Chapter Text
With a brisk move, the young man filled a ceramic bowl with a scoop of freshly made soup. He gave it to the guest sitting in front of him, not caring about the few drops that escaped the dish. Wiping the mixture of sweat and fume from his forehead, he continued to stir in the oversized pot with the ramen. Chopping several ingredients like cabbage, garlic, and scallions, he added them to the broth. With a snapping click sound, the man turned up the flame of his portable gas cooker and instantly the soup started boiling and bubbles appeared on the liquid’s surface. As soon as he collected the seven-thousand yen the customer left on the counter, another person sat down. His eyes were hidden behind a pale brown fedora and most of his lower face was covered by the upright-standing collar of his trench coat. With a rough voice, the man greeted the young vendor and revealed his fist, holding cautiously onto a frail item. Waiting for his counterpart to extend his hand, the cloaked man let the object fall into the shop-keepers palm. A sudden grin escaped from the unknown person before he pushed himself from the counter and disappeared in the darkness of the street. The young man watched the fading silhouette go before analysing the folded letter in his hand. He cleaned his palm on his apron, then unfolded the small paper. A bright smile formed on his lips as he spotted his name and the emblem of the spirit world.
“To our loyal spirit detective Urameshi Yusuke,
This is an adjuration of its highest rank.
You are called to immediately appear in person in Reikai on King Enma Jr.’s demand.”
With a brief sigh, the so called spirit detective scratched the back of his head and stuck the letter into the pocket of his trousers. Once again, he turned the control wheel of his gas cooker, only to turn it off. He packed the rest of his stuff, closed his ramen booth, and made his way to the spirit world.
With a powerful motion, Yusuke swung his backpack over his shoulder as he turned into a deserted side street. Carefully he scanned the alley to ensure nobody was there. From the pocket of his backpack, he took a small remote and pointed its head at the battered stonewall in front of him. A thin light ray escaped from the device and projected, like a beamer, an image of the entrance gate of Koenma’s palace. With confident steps, the young man made a followed the glowing projection on the house wall. A sizzling noise came up as he touched the surface. Like a raindrop dispersing into a lake, Yusuke drifted into the wall.
As he opened his eyes again, the brilliant gateway stood right in front of him. On each side, parallel to the pillar stood a guard. Immediately they pointed their spears at the figure, as he appeared out of nowhere, but as soon as they realised who was standing before them, they immediately withdrew their weapons. Carelessly Yusuke waved with his hands, before putting his hands in the pockets of his trousers. The dark-haired grinned at the guards as he passed them, clearly enjoying his newly received position in the hierarchy. It goes without saying that not everyone has the chance of becoming an upper-rank spirit detective, after being the most wanted demon in the three worlds.
Light-footed and whistling, he entered the palace and was soon greeted by the blue ogre Jorge. With stomping steps, he approached the young man, hastily trying to get a hold of those many papers and documents he was carrying. Wheezing and huffing, he abruptly bowed before the human. “Y-Yusuke! Glad you came so fast. Koenma-sama is waiting for you. Quick! Follow me!” As soon as those phrases escaped from his blueish lips, he clumsily hopped ahead. With a short shrug, he did what he was told to do and followed the assistant.
Once again the entrance was guarded but this time the soldiers knew better then to draw their weapons. Instead, they opened the massive door for Yusuke and the ogre. Both of them stepped inside the office, detecting a helplessly stressed Koenma. He mumbled and muttered as he was leaning over his desk covered with mounts of paperwork. Not noticing the guest who
had entered, he let his head fall onto the wooden table. “Koenma-sama…Yusuke has arrived” Hearing his assistant’s deep voice, he was startled, and with a shocked expression, he faced the human and the ogre. “Yusuke!” With a sudden glimmer of hope glazing over his eyes, he pushed himself away from the desk.
“What’s the matter with you, guys? You look almost as anxious as when we had to fight Sensui” With Yusuke’s simple but acute comment, he could cushion the king’s discomposure. He sighed before facing the black-haired anew. “I have a new case for you... For a few days, demons were being attacked. They all end up as lifeless stone statues” Reflecting, Yusuke started tapping against his temple, his mien being completely serious. “Do you already know who could be behind those attacks?” With a clear movement, Koenma commanded the young man to close the gap between him and the desk. He pointed at one of the documents that showed an identity card. Except for the name, all the fields were filled with question marks. “We have the hunch that it could be the white king” With furrowed brows, Yusuke lifted the file, before facing the king again. “What’s the deal with him?” “Well…” the brown-haired sighed. “He is a fearsome demon we don’t know much about…omitting his dangerous existence for the Makai”
The young human nodded at the statement and tugged the document he was holding in his hands into his backpack, before swinging it over his shoulder. With a quick stroke through his slicked-back hair, he turned around and waved at Koenma. “Sounds like a job for the boys and me” Surprised, the king watched the man step out of the office. However, before Yusuke could completely leave him behind, he jumped after the spirit detective. “W-wait Yusuke! You have to be careful. This enemy can turn people to stone and we don’t know yet how to cure it” The named one turned his head, only to offer the king a playful grin, pointing with his hand, forming a gun, at Koenma. “Don’t worry. First of all, I’ll gather the other three. Afterwards, we will come up with a plan…or not” Once again he waved his hand, leaving the palace. The blue ogre looked at his perplexed superior as he exhaled. “Please let them map out a strategy.”