Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ The Last Case: File Six_1-135// The Zodiac ❯ Prologue- Enter the World of the Zodiac ( Chapter 1 )

Prologue- Enter the World of the Zodiac

 

“WHAT?!” Koenma hollered, throwing his Sprit World seal stamp clear across the room. He bit down on his pacifier like a dog grinding down on a bone. He pounded on his table with enough furosity to make a three year old jealous.

“Where is BOTON?!” Koenma hollered even longer. “Ogre! Bring me that girl NOOOOW!”

Just then, Boton burst through the giant double doors leading to Koenma's office. Her hair was in disarray, and she hadn't finished rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Her pink kimono had not been tied properly, leaving the bulk of her neck and left shoulder exposed. The secretly thanked her lucky stars that she had enough time to brush her teeth before Koenma finally thought to send Ogre for her. Sheesh! Why is he waking me up so early anyway?

Koenma stared at that barely together grim reaper before her. Her exposed neck and shoulder caused his blood to boil hotter, but not out of anger. He pulled at the collar of his shirt and fixed his hat in order to give him time to simmer down. He placed his clenched together hands on the table, preparing to speak.

“Boton, I know it's early, but I needed your assistance right away. I got a letter from Marker this morning, in response to the telegram I sent him two days ago, regarding the Birthstones.”

Boton pulled the sleeve of her kimono up to properly cover her neck and shoulder, much to Koenma's dismay and approval. She blinked three times in confusion. Is this the reason why he woke me up with the trainees? To tell me he got a letter?

Koenma scrunched up his face in disapproval at Boton's clueless behavior. “Don't you wanna know what it said?!” He became so frustrated he opened up the slits he had for eyes. Grrrr. This girl is going to make me hit her over the head with her own OAR!

“Oh yes, Koenma sir, I know what you're talking about now,” Boton said, finally speaking for the first time all morning. “What did it say? I'm sure you finally got a release date for the Birthstones from Marker. You know how the Aries is with new beginnings and promptness. He just loves to get new things started right away.”

“Ooohhh, but that's just the thing though, Boton!” Koenma whined. “This time that old goat is trying to start a whole new level of mischief!” He reached underneath his desk to pull out the response he received from Marker, but it was not where he last left it. “Ohhhh! Where is it?!” he yelled. “Where is that letter?! Ogre, where did you put that letter?! And my royal stamp! Where in blazes is my royal stamp! Ogre?! Hey, OGRE?!”

Boton rolled her eyes and picked up one of the many pieces of paper scattered around his office, no doubt in disarray because of another tantrum. “Koenma sir, could this be the letter from Marker? It has the Seal of the Ram on it. Maybe it is from a member of the Zodiac?”

Koenma stopped flailing around just long enough to hear Boton say Seal of the Ram. He jumped over his table and snatched the piece of paper from Boton's hands. “Let me see if you're right,” he said, after already having the letter in his possession.” Boton groaned in sleepiness and frustration.

Koenma,

I do hope you are feeling well, because your wellness may not last for much longer. I know it's been three centuries since you last collected the Birthstones from the Guardians, but unfortunately for you, our interests have changed. We now have other desires that only you can grant. Our list of demands is as follows:

We want total dominion over the Living World.

We want control over half of the Demon Realm

And we want control over a third of Spirit World.

As you know, our fully matured Birthstones are what fuel Spirit World. Without them Spirit World would crumble. Either way we will get what we desire. Either you fulfill us our demands or lose everything. The choice is yours, Your Majesty.

Koenma squinted hard at the infuriating text. “Jerk sure rights well for an old goat.” He handed the letter to Boton so that she could read it. Her half lidded eyes opened up in sheer shock.

“Sir, you don't think the Zodiac Guardians are serious about this, do you?” she asked in genuine concern. “I mean, this contract has been going on between you since the beginning of time. You only have to see each other every three hundred years. Why would they choose to do this now?”

“Perhaps it is because the Spirit Realm has been idle,” Koenma hypothesized. “It's been seven years since we took down the Kakai Barrier between worlds. They probably saw this as a time of peace, and thought we would like to keep it that way.”

“There must be a way to compromise between us,” Boton said. “Do they even have the force to back up their demands?” Koenma began to sweat and shake.

“Boton, they're not called Guardians for nothing.”

 

 

“So, why are we here, again? A voice groaned from the back of a group trekking across the sky.

“Keep quiet!” Otake shushed at the lazy SDF member trailing behind. He did not want to show it, but the new mission assigned to him by Koenma had him nervous. Since the Demon World Tournament, they have not had any trouble as far as disturbances were concerned, and they entire militia had become a bit lazy, including himself. He was not looking forward to the fight that awaited them at the First House.

“So why exactly are we traveling to the First House, Otake? Don't you find it a bit strange that we've been sent on this mission? We've never had to go to any other the Houses before. Why do you think we're going?”

“I don't know,” Otake answered, “But whatever the reason is, it's pretty serious. King Yama never sends us unless it's absolutely necessary. Not even Koenma has jurisdiction now.”

The group of nine slowly but eventually reached the First House. “Now men, keep it down. This is supposed to be a covert mission. Marker should be sleeping by now. All we have to do is subdue him long enough to take the Birthstone he's guarding. With the nine of us against him, that shouldn't be too big a job.” Otake slowly crept up to the front door to the First House and pried it open. “Geez, this door is heavier than it looks,” he whispered. “Hey men! Come over here and give me a hand, would ya?”

No response. Otake squinted in suspicion and turned his head slowly at the group of misfits he'd brought along. They all stood behind him with a confused look on their face.

“Grrrrrr,” Otake growled, “Why aren't you guys helping!”

“But Sir, look,” Saito said, pointing at the door. “There's a top lock on it with a weight attached. Maybe if you remove that, the door would be easier to open.”

Otake looked up to see to see a chain with a weight attached to the door. He began to sweat at his own foolishness. Damn, I have really gotten rusty over the years.

He unlatched the door and easily pulled it open. The door creaked loudly, revealing a long corridor. At the end of the corridor, two lamps burned dimly revealing the shape of a ram, sleeping gently. The SDF, secretly glad the door did not awaken the sleeping beast, began to creep slowly into the corridor. It seemed like every step they took sounded like a horse clopping on the stone blocks that made up the floor. Otake motioned the members to take off their shoes so their footsteps would not be so noticeable. After removing their shoes, the SDF continued to creep forward.

Once they were ten feet away from the ram, Otake motioned for the group to take on a V formation. With this formation, should the ram awaken, he would have nowhere to run except into the wall it he was sleeping against or into the arms of one of the members. Then the others could charge the ram from all sides, thus subduing it. Otake was certain his tactics work.

The militia slowly closed in on the sleeping ram. They listened for the even breathing of the beast, timing their steps to sync with each inhale. They had their arms outstretched, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting creature, until they noticed it's breathing slowly to a stop. The SDF froze, unsure of what to do next. After waiting a couple minutes Otake swallowed his fear and inched closer. Suddenly, the ram's head shot up, it's eyes ablaze yellow. It let out a whinney that instigated thunder and stood up, diggings it's hooves into the ground. The SDF prepared an assault of their own, but was stopped short when the ram blasted balls of energy from it's horns. A ball of energy hit each member of the SDF, sending them flying into the walls of the First House. The ram pawed at the ground, creating deep grooves into the rock floors, and charged. It head butted every single member of the SDF hard enough to send them flying out of the House. Once the last member was sent flying, the ram rammed the door shut, locking it back. Otake slowly rose, trying to steady himself as he stood, trying not to look beaten in front of his men. He slowly made his way back to the door, but the ram bulldozed through the door again, sending him flying clear across the sky. Otake knew that since the ram was awake, he would not be able to ambush it again. He gathered up his men and proceeded back to the Spirit Realm, not looking forward to the report he would have to give to King Yama

 

 

“This is not good,” Koenma said, reading the report sent to him from his father. He never expected the SDF to take down the Aries. Sending the SDF was just a test, to see how strong the Zodiac is. Seeing that the SDF did not even manage to land a single hit told him many things; that they were just as fast as they were powerful, and stronger than A class demons. Much to Koenma's plight, they were equal to the power of Super S class demons, stronger than any demon or human in recorded history. Koenma hadn't felt the level of despair he was feeling at that moment since Sensui. He knew he had no other choice. He had to send them in.

“Boton,” he called out to his empty office, waiting for the blue-haired grim reaper to appear.

Boton slowly materialized into the room with a small flash of pink light. “Yes Koenma sir?”

“I need you to bring me, Sakura,” Koenma ordered in an unusually calm voice. “Then, after that, I need you to go round up Yusuke and the crew. Tell them it's important, and that includes Hiei too.”

“Sakura, sir? You mean one of the Fallen?” Boton asked, a slight bit of confusion etching her brow. “Why her, Koenma sir? Isn't she cursed?”

“Just bring her to me! This is no time to ask silly questions girl!” Koenma yelled.

“Yes sir,” Boton said, a little hurt that Koenma had yelled at her so ferociously. She disappeared immediate to go bring him one of the Fallen that existed in the Demon Realm; Sakura of the Fallen Fox.

No more than an hour later, Koenma was staring into the face of one of the Fallen. Her eyes were a piercing blue color, with skin the color of smooth caramel. Her long, curly dark hair bushed out wildly as it fell to the middle of her back. Her full lips went well with her toned curvaceous body, barely covered by the small yukata she decided to wear to grace Koenma's prescence. It was not tied correctly, exposing her large cleavage more than would have been appropriate. The yukata barely covered her smooth caramel womanly legs, and a tail hung luxuriously and idly between them. Despite her beauty, Koenma was not phased by it. He had more important things to discuss with this Fallen Angel.

“Nice to see you, Sakura,” Koenma began, “even though your outfit leaves little to the imagination.

Sakura giggled at Koenma's condescending comment. “Why your majesty, had I more time I would have come more properly dressed, but your little messenger girl insisted I come immediately. I barely had time to tie this piece of cloth around me.”

Koenma frowned at Sakura's flirtacious behavior. “Look, that messenger girl I sent you has a name; it's Boton. And secondly, there is much at stake, and I require your assistance on it.”

Sakura perked her fox ears in feigned interest. “Oh, Koenma requires the assistance of one of the cursed? This must really be important.”

“Oh cut the wise cracks, Sakura, and listen!” Koenma said, shushing the vixen beauty. “Look, back on earth resides the last Spirit Detective I recruited before we let down the Kakai Barrier. His name is Yusuke Urameshi. He has three comrades, a human by the name of Kuwabara, and two demons, Suichi Minamino and Hiei. They are going to be on a mission to save the earth, Demon World and Spirit World, and I need you to assist them.”

Sakura scoffed at Koenma's demands. “It seems to me you already have a full house. Why are you sending me to work with your renegade pack of fools? I've heard of every individual you've spoken of, except this Suichi Minamino, and they were all your little pawns to solve cases you were too lazy to handle yourself.”

“I'm sending you with them because you are the only one who can handle the birthstones other than myself and my father. This is no ordinary case. This has to do with the Zodiac betraying us.”

Sakura's gazed landed directly on Koenma's. He knew then he had her interest. “The Guardians have betrayed us? Just what do you mean by that?”

“As you may or may not be aware, the Zodiac's Birthstones have matured, meaning that within the year we are supposed to exchange the old ones for the new. I contacted, Marker, since this is normally his responsibility to see that the exchange goes well, but instead, he sent me this….” Koenma handed her the letter sent to him by Marker of the Zodiac. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“Why would they want this? Why would they do this?” Sakura asked, reading the letter's contents over and over again.

“I don't know, but as you know, without those stones, Spirit World, and eventually Demon and Living World will fall,” Koenma answered. “Will you help us?”

Sakura raised her eyes to meet Koenma's gaze. “I do not like the idea of this. I don't like the way it feels. But, if you promise to grant me my one wish, I will help you.

Koenma opened the slits he had for eyes. “I knew you were going to ask for that. Consider it done. Now please, go back home and change into something more appropriate. The men you will be working with for the next year are all respectable and married with children, save one. I need you to be presentable so that they take you seriously.”

Sakura rolled her eyes and flipped her hair. “As you wish, your majesty,” she said. She snapped her fingers, and within the blink of an eye she was gone.

Koenma leaned back into his chair and let out a huge sigh, hoping he was making the right decisions, and hoping the old team would come back willingly.

End of the prologue. Please read and review my work if you like where this is going. I'd greatly appreciate it, and it makes me want to update sooner. Thank you very much for reading! :D

Also, this goes without saying, I do not own YYH or any of the characters. I just own Sakura. Peace.