Tag for the Best Defense series - all the side fics

"So. You're that one kid fightin' some one-guy-against-the-world war, with space tech and a megalomanic with way too many corrupt rich guys on their side, and slightly better space tech on your side." Heero looked up from the cot he was loosely chained to, giving a stony glare to his captor. The half-dressed, tattooed teenager, with enough hair to rival 02 and a notable lack of weapons hidden in his torn jeans, didn't look impressed. "And they walloped you with somethin' freaky that tore through some dimensions, which is why your better space tech is currently making like ugly modern lawn art in what's left of my courtyard."

Most people would've recognized Hiei's expression as the usual "walking on eggshells" look he got when facing Yukina. Yukina, however, could tell that the slightly wild look in his eyes was edging towards "leap into the rafters and escape through the roof".

The world had a strange layered look to it, a mirage of desert sands mixing with black storm clouds boiling over a sprawling metropolitan seaport. It also, and this was what had screamed at Sora's heart so that he'd nearly blown out the Gummi ship's rockets racing here, was starting to crack at the seams.

Kurama shrugged. Technically speaking, he'd had full functionality since he was ten, enough youki permeating the cells to allow him to use said youki as well as he had as a youko. And with Suzuki's potion boosting the process, he'd been able to shift to his half-human form several years early. Now, though, his youki had infiltrated right down to the DNA, and he should be able to shift to a full fox. Finally.

Yukina put her fork down and said, "I need a job."

All things considered, he was fortunate not to have been shot through the wall in the corridor and out of the building entirely. Kurama's sides shook with a few last paroxysms of humour. Oh, dear. That could have been more tactful.

Yusuke isn't the only spirit detective in the world. Five AUs.