Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Never have, never will.


"Open, damn it," I muttered, punching the elevator's call button for the sixth time. I shifted my weight from foot to foot impatiently. Waiting for the elevator always made me feel self-conscious. Standing before the closed doors, I felt unprotected, as though anyone who saw me would know exactly what was wrong.

And there was so much wrong.

The seconds ticked by slowly and I reached out to press the button once more. I'd been taking the elevator for nearly a week, but I still hadn't grown accustomed to waiting for it.

The first morning after I'd broken up with Hiei, I had been halfway to the stairs when I remembered what had happened the night before. The feeling of Hiei's hands and lips had come back so sharply that I had felt physically sick. There was no way in hell I was going to go into that stairwell, not even if my life depended on it.

I'd stood frozen in the hallway for what felt like ages, wondering how on earth I was going to get to the ground floor. It was when I was trying to remember how close the tree outside my window was to the sill that I realized that there was a far simpler way to get downstairs.

The elevator.

"Open!" I snapped, slamming my palm against the call button. A faint ding sounded and the doors slid open, revealing an empty elevator. Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside and shoved a hand through my hair. I hit the button for the first floor and leaned back against the wall, straightening my shirt.

I was going to work at the diner, which meant suffering through another day of strained conversation with Keiko. We'd been tiptoeing around one another ever since I'd broken up with Hiei. I knew she was waiting for me to bring up what had happened on my own, but the last thing I wanted was to talk about Hiei.

The elevator opened in the main lobby and I walked toward the doors, heading for my car. I blared the music in my car during the ride, hoping that the noise would help to block out my troubled thoughts.

It didn't.

The first day after Hiei had left had been complete and utter hell. His stuff was scattered across our apartment. Or, well, my apartment now. I'd gathered all of his clothes and shoved them into his duffel bag, crying all the while, tears streaking down my cheeks.

The bag now sat at my front door. I didn't know what to do with it. It would probably be best to give it to Kurama or one of the other guys, but I couldn't bring myself to part with it. The bag and the clothes it contained were all that I had left; they were the only remaining proof that Hiei and I had even been together.

Hiei's katana was missing. It had disappeared that first day while I was at work. I assumed that Hiei had returned to the apartment during the day and retrieved it, but I couldn't begin to guess why he hadn't taken his clothes.

After parking my car, I climbed out, locked the doors, and started toward the diner. The bell tinkled overhead as I opened the door and Keiko glanced up at me. She was seated at one of the tables. Yusuke sat across from her, stuffing a bagel down his throat.

"Morning," I greeted, taking a seat at the table.

Yusuke mumbled something around his mouthful of food, but I couldn't make any sense of it. Sighing, Keiko said, "Morning, Shy. You're here early."

"Am I?" I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that I was indeed early. "Sorry, I hope it's not a problem."

Yusuke snorted. "Like it would matter if it was. It's not as though we would make you leave." Keiko whacked him solidly on the back of the head and he choked on his next bite of bagel. Shooting Keiko an irritated look, he managed to gain control of his coughing and snapped, "What? I didn't say anything wrong!"

"Of course, you being here early isn't an issue," Keiko assured me. "Yusuke was just finishing breakfast. He's going to meet up with the others at Kurama's. They wanted to discuss what to do about Epsilon and Mecca."

I raised a questioning eyebrow at Yusuke. "What is there to discuss?"

"Um, basically what we're going to do about them. We can't just let them hang out in the Makai, potentially plotting some kind of attack on us. Mukuro knows where they are and has some trackers following their every move." Finished with his bagel, he wiped his hands on his pants and stood up. "The only problem is that we have no idea what Epsilon's powers are. The stupid hebi's abilities are still pretty much a mystery."

"And what about us?" I asked. "What if they come for us while you're at Kurama's?"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? Mukuro's got guys watching everything Epsilon and Mecca do. If either of them comes to the Ningenkai, we'll know." Walking toward the door, he gestured at the SUV that had just pulled into the parking lot. "Kuwabara's here. I'll see you guys later."

"Goodbye, Yusuke. Love you," Keiko called after him.

"Love you too, babe." The door fell shut behind him, the bell tinkling softly.

I immediately stood up, moving toward the counter. "We should start getting ready," I said, slipping behind the counter.

Turning around, I saw Keiko shaking her head. She patted the seat where I had just been. "Come take a seat, Shy. I want to talk to you." Continuing before I could interrupt, she added, "There's plenty of time before we open. Come on."

Unable to thing of a way to dissuade her, I returned to my chair and settled in for a conversation I wasn't going to enjoy. It seemed Keiko was done giving me time. Maybe she had realized that I wasn't going to bring Hiei up on my own or maybe she just wanted to know what was going on, but regardless of her reasons I knew what was coming.

"Why did Hiei break up with you?"

Or maybe I didn't.

I'd thought that my friends knew I had been the one to break up with Hiei, not the other way around, but apparently I was wrong. For a few long seconds I stared at Keiko, trying to understand why Hiei hadn't told anyone the truth. Surely, he had told Kurama.

"Didn't Hiei tell you guys what happened?"

Keiko shook her head, frowning at me. "Hiei hasn't told anyone anything, Shy. He went to the Makai the day after the wedding without a word to any of us. Yusuke and Kuwabara were starting to think that something had happened to him when he finally contacted us, saying that he was in Alaric."

I hadn't seen Hiei since the night of the wedding; nevertheless I had assumed that he was still in the Ningenkai. But now that I thought about it, it made sense that he wouldn't be here anymore. His home was in the Makai and he had told me that he was on indefinite leave in order to pursue me. I'd broken things off between us and he no longer had a reason to stay in the Ningenkai.

"Are you going to answer my question?" Keiko's voice was quiet and she was clearly aware that she was asking me about a sensitive topic, but I could hear the slight annoyance in her tone as well. Glancing up and meeting her gaze, I saw that her irritation was less veiled in her eyes. "Well?"

"Hiei didn't break up with me," I said softly, looking down at my hands. Entwining my fingers together, I waited for her response.

It took her so long to do make one that I glanced up once more. She was staring at me, her eyes wide and mouth agape. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Hiei didn't break up with me. I broke up with him."

"Would you mind explaining that to me?" she asked curtly. "I thought you said you loved him."

It was a simple statement, but the truth in it hit me hard. My breath left me in a rush and I let out a hiccupping sob. Pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, I took a deep, rattling breath. "Yeah, Keiko, I did. I still do. That's why I had to do it. I can't let him mate me, not considering what it will do to him."

"And what's that, Shy? Make him happy?"

"No!" My voice was sharper than I meant it to be, but I couldn't help it. Dropping my hands, I met her gaze fiercely. "No, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"It would kill him, Keiko. He would mate me and I'd end up killing him."

Whatever she had planned on saying to me didn't come. Instead she ended up staring at me again, dumbstruck by my words. Her mouth opened and closed twice before she managed to say anything. "I don't understand. How would you kill him?"

Had she truly never thought of it? Hadn't it occurred to her that being Yusuke's mate would shorten his lifespan or had she forgotten about that part of a mating? "Keiko, a demon's life is tied to their mate's. If their mate dies, so does the demon."

She finally looked away from me, her gaze flicking to where Yusuke had been sitting just a few minutes ago. "I hadn't ever made that connection. I knew that demon's die with their mate, but I never thought that one of us could kill them. I always just related it to fighting. I'd thought that if I became Yusuke's mate and he died in battle so would I."

Keiko appeared as though she was going to continue talking, but I interrupted her. "No, you wouldn't."

Her eyes darted back to mine. "What?"

"Kurama explained it to me, the way a mating works. Only demons are affected. If Yusuke died, you would not." I watched as she reached up and covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her shocked expression. When it didn't seem like she was going to say anything else, I stood up. "Why don't we get to work?"

She followed me soundlessly, joining me behind the counter. It seemed like ages before she said anything. "I understand why you did it," she murmured softly. "I'm still not sure I think that you should have just ended things, but I get why you did."

"I had to, Keiko. End things, I mean." Shoving a strand of hair behind my ear, I said, "Hiei isn't like Yusuke. He wouldn't be okay with just being my boyfriend. He wants a mate. Plus, he was ready to make me his mate that night. Everything happened so fast and I didn't have a chance to truly explain anything."

Keiko's eyes widened. "He was going to mark you? I hadn't realized you guys were so serious."

"Hiei always planned to make me his mate, right from the very beginning. But I'll admit that I wasn't aware he was going to attempt to do so this soon." I sighed and leaned against the counter. "I wish I'd had more time. I only learned the truth at the wedding and I wanted to think about it, but I couldn't with Hiei getting ready to do the deed."

Smiling faintly at my word choice, Keiko handed me a damp cloth. "Go wipe down the tables, okay? Make sure there's nothing on them. We can talk more about this later."


Picking up a can of disinfectant, I sprayed down one of the tables and set to work wiping it down. Keiko flipped the sign on the door to indicate that we were closed and moved behind the counter, getting ready to wash the dishes that were stacked beside the sink.

The day had been a busy one and I was relieved that we were finally done for the night. Yusuke still wasn't back, which I hoped meant that he and the others had had a successful day.

Yawning loudly, I made my way to the next table, satisfied that I had thoroughly cleaned the one I had been working on. The bell over the door tinkled and I glanced up, raising an eyebrow when I saw the woman who had entered.

"Sorry, we're closed," Keiko said without looking up from the dishes.

"I assure you, I could care less about whether or not this dump is open. You see, I'm not interested in eating the slop you would attempt to serve me."

The woman stepped forward and the light reflected off her eyes. My breath caught in my throat and I tightened my grip on the can of disinfectant. "Keiko," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "Get the phone. Call Yusuke."

Keiko didn't argue. She dropped the plate she had been washing into the sink and darted for the phone, ignoring the sound of the dish shattering. The woman at the door chuckled and shook her head. "Now that's rather silly."

I didn't understand what she meant, but as Keiko's hand closed over the phone it started to make sense. The woman made a quick gesture with her own hand and the phone bucked in Keiko's grip. A second gesture and the phone jerked from Keiko's hand. It flew across the room and the woman caught it easily.

"Who are you?" Keiko asked, staring at her in horrified surprise.

But I didn't need the woman to identify herself. This was Disma. I would have be my life on it. I'd suspected it as soon as I saw her eyes. Their color was the same molten gold as Mecca's, their catlike shape eerily inhuman. The use of her powers had made me sure I was right. Botan had told us that Disma could control matter and space and it only made sense that that would grant her telekinetic abilities.

Disma smiled at Keiko and started to walk toward her. It was apparent that she didn't plan on answering Keiko's question.

I knew that she was going to hurt Keiko, probably try to kidnap her, so I did the only thing I could think of. Darting in front of the raion, I raised the can of disinfectant and sprayed her in the eyes.

Yowling like the cat she was, Disma stumbled back, scrabbling at her eyes. I bolted behind the counter and grabbed Keiko's wrist, pulling her up the stairs. Together we rushed into the apartment and slammed the door shut. Locking the door, I looked around the room and rushed to grab a chair from the kitchen, using it to barricade the door more firmly.

"There's a phone up here, right?" I asked.

Keiko nodded and started toward the kitchen. She hadn't made it three steps when a portal flickered to life in the living room.

I cursed loudly as Disma stepped through the portal and glanced around the apartment, spotting us instantly. Her eyes were bloodshot, but it appeared that my spur of the moment attack had already worn off. She stalked toward us, her lips curling back threateningly to reveal a set of very sharp teeth.

"That was incredibly foolish," she snarled. "You're the one that's been whoring yourself out to Lord Hiei, yes? It's a shame he would lower himself to your level. A filthy human like you." She shook her head despairingly and turned her gaze to Keiko. "I wish I wasn't on orders to bring you back. You'd be terribly fun to play with."

Thinking quickly, I kicked the chair away from the door and unlocked it. "Go," I barked at Keiko, remembering the last time I had told her to leave me alone with a raion. I'd nearly died and I prayed that it wouldn't come to that. Hiei wasn't here to save me this time around. Shoving Keiko down the stairs, I faced Disma, the can of disinfectant still in my hand.

"Get the phone," I called after Keiko, raising my can so that I could defend myself.

"Not again," Disma growled, reaching out and batting the can out of hand with ease. Startled, I staggered back and attempted to follow Keiko down the stairs. "Oh, no you don't." The female raion grabbed my wrist and tugged, pulling me away from the stairs.

I struggled, digging my heels into the floor and leaning away from Disma. I could hear Keiko on the phone downstairs. "Yusuke! Yusuke, Disma is here. She's –"

I didn't hear the rest of what Keiko said because Disma had caught my attention. A confident smirk had spread across her face and her grip on my wrist shifted. Managing to take a step backward, I gave another tug with my wrist and, to my surprise, Disma let go. For a split second I was thrilled, thinking that I had broken free, and then I went tumbling down the stairs.

A scream tore itself from my lips as I fell, pain flaring through my body as I hit the stairs and walls. Coming to a halt at the bottom of the stairs, I heard Keiko yell something and laughter sounded at the top of the stairs. Disma was descending slowly and I rolled over. Pushing myself up, I made to stand and run, but my leg gave out.

Pain radiated from my right ankle and I whimpered as I collapsed to the floor.


I groaned, my eyes fluttering open.

"Shy?" I recognized the voice as Keiko's and I assumed that the hand on my shoulder shaking me lightly belonged to her as well. She appeared in my line of sight, leaning over me. "I'm so glad you're all right."

"What makes you think I'm okay?" I asked, moaning as I pushed myself into a sitting position. Glancing around, I saw that we were in a dank, cell-like room, but I couldn't see a door. "Where are we?"

"I have no idea. After you passed out, Disma opened a portal and forced me through it. I tried to fight her, I really did, but she was just too strong." Keiko sighed, shoving a hand through her hair. "What you did was brave, Shy. Spraying her like that."

She shook her head and sat back, giving me some space.

I took a second to try and take stock of my injuries. Everything ached, my back, my arms, my head, but more than anything else my ankle. Bracing myself for the worst, I glanced down at my ankle and shuddered. It was bent at an awkward angle, one that clearly proved it was broken.

Keiko followed my line of sight and shifted uncomfortably. "Shy," she murmured sympathetically.

"What are we going to do?" I asked.

"Before you fell down the stairs, I was able to get Yusuke on the phone and he was bringing the other guys to come get us. Obviously Disma took us before the guys got there, but at least they know what happened to us."

I jerked my gaze away from my ankle, trying to ignore the pain. "I would assume that Disma took us to Epsilon, right? So Mukuro should know where we are. It shouldn't be long before the guys get here. They'll save us before you know it."

"You think so?"

Keiko's question was tinged with desperation and I forced myself to sound truthful when I answered. "Yeah, Keiko. Of course." That was a lie, an epic lie. But I knew that if I freaked out, Keiko would too and that was the last thing we needed.

Suddenly a portal crackled to life in the far corner of the cell and Disma stepped out. She smiled at us, baring her fangs. Her appearance had solved my question about the door. There was no need for one if Disma could just open a portal whenever it was needed.

"What do you want?" I asked, my hands curling into fists.

"I'm simply here for a visit. There's no need to get so defensive." Her eyes glittered cruelly and I swallowed hard. "I must admit, I was rather disappointed by the lack of protection provided by the hanyou and his friends. I had been hoping for a challenge. It was rather silly to leave you so defenseless." She shook her head and turned her attention to the still open portal.

Straightening her back and holding her head high, Disma gestured to the portal. "And now for the real reason I'm here. I'd like to introduce Lord Epsilon."

Goosebumps rippled along my flesh and I had difficulty breathing. Keiko gasped beside me and her hand found mine on the floor.

The hebi stepped through the portal slowly, his dress shoes clacking softly on the stone floor. Epsilon wore a simple, gray suit, though I would have bet that it was expensive. He held a glass of red wine in his hand and he gestured with it for Disma to leave the room. She stepped through the portal and it closed with a soft snap.

He turned his attention to us and I got my first good look at his face. His nose was nothing more than the two slits of his nostrils. As for his eyes, the irises were so colorless that I could barely discern them from the whites of his eyes. The pale alabaster of his skin caught the faint light in the cell and glittered faintly. Curling lazily about his feet was a thick tail that tapered to a thin point.

Raising his glass to us in a toast, he said, "Evening, ladies."


AN: This chapter was fun to write. I've discovered that I enjoy writing bad guys, it's fun. I'm pumped for the next chapter, which will feature a lot of Epsilon. I love him. He's one of my favorite characters, but he really hasn't gotten a lot of face time.

I'd like to point out that a reviewer told me I had made a mistake last chapter and I went back and fixed it. I don't think it was too large of a deal, but I still found it worth fixing. Shy had said that Hiei had never 'broken the clothing barrier before' but he had in earlier chapter. As I said, I've since fixed the issue.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter. I think I got thirty-five reviews, which is insanely exciting! You guys rock so much. So tell me what you thought of this chapter, 'kay?