Saga 7: Demons, ghosts, & goddesses
Ch.14. Green light & mirrors
disclaimer: (sigh) I do not own any Yu-Yu Hakusho characters except
Michiru, Freya, Jugo, Lenos, Raruna, Shadow Dark, her sister, and Lulu

"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Yusuke hollered, causing Michiru to flinch from the loudness. She then looked up timidly and replied quietly "I...I s-said t- that...you need t-to leave...J-Japan". Yusuke blinked, then stood up and yelled at the top of his lungs while pulling on his black hair "WHAT IN THE SEVEN HELLS IS GOING ON?! SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT I'M MISSING HERE!!" he was then bopped on the head by Genkai, who barked "What YOU are missing is the ability to be CALM. Now stop shouting like a banshee and sit down. You're giving me and probably the girl a headache, so just sit back down and shut up." Kuwabara snickered at Yusuke, who in turn, just flipped Kuwabara off.

Meanwhile, Hiei had kept his crimson eyes locked on the woman's teal ones the whole time. 'Her eyes. They changed color...' he thought to himself. Kurama, on the other hand, waited politely while resting his chin in his hand. When Michiru's eyes ran across him, he smiled encouragingly, which made her blush deeply and look down. Genkai sighed in irritance as Yusuke and Kazuma continued to fight. However, their bickering was interrupted when Michiru accidentally sneezed. "Excuse me..." she said with a giggle and sniffed. All of them looked at each other with odd expressions. Genkai handed her a tissue, which she took, along with a "thank you".

Once finished, Michiru looked back up at her audience, all different colored eyes on her. She took a deep breath and then exhaled. She opened her eyes and felt herself grow serious. "What...what I meant when I said 'Leave Japan' earlier, was...you should leave here as soon as possible." Michiru then looked up, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The others exchanged glances, then looked back at her. Genkai was the first to speak. "And why do we need to leave Japan?" Yusuke snorted. "Are you SERIOUS grandma?! It's really obvious that-" "Yusuke, shut up. I want to hear what she has to say not you." Genkai replied without taking her eyes off the woman in front of her. Michiru looked down again. "I say this...because...if you don't leave...you all...will...will surely die!" she choked out and stifled a sob. Again, the others exchanged glances, only shocked. Not from what she told them, but her reaction. Why would she cry?

"I figured as much." Genkai spoke again and looked at the others out of the corner of her eye. Hiei looked like he had no interest, Kurama looked as though he wanted to comfort the young woman but couldn't, Yusuke and Kuwabara were looking at each other then back at the girl every few seconds. Genkai sighed. "Will you at least tell us your name?" Kurama asked gently, before the old woman could say anything else. Michiru looked up, wiping her tears away before they changed into the feathers. She had to seem as normal as possible...

"I will, but you must all PROMISE me that you will leave Japan..." she said, trying to steady her voice. "NO WAY!!" Yusuke and Kuwabara both shouted at the same time, jumping up. Genkai yanked them both back down, followed by a loud thud and a string of colorful...words from both the guys. Michiru blinked, then pulled a strand of hair nervously. Genkai then turned around, with a roll of tape, which she had used, on the guy's mouths. Kurama and Hiei exchanged humored glances. While Yusuke and Kuwabara struggled to pull the duct tape off, Michiru continued. "I...*sigh*...As you know...I am involved with the Black Nahga. But not by choice of course!" she added hastily. Everyone nodded. "I...can't ask for help. From anyone...for that matter..." she said, keeping her gaze down.

Kurama stared at the woman. 'Poor thing. She seems so frightened...' he thought. But he continued to listen, Yusuke and Kuwabara struggled with the tape at the same time. "I wanted to thank you...for saving my life..." Michiru said and finally looked up. Kurama took this time to speak. "We wouldn't leave you with those demons-" When he said this, it caused her to flinch. "Oh, sorry." She looked back at him for once, eyes shimmering, and shook her head. "No. Don't be. I just...have a reaction every time I hear...that word..." she trailed off, and looked back down. Hiei snorted. "So, if you're afraid of the word 'demons'," she flinched. "Then how are you going to deal with them when they come back for you?!" She clasped her hands together. "I..." The others looked at her expectantly. She then glanced up, eyes more serious "I WILL...find a way." Genkai smiled and took her hands. Michiru looked up surprisingly. "I have no doubt that you will. But, we are here to help you, don't forget that." The brunette looked down again. "I know...and I thank you...but..." she paused, her voice choking. Kurama raised an eyebrow, as everyone else exchanged puzzled glances.Michiru looked back up, her eyes full of tears again. "Please...I'm begging you...leave here...save yourselves..." she then began to cry, while Genkai comforted her. Finally, Yusuke and Kuwabara were able to yank the tape off their faces followed by a few more strings of curses. Yusuke wanted to hit the old lady, but stopped when he saw that Genkai was hugging the poor girl and stroking her hair with motherly love. Yusuke sighed and rubbed his head.

"It's alright. Calm down." Genkai soothed the weeping girl. She was still sniffing, but seemed more recovered. Meanwhile, Kurama had gotten up and retrieved a box of tissues. He then came back and handed them to Michiru. She looked up gratefully. "Thank you." She nodded, and wiped her eyes. Genkai and the other waited patiently until she was calmed down, then urged her on. "If you all leave Japan...then...you can save your own lives..." she continued. "Now that you have aided me, and the Black Nahga have seen you, they will surely come looking for you. And...as you know, not all of them are human." The others nodded in unison. Michiru brushed her hand through a thick strand of hair nervously. "Lenos is the leader of the group...and a powerful...youkai..." she added, with a bit difficulty. "He has probably ordered his minions by now to go out and look for you. If they find you..." she trailed off. "They'll kill us, right?" Yusuke said. She nodded, eyes downcast. No one spoke.

However, the woman continued. "But...there's more. They won't just go after you...they'll go after your families as well!" she looked up, her hands clutching her kimono. Everyone looked at each other then back at Michiru. Unconsciously, she delicately touched the scar on her neck. Kuwabara then spoke up "Wait a minute. How are they gonna even know who we are or where we live and-" "I told you. They are not human, and belong to an organization of criminals scattered throughout Japan. They can absorb information out of people. They probably already have your information..." she looked down, her hair hanging by her face. Yusuke then freaked out. "WHAT?! YOU MEAN THEY COULD COME FOR MY MOM ANYTIME?!" the woman nodded. "OH THIS IS TOO PERFECT!! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME?! HOW AM I EVEN GONNA KNOW IF THOSE ASS-HOLES HAVE KILLED HER ALREADY?!" he shouted. "Because I would have told you, Yusuke" a voice sounded from the door. Everyone looked over to see...Botan! "Hello everyone!" she greeted cheerfully. Yusuke rolled his eyes. Michiru looked at the bouncy blue-haired woman with polite curiosity. As if finally noticing her, Botan sat down with a thump and shook the brunette's hand vigorously. "Hello there! I'm Botan, the guide to the River Styx of the Underworld! Nice to meet you...uh..." she paused. Michiru blushed slightly. "I...um...haven't told anyone my name yet." Botan looked at the others. "Huh? Why is that?" Hiei rolled his eyes. "She wants us to leave Japan once she's told us."

While the discussion jumped back and forth, Michiru looked around, trying to avoid everyone's questioning stares. Her teal eyes then fell on a mirror on a side table next to her. She almost jumped up and padded towards it. Everyone stopped talking and turned their head in her direction. Genkai's eyes narrowed. "This mirror..." Michiru said quietly while holding it in her hands. The frame was of ivory and had a design of vines and small budded flowers around the rim. Michiru spun around quickly, her eyes locked unto the reflective surface. "Where...did...you get...this?" she asked Genkai in a shaky voice. The old woman was silent as Michiru continued to stare at it and ran a hand gently over the frame. "This...used to belong to...my mother..." she almost whispered. She finally looked up and everyone gasped. Her eyes had gone from teal to completely lavender! A sign then appeared on her forehead. It shone a bright green, revealing its marks. "I knew it." Genkai spoke. Everyone else looked at her then back at the symbol on the girl's forehead. It was marked in kanji as 'wind'. "Oh my..." Botan said.

Suddenly, the woman flew up in the air, floating horizontally while the symbol on her forehead flashed. Everyone covered their eyes as a green glow surrounded her body. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Yusuke yelled above the roar of the wind. "SHE HAS AWAKENED!" Genkai answered, and prepared herself for whatever lied in store next. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Oh my! This chapter took me, like forever to write! Sheez! I mean, I knew what I wanted to do, but holy jebus, this was driving me crazy! Oh no...! I'VE GOT WRITER'S BLOCK!!! (runs around in a circle, panicking) NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!! Somebody help meheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!