Chapter 7

In the Human World, Hiei was picking up litter that lied on the open grass around a park. He used a stick with a sharp point on the end to take the litter and put it on a nearby trash can.

Botan flew on her oar, and she descended from the skies, and landed on the ground before the quiet fire demon. She didn't bother herself to turn into her human form this time. She grabbed her oar with one hand and it was gone in an instant.

Hiei looked at her briefly, and he pretended to ignore her presence by picking up more litter on the grass. To him, Botan was annoying and her bright personality made things worse for him. They were almost complete polar opposites… The less they talked to each other, the better it was for him.

Botan noticed that Hiei was trying to ignore her at her own face. She tried her best to not let his evasive attitude get to her. She cleared her throat: "How are we doing, Hiei?" she asked him firmly. She had been requested by Koenma to check on him before she made her way here.

Hiei stopped his task to reply at Botan. "Isn't there anything better to do than doing these mundane tasks?" he countered with another question. In the past few days, he has been running insignificant errands for Spirit World like cleaning where assigned or delivering messages. With his lightning speed, he had helped Koenma recently to finish his mass amount of paperwork in no time.

Botan blinked her eyes at the question. "Everything has been peaceful so far. Yusuke and Kuwabara took the last case that was available, and they are off to get a human hunter who is demon disguised as a human," she explained calmly.

Hiei raised an eyebrow. So Koenma had chosen those two humans to do that mission instead of himself and the other Spirit Detective? "Why didn't I go instead? I could have finished that case quickly and blindfolded!" he said arrogantly because he was talking from past experience.

Botan put her hands on her hips. "Well then, who's going to take care of our "mundane tasks"? You are the one who can do this because I trust that you are dependable, and you can work your way out of the Human World. This will be over before you know it if you learn to control your temper and do as told!"

Hiei growled at the "know-it-all" response. He was defeated in this short conversation…for now. Also, she had a point. He had to remain calm and not fight with her or other spirits or humans, as strictly instructed by Koenma. His expression eventually became passive… "Tch…It's no use arguing with you. I might as well do this "chores" so I can go back to the Demon World as soon as possible," he said, accepting the idea of doing his "chores". Good behavior was very significant to get released quickly from his probation.

Botan had momentarily a smug look on her expression before smiling in victory. She will never defeat Hiei in battle or strength but she can possibly win in another verbal argument with having a good comeback on her sleeve. "Good boy, Hiei! You are so smart! Here's a list of other things for you to do," she said as she handed over a scroll containing the list of more chores for Hiei to do.

Hiei took the scroll carefully from Botan's hands.

Botan had a bad feeling…"Have fun!" She waved her hand as a good bye and left quickly, not wanting to witness Hiei's reaction.

Hiei opened the scroll…and it went down around a mile on the ground. He was immediately infuriated. 'I wish I could get my hands on her…She doesn't have to boss me around!' he thought with anger as a dark flaming aura was surrounding his entire body. He was ready to unleash The Dragon of the Darkness Flame technique exclusively to Botan so she can feel his wrath.

SPIRIT WORLD:

Koenma was stamping his paperwork on a slow pace as he sat on his desk. He was bored, and he has been getting less paperwork since death rates had lowered over the time of peace. Not to mention that Hiei had helped him with his speed to finish the previous mass amount. In irony, he wished for more paperwork or for a calamity to occur in the Human World to end his boredom.

George was helping Koenma the office as he was organizing old documents for the IT Department to store in the Spirit World's data base. He was also bored with no much casualties occurring in the human realm. "Koenma sir, are you sure that we don't have any mission available?" he asked hopefully.

"As far as I am concerned, everything has been under control these past few days," Koenma replied rather unfortunately.

George groaned…Then, a file caught his attention. "What about this?" He showed it by raising it up high in the air for Koenma to see.

"Hmm…I haven't seen this file in nearly ten years," Koenma said after George brought the file over to his desk. He took the file with both hands and opened. His face went pale after reading it…He quickly closed the file. "George, put this away in the X-File cabinet at once!"

George got worried with Koenma's sudden outburst and order. "What about it?"

"Don't read it," Koenma simply said with a migraine formulating on his temple. He covered eyes with his hands because of the pain.

George took the file back in his hands. He read the file anyways. He gasped when he was finished reading it. "No way…" he breathed.

Koenma got very angry that he fumed on his chair: "You big idiot! I told you not to read it!" he yelled at the blue ogre.

"This case has never been resolved…Koenma, sir, don't you think that it is about time that this case needs to be closed?"

"No…at least, until Yusuke and Kuwabara come back from Genkai's training."

George pondered about how long it will take for Genkai's training to be over. "I assume that it will take a little while…Why not give this mission to Hiei and Shuichi?" he suggested.

Koenma looked at George in a weird fashion. "Those two? Shuichi is yet to give me his answer and Hiei…well…" he didn't finish his sentence because he didn't know with what answer to come up.

George raised a questioning eyebrow. "Aren't you hiding something, sir?" he inquired to the toddler who was now nervous.

"No! I'm not hiding anything!" Koenma yelled once again. He had to calm down—that case was getting on his nerves. "Well, I'll see what I can do. I hate to admit it but you are right. That case has been open for far too long. George?"

"Yes?"

"You are going to play the delivery boy over to the Minamino residence."

George nodded in affirmation, ready to carry out his task as soon as he was given the instructions by the demi-god.

Two hours later, Hiei walked down the large hall that leads to Koenma's office. He opened the door to find Koenma sitting on his desk as usual. He approached the desk and stopped before with his hands on each side…

"You wanted to see me?" Hiei asked straightforward. He had been mentally summoned by Koenma as soon as he was finished doing his final task that was on the large scroll.

Koenma looked up from his paperwork at the fire demon. He joined his hands together. "You and the Spirit Detective have your first mission available," he informed directly. "George had already sent him the file containing detailed information about it, and he should be expecting you to meet him at a nearby location where the mission will take place."

"Where's the ferry girl?"

Koenma wondered why Hiei was asking about Botan of all people…He had thought that Hiei hated her… Well, Hiei hated every living and breathing creature that existed in all three worlds, he thought this time reasonably. "Oh, you mean Botan? She is gone to assist Yusuke and Kuwabara in their case," he explained why Hiei haven't seemed Botan within the last few hours.

So that means that he and the other human Spirit Detective will be working together without any assistance, Hiei thought. He was yet to meet this human…

"Anyways, your mission takes place in Tarukane's building in the city."

Hiei slightly nodded. His Jagan eye could take him there in an instant. "I'll go there right away."

"Oh and Hiei? Please remember to work together with the Spirit Detective and help each other," Koenma said as a piece of advice.

Upon hearing that, Hiei had teleported without a single word.

OUTSIDE TARUKANE BUILDING

Hiei re-appeared at some distance outside Tarukane's large building in the city. He was standing by an alleyway. He wondered for a possible entrance since the main entrance of the building had guards around it.

"Hiei? It's nice to see you again."

Hiei turned around to see a very familiar face that he thought he was not going to see anymore since last time. "What are you doing around here?"

"Didn't Koenma tell you anything?"

Hiei's eyes had widened of the surprise. "You don't mean that you are that former Spirit Detective that Koenma had told me about?"

Shuichi approached close to Hiei since he was a few feet away from him. "Yes, I am," he said as his attention and gaze wandered to the Tarukane Building. He was already here a half an hour ago, also wondering for a way to enter the building without being spotted and how to carry out the mission as he was waiting for Hiei's arrival.

Hiei frowned at the red-head human. "How can that be possible? You couldn't even defend yourself against those low rank demons the other night!" he said somewhat annoyed. He was going to be working along with a weakling.

Shuichi shook his head. This is something that he would have to explain later. "Don't get me wrong...Anyways, let's go, we have no more time to waste."

"What is the mission?" Hiei asked because he had decided that it was best to question the human later.

"We have to collect as much intel as possible. According to the file, Gonzo Tarukane has never been up to any good and he holds a great connection to the Black Black Club. We should also not reveal ourselves to no one."

"So it's a stealth mission?"

"Yes, you can say that."

That being said, Hiei took off his white bandana from his forehead, and his Jagan eye slowly opened.

"You know, Hiei, I've wondered what that magical eye of yours actually does," Shuichi commented as he looked at the open Jagan eye in curiosity.

Hiei didn't paid attention to the comment as the fake eye glowed on his forehead. He began to concentrate as he closed his own eyes. He eventually opened his again and spoke to Shuichi. "This Tarukane has all kinds of security running all over the building. But there is no security on the lower level whatsoever…and I can sense a great mass of human energy there," he explained what he was able to see through the Jagan eye.

Shuichi understood to some degree that Hiei's magical eye granted him psychic powers if he was able to see inside the building in his mind. Impressive, Hiei was going to be a great asset and a reliable partner despite his personality, he thought.

"We should go to there first. I believe there is nothing much for us to find on the upper level," the red head Spirit Detective said as a decision.

SPIRIT WORLD:

Koenma and George were looking at the wide screen television in the office that was before the desk. The television showed to them what was currently happening in the Human World:

Hiei and Shuichi were infiltrating the building by passing around the back. Shuichi looked for a way to enter the without actually using the back door until he found with his eyes, a component to the ventilation system. He went to open it and he signaled Hiei to enter the ventilation system. It was wide and large for them to enter and go through…

George was curious of the nature of the mission, so he had to ask the following: "Koenma, sir. You gave them their first mission to look around where Tarukane holds the market business and meets his clients?"

Koenma had his eyes fixed on the television screen. "Yes," he replied simply.

George put a hand under his chin. "Wait. This doesn't have to do with the last mission that the second Spirit Detective, he-who-shall-not-be-named, had when he…?"

"Yes."

"So you want Hiei and Shuichi to gather much updated information before-?"

"Yes," Koenma interrupted the blue ogre with a serious-eerie look on his face. "Any more questions?" he offered rather dryly.

George quickly shook his head. It was best for him not to ask any more questions regarding the mission or Gonzo Tarukane. "No, that's it."

Koenma slightly nodded, turning his gaze back to the television. "…Good," he just said.

A/N: This chapter was more of a prologue for this saga.