Wit and Courage

by BlackBelt

"Kidnapping ploys, murder schemes, terrifying demons hell bent on destroying the balance of the three worlds…this is our life, monkey, welcome to it." Hiei/Oc, sequel to Will and Determination. Complete!

21. That Which Was Taken

Disclaimer: Do Not Own Yu Yu Hakusho

Wit and Courage

Genre: Romance/General/ActionAdventure/Humor/Drama

Rated: M

Pairings: Hiei/Oc, Kurama/Botan, Keiko/Yusuke, Yukina/Kuwabara, Shizuru/Koenma

(Full) Summary: Callie has now been accepted into the life of the Reikai Tantei and now has to deal with all the trials and consequences of such. Not only is she dealing with any hardships of regular life she has to face those problems the group has to deal with. And if facing this mysterious smuggling ring that she is connected with she has to come to an understanding of what exactly her feelings are for Hiei.

"Kidnapping ploys, murder schemes, terrifying demons hell bent on destroying the balance of the three worlds…this is our life, monkey, welcome to it."

Warnings: Oc romance, Keiko's last name will be spelled: Ukimura. Sexual tension, sexual humor, sex, dark/possessive moments. And this is a sequel--you have to read Will and Determination to get where this story is starting from.

Note: This is probably better characterized and written then its prequel. I can be an incredibly sloppy writer and if a story starts off a sloppy then it will continue being sloppy. This will be better in most things.

This is semi-AU. I altered the King's Tournament--it was explained in Will and Determination in one of the author's notes. But I will try to add a detailed segment sometime here.

Request: If I can get AT LEAST fifteen reviews for each chapter I will update--the more reviews the faster the update. But I need at least fifteen so I know people are actually interested and reading it.

Updates: I try to update every other Friday.

Chapter Twenty-One
That Which Was Taken

"Should we tell her?" Yukina asked, keeping her voice down so as there wasn't a chance the brunette could hear them talking about the new piece of information.

No one had an answer.

Callie deserved to know, that was obvious. But it was going to be hard to tell her and ruin her evening, it could bring her into a panic attack, and no one--especially Hiei--wanted to see her tears. But not telling her would greatly hurt her feelings for being left out with something that concerns her like this and she would be ill-prepared and not have her guard up, which is a dangerous combination.

But just how could they possibly tell their terminally ill friend that the people who are the cause of this now have her as their only target?

"I will tell her." Hiei grunted. "I will tell her tonight."

"That would be the best idea," Kurama agreed. "This way when she is told, she is told by someone whom she trusts the most," Hiei's cheeks warmed slightly at this, "and that way she can have fun and not have her evening ruined."

"I'm up for that plan." Yusuke voted. He honestly didn't want to be the one to tell her and he didn't want his friend's day completely ruined when she came here for a mini-vacation.

"And perhaps there is a less chance of her getting sick." Keiko placed in her vote, knowing Callie would feel more at ease and comforted with Hiei telling her.

"Well…I suppose I have over-stayed my welcome." Koenma sighed. "I should get back to work."

"Wait!" Botan cried out, gripping his scarf and pulling him back. "Don't leave…it's not your fault. I know all of us can take out our frustration and anger out on you; but we all know you are trying your hardest to make sure she is saved…you are just trying to find a way that won't end up in some sort of war. And though we can't really agree with you we know you are trying."

Kurama glared a bit at Koenma, not pleased his mate was giving another male attention.

"And it would mean so much to Callie. You are her friend. And with what's happening I think she's going to want to spend as much time with everyone as possible," Botan pleaded. "So please? Stay?"

"B-Botan…w-while all of that m-m-means a lot…it-it's hard to enjoy this touch-touching moment…w-when I-I am choking!!" He yelped his face blue from the lack of oxygen he was receiving.

"Oh!" She released him and allowed him to take in the needed air. "Whoops! Sorry 'bout that Koenma." She giggled sheepishly; Callie wasn't the only one who was an airhead. "So you will stay?"

The prince rubbed his neck, "Sure…I guess…"

"Hmph." Yusuke snorted out of his nose, still a bit sore towards the prince. Deep down he understood that Koenma was trying his best, that he was honestly torn, and that he was afraid that if he did something wrong everything would fall apart…Yusuke knew it all.

Didn't stop him from being bitter towards him.

"Alright, so we have everything settled then?" Genkai muttered, wanting one moment of peace--of course it seemed impossible, she really should learn that.

"Hn." Hiei crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. Without his mate by his side he was back to his normal grumpy self.

Kurama grabbed Botan and yanked her back to his body, glaring jealously at Koenma who rolled his eyes. It wasn't like he was after Botan, nor was he the one who was clinging.

Screwed up possessive jerk.

A yelp came from the hall as a very wet Callie slid into the room, not calculating that wet feet on slick wooden floor would lead her to slipping. Everyone watched with a sweatdrop as the girl, in her rush, tried to stop to enter the room, only to cry out when she continued sliding.

"WHAAA!" And there was a crash as she slammed into the wall out of sight.

Hiei was hurrying to her side instantly, giving her a good scolding on how idiotic she was to be rushed and that she was only in the bath for about seven minutes and if she wanted to be healthy she needed to learn how to clean better and blah-blah-blah--pretty much everyone was tuning out the man who knew how to rant when the time called for it.

A few moments passed and then Hiei came in, dragging Callie in by the ear. He really looked like a parent who caught their child with their hand in the cookie-jar.

"Meow." Yusuke sniggered, seeing that Hiei was in "Mother Cat" mode.

The fire-demon growled dangerously at the leader who just continued on grinning, too amused to be too fearful of the big scary mommy Hiei.

BAM!!

"GAAH!!" Yusuke wailed as the large chair crashed against him.

"Bastard." Hiei muttered as he pulled his brunette closer to him and then forced her to sit on the couch to rest, just in case she hurt herself when she slammed into another wall.

Callie pursed her lips, trying to avoid his hands like a squirming child. "Hello Koenma! What are you doing here?"

"I'm here," He cleared his throat. "For the sleepover."

"Really!? Yay! Hiei, watch the hands!!" She wailed when his fingers started to crawl up her shirt and down her pants.

The demon almost seemed to pout at being stopped from having some fun.

"Pervert." The group muttered under their breath only to freeze when they got an evil eye.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Callie smiled, once again trying to worm away from Hiei and his touchy-feely-hands.

"Well what are we going to do first?" Keiko asked with a grin. "Maybe do the Yusuke-Pig pairing video again? Cause that never gets old!"

"Nooo!" Yusuke shoved the chair off of him. "Stop making me relive that horrible day! You all SUCK!"

Of course, as predicted, he was promptly ignored and everyone agreed. How could it be a party without Yusuke-torturing?

"How about we order some Chinese for dinner? Let's not wreck my kitchen again." Genkai pulled out a phone, holding it up.

Yukina sulked, knowing she was the reason her kitchen had pretty much been destroyed. She couldn't help that she was a rather lousy cook! She was working hard on it! One day she will be able to make her mate many dishes and get him to smile.

"That sounds good! Oh let me get a pen and paper and I'll take the order!" Keiko offered, very comfortable with taking large amounts of food and remembering them all easily despite mass confusion costumers can cause when ordering.

Once she got the order down from everyone the girl left the room for the quietness of the hall to order the meal. And the poor people on the other end of the line. They probably haven't made so much food even for large parties; sixty egg rolls, fourteen spring rolls, eight cartons of Lo Mein(two shrimp, three chicken, and three beef), ten cartons of white rice and twelve cartoons of fried rice, five boxes each of orange and kung pao and sesame chicken, two bowels of wonton soup, and three bowels of hot and sour soup.

Well what can Keiko say? They all were piglets. In fact this might be a bit less then normal. They probably could eat a few more cartons of food in this night alone--really where does Callie and those demons put all of that food? Has anyone seen the bodies Yukina, Hiei, Kurama, and Yusuke had? And Callie--how the hell was she so tiny and was able to eat more then a whole horse?!

Keiko could freely admit it; she was super jealous of Callie and her metabolism. She should have a least a bit of a belly!!

'I wish food made me want to bounce off the walls instead want to sleep.' She sulked as she wrote down the price and how long it would be till the order arrived. By the time she reentered the room everyone was already sitting and watching the little show, it was at the part where Yusuke was looking at a horse in fear before petting it.

"GAY!" Keiko cried out as she flopped down on the couch.

"I'M NOT GAY!" Yusuke threw a pillow at her. "Though who knows, you can act like a guy at times…maybe I OH GOD!" BAM!! Once again, Yusuke found himself under a chair.

"He really can't win, huh?" Botan wondered allowed as she watched his body twitch before turning to look at her best friend, "So what's the verdict?"

Keiko sighed, "I don't even want to bring up the price." She handed the paper to Genkai who shrugged at the number that was definitely in the triple-digits. "And it will probably be two hours--but given how large Genkai's staircase is I give it two hours and fifteen to thirty minutes."

The group then laughed when Yusuke was thrown off a horse.

"YOU ALL SUCK!!"

---

The sleep over was going great. The 'movie' only took up about forty-five minutes of waiting time for the food, but the teasing that followed gave the group about thirty more minutes of amusement. Everyone jumped from Yusuke, to Yukina and her horrible cooking, to Hiei--but that was cut short by that scary glare of his, to Callie, to Kuwabara, back to Yusuke, then others, before resting on Yusuke again.

There was still about another hour left to wait till the grub arrived and now they were trying to figure out what to do.

"Oh! Let's have a Mortal Kombat or Soul Calibur tournament!" Callie suggested. "I've been playing it constantly, there is no way you can beat me now Yusuke."

He jumped to his feet, ready to defend his honor, "You're on you little bitch!"

"Ok, who takes the winner of their round?" Kuwabara asked, looking forward to a game.

"I'll go." Keiko stated with a grin.

"Hn, stupid." Hiei rolled his eyes, not seeing how this was going to be fun. His idea of fun was either a good spar or himself and a certain brunette in bed.

A few moments after the game was turned on and character selected there was a FINISH HIM followed by an over dramatic scream followed by Yusuke going, "ITS RIGGED!"

"Ha-ha, you fail at life." Callie laughed, watching as Yusuke exchanged positions with his fiancé's. The two brunettes grinned at each other before the next round started--this one lasted a bit longer but in the end there was a FINISH HIM, a dramatic scream, and this time Callie going, "ITS RIGGED!"

"So alike."

"WE ARE NOT!!" Callie and Yusuke screamed to the group before screaming at each other, "STOP COPYING ME!"

As the tournament continued the two so alike friends continued to glare and insult each other, every so often thinking of the same insult and fume them all the more.

They were such babies.

By the time the food should arrive the tournament had ended…with some surprise.

It seems no one suspected their bossy member to be amazing with gaming.

Most everyone was gaping at the screen. Keiko defeated them all. Callie came in a close second--cause really it would be just sad if after constant hours of playing nothing but video-games and she still sucked--followed by Genkai, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Botan, Kurama, Koenma, Yukina, and Hiei came in dead last.

"Hah! Three girls beat you Yusuke." Keiko smirked, taking in her title of Mortal Kombat "king" with pride.

"Y-You got lucky!" Yusuke, the sore loser, hissed.

She only tossed some of her brown hair over her shoulder, smirking all the more. "Well that certainly was fun," She looked at her nails as if kicking all of their asses was just something simple. "I get your fortune cookie Yusuke."

"What?!"

"That was your deal. You said not only could I not beat you I couldn't win the tournament, but if I did I get your cookie." She stated, still not done inspecting her nails.

He growled. He liked those cookies damn it. "Grrr, fine!"

Keiko laughed and gave him a pat on the head, "You're so cute." The leader just continued to grumble in defeat. "Ok then, I suppose since I won I can pick what we do next?"

No one made any arguments; it sounded fair…and Keiko was scary to defy.

"Well then! What's a slumber party without some good old fashion truth or dare?" She grinned. "And since we have so many evil twisted minds these should be good."

"I knew I loved you." Genkai chuckled evilly.

"We will do it as we wait, as we eat, and as we let our food settle in case we want to do something a bit more active later." She smoothed her skirt underneath her and daintily sat down, not looking like the devil she was.

"Ok! Now, shall we do it with a bottle or just whoever we want?"

"I say whoever we want." Botan voted. "But then again we all might gang up on one person," She looked at Yusuke who paled slightly. "And some might use the dares to their advantage," She then glared at Kurama and Hiei who smirked, as if being a manipulative pervert was something to be proud of.

"Well we can do the bottle for a while and then see if we all can handle the power of choosing a person." Shizuru offered as she finished off her beer and placed it on its side on the table. "This spin will choose who asks first, unless our esteemed leader wants to start?"

Keiko giggled, "It might be fun to just start by the bottle. Now everyone knows the game correct?" She was pleasantly surprised to see that Hiei and Yukina still remembered from the last time she forced everyone to play--which was a few months before Callie arrived. "Alright then Shizuru, spin away!"

It spun before landing on Keiko.

"Ooh, fun!" She laughed, though to everyone else it sounded rather evil.

"Her dark witch's magic at work again." Yusuke whispered and was then slapped upside the head. "OW!"

"Ok then! Here we go!" She then spun it around before it landed on Kurama. "Alright! Truth or dare?"

The red-head heaved a sigh, "Dare I suppose."

"Yay!" She rubbed her hands together and Yoko Kurama knew fear. "For the rest of the night let us play with your hair."

Color dropped from his face, "Excuse me?"

"Braids, ribbons, pony-tails--the works. We can play with your hair." Keiko batted her eyes sweetly at him.

"YAY!" The girl's squealed, even Shizuru.

"I have been wanting to do things with that boy's hair forever!" Shizuru grinned. "Do experiments to help me get better at my job."

Kurama's face kept going from one shade of white to another.

Poor guy.

"This is going to be so much fun!" Botan laughed as she instantly began braiding, looking more then pleased at the dare.

Everyone else was trying not to choke on their laughter.

"You're going to look so pretty," Kuwabara teased, tears in his eyes.

Kurama glared and then reached over and spinned, hoping for some revenge. It landed on Yukina. "Ok then, truth or dare?"

"Oh…hmm…" She tugged at her ear nervously for a moment, caught off guard that it was her turn so soon. "I suppose I will take…dare?"

Kurama smirked, "Stand up and tell everyone your cooking sucks."

She gasped, everyone did at the rather snide dare--but then again it was YOKO Kurama speaking. For a brief moment it looked like she might get a bit teary-eyed, but then the demon within Yukina came out to show her fangs once again.

Her face darkened into a scowl--everyone was still chilled when she did this and how she resembled her brother--and gave Kurama a look that could kill. Her burning red eyes promised revenge for his actions on insulting her cooking. "I will get you for this." She hissed, making Hiei so proud, before standing up and completed her dare, "My cooking sucks….and I call first call on Kurama's hair-makeover."

Now THAT slapped the smug grin off of Kurama's face.

She smirked, once again mirroring her brother--group shudder time--and then spun the bottle. Everyone prayed that it wasn't them the nozzle pointed to. No one wanted to face Yukina when she was in this sort of mood.

It landed on Kuwabara.

He sighed in relief, surely his beloved snow-bunny will have mercy on him. "I will take…er…" He took a side-glance at Yusuke who was seeming rather pleased at his apprehension of taking dare. There was no way he was going to be called a coward, or any other use of the word. "Dare."

"Take your shirt off and leave it off for the rest of the night."

The room went silent.

Well, it seems Yukina didn't just get her evilness from her brother. Both of them can be rather perverted.

Yukina a pervert.

The group takes a moment to allow that sentence to absorb. Never had they thought THAT was possible. It almost seemed impossible--true she was a demon and true she has shown some signs of being aggressive when Kuwabara was concerned, but THIS?

Words could not describe how weird this situation was.

"Uuuh…" Kuwabara blinked a few times, not able to get the words through his head. "What?"

"Take. Off. Your. Shirt." She growled, her demon-side still overpowering her normal, gentler side.

"Y-Yes ma'am!" He squeaked and hastily took off his shirt, but since this wasn't a fight and since he didn't feel to in-charge of the situation he felt very modest and a bit insecure--despite the fact that he had a body most would die for, especially for his large stature. "T-There…"

She smirked and he felt rather naked. 'Help meeeeeee!!' He gulped and then spun the bottle, it arrived on Hiei just when they felt the presence of the human bringing their large order of food.

"Oh they are here a bit earlier then expected!" Keiko chirped. "Hold on Kuwabara, lets get the food all set up and then you can have your turn." She, Genkai, and Yusuke went to the door to bring back the food for the hungry people inside.

"Yes! I am starving!" Callie cheered.

"You're always hungry." Hiei teased, not concerned about Kuwabara and his question or dare. He ran his hand through her hair. "But you do need to eat as much as you possibly can. You are too light, little one." He purred into her ear before taking the lobe between his teeth.

Her eyes grew wide and her face went bright red, "HIEI!"

"Hiei," Kuwabara, and Kurama warned.

He smirked, not caring what they think as he continued on with his seducing. He pulled at her ear a bit making her shudder and try to make an escape. "No you don't," He cooed, getting a bit drunk on his power he had over her.

"Alright guys!! Here we are!" Keiko sang out as she and the other two re-entered the room each with three to four bags stuffed with food.

"Whoo-hoo! Let's chow down!….HIEI GET YOUR MOUTH OFF HER EAR!" Yusuke screamed.

"Don't drop the food!!" Genkai ordered. "Set it on the table so we can eat!"

"Fine, fine…" Yusuke growled as he set the food down, glaring at the fire-demon as he did so.

"Well continue with the game!" Keiko cheered as she dug around for chop-sticks after all the large quantities of food was displayed, on the table, paper plates ready to be filled. "Its still Kuwabara's turn right?" She asked as she took an orange chicken and shoved it into her mouth.

"Yeah, let's see what he has in store!" Botan sniggered as she took a huge bite of rice.

"Yeah, let's see you buffoon." Hiei smirked as he began to eat. "And I pick dare, in case its not obvious." He crunched down on the egg roll.

"Fine! I dare you to not do anything 'seductive' towards Callie for the rest of the night!"

And Hiei promptly choked.

"Yeah, you heard me." Kuwabara chuckled, so pleased that he was able to get a reaction like that from Hiei. "No holding, no caressing, no licking, no kissing, no biting, no grinding, no groping, NO ANYTHING like that."

Hiei looked rather horrified.

He just got his life-mate and now he couldn't do what he does best--one of the things, he is quite good at many things--to her?!

Kuwabara was a dead man.

As in literally.

"Hiei! No! Don't kill him!" Callie wailed as she clung to him, seeing that he was reaching for his katana--how he always hides this remains a mystery--and picking himself up to gut Kuwabara like a fish. "He's my FRIIIIIIEEEEEENNNNNND!!"

"STOP SCREAMING!" Instantly his attention was off of murder and on to protecting--while ranting. "You are too weak to raise your voice like that. You're going to hurt yourself."

"Meow."

BAM!

"OW! WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME?!" Yusuke groaned as he held his face after it took a hit from a book.

"Cause you're the one who can't seem to control himself." Botan sniggered as she took some rice and sesame chicken together and popped them in her mouth. It was so good. Chinese food came in close second for Botan--after American food; she had a huge weakness for double-bacon-cheeseburgers. "You really can't figure out when to shut your mouth."

He opened his mouth to retort only to close it again and then continued eating. He had no arguments--for once he knew they were right. He did have a rather big mouth and was unable to stop while he was ahead.

Keiko smirked and gave him a pat on the head, "Aww he's learning."

"Bite me." He grumbled over a spring-roll.

Still making sure his mate was ok, Hiei glared at Kuwabara, "What the--"

"You chose the dare. You have to do it." Kuwabara smugly stated, crossing his arms over his bare chest. "For the rest of the night NO seductive, sexual, flirty actions towards Callie."

Hiei growled dangerously, but at Callie's glare he went back to sitting, munching on his food trying to sedate his fury. Damn it! He wanted to flirt with her!! Oh Kuwabara was going down! With another bite of the egg role he took the bottle and spinned, he wanted revenge damn it!!

Everyone shrunk back.

It landed on Callie who paled slightly and moved back at his very feral smirk. "Truth or dare, little one?"

She gulped. Ok she had two choices; truth and probably have to answer some HORRIBLY embarrassing question--possibly something VERY private--or dare and do something HORRIBLY embarrassing that would make her be the center of the teasing for a good hour. The girl gulped again. "U-Uhm…" She looked at her friends for help but they all looked just as torn as she did.

There was no hope. She lost either way.

But at least with dare she wouldn't have to spill any secrets, like how her mother caught her and Hiei going at each other like animals. "Uhm….d-d-dare?"

It was the wrong choice.

She knew it the moment he gave her that rather frightening grin and his eyes took on an unholy shade.

'Aww fuck.'

"Fine. Since I can't seduce you, I dare you to seduce me."

Callie's jaw, along with everyone else's dropped, "W-W-What?"

Hiei smirked and leaned back, "You have to seduce me."

"B-But I-I don't know how!" She wailed, very uncomfortable with the situation.

Of course this didn't put a fault in Hiei's plan--whatever it was he was planning--instead it almost seemed to make that creepy grin grow more. "Then I will teach you."

"HEY! You can't do that! it's the same as seducing!" Kuwabara cried out.

"No." Hiei smirked, becoming quite playful and talkative--which everyone had to admit was kinda scary. "You said; no seductive, sexual, flirty actions towards Callie. This," He reached over and tugged on her hair, "Is flirty, and this," He then leaned over and blew into her ear making her squeal, "Is seductive, and this," He then promptly groped her making her scream and try to slap him. "Is sexual."

The boys were twitching as they watched him get around the dare to show examples.

"But what I am doing is simply TEACHING her. I won't be doing any ACTIONS at all." Leave it to Hiei to find that loophole. "So, I am still keeping up the dare."

"Well," Yukina smirked, "He has a point."

Botan nodded, quite impressed, "He's right. Even if you all hate to admit it…he's right. He would still be keeping up with his dare. And if its Callie doing the seducing…well, he certainly will be a happy demon but not one breaking the dare."

Hiei gave a smirk in victory, the girls looked amused and impressed, the boys looked angered and felt a bit stupid, and Callie was horrified and shock.

"B-But I-I can't s--s-s-seduce!" She squeaked, hoping he will be merciful and change it to something else.

Hiei handed her the food. "Get on my lap and feed it to me."

She gaped, it was that 'Slave Day' all over again!!

The males shot to their feet, "BASTARD!!!"

---

So needless to say, though Hiei was in HUGE trouble he was very pleased. Callie, being stubborn, wasn't about to back down from a dare, no matter how shy and embarrassed she was about it.

The truth or dare went on for another hour with a lot of wonderful and juicy and blackmailing results.

Yusuke had to get into a French-maid outfit--where this was no one knew or wanted to know--and had to speak in a French accent and serve them all. Keiko was truly a genius at the game and everyone had enjoyed bossing him around.

Keiko was dared to perform a disgusting trick that she had discovered she could do when she was little--she got her revenge on Yusuke for telling Botan this with the maid thing, she has yet to get revenge on Botan for actually daring her to do it. She could eat a noodle and somehow make it come out of her nose. No one expected the proper-lady Keiko to be able to do such a disgusting trick.

Callie had to tell the truth of what her mother had been talking about before--so now everyone knows she and Hiei had been caught having sex. So in the end her taking Hiei's dare had been for nothing.

Genkai had been dared to not smoke for a whole week. But she had taken the dare well and had simply tossed away her pack and gave them all a look that clearly read; That's the best you got?

Shizuru was smart and decided not to risk talking a dare and being forced to quit smoking so took truth. Of course only Kuwabara really knew of embarrassing things about his sister and what he could ask to get some information, unfortunately Callie had been the one to ask so she just asked the universal truth question; Who do you like. Yes, another ditzy moment from the new-girl since it was well-known that Shizuru was going out, in a way, with Koenma.

Koenma picked dare and had then been forced, by Shizuru, to do a strip dance. The poor prince had never been in such an embarrassing situation. After everyone finished laughing, Shizuru doing cat calls and waving a dollar-bill in the air mockingly, he had sulked for a good while.

Botan had a fun dare--to her at least--she had to impersonate her least favorite person in the whole world; Hibari. And that was how the Play started.

Botan was actually doing such a good impersonation, and actually really getting into the role, that others just sorta went along with her. Yusuke joined in and began to play the part of Hiei and somehow Puu was given the part of Callie.

"But I loooooooove you!!!" Botan wailed as she fell to her knees. "Let me hump you to show my looooooove!"

Keiko had spat out her water at the line and Kurama nearly choked on some chicken. They certainly weren't expecting THAT to come out of her mouth, but it was entertaining none the less. Some, like Kuwabara and Callie and Keiko, felt a bit guilty of their bashing, but their friends said that Hibari deserved it and besides Hiei and Callie were being made fun of too.

"HN!!! No. I don't go for horny-girls. Give me a the offspring of a stick and a monkey and I will be happy!" Yusuke stated grumpily.

"I don't sound like that." Hiei twitched.

"An offspring of what?" Callie glared.

"That pun sucked," Keiko teased.

"Silence you human wench!" Yusuke, still playing Hiei ordered. "I will not take being insulted for I have a third eye!"

Hiei glared, feeling close to getting another chair to throw.

"heheh," Callie giggled finding that funny. Of course her soft giggles were heard by her fire-demon--since she was leaning against his chest in his lap, and was then ordered her to give him a kiss. Once this dare was over with she was going to kill him!

So while they were making out--many hits were being placed on Hiei's head this night--the play continued, though it began to dwindle since the Yusuke-Hiei was a bit distracted by the make-out. Death to the Hiei!

"Ok…I give it two thumbs down." Shizuru sighed, shaking her head. "The blue-head was believable, but the moron with the face downright sucked. The best performer of the night was the penguin."

"I was upstaged by a penguin that just goes "Puu" and sat on my head the whole time?" Yusuke sulked.

"Hey the monkey clings to Hiei constantly."

"Touché." Yusuke muttered. "Ok, ok, WE GET IT! STOP SUCKING EACH OTHER'S FACES OFF!" He screamed towards the two that were still a bit busy.

Instantly the spell Hiei had on her shattered and Callie pulled away with a blushing face. "O-Oh uhm….s-s-sorry!"

"Hormones all around." Genkai chuckled.

Somehow that sentence seems to strike a chord within Keiko's mind and she clasped her hands, "We should talk about the wedding!"

"Eh?! Already?! B-But Keiko! It's so…girly!" Yusuke whined.

She glared at him, "When will we talk about it with them then?"

"Uhm…later?" He tried, hoping to procrastinate the talk. Not like he wasn't looking forward to marrying her, but the thought of talking about it was something he was dreading. "Come on…this is a party! We should be drinking beer and playing more games!"

"Beer?" Keiko grunted, giving him a warning look.

"Fine, no beer…" He grumbled, kicking the floor like a child. He was a demon, he's saved the world many times, didn't he deserve to have a beer here and there? His mate was so stingy. "Can't we talk about something else? What about my birthday? It's in a little over a week!" He batted his eyes.

"Hmph, as if." Botan huffed. "Why should we talk about your birthday when you won't talk about the wedding?"

He pursed his lips, "No fair. How will you know what I want?"

"We already know what you want and we already have all your gifts bought. So there is no need to talk." His jaw dropped. "Yes, yes, we are ninjas." She grinned smugly. "We know all and see all."

"Isn't that a god?" Kuwabara asked with a chuckle in his voice.

"Ninja's are just awesome like that." Shizuru stated. "They are like Hiei only they ware a masks…and cooler."

Hiei gave her a glare.

"Is there even a point to this conversation?" Kurama asked looking around in confusion. Where the hell did the topic of ninjas come from? This group was just so weird.

"Ok, ok. Let's decide and not argue." Botan smiled, "We all know someone here has a curfew." Callie sulked slightly at this. "So we shouldn't waste any precious fun-moments. Now! Since we can't talk about any upcoming weddings," Her candy-eyes gave a small glare to Yusuke, "Or about birthdays…"

"Or Eickichi." Kuwabara sighed.

"What does your cat have anything to do with anything?" Kurama asked as he yanked Botan by the hem of her pants to sit back down beside him. Botan had a tendency of standing up when she begins to talk.

"Just wanted to put in something important. I had wanted to share that she is very close to giving birth." He beamed proudly.

"Ah yes, you can bring her over anytime then." Genkai said. "She can have her babies here."

"Thank you so much Genkai." Kuwabara gave a respectful nod to the woman, very grateful for her kindness.

"Kittens?" Callie looked so excited. She wanted a pet so badly!

"You're not getting a cat." Kurama warned. "Don't ask."

She pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. One day she will get that pet, no matter what anyone says!

"Alright, so what should we do? And there will be NO torturing of me." Yusuke growled. "I've had enough of that."

"Psh, you're no fun. That's one of the things we use to bond together as a family." Genkai sniffed, pretending to wipe an ear from the crow's feet at her eye. "You are such a pussy. Can't take a bit of teasing before bawling."

"I'm not bawling!" Yusuke roared.

"Gay." The group retorted, following Keiko's new favorite insult to him. They would never let him live down the fact that he and Kuwabara had cuddled--that picture was still hidden somewhere, neither boy has yet to find it. And yes, they have indeed looked for the blasted thing.

"Hey! I said no Yusuke-torturing!" He cried out.

"Yeah, like a tantrum will get us to do what you want us to do." Botan sniggered. "Oh, we could do hide-and-seek!"

"Hide-and-seek? What are you, seven?" Yusuke muttered bitterly only for his skull to get smashed in by an oar. "OWWWW!!"

"Shut your mouth, you pig-lover." The deity growled before she whished her oar away. "It could be fun! Maybe the humans trying to find the demons?"

"We would never be able to find them though." Keiko pointed out. "The game would be very unfair, not too mention if we split up some horn-dogs might use it to their advantage…" She gave a glare to her mate who was still in pain.

"Oh….too true." Botan gulped as she took at glance at her mate who had a shine of gold in his eyes. "Let's not do hide-and-seek then."

"You are no fun." Kurama purred.

"Don't care! Next suggestion?" Botan asked the group.

"Truth or dare is fun and everything, but I just don't know if I can take it being done for the remainder of the evening." Koenma pointed out as he leaned against the palm of his hand. He really did enjoy spending time with them all, and putting some through embarrassing situations, but it could get old rather fast.

Kuwabara glanced towards the clock, "Its eleven-thirty…and Hiei said that Callie will be in bed by midnight," No one had protest this; they wanted her to get as much rest as possible. "What can we do to take up time for thirty more minutes?"

"Videogames, but I would wipe the floor with you all." Keiko giggled, but no one disagreed with her.

"Yusuke is being a baby and won't let us tease him." Genkai huffed.

"I can only take so much of reliving Hibari, no matter how funny that play was." Yukina sighed.

"Cooking anything would take to long." Kuwabara inputted, knowing he and Callie could whip up some cookies--but Yukina would want to help and….they just didn't have the time to deal with that mess.

"No Yusuke-torturing." Yusuke said.

"We've already mentioned that." Genkai snapped.

"I know... I'm just making sure you all get the picture that there won't be any Yusuke-torturing." He said smugly, as if he had somehow won an argument.

Hiei's hands inched over Callie's thigh, "Maybe we--"

"NO SEDUCING!!" Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Kurama roared.

Hiei pulled his hand away and glared, he wasn't one to be ordered around--but he didn't want to lose on that dare.

He really cursed his stubborn pride.

"If we can't think of anything, let her go to sleep." Hiei grunted.

"No!" The brunette whined. "Come on, let me stay up and spend more time with everyone!" She pleaded, but it seemed that Hiei had already made up his mind.

"No, you need to sleep."

"I'm usually always asleep!" She moaned as she began to sulk, though everyone could see in her eyes that she was looking a bit sleepy. She was just going to have to face the facts that she wasn't as energetic as she once was.

"How about this," The ever reasonable, and King of the Videogames, Keiko began. "We all go to bed now. And continue the party in the morning? I promise that we will wake you up at ten and then we all can meet up in the kitchen and make pancakes together."

"Yeah!" Botan nodded. "We don't have to simply stop having fun because we fall asleep. In the morning we will be able to continue and maybe even be able to think of more things without being pressed for time."

Honey-brown eyes brightened, "That sounds awesome!" She then pulled on Hiei's sleeve giving him another pleading look, giving him puppy-dog eyes unconsciously (or everyone hoped it was--if she knew of her power they were all doomed). "Can we?"

Hiei sighed, he only really liked it when she woke up on her own and not when people woke her up from a good rest.

But gods, make her stop with those damn eyes!

He's always thought they were bad, but at least he could fight them, now it felt like another part of his mind--one that has just been created--was demanding that he give her what she wanted. He knew having a mate was going to be trouble.

"Fine, fine." He growled, wanting to have his ability to say "fuck no" back.

Callie beamed so brightly, quite pleased that he wouldn't be ranting. "Thanks!" She gave him a big hug.

He heaved a heavy sigh; he was officially a pushover.

Yep, he was going to gut himself to save face.

Grabbing her by her monkey-ear he hoisted her up, "Fine then, we're going on to bed." He then yanked her, ignoring the snickering his friends were trying, oh so pathetically, to cover. They had better watch themselves lest they want to wake up and find some needed things on their body missing.

"Ow, ow, ow." She squeaked, preferring him to drag her by the collar then her ear. "Ow! Hiei! Let go! It huuuuuurts!"

"Well," Koenma stated as he picked himself up, brushing his clothing of any dust and crumbs of food. "This has been an enjoyment. But I need to get back to work; I thank you all for letting me stay."

"Stop acting so uptight." Yusuke huffed. "We're friends aren't we?"

Koenma looked at the young man, as if he was unable to answer. With how often both of them have been yelling at each other and how neither of them was able to see eye to eye on anything he almost had to wonder if their friendship was breaking apart.

"Yes," The prince finally nodded, though a bit stiffly. "We are."

"Then stop acting like we are mere acquaintances." Yusuke ordered as he began to munch on some of the last bit of lo Mein. "And you are coming back tomorrow for breakfast right?"

"No," Koenma shook his head. "Unfortunately breakfast isn't an option for me. I can return for sinner though, but my schedule is pretty much jammed-pack." He ran a hand through his brown hair, his eyes showing a ton of exhaustion from all that he has done and all that he has to do.

"Ah, well…good luck with all of that then."

"Yusuke," Keiko hissed before looking up at the prince. "Thanks for joining us! We can't wait for you to come back tomorrow. Please remember to rest before working." She said sweetly, making Koenma feel a bit better.

He gave a small smile to her and a nod before he turned around and elegantly walked out of the temple and back to his world.

The moment he was gone for sure, Keiko grabbed a pillow and smacked it over Yusuke's face. "Be kinder!!"

"OW! What the hell!?"

"He is under so much stress and you still act like a snob to him!" She smacked him again. "You two might always have spats but this is getting ridiculous."

Yusuke blocked another swipe of the pillow, "I can't lie to the brat. I'm not going to pretend everything is ok and that I am not mad at him."

"At least be a bit more civil. He's trying." Botan sighed, interrupting the argument. "He is making this case his first priority, but he can't concentrate on it 24-7 when he still has to run the Gate and keep everything else under order. Be a bit patient with him."

With a growl, feeling ganged up on, Yusuke picked himself up and stormed out into the woods, wanting to punch something.

So much for ending a fun night with a warm, friendly moment.

Within Hiei's room, unaware of the bitterness that was taking place with her friends, Callie had just finished brushing her teeth and was now on the bed looking up at the ceiling as Hiei took a shower and got ready for bed--if he came out with nothing or in a towel she will murder him.

But knowing him, he probably would. He so enjoyed making her blush and scream out in anger. Which is so weird, why has he been so playful with her recently?

'Why question it?' She thought with a groan. 'It's rather impossible to understand Hiei, probably best to not try and figure him out.' She didn't want her brain to explode from the complications of that line of thinking.

The door opened and Callie slapped her hands over her eyes.

"What the hell are you doing, idiot?" Hiei's gruff voice asked.

"With how you are how do I know you are fully dressed?"

"I took that damn dare. I'm not about to cave in and give anyone the satisfaction I can't pull off one measly dare." He huffed as he shut the door after him.

"Hmm, true…" She still had some difficulties believing him but opened her eyes and peeked none the less. He had pants on--what is it with this man and his fetching for going shirtless? "Huh, you were telling the truth."

He raised an eyebrow, "You are a pervert."

"I am not a pervert!" She wailed, sitting up. "How am I the pervert when you are the one walking around shirtless and you decided to make out with me in front of everyone and then grabbed my boob?!"

He shrugged, "Did I ever claim I wasn't one?"

She opened her mouth only to gag, "Uuuh…..no…..?"

Hiei smirked, "Then I suppose we are both perverts."

"I'm not a pervert!" The girl still argued--as he predicted; his mate was so predictable at times. It was cute and made it very easy to control her and keep her secure. If he could predict her moments before she actually did them, then he would have a few less things to worry about.

Such as her wanting to see if she could slide down the stair railing.

Oh, he had given her such a lecture after she made a try to do that stunt.

Hiei shook his head, not about to get into an argument with her. The girl would always be stubborn and brain-dead, not seeing that HE was the one who would always be right. "Stubborn." He whispered before coming over to her side and taking a seat next to her. "You're a stubborn little one."

Her face colored and she puffed out her cheeks, "I am not." She then crossed her arms over her chest, looking quite pouty--promptly proving Hiei's point on her being stubborn.

A rough hand began to smooth her bangs back, "Idiot." He then pressed his mouth to hers, was it ever difficult to giving romantic attention to this girl. Something about her taste just drove him wild and left him addicted.

"Hmm, H-Hiei," She pulled back. "We're not doing anything. We can get caught….again."

"I wasn't planning to." He lied. 'Damn it.' "I already said that I was going to wait for you to get healed before I took you again." She blushed and he chuckled, "You will need to learn to be more daring with sex."

"You need to learn how to stop bringing sex into everything." Callie grumped back.

"You are really too easy to tease."

"Hmph." She looked away, her face still slightly pink from her blush. "You're just a bully."

Hiei smirked, "Hn."

She then pulled at his cheeks, "I don't think 'hn' is an acceptable answer."

"You didn't ask a question," He moved her hand off his cheeks.

"Well it wasn't much of a comeback to an insult." She sulked.

"Oh, you wanted to fight?" He smirked, knowing that this was her way to flirt with him. She had a cute way to flirting, and it was even cuter because the girl was rather oblivious to the fact she was using arguing to get his attention. He then pulled at her hair, "We need to talk."

"Hmm?" She blinked at him. One moment they were playing around and the next he just did a complete turn around and was acting very serious. "This sounds…bad."

"It is." He sighed as he pushed her down so that she was lying down and then pulled her up into his arms. "Your good evening is probably going to be ruined." He smoothed her hair down again, "The reason Koenma first came was to bring news, not to be a part of a party."

"Oh…" She fidgeted slightly in his hold, stealing herself for bad news. "What is it?"

"You're the last." She blinked. "All the others who are in your situation, the ones who are being poisoned are gone." He sighed deeply when her eyes went wide as the information began to sink in. "You are the final target."

"Oh…w-well, we knew it was going to happen right?" Her voice was shaky and tears were beginning to gather. "It just sorta…came sooner then expected. Those guys s-s-sure move fast." She sniffed, trembling in his arms. "It will…be ok…right?" She gulped, looking close to having a panic attack.

Instantly his instincts as a mate went into full-gear and he pulled her even closer, running his arms over her sides, trying to soothe her nerves down. "Its ok…I promise it will be ok." He gave off some comforting noises--noises only a demon could make--trying to reach her terrified mind. "I will protect you--I will make sure they don't get you. Ok? Now calm down."

"I-I'm trying." She whimpered. "Uhm…r-remember when you and mom teased me about calling you guys a bastard?"

"Yes?" He blinked, wondering what brought this on.

"I don't think you or I have really talked too much about your past, actually. Mind telling me more about it?"

She needed a distraction. What she wanted to talk about something, anything, to get her mind off of what was occurring.

"Hmm," He shrugged, "If it's what you wish to know about."

"Of course I will want to know more about the person I am in love with." She replied honestly.

"Fine." He sighed, though in truth that sentence made him feel lightheaded. "I was born on a floating island in the Makai that holds a race called Koorimes. They are ice-maidens--what Yukina is. Every hundred years they reproduce on their own; give birth to a girl who will look identical, or almost identical, to their mother." He saw her confusion and continued with his tale. "The only way to get a son is if they mate. Which is what my mother did….and she did it when she was about to conceive her first child. Turns out she was different from others in the tribe and held a curiosity and sense of adventure and left the island."

"She sounds nice." Callie blinked, feeling the same exhaustion from sobbing--despite the fact she didn't cry.

"I never knew her." Hiei stated. "It seems when she left she found a mate in a fire-demon. But she didn't stay with him…I suppose she felt like the Island was her home and it would be wrong to run away from it….or it's a possibility she did wanted to stay but its possible my father died. And she would be similar to Yukina, naïve to the way of the world. She wouldn't have survived on her own…either way she returned back and had us."

He paused for a moment, not to compose himself but just to let the memories return to him for a bit. "When she gave birth to us she was looked at with disgust. She had been dirtied. It was as if she had tainted everything "pure" to them." He spat in disgust. "They were pathetic closed-minded bitches." Hiei continued, "Males born from a Koorime are to be twisted and evil beings. They are blood-thirsty and will destroy the tribe." His lips unconsciously twisted into a smirk, "Looks like they were right…though in the end they were to dead for me to feel any satisfaction, unfortunately."

Callie looked very confused, and a bit taken aback, at this information, "You're not evil…"

Something within him warmed slightly at her words. "I skipped ahead." He apologized, though was quite surprised at how much he was talking. Was there ever a time when he spoke so much? If there was ever a time he failed to remember it. "So it was decided that she and Yukina could stay behind. But I was to be exiled."

"Exiled?"

"Yes. I was tossed off the island hours after birth." She gasped loudly; almost shooting up in shock--expecting this reaction he was able to get her back down. "Calm down, this was over sixty-years ago, remember? Don't get so worked up."

"B-But…how could they do that to you?" Callie whimpered, looking close to crying again. She then touched his face, "I…it doesn't make sense…why would they do that to you…?"

"It's just how things are in that tribe. Pitiful creatures aren't they?" He pushed some hair behind her ear, only to have it fall back into place from it being to short. "But I survived…I was swept down the river and picked up by a group of bandits. They took me in trained me to fight…but it wasn't enough for me. I craved to kill, to get a challenge, to see blood…nothing sustained me. I scared them off. They left me."

"What? They…left you? But they were your family!" Two families abandoned him? How could that possibly happen? Families were supposed to always be with each other no matter what! And Hiei got two that just gave up on him because he was a bit scary? She was annoying and loud yet she was welcomed to two families with ease! How was that fair?

"For years I just lived my life, performing high-level crimes and picking fights, the only way I felt comforted was looking at this." He pointed to the necklace he always wore. "When a Koorime gives birth she produces a tear, different from the ones she normally sheds, and it is given to the child. Since she had twins one was made for me and the other was made for Yukina."

"No wonder it's so precious to you." Callie sniffed, still a bit upset about his history.

"But one day I lost it during a fight. Without it I had no consolation for my bloodlust…so I became consumed with revenge. I wanted to find that island and kill them all off. I had heard of a doctor that could implant an artificial eye, so I went to him to convince him to give one to me."

Hiei decided it was best to not tell the girl what he went through to get his Jagan. "With it I lost most all of my powers that I had gained through the years but I found a means to locate the island--and hopefully my necklace. I worked hard and finally was able to locate it…I was very disappointed."

Callie gulped, remembering his words from before. He actually had planned to kill off an entire tribe, no race, of people? It's true they had deeply wronged him but to kill them off like that?

"I found the woman who threw me over…she gave me a small update. Turns out my mother did care for me and did not want to have me taken from her. After it all she committed suicide."

"W-What?" Dear god, how much pain and suffering does one person have to go through? Abandoned twice and his mother killed herself? And who knows what all has happened in between that he hasn't yet shared with her.

Her poor Hiei…

"She begged for me to kill her…but I wasn't interested." He sneered at the memory and how pathetic she had been. "But she did tell me I had a sister. I'm not sure why…but I was compelled to see her…I wanted to see her. But I refused to."

"Why?"

"I didn't deserve to have a family. She had left to look for me but I could never let her find me. Which I had believed would be an easy-task. I began training and then a few years later I decided to sneak into a vault in the Gate and got the assistances of Kurama and another demon that later died by Yusuke's hands…that was how we first met."

"….Cause you're a criminal?"

Hiei smirked, "Yes. I was captured because of a fluke," Everyone, even Yusuke, agreed that at that time Hiei was out of Yusuke's league. Had that mirror-idea failed things would've been very-very different now. "But mine and Kurama's services were needed--so in exchange for our freedom we helped the detective with a case…and then everyone was tied together. Its just been one thing after the other, no one within this group ever able to stay apart from one another."

Today was officially a day he concluded he was officially insane--or more insane then he had originally thought.

He had actually joined in a party--not as much as the rest but the fact was he JOINED--and now he just told his life story, IN DETAIL. He doesn't normally speak that much in a month and….and….

He opened his soul to her.

'Fuck.' He growled. 'This is…fuck!'

"You've been through so much." She whispered as she looked at him tenderly. "How you remained so strong and intact is beyond me…"

"Hn." He grunted, not wanting to show that he cared about what she thought.

"Its no wonder you can be so…grumpy at times. But don't worry! I will make you happy!" She cheered, looking positive at her promise. It seems a lot of promises have been made this evening.

A small smile went to his face, "Alright…I will hold you to that promise."

She grinned happily at the thought. "Oh…but…haven't you cried from all of this? This has been so horrible…I mean…"

"No. And I have already answered this before; I have no reason to cry. Never have I shed a singe tear." Really, this girl needed to have things repeated to her constantly. 'Idiot.' He sighed, still rather stunned that she has YET to remember about being mated. 'Stupid idiot.'

"Oh…I wonder what the color of your tears are. You think they are the same as your mother and Yukina?" She asked curiously.

"I don't know. And I don't care to find out." He grunted.

"Oh," She then held onto him tightly, burning her face into his chest. "It's not fair."

"Life isn't fair. You have to accept that and move on. What has happened is over and done with." He then covered her up. "I've kept you up to late with that. You need to rest."

Well, the idea of her being the main target to the unnamed enemy was certainly out of her head. But she was unable to accept all that has been done to Hiei. How was it possible that he could be forced to go through something like this?

And he's never cried over it!! That was something she, a girl who cried very often, found difficult to comprehend. After so much hate and pain and self-torture, he's been so aloof about it, as if he didn't care.

It was mind-boggling.

'You deserve to be happy Hiei.' She thought to herself as she cuddled up against him, feeling the sleepiness take its toll on her. 'I promise to make sure you are happy.' She vowed once more before the blackness consumed her and she was fast asleep, leaving Hiei to his thoughts.

Yet another sigh escaped him, that had mentally drained him. He never expected talking about his past would wear him down.

Despite feeling this way, and a bit stunned on the fact he did so and talked so much, he couldn't find himself regretting it. He liked the fact that she knew so much about him--though she did deserve to considering she was now his mate.

Mate…it was still such an amazing thought. He, Hiei, had a life-mate to call his own.

What did he do to deserve something like this?

Oh right, he didn't deserve it--he just stole the chance for it…after some headaches and emotional-confusion and a load of denial.

Again; damn his stubbornness.

He looked down at her; she made him feel so alive and different. But it was something he wanted to fight off. He didn't want to have these feelings for this stupid primate.

But he was finding it too difficult to fight it off--and so far he has noticed that the more he fought something, the war he created in his mind was always brutal and lead him to feeling worse then ever and only caused more problems, and then once he gave in he would always find himself better off.

If that's how these things worked, why should he keep fighting it?

After all this time, after everything he has been through and thought…could he really be in love with someone? And not just someone, but Callie. She would be the last person he expected to feel anything like this for.

A human girl who had no curves or brains to speak of. He was in love with her? It was preposterous…and yet…

"Ugh," He groaned, being careful not to wake the girl up. Why is it his head keeps spinning around in circles like this? What about this was so confusing to him? It was a yes or no answer. But why was it that this just wouldn't stop bothering him?

"Love." That word was still foreign to his tongue.

His red eyes went back to her face, his fingertips tracing over her features.

No.

Not yet.

Not until he was sure of what it means and that he was sure of it. At the moment he knew he felt something very deep and indescribable for the girl, but he could not say it was love without being positive.

It would only be fair to the both of them and he knew that is what Callie would want--for him to say it when he was ready.

It might take him a few more weeks, but once he understood it he will ensure that she knows.

But he will admit it; he had feelings for her. He cared deeply for her and was very pleased that she was the one who would be his mate forever. It made him happy, he felt clean around her

He smiled slightly as he pulled her in closer.

Hiei had to admit, he could get use to this.

---

Well….yet again….Genkai's kitchens was in ruins.

Log in for memory; never let Hiei near a blender and never, ever let Yukina or Kurama cook….EVER.

Hiei at least had some ability to cook things, he just couldn't handle the appliances within the kitchen--Kurama and Yukina just plain SUCKED.

Yukina found away to make food come to life and try to eat them and Kurama had the ability to make everything poison. But they had to give the boy an award; no one has ever been able to burn ICE-CREAM (why ice-cream was being made for breakfast was because everyone there was junk-food junkies).

Genkai was not pleased at the sight of all the unnamed stuff around the room. So the group spent about an hour cleaning everything up before Callie, Yusuke, Keiko, and Kuwabara took over and cooked a big pancake breakfast.

Has it been mentioned that the group was consisted of pigs?

Well after each individual going through about ten pancakes--Keiko, the "normal" one only had four in fear she would start feeling fat later on--they all got together to clean the dishes and got into a water and bubble fight.

So needless to say, they had to clean the kitchen again and they were all soaked.

After separating to get into dry clothes they all gathered back together and decided to continue from last night; did truth or dare, tried Botan's idea for the hide-and-seek (though, as predicted, some used the situation to their perverted-advantage), and had yet another video-game challenged--Keiko the winner every time.

It was just one game after another with the group.

And during this time period Kurama and Genkai had kept a very close eye on Hiei who, once again, seemed to have a personality-lift.

Really, the boy has gone through so many attitude-shifts that it was scary.

Hiei's eyes, they were much more expressive then anyone has ever seen. They looked clear and happy, as if the fog of hate and resentment has been evaporated. It was amazing sight to behold--no one in the group has ever seen them like that before.

Not to say he had made a huge alteration--at least not one that those outside the group would notice--he was still grumpy and would keep to himself and growl at anyone who would get on his bad side. But to those in the group it was huge.

And rather amusing.

Hiei seemed to be unaware that he was following her and looking at her with longing, acting like a puppy. Whenever she does something that pleases him or if she leaves and then returns Kurama can figuratively picture a Hiei-puppy wagging his tail .

Pathetic, anyone?

Should he come to the realization he was beginning to act like Yusuke and Kuwabara he probably would kill himself. He was still iffy about the whole mate-ordeal, if he knew just how much it was changing him he would do his denial-bit again.

And really, that was getting so old.

Also, Hiei has always been protective over the girl…but dear gods, just because she fell over--something she usually did--doesn't mean that he should proclaim she wasn't walking since it was too dangerous. And he was painfully obvious about his need to protect her, even the thick Callie was beginning to notice something.

And oooh, was it ever amusing to picturing the outcome should she actually figure out he had feelings for her before he could confess.

Poor Hiei.

Luckily, he had feelings for an idiot.

The damn girl STILL hasn't remembered that biting meant that she was the mate of Hiei.

But the fact that he was the way he was now really made them so happy--despite the idiot-moron part.

So back to the day of fun and enjoyment--a welcoming break for the group. They all spend the day together, having fun--where they left off the night before. They order a pizza, some cheese-sticks, garlic rolls, and a special dessert-pizza. They all inhaled it, promising Yusuke to have a big Italian feast on his birthday (Italian is his favorite style of food).

And now were watching a rather heated match between Yusuke and Keiko in Go-Fish--Yusuke refused to be beaten by her in everything.

He was losing to no one's surprise.

"AUGH! How do you keeping beating me?!!" He whined as he threw down his cards and crossed his arms and did another one of his infamous sulks.

Yusuke-tantrum, awaaaaay!

"Are you helping her cheat?!" Yusuke, now suspicious about his pathetic loss, glared at Hiei.

"I am not taking part of this." Hiei snorted, finding it ridiculous that he would be accused of such a thing. Though he had to admit; Yusuke's tantrums were hilarious. Nothing like watching one of the most powerful demon's throw a pout because he was losing at a card-game.

So pathetic.

"What's that?" Kurama then asked as his head snapped up from the book he had been shifting through.

"Huh? What's what?" Botan looked around, not seeing anything. But she and the others did take notice that Genkai and the boys had stiffened up. "What's wrong?"

"Someone is here…" Kuwabara whispered as he and the others shot to their feet. Its very faint, as if they are trying to hide themselves but can't…you girls stay here." And the warriors were out on the move to the yard.

Botan pulled out her oar and held it in a battle-ready position. Now that she concentrated she could feel it as well. She could only sense it when she concentrated for it, but it was there none the less.

And it was deeply concerning.

A minute passed, then another--and there was no sound from outside.

"Should we check on them?" Keiko whispered.

"Give it another minute." Genkai warned. "We will make a move and see if its needed that we are to leave." He ushered Callie to get in closer to her. "Lets go see… stay behind me at all times."

Callie gulped and nodded and did as instructed and they all inched their way to see what was happening with the boys outside.

Callie blinked at the sight of the group that seemed to be playing the part of statues, "What's going on?"

"I-I can't…m-move-e…" Kuwabara groaned out, his body trembling as he tried to take another step forward. The others were struggling just as bad--sweat was dribbling down their faces.

"What…" Callie then turned and saw that the girls were the same. In fact her own body felt hard to move. What was going on?

"No matter how you struggle you can't escape." A voice stated and then a tare appeared--an opening of sorts actually appeared randomly in the air. It seemed black and empty but four people all of a sudden came out from it.

They seemed human except for the white scrubs and jackets on them, making them seem a bit odd.

"The gas we released has been proven effective for any level of demon. Its odorless, tasteless, and you cant' sense it--making it a perfect tool. It took us a few months to perfect it so as we can come here with little trouble. But I guess we should hurry regardless…you all have been known to do the unthinkable." The woman stated as she stuck her hands into her pockets.

"M-Ms. A-A-Andrew?" Callie squeaked, her eyes wide. It was her psychiatrist--it was actually her coming out of some portal and made her friends paralyzed. She bit her lip and shuddered when she remembered the face of the harpy.

Ms. Andrew looked at her and without missing a beat gave off the command, "Get the girl."

Callie gasped wanting desperately to run away as fast as possible, but was frozen to the ground as three men surrounded her. It was true…this was the proof that this woman was with the bad guys.

And now she was here…to get Callie.

"NO!! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!!" Hiei roared as he began to wither around in hopes of getting control over his body. They were after his mate--instantly his body, mind, and power went into over-drive.

"HURRY!" Ms. Andrew screamed. "The fire-demon is breaking free! GET THE GIRL!!"

"NOOO!!" Callie shrieked in terror as they grabbed one of her fragile arms and yanked her to her feet and began to drag her towards the hole. Damn it! She had to do something! She couldn't be so weak that she couldn't fight back!

"YOU CAN'T HAVE HER!! SHE'S MINE!! RELEASE HER NOW!!" Hiei snarled out.

"She is no longer yours, I'm afraid, Hiei the Dragon." Ms. Andrew said coldly, a smirk twisting on her lips as she took Callie from the other man. "She's ours. This girl means too much to us…" The woman then brought out a large needle with a yellow substance in it. "We have worked too hard for all of this and we're not going to let you ruin it for us."

She grabbed Callie's head harshly and yanked it to the side, giving an open view to her neck. Then she stabbed the girl roughly with the needle making her yelp in pain.

Hiei's eyes grew wide; they had placed harm on her. They had placed harm on what was his.

"YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!!" He screamed as he began to slowly walk forward, wanting to run. "GIVE HER BACK TO ME!! YOU CAN'T HAVE HER!!"

The brunette was swaying on her feet as the drug took it's affect on her. She was seeing double of everything and her mouth felt swollen. It was impossible for her to function her mouth.

'Hiei…don't let them take me away…' She pleaded, even the words in her mind were slurred. 'I don't want to-t-o…g-oo…w-with them,' Her eyes were closing--she was pathetically weak. She couldn't if put up a fight. She was just reduced to begging.

'Stay awake…come on little one…stay awake!! I won't let them take you--just stay awake!!' He begged

'I'm sc-s--scared…I do-o-on't want-t-t…..to…go…' Her voice sounded so far away. "Hiei!!" She gave one last wail as she was grabbed roughly by the waist and brought into the hole and then she was gone, the other scientists hurrying to get in.

"CALLIE!!" Hiei cried out and then the gas had no affect on him and he was running.

"Damn it!! Close it up!! CLOSE IT UP NOW!!" One man screamed as he shoved the rest inside. His panic broke apart and then laughed in relief when it was closed up.

Hiei was separated from the brunette. Red eyes went wide as he looked around as if very lost as to what happened. It never came into his head that there was a chance he could actually lose her. They always won. They always pulled through things like this and saved the damsel before anything really bad happened. He and the others had been so sure, so damn sure, that this would be just like the other times.

"Heh…sorry…but your little bitch is gone for good." The man smirked as he took a step back. "And you will never find her!" And then his stuck his tongue out and opened his mouth wide before he brought his teeth down to bite the tongue off and kill himself…only to be stopped when veins from plants wrapped around his face and body.

His eyes widened briefly in surprise, but then calmed--he had expected this. These were some of the most famous beings within the Makai--they could stop a man from biting his tongue off.

"You…" Kurama seethed, his eyes a pure gold. "Are not getting off that easy. You will be telling us where my sister is and you will remain alive until we know where she is and we have her…and you will pray to whatever god you believe in that we find her and then finally end your painful and horrid existence."

Hiei was gaping at the empty air now, reaching at where the portal had once been.

She was gone.

It triggered an anger he never knew existed within him.

Spinning around he made a lunge for the unnamed man, ready to snap his neck. Luckily he was intervened by Kuwabara and Yusuke. "GIVE HER BACK!!!"

"Hiei! HIEI CALM DOWN!" Yusuke cried out. "We can't get her back if we don't know where she was taken!! We need him alive!!"

"GIVE HER BACK!! GIVE HER BACK TO ME!!" Hiei screamed. "CALLIE!! CALLIE!"

Yusuke's short nails were digging deep into Hiei's skin, trying to yank him back and body slam him into the ground where he would have a better fighting advantage. But Hiei's legs, though short compared to Yusuke's, seemed to be thicker with muscles and he would not be thrown down.

He was going to kill this bastard for taking away his mate.

Then a big fist came and connected with the fire-demon's jaw, "Hiei! This isn't helping her!" Kuwabara snapped. "You have got to calm down! You can't kill him yet! YOU HAVE TO SAVE THE RUNT FIRST!"

Red eyes glared at him, glazed from such a release of emotions, his chest heaving in pants and there was a slight sheen of sweat on his face. "I-I need her back…" Hiei confessed, though a bit out of it he was still able to feel a bit surprised that it was Kuwabara that had calmed him down. "She's my mate…a-a demon can't survive without their mate."

"I know." The very tall male sighed, happy that he was a bit in better mind now. "I know…but going off like this won't help get her back to you. We need to get information out from him first."

Hiei looked down a bit. Who ever wanted to admit that Kuwabara was right? But sure enough he was correct in his words. He couldn't let his anger get control over him like this and prevent them from finding the girl he had just recently claimed as his own.

All of a sudden he felt incredibly drained.

"You took my mate…" Hiei growled at the entangled man. "You took my mate…" His knuckles popped as he clenched his fist tightly. "You will tell me where she is." He reached back for his katana, snarling. "I will make sure that you tell me everything."

"I'm afraid that isn't in your jurisdiction, Hiei." Yet another new voice popped in.

Everyone snapped their heads to look over and growled at the sight of the soldiers that served Koenma's father. Why the hell were they here?

"This man needs to be confiscated." One stated as he walked over to the unnamed man who was still trapped within the vines of Kurama's plants. He scowled when the prisoner was moved away and Kurama stepped in between them. "Stand aside."

"He has my sister and Hiei's mate. We are not handing him over."

"Then you will be arrested." He made a move for the fox-demon, appearing to confident for his lowly power.

"You will not touch them." Instantly all stiffened up and turned. The group was rather surprised to see Hinageshi who did not look pleased. "I have been sent here to bring them with you as you take the prisoner."

"A lowly reaper such as yourself are in no position to order me around." The solider snapped.

The red head pulled out a scroll with a crest on it, "By order of Koenma-sama!" That got the group she was yelling out to shut their mouths. "These men here have saved the worlds more then anyone else--and now their friend has been taken from them. They are to come as the prisoner is escorted."

The solider growled, "FINE!! Take the prisoner!" He then turned and glared at the group. "Lord Enma has given the orders that if you disobey us we are to take your family to prison in your stead." He warned to Kurama who glared dangerously.

He appeared smug and smirked before he grabbed the vines entrapping the prisoner and took them to the portal--this one to the Gate.

Instantly the group was on the red-head deity they hadn't seen in about a year.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?!" Yusuke screamed.

She flinched slightly, "I don't know Yusuke, I honestly don't. I was just quickly given this by Koenma-sama and hurried to allow you to come in. It seems he was monitoring you and knew instantly what happened--unfortunately so did his father. Right now he is trying to work on getting her back or something….I don't know….but you have to hurry and get to the Gate!" She motioned to the portal. "Please hurry!

Finding themselves in a locked position, they went into the portal.

Praying their friend was safe.

---

The interrogation room within the gate was nothing too special. Nothing to make a person feel fear or go insane; though it was simple and relatively empty and the colors were just a dark green--seemed like this room could almost be considered comforting if it wasn't for the person inside.

In the middle of the room the unnamed individual that was part of the group that kidnapped Hiei's mate was tied up to a long vertical slab. His body constricted in a straight-jacket, his mouth gagged so that he didn't bite his tongue, and there were two tubes running into his nostrils to make sure he kept breathing--and would pump in chemicals in case he had the ability to control organs in his body to stop.

After his near suicide attempt they were taking no chances; They were taking ever measurements to ensure that he stayed alive and healthy to answer questions.

This was the person who held information on where their missing friend was.

He had information that was needed…and that they were going to have.

And the Reikai Tantei were watching him closely over the monitors and the one-way window--which would be used for the guards that were on duty to watch him.

Within the room where one could monitor him the group was practically mauling the man with their eyes. If they didn't have any control these wall would do nothing in protecting this individual from their wrath.

Hiei was shaking, looking on as if he was tittering on the edge of madness. He was trembling as if he was cold, his eyes wild and angered. He wanted to go in there and beat the information of where his little mate was being held, but at the moment he was being held back.

How he was managed to be convinced that it was a good idea to let these fucking bastards take the key to getting his woman back.

And as they feared, they were being disallowed to see him and ask questions. They moment they arrived at the Gate he was taken from them and then the guards said that they were not allowed near him.

"Damn it Koenma!! Why is your fucking father doing this?!" Yusuke roared. "Why does he hate us this badly…t-that he would actually ignore…h-he…." His voice cracked as tears of frustration, anger, sadness, and regret began to gather. "S-She's only seventeen years old…s-she's already been through so much and he has never given her help…n-now he won't even let-let us talk." His teeth ground together tightly, any more pressure and they would began to crack apart. "C-Callie is our friend…and he won't even let us save her."

A look of pity and anger swept over Koenma's eyes before he gave a look to the guard that was there to make sure the powerful group didn't break the law set by Enma.

He sighed before took a look around and then gave a nod, "They have a minute. They can assess him for information or to see how they think he will act…but there can be no touching. We can't have any signs that you were allowed within the room." He nudged them over to the door.

"A minute!? That is impossible! We can't get anything out of him in a minute!" Kuwabara snapped. "Her life is in danger and we just get a MINUTE?!"

"It's the best I can do for now. You shouldn't even be allowed to see where he is being held. To go into the room and talk to him is something huge--my men and myself are breaking a lot of rules by doing this. Just try to get a feel of him. See if you with your trained eyes can find a weakness that we can extort and get to." He opened the door and urged them in.

It was sickening. Only a minute? Could they get enough from this bastard with this short of time?

Well, they had no time to think about it. They swiftly stormed up to the guy, wanting desperately to rip his insides out.

Unfortunately it didn't seem that this unnamed demon was affected by their glares. He looked downright smug as the entered.

"We are taking off your gag. If you make any move to kill yourself you will be interrupted immediately." Kurama hissed. The gagged moved slightly on its own, pressing down on his chin and upper-lip so he wouldn't be able to chomp down, in fact it would be hard for him to talk but it would be possible to hear his words. "Where is my sister?"

"Oh? You looking for that specimen?" He chuckled.

"Specimen?" Yusuke snarled, his eyes still slightly watery from the near sobs. "What do you mean specimen?!"

"Why should I tell you?" He chuckled, not minding that his gums were bleeding.

Time was running out, they couldn't just sit here and let him play mind games with them while there was a short limit on how long they could be in the room.

"TELL US WHERE SHE IS!!" Yusuke screamed.

"Beg for the information--beg for the girl's life and I just might comply." The man stated with a grin, licking his lips hungrily at the thought of them bowing before him.

They all looked shocked at his demand.

'It's Hidan all over again!' Yusuke growled, the tattoo markings appearing on his body. "As if! Do you understand where you are…what your situation is?! You should be begging for us to spare you! You--" He was cut off when Hiei took a step in front of him, giving the man before him a lifeless look.

It seemed hours past before Hiei fell to his knees and placed his head on the ground. Everyone went silent in awe--he was complying? Their Hiei was actually begging?

They knew Callie meant a lot to him, but to actually do this? They never thought they would see the day when he would throw down his pride and get on his knees. It was surreal.

"Please…" He stated softly, his body and mind felt so heavy and sluggish--he felt physically ill be away from the girl he claimed. "I can't…I don't have a meaning if she isn't here." He was beginning to shake as he continued to picture her being all alone. He's failed as a mate. He has shamed himself and he deserves to have his pride and dignity trampled on.

At the moment he was more then willing to have his once large pride taken away from him in an instant. He was willing to beg if it meant that he could have his idiotic monkey back, he was willing to do anything. "Please."

It was silent before the enemy burst out laughing, "You actually did it!!" He continued to laugh at the fire-demon. "Oh how delicious. Who would've thought that the infamous Hiei would actually BEG for the life of that worthless bitch?! You've grown so weak!!" His grin was disgusting. "Face the facts; you will never get the girl back. She belongs to us now and there is nothing that will happen that will change this."

There was a knock on the door, the signal that their time was up and they needed to leave.

With nothing.

"We don't have any other choice." Kurama hissed to Yusuke and Kuwabara who seemed tempted in ignoring the knock. "Leave now. Hiei…get up." Kurama reached down and hoisted the limp man up to his feet, helping him stagger to the door.

The fox demon paused at the door before turning, "You will regret this." He promised, his eyes speckled with gold.

"I doubt it." The unnamed man grinned, "See ya'll again." And the door closed and the gag went back in place.

"DAMN IT!" Yusuke punched the wall. "DAMN IT!! HE WAS PLAYING WITH US!!"

Hiei was looking at the ground, unable to comprehend what was happening. It was overloading his system and closing his emotions and mind down. All he wanted to do was scream and kill. Why couldn't he….why had she been taken away? Why did they take his mate? Why did it have to be her?

He had thrown his dignity down and got nothing in return.

"Well…it seems he sees your weakness, but you were unable to see his." Koenma said as he came up to them.

"Shut up." Yusuke spat.

"We will get her back. I promise." The prince licked his dry lips. "I will go talk with my father. I don't care what has to be done, we will get her back." He then glared at the man in the room. "I will do all I can to extract information from him. I will tell you all that I know as soon as it is heard." He sighed. "You all need to go back to the girls and rest."

Instantly they opened their mouth to argue but Koenma wouldn't hear of it. "You all have just pretty much been traumatized. You need to rest and leave the information gathering to us. The moment we get their position you will be leaving for it. You need to be as rested and as planned out for it as possible." He sighed, "Your mother doesn't know yet Kurama…"

"Uh…y-yeah…" Kurama looked down, panged. How was he going to explain to his mother that he failed in keeping his promise? That their family member had been stolen from them?

And Hiei was being uncharacteristically silent about the whole ordeal. They expected him to be raging and fidgeting in impatience, having to be held back from going back into the room. There was no sound emitting from him. He was just out of it.

It was a worrisome sign.

If he didn't vent the same thing as before would happen….only it would be a lot worse. A break in Hiei's mind when dealing with a mate would lead to the downfall of so many lives.

They had to get her back.

---

A small moan filled with pain escaped the chapped and bruised lips of the brunette. Her eyes refused to open up but her other senses were already waking up to the surroundings. The ground underneath her was hard like concrete but felt a bit warped and uneven, it felt wet and it was freezing in temperature. There was no true sound that could be identity, it sounded like something moved one second then it was silent the next making one think there had been nothing there to begin with.

But the smell…it was a horrible stench that got the girl to snap her eyes open. She shot up, only to double over and vomit all the food she has eaten recently.

On all fours she used one hand to cover her mouth and nose as she let out a painful whimper. Her head was splitting and everything was disorientated. The image of the ground, hand, and vomit beneath her was swirling, making her see triple images of it.

Callie knew if she turned her head a bit she would get sick again. So she kept her body and head still, not yet ready to face the images around her.

Her body ached, ached more then when she woke up kidnapped by that Hidan-demon. In fact this whole experience felt worse then that kidnapping--why she couldn't figure out yet only that she knew it felt much worse then the last time.

With a few shaky breaths she clenched her eyes shut, finding her head taking her through a wild dizzying ride in the dark, before she opened her eyes again; she wasn't feeling much better.

Grunting she turned over to not face the contents of her stomach and found that there was a wall behind her so just slumped against it. She couldn't say she felt much better like this, but she supposed there was a bit more comfort--at least she could say she liked it a bit better then before.

Then the smell returned to her nose and mouth, "W-What…is that?"

Finally she looked around.

She had no idea where she was. The room was almost pitch-black, but apparently light was able to get in because her eyes were beginning to slightly adjust to see around better.

God was she ever dizzy and she knew for a fact her fever was back. Callie pulled her body in closer, shivering as shut tried to make out the contents of the room. The room was small, it was only about a half a size bigger then her bedroom. If it had shackles or other devices of torture it would seem like a medieval dungeon taken out of book.

The walls and ground were made of that old cobblestone that you would find in the old castles, smooth like concrete yet uneven--which explained the feeling when she first woke up. Everything seemed very wet and slimy. There was mold and sludge staining the walls, slowly crawling down from the ceiling. There was cold dirty water dripping and making a constant sound of drops meeting a small puddle.

Had there been more light Callie wondered if she would be able to see her breath, the temperature felt to be around 30-degrees. The air around her felt stale and dirty.

But the feeling the room gave off…it was horrible. Something about the room felt to be lonely and heartbreaking and terrifying.

She wanted out. She wanted out of this room.

She needed out of this room. NOW.

Finding strength from her fear and desire she began to pick herself up. Her legs had little strength and the disoriented feeling in her head returned once again but she pushed on. She needed to find everyone.

Finally she was up to her feet and the cold almost seemed worse. Looking down she blinked stupidly at the sight of the very thin white gown that only went to her thighs--it reminded her of something from a hospital.

It made her feel some sort of revulsion and quickly looked back around, trying to find a way to escape.

She didn't have to look hard, there was a door on the wall to the right of her. It would take a lot out of her to get there with how weak she felt but it was a door, a signal of hope.

"Don't bother," A voice rasped making her gasp and spin around, not expecting to hear another voice in a room she had first thought to be empty.

Her eyes went wide when she finally took notice of fifteen lumps against the walls, many in groups in the corner like roaches.

People There were people within the room.

They were all just sitting down, their knees pulled to their chest, their bodies trembling--from cold or fear was unknown. They were wearing the same items of clothing she was and were skeletal looking. Their eyes were sunken in and spoke of untold horror.

They all looked so pitiful and lost…

It came to her instantly, she knew who they were.

"T-The Pill-Takers…" She gasped out to herself, gripping the wall behind her.

"The door almost seems magically locked." One continued, he sounded like it hurt to breathe. "Those monsters…keep us in here when they don't do the experiments." There was a sob from one of the other people. "Once the light comes on they come in…they…take you away…"

Callie shook her head, it appears that whatever was injected to her that knocked her out still hadn't faded away. She couldn't keep up with what they were saying. Experiments? What was going on?

Finally she couldn't take it anymore and slid back down to the ground, her legs felt as if they were about to explode from the inside. It hurt so badly. Her body ached, her stomach felt nauseated, her head was swarming, she was away from her family and very confused and scared.

"Where are we?" Callie asked, licking her capped lips only to spit on the ground; there was a horrible flavor on them.

"No one knows…we just appeared here…never see outside…never know what is outside. Heh….mystery…" His voiced sounded so lifeless as if there were no more hope within the world. It chilled her.

"What…is going on? Where….where are the others?" There were twenty five of them…it seemed that there were about ten missing. What had happened to the others?

What the hell was going on here?

She wanted her family, she wanted her mother. She wanted her friends and big brother and Hiei. She was so scared. She felt like she wouldn't be able to play off the tough-girl as she had done before. She just wanted to go home. 'Mama….Hiei…I want to go home…'

But before anyone could answer her question, blinding fluorescent lights came on from the ceiling, making everyone wince and wither in pain. Sobs and some screams erupted around the girl--the hair on the back of her neck and arms shot up in fear.

"W-What's--"

The black-teen that had explaining things to her looked up at her with dead eyes, "They're here…"

She gulped and turned towards the door as it opened up, it creaked and groaned--it seemed to be made of a thick and heavy metal. It left a scrape against the harden floor underneath it. Outside, or the little bit she could make it, it was just white.

But the outside was momentarily forgotten as five people entered in, in a formation to make sure there was no plot to escape--though it seems everyone within the room had long ago gave up the hope, and ability, to make an escape.

Brown eyes centered on the familiar woman.

Ms. Andrew.

Callie never knew the full extent of the word hate till her eyes landed on the woman. This woman has caused months, no YEARS, of suffering for her…and has caused so much pain and stress for her friends and family.

"You…" Callie was unable to say anything more, it was as if her anger and hate had blocked her throat and kept other words down. She just settled for a growl--a trick she perfected with the gang, and glared spitefully at her, wishing she would combust into flames.

The woman faked some surprise, placing a hand over her chest, "Why Callie dear! I hadn't expected you to be awake so soon! Hanging out with that Reikai Tantei has really strengthened you up." The people within the room were in the dark with what was happening.

"And they will be here soon to kick your ass." The brunette hissed. "You bitch….I trusted you."

"Aww, I haven't heard that line before." She chortled sarcastically. "Everyone here has spewed those words to someone once or twice."

Callie didn't doubt that, she looked at the other faces of the four that entered the room. They seemed so normal. The kind that you really do least expect; those who would have simple office jobs and a small family where they can have those years where they struggle with pay of the mortgage. Not people you would expect kidnapping and poisoning kids.

The woman then tapped her chin, ignoring the glare she was begin given "Hmm…I hadn't calculated you being awake so soon." How Ms. Andrew spoke was terrifying. "Well, we have no plans for you for today…but you can definitely be allowed to have a sneak peek on what you will soon be experiencing."

Her lips then twisted into a heartless smile and reached over and grasped Callie by already bruised arm and yanked her up roughly. "One of you will have to get my shift." Ms. Andrew then shook Callie slightly. "I want to be there when she sees what's coming up."

Eyes narrowed at her, disliking how she was cutting short on her work for a grudge. "Don't give me that look. I am in charge of this department; now get the kids and get to work." She spat out as she dragged the weak girl out into the hall. "Can't get good help these days can you?"

"Bitch." Callie hissed only to clench her eyes shut with a whimper. The hall was white. It was one of those whites that was so clean and untainted it blinded the eyes, especially for one who was just coming out of a pitifully dark room.

Her brown eyes began to water from the brightness, her weak feet getting dragged a bit whenever she tripped.

The outside was different from the room. The room was a medieval while everything else seemed like it was out of a hospital. Why was that?

She looked back and her lip trembled at the sight of four other kids from the room, all pleading to not be taken, all looking scared or just lifeless--as if there was no point.

Callie yelped when she was given another tug, forcing her attention away from the kids and back in front of her.

Those expressions…the lifeless and the terrified….what had happened to them?

On second though she didn't want to know, she never wanted to find out. All she wanted was to go home and forget about all of this. To be back in a place that is warm and loving and where she felt safe.

At the moment she wouldn't even care if she died, as long as she could get away from this place. This horrible place…

"You caused us a lot of trouble. We now have a very limited time to observe you." The woman snapped, now all of a sudden seeming upset.

'And people say I had mood-swings.' Callie thought with some humor before her face fell again as she ran over the words, 'Observed?' What was that suppose to mean?

A chill went down her spine as the two of them stopped by a door and the demon opened it up and tossed the brunette inside before following.

Callie held herself, trembling. Her friends had to come soon, they had to. She didn't care if she sounded like a damsel in distress, or a weak princess…she wanted out of here.

"Ah, here we go!" Ms. Andrew chirped happily, suffering another swing of emotions. She flipped on the light-switch and once again Callie was surrounded in white.

The room was small and had a window that faced into another room and three chairs that faced out of it. In the other room there were many machines and a long bed of sorts that was in shape of an human. Two stretches out for arms, two for legs, and one for a head.

An execution popped into her mind. Where the people would be allowed to observe the person being sentenced to death.

Callie had to cover her mouth to prevent herself from throwing up again. In fact she knew her bladder was probably going to fail on her in a matter of moments--and at the moment she really didn't want to face the fact that she could wet herself.

She was already sick, alone, scared, and pissed--no pun intended--she did not need to have her dignity trampled on because she was so scared she actually lost bodily functions.

"What is going on?' Just have to stay tough. Be like Hiei and the rest of them. Don't show that you are scared.

Impossible to do when your legs were shaking like noodles.

"It will be explained soon enough. Lets not miss the opportunity of seeing the show." She locked the door and then walked over to the girl, urging her to the window. When Callie didn't she slapped her across the face before pushing her at the window. "Still so stubborn."

Callie rubbed her face with a whimper. That slap had been uncalled for.

"Ah," Ms. Andrew looked at the door and watched as a man entered in with one of the Pill-Takers and strapped him down to the bed-thing. Callie bit her lip as she saw him make a last desperate act and tried to escape from the bindings.

'Oh god…' She began to shake harder.

"The show will start any minute." She stroked Callie's hair, the girl wanted to push her back in revulsion but found herself rooted to the ground. "You should feel lucky that you will see what happens before-hand." She grinned, as if knowing would make everything worse. "This is one of our observation deck. We have many of these small rooms for single studies."

Things were very slowly coming together in the brunette's mind…but she wished she would remained oblivious. She didn't want to know what's happening. She wanted to just go home.

'H-Hiei…' She tried to reach for him in her mind but found nothing. Why couldn't she hear him? Or at least feel his presence? Was there a distant-limit with his ability? Or was it this place?

"Ah and so it begins." Ms. Andrew sighed almost dreamily. "Watch and enjoy the art that is science."

Callie gaped, a scream lodged in her throat as she watched what was happening before her. She could feel her mind shutting down to block out the images from her mind and all bladder control being lost.

"Oh god….oh god…." She gagged, but nothing would come up. She wanted to faint or something to escape this.

"And that, my dear," The demon who was once her psychiatrist, whispered into her ear, "is what you will be going through very-very soon…"

Callie couldn't catch her breath as she watched the person before her get tortured. She was too scared. This had to be a nightmare, one that she would be waking up from very soon.

"HIEIIIIIIII!!"

---

"No." Shiori shook her head, all the color leaving her face, her body shaking, and she gagged as if she was about to throw up. "No…No….No god…no…please…" She began hyperventilating as her voice began to grow. "Please…no…NO!!! NOOOO!!! NO-NO-NO-NOOOOOO!!" Shiori screamed as she fell to her knees. "NOO!!!"

Kurama fell to his knees and wrapped his arms around the sobbing woman. "I'm sorry…Oh gods, I'm sorry…" He had broken his promise. They had taken away his sister, right in front of him. "I'm so sorry…" He gritted his teeth tightly.

She was gone.

She had been stolen from them and they were unable to do anything. They couldn't' even get information on ANYTHING. No location, no reasons, no list of people--nothing. They were no step closer to getting Callie and solving the case and they actually had the bastard in their hands!

Yet it was taken away from them and here they were, wiping their noses and eyes on their sleeves like confused and lost children.

Never in their life have they felt so helpless. How is it that after all they have been through, after seeing the world fall apart and see each other be forced to go through physical pain and torture they were finding themselves backed into a corner when their friend was taken away.

How could they allow this to happen? They were the best, they were the strongest…yet they watched their family member get stolen from them. They fucking WATCHED her get taken away. They were unable to move cause a nerve-gas and watched her simply get picked up and briskly taken away. Not a run or rush, just simply briskly…a fucking taunt.

And then once they had something, they had one of the bastards in their hands, and they simply allowed him to be escorted away and now could not get anything from him.

They had been rendered completely helpless and not a single punch had been exchanged.

The battle had been lost without a battle.

The group had failed…they lost.

And now because of their failure their friend was suffering for it and still everyone was at a loss as to what to do.

Yukina had her face buried into her hands, sobbing as the gems rolled around her feet on the wooden floor, Kuwabara had his arms around her. No words were exchanged, nothing could be said to console one another at this point of time.

Keiko and Genkai were trying to soothe Yusuke's anger. He was so frustrated and wound up. He was close to tears but he tried to keep them back, growling and spitting out in anger. Keiko was holding on to him while Genkai kept trying to support him up and get him out of his depression.

But Hiei scared them all the most. He was silent, making no movement of being alive. His eyes were glazed over and he didn't seem to be aware of any of his surroundings. As if he had regressed back into his mind to shield himself of the pain and horror that is occurring at the moment.

It was deeply concerning. If he was out screaming and raging, if he looked depressed and unsure, if he actually looked like he was feeling something the group would feel better…but he wasn't. He was acting as if he was without a soul.

Eyes tried not to stay to long on his lifeless form, finding it chilling. Like looking into the empty shadows, sensing some horrible monster hiding and waiting, growing in power to venture out into the light and feast on everything.

A horrible way for a friend to be describe a friend…but fitting for Hiei.

Kurama gripped his mother tighter, wondering how she would ever forgive him for this. Heaven knows he will never forgive himself.

"What can we do?! What do we do now? What is our next step in the plan?!" Botan cried out, looking panicked and wild. She couldn't take sitting still when she could not fathom what was happening with her friend. Why was she the only one pacing and wanting to rip down the walls?

Her candied eyes glared at her mate, wanting him to give off a plan, to show that there was still something they could do. To get ready to go and fight.

"All we can do…all we can do…" Kurama looked down as he held onto his sobbing mother, knowing that his answer was not what anyone wanted to hear. "We wait."

---

Author

Speech sucks. We did a big group presentation and the damn thing just wore me out. That thing pretty much zapped all creative energy out of me. And then I had another speech to the week during and after the first one--by the way I bombed it horribly T__T--and now I have another on to do…(bashes head on desk) evil, evil speech.

And I have to fight an addiction, curse you James Patterson! T.T I swear, his series Maximum Ride is like a drug or something. I have all the books and even the manga--if I find a T-Shirt or anything like that I would probably pounce on it and scream out MINE (and I don't think I'm a very possessive person _) So yeah…his new book came out and I kinda sorta got lost in the world of the book. ^^U Sorry! Hey, I would've been done in a day but I promised my mom I wouldn't finish it in a few hours like the last one.

Ok….well the chapter had some cliché moments, huh? I was aiming or the kidnapping scene to be dramatic and hear-wrenching….but sounded just a bit TOO emotional for Hiei and everything I guess. Some parts a bit rushed and probably still has a bit of spelling mistakes--as usual…but over all rather pleased with it; especially with how long I made it. Yay! Took awhile but yaaay!

Commercial: One of my best-best internet-buddies has finally decided to jump into the YYH-fanficion pool! Its her first one and it's a Koenma/OC story (don't see one of these too often--at least compared to all the Kurama, Yusuke, and Hiei/OC fics) and this girls has a gorgeous and poetic way with words. Hopefully you all will be willing to go in and take a little peek at it! Her name is Iana Sebelle (she's on my favorite Author's List) and her fic is called Hunter's Moon. It will even have Hiei/Callie later on! x//////////x I hope you all check it out! Its really wonderful!

Author warning: YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS!! The chapters following this one will become INCREIDBLY DARK AND DISTRUBING. Torture will be mentioned and possibly described. There will be very dark things so you all need to be aware of it. If its not going to be something for you then you might want to wait a few chapters and/or read the reviews of others to see their opinions over what has happened.

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Next Chapter: The mystery is now understood and solved…but it means so little now as the weak Callie is forced to go through mental and physical tortures away from those she cares about. And Hiei is living through the anguish of not knowing where she is…

"W-Why are you doing this?"

"Why? Well its quite simple really." The woman leaned against the window, looking down at the girl who was shaking. "For knowledge."