Disclaimer: YYH is the property of Yoshihiro Togashi. If I were him I would be creating more manga, not writing fanfiction.
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The Assassin
"And what did you expect, if I may be so bold to ask."
"Be quiet, insolent. It would not be wise to take that attitude with us."
"What do you expect me to do? Sit back quietly and let you do whatever you wish to? Mock me, torture me, interrogate me even? I am not so stupid as to think I will get off easy. May as well have fun enraging the good Prince Koenma and his favorite lackeys while I can."
"I am not a lackey!" Hiei reached for his sword, but Kurama rested his hand on Hiei's arm to stop him.
"She attempts to goad you Hiei. Do not let her words rile you, for that is all they are...words."
"How old are you, kid? You speak wisely for the age you look."
Koenma coughed impatiently. "I don't mean to interrupt the friendly banter, here, but we really do need to have a chat, you and I, assassin."
"Really? 'Cause I thought that I was here for some tea and crumpets...oh, wait. You're Japanese. You do sushi."
"Hey! Sushi is good! And what are you? British?"
"American, actually."
"Hn. So that's where you get your rudeness."
"Hiei, right? Well, looks like rudeness runs in every culture."
"AHEM!"
"Right, tea and crumpets. What do you want to know?"
"You're going to tell me what I want to know?"
"Look how flustered he is! No, but I may as well know what you want me to tell you anyway. Couldn't hurt to inform my employer that he's being sought after."
"No, it was just you we wanted to get, onna. We don't give a damn about your employer."
"Rather! I'm flattered."
"Right, right." Yusuke waved his hand in annoyance. "It's not like you could get to your employer anyway. You are not getting out of this palace. No one can, high level security and all that."
The assassin let out peals of laughter, causing some in the group to look at each other, wondering if she were crazy, others in annoyance at her out-right defiance.
"Sure, Detective. That's not what the rumors say."
By this time, Koenma had become thoroughly annoyed at all the distractions from his questioning. Red faced, he shouted, "Everybody out! Except you Kurama. You're patient enough to help with the interrogation."
"Sheesh Koenma, don't go bazeerk on us."
"Detective's right, we were only having a little fun."
"OUT!"
"Hn, gone." In a streak of black, Hiei left the dungeons, leaving Yusuke and Botan walking back to Koenma's office, and the Reikai prince and Kurama with the assassin.
"Are you sure this girl is right in the head, Botan?"
"Yes, Yusuke. Don't let her act fool you. She's a lot like you, actually. She disguises her intelligence with bravado and jokes. Except she actually has intelligence to hide." Botan giggled.
"Oh, I get it...hey!"
"Get a grip, Yusuke. My, I was only poking fun..."
When their voices grew distant, Koenma began questioning the assassin about her mission.
"Who was your target?"
"You mean who is my target? Some important dude."
"Be specific: human or demon?"
"Some important demon dude, I guess."
"You guess?" Kurama asked.
"I told you I wasn't going to tell you anything. But I'll tell you this; I've run into him before. Not a pleasant person, that. He kills humans for fun, and he doesn't give a rat's ass about the rules of the Reikai. All he wants is sport and food. Humans provide both. Trust me, princeling. You want this guy dead."
"I will decided that, not you. And if I do deem it necessary to remove him, I will send the Reikai Tantei, not a low level assassin. Understood?"
"As crystal, but that doesn't mean I'll listen."
"Koenma, may I?"
"By all means, Kurama. Go ahead, I'm not getting anything out of her."
"Alright Miss...?"
"You can call me Asha. It's not my real name, so don't try to find me in your files with it. But it's better then 'assassin' or 'Hey you!'."
"Miss Asha--"
"Just Asha."
"Fine, then. Asha, why did you take this job?"
"Same reason you took yours."
Kurama raised a querying eyebrow. This girl was indeed strange. As fast as Hiei, though she definitely smelled human. Was she a human shinobi? But she said she was American, and Kurama knew of no discipline in the United States that could compare to the shinobi's gifts. What's more, she held herself so confidently, like she ruled the room. Was it a bluff? Was she acting like Yusuke would, to get herself out of a situation? Could they afford to risk she was bluffing? So many questions, and he knew he was not going to get their answers from the girl—woman—in front of him. Another question: her age. Obviously experienced, but she couldn't be more that sixteen or seventeen. What should he do?
And then it hit him. The perfect place to go would be Genkai's. Genkai would be there, and she could keep an eye on Asha. Yukina would also be there, and though little consolation when it came to security, maybe she could get some information from the assassin. And where Yukina was, Hiei would be close by, unless on a mission. It seemed the perfect plan. But how to get her there...?
Kurama ran his hand through his hair, grabbing at it to make it look like he was only a frustrated teenage boy. In truth, he was searching for a seed from the Sleeper's Plant. It would emmit a powerful toxin, not enough to kill, but enough to put Asha into a deep sleep. Long enough, even, to move her to Genkai's dojo.
Kurama threw his hand toward the bared gate of the cell, in a dissmissive gesture.
"Koenma, I do not think we will receive anymore information this day. Let's go."
"But, but..."
Kurama glanced at the Reikai prince. Heaving a heavy sigh, Koenma followed Kurama away, and around the corner. Kurama motioned to him to stay silent, and looked around the wall back to Asha's cell. She was peering curiously at something on the floor, hunched on her haunches, her hair falling into her face. And he knew that she knew.
Acting fast, Kurama sent his spirit energy traveling along the dirt cracks in the floor to the seed, urging it to grow just enough to put the she-assassin to sleep. Kurama's plan could be seen working.
A pale green mist could be seen rising into Asha's face, filling her eyes and her nostrils. She looked up at the red-head, and winked. Before she lost consciousness, she mouthed the words, "Well done."
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A/N
For all those who are 'name meaning' savvy, Asha is an Indian name meaning hope. The fact that it comes from India means nothing. The fact that it means hope means everything. You'll see what I mean later.
And by the way, I have no personal dislike or animosity toward different cultures, the use of the attitude in my character was only to "rile up" the Tantei.