Here's a new chapter for you. Enjoy yourselves. By the way, I own all the characters in this story except the YYH characters. Please do not use them with out asking me first. Thank you. Read and review please!
Chapter One
It's been fifteen years since Yume made that promise, but not even a hair of evidence turned up that showed he is still alive. She is starting to think that maybe her mother was right and he really is dead and gone forever, but she made a promise and she is going to keep to it even if it kills her.
So, to see what evidence she could turn up, she's been wandering from one demon city to the next. She still has contacts all over the place from the time she was Youko's Protector, so she's been calling up on them to see what evidence they could turn up.
Now she is here, in a small, but bustling city in dark side of demon world to see if one of her contacts turned something up. She's been wandering for days now as a wolf, and all she wants now is a nice hot cup of something and nice clean sheets, but she has other priorities besides herself right now and she isn't going to shirk them for something she can do after she has a little chat with a man who lives and works down here.
Wrapped in a cloak with her enchanted leather pants and shirt on, that change with her when she shifts forms, Yume walks into a bar on the far side of town to meet her contact. With her hood pulled up and her bear feet moving swiftly across the cold, wooden floor, she comes to a booth in the far corner of the room, the light bulb over the booth burnt out long ago, shadowing it in darkness, but with her keen eyesight she can see it clearly as she slides into the booth. She rests her back against the wall at the end, now completely shadowed, letting her gold-brown eyes roam the bar, watching the various demons getting drunk, having a fight, or fondling someone. Her eyes move to the door and she sees her contact come in and move towards her booth. She knows he can't see her because of the darkness, and her mouth twitches up in a smile at the thought of giving him a scare.
Slowly he makes his way over and slides into the booth across from her and hails over a waitress to order a drink. Once she is gone, Yume speaks up, moving into the light.
Hello, Kale. What a pleasant surprise to see you here. How's business doing?She says, startling the man in front of her to where he nearly jumps out of his seat.
Yume, you nearly scared me out my skin. What are you doing here? Wait don't answer that, I don't want to know. Unfortunately business isn't doing so well for me. I've been having trouble getting work ever since Koenma's spirit detectives came through here and took care of the four Saint Beasts. They were my major clients. He says, getting over the shock fairly quickly as he starts to talk about his woes.
Koenma has spirit detectives now? She inquires, leaning foreward until her elbows rest on the table top and her chin rests in one hand.Please, continue. I haven't been around these parts in a while.
Yeah, I heard you took a vacation for a couple years up in the far mountains. I heard it's nice up there this time of year.
Yes, it was nice if you like that type of thing, but I believe we were talking about those spirit detectives not my vacation.
We don't talk about them much around here after they took care of the Saint Beasts so easily. There are four of them, one demon, two half breeds and a human. They say the leader's really strong by the way he took care of Suzaku so quickly. The demon that got roped in to this is none other than Jaganshi, and they say the other half-breed might be the reincarnation of Youko Kurama from the way he fights. The man recounts, his words shocking her. For fifteen years she hasn't had any luck finding anything about him, but now something has turned up. A clue, a snippet of information she can follow up on. Giddiness bubbles up in her throat threatening to spill over in joyous laughter, but she swallows it down and trains her face into a interested mask.
Really, Youko Kurama. Interesting. Any idea where I could find these Spirit Detectives? Yume asks, struggling to keep the giddiness out of her voice.
I would imagine somewhere in Human World, but I'm not sure where. They don't exactly broadcast it to anyone.
Then, do you have any idea where the nearest portal to Spirit World is? She asks, already starting to put pieces of a plan together to find him.
Yeah, it's hidden somewhere in the old temple in the Dark Forest. Why? Your not thinking of sneaking into the palace records room are you? That would be just crazy. He asks, worry in his voice as he watches her get up from the booth an adjust her cloak about her slim form.
Love makes people do crazy things, Kale, and I must find Youko. I made a promise and I never break my promises. I'll be at the inn until tonight if you find anything else out. If I don't see you, goodbye Kale and good luck finding a job. She says with a short wave and walks out of the bar.
It was nearly midnight when Yume finally gets up from her nap in one of the rooms in the inn and gets ready to pay a visit to Spirit World. She knows this is crazy, that she could be caught and sent to Spirit World prison for this for a very long time, but she doesn't care. She knows what she has to do, how to do it, and how to take someone down if they should catch her which she doesn't think they will. She has been trained by the best, the King of Thieves, Youko Kurama himself, and she wants to do him proud.
She gets up from the bed, the old springs creaking as they adjust to the shifting of her weight. Quickly she pulls on her enchanted leathers and secures a pair of enchanted sais to her waist that would also change with her if she has to. She keeps her feet bear for comfort reasons pertaining to the fact that she never liked shoes. She is just about to reach for her silver forearm band, that snaps around the first half of her arm to cover the gold markings on her wrist that look like lightening, when someone knocks on the door.
She moves swiftly to the door and opens it slowly, he right hand on one of her sais, ready if anything should happen. She hasn't gotten this far without knowing the meaning of caution. Carefully she peeks through the crack and recognizes Kale standing at the door. She exhales the breath she was holding and opens the door to welcome him in. He was standing on the other side, a small manila folder in one hand and a small smile on his face.
Hello, Kale. What a pleasant surprise. I was just about to leave. Your not here to try and stop me again are you? She says, narrowing her eyes at him causing his smile to disappear.
I would never dream of it, Yume. He says, his voice gaining a pleading tone to it.
Relax, Kale. I know you wouldn't. She says flashing him a smile and welcoming him in. She hears him blow out a breath of relief as he passes by her. She gently closes the door behind him and and follows him into the room to sit on the run-down bed across from the only chair in the room that he is sitting in. Now, what is it you wanted to see me about? She inquires, getting down to business quickly before she has to leave.
I looked into a few things after you left, called up a few contacts and some favors and found this for you. He says and hands her the manila folder.
What is it? Yume asks, opening it and starting to leaf through it.
It's a complete layout of the Palace. He proudly states causing her to look up at him in surprise, her mouth forming into an easy smile.
Oh, Kale, your a doll. Thank you. I owe you for this. She responds, real respect in her voice.
You don't owe me a thing.
Oh, yes I do. She responds and pulls out some gold coins from a pouch in her cloak and drops them into her hand. Here, take this. I know business has been hard. Consider this as a payment for your troubles. Maybe when I have time I'll find you a nice steady job for once, OK? She suggests, feeling real caring for this man that she has known for a very long time.
You'd do that? He asks, his eyes lighting up.
Sure. Your my friend. Why shouldn't I. Now, scram. I have work to do. She says, walking the small distance to her door and seeing him out with a kind smile and a goodbye.
Oh, by-the-way, how's that elemental sword treating you? I hear it packs quite a punch. He says, moving his eyes to the gold markings on her wrist. This shocks her. She thought that no one excluding her mother knew about her acquiring the Elemental sword.
How did you know? Yume asks, her eyes slightly narrowing at the man in front of her.
I'm a spy, remember. Knowing things is what I do best. He says and gives her a wink as he walks away down the hall causing her to smile. The smile is still on her lips as she carefully memorizes the route to the records room, arranges her cloak comfortably about her shoulders, and walks out of her room and heads towards the portal to Spirit World.