KaitaKembi: Hi ppl, again. I know that this is a story for Yu Yu Hakusho, but I want all of you Harry Potter fans to do me a favor. Could you please read and review my Alice Riddle story? I'd really appreciate it. Thnx. But first, read and review this chapter. All ya'll are wonderful!

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Chapter 17: There

It was a long, twisted road to the Reikai entrance. Botan led the spirit detectives through the safest paths, but they still weren't going very fast.

Our heroes were spread out among the group of seventeen other detectives. Kaita was arguing with the man from the back up at the head of the group. Anya was telling Yuusuke and Kuwabara about all the fights she and Kaita had had. Hiei was trying get away from a talkative young girl who didn't seem fazed by his stony silence. Kurama smiled to himself as he watched Kaita argue.

"How can you smile?" asked a small voice at his right.

Kurama looked down. Walking next to him was a girl with black, wavy hair. She was wearing a Japanese high-school uniform.

"What?" Kurama asked her.

"How can you smile when you know you're walking to your death?"

Kurama pointed at Kaita, who was yelling at the man from the back. "Do you know who that is?"

The girl shook her head. Then, she paused. "Was that the girl that gave the really good speech on why we should fight?"

Kurama nodded proudly, "Her name is Kaita Kembi. She's my girlfriend. I'm smiling because, even though I'm pretty sure I'm going to die soon, I'm happy right now just to watch her argue. Because I know that, if I die, she'll do everything in her power to get revenge. Plus, I love her and she loves me. And often times there's no place I'd rather be than fighting by her side. Why do you say that I don't have a reason to smile?"

The girl looked at the ground and hugged herself. "I'm scared," she said after a minute, "My boyfriend and my family don't even know I'm here. I told my parents I was going shopping. I didn't know we were going to war. I just thought it was going to be another easy mission from Kuenma. I promised my little brother I'd take him to a baseball game tomorrow. And now I don't think I'll ever see him again." She broke down and started crying.

Kurama put a hand around her shoulder to comfort her. She leaned her head against him and sobbed.

Kaita noticed this and fell back so that she was walking next to Kurama. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"This girl is afraid that she's never going to see her family again," said Kurama.

Kaita ran her hand through her hair, which was now light lavender. "Yah, so am I," she looked at Kurama, "You know, I told Kuga that, in the unlikely event that I don't return, he should take my place and become, Kuga, demon hunter." She laughed and looked forward. Then she sighed, "I'm beginning to wish I'd told him how."

Kurama looked at her with concern and the girl he was comforting looked up.

"What's your name?" Kaita asked her.

"Etsumo," the girl sniffed.

"Etsumo, are you more afraid for yourself or your family?" Asked Kaita.

Etsumo paused for a second, thinking. "I guess I'm more afraid for myself. I mean, my family might get a chance to run away. But I'm walking into this. I used to scare my friends because I was so reckless. Now I'm beginning to scare myself."

She wiped the tears from her eyes and moved away from Kurama. Then she looked up at the two of them. "Who are you guys more afraid for?"

Kurama sighed, "I'm worried about my mother. I don't think that, if we fail, she'll live through the demon invasion."

Etsumo nodded, "What about you, Kaita?"

"I don't know," Kaita said, "I'm not worried about Kuga. That little pup can hold his own. But I'm also not really afraid of dieing. If I do die, I'll have gone down in a fight and that's how I've always wanted to go."

Etsumo smiled. "You're very lucky, Kaita, not to be afraid to die."

"I know," Kaita smiled back.

"We're here!" Botan called from up front.

Etsumo shivered a little.

Kaita closed her eyes for a second. Then wings burst out of her back, startling everyone around her.

"You're a demon!" a man near her yelled accusingly.

Kaita grimaced, "Half-demon, actually, but you have the right idea."

"You betrayed us!"

Kaita looked shocked and slightly angry, "Excuse me? You're very lucky to have a half-demon on your side. I've seen the limit of human strength and trust me, you're going to need some help."

"Don't worry, Kurube," Etsumo reassured him, smiling, "She's Kaita, demon hunter."

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A guard ran into Lord Aiten's tent and saluted, "Lord Aiten," he said, "The Reikai Tantei army has arrived."

Bito, who was sitting next to his father, smiled evilly.

"Good," said Lord Aiten, "Go prepare the troops for battle and await my orders."

The guard saluted again and left.

"Are we all ready then, Father?" Bito asked.

Lord Aiten nodded, "Let's go kill the Reikai Tantei."

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It was nighttime in the Ningenkai and Katie couldn't sleep. She stood on the hill overlooking the sea, thinking about what Hiei had said before he left.

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"Katie," Hiei said. He stood in the doorway of her room.

Katie smiled when she saw him and quickly jumped off her bed, "Yes? What is it?"

"We need to talk."

"About what?" Katie gave Hiei a puzzled look, "Hiei, what's up?"

Hiei turned away from her and walked outside.

"Hiei?" Katie ran out after him.

"It's about the battle," Hiei said. Katie had figured this. "I'm just telling you, Katie. There's a very good chance I won't come back from this war alive. There's a chance none of us will."

"Oh, Hiei," Katie said, moving to hug him.

Hiei stopped her. "Wait," he said, "There's more. If I don't come back, I don't want you to feel like you can never love again because you don't want to dishonor me. If I die, I don't want to ever feel like you owe me your love. I don't want you to feel bound to me."

This brought tears to Katie's eyes. She looked at the ground, unsure of what to say.

"Katie," Hiei continued, "I just want you to know that I love you and that you're the only person I would want to spend my life with." With that, he closed the gap between them and brought their lips together in a passionate kiss. Katie's lips parted, inviting in Hiei's tongue. Hiei took the chance to explore the deep reaches of Katie's mouth. Their tongues danced around each other. The couple finally broke apart because of lack of air.

"I love you too, Hiei," Katie smiled.

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Katie touched her lips, remembering how warm Hiei's lips had been on hers. She longed to kiss him again, maybe go further. It pained her to know it might never happen.

A soft, warm breeze blew Katie's blonde hair forward and off her shoulders. Katie imagined that it was Hiei's breath.

'Oh Hiei,' she thought, 'Please come back to me alive.'

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KK: Jesus, I never planned for this story to be this long. I think there's going to be, at least, five more chapters. So, enjoy the next one! And also, plz plz plz read and review my other stories, especially Alice Riddle. Thnx!