Kurama looked around the clearing, he saw Yusuke and Kuwabara fighting about something trivial while Botan watched and listened, clearly amused. Kurama spotted Hiei leaning against a tree, arms crossed, eyes closed. Kurama couldn't see Koenma or the liason agent he had mentioned bringing from Demon World. For several years after Enki won the Demon World tournament and declared an end to demons ever being in the human world, there was peace. But recently, demons had been appearing in Japanese cities and Koenma had asked Kurama and the rest of the old team to meet him here to discuss the situation. Kurama did not understand Koenma's motivation in bringing the team back together. Yusuke was retired as Spirit Detective and both he and Kuwabara had settled into peaceful lives.
Kurama walked over to Hiei, "Why are you not acting as liason from Demon World?" he asked.
Hiei opened his eyes just enough to glare at Kurama, "You think I wanted to participate in this at all? Koenma insisted I come to hear him out but I'm not planning to help for the sake of Spirit World or Demon World. Once the prince has said his piece, I will return to my home in Demon World."
Kurama would never say anything to Hiei but he was very glad the demon had found a place to call home. "What do you know of what has been happening?"
"I know that demons have inexplicably slipped past the border watch in Demon World to wreak havoc on the pathetic residents of Human World. I also know that Enki has nothing to do with these attacks. The fool truly wishes for peace between the worlds. That is why he sent this 'Yumi' character to act as a liason agent between Spirit World and Demon World, to show his willingness to help stop the rogue demons."
"I see. And what do you know of Yumi?"
"Very little. I have never even met her but I know that Enki considers her to be one of his best advisors." Hiei replied.
"Hey, Kurama!" Kuwabara yelled, running over to where Kurama and Hiei now stood. "I didn't realize you were here already."
"It's good to see you, Kuwabara." Kurama still regularly visited Kuwabara and Yusuke since he had chosen to make his family his priority and stay in Human World to watch over his mother and step brother.
Botan ran over just then, "Kurama! Please tell me what's going on! Koenma hasn't told me a thing except that he would explain everything when he got here," she said with a frown.
"I'm afraid he said the same thing to me," Kurama informed the distraught Botan.
"Where is he anyway, and where's this Yumi he's told me so little about?" Botan asked.
Kurama opened his mouth to reply but he stopped when he saw something emerging from the trees across the clearing. It was a huge black, scaly demon with horns growing from its head and feet the size of small cars. The thing that really caught Kurama's eye was the giant mace the demon wielded in both of its gargantuan hands. Yusuke had his back to the demon as he walked towards the rest of the group.
"Urameshi!" Kuwabara screamed.
The massive demon swung its mace but the mace stopped midair, inches before hitting Yusuke. The demon stumbled backward and then fell, hitting the ground with a loud thud. Standing a few feet behind where the demon had fallen was a small figure. The figure walked closer slowly, until suddenly Kurama realized it was a girl. She turned her back to Yusuke and the team when she reached the demon's body. She appeared to be examining her handiwork.
"Who the heck are you?!" Yusuke demanded of the mystery girl.
The girl turned around to regard the ragtag group. Her large, sad eyes studied them and Kurama found himself studying her as well. Her light brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail while bangs fell unevenly across her forehead. She wore a scarf that completely hid her neck as well as covering her mouth and chin until she raised her head. Her shirt was a long, white, flowy thing that stopped at her waist on her left side but hung about six inches longer on the right side. Long, billowing sleeves hid all of her arms, just revealing her slim fingers at the end. At the end of the long side of her shirt there was a small, nearly invisible loop that held a gold ring. The shirt had clearly been designed to have that ring attached. She also wore a pair of light pink shorts and a flimsy pair of pale blue sandals. Kurama could not sense much energy coming from her, but he knew better than to assume she had so little especially after she had taken down that demon with seeming ease. She could easily manipulate and hide her energy if she was skilled.
"I am Yumi," she said, her soft voice slightly muffled by her scarf.
"Yumi... Why is that name familiar? Oh! You're that lesion person," Yusuke said.
"Liason," Kurama corrected gently.
"So Koenma told you about me?" Yumi asked.
"Yes, but he didn't tell us you were going to be so pretty!" Botan exclaimed, running to clasp Yumi's hands in both of her own.
She was pretty, Kurama realized. A blush spread across her cheeks, bringing out the color in her pink eyes. "Thank you," she replied shyly.
"Well, pretty lady, I suppose introductions should be made. I'm Kazuma Kuwabara!" Kuwabara said, reaching to shake Yumi's hand. Yumi acccepted the handshake with a smile.
"Oh, I think I know who you all are. Koenma has told me so much about you. Let's see," she said, walking up to Yusuke, "you must be Yusuke Urameshi, former spirit detective."
"That's me. But you forgot winner of the Dark Tournament, defeater of the king of the Netherworld, and the ancesteral son of the late Raizen." Yusuke said with a grin.
"Hey, I did some of those things too!" Kuwabara argued.
"You lost almost all of your fights in the Dark Tournament!" Yusuke replied.
"Oh, boys," Botan giggled, "I don't think this macho competition is really going to impress Yumi."
Yumi smiled, "And I know you're Botan."
"Bingo!" Botan said.
"And I assume you're Hiei," Yumi continued, walking up to the scowling demon.
"Hmph," was all Hiei replied before turning away.
"And lastly, you must be Kurama, the spirit fox," Yumi said, turning to the red-haired demon.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kurama said, taking her small hand into his in a firm handshake. He was already trying to see what he could learn about her. She acted very young and innocent but the way she had taken out that demon suggested otherwise. Kurama was willing to trust her since she had been sent by Koenma but Kurama still wondered about her. The sadness in her eyes seemed to suggest a painful history. Kurama suddenly realized he had held her hand for far too long and quickly released it. Yumi seemed to notice that Kurama had been trying to read her eyes and he saw guilt flash through their pink depths. Was she hiding something?
She stepped back and was quickly surrounded by Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Botan, all of them talking excitedly. Kurama smiled, no matter what had happened in the girl's past, she could easily find acceptance in this group. However, if she were to ever hurt anyone that Kurama cared about... Kurama glanced over at Hiei and even though the small demon acted like he was didn't care, Kurama could tell that he was watching Yumi intently.
"I see we have all gotten to know one another," said a familiar voice. Kurama watched as Koenma walked into the clearing, a grim look on his youthful features. "But I think we still have some catching-up to do."
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave a review, I welcome corrective criticism but please keep in mind that this is my first fanfiction, so try to be gentle. I plan to add more chapters if people show interest in my story. Thanks again! :)