*Anemone's room...Kurama's carrying in a wobbly Hiei, who if you don't remember fell off the roof via Ellen's paint ball gun...muahaha...Anemone's explaining the entire Magic 8 Ball scenario to Anneliese and Ellen, Ellen growing steadily hysterical and Anneliese...well, glaring at it as Anemone tells them what it said*

Anemone: ...and THEN it said that Hinegeshi is his one true love! Can you believe it?

Anneliese: *growls at it*

Ellen: LOL!! *turns to Hiei* Wow...gonna rethink your relationship with Anneliese?

Anneliese: ELLEN!

Ellen: what?

Hiei: *leaning on Kurama, blink* ...?

Kurama: er...Anemone? I have something to tell you...

Anemone: what, Fox?

Kurama: erm...it's about Hiei...*looks a little nervous*

Anemone: yeah?

Hiei: who the hell are all of you?!

Girls: ?!

Kurama: uh...he seems to have amnesia from his collapse off the roof...

Anneliese and Anemone: *pause, turn to glare at Ellen*

Ellen: ...what?

Kurama: ...he doesn't remember anything after Maze Castle.

Anemone: ...so...he still knows who YOU are...

Kurama: yes...

Hiei: Kitsune! Why are we associating with filthy ningen onnas?!

Anneliese: *rolling up sleeves, pissy glare* feh! Maybe a good one straight to the head'll jog his memory!

Kurama: O_O Anneliese I wouldn't-

Anneliese: *decks him upside the head, he collapses unconscious*

All: O_O

Kurama: ...do that...

Hiei: *mumble-mumble, jerks back to consciousness* *blink, looks at Kurama, suspicious glare* ...who are you...?

Kurama: ...–_–; Anneliese...look what you did...

Anemone: Damn! She must've hit pretty hard to make him forget you, Kurama...

Hiei: where the damned hell am I?! *glares really narrowly at Ellen* ...and why do I get the prickly feeling that I REALLY hate you...?

Ellen: heh heh...*chuckles nervously as she hides her paint ball gun behind her* ...no reason...

Hiei: hn...*blink, focuses eyes in personal thought* ...hn...? What the hell was that?! What's a 'hn'?! And why do I feel the urge to say it...?!

All: O_o

Kurama: my God! There was actually a time before Hiei possessed his signature grunt?!

Anemone: GAH! It's the end of the world!! Hiei actually forgot his favorite word!!

Anneliese and Ellen: AHH!!

Hiei: ...? OW! *clasps hand over forehead...feels his Jagon* AH! What the hell?!

Anemone: Anneliese you stay AWAY from me with that right hook...

Ellen: *smirks evilly* we can manipulate him now! And make him nice!

Kurama, Anneliese, and Anemone: *raised eyebrow* *look at Ellen for a long pause, blink at Hiei, who's swearing every other word* ...–_–;;

Ellen: uh...yeah...never mind...with a mouth like THAT...

Hiei: I HAVE A THIRD EYE?! WHAT THE F*CK?!?

Kurama: Hiei! Language!

Hiei: ...*waiting for the alleged 'Hiei' to respond, looks around for another person*

All: –_–;

Hiei: ...who the hell is Hiei? And I heard no one speak of swears to be scolded, Red...*glares dangerously*

Kurama: ...erm...YOU'RE, Hiei, Hiei...

Hiei: ...? Nonsense! My name is not Hiei! My name is...is......uh......

Kurama: *smirk* ...yes?

Hiei: shut up! I don't feel like telling you, you filthy human! Hn! *pricks, mutters in annoyance* Damn AGAIN with the 'hn'?! What the hell?!

All: –_–;

Anemone: well THIS will be interesting to cope with...

Ellen: maybe if we give him some ice cream he'll zone out...

Anneliese: yeah...then we can figure out what to do with him...

Kurama: but Mones doesn't have any ice cream in stock.

Anemone, Anneliese, and Ellen: *side glance, smirk evilly at Kurama*

Kurama: WHAT?! But, the last time I went out to get his ice cream I was chased home by a mob! And it resulted in THAT! *gestures for Hiei, who's blinking in every direction and reaches out for Anemone's Magic 8 Ball...blinks at it*

Anemone: *sigh* FINE...I'll go with you, Kurama.

Kurama: *hopeful* really?

Anemone: yeah...

Ellen: what will going with him do to the chances of him being chased home again?

Anemone: I could pose as his girlfriend or something...*Kurama blushes*

Kurama: ahem...right...then let's go, Mones...you two, *turns to Ellen and Anneliese* can you keep him busy?

Anneliese and Ellen: *blink at the confused Hiei* yeah/we can handle it/sure...

Kurama: alright then...try not to anger him while I'm not here...

Ellen: *whips out paint ball gun* if he even TRIES...

All but Hiei and Ellen: –_–;

Kurama: *sigh* try not to anger him anyway...come on Mones we have to make this quick...

Anemone: rightio! *turns to readers, halfway out the door* don't worry about Hiei...we'll figure out something...a fresh new chapter up and waiting...latr!

Kurama and Anemone: *leave*

Anneliese and Ellen: *blink, side-glance, look at Hiei*

Anneliese: *deep breath, fake smile* um...Hiei?

Hiei: ...

Anneliese: ...Hiei...?

Hiei: ...

Ellen: oh my GOD! Your NAME is Hiei!

Hiei: ...?

Ellen and Anneliese: –_–; this is gonna be harder than I thought...

Chapter 10: A Calm Instant

Ryuuhayai jerked to a rigged halt in the center of the Kuwabara yard, the remaining persons in waiting pricking at her entrance.

"Where's Hiei?" Gakilei blinked.

"Hn." The teenager growled in aggravation...instantly the group backed off.

"Did you hear what Grapko said?" Yusuke tried cautiously, then met an almost scared tint in Ryuuhayai's narrowed glare.

"You're not going to like this..." the she-dragon started in a sigh, then began to saturate the immediate air with words soaked in terrifying truth.

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The silhouette of an emotional beauty, her head hanging as she bit back tears and sniffed quietly.

"Yukina, Sweety?" Botan dared venture into the dark room, and cautiously inched closer to her dear demonic friend.

Yukina jerked up, her minty spikes swaying. Her wide scarlet eyes were framed and sagging with a tired expression, and she was surrounded on all sides with tiny, glossy beads originated from her sorrow.

"Oh...Botan..." she managed a meek, innocent little smile, as she bit back yet another painful flow of tears.

"Sweety! Are you alright?" Botan embraced the she-demon quickly, stroking Yukina's soft mint hair.

"I'm...I'm, fine, Botan..." she stuttered through a vain attempt towards a grin.

"No you're not! You're not fine, Sweety...what to do...Oh! I know! I'm going to go make you some tea, yes sir! Fix you right up!" the ferry girl flashed a light-hearted grin as to comfort her dear friend, and ventured for the kitchen. She nearly tripped over the edge of her slightly lopsided kimono, but she managed to stammer for the kitchen without much trouble.

"Oh phooey!" she was heard cursing a room away...Yukina couldn't help but giggle...Botan always forgot where the green tea was kept.

"Let me see...is it in...here? UGH!"

"Botan?" Yukina smiled delicately. "Do you need any help?"

"Uh...No! Of course not, Sweety! I've got it all under con-OW!!" the ferry girl muffled and muttered mad swears as she grunted in pain...she had accidentally splashed some boiling water on her arm.

"Botan?!" Yukina pricked, easing to a stand and jogging for the kitchen...Botan was sprawled on the floor, swearing under her breath and gripping her arm angrily. "Botan! Are you alright?!"

Botan pricked up, side-glanced nervously, and flashed a meek, embarrassed smile. "Um...yes?"

"Oh my goodness! Your arm!" Yukina rushed for the ferry girl's side, easing to the floor and examining her friend's burned flesh. "Botan-chan! I can't believe you hurt yourself like this just to make tea!"

"Oh come now it's not that-OWWWW!!" she screeched as Yukina touched the singed skin. Instantly a pound of wood against wood cracked through the air and entered Yusuke, Yukio, and Kisho, running with a vengeance and ready for attack...that is, until each caught sight of the predicament...a puddle of hot water on the floor, and Botan collapsed to the ground having burned herself. The three gaped slightly, then sighed.

"Well I suppose THIS explains a lot..." Yukio deduced aloud.

"Dammit, Botan!" Yusuke roared. "We thought you were being attacked!"

"Are you okay, Mom?" Kisho inquired in worry, having managed to smell burned flesh.

"Oh! Of course I am, Honey!" Botan smiled perkily, then practically screamed in pain as Yukina attempted her healing powers on the burn.

"Mom?!" Kisho jerked for her side, allowing his scythe to disintegrate into nothing. He leapt over the glossy puddle and to Botan's opposite side...everyone from outside had gained interest in the situation...Ai sprinted in at Botan's scream, joined by Keiko, Hinegeshi and Ryuuhayai.

"Mother?! What's wrong?!" Ai managed to ease around next to Yukio, and leaned slightly on his shoulder. "Mother?"

"I'm FINE people! Why is everyone worried about little old me?" Botan managed to chuckle awkwardly, before screeching yet again.

"Because your screaming frickin' bloody murder, Botan!" Yusuke growled, before being decked upside the head by a glaring Keiko.

"Enough! I'm fine! AHHHHH!!" she shrieked, Kisho collapsing from his squat straight on his rear as he pinned his hands to his sensitive ears.

"OW!" he managed to roar. "Mom please! Don't scream so loud!"

Botan winced a meek smile, before forcing herself to bite back yet another scream...Yukina's attempts weren't nearly as gentle as the norm...her flowing energy was rigid, rough...painful! It stroked pulses of pain throughout the tender, raw burn, which still smogged with heat. Yukina's worry for Kazuma was racking her concentration.

"Mom! I think you're hurting Botan...!" a voice pricked into hearing...the group jerked to face him...the disheveled youth of mint hair.

"Kane..." Gakilei breathed softly, having not seen him for nearly an hour...the youth had been in silence by Kazuma's side.

"Here...let me help..." he smiled calmly, easing to the front of the group and by his mother's side...he pressed a soft, cool touch to Botan's burn, easing the pain dramatically. Botan's tense shoulders sagged and her taut expression loosened with a single sigh of relief. Kisho too smiled as he gripped to his mother's free hand...no more screaming...salvation!

Yukina strained to calm her senses as her energy seeped into Botan's burn, the skin quickly re-piecing and stitching back into place. With Kane's smooth touch, the process was MUCH less painful...it almost felt...good.

Botan pulsed in a slow sigh as her burn was finally healed over, and she smiled faintly. "Do you still want tea, Yukina?"

"Say no!!" the group roared, knowing the obvious chances of Botan burning herself again. Yukina smiled meekly, then eased to a stand...walking smoothly for Kazuma's room. Silence, the situation was bleak...not to mention, Ryuuhayai had managed to inform the group of Grapko's terror to Ryooki...no one was truly in best of moods.

%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%

"Poor Yukina..." Botan sighed, turning her back to the dojo entrance.

"Sure you're okay, Botan?" Keiko asked faintly. The entire group had stalked slowly for the dark yard yet again, the cool, calming night embracing them...even Kane had ventured away from his sickly father...really, the only people not present were Kurama, Hiei, Yukina, and Kazuma.

"Yes I'm fine!" the bluette pressured specifically to the 'yes'.

"Well that's good..." Yusuke half-smirked. "...now if only Kuwabara could be healed..."

Kane stood alone...separate...locking his onyx glare upwards and saturating his vision to the beauty of the night. A wind brushed through his spiked mane and rolled the streaming ribbons of his headband. Gakilei was hurt at how distant and aloof he was making himself to be.

"...Kane?" she dared venture to his side...a husked grunt sounded in the core of his throat as he eased his vision downwards to the Detective.

"Yeah?"

"...are you, okay...?" she asked cautiously. Her friend, smiled softly, then allowed his shoulders to bob upwards.

"Been better."

"...oh..."

"But..." he continued awkwardly, but his expression lacked in falter.

"...yeah...?" she blinked up at him, her chocolate eyes wide and hopeful.

"...I'm kinda...tired..." he breathed softly. "...I'm...actually...very...very tired..." he ended with a soft breath before easing to a sit, and allowing his torso to collapse to the ground...his form meshed against the soft grass, and his eyes dimmed of focus as he stared thoughtlessly to the spanning void of midnight above...until he pricked. He felt a sensation nuzzle against him...Kane jerked to his left, and saw Gakilei, lying against him.

"Ditto, big guy..." she smiled calmly...almost of the cusp of sadly. She focused to the sky, almost ignoring the obvious redness streaking her companion's face.

%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%

A sigh pulsed her form, a breeze rolled through her ruby mane. Pink eyes locked to the small garden pond, the crystalline waters rippled smoothly and sensually. Ai leaned to the little bridge, locked in thought. Worry and fatigue had racked her mind, but her face was just as lovely as ever. The winds sighed about her beautiful form, and the scent of roses haunted solemnly about her. She pricked slightly, then eased back into normality. "Yes, Yukio?"

The brunette stalked to her side, and he too leaned to the bridge. "You seemed a bit...loner, today, Ai."

"Loner, ne?" she half-smirked tiredly. "Well, I must apologize for breaking from the group."

"And for lying?" his eyebrow quirked upwards. She matched his expression, then smiled calmly.

"And for lying."

"We forgive you, Ai," he smiled softly, locking caramel to the pond below.

"You speak for the group as a whole, then?"

"Yes."

"I see..." she chuckled smoothly, then smiled calmly and quietly to the glossy pond.

"So..." he breathed, clicking his tongue to his cheek. "You okay?"

"Fine," she sighed...her tail flicked against the air, and brushed to her thigh. Yukio turned to watch her tail intently, a sheer interest in it's graceful motions.

"What motivates you to stare at my tail, Yukio?" she asked lowly without a jerk towards him, slight offense and annoyance to her smooth voice. Yukio twinged slightly, then a redness streaked over the slope of his nose.

"...sorry, Ai..." he coughed awkwardly, leaning to the bridge again, but casting his eyes for the opposite direction.

The she-fox chuckled slightly, and eyed her nervous companion with a soft, half-narrowed expression of a dare. "Yukio..."

"Erm...yes...?" he pricked, slowly blinking to face her.

"...why are you uncomfortable?"

"...you got mad at me..." he answered cautiously...the red-head pulsed slightly in calm snickers.

"Well, it was disrespectful to stare at my tail, Yukio..."

"...I'm sorry..." silence. The two gazed to the wavy mirror below, which sent back their identical selves...Yukio couldn't help but take note at Ai's beauty, her delicate figure...he stared at her reflection subconsciously.

She sensed his aura go rigid in awkwardness, and she couldn't help but smirk calmly.

She too eyed his, and found his caramel eyes to be too focused to the glossy waters. She smiled sensually, then, Yukio eyed her reflection in amazement...for in the glossy, crystalline waters, he saw her lean in towards him, and with her soft, long hand cupping to his chin, he felt her lips press against his cheek...she then eased away, and walked off for another end of the Kuwabara property...Yukio felt his nose singe scarlet and his eyes freeze wide...was what her reflection did what honestly happened? He felt numb all over...the beautiful Miss Minamino...had just kissed him.

%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%

"What are we going to do about this?" Kurama had to lean to a tree to keep himself from collapsing.

"...well, we can't depend on Kuwabara...in his condition it's hard to say if he'll even survive." Hiei pulsed in a tired, scared sigh. He tucked his hands to his pockets and stood firmly. Ryooki had calmed considerably, and now sat Indian style to the ground, glaring emerald daggers.

"...enough to make a beast cry..." Hiei whispered to himself.

"We'll have to fight...we have to stop Grapko from killing again!" Kurama bashed his gnarled fist against the tree...instantly slicing through it. Hiei and Ryooki didn't flinch in the slightest as the massive tree collapsed for the ground.

"...that's not all, Yoko..." Ryooki's deep voice throbbed. Kurama and Hiei pricked, jerking to face the fox-wolf with widened eyes.

"What's not all?! You mean to say he's done even more to you?!" Kurama asked in fear.

"...the remainder of what he has done...will affect you, too..."

"Hn?" Hiei grunted in voice of Kurama's confusion.

"We have to leave...right now...to the Demon World..." Ryooki tensed a tight blink.

"Now...?" Kurama inquired slowly. "...but...we've allies to retrieve, ones that could assist us dramatically-"

"We have to leave as soon as possible!" Ryooki grunted harshly, Hiei and Kurama pricking. "I know it's all a plan to lure us both to his midst, but I don't care! The two of us must save her!"

"...her?" Hiei eyed the hybrid suspiciously. "I thought all the 'hers' in your life were slain..."

"...I wasn't speaking of my mate and mother..." Ryooki let escape a rolling sigh. "...I was speaking of...our half sister."

%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%

*hallway, Anemone's doorway to the left*

Anneliese and Ellen: AHHH! *come running out into the hallway, Ellen shooting at Hiei with her paint ball gun as Hiei tries to run out at them*

Anneliese: dammit Ellen! Why did you have to tell him that you were the Supreme Master of the Universe?! Now he's gonna kill us!!

Ellen: *bang* well *bang* I *bang* didn't *bang* think * bang* he *bang* would *bang* take *bang* it *bang* so *bang* damn *bang* badly!! *bang bang*

Anneliese: UGH! Where are Kurama and Anemone?!?!

*Somewhere a mile away*

Anemone and Kurama: AHHH!!!! *running as yet ANOTHER Suichi-Kun fangirl mob runs after them...they manage to corner Anemone and Kurama in an alleyway*

Fangirls: WHO THE HELL IS SHE, SUICHI?!?!

Kurama: er...my girlfriend?

Fangirls: WHAT!!??!!??

Kurama: oh no... *grabs Anemone's waist and pulls out his whip...cracks it in the air, winds it around a fire escape ladder, and swings over the fangirl mob as they pounce for where he once stood...lands in the street, jerks back his whip, replaces it in his hair, and, grabbing Anemone's wrist, runs like hell*

Anemone: damn! How do you cope with these mobs?!?!

Kurama: therapy! RUN!

*the house*

Anneliese and Ellen: AHHHHH!!! *mini darkness dragons are being thrown at them...the run through the halls and various rooms dodging and throwing stuff in the blasts' ways*

Hiei: MUAHAHA! I LIKE THIS POWER, WHATEVER THE HELL IT IS!

Anneliese: oh shit! If he can tap into his powers without even knowing what they are, imagine the casualties!!

Ellen: WAAA!! KURAMA! COOOOOOOOOOOOOME BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

Anneliese and Ellen: *hugging each other in fear in a corner as Hiei approaches* WE'RE GONNA DIE!

*the street*

Anemone: HOLY CRAP! THEY'RE COMING BACK!!!

Kurama: Look! It's the house! It should be safe in there!!

*the house*

Anneliese and Ellen: AHHH!! *Hiei whips out his Katana*

Hiei: damn my instincts rock!! I didn't even know I had a sword!

Anneliese: ...Katana...

Hiei: hn?

Ellen: ...it's not a sword it's a Katana...

Hiei: do I look like I care?! *about to strike at them*

Kurama and Anemone: *pound into the room, notices Hiei about to attack Anneliese and Ellen*

Ellen: SAVE ME!!! *shoves Anneliese to the side* HE'S GONNA KILL ME!!

Anneliese: *sweatdrop, vein-popping glare* ELLEN!!

Kurama: *thinking fast, sees the Magic 8 Ball, and decks it at Hiei*

Hiei: *hit in the head with the 8 Ball, collapses unconscious, the evil 8 Ball is destroyed on contact with his hard skull*

Anneliese and Ellen: O_O ...YAY!!!

Anemone: phew...*looks out window* OH CRAP! The mob!!

Kurama: GAH!! *grabs Hiei and hides*

Fangirl Mob: *bursts in, sends Anemone flying into Anneliese, Ellen just out of the way, Anneliese and Anemone now sprawled on the floor*

Ellen: O_O; uh...hi?

Fangirl: *notices Anemone* IT'S SUICHI'S GIRLFRIEND!!

Mob: GET HER!!

Ellen and Anneliese: *Anneliese is still on the floor with Anemone on top* huh?

Anemone: oh SHIT! AHH!

Mob: *grabs Anemone and drags her away*

Anemone: KURAMA!!!!

Kurama: oh no! Mones! *comes out from his hiding place, but the mob is already gone*

Ellen: *decks Kurama upside the head* now look what you and your sexuality did!!

Kurama: *looks at the floor in shame*

Hiei: *slowly waking up* ...*gurgle-gurgle*...Anneliese...?

Anneliese: O_O Hiei?!

Hiei: *growl* OW!! My head!!

Anneliese: aww!! Poor baby!! *sits down next to Hiei and starts massaging his throbbing head*

Ellen: yay! Hiei has his memory back! Now everything's back to normal.

Kurama: ?! But, Mones has been kidnaped!

Ellen: ...well there's still THAT, but I was talking about demon-wise...

Kurama: UGH! I'm calling Mirai Trunks...maybe he can help me find her...

Hiei: where's Mones?

Anneliese: she got kidnaped because KURAMA's stupid sexuality triggered another mob...

Hiei: *heavy annoyed sigh, then blinks to himself* well...those mob are okay for some things...

Anneliese: nani? *the slope of his nose slowly starts to blush as he stares in the opposite direction*

Ellen: AWW!! How cute!!

Anneliese: ?

Ellen: it was because of a Suichi-Kun Fangirl Mob that you two met! AWW!!

Hiei: *dangerous glare, blush* I'm getting a weird prickly feeling about you, Ellen...

Ellen: *blinky* heh...

Kurama: *on the phone with Mirai Trunks, pulls it away as Trunks yells*

Mirai Trunks: WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S BEEN KIDNAPED?!?!

Kurama: erm...I mean that she's been kidnaped?

Mirai Trunks: UGH!! C'MON, MEET ME IN THE PARK WE'RE GONNA GO FIND HER!

Kurama: right! *hangs up phone* Hiei?

Hiei: hn. *gets up, puts on cloak, gets ready to go find Anemone...he and Kurama are about to leave*

Anneliese: hey you know what I don't get?

Kurama: what?

Anneliese: if Anemone's not here, then who's writing the ski-