Sherkoni - Ahem, first of all sorry to all you who were slightly confused, it will hopefully be explained this chapter. Thank you for reviewing, and Hakusho009 - (glomps) that was such a compliment! Thanks, you made my day!

-!- The language I used was Hebrew (Thank you Jar-chan for the marvelous translations!) but in this story it is the demon language used in Makai - HOWEVER, I won't translate everything they say (--;; Are you nuts, I'm too lazy!) I will put them in brackets.

="Speech spoken in demon language"=

Chapter One

Life Goes On

"Don't hide it! That was my chocolate you fiend!" a loud voice raged. Lowering his voice to a dangerous hiss, the unhappy spirit detective set his face by the offender's ear, "I can smell it on you, you fool..."

"Urameshi!" Kuwabara complained, face squatted firmly against the tile, words barely distinguishable through squashed lips. "I told you, it wasn't me!"

"Death to the chocolate thief!" Yusuke yelled, ignoring his friend's plea. He raised a fist, preparing to give the Kuwabara the noogie of his life, but was stopped in mid-swing as a commanding, sweet voice interrupted his descent.

"Yusuke Urameshi, you let Kuwabara go this instant."

Yusuke frowned and hopped off of his friend, who took in a grateful gulp of air. "Aw, Keiko..." he argued softly, but mutual defeat was evident in his posture.

Keiko sighed and gave him a warm smile. "Oh, Yusuke, I wasn't trying to scold you," she replied tenderly, trying hard to keep from laughing at the distinguished pout that had entered Yusuke's face.

"He stole my chocolate," he complained quietly, sounding very much like a pride-wounded young boy who had lost a wrestling match. Keiko's eyes flew open and she placed a dainty hand over her mouth in surprise.

"Oh dear..."

"What is it?" Yusuke asked, raising an eyebrow.

She blushed innocently. "I believe I ate your chocolate Yusuke," she admitted apologetically. Yusuke gaped at her, jaw dropping in surprise. Kuwabara rolled on the floor in laughter, increasingly pounding on Yusuke's leg as if fervently trying to remind him of his error.

"I didn't want it," Yusuke assured her, looking at the ground, which only made the laughing Kuwabara howl harder.

Keiko's cheeks burned a deep crimson. "I really am sorry, but I had this enormous craving for chocolate and it was the only thing around-"

Yusuke cut her off by placing a finger on her lips. Gently he placed a hand on her largely protruding belly, softly massaging it with the small circular motion of his hand. "How many times do I have to tell you? Anything you want, it's yours..." Keiko smiled appreciatively and was about to respond when the door flew open and Botan burst through the door.

"Hi everyone!" she called happily, stepping over the still sniggering Kuwabara. She gave Yusuke and Keiko a questioning look, before peering down at Kuwabara, then back to the couple again. "What's his problem?"

Yusuke opened his mouth, but Kuwabara answered for himself. "Keiko ate Yusuke's chocolate and he was literally about to pulverize me into buying more for him because he thought it was me, but with Keiko..." he trailed off into another fit of laughter.

Botan reprimanded him lightly, placing her hands on her hips in a knowing matter. "It shouldn't be so odd to you Kuwabara, Yusuke and Keiko are a happy couple and everyone knows pregnant women get odd cravings, especially for chocolate."

Yusuke smirked at her devilishly. "And you would know, of course, from experience-"

"No," Botan snapped, blushing to her ears. "Like I said, it's just a common fact."

Keiko giggled and saved her friend from further embarrassment by leading her to the couch to sit down. "Thanks for stopping by Botan, we're very pleasured to have you."

Yusuke snorted. "Keiko dear, you are starting to sound wifely already."

Keiko rolled her eyes. "Now if only we could get you to start acting like a decent husband," she retorted, getting a happy laugh from Botan and Kuwabara, and a mock frown from Yusuke.

"So," Yusuke asked Botan, steering the conversation away from him and towards their visitor. "How's those powers coming along Botan?"

Botan grinned happily. "Great," she piped proudly before standing to give them a demonstration. Using near perfect form, she stretched two open palms towards the dresser. Within seconds her hands glowed with a blue aura and an ivory hand held mirror flew into her hands - but not before doing a few showy flips around the audience's heads.

"Wow!" Kuwabara praised with a grin.

Yusuke nodded his agreement. "You've certainly come a long way from barely being able to hold Keiko's "jagan eye" closed."

Keiko laughed while her, Yusuke and Kuwabara broke into a playful applause, which Botan proudly accepted with a sportive bow.

"I didn't know I would be so warmly welcomed," a soft voice said, chuckling slightly. "I'm even being bowed to."

Botan jumped and whipped around, coming face to face with the elegant figure of legendary fox demon. She took in his smiling face and long crimson locks which were pulled into a loose ponytail below his squared shoulders. She quickly absorbed his deep forestry eyes and his facial features, much more mature than when she first had the pleasure of meeting him, before smothering him with an excited hug. "Kurama! You're back!"

Kurama laughed and wrapped his arms around her waist in a friendly embrace. "It's good to be back."

"Took you long enough," Kuwabara scoffed from the floor, folding his arms across his chest in a displeased manner, but the playful look in his eyes betrayed his actions.

Kurama let go of Botan and gave Kuwabara an apologetic look. "You have no idea," he complained with a small frown.

"So, Makai was awful?" Yusuke inquired with a grin, motioning his friend to take a seat.

"Oh, be assured Youko at least enjoyed it," Kurama promised him blandly, but the jubilant glint in his eyes told he had enjoyed the trip as well. He gladly took the empty bed as a seat and emptied his shoulders of the long trench coat.

"Well we wanna hear about it!" Kuwabara scooted closer to the bed, wanting to be in a more adequate hearing distance.

Kurama cleared his throat with a slight cough, giving a comprehensible glance towards Keiko and Botan, shifting uneasily in his seat. Botan took the gesture as a hint that he wanted to discuss it first with Kuwabara and Yusuke and pretended to get a concerned look across her face. "Keiko, dear - why don't I make you some tea downstairs? You look slightly pale."

Keiko raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to protest that she was fine, but quickly closed it when she saw Botan's meaningful look. She nodded. "That would be nice, thank you."

Without a word, the two girls departed from the room, closing the door noiselessly behind them.

Keiko frowned behind Botan's back. "What do you suppose was so secretive?" she asked in puzzlement. "Kurama seemed fine....do you think there is a new mission?"

Botan scoffed. "It had better not be a new mission - I'm the spirit detective's assistant, I have a right to know!" she replied curtly, not waiting for a response as she walked into the kitchen and silently filled a kettle. She set it on the stove and took a seat beside the brunette at the table.

Keiko sat up a little straighter and took a deep breath. "Botan?"

"Yes?" Botan lifted her head to look at the girl.

"Um," Keiko began, trying to remain eye contact. "I wanted to ask you, when we were alone....you seem a tad off today. And I - well...is everything alright?"

Botan was at first slightly shocked by Keiko's question, and didn't answer her, instead choosing to stare at her hands for good minute before meeting the brunette's eyes. "Well, I had a dream this morning..." she began softly, deciding it was better to get it out of her system. And who better to tell than Keiko?

Keiko nodded, urging her to continue.

"It was about," Botan choked on her words, tears stinging at the back of her eyelids again. "It was about Hiei..."

Botan didn't need to finish as Keiko instantly wrapped comforting arms around Botan's slightly trembling shoulders in a tight embrace. "Ssh.." she comforted her. Botan nodded into the girl's shoulder, willing herself to only let a few tears slip.

"I'm alright," she whispered honestly, pulling away from Keiko's soothing embrace. Keiko gave her a warm smile of understanding and lightly kissed the ferry girl's forehead before standing up to attend to the tea.

"Well it would seem we both need a little strong tea this morning, doesn't it?" she chirped cheerfully. "Men do that to you..."

Botan grinned in appreciation.

oOo

"I don't get it....why can't Botan and Keiko know?" Kuwabara asked, raising an eyebrow. "Or at least Botan.."

Kurama cleared his throat again. "I'm getting to that. You both know the Shinobi right? The band of thieves?"

Yusuke narrowed his eyes in thought, seemingly tossing the idea around in his head. "Isn't that where the Masho Team came from in the Dark Tournament?"

Kurama grinned. "Exactly."

Kuwabara snorted. "Too bad only Jin and Touya made it out of that."

"Aw, they're the only ones who deserved to make it out," Yusuke argued, dismissing the idea with a flick of his hand.

"That isn't my point," Kurama interrupted pointedly. Yusuke stopped and peered at him quizzically, silently urging him to continue then. Kurama shifted uneasily, almost wishing they would start talking again and delay his announcement. "Back to your comment Kuwabara...I would actually rather have Keiko know then Botan."

Kuwabara and Yusuke exchanged confused looks. "Eh..."

"I," Kurama started again, refusing to meet his two companion's eyes. "I..."

Kuwabara growled impatiently. "Out with it Kurama!"

"I found Hiei."

A deadly silence filled the room, the aura wavering around their heads holding a tight tension in the air, which only further reminded the trio of a certain fire demon.

"You....what?" Yusuke choked out, his question barely audible.

"He's with the Shinobi."

Kuwabara's eyes threatened to pop out of his head while Yusuke's jaw dropped.

Kurama sighed and began to explain.

Flashback

I walked through the dense forest of Makai, nearing the Shinobi territory, planning to pay Touya a visit - I wanted to see if he had ever accomplished his goal of freedom he had told me about in the tournament. As I walked, I began to get more and more wary that something wasn't right....then it hit me.

It was the plants. None of them felt right, and I -if not Youko- could definitely tell when plants were indescribably......wrong.

I paused momentarily, but my question was answered before I even had time to contemplate it myself. Vine upon vine wrapped around my limbs and I gave an involuntary cry of pain as they threatened to force them.

Quickly losing my supply of oxygen, I tried to get my clouded brain to focus. Focus...just long enough to get to one of my plants.... Suddenly thorns ravenously protruded from the vines, piercing my skin on all sides. I bit my tongue, hard, determined not to cry out again as the thorns ripped through my skin, creating no doubt huge gashes. I gave a small whimper as blood filled mouth and I angrily swallowed it, along with the lump of agony that had formed in my throat.

But as suddenly as it had come, the pain subsided. The vines released their hold and I came to a disoriented heap on the dirt. Feeling another demon presence, I forced my head upwards to observe my savior.

A figure stood a few feet in front of me, arms crossed in agitation across their shoulders. They were dressed as what I would describe as a ningen beggar, but their tanned skin and firm toned body revealed they were anything but weak. They had a deep mass of incredible spiky black hair that fell to their waist, tied in an unorthodox ponytail.

They had leather gloves across their hands, and it took me a good minute to realize they were tapping impatiently at me. Embarrassed, I tried to stand, but my injuries prevented me from accomplishing said feat. I looked up penitently, trying to apologize for my weakness.

I couldn't manage the words however...the darkened, rugged face seemed so familiar to me, the crimson eyes down to the almost boyish quality it's features held.

In all honesty, I wouldn't have even recognized him if not for the next comment.

"Hn," a cocky glare passed over the stranger's face - an "all-too-familiar" glare. "Stupid fox - how sad when the day comes you get defeated by plants. Baka, you should know there would be controlled, predatory plants placed on the boundary of someone's territory."

If he said anything beyond, "Stupid fox," I didn't hear it as the insane reality came rushing to me with a relief-filled crash. "H-Hiei?"

He smirked at me, and I couldn't help but feeling that his smirk hadn't changed either. "No, it's Karasu," he replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes. I suddenly felt my injuries leave my body as I instantly recognized my long-time friend, all doubts leaving me. "Of course it's- mmph!"

I nearly tackled him as I gave him a tight embrace. Surprisingly, he wrapped his arms around my back tightly as well and even though he'd never admit it, he missed me as much as I had missed him. We stood locked in our brotherly embrace, until he pulled away and gave me a questioning smirk. (Oh yes - he can even accomplish a "questioning" smirk)

"What brings you to Makai?"

I shrugged ruefully. "Just a visit, I s'pose. I could ask you the same question..." I trailed off as his face grew visibly darker. He shook it off quickly though, and peered at me again, almost...... sorrowfully.

"I should go Kurama."

"Hiei-"

He let out a bitter laugh. "'A dead heir is not an heir Hiei Jaganshi, if you're not there when I come to inspect, I'll assume you're dead!'" he mimicked irritably, surprisingly sounding a lot like Mukuro.

"What are you doing all the way down here then?"

Hiei gave me a highly disgusted look. "Do you honestly think I could stand her for," he paused, glancing noticeably at his hands, "seven years. I work for the Shinobi and inform her of "bandit life" underground."

"Oh," I replied softly.

He shrugged. "Beats staying in her palace all the time..."

"Does it beat spending time with your friends?" I questioned, unable to hide the resentment in my voice.

He glared at me murderously, flames sparking in his red eyes. "If you're-"

I interrupted him with a saddened sigh. "Never mind Hiei," I told him quietly, not wanting to ignite his anger. He hung his head, his long, hair shadowing his face giving him an almost dead look. I smiled, noticing for the first time that he had grown. He was still visibly shorter than Yusuke, but he was taller.

"Kurama."

I raised an eyebrow in response, not knowing whether he was addressing me, questioning me or.....just stating my name. "Hiei?"

I was only answered by the soft breeze through the trees and I had to stop myself from gasping in surprise. He had become physically faster....a lot faster.

End Flashback

"Damn," was Yusuke's only response.

Kuwabara, however, frowned in anger. "What a jerk! He didn't even want to say hi?! We're his friends!"

Yusuke hit him soundly upside the head. "Baka, that's the reason why he's not coming!"

"That doesn't make sense Urameshi!"

"SO?!"

"Kuwabara! Yusuke!" Kurama interrupted, rubbing his temples slowly. "It's his choice. We hardly understood him when we saw him everyday - don't expect him to make any sense now."

Kuwabara huffed and folded his arms across his chest and Yusuke kept his mouth shut while watching Kurama. He sighed, the red-head looked as if he were trying to convince himself that Hiei shutting himself out from them was so simple, as well as his two friends...

oOo

Hiei took a step into the Shinobi bar.....er, headquarters. He blinked, not even remembering the journey coming here. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, Damn him to hell.

"Hiei!"

"Hiei m'man!"

He was greeted enthusiastically as took a seat on one of the stools. He glared at them angrily, but a small smile tugged at his lips. Jin laughed, obviously drunk, and swung an arm around Hiei's shoulders. "Where you been oh Black Dragon?"

A dish towel came whizzing by and cleanly smacked Jin in the face. ="Get off of him you good for nothing wind sleeze!"= the young bartender girl, snapped, her frizzed blonde hair in a disarray as she scowled - well, she might have been scowling if you could see through her make-up. ="And stop talking in that confounded language nobody understands!"=

Jin rubbed his stinging cheek. "Ah, Mirah..."

Touya grabbed his shoulders and lead him to a stool, which only made Jin growl more. "Ah'm not THAT drunk!" he snapped.

Touya sighed and took his own seat. ="It's the human language Mirah."=

="Probably why you don't like it,"= Hiei commented snidely.

Mirah drew herself up straighter and fluttered dark eyelashes at Hiei. ="Actually I think it sounds very refined Hiei-kun."= she purred.

Jin snorted in disgust.

Hiei's eyes flashed dangerously, but he gave the bartender a forced smile. ="Do you?"= he asked craftily. "I'm very surprised an ugly whore such as yourself appreciates "refined" things."

Jin and Touya cracked in unsubdued laughter, turning away from the glaring Mirah.

="What'd he say?! What'd he say?!"=

Hiei smirked at her. "I asked you how your husband was."

Mirah flushed a deep crimson and huffed angrily, turning to help another demon. Touya and Jin only laughed harder. Hiei frowned and started thinking about his earlier encounter with Kurama, becoming lost in his own thoughts again.

His quiet reverie was quickly shattered however as the door swung open again and Tibi burst through, his green hair looking very windswept. He rushed to the counter and gave Mirah a quick smile.= "Hello love,"= he quipped and pecked her lightly on the cheek.

She gave him a very forced smile.="You're back early."=

Tibi ignored the comment and looked at his comrades. ="You'll never believe- well, I have two things to tell you, but first - Youko was spotted in Makai again!="

Hiei snorted, but Tibi didn't notice.

="But we can talk about that later tonight when we've nothing better to do..."= he paused, looking fervently at Touya. ="There is an intruding snake demon in the northern area."=

Touya frowned. ="Why are you looking at me? I was monitoring the western area,"= he informed him slowly.

="I was on the western area,"= Jin argued, looking from Tibi to Touya in confusion.

Tibi fumed. ="What?! Well no wonders there's an intruder!"= he snapped angrily.="Now who's going to-"=

="I will."=

The three arguing demons fell silently as Hiei peered at them as if sending him was the most obvious answer in the world, silently rising out of his chair.

Mirah place her hands on her hips. ="Now you just sit back down Hiei! You fought off the last one, you're not entirely healed!"= she hissed, angrily glaring at the other three.

="This is a class-A demon, Hiei,"= Tibi put in, suddenly finding his voice again.

"Hn," Hiei smirked, heading for the door.= "And what am I? A low-class?"=

="You're flirting with death if you go Hiei!"= Mirah argued desperately.

Hiei let out a bitter laugh and replied in the human language before walking out the door. The foursome watched him go helplessly, before Tibi turned to Touya. ="What did he say?"=

Touya turned to him, a confused look on his face. ="He said...."= he began slowly, as if wondering if he'd heard correctly. ="He said he'd kissed death."=

Jin, not catching the confusement, defiantly folded his arms across his chest. ="I'd say - he's dated death in my opinion."=

Mirah sighed. ="I suppose we shouldn't worry."= She got a dreamy look on her face. ="He is incredibly powerful..."=

="Married death, I'd say..."=

Touya rolled his eyes at the twitterpated Mirah and gazed wistfully at the door. ="Probably. But just to be safe, we should go see if he needs help in a little while, he still wasn't completely healed."=

="And this is a pretty powerful demon,"= Tibi quipped, once again missing Mirah's romance induced actions.

="Had kids with death!"=

="He did seem rather off though,"= Touya commented, a frown etching his face as he contemplated this.

Tibi snorted. ="That kid's always off."=

Jin gasped. ="Divorced death!"=

="JIN!!"= the three shouted in unison.

oOo

"Yusuke!"

Yusuke, Kurama and Kuwabara whipped their heads around in surprise as Koenma burst through the door. "Eh...Koenma?" Yusuke questioned, blinking a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"No the damn abdominal snowman!" Koenma snapped angrily. "Who else?! I have important news for you guys!"

Yusuke raised an eyebrow, giving Kurama a weird look. "Why didn't you just summon us to Spirit World?" he asked suspiciously.

Koenma fumed. "Because my ferry girl is downstairs having tea with your wife!" he shouted angrily.

Yusuke smiled sheepishly. "Oh."

Koenma sighed, closing his eyes. 1, 2, 3, 4....stupid damn numbers! 10 is too far away! He faced the trio solemnly, giving up on cooling his temper, "Look - I originally had a mission for you three. A blood-thirsty snake demon has been slipping in and out of Ningenkai."

"Stealing things?" Kurama questioned curiously.

"Yes," Koenma replied gravely. "Teenage girls."

Kuwabara growled angrily. "That bastard! We'll kill him!"

Koenma stopped him with a raise of his hand. "If you were listening before, you'd have noticed I said I ORIGINALLY had a mission. Word got to my ear today that the demon was killed... mere hours ago actually."

"Oh," the anger in Kuwabara's eyes subsided distinctly. "Then why are you telling us?"

"Well, as royal law states, the Spirit Detective Agency should thank or reward them for their service. But when I looked through one of my many "magical cameras" that I use, I discovered that," Koenma had to swallow nervously, looking at the ground before continuing, "the demon was near death."

Kurama's eyes softened. "I'm sorry to hear that Koenma. But do you honestly want us to go all the way to Makai in hopes of saving his life?"

"Yukina and Botan have healing powers-" Koenma started.

"As sad as it is, it isn't our responsibility to play doctor for every demon that falls ill Koenma," Yusuke argued patently, getting very annoyed.

Koenma clenched his fists in anger and raised his head to meet Yusuke's eyes. "God dammit Yusuke! HIEI'S GOING TO DIE!!" he yelled, grabbing the detective's shirt.

A distinct shattering of a teacup was heard downstairs.

Sherkoni - Nobody panic! Hiei won't die! (evil grin) Or will he? Later on.... Muhahaha! (coughhackcough) Ouch....(rubs throat)