Way You Love Me

Chapter Three: Five O'clock Shadows

"Here, Michiru, it's yours now," said mother softly. "Your father made it for me when you were born so that no matter what happened to him, he would always be in my heart."

Out of curiosity I tapped the wooden box with my finger until it slowly began to open. A tiny girl in a skirt and tank-top twirled to my mother's lullaby. Quietly I set the music box on the dresser, silently humming its melody.

"If we continue,
I must break the truth.

That we're not one
But tails apart.

No matter what I say
Or how it is said,

I'll find a way to begin again.
Till then keep my word
In your heart
And one day I'll be yours"

Its melody tugged the corners of my mouth into a sullen smile. "I miss him momma."

She nodded. "So do I."

"Thanks for the gift, mom."

"I think she's wakin up."

A groan escaped from between my lips as my head began to pound. My eyes tried to open but the instant barrage of blinding light caused them to squint to see. As everything came into focus I found we weren't alone. First thing that came into focus was a huge blue... turban?

I blinked blankly as it moved around till a toddler popped up on the arm of the sofa.

"Hello."

I was used to youkai trying to kill me. I had never feared my own death. Yet the moment I heard him speak. The pounding in my head returned with a vengeance and I fell back. Only I didn't hit the couch. Brawny arms kept me from passing out all-together on the kid.

"Hey toddler, I thought chu said she'd be fine?" My muscles stiffened as the familiar boyish voice enter my ears.

"U-Urameshi?"

The boy in the sorrel jacket grinned. "In the flesh" Helping me to a sitting position, he held my shoulders while I tried catching my breath. "You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah" My head turned to see three other guys. From what I could tell the shortest boy and the carrot-haired teen were strong however the guy in the pink uniform seemed familiar. With a guy's uniform kin to Meiou's I couldn't help but wonder who he was. He must have noticed my staring cause he offered a small smile yet I didn't smile back. It was the same practiced smile that Shou reserved for his fan girls. And I am NOBODIES FAN GIRL.

Speaking of Shou, where was he? All of a sudden a wave of panic washed over me as I realized he was still somewhere hurt, possibly dead.

"Shou." I said grabbing Urameshi by the collar. "Where's Shou?"

He gasped as I was probably choking him but at the moment I could've cared less. I was like a worried mother protecting her pup. Don't. Mess. With. Me!

The other three rushed to his aid trying to detach my fingers however it was the toddler's voice that made me release him "If the person you speak of is your friend, he's in the Reikai infirmary. He was much worse off than you so we placed him in intensive care. He should be fine now. However if you don't mind I have a few questions for you so if you please..." He gestured to the couch.

Sighing I seated myself as the boys took a place beside the desk. "What do you want ta know?"

"As you may know I am Koenma. The four boys you've just met are my Spirit Detectives, Hiei, Yusuke, Kurama, and Kuwabarra."

No sooner than he finished roll call the carrot-haired boy was in front of me clasping my hands in his. "I could see the strings of fate connecting us the moment you fell from heaven, will you be my girlfriend?"

Pityingly I smiled down at him. "Um..." I didn't want to crush the big lugs feelings but... "... I'm kinda taken."

Urameshi stepped forward knocking Kuwabarra over the head. "I thought you liked Yukina!"

"I do" he replied rubbing the hurt appendage. "But she's waiting on someone. She keeps saying he'll come for her when the times right. If you ask me, deadbeat that makes a girl wait 50 years for him is obviously not worth it."

A low growl tore from my throat. Just because she was waiting on the guy that help her heart didn't give this Kuwabarra a reason to trash him.

The others must have heard it because all eyes were on me. Koenma cleared his throat bringing all attention to him.

"That brings me to my first question. What exactly are you?"

"Half-human. Half-demon." I started to rub my arm. "You do the math."

"I see." he said plopping down on the arm of the sofa. "Next, would you mind telling me how you managed to get into Reikai on your own?"

My nails began to etch into my arms. "I'm afraid I can't answer that."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both"

He sighed. "Next..." he jumped off the couch arm. "…how do you know a Class B fugitive?"

I must have looked lost because the little boy took to explaining.

"Shou, Kuro Aisu, Ishimura is the demon responsible for many innocent deaths along Makai's Western Lands thus acquiring his Class B Status. Four years ago he disappeared after during the Lady's assassination, he's been off the map since then."

To say I was shocked was an understatement. Shou and I knew everything when it came to each other! How could he keep something this big from me?

"I'm afraid you'll have to ask Shou that." I said heading for the door.

"B-But I'm not finished!"

The toddler froze underneath my gaze. "You are now."

"..."

"Urameshi, show me to the infirmary."

"Shou..." He was dozing when we made it to his room.

Urameshi convinced the reluctant nurses to leave so that we could talk.

He looked so peaceful lying there. His torso was covered in crisp white bandages while the strands of gold he called hair were still a mess from the other day.

'He never did know the pleasures of brushhood,' I thought brushing a stray strand out of his eyes. "Shou, I know you're awake." I said softly.

The blond sighed deeply opening the window to his soul. "Never could pull one over on you, Michiru. So... what did they tell ya?"

"Koenma says you're the reason a lot of people died. Is it true?"

Shou watched my eyes carefully as he chose his next words. "I'm afraid so."

I wanted to run, to cry in the corner and never come out yet I could only stand there. "Did you think I wouldn't understand? That I would turn you in? Or were you just afraid?"

"OF COURSE I WAS AFRAID!" he roared. Then stopped at my flinch to pinch his forehead. "When I found you injured on the Ningenkai border, I knew you were a half-breed that could only bring more trouble into my life." My eyes closed on the tears that threatened to fall. He really wasn't any different from anyone else. "Yes I was sure you wouldn't understand. That you would turn me in at the drop of a hat... That night I was getting ready to leave when your eyes fluttered opened and captured my own. Those ashen orbs were so full of pain; a pain that no one should have to know at any age. In your eyes I saw... me."

"Why did you murderer so many innocents?"

"No, I didn't make the choice to be an assassin. I was raised into it. For a while the rush of killing fueled me to keep going until one day I met a young girl, a forbidden child with teal hair and ruby red eyes... Kami... she was my target but... I couldn't bring myself to kill her. Although she was youkai her eyes held so much innocence. I let her go with the promise to come back."

"But, you never did did you?"

"No."

I began to rub my arm again, more gently than before. "Koenma said you disappeared during the Western Lady's assassination..."

Capturing his obsidian orbs with mine I asked the question I was beating around the bush for. "...Did you kill the Lady of the Western Lands?"

"No."

I released the breath I was holding.

"I wasn't assigned to kill her that night. Another was the culprit of her death... Michiru… what are your plans?"

Looking up I said. "I'm going to hunt down the Lady killer. But I'm going need all the help I can get, think you're up for it?"

His eyes softened on me. ""

Closing the door behind me, I whispered, "Get some rest." before closing my eyes on a releaved sigh.

"That was so touching!" cried Kuwabarra making me freeze.

"It was sappy if you ask me." Urameshi.

"I rather liked the performance. Dialogue could use a little work though " Red.

"Hn." Shorty.

Slowly but surely my eyes caught hell as all four scattered. "YOU WERE LISTENING!"

As I sped after Kuwabarra and Urameshi they shouted to the other. "Told you we should have watched it from the big screen!"