Yin: -sweatdrops- I hope Shadow doesn't kill me.

Youko: Don't worry. See. . .this new one still has her in it.

Yin: Then I hope the fans of the old two-chapers-so-far "Into the Unseen Future" won't kill me.

Youko: If they do, then it would be kinda hard for a dead person to update or type up fanfics.

Yin: True. . .

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, Yoshihiro Togashi does. I also don't own Shadow (hyper dragonfyre).

Chapter 1

"I can't take this anymore."

"Take what?" the silver kitsune's amber orbs remained moving across the scroll in his hands.

"Your FUCKING nature, Youko!"

"What?" Youko Kurama's frowned at the tone he was being given. "My nature, Shadow? Just what do you mean by that?" His cold eyes trailed over the ookami's angry expression.

He was calculating. Shadow always hated that, especially when the calculating was directed toward her. Fists balled at her side, her claws digging into her palms. Wasn't this what she wanted? She was confronting Youko about how she felt. Then why did her voice fail her all of a sudden?

"Ah. . ." Youko seem to know what Shadow wanted to say. He knew what was bothering her. Yet he felt he had no need to acknowledge it unless she brought it up. So, instead, he said, "Ignore them, Shadow. I thought by now, you'll understand that it cannot be helped after every heist."

"Yes, it can," Shadow glared. She willed her body not to display the tremble she felt inside. "You don—"

"Women lust after me and I lust after women," Youko interrupted. "No one gets hurt. We all want a good fuck." He went back to analyzing the scroll. As an afterthought, he added, "No one is forcing you to come celebrate at the saloons. You had that option for the three decades you've been in my Band."

Shadow swallowed. Too bad her pride didn't allow her to cry. She was a fool. . .a complete fool to think that she could change Youko's ways. "Alright, then," she left Youko alone to plot the next big heist.

"You should have told me," came a smooth, masculine voice. "I would have told you that it was useless to hope."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Kuronue," Shadow stopped at the sight of the infamous bat demon.

"Oh, you do," Kuronue's lips twitched. "Tell me. . .Did you fall for the kitsune or did you fall for what he has?"

"Once again. . .I don't know what you're talking about," her amber eyes narrowed.

"You fell for him because of the power he has. You fell for the tremble and fear he can instill to those around his presence," Kuronue stated. "You fell for him because he spared you from your cruel fate." His indigo orbs flashed. "Yet you aren't truly in love with him. You think you are. You want to have him. You, women all, want to know that you have a man to call your own. It's want—lust, not love. After all, if you do claim to love the kitsune, then why haven't you made a move? Why have you let him flirt for the last three decades you've been here?"

"I don't need you to lecture me!" Her temper flared. Temper was one of her weaknesses. She stormed away from Kuronue.

"Kuronue. . ."

"Yes, Youko?" Kuronue faced his best friend for so many centuries.

"I have a task for you," Youko's lips quirked into a smirk. "Rumor has it that a certain rogue apparition has made his name known throughout the plains of Makai. Know who I'm talking about?"

"Oh. . .him," Kuronue folded his arms across his chest. "So, what am I to do?"

"I want you to find him. Bring him here. Do whatever it takes," Youko spoke. "If you must, bribe him. If you must, knock him out. If you must, take what he holds dear to him."

Kuronue snorted, "I doubt he holds anything dear to him."

"True. . .but hey, it is possible."

"Alright. . .Give me a three days."

"I'll give you a week," the kitsune chuckled at his friend's confidence.

"No. . .if I get him here in three days or less, I get to choose our next celebration spot."

"Deal."

"Later," Kuronue hurried off.

Just who did Youko want here? Shadow quicken her pace. She rather not have Youko discover that she had been eavesdropping. Then she frowned. She shouldn't be surprised that all the men think about are treasure and fucking.

It was the third day. Kuronue had to be quick. Suddenly he grinned. He began tailing the apparition thief with the cold, blood-colored eyes. "Who could be scarier? Youko or this runt?" he muttered to himself. "Oops." He dodged, avoiding the sharp blade that nearly pierced him. "No need to fight. I'm Kuronue. Youko Kurama wishes an audience with you. . .Hiei."

"Hn. . .tell that fox, that I said no," Hiei scowled.

"Wait. . .you guys met before?" Kuronue blinked, curious. The way Hiei spoke, he sounded like he personally had met Youko.

"A while back. . ."Hiei spoke. "I helped him. He helped me. End of story." The Jagan wielder turned and started to walk away.

"How about I give you—" Kuronue thought fast. "—this gem!" He pulled out a pale blue stone.

Hiei didn't turn. "I'll steal that later then." Obviously he had used his Evil Eye to see. "And don't think about trying to knock me out otherwise you've made your death wish."

Kuronue pouted. There had to be a way. Perhaps Hiei had a weakness of some sort.

"I have none."

Damn.

Suddenly a piercing scream was heard.

Hiei disappeared in a blur.

"Bingo," Kuronue followed. He stopped and hid as he saw a rather huge, giant demon clutching something in his fist. "A female kitsune?" he raised an eyebrow. He blinked. He stared. Now he saw the demon was missing an arm. . .and a head.

"Baka," Hiei pulled opened the giant fist. "You can't keep out of trouble when I'm away. I don't even know why I bother with you, Yin."

"Because you wuv me," the kitsune named Yin grinned.

Bingo. Kuronue just found Hiei's weakness.

"She is not, bat."

Kuronue nearly fell out of the tree he was hiding in. "Damn your Eye, Hiei."

"I feel icky, Hiei," Yin fell back down as soon as she stood up. Her black fox ears drooped pitifully. "I blame the mushroom-looking thing that I fell on when I freed myself the first time from that demon."

"Well now," Kuronue knew he had to sound cruel now. This was his only opportunity. "Hiei, you do know Youko does know his plants and their toxicity as well as the antidote. So why don't you follow me?"

Yin may feel a bit dizzy and nauseous but she was well enough to know that the bat demon was a fool. Hiei was. . .Hiei. She knew him well enough that the apparition wouldn't think twice about helping her if he had to be helped by another. Hiei followed his pride. He had a reputation to protect. He wouldn't care if his acquaintance for the past decade suddenly dropped dead due to her stupidity. After all, Hiei even told her. If a demon attacked her, then she's on her own unless Hiei was close by. If he wasn't, then Yin better had made a will.

Hiei was going to refuse, Yin was sure of that.

"Alright, then."

Yin must be losing her mind. Had she really heard Hiei agreeing to accept help?

"You wanna die, onna?" his harsh voice scraped over her.

"No. . ." Yin squeaked. It was difficult for her to control. She could not overcome her fear of Hiei's murderous nature.

"Then stop thinking your thoughts out loud," Hiei didn't want to do this. Yet he had no choice. He wasn't skilled at making antidotes. That was Yin's job. That was the reason why he kept her alone. She was a useful asset to have. Yet she being poisoned had hindered her process of thought of making a cure for herself. "Well?" he snapped at the bat demon.

Kuronue kept from lashing back at the apparition. He picked up Yin, wondering how someone so sweet-looking wound up with a companion so cold-hearted. Kuronue knew he was being stupid. Hiei was following behind him. What if Hiei decided to change his mind? What if Hiei just vanished, leaving him with the vixen? What if Hiei decided to attack him, leaving him and the vixen to die?

"Hn. . .just don't test me."

Yin closed her eyes and sighed. She expected that response from Hiei. Just what did Youko Kurama wanted with him? She find out later. Right now she just wanted to go to sleep.

Kuronue waited. Was Hiei going to say something? Was he going to prevent Yin from sleeping? Or was he waiting for Kuronue to do the task? Kuronue wouldn't mind if he had the Jagan. . .then he could read the complicated infamous Hiei. He waited.

Hiei did nothing. He knew he should but it would be a sign of weakness. He would not have Youko think that he, Hiei, had a soft side.

"Hey," Kuronue shook Yin. He watched her brown eyes blinked a couple times before fully opening. "You better not fall asleep. If you do, then I'll take advantage of you." Oh shit. What had made him say that especially with Hiei around?

"You're lying," Yin yawned. "You don't seem to be the type to take advantage of unconscious females." Then she grinned lazily, "Bet you're so used to having them fawn over you, begging for you to take them."

"You are indeed amusing," Kuronue chuckled. Perhaps when Youko was finishing discussing things with Hiei, Hiei would leave without Yin. She, Kuronue concluded, would bet better off with him than the bastard Hiei.

Yin blinked. She knew that Kuronue must be deep in thought. It could have been the mushroom but Yin thought she heard Hiei emit a really low growl. "I feel cold."

"Ironic," Kuronue muttered. "You are hot and I mean by temperature."

"What the hell?!" Shadow saw Kuronue entered the stronghold with a vixen in his arms. "What did you do?!" she demanded as she finally took notice at how pathetic the demoness looked.

"Ugh. . .so loud," Yin closed her eyes. If only she was well, then she would go and question if that ookami was the infamous sole female in Youko Kurama's Band of Thieves.

"Youko, I'm home!" Kuronue ignored Shadow. "I've brought Hiei and—"

"Ah, Hiei, you've come," Youko knew he lost the bet but it didn't matter.

Hiei didn't speak.

Shadow wondered what was so special about this short bastard. She glared as she caught sight of Hiei giving her a glare.

"Er. . .right," Kuronue said. "Hiei won't cooperate unless you help his woman—"

"She is not my woman," Hiei snapped.

"Ouch. . ." Yin joked and then groaned. "I so hate myself right now."

"Hmm. . .I don't," Youko took Yin from Kuronue's arms. "Don't worry," his velvety voice breathed over her. "You'll in safe hands."

Yin slightly trembled. Her gut feeling was screaming at her a warning about this silver kitsune.

Shadow frowned. She knew what Youko was thinking. Her frown only deepened when she saw Kuronue's laughing eyes.

"You needn't follow me, Hiei," Youko spoke as he began to walk into another hall. "I won't do any damage to her."

"Hn. . .knowing you, fox, I probably have to wait for a couple days before you'll tell me why I'm needed here," Hiei spoke.

"Oh, yeah. . ." Kuronue looked at Shadow as the two thieves and the vixen disappeared from sight. "Hiei wields the Jagan Eye."

Shadow's eyes widen. "Great. . ." she grumbled, "A mind reader."

Yin: Please note that I doubt this fic is following the times vaguely set in Yu Yu Hakusho. In here, Kuronue would still be alive and Hiei would already have his Jagan way before he ever leaves to find Yukina. Please review.