Authoress here.
Sort of makes me sad, how this is the last of the Yujo Chronicles, translated to the Friendship Chronicles. If you haven't read the first four, then I shall give you the brief rundown. I'll make this as short as possible.
First, in Emiko's Story, Kurama starts reminiscing about his mate, lost to him when he became human.
A girl at his school starts acting strangely, giving him reason to believe she is Emiko, his mate from his days as Yoko. Hiei reads her once hidden memories, awakening her to her past and Kurama to her true identity.
Next, in Katsuko's Story, Yusuke gets a brutal emotional blow when long-time girlfriend Kaiko dumps him. Partly to gain vengeance against her and partly out of grudging curiosity, Yusuke agrees to model his bad-boy look for pretty shutterbug Katsuko, alias Katsu.
Just when the two begin to fall for one another, a demon organization kidnaps Yusuke. After a dramatic rescue, Yusuke and Katsu decide to "just be friends" so Yusuke's heart can mend from Kaiko.
This brings us to Kiamo's Story, where we take a step out of strange demonic events and explore the boundaries of matters of the heart and shrewd business minds. Kiamo, friend and co-worker of Emiko's and Katsu's, thinks she has it made when big-bucks Seto Kaiba comes to town and begins to romance her.
What she later finds out is Seto is using her in order to buy a company that would assuredly make him millions. This information devastates emotionally vulnerable Kiamo, and Seto is ridden with both guilt and the realization he has developed feelings for Kiamo. The story ends with a romantic apology and happiness all around.
And lastly, Narrin's Story. Koenma, Prince of Spirit World, has stumbled onto a catastrophe too big for just the Spirit Detective and co to handle. He calls on the aid of Weiss Kreuz leader Aya to help the Fearsome Foursome (plus Emiko) rid France of an ex-goddess.
Narrin, once the goddess Narrinlorinia of the Honeyed Tongues, still has retained her power for persuasive speaking. Using this, she befuddles the entire French nation into thinking she is their rightful Queen. When the good guys leap in, guns blazing, she manages to capture them all with a little bit of her magic voice. While in captivity, Aya gets through to her tender heart with some quick thinking and a heartfelt kiss. Narrin releases both the Spirit Detectives and her hold on the Crown of France, succumbing to Aya's advances in a winning situation for all.
Here we are, standing on the brink of our final installment. I'm excited! This idea isn't entirely my own, though the original storyline has been tweaked here greatly. Many thanks to the fangirl whom Ankara is based upon. You go, FierceOne!
This story is set around a month after The YYH gang got back home from their mission to France concerning Narrin.
Now...to our story!
Yujo Chronicles: Ankara's Story
Chapter One
"Have you guys started a cult or something?" Pretty and strictly business Shizuru Kuwabara complained as she held the screen door open lazily. "You travel in one obnoxious pack all th' time."
Yusuke Urameshi just gave her a cocky grin and pulled his new girlfriend closer to himself. The girlfriend was none other than sweet photography-nut Katsuko Majoh. After her first encounter with any sort of demon, she was left with almost pure white eyes, showing only the faintest hint of her once-deep hazel eyes.
"Shizuru, y'should feel honored we're partying at your place." Yusuke drawled. "We're fricken' heros with worldwide recognition."
"Right." Shizuru gave the teen a playful buffet to the back of his head. Yusuke ducked vainly, wiggling away from Shizuru's abuse.
"Katsu! Help!" Yusuke yelped as Shizuru's palm connected with his head a second time. "I can't hit Shizuru- Ouch!"
Shizuru whacked him in earnest then. "Listen, punk, I could clean the street with your stinken' hide, so don't go on sayin' I'm a weakling!"
"I don't believe he meant to insinuate that." An amused voice chuckled from inside. "Yusuke isn't that much of an idiot." It was Kurama, the once fox-demon.
"You'd be surprised." Katsu said dryly. Yusuke sent her an expression of mock hurt as Shizuru relented and allowed them to walk inside.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Katsu rolled her eyes and patted his dark head. "Don't think about it too much. If I said you were smarter than Kuwabara, would you feel better?"
Yusuke poked her side. "That ain't hard t'do."
Just then the teen in question walked into the living room. Kazuma Kuwabara, known widely by his last name only, wore his bemused expression as he addressed his best friend. "What ain't hard, Urameshi? I didn't catch it."
"Exactly," Yusuke laughed, sending Katsu into a fit of giggles. Kuwabara just scratched his chin before shrugging it off and plopping down to sit next to Emiko on the couch.
Emiko was the short-haired red-headed mate of Kurama's, from when they both were powerful demons. Now also in a human body, she had retained her demonic abilities along with Kurama.
"D'you think Hiei'll bother t'come?" Kuwabara asked.
Kurama shrugged, one arm resting comfortably across Emiko's shoulders. "He might. I know Hiei grudgingly enjoys these little conventions, even though he hides it. But lately he's been quite divergent from his customary self."
Emiko nodded her agreement. Yusuke exchanged a glance with Katsu, who appeared mystified. "I didn't realize he was actin' weird. Er, weirder than usual." Yusuke said.
"I haven't really known him for too long to know what he's usually like," Katsu mused. "But we haven't really seen him since the thing with Queen Narrin."
A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Kuwabara hauled himself from the couch to answer the door, seeing as Shizuru had retreated to her bedroom. "Oh, hey Kiamo, Seto."
Kiamo was a coworker of Emiko's both holding part-time jobs at a local teen café, and one of Katsu's closest friends. She had a gorgeous head of bleached blonde hair, and was quite seemly in appearance.
The tall man next to her looked out of place, although he was dressed casually. Clad in expensive black Gucci slacks, a silken turtleneck of a deep azure, and black leather dress shoes, he looked more ready to attend a champagne party than some Friday night shindig thrown together last-minute. He was multimillionaire Seto Kaiba, and also Kiamo's steady bishonen of nearly two months.
After their wild up-and-down first few dates, Seto had come clean about the deal made with the owner of Hirugasashi Electronics to Kiamo. He had explained that the owner deemed his public image too harsh for the usual reputation of the company. Mrs. Hitome Hirugasashi had given him a month to soften the image before she would even consider letting Seto buy her company.
Seto had decided getting caught on film with an innocent small-city girl would be the ticket to the company he desired. But when he started have tangible feelings for Kiamo, guilt had set in. Now, however, the two were spending most weekends together, both happy as clams.
"Have a seat any ware that there isn't pizza." Kuwabara gestured at the shabby furniture that filled his living room. Kiamo looked around, and a frown wrinkled her forehead.
"Hey, we're missing someone. Hiei, isn't it?"
"Yes," Kurama nodded. "We don't know if he's planning on showing or not."
"If you louts would mind taking notice once in awhile, you might see I'm here." The cynical voice of the black-haired demon made them all jump. Sure enough, Hiei was leaning on the door frame, glaring at them in his typical greeting.
"Nice!" Kuwabara declared, getting up a second time to let Hiei in. "We're all here, let's get this party started!"
The wee hours of the morning saw the party still going strong. After demolishing six large pizzas, the group ate their way through a couple bags of chips and other snacks before finally relenting.
Shizuru got fed up around one-thirty. "Okay, now, everybody out!" She ordered. "I gotta work in the morning; you guys go some ware else!"
Kiamo and Seto made their excuses, and drove off together in the Ferrari Seto had driven to the party. Doubtless they were off to continue the evening in a different sort of manner, but nobody commented.
Moaning and complaining a little, the rest of the group left the Kuwabara household and ended up at a nearby park surrounded by empty office compounds. The street lamps and provided sufficient light for talking and laughing, and the area was secluded enough for the same activities.
Emiko and Kurama claimed a park bench under one street lamp. Laying her head between Kurama's strong shoulder and the crook of his neck, Emiko curled up comfortably next to her mate. Kuwabara saw Kurama resting his cheek on Emiko's dark red hair and sniggered.
"Fox-Boy's gone soft!" Kuwabara taunted.
"And you've gone moronic." Emiko replied loftily. "He has in no way gone soft. He's perfect. And snuggable."
"Snuggable?" Yusuke raised an eyebrow.
Katsu was nodding her agreement. "Yusuke's snuggable too."
Kuwabara got an even bigger kick out of Yusuke being called snuggable. He started hooting his mirth to the stars above. Katsu sent him a withering glare. "I'll bet your little Yukina thinks you're snuggable. Any guy who's attractive to a girl is considered snuggable."
Kuwabara puffed out his chest proudly at the mention of Yukina. "Yeah, maybe I am snuggable, if Yukina thinks so."
Yusuke smirked. "I have my doubts about you and Yukina, man. Katty said the guy's gotta be attractive to a chick."
"Shuddap, Urameshi. Any guy could be attractive if the girl loves 'em."
Yusuke laughed. "You're tryin' to be deep, Kuwabara. It don't suit you."
Kurama glanced around. Hiei hadn't said a thing since they had left the Kuwabara house. Green eyes cutting through the gloom past the circle of streetlamp light, Kurama frowned. Hiei wasn't with them any longer. On a hunch, Kurama directed his eyes skyward. Silhouetted against the nearly full moon was the dark figure of Hiei, sitting on a nearby office compound rooftop.
"I'll be right back," Kurama murmured to Emiko, who glanced at him curiously. Not being the type to pry, Emiko simply gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"You'd better be," Emiko whispered back, looking up through a curtain of eyelashes. Kurama raised a suggestive eyebrow, and in response Emiko gave his earlobe a small nibble before drawing away. Kurama gave her a slow, titillate smile before striding into the darkness.
Katsu, Yusuke, and Kuwabara failed to notice. An irate Katsu was glaring at Yusuke, who had made a suggestive comment on the real definition of 'snuggable.'
"Come on, Yusuke, that was just nasty." Katsu snapped. Yusuke dodged her fist with a snort.
"Don't get yourself in a snit, Katty." Yusuke laughed. Kuwabara was doubled up with laughter after Yusuke's denouncement of the once-innocent term. Katsu was about to launch another fist at Yusuke when he tackled her, wrapping his arms around her waist and sending them both sprawling.
Hiei turned as a soft rustle disrupted the otherwise quiet of the evening. He glared and resumed his pervious position. "Can I help you, Kurama?"
The fox demon smiled, the vines he grew to scale the wall up to Hiei's lofty perch slowly curling away. "Now now, Hiei. It's bad manners to slip away without saying goodbye."
"You did without any large pangs of remorse."
Kurama gave a short, humorless laugh. "Haven't you been doing enough perpetual angst brooding lately?"
"Hn." Hiei scrutinized the night sky with his usual glare.
"I can see it. Emiko can see it. Even Kuwabara notices something is wrong with you lately." Kurama regarded his friend unblinkingly.
Hiei scowled, eyes scanning the night sky. "Get off the roof, Kurama. You might slip and break you neck. I wouldn't care, but your little mate might start to cry."
Kurama smiled, and sat more comfortably next to his demonic friend. "Come now, Hiei. Where has your sense of logic gone? I was quite the thief as Yoko, and then I practically lived on rooftops."
"Hn." Hiei purposefully avoided his friend's eyes.
"Come on, Hiei. You've been fingering your mother's teardrop pearl much more than you usually do." Kurama prompted.
Hiei took out the object of question. The perfectly round pearl dangled on the fine chain, that was constantly some ware on Hiei's person. The first time Kurama had questioned of its origin Hiei had said it was one of his mother's tears.
"Well?" Kurama asked gently.
"This isn't my mother's," Hiei said slowly. "Nor is it Yukina's. It once belonged to..."
Kurama waited silently, eyes searching his friend's face for any telltale signs of emotion. Hiei's eyes had softened, and a well of sadness bubbled up in the demon's gaze. His entire being sagged as the weight of memories leaned heavily onto his already burdened shoulders.
"It once belonged to a girl I knew."
Kurama voiced his question after a moment of silence. "Who was this woman?"
Hiei sighed. "I suppose you'll only keep nagging me if I refuse to tell you."
Kurama grinned, confirming Hiei's statement. The black haired demon shifted uncomfortably, gathering his thoughts. The memories played out before his eyes, as though he were an outsider watching his own life take place. With a flat voice, he began to speak.
Authoress here.
This no tab deal is REALLY starting to get on my nerves. Really, really, really starting to get on my nerves.
I think it's a trend, to not hardly mention the "main character" of the Yujo Chronicles. I haven't even said Ankara once. And "It once belonged to a girl I knew" doesn't count. So foo.
Anyhoo, I can't think of anything more to say, other than...CLIFFHANGER!! WheeeeeeEE!