InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Real Folk Blues ❯ Alert, Alert! ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I don't own anything peeps!

 

A/N: There are mistakes here and there, and thanks to those who pointed them out. I know, I know. I'm hopeless. This is the first revision. Please bear with me until then. Yuusuke's a bit childish in this chapter, just a little warning. Thanks for the reviews.

 

Title: The Real Folk Blues

Author: Adorkablebanana

 

Chapter 7: Alert, Alert!

 

P. O. V. D: Yuusuke

 

"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."
- Albert Einstein

 

 

There are times a man could handle the full plate handed down to him. He either sucked it up and dealt with it, or ran away and say, “No way, no how.”

 

 

I'm stuck in the lot with the ones that take it and deal with it, no matter how outrageous the crappy situation is. I took it like every other shitty thing in my life I undergo.

 

 

"Faster dimwit, you're not working hard enough!" yelled the pink haired hag, otherwise known as Genkai, sitting casually on her comfortably cushioned chair, puffing out a cloud of smoke from her thin wrinkled lips. She took another drag. Damn, good for nothing-chain smoker.

 

 

"You're one to talk grandma, you're sitting on your lazy ass doing squat while I'm here doing all the hard work! This ain't easy, you know!" I grunted, defending myself as I barely dodged another razor disk flung towards me.

 

 

She laughed. Not even bothering to respond to me. Little, no good…

 

 

"You -- should -- do -- it -- yourself -- old bat!" I scowled and bitched in between dodges as a close call nearly sliced my foot off, it tore a tear in one of my favorite jeans…fuck!

 

 

Genkai sat there, dumping the cinders of her cigarette butt into a silver ashtray, a small pile of ash building up. "Lunch break!" Snapping her fingers, she stopped that monster of a contraption, or so I thought. The last razor disk flying out caught me off guard and if I haven't hit the dirt my head would have been hacked off and rolling on the ground like a bowling ball this very second.

 

 

"Hey, you freakin' fossil! What the hell was that for? You nuts or something!" I shouted as grains of dirt slid off me. I glared at that dirty old fart, hating that fucking smirk on her wrinkly old face. I spit out the grass and dirt shoved in my mouth resentfully. Yuck! How can cows eat this shit?

 

 

“I thought it would be funny, that`s all. Now quit whining and get up.” Getting up from her high chair she walked towards the temple.

 

 

Why that evil little witch! She has got to be going senile for that level of pranking. She wants to kill me, I just know it.

 

 

Picking myself up from the ground, dusting off the dirt staining my jeans and green t-shirt, I followed closely behind Genkai, muttering curses about the slave driving old woman and hoping halfway she didn't hear them. I can't go on for another five hours I'm fucking tired.

 

 

Inside the temple, after showering the grime off and changing into a pair of clean clothes, I sat in the dinning room (I think it is, we always eat here) leaning against the wall, one knee up with an arm resting on it. Yukina set the table for lunch.

 

 

The petite, pretty, teal haired (that's how Keiko described her hair color, I dunno, I still think it's pretty cool) Koorime set the plates on the table, smiling as she glanced towards me. I smiled half heartedly back. Yukina always had that subtle, friendly flare I can deal with, not the annoying perky type that can cause tension. Thank goodness or else she'll be a clone of Botan.

 

 

I learned to `adapt' to Botan's personality. In all honesty it isn't too bad, I'm just not much of a people person. Anyway, what's a Detective without his assistant?

 

 

Straight to the point: Botan is annoying, not for her perky side, trust me you get use to it eventually, but for her little barging in habit. Her barging means an assignment from Koenma, which means ruining another one of my arranged plans, cutting like knife on butter into my free time.

 

 

I sighed, real deep, for the second time today. Genkai's training reeked havoc on my limbs, I swore I pulled a muscle or two today. Massaging a shoulder blade I attended to the pesky ache as best as I could. Damn it hurts. Yukina looked up in concern with her pretty crimson eyes. Hey, what can I say? I have an eye for the ladies but it's only the eye, I have Keiko already. And, well, she can get violent if I did anything further than look. Hiei would too since its Yukina, his sister.

 

 

"Is something wrong, Yuusuke-san?" she asked meekly, her eyes showing concern. She always troubled over others.

 

 

"Nah, nothing to frown about. My shoulder is just bothering me from the hag's training session," I assured the Koorime there's no real reason to trouble over, I refrained from telling her how much torture today's session was.

 

 

Yukina eyed my shoulder unconvinced. She set down her last plate moving her way towards my side, kneeling behind me. She rested her small hands on my shoulders, tilting her head to side to see me. I stiffened. What`s she doing? “Where does it bother?" she asked. I tried brushing her off, telling her nothing's the matter but she casually said, "nonsense. I want to help you, after all I am a healer." True. Though I really didn't need the girl's help. Not yet at least, but what the heck.

 

 

Hiei can't get mad at me for letting his sister assist me in a moment of pain. I don't think so anyway. Last time I made a comment to her he hit me over the head with the hilt of his sword. "Fine then…on the back of my shoulder, the left one," I indicated her.

 

She nodded. “Your muscles are very tense. You should take it easy on yourself. You wouldn't want to hurt a ligament. Keiko would be very upset to know your health's at risk,” she spoke in her low, soft voice knowing exactly Keiko's thoughts on my tough training.

 

People worry way too much for no reason. I didn't respond. Can't say anything to that really. Her hands rubbed cycles on my upper back, it felt nice till she pushed in the popped muscle with a nasty CRACK! into place.

 

 

"Ouch!" I winced. That really hurt, it felt like someone twisted a bone then shoved it back into place. I had that done to me once so I know what I'm talking about.

 

 

"Sorry…I didn't mean for it to hurt, its just the muscle was popped out of it's place. I had to push it in, forgive me," she apologized. She sounded mortified. She thought she caused me pain. All right she did, but unintentionally. Now normally I'd lash out on the numbskull that did cause a form of pain to me but she's different, she tried to help me. Not like she grabbed a spatula and whacked it against my face with it.

 

 

I hate a girl's power. You can't get mad at them and take it out on them. I can't yell at a girl without feeling shitty later and I don't think I'm capable of doing so with Yukina. She hasn't earned the credit for that to happen. It's not in me to and if Hiei finds out I've made her cry or upset her lets say his black Dragon of Darkness will be tailing my ass.

 

 

Sliding away, she bowed apologetically. Guilt rose in me seeing her all worked up over my comment. Why is it with girl's I'm such a softy, oh Hell, a push over? Damn feminine wiles. Or maybe it`s the boobs? I think it is, no doubt about it. “No, no. I'm…okay. It only hurt for a second, it just caught me off guard," I said between gritted teeth, preventing myself from cursing out.

 

 

Yukina stared up, her eyes a bit glossy as if she were about to cry. “Are you sure? I'm sorry if I caused you pain,” she apologized for the third ongoing time.

 

 

It did hurt a lot too but -- wait a second here, my shoulder feels…much better, it…doesn't bother me anymore. It isn't stiff like before. What the fuck? She actually fixed it. Well what do you know? We got ourselves here a Chiropractor. "You know what, my shoulder doesn't hurt any more. I feel a Hell of a lot better, thanks."

 

 

"Really? I fixed it? Well, then, you're welcome," she said happily, smiling brightly. The smile reaching her eyes that shined with glee. "I have been reading How to be Chiropractor in 60 seconds. This is my first attempt doing it, I'm glad I performed it right," she said innocently as an after thought.

 

 

She tested it on me! I was her guinea pig! I nearly lost my balance. I could feel my brow twitch and I could definitely say I was scared. "O-oh, really?" I asked, pushing back my slight annoyance.

 

 

How can this girl just use me as her test subject? What if she had done something wrong? What would have happened then? I shivered thinking of the dreadful possibilities if she had done it wrong. I could have been turned into a pretzel or ended up in a wheelchair thanks to her amateur skills.

 

 

Yukina, you are dangerous, like your brother. No joke there.

 

 

"Um... Don't you think you need to serve lunch now?" I reminded her of her chore to keep her from testing on me any further. The quiet, innocent ones are always the scariest ones. Take Hiei, Yuumi, Keiko (innocent my ass but unexpected nonetheless) and Kurama (yet another one that is anything but innocent) for example.

 

 

Damn that's a long list. I better watch my back more.

 

She blinked for a few spacious seconds before her lips formed a '0' remembering what I meant. "You're right. I almost forgot." She scurried into the kitchen fetching the cooked meals.

 

 

I sunk back against the wall feeling better, a little scared but better, waiting for the meal my stomach so looked forward to. I should help and all but I'm too tired to do it and everyone yells at me when I'm in the kitchen. So what if I caused a fire or two? It was an accident. Instead I went to the main hall to go use the phone. Amazing the old woman had an electronic within the temple. Genkai doesn't care much for electronics, well I think so, she does make an exception for games but she had purchased some to make life a little easier for Yukina.

I picked up the phone, dialing in the numbers for home. I waited for the dial tone and then the phone kept ringing… ringing…ringing…

 

 

And ringing…okay, somebody pick up. Anytime now! I don't have all fucking day.

 

I hung up then called back a few times. I almost waited five minutes on the phone, waiting for someone to pick up. The answering machine should have picked answered by now. Souta had better not unplugged the answering machine. Stupid little shit likes playing with wires.

 

 

I hung up, then started dialing Yuumi's cell phone number, waited for a second, then heard the same ringing… ringing… ringing…

 

 

And ringing once again. "Hello?"

 

 

"Finally! No one picks up the goddamn phone. So Yuumi, what's kicking?" Kagome's mom must've gotten home just now from grocery shopping.

 

 

"Nothing here, you?"

 

 

“I wanted to ask how things were."

 

 

"Well, I'm glad you're having a nice day. Leave a message at the sound of the beep and I'll call later, goodbye. Take care," spoke the recording of Yuumi's voicemail. I felt entirely stupid. I fell for it, again. This is the 20th time this month! I keep forgetting the way Yuumi's voicemail sounds like. I should slap myself silly, goddammit and here I call stupid Kurabara retarded. I meant retarded in a friendly way.

 

 

I waited for the Beep! to place my message. “Yuumi, its another point to you. Fell for it…again. I just called to know if anything's up. Call back Genkai's temple when you get this message. Say hey for the squirt, Mom and Kag's for me. Bye.” I hung up, leaving the message I hadn't planned to leave. Whatever.

The clever woman can certainly make a man feel stupid using her `womanpower vibe' to outsmart me. Girls. Women. Why does it always have to be the ladies who do this to me?

 

 

Well, no one with common sense would place that type of recording for a voice message in the first place. I'm suck with the special ones.

 

 

Well, that's a done deal. I'm not feeling less edgy but if no one's home what can I do? Or answer their cell phone. Why do people have them if they never answer? That always annoyed me. Whatever.

 

 

I thought about phoning again but the result would end up the same. This stupid feeling I felt for a while won't leave me in peace. My mind wanders off for a peculiar reason and I can't seem to concentrate, my head is dead set on home. This nagging feeling something's up bugged me to the point I had to make that phone call. Part of the reason I called home and Yuumi's cell phone.

 

 

Something's bothering me but I don't have a clue what it is? I doubt I'm homesick. I came all the way here to get away from home. Why would I want to suddenly go back? I hate attaching to people. This is why I don't like it. To get use to my new life and the new people in it has been a difficult trip for me. Honestly I didn't want anything to do with Mom's new life. I didn't want anything to do with Yuumi, Souta, and mainly Kagome.

 

 

I couldn't stand her. From the start we got off a rocky ledge. I wasn't comfortable with some new girl within an inch near me. Sure, I thought if I could stand her enough maybe my life wouldn't be too cluttered. The harder I tried to avoid Kagome the more we "ran into each other." My efforts worked against me, and much to my dismay I learned to like her, Yuumi and Souta.

 

 

She's still a pain in my ass but…I suppose it's all right. I don't know if it's all right for me to feel this way. Is it okay for me to bring more people inside the circle of people I give a damn about? Believe it or not I'm working on it, I crash here at Genkai's place, to try to work things out. Maybe later on I can give into this whole 'family togetherness.' Doubt it, I'm not the mushy type but getting rid of Souta and Kagome is impossible.

 

 

Genkai doesn't bother with why I come here. She doesn't train me like before but she just puts me to work here in order to compensate for the free food and board. Works fine with me.

 

 

To my dislike, I tossed the worry behind me. I needed to focus on training. Genkai would have been furious if I swayed in training and when you start her with something the bitch can't just leave it to rest for a while.

 

 

My stomach grumbled. I'll go see if lunch is ready.

 

 

I returned to the where I stationed myself earlier. Yukina set the last dish on the table. “Oh good, you're just in time for lunch. I guess I don't have to ring the bell today,” the humble apparition grinned, disappointment slightly noticeable. She liked ringing the large gong near the training grounds to signal the foods prepared. I, on the other hand, felt relived. I hate that annoying bell, it's so loud you can feel the sound waves in the air after a few minutes, its so annoying.

 

 

I think secretly she likes seeing me cringe when the gong sounds off. Something tells me she has a little bitty dark side to her. Man, Hiei, your big brother glitches are rubbing on her, be proud. Bastard demon.

 

 

Yukina separated the rice, sew, and lo mien noodles in different plates. The girl had gotten quite good cooking in human culinary arts. She can whip up any dish off the bat. She had fooled around in Chinese gourmet and she frequently cooked Chinese food. Her favorite dish she made thumb sucking good the lo-mien noodles and egg drop soup. Yummy. I don't mind being the guinea pig for that.

 

 

Resisting the urge to lick my lips and drool, my long denied appetite surfaced to the max. I didn't even bother to wait for the old woman, I scarf down to contentment, slurping, gulping, and swallowing the tasty chunks of food down like there's no tomorrow.

 

 

Yukina politely waited for Genkai to present herself, giggling softly. "I see you're enjoying the food." I nodded, mumbling something I even couldn't comprehend. The food bunched up in my mouth, blocking any distinct words. Meh, she gets the point.

 

 

"I'll take that as a yes."

 

 

Shortly Genkai entered the room, seating herself in her favorite chair, giving the Koorime complements on her cooking. "I see the slob is enjoying himself," she stated dryly, looking a bit on the disgusted side at my gobbling. Picking up her chopsticks she entwined the gooey spaghetti.

 

 

Yukina nodded, eating bits and bits of rice. I proceeded onto my seconds. Yukina intercepted me. “Allow me,” she offered. She dumped a large amount of lo-mien onto my empty plate, refilling sew and rice.

 

 

Genkai rolled her eyes, shaking her head in a `he'll-never-learn way.' I knew the drill already. Again, do I really care? “Yuusuke breathe or you'll choke. I don't have time to dump your carcass in the woods.” I shot her a threatening glare, she, of course, smirked slyly, drinking the contents of her favorite tea.

Gulping down the accumulated lump of food in my throat, I burped out loud, just to annoy the old woman. Yukina stifled a laugh, hiding her smile behind her hand. At least she sees the humor in it. Well, she does hang around Kurabara so she's must be use to seeing that.

 

 

“Yuusuke, you really are disgusting. No manners at all.”

 

 

“The hell with manners, Genkai.”

 

 

“Suit yourself. You're the one who's going to embarrass Keiko in the future,” she countered. I shrugged. I do it to annoy her when I can. Mission accomplished. Keiko and dinner is another affair I keep in private, I'm not that shameless. Plus last time I make a mistake Keiko left me in the restaurant with the bill. Wearing a hairnet and washing dishes all night wasn't fun.

 

 

"Botan told me to tell you to go to the Reikai. Something about a new mission." My audible groan answered her question if it bothered me to go. Dammit, I don't want to go now, I was planning on going home tomorrow. Keiko is coming back from that internship on Wednesday, I wanted to see her.

 

 

"It is your responsibility. Finish up and get." The straight-faced woman waved off, dismissing me. She knew how badly I needed to go home but the duty of being a spirit Detective has its obligations.

 

 

“Alright, alright. I'm leaving, geez.” I finished up the rest of my lunch. Getting up from the table I marched to the bathroom, washing then wiping my face and hands clean. I headed towards my room to retrieve my things after I finished.

 

 

"Yuusuke-san, can you tell Kazuma I said hi when you see him?" Yukina asked me to do her that favor.

 

 

I nodded. Saluting goodbye. “Sure thing. Later.”

 

 

~…~

 

 

"Yuusuke, it's nice that you finally decided to answer my call. I called more than a few times but you, oh, never picked up," said the annoying toddler in his teen form, leaning back against his chair. Glaring at me irritably for ignoring his calls. Okay, so I forgot to my communicator at Keiko's. Sue me.

 

 

“Yep, that's how it is.” My simple answer set him off. He started lecturing me on my debt and responsibility to the Reikai, babbling about being here on time, to take this as a serious matter, blah, blah, blah! Heard it all before.

 

 

"Perhaps we'll make Kurabara leader of the group for now on," he had the gall to suggest that absurd idea.

 

 

"WHAT! Hell no! I'm the leader!" I shouted incensed, angry he would try to replace my rightful spot. He's downright aiming to bust my chops.

 

 

"If you want to keep that role I suggest you start acting like it," the demigod advised sternly, an amused curl of his lips proved he liked being in charge and annoying me, knowing how to push my buttons. Damn you Koenma!

 

 

"I am acting like it.” I do take responsibility for the team, what else does this toddler want from me? I scratched the back of my neck, reminded I forgot to apply gel and style my hair. “Why'd call me here?" I got right to the point. Hiei `hn' in agreement and Kurama's serious face urged to know as well.

 

 

What's eating Red, now?

 

"I will in time, but all of you need to be present. One member is missing."

 

 

Kurama decided to interrupt, "Koenma sir, Kurabara will not be attending. Shizuru called me, informing me he had come down with a cold for quite some time. He will be unable to assist us on this mission," informed the fox smoothly. Yeah, I've been wondering where he has been disappearing off to, too.

 

 

Koenma sighed, sucking on his pacifier agitatedly. "That's nothing I can fix right away. I wish him a fair recovery soon, for now it's just the three of you." He lifted the control clicking on the big T.V he often used to instruct us of the next case. On the screen the image of three hot looking demon chicks appeared. They look fuckable.

 

 

“These three demonesses have a reputation for causing trouble in the Makai. Their criminal records are constantly checking into the fresh pile. They haven't done any big doomsday trouble like many of the youkai I send you to fetch, but now they're working with some other force.”

 

 

“And that's bad.”

 

 

“If it wasn't I wouldn't bother, Yuusuke,” Koenma replied curtly. “They managed to cause a gap in the barriers and escaped into Ningenkai. The demons have gone into hiding, we don't have any signals where they are or what are they up to. I want you to track them down before they cause more problems.” He sucked on his pacifier again, the excessive load he has been underneath was beginning to stress him out and for the rest of us we take the load for his troubles.

 

 

"You want us to track down these chicks before they do any real damage, right?" I said. He nodded. Sounds simple enough. No skin off my nose.

 

 

"But there's something you need to know, these girl's can manipulate their surroundings to their preference and work it to their advantage. Be cautious with them, they're known for their trickery," Koenma warned. Sounds like a challenge waiting for me. Not too exciting but enough to drive boredom away.

 

 

“You're not telling us enough information to go by,” Hiei said, looking at the screen of the T.V. then back at Koenma with that look in his eyes he suspected something. “For a simple matter we would not be called on an assignment short of notice.”

 

 

“Yeah, why aren't you filling us in on them? We gotta at least know what they did before to have an idea what type of force we're dealing with,” I said. What if these chickies have some sort of weird ability that'll work against us?

 

 

Koenma raised a brow. Impressed. I didn't like how surprised he was with my comment. He's implying something I know I won't like. “You're starting to act more like a Detective.”

 

 

“Cut the crap. Just answer the question.”

 

 

He regarded me for a second. Thinking it over. Not going to work with me if he gave me a half-assed answer. “They work for hire in businesses such as assassination, kidnapping, delivering `messages.' They only work for the best. I don't fear what they could do, I worry what their employer hired them for.”

 

 

“The assignment they taken up on must be important for them to break into the Ningenkai illegally.” Kurama added, narrowing his eyes as he was going into his thinking critically mode. Uh-oh. That can't be good.

 

 

“Exactly,” Koenma said, frowning.

 

 

"Koenma sir, by chance, are these demons elemental apparitions?" Kurama inquired, explaining the different climate regions and whatnot of Japan they could be in. Talking smart talk. I tuned him out for the moment when the smart thing to do was the opposite. I`ll take the fall for it later. No sweat. "These girls can use the forest, lakes, and mountain's snow to work in their favor."

 

 

 

"Yes, you're right Kurama. That is what's troubling me the most. All right, how about this; Hiei will take the mountains, you will take the forests, and Yuusuke will take the nearby water reserves. Report back if any changes occur. You're dismissed now." Snapping his fingers together Botan on cue opened a portal to the other realm, the three of us stepped out landing gracefully on the park floor.

 

 

It's a nice change Botan hasn't opened a portal underneath us, dropping us back home.

 

 

This little gathering was like a short reunion. Kurama hadn't changed a bit -- ignoring the fact he grown a few inches taller -- since the last time I saw him. He ran a hand through his sea of red tresses. When will he ever cut that long hair? “Long time no see, Kurama. How's the University treating you?"

 

 

"Oh, it's going rather smoothly. Nothing too complicated to master."

 

 

“Uh-huh. So any new fan-girls stalking you?" A smug grin stretched on my lips, unable to resist teasing him.

 

 

Ah, the memories. Good memories, so many of those high school girls who complicated Kurama's life. The two leaders of his `club' once stole a couple of his boxers, auctioning them on a website shrine they dedicated just for him. Kurama called the local authorities on the girls when he discovered it. I think he even demanded they put a restraining order on them. Hahahahaha! Too fucking hilarious.

 

 

Kurama eyed me in warning, silently casting a looming death wish upon me. Someone's a grump today, can't take the usual joke. I was right then. Gotta be worse than high school girls, college girls must be lions. "I prefer to forget that little topic."

 

 

Hiei smirked in response. Kurama shot Hiei daggers.

 

 

In other words the girls are harassing him. "Okay, whatever. Like I was saying -- wait is that Li!" I pointed to the bushes behind him. Kurama immediately, faster than the speed of light, whirled around in what I was guessing immediate panic. When he found no one there he sent me a lethal sneer, narrowing his green eyes.

 

 

I should have been scared by the look but he won't do anything hazardous to my health. Unthreatened by his glare I gladly fell into a hysterical laughing fit, laughing my ass off.

 

 

The look on his face, the way he reacted was priceless. My ribs were practically pulsating in pain. I hunkered on my haunches unable to support the heavy weight killing me softly but it's worth it. As much as I tried I couldn't stay serious. This moment is a classic Kurama blooper. Well, one of the few anyway. Hiei even chuckled. Nice to see another one laughing at the fox's expense. Kurama's little troubles just don't stop. Poor guy.

 

 

Finally regaining self-control, I wiped the tears of mirth streaking my face. Clutching my aching sides, I returned to my composure. "Sorry man, but it was too tempting." I patted the stone-faced Kurama on the shoulder. He didn't seem the least amused. "Are you off to Shiori's or back to your apartment again?" I switched the topic. The eerily silent Kurama proceeded in the direction to the bus stop, leaving the park.

 

 

"Yes. Mother insisted on a visit, which sounds pleasing enough. Call me later if anything new comes about. I will be in the neighborhood until Wednesday night, have a pleasant evening. Same to you Hiei." Kurama departed to Shiori's. Something in his voice promised revenge on me, and probably Hiei too. I couldn't shake the feeling Kurama has payback in store for me. Great. How nice is that?