While we were debriefed on the mission, I set up my laptop, half listening. I know that wasn't something a newbie like me should be doing, but I figured the boys would take care of the details. There wasn't really much I think I could do to help yet.
Most of the programs I had used of my work had been purely homemade code work. Unfortunately, there was still some vital software I needed, not to mention I would need to tweak the hardware a bit, just to make it 'hacker friendly.' Oh well. With a computer, the other necessities would come easy.
Back to the present, Hiei was currently MIA, or 'missing in action' (Kurama secretly whispered to me that he was probably checking up on his sister), and the mission apparently, was a human world one. There was a half-demon business tycoon ("As if C.E.O.'s weren't bad enough," Yusuke muttered, "but now they have demon ones?!") that was capturing and selling off a bunch of spirit creatures. He was also the last surviving member of the Black Book Club, although I had no idea what that was.
"But," said the articulate toddler on the screen of Yusuke's spiritual laptop, "it'd better to be quiet and inconspicuous for as long as possible, because I don't want to risk any of the spirit creatures getting caught in the crossfire. A hacker will be quite useful on this job."
"Good to know," I said without even looking up from my own computer screen.
Koenma hesitated slightly before continuing, "You know, Aya, if you're interested, I'd like to instill you as an official Spirit Detective after this assignment." Oh, did that get my attention!
"Wow," I said breathlessly, "really?"
The toddler's squinty eyes crinkled up in a smile. "After this mission, I'll make it official."
I grinned widely. "Thanks!
We stood a good quarter mile away from the tycoon, Reio's, mansion. I sat at the base of a tree, clicking away on my laptop to find as much as possible about the security system. I still only had basic programs, so creating an on-the-stop information hacking program was a little difficult. But, I was up to any challenge…
"Okay, he has cameras everywhere, but I can screw around with those from here. His actual security system is something that I'll have to take care of manually. If we can get inside the gate, I'll be able to handle it." I would normally be able to attack the system from here, but my lack of software prevented that.
I set to work. In a moment, the cameras shut down. "Okay," I said, closing the laptop and rising. "That was bound to alert them to some trouble at least. We should hurry." It felt kind of odd to be giving orders to these three far more seasoned detectives, but this was my area of expertise, after all.
I tucked the laptop securely under my arm. The boys and I took off running. When we reached the gate, they easily jumped up it. I grumbled a little before positioning my laptop firmly under my arm before following.
The courtyard inside the gate was quite beautiful. But we didn't have time to admire its aesthetic value. Instead, I rushed to the front door of the mansion, whipping out my pocket knife and setting to work while the boys kept watch. From the time since I started fiddling with the security system controls, I had fifteen seconds to disarm it without anyone finding out. I did it in nine.
"There!" I said victoriously, snapping the knife closed.
"Oi! Get away from there!" I had barely enough time to half-turn to see the human guard chucking a small grenade straight at me.
A flash of long red hair later, I was pulled to the side and pushed against the wall. Kurama shielded me with his own body from the grenade blast.
It missed us by a ways, but the small explosion it caused hurled stone and mortar straight at us. Dumb guard. If he lived past this, his master wasn't going to be very happy with him for destroyed part of the mansion. I felt Kurama shudder as a rock connected with his back, and he swayed a little. In alarm, I tried my best to hold him up while the dust settled. Over his shoulder I saw Yusuke and Kuwabara rush at the guard, but before they got there, a black shadow flitted in and fell the guard. Kurama shook himself, straightened up, and muttered that he was fine. Hiei walked up to us, his unsheathed sword dripping blood on the ground as he walked. Oh, he was going to get hell from Koenma for that.
"Hn." He said, "Looks like I can't even leave you alone for a minute, and you're knee-deep in trouble, Aya." That was the first time he had called me by my name. But we had more important matters at hand. The boy I loved had been injured, and it was all my fault.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Kurama snapped at Hiei's inquisitive glance. Again, I felt the shock of envy. Except this time I knew the reason why. I was jealous of Hiei and Kurama's relationship. It wasn't like there was anything romantic going on between them (although I had no problems with homosexuality) but still, they were so close…How I ached to be that close and important to Kurama.
Oh! Again, I digress. Kurama insisted we carry on, but now that everyone had been alerted to our presence, the going was going to get much tougher.
I felt like such a liability. As we raced through rooms and corridors, the boys tried their best to protect me. I needed to lean how to fight, and soon, or else one of them was probably going to get killed because of me.
"Nobody move!" I flinched as I felt myself seized from behind. I felt a cold gun barrel bury itself in my hair. The boys froze.
My captor backed up with me. His free hand was clutching me to him, a feeling I didn't like. Again, the idea that I was such a huge burden overwhelmed me.
"Kill me."
All five members of my audience were in shock, I could tell. "H-huh?" stammered my captor.
"If all I'm good for is being a damsel in distress, then I'd rather be dead! It's not worth the trouble to them." My eyes flickered to the four Detectives. They looked…Apprehensive, perhaps? No one said anything. I growled. "Do it! Just pull the bloody trigger, you filthy git!"
"Fine," the man's grip instantly tightened around my shoulders and the gun barrel pressed harder against my skull. I looked up to Kurama. I was his face to be the last thing I ever saw.
But I didn't like what I saw there. His expression was twisted in agony and fear. And not just his, but Hiei's, Yusuke's, and even Kuwabara's. I realized how selfish I was being to wish to die. I could expect a good scolding from Hiei when we got out of this. But for now…
Trickles of lightning ran all over my body, searing the clothes it traveled over. The man grew confused as he felt the little shocks from my body, but it was too late for him.
I threw my head back and screamed, releasing an explosion and electric energy. I did my best to avert it from Kurama and the others. I felt a sharp, strong pain in my head and rapidly lost consciousness.
I awoke, but I felt different. Extremely and annoyingly weak.
"Hey! You're awake!" Yusuke's loud voice assaulted my ears. He grinned at me. I groaned. I looked around but I didn't see Kurama. Or Hiei. No Kuwabara, either. I tried to sit up.
"Don't," Yusuke commanded gently, pushing me back down. "Take it easy for a while."
"What happened, sir?"
"Well, you single-handedly destroyed most of that bastard Reio's mansion. Not to mention, your powers blew Reio himself and every single one of his henchmen to pieces. Somehow, though, me and the others, as well as all the captive spirit creatures, escaped unscathed."
"So, everyone's safe?" I said in relief.
"Yeah…But that's not the reason why you've been in a coma for the three weeks. You were shot in the head."
Three weeks?! Shot in the head?! Bloody hell!
While I was still trying to wrap my mind around the idea, Yusuke left. When the door to my room opened again, it was Kurama.
"You're awake. Thank goodness."
As he started to walk to my bed, he continued to speak. "Sorry about the amateur medical treatment. But we could risk taking you to a hospital. From what I hear, being dissected isn't fun."
When he reached me, I tried to sit up (glad to see I was fully clothed this time, although they weren't the clothes I had raided the mansion in), still feeling a little queasy.
Kurama started forward "You shouldn't -"
"I know. But…" I reached over a gently plucked at his shirt. "I want to see."
Kurama frowned, but didn't object. He pulled his shirt off (my heart began to race, before deciding that it was too weak to do that in my condition) and turned his back to me.
The pale skin had mostly healed over, but it was still obvious how bad the wound had been. The flesh was jagged and rough, and still bruised. I doubted whether the angry red color would ever truly go away. I squeezed my eyes shut in horror. I reached out and placed my trembling hand on the wound. Kurama flinched slightly as my cold flesh gave him a small shock.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered.
"Don't worry about it. It's a small price to pay for your safety."
I drew my hand back in alarm. Kurama turned, frowning again, and slipped back into his t-shirt. "Then how much is enough? Are you going to end up dying for me? What then?"
"Well," Kurama said, choosing his words carefully, "if that's what it takes to protect you, then I won't hesitate to give my life for you."
I squeezed my teary eyes shut again. I may be a demon now, but I was still subject to the emotional problems of a teenage girl. "I…Won't let you do that." Kurama then grasped my chin, forcing me to look up at him.
"Don't cry. I don't like to see you sad." He paused only for a moment before bending his head down and pressing his lips tenderly against mine.
I had never been kissed before, but this was better than I ever could have possibly imagined. My hearts leapt, no, soared, and I forgot about everything else but him. The feeling was too good to describe.
As abruptly as it had began, the kiss ended as Kurama pulled away. He stood up off the bed and briskly walked towards the door. His sudden change of attitude made me wonder whether I had just imagined the kiss.
"Get some sleep," Kurama ordered with a casual smile before slipping out the door.
I slid back under the covers, confused from the mixed feelings that flowed through me.