Author's Note: Hello, all! I have been working on this for some time now and finally feel like I can publish it for you all to see! This is my first YuYu fanfic and I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing it! Please let me know how it is! This is a slow burn romance, so buckle in and enjoy! (this has been updated on 08.06.20- yey quarantine and a lot of free time!)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters besides the one I created!

A Pinky Promise

Chapter Two

The dishwasher was running its last round of the night. The steward had filled it to its capacity with pots and pans. It whined in protest and spewed steam throughout the kitchen. The quiet steward had slipped into the back for a cigarette, but Hana assumed it was to escape the shill noise. She, however, was stuck behind the table folding napkins for the next shift and was unable to escape. The shift had ended about an hour ago, and she was left closing again. Tonight, had been slow, which allowed her too much to think about. As her fingers went to work on folding the crisp, white napkins, she thought about her weekend.

Sean had officially joined the group even after totaling Han's prized Monte Carlo during his race with DK. Han decided that Sean would become his personal driver to pay back for the damage. Hana, however, was totally against it. The anger from the argument between her and Han had not yet dissipated, and she was still vexed from it.

"He is just a kid," She hissed which Han answered with a shrug. He was oblivious to the danger he was putting Sean in. "Does he have any idea what you're asking of him? What could become of him if we are caught by you-know-who doing what we do?"

Han popped a snack in his mouth. "We don't have to tell him anything. He just shows up when I call, he drives me around and that's it. What's the big deal, Hana? You've never worried about this before."

"Because it's sloppy, Han." Her words were nearly acidic. She was disappointed at the man standing before her, the man she called her brother. In the years of being in Japan, since the incident in Spain, Han was becoming a stranger to her. "Do you even know this kid? This isn't the place for strangers. Our world is not meant to just welcome anyone you find at the car park."

"Life's simple, Hana, you make choices and you don't look back. Stop thinking so much about this."

That night she broke a wrench from her frustration. She knew it was foolish to accept Sean into the gang, even if he was just considered a chauffeur. It was already a risky business since Han was business partners with DK, who operated a small branch of business for the Yakuza. It was even riskier since Han was stealing from DK, or really from the most notorious mob in all Japan. Only Hana, Twinkie, and Han knew what was going on. Sean was an outsider and clueless of their world. How long did Han believe he could hide this from him? And what would happen if he did?

The dishwasher's alarm rang out, but the steward had not yet returned from the back. The rebarbative wailing from the alarm was even worse than the sound it made while running. Hana was not sure how much more she could take. Carefully, she yawned and stretched her stiff muscles, making sure to not knock any of her folded napkins onto the dirty floor. Her arms extended above her, and they hit something- or someone.

Standing behind her was Linn- the infamous cook with long brown hair. He gave her a handsome smile, but his eyes seemed to linger just a fraction longer than they should and her gut did a chary flop. He was indeed handsome, but he had used that quirk to woo many of the waitresses at the diner. In the month of working there Hana made sure to never be alone with him. She knew damn well that she was not articulate enough to keep herself for falling under the same spell he cast upon the others. In her world, at the car park when she was in her Mazda, if anyone was brave enough to approach her, she could strike them down with a glare and not have to figure out what words to use to get them to leave her alone. But, in this world, the above ground world, she was out of her element and awkward. She was starting to rethink her idea of finding a job that was not a part of the garage. Situations like this are why.

"Let me help you with these," Linn stepped around the table and scooped up a handful of the folded napkins.

Hana stammered, "thanks, Linn."

She picked up the remaining napkins and he followed her into the dining room.

"Tonight, wasn't that busy, was it?" Linn tried to make banter as she took his pile and carefully placed them in the cabinet against the back wall.

She shook her head side-to-side. Linn had never spent much time talking with her, mostly because she avoided it. She wasn't looking for companionship at the workplace, this was just a way to get out of the garage. She picked up the small bucket of trash filled with discarded receipt paper hidden on the side of the cabinet. "I appreciate not having to run around."

"Yeah, me too." He laughed, if just slightly too much. "Well, listen. It's early and I think you and me should get a drink."

She nearly dropped the trash bucket. "Me?"

Internally, she slapped a hand to her forehead. She really did not know how to play this kind of game; especially with someone just too handsome for his own good.

"Of course, you, you silly girl. I've been wanting to catch you like this for some time now, but you are a hard one to keep up with." He stood before her with his hands resting on his hips. His brown eyes were glowing as he stared down at her. "You always get out of here pretty fast."

She had nowhere else but to look into his face, despite the warning her elan vital was screaming. She had seen him work his magic on the other waitresses, but never planned for it to turn onto her. She gulped and dug deep for her confidence before answering him. "Sorry, but I can't." She did her best to feign the same certainty she had while at the car park.

"Not even for one drink?" He raised an eyebrow as if he knew she was lying. He took a step closer and was taking the trash from her before she could react. "I did have special plans for us tonight."

She did not like how the word special rolled off his tongue. He raised a hand and brushed the hair that she had purposefully left to frame face, behind her ear. His hand was large and warm and covered the whole side of her face. She realized how small she was compared to his large form and how trapped she was between it and the wall.

"It was a slow night, Linn." She tried to stand tall, but he stepped forward and bumped his chest against hers. She startled when her back hit the wall. How did she get trapped? "I don't have any money to go out tonight."

He chuckled as he saw through her excuse. "Please, Seoul-oh, I've seen that car you drive. But, if that really is the excuse you're going to use, you don't have to worry about it. It's on me tonight." His hand slid from her cheek and to the back of her neck. He craned her head towards him, trapping her. "And... hopefully on you later."

She felt his dark promise against her lips and her stomach clenched. Her elan vital had a megaphone in its hand and was screaming in her chest to bail. She pushed against his chest but was surprised to find the muscles hidden under the white chef's shirt. "Linn, I do not want to get a drink with you."

His lips contorted and his eyes were gleaming with something vile. "You don't have to be shy around me anymore, Seoul-Oh. I'm all yours for tonight."

She raised her hand ready to swing for his face. However, his large hand curled around her wrist before she could strike his cheek. He chuckled as if enjoying her struggle and tilted his head towards her with his lips pursed.

The bell that hung on the front door jingled as someone walked in.

Linn did not release his grip on her. Without shifting, he called over his shoulder to the patrons that had ignored the 'closed' sign and walked in. "Sorry, folks, but we are closed for the night."

She glanced around Linn's giant shoulder hoping that it could be someone who could at least distract Linn long enough so she could break out of his grip. However, her grey eyes landed on two forms that she had hoped to never see again. Yusuke Urameshi and Kazuma Kuwabara, both clad in simple blue jeans and jackets, were standing in the doorway. Grey and brown eyes were large as they absorbed the scene before them.

"Oh, are we interrupting something?" Kuwabara's eyebrow danced, oblivious to the atmosphere of the room.

She could feel Linn relax under her skin as he went to turn and tell the two to leave again. Hana took this opportunity, since he did not release her wrist, and dug her nails into his wrist and twisted it around. The tall man crumbled as she continued twisting his arm behind his back. She kicked the back of Linn's knees and he fell forward to the ground. He finally cried out when she slammed her foot into his lower back, and she relished the sound.

"Hey, you guys." She glanced towards the two still standing in the doorway, stunned. "If you have a weak stomach, now would be a time to look away."

When they did not budge, she shrugged and slammed her elbow against bent elbow. A loud snap filled the room followed by Linn's scream. She released him and he crumbled to the floor holding his arm, that was now at a strange angle, to his chest. "Sorry, but Linn was correct. We are closed for the night."

Grey and brown eyes blinked at her, stunned. Yusuke was the first to break. "We were in the neighborhood and wanted to see if you wanted to get a drink."

"Whatever." She needed to put space between her and the restaurant before she turned to Linn and started kicking him. Even though she was thankful for the distraction the two had caused that helped her escape Linn's grip, they were the last two she had expected to walk through the door.

She ran to the counter in the kitchen and found her bag and apron. As quickly as she could, with her anger causing her fingers to shake, she pulled the cash from her apron and returned to the dining room. She startled when she found Yusuke and Kuwabara hovering over Linn.

Kuwabara raised his foot to swing a kick into Linn's side. "And that's for attacking a woman, you unscrupulous ass!"

"Kuwabara," Hana snapped before he could swing again. "I am proud of you for using such a big word, but I am leaving." She pushed past him and stood over Linn. "Tell Seto that I quit. And, make sure to tell him exactly why." She tossed her apron at him then turned towards the door.

Both boys were walking on either side of her but were barely able to keep up with her without running. Her mission was to get to her car as quickly as possible so she could get home and shower Linn off her. Anger was still coursing through her. She could still feel his fingers on her, and her skin was crawling.

He got what was coming to him, her elan vital gave her a proud nod. The idea of him curled up and crying made her feel better, if just a little.

She could feel both sets of eyes on her. Their concern was coming off them like waves and did nothing to help her calm down. She had the situation handled, and if they felt bad for her, she could prove them wrong.

Kuwabara spoke first, his voice filled with as much trepidation as possible. "Are you okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" But she still gave him a sharp glare and he froze to the spot. His worry was replaced with fear and she had never felt so powerful.

Good, she thought to herself. They should learn to stay away from me.

She pushed past the two, who were fixed to the spot on the pavement, and around the corner to her car. Before she could reach her loyal beast, she could hear their sneakers against the sidewalk as they ran to catch up with her. She swung towards them with her irritation growing again. "What do you guys want? If it's revenge for breaking Kuwabara's nose, could you come back another time? I've already had a pretty taxing night."

Kuwabara was the one who jumped back, obviously fearful of her glare. Yusuke, however, seemed unaffected. "We aren't here for any trouble, trust me. We saw how you handled that guy back there. We're just here to see if you wanted to get a drink. Really."

She startled, her fierce visage dropping to surprise. "Wait… you guys were serious about that?"

Yusuke laughed as he stepped forward and threw an arm around her shoulders. Guiding her down the street, Kuwabara caught up a moment later, the brunette continued. "After our last run in, we figured you were a cool girl that just needed a drink so she wouldn't go around pointing guns at people she just met."

Hana wiggled out of his grasp. "Maybe the people she points a gun at shouldn't act like creepy stalkers."

"To-may-to, to-mah-to," he shrugged. "Now, where is a good place to get a drink to make amends with a girl who broke my best friend's nose?"

"Hmm…" she mimicked the brunette's peachy tone, "there's a nice little place up ahead that's a good place to buy a girl a drink after she fixed someone's broken nose out of the kindness of her heart."

Yusuke gave her a big, goofy smile and she felt herself relax. Why, she could never explain it. Her elan vital seemed to have taken a Xanax and was tucked away. There was just an aura about both boys that felt familiar, almost. When she was out in the above ground, she felt like a corner puzzle piece that did not fit. Perhaps, that was why she let Yusuke guide her towards the bar without a second thought. And besides, she really could use a drink.

They found the dive looking bar nearly a block away. The room was filled with billiard tables and cigarette smoke that created a grainy haze. Kuwabara and Yusuke had slipped away to the bar when they volunteered to buy the first round. That was fine for Hana, as she was not planning on sticking for a second. This was just a chance for her to calm down before returning home and telling Han about it.

Hana claimed a table in the corner pressed up against the back wall. She slipped onto the bar stool and was able to watch all the activity in the room. Most of the billiard tables were surrounded by groups enjoying the company of friends. An intense game of poker was going on in the farthest corner. And an obviously drunk group of businessmen were throwing darts against the wall, barely making it onto the dartboard.

Yusuke and Kuwabara were making their way through the crowd with their hands full of glasses and pitchers. She waved at them a couple times before they realized where she was. When they reached her, Kuwabara stumbled and almost dropped all the precious cargo. She reached out to help before it could all tumble to the ground. There were four pitchers of a dark gold liquid, three shot glasses filled with a mysteriously clear liquid, and a fluffy pink drink that was topped with an umbrella. She gave them a look that wordlessly asked 'really'?

Kuwabara answered, "I didn't know what to order for you, so I just asked the guy to make something a girl would like…"

Hana rolled her eyes and reached for the pitcher filled with chilled beer and poured herself a glass. She raised it to him before bringing it to her lips. It took a few gulps, but she took down the whole glass. When she pulled the glass away, both boys were staring at her with their jaws gaped. A frothy mustache was left on her top lip and she reached for a napkin to wipe it away- because she was a lady. The alcohol was hitting her stomach and she could already feel its warmth spreading through the rest of her body.

Yusuke laughed as he reached for the pitcher. "Damn! I've never seen someone go down like that before!"

Kuwabara had raised his glass to his lips but still was able to yell, "that's what she said!" And started coughing right afterwards.

Hana stood from her seat, letting Yusuke take it as she was planning on leaving. "Okay, boys. Thanks for the drink."

Yusuke choked on his drink. "Woah! Wait up, Hana! That was only one drink!"

"And I said that I was going to get one drink." She turned to the two and gave them a small salute, "I'll be seeing you around."

Yusuke protested and slammed his drink on the tabletop. "At least play one round of pool with us!"

"Whatever you're playing at, stop." She gave him a deadpanned look, not convinced by his innocent antics any longer. Why else would they track her down again in the middle of the night? She leaned over the table, her voice just above a whisper. "We went over this the last time I saw you. I am not the link you need to get to the Yakuza. This cop shit needs to stop now."

"Kuwabara, she thinks we're cops!" Yusuke laughed. His brown eyes were warm like caramel as he slapped the table with his free hand. "What do we have to do to prove that we aren't here for that?"

She shook her head, "by understanding that I am not the friend type and leave me alone."

"That's not it at all, Hana!" Kuwabara protested from his side of the table.

The brunette sobered and looked at her with honest eyes. He held out his hand with a pinky extended. "I promise you that we are only here to make amends for the other night."

She eyed the finger and found herself laughing at the memory of doing the same as a child. Her elan vital shook its head at her. It was disappointing that she was so paranoid that she could not accept the hospitality of these two boys. All they wanted was to get a drink and enjoy her company, and here she was being an asshole. She gave a loud and exaggerated sigh and curled her own pinky around his. "You know what this means, right?" He shook his head from side-to-side before releasing her pinky. "If you end up being cops, I get to kick your asses."

"I'll make sure to remember that." Yusuke chuckled; the warm glow had returned to his brown eyes. "I saw what you did to that big guy back there. I'd never want to fight you."

The sudden reminder of Linn tarnished the laugh she had. Having decided that she was going to stay, she reached for the pitcher and filled her glass again. Kuwabara had finished his own and accepted the pitcher when she was finished.

"What was going on with that, by the way?" He asked while concentrating on filling his glass without spilling.

She sighed again. "What's there to tell?"

"I don't know… maybe you could start on what we walked in on or how did you learn to be so badass by breaking his arm like that?" Kuwabara raised his glass to his lips but his grey eyes did not falter from her.

"I cannot explain how the male brain works to you, Kuwabara. Linn wanted to get drinks and I didn't and apparently to Linn that translated to 'let's make out.'"

Yusuke cut in, sounding nervous of where the conversation was going. "So... the other thing, then. Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"Karate class," she lied.

"I have a boxing studio." Kuwabara jumped into the conversation with excitement. "I was never one for karate."

That was actually pretty interesting. "So, when you're not following strangers in the middle of the night, you're a boxing instructor?"

"Hey!" Kuwabara cried out and slammed his drink down. "Don't make it sound like I'm a creep or something!"

She held her hands up defensively, "can you really blame me for thinking like that? Both times I've ran into you two has been in the middle of the night outside my work. There seems to be a pattern here that I think you two should not continue."

Kuwabara spent the next few minutes explaining how he had gone to college, but it was not really for him. He had started working at a boxing studio up the road from his childhood home, and the owner had passed it on to him when he died. The classes ranged from kids to adults, and he was currently trying to get his studio sponsored so his kids could start competing in tournaments. He was nearly glowing with pride… or because they had already gone through two pitchers of beer.

"And what about you, Yusuke?" She was starting on the third pitcher.

He shrugged, "married my childhood best friend and now I run her parents' ramen shop."

"You realize most people find that adorable and admirable." She would be lying if she said it was not the cutest thing she had ever heard. "The only thing that would make that any cuter was if you two were neighbors growing up." Her answer was another shrug. "Shut up. You do realize that is almost a Nicholas Sparks book, right? Stop acting so casual."

He was obviously embarrassed and changed the subject quickly. "So, what brought you to Japan?"

"How could you tell?" It had been years since she had been called out for being foreign.

He shrugged again and she began to suspect he was not much of a talker. "Your accent slips everyone once in a while, but it's barely noticeable. So, are you going to answer the question?"

She nibbled on her bottom lip. There was just the right amount of alcohol in her system to tell him she had come to Japan because Han had brought them here to start over after being falsely accused of a crime in America, but that would need a lot of explaining. "My mother was from here. I came to Japan about eight years ago."

"What does your mom do?" The question hit her in the gut. Everyone in her crew knew not to question anything about her mother. It was a reminder that she was out of her element, and in a dangerous place. Had she not just gone off on Han the previous night about the dangers of hanging with outsiders?

She shook her head, "that question is out of bounds and can only be reached when the level is unlocked."

"Wait, seriously?" She gave Kuwabara a look that silenced him instantly. "Okay, new subject. Check out my beloved!"

He had reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. The screen was bright and hurt her unadjusted eyes, but she was able to see a blue-haired girl smiling at her. "You really want me to believe that she is your girlfriend?"

Yusuke laughed loudly and almost fell out of his chair. "That's what I said!"

The fourth pitcher hit the table and was gone within minutes.

"So, what are you going to do for a job?" Yusuke asked while inspecting the foam bubbles in his glass. "If you ever need a job, we're renovating the stand into an actual restaurant and we'll be needing servers."

"That's really sweet of you," and she meant it, "but I'll be good. I was only serving to get myself out of the garage. There's been a lot of company over recently and being there just makes me upset."

"So, you really work on your own car? Oh, that has to be amazing!" Kuwabara's grey eyes were starting to glaze over. It took another round of beer for him to finish explaining why he'd love to have a shop and fix up cars. "Why don't you want to be there?"

She sighed into her empty cup. "My brother. He's going through something and transforming into someone I don't know anymore. And, a lot of slutty girls."

"I didn't know you had a brother." Yusuke's words were starting to slur.

"Well… he's not really my brother. You see, his gang of friends lived up the street from me growing up and I was trying to get into this other gang and I had to steal Dom's rims but I messed up and Dom was going to kick my ass but Han stepped in and stopped him and they actually ended up kind of adopting me and I ran away from home and lived with them and then we started running from the law and ended up in Madrid for some time and then went to London and now we're here." She took a deep breath in, not realizing through her storytelling that she had said it all with one breath. Then, her elan vital yelled at her for telling the story in the first place.

Both boys looked at her with round eyes. Then, Yusuke fell forward with a giant laugh. "Hana, you're drunk."

If she was sober, she would have sighed with relief. But, since she was drunk, she started laughing with him. "No, you're drunk!"

"You're both drunk," Kuwabara slurred finishing off his beer. His cheeks were flaming red and his eyes crossed when he tried to focus on either Yusuke or Hana- she could not tell who he was trying to find.

"We should get out of here," Yusuke concluded.

Hana nodded her head and reached for her phone in her pocket to call Han as the boys went to the bar to pay their tab. It took her three tries to hit the green phone button but was able to hit Han's name with no issue. She waited patiently for it to begin ringing, and it rang and rang and rang and rang and rang before going to voicemail. She tried calling again, but this time it went straight to voicemail. Anger coursed through her. She slammed the phone on the table to hide Han's face from her view. He must have been busy in the most despicable way and she wanted nothing to do with him at this moment. Tears were burning the corner of her eyes and she tried wiping them away before the boys could return. This would happen when she was drunk.

But she was not fast enough. Kuwabara returned to the table first and wrapped himself around her when he saw her tears.

"Whatever it is," he drunkenly cried out, "know that I, Kazuma Kuwabara is here to avenge you!"

"Please, don't ask," she nearly begged when she pushed Kuwabara off her as Yusuke returned. "I don't think I want to go home right now." The idea washed over her like a cold shower, almost enough to sober her up.

"Good!" Yusuke smiled. "We have a friend that lives up the street. And, you shouldn't be driving anyways. You're a terrible sober driver so I can only imagine you drunk."

She went to swing at him, but the alcohol in her blood was finally making its way to her head. She missed and almost toppled over from her barstool. Fortunately, Kuwabara caught her. "Okay, maybe you're right."