NOTE: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of the characters in this story except for Riku, Ms. Shinomori, and Chiyo. If I did, I would be putting this story in the anime/manga, not on here, no?

I awoke groggily to someone knocking on my door. "Go away," I groaned.

They knocked again. "Riku, you need to get up," they said.

"Go away, Mom. I'll get up in a minute."

I heard the door open and felt someone shake my shoulder gently. "Riku, it's Shuichi. You need to get up now."

My eyes shot open. "Shuichi! What are you doing in-" I suddenly remembered where I was. "…your room. Never-mind; I'm getting up."

Shuichi smiled at my morning disoriented-ness.

"My mother washed your clothes," he said, handing me my school uniform.

"Oh; tell her I said thank you." I took the clothes he offered me and asked if I could take a shower.

He nodded and showed me the way to the restroom, pointing out where everything was that I might need. Then he left me alone to shower.

Fifteen minutes later I came out of the shower, refreshed and awake. How are we on time?" I asked Shuichi.

"We have more than enough time," he assured me.

Once we were both dressed and ready we stepped outside into the early morning air. I stopped short in the doorway. "Shuichi?"

"Yes?"

"It's still dark outside."

"I know," he replied calmly.

"School doesn't start until eight."

"I know," he said again.

"What time do you get to school!" I asked, amazed.

"Who said we were going straight to school?" he countered, smiling with the satisfaction of knowing something that I didn't. He turned and began to walk away without another word.

Confused, I followed him down the road and into a wooded park. Once we were fairly far into the woods, he turned to me. "You said you didn't understand your inhumanity, and that you didn't quite know the extent of your powers, am I correct?" he inquired.

I nodded, finally aware of what we were doing.

Shuichi took a deep breath and began to explain. "In reality, there are three worlds, not just this one: the Ningenkai, the Makai, and the Reikai. The Ningenkai consists of Humans, the Reikai of Spirits and such, and the Makai of Demons. We are now, obviously, in the Ningenkai, although, as you have already pointed out, we are anything but Humans. Can you guess what we are?"

I thought a moment, but came up with a blank; I'm not good at guessing games. "Well, you've already confirmed that we're not Human, I know I'm not dead, and I'm fairly sure that I'm not a Demon. I concede; what are we?"

He replied by asking me another question. "What do you think of when you think of Demons?"

I thought a moment before answering. "I think of Fallen Angels. I think of Spirits that attack our souls in a savage attempt to destroy us and bring us down to Hell with them," I finally responded.

Shuichi smiled slightly; a sad smile. "We are speaking of two separate species. The Demons you see are the spiritual Demons, demons that are not physical. We are only their namesake."

I stared at him, reality starting to sink in. "You mean to say that we are Demons?" I asked softly. At his nod, I continued. "There must be some resemblance between the two species, or we wouldn't share a name," I commented.

"There are some resemblances: Many are hideous, like Humans picture Demons to be; Many are ill-mannered and cruel, lacking in intelligence; Many are thieves, murderers, and liars. It's not too difficult to see how Humans began to call us Demons."

"The description you gave me is no different from that of Humans," I noted.

"True; Demons are just more open about there sins. But not all Demons are evil. Some, like us, are clever, honest, kind, and well-mannered. We are not liars or tyrants," he looked directly into my eyes as he spoke, leaving no doubt about the truth of his words in my mind.

I didn't notice until much later that he said nothing about us not being murderers or thieves.