Random: And another chapter is here!

Hiei:Why must you always state the obvious?

Random: Anyway.....review if ya want but it would be cool to read what all ya'l haveto say about my story.

Last Time:

"Yay!" shouted Botan as she dragged Mariko and Hiei toward the door. Hiei looked back at Kurama with a death glare. Kuram just waved and smiled, turning away.

Chap. 2

At the mall, Mariko and Hiei hung back while Botan rushed on ahead. She popped in and out of racks, delightfully showing Mariko bright colored outfits. Mariko smiled faintly, grabbing Botan by the arm, and dragged her into a small, dark corner store.

"Mariko, do you like black?" a surprised Botan asked as she peered into the darkness.

"Yeah. Black, red, and sometimes I will wear white if I am wearing a black coat, cloak, or sweatshirt. Other colors are just not me," replied Mariko while she looked at a tight black tank top with a red stripe across the bottom.

Hiei smirked, thinking that Mariko wore similar clothes to him and at how shocked Botan looked. Mariko headed toward the changing room while Botan bounced on her toes excitedly and Hiei slumped in a chair, sulking. She would come out and Botan would nod enthusiastically, and then go looking for more clothes.

Hiei's POV

" Interesting. She is small, but a dangerous fighter. She wears black and red. Sometimes white. Like me. She … is kinda pretty. Wha? What are these foolish ningen emotions? But still…" I mused in my head, reluctant to give any emotion.

" Gee, Hiei, I think you like Mariko," came Kurama's teasing voice in my head.

" Kurama? Wha? … how … but, how…grrr…" I growled at him, " Butt out! What are you doing in my mind? I do NOT like her!!"

" Sure, Hiei. Whatever you say. Anyway, you need to return to the house. Koenma seemingly has a new mission for us. He won't tell us what it is until you return, but I suspect it has something to do with Mariko, seeing how I told him about her as soon as I learned her name."

I frowned, pondering what Mariko's connection to the demons chasing her was. Was she lying to us? Does she really know what is going on? Is she using us for protection from her stalkers?

" What's wrong Hiei? Don't you like this outfit?" teased Mariko, interrupting my thoughts. I scowled at her, wondering why I could not be mad at her.

"What?! Oh. Ummm… baka onna! We need to leave now!" I growled stalking off, confused why I am being so nice to this onna. Why? Why? Why?

Normal POV

Mariko and Botan entered the house, each carrying a small bag. Hiei stumbled in after them, carrying 3 huge bags and 2 boxes and, not being able to see where he was going, ran into a doorframe. He landed on his butt, the bags and boxes scattered across the floor. Yusuke and Kuwabara burst out laughing, but quickly stopped when Hiei sent them a death glare.

" She," he hissed, still on the floor, " just about bought out the store!"

Kurama winced, thinking, " There goes my credit card." He tried to smile in spite of it. Mariko went and changed into a black tank top over a red t-shirt and black pants almost identical to Hiei's. She came back out and strapped her katana on. Then she punched Kuwabara and Yusuke into a wall. (They had been drooling.) Hiei looked at her wit something like admiration and maybe shock. Mariko stood and turned to leave. Hiei grabbed her wrist, pulling her back around.

"Where are you going?"

" To find out who tried to kill me," came her flat answer.

" Hey, now wait. We all have to come," protested Yusuke.

" No way. I fight alone."

" Koenma, Kurama, can I tell her now? Pleeeaassseee…" whined Yusuke.

" I suppose," sighed Koenma, who was floating in the middle of the room.

" Did that toddler just talk?" questioned Mariko as Yusuke cracked up.

" I am not a toddler," he said, sounding cross, " I am the great Koenma, ruler of the Spirit World. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei are my Spirit Detectives of the Ningenkai and Makai. They keep youkai, called demons, in check and out of the Ningenkai. They all have harnessed spirit energy that they can use in some form to fight. They are to protect you."

" Spirit Detectives, huh. Yeah, well, I want you to prove it. You are just trying to make me look like a fool."

" Now, Mariko I know this is hard for you hear and believe. But you are not human. You are a fire youkai trapped in a human form. Your demon form is almost the same as your human form. There are a few, um, physical changes, but you will find those out later. In your demon form, you are very powerful, as you once were."

Hiei's eyes widened as he mouthed, " fire youkai" to himself. Kurama glanced at him, suddenly uneasy. Yukina laid a small hand on Kurama's arm and he relaxed a bit. Yukina glanced shyly up at Kurama, who smiled softly at her. Hiei glared daggers at him.

Mariko was still dealing with what Koenma had just told her. She looked frightened at herself. She kept turning her hands over and over, inspecting the rest of her body.

" But I can't be. You… you are lying. Messing with my head."" I wish I was, but even my father, King Yama, believes it to be true. You demon name is Kalachi. You used to be a demon bandit, a very powerful one. Do you ever fell a deep burning anger inside you?"

" Yes. How did you know?" was the whispered reply.

" That is your demon side. It is trapped inside your soul."

Mariko tottered, then started to fall. Hiei reached to and returned her to the chair she had been sitting in earlier. She was very pale and the red on the ends of her hair grew brighter. Koenma glanced at them and smiled.

" You are shocked. I know. Rest. Then you and the YYH gang will be sent to the Makai. And by the way, the red parts of your hair are letting you know that you are a demon. Look at them glow. We need to find out whoa is stalking you and why."

" Yeah. Okay. But I don't want to rest."

" Yeah, Koenma. We are going to party all night long. I mean, if we gotta go on another mission, then we are going to have some fun first," piped up Yusuke.

" Fine. Just be ready for the portal tomorrow at 9: 00 sharp," Koenma snapped.