Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

~Hey guys, I hope that your enjoying the story so far, if not, hopefully you can find another one that you enjoy. This one is short, and its not my favorite, but whatever.~

Chapter 14: Reconnaissance mission

Time seemed to pass slowly in the Makai. Jazzmyne remembered the promise issued by Hiei that she return after she was finished with her business. The fact that she wasn't with him now was still grading on her nerves, even though she understood the gravity of the situation.

Jazzmyne had already scoped and probed multiple hangouts and bars, searching for the information she craved. She had two more stops that she thought worthy of checking out. Subconsciously, she knew that rumors were starting to fly around the Makai that Silence, the legendary assassin was back, and they knew she was searching for something. Luckily, lady luck was on her side, no unwanted demons knew where she was or were she was going. The name "Silence" was given to her because no one knew when she was coming or going. She also started out as an assassin and thief, both occupations behind her.

Successfully pushing her thoughts of bounty hunters from her mind she noticed familiar carvings on the surrounding trees, a good sign that she was nearing her destination.

The last two stops Jazzmyne had saved for last because they were in her domain. She had reliable, and trustworthy contacts there, not to mention no one searching for her would dare to step foot into the surrounding forest, but if they did, they surely wouldn't make it out. The Dark Forest was where she protected her people. Jazzmyne housed some of the most lethal residents in her humble abode, and it was almost considered a taboo to enter the lands. Often times this was a place that others escaped too, or where children were abandoned to meet their end. The forest was said to be unapproachable and inescapable. One of the many reasons she chose them long ago. Her shadows eliminated threats and reported back to her if a disturbance occurred.

Finally, after traveling for almost an hour, she made it to her destination, a home away from home. Silently she scaled the outside wall that was used as a barrier against unwanted visitors, anxiously she breathed in the sight before her.

It was a large town, a beautiful view really. Demons big and small everywhere, lots of shops and markets, even parks, with large tree's and grassy plains with small lakes stationed about. In the distance there were large farms containing a variety of vegetables and cattle that supplied and fed its residents.

Jazzmyne found it ironic, the land that was full of mostly banished or unwanted demons was always peaceful. Yes, it had housed strange residents, mostly criminals, but in this place it didn't matter, you were always welcome and never turned away. Your past, was your past, and most respected that. This place was a misfit's paradise. Honestly, a home that she could truly be proud of ruling.

Gracefully, she jumped down over the gated walls and into one of the many alleys that led to the heart of the town. She knew where she needed to go, there were two major bars in town, one residing in the east and one in the heart of the city. She was along the southeast border, so she'd head over to the bar called Crevice in the east.

As Jazzmyne walked on she mentally took note of how things were going, her territory was rich in produce and minerals needed to supply the people, they never needed to trade or get supplies from the other lands and she prided in that fact, but that didn't mean that they'd always be that way. If things started to decline here, which she hardly saw happening, then they'd have to start up a trading route from here to another town. She made sure to keep an eye out just in case that ever needed to happen. She set up enough connections to keep her people safe.

Jazzmyne stayed along the shadows as she continued on. Granted, this place wasn't dangerous, she was respected and protected here by the people, but she couldn't stay and needed to avoid any unnecessary distractions in order to leave as quickly as possible to get back to Koenma. For now, the city would be in the care of Moriko and Kai.

~Hiei~

No matter what he did he couldn't get the damn onna out of his head, there was a major battle about to take place and yet he couldn't stop his mind from straying to her, he couldn't help it no matter how much he detested it. She had said that she would be back as soon as she took care of her business. He had stated before she left that if she didn't come back, then he would come and find her, and he was about to follow through with that notion. He'd never been a patient man; patience was for people like the fox, but not him. He growled in annoyance as he thought about what was keeping her, but it was soon replaced with a tightening in his chest. This was it; this was how he was going to die; pining for a damn woman. He felt pathetic.

He had spoken earlier to the damned baby, asking, no, demanding to go and find her. He even threatened the baby when he had let it slip that he knew her ware-bouts, only to find out the damned good for nothing idiot had sent her on a reconnaissance mission to the damned Makai. If it weren't for the fact that he had yelled that she was scheduled to be back in a day or two, there might have been one less ruler in the world. Yes, he was mere centimeters away from running him through with his katana. He was given a life mate, someone that was given to so few, and barely found by others. No matter what others thought, he protected what was his. He detested the fact that he needed her, and for a while he didn't understand what was going on in his body until he consulted the fox. Apparently, he cared for her, although he wouldn't let anyone else know that. It still baffled him, how could he of all people care for someone when he barely knew anything about her? Sure they talked almost the entire time on the boat ride home... but he still didn't understand it. What shocked him more was that he felt compelled to get to know her. He wanted to talk….

He hated things he couldn't understand...

~Jazzmyne~

Jazzmyne had made it the bar and casually slipped inside, no one noticed thanks to the black cloak she had adorned especially for this mission.

As far back as she could remember, things were always rowdy in the Crevice. It housed some of the older generation. They would drink, share old stories, and just have a gay old time. This time she was moderately surprised with the topic changes. Everyone was laughing, cheering, and toasting that Silence was back. It was amusing considering she stopped by to finish up paperwork a couple weeks back, making sure to take time and visit the people.

Jazzmyne spotted an unused table in the back and decided that it would fit her purpose nicely. Within a few minutes a young looking waiter came to take her order, she had light brown, coppery hair that lay in curls around her shoulders with a pair of matching cat ears that adorned her head. She dressed in typical waiter fashion in the Makai, a tight skirt and low cut blouse, but she had a silky light brown cat tail to accompany it. She hadn't changed a bit, still looked exactly the same, of course demons very rarely changed anyway.

"Hello, and what would you like to drink tonight?" her pair of golden eyes shined with happiness that made me smile inside.

"Actually, you could take me in the back, Malinda," Jazzmyne smiled as recognition crossed her face, no one but her called her by her full name, to everyone else it was simply Linda, "and perhaps give me the scoop on what's been going on," as she said this she looked up just enough to let Malinda see who she was.

"Oh, my, it's Silence!" Jazzmyne groaned at how loud she was, out of all the things to forget, she forgot how obscenely loud Malinda was, reminding her of Botan. Her last thread of hope that no one heard her overzealous friend vanished when everyone grew silent, she didn't have to look up to know that all eyes were on her.

"Great, could you have yelled it any louder?" she seethed out, as an apologetic smile crossed her friends face.

"I'm sorry, I heard that you had returned, I just wasn't expecting to see you so soon," Malinda smiled lightly as she groaned out load again.

"That was the point of the cloak and whispering, I didn't want to be seen or heard, I'm on a mission, I can't stay long so I figured I wouldn't make my presence known in any one place," she stated as she sighed again. The only thing to do now was to reveal herself, so she slowly stood from her seated position and reached up sliding back her hood, as gasps were heard throughout the bar, followed by 'oh my… it really is her.'

Deciding that it would probably be easier to just continue with what she was going to do, state her purpose.

"Now, would anyone like to explain, exactly, what the hell is going on here in Makai?" Everyone exchanged uneasy glances around the bar. "Look, I'd like to stay longer, I would, but I have business to take care of and to accomplish it I need to understand what's been going on, do any of you know why the barrier in one area between Ningenkia and Makai is weakening? Have any of you spoken with other demons, perhaps a few mentioned something? I cannot protect you or your families if I don't understand the threat," as soon as Jazzmyne finished roars of responses were heading her way, she could barely make any of the responses out as all of the demons tried to be the first to help and give her information. She could barely hear herself think as she felt the pounding in her eardrums from all the noise.

"Quiet!" almost instantly everyone quieted down and stared at her intently. This may be the older generation, but by god they act like children, she thought as she shook her head softly. "Now, some of you are going to tell me the same thing, so to save time, one person at a time. Now you in the front, Jokai, would you like to start?" She asked a large ox demon that she'd met years ago. He was a nice demon, he looked big and menacing but on the inside he was a big softy, but others would probably laugh if they heard her say this.

"Ah, yeah sure," he seemed to get comfortable as he continued on with his story, while others quietly added on to it. Before long Jazzmyne had heard everything that she had needed to hear from Crevice, and really didn't need to go to the bar in the heart of the town, Succulent Arrow, so instead of wasting time she decided to just head back to Koenma's and relay the information back to him.

After saying her goodbyes she headed back towards the forest, no rest for the wary in her case. The barriers between the worlds were weakening, if she didn't get the information back to Koenma, she could be too late and the ningenkia would end up being flooded by low class demons seeking out easy prey. That would be literal hell on earth. If that kind of hell did happen, it would cause hell in the Makai. Once chaos begins, it travels. She would not allow chaos in her "kingdom."

As she sped off through the forest she grabbed the communicator that Botan had given her just before she left and typed the information into a message like format.

Jazzmyne sensed the multiple energies mingling outside the forest even from her location; they definitely wanted her to know they were there, waiting. As soon as she reached the edge of the forest she'd have a fight on her hands and probably not make it back in time for the information to be of any use. The demons in the area weren't stupid, well they were, but, that's beside the point. Those that were excited about being let loose into the human world would be trying to stop her; others would be concerned about the bounty that she saw in many of the towns she had run through

Holding the pink communicator shaped as a compact she pressed the blue button to talk to Koenma. Almost instantly his face appeared on the screen.

"Koenma, I've got the information you require, I'm going to send it to you now, you should receive it in a few moments," she kept an eye on her surroundings as she continued on.

"Jazzmyne, you seem distracted what's going on?" he said looking worried.

"I can sense that I'm about to run, literally speaking, into trouble. Did you receive the information that I gathered yet?"

"Uh-ah yes I did, it just arrived. I must warn you; just a couple days ago Hiei stopped by my office and was pretty pissed about you not returning. Let's just say when I was forced to tell him that I had sent you on a reconnaissance mission, he almost took off my head. I recommend getting out of there as soon as possible before he really does behead me!" Jazzmyne couldn't help but laugh at that, she mentally pictured Hiei storming into his office and scarring the young lord out of his wits, while he laughed manically holding his trusty sword.

"I'll try. My forest is secure, but I need to lead them away. The last thing I need is for them to try and break through the shadows. I'll get passed these unwanted road blocks up ahead and get through the portal. Just make sure someone is waiting for me at the park, there are a lot of demons up ahead. Unfortunately, not all of them are mere weak D-class either. I will not say I can't, but I may not have enough energy to fight off whatever is lurking in the ningenkia after this."

"Understood, I'll have someone waiting for you in the park, don't take too long, I have a feeling a certain fire apparition is going to lose his cool." She smiled tentatively and quickly threw the compact into her cloaks pocket, whipping out her daggers as a malicious smirk graced her face. She would be lying if she said she wasn't excited to cut down a few demons, after all, during this whole mission she'd been forced to push her needs to the back of her mind.

Let's just say being away from Hiei for so long was affecting her, her body was always tense, it was time to relieve some of that pent up frustration. The shadows in the forest also began to dance. She would rely on them and they would protect her and this forest.

Jazzmyne let her concealed energy out as she came to the crowds of demons, the lower class rushing towards her screaming, seemingly ready to meet their fate while two B class stood back and readied themselves. It was going to be a minnie war, all of them against one of her. She liked those odds.

Bring it on…