"Hey, I hate to be the dumbass here, but how do you guys even know each other?" Yusuke asked, raising his hand like he was in school. It sort of felt like that, not going to lie. "Did you break into Spirit World like these two—" he gestured to Hiei and Kurama, "and got on the naughty list?"

MJ really liked Yusuke, I knew. I could tell from the way her eyes brightened when he spoke instead of searing his flesh off. "No. Koenma stalked me actually."

I debate on exclaiming, 'Hey, Kurama stalked me too!' but thought better of it. I didn't think MJ needed more ammunition.

Kuwabara gave a visceral reaction to the news, dramatically turning his full attention to the stalker in question. "That's creepy, Koenma. You get arrested for that stuff here."

Koenma's face turned bright scarlet as he bristled, "I didn't do it personally you buffoons! I just monitored her from afar, which is my job!"

Yusuke snickered, "Yeah, okay, Koenma."

"Anyway," Koenma crossed his arms with a vein pulsing against his temple. "She was a powerful demon and I knew her family, so I offered her a job."

Yusuke threw himself forward onto his hands, "Wait a minute! She had a choice?"

"Yes. Of course. She hadn't died, nor had she done anything illegal. In fact, she and her family attracted demonic attention weekly—as I'm sure Aurora can attest to. Offering her the position made perfect sense." Koenma said, looking back to glance at MJ. "She's indispensable. A true asset. I couldn't replace her, if I tried."

"Sheesh, Koenma. I wonder if you talk me up like that." Yusuke fell back into his position, resting his elbows on his knees. "So, she's like what—the American Spirit Detective?"

"No. I have someone else in that position. She handles different threats—things that, unfortunately, can only be solved one way." Koenma sighed, "Actually, because the country is so big, I have more than one American Spirit Detective in different parts of the country. MJ handles problems none of them have the ability to resolve or reach."

"So she's like an assassin or a hitman?" Kuwabara asked, looking up over to MJ.

"What is she also your bodyguard?" Hiei asked his voice carrying a note of both interest and mocking.

MJ's eyes snapped over to him, with a fierceness that would have frozen any sane person. "Why?" she asked, stepping away from the wall, her tone carrying no shortage of threat, "Does he need one right now?"

Hiei, never one to take a threat sitting down, leaped from the railing to stand on his feet. "Is that a threat?"

Not going to lie, it was a little annoying. Hiei constantly took my threats lying down, dude barely made the effort to look at me when I promised death and destruction. MJ barely hints at it and boom! He's ready to scrap.

Well, it probably had a lot to do with our difference in power. It was like comparing a tea cup chihuahua to Cerberus guarding the gates of hades. Her energy level was concealed, but if I took into account Hiei's reaction, he could definitely tell exactly how strong she was.

There was this almost charge to his gaze, something he got in his eyes when he was excited for battle—for the thrill. MJ on the other hand was no fighter. She did not fight just to fight. She was judge and jury, and executioner. If they were to fight, Hiei wouldn't go for the kill right away, but she would. She'd go straight for his head.

I leaned forward, "MJ don't—"

"If you have a death wish…" she gestured with her hand, "please step to me."

"The hell," Shizuru looked around, surprised. Yukina looked around, worried.

Without breaking eye contact, he stepped forward—

"Hey!" I threw my hands up and wiggled them in the air, thankful, I got their attention. "Hey! What did I say about fighting my friends, MJ? Don't make that face, yes, we are friends and yes you started it. Hiei always sounds like he's threatening somebody. That's just his voice. Can't you tell? And, Hiei, what the actual hell? That's my little sister, you asshole! If you had a sibling, I'd be nice to her I wouldn't tell her to take her best shot and see what happens!"

MJ stilled before she actually laughed, "Fine." She sunk against the wall, showing me her hands with a smirk. She wasn't sorry.

Hiei having the decency to look chastised stole a glance a Yukina before his eyes lit on me, his cheeks reddening. An understanding passed between us that reminded me of so much that had happened in the last couple of days. Having Hydra in my grasp, had briefly erased it, but now…I remembered exactly why he was half way across the room. I immediately dropped his gaze just as his eyes darted from mine.

I glanced up to find MJ's eyes on me, questioning, wondering. Her gaze flew back to Hiei who had directed his attention to the view. She didn't say anything, she had more sense than that, but she drew the same conclusion Hydra had come to.

Tension between people didn't suddenly disappear because you wanted it to. It lessened over time, and the tension between Hiei and I wasn't solid like a block of wood, but it was more like a frozen stick of butter. You still had to put some effort into cutting that son-of-a-bitch.

Well, good news for Kurama. MJ's wrath had now found a new home. I think.

"Anyway, as I was saying," Koenma continued on, his cheeks slightly reddened, his hands fumbling together. "She is very capable, but she doesn't have an exact title. She is adequately compensated."

"Compensated?" Yusuke asked, his voice shooting up an octave.

"It means she is paid in some shape or another." Kurama skillfully explained. "I'm assuming he means through monetary gain."

"Well, I'll be damned." Yusuke crossed his arms, "Had I known that, I would have asked for a check too."

Koenma waved his concern away, "Yours are two very different situations, Yusuke. That's all I'm going to say about it."

Yusuke still looked unsatisfied, but dropped it when Genkai decided to shoot him a look. "Yeah, okay, whatever. Be lucky I don't sue your ass."

Again, MJ surprised me by actually laughing. I mean, she laughed a lot, don't get me wrong. But, she usually didn't laugh in public, it was her thing. I couldn't blame her, of course, Yusuke had a way of making you like him without him even trying.

Finally, everyone seemed to be back on task. Thank the lord. If I had to break up another fight, I was prepared to have Hydra zip me the hell out of here.

"We need to know everything. Top to bottom. From the moment you sat foot in Living World to the day you were captured." Koenma's eyes softened as they centered on me. He offered me a small smile as a consolation before he continued. "Can you give that to us?"

Hydra, on the other hand, looked completely unaffected to be in front of the Prince of Spirit World. I did not miss, however, the care he was taking to avoid MJ's searing gaze just beyond Koenma. His large eyes landed on me. "Is that what you want?"

To be completely honest, I almost wanted to be in the dark. The swirling discomfort in the pit of my stomach, told me to deny his question and smack it out of sight. Logic knew that these people who had risked their lives go save him, were owed something, and logic also knew that the reveal of Hydra's history could also strip him of villain status.

Logic won out. I nodded. "It is."

Hydra nodded, before giving the room an unenthusiastic look. "I met Lady Eris about…one hundred and…sixty years ago?" He then smiled, his head turning to look to my left. "Right…Kurama?"

"Wait," Koenma leaned forward, playing mouth piece for the group of curious faces. "You know each other?" Strange, how many times that question had been asked today.

"Yes." Was Kurama's only reply, before he directed the inquiry away from himself. "Was that the first time you met Eris or did you encounter Enyo before then?"

"Nope. I'd heard of Enyo, the same way I'd heard of you, Kurama, but I'd never seen her." Hydra sighed, "Anyway, Lady Eris actually took me in, I was dying near her territory and she happened to be near, saw me and healed me. She told me I had potential, that she saw where my life and hers intertwined. She asked if I wanted to see that intersection for myself…I agreed."

Hydra grinned suddenly, "This is where Kurama can verify my story. You see, he was there around the same time. Of course, he didn't stick around. We'd had many encounters before he left, actually. He came and went a lot for about…nine years. He wasn't one of her followers, no, he was special. He had certain privileges. You know? Touching privileges. Kissing privileges—"

"Hydra," I warn, strangely aware of Kurama sitting next to me. "If it's not important to the story…leave it out."

"You sure?" Hydra looked around, eyes wide with innocence. "Because the prince did ask me to be thorough."

"We got it, they were screwing around. Move on." Yusuke readily supplied and then muttered in a low voice, "not gonna lie though…that's pretty badass—ouch! Botan get off my back alright? Sheesh." Botan shushed him.

"Anyway, they had their lover's quarrel—the fox took off, eventually got here, of all places." Hydra shrugged, "But I went on to train with Azriel. Years later, Medusa was sent to Living World. More years past, and I am sent to Living World as well. Unlike Medusa, who came through a B-Class demon, I lost almost all of my power, dropping into the lower D-Class."

I knew it wouldn't matter once I accomplished my goal. I went looking for you, Princess, by looking for Medusa's energy. That was the day you were born." Hydra peered up at me with an unmistakable sweetness in his gaze. "I was prepared to begin my new life. It didn't work out, because the portal had dumped me off in Japan. I fell into the hands of some B-Class demons and joined a gang for about two and a half years. Enyo's cronies showed up, knew I belonged to Lady Eris and offered me a position under them as spy. Yes, Fox, that's where I 'came into contact with her'. Seeing as they had just slaughtered five lower B-Class demons, I wasn't dumb enough to argue. I was with them for one and half years until I felt Medusa's energy again. There was a fight and I barely escaped with my life. I'd made it to the Hiroyuki compound following her energy when you'd found me, Princess."

He'd never told me.

I felt so sick suddenly, the twisting and turning in my stomach worsening by the second. But…I also felt relieved, for him, for me. "I'm so, so sorry, Hydra."

Hydra snuggled closer, "I was supposed to be your protector, but here you were saving me….You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Still…that's horrible."

He shrugged, "All worth it."

Aww, I ruffled his hair, combing through the inky strands.

"What happened next?" That was Kurama who had asked, his voice low, even.

"It was love at first sight."

"Don't be gross, Hydra." I immediately pulled away. Holding him at arms length. "Is that it?"

Hydra nodded. "The cronies themselves were pretty much dismissed after they failed to entice me. It was only until years later, when these psychos shot me down,"He, of course, referred to Yusuke and the gang, "that they were strong enough to come looking for me and drag me back to Demon World and place me under lock and key. Those little vermin were able to get themselves reinstated—until you guys killed most of them of course—because they found me. The plan was to draw you into Demon World, which worked, but it clearly didn't go the way they planned."

"Clearly." Kurama reiterated, finally managing to steal my attention. It was his turn to avoid my eyes, as he kept his spring gaze on Hydra. "You have nothing else of note to share?"

"Nope." He said, and then added, "Nothing I'd tell you anyway—"

I flicked him on the forehead.

"You're mean today. That was a little joke, Princess. You have but to ask and, of course, I'll tell you."

"Why did you leave?" Kurama asked, "Why did you abandon her to us? A man you hated, and three others you did not know?"

Hydra's eyes speared into the floor. " I don't have an answer for that. I just knew that once my escape plan failed…that was it for me. I'd die. You'd kill me. Though, I knew you wouldn't hurt Aurora," Hydra's eyes snapped back over to Kurama with a renewed gleam. "She may not act like her, but she's beautiful…just like our lady—opps—my lady. Right? And the great bandit does not break pretty things, does he? He just takes them from the deserving…right?"

Kurama made no remark, but the air became frigid with his silence.

I was still turning over his words, "So…you left me on a whim?"

"Not really." He tried to snuggle into my arms, but I held him away. He looked confused. "You're alive aren't you?"

"But," I gazed deep into his eyes, trying to see if he'd see the problem. "you didn't know I would be."

His lips wavered, and fury took hold of his face as he glared at Kurama. "I knew. I mean, look, he's right there. So close."

Maybe I had no right to be angry, but, "Still…"

"Are you mad?"

Was I? Was I angry to find not Hydra left me, not because he had no choice, but because he assumed I wouldn't be killed and he assumed that he would be. Would I have left? No. I would have stayed. I would have died beside him…because he's family, regardless of any scruples I've had with anyone else.

"Yes. I am." I honestly can't believe he's asking such an obvious question. "Hydra had you just stayed, we wouldn't be sitting here doing this. I would not have had to ask the people you hate to help me get you back."

"I don't hate them. I hate him." Hydra clarified. Meanwhile, I didn't understand the need to make the distinction. "He would have killed me."

I shook my head, exhausted. "No, he wouldn't have."

"You don't know that."

"You don't know that." I say, heat rising in my throat. My heartbeat steadily increasing. "You don't even fucking know him, Hydra. You just hate him. I don't know why I didn't see this sooner. You've been fixated on him the moment I introduced you." I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Hydra…you understand that he doesn't even think about you, don't you? And yet, you pour all this energy into hating him and he doesn't give a damn about you."

I closed my eyes, feeling like I was talking to myself as well. All this energy, and what?

Hiei. Hydra.

It all added up to me. It all felt like I was throwing it back into my face. All this energy, worrying, compromising, and for nothing.

Hydra wrapped his arms around me, grasping me so tight, I felt the air leap from my lungs. "I'm sorry, okay! I won't do it again! Don't be mad at me. Don't send me away like Eris—"

There. That solved it. It's funny that he'd just accused Kurama of doing this with me, but…he was the one doing this. He didn't see me. Hydra saw Eris. That's who he saw when he looked at me. A woman who he'd given everything for but could never have. A woman who trusted him enough to keep her descendant safe, but could see him not as man, nothing more than an associate—a follower. Someone to give tasks, but never her touch, never her heart. But, she'd give it to others willingly. She gave it to Kurama, and he left whenever he wanted.

Bile, flooded my throat. I wanted the room to fade away. "Let go of me."

"You heard her, Hydra." I could almost feel the menace in Kurama's voice as he said those words, the warning. Cold.

"Hey, little guy," Kuwabara's voice was urgent. "Let go—"

Yusuke urged, "Dude, chill out—"

His fingers dug into my side, "Please…don't leave me…"

"Hiei! Put your sword away!" Koenma yelled, "There's no need to—MJ, wait—"

"Let go, Hydra!" that was Keiko, her voice shrill. Then I heard Botan and Shizuru, even Yukina plead. I just wanted space. I wanted some goddamn space.

"Everyone calm down!" Genkai commanded.

I felt free suddenly, my eyes opened just in time to see Hydra snatched away from me, MJ dragging him by his shirt collar and launching him into the outside. "AURORA!"

His voice was high, shrill. Tears escaped his eyes in torrents, wide and frightened. He looked like such a little kid then. Not the three-hundred year old he was. I didn't mean to do this to him. I just wanted space. I should have known better. MJ was here, after all, and there was nothing she wouldn't do to protect me. She'd toss a country away if I needed it.

I was still angry, absolutely, and I thought Hydra an idiot. But, he was my idiot. My delusional, poor, idiot.

I stood to my feet, slipping from Kurama's reassuring grasp. Doing what I do best, I dived after him without a second thought.

This took me back to when I first learned Kurama had tricked me, and I couldn't help the smile. Nostalgia, am I right?

()()()

"Goddamn it, Aurora!" MJ groaned, before she too, leapt over the railing. "Make up your mind!"

"Are we following?" Kuwabara asked, just as Aurora activated her barrier so she could float towards the demon. Kurama was undeniably impressed. MJ had quite an arm.

"Botan," Koenma looked to the reaper who immediately pulled her oar out of thin air, before she and Koenma sat on it and followed after MJ. No surprise there.

"Yes." Kurama should have predicted such an outcome. He ran towards the railing and threw himself over it, following Hydra by scent. Yusuke and Kuwabara followed him closely as they sprinted through trees and underbrush, avoiding logs and a random collection of demons well below any notice.

He slowed when he came upon a clearing, several trees smashed into the ground, splitters littering the open field. Aurora sat at its center, Hydra in her arms again.

MJ and Hiei were already there. Botan descended slowly to the ground, looking anxious.

"I'm sorry," Hydra was whispering as Kurama approached them. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Was her quiet reply, her fingers pulling through his hair in soothing strokes. Kurama did not understand her affection for him. It was more than irritating. It made his blood boil. It made no sense.

"I'm not sorry." MJ said, her arms crossed as she observed them coldly.

"I know. Thank you, Sissy." Aurora told her, "I know you were trying to help me."

MJ's gaze flickered to the ground, "I don't remember him being so light."

"He was tortured, MJ." Aurora said, "He lost weight."

MJ made no remark to that, not out of surprise. Kurama suspected she simply did not care, but chose not to further anger her sister.

Kurama knelled beside Aurora, and Hydra flinched away from him, glaring.

Spare me the dramatics, Kurama thought, but his voice was sure, soft as he spoke. "Is he injured?"

Kurama watched as Aurora's eyes brightened when he spoke, and her lips formed a warm smile. His smile actually. "I caught him before he touched down." Her smile then warped into a playful grin, "Brings back memories, doesn't it?"

Kurama chuckled, "It does. Do you make it a habit of diving out of windows and off of railings?"

"Only since I've known you." She countered, and then added, "And you decided to ruin my life, of course."

His eyes burned with amusement, "I remember apologizing for that twice already. Is it still not accepted?"

She closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them, her gaze had softened. "Nope. You paid with credit, Kurama, I only accept cash."

"I'll try to remember that from now on."

This back and forth, between them came so easy, so natural. They may look similar, but what he and Eris had—or rather didn't have—was not easy or natural. It was a show of dominance and subtle aggression, marked by climaxes of passion. That was not love, but lust. Hunger and no more. The fact that Hydra could never tell the difference spoke volumes. After all these years, he still had not matured. Is that why Aurora clung to him? She could sense that he had been a child, would always be a child for the rest of his life?

It would certainly explain things. Because, despite her words, she didn't treat him like a friend. She treated him like a child, her child.

"Right." She said finally, folding the two of them into a comfortable silence.

Kurama was not petty or jealous, but even he had to admit he felt something akin to envy as he watched her dive after Hydra with reckless abandon. It was heated, and vile. It teared into his stomach.

"So…"Yusuke stepped forward too, "What now?"

"Are you done with the dramatics?" MJ asked, shifting her weight to her right hip.

Aurora gave Kurama a final smile before she grinned at her sister. "What about me is dramatic? I'm super chill."

"Aurora. You have zero chill." MJ countered. "You give zero fucks."

"Untrue. You have no chill." Aurora thought it not robbery to add, "Plus, I give every fuck. I give more fucks than you."

"Please, I have chill."

"Says the girl who threw Hydra a million feet with zero hesitation." Aurora explained, demonstrating with her hands. "That's someone with no fucks to give."

MJ shrugged. "I have chill, but I am not chill. You have zero chill, but you are chill. Happy."

"Yes."

"Hydra, you mentioned you were captured by demons?" Kurama decided to ask, once their spirited discussion had subsided. "Were they only targeting you or did they often capture wounded demons?"

"I wasn't the only one. They did it often. They still do, I guess." Hydra mumbled.

"That's fucked up," Yusuke growled. Kuwabara nodded along, his eyes on Hydra. "It's illegal to do that shit."

Hydra shrugged, but shrunk when MJ approached him, still reeling from his last encounter, Kurama had no doubt.

MJ stood above him, her eyes piercing his skull. "Do you know where these demons are?"

Hydra folded himself into Aurora's arm, his nose running. "I do." Kurama pulled a handkerchief from his coat pocket and offered it to Aurora, who gave him a smile. Hydra's frown deepened, but he gladly accepted Aurora's attention.

"Good." MJ said, "Get up."

"What? Why?" Hydra shook as he tried to slip away from Aurora.

MJ, giving no fucks, as the two eagerly described (Kurama chuckled), didn't soften her approach, "Don't look surprised. I'm going to kill them all…obviously and you're going with me."

After a moment of hesitation when their eyes met, Hydra stood to his feet, joined quickly by Aurora.

"I'll be back," MJ told Koenma who had immediately began to protest. "I won't even charge you."

"I'm going too," Aurora told her, not willing to let go of Hydra's hand. He looked so small as he stood next to her.

Yusuke stood up, "Hell, I guess I'm going too. Kuwabara you coming?"

"No, I think I better stay here and explain what's happening to the girls. If Aurora doesn't come back right away, my sister will kill me."

Aurora released Hydra to hug Kuwabara to her chest, and he reciprocated the gesture. "Explain to Banriyu for me. I left him with Keiko before I jumped. Nike too, but she'll be sleep."

"Got it."

Kurama stood as well. His participation went without saying. He did find, Hiei's eyes on him, narrowed slightly, questioning. He said nothing, but it was clear he'd go as well. MJ's eyes flashed over to him, narrowing slightly before she gestured Hydra forward.

Aurora kissed the crown of his head, and encouraged him. Hydra walked some distance away from them before he began to pulse with energy, his body exploding with a blinding light. Kurama looked through his fingers, once the light was gone, Hydra had transformed into the hulking beast they had seen so many weeks ago.

Kurama decided to address MJ, "Before we depart, I think we should at least have a plan of attack."

"I already have a plan." She said, already walking away from him. "Attack."

"Subtle."

"If you don't like it, you don't have to come." She said, then softened her voice, "Aurora?"

Aurora gave Kurama an apologetic smile, "Hear him out, MJ. Kurama likes to have things planned out. He's very good at planning. It usually works out for him. Believe me."

"I'm sure." MJ scrutinized him once more before walking away. "Fine. Think of a plan on the way. I'm sure your big brain can handle it."

Yusuke slid next to Kurama, "What did you do to piss her off?"

Hiei snorted, "Isn't it obvious?"

Aurora gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "She is a little presumptive but once I set the record straight…she should be good. I think."

Kurama doubted that very much, "You think so?"

Aurora's eyes lingered on her hand for a moment before she abruptly removed it. "Just…let me talk to her. But, hey, she likes Kuwabara and Yusuke." She threw herself into a jog to catch up with her sister, leaning into her ear to speak.

Yusuke dusted off his shoulders, "I do have a certain charm."

Hiei snickered.

"Shall we?" Kurama gestured forward, and they all prepared to depart.

Despite his many years knowing Hydra, Kurama had never actually flown with him. for obvious reasons.

Kurama sat behind Aurora once she and MJ ended their discussion. MJ's gaze flickered over to him, she glared, before scoffing. "Whatever you say." MJ walked up the length of Hydra's head as he rose off the ground, his wings producing a storm of wind strong enough to rip trees from their roots.

Kurama winced at the waste.

MJ stood at the top of his head, as he continued to rise. Aurora, used to this form of travel, found purchase against his long neck, her fingers clasped onto groves in his scales. "Here," she offered, reaching back to pull him forward, "You can hold onto me. Yusuke—"

"Woohoo!" Yusuke stood on his feet with his arms stretched wide as he howled at the wind. "Kuwabara is missing out!"

Hiei stood as well, not far from him, arms crossed, but seeming to enjoy the view none the less.

"I think Yusuke will be fine." Kurama told her.

"You think?" she raised an eyebrow at that as his hands slipped around her waist. He could feel her body tense, before it inevitably relaxed. She even leaned back into his chest for a moment, surprising him. Then, she jerked forward, remembering.

Kurama smiled. He paused for a second, "About what Hydra said—"

"Kurama." She turned her head to look back at him, to hold his gaze with her burning eyes. They were entirely too knowable, but somehow so completely out of his grasp. It was vexing to say the least. "You don't have to explain your past to me. I legitimately don't care. Hydra is biased and…a little deluded, I admit. I know who you are, always have. We're friends…aren't we?"

There, there it was. He needed no other explanation for his feelings. And the need to pull her close overwhelmed him, in that moment, but he did not for several reasons. One was her own ignorance about his intentions, and, of course, Hiei's eyes on his back. Hiei wanted to separate himself from her, that's true. But, he as well as she, needed time to adjust.

Kurama had been waiting for quite some time to feel this need to be with someone. This flood, this mixture of envy and sacrifice. He could wait a while longer, until the time was right.

"You know me well." He decided to say instead, speaking low, so only her ears could hear his words.

"Yeah, so stop worrying, get in the damn car…and let me drive for a while. Okay?" she grinned back at him, "I promise not to kill us both."

"I'll take your word for it."

()()()

Hydra followed their scent all the way to some warehouse in the outskirts of the city. We circled it, miles above. MJ walked back to us, "I'm going to drop down, take them out. Then we can get the hell outta here."

"Would it not be less risk involved if we attacked as group instead?" Kurama asked, the obvious question. Yes, it would be. But, MJ did this for a living and I wasn't one to tell a farmer how to plant corn.

"There is no risk. I can feel their insignificance from here." MJ replied, her confidence no longer hiding in the shadows. My little sister was a smug one, I have to say.

"Still, we did come all this way to assist and I'd like to see if they have any more information."

I turned so I could look from MJ's heated indifference to Kurama's gentle politeness. "Fine. You handle that then."

Kurama nodded his head, thankful she had relented. He didn't know it, but it had everything to do with me telling her we were not a thing. Although, she had insisted, that our actions said otherwise.

Hydra abruptly transformed and we free fell before I activated my barrier and enclosed, all of us inside of it. MJ gave me a congratulatory smile, eyes narrowing when Hydra decided to cling to my side. I let us drop, when we were hidden away in the trees, the warehouse just a little walk away.

"What a leech." She commented, just as we landed. "Go on, anything you want to share?"

"It's that building," Hydra motioned his head forward, "Windows line the sides, but there's only one entrance."

It stood off by itself, long and wide, its wood weathered and darkened by rain. "How many are there supposed to be?"

"They're all there."

"Good. Which one will have the most information?"

"The strongest one."

"Let's go."

"Perhaps, we should all enter through different paths?" Kurama offered helpfully. "To ensure no one escapes."

I could see MJ trying very hard not to glare at him and his suggestions. In her mind I could see her suggest, 'perhaps you should shut the fuck up?'

I gave her a pleading look, 'be nice.' It said.

"Do what you want. I'm going through the front." MJ announced, walking toward the building. "I already have a lock on their energy signatures. Even if they do manage to leave the building, I will enjoy hunting them down."

I was a little conflicted. Both Yusuke and Hiei had been completely silent on the obvious tension between the two of them. Yusuke's expression showed he could feel it, but he decided he had no rat in this race. Hiei looked indifferent, as per usual. Poor Kurama was just trying to do his Kurama thing and be prepared. MJ wanted to do things her way, or no way.

"She isn't wrong." Hiei decided, saving me from siding with one over the other. "What do you want to do, Kurama?"

Yusuke also turned to him, raising an eyebrow.

Kurama shut his eyes for a moment, frustration clear as day in his expression. "The front it is."

"Stay behind me," I tell Hydra, who's wrapped his little hands in my shirt.

"He's here to protect you, Aurora." MJ said hotly through her teeth. She only heard what she wanted to hear, my sister.

"I thought that's what you're here for." I countered, making her give me an irritated sigh.

"Fine. Scared little girls, feel free to stand behind Aurora."

"Don't bully him, MJ."

"Who's a bully?" MJ then turned to Yusuke who looked like he'd rather participate in a national exam. "am I a bully, Yusuke?"

Yusuke immediately backed up, "I'm not in this."

"Let it go." I hissed.

"I'm not you. I don't just let things go. Everything in life falls into two categories: business or personal. Seeing as this is personal…I'm not letting a damn thing go." MJ glared at him, "He crossed the line. Not to mention, he let little Prince Charming punk him." Poor Kurama. "The pretty boy." At least she admitted he's pretty.

"We're not here about him." I stepped further in front of Hydra to hide him from her murderous intent. I didn't want to, but I pulled the big sister card. "We're here about them. I'm not asking you anything. I'm telling you. Leave him alone."

Her eyes narrowed at that. I knew she didn't like the rebuke, but MJ either completely lost her temper or took things in stride. Luckily, she decided on the latter for a course of action.

"Fine."

Feeling bad, I kissed her cheek. "You're so cute when you're vicious." And she was!

She waved me off, but I could tell she liked the compliment. "If you're done distracting me—"

"You started it!"

"Can we agree you're both crazy and just move on?" Yusuke cut in and I flipped him off. Did I interrupt him and Kuwabara when they acted like morons?

"Do you want to do the thing?" MJ glanced back at me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. She loved me again, I, of course, loved her, bullying or no bullying.

I clasped my hands together. "Yes, please. You or me?"

MJ considered this, her steps quick. "Me, I think."

"Good, good. You say it with more venom than I do." I rubbed my hands together, ignoring the skepticism in Kurama's eyes. Hiei gave him a shrug, not giving a damn about up or down. Yusuke just looked excited to be doing anything at all.

MJ strode straight up to the door, all of us flanking her and knocked once. She took a step back as an opening slid to the right to reveal a pastel green face with large black eyes. "Who are you?"

I stepped forward, making sure Hydra was very visible. The demon, fairly weak from what I got from him, actually seemed to freeze. "I've brought some bad luck, now—"

"You're fucked." Without preamble, MJ kicked the door with so much force it tore from its hinges and launched into the warehouse before crashing into the opposing wall with a resounding boom. The noise, much like pouring hot water onto a ant hill, caused an explosion of demons to filter into view varying in strength and ugliness. There were a few attractive one in the bunch, but I didn't feel moved to flirt.

"Now that," Yusuke stated, "is an entrance."

Waltzing into the large room like she owned it, MJ looked around briefly, finding it lacking. I was behind her, my eyes taken aback by the stacks of dusty crates along the walls and the huge industrial fan above the mezzanine, across from the second floor. Nothing to write home about.

Like characters in a bad scary movie, the demons began to approach us, eager for the fight. At the most, there were twenty.

"If you surrender now," Kurama told them, his voice calm, gracious, "We will show you mercy. We only ask that you stop your trading and selling of innocents and that you bring your leader forward. That is a small price to pay for your lives." Kurama always managed to be so eloquent when he spoke. It was something to admire, honestly.

Of course, they all just laughed. One demon who looked like a James Bond villain, started picking his teeth with a paring knife.

MJ rolled her eyes, but didn't interrupt him. I was actually surprised she had waited. "Happy?"

"Very, thank you for asking." Kurama gave her a polite smile.

She sighed with obvious annoyance, "I don't see how you guys can stand him. He's like candy. All sugar and no substance."

"You get used to it." Hiei surprised me by commenting, "The grating gets dull after a while."

I saw a small smirk appear on her lips at that.

"He tries his best. The guy can't help but be noble, am I right Kurama?" Yusuke added in, giving Kurama an understanding pat on the back. "He has that whole prince thing going on."

MJ made a sound of derision. "Eh. I hate fake royalty."

"You called him Prince Charming." I told her with a wave of my hand.

"You know I hated Prince Charming." MJ commented. "Besides, Fox, I didn't know you needed my sweet sister to fight your battles for you."

"Leave him alone, Minerva."

"How does it feel to be on the same level as Hydra?" she asked, an edge there, unconcealed.

"I'm sorry," Kurama finally decided to look at her, "Did you say something? I'm afraid I wasn't paying attention."

She paused at that, something about his words struck her, although they seemed harmless to me. What was it? something flickered before her gaze then, and I had half a mind to glare at Kurama. Instead, I just glanced at him, his face all politeness. There was something though, something behind his eyes I couldn't quite place. I tore my gaze away, and reminded her about our precarious position.

Kurama, surprisingly enough, had somehow stripped the group of its lightness. He'd hit my sister with a barb that would have thrown me into a rage, but not silenced me. It had the opposite affect on her and I did not like it.

Suddenly, her demonic energy spiked out from her body, its coldness forcing me to take steps back. The fight began.

Hiei disappeared, zipping through the air, as MJ blurred before me. In one swift movement, she'd taken off someone's head before she tossed it off to the side. Yusuke joined the fray, kicking and punching, but not going straight for the kill I noticed. He seemed to hit them hard enough only to knock them out. He was so angry before, what had changed I wonder?

It probably had a lot to do with us, showing up like the X-Men just to squash a few bugs. It was clear from the first strike that everyone here was simply outclassed, and that difference turned this into an absolute slaughter.

A man, who I assumed to be the leader, stepped out of the shadows with a sword. Kurama pulled a rose from his hair and flicked it forward. In barely a second, he had it secured around the large man's head. "One movement and you lose your head."

His orange eyes widened, his hands shaking with fear as Kurama gave him a cold look. The sword clattered to the asphalt. There wasn't many there and the three of them made quick work of the entire group. Hiei taunting and terrorizing them as his sword flashed through flesh and bone. MJ didn't speak, ripping heads from shoulders, every time she turned to walk. While Yusuke didn't seem to be killing anyone, he didn't at all seem disturbed by what he saw. Although, I noticed brief flashes of anger in his eyes, as he remembered just what these demons had been up to.

In mere moments, the place had gone to silence, bodies shrewn about this way and that. Even I, used to MJ's preferred method of killing, couldn't help but make a grab for Kurama's shirt sleeve as I looked around. He noticed, stepping closer. I then remembered the words he gave my sister and instinctively backed away.

"That was fast." Yusuke said, jumping down from the second floor to land beside Hiei who'd just cleaned his sword before replacing it in his scabbard. "They were barely trying."

"We overwhelmed them." Hiei said, eyeing the man Kurama had under his power. "The element of surprise didn't help their case."

Leafy vines sprouted from the ground, dotted with magenta flowers, slithered up along the captured man's legs and arms, pulling tight. Kurama relaxed his hold on the whip, and it fell around his collar. The demon made no move to speak, watching the sharp thorns. Blood trickled from small gashes in his face, from where the thorns cut into him.

"Tell us…are there more of you?" Kurama asked icily. He could freeze the whole damn room!

The demon hesitated, but Kurama thought it not robbery to give the whip an extra tug, " No! Not here anyway. The rest went to Demon World with…with that one." He looked over to Hydra. "Said the rest of us were too weak to go."

"Makes sense." MJ commented.

"Hiei?" Kurama asked.

"He doesn't know anything else." Hiei told him, "He's done."

"I have a question for him." Yusuke barely suppressed his anger, you could hear it shake his voice. "why? Why would you capture demons just to sell them off to the highest bidder? Why? Don't you know that shit's illegal, now?"

"I don't know anything about Demon World. All I know is this one. All I care about is me—"

Kurama cut him off by savagely pulling at the whip, cutting his head off at the mouth. I averted my eyes for some reason. It was almost scary, seeing Kurama of all people do that. It was made scarier, I think, by the fact that he had managed to push back against MJ, something no one could do but me and my mom.

"Are you alright?" Kurama asked me, and I nodded. "Yeah. I'm glad it's over. I'm glad they won't be capturing anyone else."

Uncertainty, swam around in his gaze, a little disappointment too? Maybe?

"You didn't kill these guys, did you?" MJ asked, looking over the guys Yusuke left alive. She raised her left hand, and it crackled with her energy, swirling around like a wind storm. "You mind?"

There was some hesitation in his eyes as he looked at them. Pity maybe?

Me? I didn't feel a damn thing.

That settled it. Yusuke was better than the rest of us.

"Aurora?" MJ looked at me. "Your Hydra. You make the call."

"What do you think?" I asked him, earnestly.

"I don't care. It's not personal." Hydra said, folding his arms. It was very mature of him.

I took a deep breath, and pulled at my pendant. "I can contain them and then we can let Lord Koenma deal with them."

Yusuke's shoulders relaxed at that, but he didn't say a word. He only looked at me, his eyes telling me all I needed.

MJ smirked. "Fine. Have it your way."

()()()

Koenma stood with his back to me. MJ's eyes never left him as her mouth moved so fast, I couldn't quite follow. I could see his head nodding along, taking in her words.

Soon, he turned around, and gave me a serious look. "After much consideration, I have decided that he may be released into your custody on probation. It appears that while living with you for fifteen years, he has fully accounted for all his crimes."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Now, I still must urge caution. Although he may be released from Spirit World, he still is quite hated in Demon World. I'm a little worried that someone will target you in an effort to reach him or vice versa."

"I figured."

"Just be careful. You can trust these guys, while you're in Japan they'll watch over you."

"I know. Thank you so much."

"Of course." He nodded his head, and I could see MJ's bright eyes on him.

So maybe she didn't like Prince Charmings, but she did have a thing for open books it seemed. And there was no book more open than that Koenma.

He wasn't my speed, obviously, insert grin here. But, I approved. The guy had my stamp.

He would be taking that woman and those thugs with him, but I didn't ask how me planned on executing all that. I decided to walk back into the temple and give them a moment alone. I'm sure they could work it out.

()()()

"I will never understand you. If you want this woman go get her, what are you waiting for?"

"Although, I appreciate your enthusiasm," Kurama crossed his arms, watching as Aurora chased Botan. Keiko followed close behind while Shizuru smoked and Yukina cheered them on. The day was drawing to a close, and night was just on the horizon. "It's not that simple, Hiei."

"It is that simple. You're overcomplicating it."

"Hm. I wish that were true. She still needs more time. It's only been a few days, after all." Kurama noticed Hiei's eyes dart away from him. "Feelings, deep or shallow, take time to fade. I'll let her move forward at her own pace."

"Tch." Hiei scoffed.

"By the way, I'm curious Hiei. When did you first notice?"

Hiei's eyes lingered on him for a moment before he smirked. "When she called you at your house. I'd never seen you look so ridiculous."

Kurama chuckled, "I had thought I was being discreet."

"I've seen gargoyles have more subtlety."

"Well, still, I appreciate your concern, Hiei." Kurama told him with a smile.

Hiei rolled his eyes, "You still won't do anything."

"No. I'm afraid. I want to wait a while." For both your sakes. You may not realize it Hiei, but I know you still feel something for her, that's partially why you're so quick for me to make a move. You want to separate yourself as soon as possible, using me as leverage. But, I believe that would only hurt you in the end, and I couldn't do that.

"You shouldn't wait too long." Hiei urged. "She has the attention span of small child."

"You don't mean that."

Hiei made no reply. They lapsed into a comfortable silence. Kurama found his eyes following after Aurora, her dark hair flying around her. She noticed him staring, and her smile brightened. She threw her hand up in a wave, before charging after Shizuru who quickly put out her cigarette to run away with a hoarse scream.

He breathed in deeply, Yusuke and Kuwabara walked up to them. "Hello."

"What's up?" Yusuke stretched his arms behind his back. "They sure have a lot of energy." He referred to the girls, of course, "we could have used some of that."

Kurama laughed. "I agree."

"Anyone else feel like these last few days have been really crazy?" Kuwabara asked, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I feel like I've been going for months."

"Yeah. You can thank Kurama for that. Him and Aurora. We've been going since he first told us about her." Yusuke nodded at him with a grin. "How did you even find her?"

"She makes it impossible to miss her. She walks around talking to her spirit every second of every day without a care for who sees her," Hiei shook his head, "If Kurama didn't notice, someone else would have."

"So, I'm curious…" Yusuke began, changing the topic. "I know this isn't any of my business, but…I couldn't help but notice…"

Kurama attempted to suppress his smile, "Notice what, Yusuke?"

"Yes. Do tell." Hiei menaced.

Kuwabara gave Yusuke a satisfied look, crossing his arms. Kurama had no doubt he was excited to know something Yusuke did not.

"I mean…do you both have a thing for her or something?"

"Who are you referring to?" Kurama asked, feigning ignorance.

Yusuke slapped his hand over his face at Kurama's obvious question. "Keiko. Who else? Aurora. Miss America. She who walks with Spirits. Little Miss I only wear skirts."

Kuwabara snickered, before he burst out laughing.

"What? Don't tell me you haven't wondered about it. I thought she was into Kurama and then here comes Hiei giving her lessons and shit. You are glued together, now you guys barely speak. Kurama's whispering sweet nothings in her ear….What the hell happened?"

Hiei shrugged, "It's passed."

"Yes. I agree." Kurama turned his attention back to the girls, not missing the way Yusuke's eyes threatened to burst from his skull.

Yusuke threw his hands up just as Kuwabara's laughter grew. "WHAT?"

Author's Note: With that, I have ended the Hydra Retrieval Arc. Thanks for the continued support and what not.

Thank you for bearing with Aurora and her indecisiveness. She's a bit of an enabler too, I hope to address that moving forward.

Also, I quoted "Hamilton" a lot here, not word for word, but the idea is there. It's an American play. I urge people to check it out, it's pretty good.

update: I actually changed the description to Kurama x oc. If you guys remember, it was supposed to be Hiei x oc, but I had reread it a few times, and found that it made way more sense for it to be Kurama x oc. Heck, I alluded to it, without even meaning to. This entire time, I was building to this ship and not the HieiAurora one and it felt rushed in comparison. I'd set it up to fail and that was the intention actually. I was going to get them together just to have them set ablaze and be scarred for life. But...I changed my mind about that. I didn't want to do that to the characters. Plus, Kurama would always be Aurora's shoulder to cry on because, if you guys noticed, she doesn't really share with Hiei. It doesn't feel natural to her. Kurama would always be between them and I couldn't do that to Hiei. That would make for a horrible relationship and friendship.

I had actually planned to abandon this story because I couldn't make up my mind about the pairing, but decided to just write. As I wrote, the story just started turning into Kurama x Aurora. I apologize to everyone who began this story as AuroraHiei shippers. My bad. To rectify this, I am going to write a HieiOC story and keep it HieiOC.

If it bothers you, blame DamagedForestSpirit because it was their comment that made me realize I preferred KuramaAurora lol. The relationship is just more stable and the girl needs some stability. Honestly.

Anyway, I thought I'd leave a note with this information updated.