Disclaimer: I don't own anything, except for Rumiko and Rika. Any names for parks or places that happen to belong to actual locations are accidental. So I apologize if I used someone's name or whatever. Yoshihiro Togashi owns all characters, places, and attacks familiar with Yu Yu Hakusho.
Some time later,the bus comes to a stop in another city.Rika steps off and looks around, wondering whereshe should go. There is a park just down the street soshe decides to head there. Once in the park,Rika finds a bench under a large cherry tree and takes a seat. For the most part the park is abandoned; only a few people walking down the paths or feeding the ducks at the pond.The traumatized womanclutches her camera bag and tries to think.
"The police won't believe me. But what were those things anyway? Why did they even attack us? Are they just that way? It wouldn't surprise me; they were hideous. Creatures that ugly tend to do things just for the pleasure of doing them. But then, what would I know of such beings?"
"Are you alright miss?"
Rikajumps at the voice, gripping her camera bag tighter, and looks up into a young girl's big brown eyes. SurprisinglyRikais only slightly taller than she is; standing next to her is a boy with black hair and big brown eyes.Rika looks at him; his eyes could have been described as fawn eyes except for the hardened appearance they have about them. One that tellsRika he has been through too much for his young age; that he knows too much.
Not knowing what else to do,Rika nods her head hoping that they would go away. But didshe really want them to go away? Perhaps they could help her.
"If ya don't mind me askin', how come you have blood on you?"
Rikalooks down at her clothes to find thatRumiko's blood had indeed been splattered on her shirt and pants.Rika also had some droplets dried onto her arm.
"My brother,"Rika whispers, touching the blood gently as if it were his face.She can't handle it anymore, the shock has finally worn off and the realization thatRumi is dead andshe's alone in a strange country hits her.Rika doesn't know ifshe has enough money to get back home. But how canshe go back home without a proper burial for her brother.
"Oh what am I going to do?"Rika asks no one in particular asshe buries her face in her hands.
"Hey, calm down. What happened?" the boy's tone wasn't as harsh as it had been a moment ago, and the girl was now sitting next to you on the bench, her hand onRika's shoulder.
Trying to fight the hysteria that has already taken hold of her mind,Rika tries to sort things out, "We are vacationing here, my brother and I. We went to Mushiyori park for the day and were on our way back to the hotel. Rumi wanted to go down an alley and then we were attacked. I don't know why. But they were ……they ripped him to pieces. What kind of creature can do that!"Rika stops herself, despite her quiet tonesheis terrified of being overheard.
"I think we should head to my apartment. My mom will be out, and we can talk about this there, ok?"
Rikalooks up at the young man; he was only a teenager, butshe trusted him.Her sixth sense is kicking in over-time andshe knew he wouldn't hurt her.Rika nods, numbly, and stands waiting for him to lead the way.She still has her leather case in a death grip andshe isn't about to loosen it. The girl is still walking next toRika looking worried.
"What is your name?"Rika asks, trying to calm herself down through conversation.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! My name is Yukimura Keiko. That's Urameshi Yusuke. What's your name?"
Rikahesitates, not sure whethershe should giveKeiko her whole name, "Rika."
She smiles and nods,Rika's lack of name doesn't seem to bother her at all.
"We're almost there," Yusuke calls out over his shoulder.
The older womannods and clutches at her camera pack a little more. Yusuke seems to notice this and raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. The rest of the short walk is silent asthe three of themgo up the elevator to whatever floor his apartment's on. It is still quiet asthe girlswait for him to unlock the door and walk inside.
Once they're inside and the door is closed, Yusuke speaks, "I'm going to call the gang over. They're gonna need to hear about this."
Rika blinks at his retreating back, confused as to who he could be calling when Keiko's voice breaks into her thoughts, "Would you like some tea? It will help your nerves."
Rikasimply nod and follow her into the kitchen. The apartment is much larger thanshe would have thought, andRika thinks about what friends Yusuke might have that would want to hear her story.She certainly didn't want to hear it, or think about it. Keiko placed a warm cup of tea inRika's hands and poured herself a cup.
Yusuke walks back in, "They'll be here in a minute."
"Who will?"Rika asks.
He glances at her, "Some friends of mine. They may be able to help you."
Rikaknows he isn't lying, not exactly. It's more like he's withholding the truth.She doesn't know ifshe likes it, but these kids are the only ones thatshe's met so far that might help.
"Don't know how they could help,"Rika thinks to herself, "They're just kid's for the gods sakes."
Rikafeels a tingle down her spine and turns toward the front door (which can barely be seen through the door to the kitchen) waiting for the knockshe knew would come. Yusuke givesher a strange look and is about to speak when someone does knock on the door. He givesRika a different sort of look, thoughshe can't decipher its meaning, and walks to answer the door.
"What is you that you need Yusuke? You had said it was a matter of some urgency," the voice is calm and smooth. The sort that belongs to someone that is hard to ruffle, who always has a cool head.
"Yeah, well it is. Come in you guys, we're in the kitchen," Yusuke answers.
A feeling of disdain sweeps byRika's outer senses, andshe immediately looks to one of the three boys that has come in. He's short, dressed all in black with some strange sort of cape, has very strange black hair with a white starburst looking pattern in the front.
"Definitely not human,"Rika thinks to herself.
The boy looks at Rika, his red eyes narrowed slightly.She freeze up, realizing that he is very dangerous; her sixth sense seems confused as well. First it is givingher a calming feeling of trust, then it skyrockets towards panic and fear. This is not helpingRika's already uneasy mind set.
Rikatears her eyes away from this boy, and look at the oneshe guesses had spoken earlier. His long red hair compliments his green eyes wonderfully, and he is rather tall, taller thanRikafor certain despitethe age difference.She focuses her sixth sense on him and get back a rather strange report. It seemsRika can trust him not to hurt her, but there is a rather sharp edge of danger around that. As though he is very capable of harming her, but he won't because of something thatshe can't determine.
"Wow, who's this Urameshi?"
Rikalooks toward the boy who spoke. He's very tall, with orange hair in a strange style that some might compare to Elvis, and small black eyes. He's built like a typical brawler, but over allRika's sixth is tellingher that he's trustworthy and basically harmless.
"Guys, this is Rika. Rika this is Hiei, Shuichi, and Kuwabara."
Hiei seems to ignore his introduction, while Shuichi nods, Kuwabara kneels before Rika and reaches to take her hand. Before he can do so, however,she's on the other side of the table and close to the door. He blinks, seemingly confused as he looks around for her.
"No,"Rika says.
Kuwabara blinks, "Hey! How do you know what I was going to ask!"
Rikashakes her head, keeping a serious expression on her face, "Anyone could have seen that coming. You may be trustworthy, but that doesn't mean I want you trying to touch me."
"Oh, ok," he responds grinning.
Rikashakes her head at his dim wittedness and looks back over at Yusuke, "These are the people that are supposed to be able to help me?"
He nods, "Yeah, just tell us your story. We'll see if they can figure out what's going on."
Shuichi looks at the bagRika's still clutching and motions to the table, "Have a seat, Rika. Your tea is getting cold."
Rikanarrows her eyes at him, "He's up to something,"she thinks. Suddenly a picture of a fox with nine tails flashes through your mind, "A spirit fox?" Shaking her head,Rika takes a seat and picks upthe tea. The camera bag is now sitting in her lap, with her hand resting on top of it.
"So what's the story lady?" Kuwabara asks.
Rikatakes another sip of her tea asshe tries to organize her thoughts.She realizes thatshe had known this was going to happen. After years of the same dream over and over,Rika knew thatshe would lose her brother in a sudden and violent way. Onlyshe never knew when.The womansighs asshe begins her story, this time in a more coherent manner.
"My brother brought me to Japan for vacation. We were to spend two months here."
"Where are you from?" Keiko asks.
"America."
"Well that explains the weird accent," Yusuke says grinning.
Rikasmiles, "Yes well my brother gave me a crash course in the language. I'm still illiterate, but I can speak fluently. Despite my problem with accents."
"Oh man, you sound just like Kurama!" Kuwabara exclaims.
Rikaturns toward him, and thus misses everyone's glare directed at him, "As a college graduate, I would find it idiotic not to use the grammar and vocabulary I have learned, Kuwabara."
He blinks at her, "How old are you anyway?"
"Kuwabara! That isn't polite!" Keiko yells.
Rikashrugs, "Don't worry about it Keiko. I'm 24."She notices the strange lookshe's getting from everyone, "What? I don't look 24?"
Yusuke and Kuwabara shake their heads and Shuichi (you don't know that Shuichi and Kurama are one and the same) speaks up, "Well no, not really. I had thought you were perhaps 18 or 19."
Rikalaughs, "Well thanks. Makes this old hag feel somewhat young again."She receives a variety of odd looks and shakes her head, "Yeah, well anyway. We arrived in Tokyo yesterday, then traveled to a small city for a night's rest. This morning we took a bus to Mushiyori City and booked another hotel for two or three nights. I'm not sure what Rumi had in mind, really. But I don't mind. Twins have an odd sort of connection, you know, and I never really had to ask what he wanted to do."
"So Rumi is your twin?" Kuwabara asks.
"Yes. Well, Rumiko was my twin,"Rika looks down intothe tea cup, rubbing her thumb around the rim of it.
"So what happened?" Yusuke presses.
"After we dropped our things off in the room, I wanted to go to the park to take pictures. We were there for several hours, before I decided I had enough pictures for the magazine. On our way back to the hotel, Rumi wanted to take a short cut. Of course he didn't listen to me,"Rika sighs, "Sometimes he just doesn't trust me when I say we shouldn't do something. But we went down the alley anyway."
Rikapauses, replaying the next few moments in her mind.She tries to decide what exactlyshe should tell them. Shouldshe tell them the truth? Or just tellthem it was a normal gang. Would they believe you if you did?She looks up at Hiei and Kurama, "No,"Rika thinks, "Those two would know I'm lying. And that would cause problems."
"So what happened to Rumiko? Where is he?" Yusuke asks.
Rika sipsher now cool tea, "We were attacked. It's been years since I've taken any defense classes, and it just doesn't prepare you for this sort of thing. Not really. I knew Rumi could handle the one that stepped in front of him, but when I was grabbed from behind I didn't know what he'd do. I was worried he would actually give them the money they were asking for. If we lost all our funds we would be stuck here. Though now that I think about it, I'm sure the magazine would have paid for my return trip since I was technically working."She pauses again, thinking about how sillyshe had been.
Yusuke leans on the table, looking at Rika. "Oh, sorry,"she murmurs, "Anyway, the first two weren't particularly intelligent. Rumi quickly took care of his thug, and a swift kick to the knee cap took care of my problem."
"So how'd you get that cut on your neck?" Yusuke asks.
Rikablinks at him for a moment, and then touches her neck where the knife had been pressed.She feels a sting as your finger meets the still fresh wound; it wasn't bad, not deep or anything, just a nick. "That would probably have happened when I turned to kick him. I couldn't give him the chance to recover from the shock of Rumi's actions. At any rate, we were about to leave when four others stepped out from behind the dumpster. It was strange really, we hadn't noticed them before, and we should have. The alley waswell lit. But then again, perhaps they had some form of cloaking themselves."
"What exactly do you mean by this, Rika?" Shuichi asked.
"Well, they were not precisely human. Far from it, in my opinion. Their skin and eyes would have told me that, but their claws were certainly proof enough. They reminded me of some sort of lizard. The Komodo Dragon, to be precise."
Everyone exchanged glances asRika stares into her tea.
"These creatures, they attacked you?" Hiei asks.Rikais surprised by how cold and deep his voice is.
Shenods, "I don't know why. But they literally ripped into Rumi and came after me."Rika touches the blood splatters on her arm again, knowing that there is nothingshe can do to bring Rumi back.
"You're taking this rather well," Hiei sneers.Rika can feel the contempt he feels.
Sheglare at him, anger over comingfear, "You know nothing of me Hiei. I suggest you take your demonic comments and shove them up your ass."
Everyone blinks atRika while Hiei glares.She knows he would give almost anything to kill her, and it would be so easy for him to do so.She knows his anger is welling up to a point of rage. SuddenlyRika sees flashes in her mind's eye. The same boy, but green with eyes all over his body, and one large eye beneath the bandana.She knows her eyes have widened in shock. Suddenlyshe sees the third eye and the dragon hidden beneath the bandages thatcan not even be seen.
This triggers the memory of a dreamRika had once, long ago. A dream in which a man bearing a third eye and a dragon saved her life and tookRika away from everythingshe knew.She shakes her head and rests her head in her hands.
"And thus it began; the beginning of the end of the last cycle of my kind. The last of the Truth Seers have met their fate and must chose which path to tread. To help those that destroyed her race in order to save their own, or to destroy all which is around her and form her own reality with the powers she wields. The end is truly near, but which end will come of it all?"
Rikaonly now realizes thatshe had spoken aloud andshe stands, "I must return to my hotel room and gather what I can of my belongings. Then I will contact an agent and prepare a way for me to return home. My brother must go unburied, for his remains will no longer be fit for burial, if there's anything of him left. Thank you for listening to me, but I must return your hospitality with the rudeness of one that leaves just after tea."
Rikabows and starts toward the door, only to be stopped by a hand on her shoulder. Turning,she sees Shuichi and immediately knows that he will not lether leave.
"I am sorry for your loss Rika, but I can not allow you to travel alone. Obviously your life is in danger, and it would not settle well with my conscience if you were to be harmed. Please forgive my forwardness, but allow myself and my companions to journey with you to retrieve your belongings. Then you could return to this city and stay with one of us. There is more here than meets the eye, and I would like to think that I helped the last of the Truth Seers take the right path."
Rikalooks deep into his green eyes and for only an instant sees gold. Finallyshe nodsyour head in allowance and looks back to the rest of the group which still sits at the kitchen table.
"We should go soon though, if they have more than two brain cells in their dragon heads they will have found the hotel key on my brother's body."
Author's Note….
Ugly Kitten: Thank you for telling me what a Mary-Sue is. I don't think that my story will turn out like that. Actually, I'm quite sure that it will not. I have a sketchy idea to how it should go. I just have to get all that into the computer...Thank you again for telling me why my story was removed. It will help me in the future.
Dreamstar22: Please do not blame yourself for my story being removed. It was an honest mistake on MY part and you are not in anyway responsible. So please...stop hitting your head on things. Thank you so much for your compliments. I wouldn't take it as far as 'best seller,' but perhaps with time I will have a short novel published. Who knows their own future? I'm also very glad that you don't think my story is a Mary-Sue threat. I don't believe I've ever read such a story, but I can't be sure. Please, if I go Mary-Sue on you guys, let me know. I can't know I'm doing something wrong unless someone tells me.
All Readers: Thank you all for your patience. It is very much appreciated. I only have time to post one chapter a day. Mostly because I'm so busy with my silly little life. Which amounts to nothing...hence, SillyLittleNothing. ((smiles)) At any rate, I will be posting new stories as soon as humanly possible. Just bear with me a little longer.