Wind Master Jin of the Northern Breeze
Weeks had passed since the cheery demon had been spotted, and Yusuke couldn't stop reminiscing over the strange man. What could he say? They were both nutcases.
Despite the fact he figured today would be normal, or as normal as it could be for him, Yusuke was in for a surprise. His first step would be simple; discovering where all the nagging light was coming from. He usually kept his curtains closed, and the person who had opened them in the first place was about to find out why. Yusuke opened his eyes, a terrifying act of his in the morning hours. Brown orbs focused, somewhat annoyed, on the face in front of him. Cherry colored hair, intense blue eyes, and a happy grin were automatically place; Jin. Yusuke remained silent as he kept eye contact with the Wind demon. Suddenly his mouth curved up into a smirk, all anger abandoned.
"How long have you been here?" Yusuke asked, sitting up and running a hand through his ruffled hair. Jin sat up from his horizontal position across from Yusuke and looked out the window.
"Oh I'd say since about when the big bright sun peeked over that there hill," Jin watched the sun rise a few seconds more before resuming, "It's so beautiful 'ere, I couldn't stay away any longeir'." He tilted his head back to look at Yusuke over his shoulder, and gave an innocent smile. He was wearing a lavender tank top, silk- no less, and a pair of baggy brown pants held up by a thin string tied in a neat bow. Yusuke still remained in his clothes from yesterday, finding himself too tired last night to bother undressing and redressing into a more comfortable outfit. So his jeans were still on, skin tight as usual, and his white shirt appeared to be a bit stained from a few scuffles, and his jacket had ended up across the room when he threw it off and plopped down on his bed.
"You were up before dawn, managed to come here, lie down on my bed right across from me, and just sit there and wait until I woke up? Jin... you're a strange one." Yusuke yawned.
"Eh, I s'pose I am, but I didn't wish to wake you, you were so peaceful, restin' with yer eyes closed an all." Jin gave a broad grin, making the other express his enjoyment of his company in a few quiet chuckles.
"Sleepin' like a baby you were, although nowt as cute." Jin acted as if he was pondering something before he gave a jovial laugh.
"Jeeze Jin," he began, "All you would have to do is walk into the room and I'd start laughing."
"Laughter is good, always best to start with a bit o' laughin' and the rest of the day to look forward to." Jin scooted back onto the bed and leaned against Yusuke's shoulder, pulling his feet onto the mattress to sit more comfortably.
"I couldn't wait to come back, thought abowt it all the time, eh, the only part I didn't care much for was the cat o' scratchin' me as if I were a post needin' to be thinned."
The outbreak of laughter turned Jin's head towards the boy behind him.
"Thinned... is not even close," Yusuke said as he poked the red head in the abdomen, "You have room to gain a few."
"Aye, I was so excited to get back here I was too busy to notice I was hungry half o' the time."
"We'll have to go out and grab something to eat later." Yusuke snickered, accidentally turned his head to face Jin's long ears. In response to the heat, the Wind Master's eyes shot wide open and his ears went nearly straight up and twitched. The sudden change in relaxation, or rather sudden disappearance of it, made Yusuke's heart jump.
"Hey Jin... you alright?" Yusuke asked, placing a hand on the strong shoulder closest to him.
"A-aye," He stuttered and gave a weak laugh, "My ears are sensitive, and you goin' an blowin' a hot breath in is nowt somethin' I'm used to." Yusuke paused, stuck in mid-thought before he fully understood.
"I see, well it looks like your ears aren't the only things that stick up when you get excited." Yusuke smirked evilly. Jin looked down at the obvious decrease of space in his pants.
"Well if tha ain't embarrassin' I down't know what is." Jin blushed and crossed his arms over himself and pulled his legs up a little in attempt to hide it. Yusuke commenced to laugh until he fell back onto his bed with a whoosh of air, exhausted.
"Eh, you've been sittin' there laughing for the past few minutes, and it still 'asn't gone." Jin said, still a bit pink and self-conscious.
"Maybe... you should go fix that." Yusuke suggested, propping himself up on an elbow.
"And I'd like to know, Mr. Smarty Pants, how you plan on me doin' that." Jin gave him an exasperated look, or at least as exasperated as he could manage at that point.
"Down the hall in the bathroom, Einstein."
"No thanks," Jin shook his head, "Let's just 'ope it goes away soon."
"Alright, but I'm not going out in public with you when you're saluting." He smirked and slapped the blushing demon on the thigh before getting up.
"Eh, where are you goin'?" Jin asked; eyes large with curiosity.
In good humor, Yusuke responded in his best imitation of Jin, "I'm goin' to take a shower, and when I'm done and squeakay clean, we'll leave." Jin found immediate comedy and laughed heartily.
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"Oh well, damn, would you look at that wee one." Jin pondered. Yusuke sighed.
"Not something I would refer to as small, but... whatever." Yusuke put his hands behind his head, resting them in his black hair, and turned away, gazing up at the blue sky through a sun roof. Jin insisted they stop at a pet shop; animals seemed to fascinate him. He was investigating an adult boa constrictor moving around slowly in its glass home. It was over ten feet in length, and its skin had recently been shed, giving the scales a beautiful gleam.
"These animals are so annoying, can we-" Yusuke paused, his eyes growing into large saucers as he witnessed the sight before him. Jin was holding the snake, it was wrapped around his waist and neck, darting its thin tongue out at him. Although Jin appeared happy, Yusuke was uncomfortably glancing around the shop to see if anyone had noticed, then again, he wasn't sure why he cared so much anyway, it wasn't like he never got in trouble. The thick reptile coiled around Jin's body, and continued to dart its tongue out, smelling the red haired demon.
"Okay, time to put the snake back Jin," Yusuke nervously approached, "We'll get something to eat in the mall here."
"Eh, good," Jin smiled, and turned to put the creature back, "What do they 'ave?"
"Loads of stuff, come on, you can decide on something when we get there." Yusuke put his hands in his pockets, glad he managed to get the boa back in the glass cage without having to touch it. He led Jin, who was reluctant, out of the pet store.
"So Jin, what kind of torture did Koenma manage to dig up?"
"Ah well he didn't see as I 'ad done anythin' wrong, unless you count wanderin' among humans when I'm nowt supposed to. Didn't do a thin' really, merely told me nowt to do it agin' and sent me off." Jin's eyes traveled around the large open walk inside the giant mall, taking in all he could. Yusuke snickered, his shoulders shaking with mirth. Koenma must have had a soft spot for the demon. Who wouldn't? Or, right... Hiei.
"Ah," Jin exclaimed, stopping suddenly and gazing at the massive circle filled with mini restaurants, "Why it's a giant doughnut! With sprinkles!"
"Uh," Yusuke raised an eyebrow with question, "Yeah. You could put it that way. "
"Why are we just standin' 'ere like our feet are stuck?" Jin grabbed Yusuke's wrist and yanked him along, setting the teen into a staggering, off balance trapeze-like dance.
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"I think I almost went broke." Yusuke sighed in weak exasperation, gawking at all the food on the table and regretting that he brought Jin out to eat. Although the red head was certainly enjoying himself, trying the different foods laid out before him, Yusuke was sure he'd need a part-time job if Jin actually lived with him.
"Urameshi, you goin' to eat anythin'?" Jin asked, actually pausing his meal to ask.
"Nah, you go ahead and have fun." He kicked his feet up onto the chair next to himself and placed his hands back behind his head. The brilliant and contented smile, accompanied by a soft hum Yusuke received seemed to make it all worth it. Yusuke smiled to himself, glad the demon was enjoying this.
Both males stopped, sensing a new yet familiar energy, and shifted their gazes higher to meet the calm yet worried face of a concerned fox that had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, or so it seemed.
"It appears we have a problem." Kurama said simply.
Yusuke stood; a hand on the only clear spot on the table and a stern glare upon his face, "Another case?" Kurama nodded once.
"Another case there Urameshi, eh, you seem to get a lot o' those." Jin stood from his chair, popping a few more items of food into his mouth.
"Yeah and it's as annoying as hell." Yusuke sighed, leaning forward to slump against the fox's shoulder, "I don't wanna go to Spirit World, Kurammy."
Kurama patted Yusuke's head sarcastically, "There, there."
"You could always 'ave a wee bit o' fun on the way... Eh! Good idea!" Jin slapped a fist in one hand. Yusuke furrowed his brow as he looked to Jin out of the corner of his eye, face still pressed to his temporary pillow. Their stares met and it suddenly occurred to the demon what he'd left out.
"Eh," Jin scratched his head innocently; "I'm forgettin' to explain agin'."
"Yeah, I'd say so." Yusuke's eyes dropped half way as he removed himself from Kurama. People had begun to stare.
"Its nowt my fault you down't understand me 'alf o' the time, it's as clear as the blue sky above!" Jin pointed to the ceiling, twirling his finger around.
"Truly Yusuke, even I caught on." Kurama chuckled, "And you're the one who knows him best."
"You're asking for it."
"Oh? And what do you plan to do to me? Tickle me into submission?"
"Keep talking and I just might."
"You certainly know how to treat a guy."
"Is that sarcasm? Not enough for you? I could tie you up and have my way with you." Yusuke smirked as Kurama bit his lower lip. The fox turned away, a hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter.
Yusuke, feeling victorious, turned back to a surprised Jin, "What were you talking about?" Jin quirked an eyebrow inquisitively.
"You two really know how to play around."
"We've had years of practice." Yusuke shrugged it off, "But if you want I could share some of the more interesting times. Like the trip we made to Hell. Got a little hot down there and-"
"Enough 'o tha!" Jin eagerly changed the subject, aware of Yusuke innuendo approaching, "I was just thinkin'. Since you seem to dread such a trip to Sprit World why not let me go?" Jin smiled broadly at Yusuke. He couldn't refuse, and if this case required fighting like so many of the others, Jin would be a strong ally to have.
"Well, we'dcertainly be well prepared with your aide," Kurama, fully recovered from his bout, smiled, "Hiei has also been requested to join. Although he was reluctant at first, once he was informed of the circumstances his priorities changed and he's on the team."
"Alright," Yusuke smirked, "It just wouldn't be like old times if we didn't have spitfire along for the ride."
Jin stepped next to Yusuke, "One thing Urameshi."
"Yeah?" The detective looked up at him, waiting for the Wind Master to continue.
"I just down't want you makin' any bombs go boom in your face this time around." He appeared serious, but, of course, Yusuke was Yusuke and he couldn't take anything seriously. He burst out in a new fit of laughter.
"I down't see what's so funny abowt it, if I hadn't diverted tha atack, we wouldn't be a standin' 'ere at all."
"You're pretty good. I think I'll keep you around for awhile." Yusuke's laughter died out slowly.
"Eh, I didn't think you would stop, you were laughin' like all them Jacks off in their boxes." With that said, Yusuke burst out laughing again. Jin blinked with confusion. Kurama turned around again.
"What's so funny abowt it?" The Wind Master wasn't sure what to make of it.
"So," Yusuke held his sore stomach, "Where's Jack?"
"Jack's off in his box." Jin said, thinking it was rather simple to understand.
"So Jack..." Yusuke laughed again, "Is jacking off in his box?"
"Urameshi!" Jin snapped, and struck Yusuke in the back of the head, "You humans, always goin' about and takin' everythin' I say and makin' it into somethin' else!" Jin waved his arms around in frustration.
"You left yourself open Jin," Yusuke placed a hand on the demon's shoulder to stop him, "Sorry, alright?"
"Ah, nay, not this time." Jin gave Yusuke a stern glare and crossed his arms over his chest. Yusuke paused, lifting his hand from Jin's shoulder a few inches. Both stood there, Jin glaring, and Yusuke blank faced. Suddenly, with Yusuke barely noticing, Jin's eyes brightened and his mouth flashed into a smile, and he laughed richly, placing his hands on his hips.
"Eh Urameshi, you really thought I was mad at you!" He continued his laughter, ears high and trembling with joy. Jin paused again.
"Is he leavin' withouwt us?" Jin watched down the hall as Kurama walked away from them.
"Guess so. Think we should catch up?"
"In a moment, Urameshi," Jin sat back down, "I'm finishin' this!" The Wind Master dug into his food.
"Stairs, stairs, stairs, stairs," Yusuke growled, each time his voice growing deeper and more angered, "Stairs, stairs, stairs, what's with all these stupid stairs?"
"Yusuke," Kurama froze and turned part way around to look at the boy, "Save your anger for the fights to come, you may need it."
"He's right you know," Jin suddenly showcased one of his more dazzling smiles, "Eh! I just 'ad a thought!"
"Oh great... we're doomed." Yusuke grumbled, tired of people advising him, and others agreeing with the advice. A strong wind picked up. Jin rose into the air, and floated next to Yusuke as if it were perfectly normal.
"Tired o' walkin', so why nowt fly!" Jin made a quick hand gesture, and Yusuke was lifted into the air. An uneasy sound escaped from the detective's throat and he put his arms out to try and balance himself.
"Relax Urameshi," Jin tilted his head back and laughed, "You're nowt goin' to fall. Come on, let's 'ave some fun!" Jin rocketed up, spinning and flipping through the air, all the while calling out with whoops of excitement. As Jin brought Yusuke twirling up to greet him, Kurama commenced to climb the steps. Deeply intranced in his thoughts of the upcoming battles, he slipped, barely able to catch himself on a step. His shin collided with the edge of a step, hitting his already wounded leg and forcing out a strangled murmur of pain. He rose to his feet before Yusuke noticed and pried. He quickly, and without hesitation, returned to ascending the long stair case. No one needed to worry about him; they were now minor injuries.
"Voom," Jin's laugh echoed through the room, "Havin' fun yet Urameshi?" He sat in the air, legs crossed, as he brought Yusuke flying, or air tumbling, toward him.
"I think I'd be better off walking." Yusuke furrowed his brow and tried to focus on where, or if, the stairs ended. The steps doubled before returning to one set, and annoyingly enough repeated the process of increasing his headache.
"Almost there now." Jin informed and flew to the top of the stairway and set himself down on his toes gently. Yusuke was placed on the floor next but staggered about, feeling dizzy and a bit sick. Jin blinked in astonishment.
"Never did expect the great Urameshi to get woozy from just a bit o' flyin'. Think you'd be used to all the flippin' around, what with bein' in all them fights." Jin walked over to the teen and grabbed his arms before he fell over.
"Shall we go in?" Kurama asked as he reached the top of the stairs where Jin had been waiting, and Yusuke recovering.
"Might be a good idea, just as long as there aren't anymore stairs." Yusuke regained his balance and was released from Jin's cautious hold. He heaved a sigh and looked to the fox demon. He was, needless to say, a bit surprised.
"Kurama?" Yusuke stepped toward him, "You look terrible. Well, terrible for you."
"It's nothing." The fox turned his gaze away, slightly out of breath.
"You sure?"
"I'm positive." The emerald spheres returned, watching Yusuke with certainty. Kurama's tone told Yusuke all would be find and also to quit prying. They had more important matters.
The detective reeled a bit, "Gotchya. Let's go." He pushed Jin towards the large doors but fell back to walk beside the ex-theif.
"Yusuke..." Kurama sighed in slight exasperation as his arm was grabbed firmly.
"Cool it," he leaned towards the fox's ear, "What's the damage?"
With his eyes on Jin, Kurama turned his head toward the teen, "Nothing serious. Small gashes and a couple bruises. The small fractures have already healed."
"Jeeze, what happened? You get run over by a tractor?"
"Something like that." They separated, hoping the Wind Master's acute hearing hadn't tuned in.
They stepped into the large office Koenma was sitting in. He was currently running through papers. The group observed the process; stamp, toss aside, stamp, toss aside.
"Ah Yusuke, there you are, what took you so long?" Koenma placed his small hands on his desk and leaned forward, his brown eyes open for a change.
"Would have been here sooner, but with all these stairs around it's a little complicated!" Yusuke glared.
"You could have taken the elevator." Koenma said, right before a ding-like noise sounded. Their attention was drawn to the elevator on the other side of the room as the doors slid open. Hiei and Kuwabara entered the room.
"Gee, how ironic." Yusuke glowered at the elevator.
"Next time you can play 'find the idiot'." Hiei stopped beside Kurama, looking up at him with an icy glare. The fox merely smiled and nodded his agreements.
"You little shrimp! Do you ever quit?" Kuwabara held out a fist as if challenging him. Hiei chose to ignore him. Koenma looked over the bunch, eyes scanning across and coming to a halt at Jin.
"Oh, what are you doing here?" His manner of questioning came off quite nosily.
"Well I was takin' a wee walk with Urameshi and eatin' a bit o' human food when fox over 'ere said he 'ad a new case." Jin leaned back on his heels and grinned, as if pleased with himself. Hiei's eyes narrowed.
"I don't follow." Koenma replied flatly. Jin blinked, and his confused expression turned to a scowl.
"I'm always havin' to spell things out for all o' you, why can't you see that it's already been explained?" Jin was obviously rather annoyed.
"Hope you won't mind if he joins us this time." Yusuke set a hand on Jin's shoulder, as if it were a defense, keeping him from pouncing.
"So that's it," Koenma leaned back in his chair and acted as thought thinking it over, "No."
"What!" Yusuke blurted out, "Why not?"
"Jin is not a regular on your team; you've got four fighters already and you've always managed to come through before, you can handle it without him, and besides, he's not supposed to be here." Koenma held up a finger as he made his point.
"Well, then, kick Kuwabara off!" Yusuke made a quick hand gesture. Jin nearly danced with worry; he had been looking forward to going. He lifted his legs up quickly, shifting his weight back and forth from foot to foot.
"What, Urameshi!" Kuwabara protested.
"No can do Yusuke, Kuwabara is an important part of the team, I can't just go throwing people off." Koenma countered.
"Kurama will stay here." Hiei cut in, glaring at all of them. Kurama gasped near silently, wondering why Hiei demanded it so roughly. Kurama's emerald eyes softened in slight shame; Hiei knew he was injured.
"Now Hiei," Koenma began, "I know you're used to being the captain of your own ship, but I believe I need to remind you that-"
"Kurama will not accompany us on this mission." Though Hiei's volume did not increase, his tone did. Koenma internally recoiled but remained firm. He finally sighed.
"Alright, alright," Jr. was convinced, "Jin can go. Kurama you're the brains, you stay here and watch from the sidelines. We'll send you in if you're needed."
"Thanks Hiei," Yusuke nodded his head with gratitude, "I owe you one." Kuwabara sighed with relief, he hated being left out. Hiei jerked his head to the side and glared at the tiled floor.
"Well then we better find out what all the excitement is, wouldn't want to go off not knowing where to go." Yusuke stepped closer to Koenma's desk and waited for him to start.
"Right," Koenma cleared his throat, "You're up against a very powerful group of demons that have threatened to wipe out the entire human race, although they didn't say why they were doing it. The only thing we know about them is they were imprisoned by their own power thousands of years ago, thus locking them away for eternity. They call themselves the 'Warriors of the Wind'."
"Eh," Jin's eyes became struck with a tiny twinge of interest, "You mean you know nothin' about 'em?"
"No. You wouldn't happen to have any information on them, would you?" Koenma raised an eyebrow.
"Well, yes, but... only a wee bit," Jin's voice died down until he was calm, "I was told, when bein' taught all the techniques I know today, that there was only one true Master of the Wind. She's a full fledged demon, no denyin'."
"Wait," Yusuke interrupted, "You're telling me that this all powerful master is a female?"
"That's so bogus." Kuwabara added. Not really, Kurama furrowed his brow and mentally heaved a sigh.
"Aye, but she's a deadly fighter, and 'as been in the shadows for thousands o' years, keepin' to 'erself and nowt talkin' to anyone but the four fighters she's with. I know of her daughter, Kuyai. It is said that Kuyai is not capable of wind techniques, but darkness, like 'er father was. I know nothin' much of the others, but I was told they weren't capable of controlling wind either. The story 'as always been told to each fighter to become the next Wind Master."
"Yes, that's all well and good and, taking into account you're boring me, let's watch the video we recorded earlier this morning." Koenma plopped down in his chair and grabbed his remote, switching on the large television. A stern looking face appeared on the screen, consisting of long brown hair that traveled feminine shoulders and a slightly copper complexion. Her glare reflected anger and disgust, her eyebrows drawn down with sharp slants.
"I am Kuyai, owner of darkness," She began, "Mother has ordered that she be brought the best fighters the demon and human world has to offer. The Wind Warriors have had enough of this imprisonment and, if not pleased, will massacre all humans through means of manipulation. However, you are lucky, mother is of the sporting kind. So bring your best. If your side reigns victorious we will disappear, never to bother human or Spirit world again. I'm sure you know where our chambers lie. You have two weeks to respond." Her eyes narrowed, and the screen went black.
"Well that was straight to the point." Yusuke commented.
"Yes, and amazingly I'm even more bored now." Koenma turned the monitor off.
Jin shuddered, rubbing his arms with his hands, "I'm so excited, yet anxious at the same time, eh, this will be a great blast!" Jin's ears twitched, face decorated with a wide smile.
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e. 11-26-05