"Are they going to be alright?" He followed her slowly down the hallway, trying not to stare too anxiously at the door he knew they were headed toward. Years earlier, when Sayuri had been small and prior to Genkai's death the woman had given the child her own room at the compound. He knew that was where Yukina would have placed her when she'd appeared at the doorstep.

"I healed them the best I could." She answered, pushing the door slowly open and stepping back to let him enter the bedroom, "Sayuri's injuries are mostly gone, but she lost a lot of blood… it may take her a while to recover." She answered haltingly.

Kurama only nodded and slipped into the room. He knew Yukina was trying, in her own way, to brace and encourage him. He'd known even before asking the severity of their wounds… Sayuri's in particular. Though after seeing Toguro's body he was concerned for Kazuki as well; Yusuke had barely walked away from that fight, he found it… mind boggling, even with Genkai's insistence that that was the case, that Kazuki could have been responsible for the monster's defeat, after such a short period of time. But then Yusuke had always somehow managed to pull out some fantastically lucky shot or power right at the end to make it out of whatever tight spot he was in. He was almost glad to see that his son had inherited that miraculous talent.

Apparently it wasn't the only trait he'd inherited though. Coming through the door Kurama was startled to find himself face to face with the doppelganger. The picture had warned but certainly not prepared him for the sameness of them. The face that turned to him as he entered the room might have been Yusuke following the dark tournament. The lingering sense of déjà vu that he'd had since leaving Hanging Neck Island surged, striking him so suddenly it nearly took his breath away. Marginally confused brown eyes blinked at him for a second before he turned away, though Kurama knew he was still being watched from the corner of the boy's eye. "Hey Sayuri, I didn't know you had an older brother…"

"I don't…" He turned to watch the girl rearranging some playing cards in her hand.

"Sure you do. He's standing in the doorway…"

Green eyes flashed to him and widened impossibly. "Dad…!" She hit him so hard it nearly knocked the air out of his lungs. Unprepared for the sudden impact Kurama was thrown back a step before stabilizing himself and the girl with her arms latched around him. With a sense of relief and overall wellbeing washing over him he smiled and lowered his face into her hair, hugging her tightly and momentarily unable to speak.

"Dad…?" Kazuki stared at the pair, "What was he ten when you were born?"

"He's older than he looks." it was Yukina who answered, sinking to sit on the edge of the bed next to him, "Trust me." She added with a small smile.

XXX

It looked like no one had been in the room in a very long time. Dust swirled in the yellow light of an old bulb hanging overhead; lacking the magic sparkle that sunlight provided it. The door squeaked as he closed it and turned into the room with his arms crossed.

He wasn't really sure why he'd chosen to come into the room. They'd given him another to sleep in, but this door had been on his mind all night. Somehow he'd known the moment he entered it that it had been his. He didn't have to look at the clothes hanging in the closet to the left, some of which he was wearing now thanks to Yukina, and all of which would fit him a little too perfectly. He didn't need anyone to tell him. It was a feeling, something that was just there and that he didn't question. This had been Yusuke's room, his home in a way the bedroom at the apartment Kazuki now lived in had never been. There was an almost welcoming feeling to it.

Walking slowly he crossed the room, pausing as a floorboard creaked beneath his foot, pushing against it he smiled as it dipped only to bounce back up against his foot. Dropping to one knee Kazuki caught the floorboard and carefully pried it up. Looking down into the dark space beneath it he hesitated for only a second before reaching in and after a moment of fumbling started pulling items out. Two tickets for a fight at the Tokyo dome, a book of matches, a little slip of red paper, a necklace made of thick wooden beads that was wrapped around a lump of black cloth, and finally at the very back of the cubby hole a picture. Pulling it out into the light that seemed dimmer than it was Kazuki was torn between a smile and frown.

He recognized his mother instantly, even if she was younger in the picture than he remembered her. Her hair was shorter than she'd always worn it too, but her smile hadn't changed. Not one of those polite little smiles, or the kind of faked grin people forced for pictures, but the all too real one she had worn when she was really, really happy. He would never forget that smile, or the way it made her glow even through an old photo.

A ghost of a grin played across his lips as he let his eyes wander away from her to the person with his arm around her shoulders. This was the first picture he'd seen of his father smiling, even if it was only a little one. His eyes weren't fixed on the photographer, whoever it might have been, but instead on the girl holding his arm around her.

"They loved each other very much."

He jumped a little in response to the voice and nearly dropped the photo as he turned. The room had been empty when he'd entered and he hadn't heard the door open or close, but when he stood and looked back Yukina was seated on the bed. "How long have you been here?" It didn't come out as harshly as he'd meant for it to.

"I didn't want to bother you while you were thinking." She said quietly, looking at the picture he was still holding. "I have a few others of everyone together if you'd like to see them."

"Nah… no thanks..." He tucked the picture into his pocket, hoping that she didn't notice.

She did, but let it pass without mention. "She would have been proud of you." She whispered finally, looking up from the items he'd piled on the floor, "For bringing Sayuri back. They both would have."

That froze him for a second. She not he, she would have been proud. Kazuki looked at her, confused. "What do you…?"

"Keiko would have been very proud of you for saving your friend, and Yusuke would be too." She stood and started toward the door, but paused short of it, "You shouldn't be ashamed of looking like him you know. Your parents were both some of the best people I've ever met."

He met her eyes for a second before looking down, "I'm not ashamed… I'm just tired of hearing about it."

"I guess it would get old pretty quickly. I'm sure they just say it so much because they miss him so much and once they get to know you they'll be able to tell the difference." Tipping her head to the side she considered him closely for a long moment, "When I look at you closely… to me you look a little like Keiko… just a little though, around the eyes."

"So… am I not supposed to be in here or something?" He asked, shying away from her continued scrutiny.

"You can go wherever you like Kazuki."

He nodded and turned back into the room, his eyes sweeping curiously around at the various objects in it. Out of the entire group of people he'd met today, Kazuki quickly decided, Yukina was his favorite.

XXX

Sitting straight up in her bed Sayuri searched almost anxiously for what had woken her. The crack of something heavy and solid hitting wood brought her head to the window in time to see a rock pinging off of the frame and onto the floor where it joined three others. Frowning, but a bit curious she stood and crossed the room to the small opening. Poking her head out of the second story window she looked down to the porch a floor below her.

It was later than she'd thought it was. In the shadows of the trees even the moonlight seemed muted and it took her second to make out a shape standing in the edge of the clearing, tossing a small rock into the air and catching it.

"It's about time; I've been throwing these things up there for like five minutes."

"Kazuki…?" She blinked a few times, willing her eyes to adjust and bring him into focus, "What are you doing out there? I thought you went to bed hours ago?" Stifling a yawn she glared at the various rocks she could now see lying on the porch below.

"I found my dad's old room." She watched him silently, knowing that he didn't need encouragement to continue, "I found something else while I was looking around." This time she was curious and he held up a square of something white she couldn't make out the details of over the distance.

"What…?"

"It's a map, to some place in Mushiyori City…" He informed her in a whisper just loud enough to reach her.

"Mushiyori… that isn't far from here is it?" She leaned forward onto the window frame on her elbows, wanting to see the map, but he tucked it back into his pocket.

"Not really. I'm going to go check it out… I just didn't want to take off without saying goodbye…"

For a heartbeat she was unable to feel she couldn't breathe, a pang she wished she was able to ignore going through her. He was going without her? "Just…" Gathering her marginally shaken composure she straightened a bit, "Give me a minute I'll meet you out front."

"Sayuri…" She was turning away from the window when his voice stopped her and she turned back, prepared to argue with him, to demand that she was going along when her eyes landed on that smile, that big oddly heartwarming smile that nearly stopped her heart as well as her voice, "I was hoping you'd say that."

"I'll be right down." She turned away again once he'd nodded and hurried to slip into the jeans and t-shirt someone had brought for her from town, slipping her feet into a pair of shoes and pulling on her father's orange jacket that he'd brought back for her she started toward the door.

Stepping into the hall she closed the door almost soundlessly and was started toward the staircase when a hand landed on her shoulder, stopping her in place.

"And just where do you think you're you headed?"

Internally she groaned and turned back to face green eyes nearly identical to her own, "Just for a walk. I wanted to get some fresh air…"

"Oh…? And would this walk happen to take you to Mushiyori City?" Then he'd been listening, she should have known better than to think he wasn't.

"No… technically the train would." Lying to him wouldn't do her any good, he had far too easy of a time seeing through her. And if she was already busted she might as well go for broke.

"Considering what happened to you the last time do you really think running off alone in the middle of the night is the best of ideas?"

"I'm not some little kid anymore you know. I can take care of myself."

"Sayuri…" He began and stopped reaching out to bring her close, "I know that." She stiffened a little and paused for a second before almost grudgingly hugging him back, but didn't say anything. "And I know you want to help your friend, but…" The sharp prick of something against the side of his neck silenced him, and with his eyes becoming circles he released Sayuri and stepped back, his hand coming up to the side of his neck where he found two large thorns imbedded in his skin. Pulling them free he looked at the girl standing across from him, "…what have you…?"

"I'm sorry." She said hurriedly, "I really am, but when we started this Kazuki and I agreed that we were going to follow it to the end. We aren't done yet, and I can't let him go alone. I hope you aren't too mad at me…"

"What did you…?" She jumped forward to catch him as his knees went weak and guided him back against the wall and toward the floor as he started to lose feeling in his legs.

"It's an extract that causes temporary paralysis. I figured it out last summer when I went along on border patrol with Uncle Hiei. It took a while to perfect. I'm really sorry Dad, I have to go…"

Sinking along the wall Kurama watched her spin as she stood, her red hair a halo around her head above him as she started off at a run. "Sayuri…" He called as the numbness rose along his body.

She didn't look back; she would have just turned back if she did and given up. Her father had that effect on her; acting against his wishes was practically impossible for her most of the time, and this was the first time she had seriously rebelled against him. At least the effects didn't cause any permanent damage, it wasn't like she'd crippled him, just slowed him down some and bought some time. She was nearly to the end of the hall when running footsteps on the stairs echoed up to her and a tall copper haired figure appeared running up the stairs and effectively cutting off her escape route as he rounded the corner into the hallway she was going down, a shorter turquoise haired one only a step behind.

"Sayuri…! Goodness what's going on here?" Botan demanded as she stepped out of the room at the end of the hall to look at her, and past her Sayuri's eyes landed on another open window.

Twisting she reached out, shoving some leaves into Kuwabara's hands and brushed past Botan into the bedroom, "Get those to Dad, they'll make it wear off faster…" She ordered, racing across the room toward the window even as another dark shape appeared in it. Hopping into the window she turned sideways, meeting annoyed red eyes for a second as he continued inward and she soared outward into the open air.

Floating down her hair swept across her face for a second and she shook it back in time to watch two concerned female faces appeared in the window she'd gone out of.

"Got you…" He announced, catching her easily with both arms before she could hit the porch.

"Thanks." Dropping to her feet Sayuri glanced up and waved briefly to Yukina and Botan before turning to him, "We better hurry."

"Got it, let's go." Catching her hand he turned and ran for the trees.

"The roads the other way…" She told him, not slowing as she followed him into the shadows, leaping a tree root and dodging with him around a sapling's trunk and some undergrowth.

"I know. I just have a feeling we should go this way." He smiled over at her, tightening his grip on her hand, "it's not too late to go back if you've changed your mind."

"I just drugged my dad; I think that means it is." She told him chuckling about it a little now that it had been done. "This probably isn't the best idea you know…"

"Why not…?" Before she could answer something rushed toward them and sensing it they jumped apart. Directly in front of them a dark haired red eyed demon glared.

"My Uncle practically lives out here…" Sayuri answered as a whisper, looking at him where he'd stopped a few steps in front of them.

"And where exactly are you going?"

"Sorry short stuff, no time to talk." Catching her hand again Kazuki lunged to the side, skating around a tree and started off at full speed. Glancing up Sayuri watched the dark blur jump along the branches and waited until he was nearly in front of them. Smirking a little she watched the branch bend and shrink, giving away under his foot and sending him tumbling face first into the dirt. She'd already gone this far, turning back wasn't an option anymore; it hadn't been since the start. She'd known from the beginning that she'd go to remarkable lengths to help him. Maybe this had been inevitable. And it wasn't like anything she'd done would cause anyone any serious harm.

Listening for the pounding of steps behind them she was startled when Kazuki stumbled and pitched forward, dragging her forward a little with him. Pulling back she kept him from hitting the ground and looked down, stepping quickly to the side to avoid the vine trying to close around her ankle at the same time Kazuki ripped free.

"Looks like Dad's out…" She whispered.

"He's doing that?"

"He doesn't exactly like being caught off guard… and I'm sort of grounded." She smiled as they stared moving again, "All those times I told you I was on lockdown… I meant it."

"Damn, it's a wonder you ever get out of the house." Kazuki answered, dodging a limb that swung down at him by ducking and pulling her through.

"You're telling me." She muttered, using her own control of the neighboring plants to tangle some underbrush around the tree branches swinging down at them.

Still running they hit the next tree line and breathed a collective sigh of relief as the forest was left behind. Turning back in the direction they were headed Sayuri skidded to a halt just before rushing off the edge of the cliff, staring down at the water crashing against the rocks beneath. Panting she turned to Kazuki.

"Alright you two, that's enough, let's get back to the house…" Marching through the trees with a glowing yellow blade of energy in his hand Kuwabara used the other to knock bits of leaves and vines off of his shoulders.

"Sorry pal, but that's not happening." Turning to the cliff and the water beneath Kazuki reached over, interlocking his fingers with Sayuri's as he caught her hand, "You ready for this?"

"Cliff diving is your plan?" She whispered.

"We'll be fine." He saw the question coming before she'd started to ask it and added, "I've got a feeling…" with a shrug.

Sayuri shook her head, biting down a laugh and glanced over her shoulder as the others appeared through the tree line. "Alright, let's go…"

There was a general outcry of alarm from the group behind them as the two leapt over the edge and tumbled toward the waves below.

The high pitched screech echoed off of the rocks and trees, reverberating back from every possible angle and ringing off over the water accompanied by the ruffle of feathers and the beat of powerful wings that buffeted them more than the wind they were falling through. With a soft grunt of surprise Kazuki landed on something soft a fraction of a second before Sayuri followed him. They exchanged a confused glance before looking down at the bed of feathers they were resting on as they soared upward, the bird crying out again.

X

"Was that…?" Kuwabara stared at the dark smudge vanishing against the moon with the others, his wide eyed surprise mirrored on each of the faces around him.

"Have you ever seen any other giant blue birds?" Hiei demanded shortly, rolling his eyes before he looked back at the animal and his two riders than had nearly disappeared from view in a matter of seconds.