Over the course of the tournament Youko and I caught up wit each other. Each close strike to death Youko had in the different fights made me burn for revenge. Youko would each time tell me he could care for himself, I did not agree with that assumption.

Youko went through every detail of his life in the human world; from his snatching of the human fetus to his mother and even the day to day drag of his school life. Listening to him tell me about his life in the Human World I could clearly grasp one thing. He wasn't going to leave it for the Makai. Youko loved his human mother and no wonder; he hadn't really known his fox family who had been killed by hunters when he was very young. Of course Youko had become attached to his human mother.

By the end of the tournament Youko and I felt like we had never left each other's side. Every time I'd look at him I was shocked how different he looked but if any male could pull of blazing red hair it would be Youko. If he could rock white hair he could make any hair color look goood.

"You coming? We're all going to head home for a little R&R." Damn Youko even sounded tired.

"Sure." The least I could do was make sure all the humans left the Makai in one piece. The Makai is not a forgiving place to live; very few humans that have ventured into the Makai have lived long enough to find their way back to their world.

When we stepped through the portal from the Makai to the Human World I was struck at how bright it was. The sun was beaming down on us. The Makai never seemed this bright. By the time my eyes adjusted everyone seemed to be going their separate ways. Nolidoli, Youko, Hiei and I were the only ones left standing by the portal.

"Well, let's go home." Youko said breaking the silence and leading the way to his home. Nolidoli and I were clearly following while it was clear that Hiei had been here before.

"So, Hiei, come here often?" Nolidoli snickered at my question. Many demons had asked that same question when trying to get one of us to go home with them or at least to the back ally for a quicky.

"Hn." Was Hiei's mighty reply. Never was much a talker.

"Hiei's been staying with me as of late Meliko. Since the start of his probation I believe." Youko explained.

"Oh." That explained a lot. I'd been getting more assassination contracts lately. Hiei on probation could only kill for Koenma.

After a while of silence we arrived to a larger looking home which unlike may of its neighbors had a backyard which we could see from the sidewalk. Youko's human mother must make a pretty penny to afford a place like this in suburbia.

"Well Meliko, Nolidoli, this is home." Youko looked at us smiling. This whole situation was surreal. "Come on inside." We entered the home it was...nice. Every room was spacious enough to not make me feel boxed in. A feeling I hated and so did every other demon I'd ever known.

"It's nice, Youko." Nolidoli smiled. Of course she'd be the first to complement him, she wants to jump his bones. She must have been looking at me when I thought that because she blushed. "There are two guest rooms that aren't being used right now, you guys can use them as long as you like."

"Thanks Youko, but I can't stay." The only thing that betrayed Youko's disappointment was his eyes. "Youko, I have the Slayer gunning for me. I can't lead him to you."

"He wouldn't come to the Ningenkai, slayers hate humans even more than they hate demons. Besides I can."

"Take care of yourself?" I interrupted. "Not against the Slayer you can't. No one can, not even the royals. Well they could, but that would 'fuck up the balance' or some shit like that they say so they don't have to do anything." I sighed, Youko was going to win this argument. "I'll stay until the first sign of the Slayer then I'm slinging my ass back to the Makai where it belongs." Youko visibly relaxed at my concession to his will.

"I'm glad you're going to stay M. Really I am." And so I made they Ningenkai my new home.

It didn't take long for Slayer to find me. Youko had noticed that both Hiei and myself had been going a little stir crazy; Hiei from being unable to leave the Ningenkai and me waiting for Slayer to descend on us and kill us all. So Youko made us get on a cramped train (which made me want to kill all humans) and then a several mile hike (which I thoroughly enjoyed) to Genkai's. Youko had made a weekend of it. He had also invited Yusuke and Kuwabara to come along. When I had complained at Kuwabara joining us Youko had told me very matter of factly that he would have just followed Yusuke anyway. My response to not invite Yusuke got me hit with a newspaper.

Immediately after arriving I took to the forest surrounding Genkai's estate. That happened to be exactly where Slayer had been waiting for me. I didn't even hear the bastard sneak up on me but when a knife flew directly into my left shoulder thus making that arm completely useless I knew it was him. Oddly enough it felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest, I hadn't known I'd been that stressed about the Slayer.

"My, my Meliko. I've been looking for you, but finding your little fox friend was definably a bonus." Slayer was mocking me, toying with me. "You've been smart keeping in Raizen's territory. Raizen is a smart demon, smarter than you know. But you've slipped up, your time has run out. I almost killed Youko but I thought it would be fitting if I killed you first. So he can watch you die this time."

Slayer was so fast I couldn't track him with my eyes, hell I could barely track him at all. Within seconds had not only made my right arm useless but made me bruised and bloodied within the tolerance level my body could handle without passing out. I didn't stand a fucking chance.

"I should kill you slow Meliko. Make you and Youko suffer." That was the first time I had actually seen what Youko had done to Slayer all those years ago, half of his face was a grotesque version of the Phantom of the Opera that Nolidoli and I had watched last weekend. Youko's last attack had done such damage I wondered what had happened.

I realized with the mild session of pain that Slayer had paused to let me catch my breath.

"Slayer," breathe deep "how about we make a deal?" I asked through my still labored breathing.

"Now Meliko, even Koenma doesn't have enough money to stop me from killing you or Youko." Well, duh I knew that.

"How about you give me time to become a challenge?" Slayer raised an eyebrow and stopped twirling the knife in his hand. "Give me time to get stronger and I could give you a fight you'd never forget." I hope that Slayer didn't hear the pleading note in my voice. I sure did.

"Meliko, give me one good reason." He had a point. I'd be damn lucky to ever reach the level that Slayer is at.

"Because you are bored with the demons that you have to kill, none are even close to your strength. Give me time and I can at least promise you some semblance of a true fight." Damn, it really hurt to breathe, I hope he didn't break a rib, or three.

Slayer mulled over what I had said, I felt like a mouse in a trap with a huge cat sitting in front of me just waiting for said cat to pounce and eat my little mousie body. I feared that I was wrong and Slayer would say fuck it and kill the both of us, but something in my gut told me I was on to something. Slayer was bored with the killing opportunities that he had in front of him.

Finally he looked directly at me and spoke. "Fine, but there's no reason why that damned fox can't die. He's lived long enough, and he'll make a fine reminder of what could happen to you."

"Wait! Please, no. If you kill him who would I, uh, train with? What reason would I have to get stronger? Keep Youko alive, please, please. If I don't live up to your standards kill us both." It must have agreed with Slayer. One moment he stood in front and the next he was gone. I suddenly could breathe easier with Slayers impressive aura slamming against me and racking against all my senses. Then the gravity of what I had done, Holy Shit I just made a deal with the Slayer. Could I survive this flitted through my mind.

What Slayer had said about Youko made my heart race and I felt out for Youko's energy. Quickly I found him and was stunned at what laid in front of me; Youko had propped himself against a tree and was bleeding out. He was hurt, badly.

"Youko." I whispered. Please let me have made it here in time. I couldn't think of what I'd do if I lost Youko again. Youko's eyes looking at me were dull with pain. Thank the gods! "Youko I have to get you to the temple. It's going to hurt. A lot. But I'm not going to leave you bleeding here." I grabbed both knives from my shoulders and pulled.

Gingerly I picked him up and started to make my way to the temple. Youko could get fixed up there. Gritting my teeth against the pain flooding my system I knew if I didn't make it back Youko's human body would give out.

"Hiei!" I screamed. If he would show up he could get Youko up to the temple ten times faster than I could. He got to me in record time.

"What do you want?" Hiei spat out before realizing Youko was quickly bleeding out in my arms. "Give him to me."

I could think of several retorts of the smartass variety, but held my tongue. Handing Youko over to Hiei; as soon as he held Youko firmly he sped off to the temple, leaving me to take care of myself. I didn't trust Hiei as far as I could throw him, but if he didn't take Youko, Youko would die.

A few minutes later I arrived in the front gates of the temple, only a little winded and feeling melancholy. Slayer was a threat to all those I cared about, he could even kill Raizen if he would so choose. Youko was a cake walk compared to my Lord. I didn't want to lost Youko, I'd just found him!

Two hours later Genkai approached me quickly stopping my pacing in my tracks. "He'll live if he doesn't do anything stupid like try to go train. I know that he's not stupid enough to do that, only Dimwit is. He was lucky that Yukina lives here or we may have had to drive him to the nearest hospital." The look on my face clearly said I didn't trust this Yukina. "Yukina is the best healer in the immediate area. With her working on Kurama he'll be up and running before sunset tomorrow." With that said the diminutive woman walked through the temples front entrance. I realized that this woman must have been the Ice Apparition Youko had told me not to attack and kill. Something about her being important or some such nonsense.

"If you want you can have Yukina take a look at those wounds Slayer gave you. She can make sure that there will be no permanent damage." I scoffed at the offer, I could already feel everything mending. In a few hours there would be just a scar where the puckered wounds were now and any scar tissue that formed I'd just get used to.

"Hey, how you feeling?" I jumped, I hadn't even noticed Yusuke walk up to me.

"Meh, compared to Youko I'm walking on sunshine. Slayer had the chance to kill me, every moment that he was near me. The fucker was just toying with us."

Yusuke shrugged. "You wanna go see him?" Like he even had to ask. "Who the hell is Slayer? Like the rock band that people listen to? That's stupid as hell, to name yourself after a heavy metal band." I almost wanted to laugh.

"Uh, Yusuke, that's the name that demon's gave him. Any demon that knew his real name is dead. He is The Slayer, he slays, that's what he does. Slayer can kill any demon or apparition he pleases. Within a blink of an eye."

He whistled. "If this Slayer is so powerful he could have killed you both. Why didn't he?"

The kid could be really smart when he chose to actually use his brain. "I made a deal with him, okay?" I said hoping that he wouldn't pry further. His glare said clearly otherwise.

"Meliko, this is one of my team. If he's in trouble I need to know it."

I felt my heart drop. I hadn't wanted anyone to know, but the look on Yusuke's face said that he didn't trust me. He wanted to sling my ass back to the Makai at the first sign that I'd attack some human. "I made a bet with Slayer. I told him that I'd get stronger and be a real challenge to him. If I don't gain strength to his liking he'll kill both me and Youko. It gives me a chance at living without having to always be looking over my shoulder. Youko too." It sounded like I was not only trying to convince Yusuke but myself as well.

"Sounds like you did what you had to do." Yusuke mused. I'd half expected him to yell at me, call me an idiot or something of that measure.

"I'm going to check on Youko." I mumbled, stunned that he just excepted that I'd put his team member in jeopardy.

"I'll show you where he is." Yusuke smiled.


w00t! I'm not dead and I'm up to like 17 or so pages on OpenOffice thus making this the longest story on my computer. I kept forgetting this so ME NO OWN, YOU NO SUE. Oh and I just wanted to tell everyone that reads this (like anyone does, I'm lying to myself I know.) I got my first flame ever! I was soo happy. If anyone finds any spelling or grammar errors let me know. I'm the only one that proof reads this and I do make mistakes. Peace! -M