^^ I'm in a writing mood, so I figure I might as well start chapter four. Gives me something to do to clear my mind off a horrible Zelda parody...oh, dear God, the insanity...as I promised, here's Hiei!

Hiei: Hn.

Kia: C'mon, Hiei...say SOMETHING else.

Hiei: I can't believe you forced me into doing this. I should kill you.

Kia: But you won't. Because I'm the authoress.

Hiei: *glares*

Kia: Heh...well, in the last chapter, more youkai got sick, Kia and Kelsey learned about this mysterious disease and now they're headed to Makai with Kurama to find a cure for it! Wish them luck...Inari knows they'll need it.

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"See any gerbils?" Kelsey shielded her eyes from the harsh glare of the sun, glancing at her fellow Mirror Holder.



"No." Kia shifted her backpack, wondering why she hadn't bothered to change out of her school uniform. Well, that's obvious, she chided herself. It was SNOWING in Ningenkai! She'd rolled up her sleeves at least, and she noticed Kelsey had done the same. Kurama didn't seem to be affected at all.

"How about chickens?" Kelsey continued.

The dark-haired girl checked. "...No."

"Naien?"

Kia smiled. She and Kelsey had met the little girl about two months ago. The human-looking Naien was actually a youkai, and Rinku and Chuu had volunteered to take the child back to Makai. They'd heard nothing from their friends since. It would be nice to see Chuu and Rinku again, even at such a bad time.

"...I'll take that as a 'no'," Kelsey decided, when she realized that Kia was probably not going to reply anytime soon.

"Nani?" The brunette blinked, brown eyes losing their dreamy cast.

Kelsey smirked. "Thanks, Kia. I'm so glad you volunteered to fight the naked mole rats on steroids for our sakes."

Kia eyed her friend suspiciously. "Hey, wait..."

The blonde started to laugh. "I never get bored with this..." She dodged Kia's half-hearted kick, still chuckling.

Muttering about mean friends, the older girl turned to Kurama, her gaze questioning. "Kurama? Daijoubu?"

"Hm..." He said absently.

Frowning, Kia tried again. "Kurama?"

"Mmm..."

The girl turned back to Kelsey with a helpless shrug. But she made one final attempt. "Kurama, is it true that you dress up as a hooker from the Sixties and have nightly affairs with Yusuke and Puu?"

"Mm-hmm..." Kurama agreed, not really registering what he had just confirmed. Then, just like Kia had, he blinked. "...What?"

"Welcome back to reality, Kurama!" Kelsey greeted him cheerfully.

"What's with the spacing out?" Kia asked him curiously.

He sighed. "Gomen-I was just thinking of...of someone."

"Chick?" Kelsey guessed. Her friend sweatdropped.

"Chit," she corrected.

Kurama was gradually flushing crimson. "I, er...ah...um..."

Kia grinned. "We're right, aren't we? I can see...it's written all over your face." She poked his forehead. "Are we ever going to MEET your girlfriend?"

"You sly fox, you," Kelsey couldn't resist adding.

Poor Kurama was beet-red by now, his flaming face matching his hair perfectly-not an easy feat. "Do either of you know how we're going to find Chuu and Rinku?" He said quickly...a little TOO quickly, both girls noted with interest.

Kelsey snorted. "Sure. Change the subject."

"Kage said they were staying with a friend in a village about seven or eight miles from here," Kia answered. "If we keep up this pace, we should reach it in about..." She glanced up at the sky, mentally judging something. "Two to three hours."

Kurama nodded, smiling slightly.

"We'll be back and have everyone cured in no time!" Kelsey seized Kia's hands, swinging her friend around in a sloppy circle. When she let go, Kia stumbled, head spinning somewhat, and almost fell. Kurama slid his hands under her arms and hauled her up before she hit the ground.

"Arigato..." Kia said dizzily, blinking to clear her doubled vision.

"You're welcome." The Youko chuckled, releasing her once he'd made sure she could stand properly again.

"Hurry up!" Kelsey called impatiently, running up ahead. Kia smiled, running after her friend. "I wonder how the others are doing," she remarked thoughtfully.

***At Suzuki's House***

"Kuso! Get BACK here, you stubborn little shi-" Yusuke Urameshi lunged for Hiei-and missed, as the little youkai used his uncanny speed to dart out of reach.

"Yusuke!" Keiko Yukimura, his girlfriend, scolded. "Language!!" She adjusted her arms to fit around a squirming Shishiwakamaru, who had regressed even further in years.

"He deserves it!" The Tantei retorted, pursuing the Jaganshi as he scampered around the living room. "How can they be so sick and have so much damn energy?!"

"LANGUAGE," Keiko said warningly, brown eyes peeved. "And they're KIDS, Yusuke. They ALWAYS have energy."

"I'm still gonna kill those three for leaving us with these-" He saw his female companion's glare and hastily changed whatever he'd been about to say. "Children."

"They'll be back soon!" Keiko replied positively, although she was starting to feel a little unsure herself.

"They'd better be." Yusuke winced as the youkai children set up a chorus of wails and screams. "Damn them all...stupid little pieces of-"

"YUSUKE!!"

***Back to Makai***

"They're probably having a great time," Kelsey said, grinning. "Especially Yusuke."

"Is this Opposites' Day?" Kia inquired sweetly.

"No." The blonde's reply was incredibly innocent, but Kia knew her friend. She also knew better.

"Hey..." Kelsey poked the other Mirror Holder, sobering slightly. "Are you worried?"

"...Worried?" Kia blinked. It was probably best for both of them if she kept up an optimistic outlook. "I-"

"And don't lie," Kelsey interrupted.

The brunette sweatdropped. "All I said was-"

"Your 'I' was forced," the girl explained. "Knowing you, that means you're going to answer with what you think I want to hear."



"I wish you didn't know me so well," Kia complained.

"Ah, well." Kelsey shrugged. "So, are you?"

"Am I what?"

Kelsey tugged on Kia's ponytail. "Worried!!"

The older girl winced, then relaxed when her hair was released. "A little...I just...I guess I'm afraid that we won't make it in time. Or find Chuu and Rinku. Or that Yusuke won't survive a bunch of little kids."

"Yeah, that worries me too," Kelsey admitted. "But never fear, stout comrade! We shall overcome!"

"Who are you calling 'stout'?" Kia demanded archly.

"Heh..." Kelsey picked up speed.

"Oh, no you don't!" Kia ran after her, but unfortunately, her eyes were on her friend's retreating back and not on the ground. Her shoe caught on a protruding tree root and she toppled over, eyes wide with surprise. For the second time that day, someone caught her.

"...Whew." The brunette sighed in relief, glad that she and the ground hadn't gotten any closer to each other. "Thanks, Kura-" She looked at the one who had "saved" her--and gaped.

It hadn't been Kurama who had caught her. It was a bird. No...a man. Kia blinked. Just what WAS he?? He had the approximate build of a man, but his bare arms and legs were feathered, and he had the head of a blue/black eagle, sickly yellow eyes pulsing faintly. The girl also became uncomfortably aware of just where those eyes were resting, and his hands (talons?) gripped her arms tightly, cruelly digging through the thin fabric and into her skin.

"What have we here?" His voice was high and scratchy. "A ningen girl?"

"Let me go," Kia said evenly.

The youkai laughed, the harsh sound grating on the girl's ears. "Let you go? Why? I could sell you or me and my boys could have some fun with you and your friend."

Kia, about to reply very nastily, focused on the last word he'd used. "...Friend?"

"Put me DOWN!" Kelsey yelled furiously, struggling against another youkai. This one reminded Kia of King Kong, only shorter and wearing a black shirt that proclaimed "Sexy" in bold red lettering.

Sexy is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose, thought Kia.

The eagle youkai cackled, releasing Kia's left arm to reach for her chest. That was a major mistake on his part.

Kelsey and King Kong looked up as the eagle hit the ground, his feathered cheek reddening from the force of Kia's slap.

"Don't even GO there!" The girl yelled, shaking with righteous anger.

Kelsey grinned, planting her feet on her captor's chest and flipping over his arms. Surprised, he let go, and the blonde backed up to join her friend. "Where's Kurama?" She gasped.

Kia shook her head. "I don't know, he just disappeared..." She tensed as she suddenly realized that they were completely surrounded. "...Oh, shoot. This is bad."

***

Kurama grimly cut down another youkai with his Rose Whip and turned. The five creatures that had attacked him were dead, but not only had they managed to separate him from the girls, but also had left a long, bloody gash on his right arm, and he was having trouble focusing his eyes and mind. But...Kia and Kelsey were back there, and he had a feeling that they were in trouble. Sure enough, he heard a startled yelp and a cry of pain in the distance.

The Youko reached into his pocket, pulling out a small bottle of reddish liquid. He'd acquired it from Suzuki's workshop, and, quickly downing its contents in one swallow, he could only hope it took effect soon.

***

Kia took a step back as one of the youkai reached into a battered pouch at his side, withdrawing a small blue globe and hurling it at her. It hit the ground near her feet and burst, forming a small puddle.

"..." The Mirror Holder blinked. "Water?"

"Kia, get back!" Kelsey yelled in alarm, starting towards her friend. With a leer, the same youkai pulled out a piece of string from the pouch, flinging it out. It lengthened as it flew, until it had wrapped itself around Kelsey, tightening around her arms and legs. With a strangled cry, she fell, struggling against her bonds until they glowed bright green and she suddenly stopped. Tears of pain sprang to her eyes.

Kia ran forward, then stumbled. Looking down, she discovered that the puddle was extending liquid tentacles, rising up to cover her legs and wrap around her wrists. Alarmed, she tried to leap away, but it was too late. Once it had reached her waist, it congealed, solidifying into a mass of crystalline rock. One strand extended from the girl's wrists to the ground and stuck there. She was trapped.

The youkai, this one resembling a fish, grabbed her chin in a cold webbed hand. "Afraid yet?" He said softly.

"Hardly." Kia glared at him defiantly. "Where I come from, we eat things like you for dinner!" She jerked her head back to escape his clammy grip.

His eyes flashed. "I'd watch your mouth if I were you, girl. You're in Makai now." He laughed. "And you're helpless." As if to prove his point, he gestured at the crystal "prison". Kia winced as cold needles of pain ran up through her legs and arms and filled her body, biting her lip to keep from screaming. Soon, she had a bleeding lip and the pain wasn't letting up.

The fish youkai stood back slightly to view her silent struggle. "My, my...two little ningen girls have been disabled...I could kill you right now and you wouldn't be able to stop me."

The dark-haired girl closed her eyes, determined not to rise to the bait.

"Perhaps not. But you didn't account for me, did you?"

Kia heard that cold, silky voice and wondered who THIS one was-friend or foe. Honestly, she didn't care anymore; she was too busy trying to rid herself of this agonizing pain.

"And who the hell would you-AAAAAAAAAAAARRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!" An almost-silent swish, a scream, a cry of surprise from Kelsey, and that voice again.

"Release her."

"You've gotta be kidding!" That was the fish guy, sounding both scared and indignant. An odd combo. "I don't know who you think you are, but-"

The other chuckled. "Spare me. Kia, hold still." Frowning, the girl obeyed. She felt a small rush of air as something shot by her, and then the crystal shattered and the pain departed abruptly. She didn't even have TIME to fall before someone lifted her up.

Kia opened her eyes, and found herself staring into a pair of cool and calculating golden eyes. Silvery-white hair flowed to the stranger's back, and Kia couldn't hold in a gasp when she saw his flowing white tail and pale fox ears. He was dressed in a simple white sleeveless outfit.



"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" He gently wiped blood off her lower lip, then casually licked it off his finger.

"I...what?" Kia was incredibly flustered.

"Oh, now you've done it." Fish Man scowled, digging in that damned pouch for something.

The fox-eared man set the Mirror Holder down carefully. "See to your friend. This won't take long."

All Kia could think of to say was "You're really tall." She blinked, giving her head a shake, and ran over to Kelsey, who was on her hands and knees, panting.

"Who's Fox boy?" The blonde girl asked, giving her friend a shaky smile.

"No clue," the brunette replied. "Are you okay?"

Kelsey nodded. "I wonder who he is..."

"Hopefully, a friend." Then Kia frowned. "Wait..." Something about him seemed eerily familiar. An image flashed in her mind-a huge fox carrying a child in its mouth. The girl was herself. The fox was...

"Kelsey," Kia whispered hoarsely. "I think..."

"Huh?" Kelsey turned to her friend quizzically. Kia had a funny look on her face.

"...I think he's KURAMA!"

*OOC*

Brilliant deduction, Sherlock! But if that really IS Kurama...what the hell HAPPENED to him?? Please review, and NEXT CHAPTER!

* Meet Youko Kurama! Why is he acting so strangely towards Kia?

* Kodoma Binetsu reflects on a photograph...

* Hey...Kurama's in his demon form! Who wants to guess what THAT means?

I'd like to thank Lexi-chan for being my muse, Kelsey for...being my OTHER muse, my reviewers for musing, and Inuki for biting my ankles. ...Stupid spirit dog.

Hiei: Smart, actually.

Kia: -.- Oh, who asked you anyway.

Hiei: You forced me to do this. I enjoy witnessing your discomfort.

Kia: You're the one currently in diapers, Midget. I wouldn't talk.

Hiei: ...Hn.