Disclaimer: If you think that I own Yusuke or any of the gang other then Jeff and Toma-su, you obviously haven't been reading these things.
Chapter 6: A Noteworthy Race and What Was That About?!
Later that afternoon Jeff goes to the arcades as planned earlier, deciding that if he was going to be confused, he might as well have fun. He meets up with the others and they commence in the age-old ritual of letting the machines eat their money. He has a great time, he plays a shooting game with Yusuke, slightly amazed at the boy's accuracy, and quite a few fighting games with all of them, as they set up several tournaments between the 4 of them. Then, last but not least, he holds true to his word as he challenges Botan to a race.
She smiles as she slips in the seat, putting in the coins in sync with him and choosing her car, etc. keeping her eyes on the screen as she says "Be warned, I may stink at fighting games, but I'm the queen of speed." She giggles a bit, making him smile.
He raises an eyebrow "Oh yeah? Well we'll just have to see if we can relieve you of that lofty title Your Majesty." He chuckles, hearing the others cheer behind him. Apparently Botan has beaten both of them before, because they seem adamant about him getting revenge for them. He smirks as the red light comes into view "Sorry guys, but this one's just for me." he says before flooring it.
The two boys behind them watch as they swerve around curves, soon leaving the digital opponents in the dust to battle over third place. Their eyes widen as they continue to watch, Kuwabara mumbling "Oh my gosh, he's keeping up! I got left behind way before this!" as the two racers zoom across the finish line, ending lap 1.
Botan glances over at Jeff, smirking a bit "You're pretty good, for a beginner."
Jeff laughs as he swerves gracefully around yet another bend, eyebrows furrowed slightly in concentration "You know, I was just about to say the same to you."
Botan raises an eyebrow, seemingly almost a different person when behind the wheel "Oh really? So then I guess you wouldn't mind," she moves effortlessly around one of the stragglers before continuing "if I kicked it up a notch?"
Jeff smiles "I thought you'd never ask."
With that they simultaneously reached down on the gear stick and pressed the turbo button, each trying to use the extra boost in speed to get ahead of the other. Neither succeeds and the race continues in the same heated manner, each trying to get one up on the other, using turbos whenever they got them to try and get ahead. It was neck and neck down to the very end. Suddenly, in the last five seconds of the race, they both receive a turbo. They hardly glance at each other before they slam on the turbo button, sliding to a finish several yards beyond the finish line. The screen blared at him. Second place by less then two milliseconds. He breathes a sigh and hears the two behind him moan before getting out of his seat, turning to face Botan, who is still sitting down, and mock bows with a bit of flourish. "Your Majesty, you deserve your title and can keep it another day." He says before looking at her with a smirk "But beware, I'm not one to give up on getting to be number one. I plan to challenge you again, one day, and take the title for my own." After that he breaks down, laughing at how cheesy he sounded.
Botan giggles, then sits up straight and looks him in the eye "I look forward to our next bout, this was truly a noteworthy battle." Then she too breaks down in giggles. The other two had started before either of them when they'd heard Jeff.
After they all get themselves under control, they leave the arcade and grab something to eat at a nearby restaurant. They sit down with their meal and just hang out. Then Botan asks how Jeff likes life here so far.
Jeff smiles and looks at his cheeseburger, then sighs "It's pretty good, I mean, I've got a job, a place of my own, friends." He casts a smile around the table "But, to be honest, I think I'm kinda homesick. Not to mention one of the guys that brought me here, not Hiei, the other guy, showed up at my new place and just may have made things more confusing, if that's even possible."
Yusuke tilts his head "The other one?"
Jeff nods "Yeah, when I was taken there were two guys. One was Hiei; the other was this guy named Toma-su. What's really weird is that he looks just like me, only he's got just about as much personality as Hiei."
Everything went quiet before Botan gasps, her eyes dilating slightly. Everyone looks to her while Jeff asks "What, do you know the guy? Can you tell me who or what he is?"
Yusuke and Kuwabara's gazes return to Jeff "What do you mean 'what he is'?" Yusuke asks, looking uncharacteristically stiff.
Jeff tries to shrug it off while replying "Well, he shows up, talking about how we're connected somehow, then he leaves. Before he did though, and I know this is going to sound really weird, but he called me 'human'. Like he wasn't or something. Weird huh?"
He can't help but notice that Yusuke looks distracted as he mutters "Yeah, weird." Like something has clicked in his head and he's thinking about it.
Jeff raises an eyebrow and swipes a hand in front of Yusuke's face "Yo', Earth to Urameshi! What is it? Do you know something? 'Cause if you do then I'd really like to know. This guy's messing with me. I'd like to know what I'm dealing with."
Yusuke shakes his head but still looks serious "It's nothing, really." He glances at his wrist "Well look at that, it's getting late. We should all be getting home." Botan and Kuwabara nod and get up, Yusuke and Kuwabara just walking off while Botan stays just long enough to say "Thank you for this afternoon Kei. It was really quite nice. I hope we can do it again sometime." Before hurrying off after them, leaving Jeff sitting alone.
'What the hell was that all about?' he wonders 'And why don't I feel like they're telling me everything?'
Oh, it looks like Jeff's getting suspicious! That can't be good, what's going to happen next? Honestly, even I couldn't tell you, I just write as it comes to me. R&R please, and I'll give you all imaginary Jin plushies! hugs hers tightly Isn't it cute?
