A/N: Sorry for not updating in a while but here's chapter 5! Contribute to the good ol' R&R fund! Thanks and enjoy!

Once the phone went dead, Yusuke ran a hand through his jet-black hair and sighed heavily. "Kurama said to try the music stores…" Everyone went silent for a few seconds. "Crap, how did we NOT think of that first?" Youko said, stroking the imaginary goatee and raising an eyebrow. "And I was just there so I can take you anyway. And I'll switch this stupid CD for some better folk tunes and stuff like that. Cool, now the trip's going to double up as something! There's always something better to look forward to in this hellhole of a mall! Forward march!" Youko said cheerfully, Yusuke running to catch up with him while Botan let her shoulders fall as she excruciatingly followed behind, as if she knew that her headache would worsen. "So which store was it, Youko?" Yusuke asked, scrutinizing every single store. "Er…I think it was called…Pineapples. Yeah. That's it." "That's a really whacked out name for a music store," Yusuke said, closing an eye. "Yeah, I know. But I ain't the one naming the place so…" Youko paused and noticed that they were suddenly standing in front of the said store lo and behold. "HIEI! WHERE ARE YOU?" Yusuke screamed, not wasting anytime in trying to find the Philharmonic half-pint. However, there seemed to be no answer and the three of Hiei's 'friends' cautiously entered the just barely illuminated music store. "I feel like we're in the Matrix…" Youko said in between snickers while Yusuke went on and grinned that oh so loving trademark grin of his. "Shut up, Agent Smith and Agent Stupid," Botan remarked...surely saving the stupid comment for none other than the Reikai Tantei.

"Well, this is productive," Yusuke announced some odd thirty minutes later. "Half an hour of searching and there's no sign of him." "Well, there IS more than one music store here, Yusuke," snapped Botan irritably. Her temper had been getting increasingly shorter as time went on. The gel-haired slacker groaned. "You mean we have to search them all?" Youko sighed. "Okay, at the very least we should split up, right? That way we can cover more ground. I mean, it's not like he could have just vanished." Botan and Yusuke exchanged a dark glance. Forty-five Minutes Later... "And now we've wasted an hour and fifteen minutes," Yusuke told everyone as they met up again, glancing casually at the clock on his cell phone. "Congratulations, people." "WE GET IT, OKAY YUSUKE?!!!" Botan screeched, getting dangerously close to the end of her rope. Then, pointedly ignoring the shell-shocked and vaguely traumatized looks on the boys' faces, she tapped her foot, thinking deeply. "Now, if I were a drunk, psychotic, cold-blooded kleptomaniac, where would I be...?" She clapped her hands. "Of course! To Carvel, people!"

In no time at all, they were at the entrance of the sweet shop. Carvel: the place that makes dentistry a VERY rewarding job indeed. No one can resist the allure of a soft serve ice cream cone. The wasted Jaganshi was surely no exception. "Hiei, get your butt back here right now!" Yusuke screamed, obviously his patience was wearing thin. Wait a minute… that was an understatement. He had LOST his patience at the last music store and it sure as hell wasn't coming back to him. "HIEI! NOW!" Yusuke tried again while his two 'friends' waited ever patiently (well as patiently as two stressed out people can possibly be) while Yusuke wasted all of his energy screaming at the top of his lungs at a youkai who was as stubborn as a mule. "If you don't get out of that store…" Yusuke stopped and tapped an index finger against his chin for a few seconds, trying his very hardest to think under less than normal circumstances. "Uh, if you get out here…" Another pause. "AHA! If you get out here, then you get to see Botan's underwear!" Youko whipped out his trusty video camera, but not before rolling on the floor, dying of laughter. And like a moth to a flame, Hiei threw his ice cream cone in a random direction and came flying out of the store like the psychotic, cold-blooded kleptomaniac that he was.

(Un)Fortunately, he once again tripped over his feet and sprawled out unceremoniously on the floor. "...Itai..." Botan blinked slowly. "You know, something just occurred to me..." "And that would be what?" asked Yusuke exasperatedly. "...I'm tired," the blue-haired girl informed him, swaying on her feet and looking very ready to pass out. The irate Tantei threw his hands up in the air. "Oh, for the love of--Botan?!!!" he yelled, as the deity suddenly keeled over where she stood. For once Hiei's drunken state came in handy, as he scrambled to his feet and caught her. Then promptly lost his balance again. "And another one bites the dust..." Youko sang quietly from behind his video camera. Yusuke was dismayed to hear a stifled yawn from the brunette as well. He gave a rueful sigh, looking down at Botan. "Well, it IS already past two in the morning," he muttered. "Actually, I think it was the aspirin," Youko chipped in. "Y'know, all those 'may cause drowsiness' labels aren't for naught." "I'll take your word for it..." "Guys...?" Hiei asked softly from his position on the floor. Both boys stared at him. "...I don't wanna be drunk anymore..."

"The hell you don't!" Yusuke said as he waved more popcorn in front of the little youkai's face. He took it and began eating again only because he was seemingly hungry. The last time that he ate was when Botan had gotten him drunk in the first place. "I really don't wanna be drunk hic anymore!" Hiei protested as he gently placed Botan on a nearby bench and gave an exasperated sigh followed by a pained moan. Hangover time? Possibly…wait… Youko and Yusuke noticed Hiei holding his head. Oh Kami-sama. VERY possible. "What the Jigoku is wrong with my head? What a mother…f…" Hiei muttered under his breath as he looked down at the floor. "SHIT!" Youko said as he hid his video camera. From what he remembered of Hiei, he knew for a definite fact that he would ANNIHILATE his prized recording device if any of his three eyes laid upon it. "What, ningen? You have something relatively foolish to say that'll add to this headache? Don't you dare say a word." Hiei said bitterly. Oh yeah. The cold and arrogant bastard act was back in full swing. "And wait a minute…what is…Yusuke doing here?!" "Hey, Hiei ol' buddy ol' pal! How's it hanging?" Yusuke said, followed by a whistle. "You don't remember anything," Youko innocently inquired, trying to get on the koorime's good side. "What exactly…do I have to remember about a uninteresting ningen 'mall' like this? Nothing, that's what…" "Err…maybe you should at least tap into your Jagan and find out?" Yusuke said, raising both eyebrows. Oh yeah, the Jaganshi was going to snap sometime soon…once he found out at least…

"His WHAT?" Youko asked, giving both of them strange looks. Yusuke immediately snapped his mouth shut, and Hiei winced before giving his fellow Tantei a poisonous glare. Tactful, aren't we Yusuke? the pained Jaganshi spat via telepathy. Yusuke cringed--not out of fear, but from the fact that a little of Hiei's hangover had somehow leaked through the link. "Erm, nothing..." he muttered. Hiei looked over at Botan. "What time is it, when did she fall asleep, and how the hell did you end up here?" he demanded. Youko and Yusuke both blinked. "Uhh...2:27, a few minutes ago, and can't really answer that," the two said in unison, then each immediately gave the other a weird look. "And why, pray tell, are there over two hours of my memory missing?" Yusuke laughed nervously. "Goooooood question...say Hiei, what's the last thing you DO remember?" In the background, Youko snuck off to find a backpack so he could more easily conceal his video camera from the now sober (and rather pissed off) fire demon. Hiei thought for a moment. "I remember...being in the food court...and then..." He suddenly turned suspicious eyes toward the sleeping ferry girl. "Hey! Shounen!" he snapped at Youko, who was quite conveniently just returning, now with bookbag in hand. "What in HELL'S NAME did the onna put in my food?!" Youko grinned. "Got me," he answered, shrugging innocently.

"I know that something happened, Shounen…" Hiei hissed angrily, an aura forming around his right arm that only Yusuke could see. "I already told you, idiot!" Yusuke snapped, already knowing that he was doomed with Hiei no matter what he did or said. Might as well go out with a bang. "Look into your damned Jagan and see for yourself! What are we? Your BABYSITTERS?!" Hiei's eyebrow twitched in annoyance and did as the Reikai Tantei arrogantly spat out. Silence filled the dreary mall setting and Hiei clenched a fist as he started to see rather vivid images float into his head (but not as vivid as the video camera shots). He could see himself kissing Botan not once but a grand total of twice! Pictures of himself back flipping into a pile of cardboard boxes, him eating rum-flavored popcorn, him singing his very own Wild Wind, him wishing for…world peace? Enough was definitely enough! "What the JIGOKU?!" Hiei screamed with a certain eerie echo intensifying his already intimidating reaction. But that wasn't all. He also saw Youko's video camera obviously poking out of his knapsack. So much for playing secret agent. "Give that to me," Hiei said. "Er…I'm…a black belt?" Youko squeaked as he casually walked to the side and let Yusuke deal with him. "Good luck bud," Yusuke whispered in the brunette's ear, giving him a good pat on the back. "THE NINGEN IS GOING TO NEED IT," Hiei roared again. "Whoa, whoa! I joined this bloodthirsty troupe and I did the LEAST to make you seem like a blundering idiot! Why me?!"

"Cause you have the damn camera, that's why," Yusuke snorted, rolling his eyes. "Geez, even I know that and I'm our little group's renowned idiot." "Not true. Kuwabaka happens to be an iota dumber than you," Hiei tossed over his shoulder, still glaring black death at the brunette boy. Youko stared stoically for a moment, then suddenly began glaring back. "Okay, okay, from what I've heard and seen there's no doubt in my mind that you wouldn't kill me, but you people OBVIOUSLY aren't normal, so can I PLEASE have an explanation before I bite the big one?" Hiei blinked. Yusuke blinked. Youko blinked. Botan mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, effectively breaking the silence. Yusuke grinned slightly. "Explanation before you die...? Well, luckily you aren't allowed to die for two reasons: Hiei over here will get thrown in jail for a few centuries, and the Grim Reaper is currently taking a little nappy-nap on the bench right there." Both Youko and Hiei stared at him as though he were insane. "Uh...what?" asked Youko blankly, and at the same time Hiei shouted angrily, WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!!!!!!

"Cool your jets, Jaganshi," Yusuke said as he put up a hand. "This guy's cool with authority now cause I said so!" Yusuke let off a casual grin and Youko was still standing there, half dumbfounded and half afraid…so afraid that he might wet his pants. "All right…Youko… err…what's your last name?" "Tasekano." The teen had hardly thought that that question was relevant but didn't press charges. "Okay, Tasekano…the thing is…this guy is a demon…I am a Reikai Tantei, and Botan over there is Death…literally." Quit while you're ahead, BAKA YAROU Hiei's malevolence pierced through Yusuke like a thousand knives would through silk. Crap. "So, yeah, now you know…and stuff…and now I'll let Hiei kill you!" "WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE?" Youko cried, hiding his precious camera, now aware that he would go into history as the first HUMAN to survive and record a wasted DEMON in action. "Yeah, and Hiei's got a third eye…so uh, watch out!" Hiei wasted no time in trying to attack Youko for the camera. He would CERTAINLY deal with the Tantei later. Oh he was most certainly NOT getting off scott free. Nevertheless, Youko was about to shriek like a schoolgirl if it wasn't for his HANDY upchuck reflex that caused him to whack the 5' youkai with his schoolbag. "Uh…that was…deliberate?" Youko said in a small voice, looking at Hiei, who was now lying on the floor. He appeared to be unconscious. For now. Good.

Yusuke raised an eyebrow. "What exactly did you put in there?" "Just my camera," Youko replied brightly. "...And a few bricks..." He noticed the look the other boy was giving him. "Hey, if it works for the old ladies...!" Yusuke sweatdropped. "Okay...so now we're stuck in a mall with two unconscious people. Great." Youko shrugged. "I'll take psycho demon child and you take our favorite preppy grim reaper." Yusuke was once again staring at him as though he had three heads. "WHAT?!!!! I'm used to dragging flame boy around by now! ...By, the way, he wouldn't happen to be a fire elemental, would he?" Yusuke nodded, and Youko rolled his eyes. "Figures. But for the record, I am STRAIGHT as an ARROW." Yusuke sweatdropped heavily. "I could mock you in so many ways, but it's way too late. And, well, I was just going to ask about WHERE you propose we take Dipsy and La-La over here." Youko blinked, feeling a little embarrassed. "...Oh. Okay then."

"Okay, I'm SO going for the idea of us stopping at the mattress place on floor 3…" Youko muttered to himself as he still had the Jaganshi slung over his shoulder. "Ya know, Tasekano…that sounds like a good idea. But the thing is, if we DO fall asleep in this mall, we run the risk of waking up to an angry mob in the morning…pitchforks and all." Youko sweatdropped. "You've got the imagination of…a…of a…" "14-year-old? Cause that's what I am." The teen widened his eyes. "You kidding me? I thought you were my age!" Yusuke blinked and stopped walking. "To answer your upcoming question, 18. I'm a senior in high school! THANK KAMI-SAMA!" Youko cried out, forgetting that Hiei could wake up at any given moment. But the person that they did not expect to wake up, did. Botan. Good morning…er…good EARLY morning. "Wha…Yusuke? Why are you carrying me?! Put me down right now!" Yusuke took a deep breath. "I don't want to deal with your PMSing right now. Look. What you missed when you conked out: Hiei got sober and/or has a really scary hangover problem--" "Oh no!" Botan wailed. "We should tie him up somewhere and leave him! I am NOT shortening my life by hanging out near a…" "A youkai?" Youko finished her sentence rather quickly. "You know about us then?" The brunette nodded. "Don't worry Botan. This guy's cool by association!" She let her shoulders drop. That was quite a typical and immature response from the Tantei in fact. "But about that tying up thing…that COULD work…" "Oh no, boys…NO bloodshed, vandalism, or harassment while I'm up!" Youko raised an eyebrow. Yeah, the night was growing to become more interesting by each passing second.

Botan yawned and suddenly glared downwards. "Yusuke," she began sweetly. "PUT ME THE HELL DOWN!!!!!!!" The Tantei winced and wondered whether or not he had gone deaf. Thankfully, a certain fire demon was still out cold. She glanced apprehensively at Youko. "Well...I suppose we could always just ask Hiei to use his Jagan on him..." she muttered to herself. Yusuke shrugged. "That's what I was thinking." "Thinking? You? PRAISE THE LORD AND LET US REMEMBER THIS MONUMENTAL OCCASION!!!!" Botan hollered. Youko blinked. "What exactly do you mean when you say he's gonna use his Jagan on me?" he asked, sounding vaguely panicked. "I mean, he isn't gonna vaporize me or anything, is he?!" "Nah, it's painless!" Yusuke assured him. "Well, I think...anyway, all he's gonna do is wipe your memory, okay?" "WHAT?!!!!!!!" This time, even Hiei flinched in his sleep. "Don't worry," Yusuke consoled, patting the older teen on the shoulder. "We'll put your video tape to gooooooooood use."

A/N: And that's a wrap! Sorry that we had to make Hiei conk out for a while but hey, there's comical value in it plus more explanations and tidbits to come. Please review! Manic people love reviews! Ciao!

Son Christine & Kinaka Capri