Chapter 6: A New Mission

"Who do you want us to meet in the spirit realm?" Yasu asked loudly.

"Lord Koenma." Botan said again, "He wants to meet you."

"Isn't this great Yasu? We get to meet the prince of the spirit realm." Rai said excited.

"Joy."

"Is she always like this?" Botan whispered to Rai.

"Yeah, you should see her when she's cranky. That's when the real fun begins. To let you know, if you ever see take out her sucker, and she's not finished with it, run."

"Here we are." Botan said as they walked up to a towering building, "Now we just need to get up to the top."

"Joy." Yasu muttered again.

They finally reached Koenma's room. Botan opened the door and everyone walked in. All Rai and Yasu saw was a toddler stamping papers, ogres running errands, and massive amounts of paper.

"Okay. So where's Koenma?" Yasu asked crossing her arms.

The toddler looked up; he had a blue pacifier in his mouth, and said "I am Koenma."

Rai and Yasu were both quiet. Rai snorted back her laughter, breathed in, and smiled. "I guess you are then."

Yasu looked at Rai incredulously and back at the kid that called himself Koenma. "Cute kid. Where's your dad?"

The toddler got angry, "I am Koenma."

"He is Koenma, Yasu. Even though he looks a little young." Kurama said.

"A little young. He looks like he's four."

"The kid is Koenma, Yasu." Yusuke told her.

Yasu sighed, giving in, "Whatever. We've done introductions, and now I'll go. Good-bye."

"Not so fast, Yasu Gihiratou. I'd like to speak with you and Rai Toshimo." Koenma said, stopping Yasu, "I need to speak to them alone, so you boys will need to leave for a couple minutes."

Yusuke and Kuwabara left grumbling, while Kurama and Hiei left silently.

"So Kurama, how did you get Yasu to forgive you so quickly? I noticed she wasn't given you the glare of death." Yusuke asked, who had been told by the talkative Rai about the entire incident with Yasu, "What did you have to do?" He elbowed Kurama.

"I gave her a sucker and apologized. I noticed she still had it. It's amazing how she could put the entire thing, that was bigger than her hand, in her mouth and still be able to talk."

Everyone's face fell in disbelief. "She stuck the entire thing in her mouth?" Kuwabara asked.

"That's what he said wasn't it?" Hiei asked back.

"I know that! I'm not stupid!"

"I highly disagree with that."

"Why you!"

"We leave you guys alone for five minutes and already you get into a fight?" Rai said leaning on the door. "Pathetic."

Yasu nodded in agreement, "This is one of the few things I guess we'll ever agree on, Rai."

"Sad it's wasted on these guys."

"Hn." Hiei turned from Kuwabara and crossed his arms.

"So what did Koenma speak to you about?"

"Eh, different stuff. But now he wants to talk to you guys. Something about a mission, I think." Rai answered.

The four boys went in, a couple of them grumbling. The door shut behind them.

"Protect Rai and Yasu?" Yusuke said disbelievingly, "They don't need anyone to protect them. They could protect other people."

"You just need to watch over them until Yasu kills Himimaru. And make sure they don't die." Koenma said simply.

"They're strong. They can take care of themselves." Yusuke argued.

"Maybe, but Himimaru is strong. They may need your help to beat him."

"Yasu would never ask for our help in killing him. She wants to do it alone." Kurama spoke up.

"Just make sure they stay alive and well!" Koenma shouted.

"Fine, fine, it'll be easy. It's not like they can't fight for themselves." Yusuke said exasperated.

"Well, actually, my sources tell me that Himimaru has a boss. And his boss has given him a mission to kill you four. He might take advantage of Yasu and Rai."

"What?" Yusuke shouted.

"You don't have to yell. You'll have to watch your own backs as well as the girls'."

After much disagreeable language on Yusuke's part, the boys left Koenma's office.

"Hey guys! What was it about?" Rai greeted them.

"Nothing much. We just need to watch out for any suspicious demons." Yusuke answered.

"Joy. Let's go home now. All this has gotten me bored." Yasu interjected flatly.

"I'm ready to go home myself." Rai admitted.

"Then what are we waiting for?"