Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. I only own my character, you to everyone who has favorited, followed, or left a review. I really appreciate it! As the story goes on more and more of Miyuki's past will be revealed. Please enjoy.
Dialogue written in bold will signify Reo talking. (You will be introduced to him this chapter.)
"…"
Chapter 4:
Miyuki let out a pleasant sigh as she stretched her arms out above her ahead, breaking the silence of the small flower shop. 'Just thirty minutes more till closing time.' The sun was just beginning to set giving the store a calming pinkish hue. She finally completed her task of arranging the store by bringing all the orange and yellow assortment of flowers closer to the front. Granny Amyah wanted everything perfect for the new Autumn season. Miyuki enjoyed this time of the year the most. The air had a pleasant chill to it, not too cold like her Glacial home had been and not too hot like the Summer months have proven to be. The air in the Living World even smelled fresher around this time. 'Yukina would have loved it here.' She thought, a frown forming on her face. She shook her head vigorously ridding her self of any further saddening thoughts and begin to busy her self by dusting the shelves behind the check out counter. A soft jingle rang out signaling the arrival of a costumer.
"We close in a few minutes so we are not taking anymore-" She stopped her speech once she turned fully around and realized who it was. 'Him!'
"Oh, um, h-hello. Here for the usual?" She asked. A light blush starting to stretch out across her cheeks. He was a weekly customer
"Yes that is correct. I'm afraid I am becoming dully predictable these days." He stated giving her a small smile as he walked over to the roses. It took Miyuki quite some time to even be able to stand in the same room with a man let alone converse with one. She often found her self at a loss for words when he spoke to her. A familiar feeling of unease would wash over her when ever he entered the store. She would not describe it as a bad feeling just more like a nervous feeling. She would never admit it out loud but a part of her always felt a small bit of excitement when she would catch a glance of red hair waltzing into the shop. Once he arrived at the counter he handed her the money, always exact change.
"It was good seeing you. Same time next week?"
"Yes, yes of course!" She took a step forward stubbing her toe on the corner of the counter and almost falling over in the process. He bid her a farewell with a light chuckle before walking to the door.
"One last thing, Miyuki, I would suggest placing the Chaenomeles away from direct sun light. They aren't huge fans of it." The bell jingled again signaling his departure. She let out of a huge gasp of air that she didn't even realize she had been holding in. Before she could get her thoughts together a sharp whistle sounded from behind her.
"Wow that was painful to watch. Get a grip girl! He's a man not a Soul Sucking demon!" Granny Amyah barked out. "Hurry and meet me downstairs there is something I wish to discuss with you." She made a sharp turn and headed towards the cellar steps. Miyuki quickly locked up the shop, turned all the lights off, and followed after her mentor. Sharp tapping sounds echoed through out the stairwell from Granny Amyah's cane. 'For an older woman she sure moves fast.' Great care was taken into hiding what lied beneath the flower shop, path after path filled with twists and turns made it by no means, an easy trip. Small lights embedded in the stairs illuminated with each step she took making it easier to get to her destination. There was no need though, after four years of repeatedly following the same path, she could find the cellar blindfolded. Before stepping into the clearing the smell of lavender hit her nose. The smell brought on a rollercoaster of emotions; calmness, curiosity, and a sense of worry. Granny Amyah always had lavender incense burning on Miyuki's night stand when she first came to stay with her. She was once a powerful Shaman in her day and thus was a strong believer in the usage of herbs. The scent had a nice soothing affect and helped Miyuki sleep better. She was such a reck the first two years in living world. She spent many nights, wide awake, plagued with nightmares, afraid she would wake up and learn her room in Granny Amyah's was nothing more than a pleasant dream.
"Hurry up silly girl. I'm not getting any younger sitting around waiting for you." Her tone sounded harsh, but the twinkle in her eyes gave away the adoration she felt for the young woman. She had come such a long way in such a short time. Miyuki quickly stepped into the middle of the cellar, kneeled down on the center cushion, and began lighting the taper candles that were horizontally stationed in the front portion of the alter. The alter was covered in melted wax from previous prayer sessions, tons of different colored feathers, along with a long strand of dark maroon prayer beads that covered the top and dangled elegantly off the sides.
"It has been four years since Koenma has dropped you off on my doorstep. Have you found the peace here you so desperately wanted?" Miyuki opened her mouth to answer but quickly shut it once she realized "Yes" didn't seem so fitting. She loved learning how to make different potions, the way the flower shop looked in the morning when the sun was just beginning to rise ,she loved her meditation sessions with Granny Amyah, and most importantly she loved the sense of belonging her new home had proven to provide her. But something was missing. 'Yukina.' She felt a stab of guilt when she looked back up at Granny Amyah. This woman had opened her home to her, taught her things, never questioned her on her past. How could she tell this woman that wasn't enough?
"I thought as much. I may be going blind with my old age but I'm not going stupid. You follow the same routine day in and day out. What kind of life is that? What if-"
"It has been a gr-"
"Do not cut me off." Granny Amyah closed both her eyes and let out a small sigh. Both of her hands rested on top of her wooden cane and wisps of gray hair curtained the front of her face. She looked tired. Maybe the lavender incense had been for her and not Miyuki. "What if I told you your sister has been here in Living World?" At first Miyuki thought she had heard wrong. There was no way Yukina had been this close to her all this time. But she knew better than to doubt Granny Amyah. She saw first hand just how powerful the old woman was.
"Where?" She finally choked out. "Can I go see her? D-does she even want to see me? Does she know I am here? Whe-" Miyuki was cut off by the sharp thud of the wooden cane against the floor.
"Reo will accompany you to Sarayashiki Junior High tomorrow in the morning. From there-"
"Yukina is attending school?" Miyuki asked with a slight head nod. The idea of her sister sitting in a human classroom learning mathematical equations and reading stories of the Living World brought a small smile to her lips. The more and more her mind wondered the harder it became for her to hold in her excitement. She lept up from her position on the floor and ran towards Granny Amyah wrapping her arms around her, mindful not to knock her over.
"Oh silly girl, I wish you would stop cutting me off. It's not that simple." Miyuki sank back on to the ground her face showing defeat. "I should have known. When is anything in my life ever simple?" She mumbled.
"You have never been one to sit and hold onto self pity don't you dare start now! I said it was not simple but I never said it was impossible." Her eyes drifted to the young girl and she gave her a pointed look before continuing her speech. "Like I was saying, I will be sending Reo to accompany you to the school. There you will meet with Yusuke Urameshi, Koenma's newly appointed Spirit Detective, and you will pass along this tape to him. He will then take you to your sister. I have no further details on the matter." Her eyes softened when she saw the defeated look on Miyuki's face. She took her hands and lifted the young girls chin, forcing direct eye contact. "I need you to remain strong tomorrow. Remember your training and come back to me in one piece."
"Of course."
Granny Amyah watched as Miyuki offered one final prayer to the spirits and ascended up the stairs. "Why did you not tell her about the contents of the tape?" Reo questioned. The older Samurai apparition appeared as soon as Miyuki was out of sight. He towered over the older woman and looked to be a little less than six feet. His kimono, covered in thick layers of gold and red signified that his death happened sometime during the winter season. Upon his shoulders were large golden shoulder pads that had become dull from years of usage. Despite the soft tone his voice held, he gave off the appearance of a fearsome warrior. His eyes shone a dark brown color that could easily have been mistaken for black. A light purple ribbon held his hair up in a high ponytail, showing off his chiseled chin and a faint scar that stretched from the back of his right ear and trailed all the way to the side of mouth.
"Would you have me worry the girl more then she already is? If Koenma is involved she must have her suspicions already." Reo nodded in approval. "I shall keep my eyes on her and report back to you."
"You are to act more as a support than a protector tomorrow Reo. The girl needs to learn to fight back. If not for her self at least for her sister."
"I understand Mistress."
The night went by painfully slow for Miyuki. The excitement and nervousness she felt kept her awake. She rose from her bed in the morning, accompanied with dark bags under her eyes from lack of sleep. A pale blue uniform set was placed on the back of the chair near her bed. The yellow scarf, a stark comparison to the rest of the uniform, was draped on top.
"Mistress Amyah said th-"
"Ahhh! Oh my..! You can't just appear without warning!" Miyuki's face mirrored Reo's blushing cheeks. She hugged her arms across her chest to cover herself from the surprise visitor.
"Pardon me m'lady. I was sent to make sure you had everything for today." He mumbled out with his back now facing her. She hurriedly threw on the outfit and tied her scarf before instructing him to turn back around. Living with ghosts was something Miyuki did not see her self getting use to anytime soon. The older Shaman had an abundance of different spirits coming in and out at all times, happy to have the human interaction. Thanks to Granny Amyah's training Miyuki could now make out the outlining figure of different spirits. Reo's was always easy to tell because of his height and the large armor he wore. She quickly tied her hair up in the normal high ponytail she always sported, brushed her teeth, and ran out the front door with the video tape secured safely in her arms.
She arrived to the top of the school building at eight o'clock sharp. She did not want to keep the Spirit Detective waiting. 8:15 passed and he still had not arrived.
8:30,
8:45,
9:00… 'Did I go to the wrong school?' Getting worried she began to pace back and forth.
9:45am
"I don't understand why Binky Breath can't gave off my case! I just saved the freakin' world and he won't even let me enjoy a few days to myself. And Keiko, oh man, don't even get me started on her. She's the reason I even showed up today."
"The fact that your next mission is waiting at school for you should have been enough to bring you here."
"Yea and whats that all about? When I signed up for this gig I thought it was to be a Spirit Detective not a Spirit Baby Sitter!"
A young man with black hair slicked back and a loose fitting green jumpsuit emerged from the stairs with a girl with bright blue hair, followed by another young man that towered over the two with a head of curly orange locks that were styled similar to, who was it that Human's seemed to idolize, Elric or Elvis was it? Miyuki stopped her pacing and the small group froze at the sight of each other. Miyuki's frustration, from waiting so long, quickly vanished once the blue haired girl spoke up.
"Hello there! The name's Botan! And this here is Yusuke Uramesh,i Spirit World's newest Detective, and over there is his friend Kuwabara. Though he is not very important so…" She mumbled off the last part of her sentence before sticking her hand out for Miyuki to shake.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Miy-"
"Way to leave me out! Again! The names Kuwabara! Number one punk here at Sarayashiki! It is always the pleasure to be aquatinted with such beauty." He buttered out with a goofy grin on his face, clasping her out stretched hand into his own.
"Simmer down lover boy, you don't want to scare her away." Miyuki swiped her hand out of Kuwabaras as soon as his grip loosen and turned her attention towards Yusuke.
"Please Urameshi sir, I was instructed to give this tape to you. I was told you would be the one to help bring me to my sister." He snatched the tape from her and gave it a curious glance.
"Great! So first I get assigned to babysit you, and now I have to track down some other broad. Th-"
Yusuke hadn't even seen her move. The petite girl only reached the center of his chest but at this moment she seemed to tower over him. Her eyes that once held a soft gaze, darkened and gave her a menacing look.
"Listen here! I do not need your protection! What I need, is to know, is if my sister is safe! If, if Koenma is involved I can only assume the worst." She choked out the last part trying hard to gain back her composure.
"M'lady please calm your self. We need his help weather we like it or not."
She nodded in Reo's direction, earning her odd looks from Yusuke and Botan, before backing down from the Detective. Kuwabara stood still giving Miyuki a thoughtful look.
"I'm tired of taking orders from peo-!"
"Urameshi! Ease up will ya! Someone needs our help and as men its our duty to step up!"
Miyuki made up her mind right then and there: Kuwabara was her favorite. Yusuke ruffled his hair, his ears turning red from frustration.
"Fine, fine! But I don't know anything about your sister. What ever is going on with her it must be on this tape. And seeing as though I don't have a VCR…"
"We can all go to my place. I have one."
"Of course you do." Yusuke muttered.