59To my wonderful, amazing readers: Woot! We've made it to the fifth story! Break out the champagne/sweatdrop/ Well this story is the halfway point. After this is finished we have stories six, seven, eight, nine and then the epilogue. oo Wow, this has been the best writing experience of my life, to be sure. And writing all of these fanfics has done much good for my original stories. I'm making lots of progress. Well I won't keep you waiting any longer-Chapter One is here!
Disclaimer: I say it every time, and every time I cry. /sob/ I don't own.
Chapter One
It is silent. The Destinies sit quietly on the mismatched couches of their home, pondering over the words Koenma had left them with just hours ago. They are oddly silent, but don't really seem to care. Four pairs of eyes slowly wander up to the picture of Malia on the wall. They miss her already, and it hasn't even been a week! Just three days since she left with Touya to go sort things out with her family...
The boys are spread out along the room, leaning against walls and chairs. Heavy rain pelts down on the windows as if begging for entrance. Lightning flashes brightly, followed by the loudest claps of thunder. The Destinies notice none of it, still entranced in Koenma's words. Botan, given the task of escorting them home, is unsure whether or not to break the silence that is hanging over the room. She too, thinks back to what Koenma told them.
Flashback
"I'm happy you are all here."
There were no jokes, no laughing-Koenma looked oddly serious; the Destinies shut their mouths and listened. He shuffled his papers on his desk for a moment as if doing so would help prepare them for what he had to tell them. He gave it up after a moment, regarding them with worried eyes. Then, with a deep sigh, he began.
"I'm not sure how to tell you this but I've got a mission for you."
Kurama raised an eyebrow, "And is this bad?"
"I'm...not sure," Koenma diverted his eyes from the group. "In reality I'm sure this is probably good training for you all but this foe...he's unlike the others."
"Meaning?" Kurama coaxed.
"Meaning you won't be able to fight him in your normal way. He's got powers that could rival an S Class demon, though he himself is just an upper B."
This news startled the original Rekai Tantei more so than the Destinies. It's not that they didn't understand the words-it's just that they've never really had the chance to fight an upper-class demon, so they've had no experience. But the boys seemed to be very shocked. Yusuke especially. Anger taking over him, he pounded Koenma's desk, ready to pound Koenma himself.
"How the hell can that be true?" he shouted.
Meagan tugged him away, "Koenma what do you mean?"
"I mean that if you touch him, you'll die."
A silence fell over the room as the entire group stared at Koenma with wide eyes. He didn't stare back. Instead, he clasped his hands together and continued.
"This demon has been on the loose for thousands of years but currently he's been laying low. It didn't seem he was starting something, so we left him alone. But lately he's been on the move again, killing humans and demons alike. We finally became suspicious and sent someone down to check up on him. And apparently, if you barely touch him you just...die."
"But how...?"
"We're not sure, but we do know the death is different for each person. Depending on the state of your soul, that's how you die. For instance if your soul is very dark or conflicted you die a more bloody death than if your soul is clean and pure. I'm relunctant to give you this case but you're the best I've got so...good luck."
"Koenma you can't want the girls to fight!" Kuwabara demanded.
"Hey!" the Destinies clenched their fists.
Koenma stared at them, "It's their choice. Personally I don't think they could handle it unless you put them through very extensive training but if they want to help...who can stop them?"
It fell silent again, until Koenma dismissed them and ordered Botan to take them home. The ride home was silent and by the time they had reached the mansion, they were all drenched. None cared.
End Flashback
Yusuke sighs, growls, thinks, then whistles for Meagan to follow him. Shooting her friends a look and giving a small wave, Meagan hurries to catch up with her boyfriend before she can lose sight of him. He has gone out the back door towards the woods and Meagan follows with an idea of what he is doing. "Extensive training" would of course be very...extensive. Plus with the added fact that they can't really touch their enemy, what better way of practicing than in the dark? Shutting the door behind her she runs off after Yusuke, ready for whatever torture her training might bring.
Kuwabara moves to drag Vanessa off too, but then stops. It wouldn't be wise to go out to train at the same time Yusuke was out. He might mistake them for an enemy and Spirit Gun their butts. He doesn't want that to happen. So instead he just goes up to his room, bidding everyone goodnight. Botan is the only one who replies; the others are still too lost in thought. A foe who can kill you by just touching you? How is that possible...? Kurama exhales, as if he's been holding a breath in for quite a while. The rain is unnerving, especially since rainy season ended last month. They shouldn't be getting this much rain. Could it be demonic?
Hiei seems to be thinking the same thing, but shakes his head no. It could be a warning of something, but it isn't demonic. More like a sick twist of fate, not that he believes in fate. Fate is just something baka ningens (1) blame their bad luck on. Pathetic. Dawe pads over to him, and Hiei picks him up, scratching him behind the ears. Kurama begins pacing the room back and forth, back and forth. Botan twists a strand of her blue hair, and the Destinies just sit there. This continues for several minutes until Hiei cannot take it anymore. The silence...he needs to break it somehow. Dawe, suspecting something, whimpers and moves to Vanessa. So he unsheathes his katana and-hoping his plan will work-slices the picture of all of them hanging on the wall into little bitty pieces.
"Hiei! What the-!" Olivia shouts at him.
"We need a new one anyways," he says, indifferent.
Nissi seethes. She put a lot of time into that picture, touching it up on her PhotoDeluxe, perfecting it. And now it is on the floor in a million pieces. Olivia apologizes to her in place of Hiei but she's not hearing it. Nissi stomps off, yelling for no one to bother her or there will be dire consequences. Thus, both Kurama and Olivia turn their glares to Hiei. He shrugs, resheathing his katana and walking out the back door. Olivia follows him. So now it is just Vanessa, Kurama, and Botan.
It is silent again until a loud growl is heard from Vanessa's stomach. Dawe jumps off her lap, barking. She raises her eyebrows in amusement, moving towards the kitchen for food. And on her way there, she asks Kurama what their chances are.
"Vanessa...why would you ask me something like that?" He covers his face with one hand. "I'm not going to answer."
"Why?" she demands. "Do you think we'll all die?"
Kurama removes his hand to glare at her, "Of course not. It's just...you guys have never fought such a strong enemy, and I'm not sure if you're ready for it. So I'm going to ask you to stay behind on this one."
"No."
Botan holds out her hands to catch the peach Vanessa has just thrown her, "Kurama you know how these girls are. They're going to come with you even if you like it or not."
"Exactly," Vanessa nods. "So tomorrow we start our training, right?"
Kurama looks from the expectant Vanessa to the expectant Botan and then down at the floor, "Of course. But there is a problem."
"Huh?"
Botan catches the peach juice rolling down her chin, staring uneasily at Kurama.
"My mother comes home tomorrow for a week. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you for a this week."
"Your...mother?" Botan queries. Kurama nods. "Where has she been for the past year?"
Kurama smiles; it lights up the room. "She's been on a business trip that will continue for the next year. She's closing the biggest deal of her life with this one, and her company is making sure she has all the time in the world to make it work. So since she couldn't come home for Christmas, she's coming home this week instead."
"That's wonderful!" Botan's voice is back to its usual cheeriness. "I'm sure the girls won't mind if you take the week off, right Vanessa?"
"Nope," she slurps up her ramen.
Beware Kurama, she thinks, we might just come out to meet her.
Meagan wakes up sore, compliments of last nights training. Yusuke had done nothing but attack her in the dark and told her to defend herself. And she never did get to hit him. Thus she wakes up with blue and black skin and a bruised ego. Feeling very 'bleah' she just plops back in her bed and refuses to move. At least until Yusuke comes and apologizes to her. Which he doesn't. Kuwabara does. Pushing her door open, Kuwabara pokes his head in and clears his throat to catch her attention.
"Urameshi says he's sorry. Guy's too lazy to get his butt up and tell you himself so..."
He closes her door and heads outside for his morning jog. The rain has receded, leaving them with a bright and sunny day. Puffy cumulus clouds cover parts of the sky, perfect for trying to find shapes in them. Kuwabara looking up, sees one in the shape of his wonderful Vanessa, and another one of his kitty Eikichi. Stretching as to avoid cramps, he starts off at a slow pace, building up speed as he goes along. Round and round the mansion he jogs until the heat gets to him and he stops outside the greenhouse. Something ruffles inside of the building that is most definately not one of Kurama's demon plants, so he enters to check it out.
There, Olivia and Hiei are propped against one of the walls, still asleep. Knowing fully what will happen to him if Hiei wakes up and sees him there he exits quietly and heads back home. The delicious smell of breakfast reaches his nose and he eagerly follows it to the kitchen, where Nissi is making eggs. Kuwabara glances around at her ingrediants, blanking when he sees the tabasco sauce sitting half empty next to the stove.
"Uh...Nissi?"
"Yes."
"What did you use that tabasco sauce for?"
"Hm? The eggs, duh."
Kuwabara pulls a face, as if Nissi is degrading the wonderful name of eggs. Which, to him, she is. Tabasco sauce in eggs? Noo! The horror! He backs away slowly, going to the table where a more standard breakfast is laid out. Normal eggs. Before he can take as much as he'd like the Destinies beat him to it, scolding him for being so greedy. He pouts, taking a much smaller amount and retreating to his chair. The back door is thrown open as Olivia comes in screaming for breakfast. Nissi is nearly toppled over as Olivia grabs a fork and takes a bite of her eggs.
"Mmm..."
Kuwabara watches her with the weirdest expression on his face. "Do you know what you're eating?"
"Of course," Olivia replies, releasing her hold on Nissi. "I love these eggs. Thanks, Nissi."
"Yup."
"You mean you actually...like it?" Kuwabara whispers.
"It's got a wierd flavor, but I like it."
oO Kuwabara's mind reels as Hiei enters the room still looking very tired. Yusuke shoves him into a chair on his way to his own.
"Sit down and eat. What's wrong with you?"
"Mph...tired..." Hiei groans.
"Must be, otherwise you wouldn't have answered me," Yusuke comments. Then he grins. "So. What were you doing?"
Hiei glares at him, otherwise unresponding. Meagan, still too tired to really move, gives him a warning before digging into her fruit salad. (a/n: Me-chan loves fruit) Yusuke gives a thumbs up before digging into his own food. Vanessa clears her throat, fork stabbing what little is on her plate. The ramen from last night still sits in her system. In between bites of food, her friends look up at her.
"Kurama won't be with us all this week you guys."
Botan-finally finished with getting ready-comes down. "Yes. He will be spending time with his mother."
The group listens as Kurama explains the details of the situation, and he is very happy when they take it with no fuss. They merely tell him to have fun, and don't worry about a thing. They'll be there ready to exterminate any demons trying to ruin their happy week. Kurama sighs, adding sugar to his rice. There could be a bit of a problem with all of them tailing him all week but besides that...it will be a wonderful week.
I wanted to do a semi-serious first chapter, instead of something goofy and 'whee!' since I did that for two whole stories. I am seriously wanting to do a blood-and-gore sequence. Death... /sweatdrop/ Sorry about that. Wow, this ended up being really long. Yay! Next chapter to be up soon!