Charm in War

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho albeit I do own Hatsune, Kuraiya, Rahvanna, the entire Maiyugubi and Nittanuya clans and whatever else isn't YYH related.

Summary: Sequel to Sweetheart and Enemy. While training and taking the time to discover her true origins, Hatsune encounters the reason for turmoil in the Makai. KuramaxOCxYusuke

Chapter Three: Fallen Lines

She looked back down at the cloak. What he said was true, but for some reason she couldn't place it at the moment. She hadn't completed reading the entire book, so she was left in the dark for the moment. She though back to the style of government and tried to think of the Council of Four and its Leaders. Mamoru held the leaf, Roka possessed the water and Kishio contained the flame… Raida controlled the weather and, if provoked or threatened, she would send shocks to her enemies.

"Take the cloth with you back to the demon reign and think about it. Tatsuza will be back in one week for your answer," Mamoru said to her.

Hatsune nodded and as she stood she felt a mild dissociation with her body as she randomly transported back to Tourin. Her ungraceful landing did not surprise her as she met the ground. Brushing herself and the cloak off, she walked into the large and plain exterior building. Immediately, annoying yells assaulted her ears. She knew who it was, but not just what it was about.

She walked back into the room where she vanished from and Yusuke was yelling at the screen. It was Koenma and he appeared to be giving Yusuke a verbal beating. Kuwabara was in the background with Botan working on a few things and adding to the noise that Koenma was creating.

"Miss me?" Hatsune said as she announced herself.

Yusuke whipped around and Hokushin merely looked up. Neither seemed too excited about her entrance. Koenma was more at peace, but he continued to assault Yusuke about 'losing' her and all that stuff.

"I'm fine; thanks for asking. I'll be elsewhere if you need me," Hatsune said plainly as she left the out of control room and sought refuge in her own.

As soon as she got in, she closed the door and plopped onto her bed. She looked at the cloak and held it up to her. Walking to the mirror, she imagined herself in it- what it would be like to train and thus accept the responsibility of her powers and whatever else she didn't know about. She didn't recognize the person she saw in the mirror. The cloak made her ambiguous and very unknown. For curiosity, she threw it on and from head to toe; she was dressed in black, the little thunder bolt dangling from the one side. Adjusting the veil, she was still able to see everything around her, but she had the feeling that no one could see in- her face was shielded, unreadable.

"My God," she whispered.

"Yeah, what about him?" said a rather familiar voice she'd grown to know oh so well.

She turned around to see Yusuke with the lingering effects of being pissed at Koenma on his face. Undoing the veil, she pulled the hood back and just stared at him.

"If you're here to lecture me, don't. I have a feeling you suck at things like that."

"Yeah, you're probably right about sucking at lectures. But, I'm not here for that." He paused and shifted about. "I just got told by diaper lad that whatever those hooded weirdoes want from you or want you for that you should go with 'em."

Somewhat shocked at the information she received, she tilted her head to the side slightly. After blinking a few times, she removed the black ensemble completely and tossed it to the bed.

"And what else?" she asked him sternly.

"Huh?"

"You're still here. Something else I need to know?"

Yusuke didn't say anything.

Hatsune smiled and held back obvious giggles.

"What the hell's so funny?"

"It's cute that you care."

His jaw dropped and Yusuke immediately flew to the defensive side of things. He jumped forward and looked down, meeting her eyes.

"I didn't say that!"

"You don't have to. I know you're gonna miss me since you've grown attached to me and all. That's what we girls call cute." Her smile still shined through as Yusuke's frustration grew. He flung his arms up in mock surrender and he left the room.

"Guess I don't need a week for my decision…" she told herself. She gathered a few things that she wanted to bring and prepped for a nice, long bath. She didn't figure she would get too many of those in the land of the Maiyugubi.

Post-shower and fully dressed, she threw her things into a bag, just incase someone happened to show up early. Lazily walking over to her bed, she fell back into it and sighed. She wasn't thrilled at the idea of going off to Mage Land for an unmentioned amount of time. On top of that, Koenma was encouraging- no, demanding that she go. She hoped it was for the purpose of the alliances. Sinking deeper into thought, she began to drift into sleep as her door was flung open and hit the wall with a potent thud. She bolted up and looked over. Yusuke was standing at the door.

"Conference time. Move it."

He left and she bolted after him since she knew he wasn't in a good mood since the 'cute' incident occurred not even an hour ago. Both walked into the room full of people at the same time and resumed normal seats. Hatsune gazed upon the advisory council of Lord Yomi.

"A bit forward aren't they?" she asked herself.

"Let's get this over with, Yomi," Yusuke announced gruffly. His bitter mood was forward and apparent to the entire crowd of people.

"Don't be so rash, Yusuke," Yomi began. His posture was forward and stable, his demeanor calm, collected, hidden from all. His council reflected the same feel though Kurama's facial expression was more stoic than the others who had a small glint of amusement playing on their lips.

Yusuke tapped the table impatiently as he waited for Yomi to announce his sudden arrival in Tourin.

"Our meeting was cut short and I and my council still have some questions that require answers," he revealed.

"Well hurry it up 'cause I got better things to be doin' right now!"

Hatsune looked at him with an expression of disapproval but made a smart comment none-the-less.

"You mean crying in your room right?"

Author's Note: Sorry this update took a while and sorry that it's not any longer than what it is, but I'm waiting for my clothes to dry and they're about done, sooooo yeah. Anyway, R&R, suggestions or constructive criticism would be appreciated. Don't ruin my day- it's still a happy day since I haven't gone to sleep yet. I made my school's marching band, woo hoo!