Disclaimer: I do not own YYH or any of its characters. Lebiri, Tai, Uroki Jurota, Acara, and other characters are mine though.

Chapter 9

Cause and Effect

After forcing Shizuru to put out her cigarette, Kurama, Lebiri, Yusuke, Keiko, Shizuru, Botan and Kuwabara sat in the Minomina living room. Shiori handed out snacks cheerfully, then left to give them some privacy.

"So when are we leaving Kurama?" Kuwabara asked, chewing on some crackers.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Shizuru told him, loving the power she had over the red head. She smiled, but tried to keep it hidden behind a cracker of her own.

Kuwabara narrowed his eyes at her, then turned back to Kurama. "Well?"

(A/N: Seating arrangements are as follows: (2 couches facing each other)

Shizuru, Botan, Yusuke with Keiko on his lap

Kuwabara, Kurama, Lebiri)

"When it's time," Kurama answered simply.

Yusuke cracked up, gaining strange looks from Kuwabara, Botan, and Kurama. Keiko, Lebiri, and Shizuru just sweat dropped and looked away.

"Urameshi! That wasn't funny!"

"I'm sorry," Yusuke said through tears. "It's just . . . your face! It's SO UGLY!" He cracked up again, leaning his head on the back of the couch.

"WHAT! Shut UP Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled, standing up. He was totally red - part from embarrassment, part from anger.

"S-sorry!" Yusuke tried to speak. He wiped his eyes and took deep breaths, holding onto Keiko for support.

"You have totally lost it, Urameshi." He sat down in a huff.

"Um, excuse me," Lebiri said, staring at Botan with a grin. "I haven't met you before. She stood up. "I'm Lebiri!"

Botan stood too, and shook Lebiri's hand with her two. "The name's Botan! It's a pleasure to meet you! Kurama's cousin, correct?"

"Mm hm."

"Yes. Yusuke's told me about you! Are you really going to take on those Hideko demons by yourself!"

"I must - "

"Well you are certainly a brave girl! Kind, loving, and strong I can tell - just like your cousin!"

'Well this is one smiley, talkative person,' Lebiri thought. 'I like her already!' She glanced over at Kurama; he had a little blush! She tried not to smirk. "Wow Botan, thanks a lot! You're a nice person." She smiled as Botan grinned and sat down. Then Lebiri turned to Shizuru and held out her hand. "Lebiri, as you probably already know," she said. This girl had a cool, calm aura.

Shizuru shook her hand, still sitting down by the way, and said, "Shizuru. A pleasure to meet you."

"Same to you Shizuru." Lebiri went and sat back down.

"So where were you and Kurama this morning?" Keiko asked, leaning back on Yusuke, who was resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Oh we went lots of places," Lebiri exclaimed. She reached under the couch for her kunai and sword. "These," she said, admiring them once more, "are the weapons Kurama gave me."

Everyone in the room gazed in awe at them while Kurama sipped tea.

"You any good with them?" Yusuke asked.

Lebiri hesitated, then nodded. "I've trained with the sakabato…and the kunai, too. But I still need practice with these." She held up the cloth package and it unrolled to reveal the stored kunai. "I have to work on springing them from my fingers. You've seen that right, Yusuke? I mean, you are a Spirit Detective . . . "

"Oh . . . somewhere along the line I'm sure."

"What's it like? Being a Spirit Detective I mean?"

"It's totally awesome," Kuwabara interrupted.

Lebiri turned to look at him with sparkling eyes, her hands balled into fists, like a small child, in front of her chest. "You're a Spirit Detective too?" she asked excitedly.

He nodded, closing his eyes and smirking, ready to brag. Yusuke rolled his eyes. "You are not, baka," he said.

Kuwabara glared at him. "I am TOO and I am NO baka, Urameshi!"

"Hmph. And how do you figure that?"

"Hah! I save your weak 'n' sorry behind ALL the time!"

"Feh. That's a good one! Kurama, Hiei, and me are forever getting you outta jams, Mr. ALWAYS LOSING TOURNAMENT MATCHES!"

Keiko sweat dropped as they began shooting insults back and forth. Botan covered her mouth and shook her head at them while Shizuru rolled her eyes and sat back. This would take a while. Kurama sighed and gazed over at Botan.

'Ah, she looks so innocent with that look on her pretty face . . . ' he thought. Daydreaming about her totally tuned out Yusuke and Kuwabara . . .

Lebiri blinked. 'Looks like I won't find out about Yusuke's being a Spirit Detective any time soon . . . ,' she thought. "Guys, guys! Calm down . . . " When it was obvious that they wouldn't, she added a weak, ". . . please?"

Five minutes and a conversation with Keiko (about how the boys got their title of "Spirit Detective") later, the doorbell rang loudly. The room went silent. Kurama stood. "I'll get it!" he yelled, loud enough for his mother to hear from upstairs. Suddenly he froze - there was nothing at the door, and yet a viscous aura lingered. Lebiri's eyes widened, Yusuke, now serious, slowly got a protective grip on Keiko, Shizuru looked worried and confused. They all sensed something. . . something . . . not right. Botan looked at their expressions and gulped.

Kuwabara cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Guys . . . what's up," he asked quietly, straining to hear what they may have heard.

Keiko shrunk into Yusuke and shivered. "Yusuke . . .?" she asked in a frightened tone. He hugged her closer in silent reassurance, then spoke to Kurama. "That's not Hiei. I've never felt anything like it."

After a moment, Kurama scowled. "Mother." He ran out of the room, Lebiri close behind.

'A Hideko demon! It has to be,' she thought as they sped up the stairs. 'Aunt Shiori had better be ok!'

Kurama burst into his mother's room and gasped. Lebiri screamed.

"Koenma sir!" George the Ogre looked crossly over at the toddler. "Shouldn't you be making sure everything is safe with the humans? You've been stamping papers all day!"

"Yeah, yeah," Koenma muttered, not looking up. He was on a roll! "Turn on the TV then."

Ogre walked happily over and turned it on. He flipped through channels, looking for unknown demons causing trouble. "Surprisingly, everything seems to be fine, sir, besides the whole Hideko case. I'll flip to that."

"Sure, whatever, go on ahead."

"I still can't pinpoint them exactly . . . but sir, one seems to be away from the pack!"

Koenma looked up. "What . . .!"

"Heh. Acara should be upon them by now." Jurota smirked. "She's known to get the job done . . . "
"Aunt Shiori!" Lebiri screamed. She and Kurama entered the room hurriedly.

"Mother . . . " Kurama said quietly.

Shiori was leaning against the far wall in a bundled heap, shivering. Her eyes were widened with fear, her face pale and white.

Kurama kneeled in front of her and tried to calm her down enough to talk.

Lebiri looked around angrily. 'Who did this! No sign of them . . . wait! There!'

"Mother! Snap out of it! Wake up!" Kurama shook his mother lightly. She slowly looked up at him and opened her mouth slightly.

"S - Suuichi?"

"Yes. I'm here. Are you hurt?"

She gulped. "Was that . . . the G - grim Reaper! H - have I done something wrong? . . . "

Kurama was tempted to say 'No, she's downstairs' but instead said, "No . . . you've been great..." What was she talking about! 'Kurama no baka!' he berated himself.

"Then why . . . " She looked over her son's shoulder and screamed in alarm.

Kurama whipped around ready to protect her.

Lebiri sensed a dark presense. 'Ah ha! The window's open . . . ' She walked cautiously over to it and looked out. "Kuso! Nothing . . . " she mumbled, then fell silent, thinking.

"Silly, pathetic WEAKLING!" A hate filled female voice suddenly broke the silence.

Lebiri gasped and was about to move. Too late . . .

She was vaguely aware of Shiori screaming.

"What's going on up there," Botan practically yelled, standing up with tears in her eyes.

"Botan! Don't move," Yusuke ordered. "I'm going up to help."

"Urameshi!" Kuwabara said. "Then I'm coming too!"

Yusuke stood up up. "No." He sat Keiko back down. "Kuwabara, I need you to stay down here. If things get nasty . . . get everyone to safety."

"Yusuke . . . be careful," Keiko told him.

"I will." He gave her a thumbs-up and ran up the stairs.

"Good luck," Shizuru called after him.

Botan bit a thumbnail as she worriedly watched him go. 'Kurama . . .'

"Don't die, Urameshi!"

The female demon sprung from her clinging position below the window onto Lebiri, who stumbled back unexpectedly and fell to the floor.

Kurama shielded his mother. "Lebiri!"

The unwelcome demon smirked and punched Lebiri across the face, causing her to fall on her back. "C'mon little weakling! Get up!" she . . . it screamed, leaning over Lebiri while sitting on her haunches.

Lebiri opened her eyes and slowly turned her head to look at the ugly thing. She scowled, eyes glowing with hatred, and leaned forward to grab it by the shoulders. Lebiri bent her legs and thrust them into the demon's stomach, then threw it backwards over her head with incredible force. Lebiri did a back flip to stand up and stared at the fallen demon, rubbing her cheek. She suddenly recognized it! 'Acara . . . Jurota's right hand demon. Witch.' She spat on the creature. "Get up . . . Acara."

The female smirked and opened her red eyes. "So we meet again." She stood and wiped the spit off of her face. "What was that for?" she toyed.

"Hmph. That was nothing." Lebiri smirked and took a swing at her.

Acara caught her fist in a hand. "You are still as weak as ever, Lebiri." Then they began a relentless fight.

Kurama watched in amazement. How did they know each other! As soon as the fight began, he whispered to his mother, "You alright?"

"I - I'm fine. Who is that . . . that green woman! And, oh my, I didn't know Lee-chan could fight! I didn't know anyone could fight like that!"

"It's a long story, Mother." And he was not looking forward to telling it.

Yusuke heard an unfamiliar voice in one of the rooms. He felt dark spirit energy. "Here goes nothin'," he mumbled. 'I hope everybody's ok.'

He threw open the door. Uh oh . . .

Acara, though she hid it well, was having a hard time with Lebiri. The girl wouldn't let up on her attacks! 'Good thing she's not armed!' When Lebiri got a good gut-shot in, she knew it was time to end this.

Acara ignored the pain for now and shot an energy blast at Lebiri's stomach. It made contact, but orders were not to kill her . . .

Lebiri moved her hands down and caught the shot. 'Oh great, I can't let it go!'

Acara stood and smirked. She stepped up to the struggling Lebiri and brushed the girl's bangs out of her eyes with a long black-nailed finger. "Still a weakling," she commented. Acara smiled and kissed her on the cheek, leaving a black lipstick mark.

Lebiri, utterly disgusted, spat again, but Acara moved over to the window. "I dare you, Fox Boy," she said suddenly. "Try it and your dear mummy'll be dead next time." She looked at him. "Or worse," she taunted.

Kurama laid down his rose reluctantly. Shiori squeezed his shoulders lightly from behind in reassurance, all the while thinking, 'Fox Boy? A rose? . . . '

Acara looked back at Lebiri. "I'll relieve you from your suffering . . . mutt." She held out her hand and blew something that looked like blood red fairy dust in Kurama's direction. Then she stared at the orb of energy she'd created. Her eyes widened and it vanished, but Lebiri was sent flying. Acara chuckled, jumped out the window, and ran back to head quarters.

Lebiri shut her eyes tight and waited to hit the door behind her.
'Uh oh . . . ' Yusuke thought. By reflex, he held out his arms and got ready . . . 'I just got up here and now I gotta save someone already!'

Lebiri slammed into Yusuke and they both went tumbling backwards.

Kurama jumped up and looked out into the hallway. 'Ouch,' he thought.

"Ooooh!" Yusuke moaned from under Lebiri. 'Too many little birdies,' he observed.

Lebiri coughed and tried to get up. Kurama ran over to help.

Shiori didn't want to be alone in that room. 'Get it together!' she ordered herself. She stood up shakily and went to shut the window. 'I'm too old for this.' No scary monster popped up to kidnap her, so she sighed and locked it. This day was turning out to be especially uncanny. 'Oh yes, those sparkly dusty things.' She looked at where the demon, Acara, had blown them. 'What's this? . . .'

Kurama yelled for Kuwabara. The red head was there in an instant. "Take Lebiri," she said, handing her to him and helping up Yusuke. "She took quite a hit." When Yusuke said he was ok, Kurama left him with Kuwabara and went back to his mom. "Mother . . .?" She was looking at something on the floor.

"Suuichi . . . come here. I can't make this out . . ."

Kurama looked over her shoulder. There was a note . . . but every calligraphy printed letter was jumbled around on the paper . . .

Kuwabara and Yusuke walked downstairs. Lebiri insisted that she could walk, but Kuwabara said they were almost to the living room anyway. They entered the room and saw Hiei standing next to the entrance.

"Sup, Hiei," Yusuke greeted him. He nodded and glanced over at Kuwabara and Lebiri.

'Oooh!' Lebiri moaned inwardly and wiped away the kiss Acara had planted on her cheek heatedly. 'I can feel his eyes on us! Now he thinks I'm weak!' She let Kuwabara set her down on the couch, then mumbled, "Thanks . . ."

"No prob!" he said proudly.

Keiko ran up to Yusuke. "What happened! Are you okay!"

The Spirit Detective nodded to her and said, "I'm fine. But I have no idea what happened."

They all stared at him.

"I opened the door and Lebiri slammed into me." He shrugged.

They all turned to Lebiri, who was looking away in deep thought, a slightly pained expression on her features.

Botan sat next to her. "You all right?" she asked. "We heard you scream."

Hiei raised an eyebrow.

Lebiri nodded. "I'm fine now. I just thought they did something to Aunt Shiori."

"Did they? . . ." Botan asked slowly.

"Well yes . . . but she's ok . . . I think. She's upstairs with Kurama."

"I'll go see," Shizuru offered. Just then Kurama and Shiori came downstairs.

Lebiri got up too suddenly and coughed. "Ouch," she muttered and recovered a moment later. She then walked over to her relatives. "You guys ok?" Her voice broke and tears filled her eyes. "Aunt Shiori . . . I'm so sorry."

Shiori hugged her and patted the girl's back. "You were amazing, honey. I don't know what happened . . . but you were amazing."

Lebiri choked out a sob. 'None of this was supposed to happen! She could've died! Now Kurama's life long secret might have to be exposed . . . and it's all entirely my fault! What if she hates him? What if . . . ' Oh so many what ifs. Lebiri wiped her eyes, but more tears of sadness, joy, and anger replaced the last.

Everyone in the room was silent. Keiko hugged Yusuke and sniffled. She hated when people cried; it always got her worked up, too.

Kurama didn't like watching his cousin cry either. It hurt like hell. He looked down at the jumbled note in his hand and closed his eyes. He had a lot of explaining to do.

Hiei blinked. 'What happened up there? . . .' He looked over at Kurama. 'The Yoko has a lot of explaining to do . . . '

Ten minutes later

Everyone sat down on the couches or the floor and prepared for an explanation. Kurama didn't know where to start. Lebiri couldn't speak yet. She was on the floor in the corner with a cup of hot chocolate, sniffling and hiccupping. Her eyes were pretty downcast, too. So Kurama sighed and looked around at his audience. They were all staring at him intently, and occasionally they would glance over at Lebiri.

"Alright," Kurama began. "I will explain what happened up there first. Then, Mother, you deserve an explanation as well. That may take awhile so, Hiei, I want you to train Lebiri with her sword."

Hiei looked at Lebiri. "Is she . . . ok?"

"I'm fine!" Lebiri snapped, then sighed. "Sorry. Look . . . I'll be ready by then." She looked down at her drink sadly.

Hiei shrugged. "Hn. Fine."

"I think I'll go meditate." She stood up shakily. Shiori took her hot chocolate for her.

"Lebiri," Kurama said. "Here." He held out the note. "From Acara."

Lebiri's eyes widened as she took it from him. The paper glowed a blood red suddenly, then faded. Kurama and Lebiri watched as the letters reworded themselves.

Now the note read:

Little demon girly,

We're really gonna hurt ye,

We see you right now and we're close byyy!

No more waiting,

We've been debating!

And now you've got 4 weeks before you diiiiie!

Meet us on that playground,

That old abandoned playground,

In the part of town that really suuuucks!

That's Saturday at five,

Also when we'll dive...

On you and really rough you uuuup!

Yeh yeh yeh yehhhhhhh!

With Love,

The Hideko Demon Clan

Uroki Jurota
Leader

Lebiri sweatdropped. 'Idiots.' She glanced at Kurama, who had just gotten over a sweat drop as well.

"Three weeks," he growled, narrowing his eyes.

Lebiri nodded. "Great. And there's nothing I can do about it." She sighed. "I'll keep this."

"What's it say, Lee-chan?" Shiori asked curiously.

"Um . . . you'd better hear what K- . . . Suu-chan has to say first."

Kurama sighed. "Yes, yes. I'll tell her about the Hideko too then."

Lebiri gave him a hug. "Thanks, cuz," she said. "I'm so sorry I made all this happen. I . . . I never should have come here," she whispered.

Kurama hugged her tighter and said quietly, "I'm glad you came. Mother deserves to know something anyway. And nobody got hurt."

She sniffled and nodded. "Sorry. I'm such a baby," she mumbled, standing up straight as her cousin released her.

"Now go get some rest. Hiei will come get you when he's ready."

Lebiri nodded, thought twice about going upstairs, and walked back to her guest room.

Kurama took a deep breath and began his recollection of what happened earlier.

"Koenma sir! A demon has just left Kurama's house!"

Koenma jumped up. "Is it of the Hideko? Move over, lemme see!" He scooted in front of the ogre to take a look. "Darn it! I can't tell! It's moving too fast! Can't you put this thing in slow motion!" He banged the TV with a tiny fist.

"Well that certainly won't do the trick," Ogre mumbled. "Sir," he said in a concerned voice, "you really shouldn't do that. Last time you had a tantrum - "

"I am NOT having a tantrum!" Koenma yelled. He pointed a finger at the TV. "Rewind and put it in slow mo'. She's already gone, you capricornus!"

"That demon's a she?"

"YES it was a she, baka!"

"Tsk tsk. Sir, you're losing your temper. Going around calling people cappycunnesses is not good for your health. I don't know what it means but I'm sure it's a terrible insult. Now sir. Shall I call your father and tell him of your behavior? Or maybe - "

"SHUT UP!" Koenma jumped up and kicked him in the head. "Get to work on that television NOW!"

Ogre rubbed a huge bump on his head and whimpered, "Yes sir . . . "

"I trust you were successful, Acara?" Jurota asked, smirking.

"A 'course I was. But I still think that little 'Doom Message' was utterly pitiful."

Jurota rolled his eyes and ignored that. "So how was your reunion with the wolf girl?"

Acara snorted and rubbed a bruised cheek. "The mutt's gotten better, but nothing I couldn't handle. And against all of us - hmph - she'll be finished in no time."

"Now do not forget about our plan. You cannot kill her yet."

"Yeah, yeah. I won't." Acara turned around to leave with a wave and a "tata".

Lebiri sat on her bed meditating, her spirit energy glowing quite visibly.

Her cell phone rang, startling her. She opened her eyes and reached over for it, not wanting to interrupt the discussion going on in the living room.

"Hello?"

"Uh hi. Lebiri? It's Tai."

"Oh hi, Tai-san! What's up?"

"Lebiri, hey. Nothing much. I'm calling from work. You know, on my break."

"Cool, cool. How's it going?" Lebiri stood up and went to look out the window. 'What a beautiful day. Too bad it's ruined,' she thought as Tai talked about his day. Lebiri let down her hair and grabbed a brush out of her suitcase by the bed. She sat down and began combing it out. "Wow. Long day, huh?"

"Yeah."

"What's with waking up with a hangover? You drink?"

"No. That's just the thing. I don't."

"Oh...weird." Lebiri didn't know what to make of it, so she just let it drop - which she'd regret with a passion later. There was an awkward silence, in which Tai started to say something then stopped. Lebiri waited, putting her brush away.

"So," he began again. "You busy?"

"Actually . . ."

" 'Cause I was wondering if you'd like to go and get coffee or meet at the park or something?"

"Oh wow! That sounds great and I'd love to, but I'm about to go somewhere and I'll be busy for the next couple of days. So could I call you back sometime? And we could make arrangements?"

"Uh sure . . . so where're you going? Not going back to Osaka are you? . . ." He sounded disappointed.

"Oh no. Not for a couple of weeks at least." She laughed a little. What could she say without lying? Aha! "I'm just going out to spend some time with a...friend." Hiei? A friend? She didn't know what she considered Hiei to be...besides hot...and difficult...and kind of annoying.

"I see. Well you have a good time then. I gotta get back to work." Tai gave Lebiri his home and cell phone numbers, then the two said goodbye.

Lebiri closed her flip phone and put it on the nightstand, then lay down on the bed thinking. She should probably go into the living room and kind of help Kurama. 'Ok. I'll go,' she thought. Just then her cell rang again. She picked it up and, in an irritated voice asked, "Hello?"

"Lebiri-chan?"

"Mom! Hey!" She gave a happy sigh of relief.

"Lebiri! How was your trip? Did you make it in alright?"

"Um yes. Fine Mom. Are you guys all safe?"

" Haha! You act like we'll all get murdered without you here!"

Lebiri gulped and gave a weak laugh

"We're perfectly fine dear. We miss you!"

"I miss you guys too."

Mother and daughter had a nice long talk. Then Lebiri talked to her sisters, brothers, Dad, then back to Mom. They said goodbye after a while and Lebiri hung up the phone. She lay on the bed with a relieved smile and fell asleep, just like that.

After the whole Acara scene was discussed thoroughly - and Shiori was thoroughly confused - Botan, Yusuke, and Keiko left the house and stood outside. Kuwabara, whining since Shizuru was making him leave, left with Shizuru and walked home after bidding everyone farewell. Hiei went back to Lebiri's room and asked through the door irritably, "You ready yet, onna?" No answer. 'Chicks and the silent treatment,' he thought, cracking the door open and looking through. 'Asleep?...' He pushed the door wide open and leaned against it casually, folding his arms over his chest. He stared at Lebiri, who had a smile on her face and was looking quite peaceful.

Hiei scowled. What now? Hmm...kinda cruel but hey! - This is Hiei we're talking about here!

"Wake up, onna," he yelled. "The Hideko got your parents!"

Lebiri jerked up with a snort. "Wha? Huh, huh!" She rolled and hit the floor with a thump, then sat up and stared wildly at Hiei.

"Hn. Had to wake you up somehow."

"So...they're still ok?"

He nodded.

Her expression flashed relief, then anger as she stood up, snatched her sakabato from under the bed, and went into the bathroom without a word. She slammed the door, making Hiei flinch.

"Err...," he mumbled. 'Oh well. Hn. Now I'll really get the silent treatment.' He shrugged and left.

Lebiri, Keiko, and Botan chatted all the way to a part of the park clear of people, Yusuke and Hiei trailing behind.

Botan and Keiko sat fairly far away under the shade of a tree. Yusuke followed, but kept standing, wanting to concentrate on the sparring match.

Lebiri, in her hakama and gi, faced Hiei, still silent towards him. She glared at him as she did some stretches.

Hiei watched, trying not to look amused, but still had a small smirk.

Lebiri closed her eyes for a moment, trying to relax.

Hiei waited impatiently. "Don't fall asleep on me now," he said as his drew his own sword. "Let's go, onna."

Lebiri opened her eyes slowly and pulled her sakabato from its sheath in her sash. "Fine. Let's go."

"Uh...you guys...you do know this is just sparring, right," Yusuke asked weakly...

Whoo, finally typed. Just so you know, a capricornus is a "sea goat" hahahaha (I couldn't help myself)! Hope you liked the chapter!

- Saiya Winters