Demons Abroad

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this chapter... blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.

It was a beautiful sunny summer afternoon, with a gentle breeze tugging at the trees. Birds flitted from tree to tree preening. Cars drove down the road, the low hum of their engines going past filling in between the incessant chatter of people crowding the streets. And in the middle of it all was Yusuke Yurameshi dressed in green school uniform looking very bored as he is being dragged by Keiko.

"Come on Keiko. We've been here forever, can't we at least go to the arcade or do something fun? I mean it is summer break." Yusuke whines, putting his hands behind his head.

"Yusuke, you know I promised your mother that I would take you shopping for clothes. Maybe get you to wear the right color uniform to school for a change." Keiko responds exasperated.

"That again? I look better in green." Yusuke said falling back on his time honored reason for refusing to change his uniforms color.

"You're impossible Yusuke."

"Hey at least I was available for you to drag along on this little shopping expedition. I mean I could have been called off for another important case."

"That's true. Koenma has been keeping you busy... Unless that's just a convenient excuse you use to get out of class for days at a time!" Keiko responds trailing off then raising her voice in an accusing manner.

Yusuke winces at the verbal assault by his girlfriend. "Geez Keiko. You think I would rather fight demons then be with you?"

"Well..."

But before Keiko can respond a familiar, cheery voice cuts in. "Oh hello Yusuke, Keiko. What a pleasant surprise to run into you two." Botan smiles as she walks up. Wearing a simple pair of jeans and a t-shirt even with her blue hair she didn't look out of place.

"Oh Botan, it is nice to she you too. Maybe you can help me convince Yusuke to wear the right color uniform." Keiko replies brightening.

"I am sorry to say dear but I have a feeling that is a lost cause. You know how stubborn Yusuke can get. Particularly when someone is trying to force him." Botan responds with her usual cheery speech.

"Spill it Botan. What's the mission? And don't try and convince me it's just a coincidence that you happen to run into us. I am on vacation you know."

"Oh dear, as blunt as ever I see."

"Yeah, well, I have a tendency to get annoyed when it looks like people are abut to ruin my time off."

"Indeed, Kuwabara didn't take well to the news either."

"So are you going to tell me already are just keep avoiding the issue?"

"In case you hadn't noticed demon activity in the area way down from normal levels, at least in this area. Seems your reputation proceeds you."

"So there are less demons around. Means I might actually get to enjoy my summer."

"I wasn't finished yet." Botan says annoyed. "However recent reports suggest that many of the demons escaping into human world are doing so into the United States. Mostly lower class demons but there have been disturbing reports of a particularly strong one in their midst."

"The United States? Isn't that a little out of my jurisdiction Botan?" Yusuke responds not liking at all where this conversation was heading.

"Normally yes, but as there is no spirit detective except for you. So that means no one else but you is able to deal with it."

"Lucky me."

"Wait a minute Botan. Yusuke just got back from one of your cases." Keiko cuts in trying to stop what she saw coming.

"I really am sorry dear but Yusuke has to go."

"I can't go Botan."

"And why is that?" Botan replies looking very annoyed.

"Because if you remember English is not my best subject. So I would be lost in a minute there and would more time trying to get a hamburger then finding demons."

"Well that's why you are taking Kurama with you. He is a master at English."

"What about Kuwabara and Hiei? Don't they get to join in on the fun?"

"Koenma felt it would be a bad idea to leave Japan totally undefended so he is having those two stay behind to hold down the fort."

"Oh great, they'll probably fight each other more then any demons."

"I think that's the other reason Koenma has forced them to work together. They'll either bond or kill each other."

"I'm betting on them killing each other."

"That's a horrible thing to say!" Even if it probably is true. Botan thinks.

"So how are we getting there?" Yusuke grumbles realizing there is no way out of it.

"By plane of course silly. I have your tickets right here. You and Kurama leave tomorrow, bright and early. So get some rest."

Meanwhile back in spirit world a worried Koenma sits sucking on his pacifier and glaring at his viewing screen. Piles of paper work are stacked beside the desk awaiting his stamp of approval. All manner of issues from trivial to vitally important to the running of spirit world were being ignored by the toddler ruler.

"So you really intend for us to go then?" Kurama asks calmly.

"Well of course I do. I wouldn't have bothered with Botan getting you both plane tickets if I wasn't."

"So what is troubling you then? Certainly you aren't having seconds thoughts regarding the mission?"

"Of course I am having second thoughts. You I can trust to be discreet, Yusuke on the other hand is liable to draw a lot of unneeded attention to himself. Ever since they were attacked those terrorists the Americans have become even more annoyed then usual when their buildings blow up."

"I'll keep an eye on him Koenma sir."

"That's one of the other reasons I am sending you with him besides your ability to speak fluent English."

"Something else about the case troubles you then."

"Yes. We have always known a few demons had escaped or had been brought to places other then Japan. But if the reports are right well... it could be very bad for us. While the strength of the demons isn't too much to worry about their numbers are."

"There's something else though. Something you seem reluctant to tell me."

"Never could fool you Kurama. Yes, several years back before Yusuke became spirit detective there had been a very messy incident involving the U.S. government and several crime lords who were trafficking in demons. Needless to say the U.S. forces had been killed nearly to a man, which was a tragedy to be sure but the fact the caught nearly the entire fight on video was even worse. It took a lot of doing to render the tapes useless."

"I heard you say nearly to a man. I take it there were survivors then?"

"Yes, one and barely at that. He had been torn to shreds by one of the more bestial demons and left for dead. When he was recovered his muscles had been damaged so badly by the attack it was unlikely he would ever move again. Once he was transferred back to the U.S. he disappeared."

"And you have no clues as to his fate?"

"None, other then he isn't dead. If he had died we would have known about it. The thing that worries me is that when I was reviewing old reports regarding the incident it seems that Dr. Ichigaki may have been involved, though we aren't completely sure about that." Sucking for a few seconds he continues. "We also have been unable to locate that stronger demon at all. He has been keeping a low profile but near as we can tell his activities seem to be centered in California."

"Right where the largest concentration of demons is."

"Exactly. This is probably no coincidence either. I don't have to tell you to handle this one carefully."

"Of course not Koenma sir."

----Understand I am keeping the chapters relatively short for my sanity and to allow me to update more often. Any comments are welcome. Just be constructive is all I ask. ----