Ps. I made it a bit longer! Yay me!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho
Chapter 8
"Hey, any of you know a Sachiha?"
A tall boy from the middle of the group looked back and the boys around him cleared a path to Kazuma. Kazuma figured he was their leader. The boy gave what he deemed a 'dangerous' look and snorted.
"You mean Chihasu." A couple boys around him laughed.
"Whatever. Just tell me where he is before there's any trouble."
"Trouble? If there's gonna be any trouble, it's gonna be for you. I should pound ya for just saying that, punk."
Kuwabara waited but no one made a move to fight him.
"So, who's lookin' and why do you need 'im?" The boys tone was more demanding than questioning. Kazuma tried to keep his face basically emotionless but couldn't help it, really, this was irritating.
"It's none of your business, just tell me where he is."
"You seem pretty confident-here, all alone with a rival gang."
"Excuse me?"
"Anyone could recognize you a mile away, The great Kuwabara. Not so great in my opinion, I heard you'd do anything for a kittie."
Normally Kazuma would have growled and maybe punched the guy's face in, but he was tired. He wasn't really angry, just agitated. His mind was more on what he'd told Keiko.
"What? Cat got your tongue?" The gang started surrounding him on the street, people got away as fast as they could.
"Well, since we know who you are, I'll tell you who we are. Nothing to you really, just a rival gang. Today's not your lucky day, you're on our turf. Not only that, you beat up one of our own. Chihasu." He boy smirked. "We're going to beat you bloody. By the way, for future reference, my name is Kushija."
That said the gang of boys started to attack Kazuma, Kazuma was blocking their hits and nothing more. Eventually the boys would have the upper hand if Kazuma didn't act, he was just sorta out of it. He really didn't feel like attacking, he just didn't want to fight. He wanted to hurry up and get the gun and get out of there.
The gang kept attacking, they weren't making any progress but they weren't gaining any life time injuries either. Kushija just stood there watching, he hadn't attacked yet. He finally called his boys off.
"Go, I'll deal with him."
Kushija didn't take his eyes off Kazuma as the boys left. When they were finally gone he spoke.
"So? What're ya doin' on the wrong side of town?" Kushija gave him a sly smile and Kazuma recoiled.
"As far as I knew I was already on the wrong side of town." The boy gave another snort and motioned for Kazuma to follow him down the street. Kazuma did. He followed a few steps behind Kushija. They finally turned into a deserted street where Kushija stopped and looked back at Kazuma.
"Would ya stop walking behind me? I feel like you're gonna attack me any second." Kuwabara cautiously stepped up to Kushija, still keeping his distance mind you. Kushija snorted, obliviously liking the fact that he made Kuwabara nervous, thinking he'd one upped the leader of a rival gang. Kushija seemed to snort a lot. He snorted when he was amused, he snorted when he was taunting someone, he just.....snorted.
At any rate Kushija finally started walking again Kazuma by his side, being uniformly suspicious and shifty. When Kushija stopped abruptly Kuwabara was glad he hadn't been behind him, he'd probably of knocked them both over. Not that knocking Kushija over would have been a bad thing, this guy seemed way too cocky for Kazuma's liking, he'd probably try to kill him or beat him up or something.
Kazuma followed Kushija into an alleyway, not the scary dark ones you see in movies, it was actually quite well lit and far from menacing and scary, especially with a hobo curled up near a garbage dump, smelling strongly of alcohol. Kushija pushed a door open and soon Kazuma found himself in the typical abandoned warehouse.
"Yo' Chihasu, ya got a visitor!"
Kuwabara heard some scraping and crashing before Chihasu appeared in front of them. Chihasu was no taller than Kurama give or take a few inches. He wasn't intimidating in the least. Chihasu peered at him through glasses.
"Who's he and what's he want?"
"Well you should know, 'is gang beat you up a while ago."
Chihasu's eyes narrowed and he stared angrily at Kuwabara, a little pouty but giving a dangerous effect.
"So? What did you come here for? I hope you know you're not leaving without a lickin' now, lost all my business thanks to you."
"I didn't come here to fight, and I really don't care what my gang did to you, you probably deserved it."
"Then what did you come 'ere for?"
"I was wondering about a gun."
"Wonderin'? Here we don't wonder, you either want it or you don't. Or is it that you need information?"
"I want it, I was just wondering how much it'd cost me."
Chihasu snorted and gave a sidelong glance at Kushija, and then turned his attention back to Kuwabara. "Why should I? Why shouldn't I just break your legs and leave you for my boys? I'm even considerin' lettin' you leave, but doin' you a favor?"
"It's not a favor, I'll be paying for it, I just need to know how much and when I can get it."
"I say it is a favor, but how much are you willin' to pay?"
"How much do you want?"
Chihasu looked over at Kushija then they started laughing, it was disturbing. Did they know something Kazuma didn't?
"I'm not sure you can afford it honey."
"Excuse me?"
"Eight hundred."
Kazuma looked a little desperate and unluckily for him the other two picked it up.
"Four."
"Seven fifty."
"Five."
"Seven."
"Six."
"It's a deal. You get me the money I'll get you the gun."
"In that order?"
"I have no reason to trust ya, of course there are other ways of paying if you know what I mean."
Kuwabara looked lost. Chihasu looked over at Kushija who was watching impassively with a bit of a sadistic grin on his face, his thoughts were not good ones.
"Where'd ya pick this guy up Ku-ja? Or did he come to you?" Chihasu had a certain mockingness to his voice.
"Came to me, can you believe it? My boys couldn't touch 'im though, he's a fast one. 'Course he never fought me."
Kazuma couldn't believe these guys, he didn't even know what they were talking about and they were taking forever! He needed to go and figure out how to get six hundred dollars, and other methods of payment? Did they mean being a hitman? Bouncer? Bodyguard or something like that? And they were talking about beating him up, like they could! Chihasu was average but even Kazuma's gang beat him up, Kushija didn't seem much of a challenge either. Kushija must have been maybe a few inches taller than Kazuma but hardly anything that noticeable. Besides Kushija didn't have spirit energy.
Kazuma wasn't worried about getting beat up. He'd been losing weight but he didn't think it was noticeable, especially with his school uniform, no one had said anything to him. A little bit of weight wouldn't affect his spirit energy. Tired of their conversation he cut in.
"I'll have the money ready when you have the gun, if I don't then I'll do this other 'payment' thing or whatever you're talking about. Just tell me when you'll have the gun."
Chihasu quirked an eyebrow.
"I thought you're whole gang was into 'honor'."
"Can you please hurry it up I need to be somewhere."
"I'll have the gun ready in a few days, you sure you're up to it? I doubt you'll have the money and as much as I like the idea of getting free service I wouldn't want to force anything on you."
"Whatever. I'll have the money."
"Maybe you should know what this alternative payment entails before you agree."
"Look I really don't care. I just need to know where to go to pick up the gun."
Chihasu studied him for a second before answering.
"Kushija will pick you up, he'll be waiting outside you're school gate. If you're gang makes trouble it's there own fault when they end up in the hospital."
Kazuma nodded and Kushija led the way out, Chihasu staying.
Kushija kept eyeing Kazuma.
"You know if you don't pay up your experience will be less than pleasant right?"
"I said I will, now buzz off." Kuwabara was more tired than annoyed.
"Can't, if I do and my gang sees you.....well wouldn't want to scar that face of yours."
"You mean like last time?" Kazuma was getting agitated and drifty again.
Kushija snorted and stopped when they came to the street light where Kazuma had approached them.
"My territory ends here. Remember to look for me." With that Kushija took off and Kuwabara started walking home.
Kazuma didn't know what it was about Kushija and Chihasu but he didn't like it. It was like they emanated darkness. It made him shiver. He didn't want to be anywhere near them, he didn't like the way they looked at him or acted around him, it got under his skin. It made him feel faintly ill. He didn't really want to go home either. He hoped his mom and Jay had went out, maybe Shizuru would cover for him though he doubted it. Shizuru had always looked out for him though.
The sky was getting dark, Kuwabara enjoyed stars but the night had always left him feeling empty. He wanted nothing more than to curl up in a safe warm soft place with Eikichi in his lap. He missed Eikichi........when he got home he'd probably be grounded for the rest of his life. He wouldn't be able to go see Yukina tomorrow, not that he was really looking forward to that, he wanted to see Yukina but by gosh he didn't want to tell her what he told Keiko, he regretted that. It made him feel disgusted with himself, he didn't want anyone to know, it was a little late for that though. He didn't fancy the idea of Botan knowing either, even if she could keep quiet and not tell Koenma, which she probably could, she'd just probably choose not too.
He'd just die if anyone else knew. Telling Keiko was a mistake, she'd always look at him with pity, if not disgust.
He reached home and slid the key into the door. He hadn't even noticed the walk, the stairs or anything else. He was surprised to find not only Jay and his mom gone but his sister. He found a note on the table that informed him all three would be gone before he got back from school and that they'd be gone until at least ten thirty.
Kazuma shrugged off his worries and slid around the tiled kitchen in his socks, just like he'd done when he was little. For the moment, he didn't need to worry about anything at all.
Kazuma had been running around the apartment doing whatever he wished for about a half an hour when the phone rang. He leisurely picked it up, he had an hour before his family came home.
"Hello?" Kazuma's voice had the faintest hint of breathlessness.
"Kuwabara?"
"Who's this?"
"Keiko!"
"How'd you get this number?"
".........Yusuke."
"What?!"
"Well, you only gave me your address and I didn't want to come over in case I got you in trouble."
"But-nevermind, you didn't tell him did you?"
"No, what am I? A loud mouth?"
"Yes?"
"Whatever, anyway, how'd it go?"
Kazuma sighed.
"I need six hundred dollars."
"Do you have anything yet?"
"No, I got maybe fifty but that's not much."
"When do you need it by?"
"I need it in a few days."
"Can't you get it sooner? I don't feel safe....."
"I don't even have the money yet, they talking about some alternative method of payment or something.........I'll find a way to get that money."
"I've got about a hundred dollars saved up that you can pay back later. I'm sure the others would lend you some."
"It's all right I'll earn my own money, besides asking the others would be kind of suspicious."
"I can say it's for me..."
"It's alright."
"You can talk to me you know."
"I know."
"Eeek! My mom's home, gotta go!"
Kuwabara winced, man that girl could squeal. He flipped onto the couch and the phone rang again.
"Hello?"
"Sorry, false alarm, turns out it was the neighbour lady."
Kazuma sweat dropped.
"Grounded are we?"
"Yes, we are."
"What'd you get grounded for?"
"Something stupid and totally unfair, anyway, how'd your parents take your absence?"
"They never. They- including my sister-left before I got back from school, of course I never got back but like I'd tell them that."
"When did you get back?"
"I don't know an hour ago or something like that."
"That's a long time."
"Those guys kept talking it was giving me a headache. They just wouldn't shut up."
"You really shouldn't be hanging around those people. Anyway, are you still coming to Yukina's tomorrow? Can you get out of your grounding? Tell your mom it's her birthday or something."
"Wait, aren't you grounded?"
"Well, you know, since it's Yukina's birthday and all."
"Ri~ght."
"I was thinking, what should I call you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you don't call me Yukimura- actually you don't call me anything....how 'bout this, I'll call you by your first name and you can call me Keiko."
"...alright."
"What's your first name? Sorry, I've been calling you Kuwabara so long."
"Kazuma."
"Kazuma......"
"That's right."
"Will you tell me about your childhood?"
"No!" Kuwabara flushed red out of embarrassment.
"Come on......"
"Forget it."
"I'm not leaving you alone until you do."
"No."
"Yes."
"I'm going to hang up"
"come on, just tell me, don't keep everything bottled up!"
"Blah, whatever..I'm hanging up."
And he did. The next moment he heard the phone ring. Keiko was sure persistent.
"Look Keiko, I'm not telling you anything! Why would you want to know about that, even I don't want to know about that. I'm telling you it's cursed knowledge, you'd regret hearing it, especially from me."
"Eh.....Kuwabara?" Kazuma did more blushing. He needed to learn when to keep his mouth shut.
"Urameshi?"
"What was that about? Was that why Keiko wanted your number? Come on tell me!"
"Uh.....no, I'm, uh....sorry, I thought you were Keiko."
"Actually I was phoning because I wondered why she wanted your number."
Kazuma was thinking on an answer when he heard someone unlocking the door.
"Listen, I'm grounded so I need to go, phone Keiko and tell hernot to call me."
He slammed the phone down before he heard an answer.
AN: sorry for the shoddy characters, they suck I know and weren't well represented. (you know, Chihasu and Kushija.) Anyway thanks for reading!!!