Author's Note: Well, time for more characters, and character development. Also, I have discovered that there are several ways to spell Yusuke's girlfriend's name. In this Fic, I chose to use the one on the back of the second DVD (Artifacts of Darkness). In the last episode of the DVD "The Three Eyes of Hiei" it reads, "Hiei is chasing him, and kidnaps his girlfriend Kayko!" So, that's how I will use it.

And I might add that I have indeed used quotes from other anime. The one I used in the last one, "They are both one in mind and body" or whatever, was from Ranma ½. The beginning of this story is there, but the rest is in the Yu Yu place. Some quotes could be from Yu Yu, too, but, whatever....

And by the way, if you're looking for a love story, find some other FF to read. There's not very much even in the sweet parts....

2. A Regular Day

"Damn! Not even Kayko's punches are that hard," Kuwabara said earnestly.

"I'm sorry. You startled me and I just reacted." Torashi replied, perturbed by the whole thing.

Kuwabara, Shizuru, Torashi, and, much to Torashi's disgust, Botan were walking to the yokai Kurama's house. While they walked Botan told Kuwabara about Torashi, making the excuse that Torashi was a Rekai Tantei from China who was sent to help Yusuke out.

Shizuru realized Torashi was falling behind. She stopped, waiting for the Chinese girl. "Hey kid, are you doing all right? I hope you aren't letting that idiot I call a bro get to you."

"I'm fine," Torashi replied. Shizuru had been so kind to her. She didn't want her to make more problems. She made it Kuwabara's fault that the event happened. She'd even lent Torashi clothes, and, even though she was practically swimming in the clothes, she didn't want to seem greedy.

She wasn't paying much attention to things, so was grateful when Kuwabara explained their plan. "Ok, so we're going to Kurama's house where we're supposed to meet up with Hiei and Yusuke. It's mainly a group decision what happens from there."

"You sound stupid when you say that," Torashi muttered. She hated him from the start.

The rest of the way was passed in silence. There wasn't anything to say that was worth saying it. Botan was keeping to herself, which was quite unusual.

The silence broke when they arrived at their destination.

A young man with brilliant red hair and stunning green eyes was standing at the door of a very well kept house.

"Hello Kuwabara, Botan, Shizuru, and I don't believe I know you?" the red head had a charming voice and seemed so polite.

Torashi smiled. "I'm Saotome Torashi. And you are?"

"Minamino Shuichi."

Confused, Torashi looked at Botan for an answer. Was he a servant or something?

Lightly Botan answered her unasked question. "His ningen name. The one you use around his (1)okasan."

What the hell was that supposed to mean? A yokai with an okasan? Torashi wasn't sure yokai had mothers in the first place. There was something about Shuichi she could feel. Strength that was belied by his appearance.

Another guy appeared behind Shuichi. This guy had dark hair that was slicked back to reveal brown eyes.

"(2)Oy! You must be that kid that damned Koenma sent. All he told me was that you were a girl from China. What was your name again?"

"Saotome Torashi. And who the hell are you?" Torashi snapped, disliking the delinquent from the start.

"I'm Urameshi Yusuke," he smiled as he pointed his thumb at his chest.

Shuichi felt that Yusuke and Torashi would get into an argument, not a good idea for someone he'd never seen before. So he changed the subject. "Come in. You don't need to wait outside any longer."

Shizuru declined politely. "I have to be going. My brother will tell me the parts if he's going anywhere or else..." she threatened with a clenched fist.

Kuwabara looked like he couldn't care less.

Kurama led them to the living room. "Please make yourself comfortable, Torashi-san. We need to discuss some things in private."

He, Yusuke, and Kuwabara left the room, walking through the door on their right. Torashi was curious to know what they'd talk about, and would have snuck around to find out, but she was so tired. She didn't even realize that Ms. Shiori (Shuichi's okasan, if you were wondering) brought in refreshments.

"I know we shouldn't jump to conclusions when Hiei isn't here, but I think that Torashi should help us. We don't quite know what is expected of us yet, but she might..." Kurama said, expressing his thoughts.

"If that's your only reason, she's leaving! She probably can't fight an old hag! Let alone anything we cross with." Yusuke apparently didn't like what he saw in Saotome Torashi.

"Well, she's got a nice body." Kuwabara said, looking away from the group.

"Kuwabara! We're serious!" Yusuke was showing he was irritated at the whole idea of fighting with the girl.

Hiei let himself in through the open window. "And Kuwabara doesn't know what serious is. Who is Torashi?"

Yusuke rolled his eyes and Hiei glared at him before Kurama answered, "Koenma sent us a reinforcement."

"Do we need a girl messing things up?" Yusuke stated angrily.

"What do you think, Hiei?" Kurama asked, hoping Hiei wouldn't follow Yusuke on this.

"It all depends on what she can handle. That is when I will decide," Hiei replied logically.

That was a pretty fair answer from Hiei. Promising, because he would usually say no to such a thing.

"How about you, Kuwabara?" Yusuke asked.

"Uh...I don't know. She sure packs a hard punch. She doesn't seem that pathetic." Kuwabara answered.

"Be reasonable Yusuke. We may need help." Kurama asked the young (3)Reikai Tantei.

"We're not responsible for her. Let her come if she wants to die," Yusuke replied. "Besides, if she does come along we need information. And, who's she going to stay with? She can't afford anything, she looks dirt poor. Defiantly not at my house. Okasan would have another 'you're cheatin on Kayko' fit."

"She wouldn't want to stay at my place. It's uh...to messy." Kuwabara covered.

"I don't want to baby sit." Hiei said vehemently.

"I don't think my okasan would mind if she stayed here," Kurama curtly suggested.

"Ok then. If she stays here, she will stay with Kurama," Yusuke made it official. "She even kinda looks like you too, Kurama. You could pretend she's your sister in public or something. So, let's go see if she knows anything."

Torashi sneezed, which woke her up from her nap. "What the hell? Whose talking bout me? The cooked fish were just starting the next dance." Torashi yawned.

Yusuke entered the room. "Hey, Torashi. Get your lazy ass up. You wont be able to come if you're always asleep."

"Did you just say I could come fight with you?" Torashi asked for clarification.

"If you work." Yusuke replied, and then he turned to Botan. "So what's going on?"

"Well, let's see. There are a lot of yokai coming into Ningenkai. As usual, you need to track them down. Also there's been a lot more deformities in the barrier to the Makai(4) since that one not too long ago."

Torashi looked curiously at Botan, but she glared and Torashi decided she didn't need to know.

"How're we going to find these things?" Torashi asked.

"You."

"What?"

"You are how they will find yokai. Cats are naturally in tune to the super natural. At least more than others."

"Shit. I don't know a thing bout these creatures and you want me to..."

Kurama, Hiei, and Kuwabara walked into the room and Torashi stopped talking.

"Hiei, this is Torashi. Torashi, this is Hiei," Kurama introduced.

"I think she is in trouble," Hiei remarked.

Torashi looked questionably at Hiei, but didn't receive an explanation. There was something different about Hiei and Kurama, a strange air. Yusuke and Kuwabara had something like it. What could it be? A yokai, maybe? Perhaps...

Torashi's stomach growled. She looked down. "(5) Gomen asi. I was so tired I didn't eat."

Every one thought it was hilarious and laughed, but Hiei. The two weren't exactly what she thought a yokai would be. Hiei was pretty dark looking, but he was short. She thought they were supposed to be big, bad, and have lots of eyes. Kurama and Hiei didn't remind her of that, one was short, and the other, well a bishie(6). Torashi decided she didn't like Hiei. Seemed like a stick in the mud to her.

"Um, can I have something to eat?" she asked carefully.

Shuichi's okasan heard her and came in. "Just give me a second. I'll make you lunch."

She sounded like Kurama, the way she talked. Very polite and dignified.

Kurama followed her to the kitchen. "Okasan, would it be all right if Torashi stayed here while she's in Japan?"

"Shuichi that would be wonderful. You barely ever have friends over," she replied cheerfully.

"Arigatto." Kurama said as he left, carrying a bowl.

"So, Torashi. How much do you know about us? The Urameshi Team." Yusuke asked, cocky again.

"Not much. Now I know you, and that Kuwabara needs to learn where to keep his eyes. That's it."

"It was your own fault. You could have told me," Kuwabara defended himself.

"You sound stupid when you talk. Cats don't. They can't even talk. Baka."

Shuichi's okasan walked in with a tray of food. Torashi took it, glaring at Kuwabara. "Leave me alone, Kuwabara. I have food and I will bite."

Torashi was so busy eating, she didn't realize it when the others left. When she was done she resumed her sleep, ignoring the rest of the world.

This time there were no dancing fish. Instead there was a beautiful (authors note. I allow myself the word beautiful for Yoko because he is. Some situations allow for beautiful to refer to Bishies...) fox yokai and a neko-like yokai. They were leaning against each other on a hill overlooking a lake, bracing each other's sorrows.

But that didn't last long. Ms. Shiori woke her up, saying, "Hey. Botan dropped some clothes off for you. Breakfast is ready."

Torashi yawned as she stretched. "Already? I guess it's all right. I could eat your cooking all day."

"Shuichi said you should stay inside while he is at school. So you can help me decide what to cook for supper. Is that all right for you?"

Damn Kurama, tell me to stay inside all day. What the hell was he thinking anyway? Torashi thought angrily. But she agreed, putting on a child-like face.

Ms. Shiori held the clothes out for Torashi. She grabbed them. It reeked of the Gate of Judgment. Disgusting to Torashi. Shuichi's okasan left the room "Hm...this is interesting." The clothes were just like her usual attire; light blue cotton pants, a blue silk shirt, and Botan had obviously added in a strange watch/compass thing.

Torashi got dressed and the day began.

When Shuichi came home, Torashi was nowhere to be seen, she was thinking to surprise him, then tell him off for the 'stay inside all day' thing. It didn't work as she planed.

She hid in the shadows of the hall. The shadows welcomed her; since she was a true neko.

Shuichi talked with his okasan for a few minutes, then walked down the hall to put his bag away, looking down the whole way.

He looked up. "Good afternoon, Torashi-san."

"How the hell? No one can find me when I hide in the shadows," Torashi asked coming into the hall.

"You leave a distinct trail."

"What?"

"You have been in the kitchen all day. You are covered in flour." He smiled.

Torashi adverted her eyes, then noticed the flour on the ground. She decided to change the subject. "Why did I have to stay inside all day?"

"Yokai are prowling around. I don't think it would be right to let you get caught up with any of them yet. You don't look like you could hold your own against one of them. And you haven't harnessed your rei yet."

She could hold her own quite well. Basically, he was saying she's a girl.

"What's rei?"

"I'll tell you another time."

"Why?"

"Okasan doesn't know anything yet. All she knows is Shuichi."

He turned away from Torashi.

He doesn't want to talk to you. Screw-up. How do you expect to stay if you keep screwing up? she asked her self.

The phone rang. Torashi reached the phone first; she wasn't especially hungry from her taste testing. She bolted to the kitchen.

"Hello. This is the Minamino residence."

"Torashi, right? Can I talk to Shuichi." Demand not a question.

She blinked. He knew her name. Was it the guy with the gelled back hair? What was his name?

Shuichi walked into the room. Torashi handed him the phone, saying, "It's for you. What's his face."

Kurama accepted the phone, looking at Torashi curiously. Torashi jumped onto the counter. She might want to hear this.

"What are we looking for?" Shuichi asked immediately after hearing the voice. Obviously he had been told something.

"Don't ask me." Torashi quirked. No other phones where in the house, so this was fine. Call her a girl again will he.

He glared at her. She jumped off the counter and was about to leave, when Shuichi stopped her. Now it was her turn to glare. She muttered, "Men. I'll never get men."

"All right. I'll see you there. Bring her? All right," he paused and exchanged conversation with Yusuke.

Why me. Do I finally get to prove myself?

The click of the phone brought her out of thought. "Great. It's getting dark and we gotta go do our job. I bet they do best in darkness." Torashi said sarcastically.

"Most of them hate the darkness. Mostly the ones that have seen the light of the Ningenkai," Kurama explained.

"What a load of b.s. Well, lets go."

They walked out of the kitchen.

Kurama called to his okasan. "Okasan, we're going out for a while. I'll see you later."

Then they left, into the sunset. Kurama was followed close by the Chinese neko.

Translations:

1) Mother, mom... 2) Hey 3) Spirit detective 4) Demon Realm. In the new season, there was a group trying to make a hole into the demon realm. Basically, they're carrying on Sakyo's wishes unintentionally. Jus a lil info cuz I'll work with something like that.

5) I'm sorry 6) Short for Bishonen, well I'm sure you can tell, a feminine guy. Usually has a 'sissy' weapon that doesn't look like it could do anything (Like the Rose Whip, or like Kenshin's Sacabato (reverse bladed sword) (Rurouni Kenshin....), oh yeah and you can't forget they should have an angsty past (some don't, the main thing is they look like girls. That's what makes you love em though. . Of course, they could be or they're really cute or hot or cool or...)