Rea: so that's how you do the chapter thingy...

Disclaimer: I do not own YYH, only the 7up that I got hyper on.

Chapter Two

"There is not enough darkness in the whole world to extinguish the light of one small candle."

Spanish Proverb

Minna was hanging on as tight as she could to the woman named Boton. Minna's coal-like eyes surveyed the lands below her as she gasped in amazement.

"My Granddad lives over there! Oh! Oh! My cousin used to live over there!" Minna smiled as she recognized all of the familiar sights, the trauma of the day temporarily forgotten.

Boton smiled to herself. Minna was a sweet little girl. True, her eyes would give you the creeps at first but you got used to it. She was enjoying the ride with Death as much as anyone could.

"Hey, Boton?"

"Hmm?"

"Where am I going? Will I be safe like Mama wants me to be?"

Boton hesitated for a moment, trying to put the answer into words. "You're going to Prince Koenma's house. Do you know who Koenma is?"

Minna smiled. "Of course I do, silly! We used to go to his house a lot when I was littler. I learned how to make pretty balls that glowed fire. It was fun! Will I learn how to make more stuff glow with fire?"

Boton smiled painfully. "Yes, Minna."

Minna smiled and turned back to examining the ground. Boton sighed as she wiped a lone tear away from her eye. Boton had known Minna's family well. Minna's mother and Boton had been like sisters. The loss was a great toll on the Grim Reaper.

"Wow! What's that, Boton?" Minna gasped, pointing at the great portal that had appeared in the sky. Boton smiled.

"That, little Minna, is a portal to Spirit World."

.:Koenma's Office:.

"Koenma, sir! I've got Minna!"

Minna walked into the room grasping Boton's hand tightly and hid behind Boton as she was introduced. Boton smiled and moved Minna forward for Koenma to see. Minna avoided his gaze and fingered her beautiful necklace as she stared at the floor. Minna got a good look at her knees and saw that they were all black. She released Boton's hand and wiped them off, looking up at Koenma for a brief second before taking a second glance. She started laughing as she looked at the baby Koenma.

"Koenma, you're a baby now! How do you go back?" Minna asked, giggling.

"Uhh…special powers!" Koenma said, looking Minna in the eye and making a funny face. Minna laughed some more and took her necklace out of her pocket.

"Lookie, Koenma! Isn't it pretty? I found it in the forest next to my house before it turned into black dust. My mama said that black and silver were like Mama and Papa so I think that I was meant to find this so that I would always remember them." Minna watched Koenma examine it and played with her white hair.

"Yes, it certainly is pretty. Boton, would you take her to a spare room? Make sure that she's comfortable, please." Koenma gave Boton a meaningful look as she nodded, shepherding Minna out the door. Koenma sighed. "Poor Minna. I wonder if she realizes just how alone she is now…"

.:Some Hallway in Koenma's Palace:.

"Are we lost?" Minna asked, looking around at the familiar wallpaper.

Boton sweatdropped. "Of course not, Minna. I just can't seem to remember exactly where you're supposed to live…"

Minna nodded and knotted her brow. "Soo…we're lost…right?"

Boton sighed and shook her head. She was at a loss. She leaned against the wall, explaining to Minna that she needed a rest for a couple of minutes. Minna nodded, sat on the floor, and looked at her necklace. Minna started to hum a children's nursery rhyme that Boton remembered having been sung herself.

Boton's head began to cloud as she drifted into a light sleep. Minna noticed and stopped singing.

Boton might not like noise during naps, Minna thought. Minna stuffed the necklace into her pocket and stood up. She looked both ways down the hall and began walking up and down the length of it. She did this for a while, waiting for Boton to wake up, when she saw someone walking up the stairs. She smiled and went down to meet them.

"Hello," Minna said. "I'm Minna. Who're you?"

The young man had black spiky hair and a complete black wardrobe save for a sash on his forehead. His crimson eyes glared at Minna slightly but she ignored the gaze and asked her question again. The man frowned slightly and responded.

"Hiei."

Minna smiled. "It's good to meet you, Hiei. Do you live here too?"

"No," Hiei said, going up the stairs again. Minna rushed to catch up with him.

"What're you doing here then? Do you work for Koenma?" Minna bumped into his legs as he stopped abruptly and glared at her.

"I work for no one."

Minna rubbed her nose, cocked her head and thought for a second. She shrugged it off and caught up with him again.

"Then why're you here?"

Hiei gave the girl a confused look. Why was she pestering him so much? Didn't she have a babysitter or something to keep her out of people's way?

"I just am."

Minna nodded and continued walking. She walked with him the entire length of the hallway before he saw Boton. He stopped walking and stared at her with a slightly amused look. Minna followed his gaze and smiled.

"That's Boton. She's helping me find my room."

Hiei walked over to the sleeping Grim Reaper and kicked her lightly. Boton woke with a start and squeaked with embarrassment as she saw Hiei.

"Oh! Hello, Hiei! Hehe…if you could forget to mention this to Koenma—"

"I'll forget about it if you take this away," Hiei said coldly, pushing Minna to Boton.

"Oh! Of course," Boton blushed slightly as she took Minna by the hand and led her out of the hallway.

"Oh good," Minna said happily, "you remembered the way!"

Boton sweatdropped. "Eh…not really."