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"A LESS THAN CHARMED LIFE"
a koko wa greenwood fanfic by Chris. kindly send all comments there, kudasai! ^__^
PRELUDE
It started out as a pretty good day, almost perfect in fact. The fall
sky
was a hazy kind of blue with a scattering of clouds thrown in for contrast,
while a light breeze gave life to the fallen leaves that littered the
grounds. Even classes seemed to be going easier than usual. Everything
was just fine.and that was what worried Hasukawa Kazuya as he walked back to
his dorm room. Perfect days had a nasty habit of ending rather
imperfectly.
"What's the matter, Suka-chan," questioned Shun. He was sporting
one of
those laid back grins that made Kazuya want to scream.
"Something bad is going to happen. I just know it."
"I thought Shinobu was the spiritual one of our group."
Mitsuru came up from behind and slapped Kazuya hard on the back. "Don't
listen to him, Shun. He's just in one of his 'woe as me' moods.
Nothing
we can't cure. Right, Hasukawa?"
"What did I tell you? Something bad already."
Mitsuru's hand was a blur as it connected to Hasukawa's head. "Is
that any
way to talk to your sempai, Hasukawa?"
"Well, when you stop smacking me upside the head, I'll stop talking like
that. But seriously, something's up. I can feel it."
Mitsuru stared at his friend. He was looking rather curious today, even
for Hasukawa, but before he could question him, he spotted his roommate
just up ahead. "Hey! Shinobu! Wait up!"
The school president turned around to see the three running towards him.
”I thought you had band practice this afternoon?"
"Hehe. Seems someone misplaced all the instruments so class was
unfortunately canceled." A playful grin found its way to Mitsuru's
face.
Today wasn't a day to be cooped up in small room listening to the same
lecture on the virtues of dedication and perseverance. "It seems
you're
not the only student at Ryokuto with a spiritual nature."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Mitsuru nudged his red-haired friend. "Tell him, Hasukawa."
"It's nothing really. I just have a.feeling that something bad is
about to
happen."
"Really?" Shinobu's eyes looked over his friend and suddenly
shot past him
to where they just came from. "Excuse me for a moment, will you?"
The three friends stared at Shinobu as he ran off around behind the gym.
Shun asked, "What's he up to?"
"Who can tell with Shinobu. When he feels like telling us, he will."
Still, Mitsuru was curious. It was pretty weird for him to just run off
like that. But Shinobu wasn't one to explain his actions all the time.
"Let's go home."
* * *
Yusuke was bored. He just wasn't cut out for this spy crap. If it
were up
to him, he'd rather just have Koenma point him in the direction of some
demons and kick some ass. But nooo. He has to baby-sit some high
school
brat. If he knew taking on the position of spiritual detective meant such
boredom, he'd rather have taken his chances as a ghost.
”This is part of the detective's job, Yusuke," explained Botan. "It
can't
all be excitement. You need to learn to take every part of your job
seriously."
"I notice that you're not coming along."
"Well, I would, but Koenma needs me to run some errands for him."
Suddenly, her face filled with disappointment, a look that made Yusuke feel
just so guilty. "You should be grateful for what you have: a second
chance. How many people would love to have another go at life? And
all
you can do is whine about it."
"I know, I know. But it's just so boring!"
"Get over it. You have a job to do. It's just for a little
while anyway
until Koenma's agents can find the breach."
"Hai, hai." And that was that. Yusuke was stuck running
surveillance. At
least he could take pleasure in the fact that Hiel had to join him. Just
the thought of the little demon being forced to do such menial tasks
brought a smile to his face. And Kurama was here too, so he'd have someone
to talk to when things slowed down.
"Excuse me, but just why are you following my friends?"
Yusuke spun around only to be pushed back against the wall-hard. It was
Tezuka Shinobu, one of his target's friends. "What are you talking
about?
I'm just waiting for my brother."
"I'm not stupid. I saw you staring at us. Now just what are
you doing
here." Shinobu saw the young man's attention going past him so he
threw
him back even harder. "And tell your friends they can come out too.
I'm
not interested in playing games."
Through gritted teeth, Yusuke said, "Fine. Now let me go."
As soon as he
was free, he moved past Shinobu and called for his friends. Almost as
soon
as they were beckoned, two figures seemed to materialize right before him.
"It's over. This guy knows about us. Might as well come clean."
Hiel just shrugged. "Whatever. I was getting tired of sitting
up in those
trees."
"And this way, we can stay with the target instead of just watching him
from a distance,' Kurama suggested. He didn't actually mind this.
It was
better than having to go to the demon world.
"So you're only interested in one of them. Hmmm? Probably Hasukawa
with
his luck." Turning around, Shinobu started to walk away. "Let's
go."
"Where are we going?" asked Yusuke. Instead of an answer, Shinobu
kept on
walking. He turned to his friends and said, "Let's follow."
When they finally reached their destination, Shinobu turned back towards
his guests. "Gentlemen, welcome to Greenwood."
* * *
They all decided to gather in Shun and Kazuya's room. Yusuke and Shinobu
just glared at each other, each just waiting for the other to start the
conversation. Hiel, as usual, was completely uninterested in what was
going on, while Kurama simply stared at Shun. "Excuse me.but what
are you
doing here?"
Confusion crept into Shun's face. "What do you mean? I live
here."
"In a men's dorm?"
"Hmmph. I'm a man, not a woman," he added with contempt.
"You're kidding."
"No, I am not. And you're one to talk. You're not the picture
of
masculinity either, you know." Shun turned to Shinobu and asked,"
Why are
they here? And what's with the sullen midget in the corner."
Hiel suddenly became interested. "Kurama."
"Yes, Hiel?"
"Is it still against spirit world law to kill humans?"
"Yes, Hiel."
"Hmmph."
"Okay, everyone. Let's just settle down." The school president
turned to
Yusuke and said, "I think it's time for that explanation of yours."
"Okay. The three of us were sent by Koenma, prince of the spirit
world, to
watch over the one named Hasukawa Kazuya."
"I told you! Something bad just had to happen today," screamed
Hasukawa.
"Calm down. Yusuke.?"
"As I have said, we were sent to watch over him."
"Why?"
"There is a bounty on his head from the demon world."
"The demon world? What is that supposed to be?" Hasukawa
had plenty of
time to get accustomed to the weirdness of Greenwood, but this.this was too
much.
Kurama fielded that question. "There are three worlds. The
human world,
which is what we are currently in, the spirit world, which is where we get
our orders, and the demon world."
"But what does this have to do with me?"
"Right now, the demon world has been thrown into turmoil by a man called
Shishio Makoto. He has taken control over that domain."
"So?"
"So he wishes to expand his empire and for that, he needs to take out what
he believes to be the immediate threat: you."
All faces, each bearing a look of disbelief, turned to Hasukawa. He wasn't
the only one confused. "What can I do to stop him. I'm nobody to
him."
"It's not who you are, but who you're ancestors are."
"And just whom might that be?"
"You are the great-great-great-grandson to the legendary Hitokiri
Battousai, Himura Kenshin."
"Huh?"