I'm deeply sorry this chapter took so long to get out but I've had a sudden burst of ideas for Yu Yu Hakusho stories and just didn't feel like updating. Not only with the sudden inspiration for YYH but I still have so many unfinished fics so I'm trying to finish my unfinished ones before continuing with all my new ideas.

Chapter Eighteen: Strange Mystery

Sun shone in through Duo's window make him wake up with an unpleasant shine in his eyes. Plus the white snow outside made the light all the more unbearable. Sitting up, Duo noticed Bob was no where to be found. Oh well, who knows where the little brain dead freak wandered off to. Duo got dressed in some warm clothes and stepped out into the hallway and into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

"Oh! Ha'ri I feel terrible." Shigure whined.

"Pull yourself together." Hatori was leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping on some coffee while Shigure was hanging over the table.

"Look whose talking hula skirt man." Shigure snickered and ended up with hot coffee spilt on his back. "But really Ha'ri, I don't feel well. You're a doctor so do something about it."

Duo sat at the table, his eyes struggling to keep open but quite content to remain unnoticed by the two adults. Hatori examined Shigure quickly and cleared his throat to give his professional opinion.

"Say it ain't so, doc!" Shigure gasped dramatically.

"I haven't even said anything yet." Hatori had a vein popping out at his temple.

"I know, but I've always wanted to say that." Shigure smiled.

"You need a rabies shot." Hatori confirmed.

"WHAT?!" Shigure leaped to his feet only to sidle back into his chair from not feeling well.

"It'll only be seven painful shots to the stomach." Hatori wasn't exactly up to comforting the distressed dog.

"Ha'ri, you're so cruel to me!" Shigure cried.

"Come with me." Hatori led Shigure off to get his many painful shots. Screaming came from down the hall that made Duo shiver.

"Hatori! Stop it! You're killing me!!!" Shigure yelled.

"What the hell are they doing making such a racket this early in the morning?!" Kyou stomped into the kitchen to grab himself a glass of milk.

Duo shrugged and decided to get himself a pop-tart. Yuki walked in next, rubbing his eyes and even more asleep than Duo. "What's all the racket about?" He sighed half-asleep.

"Sounds like Shigure's getting tortured." Kyou snickered. "Serves him right."

The screaming stopped and Shigure dragged his feet passed the kitchen before collapsing and transforming into a dog. "Now look what you did, Ha'ri…" Shigure mumbled in dog form.

"Oh stop you're complaining." Hatori walked past Shigure so he could finish his coffee. The upset and hurt dog ran out of the house.

Duo couldn't fight off sleep any longer so he went to take a nap and slept some of the day away. He had his first dream of Yume in a while. Nothing really special just her ignoring him…

.

"Hey you damn rat, wake up!" Kyou yelled through Duo's door to awaken him.

"Hold your claws you impatient outcast!" Duo yelled in return.

"You wanna start something, braid boy?!" Kyou kicked the door threateningly.

"It'll be your ass getting kicked!" Duo retorted while sliding out of bed.

A loud crash echoed throughout Sohma house when Kyou kicked the door in and got beaten once again by Duo. The confident braided boy walked out of the room triumphantly and went back to the dining room where everyone was having a nice dinner. There were three empty chairs at the table: one for Kyou, another for Bob, and the last one for Satori.

Duo turned to Akito on his left and asked, "Where's er… Bob and Satori?"

Akito's lips turned into a twisted smile. "They're not feeling well and left to go back to their own homes."

"Uh right…" Duo happened to catch Naoko's eye and she seemed a little scared and worried.

Most of the Sohmas were very quiet during dinner. Duo was deep in thought, despite him being extremely hungry, and still very sleepy for some strange reason… Bob might have just wandered off to the bathroom and gotten lost. But what about Satori?

"So you were caught by the local pound when you transformed today, Shii-chan?" Ayame asked, interrupting Duo's thoughts.

"Yes! They were so cruel to me! That's the last time I ever send money for charity to such a vile organization." Shigure declared.

"Stop your babbling." Yuki sighed. "You never sent money to them anyway."

"All the more reason not to!" Shigure pointed out.

"Silence!" Akito snarled and everyone went very quiet.

Eating in silence, Ritsu reached across the table to get some food that was in front of Fujika. "That's rude." Fujika whispered.

Ritsu quickly recalled his hand. "I'M SO SORRY!!! THAT WAS VERY RUDE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAME OVER ME!!! I SHOULD JUST DIE NOW FOR INSULTING YOU SO BADLY!!!"

"It's your fault your like that!" Fujika snapped.

"YES, IT IS AND I AM TERRIBLY SORRY!" Ritsu bowed apologetically many times.

"Now stop yelling will you!" Fujika yelled.

"Quiet, both of you." Hatori insisted.

Fujika nodded and stopped yelling while Ritsu did the same. The irritated woman left the table to smoke a cigarette outside. The meal continued on in silence.

"Tomorrow you will all be free to go." Akito stated and then smiled a poisonous smile.

Duo wanted to leave as soon as possible. Something didn't feel right about all of this. The braided teenager put down his chop sticks and put his hands in his lap while he thought. Under the table, someone gave Duo's hands a reassuring squeeze. Duo turned to his right to see Heero giving him a comforting look. For some strange reason… it did make Duo feel better that Heero was nearby.

.

The next day Duo woke up pretty close to noon. Slinging his bag with his clothes over his shoulder, he strolled out of his room quite relieved at being able to leave. He didn't get far before he saw Fujika looking around for something.

"Did you lose something?" Duo asked curiously.

Fujika looked up at Duo and for the first time he saw fear in her eyes. "Have you seen Naoko? I can't find her anywhere!"

"No… can't say I have." Duo glanced around.

Fujika broke down in tears. "She's my only niece and I can't find her! Did she run away or has something happened to her?!" She covered her face with her hands.

Duo knelt down beside her and comforted her. "She's probably okay. Naoko is very mature and responsible, she'll be back."

Fujika stopped her crying and brushed away her tears. "You're right, Duo. Thank you…" Duo smiled and helped her to her feet. She bid him farewell and he walked back out into the crisp winter morning. That was too weird though… what was going on?

.TO BE CONTINUED.

Well there probably won't be any more stupidly funny chapters. Everything's going to get a little darker from here on out…