~Chapter 8 What about Shiori?
"YUSUKE! Why didn't you at least call me? I was worried about you!" Keiko quickly
removes herself from the oar grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. Shuuichi and
Kuwabara remove their gazes from the soul, Shizuru turns around, and Koenma and George
change their line of vision, as do Botan and Hiei. They all cringe at the loud slap across the
face she gives the taiyoukai. She then smugly walks to an empty chair and sits crossing her
arms over her chest and looking away angry. Everyone then returns to what they he or she
were doing each making a mental note not to anger Keiko.
There was a great uncomfortable silence that had filled the office. Everyone seemed to
be focused on his or her own agenda. Keiko was giving Yusuke a few death glares. Yusuke was
watching Shuuichi uncertain about his character, Kuwabara was watching the dark energy in
the middle of the office slowly taking the shape of a fox, but it was very vague though it was
becoming clearer every moment that passed. The Shizuru was speaking to Botan who every
few moments would glance nervously at Hiei who's ruby spheres were locked on her his lips in
a defiant smirk. An after thought occurs to the handler of the great Enma's paper work and
his attention is once more drawn across the room to the blue headed ferry girl.
"Botan, why are Shizuru and Keiko here?" The rubber stamp does not seem to be
diverted from its task of stamping papers. He really did not want the other two there at this
particular moment. He had a big enough headache as is, and did not want to deal with the
bickering that he knew was going to resume between Keiko and Yusuke.
"Well, um...." Botan started but Shizuru jumped in for the save.
"Why the hell is there an entrance to spirit world in the Red light district?" Shizuru's
tone hinted at slight amusement. She currently has the mental image of the toddler in his
teenage form slipping out of that rundown building and searching for a date for the night.
"There used to be a shrine there, but that doesn't matter. Forget it. Kurama how are
you holding up over there?" The toddler stops stamping paperwork and redirects his attention
of the floating mass of dark youki in the middle of his office. There is a drawn out silence as
the darkness crackles around the ethereal mass that vaguely resembled a large oversized fox.
Its voice was defiantly that of Youko Kurama, deep, rich in tone similar to Hiei's in
many aspects however it was smooth and devoid of the raspy ness that is caused by flesh
vocal chords.
"Yes... I seemed to have recovered enough of my energy to speak. When is Shuuichi's
trial to occur? I already intend to plead guilty to the charge you have set for me despite my
near death state at the time; Shuuichi was not lying about that." The mass of energy lightens
to a silvery color upon relaying his words audibly to those around him. He began calculating
the amount of time it would take for him to fully recover.
"In a few days at the very least. We have to make time for the trial, the man power,
not to mention the overtime involved. Not to mention the entire custody case, lets not forget
about that. Who gets to keep the body after all is said and done." Koenma plainly states not
bothering to cease in his paperwork. He had gotten behind and was rapidly stamping away at
various contracts and forms.
"Its my body not his! He tried to take it from me!" Shuuichi shouts this from his tied
up position trying to break free of his bonds. Truly the human boy was getting frightened and
wanted to flee. Yusuke is the first to run to the chair to try to hold the captive down followed
by everyone with the exception of a short black haired Koorime that looked to the
disenfranchised fox instead. It was all Kurama could do keep is laughter silent, though his
color reflected that with a dark gray hue that only Hiei had caught on to due to is indifference
to the panicking Shuuichi.
"True, but is you who held me prisoner for all these years instead of allowing me to
part company with you. It is not so much fun when you are not free to act. I have learned a
great many of things from this experience. Koenma?" The spirit decended a little to be in line
of both of Shuuichi and Koenma, he seemed to have something important to say.
"What is it Kurama?" The toddler looks up at fox spirit with a Raised brow. The eyes of
everyone shifted from the tied up red head to the floating fox.
"What of Shiori? I do not desire to see her devastated by this occurrence. Truly it was
the main reason I had not come sooner, but the captivity was too much for me to bear. What
will become of her when she looses her son, or at least the son she has known for seventeen
years?"
The lightness fades from the fox spirit and Shuuichi closes his eyes, with all of the
confusion going on he had totally forgotten about his mother. He wondered what she was
doing right now. He had been missing for a day and a half now. She must be worried despite
this is not the first time he has been missing this long. He figures she'll start panicking before
the day is out.
"She'll begin to panic soon, normally I would call her but given this predicament I
cannot." Shuuichi reopens his eyes to look at the fox spirit his eyes carried a little relief that it
was at lease somewhat concerned with the welfare of his mother.
"Yes, she will Koenma perhaps you could allow Shuuichi to contact our... his.. mother
before the trial begins. I.. She will not know my voice and I.." His words seemed to be broken
though there was no throat for them to get stuck in, they still seemed difficult to manifest.
Koenma starts to see yet another facet of this spirit, just how much of him brushed off on the
ningen Shuuichi and vice versa?
"Kurama you don't have to say anymore. Shuuichi have you ever thought about telling
your mother about Kurama?" Koenma stands just outside of kicking range of the bound
teenager.
"No.. I mean how could I? Am I supposed to say oh mother guess what, I have been
holding an old fox demon captive in my body for seventeen years. Humph. There was no
reason to tell her." Shuuichi closes his eyes again He really did not want to word it like that,
the more he dwelled on it the more the water grew in his eyes before the reservoirs over flew
allowing two tears to trace down his cheeks, with out the use of his hands they trails remained
for those around him to see.
"Tears are unlike you Shuuichi. Having regrets, I have those still and it was not from
being controlled by you. It is as Hiei once told us, those without scars on their hars must be a
shallow bastard indeed. I regret those times when I myself had the opportunity to tell her.
She will be very broken after this ordeal if she learns of it. Koenma, why did you ask that
question? Are you intending on bringing her here as well?" His form solidifying more as time
slips past, his fur almost has the appearance of fur, and his multiple tails, it was still hard to
determine if he had four or five though it was four when he was nearly killed, are becoming
more distinct.
"There is a very strong possibility that she will be brought here. I can't say for certain
yet." Koenma begins towards his desk as the spirit fox descends to the ground to stand upon
it now that he nearly completed establishing a physical form. It wasn't too much but it would
suffice for now, but a humanoid form was more desirable, but he would need a body for that.
The fox looks over at the tied up Shuuichi, who seemed to be full of thoughts and
scenarios, momentarily then back to Koenma who was now hopping into his chair. Things were
looking on the up and up for him, but he knew it would be Shuuichi that Shiori would naturally
sympathize with not some centuries old silver fox demon that she knew nothing about. He
flicks his tails in a rippling wave motion before padding to the couch, hopping up on it next to
Keiko, much to Yusuke's disapproval, and curling up on the empty cushion truly resting for the
moment. He no longer needed to use the energy he gathered to build a form so he merely
took a nap.
"Where is he? He's been gone all night again. I hope he's alright It just not like him to
not call me." Shiori Minamino despairingly looks out of her living room window. Her thoughts
are filled with her son. Where is he? His he hurt? Why hasn't he called like he always did? She
loved her son dearly and one could not ask for a better son, but he has been pulling these
disappearing acts for as long as she could remember and for the most part he called her to let
her know he was alright, but In the back of her mind she knew that something was truly
wrong this time. It has been nearly two days and still her son had not called her, there was no
note or anything to hint at where he may have gone. She decided to call Atsuko Urameshi to
see if her son had gone to their apartment, many times her son has ended up there, not that
she liked the idea of her pride and joy hanging out with that hooligan, but he seemed like a
nice enough boy so she tried to pay little attention to Yusuke's reputation. Picking up the
receiver she dialed the number Shuuichi had given her a couple years ago when he started to
hang around the boy.
She only became more worried when the highly intoxicated voice of Atsuko answered
the phone. She asked if She had seen Shuuichi. The drunken woman relayed to her that some
girl name Botan had taken Yusuke to the Spirit world to deal a problem with some one named
Kurama. The phone was hung up only to leave Shiori dazed and confused. She then began to
wonder whom this Kurama boy was, she never heard her Shuuichi speak of him before. She
then dialed the number to the Kuwabara residence chuckling briefly as to how Shizuru and
Atsuko looked like twins one with a fetish for alcohol, the other a chain smoker. The phone
rings continually until it reaches an answering Machine.
"Yes this is Shiori Minamino, Shuuichi's mother if you see my Son can you please
please have him call me. Thank you." She hangs up the phone now panicing slightly. What has
happened to her baby boy?
The front door to the residence opens and Shori glances at the entry hall way. It is her
husband, Hanataka, and his child Shuuichi. It was funny how they managed to name their
children the same name. She decided if she had another child she would not give him or her
such a common name.
"You didn't find him did you?" Shiori looked at the disappointed faces of her family
before she cants her head and looks out of the window worried sick. She had already called
the police who had merely informed her that the person must be missing for a week before
they would bother looking for them.
She turned way from the window choosing a place on the couch to sit. Her son was
missing and all she had the power to do was sit and wait for something to happen.
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~
"YUSUKE! Why didn't you at least call me? I was worried about you!" Keiko quickly
removes herself from the oar grabbing the attention of everyone in the room. Shuuichi and
Kuwabara remove their gazes from the soul, Shizuru turns around, and Koenma and George
change their line of vision, as do Botan and Hiei. They all cringe at the loud slap across the
face she gives the taiyoukai. She then smugly walks to an empty chair and sits crossing her
arms over her chest and looking away angry. Everyone then returns to what they he or she
were doing each making a mental note not to anger Keiko.
There was a great uncomfortable silence that had filled the office. Everyone seemed to
be focused on his or her own agenda. Keiko was giving Yusuke a few death glares. Yusuke was
watching Shuuichi uncertain about his character, Kuwabara was watching the dark energy in
the middle of the office slowly taking the shape of a fox, but it was very vague though it was
becoming clearer every moment that passed. The Shizuru was speaking to Botan who every
few moments would glance nervously at Hiei who's ruby spheres were locked on her his lips in
a defiant smirk. An after thought occurs to the handler of the great Enma's paper work and
his attention is once more drawn across the room to the blue headed ferry girl.
"Botan, why are Shizuru and Keiko here?" The rubber stamp does not seem to be
diverted from its task of stamping papers. He really did not want the other two there at this
particular moment. He had a big enough headache as is, and did not want to deal with the
bickering that he knew was going to resume between Keiko and Yusuke.
"Well, um...." Botan started but Shizuru jumped in for the save.
"Why the hell is there an entrance to spirit world in the Red light district?" Shizuru's
tone hinted at slight amusement. She currently has the mental image of the toddler in his
teenage form slipping out of that rundown building and searching for a date for the night.
"There used to be a shrine there, but that doesn't matter. Forget it. Kurama how are
you holding up over there?" The toddler stops stamping paperwork and redirects his attention
of the floating mass of dark youki in the middle of his office. There is a drawn out silence as
the darkness crackles around the ethereal mass that vaguely resembled a large oversized fox.
Its voice was defiantly that of Youko Kurama, deep, rich in tone similar to Hiei's in
many aspects however it was smooth and devoid of the raspy ness that is caused by flesh
vocal chords.
"Yes... I seemed to have recovered enough of my energy to speak. When is Shuuichi's
trial to occur? I already intend to plead guilty to the charge you have set for me despite my
near death state at the time; Shuuichi was not lying about that." The mass of energy lightens
to a silvery color upon relaying his words audibly to those around him. He began calculating
the amount of time it would take for him to fully recover.
"In a few days at the very least. We have to make time for the trial, the man power,
not to mention the overtime involved. Not to mention the entire custody case, lets not forget
about that. Who gets to keep the body after all is said and done." Koenma plainly states not
bothering to cease in his paperwork. He had gotten behind and was rapidly stamping away at
various contracts and forms.
"Its my body not his! He tried to take it from me!" Shuuichi shouts this from his tied
up position trying to break free of his bonds. Truly the human boy was getting frightened and
wanted to flee. Yusuke is the first to run to the chair to try to hold the captive down followed
by everyone with the exception of a short black haired Koorime that looked to the
disenfranchised fox instead. It was all Kurama could do keep is laughter silent, though his
color reflected that with a dark gray hue that only Hiei had caught on to due to is indifference
to the panicking Shuuichi.
"True, but is you who held me prisoner for all these years instead of allowing me to
part company with you. It is not so much fun when you are not free to act. I have learned a
great many of things from this experience. Koenma?" The spirit decended a little to be in line
of both of Shuuichi and Koenma, he seemed to have something important to say.
"What is it Kurama?" The toddler looks up at fox spirit with a Raised brow. The eyes of
everyone shifted from the tied up red head to the floating fox.
"What of Shiori? I do not desire to see her devastated by this occurrence. Truly it was
the main reason I had not come sooner, but the captivity was too much for me to bear. What
will become of her when she looses her son, or at least the son she has known for seventeen
years?"
The lightness fades from the fox spirit and Shuuichi closes his eyes, with all of the
confusion going on he had totally forgotten about his mother. He wondered what she was
doing right now. He had been missing for a day and a half now. She must be worried despite
this is not the first time he has been missing this long. He figures she'll start panicking before
the day is out.
"She'll begin to panic soon, normally I would call her but given this predicament I
cannot." Shuuichi reopens his eyes to look at the fox spirit his eyes carried a little relief that it
was at lease somewhat concerned with the welfare of his mother.
"Yes, she will Koenma perhaps you could allow Shuuichi to contact our... his.. mother
before the trial begins. I.. She will not know my voice and I.." His words seemed to be broken
though there was no throat for them to get stuck in, they still seemed difficult to manifest.
Koenma starts to see yet another facet of this spirit, just how much of him brushed off on the
ningen Shuuichi and vice versa?
"Kurama you don't have to say anymore. Shuuichi have you ever thought about telling
your mother about Kurama?" Koenma stands just outside of kicking range of the bound
teenager.
"No.. I mean how could I? Am I supposed to say oh mother guess what, I have been
holding an old fox demon captive in my body for seventeen years. Humph. There was no
reason to tell her." Shuuichi closes his eyes again He really did not want to word it like that,
the more he dwelled on it the more the water grew in his eyes before the reservoirs over flew
allowing two tears to trace down his cheeks, with out the use of his hands they trails remained
for those around him to see.
"Tears are unlike you Shuuichi. Having regrets, I have those still and it was not from
being controlled by you. It is as Hiei once told us, those without scars on their hars must be a
shallow bastard indeed. I regret those times when I myself had the opportunity to tell her.
She will be very broken after this ordeal if she learns of it. Koenma, why did you ask that
question? Are you intending on bringing her here as well?" His form solidifying more as time
slips past, his fur almost has the appearance of fur, and his multiple tails, it was still hard to
determine if he had four or five though it was four when he was nearly killed, are becoming
more distinct.
"There is a very strong possibility that she will be brought here. I can't say for certain
yet." Koenma begins towards his desk as the spirit fox descends to the ground to stand upon
it now that he nearly completed establishing a physical form. It wasn't too much but it would
suffice for now, but a humanoid form was more desirable, but he would need a body for that.
The fox looks over at the tied up Shuuichi, who seemed to be full of thoughts and
scenarios, momentarily then back to Koenma who was now hopping into his chair. Things were
looking on the up and up for him, but he knew it would be Shuuichi that Shiori would naturally
sympathize with not some centuries old silver fox demon that she knew nothing about. He
flicks his tails in a rippling wave motion before padding to the couch, hopping up on it next to
Keiko, much to Yusuke's disapproval, and curling up on the empty cushion truly resting for the
moment. He no longer needed to use the energy he gathered to build a form so he merely
took a nap.
"Where is he? He's been gone all night again. I hope he's alright It just not like him to
not call me." Shiori Minamino despairingly looks out of her living room window. Her thoughts
are filled with her son. Where is he? His he hurt? Why hasn't he called like he always did? She
loved her son dearly and one could not ask for a better son, but he has been pulling these
disappearing acts for as long as she could remember and for the most part he called her to let
her know he was alright, but In the back of her mind she knew that something was truly
wrong this time. It has been nearly two days and still her son had not called her, there was no
note or anything to hint at where he may have gone. She decided to call Atsuko Urameshi to
see if her son had gone to their apartment, many times her son has ended up there, not that
she liked the idea of her pride and joy hanging out with that hooligan, but he seemed like a
nice enough boy so she tried to pay little attention to Yusuke's reputation. Picking up the
receiver she dialed the number Shuuichi had given her a couple years ago when he started to
hang around the boy.
She only became more worried when the highly intoxicated voice of Atsuko answered
the phone. She asked if She had seen Shuuichi. The drunken woman relayed to her that some
girl name Botan had taken Yusuke to the Spirit world to deal a problem with some one named
Kurama. The phone was hung up only to leave Shiori dazed and confused. She then began to
wonder whom this Kurama boy was, she never heard her Shuuichi speak of him before. She
then dialed the number to the Kuwabara residence chuckling briefly as to how Shizuru and
Atsuko looked like twins one with a fetish for alcohol, the other a chain smoker. The phone
rings continually until it reaches an answering Machine.
"Yes this is Shiori Minamino, Shuuichi's mother if you see my Son can you please
please have him call me. Thank you." She hangs up the phone now panicing slightly. What has
happened to her baby boy?
The front door to the residence opens and Shori glances at the entry hall way. It is her
husband, Hanataka, and his child Shuuichi. It was funny how they managed to name their
children the same name. She decided if she had another child she would not give him or her
such a common name.
"You didn't find him did you?" Shiori looked at the disappointed faces of her family
before she cants her head and looks out of the window worried sick. She had already called
the police who had merely informed her that the person must be missing for a week before
they would bother looking for them.
She turned way from the window choosing a place on the couch to sit. Her son was
missing and all she had the power to do was sit and wait for something to happen.
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