Hinote Kyou Mizu

Chapter 2

Jaganshi Hinote walked up to the front of the Yukimura Noodle Shop, pulling on the front door and bounding into the store. She spotted her tall boyfriend behind the counter, back turned to the diners scattered through the small shop.

“Ryu!”

Urameshi Ryu turned and looked up from the bowls he was drying to see his short, blue haired girlfriend. She had apparently just left their school, The Suzumebachi Academy; her blue and grey uniform not yet replaced by her preferred workout clothes. She even had her vintage messenger bag on her shoulder, the only thing she used to carry her schoolbooks completely covered in patches and pins.

“Hey Hia. You’re here early. I thought you had a student council meeting today. Those usually last at least until five.”

She nodded as she walked behind the counter, waving to some of the regulars as she pulled Ryu behind the curtain into the kitchen. “Yeah, but they had to postpone it, President Saki is sick today so there is not much we can do right now without her. Anyway, you’re going to take me to a movie tonight.”

Ryu smirked, looking down at his girlfriend. “Oh really? What’s my incentive?”

He pulled her closer, leaning her into him as he held her. He knew she had ulterior motives. ‘Movie’ was the young couple’s codeword for stealing away to the Makai and learning more about each other, usually physically. The young man’s grin was quietly feral, telling Hinote that he understood what she meant.

“A little of this, a little of that.”

She leaned up and kissed him, wrapping her arms under his and around his shoulders. “I plan on…”

“Hey kids! What are you two up to?”

Hinote and Ryu pulled away from each other as the face of Yusuke Urameshi peeked out from the counter area, face in his hand as he leaned on the elbows. “And what are you two planning for this evening? Something fun I bet?”

Ryu turned his head to his father and rolled his eyes. “Knock it off, Dad…”

The spirit detective stood up and walked through the doorway, putting his hands up as he walked into the room. “Hey, none of my business. You two are old enough.”

“But we still worry about you….”

Ryu, Hinote and Yusuke turned to see a very pale Keiko at the door to the stairs. She had apparently come down from the apartment above where the Urameshi’s lived above their restaurant.

“Keiko, you shouldn’t be out of bed.” Yusuke walked up and held his wife close supporting her as she stood next to him, wobbling slightly. “You need to rest. The doctor’s orders”

Keiko smiled weakly, looking to her husband and then her son. “I’m alright, Yusuke. Ryu, just let me say that we do care about you two. We worry. You know we support you and Hinote. Both Hinote’s parents and we know what you do when you are in the Makai. Just, please, both of you, promise that you’ll be careful. We do look forward to grandchildren, after you are married and graduate from the University. You never know what will happen.”

Ryu and Hinote nodded, Ryu looking to his mother. “We understand Mom. Hia and I talked about it, and we are as careful as we can be.”

Keiko nodded, smiling weakly. “We trust you. If you will excuse me, I think I need to go lay down. Yusuke, would you bring me something to drink in a few minutes?”

The spirit detective nodded as she climbed the stairs, watching her with the sadness leaking into his eyes. “I know something is wrong with her. The doctors are never sure of what it is.”

“Yusuke, I think Keiko will be fine, she works hard taking care of you and Ryu and around the restaurant. She may just need a break.” Hinote offered her advice, her voice sympathetic, and knowing Keiko really was not well. The little fire demons eyes lit up as an idea popped into her head. “I know! How about you take her on a vacation?”

Yusuke smiled at the blue haired demon. “I never actually thought about that. She said she wanted to go to America in the next few years, just the two of us. We have enough saved up; I think we can manage it. Especially since Ryu’s education is taken care of thanks to your mom. I think we should go.” Yusuke walked up the stairs as Hinote and Ryu watched, Hinote feeling bad for Keiko and Ryu worried about his mother. Yusuke turned and smiled at both of them. “Don’t do anything I would do.”

“I love your dad, but he can be a real goober sometimes.” Hinote looked up at her boyfriend, her face completely straight. “You take after him a lot.”

“Oh, you love me and you know it.”

“Clap your hands.”

She smiled as he leaned down to kiss her. As their lips touched, Ryu held the small demon to his body, molding her to himself. As Hinote returned the gesture, the familiar old Final Fantasy Victory ring tone came from the blue and black messenger bag on Hinote’s shoulder.

“You and that vintage anime stuff.”

“Final Fantasy is not Anime. It’s a video game. It was highly popular when we were born; it’s not that old. It’s my Dad, by the way.”

She sighed as she pulled away from Ryu and flipped open the small sliver phone. She held the phone to her ear as she answered, barely able to hear the older hiyoukai on the other end.

“Dad? Hello? Dad...?”

She listened closely as she heard him speak, cursing the ‘human technology’.

“Dad, how long have you had that thing and you still do this?”

She didn’t get an answer as she heard her mother’s voice in the background, telling him to put the phone to his ear, not two feet from it.

“Hinote?”

The young hiyoukai rolled her eyes looking at Ryu, her voice exasperated at her father. “Dad, did you forget to put your phone by your ear again?”

He didn’t respond to the question, but spoke only to ask his own, his voice gruff. “Is Ryu coming for dinner?”

She smirked as she answered. “I don’t know, Lemme ask.” She put her finger over the microphone and turned to the human next to her. “Hey, Mom’s cooking.”

Ryu’s eye’s lit up as he heard this. “Food? Where? What’s for dinner?”

“What’s Mom making?”

Hiei grunted and spoke into the phone. “Miso and Sushi rolls”

Ryu heard this, clearly through the phone and pulled it quickly from Hinote’s hands.

“We’ll be there in twenty minutes!”