Chapter I: To Catch a Thief

Yusuke Urameshi twirled in his seat a couple of times as he waited impatiently for his girlfriend, Keiko, to show up at the restaurant he was currently in. As he looked from his watch to the restaurant entrance, he couldn’t help but grow worried. Ever since he became a Spirit Detective, Keiko was usually the main target in different situations and dangerous SD case

Yusuke Urameshi twirled in his seat a couple of times as he waited impatiently for his girlfriend, Keiko, to show up at the restaurant he was currently in. As he looked from his watch to the restaurant entrance, he couldn’t help but grow worried. Ever since he became a Spirit Detective, Keiko was usually the main target in different situations and dangerous SD cases. He sighed and rose to his feet to look for his missing companion. That is, until he saw her run into the restaurant with a weary look planted on her face.

“Keiko!”

Her ears perked up once she heard Yusuke call her name. She turned toward the direction she heard his voice, and smiled weakly. He smiled back and signaled her over. After straightening her skirt to perfection, she walked toward the table he was sitting at and quietly sat across from him.

Yusuke cleared his throat. “Didn’t expect me so early, huh?”

“Yeah,” she looked into his eyes, “why is that?”

“I didn’t want to get yelled at by my girlfriend.” He said sarcastically, as he put a toothpick in his mouth.

“She must be really strict.” Keiko said, playing along.

“Yeah, but I love her anyway.” He said as he put his hand on top of hers.

Keiko’s eyes lowered.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Yusuke asked rudely, noticing her actions.

She didn’t answer.

“Keiko, you know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know, “she added hastily, “that’s why I brought you here.”

Yusuke didn’t know what to say, so he sat there and waited for her to continue.

“Yusuke,” she paused and looked into his eyes. “Please understand what I am about to say.”

“Well, you already know that half the stuff you say I don’t under-”

“Yusuke. Try to be serious.” She said as she pulled her hand from below his.

He nodded.

“I wanted to tell you that I am going-”

She stopped again, not wanted to see Yusuke’s reaction to what she was about to say.

“Keiko?” He asked with a worried tone.

“Yusuke, I’m....I’m....goingofftocollege!” She spat out quickly.

He cocked an eyebrow up. “College? You?”

“Yes, but that’s not all,” she took his hand in hers, “it’s in New York.”

“New York?” He asked, still stunned about the turn of events.

“Yes....and that means that I won’t be able to see-”

“I know.” He interrupted.

She glanced over at Yusuke, who was now looking down at the well-polished table they were sitting at. She hoped that he wasn’t too disappointed at the arrangement. After all, she would try her best to keep in touch with him and even come back to Japan during her vacation time.

“I’m sorry, it’s not like-”

“No, don’t be.” He looked up. “You’re a smart girl, Keiko, I should have been expecting this at the very time we started going out. Don’t let me drag you down, go off to college.”

“Yusuke, don’t say that! You never drag me down!”

He sighed. “Keiko, the point is for you to get an education and a job, right?”

She didn’t answer.

“Right.” He said, mimicking Keiko’s voice.

She hid a smile that was visible to Yusuke.

“Are you sure?” She asked. “You’re not mad about this?”

“It doesn’t matter if I am mad or not, this is your choice.”

Her parents told her the same thing. She grimaced at the thought and looked back at Yusuke, whose eyes where now covered by his bangs. She brushed them out and touched his warm cheek gently.

“I know, Yusuke.” She smiled. “I just wanted your input.”

He smiled back. “And I told you what I thought.”

“Yeah...so it’s settled.” She said softly. “College here I come.”

“Ya know,” he leaned his chair back a couple of centimeters, “I’m going to miss you.”

“Wow, Yusuke has a soft side....I would have never guessed.”

“Yeah, but don’t tell Kuwabara....he might want to hit on me.” Yusuke noted.

“Yusuke!” Keiko said as she shoved him roughly.

“What?” He asked innocently.

Keiko rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Anyway...” Keiko said, trying to change the subject.

“Ohh...when do you plan on leaving...to go to New York?”

Her face turned more serious. “Next week.”

“Geez. We just graduated from HS two weeks ago!” He said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“I know, but I do have to find an apartment and a lot of other things...than when I am settled I will attend the college there. I think that is fair enough, right?”

Now Yusuke was the one to shrug his shoulders.

“I guess...” He said.

She smiled at a confused Yusuke and looked at the clock on the wall near the cash register. Her eyes widened with shock. She was late for work. She picked up her purse and stood up.

“I’m sorry, Yusuke, I have to get to work.” She said hurriedly.

He nodded and walked her toward the door. She quickly smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks so much, Yusuke.”

He didn’t know why she was thanking him, but he nodded.

“Be good.”

She smiled and said, “I will.”

That’s when Yusuke shaped his hand into a gun.

She did the same.

*~*~**~*~*

That was the last time Yusuke saw her. Not a call or a letter since that day. He would be worried about her well-being, but her parents usually kept him updated on her college life. He sighed. Even though he knew she was safe, why couldn’t she tell him that herself? It was like if she went to college to get away from....him.

His legs froze, preventing him from continuing his walk around the neighborhood.

It couldn’t be true. Keiko wasn’t that kind of person, at least, he thought she wasn’t. No. He knew her since childhood and trusted her more than his own mother(even if she wasn’t a drunk). But, why did she break her promise like that? She said that she would never forget about him. What made her change her mind? As he continued his walk, all his thoughts drifted toward Keiko.

His friend. His companion. His life.

*~*~**~*~*

Botan couldn’t believe that Koenma had yet another case for the Spirit Detective. He had just finished battling in the Dark Tournament! She guessed that when you are a Spirit Detective, your job would always remain a constant cycle....even if you died. She smiled, remembering the first time she was appointed the job of being Yusuke’s guide when he first died. She hated it! She felt that he was a dim-witted, egotistic brat.

She was wrong.

After she found out that he was neglected by his mother, and abandoned by his father, she understood why his character developed like so. After Koenma assigned him the job of Spirit Detective, Yusuke became a caring, sharp, dependable individual. And she thought Koenma had chosen the wrong person!

As she reminisced about her first days with Yusuke, she soon came to her senses to find Koenma beside her with a paddle in his hand. Her eyes widened with alarm.

Not the paddle....

“I thought I told you to get Yusuke! Good for nothing girl! You’ll get six beatings for this!”

She heard as she quickly materialized her oar and headed for Yusuke’s house. She couldn’t believe Koenma! If he wasn’t the head chief of Spirit World...she’d....she’d......take that pacifier and BURN IT!

“No, Botan, you would probably lose your job and then some...” She said as she flew toward his house.

As she landed on the steps to his house, she made her oar disappear into thin air. She was about to knock when she heard a voice from behind her. Yusuke. She turned around to see Yusuke walk toward her.

“Hallo there, Yusuke!” She said, with a bit of British tongue.

Yusuke shifted his weight to one leg and asked, “what does pacifier-face want now?”

She was about to tell him that appearance did not matter in Spirit World. It was how you got the job done. And surely, Yusuke was not considering the idea of thinking of Koenma as a....well...mature adult. She ignored his insult and put her hands on her hips to show that she did hear his remark.

“A mission, I suppose.” She said.

“Can’t Koenma handle anything by himself?” Yusuke asked as he brushed a hand through his hair.

“Why does he have to do it when you’re around?” Botan asked as Yusuke did an anime-fall.

He stood up and glared at Botan. “Why are you always on his side?”

Botan cocked an eyebrow up at the unusual question he asked her. She dismissed it and materialized her oar again. As she hopped on it, she patted it gently for him to join her. He obeyed and sat on the silly contraption.

“Off we go!” She said as they floated smoothly into the air.

Yusuke breathed in the fresh air that was heading into his nostrils as they took off. Finally. Something to take his mind off of Keiko. As they glided through the sky, Yusuke could see Spirit World come into view.

He wondered what the mission could be?

*~*~**~*~*

“Took you long enough to get here!”

Yusuke could hear Koenma yell as they walked into his office. He didn’t look too happy. He had at least three stacks of paper that were taller than him(Yusuke) on his desk. As Yusuke sat in a chair near his desk, Koenma kicked a stack off his desk and glared at Yusuke.

“Umm...I guess this would be a bad time to ask for a raise, huh?” Yusuke asked sarcastically.

Koenma was not amused. He looked.....serious.

“Ummm...Koenma sir?” Botan asked, trying to break the tension in the room.

Koenma turned to her. “What is it now?”

“You wanted to talk about the mission....” She said as he sighed and sat in his seat.

“Yes,” he said, “but this is private business, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Botan blinked. “....yes, sir.”

After Yusuke heard the door close behind Botan, he asked, “what was that all about?”

“This case,” he paused, “has hit very close to home.”

“You mean it has something to do with....Botan?” Yusuke questioned.

“Let me show you something before I explain.” He sighed. “OGRE!”

As Koenma breathed those last four letters, Ogre, his assistant, came running into the room.

“Yes....Koenma, sir?” Ogre asked as he bowed his head.

Koenma tilted his seat back a little bit and said, “my remote, please.”

Ogre stared at him. “Sir, it’s right by your hand...”

“And?” Koenma asked as everyone, but Koenma, sweat-dropped in the room.

Ogre picked up the remote and handed it to him. “Here you are, sir.”

“Thank you.” Koenma said as Ogre left the room.

Yusuke stared at him with interest.

“Everything will be explained on the tape,” he said as he turned the t.v. set behind them on.

Yusuke turned his head around to see a heavy-set man, wearing a tailored suit, sit beside a coffee table with a newspaper in his hand. His hair had seen better days, and his eyes had dark lines under them. In other words, something was troubling him. It was troubling him so badly that sleep seemed to be the last thing on his mind and grooming himself became effortless. He looked straight ahead and cleared his throat.

The screen went snowy.

“Well, what do you have to say?”

Yusuke wiped some drool off the side of his face and yawned.

“What happened?”

Koenma threw the remote at him and jumped on top of his desk to make eye contact with Yusuke. Yusuke, in shock, stood up quickly, only to let his chair topple over. Meanwhile, Botan put her ear to the door to find out what all the noise was about, but heard nothing. She gritted her teeth, thinking the worst, and opened the door quietly to investigate. As she peeked her head through, she could see Koenma flailing his arms in a tantrum.

“DO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS! KANO IS VERY DANG-”

Botan’s heart stopped, as did Koenma’s. Yusuke stared at the two.

“Koenma, please tell me,” she paused and swallowed hard. “Is my brother still alive?”

s. He sighed and rose to his feet to look for his missing companion. That is, until he saw her run into the restaurant with a weary look planted on her face.

“Keiko!”

Her ears perked up once she heard Yusuke call her name. She turned toward the direction she heard his voice, and smiled weakly. He smiled back and signaled her over. After straightening her skirt to perfection, she walked toward the table he was sitting at and quietly sat across from him.

Yusuke cleared his throat. “Didn’t expect me so early, huh?”

“Yeah,” she looked into his eyes, “why is that?”

“I didn’t want to get yelled at by my girlfriend.” He said sarcastically, as he put a toothpick in his mouth.

“She must be really strict.” Keiko said, playing along.

“Yeah, but I love her anyway.” He said as he put his hand on top of hers.

Keiko’s eyes lowered.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you?” Yusuke asked rudely, noticing her actions.

She didn’t answer.

“Keiko, you know you can tell me anything, right?”

“I know, “she added hastily, “that’s why I brought you here.”

Yusuke didn’t know what to say, so he sat there and waited for her to continue.

“Yusuke,” she paused and looked into his eyes. “Please understand what I am about to say.”

“Well, you already know that half the stuff you say I don’t under-”

“Yusuke. Try to be serious.” She said as she pulled her hand from below his.

He nodded.

“I wanted to tell you that I am going-”

She stopped again, not wanted to see Yusuke’s reaction to what she was about to say.

“Keiko?” He asked with a worried tone.

“Yusuke, I’m....I’m....goingofftocollege!” She spat out quickly.

He cocked an eyebrow up. “College? You?”

“Yes, but that’s not all,” she took his hand in hers, “it’s in New York.”

“New York?” He asked, still stunned about the turn of events.

“Yes....and that means that I won’t be able to see-”

“I know.” He interrupted.

She glanced over at Yusuke, who was now looking down at the well-polished table they were sitting at. She hoped that he wasn’t too disappointed at the arrangement. After all, she would try her best to keep in touch with him and even come back to Japan during her vacation time.

“I’m sorry, it’s not like-”

“No, don’t be.” He looked up. “You’re a smart girl, Keiko, I should have been expecting this at the very time we started going out. Don’t let me drag you down, go off to college.”

“Yusuke, don’t say that! You never drag me down!”

He sighed. “Keiko, the point is for you to get an education and a job, right?”

She didn’t answer.

“Right.” He said, mimicking Keiko’s voice.

She hid a smile that was visible to Yusuke.

“Are you sure?” She asked. “You’re not mad about this?”

“It doesn’t matter if I am mad or not, this is your choice.”

Her parents told her the same thing. She grimaced at the thought and looked back at Yusuke, whose eyes where now covered by his bangs. She brushed them out and touched his warm cheek gently.

“I know, Yusuke.” She smiled. “I just wanted your input.”

He smiled back. “And I told you what I thought.”

“Yeah...so it’s settled.” She said softly. “College here I come.”

“Ya know,” he leaned his chair back a couple of centimeters, “I’m going to miss you.”

“Wow, Yusuke has a soft side....I would have never guessed.”

“Yeah, but don’t tell Kuwabara....he might want to hit on me.” Yusuke noted.

“Yusuke!” Keiko said as she shoved him roughly.

“What?” He asked innocently.

Keiko rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Anyway...” Keiko said, trying to change the subject.

“Ohh...when do you plan on leaving...to go to New York?”

Her face turned more serious. “Next week.”

“Geez. We just graduated from HS two weeks ago!” He said as she shrugged her shoulders.

“I know, but I do have to find an apartment and a lot of other things...than when I am settled I will attend the college there. I think that is fair enough, right?”

Now Yusuke was the one to shrug his shoulders.

“I guess...” He said.

She smiled at a confused Yusuke and looked at the clock on the wall near the cash register. Her eyes widened with shock. She was late for work. She picked up her purse and stood up.

“I’m sorry, Yusuke, I have to get to work.” She said hurriedly.

He nodded and walked her toward the door. She quickly smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

“Thanks so much, Yusuke.”

He didn’t know why she was thanking him, but he nodded.

“Be good.”

She smiled and said, “I will.”

That’s when Yusuke shaped his hand into a gun.

She did the same.

*~*~**~*~*

That was the last time Yusuke saw her. Not a call or a letter since that day. He would be worried about her well-being, but her parents usually kept him updated on her college life. He sighed. Even though he knew she was safe, why couldn’t she tell him that herself? It was like if she went to college to get away from....him.

His legs froze, preventing him from continuing his walk around the neighborhood.

It couldn’t be true. Keiko wasn’t that kind of person, at least, he thought she wasn’t. No. He knew her since childhood and trusted her more than his own mother(even if she wasn’t a drunk). But, why did she break her promise like that? She said that she would never forget about him. What made her change her mind? As he continued his walk, all his thoughts drifted toward Keiko.

His friend. His companion. His life.

*~*~**~*~*

Botan couldn’t believe that Koenma had yet another case for the Spirit Detective. He had just finished battling in the Dark Tournament! She guessed that when you are a Spirit Detective, your job would always remain a constant cycle....even if you died. She smiled, remembering the first time she was appointed the job of being Yusuke’s guide when he first died. She hated it! She felt that he was a dim-witted, egotistic brat.

She was wrong.

After she found out that he was neglected by his mother, and abandoned by his father, she understood why his character developed like so. After Koenma assigned him the job of Spirit Detective, Yusuke became a caring, sharp, dependable individual. And she thought Koenma had chosen the wrong person!

As she reminisced about her first days with Yusuke, she soon came to her senses to find Koenma beside her with a paddle in his hand. Her eyes widened with alarm.

Not the paddle....

“I thought I told you to get Yusuke! Good for nothing girl! You’ll get six beatings for this!”

She heard as she quickly materialized her oar and headed for Yusuke’s house. She couldn’t believe Koenma! If he wasn’t the head chief of Spirit World...she’d....she’d......take that pacifier and BURN IT!

“No, Botan, you would probably lose your job and then some...” She said as she flew toward his house.

As she landed on the steps to his house, she made her oar disappear into thin air. She was about to knock when she heard a voice from behind her. Yusuke. She turned around to see Yusuke walk toward her.

“Hallo there, Yusuke!” She said, with a bit of British tongue.

Yusuke shifted his weight to one leg and asked, “what does pacifier-face want now?”

She was about to tell him that appearance did not matter in Spirit World. It was how you got the job done. And surely, Yusuke was not considering the idea of thinking of Koenma as a....well...mature adult. She ignored his insult and put her hands on her hips to show that she did hear his remark.

“A mission, I suppose.” She said.

“Can’t Koenma handle anything by himself?” Yusuke asked as he brushed a hand through his hair.

“Why does he have to do it when you’re around?” Botan asked as Yusuke did an anime-fall.

He stood up and glared at Botan. “Why are you always on his side?”

Botan cocked an eyebrow up at the unusual question he asked her. She dismissed it and materialized her oar again. As she hopped on it, she patted it gently for him to join her. He obeyed and sat on the silly contraption.

“Off we go!” She said as they floated smoothly into the air.

Yusuke breathed in the fresh air that was heading into his nostrils as they took off. Finally. Something to take his mind off of Keiko. As they glided through the sky, Yusuke could see Spirit World come into view.

He wondered what the mission could be?

*~*~**~*~*

“Took you long enough to get here!”

Yusuke could hear Koenma yell as they walked into his office. He didn’t look too happy. He had at least three stacks of paper that were taller than him(Yusuke) on his desk. As Yusuke sat in a chair near his desk, Koenma kicked a stack off his desk and glared at Yusuke.

“Umm...I guess this would be a bad time to ask for a raise, huh?” Yusuke asked sarcastically.

Koenma was not amused. He looked.....serious.

“Ummm...Koenma sir?” Botan asked, trying to break the tension in the room.

Koenma turned to her. “What is it now?”

“You wanted to talk about the mission....” She said as he sighed and sat in his seat.

“Yes,” he said, “but this is private business, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Botan blinked. “....yes, sir.”

After Yusuke heard the door close behind Botan, he asked, “what was that all about?”

“This case,” he paused, “has hit very close to home.”

“You mean it has something to do with....Botan?” Yusuke questioned.

“Let me show you something before I explain.” He sighed. “OGRE!”

As Koenma breathed those last four letters, Ogre, his assistant, came running into the room.

“Yes....Koenma, sir?” Ogre asked as he bowed his head.

Koenma tilted his seat back a little bit and said, “my remote, please.”

Ogre stared at him. “Sir, it’s right by your hand...”

“And?” Koenma asked as everyone, but Koenma, sweat-dropped in the room.

Ogre picked up the remote and handed it to him. “Here you are, sir.”

“Thank you.” Koenma said as Ogre left the room.

Yusuke stared at him with interest.

“Everything will be explained on the tape,” he said as he turned the t.v. set behind them on.

Yusuke turned his head around to see a heavy-set man, wearing a tailored suit, sit beside a coffee table with a newspaper in his hand. His hair had seen better days, and his eyes had dark lines under them. In other words, something was troubling him. It was troubling him so badly that sleep seemed to be the last thing on his mind and grooming himself became effortless. He looked straight ahead and cleared his throat.

The screen went snowy.

“Well, what do you have to say?”

Yusuke wiped some drool off the side of his face and yawned.

“What happened?”

Koenma threw the remote at him and jumped on top of his desk to make eye contact with Yusuke. Yusuke, in shock, stood up quickly, only to let his chair topple over. Meanwhile, Botan put her ear to the door to find out what all the noise was about, but heard nothing. She gritted her teeth, thinking the worst, and opened the door quietly to investigate. As she peeked her head through, she could see Koenma flailing his arms in a tantrum.

“DO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THAT WAS! KANO IS VERY DANG-”

Botan’s heart stopped, as did Koenma’s. Yusuke stared at the two.

“Koenma, please tell me,” she paused and swallowed hard. “Is my brother still alive?”