/A.N./ Hello yall! Sooo sorry for the slow update...for more details, please see my profile page...But here it is, the fifth chapter of 'envy'. Anywho, on to "business": for all of you who are unfamiliar with Japanese pop culture, have no fear! That's why I'm here! (hey-that rhymed!) As you'll come to read, there is a place in this chapter that deals with a little bit of pop culture/singers/hotties/whatever! So here is a little reference for that (yes, I did my research)

SMAP: Japan's most popular boy band and best selling J-pop group EVER (like a japanese version of the Monkees)
Kimura Takuya : singer in SMAP; often voted sexiest man in Japan, Taiwan, ect, etc.

ok! now that you have that incredibly useful j-pop info... on w/ the fanfic!

5chapter

"Hellooo! Earth to the spirit detective! Yusuke! I know you can hear me–"

"Would you just shut up!" Yusuke snapped, whirling around to glare at his blue-haired spirit guide.

"Well if you would answer me the first time, I could...shut up...much quicker."

"Botan, I doubt you know how to shut up." For this, Botan had no reply. Instead, she snapped her mouth shut as her face turned cherry and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Look, if you want something, spill it."

"Fine," Botan said stiffly, adjusting her skirt on her school uniform. "Koenma needs you to come to Spirit World. I'm afraid its terribly urgent. You see there's a demon–" Instantly Yusuke's hand clamped over her mouth.

"In case you didn't notice, this isn't the best time to discuss my cases. Here in the human world, you have to be more...discreet," Yusuke hissed. She nodded and he released her.

"Well then, lets go to Spirit Worl- I mean to Koenma," Botan quickly corrected herself. She used her magic to make her oar appear. Climbing on, she signaled Yusuke to join her as she floated a few feet above the ground, causing all the people around them to drop their jaws.

Yusuke's hand slapped up to his head. Is that what she calls 'discreet' !

"Hey, Botan." Yusuke said casually. "When was the last time you saw a human floating on an oar?"

Botan thought for a moment, still hovering. "Hmmm...can't say I ever had."

"Really. Well have you ever seen a human magically make an oar appear?"

"No, sorry. Is there a point to this?"

"Yes, actually. You say you've never seen a human do that?" She shook her head. "Well I think neither have they," he finished, pointing to the gawking crowd.

It took a few minutes for the realization to sink in, and Botan finally jumped off her oar. She quickly racked her brain for ideas. Come on, think Botan! She mentally commanded herself. Sparing a quick glance at the crowd, she noticed most were teenage girls, obviously on their way to school.

Then the idea hit her.

"Oh my god!" she suddenly yelled, pointing off in the distance, "is that Kimura Takuya from SMAP!" Instantly, the gawking crowd of school girls transformed into a screaming mob of fangirls, all running in the direction of Botan's pointing finger.

"Wow Botan," Yusuke said in awe, "nice thinking." Botan gave him a triumphant smile-then froze. "Ok, lets go." Botan remained silent –quite a feat on her part– and continued to stare, transfixed, at something behind Yusuke. "Uh, Botan?" Yusuke asked, waving his hand in front of Botan's face. Slowly, Yusuke turned to what Botan was staring so intently at, but she grabbed his hand and yanked him up on her oar, which she had quickly reboarded. Still without a word, and despite Yusuke's whining and protests, they flew off at top speed toward the spirit world.


To Yusuke's amazement, Botan remained silent the entire journey. From the moment they jumped on the oar to the time they stepped into Koenma's office, she opened her mouth not once. Koenma seemed to notice something was up, but he choose to ignore it. Instead, the baby prince turned to his employee and raised his hand in greeting.

"Yo," he stated through his pacifier. He jumped back into his large, plush chair before continuing. "You've probably wondering why I would drag you out of school...I know how much you must enjoy learning math, history, science–"

"Shit!" Yusuke interrupted suddenly, remembering his still incomplete science project that was due that day. Just as suddenly, Yusuke leapt at Koenma, hugging him fiercely. Koenma, still recovering from the shock of Yusuke's random outburst of colorful language, was completely taken aback.

"Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" Yusuke chanted without pausing for a breath, now picking up Koenma and tossing him in the air. "You saved my ass Koenma–" Yusuke was cut off when Koenma, in midair, abruptly changed into his teenage form and toppled on top of him with a sickening thud.

"No Yusuke. Thank you," Koenma said, dusting himself off as he got to his feet. "You make a decent cushion.

"N-no problem..." Yusuke managed to say weakly, still in a heap on the floor.

"Alright! Enough fun and games!" Koenma said, as Yusuke snorted and rose to his feet. "There is an urgent matter at hand Yusuke."

"Just cut to the chase," Yusuke smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Just tell me where the demon is and I'll go kill him."

Koenma shook his head. "Yusuke, are you aware of what a Muotoko is?" Yusuke shook his head. "It's a nothingness man, meaning a demon that can take the shape of anything it desires."

"So what? Can't you still track it down?"

"Yes. But the Muotoko isn't the problem."

"What are you getting at?"

"Muotoko are stupid creatures. Mindless, in fact. They are basically 'programmed' to do whatever their master commands of them."

"So you're saying there's a big bad boss demon behind it all?" Yusuke asked.

"Not quite," Koenma answered, "our sources have indicated that whoever is behind the Muotoko demon is no demon." Yusuke remained silent.

"Yusuke." Koenma and Yusuke both jumped at Botan finally speaking up. "Have you noticed what's was on the news a few weeks ago?"

"Nope," Yusuke said casually.

"Well there was an incident with a young girl in a coma-like state. She was found it a wooded area on the outskirts of the city...still alive, but she had no...soul."

"You mean..."

Koenma nodded sadly. "Humans are greedy...power-hungry, by nature. Those few that...cross over and mingle with the demon race become even darker. They slowly loose their humanity, sometimes going as far as to use human souls for an elixir."

"You mean like some kind of fountain of youth?"

"Yes, of sorts. But only pure souls are effective for this long-life elixir. Most often, souls of young women are taken."

"So you want me to find this soul-stealing human huh?" Yusuke smirked. "Perfect. I've been in a shitty mood lately and I could use some time to kick some ass."

Botan sighed. He would never change. "The soul-stealer lives somewhere in the wooded area outside of the city, around where the girl was found. Take Kuwabara and start there...before anyone else becomes a victim."


The stars glittered in the sky; each one like a tiny jewel that lit up the otherwise black night. Keiko shuddered and snuggled closer to Daichi as they made their way through the dark street.

"Of all the times for the street lights not to work..." Daichi mumbled. Not that he was complaining about the lack of light.

Especially when Keiko was afraid of the dark.

Smirking to himself, Daichi let his hand slid around Keiko's waist, pulling her closer to him. Beside him, Keiko sighed happily and rested lightly against him. Abruptly they both stopped as the outline of man slowly appeared in front of them. Almost at once, Daichi recognized it as Muotoko, the old lady Babba's servant of sorts.

"W-who's that," Keiko whispered, her grip on Daichi's arm tightening. Before Daichi could reply, a bone-chilling, husky voice crept out from the dark form of Muotoko.

"Daichi Aromu and Keiko Yukimura. Babba summons you." The voice was soft, yet demanding. Muotoko turned and disappeared into the darkness. Daichi and Keiko exchanged a glance before quickly following after him.


After what seemed like an eternity, the tire pair of humans stumbled into the cave of the old woman after their silent guide.

"Welcome Aromu-san!" An old woman said warmly, walking up and embracing Daichi. "I'm so glad you have returned." She glanced at Keiko. "Ah. You must be Yukimura-san. I am Babba. A pleasure to meet you child," she said, taking Keiko's hand. Keiko smiled in response, but remained quiet and utterly confused.

Babba turned to the crackling fire place, her hands folded neatly behind her back. "Aromu-san." Daichi jumped at the sudden sternness in the old woman's voice. "Quite a while ago we made...a deal."

"Y-yes," Daichi responded, "I still agree to take up your work..." He trailed off as Babba slowly shook her head.

"I can see by the lovely young woman standing at your side that my half of the deal is complete. Now it is my turn to get what I most desire." Keiko turned to Daichi, giving him a confused look. Daichi gave her a reassuring smile before turning back to Babba.

"Yes, of course. When do you want to start teaching me?"

At those words, Babba burst into laughter, startling Daichi and Keiko. Not her usually, melodic laughter. It was cold and hard, almost sounding forced. Babba turned around and gazed at Daichi, her usually warm, welcoming eyes now cold and distant.

"The first thing I will teach you, boy, is that you should never trust anyone. Even a seemingly harmless old woman. Especially that." Daichi's eyes widened at the change in the old woman. Fear gripped him and he slowly took a few wobbly steps backward, before feeling his back run up against something hard.

Muotoko.

His last thought was the name of the blank, gray man that took him away from his conscious state, plunging him into darkness.

Keiko stared, her eyes as wide as dinner plates. "Y-you...you're a...a..."

"A demon?" Babba offered coldly. "Muotoko...my nothingness man, yes. Me? No. Just a human like yourself." The elderly woman shook her head slightly. "No, no. Not like you. Better. Wiser. You are a fool Keiko Yukimura. You waltzed right into my trap."

"T-trap...?"

"Yes my dear. Everything was set up. Your week trip. Early return...even Nazuna. Especially Nazuna. And Daichi just happening to be there when you need someone? Yes, that was me as well. Brilliant, is it not?"

"But...why? Why me?" Keiko asked, her voice high-pitched from fright.

"Why? Why not? You, Keiko Yukimura, are perfect. Or, as much so as a human can be. More importantly, your soul is perfect. Oh, how I have longed for...waited for...a soul as desirable as yours!"

Keiko took a step back from the old woman who was clearly off her rocker.

"Do you know what a perfect soul is used for? It's potential? ...Long life. Long, ever-lasting life. That is what I desire Keiko Yukimura. And you are to help me achieve that." Babba snapped her fingers and instantly Keiko felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her and lift her up from the ground. She screamed and struggled against the nothingness man who held her, but his arms were like steel bands around her body.

From within the folds of her blood-red kimono, Babba pulled out a small crystal ball. Slowly, she stalked over to the struggling Keiko, chanting in an ancient, incomprehensible tongue. When she reached Keiko, Babba held the crystal ball to Keiko chest, her chanting becoming louder, more forceful.

An immense pain rose in Keiko's chest. She opened her mouth to scream, but found her throat dry. She felt her limbs go limp and all her will to struggle slowly drain away. A bright ball of light suddenly began to appear from her chest and slowly detach itself from Keiko's body. The more the ball pulled away from her, the more Keiko's world began to dim.

Keiko racked her brain for some kind of plan, some way to escape, but it was futile. As the ball of light finally broke away from her body, Keiko's world disappeared, only one word, one name, echoing in her mind.

Yusuke...