Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Past Encounters ❯ Good News Comes in Threes… or Does it? ( Chapter 7 )

Past Encounters

Written By: Sakura Harusame

Beta-ed by: Dani Yuy

Disclaimer: See chapters 1-6

The way things are written: "…"- talking, italics- thinking, /…/- telepathy, bold italics- Yoko/ Shuichi (whoever is trapped inside)

Chapter 7: Good News Comes in Threes… or Does it?

"Why run? You're a fighter Sakura, this isn't like you." Mukuro sat in her study, staring at her guest. Sakura, now in her Yoko form, refused to look her in the eyes. How could she tell Mukuro the truth? It would be admitting she had become weak during the time she had spent in the Ningenkai. That was something she wouldn't - no, couldn't - do.

"I just…" She sighed. "Drop it, it isn't worth the breath."

"Yes it is, and you know it. Tell me now."

"Damn it, why won't you just leave it alone?!"

Mukuro just looked at her, her face passive and emotionless. This wasn't the Sakura she knew. The Sakura she once knew was diligent and graceful, nothing like the girl infront of her. Why was she making this so hard? She would have to tell Mukuro what happened sooner or later, and Mukuro preferred it be the former rather then the latter.

It was as if Sakura feared this. Like by telling her what had happened, it would be saying she was weak and worthless. Like she could no longer take care of herself.

"It was just easier for me to run at the time…" Sakura muttered, but not so low that Mukuro was unable to hear her.

"I thought as much. You grew up with the tentai, his girlfriend, and his best friend. Well, your ningen form grew up with them." Mukuro moved over to Sakura. "You're only weak if you keep everyone at a distance."

"No, people are a weakness. You know that was well as I do Mukuro."

"Then why is it you got so close to the reikai tentai? And that great oaf he calls a best friend? Or his girlfriend for that matter?"

"It's not as if I planned to do so! Inari, they've become a weakness, my weakness." Sakura looked up at Mukuro, her eyes showing anger, self-loathing, and sadness. "And that is unacceptable."

"Having a weakness proves you still have humanity left. Even Hiei and I have weaknesses."

"Really, and just what are those so-called `weaknesses' of yours?" Her voice was flooded with sarcasm.

"Hiei's are you and his sister and mine are you and him. I thought you would know that by now."

"Then not only am I weak, I'm a liability as well." She looked away, blinking back the forming tears. She wasn't sad, oh no, she was pissed. She hadn't been upset like this in years.

Before Mukuro could retaliate, a young apparition - a girl by the sounds of it - burst through the doors. "Mukuro-sama! I have news!"

Mukuro gave Sakura a final pointed glance; one that clearly stated this conversation was far from over, before turning to the girl. "What is it Aya?"

"The members have been summoned. All are accounted for, except for the heir to the last third of the Makai. His placeholder will be here though. Yomi also said his heir will be here as well."

"Members?" Sakura whispered. "You've summoned the Circle. Who is this Yomi and that other youkai as well?"

"Aya, you may go." With a wave of Mukuro's hand, the girl scurried off. "Yomi and I are what's left of the Triad. The other youkai of which Aya and I spoke of died many years ago. We all assumed you were dead, but you're fate was worse… To be a stuck in a mortal body for over fifteen years…"

"So you mean that because of your assumptions, I am no longer apart of the inner circle." It was more of a statement then a question, Mukuro noticed.

"Hai, but there is a way of changing that. You'll have to defeat one of the others who have a third of the Makai. Yomi will be a challenge. I do not even remember the name of the other youkai, the one that had died. His heir has not been found, or at least not to our knowledge, but the heir's placekeeper will be here in his, or her, place."

"So what do you advise?"

"That you challenge the heir to Yomi's third of the Makai. I am unsure as to who it is, but it's better then you taking on Hiei. You cannot challenge a heir's placeholder either..."

"Fine, I will take your advice. I thought I would have to do as much anyway." Sakura smiled for the first time sense she had arrived, other then her arrival itself. It was a sinister smile, that of one who's seen the evils of all three worlds, one who's been apart of some of those evils... "Now, how should I make my presence known? I do wish it to be a surprise to all the members, especially the other two-thirds of the inner circle."

Mukuro grinned. "Why is it I get the feeling you already have something planned?"

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"HEY! EARTH TO TODDLER BITCH![1]" Yusuke sat in the living room of Kurama's house, the rest of his 'team' sitting near him, as he shouted into his laptop-looking communicator.

The screen when from static to an image of Koenma. "Sorry Yusuke. I'm busy at the moment. I'll get back to you as soon as I can."

"Fuck no!" Yusuke yelled at the communicator as Koenma's image disappeared.

"It seems that we'll have to pay the young prince a visit." Kurama stated, his voice allowing no room of contestation.

"Hn." Hiei looked to Kurama, noting his eyes had a hint of amber to them. "Where's the portal to the Reikai at?"

"Um guys, I don't think-" Kuwabara pointed to the screen. "-we need to worry about that."

Koenma was sitting there in his teenage form, grinning like a manic and his face was slightly flushed.

"Have fun while you were `busy'?" Kurama asked, putting his hand infront of his mouth to stifle his laughter.

"So, who's the lucky lady?" Yusuke smirked.

"Urameshi, what are you guys talking about?" Kuwabara asked, slightly confused.

"Oh Koenma…" A familiar voice called.

Koenma quickly put his hand over the microphone, but not nearly covering it enough to block out the conversation. "Boton, now's not really the time for this… Plus, we were just together. I need to do my job, as do you."

"Oh but Koenma!" Her voice was on the verge of being a whine.

Yusuke and Kuwabara fell over laughing as Kurama gave a goodhearted chuckle and Hiei just smirked. Boton and Koenma, who would have thought?

"It seems romance is just popping up everywhere…" Kurama stated, glancing at Yusuke deliberately for too long.

"Don't go there Kurama…" Yusuke muttered, but no so quiet that the kitsune couldn't hear.

"Now Yusuke, what is it you wanted?" Koenma asked once things simmered down.

"I want off this case. Now."

"But, Yusuke! I need her captured and I need her captured now!" He slammed his fist on his desk. There went his good mood…

"Nothin' doin'." Yusuke said, shaking his head.

"Hey Koenma, just why is it you want us to get her so bad?" Kuwabara asked.

"Good question Kuwabara. I guess I should have mentioned that before. She's a top-ranked member of an elite group of youkai and apparitions. It's called -"

"Ya, ya, we know what it is..." Yusuke muttered.

"How did you-"

"Mukuro informed me." Hiei said from the seat he had taken in the windowsill. "And I, in turn, informed them."

"Oh." Was all he could say.

"Koenma! Get off the communicator! I don't care-"

"Hey Boton." Yusuke said, his smirk growing into a grin.

"Oh, hello there boys." Boton's face suddenly showed up infront of Koenma's. "Caught that apparition yet?"

"No, and were not gonna either." Yusuke shot back.

"But, but! I won't get to spend any time with-MFF!" Koenma put his hand infront of Boton's mouth to stop her ranting.

"Please Yusuke?"

"Give her a pardon, let her go. If I bring her in, you question her and that's it. She's in a ningen body now! That's like throwing Kurama in Reiki prison!" Yusuke shouted.

Koenma sighed. "Alright, if you bring her in and I get to question her about the activities of the Circle of the Black Rose, I'll let her free... I'll have to tell my father…"

"Deal!" Yusuke shouted as he shut the communicator and turned to face the other's with a grin. "She'll get to go free you guys!"

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[1]- I love that line! I got it from one of the episodes and I thought it fit so well there! I think it was episode 72 or something like that…

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