Siren of the Shadows
Koenma sat there staring at his desk. Hiei and Kurama were standing there, speechless. The couldn't quite believe what Koenma had just told them.
"A… Runaway demon? Koenma sir, how… I don't understand." Kurama said. Koenma nodded.
"To tell you the truth, I don't quite understand either. But we have reports that a demon escaped into the living world several years ago, but now, there are isolated incidents that we think are somehow linked with this demon." Koenma hops down from his desk. "So I want the two of you to investigate things."
"Isn't this the kind of thing Yuske handles? Why are we being sent? He's the spirit detective after all." Koenma thought about this a moment.
"Well, I promised Yuske some time off. And he's on a date with Keiko. I really don't want to mess with her." Koenma says shyly.
"You're afraid of the human girl?" Hiei asked suspiciously.
"It's not that!" Koenma snapped. "I'm afraid of Yuske…" he muttered. "So are you going or not?! Remember, you have jobs here too!"
"Do you know anything about this demon we're looking for?" Kurama interjects. Koenma shakes his head. "I see. So we're running blind."
"Then let's not waste our time. Come on Kurama. Let's see what we can find on our own first. We'll get Yuske and Kuwabara on this later… If we need them." Hiei turns and starts walking out of Koenma's office. Kurama follows.
"You know, I hate being surrounded by humans." Hiei says. He and Kurama were standing by a busy shopping center, watching for anyone unusual.
"But you fit in so well, Hiei." Kurama teases. Hiei glared at him. "I was only kidding, Hiei." Kurama smiles.
"Well, remember that not all demons were raised by humans. Some of us grew up thinking to hate humans with everything we are. … Even if I am getting used to being around them." Hiei turns away from Kurama. "I think we might do better to split up. We'll cover more ground that way, and we won't stand out so much."
"I suppose you're right. You'll blend in so well by yourself." Hiei glared at Kurama as he turned and walked away.
Hiei started to walk around when he felt an unusual presence near him. He looked around to try and locate where the feeling was coming from. A group of school girls walked out of a store near by. The feeling moved with them. Hiei walked along behind them for a while. Slowly, each girl was going her own way, calling out for the rest to call and other such messages. The group was getting too small for Hiei to be comfortable. If the demon was very powerful, could he take it? Another girl left the party, and the feeling went to so Hiei took off after her. She was a tall, slender girl. Her uniform hung down to half past her thighs. Her long hair was a soft indigo -white color.
Hiei noticed the scenery around them was getting less civilized. They were heading out into the country side.
("Good…") Hiei thought. ("Now there won't be any people around to get in my way.") The girl started to slow down a little, but Hiei didn't notice. She then stopped and turned around. Hiei was a little startled. The girls eyes filled with terror.
"Wh… who are you?!" She cried and backed up a few steps. Hiei didn't respond but rather stepped forward. "Stay away from me…! Please!" The girl turned and ran away from Hiei. She started heading towards a part of town. Hiei cursed himself for not being more attentive. He should have noticed her slowing. When their steps fell out of sync, she could hear him.
"I'll just need to come back with Kurama." And Hiei disappeared to find him.
"So, you're saying that the demon is either taking the form of, or possessing a human girl? That's interesting. It may be hard to find her now." Koenma said as he crossed his arms.
"I doubt it. I got a good feel for her energy. I know I'll be able to find her again." Hiei replied.
"But what if she's able to change it? If she thinks you're after her, she might decide to change herself, or move someplace safe."
"I'm aware of that. I tried to get her, but she ran into town."
"And you of all demons couldn't stop her." Kurama stated sarcastically. "So, how are we going to track her down again?" Kurama asked Koenma.
"I got a look at her uniform. I believe it's the same school that Yuske attends."
"Then maybe I should have him look into it tomorrow while he's at school. … If he goes. Wait! I've got it! Boton! She can do it!" Koenma sits proudly as he thinks of his accomplishment. Then his face drooped. "But if she is a demon, I don't know if Boton will be able to handle it. …" Koenma drops his head onto his desk and folds his arms over his head. "What to do…!"
"There is always Kuwabara." Hiei reminds them.
"No… Kuwabara is off with his family somewhere and won't be back until tomorrow."
"Then it looks like I'll have to go." Kurama said, in a matter of fact manner. "Hiei, you'll have to tell me what she looks like, and I'll see if I can find her at Yuske's school." Hiei nods.
"Are you sure about this?" Hiei asked Kurama as they walked slowly to the school. Kurama nodded.
"Right now, I'm Suichi, I'm looking at schools to find one that suits me. I had Koenma arrange a phone call to let me in without suspicion. I'll walk around and see if I can find her. You should probably disappear now. If she sees you, and recognizes you, I might not have a chance to confront her." Hiei disappeared without a word. "Looks like I'm on my own now." Kurama turned to the school and walked in.
"Are you sure you don't want anyone to show you around? Any teacher?" The administrator, Takanaka, asked. Kurama shook his head.
"No, I don't want anyone to show me around. I'll become more familiar with the students and the lay out if I'm on my own."
"You know that our school has a reputation… For ruffians." The man's brow twitched into a scowl. Kurama smiled.
"I think I can handle it."
"Well, you'll still want this." The Takanaka handed Kurama a badge that read 'visitor' in bold green letters. "Suichi, there will be teachers who ask who you are, show them this badge and tell them you're observing the school. You should be fine." Kurama nodded and left.
Kurama had been wandering around the school for a few hours. The lunch bell rang and students filled out of their classes.
("Now what am I going to do? I don't think I'll be able to find everyone I haven't seen before the end of the day… This just sucks…") Kurama raised his hand to his forehead. He slowly starts milling around, waiting for something to happen. A feeling, a sense, anything. ("Maybe I'll have to come back here tomorrow and check things out some more.") Kurama passed a group of kids hanging around a tree when he felt a spirit near by. Kurama looked over at the students. There were several boys resting their arms against the three leaning over some girls. One of the girls was blushing profusely. ("That's her. She matches Hiei's description. Hair, eyes… She could be the same height.") One of the other girls jumped up and yelled at the boys. She had short red hair and bright green eyes. Slowly, the boys walked away and the girl sat down again. Kurama walked over to them slowly.
"Excuse me," He smiled. "I'm visiting the school today, and I was wondering if one of you could show me around the campus a little. I got a little lost before and wondered around the same few halls this morning." The red-head girl smiled devilishly.
"Saiko, this is what you're good at." She shoved the indigo-headed girl a little.
"Why me, Shinju? You can do it too!" Saiko objected.
"Because," a brunet girl poked her head around the tree. "she gets lost heading to gym class. It won't kill you Saiko. If you're late, bring him to class with you, you're story will check out. Even if it doesn't, he's still cute." She winked at Kurama.
"Thanks so much, Migi…" Saiko said sarcastically. "Do you have a visitor's badge?" Kurama fished around in his pocket a moment and pulled the badge out. "Fine." She stood up. "What's you're name?"
"I'm Suichi Minamino."
"Hey, Suichi! You'll have to stay after school so we can get to know each other!" Migi winked.
"Um… We'll see…" Kurama said nervously. Saiko started walking away. "Hey, slow down!" Kurama hurried after her.
"You'll have to keep up!" Saiko said. "If you want to get anywhere in this school, you must be quick and decisive."
"You never told me your name." Kurama smiled cheerfully. Saiko didn't say anything. "Um… Did I do something wrong?" He asked sheepishly.
"No. I'm sorry. I'm Saiko Kagami. I didn't mean to sound brash, it's just that my friends are a bit lazy sometimes. … And I don't like guys hitting on us all the time."
"But I…"
"I don't mean you." Saiko turned around and smiled, but her eyes looked sad. "But just guys at this school in general."
"Are you and you're friends the school beauties?" Saiko nodded. "So, where are you from?" Saiko turned away from him.
"I'm not sure. I was adopted when I was just a baby. I don't know who my parents are, or where they're from. But I don't mind. This is my home now."
"So, you don't know…"
"Look," Saiko interrupted as she looked over her shoulder. "you're supposed to be getting familiar with the school, not me. So let's move on shall we?"
"What are you?" The question caught Saiko off guard.
"What…? What do you mean? What am I? I'm a 10th grader."
"That's not what I mean. You're not human. So what are you?"
"No… Go away!" Saiko took off down the hall. "Leave me alone!" Kurama started after her as she ran around a corner. Kurama rounded the corner in time to see a door slide shut a few feet away. He opened the door as Saiko screamed. Hiei was standing in the room.
"You're the guy from the other day…! What do you want with me?!"
"What took you so long, Kurama?" Hiei asked. Saiko turned around and ran into Kurama. She collapsed to her knees and looked up at Kurama's face.
"Suichi! Help me! This man is…" Saiko didn't finish.
"Well Hiei, so much for the subtle approach, right?" Kurama smiled.
"I never thought that'd work in the first place."
"Suichi…? You're with him? But… Why? How did…?" Saiko fainted. Kurama and Hiei stood, baffled, as they looked at her.
"It would seem… that we overwhelmed her." Kurama said.
"That just makes it easier for us!" A voice called from the far corner of the room. A shadow stood there. "You saved me a lot of trouble. Now I don't have to try and get her alone before I take her back. Now, hand her over." Kurama and Hiei crouched down into fighting positions. "So, you won't give her up without a fight? So be it!" The figure charged from the corner and jumped at Hiei first. Hiei pulled out his sword and blocked the attack. "You smell like a demon. Am I correct?"
"Should we congratulate you?" Hiei snapped. He shoved the attacking demon away. "Kurama, I think it may be best if we retreated for now. This is the kind of thing Yuske's good for. Take the girl and get out of here!" Hiei blocked another attack.
"But Hiei!"
"I'll catch up. I want to finish this pest first." Hiei charged at the demon. "Go now!" Kurama grabbed Saiko and disappeared. "Now it's just you and me." Hiei looked at the shadow. "Prepare yourself!" But the shadow disappeared. "…Huh…?" Hiei blinked in confusion. "And I didn't even get to stretch my muscles." Hiei disappeared to the Spirit World.