Authors Note: Ok first off I have to say thanks to Gracy Vengence for the title. And to my friend Courtney for being my proof reader. As I said in my Harry Potter story updates are going to be sporadic. I'm going to school full-time and working part-time, so cut me some slack. Also this is only my second story, and my first in this category, so feel free to let me know if something is amiss. And as always reviews and constructive critisim is welcome.

Authors Note 2: I am such an ignoramous! I got my time line messed up! I am in the process of fixing this so please be patient.

Disclaimer: I do not nor ever will own Yu Yu Hakusho.

I was going to kill Atsuko. I had been waiting in the airport for nearly two hours and there was still no sign of my dear aunt. I was sorely contemplating just saying "to hell with it" when I heard my name.

"Rain!" Yes my name is Rain, bite me. My full name is Rain Raven Givins, that's what I get for having an environmentalist and an animal rights activist for a mom.

My mom was a Japanese national while my dad was an American citizen. It was the classic story: boy and girl meet in college, fall in love, get married, and have a child. But this story had a tragic twist, my parents died a month ago in a car crash. I was also in the car but was the only one wearing a seatbelt, so I escaped with only a broken arm and some minor cuts. With no other living family, that was willing to take me in, I made the arrangements to move in with my mom's sister, Atsuko, and her son, Yusuke. That's who was calling me now.

"Yusuke! What took you so long? I've been waiting here for two hours."

"Sorry, mom went on a spree. I managed to get her up long enough to tell me your gate, and then she passed out again." Atsuko was a good woman at heart, but she had her demons and used booze to hide from them.

I sighed, "Well is that it? No hug for your favorite cousin?" I smiled and opened my arms. Yusuke grinned and swept me into a bear hug that lifted me off my feet.

We left the airport soon after, caught the bus, and were soon walking through Yusuke's neighborhood. But something was amiss. I wasn't able to visit often because of distance and expense, but this wasn't the same neighborhood that I visited last time.

"Hey Yusuke when did you move?"

"After the house burned down," he replied calmly.

"What?! Ok that's news to me."

"You mean mom didn't tell you?"

"Dude, Atsuko doesn't tell anyone anything." Yusuke sighed, but told me what happened. The move was still fairly recent so Atsuko and Yusuke were still adjusting as well.

"Yusuke, there's something else. You seem different…stronger."

He grinned, "Still as perceptive as ever. Yeah, I just got back from training with Master Genkai, a local psychic."

"So that's why you look like hell." He just laughed.

Once we reached the apartment complex Yusuke led me to the apartment where, a now sober, Atsuko nearly killed me in a suffocating hug. After being doted on for about ten minutes Atsuko led me to my room. Though the smallest room in the apartment, besides the bathroom, they had tried to make it as homey as possible. The walls were a light green, the furniture was white with green trim, and the bed was a simple twin with green sheets and a green, blue, and dark purple comforter. Basically it was me.

Yusuke let me unpack my clothes then he announced that we were going out. Apparently while he was collecting me, he missed his childhood friend Keiko, who had dropped by before school. So while he was catching up with her and another friend, he was going to introduce me and show me the town.

Since this little excursion was mostly a casual meet and greet I didn't really make a whole lot of effort. A plain white t-shirt, casual jeans with holes in the knees, and a pair of my favorite sneakers (white with purple and gray accents) was fine with me. I wore no jewelry except an old watch of my mother's, two sets of stud earrings, and a necklace that Yusuke had given me years ago (three connecting spirals hanging from a black cord).

I've always been a simple girl. Actually now that I think about it, most of my friends were guys while growing up. I just don't have the patience or energy to worry about my appearance every day. I nearly laughed when I saw Yusuke, cleaned and dressed much like me. We were like peas in a pod, just like we had always been.

I was born in Japan, but when I was six my family moved to America. We lived there until I was twelve then moved back to Japan. My father had no family to speak of, so there was nothing to tie him to America; whereas my mother still had some family left. However, no matter the time or distance Yusuke and I were always close, more like siblings than cousins.

Not long after school let out we met up with Yusuke's long time rival Kazuma Kuwabara, who I only knew through my cousin. And I quickly learned that there was a lot more to Kuwabara then met the eye. He was tough and looked it, but he had a gentle heart. The guy even had his own honor code that he stuck to like glue. Basically I had to respect him; he was a better person than I was.

Somehow Kuwabara and my cousin had gone from rivals to friends. Though it was a shaky one from what I could tell. Amazingly Kuwabara and I got along fine. He actually reminded me a lot of Yusuke. Both could be the biggest idiots you've ever seen, and both had two of the biggest hearts I had ever known.

We later met up with Yusuke's childhood friend Keiko. She was a sweet, polite girl as far as I could tell. But according to Yusuke she could pack quite a punch, or in his case, slap. Though her constant worrying over Yusuke and her cheery mood were quite annoying, I kept it to myself. We would never be the best of friends but I liked her well enough. She was able to do what most could not, put Yusuke in his place, and I had to respect her for that.

At first we just milled around looking for something to do. And that's when I began to notice how people acted around my cousin and Kuwabara. I'll be the first to admit they looked and acted like thugs, so did I, so suspicious looks were the order of the day. Even though it got on my nerves, I just kept my mouth shut and kept up with the others. I had gotten the same kind of looks all my life, I was used to it.

Eventually Keiko asked if we could stop for milkshakes, and I agreed immediately. Sweets are a major weakness of mine. I'm the girl who eats the Halloween candy in-between trick-or-treaters. It drove my mom nuts; she was a real health nut. However, Keiko and Kuwabara protested when I offered to pay.

"Guys please. It's my way of thanking you for letting me tag along, and for letting me impose."

"You might as well let her. Rain doesn't take no for an answer," Yusuke said, stopping any further protests.

While Keiko and I went to the shop, Yusuke and Kuwabara saved a bench for us. Keiko and I talked for a bit and then she asked the dreaded question.

"You and Yusuke seem pretty close. Why weren't you at his funeral?" She immediately clapped her hands over her mouth, thinking she had overstepped her bounds.

"It's ok Keiko," I sighed. "We were on our way when some jackass ran a red light. The crash forced us into the other lane, and straight into an on-coming car."

"Oh Rain. I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

"It's ok, it's getting easier."

"Is that why you moved in with Yusuke?" She asked, grabbing two of the milkshakes that were set on the counter.

"Yep, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

We talked about my home after that. I lived halfway across Japan with my parents, about a four day drive from Atsuko and Yusuke. We were about two days away when we crashed. After a short hospital stay I began with the legal stuff. My parent's funeral was bittersweet that was the day Atsuko called saying Yusuke was back. At first I didn't believe her but then she put Yusuke on the phone.

After selling the house, and most of the stuff in it, and sending a few things to Atsuko through the mail, I boarded a one hour flight and began a new chapter of my life. I never understood why my parents decided to drive to Yusuke's funeral instead of fly, and I probably never would. I just had to accept the hand I had been dealt and make the best of it.

Yusuke and Kuwabara made a lame excuse about the movies when Keiko asked what they were talking about. And so I found myself going to see a horrible foreign art film. It was only after he made another lame excuse, something about the store, that I became truly suspicious.

"Hey Keiko can you by my ticket? I need to get something."

"What?" Luckily I think on my feet better than Yusuke. I beckoned her closer; my excuse was not one to be said out loud.

"Tampons."

"Oh," understanding donned on her. "Do you need to go home?"

"Nah, this is more of a precaution."

"Ok, I'll get your ticket and be waiting for you in the center row."

"Thanks Keiko." I ran off in the direction Yusuke and Kuwabara had gone hoping to catch up.

I eventually found them in the middle of a brawl in which they were outnumbered five to two. I was about to jump in and offer a hand when Yusuke stepped forward. He took a fighting stance and suddenly his hand began to glow. My jaw nearly touched the ground when he took out all of the teens with what looked like a spread shot of energy.

Since I was off to one side they didn't notice me and instead ran off after a guy in a trench-coat that was spying on them from behind. And against my better judgment I took off after them; Yusuke had a lot of explaining to do. I followed them down two alleyways only to find that a strange looking girl with blue hair and pink-purplish eyes had taken a baseball bat to the spy before they could get a chance.

I made my way over, hoping to get an explanation, but I was nowhere near prepared for what I found out. Apparently these powerful beings known as the Four Saint Beasts wanted to be granted access to the human world and would do anything to make that happen. I followed them back to the unconscious teens and joined them in staring at one of the knocked out boys. And I nearly lost my milkshake when a bug crawled out of his mouth!

"Ok that was gross," I said grabbing their attention.

"Rain?! What're you doing here?!"

"Oh please. You never were one for good excuses Cuz. Now do you want to explain or get a beating?"

"Wait a minute you can see the insects?" The new girl asked pointing at me.

"Yes now can we get on with it?"

Apparently the bugs, known as Makai Insects, were invisible to normal humans and would burrow into the darker parts of the human soul. The infected human would then go on a spree, feeding their deepest darkest desires. And according to what's-her-name the Saint Beasts were using them to hold the city hostage. Unfortunately non-infected humans saw those who were as merely psychotic. Only by destroying the Makai Whistle, which the Beasts possessed and used to control the bugs, could the city be saved from utter destruction and my dim-witted cousin was our only hope.

My head was spinning. I've never had to take in so much information so fast. I didn't even pay attention when Kuwabara decided to put his two cents in. I was still in zombie mode when the blue-haired girl led us into an old abandoned warehouse. It was only when she opened what looked like a black hole in the floor that I woke up.

"Ok," they all turned to me, "let me get this straight…" I motioned to the stranger.

"Botan," she said to my silent question.

"Let me get this straight Botan. These Saint Beast guys are holding the city hostage with some kind of nasty bug. And you're sending these two doofuses to stop them, so you don't have to meet their demands and thus cause world destruction."

She nodded, "That's about it."

"We're doomed."