FW: (chained to pc, wearing handcuffs)

Sola: Update. (has a sword to FW's throat) Now.

FW: (grumbles and types faster than usual)

Yusuke: Think she remembers that she can't be hurt in her own territory?

All other Yu Yu characters: Probably not.

Sola: So anyway, anyone who reads this, like usual, has ME to thank for getting FW off her lazy as-

FW: No swearing.

Sola: (confused) What?
FW: No swearing. See, watch. (throws a rock at Yusuke's head. It hits)

Yusuke: AW F#CK YOU BIT#H! WHAT THE F#CK DID YOU F#CK'IN DO THAT SH#T FOR?

Sola: (amazed and thrilled) Wow!

FW: (proud of herself too)

Botan: Are they supposed to be… this mentally unstable?

Kurama: I doubt it, but there's little we can do, is there?

FW: And… I SAW STAR WARS AT LONG LAST!

Kurama: Especially now.

FW: IT WAS SO COOL! I WANNA SEE IT AGAIN SOON, AND-

Sola: WRITE DA#M IT! (shoves sword closer to FW's throat) …Ya know, that no-swearing thing IS kinda annoying from the other side….

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, or Star Wars. Uh, I don't own Santa either… or enzyme.

START

"Now, does anyone know the answer…?" Mr. Yah droned on. The classes weren't exceptionally hard, at least not for a fire demon currently enduring his chemistry block. It was the next school day following the band's disaster performance, and if Hiei ever needed a reason to glare, he'd found it.

So glare he did. At the incredibly boring teacher who looked like Santa Claus on drugs.

"Hiei, you've been here for a few weeks, and I've never seen you raise your hand. Do you understand all this?" The class's attention was brought to the shortest, and one of the more deadly, "kids" in the school.

"Only a complete idiot wouldn't," he stated flatly, earning stares from some of the more average students.

"Thanks a lot," Yusuke muttered, sitting next to his "lab partner" and teammate, none other than Hiei himself.

"Hn."

"Well, as a reminder, tomorrow is the mid term. It will be 20 percent of your overall grade, so I suggest you all study hard," Mr. Yah gave up on Hiei. "If you have any questions, now is the time to ask."

Various students raised their hands, though Yusuke wasn't among them.

Hiei glanced over at his "friend". "Is the world coming to an end and you understand everything?" He asked.

"Nope. I have no idea what I'm doing." Why was the fire demon not surprised?

"Do I have to remind you of the C or better rule?" Hiei asked, growing more annoyed by the minute.

Yusuke snickered. "Do I have to remind YOU, that our band is out of the running? That stupid rule doesn't matter anymore!"

Hiei considered this, and as much as he hated to admit it, knew the detective was right.

"Now, for your lab today, we'll be working with hydrochloric acid, so find your safety equipment…."

"Safety equipment?" Hiei scoffed at the weakness of the teenagers scurrying to protect themselves. At least he and the detective were stronger than that.

He looked over at said detective, or really, his empty seat.

"Hiei, you might want to put these on," Yusuke said carefully upon his return, holding two sets of gloves and goggles. He could see Hiei's "you just betrayed me, prepare to die" face, and didn't want to press it.

Hiei didn't answer, just gave a look that clearly said he wouldn't.

"Suit yourself."

Two hours later, it was almost time for the bell signaling the end of the day to ring, when the itcom beeped, letting everyone know the principal was about to talk.

"Mr. Nesul has requested all band students meet in the band room for an emergency meeting at this time," he said simply, static altering his voice. The itcom beeped once again, the telltale sign the message was complete.

Kuwabara was as grateful as any other band student to leave the mid-term preparation. "Honestly, why do we have to learn French anyway?" He muttered to no one in particular. "We live in Japan! Bonjour my spirit swo-" he stopped in mid-sentence, not wanting to give any information away to random kids.

So anyway, with the exception of Joane, Mia, and, sadly, Kurama, all the band students gathering into the familiar band room. Mr. Nesul was bursting with joy, humming to himself as he tidied up stray music sheets on his conductor's stand. For someone who taught music, you'd think he'd be able to sing more on key….

Once the room got quiet enough to hear his soft voice, he made the shocking announcement. "Guys, we're still in the competition!"

The room went silent in surprise.

"What?" Well, ALMOST silent. "I SAW us get our butts handed to us!" Tac yelled from somewhere in the trumpet section. Flactem covered her mouth with a hand, sweatdropping.

"Yeah…" Tsoy muttered, though not completely agreeing with the freshman's choice of words. "We should be out of the running."

Mr. Nesul winked happily, which seeing it come from a balding middle-aged man, was kind of freaky. "One of the opponent students admitted to being given steroids, so all the bands were tested. Nine bands had at least one student test positive. That makes only nine clean bands who made it to the last show, which means we're being bumped up a few places!"

"Wait a second," Botan thought frantically. "We were tested for drugs, without knowing about it!"

"Yeah isn't that kinda… I don't know… ILLEGAL!" Rackly yelled.

"Actually, no," Mr. Nesul said slowly, "adults only say you have rights to make you feel better."

Annoyed silence.

"What kind of drugs were they on?" Yusuke asked suddenly, interested in what choice brands the other band geeks tried.

"Does it really matter-" someone started to say, but the teacher answered.

"Mostly steroids, no I DON'T know what kind," he added, seeing Yusuke's big mouth start to open, with a disapproving look on his face. He glanced down at an official looking document on the stand. "And apparently," his eyebrow rose. "One band's students tested positive with enzyme."

"The natural male enhancement!" A chubby nerd stood up, proud of himself.

"Nats… please sit down," Mr. Nesul blinked.

Slightly embarrassed, the eccentric blonde, Nats, lowered himself to his seat.

"The bell's about to ring, so you should all gather your things and study for the mid-terms," Mr. Nesul finished the meeting.

Almost in sync, the high schoolers stood, herding toward the door. Somehow, Kuwabara, Yusuke, Botan, and Hiei managed to get together.

They left together, but didn't talk much. Kurama had been taken to the hospital, where he could be watched over 24/7, but the others knew full well that Hiei would spend most of his free time looking after the fox.

Kuwabara and Botan broke off from their little group to head to where they'd stay the night. For Kuwabara, that would be his house, and for Botan, well, to be honest, none of them really knew where she slept. That just left Hiei and Yusuke.

Hiei nodded his goodbye, and was about to flit off when the detective caught his right arm.

Hiei almost grimaced in pain, and Yusuke immediately let go of the burn marks snaking up his right, and most likely left, arm. "That's what you get for not wearing gloves," he chastised, smirking at the demon's stubbornness in not wearing them in chemistry.

"Did you want to insult me, or do you actually have something of relative importance to say?" Hiei growled.

"Yeah… could you help me study?"

The night went horribly slow for most students, cramming their brains with last minute information that might be on the test.

"Yusuke! You look horrible!" Botan exclaimed, seeing her friend the next morning before school started.

Yusuke glared. He knew full well that he didn't look good, but horrible? He hadn't gotten any sleep that night, had to fill himself off caffeine, and occasionally Hiei's sword poking his throat to stay awake. Not to mention he never studied before in his life, and it's not like Hiei had much tutoring experience in the Makai. Result: both weren't happy campers. Darn the C or better rule!

The only consolation he got was Kuwabara looked just as bad. The poor fool no doubt did an all-nighter too, and for school of all things!

Botan looked well, she obviously got plenty of rest,sure ofher abilities to at least pass. "Well, good luck to us all!" She said, chipper as usual.

With that, they all went their separate ways, ready to take the midterms, or as ready as they were going to get.

Quickly gaining the confidence that makes Yusuke Yusuke, he punched his palm with a fist lightly, exclaiming, "Bring it on!"

END CHAPTER 21

FW: There. Happy?

Sola: (reads it over) Good enough.

FW: So… can you do something about this? (indicates sword)

Sola: I don't trust you to update on your own anymore. So… start writing.

FW: WHAT!

Kurama: I can't tell who's in a worse situation: FW, or us.