Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, such a sad, sad prospect, I know, but life goes on . . . or does it . . . ??? (^_^)

Author's Note: First off, I'd like to thank all of my readers. You guys are wonderful. The reviews I've received for this story have been the nicest, and I am forever grateful to each and every one of you. I'd also like to apologize. In this chapter, not much happens. Its just sort of . . . THERE I guess. However, I promise that the next chapter will be more involved. Um . . . keep those reviews comin' please. Good, bad, whatever, I just like hearing from you guys. So, all that said, move onward worthy reader. After all, you didn't come here to read my long and involved author's note now did ya? Enjoy!
Chapter: 7
Keiko stifled a yawn as she tromped through the waist tall prairie grass. She was an early riser, but this was an ungodly hour to be awake! The morning sky was indigo with soft brushstrokes of red and orange all mixed together. The golden sun was just peeking above the edge of the range of misty mountains off in the distance. All in all it looked like an angel had painted the beautiful picture into the sky, which gave her an idea. How often do you get to have photos of a Makai sky? Quickly, she took out her camera and jogged ahead of her two companions.

"What are you doing?" Asked Hiei. He had been leading them, and Kurama brought up the rear. They had insisted that she stay in the middle of them so as to avoid any danger. Keiko smiled back at him and motioned to her camera. The jaganashi rolled his eyes, but watched as she adjusted her position several times before finally taking a few pictures. After she was done she put the camera back in its little black bag and grinned.

"These pictures are going to be wonderful!" She exclaimed.

Hiei just shook his head and continued walking, while Kurama began a conversation, asking her about her job and her travels. In turn she questioned him, and so it went. The sun rose higher in the sky, the climate grew warmer and the morning mists that covered the land like a thin sheet disappeared.

Keiko began to ask the two demons questions about Makai; it's history, and politics. Those kinds of subjects were things that she enjoyed knowing. Hiei took part in the conversation too, although not as readily as Kurama, but that was to be expected. Keiko was becoming strangely fond of this world, as she found that it excited and scared her all at the same time. Over the years she'd grown to enjoy adventures, taking risks and what not, though she would never be as careless or flamboyant about it as Yusuke had been.

Keiko groaned mentally. There was that same stupid thought. Yusuke this and Yusuke that. Couldn't that annoying voice just let it all go? What was so hard about that? She frowned, an action that did not go unnoticed by Kurama. He tilted his head to the side, his silver hair falling over his right shoulder like a silky curtain. His eyes studied her, seemed to be calculating her expression. After a moment his ears pricked, and his eyes widened slightly and then went back to normal. He smiled.

"Thinking about someone special?" He asked a little to coincidentally.

Keiko glared at him. "Don't start, Kurama. I really don't want to talk about it right now."

Kurama shrugged. A few seconds passed in silence. "What about now?" Came the question.

Keiko rolled her eyes, but did not speak. Perhaps if she ignored him, he would just go away.

"Now?"

No such luck.

"What about now, hm? C'mon, now? . . . now? . . . now? . . . how 'bout now?" Coaxed the fox.

Keiko threw up her arms in frustration. "Kurama! I DON'T want to talk about Yusuke, all right? Is that so difficult to comprehend?!" She yelled, her voice echoing all over the land. Keiko looked around, stunned at her outburst.

Kurama merely smiled. "Keiko, you NEED to talk about Yusuke. It's unhealthy to keep so many feelings inside, ya know."
For once, Keiko saw some feeling in those eyes, although, it was only for a brief, fleeting moment. Nevertheless it made her feel kind of good inside.

"Thank you for caring, but I'll be okay, I promise." She told him softly.

Suddenly, Hiei appeared next to them. His usual expression of . . . well . . . nothing, was replaced by a look of a total seriousness.

"Kurama, trouble." He said simply.

The youko narrowed his eyes. "What is it?" He asked.

The fire-youkai's expression darkened. "One of Yomi's messengers meant me up ahead. They've received word that there are unidentified youkai beginning to surround Yusuke's territory. The details were vague, but it sounds as though they're getting into some sort of formation. Perhaps it would be better if I went on ahead . . . "

"No, Hiei." Said Kurama, cutting his friend off. "That would not be wise. We have no way of knowing how many of the enemies are stationed there, and we have no idea of their strategy or plans. We can't act without the proper information."

Hiei sighed, and nodded. "And the only way to get that information is to . . ." He glanced at Keiko. "Is to get to Yusuke."

Keiko began chewing on her lower lip, a strange habit she had required a few years ago.

"We need to move quicker." Stated Kurama absently.

Keiko winced. Were it not for her, then Kurama and Hiei would already have been there. She was slowing them up greatly. She cursed her humanity. It was an unfortunate handicap at the present time. She sighed in frustration.
"You guys go on ahead and I'll catch up to you." She offered.

Kurama and Hiei looked at one another, their eyes speaking instead of their voices. Hiei raised one of his eyebrows, and an amused smile twitched at the corners of his lips.

"Keiko," He began. "If we were to leave you here and go on ahead, that would defeat the whole purpose of your being here."

Kurama chuckled very softly, and gave her a rather matter of factly stare. Keiko blushed. She seemed be doing that more and more lately. Hiei's statement had embarrassed her, but the fact that the fire youkai had actually used her name so casually greatly surprised her.

"Well . . . ah, I . . . ok, I can't pretend that there was some sense to what I said earlier, but I AM holding you two up." She replied, her natural flare returning.

Once again, Kurama and Hiei exchanged a silent conversation, or rather they started too.

"And would you guys knock it off!?" Keiko glared at the startled demons, which were oblivious to why she was suddenly so angry. "You're always having these little eye contact conversations! It's just as rude as whispering to each other when someone is standing in the same room!"

They blinked in unison. "Um . . . we're sorry, force of habit, I suppose." Said Kurama.

Keiko still glared. "Well drop the habit!" She yelled. Both Kurama and Hiei sweat dropped. Silence ensued, Keiko glaring, and the fox and the fire- demon making a mutual decision to communicate using telepathy from that point on. Finally, after a good two or three minutes, Hiei cleared his throat.

"Perhaps we should get back to the task at hand." He said, and Kurama readily agreed.