Something was going to happen… she could smell it. The air was thick with tension from the other prisoners. Bright yellow eyes shifted towards the iron bars that held her with in the enclave of the narrowed out hallways. Her dulled silver hair hung off her shoulder catching the faint breeze from the doors opening into the castle. Light from the torches outside the bars casted a dim glow into the enclosure, her eyes permanently adjusted to the darkness. Standing she moved to glance out into the hall waiting to hear a guard pass so the torches could be snuffed out for the evening. But there was no sound of movement except for the demons in the cells around her. They could all feel it. A smile crossed the young girls lips, the demon across from her raising a brow.
"What are you smiling about." He growled from his bed.
"Things are about to get fun around here…" she said with a small chuckle as the sound of a fight drifted down the halls.
Soon two shadows could be seen further down the hall the torches being snuffed out. The demon across from the girl backed away from his door. She stepped closer gripping onto the bars her eyes dancing with excitement as the scent of a familiar body drew closer to her. "He's alive?" She whispered her eyes dancing with delight.

~!~

"It's not much farther." Kurama muttered to his companion as they slowed to a walk. The light of the torches casting shadows on the walls. Green eyes narrowed as they passed the cells, their target only five more rooms down. Hiei was close behind him glaring at the cells that they passed.
"And we are here why?" Hiei said dully turning his gaze back towards the fox.
"We are looking for someone." Kurama responded moving closer to one side of the hall.
Hiei paused for a moment his glare now centered on the red haired teen. "Really?"
"This is why I didn't tell you at the beginning." Kurama said coolly as he approached the cell where a silver haired girl was leaning against the bars.
He locked eyes with the girl as she tilted her head to the side. "I see you are doing well." He said looking down at her face.
"Could be better." The girl said smirking before reaching her arms through the bars wrapping them around Kurama's body. Kurama was slightly taken aback by the display of affection, a small smile playing across his lips as he rested his hand on the girls head.
"As touching as this is… we need to keep moving before we end up in a cage as well." Hiei said annoyed as he stepped closer to the two his eyes narrowed at the girl.
"Right." Kurama said as he stepped back out of reach of the girl inside the cage. "Kannia, stand away from the door."
Hiei didn't wait for the girl to step back before slicing through the bars with his sword. The metal chimed against the stone floor, creating an opening for the young demon to walk through. "Let's get going." Hiei muttered turning to start walking back the way they came.
Kurama smiled at his friend before starting to walk after him glancing over his shoulder to ensure that the girl was following them. Once she was out of the cell she was walking with Kurama towards the exit.

~!~

Hiei was walking in the front of the group his eyes shifting from one side of the hall to the other. This is to easy… Hiei thought as he passed through an archway. His eyes shot up to the hall in front of him as an alarm started to sound. Kurama sighed. "I guess it couldn't be helped." He muttered before the three started to run down the hall towards the entrance of the prison. Kannia was keeping pace with the two, her ears flicking at the sound of guards behind them.

"We have company." She said with a bit of annoyance.
"I guess we have no choice but to keep moving forward then." Kurama said with a smirk as he reached into his hair for his rose.
"Naturally." Hiei said unsheathing his sword as guards tried to block the gate leading outside.
"Rose Whip!" Kurama called as the rose pedals scattered the stem growing in length before a simple flick of his wrist sent the guards blocking the door to the ground. Hiei swung his blade taking down the remaining guards as well as destroying the door. Running through the opening the night air enveloped their senses creating an easier escape.
Behind the small group the sound of shouting could be heard. Kurama looking back over his shoulder started to slow his pace. "Kannia same rules apply… Hiei I leave everything in your capable hands." He said with a coy smile before slowing down taking another path in which the guards would follow him rather than Hiei and Kannia.
Hiei's eyes widened as he tried to look back at the fox demon. "What!" he called but saw the ancient thief had already vanished into the thickets of the forest. The sounds of the guards were drifting further and further behind as well, the lights of their torches a distant memory. It was a short run for Hiei to the lake where he and Kurama had met earlier that night. Anger slowly bubbled in the pit of Hiei's chest as he glared into the darkness willing the fox to show himself. The girl that the two of them had released from the prison was standing a few yards from himself. Soon his anger turned to pure annoyance. "What does he take me for… I'm not a babysitter." He growled turning his attention back to the darkness. I swear… when I see him again… He thought before turning to start walking once more.

Hiei walked through the darkness, fully aware that the girl was still behind him. How long did she intend to follow him? He didn't look back or speak to the girl that was now his shadow, why talk to someone you didn't know. He didn't even know what this girl was to the fox, so he didn't dare kill her for continuing to stalk him. The faint glow of fireflies started to creep into his path, it was odd seeing fireflies this early in the warm months, but he continued walking ignoring the florescent fireflies as they flickered in and out of existence.

Walking in silence wasn't too bad… it was nice to hear herself think for once. But walking in silence without knowing where they were going was starting to get to her. The demon in front of her seemed to be a friend of Youko's, and he said 'same rules apply,' so she was obligated to follow the male. Looking up at the sky a smile played across her lips as she saw the stars for the first time in what seemed like forever. She glanced down to the real world and saw that the demon had picked up his walking pace causing her to run a short distance to catch up. She couldn't take the silence much longer. "So who are you?" she asked noting the slight change in the males stance.
"That's not important." The male said annoyed.
"I believe it is if I'm going to have to keep following you." She retorted her eyes starting to follow the dash of the fireflies as they started to gather around the two of them.
"And who said you could tag along." The demon growled.
"Youko said that I had to."
"I was there as well girl… He didn't say anything of the sort."
Kannia narrowed her eyes. "He said, 'same rules apply,' which means follow the lead runner and keep running even if they fall." She said holding out her hand for a few fireflies to land on the palm of her hand. The demon stopped turning his red eyes on her causing the girl to miss a step. She hadn't been expecting him to be that annoyed or angry with the situation of her following him.
"Really, and what is stopping me from leaving you to rot in this forest." He said darkly as his eyes narrowed.
"Nothing… I'd try to follow you for as long as I could, but there's no doubt that you are faster than me. So that leads the question as to why you are allowing me to follow you?" she said the glowing insects crawling around in her hand, she was trying to hold her ground against the male that was glaring intently at her, but the longer she stared at him the more she sensed his irritation.

Hiei glared at the girl, he wasn't going to humor her with the answer to her question. But as much as he wanted to run off and leave her in the woods he couldn't. Letting an irritated sigh out he turned on his heels and continued to walk through the woods. "I am an acquaintance of Kurama's, who I am is none of your concern. If you continue to talk I will leave you behind, I like my quite." He stated, the girl had started to follow him once he began walking once more. Wisely she stayed quiet for the duration of their walk.

~!~

"Hey Urameshi!" a voice called from across the small sitting area in the park. Yusuke looked up from the woman that was placing her order to see the shock of orange hair that was his friend Kuwabara.
"Hold on ya big lug, I'm with a customer." Yusuke snapped as he finished writing down the total for one bowl of noodles. As his partner drew closer Yusuke was opening one of the few pots that were locked onto the noodle cart that he had bought to help bring in some extra income. He had worked for Keiko's parents for so many years that he felt confident enough to purchase his own noodle cart. He had been running it for a few months after returning from the demon world, and it was nice to say business was booming. After the woman paid, the black haired young man handed her the food and wished her a good day before flipping a sign on his cart saying he was closed for the time being.
"Jeeze Kuwabara, I'm trying to make an honest living I can't have you scaring away my customers with your ugly mug." Yusuke laughed as he leaned on the edge of the cart.
"Say that to my face Urameshi I dare ya." Kuwabara retorted.
"I just did. What are you gonna do about it?" Yusuke said a smile splitting his face. He had missed hanging out with his friends, but missing so much school and not keeping his grades up. It had resulted in him being kicked out of school years ago. How Kurama and Kuwabara had done it he would never know, but they were graduating soon. So with finals coming up for both him and Kuwabara they had made it a habit of meeting once a week for lunch so they could study, in all honesty Yusuke didn't think Kurama needed it, but the fox was helping Kuwabara keep on top of the information.
"That's it!" Kuwabara said as he got in a fighting stance. "Come on punk!"
"I don't think that's why we have gathered here today, Kuwabara." Kurama said with a smile on his face, he was in his usual school uniform, in one hand was his school bag while his other was lazily hanging at his side.
"Well the gang is all here." Yusuke said smiling as he quickly prepared a few bowls of noodles for the three of them.
"Next time Urameshi."
"Yea Yea, I'll meet you behind the middle school and we'll rumble like old times." Yusuke joked. As Kurama began to sit down Yusuke's eyes caught a imperfection along the side of Kurama's neck that had been hidden by his hair.
"Hey Kurama, cut yourself shaving?" he asked with a smirk as he pointed at the small cut on his neck.
Kurama's hand rose to the mark in confusion and only shrugged. "Must have been one of the plants in the garden," he said dismissively as he started to pull some books out of his bag.
"Makes sense…" Kuwabara muttered as he started to dig for his notes.
"Right…." Yusuke said narrowing his eyes not buying the line that Kurama had fed them. But he wouldn't press the matter, if it was important Kurama would have been straight forward with him. "So what do you guys want this time?"
"I'll try the Miso this time Urameshi." Kuwabara said grinning.
"I shall have the usual." Kurama said smiling as he looked up at Yusuke from the corner of his eye.
"Comin' right up." Yusuke said smiling.

~!~

"Lord Koenma, it seems we have an issue."
Koenma looked up from his current files to see the warden of the Spirit Jail entering his office. It wasn't often that he was graced with the presence of the warden, but when it did happen the news was never good. Even his ever faithful servant Jorge was confused to the warden's arrival.
"What is it this time?" he said leaning back in his chair his arms crossing over his chest. After taking over the role of King of Spirit World he would stay in his teenager form while he was conducting business. Sure everyone in the Spirit World knew of his toddler form, but it had been during the dark tournament that he realized the usefulness of the older form.
"A few days ago we had a prisoner break out of the E cell block." The warden explained stepping forward to lay a file on the desk for Koenma to look at. As the warden continued speaking Koenma started to read over the prisoner's file. "We don't understand how she escaped, but my men lost her near the cliffs. I feel we should make this a top priority. She is considered highly dan-"
"That's not necessary." Koenma interrupted passing the file to Jorge. "The situation has already been dealt with and the new punishment has been handed down."
Jorge and the warden stared at Koenma in shock. The warden could only smile as he bowed. "I see… It would seem I have underestimated you Lord Koenma.. I shall return to my post then, I apologize for interrupting." The warden said as he left his shoulders slumped a little as he passed through the doors.
"Lord Koenma… what are you talking about, you haven't done anything." He said as he opened the file to look at who the prisoner was.
"After looking at the information I know exactly where she is… so there is no need to worry. In all honesty, those idiots seemed to have done my job for me." Koenma said as he started to read over the files he had been in the middle of before he was interrupted.
"Wait isn't this?!"
"Yep…That's why the situation is already under control." Koenma said as he stamped the paper that he was reading letting it drift into the proper mailbox.

~!~

Yusuke sighed as he leaned back staring up at the ceiling of the dojo. His friends would be graduating from high school in two weeks and he was planning the graduation party with Genkai and Yukina. It had been decided three months ago that they were going to throw the party at Genkai's temple; it was where they could all be themselves without having to worry about prying human eyes. Yukina had volunteered to bake the cake for the party and Yusuke would cook dinner. Genkai was going to play chaperone only because she didn't want the kids getting drunk and destroying the temple with their rough housing.
"Lighten up Grandma, it's not like we would go all out." Yusuke said smiling as he took a drink of his beer.
"Cut the crap Yusuke, none of you boys hold back when it comes down to it." Genkai said after taking a drag of her cigarette. She was sitting on the ledge of the deck outside of the main room where Yusuke and Yukina were writing down the plans for the party.
Yusuke narrowed his eyes, the old bat had a point, but that didn't mean she had to force herself to play chaperon.
"Hello Genkai." The voice caused Yusuke to lean closer to the door to see who had entered the dojo. Smiling at Keiko the male got to his feet.
"Hey Keiko, I thought you were studying for finals tonight." He said walking out to meet Keiko on the deck with Genkai.
"I am… but I needed to talk to you first. Do you have a minute?" Keiko asked her hands folded behind her back. It was causing Yusuke to worry, whenever Keiko wanted to talk privately he was in trouble or something bad had happened.
"Sure." Yusuke said quietly before he looked at Genkai who pointed towards the walking path not too far from the center of the garden.

Yusuke walked with his hands in his pockets, waiting for Keiko to say something, they had been walking for ten minutes now and she seemed fidgety. Yusuke raised a brow as she stopped abruptly; he had only taken a couple of strides ahead of her before turning to look at her. "What's wrong Keiko, you're being as twitchy as Kuwabara when Yukina is around." He said leaning all his weight onto one leg looking down at his oldest friend.
"It's complicated." Keiko said after a few moments of silence. "But, I've been thinking about this for a while now."
Yusuke's shoulders tensed a little bit, not enough for Keiko to notice. "Yea?"
"I… I can't be what you want me to be." She said her voice shaking as she stared down at the ground.
"What are you talking about, you're just fine the way you are, what is this all about?" Yusuke said taking a step closer to her, but what shocked him was the step back that she took before squaring her shoulders. It was the stance she always took with him to get her point across, whether it be about school, his fighting, his life; she wasn't going to back down. But the look on her face was different from the other times, it was sad.
"That's not what I mean Yusuke. I can't give you the life you want." She stated.
"Okay, now you've lost me. We've been doing perfectly fine for the last year an-"
"I know, but don't you see. I'm only going to be a small piece of your life." She said a tear streaming down her life.
"What?"
"Yusuke, I'll die… Long before you." She whispered. Yusuke's mind went blank as he tried to process what she had just said. It wasn't long before he registered the sequence of words his eyes widening.
"I'm just a human. I can give you happiness for only a brief moment in time, but you deserve so much more Yusuke." She started not allowing the male to get a word in edge wise. "I will always love you Yusuke, but you were dealt a short hand in the beginning. You've been stacking your deck over time and you've finally earned that royal flush you've been waiting for. So I want you to find happiness with someone you can love for as long as you live."
By the time she had finished her speech she had tears running down her face. Yusuke stared at his best friend before walking over and embracing her. He understood why she was doing this, it hurt like hell, but he got it. Closing his eyes he warred with his mind and his heart. "I'm sorry Keiko… I never really thought about it, but it seems you've done all the thinking as usual." He stated hugging her tightly. "And you deserve the world tenfold for putting up with me for this long." He said resting his forehead on the top of her head.

~!~

Kurama let out a breath of air as he sat on the temple steps a beer in hand. Finals long over, the human ritual of Graduating from High School passed. A smile playing across his lips, he had graduated valedictorian of his year and had been accepted into the best college Japan had to offer. His human life was on track, if only his demon life could be as easy. Hiei had been told of the party long before their secret mission, and if he didn't make an appearance Yusuke and Kuwabara would go on the hunt for the fire apparition. He stared up at the clouds masking his anxiety of how his secrets would be laid out for the others to see.
The fox had been so lost in thought that he didn't hear the spirit detective approaching him from behind until the cold metal of the other's beer pressed against his ear. Jumping slightly he turned to look at the black haired male.
"Hey, school's over! Stop doing mental math and come join the party. Keiko and Kuwabara just showed up." He said with a ghost of a smile on his face.
Kurama narrowed his eyes, his thoughts now torn from his own battle and onto Yusuke's. "Normally you're more chipper when Keiko comes around. Did something happen?" he said as he started to get to his feet making sure to retrieve his own beverage.
"Just the usual." Yusuke said as he turned to walk down the deck to the main court yard where the party was taking place. Kurama fell in step with his friend, wanting to press the matter further for fear that it was causing Yusuke pain. But he recalled a few months ago when the detective had asked the same question of himself. Shaking his red hair he dropped the matter and smiled. "If you say so." He replied his shoulder brushing the others as they walked into the court yard.
Looking at their friends he smiled seeing everyone who had been part of their human lives were there; Botan, Genkai, Keiko, Kuwabara, Shizuru, and Yukina. The only one missing was Hiei, and his shadow. Kurama turned to the main gate to see someone walking up the stairs and his eyes widened seeing Koenma appearing on the scene.
"Lord Koenma?" Botan said with a bit of shock. "What are you doing here?"
"Can't I come and see my team on a day of celebration?" Koenma said smiling as he looked towards Yusuke and Kurama. "Congratulations, it's an amazing feat that you all graduated, well most of you."
"What did you say pacifier breath?" Yusuke said narrowing his eyes at his boss.
"Oh nothing." Koenma laughed resting his hands on his hips.
Kurama had not taken into consideration that Koenma would show up to the party, taking a drink from his beer he tried to devise a plan to inform Hiei not to come to the party. But as an idea started to root into his mind the familiar aura of the apparition entered the temple grounds.
"It would seem the gang's all here." Yusuke said grinning.
Genkai narrowed her eyes in the direction that the demon was coming from, Kurama knew Genkai could sense Kannia's aura as well, however faint it was.
Hiei stepped out of the brush at the back of the garden, his eyes zeroing in on Kurama in a matter of milliseconds. As he started to walk towards Kurama his eyes narrowed to a glare he could see Koenma stepping forward to stand to the left of Genkai. It was at that point in time that the silver haired girl jumped over the bush following Hiei as he had instructed her to do four months ago. And it was that reason that the fire demon was angry with him now.
"Hey pipsqueak, is that your new girlfriend?" Kuwabara teased only to get the meanest look from Hiei that the human had ever seen.
Kurama was trying to play innocent but he knew that he had now been caught in a lie. Hiei was upon him and Kurama soon found the smaller demon fisting the front of his shirt dragging him down to be face to face with him.
"Give me one good reason, as to why I shouldn't kill you right this second." Hiei growled.
"Hey Hiei, calm down." Yusuke said putting himself between his two friends. "What is this about? And who is the girl?"
"Ask Kurama, he's the reason she's following me." He snapped. Kannia was soon standing off to the side of Hiei and himself. Yusuke looked over the girl now that she was closer and then he turned to Kurama waiting for an answer.
"Um, is it just me or does this girl look like a mini copy of Kurama's demon form?" Kuwabara said staring between Kurama and the girl. Caught in his nasty web of lies Kurama pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Kurama…" Yusuke said trying to coax the fox into talking.
"Allow me to fill you in boys." Koenma said causing Kurama to turn his head to face the Spirit Lord. "This girl is Youko Kurama's younger sister, Kannia. Who, Hiei and Kurama, broke out of Spirit Jail four months ago."
"You did what!?" Yusuke snapped looking between Hiei and Kurama. Kurama could have sworn Hiei looked stunned by the news of who the girl was.
"What he says is the truth." Kurama said unable to free himself from the situation. "She is my kid sister."
"Why didn't you ever tell us you had a sister?"Kuwabara interjected.
"In all honesty I didn't even know she was alive I was going off a hunch." He said earning a glare from Hiei.
Koenma interrupted the team banter by clearing his throat. "Do you two know how much trouble you are in for breaking into Spirit Jail… let alone breaking a convict out of it." He said his voice serious.
"I understand the consequences but she had been locked up for crimes committed by Youko, she had never partaken in any thefts." Kurama retorted.
"That is correct but there is still a matter of holding someone responsible for the crimes at hand." Koenma said crossing his arms. "Which have already been decided." He said glumly.
"Hey, you can't be seriously thinking about punishing them. They've saved the world countless times with me. Hell I wouldn't have survived my first mission if it weren't for them." Yusuke snapped.
"The punishment is spread evenly amongst all of you, since you are a team after all."
"What!? But I didn't do anything!" Kuwabara yelled.
"You can't be serious!" Botan protested.
"Team Urameshi, you are charged with aiding and abetting a wanted criminal. There for your punishment is playing the role of Parole officer." The Spirit lord said with a smirk on his face.
Kurama stared at Koenma a stunned look on his face, he was guessing his comrades were wearing the same look from how Yukina and Keiko were heard snickering in the background.
"And Kannia, for escaping Spirit Jail, you are charged with one hundred years' probation under the watch of Team Urameshi." He said his smirk turning into a smile.
"What does that mean?" Kannia asked tilting her head to the side.
Genkai chuckled as she took a drag of her cigarette. "That means you'll be stuck with one of these four dimwits here in the human world." She stated bluntly.
"Sooo I'm not going back to Jail." She asked a smile playing across her lips.
"That is correct." Koenma said looking at Kannia.
Kurama was still in a state of shock as he looked over at his sister and sighed. "Well, I guess that solves one problem."
"I'm not taking her again." Hiei snapped glaring between the three men around him. "I've had to deal with her constant questions for four months, it took me leaving her in the middle of the woods for a week to get her to be quiet."
"I'm heading off to college so I can't take her, besides I know nothing about teenagers." Kuwabara stated.
"I am as well…" Kurama said then his gaze turned to Yusuke.
Kurama had never seen such horror cross his face at the task of taking care of a teenage girl, if it weren't such a serious topic Kurama would have laughed.
"My mother is just now sobering up and it's suffocating me, how am I supposed to baby sit as well as balance business." Yusuke said looking at his friends.
"I'll help." Keiko said stepping over to stand next to Yusuke.
"And I will as well on weekends, it would just be a hindrance to try and explain to my mother who she is." Kurama admitted.
"I can pitch in on days you have to work…" Shizuru said sitting on the edge of the deck. "I did raise Kazuma by myself after all."
"Sounds promising." Yusuke said dully.
"Please, Yusuke." Kurama said looking at his best friend. It was then that the spirit detective groaned.
"Fine… But you better come on the weekends or I'll hunt down your ass." Yusuke said pointing at Kurama.
"I promise." Kurama said smiling.