The Raven's Pendant

WEIß KREUZ-YU YU HAKUSHO CROSSOVER FANFICTION

Part 1 - Chance Meeting

Two years ago…

"Where am I?"  Schuldig asked fuzzily.  The unfamiliar room throbbed about his line of sight.  He seemed to be lying on a green couch.

"You're in my apartment…" A soft alto voice told him.  He looked around to see a red haired, green-eyed youngster who looked all too young for his taste. 

"Um…"

How the heck did I get here?  Am I in trouble for sleeping with a minor?

"I took you home after you passed out in the bar.  Here.  Drink this.  I'll make you feel better."  A mug of something was shoved in his hands.

Schuldig sipped at the mug cautiously, then more enthusiastically when it proved to be some herbal concoction tasting heavily of mint and honey.

"I am Minamino Shuuchi."  The teenager introduced himself, his long hair swaying side to side gracefully, big green eyes looked at Schuldig with curiosity.

"I am Schuldig.  Thanks.  I better get going now before your parents get the wrong idea."  Schuldig smirked softly as he said it.  The kid might be much too young but was really a work of art. 

There's no law against looking… 

Long red tresses the color of Abyssinian's framed an effeminately soft face, contrasting with wide, deep emerald eyes that twinkled with liveliness.  A slender frame that with everything else probably have had everyone assuming that the other guy was female if they didn't know better.  The kid's looks were accentuated by the colors of the room which was done up in green and cream.  He took his time in appreciating the view as he set aside the mug on the side table beside the couch and swing his legs down off the couch.  He felt much, much better after the tea.

"What was in the tea, if you don't mind me asking?"  Schuldig was also curious about this Japanese boy that seemed so trusting of a gaijin he had picked up on the nearly literally on the street but he didn't want to be too forward.  Being forward made one memorable, something that was strictly a no-no in his profession.

"A bit of this and a bit of that. It helps the hangover rather handily that it's been so much in demand with my dorm mates.  Can I call a taxi for you, Schuldig-san?"  Shuuichi asked.

"Dorm mates?  You're in college?" 

"Aa, this apartment is part of a dorm."

"But you don't look like you're well over high school!"  Schuldig exclaimed.  Surprise rivaled his impulse to leave for the moment.

"Aa, that what they usually tell me.  I'm legal."  Shuuichi said, batting his huge green eyes at Schuldig so mischievously so that the German had to laugh.

He sure is full of surprises…  And he had me going there for a while...

The sheer naughtiness twinkling in the green eyes were quite revealing of the joke that had been played on him.

Still too young for me…

Yet there was something about the young lovely, impish redhead that got answering warmth in the Schwartz telepath.

"You're a rather interesting kid.  I think that I would like to meet you again, Minamino-kun."  Schuldig said, scribbling his cellular phone number on a piece of memo paper he had and handed it to Shuuichi.  

At the back of Schuldig's mind a voice was already berating him for his carelessness…

What am I doing?  Crawford's going to have my head for this!  But then, what harm could a normal college kid do to an assassin group like us?

***

Back to the present…

"You asked to see me, Koenma-sama."  Kurama asked as he fiddled with the edge of his emerald green Chinese outfit.  He bowed to a desk where a toddler in blue robes and a round hat with the word "Jr." written on his forehead was overwhelmed by tons of paper.   The toddler looked up from the humongous paper pile and acknowledged the redhead.

Kurama continuing to work for the Rekai was something that was taken for granted by everyone since he was still adamant about staying in the Human World.  No, S-class could stay with humans without some form of Spirit World control.

Though sometimes, I really chafe at this duty and it makes me miss Yuusuke-kun and Hiei even more…  Though I guess it's well worth being able to stay with Mother…  Just sometimes…I wish there was someone who understands…

Living as a demon in the world of humans was a trying experience at times.

"Aa.  I have work for you, Kurama, something very important is happening in the Ningenkai.  Something all the Rekai Tantei must prevent.  There's a bunch of humans who will try to help the demon Bolshai escape from Hell.  It's a plan that's evidently been in the making since the aforesaid demon was imprisoned.  We have decided to make it a statement to all demon-summoners all over the world.  Those who seek to summon demons will be executed by demons.  Since you're the Section Head for Japanese Operations I thought you should know.  I'm mobilizing almost every Tantei with youkai blood."

"Hai.  But isn't it overkill?  All of the current Tantei I know are at least B class and the most humans achieve is borderline B."

"It has been decided.  I know you have a soft spot for ningen, so I'll not blame you if you want out of this operation."  Koenma said, his voice softening. 

It was a rare thing for a Tantei to be given a choice to perform a duty or not but Kurama was no regular Spirit World Detective.  The redheaded kitsune was a member of the legendary Urameshi Team, potentially the greatest Rekai Tantei Team in the history of the Rekai.  They had defeated the Netherworld in defense of the Spirit World.  More to the point, they were the first team that Koenma felt he could call his friends.     

"No, I'll do it but thanks all the same."  Kurama nodded to acknowledge how much it had cost the other and how much honor had been paid to him. 

If only because of that…I have to take this mission…

Kurama turned to go.

"Wait, I have another thing for you to do, concerning the mission…"  Koenma called out before, the fox could get out of the office.

"Aa?"  Kurama said, turning to face the desk once again. 

"It seemed that the sacrifice to be used in this…is your half sister." 

***

"Ran-niichan?"  A redheaded high school girl asked Aya as he got into the shop. 

Aya blinked.  He was out back, fixing an arrangement that a customer ordered when he was called to answer about something.

"Ran-niichan?  I've finally found you." 

Who told one of them my real name?  Whoever it is, is going to die…

No one in the flock of fan girls knew Aya's real name, they all knew him as Aya.

Aya just looked at the girl wondering what she was about.  He had no words for such an eventuality since he never thought it could happen.

I don't have any sisters other than Aya-chan…  Why would she call me that…  Though she could be a cousin with that red hair…

"You are Fujimiya Ran, aren't you?"   A hint of impatience went into the alto voice, though the large green eyes were twinkling with something like suppressed laughter.

Is this a joke…?

"Aa.  What are you playing at?  I don't know you."  Aya said sharply, almost hostilely.

"Then you are my elder half-brother.  I'm Shuuichi Minamino, your father had an affair with my mother several years ago. I was the result.  Here's the proof."  The girl introduced herself, grinning, unfazed by the cold reception.   Then she handed several papers to Aya for his perusal. 

Birth certificate…acknowledgement of support and paternity…adoption by the husband of the girl's mother… They all seemed to be in order. 

"So can I call you Ran-niichan?"   Shuuichi asked, this time her green eyes were wide and almost pleading.  Though the mischief in them weren't totally gone.

"Hn."  It was rather hard not to smile back at the youngster when she was as cheerful as that.   Aya felt awful at doubting the other.  He settled for one of his small smiles.  He couldn't even take offence at the use of the informal address. 

She reminds me so much of Aya-chan…  And she's so nice…  If she isn't playing a game with me…

"I take that as a yes.  Call me Kurama, all my friends do.  Besides it would be rather hard to call me by my given name at the house since my step-brother's name is also Shuuichi."

"Why did they name you Shuuichi?  Isn't that a boy's name?"  Aya asked, finally getting a word edge-wise.

"Um, I am a boy, 'niichan."

"Hn!"  Aya was rather astonished at this turn of events and looked at the papers in his hand again.

That was a real surprise…

"I know.  I do look rather girlish."  There was a good-humored sparkle in Sh--no--Kurama-kun's eyes.

"Hn."  Was all Aya could say in reply.  He lacked for words to encompass this development.

You never fail to surprise me little brother…

"I understand.  It takes some time to get used to having a half-brother, ne?"

"Aa."

"Why not stay with me at my student apartment sometime for some bonding?  I've never had an elder brother before.  Besides, mother wants you over to dinner some time next week."

"Aa, I'll think of it." Aya replied.  His caution was back in full force at the barrage of invitations.

It could well be a trap.  He seems so nice but I'd better let Kritiker check him out…  Besides, even if he's genuine, I don't think it would be a good idea.  Remember…Ouka and Omi?  Schwartz would just love to get their hooks into Weiß again that way…  And I already have a liability in Sakura-chan…

"That's my 'niichan."  Kurama-kun waltzed out of the door and into the street.

"Aya, who was that?"  Ken asked, as soon as Aya's unconfirmed brother had gone out of earshot. 

"Yeah, Aya, and is she over eighteen.  I couldn't tell.  Though she is one hot babe."  Youji added when he was too slow in answering.

"That was my half-brother or so he says."  Aya bit out.

The thought of Youji having anything to do with any of his relations definitely upset Aya.  So he took great satisfaction in pointing out Kurama's real sex to the playboy.  

"Nani!"

"You must be getting old, if you can't tell a girl from a boy."  Aya knew that was coming, Ken never missed an opportunity to needle the older man.

"Oi!  Who are you calling an old man?"  Youji said, tackling Ken. 

Aya sighed and went back to his interrupted arrangement.  It was another day in the Koneko.

I better call Manx and also have Omi checked these papers…

***

Aya sat on the couch of the Weiß briefing room staring at the result of the background check on Kurama-kun.  His eyes had a stunned look to them.

"So, the papers are genuine."  Aya said.

"Aa.  Congratulations, it seems like you have a younger brother.  Well, half-brother, but I don't think it makes much difference to you, doesn't it?"  Manx said, giving Aya a smile of her own.  She didn't look overly pleased but didn't look angry either.

"Can we have someone say that it was a mistake or something?"  Aya asked desperately. He had time to think things over and had come to some very disturbing conclusions.

How am I going to protect an active half-brother when I haven't managed to protect a sister who's in a coma?  I really liked him on first meeting, too…

"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do, Abyssinian.  Though we would try as much as we can to give your little brother some protection."

"Hn.  That's not enough." 

Look at what happened to Aya-chan… 

"It would help if you keep away from him as much as you can."  Manx said unhelpfully.  But it did console Aya that she looked as unhappy about this turn of events as he was.

That's easy to say, considering how Kurama-kun's been looking at me expectantly to be his older brother in deed as in word…  I'd say impossible to do…

~ TBC ~

Author's Notes:

So how was it…? *bounce, bounce, bounce*  I wonder if this is too much of a rip-off of Oniisan.  Thoughts, criticisms, rotten tomatoes? ^^;