Don't own anything except for my OCS.

Bring!

Maiko sighed in relief as she heard the bell ring signaling that the last class of the day was over. She stood up from her chair and placed everything on her desk to her briefcase. She looked at the clock and groaned as she noticed that she might be running late if she was going to meet her friends at the arcade.

'They're going to kill me if I'm late,' she thought as she stuffed her last notebook in her briefcase.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard a timid voice call out her name. Maiko turned around on her heel and faced a familiar brown haired girl wearing the same school uniform as her.

"What is it Keiko?" Maiko asked as she noticed the nervous look in her eyes.

"Well, I was wondering about something," Keiko began. "I had a dream about Yusuke. He said that he'll be coming back is that true."

"To me, yes," she answered with a small smile. "I believe that he will."

Without looking at Keiko's face, Maiko turned around and ran out the door. Keiko looked at Yusuke's sister running figure as she thought about what she heard.

"But will he really?" she mumbled to herself.

Maiko quickly rushed through the cloud of people hoping to get to the arcade on time. She was too concerned of not running over people that she didn't notice her brother's spirit floating behind her. Right as the walking sign above her turned to a red hand, was when Yusuke decided to make his appearance.

"HEY, SIS!" he yelled right in her ear.

Maiko screamed and jumped in the air in surprise. People stared at Maiko with worried looks as she started to gasp for breathe. Maiko noticed people staring at her and also noticed the sign showed that she could cross. Quickly, Maiko regain her breathing and ran across the street.

"Don't do that," hissed Maiko quietly, not wanting any more people thinking she was crazy. "Couldn't you warn me?"

"Now, where's the fun in that," he laughed, floating Indian style next to her.

"Maiko is right, Yusuke," said the cheery voice of Botan.

Yusuke just stuck his tongue out at the ferry girl, making his sister laugh quietly at his antics. Maiko continued to walking as she listened to her brother ranting about being a ghost.

"Oh by the way," she interrupted her brother's rant. "Did you happen to visit Keiko last night? Maybe you visited her in her dreams?"

Yusuke stared at his twin with a hint of a blush on his cheeks. "How did you know?" he asked in amazement.

"She told me," Maiko said with a smirk.

Yusuke turned his head away from her, trying to hide his blush. Maiko laughed quietly with Botan as they both notice his embarrassment.

"Wow, are you stalking her now?" she teased, having fun messing with her brother. "That's kind of creepy. Going into her dreams like that."

"I was just trying to tell her that I was coming back," he cried back making the two girls laugh more.

"So you do care."

"Shut up!" he snapped.

"Okay, fine I'll stop," giggled Maiko as she turned a corner, almost to her destination. "But I don't think that she really believes it. I think you should tell her again."

Yusuke floated silently as Maiko continued to walk. "But how?" he asked as he looked at her confused.

"How the hell am I suppose to know," Maiko sighed. "Ask the grim reaper."

"Well, you can," replied Botan as she floated beside her on her oar. "It's to be only for last resort. I can let you take over a body for an hour, but it has to be someone you know that has high spiritual awareness."

Yusuke immediately looked at his sister, with hope in his eyes.

"No."

"Come on, please," Yusuke begged floating in front of her, making Maiko stop.

"I'm not going to let my perverted brother in my body. Do you know how disgusting that will be," Maiko said with a gross look covering her face.

Before the two siblings can continue to argue, Botan quickly interrupted. "Actually Yusuke, you can only fuse with someone the same gender as you." (Don't really know if that's true or not. Probably not.)

"Thank you, Botan," Maiko said, happy that her brother won't try to take over her body.

"Then who?" he asked Botan.

"Why not, Kuwabara?" suggested Maiko, earning a confused look from Yusuke. "I remember one time I went to the arcade. Kuwabara was there and he challenged me to this fighting game. Right when we were in the middle of it, he stopped letting me win. I asked him what was wrong and he said something about a 'tickle' feeling. I remember he noticed my confused look and told me whenever he felt something supernatural he would get this feeling."

"He might work," said Botan, when Maiko finished her explanation.

"WHAT!?" cried Yusuke, clearly upset about this. "I'M NOT GOING INTO HIS BODY!"

"You might have to," said Botan slyly. "That is unless you want Keiko to forget about you."

Yusuke got quiet making the two girl laugh.

"Nice one, Botan," Maiko said with a wink.

"Thank you," she said then turned back to Yusuke and grabbed his wrist. "Well, come on. We have to go fine him."

Botan said a quick goodbye and flew away with a scream Yusuke in tow. Maiko gave a small wave and continued on her way to the arcade.

Maiko entered the arcade and looked around, hoping that her friends weren't here, yet. So far, there was no sight of them. She released the breath she was holding and made her way to the fighting games.

'They yell at me when I'm late, yet they aren't even here,' she ranted in her head.

"Maiko!" a female voice called.

Maiko turned toward the voice which was next to one of the games. A smile formed on her lips as she caught sight of a familiar shoulder length blonde hair girl her age.

"Kisa," Maiko cried as she made her way to the blonde. "Where's everyone else?"

"Kenji and Juro are held up with kendo practice," Kisa answered with a sigh.

"What about Kaori?"

"Family."

Maiko nodded understanding how important family was to Kaori. It's the same for her. 'Wonder what happened this time?'

"Is she at the hospital, again?" Maiko asked.

"Yeah, her cousin got hurt."

"I'll go see her," Maiko decided as she turned to head back toward the entrance.

"I'll wait for the boys to get here," Kisa called to her.

Maiko waved behind her and quickly exited the arcade and started walking toward the hospital.

'I hope she's okay.'

"Maiko, thanks for coming," said a brunette girl as she engulfed her friend in a hug.

Maiko hugged Kaori back. When they let go she caught a glimpse of a boy sleeping in the hospital bed. He had the same color of hair as her Kaori and his left arm was in a cast.

"How is he?" she asked as she walked toward the sleeping boy.

"Fine," Kaori answered. "He broke his arm while riding his bike. He tried to do a trick that he saw on a show. He should've known not to do anything reckless."

"He's only seven," Maiko soothed. "He's allowed to make mistakes now and then. That's how he'll learn not to do that again."

"I know," the brunette sighed. "It's just that Kano really scared me."

'Poor Kaori, I can understand how she feels. I mean my brother is dead but at least he's going to come back,' Maiko thought as she looked at her friend who was now sitting at the edge of Kano's bed.

"How about I get you something from the cafeteria," she suggested.

"Yeah, I'll have a soda."

Maiko nodded and left the room and headed toward the elevators. She noticed an elevator that was about to close and quickly ran toward it.

"Hey, please hold the elevator!" she called as she noticed someone with red hair in the elevator.

Maiko sighed in relief as she noticed the elevator's door opening again. She quickly rushed in and leaned against the metal wall to catch her breath. She looked up to face the person who held the door open for her.

"Thank you," she smiled warmly at him. "It would have taken forever for another one to come."

"You're welcome," a red haired teenager her age replied with small smile.

"So what's your name?" Maiko asked curious.

"Shuichi Minamino."

"Well, thank you again, Shuichi."

Shuichi nodded with a smile on his lips. "What floor are you headed to?" he asked her.

"Oh, the first floor," she answered. "I need to go the cafeteria for my friend."

"Why?"

"Her little cousin has broken his arm so she's staying here. I came here to make sure that she and her cousin are alright. I know how it is to be worried about a family member."

"Really?" he asked as the elevator moved down. "Why is that?"

"Let's just say my twin brother is gone and won't come back for some time," Maiko said with her downcast. "He's making both me and mom worried."

"I'm sure he'll be back soon," he comforted.

"I hope," she mumbled not knowing that Shuichi heard.

The elevator arrived at the first floor and opened. Shuichi and Maiko left and both headed toward the cafeteria.

"So why are you here?" she asked as they rounded a corner and arrived at their destination.

"My mother," he replied as he grabbed an apple and a bottle of water. "She's sick."

"I'm sorry," Maiko said as she grabbed a soda and waited in line beside Shuichi.

"You have nothing to be sorry about. It's not your fault."

Maiko paid for the soda and waited as Shuichi paid for his things. "You must be very worried for your mother."

Shuichi smiled and nodded as he and Maiko made their way back.

"Looks like this is where we part," Shuichi said as they exited the elevator.

"Yeah," agreed Maiko as she gave him a small smile. "I'm sure that your mother will be fine. All you need is faith."

With that said Maiko waved goodbye and hurried back toward her friend. Shuichi stood there a moment then a smile formed on his lips.

"What a strange girl," he said to himself, "but she is very kindhearted."

I am so sorry that this took so long. I had finals to study for and family from New York decided to drop in and stay a bit. I hope you liked this chapter. Please review!