I know, I know, I'm posting more than one chapter today! Wanna know why? Cuz I just finished writing it =D But I'm not putting it all in one chapter, cuz I still like breaking things up hahaha. But for real, I'm posting the rest of it today! This is me being super excited =D

So I want to say thank you to WistfulSin and Jennibearrr and Angel of Randomosity and everybody else that I don't have time to write down names for (sorry, my mom is pressuring me to hurry up so we can leave the office) but thank you so much everyone who read my story =] It makes me feel all special 3

Enjoy!

A Twist in Expectations

Dayne's house was quiet. For a minute, she toyed with the idea of turning on the lights, but decided that would be a dead giveaway. Jonathan didn't need to know she was there. And now that she was there, she had to wonder: How did she think she was going to hold back a horde of demons? Especially when the dark, creepy demon was going to be involved. He wanted her soul, she was sure that hadn't changed. But she had expelled him from her dream once, and she was sure she could do it again. She was going to have to do it again, except in a more deadly way. If she could handle that.

She found herself kneeling by her dad's bed, staring at it moodily. Twelve years ago he had shared the bed with her mother. Her mother had been laying in bed, sick for the first time in Dayne's memory. With a strict voice she had called Dayne to her side, reaching out to grasp the young girl's hand. Dayne was going to have to stay with her Uncle, her mom explained, until she was better. When was she getting better? When God gave in and accepted her to heaven. Dayne had never believed in God. Not the way her mom had. When the first tears started, her mom snapped angrily at her. That was the reason she was being sent away, because her mom didn't want to deal with useless emotions. And then her dad had died in the same room, the same bed.

A sound from the front door chased the ghosts away, bringing Dayne back to what she was doing – at the moment, hiding. Just because she knew she had to be at the fight didn't mean she was dumb enough to go confront the demons. She was just a human, after all.

"Dayne?" It was a soft, innocent voice. She knew that voice. "Dayne, dad said to come find you." It wasn't really Benjamin. He wouldn't call through the house. He would just go find her.

"Come on out, Pip." The voice changed into one that had been haunting her dreams. "I've waited long enough for you." His voice sounded hollow now. She wondered how many more deals he could make before he ran out of his last strand of humanity. "I know you're here." She wondered where the other demons were. She could only hear Jonathan.

"Dayne, you're being rude." The tone was admonishing, but still slightly off. Her mother never told her she was being rude. She just gave her that look…the one that told her she was doing something wrong. Sucking in a deep breath, Dayne closed her eyes. She was going to fight the way she was meant to.

It was like the world had been sucked in and everything was surrounding her closely. Almost too closely. She could feel Jonathan, moving around the house. He was headed towards her room, sure that's where she would be. She turned, feeling her body move in the real world too. It was effortless, now. He would find her, soon, and she would be ready. Already, she was catching glimpse of the long ribbons of color all around her. The feel of them was tangible. She was ready.

"Ah, dear, you are ready." The demon agreed with her, his long, dark hair swinging as he appeared in front of her. Dayne blinked. She was supposed to take care of Jonathan. She wasn't equipped to take care of the demon.

"They need to hurry up," Kurama grumbled, in regards to Yusuke and Kuwabara. Dayne had been gone for who-knew-how-long…(exactly seventeen minutes and forty-two seconds, not that he meant to keep track). Sooner or later the demons or Jonathan were going to show up, and she was going to get hurt.

"We're here!" Yusuke gasped, throwing the door open. Yukina was right behind Kuwabara, her baby wrapped tight in her arms.

"Nenriki is right here." Sagaku told the pretty youkai, putting the baby down on the floor, and hurried to the door. Kurama and Hiei were already out it.

They moved quickly, dividing as they dove into Kurama's and Kuwabara's cars. Even disobeying traffic laws, getting to the house took too long. Surprisingly, though, Kurama was still in his human form. Everyone had thought he'd morph before this, but he seemed intent on staying calm. The wheels squealed to a stop at the curb. Dayne's house looked undisturbed.

"You don't think she had another dream and went somewhere else, do you?" Sagaku asked in a worried tone. Her mate didn't answer, narrowing his red eyes at the building as if it had offended him personally.

"Only one way to find out." Yusuke said, stepping out of Kuwabara's car. "C'mon guys."

There didn't seem to be any noise coming from the house as they stepped up to the front door. Hiei and his mate split off and headed for the back door. Kurama waited a moment before opening the front door, entering the house at roughly the same time as Hiei and Sagaku.

"Dayne is here." Kurama muttered quietly to Yusuke and Kuwabara as they crept forward. "So is Jonathan."

"Guess we better go find them, then." Yusuke muttered. Kuwabara nodded in agreement, giving them both a little shove to get them moving. Hiei and Sagaku wandered in silently from the kitchen, both tense and alert.

The demon moved around her father's bed, moving straight for Dayne. His dark eyes were crinkled, whether from excitement or amusement Dayne didn't know.

"I've been waiting so long for your soul, my dear." His bluish lips tightened as they lifted up in a smile.

"You couldn't take it the first time," Dayne said seriously, "so what makes you think you can have it this time?" As if to prove a point, the dream of Dayne's father dying appeared around them. The demon paused, watching himself for a second, and then turned his eyes back to the girl. Her cheeks were pink. He'd stalked her long enough to realize that entailed fear.

"Merely a fluke, my dear. Now come, give me what I want and I'll give Jonathan what he wants." He beckoned, flashing a white, manicured nail. Dayne snorted, knowing it was unbecoming and childish. Her mother wasn't there to chide her, not now. The demon's eyes narrowed.

"I'm sorry, I can't allow you to interrupt." Jonathan sneered at Dayne's friends. He blocked the entrance to the door.

Thinking to end it quickly, Hiei flashed forward with his sword, sweeping a cut at Jonathan's neck – his katana lodged into the doorframe and he found himself ducking, dodging the blow of a blunt weapon. There was another demon now, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.

"How can he move that fast?" Kuwabara asked, almost dumbly, staring at Jonathan. The blonde merely smiled at him, and moved again. He was faster than Hiei, and the only thing deterring his blow was Sagaku's built in defense: her stones. There was a flash of yellow-ish light around her, and Jonathan was knocked back a few steps. He glared at the short brunette who glared right back.

"So tell me, Jonathan," she stalked forward, shifting her weight lower in preparation, "What did you have to do with Ned and Sam?" His eyes widened minutely.

"Who? You're crazy, lady." He sneered, stepping to the side to avoid the clashing weapons of Hiei and his opponent. Yusuke, hoping to catch Jonathan unaware, aimed his finger. "Ah, ah, ah. Let's keep you all occupied, shall we?" Jonathan smiled at the dark-haired boy. Kuwabara charged. It was too late.