Just so you know…

I am not dead!

I merely took a breather from life, imagine the irony of being a psychology major and having depression…

Anyway, here's another one!

DIFFERENT THIS TIME AROUND

Botan gasped at the sight: everyone was lying flat on their backs and Hiei was dangling from the roof. She stared at her right index finger, which at the moment reminded her of a smoking gun.

"What the hell just happened?" Yusuke asked, getting up out of the rubble.

"I have no idea." Kurama replied.

"Surprised I figured it out?" she asked "I mean it's easy, just point and shoot."

"It's not that, it's the fact that you just fired off demon energy that's got them all shocked." Yukina said in a small voice.

"How?" Yusuke asked again, incredulously staring at her.

Hiei suddenly appeared in front of her, fists balled with a murderous look in his eyes. She was scared for a moment, then he gave a dark chuckle.

"You actually managed to do some damage. I'm surprised, bur next time won't be so easy." He said, before turning around and flitting off into a tree, fists still clenched and ego slightly bruised.

"He's just a bag of fun, isn't he?" she added sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood, but to no avail.

She still got the intense, apprehensive stares of everyone, even Keiko and Kuwabara.

"Would anyone like to explain why I was shooting off demon energy?" she asked.

"It would seem that you've not only learnt how to copy one's technique, but manipulate their energy as well. This is… new." Kurama said.

"… Sorry?" Botan replied "Is that wrong or something, shooting off demon energy? Kinda levels the playing field, right, the fact that I copy energy, I mean, you don't mind, do you Yusuke?"

"Whatever it takes to end this damn thing." Yusuke replied, walking off into the forest.

"Yep, he's warming up to me." She said.

Yusuke stalked through the forest aimlessly, his eyes to the sky and his hands in his pockets.

"Th' lass done near walloped shrimp there, eh? Saw 'im choppin' down a tree a torchin' th' forest." A cheerful, familiar voice said from high in the trees.

"I was wondering when you'd show up." Yusuke said as the wind red haired wind master landed in front of him.

"Why don'cha tell 'er 'bout yer connection to 'er? Ya make it so obvious that'cha wanna." Jin said.

"I train her for the fight then I tell her when she survives, I'll tell her everything when she makes it out alive." Yusuke replied.

"Jus' seems like an awful lotta trouble gittin' 'er ta fergit 'cha like that. All I say is ya better fix it before it gits too broken." Jin said again.

"Oh, 'n by the way, th' shinobi's got yer back, we ain't lett'n ya down this time." Jin said.

"If you guys have my back, why don't you come and train with us, we don't have that much time left before the battles start." Yusuke said.

"Yer right, there be an ill wind blowin' ta tha' border, an' tha' troubles be bigger this time, I sure as hell ain't lett'n that bastard touch me forest again." Jin said.

"Where are the rest of the guys?" Yusuke asked.

"Oh, they be comin' on foot. Don't got tha' skills to master the big blue like I do, don'cha know?" Jin mused, looking towards the temple.

"Ya seem ta have a wee bit of company there." He said as Botan appeared out of the trees.

Yusuke sighed.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. She didn't even bother to answer him.

"Jin! Long time no see!" she said to the wind demon.

"True, waddya go by these days, darlin'?" Jin asked.

She gave a laugh. "It's Botan now."

"Aw, pretty flower." He said.

"Well, where's the rest of the gang?" She asked.

"On their way." Yusuke replied, sounding as annoyed as he could.

"We'll be join' ya in yer trainin' from now on." Jin said

"But first I havta find tha slowpokes."

And with that he flew up into the air, zooming through the sky like a jet.

"OH, Toguro be builin' a whole army this time. Mainly C class lackeys and the main six is still intact. We got a job ahead of us, 'n' it ain't gonna be smooth sailin'." He said again, before disappearing.

"Hurry back!" she said after him. Yusuke stared at her as she smiled. He had seen that smile a million times over and it still made him feel like he could do anything. He shook it off.

"We're going back to the temple, now." He said, coming out a little more commanding than he had wanted.

She looked at him and rolled her eyes as he walked before her.

Sucked, right?

Anyway, review, or not, or do, whatever floats yer boat!

I hope my Jin wasn't too weird, but it sure was fun writing it!