Ch. 3 Arrival

Yusuke: Sheesh, when am I going to get to beat up someone up?

Kurama: Have patience, and see what the next chapter holds.

Yusuke: Come on Kurama, he'll probably just have us get lost.

Neo Zaku: -sigh- Anyway, today Yusuke and Kurama get to their destination.

"Attention all passengers. We are beginning our final descent into San Francisco International Airport. We ask at this time for all passengers to return to their seats and fasten their seat belts. Turn off all electronic devices and return tray tables and seats to their full and upright position." The pilot announces, indicating the end to what Yusuke could only describe as the plane trip from hell.

Disembarking the plane Yusuke glares at Kurama. His clothes are rumpled and stained from that little kid behind him that had decided to use his shirt for a barf bag. Picking up his bag from the claim area he looks around and sighs. Kurama tries to refrain from laughing at the look on Yusuke's face. Yusuke squints at the noon day sunlight pouring in through the large windows in the front of the airport and puts on a pair of sunglasses.

"I still say you should have used some of those plant skills of yours to knock that kid out for the flight." Yusuke complains as he heads for the exit.

"Yes well that would have drawn the type of attention Koenma sent me along to help prevent you from generating." Kurama sighs.

"So it's not just you're an expert at English?" Yusuke turns and eyes Kurama accusingly.

"Ummmm yes, Koenma was worried you would end up destroying half of San Francisco if left to yourself." Kurama admits sheepishly.

"How typical him." Yusuke whines.

The hotel was, well a hotel. The room had two twin beds, a T.V., desk, closet, shower and all the rest of amenities to be expected. Yusuke looks around the room and smiles briefly.

"Well at least he wasn't cheap on the hotel. Not as nice as that place we stayed at during the Dark Tournament but it's isn't the rat hole I was expecting him to shove us in." Yusuke comments sounding slightly surprised. "Now I am getting a shower before I do anything."

"Yes, you could use one. Even without my heightened sense of smell you would are not pleasant on the nose."

"Gee thanks Kurama."

Two weeks later and the pair had found nothing. Even the supposedly high numbers of lower class demons simply were never where they were supposed to be. Yusuke was bored and Kurama was worried. Koenma's information was sometimes wrong or a little off but never this much. Something else was going on.

Back in spirit world Koenma is busily stamping away at the piles of forms that never seem to grow any smaller. Quite the opposite, they seem to grow larger whenever he looks away.

"Ogre must be sneaking them in when I am not watching." Koenma sighs trying to will away the stacks.

"Any news sir?" Botan inquires quietly, poking her head between the doors to Koenma's office.

"No, I knew the information was out of date but not this badly."

"What?!" Botan exclaims a look somewhere between shock and rage.

"We haven't been able to monitor the area for awhile. We had bigger problems going on in spirit world, Japan and the sections of demon world we do control." Koenma moans.

"So they are working blind and you haven't bothered to tell them. Do you even know anything about that big demon that's supposed to be in the area?"

"Not a thing other that it's nasty and seemingly invincible." Koenma admits.

---------------

"Well this is boring." Sighs Yusuke as he puts his hands behind his head. Walking behind Kurama he casually glances over the litter strewn alley. The buildings, covered in various graffiti along their walls block much of the light coming off the street. Other then a street bum sleeping in a doorway the alley was empty.

"Have patience Yusuke. The fact Koenma has been able to narrow our search down to one city has drastically reduced our search time." Kurama scolds the impatient spirit detective.

"Yeah well I am tired of hunting down demon signals only to have them disappear before we get there. And besides..."

"Silence Yusuke." Kurama interrupts. "We are not alone here."

"Of course we aren't Kurama. There's that bum sleeping over there."

A high, almost screeching voice echoes through the alley. "Very perceptive. Not many have ever detected me when I was hidden." It spoke in perfect Japanese

"Show yourself!" Kurama demanded.

"Yeah, quit hiding so I can kick your stupid face in."

"Hmmmmm... and why would I want to do that?"

"Cause it'll hurt more if I have to drag you out first!" Yusuke replies with his usual disregard for subtlety.

"Yusuke, let me handle this." Kurama whispers to Yusuke. "I would suggest you cooperate with us. This is no ordinary human boy, he is the Spirit Detective for Earth."

The creature emits a burst of high pitched laughter. "I am no fool. The spirit detective lives in Japan, every demon knows that. That's why we move here. Safer here even with the hunter. Only one of him, not a team."

"That's odd. Koenma never told me there were any hunters assigned to this region." Kurama whispers to Yusuke. "Is that why you stay hidden demon?"

Kurama looks around but every one of his senses tell him the demon is gone. Probably escaped while he was talking to Yusuke. Still its sudden departure was odd. Yusuke goes back to looking bored as he realizes by the look on Kurama's face that the demon was gone.

"Wonder why he left in a rush. Normally they like to stick around to boast or fight." Yusuke comments, yawning at the end.

"Yes, it is troubling. More so is his comment about that hunter. He mentioned it like it was common knowledge in this area. This would indicate he has been here some time. But if that was the case Koenma surely would have informed us."

"Well maybe pacifier breath is holding out on us again. It wouldn't be the first time he's held back information we should have known."

"I don't think that's the case here but you may be right." Kurama replies offhandedly, already deep in thought.

Yusuke sighs and looks around the alley again. Whenever Kurama started staring off thinking like that it was near impossible to snap him out of it. A quick bleep is emitted from Yusuke's wrist as his demon compass lights up briefly for a moment. Looking down at it Yusuke notices the direction it came from was behind them.

"Well that was weird." Yusuke says shrugging.

"Hmmm?" Kurama inquires while trying to think.

"I know Koenma reset this thing so only stronger demons would set it off. That way we wouldn't be chasing down every two bit demon trying to find this big one Koenma sent us after."

"There is a strange smell in the air."

"Kurama, this is a city. Of course there is a strange smell in the air." Yusuke jokes.

"This is different though. I have smelt something similar before but..." Kurama says trailing off.

"But what?"

"The creator of the creature that made that smell is dead, by your hands I must mention."

"What creature? And who created it?"

"Remember that metal creature from the Dark Tournament?"

"You mean that thing you and Hiei trashed? The thing that that Dr. Ichigaki demon made."

"Precisely. It smells very similar to that. And given its relative strength it must be extremely close by."

"Great, maybe tonight won't be so boring after all."

A shadow suddenly engulfs the alley, as someone blocks some of the light pouring in from the street. A calm, even almost to the point of being monotone, voice calls out in English. "There is a curfew in this city boys. I suggest you run along home. These streets aren't safe at night."

Yusuke turns to look at the man, not understanding a word of what he just said. The lights hitting the figure from behind obscure his appearance greatly. All Yusuke can determine is that he must be about 6' 2" or so, was wearing some kind of hat and a long coat.

"Hey Kurama, what did this guy just say?"

"He told us there is a curfew and that we should go home."

"That's right. And playing like you don't speak English won't get you out of trouble." The figure responds sternly in Japanese. Something about his voice seems off, slightly hollow and perhaps just a little too even.

"Ahhh give us a break we're tourists and we're lost." Yusuke responds with his usual snide attitude.

Suddenly a bright red glow shines from the mans face located over his right eye, only briefly illuminating his face. His posture which had been relaxed was now assuming one more of some getting ready for combat His voice tone changed slightly to one more of anger.

"Just lost tourists huh? Lost demons is more like it." Cricking his neck he shifts his body to block the alley exit.

"Yusuke be careful. Something is strange about this human."

"No duh, like I hadn't noticed the red glowing eye just a minute ago."

"That's not what I meant. Look at his spirit energy. Near as I can tell he should barely be able to stand, let alone sense that we both carry some demon essence."

"Come along quietly and I promise not to hurt you." The figure slowly speaks, making sure he is clearly understood.

"Funny, I was about to make a similar offer to you. Except I actually have the power to back up it." Yusuke smirks.

"I seriously doubt it. Can't say I didn't offer."

"Hey, screw you pal! I ain't going down without a fight!" Yusuke responds charging his spirit gun.

"Yusuke no! You can't use that here."

"Come on Kurama!"

"It's not as bad as you think. I suspect he is under similar restrictions."

Yusuke is forced to dodge as a fist comes hurtling his way. Easily avoiding even this surprise swing Yusuke is mildly surprised. Particularly when after missing him and impacting into the concrete rather then hearing the sound of bones snapping and grinding, instead he hears the sound of concrete being smashed to dust under the force.

"Definitely not normal." Yusuke mutters before launching his own offensive.

In a blur of movement Yusuke unleashes a series of punches upon the rather surprised figure. As he is pummeling away Yusuke taunts "Faster then you expected huh?" Pulling his right fist far back he unleashes a blow to the figures chest. The impact sends him smashing into one of the alley walls, creating a large hole and pile of rubble. "See Kurama, piece of cake."

"Yusuke, Koenma did tell you to refrain from destroying the city."

"Guess I did go a little over kill on him."

The rubble begins to shift and stir. Yusuke groans and mumbles "I knew it couldn't be that easy," as the figure rises from the rubble. "I must say I am impressed. Not many people can get back up after I punch them through a wall."

Not responding the figure merely strides forward. The red glow intensifies for a moment as he cricks his neck. Brushing off his jacket he looks thoroughly annoyed at having just been put through a wall. As Yusuke gets ready to unleash another beating on the man Kurama holds out an arm stopping him.

"Let me handle him Yusuke. I have some suspicions I need to confirm." Kurama says in a firm tone that indicates the matter was not open for discussion.

"Oh and just when things were getting interesting." Yusuke whines, with no intention of actually doing anything about it.

Drawing a single rose that had been tucked into his hair, Kurama focuses his spirit energy into it causing it to lengthen and grow into a formidable weapon. A weapon he was quite proficient with and famous for, his rose whip. Taking a defensive position he waits for the stranger to make the first move. The figure reaches down towards his ankle and draws what is the dim light appears to be a slightly bulky combat knife.

"Before we continue I must ask you if you realize who you are attacking." Kurama inquires trying to buy time to figure out this creatures power.

"Some demon and a punk kid who is a lot stronger then he looks." The figure responds coldly/

"That punk kid as you call him is the Spirit Detective."

"What the hell is a spirit detective?"

"Oh come on! I thought I was freaking famous among demons. Are you telling me you haven't even heard of me?" Yusuke yells from the side lines.

Strange, Kurama wonders, can it really be he doesn't know who we are? If that is true he may not be the demon we are searching for. But if that is the case, then who is he? Shaking his head he reminds himself that such questions would have to wait till the current situation had been dealt with. With a surprising amount of speed compared to his first attack against Yusuke the figure charges Kurama. As the figure crosses about half the distance between them Kurama's heightened hearing picks up a high pitched vibration emanate from the blade. Standing perfectly still and calm Kurama unleashes a flurry of blows with his rose whip that lash relentlessly across the attacker. The figure is halted by attack causing Yusuke to cheer.

"Great job Kurama"

"It is too early to celebrate Yusuke."

"What do you mean? In about a second that guy will be chopped meat thanks to you."

"I am sorry to disappoint you but I suggest you take a look at our opponent."

As Yusuke looks he his surprised as he sees the figure is still standing. Kurama uses his speed to appear next to Yusuke. As the figure turns his jacket falls away, completely shredded from the attack along with his shirt. Now facing towards the alley entrance his body glints slightly where the stronger points of light hit. His face is mostly human, except for his right eye and part of the right side of his face. This area was covered with strange machinery that could only be cybernetics. Parts of his torso also appear to have been replaced with artificial components.

"Its as I thought. Yusuke we are going to have to rethink our strategy." Kurama says his eyes shifting to Yusuke.

"So he's a little freaky looking. No worse some of the other demons we have faced." Yusuke shrugs as he gets ready to launch another assualt.

"Again you fail to understand to true reason why. My whip failed to even scratch his skin. Yusuke, nothing we can use in this fight can defeat him."

"My spirit gun could..."

"Destroy half the city along with him." Kurama points out. "We must abandon this fight for now." Suddenly Kurama envelops the alley in a thick smoke covering his and Yusukes escape back into the city streets.

After the smoke clears the figure looks around. The distant whine of police sirens telling him it was time to go as well. Touching the side of his head briefly he speaks aloud. "This is Deimos reporting. I need an extract from my current location. No, contact has been lost. Of course I plan to follow up."