^^
Botan sat on her broom watching Yusuke from above. She felt annoyed that he was talking with that girl Akara. She could tell she was bad news. She landed in an alley and took her human form to confront him about it, knowing Keiko knew all about the whole thing. She walked out calmly, only to find that Yusuke had already passed her! She hurried and caught up with him.
"Hey Keiko. Hey, Yusuke. Who was that girl you two were talking with a few moments ago?" she asked.
"That was a new girl at our school, Akara Makozume. She's got a bad feel to her though. Why? You know anything?" he asked.
"You might want to keep a close watch on her. Her father's a demon."
"So, what you're saying is that Akara's half demon?" Keiko asked.
"Yes, and she knows it, too. I think she might also know who you are in one way or another, Yusuke. Her father's involved with a company called Hydeshou Enterprises. He's the current chairman of the board. It's a demon company that excels in nasty deeds," Botan said.
"So, we should just kill him and hope she didn't actually know anything," Yuske said. "No problem, it'll be easy enough to upset her father so he'll fight me and Kuwabara."
"The problem is the board of directors dislike her father, and would rather seem him out and his daughter in. I don't know how much she knows about the company, but it might be in our best interest to make sure she doesn't want anything to do with them."
"So we talk to her then, no problem!"
"KoEnma would rather you captured her and brought her to him, he kind of insisted on it." In her mind, Botan pictured the rather loud way he was speaking to her, saying that if she didn't make sure the girl was brought in alive, he wouldn't be the only one suffering at his father's hands. Botan laughed and put her left arm behind her head. "I really wouldn't want to make him mad this time around, you know?"
"Sure, Botan," Yusuke said sarcastically. "And I'll see I pig flying in a moment. She won't come without a fight if she's a demon who knows who I am!"
"That's why KoEnma is sending Hiei and Kurama after her first. He said they would have a better chance bring her in." Botan placed a finger on her lip thoughtfully. "But I don't know if they can really handle it this time around, they might be outclassing her dangerously, especially if she resists."
"Keiko, you'll have to let me go off for now. I think I'm going to go get her, rather than let them do it. It might be safer that way."
Keiko nodded. "I understand, just remember she's not entirely human and might not want to talk to KoEnma."
"I know," he answered with a wink. "I'll take care of myself, and I won't bust her up too badly."
OO
Akara walked down the sidewalk, her father's associate walking next to her as if he belonged there the whole time. "So, you'll do what we're asking then?" he pressed her.
"You're asking me to kill a human, no two humans, with skills far stronger than the average demon, plus you're asking me to upstage my father, give up any chance for a normal life, and forsake my human mother and my human half. Plus, I have to do this if I want to save my father's life, but who said I actually wish to save my father?" she asked in return.
"Your mother will go as well, as well as you. If all you and your family are dead, then any one can take over as the chairman. But they insist they want you for some reason."
"Why don't they just vote me in?"
"There are a few members who would rather see you dead, or prove yourself before the board to be a capable leader. You will of course have a whole horde of demons under your command when you go to fight the spirit detective and his partner, just understand that you have only one shot at this."
Yusuke walked a ways behind Akara, watching her talk to the man next to her as if they were old friends. He could clearly see that the man was a demon, however he only saw Akara as a human. He caught snatches of what they were saying, but it seemed almost like a normal conversation to him, if normal included one of the members of the conversation being annoyed at the other.
"I will see you tomorrow, Miss Makozume, I will need your answer then," he said before he turned and walked down an alley. Yusuke looked when he passed, but no one was in there and it was a dead end with no doors. Yusuke took a chance and caught up with Akara, calling after her.
"Oh! Yusuke! I didn't know you were following me! Is there something you need?"
"I was wondering about that man you were just talking with, who was he?"
"That was one of my father's coworkers in some company," she said with a flick of her wrist. "It doesn't matter much to me. only." She bit her lip and stopped talking and walking.
"Only.?"
"Yusuke, you and Kuwabara have a pretty bad reputation at school, I mean as bullies and tough guys and stuff like that. How did you get to be that way?"
"We talk more with our fists than our heads," Yusuke said. "Say, how come your father made you walk all the way home anyway?"
"Because I didn't stand up to those boys myself, and he thinks I should have. I took all the heat from it so I should have been the only one doing any sort of damage to them. He's got this big ego because he's some big fighter in so many different places. Then there's the whole company thing that makes him come down even harder. I wish I could get away from him sometimes, but that's not possible."
"Why isn't it?"
Akara shook her head. "There are a lot of reason. but, Yusuke, are you sure you should have followed me? Your girlfriend might get the wrong impression."
"No, she won't. I told her what was going on and she understood. She's nice like that, and we understand each other. Besides, I let her talk to other guys, so she lets me talk to other girls as long as I don't kiss them," he said.
"I heard you were Genkia's apprentice before she died, I hope your training went well," she said as she started to walk again, her back to Yusuke.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked as he walked along behind her.
"There are two people following us," she said as she continued to walk. "As Genkia's apprentice, you know all about spirit energy. Well, these two are pretty strong, and I'd have to guess they're not entirely human. Again, you'd know about that as well."
"That's a mouthful from someone who's not entirely human herself," he said as he walked beside her.
"That's true too, but it's not like I asked for it. I would much rather be the run-of-the-mill school girl with a normal family, but no. That happens to be too much to ask. I guess it's fortunate Kuwabara's not here, he would probably choose fists to words as well. I do happen to know you're working for KoEnma as the Spirit Detective to the Earth, and that Kuwabara helps you a lot, as well as two demons. Most likely, that's the two who are following us."
"True, and I know about the company."
"Then you would also know the company deals with the murders of people both high and low, for a price. From what I've heard, several demons have pooled money together to have you taken out. In fact, it's enough to throw the board of directors into an argument about who should run the company. They have begun to think that my father is not appropriate any longer."
"And you are?"
"Many see me as being fit because I grew up under my father's tutelage, however I would rather just keep a normal life. They will give me no choice in the matter."
Akara stopped walking. "I think it would be wiser to speak with your entire team on this matter. Kurama and Hiei deserve to know as well."
"Know what?" Yusuke demanded.
"That I have a challenge for you four that will not only most likely save your lives, but keep me from loosing mine and my family."
Hiei and Kurama caught up with them moments later, Hiei feeling very annoyed. "What is this? I thought there would be a fight!"
"There will be a fight, I promise you," Akara said. "Only you will not be fighting me. I have been instructed to make sure Yusuke and Kuwabara die, but I decided I'm going to change the order without the consent of the people I'm supposed to be working for."
"Why should we listen to you?" Hiei asked coldly.
"Because you four get to kill some demons who are a thorn in everyone's side, provided you do not involve me, or my family. I will not speak to anyone other than you four, even if forced. Now, if I may explain?"
Kurama nodded. "Please, this is quite intriguing."
"I can tell you how to gain access to each of the six members of the board of directors for Hydeshou Enterprises. Could you ask for anything more? Six of the most elite fighters ever born or trained, at least they're considered that. You, most likely could defeat them as easily as you could a fly."
"Six? Last I checked there were eight," Hiei said.
"They do not usually consern themselves with human affairs," Kurama added. "What makes this time so different?"
"My father fought the two strongest at once, and won in under one minute. For that, they made him the chairman of the board. Unfortunately for him, they have since lost faith in him. He is now married to my mother, a human woman, and has me to deal with for a daughter. Not even a son to look after him." She smilled and shook her head. "And now that two humans genuinely threaten them, they decided to up their operations to include domination of the human world."
"What is your opinion of your father's company?" Hiei asked.
"It needs to go down in a silent burst. One that preferably everyone sees, but no one knows how it happened. If word got out I was involved, then my family would no longer be safe, and that is my main concern."
Footsteps came quickly behind them, and Kuwabara almost fell on his face as he came to a quick stop behind Kurama. "Hey! Why are you all talking to her?" he demanded of them.
"Would you like a good fight or not? Mind you, it will most likely at first seem much like a repeat of Beast Castle. The corporate building is a huge maze, but more dangerous. Some of the walls and floors can be stepped through. The floors are traps and the walls lead to secret rooms," she explained.
"As long as I get to fight the chairman," Hiei said.
"Uh. The chairman's my father, so you're not going to get to fight him, he won't be there, but Dylic is there. He is actually more powerful than my father as you would know, Hiei."
"Uh. Did I miss something?" Kuwabara asked.
"We'll explain while trying to not get lost," Kurama said.
"It's easy to not get lost, for the most part keep your hand on the left wall, don't take it off even if you're lead into a dead end, because it might not be a dead end," Akara continued. "To warn you, you'll come up against a lot of lesser demons on the way, and before you can have a crack at the Board of Directors, I am afraid you'll need a crack at me to keep from arising suspicion. I can fake my own death easily, if you guys work with me."
"Not a chance, you're a demon after all," Kuwabara said.
"I belive we should trust her, if she were out to kill is, would she really bother to wait so long to fight us? Why not just when we get there?" Kurama asked.
"To ware us down before she fights us," Hiei said. "I don't trust you."
"If I were trying to kill Yusuke and Kuwabara, why not just slip them poison at an opportune moment? I do go to school with them after all. I could have invited them over for dinner at my house and attacked them then, with my father and his servants to back us up. I could have told you to keep your hand on the right hand side, which leads to a room of switching floor panels, where the one behind you will drop away, and so will the one in front of you, and the roof falls down over your head."
"And how do we know that won't happen on the left?" Hiei pressed.
"Because I will travel with you, and turn on you at the last moment, fighting with you up until that point. I will be just as worn as you. Distrust me at any time and feel free to attack."
"All right, we'll do it," Yusuke said. "Besides, I think it'll beat taking you to see KoEnma in the long run, getting to beat up those guys."
"Very well, we shall go along with this, but be warned I do not like it," Hiei said.
VV
Akara: man. here I thought I would get to not fight.
Phantom Grief: Hiei doesn't trust you, remember? You gotta prove yourself one way or another, and it seems you'll be tagging along to fight with them.
Akara: I'd much rather kill the board of directors myself.
Phantom Grief: ::Roles her eyes and waves farewell for this chapter::
Botan sat on her broom watching Yusuke from above. She felt annoyed that he was talking with that girl Akara. She could tell she was bad news. She landed in an alley and took her human form to confront him about it, knowing Keiko knew all about the whole thing. She walked out calmly, only to find that Yusuke had already passed her! She hurried and caught up with him.
"Hey Keiko. Hey, Yusuke. Who was that girl you two were talking with a few moments ago?" she asked.
"That was a new girl at our school, Akara Makozume. She's got a bad feel to her though. Why? You know anything?" he asked.
"You might want to keep a close watch on her. Her father's a demon."
"So, what you're saying is that Akara's half demon?" Keiko asked.
"Yes, and she knows it, too. I think she might also know who you are in one way or another, Yusuke. Her father's involved with a company called Hydeshou Enterprises. He's the current chairman of the board. It's a demon company that excels in nasty deeds," Botan said.
"So, we should just kill him and hope she didn't actually know anything," Yuske said. "No problem, it'll be easy enough to upset her father so he'll fight me and Kuwabara."
"The problem is the board of directors dislike her father, and would rather seem him out and his daughter in. I don't know how much she knows about the company, but it might be in our best interest to make sure she doesn't want anything to do with them."
"So we talk to her then, no problem!"
"KoEnma would rather you captured her and brought her to him, he kind of insisted on it." In her mind, Botan pictured the rather loud way he was speaking to her, saying that if she didn't make sure the girl was brought in alive, he wouldn't be the only one suffering at his father's hands. Botan laughed and put her left arm behind her head. "I really wouldn't want to make him mad this time around, you know?"
"Sure, Botan," Yusuke said sarcastically. "And I'll see I pig flying in a moment. She won't come without a fight if she's a demon who knows who I am!"
"That's why KoEnma is sending Hiei and Kurama after her first. He said they would have a better chance bring her in." Botan placed a finger on her lip thoughtfully. "But I don't know if they can really handle it this time around, they might be outclassing her dangerously, especially if she resists."
"Keiko, you'll have to let me go off for now. I think I'm going to go get her, rather than let them do it. It might be safer that way."
Keiko nodded. "I understand, just remember she's not entirely human and might not want to talk to KoEnma."
"I know," he answered with a wink. "I'll take care of myself, and I won't bust her up too badly."
OO
Akara walked down the sidewalk, her father's associate walking next to her as if he belonged there the whole time. "So, you'll do what we're asking then?" he pressed her.
"You're asking me to kill a human, no two humans, with skills far stronger than the average demon, plus you're asking me to upstage my father, give up any chance for a normal life, and forsake my human mother and my human half. Plus, I have to do this if I want to save my father's life, but who said I actually wish to save my father?" she asked in return.
"Your mother will go as well, as well as you. If all you and your family are dead, then any one can take over as the chairman. But they insist they want you for some reason."
"Why don't they just vote me in?"
"There are a few members who would rather see you dead, or prove yourself before the board to be a capable leader. You will of course have a whole horde of demons under your command when you go to fight the spirit detective and his partner, just understand that you have only one shot at this."
Yusuke walked a ways behind Akara, watching her talk to the man next to her as if they were old friends. He could clearly see that the man was a demon, however he only saw Akara as a human. He caught snatches of what they were saying, but it seemed almost like a normal conversation to him, if normal included one of the members of the conversation being annoyed at the other.
"I will see you tomorrow, Miss Makozume, I will need your answer then," he said before he turned and walked down an alley. Yusuke looked when he passed, but no one was in there and it was a dead end with no doors. Yusuke took a chance and caught up with Akara, calling after her.
"Oh! Yusuke! I didn't know you were following me! Is there something you need?"
"I was wondering about that man you were just talking with, who was he?"
"That was one of my father's coworkers in some company," she said with a flick of her wrist. "It doesn't matter much to me. only." She bit her lip and stopped talking and walking.
"Only.?"
"Yusuke, you and Kuwabara have a pretty bad reputation at school, I mean as bullies and tough guys and stuff like that. How did you get to be that way?"
"We talk more with our fists than our heads," Yusuke said. "Say, how come your father made you walk all the way home anyway?"
"Because I didn't stand up to those boys myself, and he thinks I should have. I took all the heat from it so I should have been the only one doing any sort of damage to them. He's got this big ego because he's some big fighter in so many different places. Then there's the whole company thing that makes him come down even harder. I wish I could get away from him sometimes, but that's not possible."
"Why isn't it?"
Akara shook her head. "There are a lot of reason. but, Yusuke, are you sure you should have followed me? Your girlfriend might get the wrong impression."
"No, she won't. I told her what was going on and she understood. She's nice like that, and we understand each other. Besides, I let her talk to other guys, so she lets me talk to other girls as long as I don't kiss them," he said.
"I heard you were Genkia's apprentice before she died, I hope your training went well," she said as she started to walk again, her back to Yusuke.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" he asked as he walked along behind her.
"There are two people following us," she said as she continued to walk. "As Genkia's apprentice, you know all about spirit energy. Well, these two are pretty strong, and I'd have to guess they're not entirely human. Again, you'd know about that as well."
"That's a mouthful from someone who's not entirely human herself," he said as he walked beside her.
"That's true too, but it's not like I asked for it. I would much rather be the run-of-the-mill school girl with a normal family, but no. That happens to be too much to ask. I guess it's fortunate Kuwabara's not here, he would probably choose fists to words as well. I do happen to know you're working for KoEnma as the Spirit Detective to the Earth, and that Kuwabara helps you a lot, as well as two demons. Most likely, that's the two who are following us."
"True, and I know about the company."
"Then you would also know the company deals with the murders of people both high and low, for a price. From what I've heard, several demons have pooled money together to have you taken out. In fact, it's enough to throw the board of directors into an argument about who should run the company. They have begun to think that my father is not appropriate any longer."
"And you are?"
"Many see me as being fit because I grew up under my father's tutelage, however I would rather just keep a normal life. They will give me no choice in the matter."
Akara stopped walking. "I think it would be wiser to speak with your entire team on this matter. Kurama and Hiei deserve to know as well."
"Know what?" Yusuke demanded.
"That I have a challenge for you four that will not only most likely save your lives, but keep me from loosing mine and my family."
Hiei and Kurama caught up with them moments later, Hiei feeling very annoyed. "What is this? I thought there would be a fight!"
"There will be a fight, I promise you," Akara said. "Only you will not be fighting me. I have been instructed to make sure Yusuke and Kuwabara die, but I decided I'm going to change the order without the consent of the people I'm supposed to be working for."
"Why should we listen to you?" Hiei asked coldly.
"Because you four get to kill some demons who are a thorn in everyone's side, provided you do not involve me, or my family. I will not speak to anyone other than you four, even if forced. Now, if I may explain?"
Kurama nodded. "Please, this is quite intriguing."
"I can tell you how to gain access to each of the six members of the board of directors for Hydeshou Enterprises. Could you ask for anything more? Six of the most elite fighters ever born or trained, at least they're considered that. You, most likely could defeat them as easily as you could a fly."
"Six? Last I checked there were eight," Hiei said.
"They do not usually consern themselves with human affairs," Kurama added. "What makes this time so different?"
"My father fought the two strongest at once, and won in under one minute. For that, they made him the chairman of the board. Unfortunately for him, they have since lost faith in him. He is now married to my mother, a human woman, and has me to deal with for a daughter. Not even a son to look after him." She smilled and shook her head. "And now that two humans genuinely threaten them, they decided to up their operations to include domination of the human world."
"What is your opinion of your father's company?" Hiei asked.
"It needs to go down in a silent burst. One that preferably everyone sees, but no one knows how it happened. If word got out I was involved, then my family would no longer be safe, and that is my main concern."
Footsteps came quickly behind them, and Kuwabara almost fell on his face as he came to a quick stop behind Kurama. "Hey! Why are you all talking to her?" he demanded of them.
"Would you like a good fight or not? Mind you, it will most likely at first seem much like a repeat of Beast Castle. The corporate building is a huge maze, but more dangerous. Some of the walls and floors can be stepped through. The floors are traps and the walls lead to secret rooms," she explained.
"As long as I get to fight the chairman," Hiei said.
"Uh. The chairman's my father, so you're not going to get to fight him, he won't be there, but Dylic is there. He is actually more powerful than my father as you would know, Hiei."
"Uh. Did I miss something?" Kuwabara asked.
"We'll explain while trying to not get lost," Kurama said.
"It's easy to not get lost, for the most part keep your hand on the left wall, don't take it off even if you're lead into a dead end, because it might not be a dead end," Akara continued. "To warn you, you'll come up against a lot of lesser demons on the way, and before you can have a crack at the Board of Directors, I am afraid you'll need a crack at me to keep from arising suspicion. I can fake my own death easily, if you guys work with me."
"Not a chance, you're a demon after all," Kuwabara said.
"I belive we should trust her, if she were out to kill is, would she really bother to wait so long to fight us? Why not just when we get there?" Kurama asked.
"To ware us down before she fights us," Hiei said. "I don't trust you."
"If I were trying to kill Yusuke and Kuwabara, why not just slip them poison at an opportune moment? I do go to school with them after all. I could have invited them over for dinner at my house and attacked them then, with my father and his servants to back us up. I could have told you to keep your hand on the right hand side, which leads to a room of switching floor panels, where the one behind you will drop away, and so will the one in front of you, and the roof falls down over your head."
"And how do we know that won't happen on the left?" Hiei pressed.
"Because I will travel with you, and turn on you at the last moment, fighting with you up until that point. I will be just as worn as you. Distrust me at any time and feel free to attack."
"All right, we'll do it," Yusuke said. "Besides, I think it'll beat taking you to see KoEnma in the long run, getting to beat up those guys."
"Very well, we shall go along with this, but be warned I do not like it," Hiei said.
VV
Akara: man. here I thought I would get to not fight.
Phantom Grief: Hiei doesn't trust you, remember? You gotta prove yourself one way or another, and it seems you'll be tagging along to fight with them.
Akara: I'd much rather kill the board of directors myself.
Phantom Grief: ::Roles her eyes and waves farewell for this chapter::