Backwards Affairs
Chapter 6: Arrival
By Miko Jaganshi
As the group drew closer and closer to the strange looking castle, they began to hear evidence of a party. Loud laughing, music, and every once in a while, a drunken, stumbling figure in a window. It took the group a long half hour to finally reach the castle gates. And when they did, everyone was glad.
"Uh. Here..." Yusuke handed the guard his invitation. The burly man's face was concealed by a mask, but as soon as he spoke, Yusuke could tell he had been in the party too. "Go on." He checked everyone's invitations until he came to Kurama. When Kurama approached him, polite as always, the man's face twisted up into a lopsided grin. "Hello there, missy. What's your name?"
Kurama did not like being mistaken for a girl, but he played along. "Kurama, sir." he said in a overly sweetened voice. "Kurama, eh? Wanna dance with me up there later?" he motioned towards the castle. At this point, Hiei was reaching his boiling spot.
He snarled angrily, "She's with me." Then he took a hold of Kurama's arm and escorted him to the castle behind everyone else. As soon as they were out of earshot of the castle gate guard, Kurama turned to Hiei. "What was all that fuss about?" he asked.
Hiei casually answered. "What fuss? You're mine, fox. Get it?" he raised his brow. Kurama turned away, pleased with his answer. "Of course, Hiei. I'm yours." He extended his right arm gracefully and Hiei took it. Arm in arm, the two strutted up to the castle. Kuwabara stopped short when he reached the castle doors. Two doormen, or door demons more like, poisedly grasped the door handles and pulled open the double doors. The sight was fantastic. A gargantuan ballroom, sprinkled with massive, hideously expensive chandeliers. Here and there were vases of roses on each and every table and the people sitting at those tables were dressed up. Much more dressed up than any of the new comers.
"Oh great. We're underdressed." Kuwabara shuddered. He had a lustful hate for adults who dressed as fancy as these people did. They only dressed up to hide the terrible flaws they secretly possessed.
"Hm. You're right Kazuma. I feel out of place. Maybe I should go." Yukina timidly squeaked as she turned around to head for the door. Kuwabara"s big, conveniently placed arm stopped her short. "No. Please don't leave.It'll be so boring without you. I don't think I'll survive." he pleaded. She answered with an obedient nod.
All of the sudden, a very handsome, suave demon strode towards them, the crowd parting quickly on either side of him. He had neatly combed brown hair surrounding a smooth pair of horns, green skin, and a very alluring reptilian tail swishing left and right involuntarily behind him. "Good evening all." His gaze snapped to face Yusuke. "Ah, I presume this is Master Urameshi? And you." he smiled at Kuwabara, Koenma, Kurama and Hiei. "The Masters Kurama, Kuwabara, Koenma and Hiei? Charmed to meet you." He politely shook Kurama's hand. "These must be the Madams Yukina, Botan, Yukimura, Kuwabara and..." he trailed off as his mouth hung wide open. "Madame Mukuro. A most wonderful honor to be in your presence. I am overwhelmed." He bowed graciously to her before he began to talk once more. "There is food on the table and an open bar for your pleasures. Enjoy yourselves. The Masters Yomi and Raizen will speak with you individually."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow indignantly as he left. "Individually?" she asked sarcastically. "Why does that matter?" Hiei turned solemnly to face her. "If they want to assassinate us or Mukuro, individually is the safest way." He looked over at a small door in the corner where the demon butler had disappeared. "They will definitely try to have us murdered. We must be careful."
"I concur." Kurama nodded. "Be aware of your surroundings and just who you are with. If you are not careful," he took a step forward and wheeled around facing the rest of his group, "It may be a fatal mistake." The entire group nodded identically. "Now, we all need to split up with a partner." He ordered in a business-like tone. "Yusuke go with Kayko, Yukina go with Kuwabara, Botan with Koenma." He paused in thought, then continued. "Shizuru go with Mukuro, and Hiei and I will be left. Now remember. Have extreme caution." He shook a finger at his friends like a scolding mother.
All nodded in agreement. Yusuke took Kayko's hand and led her off to the right as everyone else departed as well. They all knew they were in for quite a ride. Suddenly, on the other side of the ballroom from Hiei and Kurama, a nervous look came across the face of Kuwabara when he heard Masters Yomi and Raizen would like to speak with Master Kuwabara now.
Chapter 6: Arrival
By Miko Jaganshi
As the group drew closer and closer to the strange looking castle, they began to hear evidence of a party. Loud laughing, music, and every once in a while, a drunken, stumbling figure in a window. It took the group a long half hour to finally reach the castle gates. And when they did, everyone was glad.
"Uh. Here..." Yusuke handed the guard his invitation. The burly man's face was concealed by a mask, but as soon as he spoke, Yusuke could tell he had been in the party too. "Go on." He checked everyone's invitations until he came to Kurama. When Kurama approached him, polite as always, the man's face twisted up into a lopsided grin. "Hello there, missy. What's your name?"
Kurama did not like being mistaken for a girl, but he played along. "Kurama, sir." he said in a overly sweetened voice. "Kurama, eh? Wanna dance with me up there later?" he motioned towards the castle. At this point, Hiei was reaching his boiling spot.
He snarled angrily, "She's with me." Then he took a hold of Kurama's arm and escorted him to the castle behind everyone else. As soon as they were out of earshot of the castle gate guard, Kurama turned to Hiei. "What was all that fuss about?" he asked.
Hiei casually answered. "What fuss? You're mine, fox. Get it?" he raised his brow. Kurama turned away, pleased with his answer. "Of course, Hiei. I'm yours." He extended his right arm gracefully and Hiei took it. Arm in arm, the two strutted up to the castle. Kuwabara stopped short when he reached the castle doors. Two doormen, or door demons more like, poisedly grasped the door handles and pulled open the double doors. The sight was fantastic. A gargantuan ballroom, sprinkled with massive, hideously expensive chandeliers. Here and there were vases of roses on each and every table and the people sitting at those tables were dressed up. Much more dressed up than any of the new comers.
"Oh great. We're underdressed." Kuwabara shuddered. He had a lustful hate for adults who dressed as fancy as these people did. They only dressed up to hide the terrible flaws they secretly possessed.
"Hm. You're right Kazuma. I feel out of place. Maybe I should go." Yukina timidly squeaked as she turned around to head for the door. Kuwabara"s big, conveniently placed arm stopped her short. "No. Please don't leave.It'll be so boring without you. I don't think I'll survive." he pleaded. She answered with an obedient nod.
All of the sudden, a very handsome, suave demon strode towards them, the crowd parting quickly on either side of him. He had neatly combed brown hair surrounding a smooth pair of horns, green skin, and a very alluring reptilian tail swishing left and right involuntarily behind him. "Good evening all." His gaze snapped to face Yusuke. "Ah, I presume this is Master Urameshi? And you." he smiled at Kuwabara, Koenma, Kurama and Hiei. "The Masters Kurama, Kuwabara, Koenma and Hiei? Charmed to meet you." He politely shook Kurama's hand. "These must be the Madams Yukina, Botan, Yukimura, Kuwabara and..." he trailed off as his mouth hung wide open. "Madame Mukuro. A most wonderful honor to be in your presence. I am overwhelmed." He bowed graciously to her before he began to talk once more. "There is food on the table and an open bar for your pleasures. Enjoy yourselves. The Masters Yomi and Raizen will speak with you individually."
Shizuru raised an eyebrow indignantly as he left. "Individually?" she asked sarcastically. "Why does that matter?" Hiei turned solemnly to face her. "If they want to assassinate us or Mukuro, individually is the safest way." He looked over at a small door in the corner where the demon butler had disappeared. "They will definitely try to have us murdered. We must be careful."
"I concur." Kurama nodded. "Be aware of your surroundings and just who you are with. If you are not careful," he took a step forward and wheeled around facing the rest of his group, "It may be a fatal mistake." The entire group nodded identically. "Now, we all need to split up with a partner." He ordered in a business-like tone. "Yusuke go with Kayko, Yukina go with Kuwabara, Botan with Koenma." He paused in thought, then continued. "Shizuru go with Mukuro, and Hiei and I will be left. Now remember. Have extreme caution." He shook a finger at his friends like a scolding mother.
All nodded in agreement. Yusuke took Kayko's hand and led her off to the right as everyone else departed as well. They all knew they were in for quite a ride. Suddenly, on the other side of the ballroom from Hiei and Kurama, a nervous look came across the face of Kuwabara when he heard Masters Yomi and Raizen would like to speak with Master Kuwabara now.