Title: Perverted Fish of the North (prequel series to my one-shot smut-fic: 'If I Catch You a Third Time')

Rated: M (possible future smut, violence, language, etc.)

Word Count: 4315

AN: I'm not sure if this will be a really long series or a shorter one though i've already planned out the storyline—just throwing this chapter out first to see what the response is like. This is a prequel to my smut-fic 'If I Catch You a Third Time' due to reader request, Hiei x OC before mating. How they met, such and such. Pairings also include Kurama x OC, implied Yusuke x Keiko and Kuwabara x Yukina. Un-revised, un-betaed, pardon the grammar/spelling errors, really just written for fun. :D

When Yusuke and co. arrived at the third demon sister's residence, they weren't really expecting to be greeted all too amiably—going off previous experience with the last two S-class demonesses, of course. The bruises on Kuwabara's face stood testament to the fact that they most certainly hadn't been welcome—though some would argue that perhaps his face had always looked that way (Hiei). Especially so when the tigress had discovered the reason for their unorthodox visiting, and Kuwabara's right arm bore striped red marks as evidence of her displeasure.

The smaller sister—a species of mouse demon who was far more powerful than was appropriate for a monster with such diminutive stature had been equally offended when Yusuke rather tactlessly remarked on her height while they were being served tea having this time made it as far as her castle. Apparently, she was quite a fan of the spirit fox thief of the past. Of course, Kurama exploited this fact smoothly, sly as he was underneath that façade of a gentleman. However, smooth compliments and brief innocent touches aside, her becoming increasingly enamoured with him did not serve to prevent that split second lunge to take off the young mazoku's head.

Indeed, investigations have not gone too well.

Upon entering the area of Makai halfway between Mt. Blue Dust and Yellow Hood, the group felt just a little less certain about the outcome of their venture than they had when they'd set out in the beginning full of so much manly bravado.

"Don't worry, he said," the detective kicked a rock violently as if it had offended him, "it would be easy, he said." Yusuke grumbled loudly as they trekked across uneven ground.

Kuwabara swore as he tripped and nearly face-planted. Face vs Floor—wouldn't take a genius to figure out which would come out the winner, but the man with the bad Elvis hairdo often sought to go through with this experiment anyway. The wide-eyed hope in his eyes was crushed every time, but this man's unbending spirit is unbeatable and rather admirable, if nothing else. This of course, naturally sparked a snide remark from a previously oddly pacified fire demon. Perhaps it was the weather in this region, Kurama thought.

"Stupidity is developed through osmosis is seems," scoffs Hiei. "The more he falls..."

"I don't know what os-notes is, but I have a feeling you're insulting me, shrimp," growled Kuwabara, flexing his muscles as he glared down at Hiei, having regained his sense of equilibrium, "You wanna fight?!"

Kurama sighed. Hiei didn't advertise it but he was almost as well-read as Kurama. "Osmosis is when—actually, I'll just explain what Hiei means. Basically the flow of—"

"He means you're dumb," Yusuke cuts in.

Hiei didn't protest that explanation. A light scuffle consisting of noise made solely by Kuwabara afterwards, the group fell back into silence.

Few minutes later…

"Damn pacifer junkie… gonna kill him…" Anyone could have spoken just then.

Beyond the greenery that spanned a hundred kilometres or so ahead of them lay the domain of the third sister, her territory bordering the Makai oceans. Once more, they were going in blind. No plan, no clue.

Just like always.

So by now—you're probably wondering just what exactly is going on? Why is the 'team' together once more, when by all rights, our gutsy spirit detective should be getting on with marrying Keiko, our favourite thieves should be messing around the Makai doing whatever the heck they wanted and Kuwabara should be living the normal life whilst occasionally making trips up to Genkai's temple to visit Yukina?

It was all Koenma's fault, was the common consensus between the four.

When Botan arrived with news from spirit world that Koenma was seeking an urgent audience with his most favourite retiree, Yusuke had politely refused.

"No thanks," he threw over his shoulder casually as he leaned over to grab another empty metal bowl from under the sink. Preparations for the usual busy Friday night at his new store were just beginning, and Keiko had promised to come over and help out after she finished work over at her office.

When Botan came to find him again a week later, Yusuke's response was, in typical delinquent fashion, not so polite.

"Go tell that stupid toddler to…" He ran a hand over his slicked back hair in a rather affronted manner. Just mildly annoyed.

Botan stared aghast at Yusuke's apparent acquisition of a new range of colourful vocabulary. And obviously there was no change in that relationship.

The final time Botan came for Yusuke, she was carrying an inter-dimensional portal gadget. It was just plain bad luck for Yusuke that Kuwabara had come around to poke fun at his new job. Before he realised what had happened, he was through the strange glowy mess floating in his shop in the vague form of an oval, and the next second stumbled to a stop just in front of a familiar wooden desk.

The chubby toddler sitting behind it looked rather familiar too (Yusuke perhaps would not have described him so politely), as was the blue ogre in a distasteful loincloth.

"Knew it was too good to be true," Yusuke grumbled as Kuwabara stepped into the room with considerably more grace than his forerunner—possibly because he hadn't been barrelled through by a chick with unnatural hair colour and—well—himself. "I remember saying if I see you again, it'll be too soon. Well whaddya know—this is just my luck." Kicking Kuwabara's ass could wait.

"Why hello Yusu—"

"Yeah yeah, skip the pleasantries already I don't have all day. My bloody shop opens at f—"

"Right—I'll get straight to the point then," the great ruler of spirit world, toddler-form Koenma sighed. What he would do to get some respect around here.

"Ahem. So you probably already gather we have a new case for you—I know what I promised, but Yusuke," he paused for dramatic effect, "we have a big problem on our hands."

"You can never have small problems can you."

Yusuke never returned to his shop that afternoon.

A scroll had been taken—stolen from spirit world vaults. It's known as 'The Perverted Fish of the North'. When Yusuke asked where it got its name from, Koenma was stingy with his answers. But, he'd said, this scroll was of utmost importance. Kind of makes you wonder if spirit world security was actually worth anything, thought Yusuke.

As for who could have taken it and where it could be?

Within the Makai, there lived four demon sisters who ruled in a lesser known region of the southlands. First, the tigress demon Zangan. Known for her ferocious disposition and just as ferocious looks. Second, the mouse demon Bluedrey. She has some height complex apparently, but it's all hearsay. Then it's Sindra and Roxine—not much is known about the last two. There are always rumours of course, and if we went by them, Sindra would be a manipulator of water. And Roxine? Some of the other demons who had taken part in the last tournament—yes, that tournament, the one you created Yusuke, don't look so proud—had attacked who they thought was a defenceless young creature outside the complex where the audience were seated. The lizard demon who'd lived to tell the tale emerged with a missing tail and half of his body covered in boils.

Now these sisters, born of the great sky demon Razerus and his mate Gertry many a time ago, each carved out their names in Makai history as one of those dangerous creatures shrouded in the mystery of the ages; one of the few demons who could call themselves the ultimate S-class.

Too bad they didn't get along, really, because there would be a force to reckon with.

Their vastly differing dispositions rendered them incapable of cooperation, and so the land left to them by their parents was split into four and jealously guarded. None willing to relinquish even a step—their stubbornness rivals yours Yusuke, haha.

Yusuke bops him on the head.

Koenma continues on painfully. The sisters each have a castle within their respective territories. They have their own private forces too, and the spirit world has been hearing bad rumours that each sister is gearing up for war. And it appears the 'Perverted Fish of the North' scroll is just what they need to create a power imbalance which could spark the battle that could rip the Makai apart. Two S-class demons fighting could destroy continents. What of four?

Apart from the retrieval of this scroll—no Yusuke, I'm not telling you what it does, trust me it's for your own good not to know and—I don't care—no, you can't have it—it would be best if Yusuke could somehow help them settle their differences. Tough luck Koenma; Yusuke starts fights, not ends them.

This could be Yusuke's toughest mission yet—after all, the spirit world does not need to piss off four S-class women with terrible temperaments.

"Ohh, so this is why you're sending me—so you guys don't get the blame?"

Uhh…no?

Of course, the sisters themselves don't ever come into contact—out of some twisted desire to 'play a game'.

"Ha—Saw reference!" Yusuke crowed.

"…Err, what Yusuke?"

Instead they send their underlings out to sabotage. This was information hard earned by the spy Koenma had planted in Bluedrey's forces—before this man was sent by the mouse demonness herself to mix super glue in with Sindra's hair gel. He never came back, and a month ago, five years after contact with him was lost, there was a solemn wake held for him by close friends.

"We're not sure if one of these sisters did orchestrate the thieving of 'The Perverted Fish of the North', but one of our contacts in their area informed us that on the night it was taken from our vaults, there was some strange activity near the ocean—his spirit wrist transmitter cut out after that and he hasn't returned as of yet, so we couldn't find out the rest."

Yusuke smirked. "So let me get this straight—you want me—"

"Us," interjected Kuwabara.

"You want us to go in there and get the scroll back for you no questions asked?"

Koenma nodded, inwardly relieved. "Exactly."

Yusuke hits him.

"Hey! What was that for?!"

"YOU JUST WASTED AT LEAST FIVE MINUTES OF OUR—AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MY PRECIOUS TIME TALKING ABOUT CRAP I COULDN'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT. GODDAMMIT KOENMA I TOLD YOU TO GIVE IT TO ME SIMPLE."

The closest portal to the sisters' territories opened at a point in the Black Death Ridge, and naturally this is where the detective and his hanger on were dropped. It was a five day trip to Zangan's home, and on the third, they were joined by Kurama and Hiei. The two demons had gotten exclusive access through Mukuro's private portal, and they emerged from the other side to find themselves on the hill overlooking Nice Lake; neutral ground as it's unclaimed territory. The area was just too open and easy to attack, Kurama commented in passing.

The difference in treatment just isn't fair, Yusuke complains to no avail.

Hiei and Kurama's reason for being here?

"Koenma," Hiei snarled, summing it up for all of them.

The third sister Sinda, as you may recall, was rumoured to be an elemental manipulator of water. Her home bordering the oceans would attest to this fact, and made her all the more dangerous with the vast energy resources of the boundless water to aid her power.

And here they found themselves now.

Going off previous experience, they weren't expecting to be welcomed warmly into her territory. Nor had they harboured any thoughts of sitting down to have tea. And they certainly hadn't planned on engaging in any promiscuous activities.

So how you could really blame them, when the gates of Emerald Station opened to admit all four of them without preamble, when floating Butterlotus descended from the green crystallized ceiling carrying delicate china cups, and what looked to be an entire harem of enchantress demonesses descended on them from the well-lit jade archway to the far left of the giant welcoming chamber like a swarm of colourful butterflies? How could you blame them for lowering their guards for a split second (Yusuke and Kuwabara) or staring around dumbfounded (Yusuke and Kuwabara)? Admittedly, Kurama and Hiei had hid their own shock a little better, but then again, that kind of control comes with centuries of practise, and even they could not stop the slightest dilating of their pupils.

Beyond the large oak doors of this castle that had looked to be made out of entirely white jade from the outside, stepping into Emerald Station Castle was like entering a whole new world. Crystals of all colours of the rainbow seemed to sprout out from all four walls, and the overhead ceiling wore spikes of green gem. The full spectrum spun a psychedelic dream-like atmosphere.

"So is it just me… or do you guys feel drunk as well? Guess this is how mum usually sees the world…"

"I don't drink," Kurama stated calmly. He shook a strand of crimson hair back out of his face, carefully scrutinizing their surroundings even as his eyes began to water from the spinning array of colours.

Hiei snorted. "This place is worse than Genkai's nut-job art house." His hand subtly twitched towards the hilt of his sword as he eyed the various archways around the chamber. "If they aren't coming out to us," he says coldly, ignoring the insistent nudging of the Butterlotus towards him, "I'm not wasting my time waiting for them." Shchink.

"Woah—Hiei, put away your sword man."

"Let's just be patient a little while longer," murmured Kurama with a rose in his hand, rather befitting of the room's décor. "It would be rather rude of us to intrude uninvited."

"Hn. Like we aren't already?" Hiei sheathed his sword anyway, grinning nastily as the harem of women who had emerged enthusiastically now backed away close to the marble mermaid statue at the centre of the chamber, evidently sensing his rising levels of spirit energy and accurately interpreting it to mean 'nothing good'.

"Yes, Hiei, but they did open the door for us and provide entertainment. The masters should be down soon."

Kuwabara twitched on cue, feeling those familiar icy fingers creep up his spine. "They're here," he said lowly.

"Well about time," grumbled Yusuke from behind his empty china cup.

Kuwabara did a double-take. "Err, Urameshi, are you sure that's safe to—"

"It's not poisoned," murmured Kurama. "I checked."

The spinning lights darkened a shade. The Butterlotus began rising.

"We wouldn't want to poison our guests for the evening," came a tinkling, mirth-filled voice as a slender figure emerged from the fourth archway decorated in topaz light streams.

She wore a silver tiara atop curly aqua tresses, and her gold floor-length gown flowed elegantly out behind her as she stepped towards them delicately in those intimidating blue heels. A chain rattled against the floor as she walked, attaching her wrist to what looked to be a strange pink clam the size of a large dog.

The harem of demon women was now disappearing back into the archways, though some lingered there in the shadows just beyond reach of the coloured lights.

"Welcome to my humble abode," the demonness pronounced with a little curtsie. "My name is Sindra." She danced forwards lightly, golden eyes sparkling as they alighted on each of them. She had a soft, whispery voice, Kurama noted. It wasn't bad to listen to.

"We're—"

"I know," she broke in. "Koenma's boys right? Come on in," she said without waiting for an answer. Sindra turned and quietly walked towards the inner sanctums. The pink clam bounced along the ground behind her.

Silently they followed, falling into a defensive formation unconsciously as they proceeded past countless shadowed archways.

Hiei's eyes flickered around rapidly as they entered the last chamber, searching quickly for traps or a set up ambush. Koenma may not want this to blow up, but Hiei had no qualms about citing the 'self-defence' line. And of course, as long as he wasn't killing humans, the spirit world law held no sway…

If that water elemental attacked in this space, Hiei decided quickly, he'd have to use the black dragon. If the girl actually was a water elemental, he glared at the back of her figure indecisively. Kurama's powers would probably be most useful against her. From the way Kurama's eyes flickered towards him briefly as they entered the room, he had not missed this fact either. Her water would power his plants.

Leave it to me, the glance said.

Hn, Hiei thought back.

That would be a yes, Kurama sighed, too used to reading Hiei's silences. So this would be one of those rare times he'd let Kurama take the lead in a fight.

Yusuke and Kuwabara remained oblivious, eyes roving around the intricately designed jade walls in this last chamber. Ivy decorated the entire space, and in the middle of the room was a circular stone table. A cloaked figure sat at one of the matching stone stools next to it.

"And who the hell are you?"

Trust Yusuke to kick off negotiations with a bang. Kurama would have face-palmed if he wasn't used to his ally—friend's, Kurama corrected himself—if he wasn't used to his friend's shenanigans after being through so many life or death situations together. The last few years hadn't changed him at all.

"Who the hell am I?! You little detective runt, I was going to take you apart for putting me last on your visiting list already—did you think I was easier to deal with than my sisters?!" The hood of the figure's cloak fell back to reveal a head full of messy red curls, and green eyes a shade deeper than Kurama's own glared out from beneath those wild locks. "Don't fucking underestimate me," she continued, "I'll make you regret ever being born if you do!"

When she frowned, Kurama noted, the freckles on her face looked like they were converging then exploding outwards like brown fireworks. And just like the other three, she too bore no physical resemblance at all to her siblings. Though, her scent he recognised. Keeping a careful eye on Sindra, who had glided over to stand at the opposite end of the stone table to the cloaked woman, Kurama addressed the riled up female, mustering up all his polite charm.

"Yusuke, I believe this lady here is Roxene." Why was she here? Her gaze flickered to him, eyes narrowed into slits as he continued, "We were on our way to visit you as well, but our traveling route has placed Sinda's home at a closer location, that is all."

Out of the corner of his eye, Kurama saw Sindra considering him carefully. Her lips broke into a small smile at his neutral answer.

"Shut up fox, this is between the mazoku and me."

So they know about Yusuke, Hiei and Kurama both noted silently, stiffening. Roxene shifted a little as she realised she'd given away the fact that she knew exactly who they were.

It was understandable, Kurama supposed. Having a few S-class demons fight their way across the Makai was hardly appealing for spirit world operatives. Thus the low profile and the peaceful negotiations. Provided they were S-class. Kurama was sure Hiei had noticed as well. The two female demons sitting before them now were not emitting a particularly powerful aura.

Their level of threat? Minimal.

And where exactly were their minions?

We should take them out and interrogate them later, said the flicker of Hiei's eyes.

"So where are the real sisters?" Kuwabara's voice cut through Kurama's train of thought.

Hiei sniggered next to him. His red eyes glinted amusedly. The stupid women didn't even fool Kuwabara. How embarrassing.

"These are the real sisters," Hiei snorted. "They're just weak—the rumours did their strength no justice."

There was silence for a moment.

"You little shit I'll kill you!" Roxene reared up, hissing like the wildcat she was as she reached for two jewel encrusted daggers at her side, cloak falling back to reveal a belt full of sharp weaponry.

Her immediate outburst made up for Kuwabara's uproar which he barely held in at Kurama's low murmur.

"Wait, sister," came the ever-so-calm voice of the slim demoness who had now taken a seat. The fabric of her unwieldy dress fell about her, resting gracefully on the ground without a sound. "Please everyone, calm down. I will explain everything."

"What is there to explain," stated Hiei coldly. Kurama noted that he hadn't moved. Good—he was mindful of traps.

"Please take a seat. We know what you're after—"

This caught their attention like nothing else. Smart girl, Kurama approved. Roxene remained half-crouched aggressively, and Hiei stared across at them coolly. Yusuke and Kuwabara were also used to this turn of events, and had each taken up their own stances.

"—It's the same thing we're looking for."

What?

"So in other words… you're saying either the tiger or the mouse has the scroll," Yusuke said slowly, drawling out the words as he looked from one demoness to the other. Confused green and gold stared back.

"No—are we not speaking of the scroll entitled—" she broke off here, a little blush colouring porcelain cheeks as she hid her face a little in aqua locks.

Phew, Yusuke thought. Good thing earlier on he hadn't acted on his initial impulse to ask if the carpet matched the drapes. He patted himself on the shoulder. Dodged a metaphorical bullet there if this was all it took to get her embarrassed. "The Perverted Fish of the North," he stated with a straight face, internally grinning his ass off.

Roxene rolled her eyes seemingly acquiescing, slowly straightening from her crouch, though her hands remained on the dagger handles. Her dark eyes gleamed dangerously beneath quivering red strands as she tossed her hair and shifted.

"Tell us what you know," Kurama offered. "Evidently our stories do not completely match."

Sindra nodded, and after a few seconds lapse she realised they were going to remain standing until her story was finished. She sighed before raising her gaze to look at Kurama, accurately determining him as the de facto leader in these matters.

"Roxene and I—we don't see eye to eye in most matters," she said matter-of-factly. The demon Kurama had identified as a species of feline through scent hissed quietly in agreement. Hiei took a brief moment to appreciate her ferocity. "From what you said—" she turned to Yusuke, "Did the ruler of spirit world not inform you of what… the scroll contains?"

Yusuke glanced over at Kurama whose face was like an impassive mask. "Damn toddler doesn't tell us jack. If you know, then spill."

"Don't be so rude to girls Urameshi," Kuwabara growled out through gritted teeth, having finally reached the limits of his chivalrous endurance.

Yusuke waved him off. The two demonesses looked at the only human in their midst. Contemplatively, curiously, carefully, all at once. Bad move Kuwabara, Kurama thought.

Fluidly, Sindra continued to speak as if Kuwabara's outburst had never occurred. "The spirit world wants this scroll back for good reason. It was created several millennia ago—when none of us had been born yet. I only know this story because my father told it to me when I was young. Back then, a demon was born with a terrifying ability to control the very oceans."

"So they use water? Big deal, Touya could probably kick his ass."

Sindra gave Yusuke a chilling look—suddenly, the room felt a little colder. It seemed she was reaching the ends of her patience with them, and the show of propriety she had put on was crumbling. This was a demon. Roxene began to chuckle.

So they had been hiding their energies—quite expertly to have eluded the Jagan… but then… old rumours aside, the Jagan had caught a flare of violet magic—this Roxene had psychic abilities, Hiei concluded, smirking over at her. She bared her teeth at him, grinning wildly. And she was shielding both their energies from their detection—hence… for some reason, the sisters were allied…

Nothing could be taken at face value anymore.

AN: Guess it's a slow build up, but things will get messy fast. If there's anything specific people want to read, leave it in the review and i'll work it out somehow. Progress of this fic will be posted up on my profile; if you want to know when updates will be out you can check that :) Thanks for reading!