Chapter 4: Recompense for Past Sins
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Yu Yu or Hiei, although I wish I did . I DO own all characters that I have created, so don't use them. Cheers!
RECAP: Anko was rescued by the Spirit Detectives and brought to face Koenma's judgement. Kurama tried to befriend her, while Hiei was wary. A day after her hearing, she ended up in the Human World, much to Yusuke's surprise as she was enrolled in his school and assigned to his very class. Anko just recieved a strange call and has left the campus, leaving Yusuke to figure out a way to follow her and figure out what she's up to.
Yusuke ran up to the roof, knowing that Kuwabara and his friends would be there eating lunch. He would have gotten Kurama too, but he was at a school on the opposite side of town and would never have made it in time. There was no way Hiei would come unless he had to, and he had always acted strangely towards her. Atleast, since he'd met her.
"Hey, dumbass!" Yusuke shouted as he ran up onto the roof and banged the door open. He smirked when he saw Kuwabara sitting with his group of friends as usual.
"Geez, Urameshi! Don't scare us like that!" Kuwabara shouted back, patting his heart. It looked like Yusuke had really startled them all up there on the roof.
"C'mon. We got work to do." Yusuke said much more seriously as he started walking back through the door.
"What're you talking about?" Kuwabara said as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"Remember that chick that Kurama brought back with us the other day?" Yusuke asked as he started climbing the stairs back down to the ground level. "She's a student here now. When I asked her what she was doing here, she said she didn't even know me."
Kuwabara looked at him strangely as he ran down the staris to catch up to him. "Are ya sure, Urameshi? She was pretty messed up when we got her, and its only been like four days."
"I'm telling you it was her! She had the same freaky eyes and that gold tattoo on her face. Hell, she even had that white streak in her hair." Yusuke said angrily. "She must have escaped from spirit world or something. Why else would she have been here!"
Kuwabara thought hard for awhile, but the question was obviously far beyond his mental capacity.
"She got a weird call during lunch, and now she's ditching." Yusuke said after a while, once they'd reach the ground floor. "She's up to something, and I want to know what that is."
"So, are we gonna follow her?" Kuwabara asked as he and Yusuke walked out of the doors.
"Of course. Why else would I be spirit detective if I didn't investigate suspicious behavior?" Yusuke asked as he smirked. "This title finally came in handy! It beats school anyway."
Kuwabara smirked also as they reached the gates of the campus. "Ya got that right, Urameshi!" He said happily as they walked out.
"YUSUKE!" Someone shouted from the upper floors of the school.
"Uh oh..." Yusuke said as he and Kuwabara looked up to see a thuroughly disgruntled Keiko glaring down at them.
"What do you think you're doing! You can't leave campus yet, it's only lunch!" Keiko shouted, her head sticking out of the window.
"Oh, shit, she spotted us!" Yusuke muttered to Kuwabara as he started to sprint off of campus.
Kuwabara started to look ill as he also went after Yusuke. Keiko's fury was notoriously brutal. Atleast, that was how he liked to make it look.
"Yusuke! You better not be ditching again!" Keiko shouted even more loudly as he charged around the corner, Kuwabara following behind him.
Yusuke stopped once they hit mainstreet and put his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. "Man, Keiko is gonna kill me!" He grumbled loudly.
Kuwabara was leaning against the side of the building, also trying to catch his breath. "Hey.. is that her?" Kuwabara asked as he pointed to a short girl with a bun in her hair.
Anko.
Yusuke looked up and caught the side profile of her face, looking around. The tale-tell brand on her cheek is what gave her away as she walked slowly along the street, finding her way to an unknown location.
"Whatcha think she's doing, Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked as Anko slowly got further and further away.
"It looks like she's heading to the forest." Yusuke answered. "The street we're on takes you directly to that forest on the edge of town, but I don't know why'd she want to go."
Kuwabara shrugged as he and Yusuke started following her. They kept their distance, trying not to let Anko catch them following. It was already well past lunch at their school, so they all knew they wouldn't be heading back.
Once Anko reached the edge of the forest, she looked behind herself almost suspiciously. Yusuke and Kuwabara quickly scrambled from her view, hoping that she hadn't noticed them.
Satisfied that no one was following her, she shrugged and started walking along the dirt trails that led into the forest.
"Sheesh, that was a close one." Kuwabara muttered as peaked out from behind the parked car that was hiding them.
"Yeah, I was pretty damn certain that she saw us that time..." Yusuke muttered, glancing at the place she had been. "Ok, let's go and see what little miss antisocial is up too."
Kuwabara nodded as they slowly trailed Anko into the forest, noticing that she was stopping once every dozen of feet and looking up.
"What is this crackhead doing!" Yusuke murmured impatiently from behind a large tree that the two were hiding behind. "It's almost like she's sniffing the air or something like that."
Kuwabara shuddered as a feeling of dread started to worm its way into him. "I have a bad feeling about this Urameshi. Maybe we should leave or somethin'."
Yusuke shook his head and whispered, "And miss out on whatever this girl is doing? Not a chance!"
Anko blinked and started heading off of the path, into a dense standing of bushes. Yusuke and, hesitantly, Kuwabara looked at one another and followed her through the bushes.
They walked further into the denser places of the woods, Kuwabara and Yusuke struggling to keep up with Anko while she moved easily and noiselessly through the underbrush.
"How... the... hell is... she... doing this?" Yusuke panted as he nearly tripped for the umpt-enth time over an exposed root.
Anko moved so easily through the underbrush, that it was almost like it wasn't there for her. Her pace was so quick as they traveled, that the boys found it difficult to follow her and remain silent as they did.
She suddenly vanished into a clearing, hidden away from the prying eyes of the two teenage boys that had been so relentlessly trailing her by a few overgrown bushes.
Cautiously, the two separated some of the branches and peered through at the short half-human as she stood facing something they couldn't make out in the forested gloom.
"Manzo, class D felon of Reikai." Anko called out to a stooped figure. "You're under suspicion of crimes against humans, prohibited from entering the the ningenkai for this reason. State your purpose here, then I'll escort you back to Reikai once you are in my custody."
The demon laughed, a low baritone sound that resonated against the trees and even shook some of the leaves loose. "Look at the little human wanna-be. Are ya gonna try and stop me from bein' here?"
Anko sighed lowly in agitation and glared at the demon. "If I have to, I'll drag you back in pieces. My boss wasn't too specific on whether you were worth more alive or dead."
The demon chuckled again and advanced toward Anko, a full 8 feet with blotchy red skin and a massive underbite complete with overgrown lower canines. He was muscular, and even came with a poison barbed tail. He was the standard issue low-class demon that always thought they were stronger than they were. "You think you can fight me, little human girl? Go ahead and take your best shot."
Anko cocked her head to one side and said plainly, " You aren't too bright, are you?" Her voice became an inhuman hiss as she tried once again to end the conflict peacefully. "I'm no ordinary human."
The demon's eyes widened a fraction of an inch as he stared at Anko with new understanding, but it didn't keep him from being cocky. "I'm not scared of some half-human mutt that got loose in the ningenkai and is trying to curry favor with the underworld. Go ahead an try your best attack. No way it will be enough for me, a full blooded demon!"
Anko shook her head as she raised her right hand, it instantly becoming consumed in black-blue flames. Flames that seemed to make her necklace glow more darkly with the potent blackness. "Dragons can out-do demons any day of the week, moron. Especially my particular species. Why do you think Reikai keeps us under such scrutiny to make sure we don't get loose?"
She gazed at the flames of her hand for a few seconds, before gazing up at Manzo. "Even a lowly hybrid like me, though unworthy to even live, can take you on easily enough. You have 3 chances to tell me why I shouldn't kill you."
The demon stared at Anko like she had grown another head as he took a step back. He knew that if he tried a head on assault on the hybrid, he would probably be burned by the strange fire she held. "One chance gone." Anko murmured, the fire growing darker if possible.
"Wait... why do you have to bring me back?" The demon asked, trying to buy some time.
"Two chances."
The demon's tail suddenly sprang for Anko, the barbed tip narrowly missing her thigh as she jumped out of the way. "Three strikes. Good-bye Manzo."
She didn't waste the movement of dodging to the side, practically catapulting herself towards him with her glowing fist raised. The demon flinched, thinking she was going to tackle him, but she stopped short and delievered a punch to his chest, using enough force to knock him completely off of his feet and into a near-by tree.
Anko was already back in a fighting pose, feet spaced evenly apart and her fists brought up so she could guard her face and upper body. Her strange aura seemed to glow for a second as she released some of her energy. It wasn't a full transformation, not by a long shot, but it allowed her to release some of the energy that had been building up in her body.
"What's wrong? Is the big he-man demon going to get his ass kicked by a human hybrid?" Anko growled. "Get up already."
The demon groaned slightly as he sat up, but he quickly glared at Anko as his skin changed from blotchy red to transparent, like he was an overgrown chameleon blending into the background.
"Oh, puh-leeze. You think one little color shift-" Anko's eyes scanned the landscape, locking onto a spot near a bush, "is going to be enough?" She took a step forward, only to have her foot yanked out from under her.
Manzo reappeared behind her, his normal red skin getting darker. "Decoys are a wonderful thing, don't you agree?" He taunted, holding Anko upside down while she kept her skirt from going over her head and exposing areas that shouldn't be exposed. There was a subtle change in her mannerism that made it look almost like she had expected it.
Manzo shifted his weight and flung her through the stand of bushes that Yusuke and Kuwabara were hiding behind. They had just enough time to duck out of the way and find a new hiding place as Anko struck a tree. Hard.
She hissed as she fell down, coughing slightly as all of the wind had been knocked out of her. The flames only flared more brightly as she looked up at the demon, glaring daggers at him. "Finally got the real one." Anko lunged up, ignoring her burning lungs as she went to attack her target.
Manzo took a surprised step back, but it wasn't quick enough to dodge out of Anko's angry right hook with the ever burning flames of Darkness engulfing her fist. Manzo fell back from the combined impact of her punch and tackle, out as soon as he hit the floor. Anko rode his body to the ground, before jumping back and landing in a kneeled position, flicking her right hand as the flames vanished.
She tried to stand, but ended up on the ground again as she tried to recover her air capacity.
"You... guys can come... out now..." Anko said tonelessly as she panted, still kneeling next to the unconcious body.
Yusuke and Kuwabara looked at one another nervously before looking back out at Anko in the clearing. They didn't know if they should have gone and pretended they hadn't been spying on her, or if they should just have owned up to what they did.
Anko didn't give them too long to think about it, because she was already striding over to the place they were hiding in the bushes. She pulled a handful of bushes to the side and stared at them, no emotion crossing over into her face.
"Oh... Anko! What a coincidence..." Yusuke started, trying to attempt a half-assed lie.
"I know you've been following me since the edge of the forest. Care to explain why?"
Yusuke and Kuwabara stared at her for a moment; so they had been right in assuming that Anko had noticed them.
"Well, we didn't exactly think we'd see you her in the ningenkai..." Yusuke murmured, scratching his head. "And then you showed up at our school and claimed you didn't know me... Kinda suspicious huh?"
Anko cocked her head to the side and blinked. "It would have been even more suspicious if your classmates thought we knew eachother. But, I see why you were suspicious of me." She reached into her pocket and fished out the cell phone, flipping it open and turning away from the boys.
"It's done. Send someone else for drop off, I'm heading to the temple." She said simply, crossing her free arm over her stomach. "He followed me here. Do you want to talk with him?"
After a second, she nodded and tossed the phone over her shoulder towards the two, Yusuke completely dropping the phone while Kuwabara caught it inches above the ground. "Nice catch..." Yusuke mumbled.
"It's for Yusuke; I'll be resting when he wants to ask questions." Anko said, walking past the fallen demon to a tree on the opposite side of the clearing.
"Uh... who is this?" Yusuke asked hesitantly after he got the phone from Kuwabara.
"It's me, Koenma, ya lead head!" Koenma shouted into the phone. "Who else would it be!"
"Pacifier Breath! I wasn't expecting to talk to you-" Yusuke stopped after a second before shouting, "Wait a second, why the hell does she get a cell phone and I get the girly compact mirror!"
"Because she's the newest spirit detective and your ally, and we just happened to get the cell phones so I thought she'd like to use one." Koenma replied, sounding just as agitated.
"What?" Yusuke asked, his tone dropping into surprise.
"Anko is serving as another Spirit Detective in the ningenkai. Until she can prove herself, she'll get the mundane cases that otherwise you would have to handle." Koenma said, his voice lightening. "Ask her any questions you like regarding it; I have work to do. Bye Yusuke!" Koenma hung up the phone, leaving a bewildered Yusuke to stare at the phone in surprise.
"So what he say, Urameshi?" Kuwabara asked excitedly.
Yusuke ignored him and instead went to where Anko was leaning against a tree. "What the hell did he mean that you're a spirit detective?" He hissed at her, clearly confused.
Anko opened her golden eye and watched him with it for a few heartbeats. "Exactly what you think he meant; I am a newly appointed spirit world detective."
Yusuke glared at her. "So how did this come up anyways! The last time I saw you, you couldn't stand much less be any good for me or even Kuwabara!"
"What do ya mean Urameshi?" Kuwabara barked at him. "I can take care of myself!"
"It's recompense for past sins." Anko said simply, watching the two with both of her eyes. "One of the terms of my punishment."
"Punishment?" Yusuke asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh, I mean probation." Anko corrected emotionlessly. "There are three major conditions for my probation." She stood away from the tree and turned, heading back for the forest path. "I'll explain on the way back to where I have been assigned to live. It's not far; just a few miles down the path."
"Tck. Not far, she says." Yusuke imitated loudly. "Whatever. Let's get this little hike over and done with. I want to find out what the 'conditions' are anyways."
Anko glanced back at him and Kuwabara and nodded. "I knew you would want to know, considering that two of the three conditions apply to you."
Anko looked straight ahead again, making the group walk in a tense silence that didn't bother Anko at all.
"Would you just spill it already!" Yusuke shouted, shattering the serene setting and forcing dozens of birds to leap off of their perches in fright. Kuwabara even jumped at his sudden outburst.
"The first condition," Anko began, unmoved by his sudden shout, "is that I must help the spirit detective and his partners as much as I am able. Meaning, I have to become one however unwilling."
She drew in a deep breath and continued. "The second condition requires me to enroll at your school so you can monitor my interactions with normal humans and possibly prevent me from massacrering the students if and when I go berserk." Kuwabara shuddered at this, listening to the cold monotone that was Anko's voice. She was talking about killing like you would the weather, and it bothered him.
"The final condition..." Anko started to say as they reached some familiar steps leading into a temple, "I have to live with an old psychic, who will also make sure I don't get into trouble."
"Wait.. you don't mean-" Yusuke started to say loudly.
"Master Genkai." Anko responded tonelessly, easily making her way up the stairs.
"But! How? When!" Yusuke hissed as he caught up with her.
"I wouldn't know; Koenma only told me to live here and to not get into anymore trouble." Anko said, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. "Hn?"
"I know the hag-"
"The great dimwit finally decides to pay his old master a visit." Genkai muttered as she watched the three of them come up the stairs to her temple. "Not for training, I'm sure."
"Aw, shut up you old lady!" Yusuke shouted back at her.
Anko looked from him to her old care-taker with a look of surprise. "Do you know eachother?" She asked, a barely noticeable lilt on the end of her sentence turning it into a sentence.
"She was my old teacher." Yusuke grumbled, still glaring up at her. Anko could easily read the looks in their eyes that showed they cared about eachother despite the tones in their voices or the words that they spoke to one another.
Anko nodded and sped up, reaching Genkai before Yusuke did.
"Koenma already told me what happened." Genkai said as she looked up at her. Anko nodded and bowed slightly, showing Genkai her due respect.
"If you don't mind Master Genkai, I will be off. You know how to reach me."
Genkai nodded as Anko bowed slightly again, walking off through the temple grounds on her own.
Anko slipped off away from the temple and wandered throughout the forest, finally getting to Tokyo a few hours before dark.
She stopped off at her school and gathered her things, explaining to her teacher that she had had a family emergency and had been forced to leave immeadiately.
The teacher, although angry at first that she had skipped out on his class, finally gave her her missed work and told her 'not to let it happen again'.
"Thanks." Anko said as she shouldered her bag and walked out. The sun started to set as Anko walked silently with her backpack over one shoulder, following the setting sun. For some reason, she felt best when it was between night and day; almost like she was in her element.
The sun was almost completely down as Anko followed it into a park in the middle of town.
Almost as soon as she set foot in the park, she felt odd. Almost like she was being attracted to something that felt so familiar, yet so unlike anything she had felt before that it was surreal.
She looked around, hesitantly stepping forward and moving farther and farther into the forest. It was almost like there was something calling her, and she could do nothing but try and figure out what - or who - was calling her like this...