Disclaimer: The characters in the story are definitely not mine, blah... But if you see someone not familiar, it's probably mine.

YOU BETTER READ THIS BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE, 'COZ YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND NOTHING IF YOU DON'T READ THIS:

Author's notes: The story is set after the Ura thingy... *forgot*... the um... tournament of the Hokage stuff, and also when the Makai Tournament ended. Let's pretend that Yomi's coming back, the disbanded Reikai Tantei is being revived, that Tokiya doesn't want any revenge towards his master (^by the way, is his master still alive?^), Recca is quite serious with Yanagi, Fuuko is liking the idea of having a relationship with Doumon, the others, living normal lives, still communicating with each other. Oh, and that their ages sort of froze, and are still the same as the start of each story. And that instead of working for his father, Kurama went to a university with Kuwabara, Kuwabara's fiancé is Yukina, Keiko and Yuusuke are married and working in the Ramen shop (as usual), Hiei is still in the Makai and it was a long time since his last visit. That's all. Enjoy!

You don't really have to read this, but to know some of the new characters, here are their characteristics:

Iraza - A pretty blonde. Natsumi's sister. Her song is deadly as her beauty.

Kagami - Mukuro's old affiliate. Joined her a week before the tournament.

Kedo - A new member of Enki's group. His abilities remain a mystery.

Kuroi - One of Hiei's old rivals. Joined the group when he heard Tenchi, whom all new was plotting his revenge against Hiei, would too.

Li - Enki's old friend. Well-known for using wards and spells.

Nazoka - A Quest-class demon. Mukuro found him when he was young and trained him ever since. He has the power to control weather.

Ochiru Itosugi - Tall and bulky, a senior from Kurama's school who became close with him and insists on protecting the redhead. He has a gang and has a well-known reputation for being good at martial arts.

Onaji - Not much known about him, except he just joined Mukuro's group. He uses water as his main defense.

Shiji - A new member of Enki's group. Tall, but lanky in figure, but not to be taken for granted. He wields a powerful knife that elongates upon command.

Soun - A street thief who once made the mistake of stealing from Coco, Enki's wife. Very quick and agile. Can control earth.

Taiyo - A new recruit in Mukuro's army. Young, but already powerful.

Taki - Not really significant. Just a guy from the former Hokage team's school, who is smart and joins contests in place of Tokiya.

Tsuyoza - Can jump at very high altitudes. Rumored to be Mukuro's former lover.

Ten - A quiet member of Enki's group who, though shy, can kill at break-neck speed.

Tenchi - Mukuro's new recruit. As his name suggests, his power is that of a god's revenge. But he lost to Hiei, and has vowed to win in their next match, once he got stronger.

All others are much more insignificant than Taki.

Part 1

The walk was long, and so boring for him. Or rather, quite amusing. The two idiots were beside him, constantly arguing as they walked towards their university. He wondered for the nth time how he could tolerate the blabber-mouths, when he used to get so pissed off by those things. Maybe he had changed.

The sky was brilliant, sun's rays lovingly caressing the present clouds, and the birds chirped happily from the surrounding trees. The day was beautiful, but he found no reason to appreciate it. Hiei had not visited him for so long. Their goodbye was short, and he was not given the chance to protest. All he had were the memories of days spent together, and that rose charm made from his friend's tear gems. They didn't do much to deaden the longing.

Kuwabara breathed in the fresh air, and turned to look at his friend in deep thought. Kurama... He silently whispered in his mind, when he noticed the look and that frown. Being a melodramatic person, he was so easily moved, so sentimental, that anything could maybe make him cry. Hiei used to tease him about such 'ningen feelings'. Hiei... look at what you have done. Won't Kurama ever forget?

"It's a beautiful day, isn't it, Kurama? Ah! Finally, I can go visit my beloved Yukina! Are you coming with me?"

The redhead gave a wan smile. It didn't even reach his eyes. Have you lost your smile forever?

"Gomen, Kuwabara-kun. I'm on my way home. My parents and brother are expecting me."

"Preparing for the contest tomorrow?"

"Quite."

"Ah! It's so nice to be out of the dormitory for a while, dont' you think so?" Kuwabara put an arm over the other's shoulder. Kurama turned his head slightly and nodded. Your eyes don't even twinkle. "Yukina-san is coming with me to watch. Do your best okay?"

"Hai."

The carrot-top let go and then asked, "Hey, would you accompany me to the store to buy a gift for Yukina? You're the one with the good taste."

"Ano..."

"Please?"

"Ah, hai."

Kurama, I am here for you...

"Oi! Tokiya! Let's go to the mall!"

The one being called winced painfully. Recca had just been close when he had shouted in his direction. Doumon looked thoughtfully - if he ever thinks, and his face considerably brightened as he approved, "I'm gonna buy a gift for Fuuko. Fuuko-channnnnn!!!!!!"

Tokiya grumbled and decisively snorted. No, he won't be caught dead hanging out with these two fools. But before he could even plan an escape, the two had begun to drag him across the street towards the opening door of the 6-storey building.

What a day this is going to be.

"You could buy her that snow-colored stuff toy. It's the last one here," suggested the half-youko.

Kuwabara nodded in approval and started towards it.

"Hey, look at that cute stuff toy!"

Tokiya turned, intrigued, and saw instead a redhead, slim, graceful in every way. Kawaii... What the hell was that?!! What was I thinking? But that red... so familiar.

"Oi, I wanna buy it for Fuuko. It looks like the god of wind." "Come on, it's the last pair! Tokiya, let's go!"

Doumon made towards the cute fur ball.

And all hell broke loose. A fight erupted between the two tall guys, each hand on a side of the toy. Recca was joining in on the argument as to who was first. It was two to one. May the best blabbermouth win. Tokiya watched, fascinated, as the lithe form moved to step between the arguing guys, and trying to break the seemingly senseless fight. So very familiar...

Doumon was pissed. And this guy's friend was making him see red. Literally and figuratively. How can they take things coolly if his carrot-top friend didn't back off? So he pushed. The half-youko's face was painted with sheer surprise as he fell back and hit his head on the edge of a shelf. A small cut appeared.

A frown... No. I want to see him smile. I want to be the one to make him smile. Kuwabara started to react, "Oi! Why did you hit him, you idiot? He's not part of this!"

"Well he shouldn't have butted in!" Tokiya snapped out of his musings and finally noticed the incident going on. He made his move. He grabbed the smaller of his two companions' arm and started to pull him away. As he was starting to make for the gorilla, the redhead stood up and said, "Kuwabara, it's okay. I'm fine. Let's just go, okay?"

"Ano... gomen. Hai, let's just go." Kuwabara stepped beside his friend and furtively glanced at him. The latter was holding a handkerchief to his forehead as they walked away. "Kurama..."

"Daijoubu desu, Kuwa-kun."

Iie, you are not.

"Shuuichi! You're back! I'm so glad to see you!"

Kurama nodded and tried to give a smile. He didn't know if he accomplished the task or not. "Aa... 'kaasan. I missed you too." He gave her a light peck on the cheek.

"Oniisan! Look what I got!"

"Ah. Good evening, 'tousan."

Shuuichi gave an irritated look. Ah? "Come on, oniisan, try this new game."

"Good evening Shuuichi. How's everything going?" Kazuya asked, putting down his newspaper.

"Just fine, 'touchan."

"Shuuichi-oniisan!"

"Hai?"

"Come play with me! Now!"

Shiori watched as her older son hesitated, that sad look still in his eyes. It has already been long. Does he still miss his friend? Shuuichi started to walk towards his impatient brother. "Ano... Shuu-chan, I think your oniisan deserves rest, ne? Besides, he still has a contest tomorrow. Maybe next time, okay?"

"Okay... Oi! Oniisan... What happened to your forehead? There's a cut."

"Oh, it's nothing. Just bumped something."

"Have you eaten yet?" his stepfather inquired.

Kurama replied, "Um..." but Shiori spoke up, "Why don't you go to your room and I'll bring you something to eat."

"Ah, hai. Arigatou, kaasan."

"Shuuichi."

Kurama just kept staring at the ceiling, "Hai."

Shiori stepped in with a tray of food, "You seem in deep thought. Do you want to share anything with me?"

"Ah... It's nothing kaasan."

"Daijoubu?"

"Daijoubu desu."

"Honto ni?"

"Honto ni." …Hiei... where are you?

Shiori patted him on the shoulder, and he sat up, "You know, your cousin is visiting you soon."

"Cousin?"

"Hai. You were five when he stopped coming."

"Why did he stop coming?"

"His sister died. Don't you remember him? He was always playing with you the whole day when I used to work. He took care of you really well."

"…I remember."

His mother placed the tray on his bed and gave his a bowl of rice and a plate of curry, "Did you... Do you miss him?"

"Who?"

"Your cousin, of course."

"Ano... Hai. But not as much as I used to."

"And the other one? Your best friend, Hiei?"

Kurama stopped chewing and lowered the chopsticks. Hiei... "What about Hiei?"

"Why did he stop visiting you?"

"He had to work."

"Do you miss him?"

"..."

"Shuuichi..."

Kurama put down his unfinished meal, "I'm full 'kaasan. Doumo."

He then lay down and faced the wall. The only sound in the room was of the footsteps and the door closing. It was very lonely... And the rain poured down its harshness.