Chapter 2- Old Friends Reunited

In defiance of the semi-cold March weather, I peddled down the street on my bike, wearing my favorite blue sandals from last year, of all things. It really wasn't too wintry after you got used to it, anyway. But my toes were kind of cold.... Well, I wasn't completely crazy, was I? I was wearing my dark blue jeans and my black fitted T-shirt with the sparkly purple butterfly on it. Most people were still wearing coats, but whatever. Besides, the heat I generated by pumping the peddles of my bike helped keep me warm.

I sped down several streets rather aimlessly until I decided to pick a destination. Now, where could I go? There was always Sara or Amy's house, but I was still missing my friends from my old school. Finally really looking at where I was going, I realized I was riding past familiar houses, and I was in fact near the place where one of my old friends lived. I hadn't seen him in what seemed like forever, so I happily decided to visit my best guy friend, Shuichi.

I sped past the park where we used to play tennis and swim in the community pool. I sighed wistfully, then screeched to a stop. "Shuichi!" I cried, turning around and riding up next to my red-haired friend, who was walking on the sidewalk with another guy I didn't know. I completely ignored the stranger as I leaped off my bike and threw my arms around Shuichi's neck.

"Soraya?" His voice sounded slightly muffled, due to the fact that I had him in a head-lock. Well, not really. But almost.

"Hi!" I squealed, letting go of his neck.

"Hey, Sora," (He used my nickname) "What's up?"

"What's up?! That's all you have to say after abandoning me since almost forever? Hmph." I scowled and made as if to get back on my bike.

"Wait!" he said, grabbing my arm, making me look back at him. "I apologize for not calling you. I was extremely.... busy these past few months. Please forgive me."

"Oh, it's okay, Shuichi. I was mad, but not much."

"Kurama, who is this human?" the stranger finally spoke. We both turned to look at him. He had hair that seemed more black than anything I had ever seen. The darkness in his spiky hair was enhanced by the white streak located right above his bangs. He wore dark pants and a black T-shirt under an open trench-coat of the same color.

"Excuse me?" I said, taking a step closer to him. Upon closer inspection I found that he had eyes of the deepest crimson, and that he wore a white headband over his forehead.

"Hiei!" Shuichi scolded, his red hair swinging around as he turned to face the boy. I then noticed that my friend was wearing his blue school uniform. He must've just got out of class, I thought. Come to think of it, he does get out later than I do.

The boy, presumably Hiei, completely ignored him as he asked, "Is she the one Koenma told us about?"

"Yes..." Shuichi replied, and the two whispered together for a few minutes. I grew tired of watching them talk and pulled my bike into an upright position, nudging the kick-stand into place so it wouldn't fall over. I leaned against the chain-link fence surrounding the park, adjusting my jeans and combing my fingers through my dark brown hair. I coughed rather loudly and both of them turned to look at me.

"If you people are done whispering about me...."

"Of course, Sora." Shuichi said quickly. He seemed to think something over for a moment, then said, "There is someone I would like you to meet."

"Who is it? Your new girlfriend?" I teased him. He grimaced and shook his head no. "Well then, who?"

"You'll see," he said mysteriously.

"Oh sure...." I said, falling into step next to him, and Hiei followed behind. Shuichi led us past empty jungle gyms and deserted swing-sets, the drained pool and tennis courts spotted with puddles. I felt a bit wistful, remembering all the times we had shared together in this park. I sighed, staring up into the clear blue sky.

But I was pulled out of my memories by Shuichi tugging on my arm. I hadn't really noticed, but we had entered the tiny strip of woods behind the park. I narrowly dodged a low tree branch and yelled, "Shuichi! Where are you going?! You almost killed me, for God's sake!" But he ignored me and instead pulled me next to him, where he was standing in a small clearing. I stumbled and barely righted myself to stand next to him. "I didn't know this was here...." I murmured. He walked away from me, and I became a bit uncomfortable because the rude Hiei guy was right behind me. I shifted slightly forward nervously. I didn't really like the look of him.

"Sora, here is the person I wanted you to meet," Shuichi said, pointing downwards to a point near his kneecaps.

"Oh my God, it can't be," I said, backing away from the little toddler I had seen that day with Yusuke. I retreated so far I bumped into Hiei, who grabbed my shoulders and wouldn't let me go any further. I squeaked in a high-pitched voice and struggled, but he held on tight. Surprisingly, his grip was impossible to break and I stilled. I could feel him breathing against my neck, and my face turned red. I had never really had a boyfriend yet, and no boy had ever been so physically close to me, except maybe Shuichi, but he was the exception.

"Don't be frightened, Sora," the toddler said. "I am Koenma, ruler of Spirit World."

"Spirit World?" I asked.

"Yes," he said, walking closer. He wasn't a ghost, as I had thought before, because his feet squished in the muddy ground as he walked. Ghosts couldn't touch the corporeal world, could they? "It is where the deceased go when they pass on."

"Am I dead?!" I shrieked. "Are you the Grim Reaper?"

"No, actually that's Botan," Shuichi said quietly, but everyone ignored him.

"No, I'm not the Grim Reaper. I make sure all the spirits of the deceased get to where they're supposed to go."

" Okay then.... So why are you telling me all this?" I asked, staring at the light blue pacifier in his mouth. He seemed to have no trouble talking around it.

"Do you know Yusuke Urameshi?"

"Yep," I said. I kept getting distracted by the warmth of Hiei's hands on my shoulders. "What about him?"

"He's something called a Spirit Detective. He brings rogue demons to justice."

"Okay, now I've heard everything."

"He uses something called Spirit Energy." Koenma kept talking, pretending not to hear me.

"Do you mean the blue light thing? Mine's purple." I said, shifting my weight onto my other foot.

"Yes, well, all people have it, but most people can't manifest their Spirit Energy outside their bodies, and most can't even see me." He looked at a watch on his wrist and said, "This conversation is getting rather long, don't you think? I have places to be. No offense," he added, noticing I was glaring at him. " I really have to go very soon, as in a few seconds. The point of this whole thing is that I want you to be another Spirit Detective for me. And Kurama and Hiei can be your instructors." With a small pop, he disappeared into thin air. I gasped and stepped forward, and Hiei let go of my shoulders.

"Well, that was unexpected," I said. "Now what?"

"Now we teach you to fight," replied Hiei, stepping around me to stand next to Shuichi on the other side of the clearing.

"But I don't know anything about fighting," I protested, pulling down my black shirt because I could feel that my tummy was exposed.

"Well, that could be a problem," Shuichi admitted.

~Author's Note~ Sorry I took so long to update, I guess I'm just lazy.... :-P I'll try to do it sooner next time. Anyway, this chapter was a lot longer than my last one, huh? I hoped you liked it, but I still need reviews from you to help make it better. Thanks! :-D ~DragonGurl15~