To Become a Human
Chapter 1: The Work of Blood
Hiei sat comfortably on the tree branch his back against the thick tree trunk. "Hiei…? Are you up there?" called a voice from the base of the tree. Hiei looked down and saw a red head teen looking up in the tree his emerald green eyes narrowed in concentration. He smiled when he spotted the black shadow among the branches. "Hiei we have another mission and Koenma wants us to meet at Kuwabara's house," said Kurama smiling. Hiei frowned, "Why Kuwabara's?" he asked, but nodded his agreement. Kurama shrugged, "I'm not to sure why." Hiei jumped from the tree branch and landed on the ground a look of pain crossed his face and Kurama frowned, "You okay?" he asked concern. Hiei didn't meet his eyes, but was instead focused on his left ankle, "Yeah," he muttered so softly that Kurama almost didn't catch it. Kurama watched Hiei with concern eyes, but smiled in relief when Hiei stood up and started walking towards Kuwabara's house. Strange…Hiei thought softly as the pain in his left ankle subsided, very strange.
They arrived at Kuwabara's house and walked inside to find Yusuke and Kuwabara seated around a tv. "He's definitely gotta find a better way to inform us," muttered Yusuke as he turned the tv on. Kurama sat down next to Kuwabara and Hiei stalked over to the windowsill. "I don't have a VCR player," said Yusuke. Kuwabara pushed the tape inside and it started to play. A little toddler appeared on the screen, "Okay now this new mission is not very far from where you live. There have been burglaries and I need you four to investigate them," started Koenma. Yusuke frowned and turned to Kurama, "Why does he need us to investigate common burglaries?" As if answer to his question Koenma went on to explain, "Now these burglaries are made by demons for a reason I don't know why. They seem to be targeting jewel shops every where, but the strange thing is nothing has been stolen of late. It seems like their searching for something, but I'm not sure what. I need you to capture the criminals in question and bring them here to Reikai for interrogating." The tape went blank and then it buzzed to life showing pictures of various demons, "We believe these are some of the suspects, first off Ketsueki," a picture of a male demon appeared. He had long green hair and blood red eyes. "Next Satsugai," another picture of a male demon appeared. This time he had silver hair and the same blood red eyes. "This one is Chimamire," a female demon appeared on the screen, and she had long red hair and blood red eyes. "The last one is Sakkidatta," and another female demon appeared. She had maroon hair and blood red eyes. "They all have something in common," muttered Koenma softly, "All their names are related to blood and they have the same crimson red eyes. Be careful and make sure you don't get killed. These demons are all in the A-class and S-class ranking." The screen went blank and the tape ended. Kuwabara took the tape out and yelped dropping it to the ground as it bursted into flames. He rushed outside and Hiei watched in amusement as the flames grew until Kuwabara came back dumping a bucket of water onto the flames. Slowly it sizzled out and black smoke covered the room. Everyone rushed out coughing except for Hiei who was smart enough to open the window letting the smoke escape. After the room cleared Kuwabara was muttering irritably inspecting the burnt circle of carpet, "Can't he have better ways of destroying his evidence." Suddenly a police siren floated through the window and Kurama stuck his head out of the window watching it turn down the street. "It's heading towards a jewelry store," said Kurama slowly rushing out of the house. Following Kurama the group rushed after him, "How do you know?" asked Yusuke as they twisted their way through the streets.
"The direction it was going. There are only four stores down the street three are restaurants and one is a jewelry store. Unless there going down to get something to eat and it's an emergency is highly unlikely. So the only reasonable cause is a jewelry burglary," explained Kurama as they headed down the designated street. Just as Kurama explained people were gathered around a shattered window. The police were expecting some jewelry and talking with the store manger. They drew in closer and Kuwabara since he was the tallest was able to see what one of the police officers was holding. It was a blood red jewel with white veins inside and it was pulsing out demon energy. The store manger was babbling incoherent things and Kurama could pick up what he was saying, "There were these four weird human looking people who had sharp objects like daggers and swords and stuff. They said they were looking for a jewel like that and when I told them it wasn't for sell they pulled out their knives and threaten me. Luckily when you arrived they disappear. I mean up and vanished gone like poof!" Kurama frowned definitely the work of demons. Later on after the crowd cleared Kurama turned to Yusuke. "We should investigate the jewel they were after," he said softly. Yusuke nodded his agreement and they walked into the jewelry shop. The owner looked up nervously and narrowed his eyes warily, "What do you four want?" he questioned suspiciously.
"We want to inspect that jewel of yours that was almost stolen this morning," said Kurama softly and reassuringly. The owner settled down a bit, but was still wary, "Why? So you can steal it too?"
"We're with the police," said Yusuke quickly. The owner raised an eyebrow at this, "Oh really a bunch of high school kids on the police force," he said sarcastically.
"Listen we may look like kids, but are parents are on the police force and if you don't watch you're step they could have you in jail," said Yusuke angrily. Kuwabara almost snorted in laughter at that statement. The owner sighed then reached under the counter and pulled out the stone. "Here just don't crack it," he said softly. Kurama smiled and picked it up frowning at the massive amount of demon energy pulsing out of the stone. After a few minutes Kurama placed the stone back on the counter reluctantly, "You should put it somewhere safe where those burglars won't steal it again." The owner smiled at that, "Thanks for the advice and by the way the name's Ruka." Yusuke nodded and they all exited out of the store.
"So Kurama did you feel the waves coming off of that stone?" asked Yusuke slowly. Kurama nodded, "Yes, it has massive amounts of demon energy in it the problem was…there's no way to actually absorb the demon energy and increase one's own power. I wonder why the demons want it when they can't do anything with it." Hiei frowned he felt the demon energy too, but he also was adding the power to his own. What the hell…Kurama's explanation doesn't make sense. I was able to absorb the demon energy easily yet he says it's impossible…the fox is getting old, Hiei thought. "Well I'll think about it," said Kurama softly. Kuwabara nodded and checked his watch, "I have to go home guys Shizuru wants me to make dinner tonight," Kuwabara said grudgingly.
"Okay fine tomorrow we'll meet at Kuwabara's house and discuss our plans," said Yusuke. Kuwabara frowned, "Why my house!"
"Because it's better at your house," replied Yusuke. His team nodded their agreement and Hiei vanished into the darkness. Yusuke walked away and headed home while Kurama and Kuwabara did the same.