The Trooper Report
By Seiji-chan
Just For a Visit Chapter One: Prologue for Mayhem
*Ring . . . ring . . . ring . . . *
One evening, an excited young lady made a phone call to her favorite cousin . . .
"Moshi moshi this is . . . "
"Kei-chan!" A chirpy voice interrupts. "It's me, Kat-chan. Gomen about not calling or visiting earlier, a lot has happened in the past few weeks. I've met the most wonderful guy, he's so sweet and kind of shy. I want to know if you want to meet him," finished Kat-chan, talking at a fast pace and in one breath.
"Nii!!" Exclaimed Kei-chan in a surprised voice. "You have a boyfriend? What is he like? When did you meet? How did you meet . . . " Kei-chan exclaimed. ^^Any boy to last a week with Kat-chan has to be special.^^
"Calm down, calm down Kei-chan. *Giggle* I was wondering if you would like to meet him and his best friend. We are going out tomorrow and I was wondering if it would be all right to stop by, if you are not doing anything," said Kat-chan, talking in a soothing voice.
"Of course you can all stop by. Are you crazy?" Suddenly a curious look came to her eyes. "What school does he go to?" Kei-chan asked. ^^I didn't think that there were any boys at her school, Ame Hana High, that were interesting enough for her to call about.^^
"Well," she started in an offhand manner. "All I am going to tell you is that he goes to school at Kaze Ryu Academy."
"Naii! Kaze Ryu Academy?!" A private school? "O.k. And you better tell me how you met him."
"Like a knight, he saved the damsel in distress. See you tomorrow. Ja ne." As she hangs up the phone, the young lady puts her hand to her mouth and starts to laugh, knowing that Kei-chan was going to go nuts waiting for tomorrow.
"Onee-chan," calls a soft voice from behind.
She looks behind her. "Yes Obun-chan."
"Miho and Sayo snuck into Yukichi's room and woke him up. And now Yukichi wants you," Obun informs her in a dry voice.
"And what were you doing when this happened?" questioned Katari. "You were supposed to be getting them ready for bed."
"I was looking for my new fanny-pack, Miho and Sayo snatched and hid it downstairs," she answered in a disgusted voice.
"Okay, I will put him back to sleep. You tell the twins that I will be with them in a moment," she sighs, and adds, "in their room."
"Okay Onee-chan." She turns and walks up the stairs. "Sayo, put that down, Miho . . . Miho, stop that. Hey, listen to me now . . . "
Katari smiles as she listens to Obun. She sighs again and then looks back at the phone and a soft smile came to her lips. Tomorrow is going to be so much fun.
^^Hum . . . Onee-chan is going out tomorrow, apparently with Touma and Seiji, this could be interesting,^^ thought Obun, a gleam in her eyes, and she started making plans of her own for the next day.
The next morning . . .
It's a beautiful morning, the sun is shining and the birds are singing. Katari jumps out of her bed and gets ready to start her day. After helping her mother with the breakfast dishes, Kat-chan runs up to her room and makes sure that she is ready for her date. She is not paying any attention to what is happening around her; so, as she is adjusting her ponytail she is startled to hear her sister's voice behind her.
"Well if it is not 'Miss Shinga the Most Popular' primping for the boys." ^^Gag, why does she even bother? Boys drop at her feet anyway.^^ "Don't you think you could find something a little more worthwhile to spend your time on?" ^^Like anything not male.^^ Obun walks across the room to the window, which looks out the front of the house.
"Oooooooooooo . . . Obun, scram!! I am going to visit Kei-chan, and so what if I have a little male company. I am going to introduce Touma to Kei-chan! You know, one day you are going to realize that boys are nice to have around, and not just for you to fight with!" Katari points out to her sister.
"Well I really doubt that (rolling her eyes to the ceiling), most boys are so juvenile and don't have a brain." She looks out the window and sees Touma and Seiji coming up the walk; so she walks to the door of their room and slumps in the frame.
^^Juvenile!!^^ Katari looks over at Obun, "Obun, you are twelve years old, I don't think you have the right to comment on who is juvenile or not!" She then swishes her ponytail and smiles at her reflection. ^^I'm going to look as nice as possible for my Toum-chan.^^
Obun watches her sister and pretends she is gagging; ^^Nee-chan, this is so nauseating.^^
Chiming sounds are heard from the down stairs and a few moments later. "Kat-chan," calls her mother, "you have company."
"Move Obun," yelps Katari and darting past Obun, who barely dodged out of the way. ^^I didn't think Toum-chan would get here this early. Seiji must have stopped over to make sure he was up.^^ Katari grabs her back pack from the banister of the stairwell and then runs down the stairs, two at a time, just in time to trip over Yukichi who came flying around the corner.
"Gack!" squeaks Katari as she flies over her five-year-old brother and is caught by Touma before she could crash into him. "Gomen Toum-chan," says an embarrassed Katari to an equally embarrassed Touma.
"Gomen Onee-chan," cries a small voice from the floor. "They made me do it." Eyes wide, he points at two small faces peaking from around the corner. Touma helps Katari regain her balance as Seiji picks up Yukichi from the floor. He then turns and hands him to his mother.
"Here Mrs. Shinga, he seems to be fine, just a little upset."
"Gomen nasai boys," said Mrs. Shinga with a week smile, "They like to cause trouble, *sigh* a lot of trouble." She looks up from Yukichi to Katari, "Kat-chan, are you all right."
"Hai Kaasan."
"Well you all had better get going before something else happens around here." Smiling she waves them out the door. "Have fun." As the trio walks out the door, she then turns to the two small girls who are still peaking around the corner looking as wide-eyed and innocent as they could and says in an exasperated voice, "Miho and Sayo, will you two come here?" as she points to floor in front of her.
As they are walking out the gate to the sidewalk, Touma looks at Katari, "The twins are always pulling stunts like that, are they not?"
"Yes, they think it is fun but one day they might really hurt someone," sighs Katari.
"They remind me of my little sister, only there are two of them," shudders Seiji.
"Well" Touma looks over to Katari. "What did you want to do today?"
"Um, I was planning on going to see my cousin." She blushes, and continues. "I haven't seen her for a couple of weeks, and I want you to meet her." Katari smiles up at the two. "I hope you don't mind."
"Of course we don't mind, do we Touma. Is she cute and does she have a boyfriend?" smiles Seiji.
"She is a brunette like me and is also considered the 'Most Popular' of her school. And she has a boyfriend." She looks up at Seiji. "Don't get into a fight with him, he is sort of a punk but Kei-chan likes him. She has known him for a long time."
"I don't cause trouble," states Seiji.
"I know . . . I know . . . it just follows you right?" mutters Touma.
Seiji turns and glares at Touma, and then ignores him.
"Anyway . . . since her parents own a ramen shop, we could stop by for a late lunch?" suggests Katari hopefully.
"A late lunch . . . What will we do until then?" wonders Touma.
"Well we could always go sight seeing, or window shopping," suggests Katari.
"I think we will go sightseeing. There are some temples in that area that I would like to visit and I have not had a chance too yet." He smiles over at Touma, "I have been too busy this past year. And this would be a perfect time to do so," Seiji pushed.
"Well, we will see," said Touma.
Several hours later, after visiting a few temples and shrines, they are now heading to Kei-chan's for a much-wanted lunch.
"Well I hope we get there soon I'm starving." Touma glares over at Seiji, "Next time we will bring Shu, he remembers to eat regularly," said Touma.
"Don't worry Toum-chan, It's only a couple more blocks and then we will be there," chirps Katari. She then looks over to Seiji, who is looking up at one of the buildings. "Um Seiji, what are you looking at?"
"I . . . I don't know." After looking at several temples, Seiji felt a little jumpy. One of the temples they went past had a strange feel to it, full of energy, and not all of it human. He had thought of telling Touma but had changed his mind, unwilling to spoil their day. And now he was looking up at the roof of a nearby building. He then looks back to Touma and Katari and then looks up at the building again and frowns, then rubs his eyes. ^^Yes I am sure I saw a dark shadow standing up there, and I definitely feel youkai.^^ Focusing, he looks up again and this time he glimpses a figure dressed in black and then nothing.
"Well come on then, I would like to eat," said Touma.
"Toum-chan, you really are starting to sound like Shu," giggles Katari.
Touma turns and scowls at her and then they walk on, with Seiji occasionally looking at rooftops.
Up on the building that Seiji was looking at, a black-haired boy (?) watches. The two (three?) humans continue to walk on but the blonde had kept looking up toward him, as if he could see him. He could not believe that a normal human could possibly see him, but somehow this boy had not only apparently felt his presence, but had seen him as well. ^^I think that I will keep an eye on him, he might be trouble.^^ He then flickers off in the direction the three were heading.
Unnoticed by all, a small female figure follows. ^^Why have they stopped? Ekk, where am I going to hide?^^ Obun looks around in a panic. ^^Um, there!^^ She dodges behind a mailbox as the blonde turns to look up at the building behind her. "Shimatta, don't tell me they know that I am here already." A worried look crosses her face; "Kat-chan will kill me if she finds that I am following her." Worried, Obun looks around the mailbox and sees that they are talking amongst each other, then Seiji turns to look up at the building again. Obun looks up, nothing is there. "What is he looking at?" she mutters. She looks back toward the trio and sees that they are walking on. Relieved, she waits a few minutes and then continues following her sister. ^^I wonder why they spent all morning visiting temples and shrines? What a strange date, and to bring a friend along? Strange.^^
A few blocks later. "We're here!" chirps Katari. They walk in and a couple behind the counter looks up, and smiles. "Good afternoon Katari-chan, it's so good to see you again. You three sit down and have some lunch, I'll tell Keiko that you are here."
They sit at a window table, Seiji is facing the door and Touma and Katari are sitting opposite of him. Seiji looks out of the window thinking of what he'd seen and felt earlier, when he sees a kawaii teenage girl float down in front of the window. She is wearing a pink kimono and is ridding on an ore (?), and her blue ponytail is softly fluttering behind her. She turns and looks through the window and sees Seiji. Suddenly she blushes and then zaps out of sight, leaving a small whirlwind and a shocked teen behind her.
Normally Seiji did not mind looking at kawaii girls, but this? "Ahh . . . T . . T . . Touma . . . Touma did either you or Katari see the girl out the window?" stutters Seiji.
"I wasn't looking, did you see anyone Katari?" asked Touma.
"No, I don't think so," answers Katari "But then, I really wasn't looking either."
"She wasn't all that hard to miss," stated Seiji. "She was floating on an ore, and she was wearing a pink kimono and has blue hair pulled into a ponytail."
"No, I'm sure I didn't see anyone like that," she glances at Seiji with concern. "Are you feeling all right? You look a little pale," she commented. ^^A floating girl, no he is just imagining things. But still . . . ^^
"Yes Seiji, and you have been acting weird for a while, even before that scene a few blocks ago," said Touma.
Just then they are interrupted by a soft voice.
"Konnichi wa Kat-chan." Everyone turns to the new voice. It belongs to a teenage girl around their age. She has shoulder length brown hair and a cute face. And, more importantly to Touma, she is holding a tray with four orders of ramen and drinks.
"Konnichi wa Kei-chan," smiles Katari "Guys, this is my cousin Keiko," Katari turns to Touma. "This is my boyfriend Hashiba Touma," she paid no mind to his blush and turned to Seiji. "And his best friend Date Seiji."
"Konnichi wa Touma-kun, Seiji-kun; it is nice to meet you," smiles Keiko.
Keiko places the tray down on the table and then slides in beside Seiji, who is still preoccupied by the girl in the kimono and doesn't pay any real attention to her.
Touma looks over at Seiji and then turns and smiles faintly to Keiko. "Just ignore him," said Touma. "We think that he is hallucinating. Earlier he was spacing it and just a few minutes ago he says he saw a blue haired girl in a pink kimono riding on an ore fly by."
"Err, you don't say." ^^He saw Botan?! In her normal state. How is that possible??^^ "Uhh, well maybe he just needs to eat something and then he will feel better." Keiko weakly smiles over at Seiji. He smiles back and they all start to eat. And while they eat Katari tells Keiko a somewhat edited version (who would believe the real story anyway??) of how she and Touma met.
Across the street, still unnoticed, Obun watches. She had just witnessed the strangest thing. Seiji was looking out the window of her aunt and uncle's shop when he suddenly turned white, and then it was just as if she was standing in the middle of a wind tunnel. Very strange. ^^Well this is just fine, they all are scarfing lunch and I am starving. Maybe I can sneak in through the back and mooch lunch from Aunt and Uncle and watch them from the kitchen. I don't want to miss anything. The strangest things have been happening ever since Katari met Touma.^^ (flashback -- a couple of days back to when Obun is snooping in her sister's things and finds an envelope full of demon wards . . . ). She pulls out one of those wards from her silk fanny-pack. ^^Is this why they were going to all those temples this morning?^^ She looks at it and then puts it back into her pack. Obun looks back at ramen shop and notices that all are starting to eat. Then she bolts to the alley and goes to the back door. Soon she too is eating lunch while peaking at her sister and cousin.
"Well Obun," said her uncle. "Playing detective must be hard work, the way you are eating one would think you haven't eaten all day!"
"Yes Uncle, it is hard work," smiled Obun. ^^Especially if I don't want to get caught, Onee-chan will not be happy if she finds out.^^
He smiles back at her and then goes back to work.
^^Well this is better than walking along behind them, and Aunt and Uncle promised not to tell them that I am here.^^ She smiles as she continues to eat. She wants to make sure that she is finished and is ready to go when they leave. She is sure that something interesting was going to happen, and she didn';t want to miss a thing.
Upon the building across the street, the black dressed, black-haired boy watches. He was surprised to see them enter Keiko's and even more when she joined them for lunch. While watching the trio sits down, he felt Botan's presence and looked up to see her float down in front of Keiko's. ^^Hn, she and Keiko are going to go shopping again?^^ Hiei frowns. ^^They are always asking Yukina to go with them.^^ And looked into the window. Hiei blinked, surprised as he looked at the blonde teen. The blonde apparently could see her, because he went white, and then Botan turned red and zapped out of sight. ^^He should not have been able to see her,^^ growled Hiei to himself. ^^Not unless he is not a normal human!^^ Then he saw a young human girl with short gold-brown hair run to the alley that led to the back of the Yukimura Ramen Shop. Normally he wouldn't have paid any attention to her, being a human, but she looks similar to the girl with Keiko. And, apparently she too was watching them. ^^What is going on??^^ Hiei growls to himself.
"Ooooo!" squealed Botan. "That blonde is sooo kawaii! And he knows Keiko, maybe I can get her to introduce us." She smiles dreamily while thinking of him. She was planning on asking Keiko if she wanted to go shopping with her and wanted her help to convince Yukina to come with them. Koenma-sama had given her the rest of the afternoon off, muttering something about damage control, and she was just going to see if Keiko was busy when she floated down in front of the shop and looked into the window.
She found that she was looking into a beautiful face surrounded by a halo of pale blonde hair and a lavender eye (part of his hair was covering his other eye). She had never seen such a handsome guy before and she could feel her cheeks turning red, so she bolted.
A few blocks away she stopped and hovered, trying to get herself under control. ^^Ohh . . . I do not believe I did that. He is so perfect! I just have to meet him!^^ With that thought in mind she zaps home to change, and hopes that he will like her.
End of chapter one