Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews of the first couple chapters. I'm glad that you like it so far. Well, here's the next chapter, and I should have another up by mid next week(my next day off). Working overnights at Target can sure mess a person up. Hehe.
Chapter Two
"How-But-There is absolutely no way in Hell!" Kuwabara slammed the history text on the ground and faced Hiei. "How did you know all of the answers? Didjya cheat?"
"Face it, Kuwabara. He's just smarter than you," Yusuke stated casually, trying his utmost to not laugh.
"But he isn't even human! How does he even know who Ieyasu Tokugawa is?!"
"I'm not human either, or have you forgotten?" Kurama cut in, causing the teen to blush from embarrassment. "I could always forego the tutoring sessions, you know."
"But you go to school. Hiei doesn't, so how does he know?"
"Simple, you idiot. Kurama and Yusuke were feeding me the answers."
"How? I didn't hear or see anything."
"Telepathy," the trio replied.
"Besides," the fox began, "Hiei knows much more about Human World than you think. He's read all of my textbooks and quite a few others. He also eavesdrops on most, if not all, of my classes when he's bored."
"And since the Kitsune's at a higher intelligence level than you, so am I."
"That's bullshit," Kuwabara mumbled dejectedly.
"Yoo hoo!" rang a voice from the window directly behind Yusuke who, as usual, jumped three feet into the air.
"Dammit, Botan! I have a door, you know!"
"We can discuss my poor entrances later, Yusuke. Right now, I need to fill you in on the details of your next case."
"No!" the detective whined. "No cases. I wanna vacation."
"Too bad. This is a terribly important mission."
"Does this case involve the attempted theft of the Ring of Ajus?" Kurama asked, causing the reaper's lavender eyes to widen to surprising proportions.
"H-how did you know about that? I was the only one that Koenma told."
"Not exactly. Hiei was the one who told me."
She then turned to the apparition. "How'd you find out?"
"Koenma."
"But I was sent to tell Yusuke."
"He sent me after Kurama."
"Um, hello?" Yusuke called, waving his hand in the air. "What's the Ring of Ages?"
"Ring of Ajus, Yusuke," Botan corrected.
"What-the-hell-ever. What is it?"
"It's actually one of three parts," Kurama explained. "The Ring, Chain, and Bracelet of Ajus. The Ring has the ability to cloak the wearer's identity and location completely."
"The Chain drains energy and the Bracelet gives unimaginable strength," Botan finished.
"And what do they do together?"
"It grants immortality," Hiei stated.
"Okay, now why is Kurama so important?" Kuwabara wondered.
"The Chain and Bracelet were stolen recently, and an attempt was made to steal the Ring as well, but it's been missing for twenty years. Koenma leaked false information about it still being there so as to not cause a panic," Botan replied.
"And?"
"Kurama's the only person that knows the Ring's current location."
"But didn't you just say that it's been missing for twenty years?" the detective questioned.
"Then how does he know where it is?" Kuwabara added.
"Because, you morons, he was the one who stole it in the first place," Hiei responded.
"WHAT?!" the pair cried.
"When I was Youko, I stole the Ring in order to steal more items, less discreetly and without leaving an energy trail."
"Is it still in Demon World?"
"No, I hid it here in Human World." To Botan, he asked, "Does Koenma know who made the attempt?"
"No, but it's being looked into thoroughly."
"Oh, of course. Why the hell would it be that easy?" Yusuke muttered.
"So, where is it?" the carrot-top asked.
"Well hidden."
"Can I have it?" the woman asked.
"No."
She blinked. "No?" He shook his head. "Why not?"
It was Hiei who spoke. "The thieves were bold enough to attempt to steal it, so it'll be safer where it is. Right, Fox?"
"Right. It's better if I alone know its location."
"Yeah, but what if something happens to you?"
"It's been taken care of." He paused to check his watch. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I promised my mother that I would be home to meet her boyfriend. By the way, she told me to invite you over to keep me from getting bored."
"Because we all know how bad a bored fox can be," Hiei commented.
"What time?"
" 7 or 8, I suppose."
"No problem."
"Feel free to come now, if you'd like, Botan. It's better than going all the way back to Spirit World."
"Don't mind if I do."
"Mom?"
""Kitchen!"
The pair entered the kitchen to see Mrs. Minamino sitting at the table, nursing a half-empty cup of coffee.
"Shuuichi dear, who's your lady friend?"
"That's right. You've never met. Mom, this is Botan. Botan, my mother."
"Oh, it's so nice to finally meet you. Your son speaks so highly of you."
"He's a flatterer," she laughed. "How did you two meet?"
"Through Yusuke. I work as his, consultant, or sorts."
"And no, Mother. Botan is not my girlfriend."
She smiled a 'cat caught with the canary' smile. "Can't blame me for hoping."
"Shouldn't you be getting ready?"
"I'm going." As she walked out, she whispered to her son, "She's quite pretty."
"Go."
"What was that all about?" Botan asked as they walked up the stairs.
"I tend to avoid women, so she just assumed that we were dating."
"Why avoid women?" She smirked. "Is it because you're prettier than we are?"
He laughed softly. "No, it's more about my demonic nature than my looks."
"Sure it is. I've seen that fan club of yours, you know. You're quite the lady magnet." He blushed and opened his door, causing Botan to snicker. "Shy? You don't seem the type."
"Enough Pick on the Fox Day."
"For now."
The two had been talking when there was a knock on the door.
"Are you decent?"
Kurama's eyes grew as he turned a deep shade of crimson, matching the equally crimson Botan. "That, is not funny, Mother."
His mother poked her head in and stuck her tongue out at him. "I couldn't resist. I know you wouldn't do anything too indecent."
It was hard to imagine, but the teen's blush deepened.
"Anyway, how do I look?" She entered the room fully, wearing a beautifully decorated black silk dress, with her long chestnut hair pulledback and held by a pair of chopsticks.
"Gorgeous," the two stated.
She curtsied. "Why, thank you. He should be here any-" The woman was cut off by the doorbell. "-Minute."
The Kitsune turned to the reaper. "I'll be right back, Botan."
"I'll be here."
Mother and son headed downstairs, where Kurama answered the door. When he did, however, he was suddenly filled with discomfort as he sensed the man's demonic aura.
"Oh, um, come in." he said, stepping aside.
"Thank you, young man. You must be Shuuichi."
"I am, Sir."
"It's a privilege. I'm Ryo Sukimura. Your mother goes on about you."
"Don't believe everything you hear. She's biased," he said, playing along.
"Parents usually are." He then turned toward the woman. "Shiori, we ought to get going. Our reservation is for six. We wouldn't want to be late, after all." She nodded in return.
"Are your friends coming?"
"Yeah. They'll be here in an hour or so. Have fun and don't worry about me."
She kissed her son of the cheek. "I should be home by 11 at the latest. I left pizza money on the counter, and there's a fully stocked freezer of ice cream for your friend."
"Thanks. He'll love that. I'll see you when you get home." With that, the couple left.
When Kurama was returning to his room, he noticed Hiei enter.
"You sensed it as well," he stated as he entered. The fire demon nodded.
"Sensed what?"
"That man is a demon of some sort," Hiei replied.
"Really? Then is it okay for your mother to date him?"
"She seems happy, and I don't have any reason to believe that he means to harm her. But that doesn't mean that I'm not going to have Koenma keep an eye on him for me." He paused as he sensed the detective and his sidekick enter the house and run up the stairs.
"Your mother told us to just come in," Yusuke said as he opened the bedroom door.
"What happened to 8?"
"We got bored," Kuwabara explained.
"I thought that you were supposed to keep me from getting bored."
"We all know what happens when that happens, right, Kuwabara?" Yusuke chided.
"Shut up, Urameshi!" he shouted.
"Sobering, Yusuke looked at Kurama. "Who was that man that was with your mom?"
"Her boyfriend."
"We were getting an odd vibe from him."
"You, too?" Botan asked.
"It was kind of like Toguro, in the sense that he felt like more than his energy suggests," Yusuke explained.
"What do you know about energy manipulation?" Hiei asked.
"Not much, honestly."
Suddenly, the group felt Hiei's demon energy weaken until it was barely there. Just then, it flared, showing everyone just how powerful the diminutive apparition truly was.
"How'd you do that?" Kuwabara asked, awestruck.
"Practice, and focus."
"It's impossible to completely mask energy, spiritual or demonic. Did you notice, though, that he seemed much more powerful the weaker his energy became?" The two nodded. "It takes power to do that."
"Man, you have got to show me that trick!" the detective exclaimed.
"It is not a trick," Hiei growled.
"Whatever, just teach me."
"Hn."
"Back on track, what do we do about the Ring?" Botan interjected.
"Nothing, until we have more to go on," Kurama stated, "When the time is right, I'm sure they'll come to us."
"You think?" Kuwabara questioned.
"I know."