(A/N: Okay, so I was hoping to get more chapters for all of my stories out sooner, but it's looking like the only time I'll be able to do any writing is over the holidays. The reason? Simple, can answer that with one word: College. I've got so much homework and projects and such from my classes that I hardly have been able to get it all done… then add in family stuff and yard work and chores… and anything else life decides to throw in and *sigh* yeah, not a lot of time for writing on stories.

I owe a HUGE thank you to everyone who reads and reviews and follows and has favorite-ed (not a word but I don't really care, stupid word document…) any and all of my stories.

In response to Reviews for last chapter:

TheElegantFaerie, I'm glad you approved of that fight scene. I had a bit of trouble with writing it so that it showed what I pictured in my mind (mostly because I'm not the best at putting fight scenes into words on paper). Also, you've got a good idea of how the pairings are going to be for this story, I'd love to tell you, but I really, really want to see how many people figure out it for themselves. But I will give hints *smiles*. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Hope everyone enjoys it. Merry Christmas! :] On to the story!)


Because I Care

A Yu Yu Hakusho Fanfiction

Chapter 12: Battle's End and Break


*NOTE(S) FOR CHAPTER: if written as following it means it is as stated…

Normal text is normal; whatever is happening type of thing

Underlined text is/are flashbacks

Italics, unless stated, means thoughts

Bold and Underlined as well as Italic and Underlined means mind to mind conversations

Bold, Italic, and Underlined means that this is a little bit from the end of the last chapter*


"I can end your life now," the fire demon paused as Yusuke sat up, "or if you prefer I'll make you into a demon." Without giving Yusuke the chance to reply, Hiei continued talking. "What's that? You want me to choose?"

Sonja snarled again as Lopt started to speak. "You really love hearing the sound of your own voice…" Lopt said, her tone would have been monotone if not for the hint of distaste that seeped through.


A snicker escaped Sonja as the fire demon turned his attention towards Lopt for a few moments. If looks could kill, Renee heard Sonja say as Hiei stared to rush at Yusuke.

Sonja jumped forward at the same time that someone else rushed to defend the defenseless detective, who had squeezed his eyes shut and prepared as best as he could for the attack that never reached him. Opening his eyes, Yusuke found that Hiei had stabbed Kurama through the gut and that Sonja had moved him (being Yusuke) back and to the side. "Kurama?" Yusuke asked.

"You really have gone insane," Hiei said as he stared at Kurama in surprise. Kurama cut his right hand on the blade and flicked the blood into Hiei's Jagan eye which caused him to cry out and back way, pulling the Shadow Sword from Kurama's abdomen and dropping it on the ground, as he covered his third eye. Sonja glanced at Botan, Lopt, and Keiko noting that the eye on Keiko's forehead wasn't fighting Botan as much, Botan looked less stressed as she continued to focus her attention on Keiko and her transformation, Lopt seemed to be in shock as she just knelt there with wide eyes. It was as if the cat demon had forgotten that she was supposed to be helping the reaper.

"Hey, I've come untied!" Yusuke sounded surprised as he was able to move his arms. Sonja sighed and let go of Yusuke's green top and moved to grab Kurama's arm and help him over to where the girls were currently located in the warehouse.

"That's great Yusuke," Lopt stated as she started looking over Kurama's injury.

"Think you can help him any, Lopt?" Sonja asked as the two made Kurama show them the wound.

"Think you'll be ok on your own for a bit, Botan?" Lopt asked the grim reaper without taking her eyes off of Kurama's injury.

"I should be fine now," Botan replied.

"Good, I'm gonna go make sure Yusuke doesn't get himself killed." Sonja muttered as she walked away.

"Sonja," Kurama said.

"What Silver?"

"Be careful."

"When am I not?"

"You should heed your own words…" Lopt told Kurama as Sonja chuckled as she went back to where Yusuke and Hiei had started fighting again.

Sonja growled slightly as she watched Yusuke get hit and fly into the wall, she was about to step in when she saw the look in Yusuke's eye; he had an idea. She tilted her head and watched as Yusuke shot a blast of spirit energy at the fire demon only for him to dodge it. Sonja saw a gleam from the corner of her eye in the exact direction that the spirit energy was directed and turned her head just enough to see the mirror as it reflected the spirit energy back towards the boys. The blast hit Hiei in the back and he turned to see how the attack got him before turning back to Yusuke and falling to the ground.

Yusuke then took the sword and went to save Keiko while Sonja used some of her energy to tie up Hiei. They didn't need the fire demon running off the moment he woke up anyway. "Stupid Hiei, what good was all this going to do you?" Sonja whispered as she stared sadly at the demon before her as memories consumed her thoughts.

Lopt watched Yusuke pour a few drops of the antidote from the hilt of the Shadow Sword into Keiko's mouth. "Goodbye Keiko-monster." Yusuke stated as the eye disappeared from the girl's forehead.

"She's going to recover," Botan said.

"I hope so." Yusuke replied before turning to Kurama. "Thanks for all the help, Kurama; how do you feel?"

"Good, I guess. I avoided the organs, at least."

"I still can't believe what you did Yusuke." Botan stated.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Why didn't you tell me that the spirit gun could bounce off mirrors? When did you learn that?" She asked.

"Hmm… About ten minutes ago." Yusuke replied. Lopt tilted her head to the side.

"So, you didn't actually know that it would work?" Lopt asked as Botan let out a little 'what' of surprise. Yusuke ignored the question and explained how he knew Hiei would be able to dodge the blast and him seeing the mirror and how he just thought he'd see if it'd work.

Even Kurama looked surprised at this. "You weren't certain?"

Yusuke then explained that he got the idea from bouncing light off mirrors in science class.

"Might? You risked our lives on a might?" Botan questioned. "What exactly would you have done if the spirit gun hadn't bounced off the mirror?"

"Get chopped up into pieces, I guess." Botan looked surprised at this answer.

Sonja walked over, an unconscious Hiei being dragged behind her. "Don't look so shocked, Botan. Remember my first mission? I had worse odds than this dimwit."

"T-that's true, but really! Risking all our lives for that?" Kurama chuckled.

"All the while, we were thinking you were a brilliant strategist; when really, you're just a lucky fool." Kurama stated.

"Hey, watch it, fox boy! What's that word mean anyways?" Yusuke retorted.

"A Strategist is someone who uses his brain." Kurama, Lopt, and Sonja replied.

"Hey!" Yusuke shouted.

"Now, now, boys." Botan tried to get them to calm down.


"Sonja," Lopt called, elongating the girl's name as she rushed through the house trying to find said girl. Lopt found her in the second study on the second floor, fingers dancing across the keyboard of her laptop atop the mahogany desk before her. Her violet eyes were intensely focused on the screen and shifted from left to right as a small frown tugged at the corners of her lips. "Sonja," Lopt called again as she entered the room and lend over the back of Sonja's chair to see what the red head was doing; she was typing up a paper.

"What?" she asked, seeming to growl the word, as she continued to type.

"Play with me!" Lopt demanded as she rested her arms on Sonja's head.

Sonja paused in her typing as she sputtered and tilted her head back to look at the younger demoness. "Do what?"

"Play with me," Lopt repeated as she looked down at the red head who shot a Hiei worthy glare at the onyx haired girl.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I'm doing homework." Sonja said in a 'you-should-know-this' tone.

"Can't it wait?" Lopt asked as she looked at the six paged paper that was on the screen, it appeared to just be missing the concluding paragraph.

"Well..." was all Sonja got out before Lopt interrupted her.

"Great! Let's play chess!"

"Chess?" Sonja looked at Lopt with obvious disbelief.

"Yes, the game of kings!" Lopt exclaimed as she moved back from the chair and the girl sitting in it, who turned to watch her. "Or are you scared...?" Lopt asked with a smirk.

Sonja tilted her head to the side as her violet eyes narrowed and turned golden. "You will regret that comment, kit."

"We shall see about that, then." Lopt retorted as Sonja rose from her seat after quickly telling the computer to save her paper and they moved to the downstairs living room where a chess board was set up on the coffee table between two couches, one white and one black.

"White or Black, kit? Challenger's choice." Sonja said, her eyes already calculating.

"It matters? Hmm... White then."

Sonja inclined her head and they moved to take their seats. "Whenever you're ready." Sonja said while her eyes moved to take in everything.