Yu Yu Gang's Shopping Trip

At Yusuke's house…..

"Hello, Urameshi Yusuke please."

"Speaking, who's that?"

"Koenma."

"K…Koenma?? Why are you using the phone?"

"For fun…."

At this point, Yusuke's head has a big sweat drop.

"Anyway Yusuke, hear me out first. I'm now at a public phone in Tokyo Subway Station with Botan. We've just travelled for some time via The Shinkansen and boy it was FAST!"

Yusuke thought Koenma sounded like an excited five-year-old kid but he corrected himself because Koenma IS a five-year-old kid…or rather, looks like one.

"So? You mean you called me just to let me know Japan's Shinkansen is fast? For heaven's sake, Shinkansen means bullet train you know? If it's not fast…."

"Yusuke, let me finish! Botan and I will be waiting for you at Tokyo Subway Station, near the stall selling dried cuttlefishes….."

"Selling WHAT?"

"Dried cuttlefishes…."

Yusuke burst out laughing, to the astonishment of his mother who was sitting nearby.

"Koenma, hahaha, they're not cuttle…hahaha…fishes, they're dried peaches…hahaha!!"

"Okay, whatever….and STOP laughing. Come down now okay?"

"Whatever for? You have a mission for me?"

"No, I just wanted to come out here to take a fresher. Anyway, Kurama, Kuwabara and Hiei are also coming."

Yusuke frowned to himself. Whatever is Koenma thinking about?

"Koenma, why do you need all of us to accompany you…Koenma? Koenma??"

Yusuke banged down the phone. The line was dead. Probably Koenma didn't know he must insert another coin after a few minutes of talking.

"Okasan, I need to go out, Koenma just called."

"Is it another mission?"

"No, he probably wants us to baby-sit him."

At Tokyo Subway Station……

"Yusuke! Finally you are here!"

Koenma greeted Yusuke very warmly as Yusuke approached him near the stall. Yusuke was dressed very casually, with sneakers, a cap, a denim jacket and jeans, complete with a white T-shirt inside. Yusuke looked around….no one was there except Koenma.

"Where's everybody?"

"Not here yet."

"They're always so prima donna. Where's Botan?"

"She was fascinated by the instant noodles machine over there at the corner. I think she's still there admiring it."

Yusuke smacked his forehead. He didn't want to be in the company of two severely under-knowledged people who didn't even know the common things in the city. Koenma luckily was more exposed to city life and also in his adult form….but still sucking his pacifier. No wonder so many people were staring at them!

"Koenma, stuff that PACIFIER of yours in your pocket!!"

"Why? Do you know my pacifier is…."

"I know I know! Just get that thing off your mouth!"

Koenma shrugged and stuffed his beloved pacifier back into his pocket. Yusuke sighed with relief….but not for long. Botan came running up with a packet of instant ramen in her hands and shouting,

"Koenma-sama! Look! I finally figured out how to operate the machine! Oh…Yusuke, you have arrived! Aren't you proud of me?!"

Yusuke wasn't in the least proud. Botan was at least as tall as Yusuke and looked as old as any adult and there she was running and shouting that she knew how to operate a 24 hour instant noodles machine for the first time. Tons of commuters were staring at her…and at them with very curious eyes.

"Botan, can you please keep your happiness to yourself? Everyone's looking!"

"But Yusuke, look! Now I can roam around without help!"

Yusuke groaned. Why are the others so late? He wanted to get out of the station, the train operators and staffs were already looking at them with weird faces.

"Hi everyone! Gomen nasai, I was caught in the traffic jam."

Kurama came walking up with an apologetic smile on his face. With one look, Kurama certainly must have been at his father's office the whole day. Dressed in a grey western suit and pants with black shoes armed with a black briefcase, he certainly looked no different than an office manager. Yusuke saw Kurama as an angel in disguise and ran up to him with big glittering watery eyes. Kurama's smile started to waver….

"Really? Botan and Koenma actually did that?"

"Of course! I could have dug up the cement floor and hide myself there! It was utterly embarrassing! Thankfully you are here."

You can't really blame them, they have been in Reikai for quite some time already."

I don't think so…look at them! Now they're playing and fiddling with the escalator. I hope they get trampled flat."

"Yusuke, that's pretty mean. But yes, I am starting to feel the strain….everybody's attention seemed to concentrate on us."

"Hiei, Kuwabara…where in the world are you guys!!?? Why aren't you two here yet??"

"Kuwabara is coming from school, isn't he? As for Hiei, I think he will probably arrive quite soon. As for now, I haven't picked up his 'scent' yet."

"KURAMA! YUSUKE! This staircase is automatic!! Isn't it impressive?!"

"Kurama….let' s hide in the Gents shall we??"

Walking Down A Street……

"Oh look Yusuke! The screen can flash so many images at one time! It's so pretty!!"

The six people were walking down a rather busy street towards Yusuke's house. Hiei was rather grouchy because he had a quarrel with Mukuro over some trivial matters while Kuwabara was upset because his teacher scolded him in front of his juniors. On the whole, it was just two very excited people, two very embarrassed people and two very bad-tempered and silent people.

"Oh look! That guy beside Hiei….his hair looks so awful!!"

"Botan, keep your criticisms to yourself!!"

"Wow! I've never seen such a colourful attire before!"

"Koenma, keep your volume down, not so loud!!"

Yusuke and Kurama had to keep an eye on Koenma and Botan. They were quite tired from trying to prevent them from being too carried away. As for Hiei, though he was quite preoccupied, he could still hear the two 'wow'ing over everything. In fact, they were getting on his nerves. Kuwabara was angry for losing his face in front of his juniors and he would gladly find someone to vent his anger. Suddenly, someone knocked into Kuwabara, who in turn stepped heavily on Hiei's foot. Soon, there was a shouting match…..

"Why did you do that for, you stupid ningen?!"

"I didn't mean it and I already apologised!!"

You don't need to be so hypocritical! If you are upset with me, just tell me!!"

Don' t keep scolding me stupid, I have my limits!"

"If you think I' m very happy at this minute, you are very wrong!"

"To hell with you!"

"Damn you!"

And with that, Kuwabara's hand sprouted out his prized possession…..

"REIKEN!!!"

Hiei, seeing that Kuwabara has armed himself, did not want to lose out. Oblivious to the startled passers-by, he shouted,

"JYA-OH REI SHIN KEN!!"

From Hiei's hand flashed a black sizzling sword, filled with a deadly youkai in it. Kurama and Yusuke were utterly shocked! To fight in the premises of a busy street wasn't ideal! But they were a little too late to realise that because the two hotheads were already serving each other cuts and lashes of their swords. A lot of people had gathered around them to watch. Yusuke suddenly remembered Koenma and Botan and quickly turned around to look for them but dash it, they had disappeared!!

"Kurama, where's Koenma and Botan??"

Kurama suddenly snapped out of his shock and looked around anxiously.

"Weren't they here when Hiei and Kuwabara exchanged blows??"

"NO! They're gone!!"

"Geez, what a headache. What are we going to do now?"

Yusuke didn't know either. If only he had slept when Koenma called, if only he had agreed to go out with Keiko on her boring shopping trips, if only……

"Yusuke, are you listening?"

"Huh?? What……?"

Kurama groaned inwardly but he knew Yusuke was as exasperated as he was. He changed his mind and quickly walked through the crowd and approached the fiery demon and the grumpy human.

"STOP IT."

The tone in Kurama's voice wasn't Minamino Shuichi's but Youko's. It was calm but it brought a very dangerous ring to it. Hiei knew he had been too rash and stopped, breathing very heavily. Kuwabara also stopped and his Reiken disappeared. Hiei, seeing that Kuwabara has retreated, took back his as well. For a split second, everything was quiet except for the two parties' breathing. Suddenly, the crowd around them erupted into thunderous applause and to Hiei, Kuwabara, Kurama and Yusuke's surprise, coins and notes were thrown into their direction!! Yusuke burst out laughing! To think that they have mistaken Hiei and Kuwabara to be play-acting like some circus clowns!! As the crowd slowly died away, a giggling Kurama picked up the money on the ground and started counting. Hiei looked awfully offended but Kuwabara's face had happiness written all over it….Money!!! Yusuke patted Hiei on his back and comfortingly said,

"Hiei old chap, take the money as some kind of comfort. After all, it wouldn't hurt to take money isn't it?"

"Hn, stupid ningens. They treat me as though I'm some kind of peddler."

At this point, Kurama announced,

"Hiei, Kuwabara, both of you have earned $205.65 in total. So if I divide it by two, each of you should get $102.825…which is about $102.80 each!!"

Kuwabara gave a whoop of joy while Hiei merely look amused. As Hiei looked at the glistening coins and notes in his hand, he couldn't help but smile. Kuwabara jumped around like a madman and started singing. Yusuke was very angry though, if only he had joined them in the fight……'

"Oh no, we forgot about Koenma and Botan!!"

Hiei looked at Yusuke and replied,

"I think they shouldn't have gone far….maybe we should split up and look for them."

So, Kurama and Hiei formed a team and started for the north. Yusuke and Kuwabara started for the south. But until 10pm that day, the two groups never found the both of them. When Yusuke returned home, tired and very sleepy, he was very shocked to find that the both of them were in his house!

"Koenma?? Botan?? What the…??!!"

"Hi Yusuke! Where did the four of you guys go?"

"What do u mean where WE go?? YOU TWO should be asked this question instead! We searched HIGH and LOW for YOU TWO!!!"

"Yusuke, don't be mad at us. Keiko bumped into us at a shopping mall and offered to bring us here to your house to wait for you."

"Keiko…?"

"Yeah, she said you refused to bring her to shop so she went alone."

"Oh no….if only I went with her…..oh no…."

Yusuke fainted……

Click here to go back!

Make your dedication now! Only at RCS online.