The Earring

A/N: God help me, these ideas never quit! Okay, I admit it, Yukina is officially my favorite character!...Kurama's in a close second. lol So where'd inspiration come from for this little thing? Not sure really. I was just watching the Three Kingdoms DVD again, when inspiration suddenly hit. I'm not one to ignore a good idea, but do forgive me if this is...cheesey. I'm bad about that.

Warning: Obviously there's going to be some OOC-ness, because I'm having Yukina do something we've never seen her do (that I know of).

Disclaimer: I swear if you sue me for owning YYH, all you'll get is the paperclip my mom left on my desk this morning. I have no money, no job (...Yet.), and no copyrights to the series!

"Thank you for coming today, Yukina." the surprisingly calm voice of a toddler-form Koenma said with a smile. "I know it was on short notice, and I do apologize for the inconvenience, but this is a rather urgent matter that requires your attention. ...Only yours."

Yukina fought the urge to twitch and ask questions by Koenma's final alliteration at the conclusion of his sentence. Why had she been called to see Koenma? What help could she possibly offer when there were so many other experienced detectives more suitable for the call? Why her of all people? "I-I'll do what I can, Koenma, sir. Please tell me what it is you need me for."

Koenma motioned for Yukina to take a seat before his desk while he pushed some documents aside, documents that obviously weren't of importance. That, or the spirit prince was just too lazy to look them over for himself. Either way, he wanted her undivided attention. "Yukina, I know I never ask much of you, and I always request Yusuke or his friends' assistance, but this situation is very delicate, and one that is reserved for you. I need you to go undercover for me."

The ice child didn't freeze in terror or nervousness, but instead remained motionless, besides the fluttering in her stomach. "Under...cover?"

"Yes." Koenma paused, noting how Yukina's gaze travelled all over his office in confusion. Sighing, he continued. "There's a situation concerning a very old acquaintence of mine, and he's stirring up trouble here in Reikai. When I say trouble, I mean that he's taking a number of lives without care or concern. He used to be a very gentle man, and probably still pretends to be, but now his senseless killing must be stopped."

"What can I possibly do? Wouldn't Yusuke or Kazuma be more suitable for the - ?"

"I've already said before that this mission requires you - not Yusuke or the rest of the detectives!" Koenma nearly shouted back, making Yukina flinch in surprise. He sighed again and regained his composure. "Sorry, Yukina...it's just that I don't think this assignment can be handled as well by anyone else but you. Do you understand?" Yukina nodded wordlessly as he continued. "And knowing Yusuke, he would make things even worse by running in and laying the place to waste. I can't risk that."

Yukina had to mull over that statement for a moment, finding it hard to swallow that she was preferred above Yusuke for this assignment. But why? "Koenma, sir...I have only one question. It seems that you need someone calm and poised to undergo this mission, but you already have a detective who's more than capable of that position."

Koenma smirked by the Koorime's hint at getting her out of this assignment, but not even her innocent charm was going to work this time. "You are correct, Yukina. Kurama would indeed be a good candidate, however...he is a man, and I need a woman for this job."

That got her attention. No wonder Koenma was being so persistent in getting Yukina to do the mission. Then again, if he needed a woman, why not get...? "And don't even think about it, Yukina. Botan is out of the question."

Curses!

Koenma chuckled again when Yukina sighed in defeat, slumping in her seat, but still listening intently to what the prince had to tell her. "What am I to do?" she asked, rather drearily.

He pulled out a file and rummaged through the papers inside until he found one document with a printed photo in the top right corner. The man in the photo was rather attractive, she had to admit; blonde hair, fair skin, and a pair of green eyes that almost compared to Kurama's, but not even emeralds were competition for the kitsune's beautiful eyes. His name was clearly only that of a title, but it was one that intrigued her to the point where she said it aloud. "Kaihiko?" she muttered in interest.

"He was once a very dear friend." Koenma said in response, handing over the document for her to read. "He once aided my father in a time of turmoil, and is highly respected by many in Reikai. But his heart has turned cold, and he's become sickeningly sadistic these past several months. Yet of course...we all know the way to a man's heart is through a woman..." he added with a smirk, averting Yukina's startled attention back to him.

She would have glared had she been offended, but in all seriousness, she was confused. Not like she knew anything about men, much less how to romance one. Granted, she had accompanied Kazuma and Yusuke many times, but they were more of friends to her, at least it seemed that way. Botan had teased the ice child about flirting with Kazuma on several occasions, and yet again, Yukina had no idea what "flirting" meant. She thought it was innocent teasing, not a form of romantic involvement. Had she been...naughty?

"So...will you accept the mission?" Koenma interrupted her thoughts abruptly.

"You...never said what the mission was exactly." Yukina replied innocently, adding her smile for the first time that day.

"I didn't! My goodness, I'm getting forgetful in my old age!" Only Koenma would laugh at a remark like that as Yukina just shook her head and maintained her sweet smile. "Your mission is to enter Kaihiko's province, stay on friendly terms, and then bring him into custody once you've...softened him up a little."

She raised an eyebrow.

"You know, I want you to..."

She edged herself closer in anticipation.

"Oh for heaven's sake! I want you to seduce him!"

Yukina nearly fell back into her seat Koenma shouted so loud, but she was in too much shock to even retort to his demand. Seduce him? What did that mean, anyway? If there was ever a time when she needed a dictionary handy, it was now. "Yes sir, Koenma. I'll do my best."

"That's what I like to hear!" Koenma beamed, jumping onto his seat to express his joy that she accepted the assignment, when something occured to him. "Oh, and you only have three weeks."

She sweatdropped by his last statement, the fluttering of her stomach returning, as she replied. "Why the time limit?" she asked.

Headaches...he hated headaches, and now of all times he was getting one. "We've received word from inside sources that Kaihiko is collecting an army of sorts, one that he'll use to expand his so-called 'empire', and will eventually work his way into our territory. Should he succeed, he will amass more power until we can't control him anymore. He'd be a tyrant, Yukina...a ruthless dictator, and he's going to move in three weeks...at least, that's what we're hoping for."

"Very well, Koenma. I'll do it." Yukina smiled again, standing up to give him back the file, when he declined it.

"You keep it. Besides, if you're going to fall in love with him, you're going to have to start liking his face." he said with a smirk that made the fluttering spin faster in her stomach. She was really starting to hate that feeling...

As she began to exit, the file resting against her chest, she turned back to face Koenma. "Koenma, sir...are you certain that there is no one else more suitable for the job?"

"If you're having second thoughts, Yukina, I'll assign another female, but I'd much rather you handle it." he replied, settling back into his seat as her eyes turned downcast with disappointment.

"No, I-I'll go through with it. But may I be allowed to say goodbye to my friends first before departing?" she asked as delicately as possible.

"As if I could refuse that look on your face." he said with a familiar grin, hers matching, while adding a blush. "I'll send Botan to fetch you once you've said your farewell's. She'll handle the rest of the details from there."

With a final nod of confirmation, Yukina walked out the door and disappeared from Koenma's sight. "I sure I hope I don't get strangled for this..." he muttered, slouching in his seat with the grotesque images filling his mind. His dreams were not going to be pleasant tonight...

L-a-t-e-r

"You're doing what!" Kuwabara blurted as loud as possible, even making Yusuke insert his fingers in his ears. "How can Koenma put such a burden on you? He should be smacked silly!"

"Kazuma, please..." Yukina soothed, shushing him with her finger. "I don't mind doing it, honestly. I'll just be lonely, that's all. Besides, it could give me a chance to look into matters of my brother. Perhaps this Kaihiko has met him in the past."

Kazuma wasn't completely convinced, but held back his temper for Yukina's sake. He just hated the idea of Yukina going into hostile territory alone with nothing but a name and a threat to go on. What kind of ruler was Koenma for sending the fragile girl on a mission, anyway? Didn't the toddler know that she could be hurt, much less killed? "Well...if you think it'll help you find your brother...then I'll go with you!"

"No, Kazuma, you mustn't. I'm afraid that only I can go this time." Yukina told him gently, hiding her eyes to avoid his distraught gaze.

"Well, why can't I go with you?"

"Because..." she muttered, her voice growing quieter. "This is something I must do on my own. Should you get involved, you could jeopardize both our lives, as well as the world's. I can't risk that. Do you understand, Kazuma?"

He hung his head and nodded, a disappointed sigh being shoved out of his chest with difficulty. "I just wish you could take someone with you. Someone that's good at hiding...like Hiei!"

"No good, Kuwabara." Yusuke interrupted, releasing his own sigh. "You know that we lost contact with him months ago, and even though he's Yukina's - !...g-guardian...I highly doubt that he's going to come running to the rescue. Not his style."

"Oh yeah, good point." Kuwabara replied, his mind drifting off to the kitsune. "What about Kurama? He's pretty crafty."

"I'm sorry to say that Kurama's tied up too." Botan added solemnly.

Kuwabara growled in frustration, while Yukina simply put her hand on his arm to steady him. "Well why can't you go, Urameshi! You don't seem too busy!"

Yusuke sweatdropped and struggled to find an excuse, when Yukina intervened. "It's all right. I'll be fine on my own. I just need confidence, that's all."

"B-but...Yukina! You can't just leave on this dangerous mission alone! At least let me walk you there! I'll even carry your schoolbooks! Just please don't go!" Kuwabara pleaded, dropping to his knees and holding her hands tightly. Yukina blushed and grinned widely at him, touched by his dread over her leaving for just a mere three weeks. Then again, when you took into account that those mere three weeks could be her last...

"Kuwabara, let's face it," Yusuke spoke up, force and a demand for attention in his voice. "Yukina's a woman that's capable of taking care of herself. If Koenma thinks she can pull off this mission, then that means you have to believe she can too! I personally have oodles of confidence in my favorite little ice demon."

After blushing crimson again at Yusuke's remark, Yukina continued. "Yusuke's right, Kazuma. If Koenma has confidence in me, then I need the same from you. Do you believe in me, Kazuma?"

"Of course I do, Yukina!...I just hate to see you go, that's all. If anything happened to you, I'd never forgive myself." Kuwabara replied sadly, struggling to fight his tears as Yukina cupped his face to look at her.

"Nothing will happen to me...I promise." she told him sweetly, taking him in a hug to hold in gentle assurance.

Botan turned her gaze up to the nighttime sky, seeing the moon glow like a far-off pearl, and warning her that the hour had grown later. "Yukina, it's time to go."

Looking away from Kuwabara, Yukina nodded and stood up, Kuwabara following regrettably. "Listen, Yukina..." Yusuke called, averting her attention to him. "If you're not back in three weeks, then I'm going after you myself. No 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts' about it, you got that, young lady?"

She noted the comical sarcasm in his voice, but took to heart what his words meant. He helped lead the mission to rescue her from Tarukane's compound, and he hated to see anything happen to her, so it was best that she not argue with him. "Thank you, Yusuke. I appreciate that, but I will be back within the allotted time. Do take care of Kazuma for me, will you?"

Yusuke nodded, adding a silly grin as he smacked Kuwabara on the shoulder. Kuwabara only sighed. "Kazuma, can I ask a favor of you?" Yukina spoke again, drawing Kuwabara's attention to her. "If you see Kurama or Hiei, will you tell them I said goodbye? I hate to leave without telling them myself, but I don't want to delay any longer."

Sniffling, Kuwabara replied. "Sure, anything for you, Yukina." He tried to smile, but it failed miserably when she hugged him one more time, Botan creating her oar out of thin air simultaneously. "Be careful out there, all right? First sign of trouble, you run like heck, you got it?"

Yukina smiled. "Will do, Kazuma. You take care of yourself too and study hard! I want to see some improvements on your math when I return." Adding another smile and a giggle, Yukina slipped herself onto Botan's oar, and the two floated up into the sky, waving at the two men down below who followed to the edge of a shallow cliff.

Botan looked to Yukina as she guided them on through the thin clouds, smiling as she did so. "You sure you can go through with this mission? It's an awful lot for your first time around."

"I can do it, I just need to get over my silly fears." Yukina replied, pulling out the picture of Kaihiko that she had tucked inside her kimono. Botan observed from her vantage point and smirked.

"Oooo, is he the attractive victim?" she commented slyly, receiving a grin from Yukina in the process.

"What I'm supposed to do with him is still beyond me, but I know that I cannot fail. Failure is not an option."

Botan noted how the Koorime fingered the portrait constantly, indulging herself in Kaihiko's handsome features. Had he been smiling, the ferry girl would have fallen for him too. "Well, just in case you do run into trouble, take this..." Botan then handed Yukina a small gadget the ice child recognized to be Botan's communicator. "Hide it well, because if it's discovered, you won't come back to us in one piece."

Nodding, Yukina tucked it underneath her kimono and looked at the picture again with a sigh. "Thank you, Botan. I do hope this will help..."

A/N: Is the villain's name cheesey enough? lol, I had a hard time concaucting his name, because I really don't know that much Japanese, so I apologize if that name is totally whack. On another note, was that a decent beginning? Not real long, I know, but if this is gonna be in chapters, then I don't want to spoil a lot of things. Bear with me about updates - I really have no idea where I'm going with this. Don't flame please and leave a nice review!

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