Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Street Smart Contest ❯ First Impressions ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I don't own… hold it, ya know what I'm puttin' here `ight? Well then, how `bout a change in things `eh?

Claimer: I own all original characters, lyrics, songs, poems, plot for this story, and my own ideas. Now, everything else isn't mine. If ya need an exact list then fine, contact me and leave a review or somethin'.

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Summary: “She knows the streets Ko-Enma, you can't argue that… So ya asked for someone who I thought could handle this and help your group- I brought her.”

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Warnings: Rated R for language, light gore, violence, gang related material, sexual references and themes, insanity, suicide… come on ya'll it's R!!

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Lyrics `thoughts' “speech” -telepathy- ***flashbacks and dreams***

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Street Smarts Contest

Chapter 2: First Impressions

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Botan drifted above a quiet street. Well, it hadn't been quiet a few moments earlier.

The blue-haired woman had seen everything. Even Tia's `captor' hovering above the girl and forcing her to the street… it had all been planned. Tia was supposed to have been inside Marc's and clueless of the woman passing outside.

The woman Tia had saved had escaped, but both she and her baby had been scheduled to die. Instead, Tia had died in their place… It had all been so perfectly planned. Botan swallowed, gripping her oar… `All because Naiyuka couldn't get anyone else… That… That… witch!'

Botan's eyes shifted… But, she had work to do… `There's Tia's spirit now…'

Sure enough, a thin, almost see through image of Tia was floating some 15 feet above her body, still out of it.

Purple eyes closed and Botan silently cursed. This was too much.

The pink kimono shifted slightly as Botan glided over to Tia, and the woman patiently waited… which wasn't long. A few seconds barely passed before gold eyes opened and Tia gave a slightly stifled groan. “Wha' ta hell happened?”

“Well, for starters, you died.”

Tia bolted up into a semi standing position, her eyes swiveling around and landing on Botan, and if possible the gold eyes got even bigger. “Wh…”

“Hello there, I'm Botan, guide to the Spirit World.” Botan reached out to shake hands with Tia, remembering it was a western custom, but the girl didn't seem to understand, indeed she bolted backwards.

“Oh dear, sorry to startle you… I suppose you have had a pretty rough time of it…”

Tia's eyes narrowed and she glanced around, shivering when she realized she was all… float like… that's when she saw the still form below her… `I'm dead…?' “So tat's it?”

“Hmm? What's it?”

“I'm jus',” Tia shrugged, glancing at Botan and shaking her head, “Dead? I go to `ell now and tat's it?”

Botan bit her lip… She had expected some rough tough punk like Yusuke, not a girl with gold eyes that seemed lost and well, tough, but not when it came to coping. “Well, I have a way for you to live again. You have to go with me to Spirit world right now though so I can explain-”

“Ton't botha'.”

“-Everything to you and show you… what?” Botan halted, shocked.

“I said ton't botha'. I don't wanna live again… Not `ere. I've had `nough of this place.” Tia crossed her arms and continued glaring at her body. The empty gun was on the ground, the lifeless form covered in blood… “So, took two bulls to do me in, eh? Not bad if I say so m'self.”

Botan inwardly fought the urge to hug the girl; she wasn't going along like Naiyuka had planned. But, outwardly, Botan realized she had to get Tia to spirit world if she was ever going to help Yusuke… “So there's no reason you want to live, at all?”

Tia was quiet… Then, gold eyes narrowed. “To kill tha' bitch tha' got me dead in ta' firs' place.”

In other words… `Revenge… She'll never get into the afterlife after all this is over if her only reason to try life again is revenge…' “All right, well, I can help you,” Botan forced herself to keep smiling… Nothing about this was right… but… just the same…

“How can you help, eh?”

“If you let me take you to Spirit World,” Botan started, but had to stop as Tia held up a hand.

“What's a… Spirit World?”

Botan beamed.

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A teen-age Ko-Enma drummed his fingers absent mindedly on his for once empty desk… “What should I say?”

George was absent-mindedly straightening some papers, and gave a half-hearted response, “About what sir?”

“To Tia… I never really slept last night… seems I have a conscience after all…”

George bit back a comment and instead nodded his head sagely. “Well sir, you could always tell her you'll try to find the ones that killed her… She might listen to you then.”

“She'll want to live again, that's why she'll listen.” Ko-Enma believed that soundly. Tia's file was at his elbow and he stole a glance at the photo. The girl was worn, tired, and thin… But a fighting look was about her. It was as if she was telling you out loud she was ready to take on the world- end of story.

“Maybe not sir…”

“What do you mean ogre?”

“Well sir, if you had such a hard life would you want to go back to it?”

It was blunt, but instead of waving away the thought Ko-Enma paused for a moment… The ogre had a point… Tia wouldn't want to live again for the only reason of walking on the ground… Ko-Enma sighed. “Remind me never to follow one of Naiyuka's crazy plans again…”

“Hey there!” Yusuke stuck his head into the office and smirked like usual. “What's up?”

Ko-Enma sighed, “Yusuke, where's Botan?”

“She contacted us and said she was having a bit of trouble with someone and we were to go ahead and await for her arrival here.” Kurama also walked in, standing in front of Ko-Enma's desk.

The demi-god looked at both boys, and sighed. “Well, no doubt she's having `a bit of' trouble with Tia…”

Yusuke snorted at the name, “Who?”

Ko-Enma leaned forward, rubbing his temples with his hands. “Your new partner for the time being.”

Yusuke's jaw dropped ever so slightly and Kurama looked interested. Ko-Enma sighed again. “I'll explain everything as soon as-”

“Kuwabara has arrived!” The orange-headed boy walked into the office, grinning as usual, followed by Hiei who glared at for mentioned person with a mixed look of disgust and loathe.

Ko-Enma looked at George who simply nodded. “Well, now that everyone is here, I can go ahead and give you information regarding your mission and your partner.”

The lights went out and the screen glowed slightly, and a picture of a large city appeared, a few words scrolling across the screen telling the boys where it was. America. Kurama looked interested, Hiei cocked an eyebrow, Kuwabara gawked, and Yusuke groaned.

Ko-Enma cleared his throat. “There are two reasons why you're going here. One is of course to solve a major problem that could easily cause trouble where we are now. I've gotten word of several strange occurrences involving odd creatures appearing in different places through out the city and killing humans before vanishing again seemingly into thin air. Normally I'd send an investigation team to work on this and find out the whole problem… But the number of humans and demons slain in the area has reached 48, and something needs to be done immediately.”

Yusuke raised his hand and glared. “And just when are we going to do this?”

“You'll leave from the Tokyo International Airport and land in San Francisco, from there you'll switch planes and go to the city where this mission will be taking place,” Ko-Enma nodded. “You leave in two days. I have passports ready for you and tickets and everything else that's necessary.”

“Quite an intricate plan for an extermination project…” Kurama observed quietly. Ko-Enma swallowed.

“That brings up reason number two. You're partner for this mission is a 19-year-old girl by the name of Tia.”

“Tia what?” Kuwabara wondered aloud.

“I'm getting to that Kuwabara… Tia is an orphan, 5 foot 4, brown hair, gold eyes, human, no special abilities other than her street smarts and she's one of the best acting thieves in the area. She's not that well known, but has some information and her past relates to the second reason for this mission. The area is currently under the control of a gang referred to as the Wans. Their leader seems to have some connection to the creatures appearing. So, I need the four of you, er, five of you to go in undercover and try to give solid evidence linking him to the creatures. After that I can handle it. He's human so killing him is out of the question. Instead I want him alive. Tia will help you fit in and vanish into city, so that the Wans can't track you in any way.”

“Very intricate indeed. Why do you want me there?” Hiei glanced at Ko-Enma questioningly, plainly expecting an answer.

“Because not everyone you come across, Hiei, will be human. I have a rough guess as to how many demons there are in the area, but, well, America is a relatively new frontier for demons. In any case, I'm going to try to contact Botan and see how she's getting along with Tia.” Ko-Enma shifted his binki and reached for his remote.

“No need for that sir, here we are!” Botan walked in; her oar in hand and throwing a look behind her. Sure enough, a teen, Tia peered around the doorframe, throwing a searching look about every one of them, as if sizing up people in turn. Seemingly satisfied she stepped into the room, crossed her arms, and leaned against the wall.

Botan threw look at Ko-Enma that plainly said she was not the least bit happy about the current situation, but she was working with it. “All right everyone,” Purple eyes stayed on Ko-Enma with a glare but Botan gestured toward Tia. “This is Tia, she's your new partner so please be nice. She only knows so much Japanese so keep it simple. Oh, and no asking how she died, course you wouldn't get much of an answer anyways, she's decided she's not talking.”

Tia threw a helpless look at the ceiling as if asking `why me?' “You're ta one who kept bringin' up my accent in ta firs' place.”

Yusuke's jaw dropped… “Where the hell are you from?”

Gold eyes rested on the Spirit Detective, eyeing him. “Exa'ly where ya all `ill be goin'.”

Kuwabara's eyes screwed up in concentration, “What did you just say?”

Botan laughed. “Tia said she's from the city where you're mission is taking place.”

The orange-headed teen shrugged his shoulders, “Why didn't she just say so?”

Hiei rolled his eyes. “Anything else?”

Ko-Enma snorted. “Well, Hiei, I was hoping Tia would at least get everyone's names…”

Botan nodded. “Right, now listen closely Tia, his name is,” Botan gestured to Yusuke, who nodded, “Yusuke Uremeshi. And the one standing next to him is,” Botan nodded toward the tall orange-headed boy, who smiled, “Kazuma Kuwabara- just call him Kuwabara. And the next,” Botan pointed at Kurama, who gave a slight wave, “Is Kurama. He's a demon, just like,” Botan meekly nodded toward Hiei, who did nothing, “Hiei there. Well obviously not just alike but you get the idea, right?”

Tia arched an eyebrow, noting Botan's rather quick change in attitude once she had gotten to Hiei. “Bo, ya scared of dems of somethin'?”

Botan sweat dropped at the abbreviations but started to answer…

“She should be.” The black haired demon, Hiei, said pointedly before throwing a look at Ko-Enma and walking out of the office, right by Tia without a word.

“I take it Hiei's not looking forward to this I guess…,” Yusuke looked at Kurama who shook his head.

Botan crossed her arms. “Well he could be a bit nicer, he'll make a bad first impression on Tia.”

The gold-eyed teen shrugged. “Little late now ta tells ya ta truth.”

“Oh well, in any case, you have gotten the basic idea behind the missions, right?” Ko-Enma looked from face to face, skipping over Tia who still had a trace of clueless ness about her. “Okay, you all may leave, but be at the Tokyo International Airport at gate 12A at 9:30 A.M. in two days.”

Yusuke rolled his eyes. “Great, wait `till Kieko hears…”

Kuwabara nodded, then blinked… “Tia's a ghost…”

Yusuke looked at his friend and nodded, “Yeah… She just got killed after all…”

Tia winced at that but crossed her legs and hovered in the air for a few moments.

“Well then,” Kuwabara pointed at her, “How is she going with us?! What's she going to do, float above everybody's heads in the plane?!”

Kurama sweat dropped but just the same looked at Ko-Enma, “I take it you have something planned then?”

The demi-god crossed his arms and nodded. “Of course. Tia will be alive and whole when she meets you at the airport with your tickets and passports and such.” Tia threw him a look, hating how everything about her life… er… non-life, was being worked out without a thing from her.

“All right then, see everybody in a few days!” Yusuke yawned and walked out with Kuwabara and Kurama, complaining about how Spirit World was ruining his chances.

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“Ya said I was gonna come back ta life… How ya plan on doin' tha?” Tia crossed her arms and continued floating slightly in the air, her gold eyes sharp and her gaze even.

“Well it's actually a good deal simpler than you would think,” Ko-Enma nodded. “You see, normally, I would have you prove yourself worthy of even coming back to life… But, in the light of things, I will grant you life again. In return you have to help the boys with their mission. Do we have a deal?”

Tia drummed her right hand on her knee, thinking it over. “Afta this is over, do I still havta do any `fava's' for ya? In return I mean?'

Ko-enma shook his head, “No. After all of this is over you can disappear for all I care. Now, when you die again, you'll go straight to where you belong, no third chances.”

Tia snorted, “If I manage ta get m'self killed twice, I'll be a fool.”

“Well, everyone dies, Tia, no matter how smart you are.” Botan pointed out, searching Tia's face for a trace of an answer.

“Yeah… But, what ya ge' killed by is up ta yas… Think abou' it. If you're dumb ya ge' killed by little stuffs tha ta smart peoples don't ge' killed by.”

Ko-Enma had to resist the urge to ask Botan for a translation to what Tia had just said… The girl's accent in English was rough… In Japanese it was impossible. “Be that as it may, do we have a deal?”

“Hold up. I have a fava to ask of ya.” Tia stood suddenly, looking at the demi-god searchingly for a moment before nodding. “I wan' ya ta help me find who it was tha killed me… Tha woman tha shot me and forced me ou' on ta street.”

Ko-Enma froze, throwing a look at George who nodded. “All right, I will. Now, do we have a deal?”

Tia nodded, not offering her hand or bowing… Just an acknowledgment, that was all she offered.

Botan sent a worried look Ko-Enma's way before grabbing Tia's arm. “All right then, Ko-Enma I'll get her to her body…”

“Actually, it's already here…” George intervened, smiling slightly.

Tia blinked but turned to Botan, “All righ', I'm sick a bein' a driftin' peep, how abou' I get reintra'duced to a bit a gravity?”

“Sure… why not?” Botan sweat dropped… `Here we go...' “Say, Tia, I just thought of something… Where are the boys going to stay? You don't have a place large enough for them, do you?”

Tia crossed her arms, closing her eyes for a moment, “Guess ta little one forgot tat part, eh? Well… I could take ova Marc's ol' place… Couldn't `urt... and it's got 4 or so bedrooms… eh- mi' work.”

Botan nodded. “Okay then, time to get you living again.”

Tia shook her head, opening her gold eyes, “I'll neva get ova how weird ya guys sound…”

Ko-Enma bit his tongue.

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2 days later… at 9:30…

 

Two women stood in front of a large set of windows, looking out over the runways and planes coming and going. Neither really spoke much, but the shorter one with brown hair shifted a few times impatiently.

Gold eyes rolled, “Ya sure tey are all gonna show up?”

Botan simply crossed her arms, “You could do with a little patience.” The blue-haired woman straightened her pink t-shirt, tapping the floor with her tennis shoes before dusting off her jeans… Tia simply eyed her in silence.

“Hello ladies!” Kuwabara appeared out of a slight crowd that always seemed to fill airports… He was dressed in a white jacket, black shirt, and jeans… Tia flinched…

`Tey wan' me ta get these guys passin' as street? How in ta hell?' “Where's teh otha guy? Yu-whateva?”

Botan threw a glare at Tia, then turned to Kuwabara, translating, “She wants to know where Yusuke is.”

“Oh, he was right behind me… I had to go get him out of bed… Well, Kieko helped too…” Kuwabara grinned and looked over his shoulder, nodding in a general direction… “He should be here soon.”

“Mm.” Tia gave a stiff grunt in rely, looking over Kuwabara again and making mental notes of what work needed to be done… she had to be honest with herself, it was going to take a lot of work. “How do ya like tat hair?”

Kuwabara blinked, “My hair?”

“There you are, I thought we might have gone to the wrong gate,” Yusuke appeared, along with Kurama and behind them, looking out of place and unwilling, was Hiei.

Tia gave a half-hearted nod before assessing them each… Yusuke had ditched the school uniform and switched to jeans, short blue-jean jacket, white shirt, and sneakers… Tia grudgingly admitted he was going to require only a little work compared to his tall, orange headed friend.

Gold eyes drifted to Kurama, and here she chewed her lip in thought… He was too clean to pass as punk, street, or to wear any of the American baggy clothing… He wore slacks and a white shirt… simple but classy… he'd require some thought… Gold eyes blinked and moved on to the smaller demon…

He wasn't dressed in the same black outfit she had seen him in before. Instead he wore a black shirt, jeans, and boots of sorts… white bandana around his head… She was beginning to think the hair had a life and mind of its own… But, he was another one that wouldn't require much fixing… In fact he wouldn't look half bad in some American styled clothing…

“So, when's the plane ready?” Yusuke stretched slightly, yawning and looking to Botan.

“Oh, well, it should be ready here soon, I have all of your tickets and passports right here, one for each,” Botan distributed them to each person, giving Hiei's to Kurama. She nodded, “And Yusuke, here, a spy kit for you, be careful with it,” Yusuke was given charge of a black handbag of sorts with carry on tags. Tia rolled her eyes to Botan.

Botan caught the girl's gaze and looked startled for a moment then nodded, “Oh yes, Tia, Ko-enma said to give you this, to help take care of the boys and cover some things… But I doubt there's enough there for everything…”

“I'll ge' it… I'm not tat bad off for cryin' tout loud…” Tia muttered but took the envelope, “'Ight, tat it?”

“Well,” Botan put her hands on her hips, “I suppose so… I hope all of you enjoy your trip to America… wish I could come along but Ko-Enma needs me around.”

`No, he knew she wouldn' fi' in on ta street with a couple a hundra' miracles…'Tia thought with a mental smirk but outwardly just motioned to the gate, “All `ight then, hope ya guys are ready for one `ell of a time…” `Your asses are mine now… oh boy…'

Yusuke grinned at Kuwabara and elbowed him, “First thing I'm going to do is get some drinks… think I pass for-”

“21? I doubt it…” Botan replied sternly, crossing her arms. “None of you are old enough to drink on your passports or I. D. s… I know I don't have to worry about Kurama or Hiei but you two- you'll keep Tia's hands full without me there-”

“Let tem drink if tey wan'. Tey'll fit in betta. `Sides, don't care wha' their i.d.s say, mine's good to go,” Tia picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder, winking at the boys.

“I'm liking her!” He stuck his tongue out at Botan, and then turned to Tia with a grin and all to familiar smirk, “So, where'd you get the fake I.D?” Yusuke strolled over to Tia as she started toward the gate, as Botan watched on fuming.

Kuwabara watched the two for a moment then glanced at Botan, “Don't worry, I'll make sure he's okay… I'll just make sure he doesn't get it all!” He ran to the gate.

Hiei rolled his eyes, “Only thing worse than a buffoon is a drunken one…”

Kurama sweat dropped, “I suppose this is going to prove interesting…”

“Humph, well, I'm not to impressed with her… she has attitude problems…” Botan crossed her arms and shifted her weight with a glare.

“Better that than another useless human,” Hiei mused quietly before following Tia, Yusuke, and Kuwabara to the gate… Kurama shrugged.

 

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Several hours later Tia opened a cab door, stretching and picking up her small black handbag before motioning to the boys. Tia had ridden in the front with the cabby to give directions, the back seat filled with baggage and Yusuke. The other cab carried the other two in the back, Kuwabara sitting up front at Kurama's urging. Tia glanced as the doors opened. She dug in her pocket and pulled the envelope Botan had given her, counting out money and giving it to one cabby before walking over and paying the other… She considered cabs extravagant… busses were better… But Ko-Enma had given her orders… much as she hated it; she had to listen to him for the time being. With a sniff she glanced around, making sure everyone had the bags they owned, then she calmly walked up the drive of the house.

The neighborhood was rough… though cleaner than some Tia had lived in. Bluntly speaking to her this was sparkling. But, gold eyes wondered over the cracked roads, worn houses, and empty yards… It was a quiet… That much she liked. Trees lined the street, a few protruding from the yard she was currently in.

The house was older, two and a half stories, the top only applying to the back part of the house…a large porch, and big windows. It was clean but ragged, perfect for not sticking out.

`Now, to start boot camp.' “All `ight guys,” Tia walked to the porch steps a few paces away and dropped her bag, and then she turned to them. “'Tere are four rooms, somebody's gotta share. There're two beds in two rooms so take ya pick, I ton't care. But, pick quick, I plan on gettin ya guys inta the righ' sleepin' pattern.”

“And that is?” Yusuke crossed his arms, he didn't like getting ordered around by a girl who was half his size, but he eyed her just the same. He'd never taken the time to watch her on the plane, but her movements were paced, her expression carefully planned out… He had no problem picturing her taking care of herself against normal humans… that of course brought up the question, how did she die?

“Night's the tay, tay's ta night's. Simple,” Tia crossed her arms and glared at Hiei, who glared back. “Anythin' wrong?”

“Actually, yes, there is something wrong. Why did Ko-Enma pick to send you? The buffoon is stronger than you even, so why? Surely the runt could have gotten someone else far more useful,” Hiei didn't shift his glare even the slightest; he was testing her, sensing how she handled a problem, her reaction.

Gold eyes met red ones steadily. The pupils tensed and relaxed like a cat's for a moment before she threw a look at each of them. Yusuke could've sworn his stomach clenched ever so slightly. It wasn't from fear, took much more than that to make him scared, but, it was from brushing against something he knew very little about… so little that what he did know seemed like a drop…he blinked the feeling away.

“Well, guess I gotta answer for each of ya ten…” Tia blinked her gold eyes and met Hiei's again. “I'm Ko-Enma's only choice. I'm ta only ting he has `ere tat resembles a foot hol'… yeah, great ting I am, eh?”

Kuwabara stared at her, eyeing her a moment before opening his mouth slightly. “You have a deal going with him don't you? Sorta like Urameshi?”

Tia nodded. “I do, bu' ta terms of tat aren't for ya ta know.” The teen grinned. “Now tat tat's settled, I sugges' ya get ya crap to a room.” Without a further word Tia strolled to the porch, opened the front door and walked inside.

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