Nakoruru's notes: *sniff sniff* Thanks guys, for all your reviews. I didn't think that this one would be so popular. . .but didn't I say that last chapter. Well, I guess there is one person I would definitely like to thank for the idea of writing this fic, my friend who's in Switzerland right now, Marilyn. After her Sailor Moon/Escaflowne story, I just had the passion to do this. Both my muse and I *looks around but doesn't see the half demon* um, wherever he went to hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you liked the last one.

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Chapter 5

Yusuke, Botan, and Kuwabara looked around the park for the second day since thinking that maybe there was a way to get Kurama and Hiei back from the same place they lost them at. "You know this is a really pointless idea, don't you think, Botan?" Yusuke flopped down on the bench, after an hour of a fruitless search. Both Kurama and Hiei had been gone for almost a full week now. Koenma had made certain, somehow, that Shiori and the other members of Kurama's family didn't become suspicious of the fox's whereabouts, which gave the group more time to find him without worry.

"Koenma said that there is a possibility that if we can find the exact spot that they disappeared from, we may be able to resurrect a portal that will take you to them," responded Botan.

"And how do you plan on doing that?" inquired Kuwabara, taking a seat next to Yusuke.

Botan gave one of her brilliant smiles as she begun to explain. "Well, it was Majira who sent them through a portal to another dimension, right? Well then I asked Koenma about it, he said there was a chance that Majira could also bring them back the same way."

"Um, Botan. I already tried that, remember," Yusuke answered, indicating to his form of "persuasion".

"That may be so, Yusuke. But you beat an answer out of him. Koenma was saying that maybe if we want to get some results, we bring him back to the Ningen Kai, and use an amplified version of his power to track down the exact location of Kurama and Hiei. We also are planning to use this." Botan pulled something out of her pocket, and showed the boys. "Here we go."

"Um, Botan. I thought I broke the compass. Did Koenma fix it?" (Nako's notes, for anyone who doesn't remember, back with his case with Rando.)

"No, silly. This isn't the one you broke. It's a different model than the one that you used, when you were first starting out. This one has a higher frequency that will enable us to locate Kurama and Hiei's youki anywhere. That even means if they are in another dimension all together, this compass will pick up their signal and lead us to them," smiled Botan.

"So, what's the problem. Why can't we go ahead and rescue them?" Kuwabara said, a frown set in his face.

"Well, the problem is, for one, we have to be on the exact same spot they disappeared from, for it to work. And secondly, it will take a certain aliment of the moon, which won't happen until two nights from now. We have to wait for that." There was silence for a moment, then Yusuke spoke.

"Well sitting here won't do us any good if we want to get the job done. Let's go."

While this is taking place, off in that other dimension Botan was speaking of, we find Hiei standing on the temple grounds of Raye's temple. He was thinking of everything that had taken place these last three days. He was spending another day going to the ningen school that the girl with black hair had set him and Kurama up at. He didn't mind so much now as he had several days before. Why was he beginning to change? Was it really that ningen girl with the bright blue eyes that always gave him a carefree smile? What was it about her that he. . .

"Ah, so there you are." The voice of the raven-haired girl broke into Hiei's thoughts. He shifted an eye to see her walking up Kurama. Hiei didn't say anything, but the koorime could sense a growing change in the youko also. "Were you waiting for us? Hiei didn't reply to her question, he turned and began to walk away. "Hey, Hiei, what's the hurry? I thought school wasn't your thing? Is there someone you want to see that bad?"

The koorime didn't reply to what the girl said. Was there someone that he wanted to see? Was that why, was it? The koorime bleeped off before the girl asked another question of him that he did not want to answer or think about.

"Well, it seems like he's back to normal. That little show of emotion he showed to us the other day must have been a fluke," Raye said. "There's no way he could be as much of a sweetie as he let on!"

"Hiei is always like that. He means no harm," Kurama said with a quiet smile. "We should get going."

"Um, yeah." Raye walked beside Kurama thinking about what had happened the other night. Her heart still pounded every time she thought about it. Was she starting to like him more than she thought? Of course he was a total doll with that long crimson hair that had such an illustrious look to it, and those wondrous green eyes that sparkled. *Okay, Raye, let's get a hold of yourself. There's no time for that right now. I mean he's going back to his dimension soon. You're just being over excited.*

"Raye, is there something the matter?" Kurama's voice brought her attention to those green spheres that she could gaze in forever and get lost.

"No, nothing. Oh, look, the others." Raye pointed to the four girls that were heading their way. Kurama had a feeling something was on her mind, but she didn't wish to discuss it at the moment.

"Good morning, Kurama!" Serena said. Serena looked around, but saw that the koorime was not there. "Where's Hiei? Is he coming to school today?"

"He decided to go ahead of us. You'll see him at school," replied Kurama. His attention was then turned to the blue haired girl "Amy, wasn't it? How are you feeling today? Better?"

"Oh, yes, much better. Thank you for asking," Amy said. The others had been right about him. He was very handsome, and very polite. She wondered if he was just as smart. His eyes seemed to give her that indication.

"Hey guys, I was wondering, have you heard the reports that have been on the news as of late?" Lita questioned. "The one about those missing little boys. Four of them have been missing over the course of the past two days."

"I think I heard something about. Or maybe not. My mom was watching the news while I was reading the new Sailor V manga. But I went upstairs to my room to read because I couldn't concentrate," Serena responded. The girls all gave Serena short stares. "What? I couldn't read in peace."

"Okay, anyone that heard about it, and was actually paying attention instead of reading mangas, please answer," Lita ignored Serena's answer.

"I heard about it. The police are still looking into the cases. They think the boys may have run away from home. But I don't see what this has to do with anything?" Amy commented.

"Well, I got this strange feeling when I heard it. Like it's some sort of warning or something. I'm not exactly sure whether or not we have anything to worry about, but let's try to be prepared."

*Hmm. . .so they sense it, even without Hiei or myself telling them what we sensed. Hiei may have underestimated how much they were aware to those things supernatural. This can only get interesting.* Kurama thought to himself.

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Serena yawned as the teacher droned on about history. It was almost lunchtime, and she had to be subjected to this. Propping her head up on her left hand, she turned her head to study Kurama as he followed along with the lesson with no problem. *Geez, he's just like Amy. I bet those two could sit here all day listening to this. Maybe they would be a great couple if Lita wasn't trying to nab him. But he doesn't seem so interested. I think he has a yen for Raye. Oh, that would make one strange couple.*

Serena yawned again and looked to where Hiei was. It seemed he was as bored with the lesson as she was. The girl grinned, seeing the agitation in his face grow by the moment. For a moment she studied him. Despite everything that he tried so hard to shield behind that mask of his, he was more open than he thought. His eyes would sometimes tell how hesitant he was or how isolated he tried to be. She wondered why he was like that. What kind of life he had back in his dimension. To her, he could have been raised a prince in the heavens. Serena's cheeks flushed as she thought about what she was thinking. She couldn't like Hiei! She had Darien, and she cared about him deeply. But, something in her was changing. Something new was starting to form.

Suddenly, the girl found a pair of ruby eyes looking at her. It was as if Hiei had caught the trickle of thoughts running through her head. Their eyes stayed locked for a second as she found her heart began to pound. Forcing a smile on her face, she broke his gaze and mouthed that she wished the lessons would end also. For a moment Hiei continued to stare at her before he turned away, but Serena swore that as he was turning back, she saw an amused smile playing on the corner of his mouth. It was about that time that she found Kurama staring at her with a secret smile. Were they really reading her thoughts, or was it her imagination?

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"I thought that if the lesson didn't end soon, I would really be forced to kill myself, or the teacher. History can be so boring sometimes." Serena sat on the roof of the school along with Lita, Kurama, and Amy. As always, Hiei was gone during the lunch period. Where he went was anyone's guess.

"You should really enjoy history. It's a chance to learn about things that you'll never get a chance to see," Kurama pointed out. "Without history, where would the world be?"

"You enjoy history, Kurama?" The question came from Amy, who was impressed with this discovery. The crimson haired male looked towards her with a nod.

"I enjoy a lot of subjects. Math happens to be one of my favorites. How about yourself, do you enjoy the subject? Your friends told me that you were the brightest one of the bunch, and that you enjoyed chess. It would be nice to have a match with you one day soon perhaps," the male smiled.

"Oh, that would be nice. If you want, we could have a game later, before I go to my afternoon classes. Does that sound all right with you?" Amy's eyes glowed with the thought of a challenging game of chess.

"That sounds fair enough. It's a deal." The two shook hands on their agreement.

"Hey, Kurama. Something's been bugging me." Lita, who had been sitting there quiet for this passage of time, finally spoke up. Her brows knitted together as she stared at him. "A few days ago, you said that you met up with Hiei again when you met your friend Yusuke. What exactly did you mean by that? I don't mean to pry or anything, it's just. . ."

"Don't worry about it, Lita. I understand you are a bit curious of my past. They're just memories now," assured Kurama.

"Are you sure?" Lita asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I'm sure. It's been fifteen years since I came to the Ningen Kai. I use to live in the Makai and had no idea about what a human life was like. I lived as a youko for a long long time," Kurama said.

"How long are you talking about? Twenty years?" inquired Serena.

"I'm afraid it's much longer than that, Serena. I have lived for more than 400 years. I have been reincarnated about four times. The last time I was reincarnated, a hunter came after me."

"Why?" The question came from Amy. The others listened with fascination. Was that why his eyes seemed so worldly, because he had actually been around long enough to learn a lot from it?

"In the Makai, I was a thief. I had a penchant for breaking into well- protected areas, and looting them. No one was ever able to catch me. I got careless on one of my escapades, and a hunter managed to injury me greatly. I went to the Ningen Kai to find a host body that I could use while recuperating. I was born to the Minamino family a short time later. I thought as soon as I was strong enough that I would go back to the Makai. But her compassion. . .my mother's compassion and love made me realize I couldn't leave her like that. My father had died a few years before and she had fallen ill. I met up with Hiei again in order to get a mirror called the Forlorn Hope in order to save her life. Yusuke was the spirit detective the Rei Kai sent out to apprehend us. Well. . .things turned out for the best in the end. I managed to save my mother with Yusuke's help. I was in debt to him, so I joined him as a spirit detective."

"So you met Hiei in the Makai?" Lita questioned.

"Yes, we use to be partners back in the Makai. He trusted me as much as I trusted him. I guess I'm one of the only friends he had. He hates it that I can read him so well. But he can be transparent at times, and is he ever stubborn." Kurama chuckled at something secret, then turned his eyes on the three girls. "So, do you have a story to how you became these powerful warriors?"

"Yeah. Our story begins over a thousand years ago," Serena begun. "The time was called the Silver Millennium, where everything was at peace. I was the princess of the Moon Kingdom. The other sailors were part of the Moon Kingdom's court, but they were princesses of their own respectable planets. But one day, an evil force known as Queen Barole arose and attacked the Moon Kingdom. My mother sealed her and her and her dark Negaverse Kingdom away in the silver crystal I am heir to. But after that, our peace was ruined, so my mother sent us to Earth to be reborn, but Barole rose again. Here on Earth, we became the Sailor Soldiers and defeated Barole. We still fight though because others try to ruin the peace and the new kingdom that we are trying to build."

"Despite being warriors and pretty much not from this time, you still act like the rest of these ningens." From somewhere above them, a voice came. The girls looked up to find Hiei situated on the area above the door to the roof.

"We were reborn here on Earth without any knowledge of who we were in our past lives. We didn't become the Sailor Soldiers until about a year ago. (Nako's notes, they are all in ninth grade at the moment.) So of course we act like regular people."

"Ch." Was all Hiei said towards the remark.

"You are stubborn."

Meanwhile, as this is taking place, the Sailor Soldiers next enemy is planning his course of action. The Sailor Soldiers had been strong enough to defeat his sister, but he was much stronger than Nagi. He did have something that she didn't after all. Before Queen Barole had put him to sleep, she had given him the power of immortality. A power she herself had not been able to master.

Kyukura walked over to the small child that had been brought to him. This one was a little girl. Her gigantic blue eyes were filled with fear as she stared up at his looming figure. He feigned a gentle smile as he knelt down to look in the pools of her eyes. Her fear alone was giving him power. He wondered what sort of power her death would bestow upon him. "Aren't you a pretty one?"

The child whimpered, but did not flinch when he touched her pale little face. Tears welled up in her eyes, as he stroked her hair. The girl trembled under his touch. One of his Jari prowled close to where the girl stood. Its eyes watching as its master grip the little girl by her neck.

"Don't worry, your death will be quick and painless, little one. You will help me defeat the Sailor Scouts. I'm almost strong enough to make them pay for what they did to the Negaverse. I just need one more. And then the Princess of the Moon will lie at my feet. And the glory of the Negaverse will rise as it should have in the Silver Millennium." His cackles were strong enough to bring out one loud shriek from the child within his grasp.

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*Another day here. But soon we'll be going back.* Hiei paused in thought. Did he really want to leave like this? *Baka, what are you thinking? Of course you want to leave like this. It's better that way.*

"Are you okay, Hiei? You've been exceptionally quiet. You haven't either bothered with a 'ch' or 'hn'." Serena looked around Kurama, to the dark haired male, with a curious stare.

"There's nothing I have to say."

"Oh, but there's something that I would like to say" The group was startled by the abruptness of a voice. Hiei and Kurama were the first to look up, to find a male floating in mid air, looking down at them with contempt. "I've found you. . .Sailor Soldiers."

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Nakoruru (dancing around): Yeah! (stops) Oh, sorry about that. I'm just happy to finally get this chapter over with without interruptions. It's been so hard to write, but I've managed.

Blazer: You keep listening to those Sailor Moon CDs. They're about to drive me crazy, cut them off! Or play something else!

Nakoruru (sticks out tongue): I've needed the mood to write. So leave me alone.

(Blazer goes and pops in a new CD.)

Nakoruru: Hey! I don't want to listen to. . .(listens) Hey, Inu Yasha! Yeah! Let's get down. I'll catch you in the next chapter! Bye.