The Trooper Report
By Seiji-chan

Just For a Visit Chapter Two: What is Going On?

It was a little past noon. The sunny morning had changed to one of dark clouds that promised an even darker night. Just a few blocks away, Yuusuke and Kuwabara are walking down the street uncaring about the declining weather, to the Yukimura Ramen Shop, in hope of a free lunch. Their day had been a rather usual one, practice at Genkai’s, fighting with the local gangs and just hanging around.

"Oi, Kuwabara did you feel that strange chi near Genkai’s temple this morning?"

"Uh, ya, what do you think it was?"

"I don’t know but it might have been interesting to find out." Yuusuke grinned. "Do you remember all the strange happenings that they had in the Shinjuku district earlier this year?"

"Ya mean all the trouble they had that the little jerk Koenma wouldn’t let us check out?"

"Yes, well I went to see what was up and well," Yuusuke put his hand behind his head, "there were a lot of youja and people fighting in samurai armor. That chi that we felt this morning, well it was the same as the chi coming from a couple of the armors."

"So, what’s that got to do with this morning Urameshi?" said Kuwabara with a puzzled look on his face.

^^Sigh, Kuwabara is so dense at times.^^ "It might have been the same samurai that I saw earlier - it sure felt the same as them, and from what I saw, where they are there is sure to be a fight," replied Yuusuke with an evil smile and a glint in his eyes.

Before Kuwabara could reply, Botan streaked past them (dressed as a normal girl now, but still on her ore) as she came out of an ally, making them both jump.

"Oh," she gasped, and turned her ore around. "Hi guys," she chirps excitedly, stopping in front of them. "On your way to Keiko’s? May I join you?"

Yuusuke and Kuwabara looked at each other, and Yuusuke asked, "Botan, what’s up?" Botan never asked to join them, she just does and she is way too hyper (even though at times it is hard to tell).

"Well," she started "I was going to ask Keiko if she wanted to go shopping with Yukina and I, Koenma gave me the rest of the day off." She taps her finger against her chin, ^^I wonder why though, we have been busy these past weeks.^^ "When I floated down in front of the window of Yukimura Ramen Shop and looked in side and saw the most gorgeous blonde." Botan has her hands clasped in front of her chest and has big star filled eyes as she speaks. "He and two other people were having lunch with Keiko. I just stared at him and then I was so flustered I had to leave. He has the most gorgeous purple eyes I’ve ever seen *sigh*." There is now a pink background with hearts and cupids floating around her. "You two are going to Keiko's right? Please let me come with you! I wouldn’t be so nervous with more people around. I just have to meet him!"

As Botan was talking, they continued on, and now they are in view of the Yukimura Ramen Shop. Yuusuke looks in the window, ^^Well, there is Keiko, and Katari is visiting also. She hasn’t been around since before that Oni incident in her district, Keonma said it resolved itself? Katari seems to be fine, and that boy with the teal hair that she is leaning against must be her new boyfriend.^^ A faint smile comes to his lips.

^^I wonder how long he will last? And that blonde next to Keiko must be the guy Botan wants to meet.^^

"Hey, who are those people with Keiko?" asked Kuwabara.

"Well," started Yuusuke, "the girl is Katari, Keiko’s cousin and . . . " But before Yuusuke could finish talking, he was interrupted by Botan.

"You know the blonde!" bounced Botan; her hands clasped under her chin, her eyes wide and little cat ears appear on her head.

"No Botan, I was going to say they must be friends of Katari." He then glances over at Botan as they head toward the door, his eyes narrow and he looked slyly at Botan. "One of them might even be her new boyfriend." ^^*Snicker* as if you couldn’t tell which one it is? You would need a crowbar to separate Katari from him!^^

Apparently Botan couldn’t tell, "Oh no, I hope it is not the blonde!" gasped Botan.

As the trio enters, Yuusuke waves to Keiko. "Hi Keiko, Katari, who are your friends?"

The girls look up and Katari turns to see who it is as Keiko waves. "Yuusuke come over here! You too Kuwabara, Botan," as she sees the other two enter after Yuusuke.

Touma had also turned to see who Keiko was talking to and sees two guys and a girl with a blue ponytail, he then turns back to Seiji as he hears a startled gasp and then coughing, "Seiji what is wrong?" Seiji was now choking on his lunch.

Keiko turns and starts to slap Seiji on the back, "Seiji, are you okay?" and then steps back as Seiji jumps up in surprise.

^^I don’t believe it,^^ thinks Seiji while choking. ^^It's the same girl I saw flying earlier, but . . . she is not dressed the same, and . . . I’m still not sure what she is, but she is full of rei energy!^^

"Seiji, are you all right?" Seiji nods, still staring at the girl. Touma looks back at the new arrivals, "Ignore him, he’s been acting a little strange all day."

Seiji sits back down as Keiko abandons her seat and goes to the kitchen to get the rest of the gang something to eat. After she left, Botan quickly slides in to the chair next to Seiji and the guys pull some chairs over from a nearby table.

Obun, who is still watching, jumps up as she sees Keiko coming toward the door to the kitchen. "Oh no," she moans. "Where am I going to hide!" In a panic she looks around, "Um, in there!" and then she grabs the rest of her lunch and dives into the walk-in freezer, just as Keiko walks through the door. ^^Oh, I barely made it.^^ She sits her lunch down and hugs herself. ^^I hope Keiko hurries, burr, it’s cold in here.^^

"Otosan, Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Botan are here."

"Hai Katari, and they would like some lunch?" replied her father with a smile.

"Hai, please." And she helped her father prepare lunch for her friends.

Meanwhile, across the street and on top of a building Hiei is still watching as Botan comes back along with Yuusuke and that jerk Kuwabara. They go in and the next thing he sees is the blonde choking on his lunch, apparently at the sight of Botan. But before anything else could happen a soft humor filled voice calls to him from behind, "Hiei what are you doing up here, I didn’t think you would be watching over Keiko?!"

Hiei turns and snarls over to the grinning redhead. "What are you doing here?"

"Well," Kurama starts, his smile fading. "I was just contacted by Koenma, apparently a rather nasty gaki just re-escaped from the Makai - it feeds on the rei energy of children and pre-adolescents. Koenma wants us to track it down and bring it in."

"Hhnnn . . . " Hiei looks down at Keiko’s and then back to Kurama, "Well I didn’t feel anything, and apparently neither did Yuusuke, Botan nor even Kuwabara. They are all down there eating and talking with Keiko’s new friends." Hiei stops and then looks down at the others; Botan is now sitting next to the strange blonde. "The only thing that is unusual is that blonde next to Botan. I spotted him and his friend earlier because of their strange rei readings, and I’m following them because . . ." He looks up at Kurama, "Because I’m sure that the blonde saw me, I don’t know how but . . . He kept looking up to where I was as if he could either see or feel me. And you should have seen his reaction when Botan flew by, and then when she joined them for lunch!"

Kurama looks down at the ramen shop; surprised at the way Hiei was acting. ^^Hiei does not normally show this much interest in any human.^^ and then back to Hiei, a small frown on his lips. "Whatever he is will just have to wait, we’ll collect Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Botan, take care of this assignment, and then we’ll worry about what this boy is."

They both leap into the alley next to the building that they are on and started across the street toward the Yukimura.

Inside Touma, Katari, Yuusuke and Kuwabara all start talking while Keiko brings more food for the new comers. Seiji is just sitting there with his hands over his eyes.

^^What is with this place?^^ He groans to himself. ^^First I feel the presence of a demon and now here I am, having lunch with what I am sure is a death deity. A kawaii one sure, but, why me? And Touma, my best friend, thinks that I am going crazy. I thought that after dealing with Arago and the Evil Empire, we would have a longer break!^^

Touma looks over at Seiji; he is sitting there while Botan chatters at him. Seiji has a sick expression on his face, not his normal reaction to a kawaii girl; he then remembers what Seiji was babbling about before their lunch showed up.

Seiji suddenly looks up as Touma asks, "Seiji can I talk to you, in private. You really don’t look too good."

"Hai, I think that would be a good idea."

Botan and Katari pout as both Seiji and Touma leave for the Boy’s Room.

Keiko, caring a tray of food looks at the two boys who are leaving the table, and then looks at Katari, "Is everything all right with them? Seiji really is not looking well."

"I don’t know," answered Katari. "Toum-chan has said that Seiji is a sensitive person, he has been jumpy all day." ^^And from some of the rumors about the strange happenings around here, maybe Seiji was right about the flying girl? But why would her description match with Botan’s??^^

Back in the kitchen, a shivering Obun peaks out of the freezer window again, "hurry, hurry . . . YES," and then zaps out as soon as Keiko leaves. "*Chatter* I didn’t think she was ever going to leave. I definitely didn’t dress for spending time in a freezer." She mutters a few choice words about cold ramen and her bad luck, then returns to watching Katari and company, her now cold lunch forgotten. Touma and Seiji are nowhere to be seen. "Great, just great now where did they go? The way Seiji reacted when the blue-haired girl showed up, he probably bolted and Touma had to go get him! I have no luck!"

~ In the Boys Room . . . ~

"Seiji, what’s the matter with you?"

"Touma, lets grab Katari and leave. This place . . . " He looks around and shutters. "We were being watched by a demon! Yuusuke and Kuwabara have an exceptional chi rating. And Botan," he shudders again, "she is not human either. I think she is a minor death deity! Let’s leave now."

Touma looked at Seiji; he was normally cool and calm. And he knew supernatural trouble when he saw it. But this was too much. "Come on Seiji, are you sure . . . "

"Touma do you feel that!" Seiji’s head jerked toward the door to the dinning room. "It’s the demon I sensed earlier." He then frowned. "And another presence that is not . . . quite human? Come on!" Seiji drags Touma out the door back toward their table. As Seiji said, two more people were standing near Keiko’s friends. The taller of the two was another tall red head, and the other was short with spiky black hair.

^^Great!^^ thought Seiji. ^^This is just what I need. I should have stayed home. It is the demon from earlier, I knew it, but how do Yuusuke and Kuwabara know them?^^

Botan looks past the two and squeals "Seiji-chan you’re back."

Everyone looks toward Seiji and Touma, and soon introductions are made.

Kurama looks over at his friends. "I’m sorry guys but a mutual friend wants us to check something out. You can eat later." He looks at Yuusuke and Kuwabara, and then at Botan. Yuusuke stands up as Kuwabara finishes his ramen. Botan just pouts and slowly stands up. Hiei looks around, impatient to be out of here. He sees the girl from earlier peaking out of the kitchen. He then leaves followed by the rest of the gang, Botan continues to stare mournfully back at Seiji and does not notice the look of relief on his face as they all leave.

Touma looks at Keiko, "What was that about?"

"Oh, well they help their friend with his job. It’s nothing to concern yourselves with; they will show up later. If you are all done eating, we can wander around. There is a park near by that has an ice skating ring and a movie theater, we could see what’s playing or go skating?"

Seiji looks out the window, and watches as Yuusuke and his friends walk down the street, ^^What kind of job does their friend have that requires the help of a death deity, demons and humans like Yuusuke and Kuwabara?^^ He frowns to himself as they continue to walk down the street and out of his sight.

"Hey, what’s up?" Grumbled Kuwabara, "I wasn’t finished with lunch!"

"Ya, Koenma didn’t contact us. What does he want!?" asked Yuusuke.

~Outside and down the street~

"Everyone please listen and let me explain what is going on." And as Kurama tells what he knows about the gaki, he hands out new communicators, "Due to some strange magical/electric field in this area, Koenma gave us these to use. He will try to find out more about this field. We will split up into two teams to try and find the gaki before it strikes. Yuusuke, Kuwabara and Botan head toward the Jr. High; Hiei and I will head toward the park." Kurama looks at the rest of the gang, "Koenma does not want us to attack it individually, and he says that it is extremely dangerous and tricky!"

"All right, everyone be careful," said Yuusuke; "I don’t want this thing loose for long!" As they split up Yuusuke clenches his fists and starts running toward the Jr. High. ^^I hate things that hunt children.^^

After looking up at the afternoon sky, Yuusuke looks over at Kuwabara and Botan. "We’d better hurry and find this thing, who knows what the weather will be like later tonight."

"Ya, fighting demons in a thunderstorm is not my idea of fun," grumbled Kuwabara.

"Oh, you two, stop complaining, some child could be in terrible danger and all you can think about is getting wet!" scolded an upset Botan. She shudders as she remembers what happened the last time this Gaki was free and she didn’t want it to happen again.

Seiji, Touma, Katari and Keiko left soon after. Keiko decided to show them a local landmark. So they head off toward the park with Obun following.

While they walk Keiko tells of a young priest gone bad and how he practiced strange dark rituals. Soon after his death, children and preteens started to vanish. But not long after, the disappearances stopped as suddenly as they started.

"And now," she explains as they are now near the old temple. "Every one thinks the temple is haunted, and on moonless nights you can hear screaming coming from inside." She then turns towards the guys. "Scary story nii, but I haven’t noticed anything strange myself. And neither have any of my friends." She smiles to herself, ^^If anyone would notice anything spiritual and evil about this place, they would.^^ "I think that the story was made-up to keep kids away from the temple, it’s in poor shape and is falling apart."

Seiji looks over at the temple; it has a strange dull reddish-black aura around it. ^^Well, I think Keiko’s story is truer than she thinks, this temple has a definite evil aura about It.^^

Katari looks up at Touma and smiles. ^^If anything evil in that temple tried to attack me, then my Toum-chan will protect me.^^

They then continue on past the haunted temple, to the park. On the other-side was an enclosed ice-skating ring and a movie theater, Keiko thought it would be fun if they all went skating. Neither of the guys wanted to watch what was playing; they had checked the paper to see what the afternoon matinee was (guys and sappy romance movies, go wonder). And Katari agreed with her. And as they entered the park, Seiji thought he felt Hiei and Kurama nearby. They were halfway through the park when Seiji felt something else, an evil presence that touched the back of his mind, and then they heard a terrified scream from behind.

Obun was thinking to herself as she snuck out of the front door and looked to see which direction everyone went. ^^Why am I doing this still, nothing is happening, I’m so totally bored, and it looks like it is going to rain. I didn’t even bring an umbrella.^^ She looks up at the sky and pouts, she then sees Touma and the others out of the corner of her eye and bolts after them as they go around a corner. "*Gasp* Oh no, I almost missed them."

Soon they pause in front of an old rundown temple. Keiko gestures toward it and then they walk on past. Obun runs past the temple, and into the park. By the time she reaches a small clearing where the path forks into two paths, she has a stitch in her side. As she pauses to catch her breath she feels ‘something’ watching her. "Oh this place is creepy," she looks around but notices nothing. "I am getting paranoid, I want something strange to happen so bad that my imagination is giving it to me. Now, which way did they go?" One way was the skating ring and the other was to the movie theater. As she tries to decide she suddenly jerks around as she feels something behind her. "EEeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkk!!" Obun jumps back into a tree in panic, ^^Oooooo what is that, *gulp* it is coming closer. Don’t panic, don’t panic.^^ Her eyes widen and she tries to back up further but the tree is in her way. ^^Ok, forget that, lets panic.^^ Her eyes suddenly widen. ^^What’s that?^^ And then a blinding blackness swallows her.

At the edge of the park, Hiei and Kurama continue their search. Hiei is using his jagen to ‘see’ and confirms to Kurama that the gaki is hunting in the park; he then starts to pinpoint its location while Kurama contacts the others. Then he notices that Keiko and her friends, including the girl who was in the kitchen are also here and near the area where the gaki’s presence was the strongest.

^^Hn, children and pre-adolescence? Keiko and the others shouldn’t be in any danger.^^ Then he remembers the other girl’s features and then realizes what she is. ^^Pre-adolescence, the girl following Keiko’s cousin and friends, she is young enough to be prey!^^ Hiei turns to Kurama to tell him about the girl when they hear a scream coming from near the middle of the park. Both of them take off running but Hiei, moving faster through the trees, arrives first. He looks down from the tree he is standing in and sees the girl from earlier standing against a tree across from him in a small clearing. Just as he starts to dive toward her -in hopes of getting her out of the area before a fight- she vanishes in a shadow of reddish-black.

After they heard the scream, Seiji turns to Touma, "Stay with the ladies, I will go back and see what is going on." Touma looked over at Seiji, surprised at how worried he looked, and stood there and watched as Seiji turned and ran back the way they came. Seiji arrives in a small clearing just in time to see Katari’s younger sister, Obun, step back against a tree from a form surrounded by the same aura that was around the haunted temple. The figure moved forward suddenly and then - Obun vanished! Seiji looks around in hoope of seeing her, ^^No! Obun has to be here!^^ He closes his eyes to concentrate on finding her, but he knew that she had vanished with 'It'. ^^Wha . . That aura?^^ And then up as he feels a familiar presence. He sees Hiei, standing on a branch in the tree near where 'It' had been.

End of Chapter 2

Trooper-Hakusho INDEX
Chapter Three - The Calm Before the Storm