Random: Well, I am back again! And you thought you had gotten rid of me, for shame.

Kai: We thought we had gotten rid of you?

Random: Didn't you? I could have sworn I heard you plotting.........

Kai: Plotting? (makes innocent face and rocks back and forth on her heels) No, what would ever give you that idea?

Random: ....... 'cause i don't trust you?

Kia: Is that a question or a statement?

Random: (pouting) Not telling...................

Kai: (sighs) She owns nothing, K'? Yu Yu Hakusho belongs to some other dude, so NO LAWYERS!

Last Time:

A dark figure appeared next to her. Crouching down, the figure brushed a lock of hair from her face. He sighed,

running a hand through his own hair. He stood and looked down at Mariko. He quickly strapped her katanas and

backpack to his back and carefully picked her up.

"I can't believe I am doing this," he grumbled as he started off in the direction of the house.

Chap.11

Back at the House

Half an hour after everyone had left and Kurama was seated at the couch with his head in his hands, a figure blurred into the room. Kurama looked up. Hiei stood in front of him, Mariko in his arms.

"Must I do everything around here?" he sneered, lying her down on the couch Kurama had just rose from.

"Well, Hiei, we haven't seen you in a while. Has it been three weeks? Or maybe four?" said Kurama coolly.

"Don't mock me, fox!" snapped Hiei, straightening, "I've been in the Makai dealing with …business…"

"You can't run away from your problems forever, Hiei."

" I am not running away!"

"Yes, you are! You haven't confronted Mariko since Taru appeared! You haven't even seen or spoken to her! You've been avoiding any contact with her! Purposely disappearing when you sense her presence! Even when she is a mile or so away!"

" None of that is true!"

"It is and you know it!" Kurama practically shouted, "And it is wrong!"

"Hn," Hiei snorted, walking toward the door.

"It's killing her, you know," Kurama said quietly at Hiei's retreating back.

Hiei stopped and slowly turned, focusing his red eyes on squarely on Kurama. Kurama shifted under the steely gaze, but hen stood firm and glared right back.

"What are you talking about?" Hiei asked quietly, a soft menace under his words.

"She's dying. Slowly using up her strength as she fights Taru off. She eats so little. She doesn't sleep. Nightmares plague her, whether she is awake or asleep. Through them, Taru threatens her and is slowly sapping away her life. Taru has attacked us many a time and it is Mariko, not us, who is suffering. This is not something I can heal."

"Why are you not protecting her?" hissed Hiei, stepping closer.

"We are doing what we can."

"Well, it is obviously not good enough!"

"Hiei do not make the mistake of thinking that you are the only one here who cares for Mariko! We don't want her hurt any more than you do!"

"I don't care what happens to the onna…"

"Why do you keep denying it?! Are you afraid to care for someone?"

Even as Kurama spoke, Hiei strode into the kitchen to find food. Kurama sighed and quickly called up the gang to give them the news. Soon everyone was gathered around the table, except Mariko who was fast asleep on the couch.

"I know why she was leaving," Hiei said, studying his blade, " I read her mind as I brought her home."

"Oh?" inquired Kurama as Kuwa and Yusuke fidgeted.

"She felt like she was putting all of you in danger. She thinks that all of this is her fault and that she is imposing on you by staying here. So she decided to lure Taru away by leaving. And she was going to just keep running and never stop. She felt horribly guilty and didn't want to get any one of you hurt."

"Get hurt? How could she even think that?" scoffed Yusuke.

"I believe she was mainly worried about Botan, Keiko, and Yukina, not you, Detective," said Hiei scornfully.

"She shouldn't worry," said Yukina softly.

"Hn. I must be going," Hiei said coldly and turned to the door, "Don't tell that I found her. As a matter of fact, don't mention me. Tell her the oaf or idiot found her."

"Fine, Hiei" said Kurama, exasperated, and then mumbled, "Scaredy…"

"I heard that!" said Hiei said, stalking out.

Hour Later

"Oh, gods," mumbled Mariko as she opened her eyes, only to be blinded by a fluorescent light.

"Oh, you're awake," said Kurama, peering at her over the morning paper.

"Crap. Where am I? How did I get back here?"

"Kuwabara found you in the forest and brought you home."

"Oh. Well, that plan didn't really work,"

"Obviously."

The two stared at each other in silence. Mariko sighed and collapsed lazily back onto the couch. Kurama simply went back to his reading.

"Well, whatever. I'm gonna go unpack," said Mariko, getting up.

"That's fine."

"Um, yeah, okay."

She started up the stairs with her pack, but then stopped and turned back around.

"Um, sorry if I worried you guys."

"It's alright. You thought you were doing the right thing, but next time, talk to us," Kurama replied, never glancing from his paper.

"God, you sound like my dad or something."

"I thought you had no father?"

"True. But you're still acting like one."

"Hm."

"We're all one big, happy, screwed-up family."

"Oh?" said Kurama, actually looking up, "How so?"

"Well, you're the calm, sensible dad. Yukina is the sweet, caring mom. Keiko is a gossiping yet loving older sister. Botan is like an eccentric great-aunt that lives with us. Kuwabara is the stupid but sometimes baby boy cute and funny little brother. And Yusuke is the obnoxious, disgusting, but still nice, older brother. And I'm the adopted punk youngest child. Too bad everyone is dating someone else in the family or it could all work out."

"I see. And what about Hiei?"

"He's the cold-hearted, self-centered, lone-wolf uncle who only visits when it is convenient and prosperous to him!" Mariko snarled as she whirled and stomped upstairs.

"Oooooo," said Kurama in a low voice, "Harsh!"

Later that Night

"Are you sure we should leave her alone?" Keiko whispered to Botan and Yukina as the stood outside Mariko's door.

"I can hear you, ya know," said Mariko dryly from the other side of the door.

"Well, it is only the truth!" growled Botan, still mad at Mariko's runaway attempt.

"Did Kurama even tell you why I ran?" snapped Mariko, her fury building as she stepped outside her room.

"Well, no," admitted Botan then defensively said, "But no reason is good enough! It was probably self-centered anyway!"

"Self-centered!? Self-centered!?" shrieked Mariko, throwing up her hands, "I was trying to save you! To draw Taru away! I was trying to protect you! How can you say that was being self-centered!? HOW?!"

"I…" faltered Botan, regretting her words instantly and wishing she could take them back, "I'm sorry. That was wrong. Mariko. I didn't mean it!"

Botan reached out toward Mariko, looking guiltily apologetic. Mariko jerked out of her reach, whirled around back into her room, and slammed the door, causing the whole house to shake. Botan stood there is shocked and saddened silence. Yukina tentatively touched he shoulder, causing Botan to wrench her gaze from Mariko's angrily closed door. The room practically radiated waves of fury.

"C'mon, Botan. Let her cool off. We should head to our rooms for some rest as well," she whispered.

Mariko, on the other hand, stood in the middle of her room, fuming. Her gaze flickered around the room, making her feel like a trapped animal within the four walls. Suddenly her anger dissipated, a tremendous sadness taking its place. She collapsed on her bed, her energy spent. She held up her hands. They were shaking.

"It's true, I suppose," she mused unhappily, "My strength is leaving me. I really am dying again. But this time, off all things, that jerk Taru is killing me himself. I must be pathetic to be killed by such a cowardly jerk. I don't even have enough strength to get angry any more."

Mariko let her hands drop onto the bed. She stared at the ceiling until sleep claimed her. Two hours later, Yukina checked in on her to see Mariko curled up on top of the comforter. Yukina slipped inside and covered Mariko with her blanket. Mariko mumbled something, obviously sleeping, and rolled over. Yukina quietly slipped out, closing the door.

Soon everyone was asleep, in bed. All but Yusuke. Yusuke remained on the couch, watching T.V. all night long, quietly guarding Mariko. Guarding her from both Taru and from escaping again. He remained his watchful vigil until daybreak, certain that Taru had not broken in or Mariko had not broken out. He would have heard, he was sure. He was the Spirit Detective of the house after all.

"Aaaaaiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" the scream blasted through the house.

"What the?!" Yusuke snapped up and was up the stairs in a heartbeat.

Yukina stood in Mariko's doorway, her hands on her heart, and leaning on the doorframe for support. Kurama, Botan, Keiko, and Kuwabara were running down the hallway toward her in a panic. Yusuke reached her first, just as she fell backwards in a dead faint. Yusuke caught her, trying frantically to see in Mariko's room so he could know what had shocked Yukina so much. Kurama took Yukina and Yusuke elbowed his way into the room, Kurama peering in behind him.

"Ye Gods," breathed Kurama as a horrible sight met his eyes.

Random: And we will leave it there for this evening!

Kai: That is not very nice......

Random: Oh well!

Kai: Meanie!

Random: Well, I am not sure when I will update again becuase finals are coming up and I am having a brain block. Its like knowing where you want to go, but not knowing how to get there, ya know?

Kai: That made no sense what-so-ever.

Random: Did too!

Kai: Did not!

Random: Just think about it. As for my readers, review if you want. If you don't want to, then don't do it! But it would be cool if you did. Ta!

P.S. Never eat a green kumquat................