TWO

Big Mansion

Kosuke looked over his shoulder at his younger sister. He sighed and smiled at her.

She smiled back weakly, "We almost there?" Yumi knew the answer, but wanted to make sure for her queasy stomach.

"Yep." He answered brightly, "I can't wait till you see the mansion, it's marvelous!" Kosuke clapped his hands together and his eyes glowed happily.

"Mansion? I thought it was a castle?" Yumi asked, getting rid of all her images of Hakkai's castle.

"It's a mansion, and a huge one at that. You'll love it I'm sure." He walked backwards until he was along side his sister.

"I bet." She said dryly, putting up a sarcastic thumbs-up.

"Come on, cheer up, Yum." Kosuke patted her on the back, "Just give it a chance, and I'm sure you'll like it."

She smiled at him, "Yeah, I probably will like it, you're always right." Yumi sighed. I hope I like it, after all, it is going to be my new home. She thought with another sigh.

Kosuke frowned down at her, "Stop sighing, it's depressing."

She giggled, "Sorry, just thinking."

He smiled mischievously, "About what?"

"Stuff."

"Oh. Fine, don't tell me then." Crossing his arms across his chest, he walked faster.

Yumi laughed, "Stop being an idiot, Ko."

"But, it's like my job, Yumi." He laughed and walked with her again. Kosuke pointed ahead of them, "Hey, I see the gate! Look!"

Yumi squinted, "Oh…great." She whispered as her stomach did flips.

"Ha ha. Don't be nervous, I'm sure everyone will like you." He patted her on the back again, "Relax, 'kay?"

"Okay, I'll relax." If I can that is. She inhaled and exhaled loudly.

Four buff, serious-looking guards stood in front of the gate entrance.

"State your business." One of the guards said.

Kosuke stepped forward, "I'm prince Kosuke and this is princess Yumi. I assume you were informed why we're here?"

The guard on the far left replied, "Yes, we were informed. You are a bit earlier than we expected. Prince Hakkai is out now and won't be back for a few hours."

"Alright. Cool. Can we go now?" Yumi asked impatiently.

The guards moved to the right and one of them punched in a few numbers on a keyboard jutting from the wall. Two enormous doors slid open with a buzzing sound and one of the four guards gestured for them to go through, "Right this way."

"Do you need directions, sir and madam?" The guard that punched in the numbers asked.

"Nah. We're fine, I've been here tons of time before." Kosuke said, smiling, "Thanks."

"Yeah, thanks." Yumi walked quickly through the door, not wanting to be in the presence of the stiff guards any longer. Kosuke followed her through just as quickly.

Yumi and Kosuke walked shyly through the town, all eyes on them.

"Would you look 'er. She's a beaut." One filthy looking man said with a whistle, pointing at Yumi.

"Yeah. She is." An equally filthy man agreed with a nod.

"Awww…he's blushing. That's sooo cu-ute." A group of girls giggled and blushed when Kosuke looked their way.

"Ko, I'm scared." Yumi whispered to him.

"Me too. Let's tun." He sprinted down the street, screaming.

Yumi raised an eyebrow at his…spontaneous behaviour and then ran after him, shouting, "Wait! Kosuke! Don't leave meeeee!"

Kosuke leaned against the palace gates, panting heavily. Yumi was sprawled out on the grass, panting just as much.

"At least…it's quiet…here." Kosuke smiled.

Yumi half-laughed, half-panted, "Yeah. We'll…go in…when we're not so…tired."

Kosuke replied with a thumbs-up and collapsed onto the ground beside Yumi.

Yumi stood up, dusted grass off her ass (A/N:lol, a rhyme!) and tried opening the gate, "Get up and help me, Kosuke."

He stood up with a groan and pulled out a straightened paperclip. With a sly smile, he said, "Never leave home without one of these."

"Yu-huh, now-"

"I'm serious. It has a ton of uses." He shook the paperclip.

"Name one."

He slipped the paperclip into the lock and twisted, "Almost…"

Fifteen minutes later…

"Hurry the hell u-"

"Done!" Kosuke jumped up and the gate flew open, smashing into his shin, "Eep! Rust poisoning!" He shrieked and ran down the path to the mansion, screaming like a maniac.

Yumi laughed and followed her rather insane brother, but at a much slower pace. Kosuke better not be going in there without me. She thought as she looked up at the cerulean sky, What a nice day, too bad I have to meet him. She glared at the sky.

Yumi arrived at the mansion and froze, mouth agape.

The mansion was made of brick and had white marble pillars holding up each of the many balconies. Green vines twisted themselves around the pillars and vines grew along the sides of the mansion. There were colourful flowers growing beside the stairs that lead up to the door and vines also wrapped themselves around the stair railings. The windows had intricate designs of flowers and symbols imprinted on them and large flower pots sat on the balconies in front of the larger windows.

Yumi stared in awe at the beautiful mansion in front of her.

"There must be at least fifty rooms in here, not including the bathrooms and kitchen." She said, amazement in her voice, 'This place is hu-"

The large white doors creaked open and a young maid stood in the doorway, "Princess Yumi, you're here. Fantastic. This was please." She smiled and gestured for Yumi to come up the stairs.

Yumi smiled back at her and walked up the stone staircase, "Hi. Uh…have you seen my brother?"

"No. Sorry, miss." The maid said, her apology not sounding sincere at all, "I'll be taking you to your room now." She pushed Yumi farther inside and closed the door, "Come on, Princess, we have to go, Prince Hakkai will be here shortly.

Yumi gulped and followed the maid up the mahogany stairs. The maid took her down a long hallway and then turned left, to go down another hallway. Yumi sighed. When do these hallways end! She thought with another sigh.

"Here we are." The maid smiled and opened a white door, "Your maid will be here in a few minutes." She left the room, closing the door behind her.

A comfy looking bed sat in the middle of the room and a white canopy hung from two metal bars on the roof, to hang over the bed. The floor was marble and a fluffy red carpet lay beside her bed. Two mahogany dressers were pushed up against a wall beside the overly-large closet. Red silk curtains hung from the large window, orange light from the sunset leaking through.

Yumi smiled and plopped own on her bed, "I think I'm going to like it here…" She said dreamily.

Authoress Notes: Alright, thanks for the reviews and stuff. They make me content. I promise to make at least two of the Sanzo party come in next chapter, things just didn't work out. I'll update next week. 'kay, bye!