Disclaimer: I don't own IY or YYH.

Hell Hath No Fury

Chapter 2:

Kwabara lead his teammates into the college at quarter to seven; classes technically started at eight but he knew Professor Taisho would be grading papers. She was always there early. Sure enough; as they neared her classroom, he could hear the up lifting and energizing violin music the Professor always listened to. Cautiously, he knocked on the Professors open door. Blue-grey eyes met his over a pair of cats-eye glasses.

"Mr. Kwabara," she said, smiling at her student, "What a pleasant surprise…. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Behind him he heard Yusuke suck in a breath as they actually caught sight of the Professor of Mythological Studies. He knew what they were thinking; probably the same thing he had his first year there.

Wow.

Professor Taisho wasn't particularly tall for a woman; just a few inches taller than Hiei really. However, she had curves in all of the right places and her presence was simply... magnetic. Long black hair hung down her back in a thick braid, it was streaked with white, almost like it was intentional rather than from age. She smiled easily and often; the laugh lines around her eyes giving testament to her life of laughter.

Today the Professor was dressed in a simple black jacket that went to her elbows, a royal blue under shirt and black slacks. Her heels clicked against the floor as she stood to greet Kwabara and his friends.

"My friends and I need some help," he said, "I thought you might be the best one to give us some assistance."

Taisho regarded her ginger-haired student and smiled; "Of course, Mr. Kwabara, please… you and your friends have a seat and tell me what I can help you with."

Only one out of the group noticed the way the Professors eyes sharpened as the three demons moved into the room. Hiei regarded the woman silently; something was off about her. For a moment her eyes met his analytical gaze; suddenly blue-grey flashed to a pale crystalline blue and the wrinkles smoothed out. The hair remained streaked with white; but the face itself was young. Then just as suddenly; the vision was gone and the Professor was grinning at him with a wicked light in her grey-blue orbs.

Taisho tapped her carefully concealed claw against the desk as she listened to the youths in front of her; she listened to both what they were saying…and what they weren't.

The youths were desperately trying to find a way to give her all the information without making her think that they were hunting a demon. How adorable. She hadn't survived for the last five centuries without being able to read between the lines.

Question now came to WHY were they, of all people, hunting for a demon? The three demons she could understand; even if two of the three felt bizarre even for those of the demonic species. It was almost like they were mix breeds… or least one of them. The other… he felt so similar to Shippo… just older. The shortest of the three… now he was an interesting one. She'd have to be on guard around him, else he would see through her carefully wrought disguise. Strange energy twisted and flared around him in a steady swirl; even while he seemed to give off no outward sign of an aura. Still, she could easily see the four opposing energies within him; a facinating dance of dominance held together by sheer strength of will. She would definatly need to be cautious around that one. Already he had somehow managed to pierce the veil around her and for just a moment; saw her true self… now he studied her intently. Trying to figure out what he saw no doubt.

"So…you're looking for types of reptilian mythological creatures then?" she said, raising an inquisitive brow, "that were known for preying on young human men?"

"Uh….yes?" Kwabara said, obviously suddenly realizing how ridiculous his request sounded even with all of the so called 'explanations'.

"Hm," she said, resuming tapping her claws on the desk. His request would certainly explain why she had been sensing demon activity within the city. Obviously someone was keeping it very hush hush since she hadn't seen anything on the news about the disappearances.

"Well, there are dozens of creatures over a vast range of cultures that fit that description, Mr. Kwabara," she said, "Dragons, serpents, snake people, crocodiles, nagas, hydras, gorgons…. The list goes on and on."

"Here in Japan alone we have the Kiyohime," she continued, counting off a few of the names she could think of off hand, "which was a woman who turned into a giant serpent out of rage, than there is the Nure-onna…which is a snake-like creature with the head of a woman, then there's the Tsuchinoko monster….the list just goes on and on. And that's just in Japanese folklore. You add in other cultures…"

"Yea we get the point…" the one called Yusuke muttered, running his hand through his hair.

"Just a thought," she said, "Have you considered that you're wrong? That it's not reptilian? There are just as many spirits renown for preying on young men. Succubus are a prime example."

"How so?" the red-haired Kurama asked.

"Succubus?" Yusuke asked.

"Succubi are female demons who feed off the sexual energy of men. Normally until the man has literally no more energy to give and dies."

"Wait...wait…" Yusuke said, waving his hands in front of his face, "You're saying that these demons basically fuck a man to death?"

"YUSUKE!"

"URAMESHI!"

Taisho grinned at the blunt young man; "If you want to put it crassly…than…yes…"

Yusuke grinned a lecherous grin that was so reminiscent of a certain cerulean eyed monk; that she felt her heart clench painfully.

"Now that's the way to go," Yusuke stated, then glancing at his teammates, "Screw dying in a fight, hook me up with a gorgeous succubus and I'll go on to Hell with a smile on my face."

She shook her head even as the red-head dropped his head into his hands and tried to massage his temples. Judging by the long suffering look on the older youths face; this was apparently, not uncommon behavior.

They talked for a while longer; bouncing ideas back and forth about various creatures that were known for abducting humans. All the while a part of her mind analyzed the four young men in front of her. They were young to be demon hunters. Not even into their mid-twenties yet; even the dark, stoic demon was fairly young as far as demons go. He was only a couple centuries old if she had a guess. The red-head… his spirit was old, but the human form her took was still young… She mentally shook her head; who in their right mind would send a bunch of kids out to hunt demons in this era?

"Well, thank you very much for your assistant, Professor," Kurama said, standing up and giving her a bow. She smiled at them;

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help," she said, "if you find anything else out, feel free to come back."

"We will," Yusuke said; as they all filed out the door.

They had barely stepped foot into the hallway when the communicator went off.

Yusuke flipped open the device and greeted Boton; "What's up Boton?"

"Koenma was wanting a progress report," Boton said, "Did the Professor give you any leads?"

"Too many in fact…." Yusuke said. Hiei stopped listening as he felt someone watching him. He slowly searched the empty hall.

There….

Just a flicker of movement in the shadows… he stared intently at the shadowed doorway. Nothing moved… nothing so much as twitched.

Suddenly from behind a trash can there was a flicker of movement. A tiny whiskered nose edged along the base of the can. Hiei snorted. A mouse… pathetic.

Taisho watched from her door as the group paused down the hall to speak with a blue haired woman on some sort of phone-link device. She felt her blood start a slow boil at the familiar blue hair and pale pink eyes. The Reiki Reaper…

She smiled, viciously, baring her fangs as excitement and the age old rage burned in her stomach. As the group turned the corner and there was the familiar flash of power of a portal being opened; Taisho's eyes slide to the dark doorway the short dark haired demon had been studying.

"That was close," she said, "Nice touch with the mouse…"

A tall ginger haired man stepped casually from the shadows. He looked like an average college student dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. His forest green eyes, only a shade or two darker than Kwabara's red-headed friend's emerald orbs, grinned at her.

"Thanks," he said coming to stand next to the dark haired woman; he towed over her petite frame. "You look positively vicious…"

She smiled up at her oldest and dearest friend; easily able to see through his disguise to the mischievous kitsune beneath, "It looks like the Fates have smiled on us," she said and laughed. How perfect was it that the young men who needed her expertise to hunt a demon were actually working for the bastard Reiki prince that had fucked up all of her life plans? She couldn't have planned it better if she had tried.

"It's time to go hunting," she purred, giving him a toothy grin.

"The prey?" he asked.

"We're going to help those poor young men, find their demon," she said sweetly. "They will be our ticket to that bastard Koenma…"

A predatory smile curled the young man's lips, "and into Reiki…"

She shared a feral grin with her son, "Then we can take back what was ours."

"Contact the others…" she said, turning back towards her desk, "Let them know that plans have changed. This will have to be done carefully. The short one, Hiei, is already suspicious. I want everything you can dig up about those four. EVERYTHING. "

She sat back down and went back to grading papers. The young man turned to leave;

"Oh, and Shippo?" She called, he turned back, "Do be careful dear…"

He gave her a grin, "Of course, Mother." He sauntered out of the room with a wave… then disappeared into the shadows.

Ok... I know this is horribly short. But I wanted to post something before I left work and anything that came after this was enough of a plot jump that it... just seemed to need it's own chapter. So hopefully by the time I get back to work on Saturday I'll have some more for you.

I hope you enjoyed! Please review!