Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies….

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"Botan!" Yusuke cried from his sitting position on the floor of the temple ground as the spirit guide flew in on her oar, dropping gracefully to the ground in a dainty hop. Switching her oar into her right hand, she made it vanish in a quick flash of light.

Yusuke stood up to meet her, not liking to address people from the floor, and Eino, sensing his teacher's change in attention, opened his eyes and stood up next to the young man. Kuwabara walked over from the place he had been sitting, but Hiei remained with his eyes closed, leaning against the wall, arms crossed as though he were irritated with the whole situation.

"Hello, Yusuke!" Botan greeted cheerfully. Then, noticing Eino standing beside him, eyes wide in amusement, quickly became more sober, an odd expression for the overly enthusiastic river guide.

Yusuke, noticing Botan's expression, stepped forward to make introductions. "Eino, this is Botan, guide of the river Styx and all around destructive weirdo." He was received by a large bump on the head by Botan's oar, which had sudden materialized and became tangible again. TOO tangible in Yusuke's opinion. "See what I mean?" he asked Eino, wincing in pain as he nursed his sore head.

"Nice to meet you," Eino introduced politely, holding out his hand. Botan looked at it for a moment then returned the kindness by shaking it and giving him a small smile.

After the introductions, Yusuke interrupted, "So what's goin' on? Anything up in the realm of the dead?" smiling a bit at his name for the spirit world.

Botan ignored his teasing comment, shaking her head slightly. "Nothing huge. No major fights or anything you have to worry about. But Koenma needs to talk to you and he sent me to find you. ALL of you, he said, motioning to Kuwabara and Hiei with a tilt of her head."

"Sure," Yusuke shrugged casually. "We'll just finish Eino's lesson and we'll be on our way."

Botan shook her head. "No can do. I've got specific orders from Koenma himself that you're supposed to come now, no procrastinating."

Yusuke looked apologetically down at Eino. "Sorry about this," he told him guiltily. "We'll have to get together later."

"That's alright," Eino told him, heading toward the door and picking his bag. "Don't worry about it. We can finish another time. How about tomorrow? Same time?"

"Sure," Yusuke told him as he stepped out the door and into the heat. Eino, taking this as a goodbye, closed the door behind him. "Don't forget to practice your exercises!" Yusuke called through the door, and could see the outline of Eino's body as it walked away through the paper door.

"Okay!" Yusuke said enthusiastically. "To spirit world it is!" as he began to walk over to the other door, Kuwabara and Botan in tow. When they reached the doorway, Yusuke looked back, noticing Hiei wasn't fallowing, only standing there, leaning against the wall in exactly the same position as he had been in before.

"Hey, Shrimp!" Kuwabara called. His manner may have improved, but he still kept the same names for the smallest one of the group. "You coming or not?"

"You go ahead," Hiei growled from his post. "I have better things to do with my time then meet with the Toddler again for a new mission. It'd probably just be as boring as this one."

"Fine, don't come," Botan said, walking through the doorway, nose in the air superior. "But you're going to regret it as soon as you know who it's about."

Hiei's eyes widened and he quickly looked up. "Kurama?" he asked rapidly. "It'd about Kurama?"

Botan smiled back at him, a rare thing for people to do to the feisty, fire demon. "You won't know until you come!" and with that she trotted outside, bouncing happily, a satisfied grin plastered on her face. After all, it wasn't everyday you got to tell off a fire demon, particularly one as "perfect" as Hiei.

Yusuke and Kuwabara fallowed her, but Hiei hung back for a moment. After ten seconds (he counted) he walked slowly after them. After all, he didn't want to give Botan total satisfaction of correcting him.

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"What's this about Kurama?" Hiei demanded, standing in front of Koenma's desk, arms crossed, giving the young prince a "if-you-don'-tell-me-I'll-make-sure-you-die-a-slow-and-painful-death" look.

Koenma winced slightly, but gave Hiei a large and cheerful smile. "What? What?" Yusuke demanded. "Tell us already!"

"I've found Kurama!" Koenma cried happily.

Hiei's jaw went slack in surprise as Yusuke leapt around the room in joy. "You found him?" Hiei said, his surprise turning into a rare smile, his eyes widening in happiness. "You really know where he is?"

"Yup!" Koenma cried, laughing a little at Yusuke's antics, who was now dancing around the room with a startled Botan, who was for once letting Yusuke have his fun.

"Where is he?!" Hiei cried, leaning onto Koenma's desk, giving him a frantic look. "Quick, tell us where he is!"

"It just so happens that you already know him!"

"Who is it, then?" Hiei asked quickly. 'I don't know anyone at all like Kurama!'

"It's Eino."

Yusuke immediately stopped dancing. "WHAT?!?!" they all cried.

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Hello!

New chapter up, just like I promised! Another one will probably be up next Tuesday or Thursday, I'm not sure which. I keep procrastinating though, because it's too hot to be typing on a laptop, which just makes the room even more hot!

Don't assume anything! Eino isn't necessarily Kurama, but neither is Mido! Don't get your hopes up….

Chat soon, and let me know what you think!

Dream Fox