~*~Okay, I'm back now. I don't know when I'll update again. This fic isn't going as well as I thought it would… But here's your chapter.~*~

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The walk to the shrine wasn't as quiet as one would imagine. Naomi filled the time asking questions, like who they were and why they had entered this little tournament. "All the fighters have some reason. What brings you all here?"

Botan quickly answered. "Well, actually we're here on a special assignment." Yusuke smack her upside the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

Leaning in to whisper in her ear, Yusuke replied. "Do you think it's a good idea to tell her about Spirit World and all?"

Botan thought for a moment. "Well, she is a miko. What harm could it do?" She turned back to the violet eyed woman before her. "See, Yusuke here is a spirit detective and is here to stop a demon called Natas from taking over the human world."

The miko froze where she stood and hatred filled her eyes. "You're here to stop Natas?" When she received a nod, Naomi kept walking. "Then I'll do everything I can to help you."

This startled the group a bit, but they kept their questions to themselves as they walked. It grew quiet after that until they climbed the final steps of the shrine. Kurama could only stare. 'It is almost exactly like the old one.' Keeping that thought to himself, he followed Naomi into the house.

"Okay, I guess Botan can stay in my room with me. Hope you don't mind sharing. I guess Yusuke and Kuwabara can share the other room. I'm sorry to say I only have two rooms." She turned to Kurama. "Do you think you and Hiei can share the living room? I have the futons just not the room."

Her violet eyes looked at him, somehow making Kurama turn away from her. "It will be fine. Thank you." Curiosity filled her eyes, questioning why he looked away, but shook it off and moved to get the bedding required, Botan following to assist her.

Yusuke turned to Kurama. "Why don't you just tell her? It would a lot easier if you did."

"I cannot do that, Yusuke. It would be wrong to tell her something she might not feel anymore. I will not do that to her."

"This is pointless." All eyes turned to Hiei at that comment. "What's the point of saving someone if they don't even know what they would be going back to? We should just leave her here."

"No, I cannot allow that. Natas is a very dangerous demon. I would rather have her home and not remembering me then leave her here." Kurama was very adamant about Naomi leaving this place. Hiei just narrowed his eyes and looked away. The girls came out with a futon for each demon. "You can keep them in the closet when you're not using them. I apologize, but this place wasn't meant for a lot of people."

"It is quite alright. We are just thankful you offered your home to us." Naomi smiled at him, causing a small blush to appear on his face. Kurama looked away though before she could notice. 'She still has that affect on me.'

"Well, I'll go make you all some dinner and then we can call it a day."

Hiei had other plans. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd rather keep perfecting my skills."

The miko turned to him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Well, it's a good thing you aren't me then." Hiei continued to head out the door.

"Well, then I guess you don't want to beat Natas. He knows everyone is going to practice their skills so he has spies everywhere so he can steal your moves and use them against you." Seeing them all stare at her with confusion, she sighed. "Here. Put this on. It will conceal your spirit energy so he won't be able to find you since you insist on improving yourself." Naomi pulled out a salmon pink scarf like belt from the closet and handed it to him.

Hiei looked at it and smirked. "Sorry. It doesn't go with my outfit."

Naomi sighed. "Alright then. Let Natas and his underlings steal every move you've spent your entire life perfecting. That will really help you beat him."

Hiei growled at the woman, but grabbed the scarf thing as he left the house. Naomi smiled, shook her head and went to make dinner. "Botan, can you help me?"

"Oh, sure Naomi. I'd be glad to." Botan then skipped off towards the kitchen, leaving the three other men in the living room. Kuwabara practically fell onto the couch.

"Ah man. This was on long day. So what do you think the other fighters are doing?"

"Probably eating dinner, stupid." Yusuke shook his head at the idiot on the couch. This then proceeded into a verbal argument. Kurama, choosing not to get involved, just looked out the window, daydreaming if you will.

~Flashback~

It was early in the morning when he woke. Kurama just couldn't sleep very well that night. A certain event kept playing in his head, an event he didn't want to forget. A smile formed on his lips and he practically sprung out of bed, ready to face the day… and Naomi. A thought struck him at that moment. 'What if she regrets it?' Shaking his head, Kurama got dressed and headed down stairs for breakfast.

He was a bit shocked to only see two people sitting at the table. He sent a questioning look to Sóra, who just smiled. "One of the villagers came by around 4am in need of her help. Something about a demon leaving something in her yard. She left a note saying where she was." The older woman smiled again. "She also left a note for you, Kurama. It's on the counter."

Walking over to the said area, he saw a folded up piece of paper with his name on it. Kurama took it, excused himself from breakfast and went out the front, note in hand. Once outside, he opened the letter and read:

Kurama,

 I know you are probably doubting what happened last night, whether I regretted it or not. I meant what I said. I have no regrets about it. I had to go into town, as Sóra has probably told you, but I should be back soon. We can talk about this then if you wish. Again, I have no regrets about it.

~Naomi

Kurama put down the letter, a smile on his face. Shaking his head, he headed to the back yard to relax and wait somewhat impatiently while she was away. 'I have not felt this way before.' Suddenly, a weird image came into his mind. He had been injured and fell against a tree, hoping to conceal himself to treat his wounds. The world around him was getting fuzzy and slowly turning dark. Before going completely dark, he saw a woman come by, checking on his wounds. Her violet eyes showed so much concern for him and then his world went black.

A hand went to his head as Kurama thought this over. 'What was that? An old memory maybe? Why would it be suppressed though? There must be a reason.'

He didn't have time to ponder this, for Kurama soon could smell the sweet young miko's scent. A smile suddenly burst onto his face as he got up to head over to her. Naomi walked toward the back before he could go meet her. For some reason, she looked very distressed. Worry was etched all over her face, making him very uneasy. "Naomi?"

She walked past him and headed directly to the hill, Kurama at her feet. 'There is something very wrong. What could have happened?' He waited until she reached her destination and sat down. "What's wrong?"

The miko just shook her head, staring off down to the village below. Her silence was starting to scare him greatly. "Naomi?" He grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Tell me what happened."

Her eyes suddenly focused on where she was and who she was talking to. Tears started to form in the corner of her eyes as Naomi looked at him. "Kurama, it was horrible." The tears started to run down her face. She tried to stop them by closing her eyes tightly, but to no avail. Kurama took her into his arms, trying to soothe her. He waited until she finished crying and then asked again what happened.

"One of the women of the village came by all hysterical about a demon. I calmed her, wrote the notes and left, thinking this shouldn't take too long. She lives on the other side of town, so I tried asking her what happened. She just shook her head, saying she couldn't explain it. She took me to the back and showed me what she had found. There, in her yard, was her entire family, violently slaughtered, blood and body parts everywhere. So deformed you couldn't tell who was who. But, the worst part was someone arranged the pieces to write something, a message. It said 'this is your only warning, Naomi.' Then, in blood, was a signature. Natas." Her body started to shake again as she recalled this horrific visual. "He's coming for me. Oh gods, I'm so scared."

Naomi buried her head in her hands as she cried. Kurama held her close, so much anger in his eyes they looked almost red. "Do not worry, Naomi. I'm here to protect you. I promise I will." He continued to try to console her, but with little to no progress. She was scared out of her mind. Through her fits of tears, she told him she helped the woman collect the pieces and bury them, offering a prayer for each individual. Naomi had told the woman she would be back to help clean the blood, telling her this demon would not go unpunished.

Kurama was truly ticked off. Naomi was crumbling in his arms, terrified of some demon that had slaughtered not only her own family, but the innocent people who look up to her just to get her attention. 'Whoever you are, Natas, I will stop you from hurting Naomi. I swear it.'

~End of Flashback~

"Kurama? Hello?" The said demon snapped to attention when he noticed Naomi waving her hand in front of his face. She smiled at him. "You fazed out on us for awhile there. Come on. Dinner's ready. I tried to get Hiei, but he grumbled something incoherent and hasn't come in yet. Should I just set some food aside for him?"

Kurama could only nod, not trusting his own voice. Her smile made his heart soar, but it was shot when he remembered she had no memory of him. "I apologize if I am keeping everyone waiting."

"Don't worry about it. Come on though. Your friend Kuwabara has a big appetite. There might not be any left."

Suddenly, something crashed to the floor and the screeching of the chair on the wooden floor was heard. "You want to take this outside, dwarf?"

"Keh. Now why would I want to waste a perfectly good meal on an idiot like you?"

"That's it!"

"Kuwabara! Don't call your Spirit Sword now!"

"Shut up Urameshi. The half pint and I got something to settle."

"Our fight wouldn't last five minutes. You'd be in pieces before you could even land a hit, if you even could."

"Spirit Sword!"

*Sweatdrop*

Naomi looked alarmed while Kurama sighed. She looked at him. "Do they do that often?"

"It's not really a complete day if they do not." She laughed and went to go stop the fighters from killing each other, Kurama right behind her.

The site was very amusing. Kuwabara was being held back by Botan and Yusuke, while Hiei sat in his seat, eyes closed, eating his meal, unfazed by the big man's rage. That only made Kuwabara angrier.

Naomi walked in and slammed her hands on the table. "Enough! Kuwabara, withdraw your Spirit Sword right now. I will not have this kind of behavior in this shrine. You want to fight each other, then do it after you defeat Natas. I will not hesitate to put a restraining spell on the both of you, and Hiei, you know any miko could, so don't even open your mouth to make some snide remark saying I can't."

All of them stared at her… well, Hiei glared. Kurama was amazed. 'She seems to catch on quickly about us. She has Hiei nailed down already. Truly amazing.'

Eventually, they all sat down and ate their dinner in silence, most too afraid of another outburst by the miko. Hiei was just annoyed while Kurama was still amazed. 'She's the same Naomi I knew. Somehow I have to find a way for her to remember.'

Botan stayed and helped Naomi with the dishes while Hiei went out again. "Don't forget the belt scarf. I can imagine even you have some great moves you wouldn't want revealed."

Hiei just glared, took the scarf and left. Kurama stayed in the kitchen while Yusuke and Kuwabara went to find cards. "Do you require any assistance?"

Naomi looked at him. "I think Botan and I have everything under control. Thank you though."

"Please, let me know if you need anything."

She smiled. "I will." She then went back to washing the dishes as Kurama left the room, plotting how he could possibly get the one he cared for most to remember him.

~*~That's it for now. We shall see when I can update next. I'll do my best, loyal fans! Ja ne!~*~