Chapter One: Here We Go Again
"I still don't get why we all had to come here to get Hiei. Why couldn't that punk just come to Human World?" Kazuma Kuwabara complained as he and his two best pals stepped onto the Demon World soil from the portal. He fell quiet and ogled at the vast forests and plateaus with their shades of green, blue, and brown.
"You know Hiei," Kurama replied with shrug. "He hasn't changed since you last saw him."
"Jeez, in six years ya'd think he'd lighten up or somethin'," Kazuma grumbled, still taking in the foreign landscape.
"I still don't get why he's being so damn stubborn. Guess he didn't miss us much, did he? I swear, if that bastard turns us down like he did Botan and Koenma, I'll drag him back to Human World by his teeth," Yusuke Urameshi said, hands going into his pockets as he glared out at the path they traveled on. "Didn't he turn you down too, Kurama?"
Kurama nodded. "Yes, but I sent a messenger to him. He never replied."
"Why do we need the runt anyway? I thought we were getting new teammates when we got to America," Kazuma asked, flinching away from a large, mosquito-like insect.
"Koenma doesn't know that they'll all cooperate, nor if our combined forces will be enough. He isn't really even sure who or what our enemy is. The more allies we have, the better our chances of victory," Kurama explained calmly.
Yusuke swatted the insect when it nearly flew into his face. "Stupid demon bug. Stupid America and its stupid problems," he muttered.
"What's your problem, Urameshi? You've been in a crappy mood since we left home," Kazuma inquired.
"Keiko's my problem! She's pissed off because I agreed to help Koenma and that means leaving her again! Now she won't even talk to me because I told her it's too dangerous for her to come."
"That doesn't sound like Keiko. What else did you do?" Kazuma asked, narrowing his already thin black-brown eyes at Yusuke.
"Nothing! Botan opened her big mouth and said that Genkai and Shizuru were coming, so Keiko wanted to come too."
"So why not just let Keiko come along? Genkai isn't going to fight, she's just back-up," Kurama said. "She can keep an eye on her."
"You try talkin' to Keiko when she's pissed. It ain't easy."
"Maybe I will, Urameshi. She'll talk to me," Kazuma said.
Kurama stopped walking and glanced to their right, bright green eyes catching a glimpse of the flash that went by them. "Hiei is here."
As Yusuke and Kazuma stopped, Hiei appeared on the trail in front of them... Kazuma nearly fell over.
"Jeez Hiei, can't you approach us like a normal person?" he exclaimed.
"Hn, if you're here to ask about me going to America with you, the answer is no. I have in interest in the affairs of Human World," Hiei stated, frowning when Yusuke started to laugh. "What's so funny, Yusuke?"
"You. You're still bite-sized. You really haven't changed at all."
Kazuma grinned. "No wait Urameshi, I think he grew a couple inches. Now he's a solid five feet!" The pair laughed more. Hiei only growled his annoyance.
"This is hardly helped our case," Kurama pointed out, though he was holding back a smirk of his own. "Hiei, we really could use your help. We don't know our enemies."
"That's unfortunate for you, but it means nothing to me. They can destroy Human World for all I care," Hiei replied coldly. Kazuma grabbed him by the neck of his overcoat.
"Listen punk, we were a team! Don't you care at all about us? We're the only friends you've got!"
Hiei only stared Kazuma down with void crimson eyes. "No, I really don't care."
"Why you!" Kazuma went to throw a punch, but Yusuke grabbed his arm.
"Stop it, Kuwabara. We both know he'd act like this. Let him go. He's not gonna change his mind."
Kazuma growled and let Hiei go. Kurama sighed, ready to leave when an idea hit him. "Oh Yusuke, did Botan mention that we have a healer joining us? Koenma thought it wise to send one besides Genkai, but he could only find one on such short notice-"
"Yukina is coming?" Kazuma exclaimed, forgetting immediately about Hiei and his poor attitude.
"It appears so," Kurama confirmed, watching Hiei closely. He seemed irritated. Perfect.
"I heard the rooms we're staying in are co-ed, Kuwabara. You can finally make a move and be alone with her," Yusuke added with a sly grin, winking at him. Kazuma turned red and laughed nervously.
"You're a pervert, Urameshi."
"Well, come on then. Since Hiei won't be joining us, we have no further reason to stay here," Kurama said, turning to head back to the portal. Kazuma and Yusuke followed.
"Later Hiei!" Yusuke called before whispering to Kazuma, giving him ideas for his 'move'. They only got a few yards down the path when Hiei ran up next to Kurama, a glare planted on his features.
"Change of heart, Hiei?" the long-haired redhead asked.
"I'll come along, but only because I'm sick of Mukuro and her belief that she is still king of the world. I grow tired of her demands," Hiei muttered.
Kurama smiled and nodded.
"Glad to have you on board, Hiei. Hope you've powered up that dragon of yours. I think we're gonna need it," Yusuke said as they approached the portal back to Human World.
