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-Edgar: The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman – Shakespeare

In the Human Realm it was a beautiful night, one of many in an otherwise turbulent spring. In the Spirit Realm, it was by far a different matter. Columns of paperwork had spilled off the top of a sturdy oak desk, waiting to be read, stamped and sent off to the proper departments. Occasionally another stack would be brought in, though the person in charge of the paperwork had yet to have noticed. In fact, someone had just hung up on him, falsely claiming bad reception even though he knew that the phone service never lost reception. That was mainly due to the fact that the service didn't exist, the speaker had never once paid a phone bill. Sitting in an armchair vaguely too large him, was what appeared to be a toddler. A comically large hat was wrapped snugly around his head, just above two letters reading "Jr". Tired eyes stared blankly at the lofty mountains of paper before there was a slight knock on his door and a pleasant voice.

"Um, sorry to interrupt but we just arrived back and I was curious if… Goodness, are you alright, Koenma? You look awful."

The toddler, Koenma, snapped out of his short reverie, yawning loudly. A teal pacifier hung precariously off his lower lip, threatening to fall to the filthy floor, but oddly enough not. This was the son of King Enma, a Japanese God of the dead, formally called Lord Enma Jr, but called Koenma by people who didn't really take him all that seriously; embarrassingly, this was just about everybody he knew.

"Huh? What did you say?" asked Koenma, one eye twitching in exhaustion.

"I asked if you were alright… we're going to be heading home. Perhaps you should get some rest," the voice replied.

Even though Koenma could not see the speaker, he already knew what the young man looked like. As usual, he would most likely still be dressed in his school's uniform, magenta with gold trim, and rose red hair would fall messily his face. Eyebrows would be knitted in worry over large, expressive green eyes that glinted in the light like precious jewels.

"I'll be fine… just dealing with a…" he wondered how he could describe the man he was talking to moment ago, "… a pest. That's all. Go ahead and get some rest, Kurama."

Nodding his head, the young man named Kurama turned quietly on his heel and left, still glancing over his shoulder once in worry before shaking his head to clear his mind.

"Just… a… pest…" Koenma groaned, burying his face in his arms, knowing that tomorrow he would have to send his spirit detectives after the man. In the mean time, he'd let them sleep. He sure as Hell wouldn't get any.

Morning came quickly, seemingly defying all restraints of time. Most people even described that morning as evil. Now, evil had nothing to do with it, as evil has better things to do than mess with clocks, such as tempt people, cause tax audits or make people lose reception on their cell phones.

Rising slowly, the Sun had just begun to make its way over the bright blue of Japan's sky. Already, four people were awake, their sleep patterns shattered by loud ringing noises. Though the sky was bright blue in Japan, where the four awake teens were currently located, it was anything but. Outside in the Spirit Realm, the sky was a stormy navy, clouds the color of granite boiled above. Occasionally, lightning cut across the sky ominously. One of the teens was the red haired Kurama from the night before, now wearing a pair of jeans and a loose t-shirt tucked into the waist of the pants, and he now stood in front of Koenma's desk noting the fact that the paperwork hadn't reduced yet and if anything, had grown. Sighing, he fought back a yawn, making his eyes squeeze shut for a moment before opening.

"Hey, Koenma, ya in there?" one of Kurama's companions asked, trying to see through the paperwork.

The speaker was tall, his curly hair the color of carrots teased into a ridiculous pompadour. High, well defined cheek bones were emphasized by small, squinted eyes on sallow skin. He was your average high school punk and he looked exhausted, dressed in a pair of paint spattered jeans and a dirty baseball jersey from his favorite team.

In a muffled voice, Koenma replied from somewhere behind the paper towers.

"Yes, Kuwabara, I am in here!"

One of the stacks moved slightly to the left and they could just barely see the boyish face of their employer, though the term boyish was used lightly.

"Holy cow, how did all of this paperwork build up?" one of the other young men breathed. Standing next to the orange haired giant, Kuwabara, was a young man dressed in jeans and a white tank top, his black hair gelled back so fiercely that it seemed to be tinted green. Large chocolate colored eyes scanned the mess and he whistled lowly, shoving his hands into the pockets of his old jean jacket.

"Should we help him out?" Kuwabara muttered over to his companions and at last the shortest of their group responded.

"Hn, if you ask me, he should stay there," he muttered off darkly. Standing with his legs just barely apart, braced against the floor like any fighter, was a young man, rather child like in appearance, though appearances had little to do with him. Eyes the color of a well aged red wine seemed to glow with the traces of annoyance and something vaguely more sinister. Dressed entirely in black, the rather gothic motif was added to by his hair, which was spiked on his head, defying gravity. Hidden under the rather large cloak was his trademark sword.

"Good to see you're on my side, Hiei," Koenma muttered off dryly, maneuvering so he could see his spirit detectives a little better and cleared his throat for their attention.

"As it would seem, I need you to do something very important. Consider it pest control if you must, but needless to say, we need this man out of Japan fast. I don't know WHAT he could do, and that'll only get me in more trouble with my dad…" Koenma trailed off the last bit, his mind painfully remembering his father's punishments.

"Pest control?" All four said, though each with their own tone.

"Yes, that's truthfully the best way to describe him…" Koenma trailed off the last part and as soon as he fell silent Kuwabara picked the conversation back up as usual with a question.

"Does he have a name?"

"Of course he has a name, you moron…" Hiei muttered off, getting a warning glance from Kurama.

"Well… He does have a name…" Again Koenma dropped the conversation quickly as it seemed to be his new habit.

"And that name would be…?" Yusuke decided he wasn't going to quit until he got answer. Koenma, realizing this, knew there was no easy way out.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you if I tried. He's got too many count," Koenma explained tersely.

"Than perhaps just one would do," Kurama added helpfully, hoping to at least get one question answered.

"Hm…" Koenma thought about, trying to figure out which one seemed… more human and finally decided, "Lucas, that's what he called himself at one point."

There was an odd choking noise coming from the two humans of the group as they tried to stifle the laughter that was creepy traitorously up their throats, only contained by tightly pursed lips. Deciding to spare his partners from their suffering, Kurama had to say it.

"Lucas?" There was obvious disbelief in his voice.

"Yes, Lucas," Koenma replied and he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for what he knew was going to happen anyway, no matter how quiet his spirit detectives were trying to be.

Three… Two… One… it happened, starting with Yusuke, who's inward sniggering was forcing itself to the surface until it burst forth with loud, raucous laughter that seemed to fill the room. Quickly following was Kuwabara, whose pale face was now the same hue as a fresh tomato, his small eyes squeezed shut in mirth.

"Stop laughing both of you! While THIS name might be, well, to be perfectly honest, pathetically lame, HE is NOT!" Koenma warned them, wishing, not for the first time, that those two humans had just a bit, mind you just a bit, more mature. Was it really too much to ask?

Though he was trying his hardest to get through to his detectives, he knew it was basically pointless. Sighing, he leaned back in his chair, waiting for the two to stop their rather girlish giggling. Finally, if not slowly, it dwindled down to silence and Yusuke asked the next question.

"So… why exactly should we be so afraid of this… Lucas…." He sniggered at this, "well, this person anyway? Can't be much harder than some of the bad guys we've fought before."

"Trust me, he is far worse than any of the bad guys you have faced so far," Koenma replied, trying to remain calm though his mind began to wander to the first time he had met the man.

"How 'bout a description? We can't go around to every person in Japan askin' if their name is Lucas," Kuwabara reasoned, realizing that it would probably take a long time and there was that new game he got that he really wanted to play. If they could get this done fast, you certainly wouldn't hear him complaining.

"Description… right… well, last time I saw him he was just a little taller than you, Kuwabara, with blonde hair that fell past his waist…" Koenma bit his lip, trying to remember how the man had looked and remembered another thing, "He always has blue eyes and looks European or American.

"Great, THAT won't be hard to find in Japan," Yusuke muttered, "Foreign exchange students are EVERYWHERE. It'll be like lookin' for a needle in a haybin."

Kurama cocked an eyebrow at the awkward phrase.

"Don't you mean 'hay stack'?" he asked politely.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"It doesn't matter. Just find him, get him out, and DON'T fight him. No matter what, alright?" Koenma had meant for this statement to be final but saw Yusuke open his mouth and quickly blurt out what was on his mind, which honestly isn't much.

"No fightin'? What th' Hell? Why do you not want us to fight? I mean, what if he doesn't want to leave peacefully!"

The very idea of pacifism seemed to petrify Yusuke as he took a step toward Koenma to get his point across, slicing one hand through the air for a quick effect.

"I mean it, Yusuke. You have no idea how powerful this man is. Fighting against him is like committing Suicide. If he chooses not to leave peacefully, get out of the fight in everyway possible," Koenma warned gravely, giving Yusuke a warning glare as he opened his mouth to protest. "I mean it. Now, go out and find him, alright?"

Each one of them feeling differently about this mission, the four headed out back to Japan in search of the villain named Lucas…

"I don't like this idea," Yusuke moaned as the spirit detectives stepped into a café, each taking a seat around the small square table.

"Seems dumb if you ask me," Kuwabara added, nodding his head along with his friend's comment as Kurama got up to order drinks at the counter.

"I mean, not fightin' a bad guy? That seems… pointless. I mean, what're we gonna do, politely ask 'em to leave?"

"Perhaps a bit of pacifism would be good for you two," Kurama added as he made his way back to the table, four drinks clutched awkwardly to his body.

"Here, let me help with that," Kuwabara offered, taking two of the drinks, his own and Yusuke's, before he added his own two cents again. "But even you have to admit, it seems a bit pointless. What self respecting bad guy will just leave when you ask?"

Sighing, Kurama sank into the wood chair and blew on the cup full of tea before he took a deep breath and replied.

"I didn't say it made sense. I just said that pacifism could do you some good."

"What exactly are you getting at?" Yusuke asked, vaguely threateningly, as he leaned across the table.

"Oh my… I'm not getting out of this one, am I?" Kurama mused slightly, smiling exasperatedly to himself before defending himself from the two school punks.

Oddly, nobody noticed that the fourth member of the group, Hiei, had remained quiet. But then again, they really just dismissed him as being mood as usual, which he partially was, but that was not the only thing that was on his dark little mind. Staring dourly at the hot cup of black tea in his bandaged hands, he remained, for the most part, ignored. Secretly, this was how he preferred it.

There was a click as the door to the café opened and someone stepped in.

Normally as loud as any little coffee shop, the boisterous crowd that frequented it suddenly became hushed, each stopping their conversation mid sentence, and in some cases mid word, and they each stared at their drinks, food, or newspapers respectively. This odd phenomenon of silence did not go unnoticed by the four spirit detectives as Kuwabara suddenly shivered. Every muscle in his body felt oddly tense, cold and the entire room felt… dead. Not a single aura could be sensed, just a vast nothingness.

The soft thumping of boots on tile suddenly filled the quiet and all but Hiei looked at the door.

Striding confidently in was a man, tall, with blonde hair that shone in the light, giving him the vague impression of a halo or some other nimbus. Pale, perfect skin seemed to glow just barely but it could have been from the contrast of the dark clothing. Sitting delicately on the tip of his thin nose, the man stared over a pair of thin reading glasses with eyes of the palest blue. Moving with a liquid sort of grace, his sleek form was covered in a long black trench coat, bedecked with enough buckles to make any hardcore gothic jealous, and they could see it was worn over what appeared to be a fine suit, the neck unbuttoned to reveal a surprisingly slender neck for a man.

Strolling smoothly to the counter, he pulled one hand out of his pocket, a credit card held between his fore and middle finger, his hand delicately manicured.

"I'd like a cup of coffee please."

When he spoke, his voice was smooth enough to make every girl in the café sigh longingly to themselves, or the shyer of the bunch blush a fantastic shade of burgundy. The waitress herself was not entirely immune as her highly glossed lips curved into a coy little smile.

"How would you like it then?" the tone in her voice suggesting something more than coffee, though the man acted like he didn't notice.

"Dark as night, hot as hell and sweet as sin," he replied, smirking at her as she took the credit card from his fingers, her own brushing against his for a moment. They were icy cold to the touch and made the girl for an instant think of ice, though the man looked more like some otherworldly creature out of a fantasy novel.

"Just the way we make it," she replied, oddly disturbed by the coldness of his touch.

He waited for a second, drumming his long fingers against the counter until the came back with the cup and nodded his head politely, taking back his credit card. Turning slightly on his heel he made his way to the only empty table in the café which was shoved next to the window with one lone chair, though nobody could remember it being there a few seconds ago.

As soon as he sat back down the noise began again, but the cold dread that filled the room didn't leave, making Kuwabara still shiver despite the heat.

"Do any of you guys sense… that…" he whispered over, trying to remain silent so the man wouldn't hear.

"Sense what?" Yusuke asked, blowing a little steam off his coffee before taking a sip and abruptly burning his tongue.

"I… I can't sense anythin'… I think that guy has somthin' to do with it," Kuwabara replied, leaning across the table so they could hear him better.

"Yes… I must agree, it's… dead in here all of a sudden," Kurama added, taking long swig of his tea and sighing warmly.

There was a clink as the man put down his drink and walked to a middle aged woman who was sitting with a few of her other middle aged friends and promptly took the newspaper out of her hands. She didn't notice a thing, or if she did she acted like nothing was wrong, even though the paper she was just reading was now being carried off to the table near the window with the tall, blonde man. In fact, nobody did anything. Leaning back in the wooden chair, the man flicked the paper open with practiced ease and proceeded to read something, though his eyes didn't seem to move.

"Okay… THAT was creepy," Yusuke stated, and their table fell silent, an uneasy silence permeating their table like a fog.

After what seemed like an eternity the man got up, left his drink, returned the paper and made their way to the table occupied by the detectives. Trying desperately to act like they didn't notice, or didn't care they waited in suspense until he reached them, leaning against the wood top, his long fingers delicately resting on their tips, taking the weight expertly. He sighed and smiled calmly at them, though none of the warmth reached his eyes which remained as cold and cruel as ever.

"Good day…I realize what exactly you are doing, and I ask you, kindly, to leave me alone," though his words were as smooth as silk, threats seemed to be threaded through each letter, daring them to say that they weren't going to leave him alone.

Deciding that in front of regular humans they should act normal, Kurama decided to try and get him to leave.

"What exactly are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about, Shuichi, or should I say Kurama? What exactly is a demon like you doing here of all places? Playing human are we?" He sounded innocent but it only managed to mock them. Kurama bristled, his eyes darting around.

"Oh, don't worry about them, they won't hear a damn word," the man reassured.

"An' how do you know that?" Yusuke challenged, hissing out his words.

"Simple. Because I don't want them to hear," he replied, waving a hand casually through the air as though this were a normal conversation.

"You're Lucas, aren't you?" Kurama asked, putting down his drink to try and stare the man in the eyes. It didn't seem to work as every time he attempted, his eyes would avert out of sheer discomfort. There was something in those eyes, an odd mixture of cruelty and childlike delight that made them shine oddly in the light, as though small blue fires burned behind each pupil.

"Oh, is that what that child said? Yes, very well, I have been called Lucas before… and many other things," again he smiled as though remembering something that he was particularly fond of.

"Then… please, leave," Kuwabara managed to get that out before the lump in his throat prevented him from saying anything further.

"I will leave when I want, though you are welcome to try and make me… Alas, I must leave you four… though I will see you again… perhaps not you, Hiei. You wouldn't want me to go back on our deal, would you?" With that he walked off, leaving the café quickly. As soon as he had stepped back outside the warmth returned to the small room.

"What was that…?" Kuwabara breathed, looking around as the woman with the newspaper suddenly noticed that it was in her other hand.

"I… I don't know," Kurama trailed off, his mind wandering now, trying to figure out just how the man knew their names…

Outside, "Lucas" made a slight face as he walked down the street across from the café. Oh how he hated people who ruin vacations. He was hoping that he wouldn't have to do any work while he was here… now he was basically forced to. Shoving his hands deeper into his trench coat's pockets, the strolled off whistling to himself mainly, passing by a cute couple on a bench.

Casually flicking his wrist at them, by the time he passed they were fighting, as suddenly the girlfriend knew about all the cheating he had done on her with her own best friend.

He whistled just a little louder, he strolled past staring at the perfect blue skies.

He might just enjoy Japan after all….

Tren: Well well well, lookie here, I finished another chapter!

Keichi: I think the readers can tell that by now…

Tren: Oh btw, this is Keichi, my muse, split personality and character in my fanfic "All in the family" Read it!

Keichi: Shameless promotion of your stories? How the mighty have fallen... (Shakes head and goes to lie down on couch)

Tren: Hah! That's what you think! (Points triumphantly at Keichi) You have to be mighty first! I've just fallen!

Keichi: That's… true. Huh… Didn't think about it like that…

Tren: Exactly! Okay, let's answer those reviews!

Keichi: Do we have to?

Tren: Yes.

Keichi: (groans and buries head in pillow)

Tren: Who're gonna answer first?

Keichi: (looks on laptop) KyoHana.

Tren: Right-o. Thanks! It's all those things? Well, yes, another update. Was it soon enough?

Keichi: And… Brenda… that's it.

Tren: Only two people? Darn… well, thanks. As for what the blonde is…. Angel is sorta correct…

Keichi: we'd also like to thank KyoHana for putting this story under story alert and under favorite story. Much love.

Tren: Until next time.