Chapter Four: Discoveries Revealed and Meeting the Sarayashiki Punks
It's been one month since Raven arrived to the Human World. The case of the missing soul was not recognized until now. Koenma called forth Botan when he discovered this. He is in his teenage form and he is waiting for Botan to enter the office.
Botan: You called?
Koenma: We have an emergency… it's about the "Vault of Lost Souls."
Botan: The vault?! This must be serious.
Koenma: It is. One soul has escaped and it, or she, has been reincarnated to the Human World.
Botan: What?! But you're the only one who can give permission to reincarnate. I know that of all people, you would not reincarnate one of those savage souls.
Koenma: That's why I said "escaped" Botan. What's worse is that it's the most deadliest demon of the past five centuries.
Botan: You don't mean it's…
Koenma: I'm afraid so… Ceres, Black Kitsune of the Red Moon. You and I both know that she is the most dangerous demon that has ever crossed the path of my father. Even he had problems sealing up her powers. In fact, he failed to do so.
Botan: Didn't she die in the most horrific way?
Koenma: Yes… and from my resources, the people who killed her want her back. Their using her as a tool to obtain the Human World. It's weird that we faced this problem before.
Botan: You mean that the Shadow Realm wants revenge?
Koenma: Yes, but they did have a flaw. The reincarnation is human, so she can't do damage. She's just an innocent girl right now. No family or history of past lifestyle. In her case, she woke up at the age of fifteen. She's very similar to her counterpart though. She's just not as coordinated and vicious. This is what she looks like. (hands Botan a picture)
Botan: You're right; she is just a young girl.
Koenma: Do not take her lightly though. Her demonic powers are still growing at a tremendous rate. Get her mad and her powers will be released… just like what happened in the Shadow Realm.
Botan: What do you wan me to do?
Koenma: I want you to tell Yusuke about her. Tell him to make sure she's stable. Becoming friends might be a good solution. Who knows, she might be a member of the group. She may also be able to help solve the mystery of the Children of the Moon and the secret to the barrier that surrounds the Shadow Realm.
Botan: Do you really think that she might be the answer?
Koenma: I'm not sure. Besides, she's just a human right now, but time will tell. Hiei has been getting he info we need, so it's no surprise that we'll get up dates. You should go now to tell Yusuke and the others.
Botan: What's the girl's name?
Koenma: Raven Mikako. Now go!
Botan: I'm on it! (disappears)
Koenma: (sweat drop and waits)
Botan: (comes back) Whoops! I dropped the picture. Silly me! (goes off again)
Koenma: Sometimes I wish she would crash into a mountain… (sighs)
Meanwhile in the Human World, Yusuke and Kuwabara are skipping school. They're still in the hallway talking about things. Raven had hall monitor duties today too.
Yusuke: Heard any news lately?
Kuwabara: Yeah… did you know that we have a new hall monitor?
Yusuke: Nope.
Kuwabara: Well, they replaced the old one because we beat him up, remember?
Yusuke: Yeah… good times, good times.
Kuwabara: This time it's a high school student taking a part-time job here.
Yusuke: Really? Damn, they're desperate. Hear anything else?
Kuwabara: Yup! Do you remember the thugs who killed the people downtown?
Yusuke: Yeah. What about them?
Kuwabara: They were found dead in a back alley. They say that they were dead for at least a month.
Yusuke: Wow.
Kuwabara: That's not all! They found them with missing limbs, skin peeling from muscle, and one wearing a mask.
Yusuke: A mask?
Kuwabara: Yeah it sounded weird to me too, but when they removed he mask…
Yusuke: What?
Kuwabara: The guy's face was rotting or being eaten by something. I mean you can see the skull since it's been on for the month. It gave me goose bumps just seeing that on TV.
Yusuke: Man, that's some heavy duty torture. I wonder who did it.
Kuwabara: I don't want to know who the person is… I just want to stay as far away from that freak as possible.
Yusuke: You're weak! He can't be as bad as Toguro.
Kuwabara: Still… you never know what a crazy person might do.
Raven: Shouldn't you boys be in class? Both: Huh? (turn around to see who said that)
Raven: Didn't you hear me? Shouldn't you be in class?
Yusuke: Who are you?
Raven: I'm the recent hall monitor for this area.
Both: You're the new hall monitor?!?!?!?! O.o
Yusuke: (whispering) You didn't tell me the hall monitor was a high school GIRL!
Kuwabara: I didn't know!
Yusuke: Well… you should have researched!
Raven: Uh… are you guys listening tome?
Both: Oh… what?
Yusuke: We just got here.
Kuwabara: What do you mean? We've been here for… (gets hit) Uh… I mean yeah!
Raven: Well, if that's the case. (writes on paper) Here's your hall passes, but this will be a warning. The next time I catch you I won't go easy.
Both: Okay…
Kuwabara: What makes you think we'll listen to …
(mouth gets covered)
Yusuke: We won't bother you. Uh, thanks for the hall passes! (zooms to a far away corner)
Raven: (sweat drop) Yusuke drags Kuwabara to a corner. Kuwabara was struggling, but it was nothing to Yusuke.
Kuwabara: (Yusuke lets go) What the hell was that for Urameshi?!?!?!!
Yusuke: Didn't you see those scars and bandages? She must have been a tough girl to get those.
Kuwabara: You think so? Geez… I didn't see them.
Yusuke: You're an idiot!
Kuwabara: Now what are we going to do?
Yusuke: Well… these passes can be our ticket to go to the arcade.
Both: Let's go! Just when they were about to exit the building from the back door, Botan popped out. She was panting and struggling to talk.
Botan: Guys!!!
Both: AAAHHHH!!!! O.O
Botan: You have another mission!!!
Yusuke: What?! Already… and I was enjoying my vacation too. (moans)
Kuwabara: (on ground because of heart attack)
Botan: No time to fool around Yusuke! This is really bad!! A demon has been reincarnated to the area!!!
Yusuke: How bad are we talking about?
Botan: REALLY bad! We're talking about "blow up the world" bad!
Yusuke: That demon can do that much damage?!
Kuwabara: This seems like a very hard job.
Botan: It should be! This demon was almost the cause for the Spirit World's demise and the other worlds that surround it.
Yusuke: Damn… this guy must be powerful.
Botan: Yes… she is.
Both: IT'S A SHE?!?!?!?!
Botan: Yup. Women can be dangerous too you know.
Yusuke: Okay… this is just weird. First a girl hall monitor, and now a bitch who can destroy the world.
Kuwabara: (shivering at the thought of the world being destroyed)
Yusuke: So… is she dangerous now?
Botan: Nope. She's just a human right now, but that doesn't mean that she's not able to attack back. She can destroy something without even knowing it.
Yusuke: Great…
Botan: We need you guys to befriend her. We need to make sure she's stable. Also… if you're going to be friends, don't make her mad. All that power she has right now can destroy the country or even the world.
Kuwabara: What if we fail the mission?
Botan: Oh let's see… YOU'LL BE TAKEN OVER BY THE SHADOW REALM AND YOU CAN KISS YOUR BUTT GOOD BYE!!! IS THAT MOTAVATION FOR YOU?!?!?!?!
Both: (Chibi forms) yes ma'am.
Botan: Here's a picture of the girl. (gives it to Yusuke)
Yusuke: (looks and mouth drops)
Kuwabara: What's wrong Urameshi? (looks too)
Both: (look at each other in shock then looks away and then back at each other) THAT WAS THE GIRL HALL MONITOR!!!!!!!! O.O
Botan: You met her already?
Both: Yeah!
Botan: That'll make finding her easy then, huh?
Yusuke: That's not funny!
Kuwabara: What's her name?
Botan: Oh that? It's Raven… Mikako.
Yusuke: Okay we're on it. Oh… what's the Shadow Realm?
Botan: I'll explain later. (gets oar and flies off)
Yusuke: Now what are we going to do?
Kuwabara: Should we go tell Kurama about this?
Yusuke: Yeah… we should. He's a demon so he should know some things about this demon girl person and the Shadow Realm.
Kuwabara: Yeah he should. (deep in thought) He's older so he must be smarter.
Yusuke: Let's go before you hurt your self.
Yusuke and Kuwabara got to Meiou High School, Kurama's school, and see if they can get Kurama out of a class for a few minutes. Kurama is with them at the courtyard.
Kurama: So what do I deserve for this visit?
Yusuke: We have another mission.
Kurama: I see. This must be an urgent one then because I was getting quite used to this vacation.
Yusuke: That's what I said. Anyways, we have some questions to ask you.
Kurama: Go on.
Kuwabara: Do you know a girl named Raven Mikako?
Yusuke: Here's a picture to refresh your memory.
Kurama: It just so happens that I do know her. She's my biology partner after all.
Yusuke/Kuwabara: WHAT?!
Kurama: Is there a problem?
Yusuke: Hell yeah! That's the demon girl!
Kurama: Raven a demon? How can that be? I don't sense anything when I'm around her.
Yusuke: What? Really? That's weird… we didn't sense anything either now that I think of it.
Kuwabara: That's right!
Kurama: Wait! Did you two happen to sense a huge burst of demonic energy a month ago?
Yusuke: I think I did. I remember feeling something pecking at my whole body, but I thought it was just a sore.
Kuwabara: Me too.
Kurama: I knew something was strange, but I didn't expect that Raven would be the one. Do you know which demon she is? I'm sure she's a reincarnation correct?
Both: Yeah… nothing gets past you huh?
Yusuke: Botan didn't say much, but she said something about a demon almost destroying Spirit World or something. She also said something about the Shadow Realm or something.
Kurama: The Shadow Realm huh? That might explain it.
Yusuke: So you know of it?
Kurama: Yes. I've been there once when I was a young thief. I stole three artifacts from the Empresses of the Shadow Realm. I managed to get through the barrier with the help of a member of the Lotus Clan. That member was the protector of the barrier, but she let me through. She said something about the tremendous power she had. She wanted to use it to gain freedom from the Shadow Realm. This might be the demon Raven is.
Kuwabara: So what is the Shadow Realm exactly?
Kurama: It's a world where lost and abandoned souls go, so I've heard. It's always engulfed in the night with the four moons in the black sky. The sun comes out for every century, but it only stays up for a few hours. Each moon has a different color and the Realm is divided in eight regions. There's the Kingdom of the Shadow Demons, the Fire Region, Wind Region, Desert Region, Winter Region, Water Region, Shadow Lagoon, and the largest is the Earth Region. Eight gates allow passage to a certain Region. It's no use entering a gate because of the barrier that overlaps it. The four moons represent life, mortality, phantom, and spirit. The Life Moon is a pearl white. The Mortality Moon is blood red. Phantom Moon is cerulean and the Spirit Moon is copper.
Yusuke: Wow… that's the Shadow Realm?
Kuwabara: Sounds like a nice place.
Kurama:(turns around, back facing Yusuke and Kuwabara) It isn't. It may sound like a fantasy land, but it's a nightmare. A soul is sacrificed each day to quench the thirst of the Youkai Moon.
Yusuke: But I thought you said there was only four?
Kurama: This one is out of sight until it gathers enough souls. Only then will it appear.
Kuwabara: That's creepy.
Kurama: Anything else you need to know?
Yusuke: Nah… I think that covers it.
Kurama: All right. Do you guys want to meet at Main St. to get a bite to eat? I hear a restaurant that opened a month ago has been getting a lot of attention with the people and critics. It's not even one of those fancy, high priced restaurants either. It's just a refined, decorated place.
Yusuke: Sounds good to me.
Kuwabara: Me too.
Kurama: Great! We'll talk about the mission while we eat. I'll meet you guys later.
Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara are at Main Street. Kurama is leading the way to the restaurant and Yusuke and Kuwabara are wondering where the heck they are going. They stop in front of a big building with a neon sign that says " Bonsai Garden Café." Several people were in line, but it wasn't too long. The parking lot was crowded, so they went in line so no one will come to take that spot.
Yusuke: So is this the place Kurama?
Kurama: Yes, this is it.
Kuwabara: Seems kind of big. Looks crowded too.
Kurama: That's not going to be a problem. Anyways, this will make our mission easier.
Yusuke: What? Are you trying to say that eating will make the mission easier?
Kuwabara: That sounds like fun!
Kurama: That's not what I meant. You'll just have to see.
Both: We still don't get it...
Kurama: (back turned to them and waits patiently for the line to move)
The line finally gets shorter and they finally get to sit down. When they entered, they saw kids, who are around their age, tables with cute bonsai trees in the middle, cool blue and white lamps hanging from the ceiling, live entertainment, and surprisingly, only girl waiters. Half of the restaurant was a garden, which was a dining area too if the weather permits. A guide takes them to a table in the garden and hands them menus.
Guide: Your waitress will be here in a moment.
Yusuke: (looks at the menu) Dang! All these foods are cheap! They're simple too… cheeseburger, salad, soup, chicken, pork, and other things!
Kuwabara: They're simple, but they make it look fancy. They smell good too!
Kurama: I'm glad this place doesn't disappoint.
Raven: Shuichi?
Kurama: Huh? (looks up) Oh, Raven! Fancy meeting you here.
Raven: Same here.
Yusuke/Kuwabara: (thinking) He knew this the whole time…
Kurama: These are my friends Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara.
Raven: (looks at them and laughs) I think we've already met.
Kurama: Really now? (looks at Yusuke and Kuwabara)
Yusuke: Yup, that's true.
Kuwabara: Guilty.
Kurama: This is the first time we've been here as you can see.
Raven: I kind of figured that out since I haven't seen you here before. Anyways, what would you guys like to drink?
Yusuke: I want root beer.
Kuwabara: Hmm… Pepsi for me!
Kurama: Herbal tea will be fine.
Yusuke/Kuwabara: (sweat drop)
Raven: Okay, root beer, Pepsi, and herbal tea. Do you want it hot or cold Shuichi?
Kurama: Hot please.
Raven: Okay. I'll be right back with your drinks. Give me a holler when you're ready to order.
All: Alright!
Yusuke: She seems nice for a demon of destruction. (smiles and looks at Kurama)
Kuwabara: Yeah… (does the same thing)
Kurama: What? Why are you staring at me like that?
Yusuke: You didn't want to talk about the mission did you? You just wanted to see your girlfriend who happens to be subject of our mission.
Kurama: That's preposterous.
Kuwabara: Oh come on! You were all over her!
Yusuke: I bet she was the same girl you helped a month ago. Isn't she? (sly smile)
Kurama: She was not! Okay… maybe she was.
Both: So she was!!! (laughing)
Yusuke: Why don't you ask her out? She seems to like you too. I mean she calls you Shuichi, so you must be special.
Kuwabara: He does have a point.
Kurama: (blushes) A lot of people call me that! I just didn't tell her my real name!!!
Both: Yeah... sure!
