Thanks so much for all who reviewed! I got over 50! That was my mile stone and it is the first time I hit over 50 reviews on a story!!!

yeah!

Shadowcat-Forever - glad you checked my stories out. I saw yours and reviewed. I hope you enjoy the rest of my story!

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Double0Agent - Well here you go. THis is what happens next! Enjoy!!

Kaizan - Zanza, sorry - typo typo typo! *covers head* Though I still think you should wear a cheerleader outfit! Nyah! *sticks tongue out*

Kaika - Thanks for the review. Glad you liked the story.

Ten-kun - um...yeah...you too.

Chapter...12

"Now, what exactly are we going to tell everyone?" Yusuke asked to everyone as they walked together through the Makai realm and back to where Kurama, Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara had entered. Everyone in the small group turned and looked at the black-haired spirit detective, worried looks twinkling in their eyes...with the exception of Hiei who didn't really care because no one but the spirit detectives and now Maria knew of him.

"That is precisly what I was was thinking of Yusuke," Kurama said. Since they had started walked, that was what he was thinking of, and yet, no good plan was coming to mind. With a sigh, he slipped an arm around Maria's shoulders to reassure that she was still there. He could feel her smile at him.

"Well, Urameshi and I won't have to worry. We just said we were staying over at each other's places," Kuwabara said happily, not really seeing this wasn't a joking matter. Kurama glanced at him and he could see that Hiei was glaring at the baka ningen.

"Kuwabara, I swear they should have named you Kuwabaka," Yusuke said and laughed. Kuwabara's mouth dropped and he balled his hands into a fist. His face turned a deep shade of crimson in anger and he walked the few footlengths between the two in a matter of seconds.

"URAMESHI!" he cried. He made a punch at Yusuke, but Yusuke side-stepped it.

"We are not here to fight at the moment," Maria put in, trying to stop the two from going at each other. Worry was evident all over her. 'What will mother and Akio say about my absense..?' she thought to herself. 'Surely they won't be pleased.' she added to her thoughts.

"Lets just let Koenma come up with a plan," Yusuke put in. They nodded their heads and kept walking. It was a fair distance from Sarasu's broken fortress to where they had entered. Luckily, Kurama and Hiei could track the path and so they didn't have any trouble.

"Just hurt me, gosh darnit...and kill this guy!"

The thought rang through Kurama's head. It kept sounding in there, echoing and echoing. 'She didn't care if she was going to be hurt...why?' Kurama thought to herself.

Maria, sensing his distress, (well..would this be distress? whatever), looked up at him. He towered a good few inches over her and she had to tilt her head to look into his eyes.

"What are you thinking?" she whispered to him questioningly. Kurama looked down at her and began to walk slower until they were behind everyone.

"You said to hurt you if it meant killing Sarasu. Why? Why would you want me to hurt you?" Kurama asked her.

Maria's eyes widened ever-so slightly. Then she shook her head, a small smile etching it's way onto her face. She looked back up at him and replied,

"I just wanted you to know that, if it came to it, that I wouldn't mind a broken leg over death. If you had to hurt me someway to get at the guy, I didn't mind...at all.''

"I would never have hurted you though. I would have found any possible way to keep you as unhurt as possible," Kurama told her.

"I believe you," Maria replied and turned to face front, resting her head on his shoulder. She was as content as she could be, just leaning against him, he made her feel safe and warm inside.

"We are almost there!" Yusuke said happily.

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"That was very brave, yet somewhat stupid at the same time! And Kurama, I would never have guessed for you to ever loose your temper!" Koenma said in shock at the group of 5 standing in front of his desk. Somehow, they had managed to go to the Makai world, save Maria from Sarasu, find their way BACK to the spirit-makai realm portal, and then end up here in front of the son of the ruler of Spirit world. Koenma shook his head.

"Yeah, but you should have seen Kurama fight! He even changed to the youko thing!" Kuwabara exclaimed. Botan, who had joined the 'meeting' hit Kuwabara upside the head laughing slightly.

"Well, we need something to tell Kurama's mother and Maria's mother. They can't just dissapear and reappear and expect them NOT to be questioned. I was watching the ningenkai and their parents called the police already. And Maria's friend, Jade I think it is, is helping to look also." Koenma told them. He put a finger to his mouth as if he was pondering a thought that was currently in his head.

"We could just say they got lost," Hiei put in. He knew Kurama would never get lost but the stupid worried Ningen's would never know that anyway. It would probably work if they used that plan.

"What about me missing work?" Maria asked.

"Just say something got in the way. You got chased something," Botan said.

"Well, that really is the only option we have you know?" Yusuke added. For once he agreed with Hiei, something he rarely did. Kuwabara, also a suprise, nodded also.

"Then that is what we will use," Koenma said and dismissed them. They turned to face Botan who was ready to bring them to the human world, her oar in hand.

"Ready!?" she asked happily. They all nodded there heads and she took them to the Human world.

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"Mommy, I'm tired," Akio complained as her slumped his head against his mothers arm. The little boy was currently holding hands with his mother and Jade for reassurance.

"I know sweety, but we have to look for your sister," Ms. Sutana replied, her eyes heavy as well. They had been searching all night and now it was dawn of the next day. Jade had stuck with them the whole time. And Mrs. Minamino was still there searching also.

"I hope we find them soon," Mrs. Minamino, said. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, as were Ms. Sutana's eyes.

"I do..." Jade began but stopped. She stopped altogether, talking and walking.

"I do what?" Akio asked, something curious young boys tended to do if you didn't finish a statement as soon as you said it. Jade just pointed ahead someways and replied,

"Look." They all turned their heads to look where the almost adult was pointing.

"Suuichi...Maria...." was what everyone said. They all began to run.

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"Over there. There they are," Maria said quietly. She was tired and worn out, and she knew Kurama was as well. He still had his arm around her shoulders and she gladly leaned against him, her head resting one his chest right below the shoulder. They saw their family and friend run towards them and they just stopped to wait for them to arrive.



"Maria! You are alight!" Jade screamed and came to a halt right beside her best friend. Akio, Ms. Sutana, and Mrs. Minamino arrived after her and a whole hugging fest began. After the hugging, kissing, reassuring, was all done, a red eyes Ms. Sutana took a step back and stated,

"What in the WORLD happened to you two!?"

"I met Maria walking to work and so I decided to go with her," Kurama began.

"And then something began to chase after us. Some wild animal or something. And then we just got lost in the forest on the outskirts on the city," Maria finished. She hoped that they would buy the...not well thought out plan.

"Chased by a wild animal? That was in the city!?" Mrs. Minamino asked...

"We have to get the animal control to find it and capture it" she added. Ms. Sutana nodded her agreement.

"I am just glad you two are safe. Now come, lets go to the police so we can close up this case," Ms. Sutana said.

Kurama and Maria nodded their heads and they followed after the four that met them.

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Kurama and Maria filed into the Sutana house after their 'talk' with the police. The police bought the story as well and immdiatly called animal control out to the forest. They were tired and in need of a good rest, both of them. But first they had to talk with each other about what happened. So they went to Maria's room and sat down on the floor together. They were just about to start a conversation when Jade opened the door and slammed it behind her.

"Okay, so what REALLY happened?" she asked, her brows furrowed, hands akimbo on her hips. Kurama glanced at Maria and they both looked up at Jade.

"That really did.." Maria said but was cut off by her best friend.

"Don't say that Maria. You weren't ever good at lying... So tell me what really happened. I promise I won't tell ANYONE! If you hit it off of something it will be our secret! I dont' know many people to tell it to anyway," Jade said.

"You are very assuming," Maria said and blushed a bright shade of crimson. She glanced over at Kurama, or Suuichi to this world, and noted he too was blushing.

"We can not tell you what happened," Kurama told Jade.

"Oh yes you can! And you WILL!" She said and grabbed his shirt.

"Do you think we should tell her Suuichi?" Maria asked Kurama as she took her best friend's hands from their grasp on Kurama's shirt. Jade hung her hands loosly at her sides.

"I-i suppose..." Kurama said. Just then the window opened and closed just as quickly. Maria and Kurama knew what happened before Jade did. Hiei was now standing behind Jade on the night stand with the katana against her neck.

"Hiei, don't," Kurama said and stood up quickly. Maria did also and grabbed Jade's wrist, pulling her away from Hiei.

"Stupid ningen doesn't know what she is getting into when she asked you what happened Kurama," Hiei said and sheathed his Katana.

"But tell her anyway. Let her figure out what she has gotten into when she knows." he added and sat down against the night stand. Kurama and Maria sat down next to him and a frightened Jade sat in front of them. Together, Kurama, Maria, and Hiei told them the story of Maria's kidnapping and some of the past about spirit detectives and spirit foxes. When they were done explaining, Jade blinked.

"You expect me to believe that load of b.." she began but was taken aback when Kurama formed a rose whip and Hiei showed his Jagan eye.

"And you do expect me to believe it..which..I..do..." Jade said mystified and terrified at the same time. Maria smiled slightly now that she knew someone who she could talk to about makai and spirit world things.

"So now you know," Maria told her friend. Jade nodded her head. But then afterwards she became very rigid and shivered. Her pupils began to dialate and then she could move again. But it wasn't Jade.

"Kurama, Maria, Hiei," the voice screached from the normal alto voice of the girl as she stood up.

"So good to see you!! This is very interesting. You are letting more and more people know about you guys! Not that that is a bad thing." the voice continued,"But now I must say why I am really here. Prepare for pain, torture, and death," the voice said. Then with a flash, it was Jade again. She began to pant heavily breathing in air. She began to fell over but Hiei was quick and caught her in his arms. He lowed her to sit with her back against the wall.

"What just happened?" Jade asked, her voice somewhat cracked.

"Whoever that was just gave us a warning Kurama," Hiei said with a snarl.

"Yes,"Kurama agreed. He glanced at Maria who had moved her way to Jade's side.

"Then lets go tell Koenma," Maria told them.

"Not you two. You and Kurama need sleep. I will tell him. And I am bring Maria's friend with me," Hiei commanded. He moved to grab Jade and pulled her up. She looked at him oddly and he scowled.

"You are coming with me to tell Koenma what just happened, they need rest," Hiei said and pulled the girl to the window.

"But so do I..." jade said but Hiei and jade was gone.

"I wonder...who that was..." Maria said.

A/N - yeah! A chapter that is actually kinda long! ^_^ Stay tuned for The Love of a Rose, Saga 2: The bonds of friendship and love.