Word Count: 5760


Chapter 28: The Wolf's Cry

"Auntie Ray?" I turned my eyes away from the sparkling moon as Ayame's lithe form folded to the ground, and I smiled over at the young demon. She had come so far…Ayame had been with us for eight months now. The first three had been spent with Aunt Cecilia and Uncle Vero, and the last five was spent roaming the lands of Demon World. We stayed away from the three major territories, especially after we had a close-call on Alaric's border.

Tiger and I spent most of our time teaching Ayame all the things we had learned over the years; the things safe to eat in the forests, the best ways to find shelter and water, how to protect and fight…everything we had to teach. Ayame soaked it all in, and she fought as if she were born to do it. Tiger and I were already thinking of having her made into a high-ranking captain. She had Tiger's natural ability to strategize, opposed to my thinking-on-the-spot action.

"Yeah?" She pulled her knees to her chest and tipped her face up to the velvet purple sky. Two large moons were hanging overhead, and we stared up at them in silence. The first moon, the one directly overhead, was a sparkling white. It was almost like staring up at a giant round diamond in the sky. The other moon, off to the side, was a pale blue color. It looked nearly translucent, and it cast a glow over the land below it.

"Why are you so sad? I mean, you look happy when we're out running and joking around. You smile and laugh a lot, but there's something in your eyes. I know sadness when I see it," Ayame whispered without looking at me. She was right, she knew sadness. She knew the look it left in a person's eyes, and I wouldn't dishonor her by lying.

"I am happy with you and Tiger by my side. I love spending time with both of you and teaching you, but I'm sad too. I left a lot of people behind, and I miss them."

"You mean your brother? I hear you and Uncle Ti whispering at night." She still didn't turn to look at me, so I moved until my side was pressed against hers. I was sitting at the top of a hill, so I was slightly higher up than her. My arm easily draped across her shoulders, and I heard her sigh as she dropped her head to my chest.

"My brother's name is Raizen, he's the ruler of Tourin. He's very sick, and I knew he was dying when I left. It's been nearly a year now, and I don't think he'll be in this world for much longer," I whispered.

"Why did you leave if he was dying?" It was an understandable question, and one that I thought about constantly. Sometimes I worried that I had made the wrong decision, but I knew deep in my heart that I hadn't.

"Sometimes the right choice isn't the easiest choice, you understand?" I asked.

"Kind of."

"Don't worry, it'll make more sense in a few centuries," I said with a quiet laugh.

"Wow, you really are old," Ayame replied with a laugh of her own.

"Damn, right! So you better respect your elders," I said with a light squeeze before releasing her. She flowed to her feet and smiled down at me.

"You're a weird one, Auntie Ray, but I love you anyway. Goodnight," she said and leaned down to give me a quick hug.

"Yeah, I love you too. Goodnight," I replied. She gave a quick wave and then she was gone. I stayed on the hill for a while longer, and I heard Tiger coming up the hill some time later. I heard him sit down behind me, and I was pulled against his chest without a word.

"How much longer?" Tiger whispered after we were both settled.

"Not long, Ti. It's killing me inside," I replied.

"Do you want to go…?"

"No, I said I wouldn't. It just…He's a part of me, Ti. Blood of my blood, his pain is my pain."

"He'll be okay, my lady. We've all known this would happen for centuries."

"I know, but it doesn't make it any easier," I whispered and fell back against him. I felt his cheek rubbing against mine, and I reached up to lightly scratch his ear.

"I'll stay by your side, my lady."

"Even when I go crazy?"

"Especially then."

"Have I told you that I love you today?" I asked and twisted to look up at him. A pair of yellow eyes gleamed down at me, and I saw his lips twitch as he fought a smile.

"Only once or twice," he replied.

"I love you, Tiger Moon."

"And I love you, Raygan."

Tiger and I stayed in the same spot for the rest of the night, and neither of us moved until Ayame came to get us for breakfast. The rest of the morning was spent chasing butterflies, and we spent most of the afternoon running from the angered butterflies. Who knew butterflies liked to actually do the chasing?

"So, Auntie Ray, where to now?" Ayame called. She could easily keep up with Tiger and I now, so running was never a problem. We had finally lost the giant demonic butterflies, and we were just aimlessly running around.

"Let's head back to the—" I nearly tripped as my chest was split open, and my hands went straight to my opened chest cavity as my feet slid in the loose grass. I could see Ayame and Tiger just ahead of me, and they both had worried looks on their faces. My hands ran over my ragged chest, which was still…whole. Every vein in my body was on fire and frozen at the same time, and my breath came out in quick pants.

"My lady?" My chest felt constricted as the first tear fell from my eye, and my claws dug into the skin of my thighs. I knew it was coming, and I had known…but it didn't lessen the pain.

"Raizen," I whispered. I was moving before making a conscious decision, and I was vaguely aware of Tiger and Ayame just behind me. I had to get to Tourin…I needed to see…for myself…Raizen…

Hiei

"Lord Mukuro!" One of the many faceless demons stopped and knelt before Mukuro, and I waited for the demon to get through groveling.

"What?" Mukuro snapped.

"King Raizen's stomach…it has stopped growling, my lord," the demon said.

"Raizen is dead." There was something off in Mukuro's voice, but I couldn't tell what it was.

"We believe so, my lord."

"Come, Hiei. We need to make sure," Mukuro said and walked off again. I stepped around the demon and followed Mukuro to the hole leading to the outside. My feet had just touched down when I felt something twist in my chest, and I reached up to lightly rub the spot. I saw that one eye looking over at me and dropped my hand. The pain was dull and nothing to worry about. I could figure out what it was later.

Yusuke

"Damn! Now that's what I'm talking about!" I yelled as Hokushin released me. The power coming off of the group of demons slowly died down, but I could still feel my skin tingling from the raw power.

"They've been in seclusion for centuries. I believe that is their way—"

"What's that?" one of the monks asked.

"Invading army!" a different monk yelled. Geesh, what's with these guys and invading armies? But now that I'm paying attention, something really powerful is coming this way…

"Hey! Did someone get left behind?" I yelled at Enki. His massive shoulders lifted in a shrug.

"I don't think so! Wait, could it be…" The group turned to face the oncoming power and slowly backed away. Dust swirled as three small sandstorms got closer, and I had to shield my eyes until the dust died down. The first person I saw was a red tiger demon, and he was standing off to the side of Raizen's grave. A girl was standing next to him, but I couldn't really tell what she was. She was wearing a lot of white though, and her hair was up in pigtails.

"Our lady has returned to us!" one of the monks yelled.

"Lady?" I heard myself ask. I stepped forward a little to see what everyone was staring at, but I could only see the person's back. The person was short, five feet at the most, and had a lot of white hair. Their thick white hair was everywhere, and it reminded me of Raizen…I could see the power swirling around her, and the bright white color seemed to almost pulse.

"Raizen, brother mine…may you rest in peace." The voice was a little husky but definitely feminine, and I watched as she threw her head back in a loud howl. It was a wolf's howl…no, not a howl. It was the sound of a wolf's cry, even I could hear the pain in that voice.

"My lord! We should step away now!" Hokushin yelled. Her energy was growing, swelling, pulsing…I could taste her every emotion, and the feel of it made my head swim.

One giant pulse sent us all sprawling back, and I groaned a little at the stinging feeling. Her howl just kept going higher and louder until it seemed to echo around the entire world, and I thought her power would never stop growing. She had to have a stopping point, didn't she? And if she was this powerful, where in the hell has she been hiding?

Hiei

"What in the hell is that?" The first wave of red energy had just stopped, and a new energy was lighting up the sky. This aura was white though and different from before…

"She has returned," Mukuro stated. We watched as the white energy disappeared into the sky, and the sound of a keening howl seemed to echo off of everything.

"She who?"

"The Lady Wolf. Can't you hear her? She's mourning the loss of her brother."

"I wasn't aware that Raizen had a sister."

"He does, and she sounds upset." With that said, Mukuro turned and walked away. I watched and waited as the last of the power faded before doing the same.

Yusuke

"My lady, control yourself!" the red tiger demon yelled. The power slowly died down after that, and so did that howl. The woman's hair had been standing straight up, and I watched as it fell back down to her thighs. All of her power seemed to pull in closer to her body until I could barely feel it at all, and I lightly shook my head. Wow, all of that from just one person…one tiny person…

"Come, my lord," Hokushin said and walked forward. I could hear the woman whispering to the headstone, but I couldn't hear exactly what she was saying. Raizen's old sparring partners moved a little as she turned around, and I heard Hokushin yelling at the monks behind us.

"It truly is an honor to meet you, sister of Raizen," Enki said with a slight bow of his head. The woman muttered something, but I still couldn't hear her.

"Have you forgotten your lady! Show her your proper respect!" Hokushin yelled. The monks instantly bowed, but Hokushin stayed standing. The last of Raizen's old friends moved out of the way, and I finally got a good look at the mysterious woman.

My eyes started with her feet, which were bare. Her skin was completely pale, except for the swirling light blue marks. A black dragon wrapped around her right ankle, and a large red tiger covered her left leg. Its tail wrapped around her left ankle and seemed to weave around the swirling marks on her leg with its head just under her knee. The light blue marks were everywhere, and she had some weird jewelry on. Bracelets on her ankles, thighs, wrists, biceps…A metal belt was around her hips, and those swirling light blue marks were still everywhere.

She was wearing a pair of black shorts and a black sports bra, and my eyes moved over the metal choker around her throat. One of the light blue marks moved from her right knee and traveled up her body to her left temple, and another mark cut through it on her left cheek. My eyes moved over her pale face and up to the white rounded wolf ears on top of her head. I could see three bushy tails behind her, and her eyes…Wow. The outer rim was a dark blue, but her eyes were actually white. Well, not really white…It was like a diamond or something…a rainbow.

"I know you," I whispered as I walked forward. I don't know why I said that, but I was right. I knew her, but I was sure that I had never seen her before. I stopped right in front of her, and I could see the rings under her eyes now. She hadn't slept in a while, and her bloodshot eyes and tear-streaked cheeks proved she had been crying. Her legs were quivering a little, and she was panting.

"I—I—"

"Who are you?" She took my hand and placed it on her collarbone, and I felt a small chain. I slowly picked it up to see a silver chain with a tiny silver sun hanging from it. Huh, it looked just like my Auntie Ray's…

"Yu…Yu…"

"No, this is not happening right now!" I yelled without letting the chain go. A golden necklace just like this one hung around my neck now, but she couldn't be… I felt her energy moving and shifting again, and I waited for her to blast me away. It seemed to sink into her though, and I knew my mouth was open as I watched her change.

Her diamond-white eyes turned into a familiar hazel color, and her long white hair shortened and turned a golden brown. Pale skin slowly turned bronze, and the two sets of fangs I had missed earlier disappeared. Her ears moved to the side of her head and looked human, and her tails disappeared from sight. For the first time, I saw my Auntie Ray's left eye.

The light blue markings weren't markings at all…They were scars, and there were so many. I had never seen so many scars on one body, and I finally understood why she always wore clothes that covered her completely. The scar on her face was revealed for the first time, and I felt last night's supper rise in my throat as I thought about how she could have got it…A scar from her temple to her knee…

"Auntie Ray," I whispered. She smiled at the sound of the name and dropped her face into my palm. I could really see how tired she was now. Her eyes were nearly dead and rimmed in black, and her entire body was shaking now. Her arms and sides were scratched and bruised, and her feet were definitely bleeding.

"I'm sorry, Yusuke," she whispered. I caught her as she started to fall, and her head lolled against my shoulder. Yeah, she was definitely out of it.

"My lady!" The red tiger demon from earlier ran forward, and I tightened my grip on Auntie Ray's body. The demon stopped and looked us over. The other girl was standing just behind him, and they both looked worried.

"Yusuke Urameshi, my name is Tiger Moon and this is Ayame. It is an honor to finally meet you," the red tiger demon said.

"Can you tell me just what the hell's going on?" I asked and glanced down at Auntie Ray's unconscious body.

"I'm afraid that my lady will have to be the one to explain, but I can show you to her room," Tiger said.

"Her room?"

"This way." I lifted Auntie Ray's body into my arms and followed Tiger towards Raizen's palace.

Ray

I groaned as my body came back to life, and my muscles tensed and relaxed as I stretched. I knew I was still in my human form because I felt more drained than usual, and my senses were dulled. I heard someone moving around the room, and I sighed as I felt a clawed hand take my own. Of course Tiger was by my side.

We had ran for three straight days because I needed to return to Tourin. Three days of not thinking, just feeling. We had arrived in Tourin just in time to feel a massive blast of energy, but I never slowed. The power didn't feel threatening, and I don't think I could have stopped even if I wanted to. I hadn't slowed until I reached Raizen's resting place. His grave was located at the base of his plateau; the perfect place.

I could feel my power growing, but I couldn't stop. The pain had been overwhelming, the worst I had ever felt. I had felt Kurama's pain when he was attacked, but he had never been killed. Raizen was gone though…He would never run his claws through my hair again, or make fun of me, or worry about where I was…I had whispered to him then, had asked him to find peace. Then a howl had ripped from my throat and I lost all control over my power.

I could feel my energy pushing against the restriction bands and trying to get free. I knew that I needed to stop, but I couldn't. All the pain and grief was pouring out of me, and I didn't know how to make it stop. My skin felt like it was on fire, and my own pain-filled howl echoed in my ears. The only thing that brought me back was Tiger's voice. My power and howl cut off at the same time, and I felt my body screaming at the abuse. First days of running without rest and then releasing that much power…it was no wonder that I felt shaky on my own legs.

I had turned around to see a group of demons, and it suddenly became clear. The blast of energy had come from this group of demons, and they were all in the S-Class. They were the demons from the far north; the demons who had went into seclusion long before I came to Demon World. Raizen's old sparring partners had come to say goodbye. I spoke to the big red one before looking past him to see Yusuke…my little Yusuke.

I watched as his eyes moved over my body, and I saw the confusion in those chocolate brown eyes. He recognized me, but he couldn't really tell. He had never seen my demon form, and I couldn't manage to form a single sentence. So I did the only thing I knew to do, I switched back to my human form. Ah…then Yusuke had looked at me in a way that I'd hoped he never would. I had hoped to always save him from the scars, but things never work out the way they're planned. I had apologized to him then, and everything had went black after that.

"How long have I been out?" I whispered. My voice was hoarse, but that was to be expected. My howl had been loud enough to burn my throat raw.

"Almost a day," Tiger replied. I opened my eyes to see him sitting by my bed, and he helped me into a sitting position. He pushed a glass of water into my hands, and I eagerly drank the cool liquid.

"Where's Ayame?" She wasn't in the room, and I couldn't sense her.

"She's out with the men and Raizen's old friends." Yeah, that sounded like her. That was another thing Ayame had come to learn about herself; she wasn't shy.

"And Yusuke?"

"In Raizen's throne room," Tiger whispered. I nodded my head at his words and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I swayed a little as I stood, but it didn't take me long to stand up straight.

"Well, wish me luck," I said and started for the door.

"My lady? You're still…"

"I think I'd better do this in my human form. Don't worry, Ti. No one will hurt me in Tourin." With that said, I walked out the door and made my way to Raizen's throne room. I softly closed the door behind me, but Yusuke didn't turn around. He was standing in front of Raizen's throne, but I did see his shoulders tense.

"Have you come to apologize some more?" he asked. I hated how hurt his voice was, but I couldn't go back in time. Even if I did though, I wouldn't have changed my actions.

"I was hoping I could explain this time," I whispered. I blinked and Yusuke was standing in front of me, and I winced a little as his hands gripped my shoulders. His chocolate eyes darkened as he glared down at me, but I didn't move as his hands tightened their already bruising grip. Maybe staying in my human body wasn't such a good idea…

"Explain? Yeah, I'd like to know why you're never here when I actually need you! Do you like running out on me?" he yelled and shook me a little.

"Yusuke, I know you're mad, but—"

"You don't know the half of it!"

"Dammit! Calm your ass down! I was just doing what I thought was right!"

"By lying to me? What happened to being weak and defenseless?"

"I had to lie! And if you would stop yelling at me, I could explain everything!" Yusuke let out something similar to a roar and pushed me away from him. My back hit the closed door behind me, and my breath rushed out of my lungs. When I could suck another breath in, Yusuke was slumped in Raizen's throne and rubbing his eyes. He slowly looked up at me, and I could see the five year old I had left. The five year old who had to grow up alone, because I had left him.

"Alright, Auntie Ray, start talking," he said and looked right through me. I sighed a little as I stepped forward, and Yusuke's eyes followed my every movement. I didn't stop when I reached him. Instead I settled myself in his lap and pulled his arms around my body.

"Auntie Ray, what are you…?"

"Raizen used to hold me like this, especially when I told him stories. Did you know that? That he liked listening to stories?" I asked and looked up at him. He still looked confused, and he slowly shook his head.

"So, he really was your brother?"

"Yes, he was. We spent centuries together, Raizen and I. He wasn't always nice or pleasant, but I love him. He was a good ruler and a great brother, and I want you to understand that I didn't want to leave. You believe that, don't you?"

"Then why did you? And why didn't anyone here tell me about you?"

"Because they were told not to."

"Why'd you leave?" I twisted my head so I could look straight into his eyes and gave the best explanation that I could.

"I was with Raizen for centuries, and I spent a lot of time with you. Not as much as I should have, but I still knew you. After the Sensui thing, I knew that it was only a matter of time before you returned to Demon World. I also knew that Raizen's time was limited. I wanted you two to meet and get to know each other without my interference. If I had been here, it wouldn't have been the same."

"Wouldn't have been the same how?"

"Think about it, Yusuke. If I had been here, I would have stood between you and Raizen. I would have been like a buffer. Instead of going to him, you would have went to me. Instead of Raizen talking directly to you, he would have used me as a messenger. With me gone, you two would have to face each other. Do you understand now?" I asked. I needed him to understand; I needed him to know that I hadn't just abandoned the both of them.

"Yeah, I think so," he whispered.

"Thank you." My eyes closed in relief, and I felt rough fingertips brushing across my shoulders. I looked up to see guilt clouding Yusuke's eyes, and I placed my hands on his cheeks.

"It's nothing, so don't bother yourself with it. I've been hurt worse than this before," I said.

"I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's not your fault. This human body of mine is weak," I said with a wide smile. Yusuke finally looked me in the eye again, and I saw curiosity instead of guilt.

"Yeah, about that…"

"Can I tell you the story of my life now, Yusuke? I've always wanted to tell you, but I wasn't allowed to. Will you let me tell you now?"

"Yeah, I'd like that," he said with a smile of his own.

So I told him. I asked him to save all the questions for the end, so he stayed quiet while I talked. I told him about being human and Dr. Lynkyn, about learning that I was a demon, and meeting Hokushin and Raizen. I told him about my restriction bands and all the training I had underwent. I told him about my other forms and meeting Tiger for the first time; the nameless wanderer with nothing to call his own. I told him about the wars I'd fought in, and Raizen's century long battle.

I told him about the first time I had ever laid eyes on Yoko, and how different the fox demon was from his human counterpart. I told him about going on secret heists with Yomi and stealing random things from Kuronue just to see if I could get away with it. I told him about how I had first met Jin and Touya, and I told him about meeting the new Lord Mukuro. I told him about the young spirit demon I had saved in an alleyway. I told him about how Chu had stolen my first real kiss, and I told him about Chu's first drink.

I told him about returning to the Human World for the first time in centuries. I told him about meeting Genkai and Toguro back when they were both still young, and I even talked about the first Dark Tournament I attended. I told him about my aimless wandering around the world, and I whispered about the pain of seeing my own grave and the family I had to leave behind. I told him about my young pregnant neighbor who had been forced to grow up far too soon. I told him about how he was delivered, and I laughed at his expression as he heard that I had delivered him on Atsuko's couch.

I told him about Sensui and how I had first been banned from the Human World. I told him my reaction to hearing about Kurama, Kuronue, and Yomi…only to find both Yomi and Kurama again. I told him about how I learned of his death and threats Koenma had received on his behalf, and I smiled as I told him about finding Kurama and meeting Shiori. I told him about the first demon to join my pack, and I told him how I hoped to see Nicholas and Andie again soon. I told him why I had been banned from the Human World once again, and I told him everything that had happened since my return. I told him about Aunt Cecilia and Uncle Vero, and I told him about saving Ayame and accepting her into my pack.

"Well…that's about it for me," I said and bit into my sandwich. Cook had brought in a light lunch earlier, and I would have said she had a tear in her eye if I didn't know any better.

"That's it? Damn, Auntie Ray, you really are older than dirt," Yusuke said with a wide grin.

"Oh, shut it! I've just lived a very exciting life," I said and smiled up at him.

"I'm surprised Tiger doesn't have gray hair by now."

"You and me both. Now, if you have any questions, you better ask them now," I said before taking another big bite. Yusuke swallowed the food in his mouth and tapped his chin.

"So, you really killed people back when you were still human?"

"Yes. I needed the money to keep from going to jail. My family needed me, so I did what I had to do. It's not like the people I killed were saints."

"And the doctor dude, he carved you up like this?" His fingers lightly traced a scar on my arm, and I nodded my head.

"Yep. Koenma said everything of mine was supposed to stay suppressed, but extreme pain could bring out my spirit energy. So he kept me in pain. I've gotten used to them over the years, and I have no reason to hide them in Demon World."

"And you wear the band-thingies because you can't control your power?" Now his fingers were tracing around one of my wrist bands.

"Yes. I'm not being cocky when I say that I'm powerful. I do have a lot of power, but that doesn't mean anything. A lot of demons think that having a lot of power makes them invincible, but it doesn't. I can only access so much at a time, and what's the point in having power if the body is unconscious or dead?"

"Yeah, we'll come back to that later. So, you're the leader of Raizen's entire army?"

"Yep, I'm Tourin's general. Well, I am if you still want me to be. You are the new ruler after all," I said with a shrug.

"You can still be the general. And you already knew Yomi, Mukuro, Jin, Touya, Chu…all of them?"

"Sure did."

"And you didn't really want to leave me?" I turned in his lap at that question and laid both of my hands on his cheeks. I made sure he was looking straight into my eyes and then I started talking.

"I never wanted to leave you. Even before I found out you were really blood of my blood. You have always been special to me, Yusuke, and I wouldn't have left if the choice had been mine. I'll make up for it now," I said with a smile.

"Thanks, Auntie Ray. Now, can you explain that whole 'blood of my blood' thing? I've heard it way too many times and no one will tell me what it means!" I couldn't help it, I threw my head back and laughed. Of course, Yusuke wouldn't understand the most basic of things.

"It means exactly what it sounds like, blood of my blood."

"Try harder." I sighed and dragged a hand through my hair. How to explain what had always seemed natural to me? I picked up Yusuke's hand and laid his arm across my lap. My fingers traced the veins in his forearm as I tried to find the right words.

"The blood that flows in your veins is the same blood that flows through mine, that flowed through Raizen's. Your blood is my blood, my blood is your blood. It's one in the same because we're family. Do you understand now? We share the same blood, so that makes you blood of my blood," I said.

"Yeah, okay, I think I get it now. So, what does 'brother mine' mean? I heard you say that at Raizen's grave," Yusuke said.

"It's pretty much the same thing. Raizen and I shared the same blood, which made him mine and me his. He was brother mine. Trust me, it'll make more sense once you accept it. For example, I love you, nephew mine," I said and smiled up at him.

"And I love you, auntie mine," he said with a wide grin.

"There, now you're getting the hang of it. Alright, now it's your turn. I want to know how things have been going here since I left," I said. Yusuke let out a loud sigh and cracked his neck.

"I'll tell ya, but you might wanna call Tiger and Ayame up here."

"I'll have to change forms to do that…"

"Okay! I wanna see your demon form again anyway." I rolled my eyes at his excited voice and raised my energy. My usual energy washed over me, and I sighed at the wonderful feeling. I used my energy to call Tiger and Ayame, and I knew they'd be here soon.

"So, you don't mind this form? This is how I usually look in the Demon World anyway. It's not safe for me to stay human," I said and looked up at him. One of his hands reached out to touch one of my tails, but he stopped before he could make contact. I nodded my head towards him, and he smiled as he started petting my tail.

"Yeah, you look pretty awesome like this," he said with a cheesy grin.

"You called, my lady?" I turned to see Tiger in the doorway, and Ayame was bouncing just behind him.

"I did. Come inside and meet my nephew," I said and waved them in.

"We've already met, but I'm afraid he wasn't too happy then," Tiger said with a smile. Yusuke looked down in what I guessed was embarrassment, since his cheeks were a light pink color and he was rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I guess I was a little…rude," Yusuke said with a small shrug.

"It takes a lot more than that to offend me. I lived with Raizen," Tiger said. We both immediately started laughing, and Yusuke and Ayame just looked on like we were insane. Which we are…in some ways.

"You two done now?" Yusuke asked.

"Uncle Ti and Auntie Ray are weird like that. You get used to it," Ayame said as she sat down. Tiger sat down beside her, and Ayame moved to sit between his outstretched legs. Her back was pressed against his front, and her head rested against his shoulder.

"Alright, we're listening," I said. I was still sitting sideways in Yusuke's lap, and I settled in to hear the news of everything that had happened in my absence…


Ending Note: And there's the end of Chapter 28! Ray has returned to Tourin, and Yusuke knows everything now. I hope I did okay on the other POVs, writing for Yusuke and Hiei is kinda hard. I'm sure some things were a little OOC, but I did my best. There's more to come in the next chapter!