Chapter 2
"Troublesome Thoughts"
The friendship feast comes to a close on a good note with everyone returning home bellies full and spirits high. Genkai is relieved when her peace and home is restored to her specifications. Within the night skies, Koenma and Botan return to Spirit World. As he looks below, he thinks about tonight's events, Kiyoni in particular.
Botan catches his attention, "Koenma, sir?"
Koenma clears his throat, "Yes? Something wrong, Botan?"
"Oh, nothing. It's just, you've been awfully quiet since we left, that's all," she asks in a clownish tone, "Could it be that you're thinking about Kiyoni?"
He blushes a little, "Take it easy there, Botan. It's not every day I get to meet other royalty. Besides, I'm curious about her world."
"So does that mean you're going?"
"You know what? Yes, yes I am. I could use a proper vacation."
"Oh! Then what was the Dark Tournament?" Shocked, Koenma remains silent.
Jorge greets the pair inside Koenma's office upon their return, "Welcome back, Koenma, sir. You have special guests."
"Unless they're looking for their place in eternity, who the heck would come visit me," Koenma questions.
"That would be me," states a proud third voice.
Botan takes a step forward, "Hiei, is that you?"
Koenma's chair turns revealing the answer to Botan's question. "Hmm, quite a comfortable chair you got here, Koenma," Hiei admits while crossing his feet on the desk, "Had I'd known it would be this easy to take your spot, I would've done so ages ago."
"Hiei, what in the world, are you doing in my chair?"
"Calm down, you fool," Hiei rises, "Although a hostile takeover sounds tempting, it's not why I'm here."
Koenma is again surprised, "Oh, then why are you here?"
Hiei stands directly in front of the young prince, "You're going to that vampire territory?"
"So you did attend the dinner. And to answer your question, yes. Yes, I'm going. Which reminds me, Kiyoni extends her invitation to you, just so you know."
"It's true, Hiei. She wants all of us to come," Botan vouches.
"And what of Yukina?"
"She's going too. Kiyoni's taking precautionary steps to make sure she's safe. Given that Yukina's an ice apparition, Kiyoni's balmy lands could be cause for concern," Botan informs.
"I'm looking to go as a learning experience on Spirit World's behalf," Koenma answers proudly. Botan nudges him. "A-and to take another vacation," he confesses, "You should come too."
"Hmpf, I rather not. If anything, the fox or the detective is more suited to go than I am. Why would I get involved in such a ridiculous occasion," Hiei takes his leave.
Botan suggests another thought, "You know, Hiei. With you as Yukina's brother around, Kiyoni wouldn't have to worry about her so much. Maybe you should go to help her out. Shizuru and Keiko are going."
"Shizuru, Keiko? Aren't they human? They wouldn't survive in Demon World."
"That's why Kiyoni is taking measures. Shizuru has high spirit awareness like Kuwabara and Keiko has a necklace that Kiyoni made for her. They'll be fine."
"What do 'ya say, Hiei? I'm sure there's something in that world that would even put a smile on your stone face," Koenma urges. Hiei remains silent, still considering the invitation.
Later that night, Kurama returns home to make early arrangements for his vacation. Although excited, he keeps his cool in order to avoid embarrassment from his family. He steps inside his room as he finishes his phone conversation with Kiyoni, "I've made it to my room, now."
"Remember, Suu'chi. Pack enough for six days including a couple of party outfits, beach attire, something nice, and some articles of comfortable clothing," she suggests.
"Well that's rather detailed. Why do we need to pack enough for six days when we only have five?"
"You never know. It could come in handy," she answers, "I have to go now. See you at school!" Kurama hangs up after she does.
"That girl," Kurama hums a short laugh as he tosses his phone on his bed and reaches for his suitcase. Upon rummaging his closet, a few taps on the window stops his train of thought. "There is only one person, I know, who would bother me this way," he tells himself. So much for pleasant thoughts.
After opening the window and allowing Hiei to enter, Kurama takes a seat at his desk chair, "What brings you around this time, Hiei? Another cut on your arm?"
Hiei ignores Kurama's joke, "Koenma informed me about your…girlfriend." The last part of that statement is filled with disdain.
"Oh? Have you receive her invitation?"
Hiei reclines against the wall next to Kurama's bed, "I have."
"Did you accept? It would make her happy if you said yes."
"And why would that concern me?"
"Well, now that the two of us are in the dating phase, her happiness has now been added to my priority list."
"This is so unlike you. This…side of you, concerned about the feelings of a Halfling human girl."
"Maybe so, but humans take romantic relationships seriously. More so, when the two parties are young, or, so I've heard. To be honest, this whole thing is…experimental for me. I'm enjoying the pace, so far. It would be pretty pathetic if things hit a snag, this early." Kurama reaches for a drawer and takes out a jewelry box, "Especially, since I went out and purchased this gift for her." Kurama grins when he thinks about Kiyoni's possible reactions, "If you don't want to go, then I can…" He turns around to notice that Hiei has disappeared, leaving the window wide open. "…tell her for you," Kurama closes the window, "It's up to you, Hiei."
The next day, all four students spend their afternoon, after school, at the Ikeda apartment. Although the first day of exams is in the past, they were somewhat difficult. As promised, Kiyoni plays the hostess role, yet again, offering snacks and drinks along the way. Subjects such as English, math, biology, literature, and history are covered in this study session.
"I have the Pythagoras Theorem down, if anyone needs help," Keiko announces.
Kiyoni looks up, "Ooh, could you please check my work?" Keiko agrees.
"Kiyoni, could you tell me if this makes sense to you," Kurama chimes in concerned about his English studies, "How's it going, Kuwabara?"
A deathly, "Ugh," is all Kuwabara can say at the moment as he's studying history. His face equally bad.
Keiko hands Kiyoni back her notebook, "You have nice handwriting. Check problem #7 again."
"Thanks but, aw, man," as Kiyoni reworks the problem, she gives Kurama some encouragement, "Your English looks fine to me, Suu'chi." Kurama unconfidently sighs as he gets back to work.
Keiko takes a study break, "So, Kiyoni. Is Heliopolis nice?" The boys look at their hostess with interest.
Kiyoni looks back up with a soft smile, "…It's gorgeous. It's practically like spring and summer every day. There's so much to see and do, I don't think we have the time for me to tell you."
Kuwabara's eyes narrow with concern, "Will Yukina be alright going there?"
Kiyoni's heart melts, "I will do my best to make sure she will be, Kuwabara," she looks at Keiko, "That's goes for you, too."
Kuwabara adjusts his sitting position, "Since we'll be around vampires, do we have to worry about…you know…them biting us?"
Kiyoni looks around the room, making sure her guests receive equalized attention, "I don't think so. We're not savages. No one is going to lay a fang on any of you. Our dependency on blood is not like what you see and hear from books and movies. We can and do survive on animal blood, but it's not the only part of our diet. We consume foods just like anyone else. Believe me, I would not have invited you all if the opposite was true." Another thought comes to mind, "Oh, right! My uncle came through!"
"With what," Kurama questions while writing in his notebook.
Kiyoni leaves the front room to retrieve something from her bedroom. She returns with a few envelopes in her hand, "Here you go. The extra one is for Yusuke just in case."
Inside the envelopes is a permission slip and a typewritten note. Keiko gives the documents a quick read through, "What's all this?"
"With a little rearranging, my uncle managed to gather the proper forms, and convince our schools, to allow an early dismissal for us. Provided that we stay after school and pass our exams tomorrow and Wednesday," Kiyoni goes on, "All those documents need are your parents' signatures and for you to submit them to your school for records."
"What do you mean by 'rearranging'," asks Kurama.
"Basically, my uncle persuaded our schools that we've all been selected to represent Japan at a conference outside of the country. Mainly due to our academic behavior. It's a five-day affair so that's give us some time to hang together and have some fun. Oddly enough, there is an international conference going on around the same time. Fortunately for you, Heliopolis is an amalgamation of many different cultures. So, if you want to purchase souvenirs as proof of your excursion, go right ahead."
"So money over there is the same as here," Kuwabara wonders.
Kiyoni snaps her fingers, "Oh, right. Money. To tell you the truth, Kuwabara, goods and services are paid for with gems. I guess we'll all have to visit my uncle's pawn shop for a currency exchange."
"A currency exchange," Kurama chimes in again.
"Yeah. Remember that big wad of money I had in Akihabara? That was a result of me exchanging some of my marbles for it. My uncle is a high class jeweler and pays top dollar for gems. He sells them for a substantial price, too. And since the marbles, I bring in, are pure, business is practically booming for him. How else do you think we were able to afford a place like this in such a short time?"
"So all we have to do is get some spending money together before leaving," Keiko smiles. Kiyoni nods.
"I'm really starting to like your uncle now," Kuwabara claims with some giddy laughter, "My grades may not be the best but, even I get to go. Your uncle is awesome."
"Yes, quite the silver tongued, indeed," Kurama agrees.
"Silver tongue, silver hair, silver fox. I take it you have a thing for silver, Suu'chi," Kiyoni gives her boyfriend a playfully suspicious look, "Is there something you're not telling me?"
Kurama chuckles, "No, Kiyoni. I have no secrets to keep from you, remember," he taps his head.
"Alright, enough dilly-dally. Time to study," Kiyoni declares. Everyone gets back to work.
As the sun sets on another Monday, Yusuke joins Keiko on her trip home. The plan is to convince her parents to signify their permission. However, they have to do so by mentioning the details about the supposed conference. She walks slightly ahead of Yusuke in order to get some thoughts together. Ideas go through Yusuke's mind as well, ideas of what Keiko is going to say.
"Yusuke, I just realized something," Keiko states.
"And what's that," he asks.
"I just realized…you never told me about Demon World. You never told me what it was like."
"Tch, I thought Kurama did that for me."
"He did but, it wasn't the same."
"Meaning?"
"Both Kuwabara and I agree, hearing about your adventures there from Kurama was one thing, but to hear those same stories come from you, directly, was what we really wanted. It's what I really wanted."
Yusuke interlaces his hands behind his head, "I guess you're right. Well, to tell you the truth, there's not much to say. I got my ass handed to me by my ancestral father. Trained with a bunch of monks for a year. Watch my ancestral father die with my own eyes. Set up a tournament with one of the three kings and lost a match against the same one of those kings. There, happy?"
"…Did you think about me while you were gone?"
Yusuke stops walking, "What kind of question is that? Of course, I thought about you. I'm not stupid. You're the reason why I came back…the reason why I wanted to come back."
Keiko blushes and smiles from that response, "So…what should I expect…when we get there?"
Yusuke catches up to her, "Well, if memory serves, Kiyoni mentioned something about a sandstorm in her story so, you got that."
"I'm serious, Yusuke."
Yusuke changes his tone to calm her down, "If you being in any type of danger concerns you, you got me to protect you. Next to Hiei and Kurama, I got kind of a rep in Demon World, now. You'll be fine."
"But, Kiyoni says her world is separate from the rest. I don't think your 'rep' will come into play."
"Then I'll make sure it does while I'm over there. I'm not leaving this life, a third time, until everyone knows of Yusuke Urameshi." Laughter ensues.
"Yusuke," she calls with a smile.
"Yeah?"
"…I missed you."
Yusuke wraps an arm around her neck and pulls her close, "Yeah, yeah. I missed you, too."
"Yusuke, you don't have to be so rough."
Another day comes and goes as the gang makes their final preparations for Kiyoni's big birthday bash. In less than forty-eight hours, this small group of friends will enter a world unlike they've ever seen.
