A Month With Suichi Minamino
By Payne N. Uranus
.:AN:.
Man, this is getting exciting… I'm all for peace and quiet, but this is actually gonna be cool…!
Conscience: (poof) Get on with it.
Right, right… just let me thank my wonderful fans, okayz?
Conscience: (raises eyebrow) "Okayz"?
Shut up, it's my word! (pouts) Just because I'm unique doesn't mean that you can poke fun at me. NOW! ON WITH THE REVIEWS!
Death101- Fox Version: Heehee, glad you like. (rubs back of head) I'm a bit insane...anyway, thank you! You rock!
yokonyomi398: True, I do have lots to edit. Hopefully it's bearable now.. =D
bookworm0492: (laughs) You want me to help you? Really? Nope, not gonna happen. Looks like you're screwed! (stops to think) That wasn't an inappropriate joke at all. Uh... (whispers) they're listening... they can hear... sshh! Be quiet! They're recording my story so that they can sell it to FUNimation and gain money from my work... lol. Thnaks for reading!
PervyMonk: Yes, you did loose $1000 dollars. Mwahaha, sucks for you. Okay, I'm kidding. And yes, avacados are icky. I only mentioned them because my mom likes them and because they are weird...not to mention the fact that I can picture Kurama eating them... (ahem). Yes, so, thank you for confirming the whole name thing, aaaand... yeah. Thanks for the support!
Golden Vixen: I'm glad you thought it was funny, and I updated. Whoot! Go me. Your review is appreciated!
roy. mustang. fan: Gracias, thanks for the support! Enjoy this next chapter!
Lucifer001: Hey, yo, it's okay! (pats head) Here's the chappie with the mission in it, it's okay, 'kay? Goodie. Thanks for the review! Enjoy! (gently guides reader to the chapter)
lizzieXmarieXyoukai: I appreciate your imput on my idea before, but I've kinda realized the idea itself is stupid. =/ Haha, oh well. I'll let my profile advertise other works. Thanks for your thoughts, I hope you enjoy the rest of the story!
Yoru Inu: I'm singing the updating sooong. So won't you please, come sing aloooong? It's the ever-inspiring song we -- CROWD: (shouts) Love! -- So sing it while your updating your stoooooryyy. HA! Sorry about that, thanks for reviewing, glad you enjoyed it... come and read once more!
Kuramafan-06: Yay! You again! I'm glad that you like my representation of Kurama. I made him polite, but sort of sarcastic, which is kinda weird. Then again, that's how I see him in the series, so... yeah! And yes, hopefully you guys made the connection between the story's contents and the story name. If not, fear not -- you will understand after this chapter! IT SPELLS IT OUT FOR YOU, PEOPLE, YOU CAN DO IT! (cheers)
See? I'm getting popular! (gasp) Oh, no I'm getting popular.
Conscience: What's wrong with being popular?
EVERYTHING! Soon, I'm gonna become an airhead that picks on all of the little stories, and walking around in designer clothes, making believe that I can actually sing (which I can't), drooling over every cute-looking prick and… okay, overall—I'M GOING TO BE EVERYTHING THAT I'M NOT!
Conscience: Call me when you want to make sense.
(muses) Y'know, surprisingly, you're not the first person to say that.
Conscience: Darn. Here I was aiming to be… unique, and you have to spoil it.
Are you mocking me?
Conscience: (rolls eyes) How ever did you come to that conclusion?
Well, for starters, you always mock me.
Conscience: Huh. True.
Oh well, can I start the story?
Conscience: You need my permission?
See? This is what I'm talking about. Stop mocking me! Anyway, here's the chapter, enjoy, yada, yada, yada, all that good stuff! Laterz!
Conscience: (raised eyebrow) "Laterz"?
(points accusingly) MOCKING!
Oh, hey, just FYI (ATTENTION! WARNING! CAN I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!)—as soon as I start getting into the whole thing where Kurama and Mitsuyo are together more often, I'll have the chapter at third-person POV, just so that I can capture both of their… views on the… point… uh… yeah… right, aaaaand this chapter is basically the continuation of the previous chapter. I was gonna have it just one BIG one, but it was a little TOO big, if you catch my meaning…
Chapter 7: Missions of MPE
Kurama's POV:
Hiei and I made our way in companionable silence to Yusuke's place, passing through the park filled with families having a grand time relaxing and enjoying the summer afternoon. The sun shone through the glittering emerald leaves of the tall oak trees, reflecting enticingly on our hair patterns. Birds were twittering and chirping, flying overhead in loops and twirls, which unfortunately put my mind at peace and gave it time to wander…
That wasn't a good thing, considering I had my mind permanently glued on the "Hirotoshi" puzzle.
She was distracting me from functioning properly, my tactical intellect coming up with different scenarios for reasons why she would condemn herself to hiding her true gender and identity. There were so many situations in which it would make sense, but each was less possible than the last what with her case being a full human adolescent girl.
But what bugged me the most was… what did she look like? What was her true personality? These traits were hidden from me inexplicably due to just my popularity at school. I wish I'd be able to see the proper person face-to-face, but it seems that every time I try to get into her mind, all I find is mush. But that's only when she's with me, or so it would seem.
Yet today, however, was different from the other days. She was more calm—cooler than any female from my school had ever been towards me in the longest time. It was… intruiging for me, because she seemed to be…unpredictable. The person I spoke with today was certainly different from the normal giggly schoolgirl that I was used to.
I was jerked quite suddenly out of my musing when Hiei jabbed me in the stomach with his elbow, indicating that we were in front of the apartment and was prompting me to knock. I sighed and raised my fist, tapping my knuckles against the door. Some yells and thumps were heard echoing throughout the house, most coming from a raspy voice along with the thuds. Hiei gave me a questioning look and I only raised my eyebrow in response.
The door opened to see a slightly breathless Yusuke literally standing on the back of a frazzled-looking Kuwabara. They were both smiling widely despite both of their appearances, and we, meaning I, could only manage a weak smile in return.
"Hey, Kurama!" Kuwabara welcomed, though it was slightly muffled considering his position.
"Hey, Kurama and Hiei, dumbass," Yusuke corrected with a roll of his eyes.
"Why would I greet Shorty when I don't like him?" he shot back with a growl.
"The feeling is mutual, idiot," Hiei told him flatly, stepping into the building in stride, purposefully treading on Kuwabara's fingers and head.
"OUCH! YOU LITTLE PUNK! URAMESHI, GET OFF SO THAT I CAN SHOW HIM A THING OR TWO!"
"The only thing you are showing me is that your brash voice can make young offspring cry. Do us all a favor and remain silent during the remainder of the meeting before I silence you once and for all."
I only managed to laugh as Yusuke and I watched Kuwabara attempt to cause Hiei some bodily harm. Of course, he only managed to cause the room some damage, but you can't blame the boy for trying.
Well, someone can, mainly Yusuke's mom, but we were feeling particularly sympathetic for Kuwabara's plight.
"I'm gonna get you--"
"Too bad your body isn't as fast as your mouth--"
"You are so gonna pay--"
"I think it'll be your money from the looks of the remains of that clock--"
"I'm gonna kill you--"
"How many lives of yours do you plan on wasting to accomplish nothing?"
"I think that's enough for one day," I interrupted with a embarrassed smile.
"Aw, but it was getting good!" Yusuke whined loudly, somehow managing to make popcorn and situate himself on the couch to watch with glee as the two destroyed his house in the last two minutes. "You always manage to take the fun out of things."
I could only stare at him blankly for a couple seconds before swiftly continuing as if Hiei and Kuwabara weren't currently fighting in the living room and Yusuke wasn't on the couch rooting them on, "Where is Koenma? He should be here now, shouldn't he?"
"If he was here, which I'm not so sure of, he's probably hiding in the closet," Yusuke said dryly, stuffing his mouth with a handful of popcorn.
A loud "POOF" erupted in the middle of the living room, creating a pink, glittering dust that filled the entire living area completely. I rushed over to the kitchen -- it was the kitchen, right? It's hardly distinguishable with all the dirty, congealing dishes overflowing the sink area -- window and forced it open, waving my hand and coughing as the gas escaped out the opening.
"I'm right here, Yusuke, and I don't appreciate all of the ruckus!" a familiar squeally voice shrieked from the amidst of the fog. As soon as the haze dissipated, we found the "teenaged" form of Koenma standing in the middle of the room.
…With his feet planted firmly in the small of Kuwabara's back, who was still in the position he was probably in when he was yelling and chasing the ever-illusive Hiei once more.
"Ow…" the ppor boy coughed out, a hand reflexively slapping the polished wooden floor.
"My bad," Koenma stated sheepishly, delicately removing his feet from Kuwabara's backside and stepping gently onto the solid flooring. "Yo, Kurama, Hiei—glad you could make it."
"It wouldn't be fit for us to miss it, Koenma," I replied respectfully for the two of us, knowing full well that Hiei wouldn't say anything respectful.
"Hn."
"What is this mission about?" I pressed, automatically shifting into the matter.
"Right, straight to business, the Kurama we all know and…admire," Yusuke chided with a cheesy grin.
"Yusuke, I will not do your homework for you," I answered without looking at him, my gaze fixed on Koenma. Behind me, I could hear Yusuke grumble and swear lightly under his breath.
"Yes, the mission," Koenma echoed with a nod. Then, rapidly his face vaulted. "Wait a sec—how did you know it was a mission?"
I gave him a strange look. "Hiei told me," I responded.
Koenma's face gained a blank expression. "He did?" he asked in a monotone.
"Yes," I answered, my face completely uncomprehending. "Was he not suppose to?" I asked, shifting my gaze to the figure sitting in the windowsill in the main room. Hiei just stared back, and I could tell he was trying hard not to roll his eyes.
Koenma was silent, head lowered so that we couldn't see his facial features. Then, slowly, his fists clenched together and he yelled at the ceiling, "WHY MUST HE RUIN ALL OF MY FUN?"
We all watched expressionlessly as he fell to his knees, cursing both Hiei and I, though why I was included is still unknown to me, and bawling his eyes out like a baby.
Literally, considering…
"Anyways, yes, allow me to escort you to our private room.." he said suddenly, his tears "magically" disappearing. He waltzed out of the room with a passive look on his face, with no hint that he was ever upset in the last two minutes, as the rest of the us stared after him. Poking his head back into the room, Koenma asked with confusion, "Aren't you coming? I don't have a lot of time to waste, I have a very busy schedule to stick to."
"Very well," I muttered, simply following him with my brow wrinkled in puzzlement.
"Don't bother," Hiei told me from my side, glaring at the back of the young Spirit World leader. "If you try to understand him, your brain will literally be taken for a wild goose chase."
"Are you speaking from experience?" I teased, well aware that Hiei had tried many times to follow Koenma's way of thinking with the aid of his Jagan eye.
His glare turned to me, and muttered his famous "hn", before continuing to stare at the prince's form with unhidden hatred. I smiled inwardly, my mind instinctively thinking of what the mission may be. Something in my head was convinced that it had to do with that "Hirotoshi" character, but what gave it that idea was beyond me.
As soon as we all stepped into Yusuke's room, Koenma made sure the door was locked and secure, drawing the curtains on Yusuke's large window closed, barely letting in small rays of sunlight. It made me extremely uncomfortable for some reason.
Out of nowhere, Botan popped in, her jolly smile, dazzling blue hair, and vibrant pink kimono all present, along with her floating oar and a few beige colored files.
"ACK! BOTAN, STOP DOING THAT! SOMEDAY WE'RE GONNA BE OLD FARTS AND YOUR GOING TO GIVE US A HEART ATTACK!"
"Hello to you, too, Yusuke," she said, giving him that "you-are-such-a-child" look before she exclaimed, her bubbly, hyperactive persona coming back full throttle, "I got them, Koenma!"
"Thank you, Botan," Koenma said idly, collecting the folders from her with a nod, his brown bangs falling into his face as he looked them over with approval. "You may take a seat."
She did, landing gently onto the carpet before "putting away" her oar and sitting cross-legged on the floor. Hiei took his place at the window side, Yusuke sat on his bed, I took a seat on Yusuke's computer chair and Kuwabara joined Botan on the floor with an attentive expression.
"Please, enlighten us on this mission, Koenma," I prompted, settling into my seat by crossing my legs and folding my hands over one knee.
"Yeah, what's got you all acting weird and stuff?" Yusuke asked seriously.
"It's quite simple…" Koenma started, sitting on the corner of Yusuke's beside table. "And this mission will be easy, for the most part. See, it all has to do with one human girl." He held up a picture of a young girl, with extremely dark brown eyes, wavy chocolate-colored hair, an intelligent look adorning her facial features. I had seen a facial structure like that somewhere, but for some strange reason, I couldn't place it.
"Her name is Mitsuyo Kajima, 16 years old," Koenma explained straightforwardly. "She has a mom, dad, younger brother, an average human family. Nice, loving, she grew up in a nice environment. She enjoys sports, singing, picking on her brother, everything you can expect from a normal teenaged child. Now," he set down the picture, and pulled out the second folder, "the problem."
Rifling through the folder, I noticed some lettering on the cover that I hadn't detected before. It said in bright red ink, "Special Cases".
Koenma pulled out a single sheet of white paper, reading off what it said with a steady voice, "After careful analysis, it has been concluded that the human girl, current age 14, blood type AB positive, Mitsuyo Seirei Kajima has been diagnosed with overly large Spirit Energy production, also known as Mass Production of Energy Disorder, or the Isamu Disorder. For the safety of herself and those that surround her, she will be equipped with internal ki dampeners that will slow her generation of energy, making it possible for her to live a normal life without fear of been consumed from the inside by her own power. May it be clear that if those dampeners are to ever be removed or broken, it would most likely cost Mitsuyo Kajima her life as well as the lives of nearby innocents due to its unstable stature."
Koenma threw down the piece of paper alongside the photo of Mitsuyo with restrained frustration.
"Why haven't I heard of this before?" I asked out loud, my brow furrowed as I processed the information.
"It's a rare case indeed," Koenma responded, his own forehead wrinkled in thought. "After the last one, we made sure that we checked every human for the same type of problem, and fixing it as soon as we could."
"Hold on," I interrupted, my gaze turning curious and stern. "What do you mean, "after the last one"? This has happened before?"
Koenma sighed, pinching his nose and closing his eyes in irritation. "Ten years ago," he started, not moving from his position, "A boy by the name Akio Isamu was born, and diagnosed with the with same problem as Mitsuyo. He was a bright boy, very brave. But when we found out about it, it was too late. He was corrupted—mutated. On the outside, he was perfectly healthy, normal. It was on the inside that it was destroying him."
We listened in silence. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yusuke's face showing pure worry and anger. Kuwabara was scratching his head, looking very troubled.
"Everyone thought he was insane," Koenma continued with a bent head. "They thought his line finally snapped. He was always known as a wild boy, even a birth. He was unpredictable."
Unpredictable…?
"Before we were able to do anything, to help him, to save him, he had gone missing—vanished. For ten years we had been searching for him, though most thought he was dead—eaten alive by his own mass production of spirit energy. We never heard from him again." Another sigh. "Until now."
All of our heads were bowed in remorse, but this last comment made them all snap up at the same time.
"Until now?" Yusuke echoed, his face showing surprise and giddiness. "What happened? Where is he?"
Koenma shook his head sadly, before opening the remaining folder and read, "A new demon facility, operated by Akio Isamu, missing child of the first MPE disorder, is starting a chain of demon activity throughout Tokyo cities, causing mass mayhem and chaos. Control of the situation is barely contained. Isamu's base located in the mountain range near Tokyo, at the root of Mt. Takatsukayama. Security top notch, apparitions of all classes, not including upper classes, guarding 24/7. No personal information on Isamu, but it is known that his followers are looking for something or someone."
Closing the folder and setting it down with the other files, Koenma observed them all with a questioning eye.
Yusuke, who had been resting his head on his fist, staring at the floor in deep concentration, suddenly lifted it up and asked pointedly, "What does that have to do with the girl?"
"This Mitsuyo Kajima," I murmured thoughtfully. Looking up at Koenma with a inquiring gaze, I asked, "She is the only other recorded living soul with MPE, correct?"
Koenma only nodded, too deep in thought to answer fully.
"Looking for something… or someone…" I was muttering to myself. Not a second later, I snapped my fingers with soft triumph. I lifted my head, looking at them all and said with a sad smile, "He's looking for her."
And Koenma only nodded his head, the same cheerless look in his eyes.
~`*`~
"Mother!" I called, opening the door to the house. "I'm home, Mother!"
"Suichi?" she answered, coming down the stairs with a basket of laundry. "Where were you dear?" she asked with a concerned look, setting down her basket to give me a quick hug, before holding me out at arms length. "I was worried about you, you didn't leave me a note saying you were going to be out or anything. I thought you were just going to come straight home."
I glanced at the nearby clock and sighed.
It said 6:45 pm.
That's quite late.
"I'm sorry, Mother," I apologized with a small smile. "Something came up at the last minute. I would've called, but I didn't find a chance to until I was already halfway home."
"It's quite alright, you just gave me a little scare, that's all." Caressing my cheek before picking up her basket once more, she gave me a sly wink. "I can always count on you returning home in time. It's nice to have such a reliable son to count on."
I smile in return before following her into the laundry room. "Speaking of reliable," I started. "I accidentally forgot to switch my alarm back to its original time and…"
"You woke early?" she finished with a frown, setting down her basket once more to open the washing machine door. "At four o'clock in the morning? I'm sorry, Suichi, I should've reminded you," she berated. "You need all the sleep you can get, what with all of your studies…"
"Mother, don't blame yourself," I scolded lightly, watching her as she threw the clothes inside with a smile. "It was my own fault, but I didn't mind. Actually, I got up and went to the market in hopes of catching you before heading on my way to school, and I ran into Suichi and his father."
"Oh, did you?" she asked with interest, putting in the soap and softener. "And how did that go?"
"Hatanaka told me about your plans to have me and Suichi spend the summer together," I explained with a smile, leaning against one of the bulky machines.
"Yes, we've been discussing it for a while, now," she told me. "Even last night at dinner, though you and Suichi were in a deep conversation yourself, it seemed." Suddenly, her smile turned into a concerned frown. "You are okay with it, aren't you?"
"To be honest, I didn't mind. However, Suichi had already planned on staying with a friend…"
"Oh, yes, I remember hearing something about that," she said with an apologetic smile. She slammed the door closed and pushed the "start" button before leaning against the machine like me. "Oh well, we can always schedule another play date for you two."
"Mother, you don't have to make it sound like we're children dying to play together," I told her, following her out of the laundry room again. "And I actually had an idea I'd like to share with you two, if you didn't mind slipping over there for an hour or so."
"Honey? It's dinner time," she reminded me, patting me on the shoulder like she would whenever I said something ridiculous when I was younger.
"Then invite them over," I told her, giving her a pat on the arm in return before we entered the kitchen area. "We'll have dinner, and discuss summer activities, plan things out, make some changes."
"You seem awfully desperate to hang out with Suichi this summer," she said suspiciously, giving me a fake "evil eye". "What are you up to?"
I gave a childish sigh. "I only want to make sure that this intended marriage thing goes well. If you and he do indeed marry, and your children hate each other, it won't work out well, will it?"
"True…" she sighed, and said dramatically, "Fine. Fine! I'll call them, and apologize for the invitation being so late."
"Yes," I agreed as I made my way up the stairs. "Make sure you include that."
"Consider it done!" she said with a loud, evil laugh.
I laughed in return, continuing my way to my room. My laughter subsided, however, when I remembered the rest of the meeting with Koenma.
.:Flashback:.
"I need one of you to keep an eye on her at all times," Koenma explained desperately. "If Akio gets his hands on her, there's no telling what kind of destruction he could cause. You will need to protect her at all costs. Guard her with your life. Kurama, do you know Hirotoshi Yamamoto?"
"Yes," I answered softly. "He attends my school. What about him?"
"It's a her, as I doubt you'd know."
"Actually I do," I corrected with a smile.
"No fair," the young prince sulked quickly before continuing. "That is Mitsuyo in disguise. Don't ask me why, I don't know. Obviously the reason isn't important enough, or it would have been included in her files."
"Understood. I volunteer to watch over her. To put it simply without going into the whole story, it'll work out better for me than it would for any of the others."
"Good," Koenma said before addressing us as a whole. "The rest of you guys need to distract Akio, mainly infiltrating the main compound to take care of the rest of the minor demon escapades. Keep the heat in his own territory, hopefully taking him down before he can truly try and find Mitsuyo."
"Consider it done," Yusuke said, standing and cracking his knuckles.
"Be careful, all of you," Koenma warned in his cautious tone. "Those with MPE are extremely unstable, mentally, emotionally… Physically, they are perfectly fit. They are a danger, and you should treat them as such. Whatever you do, avoid upsetting them too badly."
"Riiiight," Yusuke said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "Y'mean, breaking into a demon compound that they are in charge of wouldn't piss him off?"
"I meant that last part more for Kurama," Koenma explained, eyeing the redhead and rubbing the back of his neck. "For you guys… just be careful."
"It's my middle name," Kuwabara put in with his cheesy smile.
"Kurama," Koenma called before we all departed, pulling me over to speak to me privately. "You know that Mitsuyo has a younger brother, right?"
"Yes," I answered automatically. "The son of my mother's boyfriend is staying over there for summer break."
"Good," he said quickly. "I want you to try and join him, see if you can stay with them as well. I know it'll be hard protecting her with her family around, but it's imperative that they are all protected equally. Akio could easily use one of them to get to Mitsuyo. So, the closer you are to Mitsuyo and the Kajima family, the better. Being in separate house so far apart means more paranoia for you and more stress for both of us."
"Understood," I told him seriously, my eyes gaining that familiar devious look…
.:End Of Flashback:.
"They're coming!" Mother's voice yelled up to me, ripping me away from my remembrance.
"Thank you, Mother!" I called back, leaning back against my pillow, my legs spread out gracefully on my bed.
Hopefully, this would work out…
I rather hate being a stalker otherwise.
.:AN:.
Again, anther chapter done and over with! WHOOT! PARTAY! Oh, and has anyone read my bio? I've just finished it… I think it's really good, and it'll give you an idea of what's going on in my head!
Conscience: Like chaos and insanity?
Uh… yeah, but I was thinking something different. More like, "IDEA LAND"!
Conscience: …"Idea Land"?
Why are you always questioning what I say? Yes, Idea Land. It's like Disney Land, except it's full of story ideas instead of fun rides, sodas, junk food, and all that.
Conscience: By "all that", you mean all the good stuff. Sounds fun.
What does? Idea Land? Or Disney Land?
Conscience: Duh, Disney Land. What else? (starts preparing to visit Disney Land)
Oh, phooey. Still YOU guys -- (points to readers) -- check it out! You'll love it!