Kay!! Chapter ten is up!! The girls are in the hot spring!!

And no, I own nothing... except my own characters.

Minutes later, the girls were all happily soaking in the hot spring, working on cleaning themselves.

Chrissy sighed happily. "Ah... this feels much better."

Ishizu nodded, working the shampoo into her hair. "Yes... I have been looking for an opportunity to do this for the last couple of days."

The others all nodded in agreement.

Kagome smiled. "So... what should we talk about?"

Chrissy grinned broadly. "Men. What else?"

Ishizu smiled gently. "In other words... potential love interests? Such as Kagome and her relationship with Inuyasha?"

The girl blushed furiously. "What about it?! Inuyasha's loud, rude and can't seem to decide if he wants to be with me or Kikyo!"

Chrissy blinked. "Kikyo? But I thought she was dead?"

She nodded. "She is, but she was resurrected by a demon who tried to enslave her. She's back, but all she really is is a poppet of sticks and mud, given a soul. Ever since she was brought back from the dead, Inuyasha's been indecisive."

Ishizu shrugged. "I would not worry about it. There is a place where all dead souls must eventually go, and Kikyo will go there as well herself one day. You are her reborn. It is merely her presence that causes his confusion."

Chrissy shrugged. "Yeah. And even if it doesn't work out between you and Inuyasha, you always have Koga to fall back on."

Kagome rolled her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, Koga's a nice guy and all, but he's way too pushy. He's always trying to convince me to be his mate and is constantly fighting with Inuyasha over me. To tell you the truth, I sometimes wish he'd get another love interest." Then she grinned and looked at Hinata. "And what about you? I've noticed you hanging around Naruto alot, there..."

The girl blushed and looked down shyly. "Yes... I do like Naruto. But unfortunately, Naruto likes Sakura..."

The pink haired girl glowered. "The feelings are NOT mutual! I'm for Sasuke! Besides, Naruto is too loud and annoying for my tastes! Not to mention that demon he has sealed in him makes him very dangerous."

Chrissy blinked. "Demon?"

She nodded. "Yes. Seventeen years ago, our village was attacked by a nine tailed fox demon, and the Hokage, or village leader at the time, sealed it within Naruto. The procedure could only be done with an infant who's umbelical cord had not yet healed. I do kinda have to feel sorry for him, though. I mean, he didn't have any choice in the matter, and all the villagers shunned him for many years because of it, even though he wasn't even aware of it himself until recently. That's why he's so determined to get stronger. He wants to be come the village Hokage himself one day so the people will have to respect him."

Chrissy smiled. "Aw, poor guy." She looked at Hinata. "Hearing that, I can understand why you have a thing for him."

Sakura sighed. "The only problem is that, whenver Naruto is overcome with rage, the demon awakens and he becomes completely uncontrolable. His power is beyond measure when that happens." Then she looked at Ishizu. "How about you? Any love interests?"

The Egyptian woman shook her head. "Not at this time." She smiled at Tea. "But I believe Tea may have something for a young man by the name of Yugi..."

Tea blushed furiously. "Okay... I admit it. It started as just being friends, but I do have a bit of a crush on him..."

Chrissy was working the shampoo into her own hair when Ishizu turned her attention to her. "And what about you, Chrissy? Have you got your eye on anyone?"

She blinked and seemed to think for a moment. "I dunno... If you're talking from my own world, then no for sure. Guys don't really take notice of me there, to tell you the truth..."

Tea smiled. "But what about the guys that are HERE? I mean, you're surrounded by cute eligable bachelors..."

She blinked again. "Well... let me think for a moment."

Sakura smiled. "You have lots of options... There's Kaiba, Marik, the Pharaoh, Joey, Hiei, Kurama, Kakashi-sensei, and Kuwabara..."

She shrugged. "Well, it's not like I can have any real relationships with the guys here since I'm from a completely different world than everyone else here, but..." She seemed to think again. "Okay..." She started counting off the names bachelors off on her fingers. "I don't know Kuwabara nearly enough to decide if I like him or not right now. I haven't even spoken to him once yet."

Botan shrugged. "He's got a thing for a girl back home named Yukina anyway. He hasn't shown any interest in other girls since he first layed eyes on her."

All the other girls immediately let out a series of 'Aaaawwwws' hearing this. They smiled, thinking of a man who was that devoted to a woman.

She thought a moment. "Like Kuwabara, I don't know Kakashi well enough to place any judgements of like or dislike yet. And I don't even know what he looks like." She looked at Sakura. "Is he cute under that mask of his?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea. All attempts to see him without the mask have been in vain. But Kakashi-sensei is a really nice, smart, funny and STRONG guy."

Chrissy grinned. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind." She continued her count off. "Kurama... Way gorgeous, polite, sweet, and since he told me he's a fox demon, he's probably way strong."

Botan grinned at her. "You think he's cute now... if you ever see him in his demon form, you'll trip over yourself to be his girlfriend. He's got long silver hair, golden eyes, and a body to die for. Not to mention the fox ears and tail make him look all the better."

She grinned again. "Hmmmm... I wonder if he'd show me. That sounds like some seriously yummy man..."

The girls all laughed, nodding in agreement.

Chrissy cleared her throat and continued to count off the potential men. "Hiei... he's cute and really strong, but he seems to be the kind of guy who likes to keep to himself. I don't think he's interested in girls... and that third eye's kinda creepy. Joey's... a lot like Naruto, and he's got a bottomless pit for a stomach. He's really funny and cute, but I don't think he's quite my type."

Tea smiled. "He's got a love interest of his own, anyway. A really beautiful blonde duelist named Mai."

Chrissy couldn't help but grin. "Lucky girl." She held up a finger, indicating a pause as she dunked her head beneath the water to wash out the shampoo that was in her hair. When sh e resurfaced, she sighed in relief and leaned against the edge of the hot spring. She continued where she'd left off.

"The Pharaoh... gotta admit, he seems really nice, is cute, has awesome hair and..." she grinned a little... "a totally sexy voice..."

The others all grinned and nodded in agreement.

"But I don't know if he's interested in having any sort of a relationship with anyone. Then... Marik..." She smiled. "He's really cute and sweet..."

Ishizu smiled. "You do not know this, but his lips have actually touched yours."

Her eyes went huge and she almost fell over in the water. "WHAT?! WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?!"

Hinata smiled shyly from where she sat in the water. "When we first came across you on the river bank, you were not breathing, so Marik performed CPR on you. He put his lips to yours to allow you to breathe again."

Ishizu nodded, smiling as Chrissy turned bright red hearing this. "Ever since that time, whenever he looks at you, his face turns a little red."

She cleared her throat and shook off her embarrassment. "Well, then I guess he's a definite possibility... though I'd have to get to know him a little better to know for sure. And then with Kaiba..." She shrugged. "He told me that he has no interest in girls, so I don't think he'd be interested in me."

Tea blinked. "When did he tell you that?"

"After I was hurt by that Centipede Demon. Inuyasha and Kaiba both agreed that they had to check to make sure my ribs weren't broken. Kaiba told me he had no interest in women, so he'd do it."

They stared at her. "You mean... he saw your chest?"

She turned bright red and nodded. "Yes."

Ishizu smiled. "You know, although Kaiba is rather cold in personality, he is still only a man and therefore has the emotions of one. He simply hides them well. For all you know, Kaiba may very well like you. After all, his little brother seems to be quite attached to you. That would be a plus to Kaiba."

Tea nodded. "Yeah. All Kaiba seems to care about is his little brother and his corporation. But with Mokuba liking you so much, maybe Kaiba might like you, too."

Chrissy rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "I don't know why Mokuba likes me so much. I hardly know the kid. Come to think of it, all kids seem to like me. I guess I'm just one of those people."

Kagome looked at her. "Go for Koga. At least if he has an interest in you, he'll stop pushing me to be his mate."

Chrissy snorted. "I'm not much for pushy guys either, no matter how cute they are. Besides, don't wolves mate for life? I think you're stuck with him until he and Inuyasha kill each other."

She sighed. "I forgot about that."

Chrissy took a bar of soap and proceeded to clean off the rest of herself. "I wouldn't worry about it, to tell you the truth. Maybe Koga will find himself a nice girl Wolf and get together with her. Doesn't it make more sense for the leader of the Wolf Tribe to keep his blood line clean, anyway?"

Kagome blinked. "Hey, you're right..."

She smiled. "I'll bet it's just a crush. He'll find himself a pretty wolf lady and forget about trying to take you from Inuyasha."

She sighed. "I hope you're right."

Sakura looked up at the sky. "It's starting to get dark. We should probably get out now."

Chrissy sighed. "I guess I'll just wash and mend my clothes tomorrow."

Kagome climbed out and grabbed a few towels from her bag. "I don't have many towels..." she started.

The other girls didn't seem to be all that concerned as they climbed out. Hinata and Sakura simply used some sort of ninja technique to dry themselves off, so there were enough towels to go around. Then Kagome found a sleeveless button up shirt and a skirt that Chrissy found uncomfortably short, but she supposed it was better than wearing her torn and dirty clothes. When she was finally dressed, she found the shirt a little tight around the chest, but she couldn't complain since she was covered.

Kagome blinked, looking at her after she was dressed. "Wow... you know... you should dress up like that more often..."

She blinked right back. "Huh???"

Ishizu smiled. "Kagome is right. You hide your physical beauty beneath your clothes. You may find yourself getting attention from the boys yet."

Kagome sighed. "I'd love to have legs like that..."

Chrissy turned bright red. "Um... okay..." She tugged the skirt down a little. It didn't even come to half way between her hips and her knees. "The skirt seems too short for my tastes, to tell you the truth..."

She smiled. "You get used to it. But we should be headed back. I'll bet they have food ready by now."

In that instant, Chrissy realized just how famished she was. "I hope they've got a lot. There's a hell of a lot of people here now, and with Joey and Naruto, there won't be much to go around."

The girls headed back to the camp, Chrissy starting to shiver from the cold of the oncoming night. She immediately took a seat by one of the two campfires that the men had set up while the girls were bathing. The warmth didn't help much. She almost crossed her legs, then remembered how short her skirt was, and just sat with her legs beneath her but, and rubbed her arms to try and kep warm. It didn't help much, and her hair was still wet which wasn't helping matters.

She blinked when she felt someone place a jacket over her shoulders. "Here. Wear my jacket," said a familiar voice. Blinking, she looked up and saw the Pharaoh smiling down at her gently. "We don't want you to get sick after everything else you've been through."

She was surprised to find herself fighting off a blush. "Um... thanks."

He nodded. "Koga and Kakashi went out in search of food. They should be back soon."

She sighed in relief. "Thank God... I'm starving."

The Pharaoh took a seat next to her. Chrissy briefly looked around the encampment and saw Yugi talking to Inuyasha, Naruto and Joey by a large tree not far from where they were sitting.

The Pharaoh cast a glance at her. "You... have not yet come across any of your friends?"

She shook her head. "No," she said quietly. Remembering some of her own experiences thus far, she desperately hoped that they were okay and felt a small shudder go through her.

Chrissy felt a hand on her shoulder and found the Pharaoh smiling at her gently. "I'm sure you will come across them soon."

She sighed. "God, I hope you're right."

Koga and Kakashi took that moment to show up. Chrissy and the Pharaoh moved aside so the Wolf Demon would have room to cook a giant wild boar he had found. In the meantime, Marik, Ishizu, and Odion moved from the other fire, making room for Kakashi to start cooking the numerous fish he had caught.

Chrissy was now leaning against a log, and she rubbed her eyes when she felt an oncoming ache behind them.

The Pharaoh looked at her. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm just tired. Between falling off a cliff and almost losing my soul, it's been a long day."

His expression turned concerned. "Would you like to rest until it's time to eat? I could wake you once the food is prepared..."

She shook her head. "I'll be okay. I'm still just a little stiff. I got banged up in the river, and then being thrown into the wall of that seal didn't help. I'm not hurting or anything... just stiff. I might take another soak in that hotspring before we leave tomorrow. It should help."

"If there is anything you need..." he started.

She shook her head again. "All I need is a nice filling meal, and a good night of sleep."

"That makes two of us. I'm really tired myself," said a voice off to the side. Looking over, they saw the little fox demon, Shippo, approaching, rubbing his eyes sleepily. He immediately jumped up on Chrissy's lap. "Do you mind if I rest on you until it's time to eat?"

She blushed immediately and scooped him up in her arms. "Go right ahead, Shippo."

He let out a monster yawn, and nuzzled in close to her.

She was desperately resisting the urge to snuggle him to death. "Kawaii..."

Mokuba grinned, approaching from the other side, his brother right behind him. "He is kinda cute, isn't he? And he's got the feet of a fox, too! Not just the tail. I noticed that earlier."

The little fox was sleeping already, his face absolutely adorable and peaceful.

They talked a little, Kaiba eventually wandering off to another area of the camp, to where Kurama was speaking with Kuwabara, Mokuba quickly following after his big brother. Chrissy and the Pharaoh were joined soon after by Kagome and Inuyasha. It was about an hour after that that the food was finally ready. They ate quickly, and then found different places to try and sleep, Chrissy choosing to lie down by the log she had been leaning against for most of the night.

Alrighty!! Chapter ten is up!! Yay!! Please, please, please!! R&R!!!