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This is probably one of my quickest updates in a while. Hopefully the next chapter won't take too long also. thanks for sticking with me! :)
"Mama…killed a man" Kage sang as she was cleaning her room. She had the laptop playing music. Yukina was downstairs doing something. Kage could not wait until the others got here. She had finished her training early today and Genkai told her to go and clean her room. It was not dirty to begin with but she was not about to complain about the unexpected break.
"I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all" Kage belted out at the top of her lungs, grinning manically at the finished result. Her room was in tip top shape. Everything folded and hung up and dusted. She felt the boys' energy as they arrived and rushed downstairs to greet them while still singing the song.
"I see a little silhouette of a man" she sang as she caught sight of Hiei. She shocked him by jumping towards him and giving a hug. She released him quickly and moved onto her next victim before he could retaliate.
"Saw a bolt of lightening, very, very frightening." Kage continued as she hugged Kurama then Kuwabara.
"I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me" Kage ended as she glomped Yusuke. He returned the hug equally as hard and laughed. The kept holding onto each other as they drifted off into a 'who could hug the hardest contest'. Kage won by default since she poked him and he let go with a chuckle as she declared herself winner. Yusuke disagreed of course and they got into a heated debate about the rules of a hugging contest.
They finally joined the others a couple minutes later, still involved in their debate and with large smiles on their faces. The tantei were happy to see their leader happy and practically back to his old self. He had been too quiet and depressed this week and seeing Keiko every day at school with her new boyfriend must have been hard.
They all sat in the living room and caught up on the past week. Kage gave some demos on what she had learned. Basically calling up her demon energy and forming it into objects (a sword, two long knives, and small daggers).
Hiei scoffed but the others were happy with her progress. He knew he would have to teach her how to wield a sword and was not looking forward to it. While he had some respect for her for taking care of his sister and for being smarter than the oaf that was Kuwabara, she was still an onna and not very strong. Hopefully she would prove him wrong and it would not be a complete waste of time.
Botan popped up suddenly and Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kage jumped. Botan just laughed and informed the group that Koenma had a new mission. The boys got up from their seats and were about to say goodbye to Kage but she had run over to Botan and was asking to come to the meeting. Using the best puppy dog eyes she could muster, Kage convinced Botan to let her tag along.
Grinning at her success, Kage ran through the portal that Botan created first. She chirped a happy greeting to the surprised toddler and waited for the rest of the crew. Kage chuckled at their amused faces once they arrived.
"Anyways, I have a new mission for you." The demi-god started. Pulling out a remote control, he started the presentation.
"A small demon group created an underground motorcycle racing ring. They lure unsuspecting humans in with promises of large sums of money and then beat them through sabotage and foul play. Once defeated, the humans are then consumed or sold to the black market. I want you to participate in this race and find the leader. Once you do, capture him and bring him to me. Take care of the rest of them. Any questions?"
Kurama was deep in thought when he spoke up. "There is one small problem though. No one here knows how to drive a car, let alone ride a motorcycle."
Koenma was troubled by this when the tantei shook their heads in agreement with what Kurama had said. There was a brief pause before Kage spoke up.
"That is not completely true." She said as everyone turned and looked at her. "I used to take part in an illegal racing ring. I used to win often and am very good. I could do this."
Before anyone could protest, Koenma agreed.
"The race will be held this night at midnight. Go to the oden shop off of Sakura Street. Ask for Rei. He will tell you where to go from there."
A portal formed under the group and the landed back in the living room at Genkai's.
Kage looked at the group of boys that started right back at her. It was Yusuke who spoke first.
"Why did you not tell us of this before?" he asked.
"It is not one of the most pleasant aspects of my past. While there were some good times, I also did a lot of things I am not proud of during that time and did not wish to think about them. I lost a fair amount of friends then. There are other things that I have not told you all yet. I may one day but for now, I would like to leave it at rest."
The group could see the sincerity in her eyes and asked no other questions.
"Thanks. Now, I need to do some shopping!" She chirped as the boys sweat dropped at her sudden change of mood. "We need a bike- Suzuki preferably. I also need some gear as well as some tune ups."
"There is a Suzuki shop in the city by my school." Kurama said.
"Sweet! Then let's start there!" Kage exclaimed as she ran upstairs and grabbed her wallet and ran out the door. The boys did not even make it to the door before she ran back.
"Um…so where do you go to school again?" She sweat dropped. The gang laughed at her and led her to where the store was.
Kage felt a bit joyous to be back in a bike shop. It had been a little bit since she had last rode and missed the freedom and adrenaline that came with it. And the shininess. Kage was addicted to anything shiny.
Looking through aisle after aisle of motorcycles, Kage finally came across the perfect one. It was a black and blue Hayabusa with the standard 1340cc's and a fuel injected 4-stroke, liquid cooled engine. It was beautiful. She could upgrade this to being unstoppable.
Knowing that this was the one, she flagged down the salesman and told him to ring it up. It came to a total of 30,000 yen. Kage pulled out her debit card as the boys came to see which one she purchased. She handed the card over to the man and told him to add a helmet to the deal as well as some specific parts. He did as instructed and returned the card after it was accepted.
Kage thanked the man before grabbing the helmet and the bike and rolling it outside. The boys followed her, curious of what she would do.
"So, who wants first ride?" Kage asked with sparkling eyes and a cheshire grin upon her face.
Each boy turned and looked at each other before Yusuke decided it would be him. She passed him the helmet and hopped on the bike. She instructed Yu-kun on the basics of riding and told him how to move. He hopped on the bike and got situated in the seat.
"Meet you all back at Genkai's?" She asked.
Kurama nodded while Hiei grunted. Kage grinned as she turned back to the back and stuck the key in the ignition. Her body was tense in anticipation. She turned the key and the bike purred to life. All the tension left her body as the familiar comfort of riding came back to her.
Yu-kun startled and quickly grabbed onto her waist. He blushed lightly at the contact and held tighter when she chuckled and revved the engine. She shifted into gear and they went flying out of the parking lot and onto the street. Kage felt at home racing through the streets of the city. She easily swerved in and out of traffic as Yusuke held on for dear life.
It only took him a couple of minutes to relax and get used to the feel of it. He loosened his hold on her waist but did not let go. They arrived at Genkai's not too much later with identical grins on their faces. They got off the bike and rushed up the stairs, joking about the ride.
"Did you see that car?" Kage asked.
"You mean the one that almost hit us?" Yusuke deadpanned.
"Yeah, that one. Your face was priceless!"
"You almost gave me a heart attack with that one! You do realize that red means stop?" He asked as they walked through the door of Genkai's. The group looked up at the two still-grinning teens.
"Really? I always though it meant go faster so you don't get hit." Kage said with all seriousness in her voice.
The group sweat dropped as she started chuckling as they were not sure if she was joking or not.
Yukina came into the room and Kuwabara sprang on her.
"My love! How I have missed my precious snow bunny!" He rejoiced.
Kage was sickened by his aver abundant display on her imouto. So she bounded over and glomped Yukina from behind.
"Fear not fair maiden. For I, the invincible wolftress shall save you from this mongrel. Away you savage! I entrust you not!" Kage proclaimed while sweeping Yuki-chan off her feet and to the couch.
Kuwabara was stunned into his spot while the rest of the group was rolling on the floor laughing. Even Hiei could not hide his amusement and the display.
Kage sat next to Yukina on the couch and Yusuke next to her. Next to him was Kurama. Hiei was on the windowsill and Kuwabara was still on the floor in confusion.
They started talking about the mission tonight and what roles they would all play. Hiei would stay out of sight and find out who the leader was. Kage would race and get them to the leader. Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara would act as her mechanics and crew.
They decided on watching a movie to pass the time. After the movie was dinner and then Kage went outside to work on the bike. Yusuke accompanied her to learn more about it. The sun was slowly setting and a soft breeze cooled their skin.
"What is this part?" He asked.
"This is the muffler/ exhaust pipe." Kage answered as she continued to add on and remove parts.
This question and answer session continued till Kage had finished the upgrades and the stars were twinkling merrily in the sky. The two of them lay on the soft grass and gazed upon the bright orbs.
"Have you ever wondered about the stars?" Kage asked.
"Wondered what about them?"
"If they really are just planets in the sky or if they are loved ones looking down upon you?"
"Not really. I would like to think that they are those we know. I think it is a far more comforting thought." He responded and looked towards Kage. She had a faraway look as she gazed upwards. Her voice was full of emotion as she responded.
"Me too, me too."
They remained quiet for a little bit and enjoyed the silence of nature. Kage then decided to ask a question.
"If you don't mind me asking, why are you so sad?"
Yusuke took a breadth and got ready to answer.
"My girlfriend broke up with me not too long ago and she is dating this other guy."
"I am sorry, were the two of you really close?"
"Yes. We were childhood friends. She brought me back to life after I was killed and we went through the demon tournament together. She helped me through my transition to spirit detective. Although it meant that we had no time together." Yusuke paused to compose himself.
Kage scooted closer and grabbed his hand to comfort him.
"You did what you had to do. You have saved the world countless number of times. It had to be hard on the both of you. I can tell that you love what you do. If she could not support that, then it is probably for the best. It was the right decision."
"If it is the right choice, then why does it hurt so much?"
"The right choice is rarely ever easy. The pain will dull with time. I promise."
The two of them continued to gaze at the stars, still holding hands and silently drawing comfort from each other.
"Kage! Yusuke! It's time to get ready!" Kurama shouted towards them.
They let go of their hands, got up and brushed the dirt of their clothes. Kage headed up to her room to change and the guys waited downstairs and finalized some plans. When Kage returned, she was wearing an all black one-piece leather outfit that fit her like second skin. The necklace was on and hid her demon features and aura. The tantei hid their auras as well and they walked out the door as Yukina gave a soft goodbye and good luck. It was time to kick some demon but.