Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Faux Pas ❯ Chapter 3

Faux Pas - Chapter Three

 

 

There was something about the Human World at night…

 

Hinageshi maneuvered her oar into a skillful dive, skimming over the treetops. She went into a little spin, rotating a hundred and eighty degrees so that her short red ponytail was trailing just above the leaves. With a small laugh, she righted herself and continued on.

 

The guide had just finished escorting an elderly man to the Spirit World. He had thankfully taken his death well and there was no real consoling she had to do. The man was actually quite glad, claiming that he was relieved he would finally be with his dead wife again. The seemingly young girl had left him at the gate with a wave and directions on where to go. He had smiled, thanked her, and left her to her own devices.

 

It had not been a particularly hard day on her, like those when she had to escort a deceased child or someone who hysterically denied the very idea they could be dead. Even so, the red-haired ferrygirl enjoyed going for a short flight after her work was through. Normally she would do it to relieve tension, but on this night it was to simply enjoy herself.

 

She had matured quite a lot in the past few hundred years, and was now fully capable of doing her duties as an agent of the afterlife. Ever since the confrontation with the Netherworld lord, Hinageshi had put forth all her efforts into bettering herself for her job. It was now a rare occasion that she muddled an assignment or caused her peers trouble. She was actually one of the most reliable and competent guides at Koenma's call. Despite her newly developed skills in escorting the dead to their final destination, it was by blind luck that she stumbled across Sensui.

 

With a quick tightening of her grip and a locking of her ankles, Hinageshi lowered herself closer to her oar and burst into a clearing. Her eyes narrowed as she set her sights on her goal. With a quick spurt of spiritual energy, she accelerated towards the thick wall of trees ahead of her. Moonlight skirted over the leaves, causing them to shimmer with ethereal quality and to form strange ghostly patterns over the ground.

 

Stray branches brushed past her body as she reached the trees, skillfully weaving about the trunks. It was as she was ducking a particularly large branch that something caught her attention. A deep shadow within the sheets of foliage, larger and darker than any of the usual forest debris, out of place amongst the trees and small rocks. Hinageshi slowed down and swooped in for a closer look.

 

`It's too large to be a wolf, and too small to be a bear. Plus bears aren't native to this area,' she thought to herself, hovering cautiously on her oar. `What if it's a demon?' Her grip on the smooth wood tightened impulsively. She was not particularly fond of dealing with demons due to her past experiences. Physically, she was not strong enough to defend herself against any attacks nor was she capable of running away fast enough. Still, it was her duty to investigate and report any stray demons to her superior. Any wandering humans who could run into a volatile beast needed to be protected at all costs.

 

Her resolve steadfast, Hinageshi descended until she was just in front of the shadow. Cautiously, she floated forward, prepared to bolt at any second if there seemed to be even the slightest possibility of a threat. There was an abrupt shift as the shadow moved and she started. Before she could take off, a male voice spoke out.

 

“Who are you?”

 

It didn't sound like a demon. But really, who could tell by voice alone? She remained wary but held her position. “Hinageshi, guide to the Spirit World. Who are you and what are you doing here?”

 

The shadow moved once more, rearing to its full height and then stepping out into a stream of moonlight. She gasped as it filtered more through him than on him, though still illuminating enough to show what the creature was.

 

It was a young man. He was tall with short black hair that mussed about his face, several strands trailing over his bright blue eyes. He wore a tattered dark blue sweater that seemed too large for him, and equally ruined pants.

 

The young man stepped closer and stuck out his hand. “Sensui Shinobu.”

 

Hesitantly, Hinageshi removed one hand from her oar and, at a loss for what else to do, shook with Sensui. He nodded as though satisfied, lowering his arm to his side.

 

She knew he couldn't be any ordinary human, as she was not in a visible form just anybody would be able to see. That and his near transparency gave her the answer to what he was. The small spirit guide cleared her throat nervously. “You must be a lost soul.”

 

“Oh, yes,” Sensui replied. “I don't know if I'm lost so much as stranded.”

 

Red eyebrows arched in confusion. She would have been notified if there were any more souls that needed to be relocated to the Spirit World for judgement, so why was this man here? In the middle of a forest, no less.

 

“You must work for Koenma,” Sensui was saying. “I suppose you've come to get me but I'm afraid I really don't much care to go with you. I think I'd prefer to stay here awhile longer.”

 

Now Hinageshi was extremely confused. This man knew Koenma? What was going on here?

 

“I really can't just leave you here,” she responded automatically, having heard similar things before though under different circumstances. Dead people had such a thing for denial. It was always about how it wasn't their time to go, how they couldn't possibly go with her because there was some terrible mistake, they couldn't be dead. Only this man seemed to have a very clear perspective on what was going to happen.

 

It was unnerving.

 

“Are you sure?” he asked mildly. He gestured around them. “It's just you, me, and the trees. I'm sure no one would incriminate you if you were to just go on your way and pretend you never saw me. Certainly myself and the trees won't share our little secret.” He raised a finger to his lips and lifted an eyebrow, questioningly.

 

“I couldn't possibly do that. You really do need to come with me,” Hinageshi responded.

 

Sensui's eyes narrowed quickly and there was a spark within them that flared up briefly. Though its presence was gone just as quickly as it appeared, Hinageshi felt unease build up inside of her. Whatever it was, it was dangerous. That much was for sure. “If I refuse?”

 

Nervousness made her stutter. “I'll have to let Koenma know and he will deal with you.” As an after thought she added, “He won't be happy.”

 

Sensui gave a soft snort. “No, I suppose not.” He paused for a few seconds, causing Hinageshi to shift restlessly on her oar, then his amiable look returned. “Very well. You have a job to do just as I once did. I'll cooperate for now.”

 

Dumbfounded, Hinageshi could only nod. She was only a spirit guide, after all. If Koenma knew this man personally, and he was a dangerous character, that would be his problem to deal with. She was simply responsible for bringing the dead to their next destination. Plus, her logic argued that it wasn't like Sensui could possibly be a threat to her employer. No matter how dangerous that glint in his eyes had been (if it even had been there, she argued), he was dead.

 

The oar lowered closer to the ground in order for Sensui to swing his legs overtop of the wood and situate himself behind Hinageshi.

 

“Keep a firm hold at all times,” Hinageshi instructed, falling rapidly into her role as a guide. Sensui did as he was told, grasping the shaft of the oar between his two hands. The oar rose slowly into the air, cleared the trees, then soared off into the clouds and out of sight.

 

* * *

 

In the dead of night, something was stirring.

 

The streets of the old Mushiori City center were barren. The area had been relatively unchanged over the years, being claimed as a preservation site for society of old. Some of the buildings were in good condition, being preserved and restored through new technology, but others were no longer safe for public use. It was more of a tourist attraction now, where foreigners could come to see the quaint structures of the past.

 

In the wee hours of the morning, people were at home in their beds, preparing for the coming day. The only sound was the occasional gust of wind and the distant rumbling of the ancient monorail track as shuttles passed overhead. Buildings loomed over the empty streets, most dilapidated or in otherwise bad shape from the years of weathering abuse. In the still calm of the night they seemed out of place. The shadows twisted and distorted them, making their presence ominous.

 

A cloud passed over the moon, drenching the street in complete darkness. A full minute went by before the cloud shifted, pushed along by the nighttime breeze, once more baring the silver orb in the sky. When the shimmering glow of moonlight washed over the street again, it illuminated something more than pavement.

 

In the middle of the street floated three pairs of disembodied arms, stacked one on top of another. Silver from the moonlight glanced off the red protrusions sticking out periodically up the length of the arms, making them shine like rubies. The abnormally pale skin added to the surreal quality of the scene as they waved about independently of each other, grasping for something that wasn't quite there.

 

The arms ghosted forward, hands opening and closing frantically on thin air. With a sudden surge, they sprung forwards towards the nearest building and began tearing into the mortar with frenzied intensity. A section of the sidewalk was crushed as a slab of brick crashed down onto the already cracked cement.

 

As the dust from the cement settled, the frenzied tearing stopped. For a few seconds, the arms were still. Then, searching for a more satisfying source to vent its frustrations upon, the six-armed creature floated onwards.

 

* * *

 

Technically, it was a new day in all three worlds. A perfect way to make a fresh start. However, Koenma's troubles were still far from over.

 

For the last few hours he had been frantically going through the piles of backed up paper work in an attempt to get caught up. He had made a significant dent in the stack of files, but it still meant he was behind on the actual soul processing itself. Due to the delay, he had situated Itsuki into the adjoining room until the time came where the demon could pass through the gates of hell and receive his sentence. Two guards were posted outside the doors and another two below the balcony, as per regulations, in case the demon felt the need to make a hasty last minute bout for freedom. So far, he had not protested in the slightest. Koenma expected that would remain the case for the duration of his stay.

 

Right now, Itsuki wasn't on his list of top priorities. Not directly, anyway.

 

Jorge had burst into his office for the second time in (technically) as many days, bearing a report on the demon that had been sighted earlier in Mushiori City. Apparently its time of dormancy had ended and it was now rampaging around the streets, destroying buildings, cars, and anything else it could get a hold of.

 

He now had confirmed sightings and what made everything even more delightful was whom the demon belonged to. He didn't particularly care why Itsuki's pet was terrorizing the Human World; he only cared about getting rid of it as soon as possible. It was destroying a historical landmark and could move on to newer areas of the city at any time. There were approximately four hours until dawn in the Human World. Four short hours between the demon and the general populace of the Mushiori working class.

 

No doubt his current detective in that area would throw a fit about being awoken so early, but he couldn't care less. He didn't plan on being the one to deliver the news. He would leave that particular detail up to Jorge and worry about yet the other matter at hand.

 

The report on Itsuki's pet had not been the only thing Jorge had brought with him. It seemed Sensui had turned up after all.

 

The form had come through while one of the ogres had been off trying to fix a jammed printer. This was a fortunate thing as Jorge was able to snatch the paper before anyone could see it, and thus keep the secret away from Lord Enma for a little longer.

 

Sensui's last known location was in the forested mountains outside Mushiori City. How he had gotten there was anyone's guess, considering the last place the void existed was in the Demon World and Itsuki had turned up nowhere near that initial area. How he got there wasn't the important thing though. The important thing was to retrieve Sensui at all costs.

 

Koenma had summoned Ayame, her being one of the few people who knew the whole story behind what had happened with Sensui so many years ago, to help him. Though she was initially reluctant to retrieve Sensui, Koenma's faith in her proved to be well earned as she had hesitantly agreed.

 

Before she had left, Koenma had given her a communicator resembling a pocket compact. In uncharacteristic gentleness, he had placed it in her open palm and folded her fingers over it.

 

“Notify me as soon as you find him,” Koenma had murmured. Ayame had nodded in confirmation.

 

The black haired ferrygirl had then materialized her oar and left from the balcony outside Koenma's office before anyone could get suspicious of her whereabouts.

 

Koenma rubbed his temples and eyed the stacks of paper work before him. With a loud exhale he grasped his stamp and began deftly wading his way through it once again.

 

Now all that he had left to do was wait.

 

* * *

 

The flight had been relatively quiet except for Hinageshi's brief attempt at conversation in which she had asked Sensui how he knew Koenma. He had responded that at one point during his life, he had worked for the junior lord of hell and had been a spirit detective. The ferrygirl had wondered aloud why she had never heard Sensui's name mentioned in any records. He had told her, quite matter of factly, that it was probably because he had attempted to destroy the Human World at one point. He suggested it might have had something in turn to do with betraying his race in an act of, sadly unsuccessful, mass genocide.

 

Needless to say, the rest of the trip had passed in silence.

 

Though Hinageshi's mind was now burning with questions to ask the former detective, she decided to stay quiet. She was probably better off not knowing. Yes, that route was always safest. Didn't everyone always say that ignorance was bliss?

 

Behind her, Sensui let out an appreciative sigh as they broke below the cloud cover. As the white cleared from her vision, Hinageshi was able to make out the familiar yellow landscape. Below them lay the river Styx, winding its way through the cliffs and hills, and just ahead was a large wall that made up the barrier fence around the central building.

 

Hinageshi tilted her oar into a smooth dive, landing just outside the massive gates. As she touched down her oar vanished, causing Sensui to stumble a few steps to retain his balance. Upon their arrival, the gates had slowly cracked open allowing just enough room for their safe passage through.

 

“Come on,” Hinageshi said, leading the way. It wouldn't do to leave him on his own, even though he no doubt knew the way based on the nature of his former job. No, this was one spirit delivery Hinageshi would see all the way through, straight to her boss's office.

 

Sensui could only nod and follow.