Ride like the Wind
Chapter 16

"So John went to America. He left Hiei alone with some of the guys in the group and well," Touya paused. He stumbled on the next words. "Okay. They harassed him a lot, from what these guys told me." He pointed a thumb to Jin and Suzaku. "So I guess there was this one guy with 'em that kinda found him… I guess… Appealing in the wrong sense. So… You know I guess one thing led to another… And went against his will… And he was fourteen…"

"Whoa! Back up! Are you saying they… Di…?" Yusuke was interrupted.

"Yes, I'm saying it! Whether they did it because they wanted to be bastards or just out of… Attraction or whatever you wanna call it, I don't wanna know! But anyway, the point is the name's pretty much cursed around our circle. And I think that's what went behind Yoshiki's death."

And there was a tense silence.

Suddenly a girl walked up to them. She had raven hair that she had tied back in a bun and bangs pushed behind her ears. She had large black eyes that looked almost empty, but no one ever did get a good look in her eyes to see the urgent gleam they had. She was Japanese, you could tell by her black kimono.

"Konichiwa!" she greeted with a bow. (Hello!)

More silence. Only this time Suzaku chose to break the silence. "…She's wearing all black… Like she's going to a funeral…"

"Good morning star shine! The earth says hello!" Jin greeted her, wiggling his ears the way he always did to make someone smile. (He never had a failure in doing this except with Hiei.)

She titled her head.

"Konichiwa…" Kurama bowed. And I'm suddenly glad I know a little Japanese…

"Oh! Ana-tachi ni chi gainai Shuichi-kun. Botan-chan ga hoshii watashi ni otomo suru… Anata subete. Watashi no namae Ayame." (Oh! You must be Shuichi-kun! Botan-chan wanted me to accompany… You all. My name is Ayame.)

"Kanojo kirau ano aidea no aru watashitachi saru hitori, huh?" (She hated the idea of us leaving alone, huh?)

"But it's dangerous."

"You know English? And here I was thinking I was gonna be an outsider on the whole thing!" Yusuke sighed with relief.

"Eh… My English is horrible. Embarrasses me to speak. I'm more fluent in Japanese," she added on a nervous laughter. (She sounds perfectly fine to me! Everyone thought.) "I met you early so I can introduce myself."

"Oh. Right…"

"I think Koenma said he'd meet you on the ship… Thing. Eh… I think I should go…. See you Tuesday. Sayanara." She waved and walked away.

"But… But today is Tuesday…" Kurama mumbled.

---

Thursday

"Hell yeah! How's that for a time lapse!" Yusuke cheered.

"Yeah, but didn't we skip a whole bunch of stuff?" Kurama asked.

"Never speak again."

"Well, you're enthusiastic about the trip," Koenma said, nodding at the demon slayer. "I like that attitude. But… I'll assure you it won't be a pleasant ride…"

"Ruin my fun, why don'cha?" Yusuke frowned. "It's the first time I get to beat someone's face in and next get in trouble for it. What am I supposed to say?"

"Ignoring that…"

"Why're you coming?" Kurama asked the priest.

"Well, to make sure Yusuke does stay out of trouble. And I also have to make sure this one goes right…" He became tense. "And… Personal reasons concerning Shinobu. I assume it's the same on your side?"

He nodded. Personal reasons? What's he mean? How does he know…? Augh!

Hiei kicked the redhead and pulled the hat onto his head. "QUIT FORGETTING YOU STUPID HAT, DAMMIT!"

He rubbed his now-throbbing back." You know simply giving it to me would be acceptable, too… You know that hurts…?"

"That was for that time you kicked me so I had to sit in the goddamn bucket. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to walk with the back of your pants wet?"

"You were the one sitting in the bucket. You should've known."

"No one asked you!"

"Actually You…"

"Shove it and get on the damn boat, you…!"

And Kurama was already gone before Hiei could come up with a good word.

"Hiei, you're so violent…" Botan said just to make conversation like the chatterbox she was. She put her hands on her hips. "Is this how you treat the ladies, too?"

"Kurama is a lady. And also… No one asked you!"

"Actually, I…"

"Y... You know what! D... Don't talk to me! I'm... I'm doing something important in my mind right now… So... So Leave me alone."

"You mean pouting?"

"No." Pout, pout.

She sighed and mumbled under her breath, "Don't forget…"

"What're you babbling about now?"

"…No one asked you, Hiei." Smug look.

"Screw you and your fake accent." Hiei walked away.

"For the hundredth time! It's not fake!"

Hiei tuned her out. Man, it feels lonely already. This must be how wives feel when their husbands go. …Even though I will never be the girl. And I know I could come up with a better comparison that that…

---

"Man, whatta ride!" Yusuke yawned as he stretched.

"Furusato mata…" Ayame sighed with relief. (Home again.)

"Yeah, but isn't this kinda stuff illegal?" Kurama asked. Long silence.

"Trying to save the human race and breaking the law doing it. It's that a good combination?" Yusuke said sarcastically. More long silence.

Ayame quickly pointed out, "We must go to Kyoto. Friends are waiting. So it'd be best if we…"

"I'm seasick…" Kuwabara staggered as he groaned. "Hold up, lady. Where are we? And for that matter, who're your friends?"

"We're near Kyoto, about an hour away. My cousin is the empress' lady-in-waiting. I could also use healing to help your stomach."

"I'd rather not…"

"To answer, your question, Kurama, this is actually kind of illegal had you gone without me or Ayame. I know it may sound weird considering that no foreigners are allowed in Japan, but actually the emperor trusts me. I'm actually a friend of his and saved him from dying from a terrible illness. He'll only kill me if I try to convert his people. That goes the same for… Guests," Koenma explained. "As for Ayame, she was sent by the empress herself to get me. I told her to inform you of the situation and how we get here. So no, it's not illegal, people."

"Well, I can breathe a little easier now," Yusuke replied.

"Never cease to amaze me, Koenma," Kurama commented on the priest's saving the emperor. "But… How were you able to save him if foreigners aren't allowed…?"

"Never mind that!" He held up a hand.

"Damn it! Another plot hole!" Yusuke screamed into the sky.

"Don't have convulsions over it."

"Ahem!" a voice broke in.

The owner of the voice was a woman that looked to be about twenty. She had black hair that she had hang freely down her back. Her narrow black eyes had a demanding look to them. You could tell that she came from the palace from the way she was dressed: many kimonos of different colors so when you looked at her you saw a burst of color. Her eyebrows had been plucked the way ladies of the court did. She held s fan in her left hand that she beat lightly into her right hand like she was going to beat someone.

Ayame almost leapt out of her skin. "Katsumi!"

"So you've finally come, Ayame," the woman, Katsumi, simply replied to her cousin in Japanese. She turned to Koenma. "And you've finally come, too Koenma-san. And who are your friends?"

"Aw, not again… Uh… I'm Yusuke Urameshi. And don't look at me like that. I know it's a Japanese name but I can't speak anything other than English and Spanish, but I'll bow to you anyway," Yusuke bowed after introducing himself.

"I'm Shuichi Minamino. Pleased to make your acquaintance," Kurama bowed to her.

"I'm Kazuma Kuwabara," Kuwabara waved, but then Yusuke shoved his head down to make him bow.

Katsumi nodded and bowed back. Kurama couldn't help but notice the look on her face that said, "And I care why…?" like they were a future menace or something. (Maybe it's because we're commoners… he convinced himself.)

"Hey, shouldn't the princess be with you? From what I'm…" Koenma was interrupted.

If Katsumi's eyebrows hadn't been plucked, they would have risen and gone into spasms. "You mean that child run away again!"

"Oh! Katsumi-sempai!" A girl greeted the lady-in-waiting, waving her arms around. "Koenma-san, too? And more people! So many! Eh…" She turned to the three unknown people. "I'm Eri. Nice to meet you…" and she added a nervous laugh.

Eri looked to be about eighteen or nineteen. She had short mud brown hair that she kept cut to her chin (How she kept it that way was unknown to Katsumi.) to keep from getting in her eyes. Her eyes were also mud brown with a humble look to them, which you noticed when she lifted her eyes which was once in a blue moon. She wasn't dressed as nicely as Katsumi because she was only a servant. That was probably what made her seem so likeable to everyone.

"…Uh, Katsumi-sempai, I found Sayaka-sama on my way here… Please don't beat her! She's been really lonely since I've been working so much and can't be with her a lot and…" Eri was interrupted.

"Woman, I know how to care for the princess. Don't ask favors of me. Sayaka-sama, please come here!" Katsumi's voice went strict.

And from the bushes nearby emerged a young girl that looked to be ten or eleven years old. She had blue hair that fell halfway down her back… Wait. Blue? She had large blue eyes that were filled with childish innocence. (At this point, Yusuke really began to wonder what her parents looked like.) The way she was dressed similar to the way Katsumi was dressed. So here she was, the princess.

"Sayaka-sama! How many times have I told you not to run off! You know how these… Commoners are! What if they kidnapped you and put a ransom on you? You were lucky that Eri found you! If you came top me alone, you would have gotten a dire punishment! I don't care that your parents are the rulers of Japan!" She beat her fan against her hand hard to emphasize her point.

"…Man, I don't understand her and I already think she's a bitch," Yusuke whispered to Kuwabara.

"I understand everything you're saying, Yusuke Urameshi! I was taught English by Koenma!" Katsumi growled.

"Eek…"

I think this might become a loooong trip. Kurama thought.

Little did anyone know there was an observer in the bushes. Koenma's presence slightly alarmed him since he remembered who he was. But he knew now he could eradicate the priest. What was more alarming was Yusuke's unusual aura. There was something demonic about it. Now the man was intrigued. Yusuke Urameshi, you'll never know what got you.

---

Guerroro, Mexico

Knock, knock, knock!

"Go away! There's no one home!" Hiei yelled at the door.

Then there was the sound of someone kicking the door open. "Is there anyone here?"

Hiei turned away from the stove and saw three bounty hunters standing in the kitchen. "Que?" Oh, these dumb ass people.

They stared at each other. Hiei finally broke the silence.

"Oh! Hola! Buenos tardes! Comos estas? Me llamo Hiei y a veces Peanut! Si, Peanut!" He added a forced smile. "Mi casa es su casa!"

"What'd he just say to us?" the red haired bounty hunter asked.

"Que? Yo no habla espanol."

"I don't speak your language…"

"No! No! Yo no habla espanol! Yo habla Ingles! Ingles! Comprende! Yo habla Ingles!"

"…This is pissing me off…"

"Oh…Tonto hombre…!" He turned away. "Eh… Tan… De donde eres? Yo soy Chicago… Oh! Y como te llamas?" Hiei slammed a headless chicken on the table. "Adelante! Come! Come!"

"Wh… What's he saying to us?" the blonde bounty hunter asked the brunet one.

"No I think I can handle this one!" the brunet bounty hunter stood in front of Hiei. "Uh… Taco burrito tortillas…"

"Ah! Que tonto!" Hiei shook his fist at him.

"You made him mad," the blond one pointed out the obvious.

"Step aside!" a voice commanded. And in walked an exorcist. He had blonde hair that stuck straight up that looked like a flame. His blue eyes were like looking into a frozen lake. He was pale, almost a sickly white for his strangely muscular body. Hiei knew it was a demon by his pointed ears. Wait, a demon that's an exorcist.

"…Yo no habla Ingles," Hiei's voice went cold as he said this. The exorcist took out a crucifix and smacked him with it. "Misuse of holy relics! Scandalous!"

"Speak English. I know you can, manslayer."

That opened an old wound. Hiei didn't answer and pretended he didn't comprehend the exorcist's request.

"Speak, or be gone!" He flicked some droplets of holy water onto Hiei's face.

"Holy hell!" And Hiei fell on the floor the water burning him and he cursed himself for not having his cross with him at the moment. The next thing he knew, the exorcist lifted him by the collar of his shirt so they could look at each other in the eyes.

"Speak in English so your shame can be shared, dog."

"I refuse. Goddamn you, Zeru and anyone who comes after you. What the hell do you invade my home for?"

He frowned with dissatisfaction and slammed the small demon into the floor. He held up a Wanted poster. "This boy. Have you seen him anywhere in the area at anytime between March twenty and this date?"

"Just about everyday. You know some smart ass decided to put it on the fence around my field so I see him about every…"

"Not like that. In person. And your face says you do."

"What you see is disappointment. I actually feel bad for the poor kid for being condemned by you for what might not be his own fault. Did you consider that? Or was the amount of money you're getting paid too much?" He was kicked.

"Manslayer, what right do you have to speak of us in such a way? I know you can't be honest. Where is he."

"I dunno and I humbly refuse to answer. Go before I'm forced to tell the authorities that you're searching me without a warrant, you barnyard creatures!" He flared up with energy to intimidate them.

The bounty hunters ran out before they got hurt. Zeru frowned again and walked out.

And those bastards better stay out. Hiei thought bitterly as he tossed the headless chicken out the window for the cats to eat.

---

"Man, Kurama, how'd you learn Japanese?" Yusuke asked the fox with a yawn.

"My mother was taught by my father. I guess she wanted me to learn, too," Kurama replied with a smile.

"I see…"

"By the way, Katsumi… Let's get down to business. So I've been told the empress hasn't been in the best conditions. What's wrong?" Koenma asked the lady-in-waiting.

"She's been having troubling dreams. It's worrying us. The emperor thinks she may be predicting this but… I don't know what it is that's she's predicting," Katsumi said.

"A hole in the sky. It's always a hole in the sky Sayaka-sama tells me. Then there's demons climbing out of it or falling out. And… And the ending's then same… The Human Realm and everyone in it dies… And… Supposedly it's because a man is toying with forces he shouldn't…" Eri explained.

"Yes, yes. What the woman just said should suffice."

Kuwabara tapped Kurama on the shoulder to indicate her wanted the redhead to translate. Once Kurama was done retelling the problem everything was silent.

"You do know what to do, right?" Katsumi asked Koenma.

"Yeah. I think the man needs to go first. Tell me though. When did this begin?"

"Sunday. A few months ago."

That was about the same time I was… Kurama's thoughts froze.

Sayaka stared at the sky, feeling overwhelmed. Please… Anything but this…

End chapter 16

Notes:
1. I was kind enough to translate the Japanese I put in because it's important and it would be a pain in the ass to go back and forth to here.
2. Foreigners in Japan- As far as I remember, Japan isolated itself because there were people forcing the Japanese into Christianity. For Koenma, I basically pulled this junk off the top of my head. However, there were ports where I think they shipped stuff out and some stuff came in. I don't remember quite right.
3. It's sad, I know. I know more about Japanese culture than I do Mexican. (Why? Because I am Mexican!) Anyway, yes women in the court did were many kimonos to look nice but it was-of course-hard to move. And they did pluck out their eyebrows and I'm pretty sure they just drew their eyebrows back in.
4. Chan- An honorific. It's the equivalent of miss in English. I can't really translate.
5. Why didn't Ayame call Katsumi Katsumi-chan? There is some point where you get to know a person enough to not use honorifics.
6. Sempai- used for higher ups. Literally means you who came before me.
7. Sama- means Lord, Lady, something like that. I think it's usually translated as Mr. or Mrs.
8. Katsumi and Eri- You probably don't know them because they're in the manga. Number two to be more exact. I don't know the full story behind them, but whatever. I'll tell you when I remember.
9. "Oh! Hola! Buenos tardes! Comos estas? Me llamo Hiei y a veces Peanut! Si, Peanut! Mi casa es su casa!"- Oh! Hello! Good afternoon! How are you? I call myself Hiei and sometimes peanut! Yes, Peanut! My house is your house!"
10. "Que? Yo no habla espanol."- What? I don't speak Spanish.
11. "No! No! Yo no habla espanol! Yo habla Ingles! Ingles! Comprende! Yo habla Ingles!"- No! No! I don't speak Spanish! I speak English! English! Understand! I speak English!
12. Oh…Tonto hombre…! Eh… Tan… De donde eres? Yo soy de Chicago… Oh! Y como te llamas? Adelante! Come! Come!- Oh… Stupid man… Eh.. So.. Where are you from? I am from Chicago. Oh! And what are you called? Go on! Eat! Eat!
13. Que tonto!- How stupid!
14. Yo no habla Ingles- I don't speak English.

Please review! (is overwhelmed by notes)