Chapter Two

A Less-Than Masterful Plan

"So, I have an idea," the words burst from Kuwabara's mouth as soon as he and Yukina shut the door to their small home.

Yukina, used to Kazuma's somewhat random outbursts, merely lifted a delicate brow, hand still moving to lock the deadbolt behind them.

"I want to set Ashley up with Hiei." The words filled the room as silence descended. Eichiki was the first to move from her place by the window, to wind and wrap herself up against Kazuma's legs. When Yukina didn't say anything, he continued, if only to fill the silence that lingered. "I mean, you heard her! She thinks he's 'handsome'!" He said the word like he didn't quite know how to handle it.

"That doesn't necessarily mean they'd make a good couple." Yukina moved away from the door, Eichiki slinking up and meowing at her feet. Yukina bent to pick up the cat while she continued, "Besides, Keiko tried setting him up years ago, don't you remember? And that didn't turn out quite as we anticipated."

Kazuma rolled his eyes, ever the drama-king, as he followed Yukina back to their bedroom. "That doesn't count! Hiei shot that down before Keiko even had a chance at executing it."

"Which is why," Yukina cut in, "this won't work either. Hiei would see it from miles away." Eichiki jumped from her arms as she moved to the dresser and began undressing for the night. Even though they'd been married for nearly two years, a blush crept into Kazuma's cheeks, and he looked away, giving Yukina her privacy. It was a sweet act, one that Yukina never took for granted but always made her heart swell for this man every time he did it.

"You're right," Kazuma continued, seemingly talking to the futon in the corner. "Unless we don't make it super obvious, you know? He's in town this week anyway helping Genkai out. Ashley is new to Sarayashiki. We could have them both over… get them talking… maybe have some alcohol around to loosen Hiei up-"

"Kazuma!"

He didn't flinch. "Well, you've got to admit, Hiei's about as talkative as a rock if he isn't insulting anyone."

Yukina paused, eyes sliding down to the floor in thought. "You do have a point." She finally admitted, guiltily.

She finished dressing in her pajamas, a simple old t-shirt of Kazuma's that she'd stolen back when they were dating. Kazuma turned back to face her, hands clasped in front of his face in a begging sort of way. "Please?"

Her scarlet eyes slid over his jutted bottom lip and wide puppy-dog eyes. Nearly twenty six years old and he could still sway her mind with that look when he wanted.

Yukina took a deep breath, preparing herself for Kazuma's excitement. "Okay, we'll try it." Sure enough, Kazuma nearly lost his mind in excitement. "But don't be disappointed if this doesn't work," she pointed a finger in his face in mock-threat, even though he towered over her. Kazuma knew it was a well-intended mock-threat. If she wanted to, Yukina could be truly terrifying. He'd only seen that side of her a handful of times since he met her, and it wasn't something he ever wanted to see.

Kazuma bent and placed a careful kiss on the tip of her finger. "And if Hiei asks, this was your idea," She finished with a loving smile toward him.

It wasn't like Ashley to be late for anything. She was never late to class, never late to piano lessons, or appointments, or wishing her friends a Happy Birthday. Being on time came almost naturally as she always got up on the first ring of her alarm clock: right at seven. Her planner was filled out down to the last minute detail. All of Ashley's ducks were always in a perfect row, as the saying went.

On Monday, April 13th, her first day at Mushiyori University, that was not the case.

Rushing around her flat, trying to get ready for work, she nearly forgot to walk Knox, only remembering from his incessant whining. Within thirty minutes of her alarm going off for the fifth time, Ashley was racing out the door, frantically jogging down to the station to catch the train that would take her over to the city.

Fumbling with her wallet, she paid for her train ticket, barely pausing to stop for pleasantries, and jumped onto the correct rail car a mere two seconds before the doors hissed shut behind her.

She paused a moment to catch her breath as the train lurched into motion, nearly sending her flying before she grabbed hold of the rail above her head. Using the rail to keep her steady, Ashley walked down the train to find two seats vacant.

Taking advantage of the first moment of quiet she'd had all morning, she stripped her backpack from her shoulders as well as her now barely useful jacket and plopped onto the pleather seats. She'd jogged hard enough that she was beginning to sweat through her clothes. At this rate she wouldn't need a jacket at all today.

Immediately, she could feel nearly every pair of eyes latched onto her. As she met the eyes of every person around her, she noticed a young boy pulling on his mother's sleeve, trying to get her attention to divide from her phone. "Oka-san! Oka-san! Gaijin!" He whispered excitedly in Japanese, like she was a prize he found.

Great. Now, not only was she the only non-Japanese person on the train, she noted, but she was also the last one to board, too, with quite the display of tardiness.

Heaving a sigh, Ashley dug her ear buds from the depths of her backpack and placed them in her ears as she tried to ignore her embarrassment. Even though she willed the obvious blush and accompanying heat in her cheeks to disappear, it persisted and remained.

The train let her off just a few blocks from the edge of the university, and then it was just a short walk to the foreign languages building. The email she had received welcoming her as a teacher at Mushiyori University contained information on where to report on her first day as well as instructions to ask for the dean of the foreign languages department.

Cambridge had spoiled her with architecture that was centuries old and had passion poured into every inch of the walls. The foreign languages building, however, wasn't anything spectacular. Passion had not been poured into these walls. These walls were bare and created to possibly hold knowledge, but the unrelenting white felt more like the bare walls of a hospital.

"Can I help you?" A small voice came from Ashley's right. A young woman sat behind a computer at a counter; likely the welcome desk.

Ashley nodded, walking closer to the desk. With phone in her hand to read the name of the person she was supposed to meet, she said, "I'm here to meet Doctor Ikeda. I'm the new English teacher."

The woman nodded and picked up her phone, likely dialing an extension and spoke quickly into the receiver. Something along the lines of "your 9 o'clock is here."

It was only a few seconds later that Ikeda stepped out of his office and around the desk to greet Ashley, wearing one of the largest grins she had ever seen.

"Miss Ashley Wright," Doctor Ikeda greeted her, his English near perfect. Ashley wasn't sure which caught her more off-guard: his almost perfect English or the feeling of comfort and home that washed over her at hearing English for the first time in almost two days. She'd never thought she'd feel this relaxed just hearing her native tongue.

She was caught so off-guard that his too-friendly smile barely caught her attention. The way he smiled was almost disconcerting, sort of like she was a long lost friend. He was a lean man, possibly in his forties, with his thick black hair falling into his spectacled eyes. He stretched out his hand for her to shake. She took it, confidently, as her dad had taught her all those years ago. "Let me show you around."

They stopped by her classroom first. Room 217. It was simple: bare beige walls, a cork board on the wall closest to the door as well as a dry-erase board. A single wooden desk was at the front of the room with five columns of five student desks in front of her desk. It wasn't anything to write home about, and no windows to boot, but at least she wouldn't have to be writing with chalk, she thought gratefully.

The rest of the building was essentially the same. Bare walls. Simple. A few posters hung from a cork board near the entryway with different clubs and activities advertised from it. Ikeda didn't bother with showing her the rest of campus, but did give her a map when they got back to his office. From the map alone, the campus was sprawling.

"And this will be your schedule. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, your first class will be at 13:00, and 15:00. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00, 14:30, and 19:00." Just looking at that massive time break between her two thirty class and her seven o'clock class made her mind whirl. How on earth would she fill that time? "And here's your class roster with your list of students for each time block."

Ashley took the small file and flipped it open to skim the names. Not that she would recognize any of them, she knew, but just to get a sense for how many students would be in her class. She tried to convince herself, unsuccessfully, that she wasn't skimming just to see if she could find any demons in her class. No, she needed to treat all her students the same, regardless of specie.

However, her heart nearly stopped as her stomach dropped. Thankfully she hadn't stopped to grab any breakfast on her dizzying way out the door, otherwise that would be threatening to come up.

Three names were at the bottom of the seven o'clock class roster. Three names whose "Specie" was listed as other than human. Demon.

"Um," she started, taking a breath and pushing it out to calm her nerves. Ikeda glanced up. "Is this list correct?"

Doctor Ikeda merely smiled in his too-charming way. Ashley was sure he could charm a tree if he felt like it. "Of course it is; it was just printed last night. Is there a problem?"

He didn't lose his smile, but the last four words held an edge that Ashley wasn't sure was actually there or if she was just imagining things.

Steadying herself, she said, "I just noticed these three names at the bottom of the 19:00 class. Are they truly demons?"

She tried to keep the wavering concern out of her voice, but Ikeda must have picked up on it, because his smile dropped when he looked at her squarely. "Of course they are. I hope you don't have a problem with it," he turned back to his desk, leaning over something that lay open atop it. "All our students we treat with respect. Anyone who wants to learn and has the drive to do so is welcome to study here." At this, he glanced back up at Ashley, who hadn't moved. With unveiled threat, he quietly spoke, "I hope that won't be a problem for you."

"Not at all," Ashley spoke with a confidence she wasn't sure she had at that moment. It was confidence pulled from the political training she'd received while growing up. Training that her dad had insisted she have once the company became an international power house. She might not have been born in the affluence of high-society, but Wright United Technologies had certainly rocketed her into it, and just as Mum said, she needed to know how to play the game.

She was playing a damn good game right at that moment. The confidence that flowed off her, head held high, shoulders back, gaze steady, was not something that had been born in her. In fact, her nerves were a squabbling mess at that moment. However, the hours and hours of training finally seemed to have some good use to them.

"Do you need anything else from me?" Ashley spoke, not looking away from Doctor Ikeda's gaze.

"No, I believe we are finished," Ikeda said, shutting the file on his desk and breaking eye contact briefly. "But," and as he spoke, a smile melted into his features once more. Ashley noted it reached his eyes as genuine. This guy was good. "I hope you will come to me if you have any questions or any concerns. We try to support each other in this department."

"I will, thank you," she said with a bow, and turned on the ball of her foot to leave.

Once out the door and after it clicked shut behind her, a giant breath left her lungs; one she didn't realize she'd been holding.

If the woman at the front desk noticed anything amiss about Ashley's demeanor then, she didn't look up from her work. Bless her.

Well then.

Not knowing what else to do after that exchange, Ashley walked to her classroom only to lean against her desk, arms crossed over her chest and staring at the empty seats in front of her for several minutes. This was going to be quite the semester. Especially with three demons in her late class.

Three years ago, she wouldn't have had this anxiety. Sure, demons had started appearing out of nowhere in droves seven years ago, and before that they were known of, but few people ever actually knew a demon. For five years after they appeared seemingly overnight it was safe. Some incidents happened here and there, sure, but the demons who made their existence known didn't cause issues. The most "drama" that had been caused by their sudden appearance were talk show hosts wondering where these new "creatures" - Ashley winced at the memory of the "othering" term demons had been given back then - were coming from and if they were here to stay.

Right-wing Christians in America had had the worst time with it, having translated the word yokai into the literal demon, which they assumed meant Satan. Some preached the end of times, condemning the demons to hell and never thinking twice about it. A simple error in translation ended up creating one of the biggest waves of terror to sweep through a country, and led to two demons being abducted and "exorcised." Their bodies were found weeks later by a brother and sister playing in a ditch.

For the last couple of years, everywhere, hate crimes had errupted. Vandalism, violence, threats, burnings, even killings occurred, mostly by humans and sometimes by demons, all over the world. Some, such as the musical demon girl group, KRJ, spoke out against the violence, trying to convince people that not all demons were like what the media portrayed. Not all demons wanted violence against humans, just like not all humans wanted violence against demons. Most just wanted peace. Ashley had downloaded Koto, Ruka, and Juri's album back at university to show her support for the Human & Demon Peace Treaty. But the treaty had come before the worst of the violence had started. Suddenly, it became humans verses demons and a tense line had been drawn.

The treaty was now like brittle glass, threatening to break at any moment.

Nothing too serious had happened in almost eight months.

Ashley heaved a sigh, and reminded herself that most demons wanted peace. They wanted to live alongside humans without issue. If demons were in her class, one, it wasn't her business whether they were demon or human - the fact that her roster had differentiated her students was out of line, no matter what Doctor Ikeda said. It was only her business if these demons threatened the students in her class.

Even with this reminder, Ashley's heart didn't cease it's rapid beat against her ribs. Glancing at her watch it only read 10 in the morning. She still had three hours before her first class.

Her map that Ikeda had given her was now folded into her backpack, but she took it from it's now designated pocket and smoothed it over her desk, the wood worn smooth from years of use.

The foreign languages building was at the edge of campus, along with three other liberal arts buildings. There was a Student Center not far - maybe a ten minute walk? It was in the center of campus, with the science buildings on the other side.

Leaving room 217 behind, Ashley set out through the campus, walking between buildings just to familiarize herself with where things were. It was a lovely campus, even without the magnificent architecture that Cambridge had offered. The landscaping was done up nicely and trees shaded the walkways for students. During the summer months that was likely a nice reprieve, but as it was currently, it was still cool out and the shade only allowed that coolness to become cold. Even though she hadn't necessarily needed it this morning, Ashley was thankful she had her jacket with her.

By eleven, she'd seen all that she could. Walked back and forth a few times to make sure she knew her way around, and then made her way over to the Student Center for food, picking it up to take with her to a patio table outside. It was only then that she decided to check her phone.

One message was unopened, from an unknown number, sent nearly two hours ago.

-Hey! It's Kuwabara! I got your number from Yukina hope you don't mind. Wanna have lunch together? I get out of class at 12:00.-

Cursing, it was still an hour before he got out.

-Well, I completely missed this text. Sorry! I'm eating now, but I'll sit with you when you get out. I don't have class until 13:00.-

Ashley definitely didn't expect a text back as quickly as the one she received from Kuwabara in reply.

-Meet at SC?-

SC? Oh.

-I've got a table on the patio.-

The hour passed fairly quickly, especially while Ashley could people watch from the second story, where people didn't automatically notice her as different. Feet propped up on the railing, hands shoved into the pockets of her jacket, she'd set an alarm on her phone so she could make her way back to her room in enough time, and had gotten comfortable to wait for Kuwabara, the only face she knew on this entire campus.

"Ashley!" Hearing her name, she turned to see Kuwabara waving at her from across the patio. He was not, she decided, the type to silently sneak up on people.

"Hey!" She waved her hand in greeting, not moving from her very warm place. She knew if she moved she'd immediately get cold again. Kuwabara pulled up a chair next to her. "How was class?" She asked the question in Japanese, knowing it would be easier for him than English, even though she was reluctant to give up English again so soon. Even though the conversation with Ikeda had been tense it had been nice to speak a language that was more natural for her.

Kuwabara began pulling the contents from his brown paper bag. Whatever it was looked delicious, and likely the result of Yukina's cooking. "It was fine, I guess. Freshmen always grate on my nerves though. Why are you wearing a jacket?"

That made Ashley pause. "Wait, freshmen? I thought you were getting your master's degree?"

He nodded, taking a bite. "Those classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays and Wednesdays I have to teach. Helps out the university or something like that." That made sense. Feeling weird not facing him directly, Ashley braced herself for the onslaught of cold she'd feel while re-positioning herself to sit in her chair like a normal human. While opening his cola he again asked, "Why are you wearing a jacket? It feels great out here."

"Maybe to you, but I'm always cold. Winter months are the worst for me."

"Seriously?" he said it like Ashley had just told him that sometimes it rained puppies. "But you're from London! Isn't it always cold there?"

Ah yes, the cookie-cutter response. The question Ashley never got bored of.

"It is," she replied, containing the pent-up frustration of thousands of people literally always asking the same damn thing. "But I'm just always cold by nature."

Something occurred to Kuwabara then, because in between bites he stopped, looked at her funny, and then a smile broke out on his face. "Do you have any plans for dinner tonight?"

Well that question came out of the blue. Usually when people got on the tear about how she shouldn't be cold since she's from London they would then recommend their favorite hand warmers or blankets or jackets and how that one product would completely change her mind on being cold all the time. As if it was a choice she made. Or, the best responses she ever received were from the people, usually older white men, who would explain to her why she can't possibly have a nature towards being cold unless she wasn't truly British. That one always got to her.

Asking her what plans she had for dinner was a completely new reaction.

Stumbling for a quick reply, she finally ground out, "I usually don't make plans on school nights." Immediately seeing her mistake, she corrected, "Work nights. Not school. Work." Even after graduating four months ago, switching from thinking of them as "school nights" to "work nights" was still a foreign concept.

"We won't keep you out long. Yukina's making her amazing miso katsudon since Hiei's in town. We thought you might like to join us." He took a quick sip of soda as Ashley turned it over in her mind.

Kuwabara could sense she was about to turn down his offer again.

"Have you had a chance to pick up food for your flat?"

Right at six o'clock, which was the time that Kuwabara said she should be at their home, Ashley arrived, for once that day, right on time.

Kuwabara had hit the nail on the head: she had no food at her apartment since she hadn't had a chance to stop by the store yet and she needed to eat.

"Oh my goodness, it smells amazing in here!" Ashley exclaimed as Kuwabara opened the door and welcomed her in. She nearly walked straight into their home, shoes on and all, before she remembered that Japan custom worked a little differently than England did, and retraced her steps, blushing a furious scarlet and issuing apologies as she removed her shoes and jacket.

Kuwabara grinned brightly, having noticed Ashley's mistake and attempt to fix it, and didn't feel the particular need to point it out. "Doesn't it though?"

Kuwabara and Yukina had a quaint sort of home. It was a flat, much larger than the one that Ashley currently resided in, with two bedrooms and two baths, a small kitchen, and living room, Kuwabara explained as they walked. The hallway from the front door opened up to the kitchen where Yukina cooked and Hiei lounged on one of the bar stools on the other side of the sink. She was surprised to see him there; had Kuwabara mentioned Hiei would be here too? She couldn't remember.

He quirked a brow as Ashley bowed in greeting to Yukina and him and turned to face the mint-haired girl once more. Kuwabara stepped around Ashley to take care of the cookware that was starting to pile up in the sink.

"It smells wonderful, Yukina," Ashley said as she hovered, unsure where to go.

Yukina noticed her hesitation and smiled, trying to ease the awkwardness she was sure Ashley felt. "Please, you're welcome to sit. And we have sake in the refrigerator."

She'd rather get a drink and then sit, she decided, so she pulled open the refrigerator's door and peered inside. After a moment of letting all the cool air out from the ice box, she finally asked, "Um, where might I find it?"

There was a moment where all motion and sound ceased in the kitchen.

"It's not in there?" Yukina asked, worry bleeding through her voice.

"No, it's not," Ashley replied. "I'm guessing it should be, though?"

She stepped quickly out of the way as Kuwabara forced his way to the front of the refrigerator, scanning everything in the fridge until he stepped back and ran a still-soapy hand through his hair, getting bubbles caught in it. "I must've forgotten to pick it up." Panicked, he glanced at Yukina, whose eyes were wide. "I'll just run down to the corner store and get some!"

In his mad dash to get his wallet and race out the door, he left the water running at the sink.

"Oh, Kazuma, wait!"

Yukina hurried out of the flat after him, to tell him whatever it was that she had suddenly thought of.

With a click, the door shut behind her. There was a long beat of silence as Ashley put together what exactly had just occurred and realized that she and Hiei were the last two in the apartment.

The water, she noted, was still running at the sink.

Crossing the kitchen, she shut it off with a squeak from the handle. Slowly, she looked up at Hiei, who sat on the opposite side of the counter from where she stood. He stared at her, an unreadable expression behind his crimson eyes.

Her heart did not beat faster. Butterflies did not appear in her stomach. She was very aware of him, and intrigued by him, but beyond that, she was calm. It was a strange feeling, even as he appraised her from his seat. "You know what they're doing, don't you?"

Ashley smiled blankly, her lips forming a thin line. "I believe I'm quite lost, frankly."

"It's obvious they're trying to set us up." The words cut through the silence that hung between them. If he was trying to get her riled up it wouldn't go so easily. She moved to sit next to him on the other bar stool. "They've tried to do it before. Tried and failed."

"I've never been set up before," Ashley admitted, sitting down. Even with the heat that had come from the kitchen it was cool in the flat, making her wish she'd kept her jacket on. "My friend, Isla, once tried to do it for me, but it also kind of failed. Miserably failed."

Hiei looked like he couldn't care less about who had set her up, when, or why. "Of course," Ashley began, realizing where all this had popped up from in that exact moment. "It probably has something to do with what I told Yukina last night after you left."

"And what would that be?" Hiei asked brusquely.

Ashley glanced at him, her gaze as steady as it had been the night before, trying to gauge what his reaction would be. She debated, only for a moment, whether she should tell him.

Eventually, she just wanted to see how he'd react and replied matter-of-factly, "I told her I think you're handsome."

- End of Chapter Two -

Well then. (Smiles devilishly)

Thank you to Star Charter, knightsqueen05, WistfulSin, and Totidem Verbis for reviewing! And thank you to all who favorite and followed! The support you showed me for last chapter was nearly overwhelming, especially when I wasn't sure if anyone would read this at all. And always, thank you to Star Charter for letting me hash out things and be a sounding board.

If you'd like to connect with me or get writing updates, such as the "Oh I'm going to be late this week" that I posted yesterday, or the things I find inspiring for this fic, I have a tumblr! My username is o-dragon05. Look me up!

I do not own, in any way, the characters, places, or ideas of the Yu Yu Hakusho universe created by Yoshihiro Togashi. I only own my own characters and plot.