FCL64: Don't. Say. Anything.

Kiyoshi: You mean about how long it's been since you wrote and posted a chapter?

FCL64: I TOLD YOU NOT TO SAY ANYTHING!

Kiyoshi: I couldn't help it. You all know who we own and here is the chapter. Apologies that it's been so long.

FCL64: In addition…if I ever use any of the names Anna, Aliah or Alanna, assume I mean Ayaka. Let's just say that I have way too many female characters whose names start with A and sometimes I type the wrong name.

Ayaka stared across Kurama's kitchen table at her old friend. "Kurama," she said, "I have a gut feeling that Kyo is going to attack us for real. And soon."

Kurama stared at her a long moment. "Unfortunately…I believe the same thing. He will want to kill us before we truly have enough information to be capable of stopping him effectively."

Kuwabara asked, "So what do you propose we do?"

Kaien and Ayaka responded immediately. "The demon plane."

"Come again?" Yusuke questioned.

Ayaka said, "The power involved, its volatile nature…of the lockets, the pendant, whatever it is Kyo possesses—to unleash such a power in the human realm, especially in a city, would be foolish."

"Foolish," Kaien muttered. "Talk about an understatement."

"Shut up," Ayaka answered.

"We just got back from the demon plane," Kuwabara complained.

Ayaka and Kurama exchanged a glance. Then Ayaka said, "Kuwabara, you are human. I think it would be best if you stay here when we go to deal with Kyo. The demon plane is not a place humans belong. Even those with abilities and a sixth sense such as yours cannot withstand the miasma of the demon realm for long."

"I'm going."

Kurama shook his head. "Kuwabara, your strength lies in hand to hand combat, one opponent against another. This fight will likely be a deadly matchup of wits followed by an even deadlier battle fought at a distance. At least four people will be using items whose power you cannot hope to contend with." Ayaka's eyes searched Kurama's face, but he avoided her eyes.

Kuwabara glared. "I ain't staying behind."

Kurama grimaced. "Very well. Just make sure Shizuru knows I warned you. I don't want to kill Kyo and have to deal with your sister because you've gotten yourself killed."

They stood, and Hiei created a portal between the two worlds. "I better get to fight," he muttered as Kurama passed him.

Four days later…

Ayaka bolted upright from a dead sleep. "Kaien," she hissed. "Kaien."

"What?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He glanced at the sky. "God, Ayaka, it's half past two. Couldn't this have waited until morning?"

"It is morning," she answered. "I know what Zuberi's cryptic messages mean."

"Which ones?" Kaien muttered resentfully. "Seems every word out of his mouth was a cryptic message."

"Well…the first one is just a guess, but he mentioned that Kyo has a gem of an entirely different nature from ours."

"And?" Ayaka's brother had given in to his sister's urgency to tell someone.

"What if it's not a stone at all? A diamond in the rough?"

"Ayaka, it's too early for mind games. What are you talking about?" Kaien groaned.

"A person?" Kurama asked.

Kaien jumped, but Ayaka simply nodded. "We know that Kyo had an apprentice. Sometimes apprentices were boys from poorer families, given the job in order to elevate their status in exchange for service to their master."

"Oh," Kaien breathed as he finally began to wake up. "Xanthippus was nearly as skilled as Kyo in the art of creating jewelry. A peasant boy who is able to create the most beautiful artifacts. A diamond in the rough."

"A valuable that is evidently quite capable of protecting Kyo, even now," Ayaka answered.

Kurama nodded. "Ayaka, you said cryptic messages. What do you mean, messages? Did you figure out another one?"

Ayaka nodded, "He mentioned that the jewels in our locket were found where—"

"Where the sun meets the sea and the sea meets the land and so on and so forth," Kaien interrupted. "We know. Can you just get on with it? I would very much like to go to sleep, on the off chance that we might have to fight for our lives tomorrow."

Ayaka shook her head. "Kaien, we are the answer."

"What?" Both Kurama and Kaien spoke the word in one voice.

Ayaka stared at them both with open eyes that created an intensity Kurama had always wondered at. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We are from the earth. We breathe the air." She pulled a knife from her side and cut her palm. Bright red liquid seeped out. "Blood may be thicker than water, but it's still mostly water."

"But what about fire?" Kaien demanded. "My element is fire. This can't possibly be the answer if it doesn't include fire."

Kurama answered before Ayaka had a chance, having immediately grasped her meaning. "Kaien," he asked, "have you ever seen a disembodied spirit? One protected by neither a body nor a ghost?" When Kaien shook his head, Kurama answered, "It looks like a flame, Kaien."

Ayaka grinned at her brother. "The answer was with us the whole time. Earth, air, water, fire. Land, sky, sea, sun."

"But Mother said the gems came from that place, Ayaka," Kaien countered no longer sleepy. "How could they have come from us?"

Ayaka hesitated, not knowing how to answer. Kurama, however, said, "The demonic realm is a strange place, Kaien. No telling what may have happened at your births. You do know what happens when an Ice Maiden bears a child, don't you? They cry a single tear which hardens into a precious gem. And weirder things have happened."

"Whatever," Kaien grumbled. "If all that's true, how are they supposed to be more powerful in the place they were found if they've been in that place all along?"

"Self-actualization," Ayaka answered. "Realizing one's full potential."

"Okay," Kaien muttered, rolling over. "That's enough for me. I believe you. Now I'm going back to sleep."

After a minute, Ayaka muttered, "He never was a morning person."

Kurama laughed quietly, a strange relief descending on him. Relief that they had discovered the place that held the most power, thereby giving Ayaka and Kaien an advantage. He pulled the pendant from his shirt and stared at it. He willed himself to find the image of Kuronue's face in its surface, but he could not. It had been far too long. He grasped it more tightly in his fist. The time to avenge his friend had come at last.

Once again, apologies for such a long time with no update. If anyone is still reading this story, I thank you for your dedication. Now reviews...

animegrlsteph: In all honesty...I don't remember what's depressing.

White Rose Fox: Thanks! :)