George the Ogre was concerned. His boss, Prince Koenma of the Spirit World, had obviously taken ill. Koenma had been completely out of it since he had returned from his emergency trip to the human world. Constantly releasing wistful sighs, a glazed look in the eye, and he looked flushed all the time now. Even now, as they were waiting for an audience with King Yama to discuss Koenma's disobedience in going to see Yusuke, the Spirit Prince was staring off into space with a very strange smile.

He must have caught some strange sickness in the human world, George pondered, secretly hoping what Koenma had contracted was not contagious. Little did he know, Koenma had caught a bug of some sort. The love bug.

The spirit prince had spent the last two days consumed with thoughts of Kari. Even though he had only seen her for a moment, he had been overcome with just how breathtaking she was. Her slender form had oozed grace and beauty. Those big green eyes in that pale face, framed by those luscious black curls. Koenma was still giggling to himself, fantasizing about the lovely Kari batting her lashes at him flirtatiously before leaning into him for a kiss, when Ayame came to usher him inside his father's dismal throne room.

George crawled in on his belly, staying low to the ground to appear insignificant and subservient. Koenma waltzed in on his toddler legs and made a small, hasty bow. Very unlike how he usually addressed his father.

"Hi, Dad," he sighed, still lost in his daydream. King Yama frowned from his throne.

"You seem awfully at ease concerning why you are here, my son," King Yama's voice boomed in the tiny room. Koenma didn't even jump.

"Yes, dad. I know what I did was wrong but...it was a very fortuitous escapade to the human world." Koenma chirped with stars in his eyes. King Yama furrowed his brow.

"Warning that boy, your ex-spirit detective, about matters that do not concern us was 'fortuitous'?" Koenma blushed and let out a small giggle, which only fueled King Yama's frustration. "What exactly were you thinking? What is wrong with you?!" the spirit king demanded. Koenma sighed and looked up into his father's strong face.

"Dad...I think I am in love," Koenma gushed as hearts pounded in his eyes. "A girl, a human girl, has stolen my heart."

"You are in love with a human girl?" King Yama was certainly not happy to hear this. While falling in love with a demon would be far worse, a human was still not an ideal match for his heir. However, Koenma's next words stopped King Yama's on coming protests.

"She isn't just a human, dad. She is gifted, special. She can wield fire." King Yama, who was always in control and never surprised, found himself still with astonishment. As Koenma prattled on and on about Kari and her loveliness, King Yama's mind was spinning with this tidbit of information.

A human with an affinity for fire? It cannot be, the king mused. Perhaps he should not dismiss Koenma's infatuation so easily. Maybe he could even encourage such a match. A human with the power of controlling fire? If his hunch was correct, a union between this girl and his son could open doors for many more opportunities.

"Keiko is doing what?!"

Kari flopped back against the cushions of Genkai's sofa, exasperated. It had been nearly two weeks since the girl had last been to the old psychic's home and while she was looking forward to the summer here, Yusuke's screeching was turning the feeling sour.

The entire group was there. Well, almost. While Kurama and Kuwabara had ridden the train with them, Hiei had still not made an appearance, which was just fine with her.

"Training. With me. What's so hard about that?" Kari repeated again, enunciating her words, and returned the glare the half demon was currently throwing at her. "Master Genkai promised to help."

"That's what I am most freakin' concerned about!" Yusuke raved. "I still have nightmares about the training that old witch put me through."

"You needed the scare tactics, dimwit. Keiko isn't nearly as hard headed as you are." Genkai replied from her seat at the low table, cup of tea in hand.

"Do you really think Kari and Genkai would try to hurt me, Yusuke?" Keiko added in her defense from her seat by Kari. "I want to learn. I-" Keiko glanced over to Kari, who offered an assuring grin. "I want to contribute."

Yusuke groaned and hung his head in defeat. He knew he couldn't fight with Keiko when she set her mind to something. Kuwabara laughed and patted Yusuke on the back with one broad hand.

"Come on, Urameshi. I mean, Kari said it herself that Keiko has some kind of spiritual awareness. She might as well learn to use it." Yusuke popped his head back up and glared at his friend.

"Yeah and that's another thing! Why is this just now being discussed?! Keiko sure didn't exhibit any powers a few years ago!" And they were back to the screeching.

"Keiko's spiritual growth over time has probably been due to her close contact with all of us over the years," Kurama explained leisurely from his chair across the room. "Our energies have nurtured her's ,so to speak; causing it to grow. Her spirit energy has certainly flourished even more since you have returned to the human world, Yusuke."

"So...I am the reason?" Yusuke paled. The group laughed at the ex-detective's damper mood.

"It doesn't matter why Keiko's spirit energy has increased. She needs to learn control," Genkai responded. "You need more control, too," she added with a pointed look to Kari.

"I know, I know." Kari replied as she picked at her gloved hand, nonchalantly. "I will train myself after I work with Keiko."

"And who are you going to train with?" Genkai pushed.

"Um...myself?" Kari tried with a cocked eyebrow. "I've always worked on honing my powers alone. Besides, you guys aren't exactly fireproof."

"You really should have one of us oversee your training, Kari," Kurama interjected. Kari looked to the demon with a gleam of panic in her eyes. As she felt the heat bloom in her chest and hands, she steeled herself. She had feared her friends would try to get involved with her working out her powers. Thankfully, she had figured out a way to deter their involvement; but, she wasn't going to like doing this.

"Any of you ever train with a human who can do this?" Kari challenged as she ripped off a glove and brought a ball of fire, raging and red, into her hand. Her friends looked on amazed and little uncomfortable as the flame spun and grew, the heat coming from it blistering. Keiko and Yukina visibly flinched away from the flame. Good, that's what Kari was aiming for. "I understand that you guys want to help," Kari sighed as she dismissed the flame and replaced her glove. "but I won't be responsible for hurting any of you. I can do this on my own." Kari stood and moved to leave, signaling that she no longer wished to discuss the matter.

"Very well, Kari." The girl looked back over her shoulder to Genkai. "We will be leaving at dawn. You, me, and Keiko."

Kari merely nodded her response, maintaining her strong stance, and left for her own room, rolling the door closed behind her. The group was silent for a moment. Yusuke was the first to speak.

"Tch. She didn't have to be such a bitch about it," he griped with crossed arms and a tick in his eye.

"I wish we could help. She just looks so….afraid." Keiko murmured and Yukina nodded her agreement. "Genkai, isn't there someone you know who has powers like Kari?" The old master shook her head 'no.'

"Kari's abilities are very unique," Kurama said and the grouped turned to him. "In all my life as a demon, I have never heard of a human controlling fire. It is beyond rare."

"But, we've seen demons before with fire powers. Like Hiei and that Zeru guy from the Dark Tournament," Kuwabara reasoned with one hand on his chin in a pondering stance.

"Even control over heat energy among apparitions can be rare." Kurama countered.

"So….Kari is completely alone on this?" Kuwabara asked. Kurama nodded and the group once again dissolved into silence. Each member trying their best to find a way to help their friend in her quest for control.

As the group moved on to lighter topics, Kurama, too, excused himself for some fresh air. He rolled the door shut behind him, blocking out the sound of his friends, and trekked across the yard towards the trees. With a grin, he looked up into the tree and spotted Hiei.

"Didn't want to come inside, Hiei?" Kurama inquired. Hiei was lounging up in the branches with his back leaning against the trunk. He was dressed in his usual black ensemble, minus the cloak, making him almost impossible to discern from a distance.

"I am more than capable of hearing Yusuke and Kuwabara's nonsense from here," the demon retorted, not bothering to open his eyes. Kurama let out a soft chuckle and turned to lean against the tree.

"I was sure you would have returned to demon world by now. What could possibly be keeping you here?" Kurama glanced at Hiei and noticed that the demon had stiffened and was now looking into the forest. His red eyes were shining in the dark like two glistening rubies.

"I'm sure you know, Kurama. Don't play coy with me," the demon growled, causing Kurama to smile in the moonlight.

"Oh. Well, I admit, Kari's power is fascinating. Have you ever seen another human with the power of fire?"

"No and that is precisely why you should be more concerned. That girl is more dangerous than you think."

"I'm sure with more training she will be in complete control." Kurama grinned wickedly as a brilliant idea formed in his mind. "It's too bad none of us can help her. You know, since we don't know anything about training with fire." Kurama smirked and pushed himself from the tree. He could feel Hiei's glare on his back as he waltzed back to the temple. With any luck, Kurama had struck a chord.

It was the official first day of summer vacation and the sun had barely risen over the horizon. Students in the city were still sound asleep with visions of days spent at the beach and arcade dancing across their dreams. Kari was not so fortunate. There she sat at Genkai's table, head down and ponytail flopped to one side.

This is an ungodly hour, Kari thought bitterly as she listened to Keiko pour herself and Kari some coffee. It had taken all of her will to drag herself from her bed and throw on a blue tanktop and a pair of black running shorts. At that moment, Botan decided to appear.

"Good morning, everyone!" she called happily as she bounced into the kitchen, still in her bright pink pajamas and hair curlers. Clearly the morning was Botan's time to shine. Kari groaned and placed her gloved hands over her ears. "What's wrong, Kari? Are you alright?" Botan asked worriedly. Keiko laughed lightly as she placed the mugs on the table.

"Kari isn't much of an early bird," the brunette replied for her friend.

"Wakey wakey!" Yusuke called obnoxiously as he, Kuwabara, and Genkai entered the kitchen. The boys were dressed in t-shirts and pajama pants while Genkai sported her usual training attire. Kari squirmed in her seat and grumbled into the table top. "What's that? You say something?" Yusuke asked with a cheeky grin as he leaned over the table.

Kari popped her head up, eyes filled with irritation, and intended to lash out at Yusuke verbally for being a loud mouth when Hiei entered the kitchen, followed by Kurama. The tingle that accompanied Hiei's entrance rolled down her spine and Kari just flopped her head back on the table, avoiding meeting the demon's gaze. She would never admit it but she had spent a lot of the last two weeks thinking about her brief exchange with the demon. There was something about him that just had her entirely rattled.

It's too early for this shit, she thought miserably.

"Eat quickly. We are leaving in fifteen minutes," Genkai said as she poured her own cup of coffee. "Keiko, Kari, we will be training on the other side of the forest so I suggest you wear comfortable shoes."

"Haha! Sucks to be you!" Yusuke chortled with glee as he slung an arm around Kuwabara. Kari glared at him.

"Why are you even awake, you dolt?"

"What and miss you leaving with Grandma to get your ass kicked all day? Me and Kuwabara here are gonna spend the whole day playing video games and eating junk food, but you ladies have fun working hard with the old bat." Yusuke and Kuwabara whooped their delight and high fived. Kari glared at the two.

"I'm just helping Keiko train, moron. Genkai's not working on my abilities, remember?" Kari sneered and finally took a big gulp of her coffee. It was black, scalding hot, and perfect. Too bad half of it came flying from between her lips.

"You will still be honing your own powers, Kari." Cue the spit take. Kari coughed as her coffee tried to go down the wrong tube. She turned wild eyes on the old psychic.

"Genkai!" Kari rasped out as she wiped coffee from her chin. " Do you not recall the whole 'fire burns people'/'you guys aren't fire-proof' conversation from the last night?" Genkai crossed her arms and stared down the sputtering girl.

"You have a very powerful affinity that you need to get a better control over it." Kari flinched at her harsh tone but stood her ground.

"Yeah, I get that but-"

"I'll train her." The whole group turned to the source of the voice: Hiei. Kari blinked several times as she stared baffled at the demon, leaning against the counter as if he was too cool to sit at the table like everyone else. He had his eyes locked on Kari and the attention made her fidget uncomfortably. She could feel the heat swarming into her hands and it took all of her control not to let the flames burst forth.

"Say what?!" Kuwabara screeched, breaking the silence.

"Actually, that might work," Kurama added, eyeing his friend and holding back a smile. "Hiei is a fire demon. The likelihood of Kari burning him is almost non-existent." Kari blinked a few times as she processed this new information.

Fire demon? I guess that might explain the stupid tingly feeling, Kari reasoned as she looked between Kurama and Hiei. She took a breath and put her hands up.

"Um...thanks, but really, I'm good on my own," Kari tried to laugh the awkwardness away but Hiei's gaze just intensified.

"Hn. We'll start as soon as you are done with Genkai," Hiei replied and left the room, hands in his pockets. Kari felt her jaw drop at his complete disregard for how she felt about the situation. The whole room turned pitying eyes on her and the girl dropped her head back to the table in defeat.

God, I should have stayed home.

The sun had risen over the mountain by the time Genkai, Keiko, and Kari reached their destination. Keiko wiped some sweat from her brow as they entered a meadow on the other side of Genkai's forest.

"You weren't kidding about comfortable shoes, Genkai," Keiko commented as she leaned against a tree to catch her breath. Kari, on the other hand, had darted ahead of her friend and the old psychic with exuberance. Keiko rolled her eyes, a little jealous that Kari could still have enough energy to be doing back handsprings across the meadow after their hike.

"You'll get stronger the more we come to train," Genkai replied. "Kari! Stop goofing around and get back here!" Kari laughed and continued her tumbling and flipping back to the duo, landing gracefully on her feet and sinking to the ground with her legs crossed. Genkai rolled her eyes as she and Keiko took a seat as well.

"Now, the first thing I will show you is how to focus your energy into a physical tangent," Genkai instructed from her seated position. Kari and Keiko blinked, obviously not understanding. Genkai growled and cupped her hands in front of her. "Like this." The old psychic closed her eyes and the girls watched as a tiny orb of energy manifested in her hands, shining with a periwinkle hue.

"Oh wow," Keiko murmured. Suddenly, she felt her own inadequacy flood over her. What was she doing? There was no way she could have any kind of power. This was insane!

The ball of energy disappeared and Genkai reopened her tired eyes.

"Now, you two will try," she rasped and crossed her arms. "Kari, you first."

The girl nodded and sat up straighter, closing her eyes and cupping her hands as Genkai had done. Keiko watched, amazed, as a sparkling, deep purple light popped in between Kari's palms. Her energy looked like a firecracker, shimmering and sparking in all directions. Kari peeked open an eye and gasped at the sight of her energy.

"Woah!" she gasped and lost her concentration, causing the energy to disappear. Genkai smirked at the girl.

"Well, it seems you have a better grasp on your energy than I thought." Kari grinned sheepishly and scratched the back of her head at the compliment. Keiko paled as Genkai turned to her expectantly.

"I...I don't know how," she murmured, embarrassed.

"Just look for the light." Keiko glanced to Kari's smiling face. The girl tapped her own forehead with two, gloved fingers. "Inside."

Keiko steeled herself with a deep breath and closed her eyes. She cupped her hands, just as Genkai and Kari had done, and concentrated. The light, the light, the light, she chanted to herself. After a few moments, she felt herself tense and the feeling of failure flood back over her. Kari must have been wrong. Keiko didn't see anything.

"You have to relax, Keiko." Keiko opened one eye to see Kari giving her an impassive look. "If you are all tense like that, your energy cannot flow naturally. Just breath." Keiko nodded and closed her eyes again, willing herself to relax.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. The light, the light. Keiko thought. She could feel the world moving beneath her; the wind in the trees and the sun shining over them, sharing its life giving warmth. As she felt the last of her muscles loosen up, she finally saw it. A tiny, glimmering light, like a star. There it was. Her spirit energy! She imagined reaching out a hand to grasp that light and a feeling of electricity sizzled through her. Keiko hazarded opening an eye, much like Kari had done a moment before. There in her hands, for just a split moment before she, too, lost her concentration, was her energy. It was a soft, glowing pink and rotated in her palms, its pointed sides jutting outward.

Keiko beamed as the energy disappeared and she looked to her two companions. Kari 'whooped!' her delight and fist pumped the air while Genkai merely grinned.

"Very good, Keiko." Keiko felt her smile widen more as she felt elation warm her system. She could do it. She was no longer the odd one out.

Hiei was watching the three women from the tree line. He was partially there to make sure no other demons came looking to make a meal out of the humans, but he was also curious. Curious to know more about Kari and her abilities.

"How are they doing?" Kurama asked as he appeared at Hiei's elbow. The sun had risen considerably high by now and the ladies had been working for several hours.

"It looks like Keiko does have some power, after all. Not very strong but probably enough to defend herself against some low level apparitions."

"Oh and what about Kari?" Kurama grinned as Hiei threw a glare his way.

"That girl shows promise but she lacks discipline," Hiei remarked as he watched Kari somersault expertly across the meadow while Genkai worked with Keiko one-on-one.

"Well, perhaps you can teach her some restraint. Since you so gallantly offered to train her." Hiei growled but his retort died on his tongue as Kari yelled to them.

"Hey, Kurama! Genkai says we are done for today. Um...you think you could help Keiko back?" the girl shouted as she jogged up to the two, smiling widely as her hair tossed about her shoulders. She ignored the tingle down her spine and the glare a certain fire demon was shooting at her.

Kurama graciously agreed and moved to help Keiko stand before pulling the exhausted girl onto his back. Kari waved the trio off as they disappeared back into the forest, following the same path she had taken that morning. With the three gone, Kari suddenly remembered what was set to happen now. She turned her nervous eyes to Hiei, the tingle creeping back down her spine for a second time.

"So...uh," she watched as Hiei walked a few steps away, hands in his pocket and obviously not interested. "Um, what do you want to do?" Kari watched as Hiei removed his sword from his hip, resting it against a tree, and snapping a thick branch off. He turned back to her, a homicidal glint in his eye.

"Defend yourself." Kari cocked an eyebrow but had no chance to ask what he meant before the branch came swinging directly into her face.


Author's Note: Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to check out my story. :) I have had a lot of fun creating this new character to introduce to all of the YYH gang. Please take just a few minutes to review and let me know what you like and don't like so far. I will try to update at least once a week for you!

THANKS!