Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ After the Fall ❯ Just Friends Part one ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter 8-- Just Friends Part I

Misa Koji couldn't take her eyes off him.

The raven haired young man who stood alone in the darkened Tokyo Museum of Art and Antiquity. He appeared at first to be studying one of the displays the head curator, Professor Ichi Tokikawa, had ordered to be set up to celebrate the arrival of several Egyptian artifacts. This particular display showed a group of school children writing upon strips of papyrus as a tall male teacher stood rigidly before them, eyeing them sternly.

But upon closer inspection she saw that his angelic features were gazing reverently at the ancient Egyptian text scrolled under the shatter proof glass that stood beside the display. His long, slender index finger traced the symbols upon the parchment in a slow vertical swipe. His pale lips moved in rhythm with his finger, clearly reading the text. He looked so innocent, so perfect, the assistant to Professor Tokikawa wanted to cry.

This must be the man the professor told me about. The financial backer for our current exhibit. Ren Kurayami. Quite the looker. She thought with a smile of admiration. Misa straightened her lithe frame, running a quick hand over her long obsidian hair before adjusting the tailored jacket of her celestial blue pant suit. Her lilac eyes grew serious as she walked towards him, mentally going over what Tokikawa had told her to say. She came to a stop beside him, hoping he would notice her presense and look over at her. Her face fell slightly as he continued to ignore her, absorbed in the text he was reading.

"Excuse me," Misa said softly. "Are you Mr. Ren Kurayami?"

"I am." He said absently, his eyes still lost on the exhibit before him.

Misa bit her lip. He seems so cold, so different than his appearance. "My name is Misa Koji, assistant to Professor Tokikawa. He sent me to escort you back to his office. He said to tell you he has found something that would please you immensely."

Ren raised his head, turning his gray eyes to her, tilting his head as he studied her.

Misa felt herself blush at his steady stare, but did not turn away from him.

At last, it seemed the ice had melted and Ren gave her a big smile. "Lead the way." He said excitedly, turning completely away from the text, waiting for her to go.

Misa nodded and whirled away. She began to walk forward all the while her thoughts on the handsome young man behind her.

Ren's smile fell as his features grew thoughtful. I could use this one. He thought as he watched her move, taking in her measure from behind. Perhaps I could have a little fun with her before I head home. He added mentally as he followed her across the marbled tiles that led to a service elevator along the far wall.

A short while later, Ren found himself outside the professor's office in a brightly lit hallway, waiting patiently as Miss Koji knocked on the door.

"Come in, come in!" A masculine voice cried out impatiently.

Misa opened the door, revealing a large room cluttered with antiquities and texts from around the world. The large black desk in the center of the room was piled with stack upon stack of files, hiding the voice's owner from view.

"Professor I brought Mr. Kurayami here as you requested."

A black office chair shot backwards, a short, lean middle-aged man with unruly black hair and intelligent blue eyes sat within it's frame, a half smoked cigarette leaning out of his mouth. "It's about damn time you showed up!" He addressed the young woman as he ripped the cigarette out of his mouth, smashing it into an ashtray out of view.

Misa frowned but said nothing as she watched her boss rise from his chair.

"Leave us." He ordered, looking away from his assistant to the tall man beside her.

"But why?" Misa protested.

Tokikawa grew angry. "Because I said so you silly girl!" He replied ushering her out. "Shoo, shoo!" He added waving his hands in a get out gesture.

Ren gave her an apologetic smile as he leaned forward to whisper into her ear. "Perhaps after I talk with the professor you and I could have a little chat. Over a cup of coffee."

Misa blushed at the seductive tone in his voice but nodded with a smile before throwing her boss a icy glare. She whirled around and exited the room, slamming the door behind her.

"I'm sorry Mr. Kurayami. Misa is a new assistant of mine and a bit of a busy body. I just don't want her gossiping over what was discovered out at the most recent archeological site in Egypt."

Ren waved away his apology. "There is no need to explain Mr. Tokikawa." He said a little more sharply than he intended. These humans and their explanations. He thought in irritation. They take up too much time talking about trivial matters. A waste of breath. He added with an inward sigh. "Just tell me what it is you found. I have other appointments to keep."

"One of the artifacts you've been seeking is here." Tokikawa said in a conspiratorial tone.

Ren's eyes widened. Is it possible? "Show me." He ordered.

"Of course." Tokikawa replied, disappearing behind his mountain of papers.

Ren heard the clicking sound of a lock being opened and a door swinging to the side.

Tokikawa reappeared, clutching what appeared to be a large, gold metallic box. Ren's eyes widened in surprise as he noticed the strange blue symbols wrapped around each side. I know those symbols. Could it be .. ? "Let's have a look at that." He said softly reaching out to take the box from the professor.

Tokikawa held out the object, smiling as he noticed the excited gleam in the young man's eyes. He knew of Ren's love of ancient artifacts, a love he himself shared. It seemed to be the only time the financial backer smiled or appeared to be happy.

"Where did you find this again?" Ren asked as he studied the box intensely, turning it around and around in his hands.

"In Alexandria." He began. "We found it in the tomb of a storyteller named Hemoseti. It bore the same markings as you told us it would. The inscriptions around his burial chamber told of a box that fell from the sky believed to hold the writings of the gods."

"Did you carbon date it?" Ren asked although he knew the answer he would receive.

"We tried. No luck. We even attempted a metallurgy test which came back unknown."

"That doesn't surprise me." The younger man murmured studying the box reverently. "We're you able to open it?"

The professor shook his head. "No. I tried to break it open. I couldn't even dent it. It almost seems to be not of this world."

"That's because it is." Ren answered. Finally after all these years of searching, another piece of the puzzle is found. He looked over to the professor, unable to hide the joy he felt.

The professor matched his stare with one of confusion. "What do you mean? Is it from outer space or something?"

Ren did not answer. "Allow me to take this with me." He said instead, holding the box up with his right hand. "I'm reasonably sure I can open it by tonight."

The professor frowned. "If I was to do that, what would you offer me?"

Ren switched the box over to his left hand then reached into the inside pocket of his black blazer, pulling out a thick strap of 100 dollar bills. "Will this do?" He asked holding out the money to him.

The professor's eyes widened. Never before had Ren offered so much money for one of the buried treasures from an excavation site. That money would keep me set for the rest of the year. He thought. For the briefest of seconds, he debated if he should refuse. But his greed overran his reason and he snatched the money out of Ren's hand, eyeing the strap hungrily before looking back to Ren.

Humans are so easily corrupted by greed, one of the things I like about them. Ren thought with a smirk as he crooked the box under his left arm. "I take it our business is concluded." He spoke in finality.

The professor said nothing as he bobbed his head up and down absently, waving him away as he walked over to his desk and disappeared behind his stack of paper.

Ren turned and exited the office quietly, walking briskly towards the elevator, whistling to himself, elated at his good fortune. After this little bit of luck, nothing can bring me down. He was halfway down the corridor when an insistent beep went off causing him to look downward. The dark one gave a sigh, reaching down to snatch the small black cell phone off the clip attached to his belt, bringing it up quickly to his ear. "Hello?" He asked in a sing song voice as he stopped before the elevator, nodding his head at the panel, the up button suddenly aflame with light.

There was a slight pause before the caller spoke. "The fox has left his den." Ailia purred into the phone, the excitement in her voice not lost on Ren.

"And where did he go to Ailia?" He asked as he stepped into the elevator, eyeing the doors as they opened, turning quickly back around as they closed shut. He gave another nod and the elevator complied, rocketing upward towards the main floor.

"The kitsune went on a little trip into Reikai." Ailia answered.

Ren frowned. "Why the hell did he go to Reikai?"

Ailia laughed. "Well after that little incident in the coffee shop it seems fox boy has realized just how dangerous it is for his girlfriend to be among humans and personally asked Koenma to keep her safe."

Ren's features grew dark. "What did you do Ailia?" He asked warily into the phone, willing his features calm as the elevator stopped, opening to the lobby of the museum.

"Just a little test to see how strong Kurama's connection to Botan was."

"I thought I told you not to get near him." He snapped, stalking over to the men's room where he slammed the door open and began to pace before the sinks that lined the wall. " I didn't authorize you to do that! Now the spirit detectives will be on guard for anything out of the ordinary! This sets my plans back even further!"

Ailia said nothing at first before going on a tirade of her own. "You were the one who said to watch him! To learn his weaknesses! To test him!"

Ren growled, his features twisting in displeasure. "But not this soon! I told you we are not ready to face them yet!" He said drawing in a breath and letting it out slowly. "I told you Ailia that Kurama was off limits to you. Killing his girlfriend will not endear you to his heart."

"Who said anything about his heart." She countered. "It's his body I want."

Ren's left eye began to twitch. Dammit her lust is going to ruin everything! "Just where is Kurama now?" He asked as calmly as he could.

Ailia paused as if wondering how to tell him. "He has gone to Makai along with the two other spirit detectives."

Ren's eyes widened in understanding. "They are going to visit the fire apparition." He murmured, his voice tightening. "Send someone out to follow them."

"Tahomen was dispatched the moment they entered the demon world and has returned with some interesting news to tell you."

Ren smiled. Of the four, it was Tahomen he trusted the most to stick to the plan.

"I have some news of my own to give." He said, looking down at the box nestled in his arm as he exited the rest room, his gray eyes brightening as they caught sight of the rapidly approaching Miss Koji. "I'll see you later." He added.

"And just where will you be?"

"Out." He replied quickly, shutting off the phone and reattaching it to his clip. "Ready?" he asked Misa, flashing the most dashing smile he could muster.

"Yes."

"After you." He said, holding out his right arm, his left securely around the mysterious box as he followed the beauty out of the museum and the now darkening streets of the bustling metropolis of Tokyo.