A/N: Yo! Thanks to Dark_Shadow_Hiei and Silverchild of the winds, who kindly reviewed my first chapter. To the latter, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Gee, I was hoping you would enjoy the rest, demo, I guess it can't be helped. I wanted to do the story that way so that I won't have to make long, boring explanations and stupid intros. I have a stupid bad habit of dragging stories 'cause I wanna make sure my characters knew each other well enough to spark anything. Anyway, thanks again for the reviews. Chapter two's up next!

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH but since I'm writing about them, they're…in my possession for now. Mizuko is mine though.

"…" talk

[…] thoughts

Italic dreaming or emphasis

* * * * * * changes in scene/time

Chapter 2: Shinjitsu: The Truth

"She might wake soon. The injury wasn't serious." [Voices? Where am I?] "Mou, you're so careless, Yuusuke! How could you fight there with her in the middle?" [Yuusuke?] "Hey, would you stop yelling at me already?" "Bleh!" "Ikagenishiro, futari tomo!" "Mmmh…" "Oh, she's waking up!"

Mizuko opened her eyes slowly. She realized that she was staring at the ceiling and very close to the floor. She looked around and saw three people staring at her. One was an old woman, very small with pink hair. Another at her side had light blue hair tied in a ponytail. The boy had greenish hair and it was combed back. [Hey, that looks like Urameshi Yuusuke. Yuusuke?!] Mizuko sat up quickly but then her head and neck throbbed in pain. She winced and the girl helped her up. "Arigatou…" [She's so like Botan. What the hell is happening?]

Suddenly, the shoji slid open and a few other people entered the room. She stared at them, recognition flooding back into her head. [A red-head that's like Kurama, orange haired Kuwabara. I suppose the girl with mint hair must be Yukina.] "Okay, either I'm dreaming or someone's cosplaying real good." Mizuko said that aloud. "Unfortunately, both are wrong." Botan answered. "Holy crap! You're real?" "What is she talking about?" "It's Urameshi Yuusuke and his gang." Mizuko stared in disbelief. She pinched herself and stared again. "Okay, so I'm not dreaming. Oh my god, I can't believe this!" "You know us?" Kurama asked politely. "Hell I do! You're Youko Kurama, the fox demon that can control plants. That's Kuwabara Kazuma who uses Reiken. And that's Urameshi Yuusuke, Reikai Tantei and is actually the son of Raizen. Oh, and this must Yukina and Botan and Genkai. What?"

Yuusuke asked suspiciously, "How do you know all this?" "You're a popular anime and manga! Loads know you guys!" "Manga? Okay, I'll need explanations but later. First of all, how are you feeling?" "Okay, I guess." Mizuko rubbed the bump on her head but stopped. Memories of last night flooded back into her mind. She came home and her parents were, were… Mizuko began to shake. "If you're real, then my parents, are they really…" She trailed off unable to say the word dead. The group looked upset and Botan offered her a few words of consolation, "Gomenasai, but they are…dead." The word struck her like a rock and she was too shocked to even feel anything. No tears, no screams, nothing. Genkai broke the silence, "That is enough. Let the girl rest before you bring her to Koenma." They nodded and left Mizuko alone in her shock.

* * * * * * 

Mizuko walked through the huge doors with Botan and Yuusuke flanking her side. "Koenma-sama, we have brought her." Koenma looked up from his paperwork "Ah, Yuusuke, Botan, gokurosama." Koenma then clasped his hands together in front of him. (A/N: You know, the let's-get-down-to-business look) He surveyed the girl silently before speaking. "Sairen Mizuko, do you know why you are brought here?" Mizuko shook her head. Yuusuke hadn't filled her in on anything yet. "Right." Koenma shifted a little and looked at her with serious eyes. "Ayame, bring me her file." "Hai, Koenma-sama." After a while, Ayame reentered with a file in her hands. She began to read out her general profile. "Sairen Mizuko, 17 this year. Father a doctor and mother a secretary. Generally known as a hard-working student who likes to help her friends. Friendly, considerate and has no major negative traits. Seldom gets angry but have been labeled as dangerously scary when she loses her temper. Has a history of being able to see spirits when young but the ability seemed to have diminished with time." Mizuko listened to her own profile, surprised. Something stirred in her mind when Ayame said she can see spirits.

"This information may prove to be a shock, so please brace yourself." Mizuko nodded absently. What can be more shocking than her parents' death? "You are a hanyou." It took a few seconds for that to sink in. "Nani?" "You are a hanyou. Half demon and half human." Mizuko stared at Koenma with huge eyes, spluttering, "S-Sonna?! It's got to be a mistake! I'm not half demon. I-I can't be! My parents are human!" When Koenma didn't look at her, "A-Aren't they?" Koenma sighed. [This will hurt her.] "Your current parents are actually your foster parents. They…are not your real relatives." "W-what?" Mizuko said weakly. [Not my real parents? Then…] "Listen, you are in danger now. Demon activities have increased near your home recently and after last night, the victim clearly was you. We have found out that someone is after you. As to who and why, we have yet to find out." There was no response so he continued, "Since your foster parents are…gone," he noticed Mizuko stiffened and said in a gentler tone "You'll live with Genkai. Ii no ka?" Drawing a shaky breath, Mizuko managed to nodded. "Then, I trust you will want to pick up a few things. I will send Hiei to accompany you." "Arigotou."

* * * * * *

Mizuko entered her home with a heavy heart. She saw that her *foster* parents'…bodies, were gone. Sighing, she suppressed her sadness and went about, packing clothes and other necessities. [Let's see, I've got enough clothes, shampoo and stuff, my walkman in case I'm bored, what else? Ah, one more thing!] She went into her room and rummaged in her cupboard. [Doko da? Doko da yo?] "Ah!" She held up something that sparkled in the light. A bracelet made of clear stones. Her mother's quartz crystal bracelet. She slipped it on fondly. Her mother gave it to her as a birthday gift but she rarely donned jewelry on school days. Suddenly, a photo frame caught her eyes.

Meanwhile, Hiei stood in the living room, cursing Koenma for sending him to look after a baka ningen, what's more a ningen onna. [I'll kill Koenma. Making me baby-sit a ningen.] In her room, Mizuko picked up the photo frame and examined it. It was a family photo. A sudden loneliness stabbed her heart and tears surged to her eyes. She blinked them back. [Don't you cry!] She hastily put down the photo and straightened herself. "Itai!" she grasped her neck which was producing a burning pain. It hurt so badly that she could barely open her eyes. The pain in her neck also made her head hurt. [Uhh…it's like I have no energy at all.] She fumbled around for something to hold on to. Her hands knocked a bedside lamp over and it fell with a crash. Mizuko fell forward into someone's arms before her consciousness left her.

A/N: How was the second chapter? Hope it wasn't too dull, I'm no good at expressing depression and sadness T~T Anyhow, I tried my best and I'll work on improving it. I like to do things in a building way, so it may get draggy sometimes. Bad habit. I'll try to change that. Oh yeah, do you guys understand the Japanese words coz if you don't, tell me and I'll include the meanings as well. Ja, please review, ne? Arigatou ^_^