"And furthermore, I want it noted for the record that the peaceful anthropovores have the support of at least some of those in the Human World," Mayuga was saying. "My friend Rin, here, retired Spirit Detective," – retired was an interesting way of putting it, thought Rin - "was the first human and first Spirit World representative to believe in our cause." She swept an elegant hand towards Rin, who had been trying to blend in with the wall. Mayuga's entourage parted to give the people at the table a better view, and Rin gave an awkward wave as the entire room stared at her. Rin blushed furiously, embarrassed and irritated that she was even here at all.
Mayuga was orating to a room full of diplomats, dignitaries, aides, and various other hangers-on. She held court at one end of the long conference table while Sir Jakaru sat with crossed arms at the other end, both of them surrounded by aides and attendants. Koenma and Mukuro were on either side in the middle, acting as intermediaries. There was one person in Mukuro's entourage that Rin recognized immediately: Hiei.
Apparently it hadn't been a dream; she had seen him patrolling around the castle last night. They had been studiously avoiding each other's gazes all morning, and Hiei was the only one in the whole room who didn't look at her now. If he was here, did that mean that he and Mukuro…? Intellectually Rin knew that it shouldn't matter, but a thin sliver of pain thrust into her heart at the thought anyway. Her feelings had mostly calcified over (or so she told herself), but looking at him now was unpleasant, to say the least. She missed him. She wanted to punch him. It was all very complicated.
Mayuga continued, "If even a human can find sympathy with our cause, I am sure that Lord Koenma can convince the leaders of Human World to come to our aid." She paused, smiling at the prince, who nodded, his expression somewhat dubious. "At least, until our scientists discover a solution. I ask that a committee immediately be convened to tackle this problem. Surely with the finest minds of Spirit and Demon World working together, we will find a way to feed my people that does not involve bloodshed."
There was a smattering of polite applause as Mayuga finished her little speech. Some demons were nodding along as they took notes.
Rin's plans of a quiet semi-vacation reading and exploring Demon World had been entirely in vain. That morning, a detailed schedule for the next three days had been slipped under her door; Rin had stepped on it when she wandered over to the miniature coffee maker. Mayuga evidently had secret plans for Rin, and Rin felt much like a once-in-a-generation double-headed calf trotted out to impress the locals. In every meeting, luncheon, and committee, Mayuga had introduced Rin as 'the first human to believe,' which was technically true but also very much wearing on Rin's patience. Mayuga had not asked if Rin wanted to help, or included her in any way with planning and strategy beyond showing her off. On the one hand, Rin understood the necessity of political props and symbols, but on the other hand, she felt used.
"Your people? Your people? Since when are they yours?" Jakaru retorted hotly from the other end of the table. His voice was deep and scratchy, like it was rusty from disuse. "You want our people to eat the plants of the earth like common animals." He hissed the word, loading it with as much hate and disdain as he could. "I said that I was willing to discuss terms. Not bow to Human and Spirit World, as she wants us to do, begging for favors. Does Demon World no longer have its dignity?" He slapped a hand on the table for emphasis. "Demon World has always lived by tooth and claw, and this forced 'peace' leaves us with no way to practice our ancient traditions. If we are to live, to thrive, we need to hunt. If that requires a few sacrifices, then so be it. Let us return to the old ways and abolish this 'democracy with fists' pressed upon us by Spirit World agents." He glanced at King Mukuro, whose impassive face gave nothing away, then around the table, searching for support.
Many of the demons around the table looked interested, and some were even nodding along. A waterfall of ice dropped into Rin's stomach.
"After all, it was the half-human Yusuke Urameshi, Prince Koenma's Spirit Detective," he spat the words, "who forced this upon us." Jakaru paused, letting that hang, then said, "Does this peace, this democracy, serve our ends, or Spirit World's? Are we to be their dogs forever? We must go back to the old ways. It is the simplest, most elegant solution, rather than forcing our scientists to try to fix a 'problem' that doesn't even exist."
The uproar from Mayuga's end of the table was immediate. The arguments continued in that vein for some time.
Later that day, Rin took refuge in her room. She hadn't had five minutes to herself all day, as Mayuga had shuffled her from one meeting to the next without pause. Rin had just gotten back from a formal dinner and was exhausted from the non-stop people-ing; instead of taking off her dress, she had just flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling, her head still buzzing.
Rin's phone vibrated, startling her.
Where are you?
It was Botan. Apparently Demon World (or at least Demon King Castle) had cell service now, even if it was just paltry 3G wireless technology. Rin wondered if texts to her friends in Human World would go through.
She shook away that thought and tapped out a reply.
Demon World, remember?
It was barely a second or two before a reply came in.
Obviously! XD I mean where in the castle, silly!
Botan was in Demon World? Usually Koenma wouldn't go anywhere without his favorite ferry girl, but Rin thought the plan was that Botan would stay in Spirit World to keep things running while Koenma was away.
"Hey, Rin!" Botan said as Rin opened the door to her knock. She wrapped Rin in a quick but firm hug.
"What are you doing here?" Rin asked, smiling. So she wasn't as alone as she thought.
The ferry girl waved a hand as she dropped onto Rin's unmade bed with a bounce. "Oh, you know how Koenma is. He can't do anything without me. He told me to stay in Spirit World a few weeks ago, but I knew he'd change his mind." She tossed her head, blue hair flying like a flag, and grinned. "So, how are you liking Demon World?"
Rin grimaced. "I haven't gotten to see it, really. It's been non-stop meetings since I got here." She sighed, dropping her chin into her hand, then said, "I'm happy to help, but I really didn't sign up for this."
Botan rested a hand on her shoulder. "You know, that's not fair. You should say something to Mayuga."
"I know, but this is important. I feel bad saying anything to her about it. It's her people on the line," Rin said, feeling guilty. "I just don't know if I can keep this up."
"You shouldn't have to," Botan said, smacking her open palm with a fist. "You know what? I'm going to talk to her."
"Botan, wait." Rin grabbed at the ferry girl's sleeve and pulled her back down onto the bed. "Please don't. I can handle it.
"Are you sure?" The ferry girl eyed her skeptically, then shrugged when Rin nodded. "Well, at least it's only for a few more days." She leaned in and whispered, as though there were anyone else in Rin's room to hear, "Did you know you-know-who is here?"
Rin's stomach dropped. Of course gossip-hound Botan couldn't resist asking. After a long, edging-on-awkward pause while Botan stared expectantly, Rin mumbled, "Yeah, I saw him last night."
Botan's eyes softened with concern. "How are you doing?"
"Fine. It's not a big deal. We've been ignoring each other."
"If you say so," Botan said, magenta eyes dubious. "None of us have heard anything from him for months." She hesitated, then asked in a whisper, "Do you think he and Mukuro…?"
Rin crossed her arms as her cheeks went red. "I don't know, and I really don't care." Her voice came out louder than she wanted it to.
Botan arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.
"Anyway," Rin said hastily, needing to change to the topic, "What's Koenma got you doing while you're here?"
"Oh, you know: errands, note-taking, logistics, and 'other duties as assigned.' The usual." Botan paused, then said, almost as an afterthought, "I've also been keeping in contact with Yusuke and the others."
"Yusuke's here too?" Was everyone here, and she just had no idea?
Botan shook her head and explained that Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabara were on protection detail for the tunnel to Human World. A peace summit with the leaders of two worlds was prime time for an attack on Human World while everyone was distracted, and Koenma didn't trust Jakaru and his rebel demons to keep the fragile peace.
"Yusuke's grumpy that he's not here in the thick of things, but he knows that it's more important to keep Human World safe," Botan said, checking her watch. She jumped up. "Oh, sorry Rin – I've got to run! Let's meet up tomorrow for lunch."
Rin waved as the door closed behind her friend, feeling windswept in the wake of the Botan Tornado.
Two days later, Rin was sitting in another meeting, ready to tear her hair out as she stared at the clock on the wall. It was late afternoon on the third day of negotiations, and all of the meetings featured the same arguments over and over, no matter which committee was discussing it. There was no debating, no compromise with a man like Jakaru. He would get his way or burn everything to the ground. She wondered why he had even agreed to this summit; it was a huge waste of everyone's time. Probably to get his abhorrent ideas in front of a wider audience.
Even Mayuga's unflappable veneer was beginning to crack. Rin heard her sigh and grumble under her breath after another of Jakaru's rants about 'ancient demon tradition.' The worst part was that more and more of the demon representatives were beginning to agree with him, even one or two of Mayuga's people.
Finally someone in the hallway outside opened the door to the conference room and said apologetically that the next group was ten minutes late to using it, and everyone began to file out.
Rin saw Mayuga twist in her chair and turn around, looking for someone. Rin had a bad feeling that it was her. Mayuga seemed to think of Rin as a good luck charm and had ignored any of Rin's attempts to get out of anything on her demanding schedule.
Desperate to escape, Rin mumbled something about needing the bathroom to no one in particular.
"Oh, Rin, meet me outside, will you?" Mayuga called after her. "I need a quick word before the diplomats' dinner."
Rin cringed and headed to the hallway outside. But instead of joining the line for the women's restroom, Rin ducked into a corner, glanced around, and activated her invisibility. After three straight days of constant meetings, luncheons, and committees, she had had enough. She wasn't getting paid for this. She was happy to help, but she wasn't doing anyone any good sitting in pointless meetings. She wasn't a diplomat. She was a librarian, for god's sake.
"I thought I saw her over here," someone said from close by. Too close.
Without thinking, Rin took off down the hallway, turning corners and climbing stairs blindly. Her room was too far away; Mayuga had caught on that Rin sometimes slipped back to her room for a breather and would send someone to find her there. She just needed to get away, just needed a moment to herself. She could hear someone following behind. Whether it was on purpose or just the general flow of traffic, she didn't know.
Trying to be as quiet as possible, Rin tried the next door she came to. It was unlocked. She slipped in, closing the door behind her. Footsteps went by, paused, then kept going. Rin took a deep breath and slumped against the closed door.
She was in some sort of small antechamber, furnished with a few couches and low tables. Light came from a door in the opposite wall. Curious, Rin crept towards it, keeping her invisibility around her as a precaution. As she drew closer, she heard low voices in the next room, and she sidled forward till she could just see the two figures inside.
It was Mukuro and an attendant, her eye piece winking in the low light as she turned her head. Shit. Rin needed to get out of here. Now.
"Thank you, Mayumi. You're dismissed," Mukuro said from the next room.
Rin bolted for the door where she had come in, but had to freeze and hold her breath as the attendant passed her, missing her by inches. The woman left the antechamber without incident, closing the door with a quiet click. Rin breathed a sigh of relief and waited a few seconds for the hallway outside to be clear.
Then, just as her hand touched the doorknob, Mukuro said, "I know you're there, human. Come here."
Pure panic, the urge to run, threatened to overtake Rin, but she shoved it down. This was happening, and now she had to deal with it.
Feet heavy, Rin made herself visible again as she approached the King of Demon World, who was sitting at a desk covered in papers. A laptop was open next to her. Mukuro looked up to meet Rin's gaze, her eyepiece throwing the light again in a brief blinding flash. Both eyes were sharp on Rin, who felt like a tiny one-celled organism under a microscope. Like Mukuro could see everything inside her, including her thoughts.
"Welcome, Rin," Mukuro said, a small, wry smile on her lips, her voice low and throaty. "I was hoping we would get a chance to talk."
Author's note: My, it has been a while, hasn't it? One of my New Year's resolutions was to finish this story, and I promise that I will. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me and who has given me a follow here or there - those emails reminded me that people are still reading this!