"So now are you going to bring them to spirit world?" Kurama asked softly after Yuskue divulged his story. Yuskue stood, leaning against the wall, his eyes surrounded by a puffy redness, his shoulders twitching occasionally.
"Yes, Kurama. It seems we have no choice." Koenma relented with a heavy sigh. "But what is it that you think it'll accomplish, eh? Other than cause more trouble…"
"
We're already in for a world of hurt and trouble," Yuskue spoke up, his tone strained, "So a little more won't do a whole lot."
* * *
"I tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't even matter…!"
Autumn lifted her hands to cover her ears, shooting a disgusted look at Jessica, "You're singing sucks! Shut up, please!"
"I put my trust in you, I went as far as I can go…" She let it drift off there, sparing her friends much pain. She flashed then a grin, then skipped ahead, humming the rest of the song.
Shanta quirked an eyebrow, gesturing to Jessica, she muttered to Autumn, "Whats with her?" Autumn shrugged, at a loss for words. Jessica began belting out the lyrics to the Yu Yu Hakusho theme song, startling passerby. She wasn't usually so obnoxious, or, not as much as she had been all morning. Not once had she been serious, not once had she used a word with more than two syllables. Most unlike her usual self. This only vaguely worried her friends, who were enjoying themselves too much to really stop and think about her behavior. They dismissed it with a casual shrug and a smile.
"When you're feeling, sad and lone, we will take you where you gotta go, smiling and dancing, everything is free, all you need is positively! Colors of the world, spice up your life. Every boy and every girl, spice up your life. People of the world, spice up your life!"
"Ooookay, now she's singing spice girls." Shanta laphed, "Stop it Jess!"
"I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, laphing plastic, its fantastic! You can brush my hair, and take me everywhere! Imagination, life is your creation." She sang, "I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, laphing plastic, its fantastic! You can brush my hair, and take me everywhere! Imagination, life is your creation. I'm a blonde, beautiful girl in the fantasy world, dress me up, make it right, I'm your dollie." She paused for a moment, "What next, do I have any requests?" This was met by silence. "…One way, or another, I'm gonna find you, I'm gonna get you, get you, get you, get you. One way, or another, I'm gonna win you, I'm gonna get you, get you, get you. One way, or another, I'm gonna see you, I wanna meet you, meet you, meet you, meet you. One day, maybe next week, I'm gonna see you, I'm gonna meet you, I'll meet you. I will drive past your house, and if the lights are all down, I'll see whose around…"
"Can't you sing more than one verse?" Autumn asked, irritated at both the horrid singing and the choice of songs.
"Nope!" She said brightly, and began to sing again, "I can't say if this feeling coming over me is real, but I know its something you can't steal. So I'll buy another problem to approach, sell a virgin life that can't be touched, and so I fall again… so I fall again… so I fall again.. And so I break through this broken piece of wood, again… I can't say if this unfriendly subject should be dropped, but I know its something you can't stop. So I'll buy another pick up line and sigh. And pretend that everything is alright, and so I fall again… so I fall again… so I fall again.. And so I break through this broken piece of wood, again…" She grinned peevishly, and began her next song, "I dreamed, that I knew, that secret code, I found the formula, found the note. Not it's so easy to give you what you need, your face betrays you, it's not so hard to read! Big head. Back lash. I see your face and I wanna smash, smash! Gonna take you far. You're charm, sweet sound, its up for sale. Go climb Mount Everest, you can't afford to fail. A certain beauty, that million dollar smile, just give them what they want, before it's out of style. You wanna smash, smash, gonna take you far. Don't wanna crash, crash, who you think you are. Big head. Back lash. I see your face and I wanna smash, smash! Gonna take you far…" Jessica sighed, suddenly falling silent. She let her hands fall to her sides, a frown resting on her face. Perplexed at her sudden halt of songs, Autumn caught up to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"You okay?" She asked, her tone fringed with worry. Jessica nodded glumly, her hazel eyes losing the spark she had just a moment ago. "Seriously?"
"Sure." She mumbled. She scuffed the sidewalk with her toe, stuffing her hands in her pockets, her manner almost painfully slow.
"Coming in a cloud," Shanta sang softly, Autumn and Jessica jumping in, "In a faceless town, I need to feel the touch of a friend. In the countryside, I wander face and wide, The isolation gets me again. I don't know where to go, when I feel like crying out, "Oh My!" Its time to open myself, to something new. I wanna stop. And grow up again. Then suddenly, my power and confidence are welling up; magically erupt. And its all because of kindness I feel- from people I don't even know! Then suddenly, my intuition and my wisdom grow, and then I know, that most of all I said compassionately, gets stranger wherever I go! Thank you for waking me up!"
"Now that I've wasted a good hour singing, we should get going." Jessica said, a shadow of a smile on her face.
"Good idea, Brittany Spears." Autumn agreed. She snarled as Jessica leaned over and ruffled her hair.
"No, she sounds more like an American Idol dropout." Shanta argued, getting her hair ruffled as well. Wincing, she hissed, "Don't touch the merchandise!"
"What merchandise?!" Autumn replied, as usual.
* * *
"Oh my," Botan murmured to herself as she surveyed her surroundings, thoroughly lost. Her face scrunched up in confusion. "I do wish Koenma gave me a map." She shielded her eyes with the edge of her hand as she peered into the sky, then she returned her gaze to the street, Tokyo's various attractions in her line of sight. She frowned, "Why didn't he send Yuskue or Kurama with me?" Heaving a sigh from deep within her chest, she smiled ruefully, "It could be worse, he could have made Hiei come with me. Being lost is better than an afternoon with him!" A shudder passed her shoulders and she started off once more, hopelessly bewildered.
As the afternoon's sun wore down, the evening air, rather chilly on the day, replacing the warm afternoon's. Botan continued to wander aimlessly through the city, firmly telling herself that if she really did get lost, Koenma would send her some help. This, unfortunately, was not so, for Koenma had a lot on his plate, and had no time to fret over her, seeing as she wasn't overly important at the moment. So poor Botan roamed in the city, alone and afraid, until dark. It was when she had planned to have a break down, when she spotted her goal. Her objective, more like it. Pleased, she set after the three unknowing American girls, careful to keep hidden in the masses.
* * *
Singing their lungs out they strode back to the hotel, their arms over one another's shoulders. They walked at bit lopsided, but didn't take much notice. The street lamps shone brightly, and they often had to close their eyes against the ever-present glare. Whether they noticed Botan or not was obvious; they remained oblivious as to her presence. If they had noticed the ditzy blue-headed girl, they would have chased her down and forced her to bring them to Kurama and Hiei. And perhaps, would have demanded a ride on her oar.
They screamed the chorus of some song, their voices drowned out by the rushing traffic. After a few more minutes of singing, they released one another and continued walking, now silent and out of breath. "As far as I'm concerned," Jessica muttered to Shanta, just loud enough for the shorty to hear,
"Autumn's singing voice sucks worse than mine." Shanta snickered loudly, glancing at her friend.
"Oh yeah?!" Autumn barked, her mouth curling up in a dog-like snarl. Her hands twitched at her sides, as though she longed to strangle some one.
"I think we all sing bad," Shanta broke in, still choking on her laphter, "But its not like it matters…"
"I could beat her on American Idol," Jessica informed them snappishly, boldly sticking her tongue out at the already peeved Autumn, who let out a low, threatening growl.
Actually, neither girl was angry, it was just an excuse to argue and get into a fight. So they continued to bicker, pretending to be in a fit of rage, much to the entertainment of the other people on their way home, or to a hotel, or to some odd thing. Some how Shanta got herself sucked in, and gladly threw insults at her pals.
"Shut up, baka inu!" Jessica told Autumn after a particularly nasty insult.
"You shut up, you kitsune wannabe!" Autumn shot back, her brown eyes glistening.
"I AM A KITSUNE- I DON'T NEED TO BE A WANNABE!"
"In your dreams, you crybaby nigen."
"Shut up, Shanta!"
"You shut up!"
"YOU!"
"You know what, you both need to shut up!"
"Baka inu!"
"Baka henjin, kitsune wannabe."
"Demented poodle."
"Kurama hater."
"YOU JUST STEPPED PAST THE LINE, GIRL!" Jessica dove, her hands shot right at Autumn's throat. Autumn stepped out of the way, letting Jessica crash into an innocent teenage boy, who shrieked with laphter at the odd Americans.
"Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater!"
"I'M GONNA KICK YOUR BUTT!"
"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY, YOU KURAMA HATER!"
* * *
Botan chuckled at the girls' antics, making a mental note to tell Kurama. She had to speed her pace as her assignments sped off down the side walk, screaming insults in every language they could think of: Korean, Spanish, Japanese, and, of course, American. It pleased her to see the eldest acting normally, it meant she had no idea of what she had. But at the same time, it worried her greatly, if she did not know what she had, her guard would not be up, and the others may get to her first, conning her into listening to them. That would be even more disastrous than if the girl used the power of the stone herself. Botan shuddered inwardly. Chaos would consume the earth even if they didn't get to her before she discovered the power in which she had. But if they did, Pandemonium would spread into the Makai, the Kakai barrier that separated the demon world from earth and the Makai would be broken, and all they had worked for would be destroyed. Again, Botan shuddered. But, she reminded herself, Aoitsuki couldn't do a whole lot in that girl's body. She has no spirit strength what so ever. Unless… No, she could not do it. She couldn't reach that ultimate level of control, could she? No, the girl would have to give her consent. No, no, it would never happen. Would it?
* * *
Kurama heaved a sigh, his tone fringed with frustration. He frequently inclined his head to check his watch, tension building up within him. "Where the heck is Botan?!" He cast a glance around the room, his emerald eyes resting on Koenma's tiny form. The toddler-like prince of the Makai slumped over in his chair, rubbing his face with weary hands, moaning. Kurama sighed again, his shoulders sagging. This was not going to be a piece of cake type mission. Then again, when was the last time they had one of those?
* * *
"Yes, Kurama. It seems we have no choice." Koenma relented with a heavy sigh. "But what is it that you think it'll accomplish, eh? Other than cause more trouble…"
"
We're already in for a world of hurt and trouble," Yuskue spoke up, his tone strained, "So a little more won't do a whole lot."
* * *
"I tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't even matter…!"
Autumn lifted her hands to cover her ears, shooting a disgusted look at Jessica, "You're singing sucks! Shut up, please!"
"I put my trust in you, I went as far as I can go…" She let it drift off there, sparing her friends much pain. She flashed then a grin, then skipped ahead, humming the rest of the song.
Shanta quirked an eyebrow, gesturing to Jessica, she muttered to Autumn, "Whats with her?" Autumn shrugged, at a loss for words. Jessica began belting out the lyrics to the Yu Yu Hakusho theme song, startling passerby. She wasn't usually so obnoxious, or, not as much as she had been all morning. Not once had she been serious, not once had she used a word with more than two syllables. Most unlike her usual self. This only vaguely worried her friends, who were enjoying themselves too much to really stop and think about her behavior. They dismissed it with a casual shrug and a smile.
"When you're feeling, sad and lone, we will take you where you gotta go, smiling and dancing, everything is free, all you need is positively! Colors of the world, spice up your life. Every boy and every girl, spice up your life. People of the world, spice up your life!"
"Ooookay, now she's singing spice girls." Shanta laphed, "Stop it Jess!"
"I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, laphing plastic, its fantastic! You can brush my hair, and take me everywhere! Imagination, life is your creation." She sang, "I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world, laphing plastic, its fantastic! You can brush my hair, and take me everywhere! Imagination, life is your creation. I'm a blonde, beautiful girl in the fantasy world, dress me up, make it right, I'm your dollie." She paused for a moment, "What next, do I have any requests?" This was met by silence. "…One way, or another, I'm gonna find you, I'm gonna get you, get you, get you, get you. One way, or another, I'm gonna win you, I'm gonna get you, get you, get you. One way, or another, I'm gonna see you, I wanna meet you, meet you, meet you, meet you. One day, maybe next week, I'm gonna see you, I'm gonna meet you, I'll meet you. I will drive past your house, and if the lights are all down, I'll see whose around…"
"Can't you sing more than one verse?" Autumn asked, irritated at both the horrid singing and the choice of songs.
"Nope!" She said brightly, and began to sing again, "I can't say if this feeling coming over me is real, but I know its something you can't steal. So I'll buy another problem to approach, sell a virgin life that can't be touched, and so I fall again… so I fall again… so I fall again.. And so I break through this broken piece of wood, again… I can't say if this unfriendly subject should be dropped, but I know its something you can't stop. So I'll buy another pick up line and sigh. And pretend that everything is alright, and so I fall again… so I fall again… so I fall again.. And so I break through this broken piece of wood, again…" She grinned peevishly, and began her next song, "I dreamed, that I knew, that secret code, I found the formula, found the note. Not it's so easy to give you what you need, your face betrays you, it's not so hard to read! Big head. Back lash. I see your face and I wanna smash, smash! Gonna take you far. You're charm, sweet sound, its up for sale. Go climb Mount Everest, you can't afford to fail. A certain beauty, that million dollar smile, just give them what they want, before it's out of style. You wanna smash, smash, gonna take you far. Don't wanna crash, crash, who you think you are. Big head. Back lash. I see your face and I wanna smash, smash! Gonna take you far…" Jessica sighed, suddenly falling silent. She let her hands fall to her sides, a frown resting on her face. Perplexed at her sudden halt of songs, Autumn caught up to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"You okay?" She asked, her tone fringed with worry. Jessica nodded glumly, her hazel eyes losing the spark she had just a moment ago. "Seriously?"
"Sure." She mumbled. She scuffed the sidewalk with her toe, stuffing her hands in her pockets, her manner almost painfully slow.
"Coming in a cloud," Shanta sang softly, Autumn and Jessica jumping in, "In a faceless town, I need to feel the touch of a friend. In the countryside, I wander face and wide, The isolation gets me again. I don't know where to go, when I feel like crying out, "Oh My!" Its time to open myself, to something new. I wanna stop. And grow up again. Then suddenly, my power and confidence are welling up; magically erupt. And its all because of kindness I feel- from people I don't even know! Then suddenly, my intuition and my wisdom grow, and then I know, that most of all I said compassionately, gets stranger wherever I go! Thank you for waking me up!"
"Now that I've wasted a good hour singing, we should get going." Jessica said, a shadow of a smile on her face.
"Good idea, Brittany Spears." Autumn agreed. She snarled as Jessica leaned over and ruffled her hair.
"No, she sounds more like an American Idol dropout." Shanta argued, getting her hair ruffled as well. Wincing, she hissed, "Don't touch the merchandise!"
"What merchandise?!" Autumn replied, as usual.
* * *
"Oh my," Botan murmured to herself as she surveyed her surroundings, thoroughly lost. Her face scrunched up in confusion. "I do wish Koenma gave me a map." She shielded her eyes with the edge of her hand as she peered into the sky, then she returned her gaze to the street, Tokyo's various attractions in her line of sight. She frowned, "Why didn't he send Yuskue or Kurama with me?" Heaving a sigh from deep within her chest, she smiled ruefully, "It could be worse, he could have made Hiei come with me. Being lost is better than an afternoon with him!" A shudder passed her shoulders and she started off once more, hopelessly bewildered.
As the afternoon's sun wore down, the evening air, rather chilly on the day, replacing the warm afternoon's. Botan continued to wander aimlessly through the city, firmly telling herself that if she really did get lost, Koenma would send her some help. This, unfortunately, was not so, for Koenma had a lot on his plate, and had no time to fret over her, seeing as she wasn't overly important at the moment. So poor Botan roamed in the city, alone and afraid, until dark. It was when she had planned to have a break down, when she spotted her goal. Her objective, more like it. Pleased, she set after the three unknowing American girls, careful to keep hidden in the masses.
* * *
Singing their lungs out they strode back to the hotel, their arms over one another's shoulders. They walked at bit lopsided, but didn't take much notice. The street lamps shone brightly, and they often had to close their eyes against the ever-present glare. Whether they noticed Botan or not was obvious; they remained oblivious as to her presence. If they had noticed the ditzy blue-headed girl, they would have chased her down and forced her to bring them to Kurama and Hiei. And perhaps, would have demanded a ride on her oar.
They screamed the chorus of some song, their voices drowned out by the rushing traffic. After a few more minutes of singing, they released one another and continued walking, now silent and out of breath. "As far as I'm concerned," Jessica muttered to Shanta, just loud enough for the shorty to hear,
"Autumn's singing voice sucks worse than mine." Shanta snickered loudly, glancing at her friend.
"Oh yeah?!" Autumn barked, her mouth curling up in a dog-like snarl. Her hands twitched at her sides, as though she longed to strangle some one.
"I think we all sing bad," Shanta broke in, still choking on her laphter, "But its not like it matters…"
"I could beat her on American Idol," Jessica informed them snappishly, boldly sticking her tongue out at the already peeved Autumn, who let out a low, threatening growl.
Actually, neither girl was angry, it was just an excuse to argue and get into a fight. So they continued to bicker, pretending to be in a fit of rage, much to the entertainment of the other people on their way home, or to a hotel, or to some odd thing. Some how Shanta got herself sucked in, and gladly threw insults at her pals.
"Shut up, baka inu!" Jessica told Autumn after a particularly nasty insult.
"You shut up, you kitsune wannabe!" Autumn shot back, her brown eyes glistening.
"I AM A KITSUNE- I DON'T NEED TO BE A WANNABE!"
"In your dreams, you crybaby nigen."
"Shut up, Shanta!"
"You shut up!"
"YOU!"
"You know what, you both need to shut up!"
"Baka inu!"
"Baka henjin, kitsune wannabe."
"Demented poodle."
"Kurama hater."
"YOU JUST STEPPED PAST THE LINE, GIRL!" Jessica dove, her hands shot right at Autumn's throat. Autumn stepped out of the way, letting Jessica crash into an innocent teenage boy, who shrieked with laphter at the odd Americans.
"Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater, Kurama hater!"
"I'M GONNA KICK YOUR BUTT!"
"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY, YOU KURAMA HATER!"
* * *
Botan chuckled at the girls' antics, making a mental note to tell Kurama. She had to speed her pace as her assignments sped off down the side walk, screaming insults in every language they could think of: Korean, Spanish, Japanese, and, of course, American. It pleased her to see the eldest acting normally, it meant she had no idea of what she had. But at the same time, it worried her greatly, if she did not know what she had, her guard would not be up, and the others may get to her first, conning her into listening to them. That would be even more disastrous than if the girl used the power of the stone herself. Botan shuddered inwardly. Chaos would consume the earth even if they didn't get to her before she discovered the power in which she had. But if they did, Pandemonium would spread into the Makai, the Kakai barrier that separated the demon world from earth and the Makai would be broken, and all they had worked for would be destroyed. Again, Botan shuddered. But, she reminded herself, Aoitsuki couldn't do a whole lot in that girl's body. She has no spirit strength what so ever. Unless… No, she could not do it. She couldn't reach that ultimate level of control, could she? No, the girl would have to give her consent. No, no, it would never happen. Would it?
* * *
Kurama heaved a sigh, his tone fringed with frustration. He frequently inclined his head to check his watch, tension building up within him. "Where the heck is Botan?!" He cast a glance around the room, his emerald eyes resting on Koenma's tiny form. The toddler-like prince of the Makai slumped over in his chair, rubbing his face with weary hands, moaning. Kurama sighed again, his shoulders sagging. This was not going to be a piece of cake type mission. Then again, when was the last time they had one of those?
* * *