Arcade
Blinking lights and electronic beeps met a cacophony of greasy teenage boys all talking over each other. Black patterned carpet, sticky with soda stains, gave way to 3 pairs of feet, all crammed around one machine. The three boys were all at an arcade.
The sound of Dig Dug croaking out his last life manifested as a short little staticy tune that made Ranma grimace. The sound of Yusuke and Kuwabara tittering and snickering made Ranma furious. To have called Ranma’s performance so far today “Less than stellar” would earn someone a blue ribbon at the national “world’s biggest understatement” contest. With second place being that he “kind of had an ego.”
“Wow, you really have never seen a video game before in your life huh?” Yusuke was doing his best to stifle out his chuckle just long enough to get his sentence out.
“Shut up!” Ranma squeaked out with a huff, scarlet hues slowly consuming his face.
It was one thing to purposefully pretend to be ignorant of something, he hadn’t really been trying all that hard at first, because he knew he had to at least pretend to be bad at the start. Though perhaps asking what ‘buttons’ were might have been a little too much, but whatever, they bought it, and that’s what mattered. What also mattered, was the fact that Ranma had no longer been putting on an act for the past fifteen minutes. His results had barely improved.
Kuwabara started to put a hand on Ranma’s shoulder, immediately seeing a death-glare stare him in the eyes made him reconsider this. “How ‘bout we move onto somethin’ a little more your speed?”
”Yeah, like tic-tac-toe!” Yusuke guffawed, leaning backwards as it turned into a fantastic pterodactyl impression.
Ranma’s teeth clenched, they could probably be mistaken for tectonic plates. “Why you…” He started, head practically on fire, whether that was from the heat on his cheeks due to embarrassment, or the white-hot rage inside, scholars still debate to this day, but the flame was lit. Ranma, head-whipping from foreign looking metal obelisk to another, pointed to a random one. “THAT ONE.”
”I COULD TOTALLY KICK YOUR ASS.”
Yusuke stopped laughing for a bit. Paused, stared at the redhead in front of him, before he realized that the tone in the martial artist’s voice was serious.
Then he doubled over, passerby’s walked faster near him, absolute hysteric-gut-busting unrestrained belly laughter walloped the sound waves and ear drums of anyone within a 20 feet vicinity.
Kuwabara, who was recovering from his own snickering fit, was attempting to be far gentler. “Yeah uh, maybe not that one. ‘S probably not a good idea.”
“OH YEAH?! What!? You think I’m some kinda wimp!? I'll show you! I’LL SHOW YOU BOTH!” Ranma Saotome does NOT back down from a challenge. Especially not some stupid-ass video game.
Ranma stomped with all the grace of a Belmont over to the machine in question, as Kuwabara sighed, and a now mostly recovered Urameshi followed behind. ‘POLE POSITION’ read across the machine in big text, and mind-boggling graphics of a pixelated race-car screaming down a road. Taunting Ranma, coaxing him to a challenge, “INSERT A COIN”.
”Now this is money well-spent.” Yusuke handed Ranma a 50 yen coin, and into the machine it went with a ka-plunk. Ranma took a deep breath. Focus, focus. Be the car. Understand the car. It’s just like driving a real one.
Starting the game up, the F1 racer sped off, and within the first 2 seconds, immediately slammed into a tree. Ranma Saotome had never driven a car before in his life.
If you imagined the sound that would happen if you filled a goose full of dust and cobwebs and then squeezed it, it would be nearly identical to what came out of Yusuke’s mouth as he wheezed. Slowly sliding down towards the floor like a depressed marionette was controlling him, before his legs were entirely in the air.
The rest of Ranma's lives had a similar fate. Kuwabara’s cheeks were puffed out, his face entirely beet red. Like a fucked up squirrel who overfilled for Winter. Desperate to not let sound escape his lips into the air, he clasped two hands over his mouth.
Ranma's pride had been thoroughly wounded. He had traveled all across Japan and China, mastered several styles of martial arts, defeated opponents against impossible odds in death defying situations. His greatest threat yet, the obstacle that seemed too great, was a series of pixels and beeps. In his defense, he really hadn't seen many video games due to his nomadic lifestyle. It shouldn't matter though, he's Ranma Saotome, man amongst men, capable of learning anything. Yet he was completely stumped.
Ranma's white hot rage reached its boiling point, as Ranma wordlessly marched out of the arcade. The sound of the door slamming made its rounds through the whole building. It made all the other noise seem silent in comparison.
Kuwabara's whole face was one giant wince. “We should probably make sure she doesn’t get lost.”
The other boy just let out a groan of a sigh. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s go cheer up dinosaur girl.”
*****
Botan, who’s finger was inches away from Kurama’s nose, spoke in a whisper of a yell. “Why didn’t you say something sooner!? Yusuke and Kuwabara are with that girl right now! She could be a demon in disguise! Er… No offense, but if she’s lying about that my point is she’s got to have some angle right?! Poor Yusuke and Kuwabara could be attacked at any moment!”
Kurama spoke softly in return, “None taken. Of course, I had my suspicions from the start, but the two of them seemed to be swept away in the moment. It felt prudent to keep our cards close to the chest, try and ascertain what we could on what she’s further lying about to see her intentions. If we can collect more information, there’s a better chance at understanding just who ‘Ranko’ is. As well as what she’s after.”
Kurama put a fist to his chin as he talked, “As for the danger, the gateway window only collects those with high potential spirit energy. I did not feel her deceit while talking about ‘ki’, so I do believe she has some understanding of it. Though Yusuke and Kuwabara together will be more than enough should she try something. Although given her method of infiltration I highly doubt she’ll want to strike so soon, and given how easily disproved her lie is, it’s unlikely she’s smart enough to trick them into much.”
Botan nodded in understanding, “And if Yusuke and Kuwabara knew…”
Inside of Botan’s mind, a thickheaded Kuwabara acts incredibly suspicious after learning the secret, and Yusuke seems intent on pummeling the girl right away.
The girl’s lips spread out horizontally across her face like a flatlining patient, ”It’s probably for the best if they didn’t.”
Kurama softly chuckled, “Yes, I believe it’s best for now that we leave them out of the loop, besides, I do think it’s inevitable that this Saotome character’s act eventually falls through, so before it does, I’d like to collect as much information as possible. Inform Koenma of the situation, see if he can find a file on this person. Or someone with a similar MO. I’ll trail them to gather information. On the off chance a fight does ensue. I’m sure they can manage their own battle, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
The two nodded in unison, and a wispy trail of red-hair darted from the alley, as Botan whistled for her broom.
*****
Koenma’s office was as busy and bustling as always, paperwork flew, phones rang. Musclebound loincloth wearing orcs all handled the very busy desk jobs of managing every living soul in the world. Where they go for their afterlife, and generally making sure all the information is up to date.
The tall-hatted Koenma Jr, who looked like a human of maybe 4 or 5 years old, pacifier and all, was calling the shots at his front-office. A stack of paperwork about 3 or 4 Koenma’s tall sat on his desk next to him, as he rubbed his temple with a free hand, the other rustling through a filing cabinet that seemed to stretch infinitely long.
”Well, we don’t have a file that matches that name, not of the person you described at least. We do have a few Saotome Ranko’s, but none of them match that description, from that era, with the history of martial arts you’re describing. If you’d like a file of the closest Ranko’s and the closest Saotome’s, I’m sure ogre can get you that, but I’m rather busy right now.”
Ogre, who was currently juggling between 3 phones all with different conversations, turned pale at Koenma’s suggestion of more work.
Botan hummed in thought, “That figures, I didn’t suppose she would be using her real name, but it was worth a shot. I could look through those files with Kurama and see if we can find anything though.”
Botan clapped her hands together, punctuating her sentence, and with a genuine cheerful tone added, “Well! I appreciate your help!”
Ogre, who managed to shove off his phone calls onto another poor soul in exchange for covering an extra shift of his, managed with lightning speed to sort through the files. The sound of clawed fingertips hitting paper and manilla folders like a sugar-rushed kid’s last-minute arts and crafts project, an absolute machine-gun of noise and stationary. Stacked loosely in two new manilla folders on the desk, simply labeled “Saotome” and “Ranko” respectively. With tabs in the original cabinet to denote where the now missing files are supposed to go, with hastily written down kanji to denote who goes where.
”Thank you Ogre.” Koenma said softly, gesturing at the incredibly stressed blue man, who rushed back to his desk, mumbling and grumbling to himself, quiet enough for Koenma not to hear.
“Perfect!” Botan snapped her fingers with a big grin, the motion twisted her pink kimono as she did, a small jingling noise ringing out that made Botan freeze in place. A rictus, nervous grin being stamped onto her face.
”Oh... Uhm… “ She cleared her throat as she took the two folders, before opening up a bag she kept tucked in her kimono. Placing it on the desk, with an upsetting series of tinks and clinks. As Botan rushed out of the office, Koenma could just barely understand her words, “AlsoYusukebrokethegatewaymirrorit’sgoingtoneedtoberepairedthankyouKoenmaSirbyeeeeee!”
“WH— BOTAN. GET BACK HERE.” He slammed his tiny hands on his desk, staring at the bag in front of him, after realizing she was out of earshot. He sighed.
”My dad’s gonna kill me…”
*****
“Of course she’d wanna go here. Doesn’t matter when you’re from, I guess girls just love the mall.”
Yusuke’s tone was as mocking as it was tired. He didn’t dislike the mall, in fact he’d spend some days finding things to do there himself. He’d even gotten himself kicked out a few times after some fights, ensuing enough property damage the local court had made a clause in his name. But he groaned in anticipation, the few times Keiko had dragged him into the mall, he’d had an absolutely miserable time. Or at least he’d told himself it was miserable. Waiting in long lines to see a movie he didn’t even really like. Looking at delicious fru-fru snacks and yummy parfaits he didn’t wanna eat. Even walking through a build-a-bear with Keiko, watching as she used up the last of the money she had saved to make one with green fur and grumpy eyes. How she held it up, looking at it right next to Yusuke in her vision, and snickering to herself. Suddenly the noise in the background came into focus.
“Urameshi I’m talkin’ to you!”
Kuwabara’s words lanced him out of his thoughts. “Huh?”
“And just what’re you smilin’ about?”
Yusuke didn’t even realize his lips were curled upwards until Kuwabara mentioned it. They promptly went back to their usual scowl. Having followed Ranko’s trail of bewildered passerby’s mumbling about an angry red-blur, as well as simply asking which direction said red blur went, lead them here. The teens have found themselves at Ju-Midorino Mall.
“Mind yer damn business Kuwabara.”
“Fine, don’t tell me, just somethin to talk about.”
The two, hands stuffed in pockets, proceeded to walk through the doors. Perused through the marble and stone monolith of capitalism and trends, as the teens wandered around from place to place. They checked out comics at a local bookstore, walked through the cafè, and of course Kuwabara had to eye the cute kitty posters that were hanging up on some of the walls. (Though he’d never go out of his way to mention them.)
“Damn it. it’s like she just disappeared…” Yusuke grumbled as the two walked together.
“Naw that can’t be it… I swear she’s nearby” Kuwabara insisted.
”Uh huh.” Yusuke rolled his eyes, “Leave the detective work to the professionals pal.”
“I’m tellin’ you! I’m serious man!“ Kuwabara pumped his fist down in affirmation while they walked and talked. “I dunno how but I just… I got a feelin’. ‘s kinda like the tickle but… different.”
”Like a gut feelin’?” Yusuke raised an eyebrow, Kuwabara is a lot of things. A moron most of the time, stubborn definitely, and while he’d never say it at risk of giving him a big head, a decent fighter to boot. But when it came to spirit awareness, it’s the one thing he’d hate to admit Kuwabara was actually better at than him.
“Sorta…” The orange haired punk made a ‘so-so’ gesture with his hand, “‘s real hard to explain. It’s more than that. It’s like… I just… know. I know she’s here.”
If Kuwabara was insisting on this, he’d hate to agree that he’s probably right.
”Well your knowing is real helpfully specific.” Yusuke chided, before letting out another set of mumbles and grumbles under his breath.
His own complaining was cut off by what he noticed at that moment. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Chinese silks, and a speed that could only be from someone who got all the way over here as fast as Ranko did. More of a red blur than anything else, but still not nearly as fast as Hiei, he was just barely able to make out familiar blue eyes and the same outfit.
”OHHH NO YOU DON’T” Yusuke cried out as he intercepted the runner’s path, hand clasped around the back of the collar of the shirt, yanking the passerby into a stop.
The blur suddenly came to a complete halt, making a visceral sound from the back of their throat as the top got caught. A slightly more masculine noise than expected, as Yusuke saw the tell-tail pigtailed hair of the girl.
But it was jet-black, and on a very familiar looking boy.