Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

This chapter was finished by getting help from CainToYourAbel. I'm afraid the chapter doesn't end with a cliffhanger but we can't do everything right when we are working on fanfiction so just for this chapter try to not get angry about their not being a cliffhanger.

#

"I don't wanna die!" Dizuki cried.

"Then get your ass in gear and run!" She growled, yanking him harder. Dizuki had just managed to catch her pace when the alarms started to blare.

Keiko turned back to Machiko who had settled on the floor.

"They've been gone for a long time," Keiko mumbled nervously. Machiko gave a reassuring smile.

"In sure they're fine, Keiko."

"It's getting late," Keiko sighed, turning to face the winged demon. "Do you want to sleep down here?"

Machiko glanced pointedly at her cramped up wings.

"I think that'd be best," she replied wryly. Keiko giggled slightly while turning around.

"Stay here a moment, I'll go get some sheets and a blanket for you," Keiko told her before disappearing down the hall. Machiko gave a mock salute after her.

"Will do," she smiled.

Machiko wandered around the living room aimlessly, observing the family photographs that hung on the walls, careful not to knock anything over with her wings. She smiled slightly at the happy faces that stared back at her. Her smile lessened at the thought of Hiei and Yusuke being dragged back into the dangers that came with the job of being spirit detectives. She wiped any signs of distress off her expression when she heard Keiko coming back down the hall. Machiko sweat dropped when she saw her friend.

"Here we go!" Keiko chirped brightly, at least four different blankets drowning her frame as she carried the sheets in her arms.

"Ermm.. What uh.. What'cha doing there Keiko?" Machiko chuckled weakly.

"Oh, these?" Keiko asked. "I wanted to make sure you wouldn't get cold!"

Machiko offered a stained smile, opting not to remind Keiko of the built in heating system that was her fur.

"Ah, gee.. Thanks Keiko.." Machiko said through her teeth.

"It's no problem!" Keiko giggled. "Here, I'll make the couch up for you."

Keiko set the blankets down in an armchair and began fitting the sheets on the couch. Machiko sighed and began to help her, taking one end in her hand and stretching it to fit over the edge. At least, she tried to. When the sheet wouldn't quite stretch far enough, Machiko furrowed her brow and tugged even harder. She huffed in annoyance when the fabric stubbornly resisted, and put her fingers under the corner to work the sheets over the corner. When there were four simultaneous ripping sounds Machiko froze. She stared wide eyed at the shredded sheet caught in her clawed fingers, her face the epitome of surprise. Her eyes darted up to a gaping Keiko. Back to the sheet. Back to Keiko.

"Uh.." Machiko gave a sheepish smile, "sorry?"

"Move your fucking ass!" Karai snapped, jerking Dizuki along faster. Dizuki wheezed from exertion, sweat starting to drip down his face.

"How are you so fast?!" He couldn't help but wonder.

Dizuki leveled her with a flat stare.

"Show-off," he grumbled under his breath. In response, Karai tugged him along harder, nearly making him trip and call flat on his face. He knew that was probably the last thing he wanted to happen since Karai would just leave his ass. The sirens blared around them, making the pair cringe every time the alarm reached its crescendo. They bathed the hallways in red every few seconds, leaving spots dancing in Dizuki's vision, and a throbbing in his head.

Karai snorted.

"They are pretty terrible at their jobs," she hummed.

"That's not what I-"

"Quick, turn here!"

Slam!

Dizuki groaned loudly when he hit the wall with serious force, but Karai was already dragging him away.

"We really gotta work on your endurance, kid," she mumbled under her breath.

" I don't want to hear that now!" Dizuki shouted at her while she was dragging him.

"I'm just saying for future reference. Yeesh, why are you so grouchy?" Karai wondered casually, like they weren't in danger of being killed. Dizuki openly gaped at her.

"Why am I so grouchy?" He repeated breathlessly. "Why am I so grouchy?!"

"Okay, okay," Karai giggled under her breath. "I get it! You're mad!"

"Ya think?!" He shouted at her. He desperately wished he had the balls to smack her upside the head or something, but he really didn't want her to go back on her word about eating him.

"Uh, 'scuse you. You use your inside voice when you talk to Karai, human," she glared.

He was going to use more than his inside voice on her. If he had anything like a wooden sword he would show her how he was as good as she is. His thoughts were cut short when Karai stopped abruptly, and Dizuki slammed into her back. Not that it mattered, because she didn't even stumble from the impact. Dizuki, on the other hand, nearly fell over her and had to catch himself in the process. He let out a low whine when her shoulder connected with his ribcage. He stared helplessly at the tiled floor. It seemed like the only thing that ever happened these days was him getting injured.

"Oh, knock it off, it didn't hurt that bad," Karai snorted. Dizuki chose to glare at her rather than to respond. He pouted internally.

Stupid demon. Stupid old man. Stupid aura powers or whatever the hell they're called.

Things looked like they weren't going to be okay anytime soon. He expected the next thing to happen was it was going to get cold in this palace and he would get cold. He was almost hoping for it because Karai had the hands of a steam pipe.

Dizuki stopped his inner ramblings when Karai turned to him with a serious expression. For a terrifying moment, he thought she could hear his thoughts. Demons could do that, right?

"No matter what happens," she warned in a low voice, "don't say anything, okay? Let me do ask the talking."

Dizuki stared at her with wide eyes. What the hell did she mean by that? She wasn't going to confront the ones chasing them was she? Karai gave a half-smile and pinched his cheek in mock affection.

"You just stand there and look all cute in that frail, weak human way you do," she cooed.

"You think I'm cute?" His cheeks warmed up.

"That is the one thing you'd pick out of that conversation, isn't it? You're quite the little narcissist, aren't you?" she snickered.

"W-wait, it isn't like that!" He tried to defend himself. It seemed like all he ever did around her was defend himself.

"Just shut up. I meant what I said, okay?" She was frowning now while staring hard at the door. Dizuki shifted uneasily and nodded in hesitation. Karai glanced at him from the corner of her eye. When she saw his nervous demeanor her lips twitched. "Don't you worry. Nothing's gonna happen."

And with that she threw open the doors.

Dizuki found there were no ogres behind this door. For some strange reason there was a baby sitting at a desk. Dizuki wasn't sure if the person sitting down was a baby but there was a pacifier in its mouth. Was this the right door?

Dizuki rubbed at his eyes on disbelief. Nope, that was definitely a baby.

His gaze wandered over to the other two occupants in the room, one looking surprised, and the other, who he noticed bore a strong resemblance to Karai, was looking tense, his hand resting on.. Holy shit. Is that a sword?!

While Dizuki was busy gaping at the rooms inhabitants, Karai strolled in casually, seemingly unfazed by toddler in a large puffy blue hat.

"Honeyyyy," she all but sang, "I'm hoooomeee!"

#

A dark figure perched itself in a tree across the street from Urameshi household, the night morphing around him, almost as if bending to his will. Even the shadows seemed to cower in fear from his presence. He observed the quaint house with disdain. How could one ever choose this life over the Makai? He all but snorted when he caught sight of the winged bitch with the fur putting sheets onto the tiny couch. Was she supposed to be their protection? Pathetic. He'd already almost killed her once. His lips curled into a smile at the thought the great spirit detective and his lacky coming home to find their families dead.

He even imagined it. Dumb spirit detective would come home probably thinking " Nothing like a wife's homemade meal to help me get through a dad" and then he would see her dead. The face would be left alone but the rest of her body would be punctured and ripped open.

And the agony of the former Jagan wielder. Takeo breathed in deeply through his nose as if he could smell the blood. It would be glorious. A crazed grin twisted his lips, morphing his face into something from a horror movie, as he thought of the children. He would eat them, and then hang their bones from the ceiling fan, displaying them proudly for their failure of a father to see.

Takeo watched as the two women bid each other good night, the brown haired human flipping the light switch on her way out of the room. He snickered in amusement as the demon woman tried futilely to find a comfortable position on the lumpy couch that wouldn't strain her large wings. She huffed and sat up in frustration, scowling heavily at the many blankets the tiny human had draped over her. These were the women that two of the demon realms most powerful fighters had chosen for mates? How utterly disappointing.

Takeo felt his lip curl up into a sneer when the demon bitch stood up stiffly to approach the picture window that gave a lovely view of the living room. Her eyes searched the darkness sharply, scanning the treelines for anything out of the ordinary, senses spread out across the landscape. He tensed when her gaze landed on the tree he was using as camouflage, preparing himself to strike her down in an instant if need be. After her eyes lingered warily on his tree for another moment, she finally looked away, continuing her silent vigil. He felt his muscles relax again.

The woman seemed satisfied at whatever she she saw, or didn't see, and moved back onto the couch to try her hand at sleeping once more. Takeo smirked. It was just a waiting game now.

Yusuke stared in shocked silence at the mystery pair that had dared to barge into Koenma's office. Didn't they know that only he was allowed to do that? The girl bore a strong resemblance to his short friend. He couldn't help but notice Koenma's nervous fidgeting as the toddler shifted in his chair uneasily. Yusuke couldn't help it.

"Who the fuck are you?" He blurted out.

"Who the fuck am I?" Dizuki frowned in offense. "Who the fuck are you?"

Karai snorted at his oh-so-articulated response before patting him him on the shoulder.

"Hush, sweetheart. The grown ups need to have a discussion," her eyes found Koenma, and she smirked, "although, I suppose that's a poor euphemism, wouldn't you agree, Baby-Face?"

Koenma's cheeks turned red in anger from her not-so-subtle jab.

"You-"

"No, seriously!" Yusuke interrupted impatiently. "Who the hell are you people?!"

Dizuki had to be the first one to introduce himself because Karai talking to anyone was never going to happen.

" My name is Dizuki. I was just an ordinary guy a few days ago until this demon showed up in my room. She brought me here not me but if you hurt her...I don't know why but I will destroy you."

Karai's eyes widened and they flew over to gaze at the hard edged expression Dizuki was wearing. Was he insane?! He couldn't just come waltzing up into the ruler of Spirit World's palace, and then make threats at two of the strongest fighters known in all three realms! Hadn't he been listening at all when she told him to let her do the talking?! She wanted to smack her hand against her forehead in secondhand embarrassment. Still..She bit back the smile that threatened to creep onto her face from his earlier threat.

"If you hurt her.. I will destroy you."

The little dork.

"Oh?" Hiei spoke up for the first time since they'd barged in. "Will you now?"

He took a threatening step forward, making Karai tense up.

"And just how do you plan on accomplishing that," his eyes flashed dangerously, "boy?"

"By lifting up my foot to crush your ass, short stop!" He mocked with a smirk. Karai and Koenma gaped while Yusuke guffawed. Hiei, on the other hand, did not share their speechlessness.

"Big words coming from a nobody," he growled, "maybe I should cut your tongue out to keep you from making any more idle threats."

"I'd like to see you try!" Dizuki stepped forward confidently. Karai glanced between the two nervously. Maybe this was a bad idea.. No, scratch that, the entire plan had been a terrible idea. Though, to be fair, she never could've predicted this. Where was the adorable, whiny little puppy of a boy she'd been forced to endure spending the majority of her evening with?

"With pleasure!" Hiei scowled, taking another step forward. Karai cringed. And now they were going to freaking die. All because this punk ass had to go and grow a pair.

"That's enough Hiei!" Koenma's voice rang out clearly in the tense atmosphere of the crowded office.

Karai edged between the two with a smarmy smile in place.

"Ease it up there, buddy. No need to cause a scene. It might make his highness clutch his pearls," she remarked dryly, glancing at the flat faced toddler. Hiei scoffed at her horrible attempt to diffuse the situation. When a calming hand was placed upon his shoulder, Hiei nearly chopped it off out of reflex. He glared down at the hand, his eyes wandering up the length of the arm to find its owner staring at him intently.

"Yeah, Hiei. We could at least hear why they decided to storm the castle," Yusuke said carefully, shooting pointed looks in the intruder's directions. Hiei wondered again just how the hell he'd managed to find his way back in this position. Miles away from home with this moron pinned to his side, asking him not to kill somebody. Again.

"Tch," Hiei shrugged the hand off, "whatever."

Hiei still cared about the situation but he wasn't going to deal with Mr. Spirit Detective now without the urge to slice their hearts out.

"Well, that was awkward introduction," Yusuke grinned before directing his attention to the only girl in the room, "and just who are you?"

Karai gave Hiei a cursory glance before turning to face the former spirit detective.

"Karai," she smirked. "Just call me Karai."

"Well, Karai," Yusuke drawled, "mind explaining this situation?"

Karai opened her mouth to reply, but was cut off by a loud shrieking voice.

"You can't be in there!"

Ah, hell.

Karai made a face. Seems their blue haired buddy had finally caught up to them. Karai turned halfway, not willing to put her back to the strangers before her, Dizuki following her example. She snickered at the appearance of one very ruffled looking grim reaper.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Koenma!" She cried in an out of breath manner. "I tried to stop them from entering!"

" Yeah...a blue haired grim reaper was really going to stop us," Karai laughed at Boton.

"Excuse you!" Botan puffed up. "I am a highly trained grim reaper! I knew exactly how to stop you!"

Dizuki and Karai exchanged skeptical looks.

"Then...how did..we get past you?" Dizuki asked slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. Botan flinched and faltered, deflating as her cheeks turned pink.

"Like I said," Karai snorted, "because she couldn't stop us."

"Just who do you think you are?" Botan demanded.

"Didn't we just do this?" Karai groaned. Dizuki nudged her in the side.

"I'm Dizuki, and this is my..demon, Karai," he introduced the two again.

"Demon?" Karai asked, affronted.

"That's what you are!" Dizuki defended.

"You didn't have to phrase it like that!"

"Well, I'd call you my friend, but I feel like you'd make fun of me for it," he said dryly. Karai considered this.

"Fair point," she shrugged.

"Enough!" Koenma declared. "Tell us what you're doing here!"

"I know something you don't knowww," she sang tauntingly, making the toddler shaped ruler's eye twitch.

"What do you know? And why did you bring this boy here? You know that bringing normal humans here is forbidden!" He growled around his pacifier. Karai seemed totally unfazed by his agitation, waving him away dismissively like one would a fly.

"Rules, rules, rules. All you people care about is rules," she sighed dramatically.

"He asked you a question, girl," Hiei snapped. Her eyes darted over to the third shortest person in the room, a sneer on her face.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't talking to you, Mr. I'm overcompensating," she crossed her arms.