A/N: Whew! It's finally done! Sorry I took so long, a massive case of writer's block set in, and then I had finals. But school's out now, (thank god!) so there should be more updates coming soon. Oh, and there are going to be several spoilers in this chapter, along with the rest of the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Chapter Five: Enter Yukina

(Reikai)

Himeko walked down the hall, mentally reviewing the events of the past few days. After being summoned to Reikai, she had been forced to wait for hours until The Great Koenma had the precious time to see her. Once that meeting was over—Himeko smiled at the pleasant memory of holding her shuriken under the bawling demigod's throat—she had been confined to a holding cell for several days, interrupted only when Botan could spare the time to come visit. At long last, however, she had received another summons, so here she was. Opening the door, she sighed as he sound of furious stamping met her ears. Koenma looked up when the door closed.

"Ah, good. You're here. Now, I've decided to be lenient with your punishment since you did help Yusuke restore order to the Human Realm, but in the future, that will not be the case. However," Koenma gave Himeko a death glare, "there will not be any cases in the future involving you, will there?"

"Of course, Koenma sir," answered the Tigress sarcastically. "I'll be a good little girl, I promise."

"Is the sarcasm really necessary, Himeko?" Koenma asked.

"Well, let's see. First you claim to have found me, then you have you ogres apprehend me, on the street, no less, then you haul me up here without so much as a thank you for helping your pet Spirit Detective, then I have to wait around for who knows how long until you have the precious time to see me, and then I'm stuck in a cell for four days waiting for you. So yes, I believe the sarcasm is necessary."

"Shall we review the trouble you've caused? You—"

"I know the trouble I've caused," Himeko interrupted.

"And that's another thing. No one, and I mean no one, interrupts the Great Koenma in the middle of a sentence."

"Oh, please. You may be a god, but I could still kick your butt to high heaven. Although…" Himeko looked around. "This probably does qualify as 'high heaven' doesn't it?"

Koenma stared at her.

"Okay…anyways…"

Koenma shook his head. "As I said before, your punishment will be lenient, but you will not enjoy it."

"So what's it gonna be? Tracking down low-class demons?" Himeko grinned slyly. "Helping you with your paperwork?"

"Assisting Yusuke until I see fit."

"…………Excuse me? I could have sworn you just said I'd be working with your pet Spirit Detective."

"Possibly because that is what I did say, Himeko. And if you ask me, that is nowhere near severe enough, but Botan seems to have taken a liking to you. She asked that you be allowed help them for a time."

"Uh huh… Koenma, shouldn't killing humans and breaching the barrier warrant a greater punishment?"

"Well, yes, but…" Koenma narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn't be trying to get out of it, now would you?"

"Oh, no, of course not! What ever gave you that idea?"

"Hm…" Koenma stared at her, no doubt trying to determine if she was serious or not. It seems he felt she was, because he changed the subject and asked her, "Where have you been? We've had no word of you for twenty-one years, then we find a breach in the barrier around the City of Ghosts and Apparitions which, apparently, you created."

"Now, that wasn't my fault," Himeko protested. "It was pure luck that I found one of the few weak spots at all."

"Weak spots? There's more? Oh no, dad's gonna kill me!" Koenma cried. "Why wasn't I told sooner!"

Himeko gave an exasperated sigh. "You were told. That's why I couldn't get back out, because you'd fixed them."

"Oh, yes! Of course! They were repaired!"

"Honestly, how an amateur like you ever became ruler of the Spirit World is beyond me…"

Koenma cleared his throat, wisely ignoring her comment. "On to more important matters…there's a new case that I'm sending Yusuke on. And you have to go with him."

"Joy. I get to work with a lazy human who can't even stay in school."

"Now that's not fair. The boy has proved himself to be very useful."

"Sure, Koenma," Himeko said contemptuously, her disbelief showing clearly on her face. "So what's this big case? Top-secret?"

"In a manner of speaking. It involves Yukina."

"What do you mean? What's happened?"

"A corrupt billionaire human named Tarukenay has apparently captured her for her tear gems. They are very valuable in the Human world," Koenma told her.

"And has Yusuke been informed of this?" Himeko asked.

"Not yet. Hiei's been sent with a videotape explaining everything."

"Are you crazy? What if he decides to look at it?"

"Well, then he will undoubtedly charge into the mansion, swinging his sword and not caring who gets hurt."

"And? What are you going to do if that happens?"

"Well, um…we just have to hope it won't come to that. The penalties for taking human life are very severe, as you well know," said Koenma. "And as to the case, you won't be working directly with Yusuke."

"I won't?" Himeko asked excitedly.

"No. I want you to follow them, but you are not to interfere unless they are in danger. You need to get an idea of how Yusuke works before assisting him."

"And what if Hiei catches up to us?" Himeko asked.

"Don't let him know of your presence. It he does find Yusuke, just keep him from killing anyone."

"Easier said than done," she muttered. "You do realize that he's going to be furious that you sent Yusuke, don't you?"

"Yes, but…that's another reason I'm sending you."

"More fun. A lazy human and an enraged fire demon. I should be getting paid for this."

"Koenma sir!" An ogre burst into the room. "Hiei's missing!"

"Himeko, you should go. Botan will be at the mountain with Yusuke by now," Koenma ordered.

Himeko walked out, shaking her head. "Alright, see you later," she called over her shoulder. It wasn't until some time later that Koenma realized she had never answered him when he asked where she had been for the last few years.

IIIIIIII
(Somewhere on Tarukenay's mountain)

Himeko growled from her resting place up in the tree. "Botan will be at the mountain with Yusuke by now," she mimicked. "Of course, Koenma couldn't tell me where on the mountain, no. I must have been around this stupid place three times already!" Just then, she heard a noise below her vantage point. Looking down, she watched as a small black blur ran by. Well, I found Hiei, she thought. Glancing around her surroundings, she went after him.

Later that night, Himeko was finally able to stop after chasing the little fire demon all day. She saw that he had also halted on a tree branch and was watching something very closely. Creeping nearer, she could make out Yusuke, Botan, and Kuwabara starting a fire. She looked at Hiei, and, seeing how he had apparently settled down for the night, contemplated getting ahead of him so she wouldn't have to race all day long tomorrow. She decided against it, however, and settled down for the night as well.

The next morning found Himeko still up in her tree, but she was alone in the clearing. Oh great. See, this is what happens when you get out of practice. You end up missing everything! she scolded herself. I'd better hope I can catch up before Hiei reaches the mansion! Himeko suddenly heard a loud explosion from farther ahead. Enma, I hope no one got themselves hurt, she thought. I can't afford to blow this!

Shortly after, the Tigress reached the front door of the mansion. Looking inside, she saw some guards that were knocked out, but thankfully no one was dead. "So that either means that Hiei hasn't gotten here yet, or somehow, someway, he was able to restrain himself," she said. "Hopefully it's the former."

Searching the inside of the mansion, Himeko found no evidence of any kind of struggle beyond a few busted walls. She climbed the many stairs up to where she heard voices. All was silent, and then she heard Hiei threatening someone. Must be Tarukenay, she thought. Hiei sounds furious. She walked in and saw Hiei with his katana held up to some ugly guy's neck, and Yukina holding onto her brother's arm, begging for the man's life to be spared. Not wanting to intrude, Himeko hid in the shadows by the door. She noticed that Kurama was there as well, but the brother and sister seemed oblivious to anything besides themselves and Tarukenay.

"Oh my, I forgot about them!" Himeko heard Yukina say. Yukina rushed through the door, and Himeko looked out the window the shone into the arena. She saw Yusuke and Botan, and Kuwabara kneeling beside…Toguro! What is he doing here! she asked herself frantically. I thought he was still in Makai! Looking closer, she noticed Toguro was unmoving and appeared to be dead, but Himeko could still sense his ki, stronger than ever. He was very much alive.

"So how long have you two been there?" asked Hiei, snapping her back to reality. "Long enough, right?"

"I don't see why you just don't tell the girl she has a brother," Kurama said, ignoring Hiei's comment.

"I want her to be happy," answered Hiei.

"Strange…I thought the two were one in the same."

"Indeed," added Himeko. "Anyone would be happy to have you as a brother, Hiei."

"Hn."

Himeko grinned, uncommon warmth in her eyes. "Well, it's true. I'd better get back to Koenma, else he might come looking for me."

"Yes, as should I," Kurama said. "Let's go for now." They left Hiei alone in the upper rooms, as Kurama parted from Himeko to return to Reikai. The girl, however, wanted to speak with Yusuke and Botan. She went downstairs to the arena-like chamber, and ambled over to Yusuke and Botan, being careful to keep away from Toguro.

"Himeko!" Botan greeted her cheerfully.

"Hello, Botan," Himeko answered her. "How are you, Yusuke?"

"A little beat up, but that's no problem," he said, winking. "We sure took care of Toguro there though, didn't we?"

He doesn't know Toguro's still alive, Himeko realized. I'd better wait and tell Koenma first, then. "Yes, I suppose you did," said the Tigress hesitantly. "Um…Yusuke, it seems that Botan here," Himeko glared at the ferrygirl before returning her attention to Yusuke, "has kindly interceded for me with Koenma and asked that, for my punishment, I be allowed to help you with your cases as Spirit Detective. So I'll be working with you from now on."

"Oh, wonderful!" said Botan, clapping her hands. "We're going to have so much fun together!"

"I'm sure," said Himeko. "Koenma's waiting for me, though, so I'd better return to Reikai before he sends his ogres out again."

"All right, we'll see you later!" said Botan, waving as the Tigress walked out.

Himeko shook her head once she was outside the mansion. Looking around, she started down the mountain, pondering what to do about Toguro. It's been so long, and I haven't heard anything recently about him. I thought it might even be possible that he'd been killed…no such luck. At least Yukina's safe, she reasoned. It's Koenma's problem now.

A/N: Don't worry, I don't expect to follow the series so closely for much longer. I am running out of ideas, however. If anyone has any, feel free to e-mail me! Otherwise, I'll have to depend solely on my vivid imagination, and things may turn out a little…strange. Hopefully not, though. Anyways, please Review and thanks for reading!