My excuse? In all honesty, mostly laziness. My computer blue screened, and it took me months to get it fixed, so I was writing on an old laptop, which, guess what, stopped working. So after I got my main computer fixed I hesitated on retyping this. I honestly couldn't bring myself to do it; which is why this chapter is so late, I didn't want to retype it (again). I ended up cutting some stuff down. I really am sorry, I've kept you all waiting for over six months. I cannot express how sorry I am. I hope you stick with it. I'll do my best to finish the next chapter quickly, I've had a few things floating around in my head for a while that will make it easier on me. Now review responses. (P.S. When computer crashed I lost MS Word which means no spell/grammar check, just a little warning)

Boris: Ah..but if I told you I would ruin the surprise; as for the one shots, I couldn't get them written either, I developed a complete aversion to all writing after last chapter, sorry for the delay, and thanks for the review.

Reads-way-2-much: All of those questions answered; right now! Ok, not really, some of them are though. Sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!

Loretta: Please, it's not that he isn't stupid enough, he's to much of a wuss to try to do anything to Kagome, besides, Kagome would stop Yusuke before he did TOO much damage. Sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!

Raine:Thanks for the compliment, sorry for the delay, and thanks for the review!

Everqueen: I know, I haven't been able to come up with too much for it though...I'm thinking of doing writing what the detectives were doing during the events of the Stolen Earth (fighting Daleks). Sorry for the delay, and thanks for the review! (By the way, did you catch the End of Time? I got a little teary eyed even...)

Time on My Hands: Hmm...I never thought of that. My growth as an author, I mean, I thought I got a little better, but I'm a harsh critic of my stuff, so I can't be trusted with my opinion. Yes, I would have liked to write the fight, but every time I did Malfoy came off way better than he should have...or he died, I just gave up after a while. Thanks for your insight on my early stuff. Sorry for the delay, and thanks for the review!

Dark Inu Fan: Ugh, I can't even blame this one on writer's block. Sorry for the delay and tanks for the review!

Flame: I've been thinking of a Bleach YYH crossover, but it raises a couple problems. They can't exist in the same universe, and my knowledge of Bleach isn't exactly great; I missed a few chunks of it. Sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!

Stebba Stud: Wow...I really dropped the ball on that one. Sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!

RoseGlass: I'm glad my story grew on you. I'm sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!

BlueyBlonde: Glad you like it. Sorry for the delay and thanks for the review!


One week had passed since the return to Hogwarts, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione had noticed a change in the habits of their foreign friends (mostly Yusuke, as he was around them the most). In the past week Yusuke had left in the middle of Tranfiguration and Divination, and Harry was fairly certain he heard Yusuke stumble into the dormitory around four in the morning; the small puddle of blood next to Yusuke's bed later that morning had been a bit odd as well (a demon having gotten in a lucky shot). Yusuke and Kurama seemed to be talking to each other in Japanese more often as well. Considering that they usually spoke in English, this was another change.

Yusuke and Kurama had noticed other changes. The demons attack squads had increased in numbers, though, thankfully, not in strength. Another change they had noticed was that the demons seemed to be taking their time when moving through the forest. Even Kurama had not come up with a reason why; it simply did not make sense. This was made all the more perplexing by the fact that the demons seemed to know some one would be coming for them. Wouldn't they want to eliminate Dumbledore, or kidnap Harry (or whatever their orders were), quickly and get out of there? Kurama hoped very much that no demons had thought to mention the existence of the Spirit Detectives.

"Is it just me, or is Kurama almost never alone anymore?" Hermione asked. All their attempt to find him in the library had proved futile, and they no idea where else he went when he was on his own. They had only seen him there once lately, and he had been talking with a fellow Ravenclaw at the time.

"Yeah...I haven't seen him if he's not with us lately...do you think he's been running around the forest with Yusuke?"

"I doubt that..."

"Speaking of Yusuke; I think we should ask him instead."

"What? Why?"

"Simple. He's alot easier to find."

"True...but what if he doesn't want to talk?"

"We can still ask Kurama at some point, I mean, what's the worst that'll happen from asking Yusuke?"

"The three of us winding up in St. Mungo's." Responded Ron.

"I say we do it." Harry said; he was fairly certain that the three of them were in no danger. Of course, he was also certain that Yusuke wouldn't tell them anything. He was proved correct in both assumptions that very night. When they finished their homework, Hermione posed the question; and Yusuke's response was expected.

"No," He said flatly, "I...uh...don't like talking about stuff like that. Feel free to bug Kurama about it though." Yusuke said; he was pretty sure Kurama would have a story prepared, or that he would turn them away.

"Alright. We will, thanks."

Later, after Yusuke had gone to bed, and they were almost the last three left in the common room, Hermione brought up the conversation again.

"So we track down Kurama again?" Ron asked.

"Looks like it."

"Then that was entirely pointless earlier."

It was a couple days after that when they managed to find Kurama alone in the library. Maybe they hadn't been paying attention, but Kurama looked exhausted (a trait they had noticed in Yusuke lately as well). Kurama was completely prepared for this, he had been expecting it since before Yusuke had warned him. These three weren't stupid or unobservant, they were bound to notice something sooner or later. He waited for them to speak first.

"Kurama..." Hermione began, "We were just wondering..." she seemed to falter.

"If I could fill you in on some of the things Yusuke and I have done in the past?" He finished kindly, he didn't really want to drag this out. "Yusuke told me you would be asking."

"Oh!"

"What would you like to know?"

"Well, you told me Yusuke saved your life once..."

"Very well, you will need some background information first on Japan first, I think." Kurama said. Hermione' eyes lit up with barely contained curiosity; Harry could imagine why, according to her, information on Japan's magical community's difference from other countries was practically non-existent, except they tended to keep to themselves.

"I believe we have told you about our Headmaster, Koenma?"

"Yes."

"I think it is important to tell you that Koenma Sensei is also a very important political figure, as well as his father." (Professor Koenma just sounds weird to me)

The three nodded, not wanting to derail Kurama by talking.

"I believe that it would be best to start with the story of how Yusuke and Koenma met for the first time. It all starts with Yusuke skipping school; I had yet to meet Yusuke by this point, so I do not know all the details, however, Yusuke ended up pushing a young boy out of the way of an oncoming vehicle; it would have resulted in his death had Koenma not witnessed this and intervened. He used his exceptional skill at healing magic to save Yusuke in turn."

"Some time later, Yusuke met Lady Botan, who works as one of Koenma's assistants. She let it slip that Koenma's vault had been robbed by three thieves. Yusuke set out after them immediately; his way of saying thank you, I suppose..."

Kurama weaved his tale carefully; making everything sound plausible to the wizards, making their enemies sound like dark wizards using a combination of martial arts and dark magic, making normal humans into muggles, turning Demon World into a massive wizard prison that contained dark creatures as well (Kurama was forced to make Maze Castle a separate place), and replacing all the deaths with very near misses. The three listened intently (Hermione gasped loudly when Kurama revealed he'd been a thief).

The three sat in silence, Kurama's story seemed so extraordinary, so unbelievable, but it explained so much. Why they were both such good fighters, why Yusuke was so strong, why the both of them were so quick, just so much. Yet Harry felt something was off; not that he thought Kurama was lying, but like they were missing something essential to each story.

"You're going to have to close your mouth sometime, you know." said an amused Kurama to Hermione; whose jaw had dropped somewhere during the story.

"S-sorry."

"Now, do you have any questions? I believe I covered most things."

"Just one. If you guys are this valuable; why'd two of you get sent here this year?"

"Koenma prefers we don't get involved with these affairs, and has only ever used us when there is no other option. I believe this is his idea of a vacation for us."

"How long did all of this take?"

"Roughly one year; I will admit, the rise in the crime rate was a bit...unsettling."

After some brief questions Harry, Ron, and Hermione left Kurama alone; they would dissect the stories later, when they wouldn't be rubbed his temples; that had been trickier than he had anticipated, but they seemed to have bought it.

Later, in the common room after everyone had gone to bed, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat discussing what they had heard earlier.

"That was...wow." Hermione said; summing it up nicely.

"Yeah, I can't believe Kurama actually stole something...doesn't seem the type." Harry said, then again, thievery from well guarded vaults was more of the type of crime one would expect from some one with a calm and cool demeanor like Kurama. They all fell silent then, none of them wanting to say what they were all thinking. Ron was the first to say it.

"Yusuke and his friends have killed. Alot."

"I know...it didn't sound like they had much of a choice though...I mean, can any of us honestly said we wouldn't have in their situation?" Hermione said hesitantly. They all knew the answer, and they couldn't blame their friends.

The next weekend Yusuke and Kurama received a letter. From Koenma. They immediately dropped their conversation with Harry, Ron, and Hermione (Kurama with a slightly more grace then just stopping talking like Yusuke), and read.

Yusuke and Kurama,

Meet me tonight, at midnight, on the edge of the forest. We've found what's allowing Voldemort to summon demons.

-Koenma

"Well, that was...brief." Kurama said in Japanese.

"Yeah..." Responded Yusuke. He was surprised slightly; Koenma didn't contact them often. After excusing themselves, they went to spar.

Later that night Yusuke and Kurama went to meet with Koenma.

"Good evening, Koenma." Kurama said politely.

"What do ya' want? I'm tired." Yusuke said sleepily.

"You're alone?" Koenma looked around; he looked exhausted.

"Yes."

"Hurry up." Yusuke yawned.

"You said you knew how Voldemort was bypassing the barrier."

"Yes, it's actually quite simple. Sensui."

"Sensui what?"

"Well, when he opened the portal to demon world he caused some destabilization."

"You said the portal was sealed."

"It was, but the fabric between worlds was frayed...so to speak. It's taking time to fully mend."

"So the portal's still open?" Yusuke asked; frustrated. Koenma was talking in circles.

"Not exactly, demons can't pass through on their own, Voldemort just happened to try this at the right time, he's taking advantage of the barrier's weakness."

"Then fix it so we can go home" Yusuke said.

"We can't...not without risking further damage. It heals naturally. Without Voldemort's interference it would have been done a few months ago."

"Do you have an estimate on when it will be healed?" Kurama spoke for the first time in a few minutes.

"Mid summer? We're not definite. At any rate you won't have to return next year." Koenma said.

"Wow...convenient." Yusuke said. (That's my flimsy excuse for why they won't be coming back next year).

"Is that all you wanted to speak with us about?"

"Almost." Koenma said. Yusuke groaned in frustration.

"I only wanted to remind you that in my absence you are to follow ALL of Professor Dumbledore's orders." Koenma said, speaking more to Yusuke then to Kurama.

"Yeah...I know."

"Then that is all."

Yusuke immediately left.

"I believe you wanted to speak with me further?" Kurama asked once Yusuke was out of earshot. Koenma had clued him in telepathically a few minutes earlier

"Yes, how is he doing here?"

"Academically, he's keeping up, somewhat," Kurama said, Yusuke had been operating at roughly a third year level, he was only doing well in class because Kurama had been doing a great portion of his homework, "And the occasional visits from Kagome help keep his behavior in line. As far as fitness...both of us have suffered a little, Yusuke more so. Not enough to cause problems, however. He had alot to fall back on after his time in the Feudal era. Emotionally, I believe he's a little homesick, but otherwise fine." Kurama was concise.

"Hmm...I thought he might be more worried about Kagome..."

"He has Hiei keeping an eye on her when she is in the present."

"Hiei agreed to that?" Koenma asked incredulously.

"No, but Yusuke has received three letters from Kagome asking him to tell Hiei to stop following her to school...and essentially everywhere else she goes."

Koenma chuckled.

"What about you?" He asked.

"I'm fine, thank you." Kurama said, he was, after all, almost 300 years old, a few months wasn't much to him. "What about you; you look...overworked."

"Mostly the paperwork from the investigation, in addition to the normal work. It's getting to me. But I'll be ok."

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I do need some sleep." Kurama said.

"Good night, Kurama."

A few weeks passed, and it was time for another Hogsmeade weekend. Yusuke and Kurama would not be going, because Hiei had arrived the day before. So Yusuke would be practicing swordsmanship the entire day, and Kurama would be playing referee. Yusuke and Kurama left to meet Hiei at their normal spot across the lake after breakfast. Ron left for Quidditch practice soon after; he was a bit early, actually. Across the lake...

"Is that all?" Hiei mocked. Having just disarmed Yusuke so ferociously that his sword was sticking in a nearby tree.

"Your last few sessions have shown no improvement. You're better off without the sword. You're hardly better then Kuwabara." Hiei said. He had known Yusuke would top out at some point.

"I have only been using a fraction of my skill, in a real fight you would have been dead several times over. Attack me with your fist, you pathetic excuse for a swordsman." Hiei said, trying to goad Yusuke into a fist fight.

"SHUT UP!" Yusuke yelled, fist glowing brightly. There was a brief second when Kurama contemplated trying to stiop them, but they were slightly deeper into the forest than usual, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all busy today, and trying to stop these two without anything less than near lethal force was really not feasible (they wouldn't kill each other anyway). Meanwhile...

Ron was just across the lake, he couldn't believe he had left so early, he still had half an hour at least. That's when he heard Yusuke's distant voice yelling what sounded to him like 'shut up'. Well, he had time to kill, he always liked watching the sword fights, and it always got good when they started yelling.

He set off towards the usual spot, and kept walking when they weren't there. At first he thought he wasn't looking at anything, then he glimpsed some movement, but what could move that fast? He stopped walking a little over ten meters away, and then he saw them, the movement slowed, and he could see silhouettes, and then Yusuke and Hiei facing each other. Hiei's fist were on fire! And Yusuke's were glowing blue! Then they swept back into there incredibly fast movement again. Nothing, absolutely nothing could move that fast, he had to be dreaming. He looked around for proof of this, but nothing else was unusual, Kurama was watching them, and he was definitely in a familiar part of the forest. They were freaks, all of them! He had to go. He took a step back. Right on to a twig, which cracked.

It happened faster that Ron could process. Suddenly he found plants restraining him, Yusuke and Hiei were on either side of him. Hiei looked even more murderous than usual, Yusuke looked a little surprised, but otherwise normal. Kurama walked up slowly, a slight frown on his features.

"Let me go!" Ron yelled.

"Silence, human!" Hiei ordered; whipping out his katana. Ron's eyes fell on the blade, they were going to kill him, he knew it. And then a thorned whip wrapped around Hiei's blade and pulled it out of its owner's grasp.

"You really shouldn't have seen this..." Kurama stated.

"So...what do we do?" Yusuke asked. He didn't really want have a memory charm done on Ron...he liked him well enough.

"I say we kill him, it would keep him from talking." Hiei said; knowing full well that wasn't going to happen, he was just enjoying scaring Ron. Kurama rolled his eyes.

"Move aside, I'll do the memory charm." Kurama said, seeing the fear receding in Ron's eyes when he said that.

"I really am sorry about this." Kurama said, and then he waved his wand.

Ron was fairly disoriented the rest of the day.

"Well..." Hiei said, "Detective, you have reached your limit as a swordsman, accept that. By human standards your skills are...acceptable." Yusuke retrieved his sword from the tree.

"Wow...that's almost like a compliment coming from you."

"Hn."

Later, at dinner, Harry had just finished telling Hermione about his date, Yusuke, overhearing, was sympathetic. How many times had he unknowingly angered a girl?

"Just be grateful." He said.

"For what?" Harry asked skeptically, and a little forcefully.

"She doesn't like to slap." Yusuke shuddered comically.

"Are you saying Kagome does?" Hermione asked; her being the skeptical one this time.

"Are you kidding? She loves it, when she found out that'd I'd been hiding the fact that I'm part demo-giant from her she went nuts." Yusuke said, almost fondly. Hermione caught the slip, but said nothing.

"Keiko was almost as bad." He expanded.

"You seem to have a talent for picking girls that know how to keep you in line." Hermione said, laughing little.

"What can I say? I love a girl that can kick my ass. Wow...Ron looks like hell." Yusuke finished, spotting Ron coming in. Ron did indeed look like 'hell'. He left for a bath right after dinner.

The next Saturday, the day of the Quidditch match, Yusuke joined in the crowd like everyone else, and was sorely disappointed. He hadn't actually seen a match yet. Yusuke went to bed somewhat earlier than Ron that night, having nothing better to do. When Harry was awoken by Ron snoring later he vaguely noticed that Yusuke was gone again.

The next day, Yusuke arrived late to breakfast, having slept in. He just barely missed Umbridge yelling at Harry, and having not been listening when Harry told the rest of the table about the interview was confused about the increased movement.

"Whasgoinon?" he asked, still a bit tired, one of the demons had ran and he and Kurama had spent over an hour chasing it through the forest.

It didn't take long for someone to get a copy of the quibbler to Yusuke, who smiled broadly while reading it. He was laughing heavily by the end.

"Bet this pissed toady off." He said.

A couple of weeks later, the first day of Divination after Trelawney had been replaced, Yusuke was late to class (having gone to the wrong room first). He had missed the event and hadn't heard the whole story yet, the demon invasions were really cutting into his knowledge of things going on in the castle.

"Hey...wait a sec...don't I know you?" He asked upon seeing Firenze. He had met the centaurs once, they had said only a few words before fleeing, they had a sense of what Yusuke and Kurama were.

"Yes...we have met, please take a seat." Firenze said, he seemed slightly nervous. That struck Harry as odd, considering Firenze had saved him from Voldemort four years ago.

At the end of class Firenze asked Yusuke to wait outside while he spoke to Harry, and to come back in when he was done, Yusuke obeyed, more out of lack of anything better to do than anything else.

"Later." Yusuke said on his way back into the classroom. Harry caught a few words of Firenze's before the door closed.

"You are not what you appear to be."

Yusuke didn't show up for his next class. Firenze had known he was a part demon, how was he supposed to explain that without blowing his cover. He had no choice; the centaurs had seen them killing demons. He gave the best half truth he could, that the demons were there because they had followed him, and that he was doing his best to protect the school from his mess. Firenze agreed to keep his silence. At dinner, after Yusuke had left, the three started talking.

"Firenze acted nervous around Yusuke." Harry stated, "Don't you think that's a little weird, I mean, he's the one that helped me in the forest way back in first year."

"It is," Hermione said, "Actually, there are a few other things I've noticed...remember a couple weeks ago when Yusuke was telling us about how much Kagome slapped him?"

"Yeah..." Harry said slowly

"Well, he slipped, he almost said something else instead of giant, and, some of the things him and Kurama have been saying to each other in Japanese don't add up."

"How do you know?"

"I've been studying Japanese...and non-magical Japan." Hermione said; she had had to ask her parents to buy and send her a few books.

"What have they been saying then?"

"I'm almost sure I caught the word Spirit World, and a few other things like that."

"Are we suspicious of them again already?" Asked Ron, sounding slightly exasperated.

The following weekend brought a pleasant surprise for Yusuke. Kagome was back.

"Oh hell yes!" Yusuke said when she approached him at breakfast.

"Hey. She said, sitting down between Yusuke and Kurama.

"I'm surprised you're back already...not that I'm complaining." Yusuke added.

"Dumbledore thought it would be a good idea."

"I'm surprised you got to come though, Umbridge went stupid rule-happy."

Kurama spoke now.

"I am not certain she's particularly aware of Kagome's visits. Even if she was; there is absolutely no rule stating that students cannot have approved visitors."

Yusuke spent a great deal of the weekend away from most other people in the castle, including Kurama (though, obviously, not Kagome).

"You know, you got lucky," Kagome said just before leaving on Sunday evening, "Koenma was considering sending Genkai up here."

"How do you know?" Yusuke asked.

"She told me."

"You've been talking to her?"

"Yes, she's been great on giving me tips on keeping you in line when you're more difficult."

"That little old bit-" Yusuke was cut off by Kagome's lips, which were quite suddenly on his.

"Lucky for you I prefer my methods." She said after they broke apart.

"Be nicer to her Yusuke, she really does care about you." Kagome said.

"You didn't go through that training...I still have nightmares." Yusuke said. Kagome giggled.

"I'll see you later. I love you."

"Love you too." Yusuke sighed. Well, at least they'd gotten through the weekend without a demon attack.


Sorry, it's a bit short too. I had to cut it off there though, next chapter has some big things happening in it. I'll try and be quick, though I think you've probably realized not to trust my quickness anymore.