Disclaimer: I do not own this anime, nor any anime
"I say we should go get something to eat." Keiko said as she smiled up at Yusuke. "We can go to the shop that's next to the meting point. That way we wont miss Yukina."
"Whatever…" Yusuke followed the girls as they dragged him towards the small food stand. His mind wandered off, though, into the current event. Genkai may had been hard on him, but Yusuke knew that she had cared. At least in some way, and even though he would never admit it out loud he also cared about her. His eyes narrowed slightly as he made a silent promise. 'Grandma…I will protect her for you.'
"But sis, I wanted the other one!" Kuwabara's loud voice broke him from his thoughts.
"Suck it up, little brother." Shizuru quickly placed the food into her mouth and smirked.
Yusuke turned his head and glanced at what food Keiko had. 'I need to pay more attention, it's bad when Kuwabara can sneak up on you.' Absently he stole some of her food.
"Yusuke, ask next time." Keiko huffed playfully as she smiled. "My I didn't know you liked spicy food."
"What do you mean? I hate…." His eyes widened as his mouth began to burn. Searching around franticly he spotted Kuwabara about to drink from his water bottle. Stealing it he quickly downed it, hoping to ease the burn.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara was about to jump at him, but a small laugh caught his attention.
"So these are your friends, Yukina?" A young girl asked her giggling friend.
"Yukina!" Kuwabara went up to her smiling. "How are you?"
"Kazuma, I'm doing alright." She motioned behind her towards the girl. "This is Asura, my new friend. She's lost and I told her you guys could help her, was that alright?"
"Of course we'll help her." Boton made her way past her friends. "But your human right? How did you get here?"
Asura laughed nervously as the group watched her. "I'm not sure how I got here. I really don't remember much to tell you the truth."
A hand landed on her shoulder as Keiko smiled encouragingly. "How about you hang around with us. Maybe something you'll see will help you remember, or someone will recognize you."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, but first we should introduce ourselves."
A few minutes later…
"Where are we supposed to meet the toddler again?" Yusuke asked annoyed as they made their way down the boardwalk.
Boton sighed dramatically. "I just told you, we're to met him in front of his hotel. He had a meeting so he wasn't able to met us by the food stand."
" I bet he just didn't want to walk there, the lazy…" Yusuke's mumbles came to a stop as they entered the front gate to Koenma's extravagant hotel. " What the! Why does he get to stay here!"
"Because, Yusuke," The group of friends jumped suddenly from the voice behind them. "I'm one of the rulers of the spirit world and the owner of your team."
Each turned and found the teenage form of Koenma. Yusuke pointed a finger at him.
"Yeah but we're the ones who are risking our necks out there doing all the fighting."
"And which one do you want more? A fancy stuck up hotel, or a series of fights?"
Yusuke backed down with a scowl and crossed his arms. "Whatever."
"Oh Koenma, sir. This is Asura, we promised to help her since she cant remember how she got here." Boton pushed the girl forward.
"It's very nice to met you." Asura bowed slightly and smiled.
Koenma smiled back and took her hand. "A human who cant remember how she got to a demon island…hmm…don't worry I'll make sure that you find your way." The girls giggled behind their hands as Asura's face stained a bright pink, Shizuru smiled.
"Oh give me a break Koenma." Yusuke said loudly, causing the spirit ruler to drop Asura's hand.
"You ruined the moment!" Keiko hit him on the back of his head.
"But Keiko!" He tried, but she only shook her head and sighed.
"What did I do wrong, hey talk to me."
"Perhaps ,Yusuke, you should try an apology." A red head said behind the flustered detective.
"What's with people and sneaking up on me today!" The boy smiled at Yusuke as he turned to look at him. "Plus no way am I apologizing, Kurama. I didn't do anything wrong."
Asura saw that Keiko was about to yell at the unsuspecting Yusuke, and decided to quickly change the subject. She'd help him out this time.
"Hello Kurama. My name is Asura."
Kurama looked down at the young girl in front of him.
"Yes, we're helping her find her way since she's lost." Keiko said, forgetting about the pervious event.
"Well then, I'm glad that we can help. Where have you searched so far?"
Asura shuffled her feet. "We haven't really, what I mean is, I'm just going to follow you guys around. I have no clue as to where to began so I think the best idea is to stay with people I know and look around."
"Then let's go get some food, guys. It's way past lunch time."
"Kuwabara we just ate you pig." Yusuke frowned as he thought of the last thing he ate.
"Yeah but that was just snack food and I'm hungry!"
Yukina placed a hand to her stomach. "I'm actually kind of hungry also."
"Then it's settled. Boton you still have the guide book right? Lead the way." Shizuru followed the blue haired reaper.
The rest followed, a few steps behind.
"But I don't have any money." Asura said quietly.
"Don't worry I'll pay for you, kid." Shizuru fell to the back of the group and placed an arm around Asura's shoulders.
"Thank you." A bright smile covered her face.
Toguro made his way through the darkened hotel suite and into one of the back rooms. There he placed his bundle on the crimson sheets and pulled away his jacket. Carefully he picked her up with one arm, and with the other pulled back the shiken sheets. He eased her unconscious form onto the mattress and removed her boots, setting them at the foot of the bed.
"Soon the spell will be gone, and your true form will return to you." He gazed down at her as he covered her with the sheets. He made his way to the door.
"We shall see what the future has instore for us."
"Oh that food was so good!" Boton and Keiko both cried out, before laughing at each other.
"I'll never understand it." Yusuke mumbled as he watched them.
"Understand what?"
He glanced up to see Kurama standing next to him.
"Girls."
Kurama laughed slightly from his short reply. "I see."
"Hey you guys your going to be left behind!"
"Yeah, yeah, we're coming Keiko." Both Yusuke and Kurama hurried to catch up to the retreating group. Kurama moved to walk next to Asura's slumped form.
"May I ask what's troubling you." Asura's head snapped up and her startled face looked up at him.
"Oh Kurama, nothings wrong really." She smiled, but Kurama could tell that it wasn't a true one. Shakeing his head he decided to let it go.
'This pain is not a physical one...but I could feel it just a second ago.' Asura cringed, thankful that no noticed. 'My heart, it's pounding.'
"Oh wow, what a pretty water fountain."
Asura looked up and saw the same fountain from this morning.
"Hey it's..." Asura cried as she ran to it.
"Are you remembering something?" Boton asked as they followed her.
"This is where I started and saw that big guy carrying something..." Her eyes moved to gaze at the woods that grew along side of the path. Her hand reached out to it as her body slowly made its to the edge.
"Asura?"
Her hand moved some of the branches aside and she peered into the darkened woods. "You found me."
"What is it? What's happening."
Asura turned and smiled at Yukina. "Thank you for the help, but now I'm not lost. I hope to see you guys later." With a wave she melded back into the shadows. Yusuke and Kuwabara quickly went after her.
"What the? She's gone!"
"What just happened here..." Keiko's whispered question went unanswered.
Stormy blue eyes slowly opened only to close quickly from the rays of the sun. The girl drapped a pale over them and lifted her self from the bed with the other. Slowly she dropped her arm and her eyes gazed around the darkened room. The sunset lit parts of the room and made the crimson color darker in its appearance. She pushed away the red silk sheet that was pooled in her lap. Swinging her legs over the large bed's side she slide to her feet. For a few moments her balance held, but her legs gave way and her body crumbled to the wooden floor. The girl could feel the cold seep through her thin dress as she strained to raise her resisting body into a sitting position. Her eyes searched the room and landed on the only chair in the room. With much effort she forced her body to comply as she gradually made her way to it. Raising both hands she grabbed onto table into front of it and lifted herself into the chair. Closeing her eyes she allowed the few moments it took to bring her breath uder control. She opened her eyes and saw that the table was a vanity. Absently she picked up and examined a hair brush. A small movement caused her to look up at the mirror. A reflection looked back at her, a young girl with long light brown hair and a red summer dress. The brush fell from her hand and onto the floor as she placed a hand lazily on the cool glass.
"Who are you?" She absently questioned.
"Lessa." A man with long hair and a black metal mask walked up behind her. "My name is Karasu, and you are Lessa."
He bent down and picked up the brush. Slowly he began to brush through her long hair. Lessa gazed blankly at the mans reflection.
Karasu ran some of her hair between his middle and pointer finger.
"Such pretty hair." Dropping it and placeing the brush in front of her, he placed a hand on top of her head. With a nod of his head he left as quietly as he entered. Lessa's eyes lingered on the doorway.