To Omasuoniwabanshi: I'm so happy that you liked the flashbacks. Actually, I just came up with the idea because I was trying to cut down on all the unnecessary stuff/time jumping, like what happened after they left, or something like "she heard Botan calling them into Koenma's office..." That line is way too old, and does not add anything to the story. So I decided to use flashbacks, thus cutting out all the boring bits without making the chapters look weird and have that stuck-together/not flowing kind of look.
Lol! Thank thee! I've been Rping for over two years now, and that greatly helps with my description/whole story-writing thing in general. Not only do you get to hone your own abilitites, you get to see how others write, what their style is and how does that contrast with yours. After a while, you kind of find out what your weakness and strong spots are. Then it's just a matter of focusing on what you think is important, and there!
To Mary Tyson: You came back! I'm jumping over the moon! Not literally, of cause, my Yami just decided to smash the moon to pieces and I'm just hopping over the remains. Lol! I had a great New Year, nearly got squashed by drunk backpackers who were trying to climb up a office block's wall. Strange... Anyways, I'm happy that you are pleased. The thing is with this story, explainations does not always come instantly. One have to wait until few chapters later until the paradox is solved. But so glad that you returned! Hope you stay, if of cause, you don't mind the lack of sanity in my dream-turned-fanfic. Enjoy!
Note: If this chapter was... not it's usual standards, please bear with me. Don't worry, I share your pain on this one too. It was living hell to write...
Chapter Nine: ...For Love or Money...
Standing before the gate of Meiou High, one hand rose absently to tuck strands of trailing hair behind one ear. Only three more minutes until the bell, only three minutes before the spring holiday starts. She can't wait to go to Reikai, to spend a whole week there. Having told her parents that she was staying over at a friend's house, and that they were welcome to call her at any time, Yuki had successfully applied reverse psychology on her parents. Knowing very well that with so much ways of contact, her parents won't ever think of checking up on their daughter. So here she was, bag ready, waiting for Kurama, who offered to help Yuki on her "mission". Looking into the distance, Yuki sincerely hoped that she would succeed.
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"Please? Just this once? If you think it's too dangerous, then could jut give me the easiest, safest mission? Anything, anything at all! Please?"
Koenma didn't even bother lifting an eye, a sure sign that this wasn't the first conversation they've had that somehow came to this.
"Yuki, how many times have we been over this; no, you are not allowed to go to Makai. Yes, you have been training for half a year, but that is definitely not enough if you wish to survive in Makai. Although you might have forgotten, you are still quite human, Yuki."
Oh that one hit the spot. The last thing Yuki wanted was to be reminded that she didn't have any ki of any sort.
"Just because I can't do any of those fancy attacks doesn't mean that I'm useless. Just go and ask Kuwabara or Yusuke. They know how much stronger I've gotten in the last three month. They can tell you that I can easily handle any situation."
"Yes, but they won't be the one who'll have to stamp an approval for your soul to be reborn if something happens to you. Now will you leave, I've got work to do."
Yuki glared daggers at the toddler. This was the fifth time she asked to be allowed on a mission, to see just what Makai or youkais look like, to go into a real battle. But every time her argument ended like this one, to be dismissed off-handily by Koenma. She was in the process of leaving when Koenma's voice stopped her.
"Well, there is a way, now that I think about it."
"What, what is it? I'll do anything; just tell me what I need to do!"
Scrambling around the towers stacks of sheets and petitions on his table, Koemna finally withdrew a thin and battered book. Flipping to a particular page, the baby handed the book to the eager Yuki.
"That is the Life Orb. It is able to awaken the dead and control them. It is also able to prevent it's user from dying, even if it is a mortal wound. From what my sources tell me, Youko is currently in possession of the Orb. Now, your mission is to bring the Orb back to me. If you succeed, I will allow you to be the part of the Reikai Tentai."
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Watching Kurama walking over, Yuki fought hard not to laugh at the sight. Behind him, a group of girls followed the red-head, looking as if they have every intent to worship the dirt he steps over. Seeing Yuki, Kurama hurried over.
"I'm terribly sorry for my lateness, but there was some, eh, matter of importance that I had to attend to."
No doubt trying to pry himself from the girls. Seeing Yuki, many of Meiou High's girls stared at her. No, stare wasn't strong enough, for they were glaring death towards Yuki, this stranger girl that was talking to Shuichi, and not even from this school! Who does she think she was, talking their Shuichi away from those that deserved his attention? Seeing the hostile onslaught, Yuki was turning away and about to drag Kurama away from this place.
"Hey, brats. Finished staring yet? Or have none of you ever heard of manners? But then again, I highly doubt that one such as yourself have the intellectual capacity as to maintain constant abstract thought and reasoning that are needed for all human kind, let alone be able to comprehend the delicate rules and laws of social appearance."
Yuki was not the only one staring, so was everyone else within the hearing range of Roviel's voice. Only Kurama wasn't looking, the boy to biting down hard on his thumb to stop laughing. One of the fangirl stepped out, glowering at Roviel, who looked strangely out of place in her school uniform.
"What did you just say? Say that again, I dare you."
Yuki winced inwards. The girl just fell into Roviel's trap. It's been six month since she had first ridden on Botan's oar, and the girl had learnt to read the subtle signs in Roviel, from the way she stood to her smile. And now, the youkai had the pose of someone who had just won their match. Allowing herself crooked grin, Roviel turned away.
"See? My point exactly; you do not even have the brains to understand speech, the foremost way of communication. Now shoo, I do not have as much spare time as to waste upon such trivial matters as yourself when one could use them to relish in the more pleasurable pursuits in life."
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As they walked slowly towards Kurama's house, Yuki called to Roviel, who was far in front of Kurama and her.
"Why are you here? I thought it's your day off. Shouldn't you be enjoying yourself?"
A snort came from the youkai, and her steps slowed as she allowed the two to catch up.
"Enjoy? What? What is there to enjoy in this world? Find me one single thing and I'll grovel before your feet if you wanted. As to why I'm here? I have word from the brat."
Now Kurama piped up, hearing the nickname of his boss.
"Koenma? Had anything happened? Am I needed for some urgent matter?"
"No, it's nothing like that. All Koenma told me to tell you was that this."
Here she stopped completely, turning round and facing Yuki and Kurama.
"He said that no one was to help Yukiwith her mission, and that if anyone does not heed this warning, then Yuki would disqualified for becoming part of the Reikai Tentai for the rest of her life."
One amber eye turned onto Kurama.
"And that means you, kitsune. I'm not sure what this mission is, and frankly, I couldn't care less. But it sounds serious. So unless you want to destroy Yuki's only chance at her dream, I would advice you to walk as fast as you can to your house and stay in it for the rest of this holiday."
Yuki rolled her eyes. How was she supposed to find Youko now? She had hoped that Kurama, being the thief's former body, might have some way of finding him, but now... Stupid Koenma. It looks like he'll do anything to try and stop her from completing the mission...
"A word of advice?"
Mist grey eyes met tawny amber. Sighing up at the clear sky, Roviel started to walk away.
"The easiest way to catch your prey is not to go after it, but make enough noise so that the prey becomes curious and comes to you."
Realizing what Roviel meant, Yuki smiled at the fast disappearing back of the youkai, who was ushering Kurama off with her, growling at the red-head for something or other.
"...owe me lots, saving your hide last time. Did your family buy the excuse?"
"...hassle than I imagined it would be. Kasan just said to be more aware of the time, just in case the clock runs out of battery again."
"Humans are so gullible; I can't believe that she actually accepted that sad refuse of an excuse."
"I will not let you speak ill of my kasan. She is..."
Yuki's smile widened. Roviel doesn't have that much of a mean streak; after all, she did give Yuki a major hint. So, she needed to attract the curiosity of her prey? Hand on the ruby pin that will send her to Reikai, Yuki laughed softly. So, let the game begin.
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Koenma's palace was definitely gigantic, it even had a garden. Actually, a large patch of woodland was more to the point, since it's too large and natural to be a garden of any sort. Two days she spent already in Reikai, two full days dedicated to making the whole castle and any of its visitors know that she was looking for a tall fox thief called Youko. When needed, Yuki's voice could become very loud.
Now she was taking a moment off, stopping her assaulted while she rested. Having found this place three weeks ago, Yuki often came here for both piece of mind and privacy. It was nice here, the trees tall and grass lush, flowers scattered here and...
"Looking for someone?"
Yuki jumped, startled at the sudden soft voice that floated from above her. Looking up, her steel grey eyes narrowed at the grinning figure of Youko sitting on a branch high up. Jumping down, the thief landed gracefully, not a single hair out of place. Somewhere at the back her mind, Yuki wondered just how he managed to do that, to come out of a life or death battle and still remain so poised and neat. That part of her mind reached to the conclusion that it was "a fox thing". After all, Yusuke doesn't seem to look so cool when he comes back half dead, so...
"Where the bloody hell did you come from? Scared the living daylights out of me."
Youko shrugged, the careless movement of the shoulders making his hair shimmer under the sunlight.
"Hiei came and told me what you were up to these last two days. He couldn't stand the racket any longer, so told me to come and end all of this, before he comes and ends you."
Ah yes, when in trouble, always trust Hiei to help... She wasn't angry any longer at the shock he gave her, how could anyone stay mad at the thief? But Yuki still persisted with the annoyed look.
"You could have at least walked up to me, like normal people do. Or is being normal too impossible for you?"
Youko grinned inwards. The girl definitely needed to improve on her lying skills. He could see that she wasn't mad anymore, but still the fox decided to play along.
"But I thought you loved surprises. I only wished to surprise you."
Oh, he's trying to be smart, is he?
"Yea, surprises, as in nice surprises. Not some kitsune jumping out of a tree and scaring me half to death!"
Nodding at her protest, Youko raised one hand, as if to brush back gold-white hair from his eyes.
"I see. What then, would you consider a nice surprise, this?"
His hand withdrew, holding within it a pink rose, one whose petals of snow white washed against delicate blushes of translucent pink. Lifting the plant, Youko held it before Yuki, waiting for the girl to take his gift.
"I think the color goes nicely with your hair, which, may I add, is absolutely beautiful."
Gently taking hold of the stem, Yuki could not help as a wide grin spread over her face.
"How did you know I love roses?"
Youko sighed, one of those exaggerated ones that made it seem as if the world was becoming dumber by the second.
"I know, because you told Kurama this, before I broke free from the binding. That's how. But paradoxes aside, why do you wish to see me so badly that you risked Hiei's wrath? It must be urgent."
Oh yea. Yuki have nearly forgotten the reason he was here in the first place, having been agonizing over whether to thrash the fox for being acting so smart and having the last word or thanking him for the flower.
"Um, it's like this. Can I have the Life Orb?"
Yes, she was very different to Roviel, no subtly at all...
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"Why is it so important, to be part of the Reikai Tentai? Doesn't know how to fight and win against normal humans enough?"
Biting into a peach, Yuki shook her head. They were in the deserted kitchen now, it having started to rain outside.
"But I love fighting. And it's been so boring, going against the same people all the time. Just because I can't beat Yusuke or Hiei doesn't mean that I'm weak. I'd like to see just how many people can defeat Yusuke."
"But real fights, battles in the depth of Makai, it isn't what you imagined it to be. In Makai, there are no honorable one-to-one duels where defeat could be summoned by a raise of the hand. It's a fight to the end, when victory only comes when Death had his full share. Koenma's right, you do not stand a chance in Makai."
"You know, a simple "sorry, I can't help you" would have done just fine, No need to rub it in."
Youko chuckled.
"Yet another reason why I enjoy your company. One never knows what's to happen next while in your presence."
He looked over at Yuki, who was at the moment biting away at the peach as if it deserved to die a horrible death.
"You know, you aren't like all the other human females that I have the pleasure of meeting, thanks to Kurama. Pitiful things, clinging to my human counterpart, whining and degrading themselves to the level of mindless beasts only for the sake of some attention."
Yuki frowned at him, peach forgotten.
"Are you trying to say something to me? If so then just say it. I have enough of the guessing games from Roviel."
Youko laughed, shaking his head in amusement.
"Nothing, nothing. If you do not understand, then there is no need to ask."
Yuki groaned, looking up at the ceiling as if to seek some answer from the heavens.
"Why do I always get the weird ones? I mean, really. First it's Roviel, then Botan, and now you. What have I done to deserve this?"
Golden orbs shone with laughter. It'snice, finally able to talk to a female who doesn't jump onto the kitsune the second they see him. The furry ears flickered, and Youko arranged his face into that of a hurt puppy, eyes included.
"Don't you like me? I would have thought that you are honored to be in my presence. After all, everybody else is."
"Yea well, like you said before, I'm not like other people."
"That is true enough. What sort of human female would want to risk her life just for the sake of having fun?"
"I would. Which brings us back to my original point; can I please have the Life Orb?"
Youko burst out laughing. He couldn't help it. Yuki's oblivious stubbornness was just too much. Never had he imagined anyone to be so persistent and yet so blank at the same time. Humans... Laughing to himself, Youko stood up, and was in the process of leaving when a very angry girl blocked his way.
"You are not leaving until I have your word that I get the Orb. Koenma only gave me five days to complete this task, and this is already the third day. I have asked nicely, twice, and both times you didn't even bother giving a straight answer. And besides, you have so many treasure already, one little orb can't hurt, right? So just give me the bloody thing before I get mad."
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He listened to her, amusement plain on his face as her speech swayed between desperate pleading and angry threats. It's rare, seeing her angry. Those eyes of soft grey now glared up in clear anger at him, shards of dark steel blades stark against a background of angry rolling clouds. He never noticed that before, how her eyes didn't consist of one solid color, but rather had two distinct layers, splinters of near black swimming in a sea of paler grey. Locks of peach pink fell, the subtle color almost white against her cheeks now red in anger.
A strange thought came to him, absurd by his former youkai standards. How could his mind even think of such a thing? It was simply too ridiculous even for words. But who cares for what logic thought, didn't Kurone always used to laugh and joke that Youko was all mind and no heart? Kurone... Hundreds of thoughts awoke at the name; memories, dreams, regrets. No, he wasn' t about to make the same mistake twice, wasn't about to let another chance slip away, all for his over-inflated ego.
Thus Yuki was suddenly frozen, motionless in both astonishment and disbelief as Youko's lips met against hers, met and stayed there. She stood still, not knowing how she should respond, if she should respond. All of this was too sudden, her numb mind still trying to figure out just what exactly happened.
Silver tipped ears twitched, flickering at some invisible sound. Breaking the kiss, Youko sighed.
"It would appear that we have company."
The word "company"broke Yuki out of her shocked state. Misted eyes roved frantically over the room, trying to find the intruder, trying...Oh My God...
There stood Hiei, the fire apparition staring at this startling scene that he had stumbled upon. A string of curses flew across Yuki's mind, none of which I'll put here, in the fear of giving some innocent reader a permanent mental scar that will remain with them for the rest of their life. Let's just say that if Hiei looked into Yuki's mind right now, his notion that humans are weak creatures that could never compare with youkais would be wiped squeaky clean.
The gawking look did not stay for long, for in an instant his usual of sullen indifference came back, and with a final "Hn", the black shadow disappeared as suddenly as it came. Her face now hot enough to cook on, Yuki groaned into her hands.
"Oh gods! I am going to die. Did you see Hiei? He looked furious."
"Tell me a time when he doesn't look mad."
Her head lifted out of her hands, a sudden movement that announced the return of her mind. Twirling around in one furious movement, Yuki lifted one hand and pointed squarely at Youko's chest.
"It's all your fault! Why in hell's name did you have to do that?"
Wincing as his sensitive ears took the full impact of those deafening words, Youko back away from the girl's advancing wrath.
"How it is my fault? Ah! It's my fault, my fault. Just don't yell, please?"
"I was asking you for an artifact, not a kiss! Just what were you thinking and are you going to give me the orb?"
Even in a time like this Yuki's perseverance held. Holding back laughter, Youko dared to pat her gently on the head.
"Sorry girl. You are priceless, but not priceless enough to trade for the Orb. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to disappear without a single trace for three days. Hope you have luck trying to find the orb!"
And disappear he did, running for his life from a very outraged female. And as most would know, outraged human females can be very deadly...
OMG! That was just horrid! Out of all the genres, romance would have to be my weakest one. No, wait, not weakest, utterly non-existant! How I hate lemonades. Oranges I can do, lemon and lime no problem, but lemonades... Two little words "Why Me?" Sounds familiar? Yea, I thought so...