Ah, I love reviews...I shall never get enough with them. *sigh* Sadly, I did not reach 50...but that's okay! I can handle disappointment!

Jin: ...*wordlessly holds out arms*

Kia: *bursts into tears and runs into them* I feel so unloved!

Jin: There, there...the readers love you.

Shishiwakamaru: I don't.

Kia: *glares at him* Well, I don't like you either. But, back to the story...when we LAST left Kelsey and Kia, they'd just arrived at Ashita's house. There they learned how they were chosen to be the Mirror Holders, their pasts, and so on and so forth. They also met Yuichi, Ashita's nasty assistant...who, it seems, is a spy for Netami! That bastard. So today, they get to go home! Yay!

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She didn't know where she was. This dank corridor, lit only by some weakly-burning torches set in brackets along the walls, was unfamiliar. But up ahead...she had to reach it. There was her enemy...and, sure enough, she saw her foe, standing there, idly admiring the painted nails on her pale hands.

She started forward. Oh, yes, she'd get some answers now...the woman smiled and opened her mouth.

"Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey!"

She frowned. Evil people didn't usually say things like that.

"Good morning, good morning, good morning to you...good morning, good morning, and how do you do?"

"KIA! WAKE UP!"

Kia sat up with a gasp, startling Kelsey, who was sitting on the side of her bed. "Nani?!"

"Took you long enough." The blonde girl bounced slightly. "I was about to sing something from Annie."

"You're heartless." Kia pushed aside the covers and stood up. She'd slept in her clothes, because, unfortunately, no one had given her a list of "Things to Bring to Makai". "Are we going back now?"

"Hai!" Kelsey grinned. "I was all for dragging you off while you were still sleeping, but Ashita said to wait until you woke up." She winked. "She didn't say until you woke up on your own."

Kia groaned. "I DID mention how heartless you were, right?" The door slowly opened, and the kindly face of the Mirror Creator peered in. "Good morning! Sleep well?"

"Hai..." the brunette cast a glare at her friend. "Until Miss Merry Sunshine burst into song."

True to form, Kelsey belted it out. "Oh the scrambled eggs they serve us, they say will make us strong, my friend ate some this morning, they say she won't live long! Oh, I don't wanna go to girl scout camp!"

Kia's pillow hit her on the mouth.

"MMPH!" Kelsey spat out a few feathers. "You're in a cheerful mood today. Hit anyone with a cookie sheet lately?"

The girl sighed. "God, you hit ONE Wind Master with a cookie sheet, and they never let you forget it..."

Ashita chuckled. "Well, it's memorable, isn't it?" She gestured to the girls. "Tsukai is ready to take you home now."

"Arigatou!" They chorused, hugging her, and then racing out to the waiting dragon.

"Just remember!" the Creator called out, her eyes a dazzling shade of silver, "Remember what I said and kick Netami's ass!"

"¡Ululación... ella dijo el "asno"!" (Wow...she said "ass!")

Kia grinned. "¿Ese sorpresas usted?" (That surprises you?)

Ashita smirked. "Quizás usted ambos quisiera que lo dijera en español también." (Perhaps you both would like me to say it in Spanish as well.) Seeing the looks on their faces, the smirk broadened into a grin. "vous m'aiment le dire en français?" (Would you like me to say it in French?)

Kelsey's jaw dropped.

"Ou como sobre o português?" (Or how about Portuguese?)

"Umm..." Kia blinked at the Creator, who was now chuckling. "I didn't know you spoke so many languages..."

"And yet you understand them all," Ashita assured her. "The Mirror halves are attuned to ANY language. Try it."

Kelsey did. "Kia est un phénomène de feuille de biscuit." (Kia is a cookie sheet freak.)

Kia glared at her. "Chiuda in su, lover di Shishi..." (Shut up, Shishi Lover...)

"Entschuldigung ich..." Tsukai interrupted. "aber wir sollte wirklich jetzt gehen." (Pardon me...but we really should go now.)

Both girls stared at him. "How can you even PRONOUNCE those words without swallowing your tongue?" Kia asked in awe.

The dragon rumbled slightly, amused. "Practice." He opened his claws and the two climbed in.

"Good luck!" Ashita called, as Tsukai rose into the air with a few wingbeats.

"Ja ne!" Kelsey and Kia called back, waving, as the crimson beast bore them away. Yuichi was nowhere to be seen...but that was all right with both of them.

It took longer than before to reach the portal. To keep themselves entertained, Kelsey taught Kia the girl scout camp song. Tsukai finally told them that if he ever heard any more stanzas about peas killing friends and doctors breaking fingers, he'd drop them both right now.

"So...Yuumei...your grandmother...said you were supposed to save Kurama?" Kelsey blinked. "How did that happen?"

Kia frowned thoughtfully. "Well, it happened when I was four and I was still in America. I didn't even know it was Kurama back then..."

***Flashback***

He sped lightly down the street, fur rippling. Who cared if this body was only five? He had enough energy to turn into his kitsune form once a year...he'd be exhausted later, but he lived in the present...

Kurama turned a corner and ran on, tails waving behind him. He was too busy enjoying his "stroll" that he failed to notice the man on the porch of the house he was approaching...the man who hurried inside, then came back out...holding a shotgun. The kitsune hesitated. What was this man doing? It was past midnight, the ningens should all be asleep right now...but this one wasn't. He lifted the gun and pointed it Kurama. "Stupid critter," he grunted. Kurama braced himself as the man fired.

"Nooooooo!" A small form wearing a white nightdress barreled into the man; his arm jerked and the shot missed.

"Kia, stop that!" the man barked. "What are you doing up this late? Do your parents know that you're out here?" He glowered at the little girl, whose brown hair was in pigtails.

"Don't shoot him!" Kia ran forward and threw her arms around Kurama's neck. He stiffened. Why was she doing this? Didn't she know how dangerous he could be? *Didn't your mother tell you about the big bad wolf? I am much the same...* He started to open his jaws to see if she would fit...then hesitated. Shuiichi...the other soul...was pleading. "Don't hurt her! She's trying to save you!"

Kurama hesitated. Somehow...even without Shuiichi's interference...he couldn't harm the girl. Yuumei's words returned to haunt him. "One day, your life will be saved...by the child carried within her." She had pointed to Aiko...and this girl...vaguely resembled her. But he wasn't out of the woods yet.

"Kia! Get away from that thing! It could have rabies!"

Fearless to the end, the little girl merely shook her head. "I won't let you hurt him!"

Kurama decided to look as nice and sweet as possible. He nuzzled Kia, who beamed at him. "See?"

The man shook his head. "Not my fault if he turns on ye..." He muttered, then went inside and slammed the door.

"Are you all right, Doggy?" the little girl asked, releasing the kitsune's neck. "Did he hurt you?"

*Doggy?!* Kurama forced himself to relax. *She's obviously too young to have seen a fox...* He looked down at her, wondering himself why she was up this late. She couldn't have been more than three or four. *Great...I'm becoming parental.* Shaking his head at his foolishness, the kitsune picked up Kia gently with his teeth, careful not to pierce her skin. Lifting his head high so that she wouldn't hit the ground, he trotted to the house where she resided in...he could trace her energy back to it. (don't worry, he's a pretty big fox ^^) He set the little girl on the doorstep, licked her hand briefly, then turned to leave.

"T'ank you..." Kia called after him. "Don't let the bad man hit you!"

*Don't worry, I won't...* Kurama blended silently into the night. He'd stayed in this form too long...at this rate, it'd be another three years before he could access it again. *That girl...could that have been what the old woman was talking about?*

***End Flashback***

"So that fox...was Kurama?" Kelsey blinked. "Go figure."

Kia nodded. "He told me about it three days ago...he said that he had met me before..."

"Here we are!" Tsukai announced, drawing back his forelegs, then snapping them forward. "Have fun!" He released them.

"I HAAAAATE YOOOUUUUUUUUU!" Kelsey screamed as they flew through the air...then they tumbled to the ground, Kia smacking her head on the slide.

"We're back..." the girl said, amazed.

"I hope he warns me next time..." Kelsey grumbled, dusting herself off. "Scratch that. There had better not BE a next time."

Kia smiled. "Let's just go home." They hurried off, and arrived at Suzuki's house in pretty good time, even though it was (as Ashita had predicted) still raining.

"Hello?" Kelsey called, as they stepped inside. "Anyone home?" Silence greeted her words.

"Looks like they've gone out," Kia observed. "And just when we had so much to tell..."

"We can wait." Kelsey plopped down on the couch.

They waited. And waited. And waited. And Mikage walked in.

"You're back!" she greeted them happily, hugging the two. "But where's everyone else?"

Kia shrugged. "AWOL. Where've you been?"

"Taking care of my sister...I was here two days ago." The girl looked around. "You've been gone for three days, you know..."

"Really?" Kelsey looked surprised. "Felt like one...or two."

"Time flies?" Kia suggested.

"That must be it." Mikage joined Kelsey on the couch, and Kia wandered around the house, searching for signs of life. She found Puu under Yusuke's bed and hauled him out. "Hey there, little guy..."

The blue penguin wriggled anxiously. "Puuuuuuu!" He looked horrible, as if something was eating him from the inside out...

The girl frowned, concerned. "Puu? Are you all right?"

Puu just gave a tiny whimper and burrowed into her arms, shaking.

"Guys?" Kia raised her voice, walking out of the room. "I think something's wrong with Puu..."

Mikage looked up, green eyes curious. "What do you mean?"

Kia was now trying to pry Puu off her head as the little creature tried to curl up there. "Well...I...don't...think...this...behavior...is...normal!" With an audible pop, Puu released his grip and Kia, caught off balance, crashed backwards. "Itai..."

Kelsey laughed. "Behold, Puu the plunger."

"Funny," her friend said dryly.

"Hey..." Mikage lifted her head. "D'you guys sense that?"

Kelsey and Kia looked at her, then closed their eyes. "Hai..." Kia replied after a moment. "There's some energy signals close by...but they're weak."

"And they're familiar!" Kelsey added. "They must be back!" She ran for the door, almost slipping in the small pool of water she and Kia had created upon entering. Mikage and Kia were at her heels as she yanked it open-and Touya fell in. Mikage gave a gasp of horror, and Kia clapped her hands over her mouth.

Touya was a mess. Blood was everywhere, oozing from the many cuts on his arms, legs, and face. His hair was possibly the only thing clean on him.

"Touya!" Kia carefully lifted him up, and the Ice Master gave a feeble groan. His lids parted to reveal his pale blue eyes, glazed with pain. "What HAPPENED to you?" She placed him on the couch, and Mikage (who was still at the door) let out a yelp. "It's Hiei!"

"Nani?!" Kelsey darted past her and into the rain. She returned, carrying an unconscious Hiei, whose dark cloak was matted with blood.

"Bring him over here," Kia told her. Kelsey obeyed and the girl rolled up her sleeves, ready to heal what injuries she could and silently seething. What had happened to them?

"...Don't..." A pale hand reached up and caught Kia's wrist. Touya propped himself up on his elbow, wincing. "Don't heal me..."

"Why not?" Kia said, more sharply than she'd intended. "LOOK at you! Look at Hiei! You're a mess!"

The Ice Master smiled wearily. "This is nothing compared to the others...believe me, it's best if you save your healing powers for them." He released her wrist and Kia settled on her heels.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Mikage begged. "Where are the others? How did you get this wounds?"

Hiei stirred. Without opening his eyes, he spoke. "Netami. Netami has them."

There was a sharp intake of breath from Mikage, and Kelsey clenched her fists. "That...stupid...bitch!"

"We...were caught off guard..." Hiei continued, and Kelsey stopped her ranting to listen. "Too many of her servants...we fought, but we were taken...wants to brainwash us..."

"You mean...the others are with her right now?" Kia looked worried. "If she brainwashes them, we're screwed."

"But you two escaped?" Kelsey asked hopefully.

"Yes, but barely." Touya sighed. "Escape means death...Hiei and I almost didn't make it."

Hiei suddenly sat up. "Zyoshi! Is she still here??"

"What are you talking about?" Kelsey blinked at him. "There was no one here but Puu."

Hiei cursed profoundly. Mikage covered her ears. "She must still be in the closet." He tried to stand, but Kia firmly applied pressure with the hand that rested on his shoulder. He sat down again, scowling at her. "I'll look. Hall closet?"

"Hai."

Puu resettled on Kia's head, and this time, she made no effort to dissuade him from his chosen spot. She opened the closet door and stared down at a tied, gagged, bloody, and furious hanyou. "Z!" She knelt and pulled the orange rag out of her mouth.

"Stupid little bastards, I'll kill them, I'll kill them all-"

"Umm..." Kia, who couldn't find anything to say to that, got to work untying the knots in the ropes that held the girl. The entire time she did that, Z continued to rant about "evil bad ladies" and "stupid seagull" and "hurting my friends".

"I'm guessing Netami didn't take you because you're a girl," Kia remarked finally, as she applied antiseptic to Z's wounds, then got to work doing the same to Touya and Hiei.

"Damn straight." Z was practically fuming. "But I kicked some major ass, so they decided to lock me up." Her violet eyes fixed on Kia and Kelsey. "She's expecting you two."

"Wants us to follow the trail of males," Kelsey said morosely.

"Harder to find than bread crumbs, I bet," Kia agreed, just as glumly.

"I'll go too..." Mikage began. Both girls shook their heads, cutting off any protests.

"She wants us," Kelsey told her. "You guys have to stay here for backup. In case we don't make it back. If we all go at once, there'll be less of a chance."

"Maybe she'll let them go if you turn over the Mirrors," Z suggested.

"Sure, and maybe Kuwabara really will get an A + on his next math test," Kia replied. "Not to mention handing over the Mirror halves would not only result in our deaths, but the destruction of the three worlds as well."

"Don't bother saying good-bye," Kelsey informed Touya, as he tried to rise. "We'll be back soon."

"With our friends," Kia added. They grinned, headed for the door, then paused. "Umm...where IS Netami's place, anyway?"

"Over the river and through the woods," Hiei said.

They stared at him. "To Grandmother's house, maybe," Kelsey retorted.

"I'm serious." The Jaganshi smirked at them. "Have fun."

Kia rolled her eyes. "You're so helpful." They walked out the door and back out into the rain.

*OOC*

Out of the fire and into the frying pan...or however that saying goes...will Kia and Kelsey make it to Netami's, save the boys from being brainwashed, and make it back for cartoons? Not likely, but you know they'll try! Stay tuned and please review! Also, if you want a sequel, I'd start requesting now...

Next Chapter...

* The girls figure out a faster way to reach Netami's place.

* Who SAID sea monkeys aren't evil?

* Welcome to Netami's evil castle, admission will be one dollar or your free will...