Everyone Has Shadows

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, just my OC, Taika.

Summary: Involving yourself in matters that aren’t your own and mixing yourself in situations concerning powerful demon lords and blood thirsty gangs is never the wise path to walk upon. But it is the most fun and adventurous one. How can a girl who loves to figure people out and their shadows, while trying to resist her most demonic and smoldering desires, not join in the mass of chaos? Her past follows her every step and sees her every action, and for the first time in years, it awakens in a flurry of blood and death. [KuramaxOC / HieixOC]

// Everyone Has Shadows //

Note to self: kill Koenma. A very slow, painful, and drawn out death, as long as possible. Who the fuck did the bastard think he was? Yes, he was the damn ruler of spirit world, but that did not give him authority to make me wear such a humiliating and degrading outfit just because I was under his strict jurisdiction!

The reflection of myself disgusting me from the frilly white ribbon that tied up my piled, curled hair to the two-inch high-heeled shoes that were strapped at my feet. I glared at the mirror as I made a slow, graceful 180-degree spin and saw the flimsy, practically see through, white material flare up and reveal the curve of my legs.

Front or back, both were shamefully revealing that gave off the wrong impression! At least to me it did. The front was probably the worst because the V-Neck cut dipped into my chest and exposed more cleavage than I was comfortable with. My back was almost completely bare with exception for the thin, silky white straps that ran across my back and dug into my back painfully.

Why, I asked myself, why in all the hells did I ever consent to attending that damn Demon’s Ball? Was I drunk at the time? No, I don’t believe I was, I recall every resentful word that spewed from Koenma’s mouth vividly and how I had so foolishly agreed to accompany him to the ball as his date.

Fucking fortunate me. I have the shitty pleasure of filling the spot as his fucking date so he can make all his friends jealous. Damn him, damn him to the deepest pits of hell where the eternal fires burn away his skin, muscle, bones, and then nip at that twisted little thing he calls a heart.

Calm down. I have got to calm down. Such a temper I have to yield is what I am told. Along with I need to seek out professional help and subdue my fiery temper. I know how to control it, but Koenma’s been on my case lately, barking absurd missions like retrieving his dry cleaning or go order him a bowl of oden because he’s too lazy to rise his worthless ass out of his chair to do so himself! And then he has the nerve to call me up to Rekai – on my day off – and ask me in such sickly sweet tones if I would be his date to the ball.

Why the hell I acquiesced is still a mystery. But he turned on those eyes of his, making his eyes water up and turn glassy and jutted out a rosy lip. Even though he was over seven hundred years old, he still withheld the appearance of an infant. Damn his look that transformed him from a bossy, arrogant asshole to a sweet, innocent baby in mere seconds to hell with him.

“Are you ready Taika?” I saw Botan’s head pop in, checking up on me. Of course I wasn’t ready, I was trying to stall for time. I despised dressing up with a passion and Koenma knew that. I think he’s getting me back from when I beat him in a poker match. Sore loser.

“You know I don’t fair well in the battle concerning make up and jewelry that compliments my attire.” I answered, sighing softly. I fell into the plush of the vanity seat and waited as Botan appeared at my side, a wide grin splitting her face.

“Grin any wider and you’re face will tear.” I teased her softly, gaining a light giggle from the Lady of Death.

“I just adore your wry sense of humor, Taika.” Botan chuckled as she sat in a short stool next to me, plucking a container of shimmering gold eye shadow and a brush from the glass shelf of the vanity.

“Thank you.” I did not speak after that because she began applying the eye shadow, forcing me to shut my eyes. She skipped the eye liner, I noticed, but I remember vaguely the first time Botan did my make up – which was some years ago – she told me I didn’t require it.

Some time went by until she was done painting my face. I peaked at the mirror and I admitted to myself that I looked… pretty. The gold eye shadow sparkled, respecting my large dark blue eyes, the rosy blush was lightly tinted my cheeks, and the peachy lip-gloss made my lips shine. There was a newly added appeal to my face that was hard to miss, I was sure to gain many stares and make heads turn.

“Oh, you look so gorgeous! Koenma will be pleased!” Botan cooed, admiring her own handiwork. If I hadn’t been so control of my emotions, I would have flushed, and the blush would fail to cover it up. I was so unaccustomed to flattery and praise; I was more familiar with insults and criticism.

“You did a fantastic job, you have once again earned my gratitude.” I offered her an awkward half smile, referring to the last time she primped me up for a conference I have long since forgotten that I had to go to formally dressed some years ago.

“It’s no problem.” She waved me off simply. “Now for some jewelry! Earrings, necklaces, bracelets galore!” Botan squealed, proceeding with throwing open the small drawers of the jewelry, searching for the appropriate piece of jewelry that would fit what I wore.

Taking a brief look around the room, I sadly only noticed a few changes in Botan’s room. Yes, that was where I was right now, Botan’s small apartment. The walls were painted a pastel pink, there was a soft plush carpet on the floor, gleaming, polished hard wood floors, stuffed animals placed on her small twin sized bed, and among other necessities. It looked like the only things that changed was a few posters that adorned the wall and new lotions and sprays.

“Maybe you should consider finding a second job soon.” I commented, my voice a whisper. “Your room is of that of child’s.” I felt her stop shuffling around for jewelry and knowing she had paused to peer at me, but I was turned away from her, gazing out the open window framed with swishing curtains.

“I know.” She replied distantly. “I haven’t the money to redecorate.” There. No mistaking it, there was a longing desire for a room that was proper for a woman of her age. I kept in mind to look out for odd jobs that she might agree to.

A complete personality flip occurred because Botan’s cheerful voice chimed, “Brilliant! Perfect! Exquisite!” Turning back to her, I saw her dazzling over a strand of milky pearls with a light pink – almost silver looking – ribbon and a matching pair of earrings.

“Excellent choice, thank you for putting such hard, unnecessary work into fixing me up.” It seemed that I was doing nothing but thank her. Botan did, after all, was the one who picked the dress – even though it was lined with Koenma’s personal “opinions” – chose the shoes, and brushed my hair into such a sophisticated pile of curls that sat on top of my head.

“No worries! I love doing things like this! It’s just so much fun!” Botan squealed again, sounding very much like a giddy hyped child. Perhaps the room did fit her personality at heart. Besides, I don’t see her much as the serious type, but maybe if I got rid of that horrible floral bed spread with bears – but she treasured it to death – or put in some indication that she was a grown women then I would feel better.

My kind heart had taken me to so many dangerous situations and leads me where I am now. It was going to be the death of me one day. I just knew it.

Botan handed me the strand of pearls and earrings, smiling. “I’ll go inform Koenma that you’re ready and we’ll be there in a few seconds. He’s becoming impatient.”

“How surprising.” I deadpanned.

Giggling madly, she nodded, and said, “Got that right!” before sweeping out of her room.

Shaking my head at how she always seemed to be so happy and full of joy my eyes dropped to the jewelry she pushed into my hands. My heart clenched, my hand fluttering up to the valley between my breasts. Only baby-soft skin met my searching fingers, not the reassuring smooth metal of my locket.

I sighed a ghost of a sigh. Unclipping the hook of necklace, placing it around my neck, and fumbling with clipping it back into place, it finally hung limply, falling to the middle of my chest. It took me a split second to slip on the earrings – though I was sure that the holes would’ve closed up by now.

“Finished,” I breathed quietly, standing up from the vanity seat.

“Okay Taika! He says he’s ready! Spray on some of that perfume in the heart shaped bottle around your neck and arms and I’ll summon a portal.” Botan announced, stepping into the room.

Nodding, I easily found the bottle and sprayed a light amount on my neck and on my arms so, as Botan put it, “The scent would be addicting, but teasing.” I think she’s been trying to set me up with possible suitors since I began ‘working for’ Koenma.

“And off we go in your chariot of light!” Botan grinned impishly, summoning a portal.

“Hardly.” I stated and stepped through the portal, careful not to trip due to the outrageously high-heels. Another thing I wasn’t accustomed to. Damn Koenma.

The Koenma that met me was definitely older and more mature looking. He had morphed into his teenaged form and was dressed in creased, black business-like slacks, a crisp white button up shirt, a black jacket buttoned up with exception of the last three, and wide red suave tie, coupled with shiny black shoes. So much for traditional formal kimonos, but I suppose it was the modern era, and demons did differ from humans a great deal.

“You definitely know how to dress on such official occasions. Pity that it goes to waste as I see your kimonos is usually soiled with interesting stains.” I smirked at him, taunting him being the only way I knew how to compliment my boss.

Koenma glared back as a symbol of his irritation and how the ball was being such an inconvenience to him because he was “missing work”.

Missing work my ass. He was missing his favorite soaps.

“We have no time for arguing. As it is, we’re going to be late!” Koenma’s face darkened, grim knowing that the ball was the only obstacle that kept him from finding out who so-and-so was dating and whose so-and-so’s baby’s father was.

“Hn, whatever you say love.” I casually said, indifferent. As added affected, I batted my eyelashes mockingly at him.

“Oh shush! Botan, please summon a portal!” Commanded Koenma, frustration lacquered heavily on his deeper voice. An amused chuckle sounded next to me as a portal appeared.

“My lady.” Koenma said in a tight voice, offering his arm. I gladly accepted it at my own personal pleasure. If anything, I was strumming his nerves, giving him a taste of being tormented by a total ass. I was not like this frequently – arrogant, conceited, and bastard-like – but I was so when the time called for it.

Koenma was always involved. So to put it more specifically, I only acted like this when I was trying to teach Koenma a lesson and try to knock him down a notch or two.
When we arrived and were formally introduced to the host of the ball – a powerful demon lord in Makai along with his trophy wife – Koenma wandered off somewhere, telling me to stay where I was and that he was looking for some people.

“Some people” meant that he was abandoning me to go fetch his friends and show me off. Stupid Koenma. But I couldn’t leave even if I wanted to – and I wanted to leave so badly. Considering that I was in no suitable clothing for battle since we were in the heart of Makai – the place where all rich demons and the higher society “I’m On The Pedestal, Bow Down To Me” demons socialized and lived – I wouldn’t be able to defend myself against stray thieves. Oh yes, I knew places like this by heart. I was, after all, a thief. Still am, but I don’t go after glamorous treasures due to a certain hardheaded baby boss.

Koenma returned, but not with the type of people I expected. I thought that he would come back with snobbish, old perverted men who would hit on me, not arrogant (for the most part) looking young men who were about my age.

“Ahem, I’d like you to meet my Spirit Detectives.” Koenma told me, stepping to the side to allow them to introduce themselves.

There were four of them in total, and one of taller ones with hair that flared down his back was about to step up, but the tallest – who paled in comparison to the other threes’ good looks a great deal – beat him to it.

“Hey, I’m Kuwabara Kazuma, will you give me the pleasure of serving the spot as my girlfriend? No one can compare to your ever lasting beauty that shines through the night!” He may not be a perverted old man, but I still categorized him as a pervert.

Instead of slapping him – too impulsive – or lashing out venomous words – Koenma would lash me out at his office in return for embarrassing him – I stared deep into his eyes, all emotion and feeling leaving my body. I saw into his soul, saw his moments of anguish, his moments of joy, his moments of despair. His memories, his feelings, his heart, I saw into his very soul. By what Koenma tells me, since I use this look often on him, it’s creepy and disturbing and leaves him feeling vandalized and naked. By the looks of it, it was having a similar affect on him.

“I see that you’re no different than Koenma.” Releasing him from my spell, Kuwabara-san gave a start, literally shaking all over.

“Now that wasn’t necessary…” I gave him a hard stare. “…Okay, maybe it was.”

The one with hair slicked back with the aid of Kami only knows how much hair gel bopped Kuwabara over the head lightly. Instantly, Kuwabara stopped shaking and his face flamed up, angry waves emitting from his person. I cocked an eyebrow.

And they say women have the most dangerous mood swings. Psh. Humans.

“Why you-!”
Gliding over to Kuwabara swiftly and quickly I clamped my hand over his mouth, effectively shutting him up. I narrowed my eyes, my lips twisting into an annoyed scowl.

“Shush, human. If you dare test my patience and shout again, I will severe your head from your neck so leisurely that every second is like hell’s fire licking at your very soul. I have no mercy, be lucky that I’m being kind enough due to the people surrounding enough to offer you a friendly warning.” His eyes had widened and he was sweating profusely. My hand left his mouth and I slunk back to Koenma’s side, fore filling my dutiful position as his “trophy girlfriend.”

Kuwabara stared at me, his face pasty and a ghastly expression on his face, his mouth a jar. I smirked at his discomfort and the fear I sensed.

The one who bopped Kuwabara on the head stepped up, an amused grin stretching across his face as sweet as honey, looked me over. I noticed that his gaze had a tendency to linger on my breasts or my “hefty rack” as demons so vulgarly put it.

Stalking over to him, making sure to swing my hips to amplify my sex appeal I pressed myself against him. My hand crawled up the column of his neck and the smooth skin of his cheek like spider legs, while I gazed deeply into his cinnamon eyes with flecks of red.

Leaning up to his ear, I smirked coyly, permitting my breath to tease the shell of his ear. I felt his muscles tense and heard his breath hitch. “And your name is?” I purred, my voice thick with seduction and as smooth and silky as cream.

“Urameshi Yusuke…” He replied breathlessly, gulping. Ah, there it was. A bulge in his pants, it was hard to miss. How very naughty of him. He needs more self-control.

Whispering a “Nice name,” I darted out my tongue and traced the inside of his ear, gladly taking in the fact that it was free of any waxy build up.

Kami, what in the seven hells was I doing? I don’t try to lure men into seduction! I’m not a tease! I have more decency than this! I refuse to stoop down to an ungodly level of filth where women practically begged to be laid!

A lustful moan escaped Yusuke’s lips. I considered what I should do: pull away or stay and see what happens? Fuck it, I’m pulling anyway, I’ll enjoy his yearning torment.

As quickly as I had swooped over to him I once again slunk back to Koenma’s side. Just as I had expected, there was desire lurking in those cinnamon depths along with a fiery disappointment. Humph, that should teach him to restrain his ‘manly needs.’

“Sorry Urameshi. Things such as this don’t usually occur, forgive my foul behavior.” My voice was still sugary sweet, as if my body was acting on its own accord and still wanted to seduce the human.

Now I’m confused with how my body was reacting. Before in the past, I had never felt such carnal desires for hot flesh and warm tongues. Was the time for mating season nearing?

I thought. Damn it, it was! This time of year always put me through the most difficult situations! Now my body was starting to crave for sensual touches and bare skin pressed against skin.

Shit. Somehow I knew that by the time that this year’s mating season was over that I was going to be taken – willingly or not.

“Hey, what’s going on? You’re acting so unlike you. Are you sick?” Koenma asked sounding genuinely concerned for once. He shot me a worried look, his eyebrows furrowed. Maybe he really does care for me – and his Spirit Detectives – deep down.

Deep, deep, deep down buried under mountains of arrogance and conceit and pride that rose for endless miles. It’s there, that’s what matters, though, even if it is miniscule.

“I’m not entirely sure myself why I have been acting so out of hand. Perhaps my body is finally responding to my more primal side and ignoring my better judgment due to the approaching season.” I answered as logically as I could; knowing that what was happening to me was extremely baffling.

Koenma nodded solemnly. “Okay, the rest of you introduce yourself!”

The red head stepped forward first, leaving the significantly shorter male unnamed. “I am Minamino Shuichi, but I am more or less known as Kurama.”

Both my eyebrows shot up at that. Kurama? Was it a strange coincidence or was he the avatar for the all-famous Youko Kurama that inhabited an unborn human child some seventeen years ago? Maybe, but I decided not to embarrass myself if that was not the case.

“I see. It is nice to make your acquaintance. Please accept my humble apologizes for the last two rather awkward introductions, I do not know what has come over me.” Using my grace I swept into a low, highly respective bow.

“Do not stress yourself over it, such misfortunes happen to the best of us. If you will, may I have the pleasure of learning your name?” Damn, I knew I forgot something.

“Excuse me for my poor lack of manners, there is no such plausible explanation to excuse that. My name is Ishiguro Taika.” Sad, I barely remember my last name since no one uses it. I don’t answer to Ishiguro-san, only to Taika. Nothing less, nothing more, it’s as simple as that.

Taika.

Yet I somehow acquired the more despicable nicknames such as skank, whore, slut, bitch, and things like that. What did I ever do to earn such disgusting, nasty, mortifying nicknames?

“And who is the other one, Koenma…” I gritted my teeth at his part. “…kun.”

“Hn.” Came a soft grunt from the shortest one.

“Oh, him? Don’t really expect him to give you his name, but it’s Hiei. Never talked much.” Koenma shrugged.

“Hiei.” I tested the name. It sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it where I had heard it. Oh well, my memory more often than played tricks on me. “Anyway, Koenma, please clarify why you dragged me to such an atrocious place.” What can I say? The owners may be filthy rich but they have tacky taste, plus, the associates weren’t pleasant, either.

Koenma’s face turned grim again. “Father wanted me to meet some powerful demon lords to get on their ‘good side’ in case we ever needed to call in a few favors.”

Hn, it wasn’t a bad idea, but throwing you in the complicated mix of money, power lust, and demon lords never did turn out well. And if the demon lords ever did you any favors, you would have to pay them back. Either way, it was not a wise choice of action. There were interior motives behind it, I knew it, and I felt it tingling my senses.

Snapping his fingers, Koenma grabbed my arm gently. “Speaking of them, we need to go to meet the demon lords. They don’t like to wait.” Psh, of course not, stuck up bastards. They place themselves on pedestals and expect nothing but praise and the utmost admiration and thought themselves superior to others! The mere mention of them sickened me, but I reminded myself to bite down any icy insults I had to throw or any hateful glares I had to offer. Because it all worked in a domino affect: If the demon lords get mad, Enma gets mad and places the blame on Koenma, then he gets mad at me for being the cause of the whole situation and I have to repent for my foolish actions by becoming Koenma’s loyal servant in a skimpy outfit for as long as he sees fit.

Allowing myself to be dragged along for the ride, I looked back to the Spirit Detectives with quite a reputation. Quietly, discreetly, they chatted amongst themselves, and then I heard it. A single phrase sent my mind into overdrive with confusion, astonishment, and joyful gratitude.

“Whoever she was, I would like to get to know her.”

Disclosing the rest of the world and setting the Spirit Detectives and myself off to the side, I arrived a final conclusion. Since these people were intrigued about me, my own curiosity developed into an itching unsolved enigma that demanded to be solved!

From the little I had gathered, I made up a list of the facts about each person and the things I thought that they might be or like.

Kuwabara Kazuma: orange hair, tall, likes blue (he was, after all, sporting a blue suit) perverted, desperate, needy for attention, arrogant, but honest and honor worthy. He had given me a choice of whether or not to accept his inquiry if I would be his girlfriend. Other men that I have met command and insist on me being their girlfriend, rambling about being a lucky girl and having the honor to be their girlfriend, but for Kuwabara, it was the other way around. I liked that.


Urameshi Yusuke: Leader most likely, black hair, prideful eyes, arrogant, confident, kind hearted, domineering and dominant, likes green. (He wore a green tie. Besides, where does one find a greens suit at?) Seems pretty protective about his friends, perverted as well, and strong. I sensed a great energy from him, abnormal for humans and I was going to find out why it had been there.

Minamino Shuichi: Beautiful hair, but it’s in deprived condition. Two souls. Strange, very strange, must make a note of the reason behind that later. Fox. Yet, he was human. Again, very strange, a silver fox at that that I believed used plants as a primary weapon. If I recall correctly, Youko was a silver fox and used plants in place of swords and weapons, and proved to be quite successful. Now I knew that in no way in hell that something like that was coincidence! I just had to find proof that he did, in fact, house Youko Kurama. What a delight! I had just – if my suspicions are correct – met Youko Kurama!

…. Oh Kami, that sounded so fan girlish. Yuck. Note to self: Don’t gaze at Youko-sama like he’s a slab of meat, I’ll probably creep him out and I’ll never have a chance to learn of his great adventures during his past life.

And last but certainly not least, Hiei. Mysterious indeed. Unmistakable, he had a Jagan, the legendary evil eye. However it didn’t seem natural, it was probably surgically added. He was a Forbidden Child, a fire apparition and ice koorime mix. Independent and distant, I saw, and a fighter. Combat boots along with a katana. His past must be filled with pain and tragedy and seemed… bound to lash out with a temper to yield, so I would have to be careful of how to approach him.

“Okay, here we are! Please do me a favor and not kill them, Taika.” Koenma pleaded, standing before two towering oak doors with intricate engravings.

Pushing down the need to roll my eyes and mutter off a string of colorful obscenities, I pulled off a brave look and entered with Koenma, facing a bunch of old, gray, wrinkled face clad in expensive suits and gowns, jewelry flashing.

I’ve just jumped into the bowels of hell and these were the spawns of the devil ready to put me over a boiling cauldron of oils by my toenails and were prepared to probe me unmercifully with sharpened spears and swing at me with spiked bats.

Somehow I knew that this was not going to end without some blood shed.

Come hell, and I mean that in the most literal way, or high waters, it certainly was not going to be my blood that was going to be spilt!

//End Chapter//

First chapter up! I hope you enjoyed it! R&R Please!