Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha.

/.../

Chapter 3 - "They can take care of themselves."

The nine of them stood in Koenma's office. It had been a few hours since they had picked out outfits and not everyone was very happy at the moment. Botan stood behind them and smiled nervously at everyone. Kagome and Dawn both had similar stubborn expressions on their faces as they glared at the toddler prince. He was attempting not to look nervous. Souta was covering up his laughter.

"Can you repeat that?" Ice could have formed around Dawn's words at the coolness in her tone.

"I said I don't think you should leave here until we figure out how to do something about the bond. Demons could sense what the Travelers did to you and use you as a weak spot to get to the boys. It's simply too dangerous." Immediately he knew this was the wrong thing to say. His room flooded with pink colors as the miko grew angry and Dawn was eyeing the pens on his desk speculatively.

"Right. How about you go find some wimpy females to guard and we'll go on and have lives." Dawn spat.

"I'm doing it for your own good."

"No, you're doing it for theirs. We can take care of ourselves," It was surprising how easily Kagome had accepted Dawn and even Keiko and Botan as part of her group. Then again, perhaps it wasn't, considering how easily she had accepted all of her feudal companions.

"Now, you're a miko, and a strong one I'll admit, but from what I've seen, you've had almost no training at controlling your powers. If the boys hadn't already been fighting that demon-"

"Then we wouldn't be here in the first place." This time it was Souta's flat and unimpressed voice that interrupted the child-ruler. Koenma narrowed his eyes.

"Fine, go get yourselves killed! You're all untrained besides the boys. Keiko was just rescued from being kidnapped. Perhaps a little taste of being kidnapped yourselves and almost being killed will put things in prospective. When you've had a taste of real danger, then maybe you'll accept our help and stay safe!"

Apparently Koenma was a bit beyond angry. Botan looked stunned. Then suspicious. He had found out something about the Travelers and these new people. Kagome interrupted all their thoughts. "I have been kidnapped before. More times than I would have liked."

"Ditto. Usually because of my sister. Or because of what I am." Dawn crossed her arms across her chest and gave him the best glare the Summers girl could muster.

"Exactly why you should stay," Koenma said pleasantly.

The change of mood set them all off. Kagome didn't even wait this time. She stomped off, still radiating purifying energy. Botan frowned and quickly scurried after her, followed by the other two girls and Souta.

The boys left over stared at Koenma. Yusuke voice the question first. "What the hell was that all about?"

"They are bonded to you in some way now. That's dangerous, and they're weak. They need to stay here!"

"They did fine at the battle yesterday. Nothing spectacular compared to us, but..." Yusuke trailed off, wincing as he saw the point. The strongest demons always were going after them, and none of those girls could hope to fight off some of the opponents they fought.

Meanwhile, Kagome suddenly seemed calm after she had gathered all of her clothing up and extra outfits for herself, then began on her new friends and Souta. When she was done she grinned at Botan. "Hey, you can open portals, right?"

"Yes, I can. Why?" Botan asked curiously, automatically taking the bag of clothes Kagome handed her, as did Keiko. Dawn was grinning, already getting what the older girl was getting at. Souta hid his own grin.

"Know any place where we can go until we get ourselves sorted out?" Kagome's smile widened as Botan's face flooded with realization, then watched the blue-haired girl grin innocently.

"He never said I couldn't open a portal. No orders have been given, so... Why don't we go visit Genkai and Yukina?" Botan opened a portal in the middle of the room and Genkai's shrine was seen on the other side. Dawn and Souta stepped through first and Kagome eyed Keiko, who was biting her lip nervously.

"Well... Maybe I should stay here. I mean, I can't fight at all! They are sort of right."

Kagome sighed, and then shook her head. "Then learn. After four years of the feudal era, I had to learn. I'm sure you can learn under less desperate circumstances."

Keiko's face was clouded with confusion, but she followed the miko through the portal anyway. Botan went last, and then closed it with a grin. She wondered briefly how long it would be before one of the boys went to check up on them.

"Excuse me? Oh, Botan, Keiko! Are these friends of yours?" Yukina's sweet voice came from the nearest doorway to the main building and Botan smiled as the ice apparition studied the others a bit cautiously.

"Yes. I decided to come and visit you with these new friends! Also, I think Genkai may be able to help them out a bit. Or at least offer them sanctuary." Botan smiled happily, hoping Genkai would help them out.

Yukina smiled pleasantly and stepped towards them. "Greetings. I am Yukina of the Ice Maidens."

"I'm Kagome Higurashi. I'm a miko from another dimension." Yukina blinked in astonishment but took the offered hand politely.

"I'm Souta Higurashi. I'm not really sure what I am, but I do seem to be able to purify demons. Oh, I'm from the same dimension as my sister." Yukina smiled at the cheerful teenager, thinking that the last girl who didn't look a bit Japanese couldn't be that much more surprising than these two.

"Dawn Summers, I'm from yet another dimension where I was little sister to the slayer. I'm the Key." Yukina's eyes widened impossibly and she bowed.

"I will announce your arrival to Genkai right away." Four girls and one boy stared in astonishment as Yukina scurried away, her eyes awe-filled as she stared at Dawn.

"Wow. I guess you're widely know." Kagome remarked. Souta noticed Dawn's wince and bitter expression and glared at his sister.

"Yeah. Just great to be needed for being a thing instead of a person," Dawn muttered bitterly. Souta frowned and then shrugged.

"If it helps, Kagome's old sort of boyfriend used to only see her as a shard detector for a bit. He got over it though. Hell, we're all a bit strange, so we'll see you as what you are, another person, like us and unlike at the same time. We'll see you." Souta watched as Dawn's eyes widened to look startled, then smiled at him.

They didn't say anything more as they caught up to the three older girls. Inside the ice maiden was standing beside an old woman with graying pink hair and almost beady tawny brown eyes. Kagome had a strange look on her face and Souta frowned, trying to feel what she was and found nothing. He knew his sister must be feeling something by her face, but that he couldn't himself was frustrating.

"Botan, why did you bring these three here?" Her voice was harsh, but it seemed naturally harsh rather than specific to this situation, and Botan was glad to hear a bit of curiosity in her voice.

"They need a place to stay. Koenma was going to lock them up, along with Keiko, to keep them safe. They didn't like that idea very much. Especially Dawn and Kagome. They seem to take offense at Koenma assuming they can't take care of themselves." Botan grinned and behind her back Kagome and Dawn exchanged proud grins. Like they'd let anybody say they should stay home and be safe like good little girls. If they died, tough luck, it might hurt those boys, but they were certain whatever this bond was the boys wouldn't die if they did.

"Keep them safe? It seems that Koenma thinks more about physical safety than mental. I know I couldn't be cooped up in a Spirit World room for however long it took him to deem it safe. They can stay here. " Genkai eyed the three of them and noticed the older girl's eyes especially were darting around the room and she seemed uneasy.

"Problem?" Kagome jumped and realized she'd been trying to figure out why this place felt so strange and ignoring what was happening around her. "Sorry. It feels strange here. I'm Kagome."

"I am Master Genkai. What battle experience do you three have? And why do you need to be safe?" The girl obviously had strong powers that had been awakened already, even if she didn't seem to be able to use even the least of her mystical senses properly.

Dawn grimaced, reminded acutely of her lack of formal training and how she was mostly pushed out and away from any battles that happened. "Very little besides when we landed here. I saw lots of them. We all come from a different dimension. Me from even a different one than them."

"I have none before yesterday. Some beings called the Travelers linked us and four boys together." Genkai's eyes widened almost imperceptibly and looked at Keiko, who grimaced. Of course it was those four boys. Who else could manage to get bonded to three people from different dimensions and Keiko?

"Four years of off and on battles. We made wishes, if we get hurt or killed it might kill them and we're supposed to sacrifice any lives or chances we have of getting back home because of that." Souta grinned at Kagome outraged expression. Only Keiko still looked nervous about this.

"They can fight better than us..." She said hesitantly.

"Then we train! We can do that! I didn't do so bad for someone who hasn't really held a sword before. All we need is a little space, and a little instruction." Dawn was bouncing up to her feet, followed enthusiastically be Souta. Kagome rolled her eyes at the cocky look in Dawn's eyes but couldn't help smiling.

"While I don't need another student, I could perhaps give out advice once in awhile," Genkai said eyeing the three. Kagome was eyeing Keiko who still looked doubtful.

"Do you want to depend on them all of your life?" Kagome asked softly. Keiko's eyes widened slightly at the question as the other older girl came over to sit next to her. Genkai frowned, unsure of Keiko trying to train with them, but then again, it wasn't her decision.

"You are welcome to use the training rooms near the dojo. There are a few weapons about. You may all stay here. But, I think before training you should discuss other things. Identities for one thing, and money will soon be a problem. At least for you three. Your parents certainly gave you enough for college and such Keiko. But for the rest of you..." Genkai stared at the other three. Kagome and Souta squirmed uncomfortably, frowning at each other. Were they really going to be there that long? Dawn stayed quiet. If Angel was able to pay for a Hotel in L.A. when he didn't really have an identity, or money, how hard could it be to get a new identity from scratch?

She grimaced and tried to gulp down the sudden nervousness. Why did she have to wish that and be away from home like this? Dawn blinked and shook herself. She couldn't think of that right now. She was link to seven other strangers, and who knew how this "link" would affect them? What did it do, anyway? She had found herself easily trusting Souta and Kagome, but she had a feeling that was because they had saved her.

After all, she didn't feel any sort of trust towards the other, not even the girl who had been kidnapped. She was a nice sort, and she wasn't suspicious of her, but she felt more inclined to trust two others who had also been ripped out of their homes. She sighed, regretting her wish even if it was painful at home with Buffy and Willow sometimes. She'd just have to live with what had happened.

/./

"Too right she will," The male of the Traveler's muttered as he observed the girl sighing in one corner. Her family was going frantic when they'd found her missing, but it had been less time there than it was in that dimension. It was a good thing she was the Key, otherwise they would've had more problems pulling her out. Of course, right now her family just thought she'd snuck out. Not like the miko's mother, and the boy's. That dimension ran at the same time frame. Similar in many aspects.

No, the mother of those two was cursing the days she had let her first child go through the well. And now she was left without any of them. He felt guilty about that, but it couldn't be helped. These eight, and eventually a few more who he had only lightly linked to them, had to be together. They were the only hope for the balance of their worlds. Something big was coming.

"Still looking at them?" The voice was light and feminine and he smiled upon hearing it. His partner in all senses of the word came up behind him and glanced down into the scene that was floating by his hands.

"Of course I am. They're important." He made an effort and lifted his eyes up to hers, pretending nonchalance.

"And you're worried about them?" She suggested delicately, folding her legs slowly beneath her until she was sitting next to him and staring at the scene that had shifted to follow Kagome and Dawn as they stepped into the dojo.

"They can take care of themselves." But his voice betrayed him with the doubt it expressed.

"Yes, they can. And look, the boys don't totally agree with Koenma. They'll help them train." She waved a hand over the space in the air and it rippled to show the four boys walking around a city street with worried looks.

"It seems the prince has already discovered them missing. That was quick," She remarked, studying them. "Cute, aren't they? I wonder if... but she's still hurting, isn't she?"

"Kagome?" He snorted. "Of course she is. Inuyasha was an idiot."

"That's not true. He was young. Besides, this kept him from going with Kikyou, didn't it?" She looked knowingly at him and he glanced away, unable to hide the relief he had felt when he realized they had done the right thing in taking the girl, and that it did work out the way it was supposed to.

"See? See? We're always right. C'mon, calm down. We've collected the people best able to handle this, even if they don't know it yet. And did you see Souta looking at Dawn? We've been watching them all this time, and I never imagine that would happen! He has a crush on her! It's adorable!" She was almost squealing as she changed the scene once more, this time back to Kagome and Dawn, who had been joined by Souta, who hovered behind them, staring at the weapons that had been provided for them. Dawn had instantly gone for the swords, Kagome the bows. The two Travelers watched avidly as Souta wandered to the end of the weapons rack.

"Those are Chinese weapons," The woman murmured in slight surprise.

"I'd rather have him be using the naginata if he wants to use something so long. The pudao is just an over glorified spear with a blade at the end," he grumbled, relieved when Souta moved back. They weren't bad weapons, but it would certainly be easier for Souta to be taught if it was a more traditional Japanese weapon.

"You may get your wish," She said as Souta picked up the six-foot weapon with its foot and a half long blade. Then, glaring at him, she added, "And there's nothing wrong with the pudao. Lovely weapon." She sniffed and turned slightly away from him, indicating she was miffed.

He laughed low in his throat and was glad to see her shiver. "You only say that because you learned how to use it."

"Oh? And who was it that went and learned how to use a European broadsword? You're one to complain about untraditional weapons!" She raised an eyebrow when he didn't reply and instead was staring at the scene. She turned her attention to it and did a double take. "Wow. I wonder if they're glowing to normal vision?"

"Doubtful," he breathed as he stared at the three forms. Kagome was wrapped in a blue aura with the pink power glowing from each arrow. But he had expected that. They both had. It was the two younger ones who surprised them.

"It's odd. She's not glowing green," She said offhandedly.

"Of course not. She has normal spirit energy covering that up, otherwise everyone would know where she was at any given moment. I wish those who hid her hadn't been such a secretive order. I would have liked to drop in on them a time or two," he said wistfully He honestly regretted not meeting the people who had done such a wondrous thing. They had created a human being with a bit of Slayer and a bit of Key, and against all odds they had even managed to give her a soul.

She didn't answer and he followed her gaze to Souta, whose energy was as blue as his aura. Though not even Kagome could see it yet, there was tiny blue sparks of energy climbing up and down the blade. The male Traveler slowly grinned and wrapped an arm around his companion. "We did well."

"Yes. We did very well. Now if only Keiko would... But I suppose she's still nervous, poor girl. She won't be able to stand them training around her long before she at least tries something. We could push. If she doesn't want to actually use a weapon... well, Dawn knows other ways reiki are used in her world, even if they don't know it." She knew her suggestion wouldn't go over well, but she knew it was one probably way to get Keiko up to the same level as the others.

"Spells require someone to be praying too, at least the more advanced ones. Or at least asking permission to tread in their domain. You really want to get gods and kamis involved in this?" He gave her his most incredulous look. She just shrugged and glanced away, letting him dwell on it. She wouldn't push without him giving her the go ahead. Soon the links would be too strong for them to meddle with them, and then he might regret not choosing to push.

/./

The four boys had indeed realized that the three girls and one boy had simply slipped out from under their noses. Yusuke had a few choice words for Botan when they caught up with her. Until then, they were wandering the city, aimlessly attempting to think of a safe place Botan would have secreted them away.

"Are you sure Botan doesn't have a human apartment, Yusuke?" Kurama asked again. Yusuke glared at him, again, and didn't answer. Hiei glared at them all, distinctly displeased to be out looking for a bunch of humans who should have stayed where they were.

"I already told you she doesn't. Usually she just stays at Genkai's." Yusuke continued walking another three paces before he realized the other three had stopped. He stopped as well as his mind cursed him as he rethought that statement.

"A bit slow today, aren't we?" Kurama murmured, trying not to show how shaken he was that he had missed the obvious for once. Now that it had been said, there was almost a slight, eager tug in the back of his mind toward that direction.

"Damn them. And damn Genkai for taking them in. Old hag," Yusuke added automatically, already turning to walk in that direction. He had his hands in his pockets and looked as if he was going to being sulking. Kurama glanced at him thoughtfully, then in the general direction of where Genkai's shrine was. He too had to wonder what exactly Botan had said to Genkai to get her to take them in. It was obvious by the fact that Botan hadn't returned with them that she had taken them in.

"I don't know if it was such a bad idea," Kuwabara ventured, well aware of Yusuke's temper. At the glare that settled on him, he explained, "I mean, that's probably even safer than Spirit World, and it's better for them. Spirit World isn't the best place for the living."

"I still don't like it," Yusuke grumbled after a few moments of reflective silence. He turned his attention to putting one foot in front of the other, and vengefully planning every syllable he would scream at Botan for his wasted afternoon. To think he had walked all across the city when he could have been at Genkai's the whole time, preferably watching the new girl get angry.

/.../

Sorry for not updating for so long, the words just weren't coming. No inspiration. Sorry guys, but here's another, very belated, chapter.

Thanks to matt zero, vicky, Mayalah, rickW22, C4n4dianG1r1535,

VB: Strangely enough you're quite close to part of the plot with the latter part of your review. Very close. Thanks for your review.

Kishiro Kitsune: Oh, you're right, but many things have changed with them. That was a bit obvious, wasn't it? Oh well. Thanks for reviewing!

Edainme: Hey again! Oh, the fangirls can wait, can't they? As long as eventually there's some evil-but-not vampire goodness eventually it'll make them happy. I'm glad you liked this. I always love your reviews.

Foxylilraven: Interesting. I never really thought of them as Fates, but I guess they kinda are. Though they would probably snicker at the description. That's a good way to guess, though. Thanks for your review!

Winged Knight: Strangely enough no one has yet questioned how they both became what they are, and you seem the only one to even be questioning one. But yeah, they both will be explained in time, though I guarantee the explanation probably won't be what many people would expect. Too simple for many. Sorry for making you a bit depressed, but there will be those depressing moments in this, as well as fluffy and funny and whatever else I can stick in here. Thanks for reviewing, I hope you do so again! Oh, and this probably has a lot of grammar and typos, sorry about that. Word has edited it, but my eyes tend to skip what it doesn't get.