*?"
Tensi grinned at the mention of her own Spirit World contact. "She's just fine. We're still kicking ass, taking names."
Botan laughed. "You always did have a way with words, Onizuka."
"But of course. Anyway, what do you mean, 'details'?" Tensi asked switching strait from small talk to business
"You'll have to go through four levels to get to Kurai Maho. Each one has a different demon to get though, and they're each pretty tough."
"Hm... One for each of us," Hiei mused to himself. "With Yusuke getting the leader."
Yusuke looked over at Tensi, who was finishing binding up the hilt. "You alright with that? You've been flying solo for a good while."
"I could care less," Tensi replied, tying the leather together. "As long as I get some action." She tossed her sword up into the air and caught it. "Ready?" She grinned as she caught the determined looks on each of the boy's faces. "Let's lock and load, gentlemen."
"Wait! I'm not just here to be an informant!" Botan reached into her pockets and pulled out a tiny transparent crystal sphere. It was smoothly cut, flawlessly circular, and a suprisingly strong deep orange glow throbbed in the center.
"Oh," Tensi sighed. "A Spirit Energy Fire Crystal. Where'd Koenma pull that one out from?"
"It's directly from King Yama, actually, and it's on loan, so be careful with it." Botan handed the sphere to Yusuke, and the orange color grew stronger to a deep yellow.
"What the hell?"
"I thought they were just a rumor," Kurama muttered to himself. The two humans stared at him, and he conceeded to their silent demand. "Like Tensi said, it's a Spirit Energy Fire Crystal. It changed Spirit Energy into light energy, each flame unique to each person.. Very valuble and extrememly rare, I might add," he finished, drawing his knees up to his chest.
"Well, I've done my part," Botan declaired, smiling and throwing a mock-salute. "Good luck, gentlemen. And madam," she added as an afterthought to Tensi.
"Luck has nothing to do with anything, Botan." Tensi stood and placed her broadsword on her shoulder. "It's all skill."
* * * * *
*Henageshi is a Spirit World Guide in one of the Yu Yu Hakusho movies.