Saeka324: First of all: THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE THAT REVIEWED THE STORY!! YOU ROCK! (--gives cookies--)

(--coughs--) Yes, Distant Voice, the title is (--ahem--) interesting. The last chapter...erm... I believe I was in a bad mood so I didn't really h'explain anything. But it'll all make sense this chapter!! AND NO THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE WEIRD SLASHER PORNE-O ANIME FICS. REPEAT, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE.

Thank you, Monkies-at-Large and Distant Voice and DistrubedYoukai for your input for Hiei. Kagorin, don't worry, I still haven't decided yet. (--bites lip--) I'M MADLY IN LOVE WITH BOTH OF THEM!! (--sobs--)

Oh, and I actually remember a disclaimer this time! (--sticks tongue out at lawyers--) If owned YYH, this would be copyrighted and on its way AND I GOT POCKY LAST NIGHT!! (--salivates at the magic of pocky--) to being an episode.

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Schapiter 2: Learning to be a Spy

He ushered the weeping Botan into the parlor, a knowing grin on his face. Settling himself down into an easy chair, he rang for tea. Looking over to face Botan, who sat with her head bowed, a dark lock of her hair falling over her face. "Well, Botan. I must admit I am glad you finally came around."

Botan's hands clenched in her lap. "I did not 'come around', Mr. Mamoru, as you so daintily put it. I had no choice."

"Whether it was your choice or not, my dear, nonetheless you have joined the resistance against him." When his butler arrived with the tea tray, he graciously thanked him and set it on the coffee table. "Would you care for some tea?"

"Koenma is dead, Mr. Mamoru," Botan said lowly, her voice dripping venom. "Do not play with me as a cat does a baby bird. Finish it."

He calmly sipped his tea. "Finish what, my pet?"

Her head snapped up. Her eyes were dark an angry, glowing an eerie pink, and tears were brimming around the edges. "You have your spy. What do you want me to do." It wasn't question. It was a blunt demand.

He chuckled, gently setting his tea back down on his saucer. "We have much to do before you go into the field, my darling. But first, I do believe a little background information is in order."

Botan glared.

"As you well know, some years after the dark tournament, a rumor was begun in the depths of Spirit World. A rumor of some sinister force growing and spreading right underneath our very noses. Then, that rumor became reality." He reached down under the coffee table, and pulled out a worn newspaper. Tossing it on the table, he gestured toward it. The top showed a picture of shadows, reading: THOUSANDS DIE AT HANDS OF MYSTERIOUS FORCE. "The Ho Chi Minh City incident, if you well remember." He was referring to the day about a year ago when the intelligence building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, had been violently engulfed in curious, blue-black flames. He flipped the pages of the newspaper around, and then showed her a picture. It depicted a peculiar message on a cement wall, written in blood. The cruel red ink dripped sharply down the wall, making it seem as fresh as if it had just been written right when the picture was taken. It read:

The Shadow Lord's time for power is now.

Are you scared, Reikai?

Death to all who oppose him.

Death to the humans.

"I am quite aware of the Shadow Lord, Mr. Mamoru," Botan said quietly, her hands finely trembling from their place in her lap. "I still remember all those innocent lives that were taken..." Recalling all the blood and broken bones and screams, she buried her face in her hands and began to sob gently.

"Botan," Mr. Mamoru said, idly scratching his chin. "I suggest you get rid of that bleeding heart of yours. It will do you no good where you're going."

She nodded numbly, still crying through her hands. Mamoru cleared his throat. "Now, after that little incident, you of course know what happened next. The attacks. You see, the Shadow Lord is most desperate to gain control over Spirit World, and he will do it any way possible. As of late, he has tried with more fervor than ever, and his crowd of supporters grows bigger every day. I fear, that the reign of King Yama, will soon be over."

Thinking of Koenma, Botan choked on a sob. He's dead, Botan. And I can't do anything about it. Except try and make what he fought for better. It would please him, it he were here. "That's where you come in, my darling," Mamoru said loudly, cutting over Botan's harsh sobs. She looked up, rubbing at her red eyes with the back of her hand. "I want you to join the ranks of his followers. I want you to get under his skin, to become like his second shadow. I want you to get close to him. I want you to find where his headquarters are. I want you to be able to have his deepest and darkest plans for how to take over Spirit World in your hands. And when you have them, you must return them to me."

"And how exactly am I supposed to do this?" Botan asked, her voice shaking. "Become the wonder girl? Turn myself into Mary Sue?" (--yeah, sorry to people who like those fics--)

Mamoru chuckled. "Nothing so drastic, my dear. The Shadow Lord has a fancy for throwing most lavish balls. You are to receive an invitation to one of these events. Of course, since one of these "invitations" is most hard to come by, you must develop a reputation first. A most notorious one. "

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

Mamoru raised his cup of tea into the air, inspecting the fine china. "I am throwing a party, a week from now. That should give me enough time to train you."

"Train me...?" Botan asked incredulously.

"All in good time, dear. You are to attend this. And at that party, my pet, you will be most outspoken. You will say things about the Shadow Lord, things that will have people talking. You will say he is wonderful, and that him taking over our world will be the best thing that ever happened to us. You are then to attend more parties, and do the same thing. After you have done this for a while, you will receive a letter. A letter asking you to resign your position as grim reaper, and leave Spirit World on account of treason."

"What?!" She was startled by this.

"Well how else do you expect to get into the Shadow Lord's inner circle?" he said in a cynical tone. "If you just all of the sudden show up on their doorstep, I do believe they'll find you most suspicious. I have no bout that the Shadow Lord will have spies stationed around each one of those parties, so he will hear of your plight. He will think you most noble for staking your life to talk so highly of him. He will want to meet you. And then, it should be most simple to get an invitation, and to get close to him."

Botan rubbed her hands over her face, suddenly feeling faint. This was all too much. "Why me? Why must I do this?" she said to no one in particular.

"Because, my darling. The Shadow Lord is looking for someone to aide on his quest to control our world. Someone... with the blood of innocence. The blood of a virgin, you might say." (--ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS NOTTTTTT ONE OF THOSE WEIRD SLASHER/PORNE-O ANIME FICS.--) Her eyes widened. "I believe you fit the bill quite nicely."

Botan flushed angrily. "Now, listen here you, I only agreed to this because it would make Ko—" her breath caught, and she let out a shaky sob. "Because, it would have made the man I served happy. That does not give you any right to—"

"Oh, but I have every right. Contrary to what you may think, Baton darling, I now have control over you."

Her lower lip trembled.

"Now, I suggest you get some sleep. We have a lot to accomplish in a short amount of time. You have a busy week ahead of you. I'll meet you here, in the parlor, at 6 o'clock sharp." And with that, he rang for his butler. The butler appeared in a moment, and he said gracefully, "Lead Ms. Botan up to a vacant room. She shall be spending the night with us."

"Very good sir," he answered automatically. "Follow me, Ms. Botan." Like a lost waif, Botan followed the emotionless butler up the stairs.

"Oh, and Botan?"

Wearily, she turned around to face the man who had made her life hell ever since he showed up at her front door. "Do try and remember to wake up early. I absolutely despise people who are late." He laughed harshly.

Botan flushed angrily all the way up to her room.

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Botan's POV

As soon as the demure butler left me alone, I threw myself on the large bed and began to cry. What had I gotten myself into? Why had I ever agreed to doing this? I asked those questions to myself over and over again, it seemed as if I asked them often enough, someone would answer them. But no, the only person who answered my troubles was the desperate and despairing call of the wind against my window.

"Oh, Koenma sir, where are you!" I sobbed, rolling myself into a ball on the bed. It was all too much. I just couldn't handle it.

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Morning

Botan aimed the small pistol, and fired.

"Excellent," Mamoru called as he crossed the room to check the mannequin. Her aim was true, for the ball had gone through the mannequin's chest. "You are a most apt pupil. I believe I was correct at asking you to join my ranks of spies."

She gazed in disgust at the still-smoking pistol. Once again, she wondered why she ever had agreed to this. If being a spy meant hurting other innocent people, she wanted no part in it.

Catching Botan's blatant stare at this pistol, Mamoru grinned. "Don't worry, love. I typically don't train my spies in such combat. But, then again, I have never sent a spy to where you are going. It's always best to be prepared and ready for a battle than to be lying dead on the floor."

Botan eyes shone with something other than hate as she looked at the gun. "And now, my dear, I believe it is time to move on to the dagger."

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"How am I doing, Mr. Mamoru?" Botan lowered the embossed dagger and stared across at her instructor, who seemed lost in a reverie.

He looked up. "I beg your pardon?"

"I asked how I was doing?"

"Most excellent, as always, my pet. Your skill with weapons is quite remarkable."

"For a woman."

"Yes, for a woman, for most—all in my acquaintance, I am sorry to say—are not trained such matters. As I have said before, not all my spies need these skills. But you, I will take special care for. I have a fondness, for you Botan, and it wouldn't do me much good if you were dead. Are you tired, or shall we continue?"

Botan shuddered. "I wish to continue, if it were no consolation."

He was pleased. She moved back into position, and he lunged for the knife. She whirled, daintily stepped aside, and grabbed him by the neck with one arm. The cool metal blade rested against the skin of his throat for a moment before she released him. "Good," he said admiringly. "Although, you must remember that your adversary will be struggling. Is there anything else you are unclear on before we wrap up?"

Yes, Botan thought to herself. Why he's dead and I'm still alive. Why every time I seem to find someone I care for, they die. Why you asked me to do this. Why, why why..."No," she said in a calm voice. "Not now."

"Wonderful. Then I do believe it is time for you to come to a party. Are you ready to run your reputation through the mud, my darling?"

Botan looked calmly at the dagger she held in her hand. She had forgotten that a week had passed so quickly, and that the party was tonight. "It seems, Mr. Mamoru, as of late, I have no choice in anything."

He chuckled. "The party is tonight, love. Now, go take a bath and have a nap," he said, walking closer to her. "I want my most beautiful spy to look her best," he took a piece of her long blue hair and fanned it across his cheek. Botan whirled angrily, thrusting herself out of his arms and pointing the dagger at his heart.

"Do that again, you miserable jerk and I swear on Koenma's grave that I will cut you from navel," she moved the dagger sharply up to his face. "To nose." (1)

He looked shocked.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Mamoru, I do believe there is a bath tub with my name on it." She calmly set the dagger on the side-table, and wearily walked up the stairs. Rubbing furiously at her hair, she tried to get the feel of his fingers off it. It was horrible. This job exhumed too much of her physical strength. A bath was certainly what she needed.

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Saeka324: meh...that was a long chapter about nothing. I know what you're thinking: "where the crap is Hiei and Kurama??" Well, that'll be all solved in the next chapter. I also gave hints about it in this one. Let's just say, if you don't know who the Shadow Lord is now, you're kinda dumb. (--in a happy and friendly way--)

YAYS!! I GOTS TWO MORE REVIEWS WHEN I WAS WRITTIN THIS!! YOU GUYS ARE SUPER COOL!! (--gives them cyber cookies--)

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1. Meep, that was in Ever After!!