A/N: Yes…in case you hadn't noticed, I don't write very fast. Blame it on writer's block and procrastination. Thank you random reviewers, and please don't give up on me, for if you do I shall not be able to go on! This story will soon get…multi-genre-ish, so…beware. I try to draw random parallels between their experiences at Makai High and what happens in the actual series, but there's also romance in there that just happens to be because I like it. So…yeah. Enjoy. If you can. This is the 'boring' chapter—y'know, the kind of one where it's just preparation? But I tryyyyyyyyyy!

Disclaimer: YYH belongs to NO MAN!!!!!! …Well, alright, if you want to get TECHNICAL…

Getting Ready

Botan quickly and nervously adjusted her outfit, smoothing out the remaining wrinkles and tightening her bows. She looked around at her spacious room and opened her arms wide. "Goodbye, room. Goodbye, house. Goodbye family. Goodbye, private school. Goodbye, friends. Goodbye, designer clothes and walk-in closet. Goodbye, big screen TV and surround sound. Goodbye…" Botan's list consisted of maybe forty or fifty some odd things, and once she was finished she heaved a sigh and headed out the door. "See you in seven months!" she yelled on the way out, before reluctantly making it to the bus.

Koenma tapped his foot impatiently as he waited. "Stupid Botan," he muttered under his breath. "Has to spend every precious moment with her STUFF. It would have been soooo much easier for her to just spend the night in THIS part of town, but noooo, she can't part with anything. I'll bet she's still saying her farewells to all her crap right now." His amber brown eyes darted nervously around. "C'mon Botan," he moaned. "What's taking you so long? Could you please come some time before I GET MY THROAT CUT?!"
"Mom? Hey, Mom? MOM!!!!" Yusuke gave an annoyed growl as his mother proceeded to groan and roll over. "Stupid drunk good-for-nothing lazy little…" he muttered to himself waspishly as he picked up a few loose sake bottles and threw them in the trash. "Don't even know why I bothered to try and say goodbye."
He slid open the window, then turned to a nearby birdcage, in which lurked a blue parakeet. He opened the latch of the birdcage and stuck his finger in. "Later, Puu," he told his feathered friend as it nipped at his finger affectionately. "You're gonna have to take care of yourself for a while, okay? Cause Heaven knows my mom won't."
"Puu!" Puu replied, hopping on to the rim of the door and stretching his wings. He took flight and fluttered out the window.
"Don't you DARE get eaten by anything!" Yusuke yelled after his pet. He grinned ruefully at the retreating blue feathers. He hated to admit it, but the little bird had a special place in his heart.
"QUIET OVER THERE, I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!!!" Atsuko screamed irately, before once again lapsing into a drunken stupor. Yusuke snorted and rolled his eyes at his mother.
"Love you too, Mom," he told her as he slammed the door behind him.
"Good luck, Honey," Keiko's mother smiled bracingly, giving her daughter a pat on the head. "Going out on your own for seven months-we're so proud of you!"
"Um, thanks Mom," Keiko said nervously. Her parents were making her feel like a little kid again.
Mr. Yukimura grinned, a bowl in his hands. "But before you leave, have a celebratory bowl of farewell ramen!"
Keiko groaned even as she took the bowl from her father. "Dad…"
"C'mon, Keiko, do it for your old man!"
Keiko hurriedly slurped down the soup before kissing both her parents on the cheek and trying to rush out the door before they could make her any more embarrassed than she already was.
"Our little girl is all grown up!" Mrs. Yukimura shouted out the door behind her daughter.
Keiko tried desperately to ignore the blush that was spreading to her face. Parents were so embarrassing.
"Locked doors, check. Locked windows, check. Perishables out of the fridge, check. Let the cat outside, check. All unneeded house appliances off, check. Everything packed, check. Found out where sister's staying…" Kuwabara shuddered at the thought. "On second thought, I think I'll just stay in that place they arranged. Now way I'm staying with some creepy teacher. Jeez, Shizuru, what WERE you thinking?" He still couldn't get over the fact that, of ALL PEOPLE, his sister had decided to date a teacher. Kuwabara shook his head. It was a strange world he lived in, he speculated as he left the house.
Hiei's dark bangs fell into his face. He brushed them away impatiently. Today was NOT going to be a good day. He hadn't even GOTTEN to school yet, and had already: fallen out of a tree, had to put up with Mukuro's bitching for a good hour or so, almost gotten run over by a car, got water spattered all over him thanks to said car, and nearly gotten mugged (of course, the guys were now passed out in a random alleyway relieved of all of their valuables, but nonetheless…). To make matters worse, walking around in wet clothing was getting increasingly uncomfortable, and there wasn't the faintest sign of Kurama. Needless to say, he was only seconds away from snapping entirely. "I swear," he hissed under his breath menacingly. "The next person who crosses me is going to regret ever being born."
"Shuichi! Are you ready for school?" came the voice of the aforementioned redhead's mother from the kitchen.

"Yes mother!" shouted back Kurama, anxiously stuffing his supplies into his book-bag and cursing himself for waking up late. True, he'd be on time for school, but he'd agreed to meet Hiei half an hour before it started. Hiei was going to KILL him. He winced slightly as a new thought occurred to him. Or more likely, someone else. Great. The last thing he needed was a chaotic situation like that, courtesy of his short-tempered friend.

"Mother, you shouldn't be up," he scolded her gently while simultaneously kissing her goodbye and snatching up a piece of toast. "Get some rest! Bye!"

The door slammed behind him and he blew a sigh. "Please Hiei, just try not to lose your temper for once…"

"HOLY $(#%#(%#!!!!"
THUD
"Shit…my spleen." Youko winced in pain and glared at the offending beer bottle, before promptly throwing it into the wall. He smirked in triumph as it smashed. "Ah, music to my ears. Serves you right." An irritable snort came from the saggy couch nearby.
"TURN DOWN THE FCKING VOLUME, ASSHOLE!!!" bellowed the mercury-haired boy's father, before promptly lapsing back into loud snores.
Youko just rolled his eyes and flipped the older man off, even if he couldn't see it. "Stupid drunk bastard." His eyes darted quickly around the shabby, run-down apartment. "Well, everything appears to be in order." With an uncanny skillful grace, he quickly found his school materials (which had been scattered by the four winds to every corner of the apartment), stuffed them quickly into his book bag, and was out the door.
"ITAI!!!!! DAMN HAIR, WHY'D YOU HAVE TO BE SO LONG?!"
...Most of him, anyway.
Shizuru lit herself a cigarette and took an absent-minded puff. She expelled the smoke with a long sigh, covering herself in the smell. "Kazuma, you are not ready for this," she muttered to herself dully. "I know your amazingly huge ego may cause you to think otherwise, but frankly I'll be happy as long as you don't get yourself killed."

"Penny for your thoughts," Sakyou said casually, taking out a cigarette of his own. Shizuru reached up a hand and quickly lit it before her former teacher (and current boyfriend) had a chance to trouble himself with finding his own lighter amid his thick jacket.

"Just worrying about the brother," she informed him, rolling her eyes theatrically as she moved around the apartment and gathered her school things. "He's always been hopeless."

"Any relative of yours must be strong, though," he comforted her, crossing the room and patting her gently on the head. He smirked a little sadistically. "Just be happy he doesn't have me as a teacher."

Shizuru snorted. "Agreed. Genkai shows more mercy than you, and that's saying something." She slung her bag over her shoulder. "Shall we get going? Don't want to be late."

Sakyou stole a kiss from her and smiled. "Oh, but of course."

A/N: (stares upwards) Damn, this was short. Read and review, for there shall be much rivalry and hatred in the next chapter! (I shall congratulate myself if I get it out before school starts. Urg.) Ciao!