Musical Espionage
Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or any of its characters because they belong to Yoshihiro Togashi. Nor the song, "In the Garage" from Weezer being that it's owned by the band Weezer. The only things I do own in this story are my OCs Jasmine and Christine.
Chapter 16: The Great Alaskan Road Trip
Botan had just landed her oar in front of the palace with Jasmine as her passenger. The young demon hunter had her arms wrapped so tightly around Botan's waist due to her phobia of heights; the poor grim reaper was struggling to breathe.
"J…Jasmine…p…please…let…go."
Hearing her grim reaper friend's pleas, Jasmine let go of her, "Sorry about that Botan. I swear, I'll never get used to being on that oar."
Both young women hopped off the wooden oar and Botan made it disappear. Deciding to change the subject, Botan then gestured Jasmine to follow her. The young human woman eyed the grim reaper curiously, "Where are we going? I thought we were going to see Koenma."
Botan giggled, "He's at The Fallen Angel. He and Jorge just finished off their work for the day and are blowing off some steam by singing a song on Hector's karaoke stage and have a couple of beers together."
Jasmine smiled, "That sounds like fun."
They then proceeded to walk the long winding road and after walking for what seemed like thirty minutes, the grim reaper and the demon hunter arrived at a single story building that was painted jet black with a big neon sign of a scantily clad angel with one fluffy looking white wing with the other one black and was winking her eye every other second and big red neon words that said:
The Fallen Angel
The two lovely young women went inside and approached the bar's counter. The bar's green ogre owner and bartender, Hector greeted them both with a smile, "Well hello there Botan and oh, Jasmine right?"
Jasmine nodded remembering their first meeting back in February, "Yes, that's right. How did you remember, you only met me once?"
Hector chuckled, "Ogres usually have great memories. Once we meet someone, we usually remember their name and the face that goes along with it. So, what can I get you ladies?"
Jasmine and Botan sat down at the counter next to a green ogre woman and Botan was the first to order, "I would like a glass of white wine. What about you Jasmine?"
The young demon hunter smiled, "I'll have the same."
Hector finished cleaning out the empty glass mug he was holding and put it away, "Coming right up."
It only took Hector less than a minute to get Jasmine and Botan there glasses of wine and set them down on the counter. As they were sipping their wine, the green ogre woman with the fiery red hair, two horns on her forehead, and beautiful bright blue eyes then shifted their attention to them sipping from her glass of red wine, "Hi Botan it's a pleasure to see you again."
Botan smiled, "It's good to see you too Christine. How's your teaching job at the Spirit World Kindergarten going?"
Christine smiled, "Great. I'm now off for the summer and going to help my brother with the bar in the mean time until school starts back up." She paused and took another sip of her wine, "Also, Jorge and I are going to take a two weeklong trip to that place in the Human World called Alaska in two weeks. I can't wait. I have always wanted to go there."
Holding her glass of white wine Botan then replied, "Speaking of Alaska, Christine I have someone here for you to meet."
Christine took one look at Jasmine and sensing that she was definitely human, she greeted her with a friendly smile, "Hi, I don't believe I've seen you in here before."
Jasmine took a sip from her wine, "This is only my second time being in here and I'm just here to see my boyfriend and his ogre servant perform their song on the karaoke stage tonight."
The ogre woman's blue eyes widened, "Are you Lord Koenma's lover?"
Jasmine chuckled, "Yeah I am." She then stuck her hand out to Christine, "Jasmine Black nice to meet you."
Christine took the demon hunter's hand, "Nice to meet you too, Christine Kino, I'm Jorge's childhood friend and girlfriend."
The two women let each other's hands go and Jasmine took a sip from her white wine and the asked Botan and Christine, "Do you guys know which song Koenma and Jorge are going to be performing tonight?"
Botan sipped from her wine and shook her head, "Nope. Christine?"
Christine shrugged her green shoulders, "I don't have any idea either."
The three women just sat there continuing with their friendly chat and laughter was heard. They finished off their glasses of wine watching the performances on Hector's karaoke stage. Some of them were lousy, others were just okay, and a few were actually pretty good.
Jasmine, Botan, and Christine all applauded this last performance of a group of ogres who did a great rendition of Green Day's "When I Come Around". Jasmine brightly smiled after enjoying that last performance and asked the lovely grim reaper, "So who's next?"
Botan and Christine both shrugged their shoulders again and Botan said in reply, "Beats me. Usually the performances don't go in any specific order since we are in a bar, not a theatre."
Jasmine sweetly giggled at her own naiveté, "Oh yeah."
Now that the current ogre performance of the Green Day song had ended with everyone in the bar giving them all a round of applause, Hector walked up to the stage after retrieving the microphone from one of the performers and spoke into it, "I would say that performance was awesome. What about you guys?"
All of the patrons in the bar cheered and whistled in agreement. Hector smiled, "Great, I am glad you all enjoyed that. Our next act for tonight is my buddy Jorge Saotome and his boss, Prince Koenma doing their own rendition of "In the Garage" by a group of ordinary humans who call themselves "Weezer"."
Hector then walked off the karaoke stage and handed Koenma the microphone. Koenma who was currently in his tall and handsome adult form and Jorge, who had a white electric guitar with red flames painted on it walked onstage. Jasmine, Botan, and Christine along with the rest of the bar crowd clapped and cheered.
Jasmine then shouted at her loving boyfriend, "I love you Koenma!"
Hearing that, Koenma's pale cheeks turned red and he scanned the crowd. Seconds later he spotted his lover sitting at the counter with Botan and Christine and he smiled at her. The prince put the microphone back on its stand and Jorge stood in front of the second one after hooking the electric guitar up to its amp.
Koenma then removed his pacifier and put the round blue object into his pocket and withdrew a harmonica. He then counted to three and Jorge started off the guitar riff and Koenma then played the harmonica with it. Both instruments harmonized perfectly with each other while they played the song's beginning riff.
They played the riff for about ten seconds and Koenma put down the harmonica and sang out the first verse as his beautifully enchanting voice rang out around the bar:
I've got Dungeon Master's Guide
I've got 12-sided die
I've got Kitty Pryde
And Night Crawler Too
Waiting there for me
Yes I do, I do
Jasmine, Botan, and Christine all smiled enjoying the nerdy song and Jorge played a little bit of the guitar riff and he and Koenma then jumped into the second verse:
Koenma: I've got posters on the wall
My favorite rock group KISS
Koenma and Jorge: I've got Ace Frehley
I've got Peter Criss
Waiting there for me
Yes I do, I do
Going into the next part of the song's riff, Koenma and Jorge then sang the first chorus together:
I'm the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me sing this song
Koenma: In the garage
They both went into the next part of the song's riff and Koenma played the harmonica again. He then put down the metal instrument again and sang out the next nerdy verse with Jorge coming in and singing with him in some parts:
Koenma: I've got an electric guitar
I play these stupid songs
I write these stupid words
Koenma and Jorge: And I love every one
Waiting there for me
Yes I do, I do
The bar's patrons took out their lighters and began to slowly wave them in the air. Jasmine giggled thinking that Koenma couldn't be any cuter right now. She thought that this song was just so perfect for him and it made her happy to see him sing a happy and positive song instead of a dark and depressing one like he did a week and a half ago at Caroline's wedding.
In the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me sing this song
Koenma: In the garage
In the garage
Koenma then stopped singing and Jorge broke into the guitar solo. Nearing the end of the ogre's solo, the prince jumped back in softly playing the harmonica and after the instrumental interlude ended, Koenma put down the harmonica and he and Jorge then sang the final chorus together:
In the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me sing this song
In the garage
I feel safe
No one laughs about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me sing this song
Koenma began to play his harmonica again while he and Jorge finished off the song's last part of the instrumental riff. Now that the song ended, applause and loud cheers broke out around the bar. Koenma and Jorge both bowed and then walked offstage.
Jorge then handed the guitar he borrowed back to Hector. Koenma slipped his harmonica back into his pocket and took out his pacifier and put it back into his mouth while he and his blue ogre servant walked over to the bar counter to join Jasmine, Botan, and Christine.
Jasmine hopped off her bar stool and walked up to her lover and put hands on his chest gazing into his brown eyes, "That was wonderful my prince." She then stood on her tip toes and removed his pacifier with her middle and index fingers.
Before he could try to get it back from her, Jasmine then gave him a deep and loving kiss. Koenma kissed her back with the same deep love and passion. They parted seconds later and Jasmine carefully put his pacifier back into his mouth and Koenma formed a sweet smile on his handsome face, "Thank you my queen. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
The lovers then walked over to the bar counter and sat next to each other. After Koenma and Jorge ordered their frothy pints, Jasmine then asked Koenma, "Have you gotten started on your packing yet?"
The young prince took a swig from his beer mug and nodded, "Yes. I have all of my luggage packed and it's all at Genkai's. I made sure Botan brought it all there. I don't want my father finding out about what I'm doing and quite frankly, I don't care if he does."
Seeing the expression on his face and his anxiety began to grow, Jasmine gently put her small dainty hand on his, "You're still not talking to him?"
While sipping more of his beer, Koenma shook his head as in a no. He set down the glass mug and sighed, "I don't want to. I just have a feeling if I do, it'll get me in so much trouble and that trouble would cause a catastrophic chain of events to happen."
Jasmine lifted his hand to her pink lips and softly kissed it, "That's understandable. King Yama is not a very pleasant man and I wouldn't blame you if you never will."
Jorge then finished off his pint and Hector refilled his mug. The blue ogre then took another swig and added, "If you do Koenma sir, you know that I'll have your back."
Botan sipped from her wine, "Me too."
"Same here," Christine said.
Jasmine leaned over and kissed her lover's cheek, "As do I my prince."
Koenma smiled at his servant and the three women feeling grateful for what they said. Even though Team Urameshi is no longer under his employment and moving on with their lives, Koenma was just happy to have Jorge, Botan, Ayame, Jasmine, Genkai, Koashura, Kotennyo, and even Christine who were there to listen to his problems and to back him up when he needed it.
The five of them continued to hang out at the bar talking and drinking and just hanging out until it came time for Hector and Christine to close the bar for the rest of the night. The rest of week seemed to fly by very fast with Koenma, Jasmine, Koashura, Kotennyo, and even Genkai doing what they needed to do before preparing for their three week long trip to Valdez, Alaska.
Early the morning of the day the five friends were suppose to leave, Koenma woke up and quickly took a shower and got dressed. Botan gave him a ride on her oar to the Human World and landed in front of Genkai's compound. The young prince hopped off the lovely grim reaper's wooden oar and thanked her for the ride. Botan said she was happy to and bid her boss and friend goodbye before flying off back to Spirit World.
Koenma then turned around and knocked on one of the large wooden double doors. He only waited for less than a minute before Genkai answered. The small elderly psychic greeted her longtime friend, "Hello Koenma, I already have some clothes for you to change into so, we can hurry on to meet Jasmine, Koashura, and Kotennyo at the airport."
Koenma smiled in gratitude, "Thank you Genkai." He then stepped into his friend's spacious residence and mentioned, "Oh, I should tell you that Jorge and his ogre lady friend are going to come next week."
Shutting the large oak door, the small old woman asked, "Why is that? I thought they were going to meet us when we show up in Anchorage."
The prince removed his pacifier and held it between his middle and index fingers like a cigarette and replied, "Ogre had some things he needed to take care of as did Christine. They said that they'll meet us in Valdez."
Genkai just silently nodded and looked at the clock hanging on her wall that was hanging near her shrine's alter, "Well, I would love to continue this conversation but, you really need to go change your clothes so, we can grab our luggage, get a quick breakfast at the gas station and head on to the bus stop."
Koenma chuckled, "Sorry about that. I wasn't trying to make us lose track of time."
He then quickly walked to the guest room to where his longtime friend had already left him a change of clothes for him to change into. Seconds later, Koenma changed into a tan suit with a sky blue button up shirt, slipped his pacifier in the pocket of his suit jacket along with the wallet Genkai let him use and slipped on his purple headband over his forehead to cover up his mark. He reemerged to Genkai's shrine carrying his luggage to see Genkai wearing a nice red coat and her bags ready as well.
Koenma smiled and complimented, "That's a nice coat Genkai, is it new?"
She smiled and nodded, "Yes, Jasmine bought it for me."
"It looks very nice on you. Red is a good color for you."
Genkai smiled and took her friend's compliment and they soon left the compound. They walked for over an hour until they got to the gas station and grabbed a quick breakfast which was just cereal, breakfast bars, and small pints of chocolate milk. Koenma and Genkai ate their breakfast at the bus stop while waiting for their bus and finished just when it showed up.
They hopped on after disposing of their trash and took the hour trip to the Mushiori Airport. Now standing in the said airport, Koenma and Genkai scanned the crowd of ordinary humans looking for Jasmine and their two god friends. Seconds later, Koenma then heard his lover shouting, "Koenma, my prince, over here!"
He and Genkai quickly ran over to her, Koashura, and Kotennyo and the lovers greeted each other with a deep and loving kiss. They both moaned and Koashura shook his head, Genkai sighed, and Kotennyo then snapped them out of it saying, "Get a room."
Koenma and Jasmine parted with their pale cheeks flushing red at her words. Koenma then retorted, "Oh we will later."
Kotennyo then crossed her arms over her chest, "Whatever."
Everybody in the group of five just started laughing and after only laughing for a couple of minutes, they then made their way over to the ticket counter to get their tickets and turn in their luggage. The five friends then made their way over to the gate after being checked by security.
While waiting for the call to board the plane, Jasmine tapped Koenma on the shoulder. Knowing for her reason as to why, Koenma reached into his suit pocket and withdrew his pacifier and handed it to her.
The young demon hunter opened up her purse, withdrew a handkerchief, and wrapped it around the round blue object that she felt spirit energy whirling around inside it. Kotennyo let out a loud sigh and remarked, "Why don't you just leave that here?"
Slipping the wrapped up pacifier into her purse, Jasmine sighed in annoyance, "Kotennyo please don't start."
Before the young goddess could say anything else, Koenma snapped at her, "Because I need to store my spirit energy in it for the Mafukan or did you forget that detail? Hell, Spirit World Kindergarten was over 500 years ago so you probably did."
Kotennyo shot her ex a death glare, "No I didn't forget. Since you got that new one, I was wondering why you're still storing your energy into something you're too old for. Fuck Koenma, you are the same age as me and Koashura so, that makes you an adult like us. And since you're an adult, why the fuck, do you still humiliate yourself with still sticking such a degrading object in your mouth? Do you like people making fun of you all the time? It looks to me like you do."
Koenma really wanted to punch his ex-girlfriend in the face but, he chose to maintain his self control and just barked at her instead, "That's my fucking business. Do I ask why you wear overalls and baggy clothes all the time? No but, it seems to me like you enjoy hiding your figure especially your huge breasts, which in my opinion are too big. So tell me Kotennyo, is it because you're sick of random assholes trying to feel you up and have their way with you?"
The young goddess continued to glare at her ex and snapped, "Fuck you Mr. "I love itty bitty titties". Sorry Jasmine, no offense."
Jasmine let out a loud sigh and rolled her brown eyes and Koenma retorted, "Right back at you Miss "My underwear is hanging on the telephone pole from having sex with Koashura on your apartment's balcony". By the way, Jasmine's breasts are beautiful and perfect and you're right I love them, just like how I love the rest of her."
Koashura then snapped his attention to his childhood friend, "Dude, you said you wouldn't say anything about that."
Jasmine looked over at her goddess friend who still looked like she wanted to beat the shit out of Koenma, "That is yours? I thought they belonged to the neighbors who live above us."
Koenma shifted his attention to his lover, "Which neighbors are they again?"
The young demon hunter tried to stifle her giggles, "You know the ones who have loud sex into the wee hours of the night? The ones that I dubbed as "Mr. and Mrs. Get-it-on""
Koenma started cracking up and Kotennyo then scoffed, "You know they say the same thing about you Jasmine?"
"Hey Koenma and I are nowhere near as loud as them!"
Koashura sighed, "Yeah right."
Deciding to still be a jerk, Kotennyo then started imitating the prince and the demon hunter, ""Oh Koenma harder, faster, deeper!" "Jasmine, oh god, Jasmine, that feels so good don't stop!" "You like that my prince? Do you like it when I lick your…""
Having enough of the young college bound psychic and the three young gods being complete jerks to each other, Genkai then shouted over them, "ENOUGH!"
Koenma, Koashura, Kotennyo, and Jasmine all grew silent. Genkai then glared at all four of them and then said very annoyed, "Stop it right now! This trip is suppose to be fun and I don't want to sit on a plane listening to you guys bickering for hours on end! All four of you are adults! ACT LIKE IT! Now apologize to each other especially you Kotennyo. I don't want to drag Jasmine's grandparents into this when we get to Valdez. From what she told me about them, they get pissed when their children and grandchildren act like total dimwits around them. Think that I'm a hard-ass, well they'll probably be even more so. Now apologize so, we can enjoy this trip like the mature adults I know you all are."
Koenma then looked over at Koashura and Kotennyo and apologize first, "Sorry about exposing your secret."
Koashura smiled, "It's cool but, please don't tell anyone else."
Kotennyo sighed, "Apology accepted. Sorry for being an ass."
Jasmine smiled, "Sorry for being a bitch too."
Genkai then gave them all a small smile and remarked, "Good now that we all got that settled, Jasmine let's go over the flight itinerary."
The young demon hunter nodded and opened up her purple flowery backpack that she was going to use as her carryon bag. She withdrew her plane tickets and the flight itinerary and said reading it, "Well, our first stop is Honolulu, Hawaii. We're going to be there for only twenty minutes before we board onto the next connecting flight that's to Los Angeles, California. We have only an hour before we get on the plane to Seattle, Washington. After we stay there for four hours, we take a nonstop flight to Anchorage, Alaska. I already called up Sandy informing her when we will arrive and she said she will meet us at the gate when we get there."
Just then the first call for boarding the plane was heard. Koenma, Jasmine, Koashura, Kotennyo, and Genkai stood up from their seats and grabbed their bags and in the girls' cases, their purses. After flashing their tickets to the airport personnel, the five friends boarded the plane with Koenma and Jasmine going first, then Koashura and Kotennyo and Genkai last.
Walking down the aisle to their seats, Jasmine sighed looking at her ticket. Koenma then looked at her in concern, "What is wrong my queen?"
Jasmine put her ticket down and looked up into her lover's brown eyes, "The stupid airport put me in the window seat again. You know how afraid of heights I am?"
Koenma gave her a warm smile and replied, "Why don't we switch seats like last time? Would you be more comfortable with that?"
The young psychic nodded, "Yes, I would love that. Thank you Koenma."
Koenma went in first with Jasmine behind him. When they finally sat down, Jasmine opened up her purse and withdrew her grey acupressure bands that kept her from getting airsick and slid them over her thin bony wrists and took out Koenma's wrapped up blue pacifier. After removing the handkerchief, she handed it to him.
Jasmine gave him a sweet smile, "I love you my prince."
"I love you too my queen."
They then leaned over and gently brushed their noses against each other's and shared a deep and passionate kiss. The lovers parted after a minute and Jasmine withdrew her book, book of CDs, and her walkman CD player from her backpack.
She also withdrew Koenma's book and handed it to him. Koenma slipped his pacifier between his lips and Jasmine heard some mumbling coming from a group of ordinary humans who sat across the aisle from them. Knowing what they were chatting about, the Alaskan demon hunter rolled her large brown eyes and snapped her attention to those humans, "What are you looking at? Mind your own damn business."
One of the humans laughed at them and retorted, "Isn't your boyfriend too old to be sucking on that?"
Jasmine continued to shoot them a death glare, "Leave him alone. He's not hurting anyone. And you know what; I'll hurt you guys if you don't mind your fucking business."
The other human looked at her with fear in his eyes, "Whoa lady, don't do anything stupid. We're sorry. We won't bother you again." The two nosy humans then began to mumble and make fun of the lovers.
Hearing the conversation and the two assholes who wouldn't mind their own business continue to be jerks, Genkai looked over at those men from the seat she sat directly behind Koenma and Jasmine and snapped at them, "Hey, you dimwits leave my grandson alone!"
Hearing what his longtime friend said, Koenma decided to play along even though he is hundreds of years older than her but, chose not to say anything to those two nosy asshole humans. One of the humans then asked her, "Well Granny, why don't you explain why he sucks on that?"
"Yeah, how old is he anyway?"
Genkai's glare intensified, "He's 21 years old for your information and the reason he sucks on that pacifier is because he has an anxiety disorder and it calms him. Now fuck off and mind your business."
Getting sick of the asshole humans too, Koashura then added, "Do what my grandma says and leave my cousin alone. He's not bothering you."
Kotennyo then added, "If you guys know what's good for you, you'll leave us alone or we'll have the flight attendants throw you off this plane for harassing us."
The two ordinary humans decided not to risk it and began to grumble amongst themselves. Jasmine, Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo didn't bother to figure out what they said but, they decided that they weren't worth it anyway. Koenma then opened up his book and decided to thank the four of them when they get off the plane.
He set his open book on his lap and buckled up his seatbelt after hearing the announcement that all the plane's passengers should when they were to take off. When the passengers were all seated and buckled up, the plane's doors sealed shut. Koenma then tapped Jasmine's small shoulder and she looked over at him and sweetly smiled, "Yes my prince?"
He smiled behind his blue pacifier and asked the lovely young human woman curiously, "Who is taking care of Tom while you, Koashura, and Kotennyo are going to be away for these three weeks?"
Jasmine sweetly giggled, kissed his hand and said in response, "I called up Shizuru last week after we had our fun role playing lovemaking session and while you were asleep, I arranged with her that Kazuma can come over and take care of him."
While the plane took off, Jasmine began to feel anxious and before she could start hyperventilating due to her phobia of heights, Koenma took her hand in comfort. Deciding to continue the conversation to take her mind off of it, the prince then asked his lover, "What did you ask Kuwabara to do? Did you give him a key to get in?"
Realizing what her loving boyfriend was doing for her, Jasmine replied, "Yes, I gave him a key. Kazuma came over yesterday with his cat because he said he wanted Eikichi to have a playmate and asked if I was okay with it. You know me, I can be a bit overprotective of Tom because he's not even a year old yet so, he's still just a baby and I didn't want to see him get hurt."
"Did you let him?"
Still tightly squeezing Koenma's hand, the young demon hunter nodded, "Yeah, even though I was still hesitant about it. He let his cat out of her kitty carrier and I brought out Tom. Tom is usually shy around other humans and cats so he freaked out a little bit. Kazuma presented himself as nonthreatening to Tom and after a little bit, he began to warm up to him. Now Eikichi on the other hand, it took him more time to approach her and surprisingly, Eikichi didn't try to attack him and Kazuma told me that she's usually very mellow around other cats for some reason. After watching Tom and Eikichi try to get to know each other, I explained to Kazuma all of what he needs to do for Tom during our vacation."
She paused and then continued, "I explained to him about our baby's diet on how he eats hard food in the morning, afternoons and most evenings and soft food only twice a week and making sure he has clean water every day. I also showed him where Tom's litter box is and explained to him that it needs to be scooped every other day and showed him his
toys and told him in explicit detail on how to play with him. Kazuma said that it wasn't a problem at all. He's a good kid and I trust him to take care of Tom. Our baby is in good hands and I am glad I got him neutered or he would try to have some fun with Eikichi if I didn't."
At her words, she and Koenma began to laugh. After laughing for a little bit, Koenma then remarked, "It's good that you picked Kuwabara to take of him, I cannot think of anyone else who is better for the job."
Jasmine smiled and happily nodded, "Me too, I can't picture anyone else taking care of Tom. I am going to call Kazuma every evening to see how things are going for him, Tom, and Eikichi."
Several hours and three connecting flights later, Koashura was woken up from his nap feeling his lovely girlfriend Kotennyo gently shaking his shoulder. He then heard her sweet voice, "Koashura, wake up. You have got to see this."
The young redheaded god opened up his red eyes and yawned stretching his long arms over his head, "What's wrong, dearest?"
Kotennyo chuckled, "Nothing, just look out the window."
Taking her word for it, Koashura leaned over her shoulder and could see a lovely mountain range with the biggest snowcapped mountains that he had ever seen in his entire 700 year old life. His red eyes widened in awe and he shifted his attention to Koenma, Jasmine, and Genkai who sat across the aisle from them. He then spoke to all three of them despite reading their books or magazines and in Jasmine's case, reading while listening to one of her Madonna CDs.
Koashura cleared his throat and spoke to them, "Koenma, Genkai, Jasmine…hey Jasmine."
Hearing her friend and roommate speaking to her, Jasmine turned off her walkman CD player and asked removing her headphones, "Yeah?"
Kotennyo decided to interject, "You guys gotta look out the window. It's really cool and awesome out there."
At her best friend's suggestion, Jasmine bit her lip and replied, "No Kotennyo, you know how afraid of heights I am. I'm not looking out that window."
Koenma took a peek and his brown eyes widened looking at the beautiful mountain range of the awesome Alaskan landscape with the same huge mountains he gazed at seven months prior. Unlike last time, snow only covered the mountain range's peaks and the snow that sat on the ground had already melted as well.
After staring at their new surroundings, Koenma tore his gaze away from the gorgeous snow capped mountains and shifted his attention to Jasmine. Seeing the look on his face, Jasmine then knew what her royal lover was going to ask her.
She sighed and said, "No Koenma."
The prince flashed her a sexy smile, even though he had his pacifier still in his mouth and he said sweetly, "Come on my queen. This is your homeland and I understand that you're afraid of heights and all but, just take a look. Do it for me?"
Closing her "Cosmopolitan" magazine, Jasmine sweetly giggled and shrugged her small shoulders, "Okay, just for a little bit."
She then leaned over Koenma's shoulder and took a look out the window and gazed at the beautiful snow capped mountains that surrounded the city of Anchorage, Alaska. When she began to feel nervous, Jasmine quickly turned away and buried her face in Koenma's chest.
The prince gently wrapped his long arms around his lover's slender body, "Jasmine it's okay, I'm right here." He then gently rubbed her back in comfort.
While still comforting Jasmine, Koenma then asked Genkai, "Genkai, have you looked out the window yet?"
Hearing her longtime friend, she lowered her book and took a look out her window and replied, "Wow, Alaska is so beautiful. You know, Toguro and I have always wanted to come here. We talked about it for years but, we never had enough money saved up for the trip. When we finally did…well, the Dark Tournament happened and you know what happened after that."
Jasmine looked up and spoke to Genkai who was hidden by the seats she and Koenma sat on, while still being in her loving boyfriend's embrace, "Oh that sucks. It sounds like you had to halt a whole bunch of stuff for Toguro."
"Yeah, it really sucks he decided to become a demon. That in my opinion was a very selfish thing to do." Kotennyo added.
Genkai chuckled still looking out her window as they were finally entering Anchorage, "Yeah it did but, to be fair, I knew he regretted his decision even though he didn't explicitly say it. What's done is done."
Their conversation was soon interrupted by the announcement of the ordinary human pilot, "Good evening Ladies and Gents, welcome to Anchorage, Alaska. The time now is 7:50 PM local time with the weather being partly cloudy, the temperatures at 58 Degrees Fahrenheit and winds at 15 miles per hour. Please make sure to buckle your seat belts and put all belongings away and dispose of any garbage from any snack or drink you enjoyed on this flight. Have a wonderful evening and thank you for flying Alaska Airlines."
After the pilot finished off his announcement, the five friends then got rid of their empty drink bottles and cups along with their food wrappers. They put away all of their belongings and ten minutes later, the plane had at last landed at the airport.
When it was safe to unbuckle their seatbelts and stand up, they and the rest of the plane's passengers did just that. Koenma removed his pacifier while Jasmine slipped her grey acupressure bands off her thin bony wrists and slipped them back into her purse and withdrew a handkerchief.
She shifted her attention to her lover and asked sweetly, "Do you feel you stored enough energy for the Mafukan?"
Koenma smiled and nodded, "For right now, yes. Thank you my queen, I love you."
Jasmine giggled like a schoolgirl and replied as she flirtatiously winked at him, "Anything for you my prince. I love you too."
She stood on her tip toes to give him a loving kiss and prince returned the same deep love by kissing her back. They parted seconds later and Jasmine wrapped the pacifier up with her handkerchief and slipped the blue object back into her black and white handbag.
The lovers grabbed their carryon bags and followed Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo along with the ordinary human passengers off the plane and into the Anchorage airport. Genkai then scanned the crowd hoping that she could sense some demon energy so she could know which person was Jasmine's childhood friend Sandy.
The elderly psychic then asked the young demon hunter, "Jasmine, where's this Sandy girl? You said she's a demon right? I cannot sense any demon energy at all."
Jasmine looked down at her and gave her a sweet smile, "We are going to meet her at the baggage claim."
Looking around with curiosity and awe at the various stuffed animal and native Alaskan artifact displays, Koashura and Kotennyo shifted their attention back to their human friend and roommate. The young goddess asked her, "Do you know where that is?"
Jasmine nodded at Kotennyo's question, "Yes I do, follow me." The three gods and Genkai began to follow her and Jasmine stopped in her tracks and turned around, "Oh, you guys better stay close to me and try not to get distracted by everything around you. I know the stuffed animals and the native Alaskan displays are cool but, it's best to pay attention to where we are going. I don't want you guys to get lost. Koenma almost did looking at the stuffed moose by the entrance. Luckily, I caught him in time."
Koashura, Kotennyo and even Genkai started cracking up at the thought as did Koenma who slightly chuckled at himself. After regaining his composure, the young prince responded, "Well, that was my first time ever seeing a moose even if it was dead and stuffed."
The five friends began walking again with Koenma, Koashura, Kotennyo, and Genkai following Jasmine to the airport's baggage claim while trying not to be distracted by their new surroundings. Five minutes later, they had at last made it to the baggage claim. Finally sensing demon energy, Genkai then looked around, "Is she here?"
Before Jasmine could respond, she heard someone calling out to her and Koenma, "Jasmine, your highness, right over here!"
Hearing her voice, the five friends then shifted their attention to a beautiful young woman with long straight brown hair pulled back into pigtails, large sparkling hazel brown eyes, big full pink lips and a lovely pale complexion dressed in a cute white dress with black polka dots and a black cardigan waving to them. Jasmine gave her childhood friend a big smile, "Hey Sandy!"
Sandy the imp demon woman ran over to the young demon hunter and the two women embraced each other. The childhood friends parted seconds later and Sandy then broke the ice, "Finally you guys made it." She shifted her attention to Koenma, "Your highness, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Koenma gave her a curt nod and replied, "Likewise Sandy."
Sandy then looked at Koashura and Kotennyo and sensing that they both didn't have any demon energy radiating off of them and knowing instantly that they were both not human, she began to feel a bit paranoid. She then looked at Genkai and sensing that she was human, she was still a bit paranoid as well. Seeing that, Jasmine then began to introduce them, "Sandy, let me introduce you to these three people."
The young demon hunter then cleared her throat, "These two individuals that you probably sensed are gods, are my two best friends from college and they are also my roommates and Koenma's childhood friends, Koashura and Kotennyo."
Feeling a bit better about being around them, Sandy gave them both a friendly smile, "Nice to meet you both."
Seeing her slight discomfort, Koashura decided to say something, "Don't worry, Kotennyo and I aren't here to kidnap you. Yeah we're gods but, we got kicked out of Spirit World."
At the mention of their former home, Kotennyo rolled her brown eyes and added, "Fuck that hellhole. Living here in the Human World is so much better than that dump. Koashura, please don't get me started on that."
Sandy then chuckled at their words, "Oh tell me about it, even though I left there when I was five, remember how horrible it was. Alaska, especially Anchorage, is so much better. Despite every time I go back to Valdez to see my parents or do some of my hula hooping stuff, I seem to attract all kinds of trouble while I'm there."
Kotennyo eyed her with pure interest, "Let me guess, that's where your kidnappers try to get you?"
Sandy nodded, "Yeah. I feel so much safer here in Anchorage. Hell, even my parents are thinking of leaving Valdez too. They have been trying to sell their house so they can move to Palmer. My older sister Aileen already left when she graduated from high school eight years ago. She lives in Juneau now."
"What? Really? Mr. and Mrs. Larson are going to sell their house? Man, I remember going over a lot when we were kids. I'm glad to hear that Aileen is at least safe."
Sandy shifted her attention back to Jasmine, "Yeah, Aileen can handle herself well. So far, the people who have been trying to kidnap me haven't tried to get her. She's currently laying low but, if they do find her, Aileen will most certainly kill every single one of them. You remember how ruthless in battle she is, she doesn't take anyone's shit. As for Mom and Dad, yeah they have been trying to sell their house for over a year now and so far, they only had a few humans come to check it out. They either can't afford it or they can't make up their minds. It amazes me how indecisive humans can be."
Both she and Jasmine laughed and even Koenma, Koashura, and Kotennyo chuckled. After laughing for about a minute, Jasmine then interjected, "Speaking of humans, Sandy, this tiny lady here, is Genkai, who's my friend and mentor. She and my mom have been training me to help me polish my fighting abilities along with my healing and pain relief techniques."
Sandy looked down at her gave her a bright smile, "Oh, I have heard of you. My older cousin along with my sister and my parents used to tell me stories about the battles you won."
Genkai just stared at the young imp demon woman with a blank expression and asked her politely, "What kind of things?"
Sandy shrugged her shoulders, "Well, when I was five, my favorite older cousin used to tell me how you were always fighting for justice for the human race or something like that. Back then, I was young and being a little kid, I believed it. But now after what Jasmine has been telling me about you for like the couple of weeks before getting on the plane, I began to believe that wasn't the case."
Genkai chuckled and shook her head. What Sandy just said reminded her of the things Shishiwakamaru said during their battle at the Dark Tournament. The small old psychic then shifted her attention back to the imp demon woman and replied, "It's good to know that you have your head on straight. I hope you don't mind if I ask, what kind of demon are you Sandy?"
Sandy sweetly smiled, "I'm an imp demon. My whole family is for that matter. Would like to see my imp form when we get back to my place? I don't want to freak out the humans here."
Koenma eyed her curiously, "Jasmine tells me you live with your human boyfriend. Wouldn't he be freaked out too?"
She chuckled at the prince's words and shook her head, "Not really. Wyatt knows what I am. We met when I protected him from a gang of demons when they tried to kill him over a shopping cart at the local CARRS grocery store that's just down the street from here and he seen me in my imp form when I took those bastards on. I didn't kill any of them but, I did beat them up pretty badly though." Thinking about her ordinary human lover, she then dreamily sighed, "Wyatt refers to me as his guardian angel with horns. He thinks my imp form is adorable."
Jasmine and Kotennyo both giggled and a few minutes later, the five friends finally retrieved their luggage. After getting all of their suitcases, they followed Sandy out of the airport, to the parking lot, and towards her red jeep. Sandy helped them put their bags into the back of her vehicle and they all soon piled into it with Jasmine, Genkai, and Kotennyo sitting in the back and Koenma and Koashura sitting up front with Sandy.
Sandy then put the keys into the ignition and started the jeep up. Koashura then asked her, "Is it cool if I can turn on the radio?"
Sandy looked over at him for a minute and shifted her attention back to the road as they pulled out of the parking lot, "Yeah, go on ahead."
Koashura turned on the radio which was currently set on a station that played awesome pop and rock music. Kotennyo then decided to ask her something, "Are you going to college or do you just work?"
Concentrating on the road ahead of her, Sandy responded to the young goddess's question, "I'm a student at UAA, the University of Alaska Anchorage. I'm majoring in middle school and high school education and minoring in physical therapy. My job, I work at the Dimond Center Mall at one of their department stores. I don't really care for retail work."
Kotennyo chuckled, "I know right? I work at the mall in Mushiori City at their body fragrance store. I love the products they sell but, I can't stand working in retail either. The kind of idiots I have to deal with on a regular basis. Humans can be so dumb sometimes."
The other five jeep occupants started laughing in agreement at Kotennyo's words and after about twenty minutes, they arrived to a residential area that was surrounded by a thick brush and a forest of spruce trees. Sandy then pulled up to a medium sized two story house that looked like the outside was unfinished. Eying the imp demon's home, Koenma then asked her, "Sandy are you and your boyfriend currently building this home?"
Sandy chuckled at his curiosity, "Nope, it's already completed. Many houses around the state look like this. It's a lot nicer inside."
Finally in the driveway, she turned off the ignition along with the radio. All six passengers climbed out of the vehicle and stretched their arms and legs. Sandy opened up the back of her jeep and everyone grabbed their luggage and followed the young imp demon up to her front door.
Sandy rang the doorbell and they all heard footsteps coming from the inside. The inner door opened and from inside the screen door, the five friends and Sandy were greeted by a handsome young gentleman with brown hair, blue eyes with a scruffy beard on his pale face.
He opened the screen door and gave them all a friendly smile, "Hi. Which one of you is Jasmine?"
Jasmine returned the friendly smile, "That's me." She then gestured to the other four guests, "This is my boyfriend Koenma, my friend and mentor Genkai and my college friends and roommates, Koashura and Kotennyo."
The ordinary human man shook hands with all of them, "Nice to meet you all. I'm Wyatt Richardson, Sandy's fiancé."
He then let go of all of their hands and moved out of their way to let them into his and Sandy's house, "Come right in. I bet you guys must be exhausted from flying all the way out here from Japan."
Jasmine nodded and yawned a little bit, "Oh yeah we are. We plan on leaving for Valdez tomorrow afternoon after we have lunch. Thank you for letting us stay here for tonight."
When the five friends and Sandy entered the house, Wyatt shut the door and Sandy replied, "It's no problem at all. You guys are always welcome here."
The young imp demon then gestured the five to follow her, "We have one spare bedroom upstairs," She pointed up the staircase with soft grey carpet like the rest of the house, "It's the first bedroom to your left. One or two people can share it because we have a queen sized bed in there."
She then pointed to the basement which the stairs that led to it also had soft grey carpet, "Down there is Wyatt's "Man Cave". One or two of you can sleep on the big couch that's down there and it's very comfortable."
The five friends then followed her just down the hallway to a spacious living room with a couch with a plaid pattern, a brown recliner, a glass coffee table and a big screen TV, "One or two of you can sleep on the couch here. Like the couch in my trailer in Valdez, this one is also a pullout bed. It's very comfortable. Wyatt and I slept on it when we first bought this house. Now, we have a nice king sized bed upstairs so, we just let guests sleep on this or the bed upstairs, or on the couch downstairs."
Sandy then turned around and clapped her hands together and decided to change the subject for a moment, "So, are you guys hungry?"
Jasmine and Koenma felt their stomachs rumble as did Koashura, Kotennyo and Genkai and they all nodded with Koenma saying, "Yeah, we haven't eaten anything since we were in Los Angeles."
Sandy crossed her arms over her chest, "I thought so. How about I order us three pizzas tonight? How does that sound? Would you guys like breadsticks, cheesy bread and a dessert pizza too?"
Hearing the dessert pizza, Koenma's ears perked up and he nodded eagerly, "Yeah, what's a dessert pizza? It's sounds delicious."
Jasmine giggled at how cute she thought her royal lover was being right now and responded, "A dessert pizza is a pizza but, instead of having cheese, tomato sauce, veggies and meat, it has frosting and whatever dessert toppings like candy such as gummy worms, gummy bears, M&Ms, Skittles or any kind of cookies like crushed Oreo cookies, Chips-Ahoy, or other cookies, and whatever kind of dessert toppings you want on it all put on a graham cracker cookie crust."
The prince smiled, "That sounds awesome. I want that."
Sandy laughed and said, "You have quite the sweet tooth huh?"
Koenma nodded, "Yes I do. I love all desserts with the exception of carrot cake. The kind of thing doesn't make sense to me at all."
Genkai chuckled at the prince's words, "I don't see what's so bad about it. I really like it."
Koenma shifted his attention to his longtime friend, "It's fine that you do, everyone's tastes buds are different but, I just can't stand it."
The small elderly psychic chuckled at her royal friend's comment and Sandy interjected, "So what pizza toppings do you all like best?"
The five friends thought about it for a minute and Koashura responded, "Actually, we're cool with whatever."
The young imp demon smiled, "Great, how do meat lovers, vegetarian, and a plain cheese with cheesy bread, bread sticks and a dessert pizza sound?"
"That sounds great, thank you Sandy." Jasmine interjected and the young imp demon gave her childhood friend a sweet smile and said, "Awesome, I'll go order our dinner while you guys decide on which ever room you guys would like to stay in."
She then walked over to the kitchen to call the nearest pizzeria to order their dinner leaving the five friends alone to discuss on where they were going to sleep. Koenma was the first to ask, "So, who wants to sleep where? I'm okay either way."
Before anyone else could say anything, Koashura interjected, "Kotennyo and I get dibs on the basement "Man Cave". Man, I want my own "Man Cave" but sadly, living in an apartment doesn't allow for such a thing."
Kotennyo chuckled at her lover's words, "You have been saying that since we started dating. Koashura, I promise when we buy our house, you'll get your "Man Cave"."
The young redheaded god gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Yep, like how you will get your own private art room for all of your projects."
Koenma, Jasmine, and Genkai shook their heads and chuckled at how adorable the couple in front of them was being and the elderly psychic said, "I think I'll be fine sleeping on the pullout bed in here. Hell, Toguro and I slept on those or on the floor for years until we got a real bed."
The prince smiled at Genkai, "Okay, as long as you're comfortable." Shifting his attention to Jasmine, he added, "I guess you and I get the guest room upstairs."
"We sure do. Would you like to put our stuff up there while we're waiting for our dinner?"
Koenma nodded, "Sure."
He and Jasmine then climbed up the stairs hauling their luggage to the guest room while Koashura and Kotennyo did the same thing heading downstairs to the furbished basement.
Sitting her purple flowery backpack and black and white handbag on the bed, Jasmine sweetly smiled at Koenma, "Do you want to make love tonight?"
Opening up his suitcase and laying out his flannel pajamas, Koenma looked up at her and shrugged his broad shoulders, "Sure, if we're not too exhausted. I hope we aren't because, I really want to."
Jasmine opened up her suitcase too and withdrew her red satin nightdress and laid it out
on the bed, "If not, we can just cuddle. Oh, I almost forgot to ask, would you like to go get our rental car with me tomorrow?"
Koenma thought about it for a minute and nodded, "Sure." The lovers then leaned over the bed and gave each other a quick kiss and parted seconds later. Jasmine then opened up her purse and withdrew her lover's pacifier and removed the handkerchief that covered it, "Here, since we're not going anywhere tonight, why don't you store some of your energy for the Mafukan again?"
She handed the round blue object to him and Koenma held onto it and slipped it into his pocket, "I'll put it in when we go to bed tonight."
Looking at his loving human psychic girlfriend and seeing the look on her face, he chuckled thinking she couldn't be any cuter right now, "My queen, I'll be fine. Why don't we go back downstairs, socialize and enjoy our dinner?"
Jasmine sweetly giggled, "Okay, as long as you get to store your energy. You know I love you and have your best interests at heart?"
"Yes and I appreciate it."
They shared another deep and passionate kiss. They both moaned as they held each other close as their tongues caressing each other's. The lovers then parted and walked downstairs to join the other house occupants for dinner. The five guests of Sandy's and Wyatt's house enjoyed their meal and dessert.
The seven house occupants stayed up late either talking, watching movies, playing pool in Wyatt's "Man Cave" on his pool table or playing cards in the kitchen. They had a good time and wound up staying up until 3AM. As a result, Koenma and Jasmine were too exhausted to make love but, wound up cuddling and talking until they fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Koenma was woken up from the smell of bacon, eggs, and pancakes wafting in the air. The young prince opened his brown eyes and yawned, stretching his long arms in the air. He rolled over on his right side and looked at the alarm clock sitting on the wooden nightstand. Seeing that it was 9AM, he sat up and looked over at his other side to see that Jasmine wasn't there.
Koenma removed the blanket that covered his body and climbed out of the soft queen sized bed. Wearing his flannel pajamas with his brown hair sticking up everywhere and his blue pacifier in his mouth, he walked over to the bedroom doorway which the door was left open and walked downstairs.
Hearing Jasmine's, Genkai's, and Sandy's voices, Koenma walked into the kitchen and yawned again greeting the three women, "Good morning ladies."
Jasmine, Genkai, and Sandy shifted their attention to the young prince and they all greeted him with a friendly smile. Jasmine was the first to say something, "Good morning my prince. Sleep well?"
Still waking up, Koenma nodded, "Yes my queen. What time did you, Genkai, and Sandy wake up?"
The young psychic sipped from her apple juice and replied, "I woke up at eight and so did Genkai. Sandy on the other hand, was up before any of us as was Wyatt. Koashura and Kotennyo are still asleep."
Sandy got up to flip another pancake and added, "Wyatt and I woke up around seven and we went out to get some groceries to make some breakfast for you guys. Our kitchen was too barren last night to make dinner for everyone and that's why I decided to order pizza. I hope you guys are hungry because, I am making a lot."
Koenma sat down next to Jasmine at the kitchen table and feeling his stomach rumble, he nodded, "Yes, I am and I'm also a bit thirsty, do you have any orange juice?"
Sandy slipped a couple pieces of bacon onto a plate with a paper towel to let the grease drain from it, "Yes, I do. I have a carton in the fridge and several drinking glasses in the cupboard next to it. Help yourself."
Koenma then got up from his place and walked over to the fridge, opened it to find the orange juice carton and grabbed it, shutting the refrigerator door behind him. He then opened up the cupboard door next to it and grabbed a clean glass. Koenma sat back down next to Jasmine at the table and poured himself a glass of orange juice.
Seconds later, Sandy was finally finished with preparing everyone's breakfast and the currently awake kitchen occupants began to serve themselves. They sat there eating in silence for a few minutes until Genkai broke the ice, "So Sandy, are you going to Valdez with us today?"
The young imp demon shook her head and washed her eggs down with her orange juice, "Nope, I haven't been back there since Christmas and after the recent incident that happened there four months ago, I haven't had the desire to go back."
After taking another sip of orange juice, she then said to Jasmine, "Speaking of, Jas, Hiroshi heard that you're going to be here until this afternoon and he said he wanted to see you."
Jasmine finished off her eggs and washed them down with her apple juice and replied, "Sure, where exactly is he staying at? Koenma and I can swing by to chat with him after we get our rental car."
"He just bought a trailer at the trailer park down the highway two months ago after living in his boat being here for the first couple of months. He lives in lot 2F. Wyatt and I helped him move in. It's a fairly decent place, nothing fancy but, still decent."
Genkai then finished off her meal and offered after gulping down the rest of her milk, "Do you mind if I can go with you guys? Just in case you need backup if you bump into trouble?"
Koenma and Jasmine thought about it for a moment and they both nodded. Koenma then replied to his longtime friend, "Sure, why not? I don't mind the extra protection. Speaking of, should we wake up Koashura and Kotennyo?"
Jasmine gulped down the last of her apple juice and shook her head, "No, it'll be best to let them sleep. Koashura is not that cranky when you wake him up, he's just a walking zombie more than anything. But Kotennyo, well…she gets really bitchy and even threatens to kick your ass sometimes if you bother her."
Koenma chuckled as his childhood memories of the sleepovers he and Koashura had when they were in Spirit World Kindergarten came flooding back to him, "Yeah, I remember how Koashura is but, had no clue about Kotennyo. Thank you for telling me."
The young demon hunter winked at her lover flirtatiously, "Anything for you my prince."
After taking a shower and getting dressed, about an hour later, Koenma, Jasmine and Genkai were dropped off at the rental car place by Sandy and said that she would see them at lunch after she was finished paying off some bills with Wyatt.
Once getting the keys, the prince and the two psychic women hopped into the spacious jeep for the group of five for their six to seven hour long road trip. Genkai sat in the middle row while Koenma and Jasmine sat up front with Jasmine driving and Koenma seated in the passenger side.
Koenma unfolded the piece of paper that had Sandy's handwritten directions on how to get to Hiroshi's trailer and handed it to Jasmine. The young demon hunter read the directions after starting up the car and put the piece of paper down. They drove down the road for about fifteen minutes until they approached a trailer park, like Sandy's house, was surrounded by a thick brush and a forest of spruce trees.
Jasmine, Koenma and Genkai kept a close eye out for lot 2F as Jasmine drove the rental jeep into the trailer park. She slowly crept along the dirt roads of the trailer court until Koenma spotted it, "Jasmine, I found it."
"Where do you see it?"
Koenma pointed to a nice looking white trailer with brown shutters and a black door, "Right there my queen."
Looking over to where her prince was pointing at, Jasmine saw it and smiled. She drove the rental jeep up the gravel driveway and parked the vehicle next to a blue pickup truck. She leaned over and kissed her lover on the cheek making him blush pink, "You have a good eye."
Koenma giggled like a complete dork, "Thank you."
Genkai chuckled and shook her head at the adorable sight in front of her. The trio then unbuckled their seatbelts and stepped out of the rental jeep. Jasmine locked it and she, Koenma and Genkai walked up the porch steps. The young demon hunter knocked on the outer screen door and the trio only waited less than a minute before they heard footsteps from inside the trailer.
The inner door opened to reveal a demon with pointed ears, purple skin, and long black hair that Jasmine instantly recognized as her childhood friend and friend of the McAlpin Family, Hiroshi the salmon eating demon.
Looking through the screen door, Hiroshi gave Jasmine a friendly smile in greeting, "Hey there little lady." He then opened the door, "Come in. Oh hello your highness, it's a pleasure to see you again."
Koenma gave the demon man a curt nod, "Likewise Hiroshi."
Koenma, Jasmine, and Genkai followed the demon into the trailer and Hiroshi shut both doors behind him. The four trailer occupants sat down on the plaid furniture in the living room and Hiroshi picked up the TV remote and turned off his small television set.
Eying Genkai, he gave her a curious look and asked Jasmine, "Jasmine, who's this? Is she one of your father's relatives but, I don't really see how because she looks like comes from Eastern Asia."
Jasmine chuckled at the purple demon's assumption, "No, she's not a relative. Hiroshi, this is my friend and mentor Genkai. She's been helping me polish up my fighting and healing and pain relief techniques."
Hiroshi gave Genkai a friendly smile, "Nice to me you Genkai. Are you the same Genkai that's the famous demon slayer from Japan?"
Genkai nodded, "Yes sir, I am. Why?"
The friendly demon shrugged his shoulders, "No reason other than hearing about how Jasmine has been talking about you to Sandy and then Sandy told me." Deciding to change the subject, he then asked his three guests, "Would you guys like anything to drink or snack on? I just smoked some salmon in my new smoker I have out back and I
have plenty of drinks like juice, bottled water, beer, milk, and soda in the fridge."
Jasmine sweetly smiled, "I'll just have some water. Koenma? Genkai?"
Koenma reached into his pocket and took out his pacifier and slipped it into his mouth, "Do you have any chocolate milk?"
Hiroshi nodded, "Yes, I do. What about you Madam Genkai?"
Genkai sat there for a minute and thought about it and responded, "I'll have a bottled water too."
Hiroshi got up from the recliner he was sitting on and walked over to the refrigerator in his kitchen and grabbed two bottled waters and two pints of chocolate milk. He walked back into the living room and handed Koenma, Jasmine, and Genkai their drinks and asked, "Would you guys like some salmon to snack on?"
Jasmine shook her head and said politely, "No thank you. Sandy made us a big breakfast and we're still full from it."
The friendly purple demon nodded and smiled with understanding and sat down on his recliner. While the four trailer occupants took a sip from their drinks, Jasmine broke the ice, "How are you? How have you been adjusting to Anchorage?"
Hiroshi sipped from his chocolate milk and replied, "It's been quite the adjustment but, Sandy and Wyatt have been doing a great job helping me feel at home here."
"How so?"
Hiroshi sipped from his chocolate milk again, "They helped me find work as a janitor at the Dimond Center Mall and I still do menial work on the local tourist sites making them look pretty for human, demon, and whatever tourists come here to visit. I lived on my boat for the first couple of months and after saving some money and getting help from Sandy and Wyatt, I bought this trailer at a pretty reasonable price. My boat is currently tied up at the docks and Wyatt and I go fishing on it quite a bit. One thing I miss about Valdez is how much fish I can catch on my boat there. Hell, I can catch a lot here too but, not like in Valdez."
He sighed and took a small sip from his chocolate milk again, "All because of that masked son of a bitch, I'm afraid to go back there and now I can't participate in this year's annual fish derby."
Koenma, Jasmine, and Genkai all sat there on the couch feeling sympathy for the purple demon and hearing about the mysterious masked man again, Jasmine then said, "I'm so sorry Hiroshi but, I'm glad to hear that you're doing well here in Anchorage."
The young demon hunter took a sip from her water and before she could ask him, Koenma did, "How's Jasmine's Aunt Demetra? Is she still in the hospital?"
Finishing off his pint of chocolate milk, Hiroshi shook his head, "Nope, she was released and Demetrius and Lydia took her back to Valdez two weeks ago. I thought Jasmine told you because she heard it from Sandy."
Koenma shifted his attention to his lover, "No she didn't."
Feeling guilty for her mistake, Jasmine bopped herself on the head, "Oh shit, Koenma I'm so sorry about that. I meant to tell you a week ago after our…"fun alone time" but, I completely forgot."
The prince smiled behind his pacifier, "That's alright my queen. I'm not mad. I had a lot on my mind too." He removed his pacifier and kissed her on the cheek making Jasmine's pale freckled cheeks blush pink.
Genkai and Hiroshi both chuckled at how adorable they thought the couple in front of them was and Hiroshi decided to ask the young psychic, "What's been going on with you and Koenma? How are medical school and the family?"
Jasmine sipped from her water and replied, "Great, my sister just graduated from Sarayashiki University with her Master's in elementary education, married her wonderful fiancé Raito Akashi and she just recently got a job at a private elementary school as a preschool teacher. My parents are doing well and my brother is doing awesome with his job in Kyoto, and med school is going great. As for Koenma, he's been really going through a hard time lately."
Hiroshi blinked his beetle black eyes and asked with a blank expression on his purple face, "How come?"
Koenma stared at his small chocolate milk carton and began to suck on his pacifier nervously as his anxiety began to shoot up thinking about when he found out about the crimes his father has committed. Jasmine gently took his hand in comfort and Genkai softly patted his back in an effort, to comfort her longtime friend as well.
Gazing at the scene in front of him and seeing the young prince's reactions, Hiroshi began to feel concern for Koenma and asked, "Lord Koenma, are you alright? Do you want to talk about it? If you feel comfortable doing so, Sandy and Wyatt are really the only two people I would tell or I'll just keep it quiet. I'm usually very good at keeping my mouth shut when it comes to other people's secrets."
Koenma looked over at Jasmine and Genkai and his lover gave him a reassuring nod, "He is, Koenma. When Hiroshi promises something, he usually keeps it. You can trust him, like, me, Genkai, Sandy, Jorge, Koashura, Kotennyo, Shunjun, and Team Urameshi."
Koenma sighed once more and stared at his small chocolate milk carton, "I found out about who's behind the demon kidnappings, disappearances, and brainwashings with not only demons from Valdez but, in Spirit World, Demon World, and in the Mushiori City Area. I found files on the some demons being targeted and you, Sandy, and Kalem are targets. It's good that you and Sandy are here but, poor Kalem. Also, I found files on the three demon members of Team Urameshi and the ones that were did on my childhood friends and Jasmine's college friends Koashura and Kotennyo. But, those ones were just bounties ordering for them to be assassinated."
Hiroshi was now feeling anxious and beginning to feel an awful feeling in the pit of his stomach from hearing that revelation and asked the young prince, "Who is it? Even though I have an idea of who it is, I just want to be sure."
Still looking at his milk carton, Koenma replied honestly, "It's my father. I still can't believe it. Since I found out, I haven't been able to speak to him at all nor even looking him in the eye. Don't get me wrong, I still love him because, he's my dad but, I am so disgusted by him right now."
He looked up to see the look on Hiroshi's face and seeing that the purple demon didn't seem to look too surprised from what he told him, Koenma then began to get the feeling that Hiroshi may have already knew. The young prince then asked him, "Hiroshi, you already know?"
Hiroshi held onto his empty chocolate milk carton and crushed it in his purple hands. He took a deep breath and nodded, "Yeah, I knew he was somehow involved for the last seventeen years since I escaped from Spirit World but now, after what you said, it confirms it. Like the Larsons, I used to live there too up until I got arrested for no apparent reason at all. I don't remember what the phony charge was but, I remember I struggled with those SDF guys knowing I didn't do anything wrong and one of them hit me on the head and knocked me out. I woke up in Spirit World Jail the next day with a splitting headache."
He paused and then looked out the window that was beside the recliner and stared at a large male moose with big antlers walking around in his backyard and continued, "Not long after that or more like a few weeks later, I was brought into a dark room and tied to a chair. The details of what happened there are a bit hazy but, I remember when your dad came in with someone else, I can't remember his face at all because it was so dark. I had no idea what they were doing to me but, I remember I blacked out a few times and kept waking up. King Yama and that other bastard seemed to get more and more frustrated with me for some reason and I remember broke out of my bonds. That's when I decided to make a break for it."
Still staring at the moose who now sat down on the grass to sit in the sun, Hiroshi's hands began to shake while still holding the crushed milk carton, "The next thing I remember, I was running while I was being chased by a few defense force soldiers until for some reason, a gateway to the Human World opened. To this day, I still don't know who opened it but, I knew I didn't have much time until it closed so, I jumped through and it immediately sealed shut behind me."
He tore his eyes away from the moose that sat outside his window and shifted his
attention back to Jasmine, Koenma, and Genkai and continued with his story, "After the gateway sealed, I had no idea where I was. I looked around to see that everything was dark and I was sitting on something soft. I remember I could only see a little sliver of light in front of me and I had no idea how to get out of where I was. Then I heard the voice of a little girl on the other side and I called out to her."
Jasmine finished off her water and continued the story, "Yeah, I was that little four year old girl. For some silly reason, that gateway threw him into mine and my sister's closet when we were still living in my parents' old house on Lowe Street and I opened my closet doors and Hiroshi came tumbling out with mine and Caroline's stuffed animals."
Koenma and Genkai stared at Jasmine and Hiroshi and the small elderly psychic asked, "Was he your first demon encounter?"
Jasmine nodded, "Yeah, yeah he was. I will never forget the scared look on his face when he looked up at me."
Hiroshi chuckled, "Well you did have that pink Barbie car raised like you were going to hit me with it."
All four living room occupants laughed and after regaining their composure, Koenma then asked his lover and the purple demon, "What happened after that? Did your mom try to kill him?"
Jasmine shook her head, "No but, my dad did try to attack him with a broomstick when we were in the kitchen. Hiroshi didn't have anything to eat in weeks and when he told me that he feeds on the flesh of any kind of salmon, I brought him to the kitchen so I can give him some that my dad made for dinner the previous night. Dad did back down when I explained to him what was going on and Hiroshi proving that he is harmless to humans."
Hiroshi set his crushed milk carton down on the wooden coffee table and added, "Yeah, when Janine came home with Niles and Caroline, she was confused as to why I was there and William and Jasmine explained to her what was going on. I also explained in explicit detail about my escape from Spirit World and how I ended up in her daughters' bedroom closet." He then smiled at the pleasant memory and remarked, "Janine is a wonderful woman, hell, all of the members of the McAlpin Clan are. I am forever grateful that they fought tooth and nail for me to have a second chance to live a good life."
The purple demon then decided to slightly change the subject, "Speaking of, if it wasn't for Jasmine's cousins, Julia and Wendy, I probably wouldn't be here talking to you guys right now. I have to warn you guys that things are getting very rough for not only demons but, for the humans in Valdez too."
Koenma, Genkai, and Jasmine gave Hiroshi blank stares and the young prince asked him with genuine curiosity, "Why? Does it have anything to do with McAlpin Clan?"
Hiroshi nodded, "Yeah, I kind of have an idea why."
Seeing him clench his purple hands into tight fists from his anxiety building once more, Jasmine really wanted him to tell them more, "Hiroshi, what is it?"
He took a deep breath and deciding to be honest, he replied, "I know how you guys said that you're not even involved with Spirit World? I kind of feel like that masked bastard from there is trying to get the town's demons and I mean the good demons to not only turn against them but, to possibly kill them or drive them all out of Valdez."
Jasmine, Koenma, and Genkai just sat there stunned and Koenma and Genkai looked over at Jasmine and seeing the color drain from her lovely pale face, they began to not only feel concern and sympathy for Hiroshi but, also for Jasmine and the rest of her family that still resided in the small Alaskan harbor town.
They then sat there for another hour while Hiroshi explained about the recent battle that took place in Valdez back in March in explicit detail. Jasmine, Koenma, and Genkai all felt sick to their stomachs of learning of the horrific details especially one of when the mysterious masked man tried to murder Jasmine's Aunt Demetra. After staying and talking with Hiroshi some more for another hour and a half afterwards, Jasmine, Koenma, and Genkai soon left the trailer after bidding Hiroshi goodbye and to have a good afternoon and evening. Just before getting in the rental jeep, Hiroshi warned the trio to be careful once they were to get to Valdez.
They soon arrived back to Sandy's house ten minutes later and upon entering the residence, they were greeted by Koashura and Kotennyo who were now awake. They tore their eyes away from the TV and greeted them, "Hey Jas, how was your visit with your demon friend?" Kotennyo asked.
The young demon hunter, Koenma, and Genkai sat down on the couch and Jasmine replied in a monotone voice, "Great."
Seeing the looks on all three of their friends' faces, Koashura and Kotennyo both began to get the feeling that something may be bothering them. Koashura turned off the TV and he and Kotennyo sat down the chairs next to the couch and Koashura broke the ice, "What's going on? It seems like you guys are bothered by something."
Genkai just silently sat there staring at her wrinkle hands placed on her lap. Koenma just let out a loud sigh while Jasmine just stared off into space still thinking about what Hiroshi had told her.
Seeing that, Koenma gently took his lover's hand to comfort her, "Jasmine, do you want me to tell them?"
Not looking at him but, gently squeezing his hand, she nodded. Koenma removed his pacifier, slipped it into his pocket and softly kissed her cheek. While still holding Jasmine's hand, he then shifted his attention to Koashura and Kotennyo, "We don't mean to ruin this vacation but, I'm afraid that when all five of us get to Valdez, there is a very good chance that we could possibly bump into trouble while we're there."
Giving their former classmate and friend curious looks, Kotennyo was the first to ask, "What kind of trouble?"
"Is it anything to do with another assassin sent to kill you?" Koashura added.
The prince sighed and shrugged his broad shoulders, "I don't know but, we were warned about how that could be a possibility along with that masked bastard causing problems with Jasmine's family that live there."
With her free hand, Jasmine began to play with the purple and pink locket around her slender neck that Koenma gave her on Valentine's Day, "I don't know why Spirit World is doing what they are doing in my hometown but, I have been getting my own suspicions about it. As far as I'm concerned, they are breaking the treaty that they made with my family and they have been doing it since it was enacted seventy years ago."
Seeing that Koenma and Jasmine were beginning to feel more and more anxious and depressed by this topic, Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo really wanted to do something to take their minds off of it. They thought about for a minute until Genkai had a great idea pop into her head and she suggested, "Why don't we just drop this for now and go do something fun before we start heading out to Valdez? Jasmine, didn't you take Koenma to one of the malls here during your winter vacation?"
Jasmine nodded, "Yeah I did. Why do you ask?"
The elderly psychic gave her a small smile and then suggested, "Well, why don't us along with Sandy and Wyatt and go to the mall you and Koenma went to and have lunch and hang out there before we leave?"
Koashura and Kotennyo both smiled adoring the idea and the young goddess chimed in, "Yeah that sounds like a great idea. I have been dying to go there since you and Koenma showed us the pictures."
Still playing with her locket, Jasmine smiled and nodded, "Yeah sure, why not?"
Just then, Sandy and Wyatt emerged from Wyatt's basement "Man Cave" with Sandy carrying a basket full of clean laundry and Jasmine shifted her attention to the imp demon woman, "Hey Sandy."
Sandy sat down on the recliner and set the laundry basket on the floor in front of her so she can fold her clean laundry, "Yeah?"
The young psychic let go of her locket and asked her childhood friend, "All of us are going to go to the Dimond Center Mall for lunch and to have some fun before we get out on the road to Valdez; Do you and Wyatt want to go with us?"
Folding a pair of blue jeans and setting them down on her glass coffee table, Sandy replied, "Sure, I would love to. What about you Wyatt?"
Wyatt walked out of the kitchen and back into the living room sipping on a hot cup of coffee, "Yeah that sounds like fun. Count me in."
The five house guests smiled and Jasmine then said, "Before we do all that, Koenma, Genkai, Koashura, Kotennyo, we need to pack up our belongings and put our bags in the back of the rental car. It's outside on the driveway."
The seven house occupants then began to talk about their plans on what they would like to do at the mall for the next ten minutes. After packing up all their belongings, Koenma, Jasmine, Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo loaded up their luggage into the back of the spacious rental jeep and piled into the vehicle with Jasmine and Koenma sitting up front, Genkai in the middle row and Koashura and Kotennyo sitting in the back while Sandy and Wyatt hopped into the ordinary human man's truck and proceeded to drive to the Dimond Center Mall to have lunch and hang out there for the next couple of hours before the group of five were to head out to Valdez.
When they finished enjoying their meal of sub sandwiches, chips, and a chocolate chip cookie from the sub shop in the mall's food court, the one imp demon, three gods, two psychics, and one ordinary human made their way to the arcade on the first floor.
Genkai kicked everyone's asses at most of the video games with Sandy proving to be the only one who came close to being sort of a challenge to her. They were now playing one of the virtual racing games and were now nearing the finish line.
Koenma and Jasmine were watching them and seeing that Genkai and Sandy were neck in neck with each other, they couldn't tell who was going to win this one. The lovers didn't know who to cheer for but, just watched with pure interest to see who was going to win.
Even though Sandy was doing her best to beat Genkai, the elderly psychic still crossed the finish line first and won the virtual race. Sandy sighed and got up from the seat of the racing machine, "I almost got her. Does anyone else want to take a crack at it?"
Jasmine and Koenma looked at each other and shifted their attention back to the young imp demon, "No, I think I'll pass. Genkai is unbeatable when you play against her at any video game. What about you my queen?"
Jasmine giggled like a schoolgirl and shook her head, "Nah, she's already kicked my ass with Mortal Kombat."
Genkai also got up from her seat and asked the lovers and Sandy, "So what do you want to do now?"
Looking at their cups that contained their arcade tokens, Koenma then replied, "Well, since we still have a lot of tokens left, do you want to join Wyatt, Koashura, and Kotennyo at the air hockey table?"
The three women nodded and Sandy chuckled, "Yeah but, I think Jasmine's college buddies are kicking my fiancé's butt."
Looking over to the air hockey table, Koashura had scored a goal which determined that he won the game against Wyatt. Walking over to join them, Sandy giggled at her ordinary human fiancé's loss, "Lost another one?"
Wyatt put down the plastic utensil and nodded, "Yeah. Does anyone want to take my place?"
Koenma formed a devilish smirk on his handsome face, "Let me take a whack at it."
Wyatt handed Koenma the plastic utensil and Koashura and Koenma just looked at each other with blank expressions and the redhead remarked, "You better not kick my ass this time."
The prince chuckled, "No promises."
The two young gods who are childhood friends soon gotten started on their air hockey game with Koashura hitting the plastic puck first. He and Koenma continued to hit it back and forth to each other until Koenma hit it into Koashura's goal.
Koenma raised his long arms up into the air, "Whoo hoo! Who's awesome? I am!"
Koashura rolled his red eyes, "We'll see about that."
"Bring it on!"
Jasmine giggled like a schoolgirl at her lover's cockiness while Sandy, Genkai, and Wyatt shook their heads. Kotennyo on the other hand suggested to her handsome lover, "Koashura, if Junior Dumbass gives you too hard of a time, let me step in."
Koashura chuckled at his girlfriend's words, "Thanks Kotennyo but, I think I'll be okay for right now."
Koenma didn't say anything to Kotennyo for calling him "Junior Dumbass" but, rolled his eyes instead. He and Koashura began to hit the plastic puck back and forth to each other again and after having a close call, Koenma hit it into Koashura's goal again. The young redheaded god sighed and he and Koenma went for another couple of rounds until Koenma scored a few more goals on him.
The prince then raised his long arms in the air again and did a stupid victory dance, "Whoooo! Yeah! I'm kicking so much ass!"
Koashura let out a loud sigh in annoyance and Kotennyo tapped him on the shoulder, "Are you ready to throw in the towel now?"
He nodded and gave Kotennyo the plastic tool to hit the puck with and the young goddess took her boyfriend's place. She slipped her game tokens into the token slot and Koenma said to his ex, very cocky, "Ready for a repeat of Spirit World Kindergarten of when I kicked your ass at every game possible."
Kotennyo narrowed her brown eyes at him, "At least I got to kick your ass for real during gym class. Remember how much fun that was Koenma?"
The prince shot her a death glare, "You're going down."
"Bring it Binky Boy."
"Fine I will Big Boobs McGee."
Koenma and Kotennyo then began their game of air hockey hitting the plastic puck back and forth to each other. When Koenma thought he almost had Kotennyo, he hit the puck towards her goal but, she retaliated by hitting it and it landed in his instead. Koenma stood there stunned and he looked over at Kotennyo who started to laugh, "Who's awesome now, dumbass?"
"Oh screw you bitch."
They continued for another five minutes or so until Koenma grew more and more frustrated by Kotennyo's winning streak by the minute. He then groaned in slight irritation after putting in his last game token and felt someone gently tap him on his broad shoulder. Koenma turned around and was pleasantly greeted by his loving human psychic girlfriend. Jasmine gave him a sweet smile flashing her slightly crooked teeth, "Why don't I take over for you my prince?"
Koenma returned the smile and nodded, "Yes my queen." He handed her the plastic tool and Jasmine gave Kotennyo a wicked smile. Kotennyo on the other hand just gave her a blank stare. The two girls then got started on their air hockey game.
Ten to fifteen minutes and many game tokens later, Jasmine and Kotennyo seemed like they were neck and neck in their game. Everyone else in their group didn't know who was going to win at this point but, that was until Jasmine scored the final point of the game, "Goal!"
Kotennyo chuckled and put down the plastic utensil and now that she was out of game tokens, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave her human friend a warm smile, "Well, you beat me. I admit it was a very good game."
Jasmine set her plastic utensil down too and being out of her game tokens herself she replied, "Yeah it was." She then checked her watch and asked, "Well, since we have only an hour before we have to get on the road to Valdez, what do you guys want to do now?"
Genkai shrugged her small shoulders, "I kind of wanted to go look around in some of the shops of this building. What about you guys?"
Koenma put his hand on his chin and shrugged his broad shoulders, "You know, I don't mind doing that but, I wanted to go ice skating with Jasmine."
Jasmine smiled, "I would love to Koenma."
The group of seven then agreed to split off a little bit so Koenma and Jasmine could go ice skating on the mall's ice rink for thirty minutes while everyone else decided to look around in some of the stores. They all agreed to meet at the local record store.
Koenma paid for the fee and he and Jasmine changed out of their shoes into the ice skates they rented. Getting out onto the ice rink, like back in December, Jasmine had trouble standing up straight. Seeing that, the prince chuckled at how adorable he thought she was and skated up to her.
He then offered his hand to her, "Here, let me help you my queen. You're still not steady on your feet yet."
Jasmine gladly took her lover's hand, "Thank you Koenma."
"It's no problem Jasmine. I love you."
"I love you too."
Helping her stand, Koenma leaned his head down and he and Jasmine shared a loving and deep kiss. They deepened it by slipping each other's tongues into each other's mouths and moaned from the deep love and closeness they were currently sharing. A minute later, they parted and gazed lovingly into each other's brown eyes and Koenma offered, "Would you like me to teach you again?"
Jasmine smiled and nodded, beaming happily, "Yes my prince." She kissed him on the cheek making him blush pink.
Koenma gave her a warm smile, "Okay, just follow me. Are you ready?"
The young demon hunter nodded, "Yes." Koenma gently took her hands in his and began to guide her.
After a minute, Jasmine began to feel her legs wobble once again feeling unsteady on her feet, "Oh shit, I'm going to fall."
Koenma chuckled and then offered some words of encouragement, "My queen, you're not going to fall. Trust me."
Gazing up into his eyes, Jasmine nodded still not very confident. After slowly skating around the ice rink to the song "Soon" by the band Moonpools and Caterpillars playing in the background for the next five minutes, Koenma then decided to suggest, "Are you comfortable turning around now? I promise I will be with you the whole way."
Looking up at him after looking at her feet to make sure she was keeping herself steady, Jasmine thought about it for a minute and nodded, "Sure."
"Okay, on the count of three, one…two…three."
Koenma then let go of Jasmine's hands as he tried to turn her around slowly. Jasmine then felt her legs begin to wobble again, "Oh no, Koenma, I'm going to fall again."
"You're not going to fall. Just relax, I got you."
Now facing away from her royal lover, Jasmine was about to fall backwards until Koenma caught her in his arms. She looked up at his handsome face and giggled like a schoolgirl and she said with a bright smile on her face, "I thought you said you weren't going to let me fall?"
Koenma chuckled in response, "I'm sorry Jasmine. I should have kept my promise."
Jasmine giggled again, "I'm just yanking your chain. It's fun to tease you sometimes my prince."
Both lovers then began to laugh at what she just said and Koenma said between giggles, "I know. I like joking around with you too." Finally regaining his composure and looking at the clock hanging on one of the mall's pillars and seeing that they had twenty minutes until they were to meet back up with the rest of the group, Koenma shifted his attention back to Jasmine and asked her, "Ready to try again?"
Jasmine gave him a sweet smile and nodded, "Yes my prince. I love you Koenma."
"I love you too Jasmine."
He slowly helped her stand upright once more and they began to skate around the ice rink again. They skated to various pop and rock songs playing in the background going around the mall's ice rink multiple times. Going past one of the shop windows, Koenma could see his and Jasmine's reflection and he smiled seeing her happy face beaming happily from him assisting her at this activity she's not even good at. Oh how he loved seeing his lover happy and smiling.
Twenty minutes had soon passed and the lovers got off the ice rink and changed back into their shoes and took the elevator up to the second floor. Koenma followed Jasmine to the record store, trying to keep up with her so he wouldn't get lost in the big spacious mall with multiple floors. Even though a display with a stuffed taxidermied brown bear caught his eye, luckily, Jasmine caught him in time and gently took his hand.
She giggled seeing his face, "Come on Koenma. I know the bear is cool but, you gotta stick close to me so you won't get lost."
Still looking at the bear, the prince chuckled, "Sorry about that. May I take a picture of it?"
Jasmine sweetly giggled, "Sure."
Koenma let go of her hand and reached into the pocket of his denim jacket and withdrew his camera. He snapped a picture of the bear and looked over at her, "Let me take one of you in front of it."
Even though they were going to be late meeting the rest of the group at the record store, Jasmine shrugged her shoulders and stood in front of the bear and brightly smiled as her loving boyfriend snapped a picture of her standing in front of it. Koenma then handed his camera to her and he stood in front of bear.
The young psychic started laughing as Koenma smiled a like a complete dork while flashing a peace sign as she snapped the picture. Handing his camera back to him, she asked, "Ready to head to the record store now?"
Koenma slipped it back into his pocket and nodded, "Yes my queen." Jasmine then offered her hand to him and he gladly took it. The young woman then guided him in the direction towards the record store and they arrived at their destination two minutes later.
Finding the rest of the group currently looking around in the pop music section, Koenma and Jasmine walked up to them. Genkai looked up from the CD she was holding, "Finally you guys got here. What took you guys so long?"
Jasmine began to giggle once more, "Koenma got distracted by the stuffed brown bear display that's outside of the frozen yogurt shop."
Genkai too began to laugh, "Koashura and Kotennyo were the same way on the way over here. Did you guys take pictures?"
From the rock section that was across from them, Koashura started cracking up and Kotennyo just smiled and replied, "What? That thing was cool and yes, Genkai took our pictures and Sandy snapped one for all three of us."
Jasmine picked up a CD and nodded, "Yeah Koenma and I did take pictures of each other in front of the bear."
After looking through the record store for the next thirty minutes, Koenma then reached into his pocket and took out his pocket watch. He opened it up and mentioned, "Guys, it's time. If we are going to get to Valdez before it gets dark, we gotta get on the road now."
Jasmine, Sandy, and Wyatt all started laughing at Koenma's words. Genkai and the three young gods wanted to know what the three Alaskans were laughing at and the small old psychic then asked them, "What's so funny?"
After regaining their composure, Jasmine then mentioned, "Since it's summer, the state of Alaska has long times for daylight than the rest of the United States or even Japan."
"Yeah, during the winter, it's complete opposite. Koenma, you wondered why it got dark earlier than in Japan, well this is why." Sandy interjected.
The prince then cutely scratched the back of his head, "Oh yeah, I remember Jasmine mentioning that. I guess I forgot. My queen didn't you tell me that up on that place called the North Slope that during the winter it's dark 24-7 and light for that amount of time during the summer?"
Jasmine gave him a sweet smile flashing her slightly crooked teeth and nodded, "Yes I did. I'm glad you remembered. Have you been reading that Alaska book again?"
Koenma nodded, "Yeah a little bit."
Looking at the clock hanging on one the mall's pillars, Sandy then sighed, "Well, you guys have a safe trip and please be careful once you're in Valdez."
She and Jasmine then gave each other a hug and the young demon hunter replied, "We'll try." The childhood friends broke their short embrace and Jasmine added, "Thank you for letting us stay with you guys."
"It was no problem. It was a pleasure to see you and Koenma again and it was great meeting you, Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo."
"It was nice meeting you as well Sandy." Genkai responded and Koashura and Kotennyo gave her curt nods in reply.
Looking over at Wyatt, Koenma said, "It was nice meeting you Wyatt. You and Sandy take care of yourselves."
The ordinary human man smiled, "It was a pleasure meeting you guys as well and right back at ya."
The five friends then bid Sandy and Wyatt goodbye and Genkai, Koashura, Kotennyo, and Koenma followed Jasmine out of the mall to the parking lot. Jasmine withdrew the keys from her purse as they approached the rental jeep and unlocked the vehicle.
She and Koenma hopped into the front with Jasmine sitting on the driver's side while Koenma sat down in the passenger's side. Genkai took her place in the middle row and Koashura and Kotennyo sat in the back. They all buckled up their seatbelts and Koenma turned on the radio to a station that played awesome pop and rock music that currently played "Sweet Dreams" from the Eurythmics.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, Koashura asked his Alaskan roommate, "Jasmine, where are we heading off to first?"
Driving through the streets of Anchorage looking for the nearest on-ramp to the freeway she replied, "The first town we are going to come across is Eagle River but, that's more of like a suburb of Anchorage. So, we are heading to Palmer which is an hour away. We are going to make a pit stop at a gas station to get snacks and drinks while I fill this jeep's gas tank. Also, if you all want to use the bathroom when we get there, that would be the time to do so because after that is nothing but small villages, open road and wilderness. The only bathrooms for miles are outhouses in the natural parks until we get to the Eureka Lodge on Eureka Pass."
Koenma then tapped Jasmine's shoulder and keeping an eye the road she asked her lover, "Yes Koenma?"
"I don't mean to be a nag but, can you get me my pacifier out of your purse. I think you forgot to give it to me."
Realizing her mistake, Jasmine took one hand off the steering wheel and bopped herself on her head, "Koenma I'm so sorry. Why don't you get it because, I'm driving and I have to keep an eye on the road. It's in the middle pocket where my billfold, address book, pens, and pen pad are. It's wrapped up in a handkerchief. Again, I'm so sorry my prince."
Picking up his lover's black and white handbag and setting it on his lap, he unzipped the middle pocket and reached inside for his pacifier, "That's okay Jasmine, I'm not mad. You were just thinking about the trip."
He then withdrew his wrapped up pacifier, removed the handkerchief and put it back into his lover's purse and zipped it up. Koenma slipped the blue object into his mouth and began to feed some more of his spirit energy into it.
Looking out the window and as Jasmine finally found the on-ramp to the freeway, Kotennyo then asked her human friend, "Did you call your grandparents before we left?"
Jasmine nodded, "Yes I did. I informed them that we won't be there until either nine or ten tonight."
Looking up from her book, Genkai asked her, "So this road trip is going to be at least six to seven hours?"
"Yes it is. Especially, since I know we are going to be making a few stops so you guys can take pictures of the many cool things on the way."
"What kind of cool things?"
"Well Genkai, we are going to be seeing the fair grounds of the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, the Matanuska Glacier that's two hours away, which I know Koenma is going to want to see it again. Also, there are some lakes like Weiner Lake and Long Lake, the Trans Alaska Pipeline when we cross over to the Richardson Highway at Glennallen, Keystone Canyon with their waterfalls and another glacier or two."
An hour later, they made it to the out skits of Palmer and Jasmine pulled up to the gas station. All five passengers hopped out of the vehicle and while Jasmine was filling up the rental jeep's gas tank, Koashura, Koenma, Kotennyo, and Genkai walked into the convenience store.
While Koenma was going around and putting snacks for himself and Jasmine into his shopping basket, he began to get odd stares from some of the ordinary human shoppers and even the convenience store clerk. Some began to whisper amongst themselves about how odd it was seeing a grown man with a blue pacifier in his mouth.
Hearing some of it, Koenma rolled his eyes and walked up to one of the refrigerators and grabbed himself a root beer, an apple juice for Jasmine and four bottle waters for the two them to share. Genkai walked up to the refrigerator next to her longtime friend and hearing the whispers herself, she sighed and grumbled to the prince, "Goddamn people can be annoying. I am so tempted to use my Spirit Wave on them."
Koenma chuckled in agreement at Genkai's words, "Don't give them the satisfaction. Plus, you might get in trouble or possibly get arrested for attempted murder. Just ignore them."
Genkai then grabbed one bottle of Coke, two bottles of water and an iced tea herself, "Don't worry Koenma, I'm not that stupid."
Closing the fridge doors, Koenma looked around, "I guess Koashura and Kotennyo already went back out to the car."
Genkai shrugged her shoulders, "I guess so."
They then approached the counter and the cashier, still giving Koenma a weird look then remarked, "Aren't you a little old to be sucking on that?"
Ignoring the ordinary human's comment, the prince rolled his eyes and paid for the snacks and drinks and made his way back out to the rental jeep. Finally finished filling the gas tank, Jasmine greeted him with a sweet smile and stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek, "I'm going to pay for the gas and we'll be on our way."
"Great. Is Koashura and Kotennyo out here?"
Jasmine nodded, "Yeah, they're in the car. Where's Genkai?"
Koenma looked around and looked back at the convenience store and groaned, "Oh no, I hope she didn't get mad at the cashier."
The young demon hunter stared at him with a blank expression, "Why?"
"That jerk human said something about my pacifier. Hell, some of the other ones in there did too."
Adjusting the black straps on her purse, Jasmine loudly exhaled and said, "Okay, I'll go get her. Just go have a seat and we'll be out of here in five minutes tops."
Removing his pacifier, Koenma gave her a quick kiss, "Okay, don't take too long. I really hope Genkai didn't do anything to that guy."
He then slipped his pacifier back into his mouth and got back into the passenger side of the jeep as Jasmine walked up to the convenience store to pay for the gas and praying that Genkai wasn't trying to beat the shit out of the ordinary human clerk for saying something about her lover's pacifier.
Upon entering the building, she was pleasantly surprised by what she came across instead. There was Genkai having a seemly nice chat with the ordinary convenience store clerk.
The man chuckled, "You know I had no idea. I apologize for what said to your grandson. I hope I didn't make him feel anxious for how rude I was to him."
Genkai gave him a warm friendly smile, "Nah, don't worry about it. He'll be fine, offended, but fine."
She then paid for her snacks and drinks and the store clerk then said, "Okay, I just hope so. Well anyway, you, him and his girlfriend have a safe trip to Valdez"
Genkai gave him a curt nod and replied, "We will. You have a nice evening."
She then turned around and was greeted by Jasmine who was standing behind her. The young psychic then asked, "What was going on?"
Genkai smiled and simply replied, "I'll tell you when you get out to the car."
The small old psychic walked out of the convenience store and Jasmine just laughed and shook her head. "Oh Genkai, you're something else." She said to herself.
Now that they were back on the road after making another stop to look at the fair grounds of the Alaska State Fair. Sadly, it wasn't due to be open for another couple of weeks so, the five friends just snapped a few pictures and hopped back into the rental jeep five minutes later after feeling slightly disappointed.
Continuing on the Glenn Highway, they were now approximately thirty-five minutes out of Palmer and nearly two hours away from Anchorage. Just like in December, the radio station Koenma and the rest of the rental jeep's passengers were listening to began to die out.
The young prince sighed and began to turn the dial looking for another station that wasn't static or talk radio and luckily, he found one. Koenma then began to sing along to the music on the new station as his beautifully enchanting voice filled the vehicle which made the other four passengers feel the warm effects of the magical properties of his voice. Ten minutes later, that station began to die out and once again, Koenma began to look for another station.
Sadly, he couldn't find one. Koenma groaned with disappointment and hearing that, Jasmine then asked, "Are you having trouble with the radio again Koenma?"
The prince nodded, "Yeah." Before Jasmine could suggest it, Koenma then remembered, and turned his head and asked Genkai, "Hey Genkai, could you pass me Jasmine's backpack?"
Genkai marked her page in her book and set it down on her lap. She picked up Jasmine's purple flowery backpack and handed it to Koenma, "Here you go."
"Thank you."
He opened it up and withdrew his lover's book of CDs, walkman CD player and the device needed to hook it up to the stereo. Koenma zipped it back up and handed it back to Genkai and the small elderly woman put it back on the seat next to her. Looking up from his magazine, Koashura eyed his childhood friend curiously and asked, "Hey Koenma, what are you doing?"
Hooking up the CD player to the stereo, he just simply replied, "Putting on some music."
Koenma then opened up Jasmine's book of CDs, slid one out, and then put in her "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack. Music once again filled the silent jeep when he pressed play. Fifteen minutes later, as they continued along the Glenn Highway, something caught Koenma's eye.
He looked out his window and his brown eyes grew wide gazing upon the Matanuska Glacier like he did seven months prior. It now wasn't surrounded by snow but, to Koenma, that lovely sheet of ice was just as beautiful as ever. He then shifted his attention to Jasmine who was currently focused on the road and he gently tapped her on her shoulder.
Knowing his reason for doing so, Jasmine sweetly giggled and said, "Hold on Koenma. I know you want to see the glacier."
The prince nodded, "Yes I do. Please don't miss it. Koashura, Kotennyo and Genkai might want to see it too."
"Relax my prince, just sit tight. I have a surprise for you all."
Still wanting to see the glacier, Koenma just stared at her with a confused look on his handsome face, "What is the surprise? We're not going to miss the glacier are we?"
Jasmine giggled at how cute she thought he was right now, "You'll see."
Driving down the highway another mile, Jasmine turned on her turn signal and turned off the paved road onto a gravel one. Feeling the bumpy road, Kotennyo woke up from her nap, "Wha..what's going on? Where are we? Are we in Valdez yet?"
Jasmine just laughed, "Nope, we still have about four to five hours to go. I just have a surprise I want to show you guys."
Koenma then looked around at their surrounds and seeing nothing but thick brush and a forest of spruce trees along with the bumpy dirt road they were on, he then began to ask his lover slightly whining, "Jasmine, what about the glacier? What if you drove passed it?"
Jasmine began to sigh getting a little annoyed with him, "Koenma just relax. I promise we didn't miss the glacier. It's not going anywhere. I promise."
"But Jasmine, the glacier…"
"Koenma! I thought I told you to relax! We are not going to miss it! Now shut up and
relax! I'm not going to tell you again!"
Koenma then crossed his arms over his chest and sat there in a huff a bit ticked off thinking that Jasmine had broken her promise and made them miss the Matanuska Glacier. Everyone sat there in silence and even Genkai didn't want to make the young Alaskan demon hunter angry seeing as how she kind of lost her temper with Koenma.
Five minutes later, Koenma began to notice that the spruce forest and the thick brush began to clear out. Then looking ahead, he brightly smiled at the beautiful sight they were approaching. Koashura, Kotennyo, and Genkai just sat there and stared ahead at what Koenma was looking at.
Finally out of the thick spruce forest, they pulled into a dirt clearing with wooden picnic tables and in front of them just several paces away was the Matanuska Glacier. Jasmine parked the rental jeep and unbuckled her seatbelt. She looked over at her loving boyfriend and seeing his happy smile form behind his blue pacifier staring at the lovely slowly moving sheet of ice in front of him, she smiled, "See? We weren't going to miss it."
Koenma tore his eyes away from the glacier, "Oh Jasmine my queen. This is wonderful, I'm sorry I was such a whiny brat."
Jasmine sweetly giggled, "It's okay. You still don't really know the area yet and it's understandable that you were concerned about it."
Without saying another word, Koenma removed his pacifier, unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over and kissed Jasmine deeply and lovingly. She responded by returning the same deep passion and deepened the kiss by slipping her tongue into his mouth earning a deep moan from him. The lovers then parted a minute later and cupping Jasmine's lovely face in his hands, Koenma then pressed their foreheads together and said in a low voice, "I love you Jasmine. You're so wonderful."
"I love you too Koenma."
They kissed each other deeply again and seeing them making out, Koashura, Kotennyo and Genkai all sighed in slight annoyance. Kotennyo then decided to interject, "Hey guys. Hey porn stars!"
Koenma and Jasmine parted and looked at their three friends blushing red and Jasmine then cleared her throat, "Sorry about that." She then looked at the jeep's clock and shifted her attention back to them, "Well, since it's a little after five, why don't we have a little snack picnic since we are not going to be having dinner until we get to the Eureka Lodge? And also, as a special treat, after we're finished snacking, we can go for a small hike on the glacier but, I have to tell you all that it's dangerous so, we have to be careful where we walk."
Genkai smiled adoring the idea, "Sounds great."
Koenma then turned off the CD player and set it down on the dashboard for right now and grabbed the drink and snack bag that contained his and Jasmine's snacks and drinks. All five passengers hopped out of the vehicle and sat down at the picnic table that was directly in front of the Matanuska Glacier. While they were snacking and chatting, the group of five could feel the cold air from the glacier blowing on them from the breeze that was currently blowing.
Taking a bite from his Slim Jim, Koashura asked his human friend, "So Jasmine, do you know where the safest hiking area is?"
Swallowing some original flavored Chex Mix and washing them down with her apple juice, she nodded, "Yep." Jasmine then pointed to an area that looked like a dirt and muddy path, "Right there. I only been one it a few times as a kid and once when I was thirteen but, I remember the safest area to hike. I'll show you guys in just a little bit."
When everyone felt satisfied with their small snack, they put the rest of the food and drink items back into the jeep and Koashura, Koenma, Kotennyo, and Genkai began to follow Jasmine up the trail she showed them.
"Stay close to me and don't wander off. Keep in mind, hiking on a glacier is very dangerous because there are places someone can easily fall into it and well, let's just say you're pretty much doomed if that happens. Those spaces are called crevasses so, be careful where you step."
Walking into some thick and sticky mud, Koenma almost lost his boot and catching up to his human lover, he asked her, "How much are we going to hike?"
Keeping an eye on her surroundings, Jasmine simply replied, "Not very much being we don't really have any hiking or ice climbing gear. If we did, we can explore more of the glacier."
Hearing her best friend's words, Kotennyo then decided to put in her two cents, "Um Jasmine, why don't we do what Koenma did back in December? You told us how he vanished and reappeared inside the glacier in an ice cave. Koashura and I can do that too but, we haven't in quite a while since we left Spirit World but, the only humans here are you and Genkai so, we know you two won't tell anyone."
Laughing at her forgetfulness, Jasmine responded, "Oh yeah. Okay, if you guys want to do that, sure, why the hell not?"
Keeping close to Jasmine, the three gods and Genkai began to hear a crunching sound as they walked. Koenma looked down to see some ice with dirt mixed into it and back at his lover, "Are we on the glacier now?"
Jasmine nodded, "Yep. Just be careful and stick close to me. If you guys want to take pictures, you can."
They then followed the Alaskan psychic across several metal planks that were put over small gaps in the ice and they with the exception of Jasmine herself, looked down to see some running water. Looking back up at her, Koashura then asked her, "Hey Jas, is the glacial melt safe to drink?"
Jasmine shrugged her small shoulders, "I don't know but, I wouldn't attempt it."
"Why not, my queen?"
Hearing her loving boyfriend's question, Jasmine giggled at how cute his curiosity was and replied, "Well Koenma, there are certain organisms that can live in cold environments such as glaciers and it wouldn't be wise to ingest any."
After walking for another minute or two, they all stopped to get a good glimpse at some of the white and bluish looking ice. They all began snapping pictures with their cameras and Genkai remarked, "Wow, this is gorgeous. I have never been up close and personal with a glacier before but, this is so worth it."
Koenma nodded in agreement, "I know right? Jasmine this is so cool and wonderful. Thank you for this."
The young demon hunter looked up at him and said, "Your very welcome my prince. I was glad to do this for you and everyone else."
They shared a small sweet kiss and immediately parted afterwards. When they felt they snapped enough pictures, Koashura, Kotennyo, Koenma, and Genkai followed Jasmine off the glacier and back onto the muddy trail. Arriving back to the picnic table area, they snapped more pictures of the glacier with each person standing front of it and even Koenma, Koashura, and Kotennyo vanishing and reappearing inside the glacier to take pictures and even brought Jasmine and Genkai in the ice cave with them.
When they felt they were satisfied, they all reappeared in front of the rental jeep. The group of five then climbed back into the vehicle and Koenma turned the music back on as Jasmine pulled out of the picnic area onto the dirt road that lead back to the highway.
A few minutes later, they were now back onto the Glenn Highway. Driving passed the Matanuska Glacier, Koenma thought it was a good idea to roll down his window and snap more pictures. The air blowing into the rental jeep caused the pages of Kotennyo's Cosmopolitan magazine to flip over onto the one she was currently reading. The young goddess then looked up and said to her ex, "Koenma can you shut that? I'm trying to read."
Putting down his camera, he sighed, "Okay, sorry about it." He then rolled up the window and put his camera away. Several minutes to an hour later, Jasmine's Dirty Dancing Soundtrack had reached its end and Koenma switched it out for one of her Madonna CDs. Music once again filled the rental jeep. Glancing out her window, Genkai noticed that they were now approaching a lake with a few lily pads floating on its crystal clear water surface. She then decided to ask the younger psychic who was still focused on the road ahead of them, "Hey Jasmine, which lake is this?"
Currently paying attention as she was driving down the winding road, Jasmine responded, "I'm glad you asked that Genkai. We are now approaching Long Lake. I'm going to make a quick pit stop here because there are outhouses so we can have a short bathroom break. Plus, I know Koenma is going to want to get up close and personal with the lake so he can take some pictures."
Less than a minute later, the rental jeep approached the dirt lot which also had a couple of picnic tables and a couple of red painted wooden outhouses that can be seen from behind the thick brush next to the lake. All five passengers hopped out of the vehicle to stretch their legs and ran over to the outhouses to use the restroom. A few minutes later Koenma, Jasmine, and Koashura stood in front of the lake and the redheaded god remarked, "Wow, this is one long ass lake. I guess it's why it's called "Long Lake"."
Both Koenma and Jasmine chuckled at Koashura's words and Jasmine responded, "You know I don't know how it got its name but, I guess you can say that it lives up to it."
Genkai and Kotennyo emerged from the outhouses and approached the rest of the group. Hearing their conversation, Kotennyo added trying to look down the lake to see the other side of it but, with little success, "I totally agree. Holy crap, I can't see the shoreline on the other side."
Jasmine chuckled and deciding to change the subject, she looked at her watch and said, "Well, we better get back on the road. If you're going to snap pictures, now is the time."
The other four members of the group nodded and snapped their photos of the lake and quickly piled back into the rental jeep getting back onto the highway. Several miles down the road later, the five friends were now approaching another lake which was smaller than Long Lake and had more lily pads floating on the water's surface.
Concentrating on the road ahead of her, Jasmine then said, "If you all look off to your right, this next lake is called Weiner Lake. But, be warned, it doesn't look like a hot dog like Koenma thought it would back in December."
The prince just sat there and pouted again, "Well, I am still a bit disappointed by it. But, it's still pretty."
Everyone in the jeep started cracking up and after laughing for a minute; they began to take pictures of Weiner Lake. Two to three hours and after having a good dinner at the Eureka Lodge later, they now approached the small town of Glennallen.
Jasmine pulled off into the gas station's parking lot and up to one of the gas pumps. Like in Palmer, she filled the gas tank while Koenma, Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo went inside to either use the bathroom or buy snacks and drinks. Inside the gas station convenience store, Koenma once again got odd stares and remarks from the ordinary humans talking about seeing a grown man walk around with a blue pacifier in his mouth.
He rolled his eyes at their remarks and ignored them as he put snacks such as granola bars, cookies, chips, crackers, trail mix, pop tarts, and Chex Mix in his shopping basket. He then grabbed four bottled waters, an orange soda for himself and another apple juice for Jasmine.
Meeting Genkai, Koashura, and Kotennyo at the cash register, the ordinary human who was the store clerk was about to say something to Koenma about his pacifier until Koashura said something, "Hey, I know my cousin looks weird but, he has bad anxiety and it calms him down."
The ordinary store clerk then began to ring up Koenma's stuff, "Oh well, thanks for saying something but, I still think it looks weird. I didn't mean to be rude."
Koashura gave him a small smile, "It's cool."
After paying for their snacks and drinks, they walked back out to the rental jeep and Jasmine put the pump back into the filling station. She shifted her attention to her friends and her loving boyfriend, "Did anyone give you guys or more specifically, Koenma a hard time?"
All four nodded and Koashura responded, "Yeah but, before the store clerk could say anything to Koenma, I took care of it. But don't worry, I didn't threaten them or try to fight them, I just talked him over."
Jasmine gave her roommate a warm smile, "Good. Thank you for defending Koenma."
"Yeah Koashura, thank you."
Koashura put his hand on Koenma's shoulder, "It was no problem. I'll keep doing it for you even if I have to keep posing as your cousin or Genkai pretending to be our grandma."
Genkai chuckled, "Yeah, it's a lot of fun doing that. People who don't know us at all just eat it up and I will gladly do it again."
The group of five then laughed and stopped after thirty seconds and slinging her purse over her shoulder, Jasmine then interjected, "Alright, you guys pile into the jeep while I pay for the gas and use the ladies room and we'll be back on the road in just a little bit."
She then walked up to the convenience store while the other four did just that. A few minutes later, they pulled out of the parking lot and soon switched over to the Richardson Highway. Several minutes later, Koenma was singing along to one of Jasmine's Alice in Chains CDs after her Madonna one had ended. He then looked out his window and hearing from the backseat, he heard Kotennyo say, "Wow. Holy shit! Jasmine, can you pull over?"
"Yeah Jas, pull over. We want to take a look at this thing." Koashura interjected.
Knowing that they were talking about the Trans Alaska Pipeline, Jasmine then giggled at her friends' curiosity, "Okay, just hold on a sec. There's a safe place to pull over just over there."
A minute later she pulled off the road and they all got out of the jeep. All five friends then snapped pictures of the pipeline and of each other standing in front of it. They even took silly pictures of them making silly faces and making each other laugh.
Five minutes later, they were back on the road and Kotennyo asked her best friend, "What was that?"
Turning the music back on, Koenma then answered before Jasmine could, "It's called the Trans Alaska Pipeline, right Jasmine?"
Paying attention to the road, she nodded, "You bet it is. It transports oil to Valdez from a small town on the North Slope called Prudhoe Bay. There is an oil terminal across the bay from the town called Alyeska Pipeline Terminal and you'll see it when we get to Valdez."
Setting her walkman CD player on his lap, Koenma asked, "Is that where they get the oil?"
Jasmine shrugged her small shoulders, "I think so yet, I'm not entirely sure. My grandpa works there so, I'll ask him tonight or tomorrow if we're not too tired."
Continuing down the Richardson Highway over an hour later after making a couple more stops at Squirrel Creek because Koenma wanted to take more pictures of the giant squirrel statue and making it off of Thompson Pass and stopping to check out Worthington Glacier, they were now approaching Keystone Canyon.
As they were pulling into the short canyon, Koenma asked, "Are we going to stop and look at the waterfalls?"
Jasmine nodded, "Of course my prince."
After driving for a little bit, she pulled up to the Bridal Veil Falls that was across from the Lowe River. All five passengers hopped out of the rental jeep and Genkai remarked, "Wow, what a beautiful sight. It's too bad it's across the river."
Jasmine nodded at Genkai's words, "I know but, it's better safe than sorry. The Lowe River's currents are quite strong so it's best that we stay off at a safe distance. Besides, we already have a great view of it. Are you guys ready to see Horsetail Falls now?"
Climbing back into the jeep Koenma asked his lover after snapping some pictures of the beautiful waterfall and the small one next to it, "Jasmine is there a way to get across the Lowe River?"
The young demon hunter nodded, "Yes there is. People go whitewater rafting on this river a lot to do that and to cruise the river of course."
Koenma grinned behind his pacifier and suggested, "We should try that some time."
Jasmine sweetly laughed at what her lover just said thinking he was cute from sparking his adventurous side, "That sounds like fun. I have always wanted to try it too when I was still living here but, I was too young. One of these days, we'll try it."
Driving just a little ways down the highway, they now approached Horsetail Falls that was thankfully next to the road instead of across the Lowe River. Like with Bridal Veil Falls, the five friends quickly snapped pictures of it and climbed back into the jeep minutes later.
Five minutes down the highway, they now approached Ten Mile which was the Alpine Woods Subdivision. As they pulled into the residential area that was surrounded by a thick brush and a forest of spruce trees, a van with blacked out windows with the exception of the its windshield, pulled out onto the highway and began to follow the rental jeep.
Just then, Jasmine began to get the feeling that they were being followed and not wanting to ruin everyone's nice time but, realizing that she should alert her friends, Jasmine then took a deep breath and deciding to be a good friend she said, "Hey guys, I don't meant to scare you and ruin our nice time but, I have a bad feeling that someone may be following us."
Turning on the radio to Valdez's local radio station, 93.3 KVAK, Koenma looked over at his lover with wide eyes, "What? Please tell me you're kidding."
Koashura, Kotennyo, and Genkai all looked behind them and indeed, someone was following them. Genkai then said, "Yeah, we have someone following us."
Koashura's red eyes widened, "Holy shit, I think they are getting closer to us."
All of the sudden, the windowless van then rammed the back bumper causing the five passengers to lurch forward. Koenma then groaned, "Oh great, not now. Why, why the hell is this happening? Don't tell me they're trying to kidnap me again?"
Trying to keep an eye on the road and remain calm, Jasmine responded, "That's a definitely possibility."
"What are we going to do?"
The van then struck the back bumper again and Jasmine replied to Kotennyo, "I'll tell you what we're going to do; I'm going to have to break the law so I can lose them. We are about eight miles away from Valdez and if we can make it to the road that leads to the Robe River Subdivision, I'm going to try to lose them there. If not, then we'll have to take drastic measures and fight back somehow. Now, can we all remain calm in this?"
Jasmine just looked at her rearview mirror for just a little bit and at Koenma to see them all silently nodding. The young demon hunter then shifted her attention back to the road and slammed her foot on the accelerator and speed up the rental jeep to over thirty miles over the speed limit.
When she did that, the windowless van then sped up as well and began to tail them once more. A few more miles later, they then approached the Robe River Subdivision and Jasmine sharply turned into the residential area that was surrounded by a thick forest of spruce trees. Still speeding, Jasmine peeked into her side mirror and Koenma looked behind them and gasped, "Jasmine, they're still following us!"
"Fuck! Just hold on tight guys! I swear we'll lose them!"
She then pressed her foot on the accelerator going faster and kept making sharp turns onto the empty roads of the forest residential neighborhood. The van also picked up its speed and once again rammed the rental jeep's back fender.
Just then the windowless van then pulled up beside them and tried to ram the side and causing Jasmine to lose control of the vehicle. Kotennyo then let out a loud shriek, Koenma screamed and Koashura and Genkai tried to hold on for dear life. Jasmine gripped onto the steering wheel and saving herself and the four other passengers in the nick of time, she slammed on the breaks causing the tires to squeal making skid marks on the black asphalt.
The rental jeep then came to a sudden halt in front of a nice looking two story log house causing all five passengers to lurch forward. Jasmine then sat there trying to catch her breath and finally able to speak again she then asked, "I…is everyone okay?"
Looking at Koenma and the three in the back, they all nodded. Just then they heard doors closing, and all five of them turned their attention to the windowless van to see that a large gang of demons that Jasmine didn't recognize had emerged from it.
Koenma then felt his anxiety shoot through the roof, "Oh god, Jasmine what are going to do? There are more of them than there are fighters in here. Yes, I am the only one who's not but, it's still not going to be a fair match."
Kotennyo then interjected, "Very simple, you're going to stay in here and lock the doors while we take care of them."
Koenma then began to breathe very rapidly, and looked over at Jasmine, "This just isn't fair. I thought we were going to have a nice vacation for a change. How did they find us? How did they know which car we'll be in?"
Still staring at the gang of demons who stood a small distance away from the rental jeep, the young psychic responded, "I don't know. Koenma, hand me my fans."
The young prince nodded and opened up the glove compartment and withdrew his lover's weapons and handed them to her. Koashura and Kotennyo who were now looking out their window at their opponents, began to glow with their spirit energy and summoned their energy weapons.
Genkai also stared at them said to the young demon hunter and three gods, "Okay Koenma, stay here and like Kotennyo said, lock the doors. Jasmine, Koashura, Kotennyo and I are going to try to reason with them to get them to leave. If that doesn't work, then we'll have to kill them."
Koenma silently nodded at Genkai's words and the small old psychic then said to the other three fighters, "On the count of three, we'll go out and deal with these bastards. One…"
Kotennyo tightly gripped her energy katana. "Two…" Koashura summon two arrows and held onto his bow.
"Three."
Jasmine, Genkai, Kotennyo, and Koashura all climbed out of the rental jeep and slammed the doors shut behind them. Koenma immediately locked the doors. The four fighters glared at the gang of demons. Jasmine then stood in a fighting stance glowing with her spirit energy and coated her fans with her energy along with Koashura raising his energy bow and aiming his arrows and Kotennyo raising her energy katana into a fighting stance.
Genkai stood in a fighting stance as well and glowed with her spirit energy and asked the gang of demon assassins, "What business do you have here? What do you want from us?"
The leader of the demon gang responded, "Step aside old woman, it's the McAlpin woman and the traitorous brat prince we want."
Kotennyo then snapped, "Fat chance moron. Now fuck off or face the consequences."
Another demon chimed in, "No way in hell war goddess. You three now step aside and no harm will come to you."
Koashura then growled still aiming his energy arrows, "Bullshit, we know damn well if we let you have Koenma and Jasmine, you'll do something to us and Genkai. You fuckers step aside or we'll have no other choice than to kill you all."
Jasmine narrowed her large brown eyes at them, "Good luck with that. You creeps don't know how powerful I really am. I can sense that your power levels are nothing special. Now leave or I'll take off your heads."
She then opened up her energy coated fans and gripped them tightly in her small dainty hands. From inside the rental jeep, Koenma sat there and bit down on his pacifier in nervousness, his anxiety the highest it has been within the last couple of weeks since finding out what a scumbag his father is. Sweat then ran down the sides of his handsome face and he felt his throat grow dry. Koenma began to wonder if he, Jasmine, Koashura, Kotennyo, and Genkai were going to make it out of this alive.
~To Be Continued...
