My hunch was right. About half an hour later, the four boys, Yukina and I were sitting in the living room. I was typing away furiously on my laptop, trying a new search. Finally, I had gathered all the information I needed.
"There's a reason that there are no records of these people in any database. They've been erased by the government!" I cried triumphantly.
"Erased by the government? Why would the government erase people?" Yusuke asked.
"There is only one reason. See, the government knows a lot more about demons and the supernatural than we thought. I suppose they might have a few demons or spirits working for them. I've hacked a few files about demons from the government before, but I always thought those types of things were code words. But they weren't." I was getting more and more excited as I began to unravel the mystery. I tapped the list of the names Koenma had given me.
"All of these missing people are female. Not only that, but they all disappeared more than a year ago. When they came back, I assume the government erased their official documents." I rubbed my stomach, about to unveil the next conspiracy, but Yusuke interrupted.
"You still haven't told us why the government erased them."
I sighed, a little irked at being interrupted. "Because, the government erases official documents of people who get demonified - that is, transformed into demons, sir. Just like I was. I've been searching for a while, but I can't find any of my documents from before I became a demon. None. I've been erased too, and yet here I am. Not only that, but…I've been researching this eccentric hospital in Kyoto. Shi-Odori Hospital, just outside of Kyoto."
"I've heard of that hospital…" Kurama said.
"The word is that it specifically treats demons, and other supernatural beings." Hiei said shortly.
Taking in this new information, the puzzle was making even more sense. "Well…Shi-Odori has records of all these missing girls. Recent records, all just before the girls disappeared again. But not using the names they had when they were human. And that's not all. All of these girls are pregnant." I clicked out of the hospital's database with a flourish, waiting for the information to sink in.
All five of the others looked shocked.
"So then…" Kurama said, looking down at the floor.
"Exactly. Even if you had brought me along with you, I would have been attacked. These demons are specifically seeking out pregnant demons who used to be human. And I'm apparently next on their list."
"Tuh-riffic." Kuwabara moaned.
Kurama reached over and took my hand off of the keyboard. He kissed the back gently, before laying my palm against his cheek. "That means I am not letting you out of my sight again until we kill these demons."
Secretly, I smiled to myself. Even though it meant I could be in constant danger, that prospect made me happy.
(*o*)( =^_^=)(*o*)
"Where's Hiei?" I asked Kurama as I sat down to a breakfast he had made. Hiei usually joined us for these meals. I guess Kurama's cooking beat scrounging for food on his own, or worse, stealing it.
"With Yusuke and Kuwabara, looking for this gang of demons, or whatever it is." He replied casually, as if he was commenting on the weather.
I was surprised. I hadn't known the boys were planning on going on another search today. When Kurama had said I wasn't going to be out of his sight, I had thought that meant he would take me with him when they went on these missions.
"Aren't they going to need you?" I tried to mask my surprise (and just a little bit of disappointment).
"No." Kurama was still acting perfectly calm. Now that I looked closer, he was actually quite tense, wary of the next attack that could be coming from anywhere. "They brought along Genkai this time."
I thought about the sarcastic old master. "She's getting along in her years, though…"
Kurama closed his eyes sadly. "Yes, I know. She keeps talking about this being her last demon hunt and all. I'm…Worried."
I didn't say anything else, digging into my food instead. I barely knew Genkai, but Kurama and the others were rather close to her. When she actually died…I shook my head to clear my mind of my thoughts. I thought of a way to change the subject.
"Ow!" I cried suddenly, clutching at my stomach with a look of pain. I grabbed the edge of the table with my other hand.
Kurama immediately rushed to my side. I began to pant softly, trying to make this as realistic as possible.
"What's wrong, Aya?" The concern in his voice made me hopeful that my fake pain wiped all thoughts of Genkai from his mind. But…It didn't have to be so fake, after all…
"My rib…The baby kicked, and I think he broke it…" I gritted my teeth together.
And I wasn't lying. The baby had broken one of my ribs two nights ago. But it hadn't hurt too terribly much, so I hadn't even bothered raising an alarm about it.
"Do you need to go to the doctor?" Kurama's emerald eyes flashed, momentarily entrancing me.
"No, I-I think I'm fine." I smiled, resisting the urge to give him a kiss. "See? The pain's already gone."
Kurama grinned wickedly, taking my wrist and pulling me up. "I don't care. You're going."
"Kuramaaaaa!" I whined.
(*o*)( =^_^=)(*o*)
"Does this hurt?" The doctor asked, while poking an area right above the huge bulge on my stomach.
"Ow! Of course it does!" I snapped. Kurama patted my hand in an effort to calm me down. The doctor gave me a patronizing smile. The doctor touched his hand to my belly. I sent out a spark of lightning through my body. The static electricity crackled as the doctor jumped back with a cry of pain. Kurama glared at me. I gave him an innocent smile (at least as innocent as I was capable of). The doctor gave us a sheepish smile, and left, holding his hand (probably because it still stung). When Kurama wasn't looking, I smiled in self-satisfaction. Take that, you sexist human doctor…
Kurama wrapped his arms around my shoulders, biting my neck in punishment.
"That wasn't very nice, Aya." He chided.
"I'm pregnant and hormonal. So sue me. "
I have discovered that I am not very good at humor in stories. So I'm trying my hardest. If anyone just wants to tell me to stop trying, please do so. But nicely.