Authoress here.

Okay, so I'm not sure just what to write for notes today, so we'll not do much and say we did.

Onto the chappie!

Yujo Chronicles: The Final Chapter
Chapter Seven: Asking Questions

The wind hadn't changed in Hiei's twenty-six year absence. In fact, it seemed to howl more fiercely than he remembered. It roared along loudly, making his presence seem insignificant and small. Although he would never admit it, not even to himself, the solitude was starting to irritate him.

"Damnit." Hiei cursed once, more for the sake of hearing a voice than for expressing an emotion. He kept walking, more disgruntled than ever.

He had been traveling for at least two days, alternately running and walking without rest through night and day. The wind and the cold were the only things that kept him company, although Hiei wasn't sure. He sometimes felt that someone was following him, always keeping a good distance between them. Hiei had done everything to try and figure out who this person was, but every time he doubled back or waited, he remained as alone as when he started.

He cursed again, more softly. He was on a fool's errand, a strange quest for something that most likely didn't exist.

Love, he thought grudgingly. He frowned, doubt settling in the pit of his stomach. Maybe being human has done something to Kurama's brain. Maybe this isn't love. It shouldn't be. I don't love anyone.

And yet his feet kept going, one in front of the other, continuing the senseless journey Kurama's words had sent him on.

Kurama smiled gently, giving Hiei's shoulder a pat. "Love has a way of doing that, showing up when you least expect it."

"Love!"

"Of course. What did you think it was?" Kurama's expression was serious, and Hiei felt indignant.

"I don't love, Kurama. And whatever the 'it' you're talking about is, it isn't love!" Hiei scowled fiercely. "Besides...what is the 'it?'"

"The feeling in your chest, like your heart was being eaten away, the terror you felt when you thought she was to be harmed, the relief when she was alright." Kurama stared pensively at the brightening sky. "You may say otherwise, but demon hearts aren't as abrasive to passion and emotion as people think. We're just inclined against it, not incapable of it."

Hiei scowled deeply. He told himself this was pointless. And still, he kept walking. He hesitated, and looked back from where he had been coming from. The wind had blown his footprints away, as if instructing him to not turn around and go back. He sighed.

"I don't believe this." He muttered. And kept walking.

At The "Kitty in the House" flower shop

Koenma pushed the door open, a small bell overhead ringing once to announce his presence. Koenma felt oddly dressed in the long overcoat and slacks, and most of all the fedora covering the Jr. mark on his forehead.

Ah, well. What one does to go incognito. Koenma grinned slightly and pretended to glance around the floral shop. A small display of something called "Bleeding Hearts" caught his attention and he meandered over to it. Pale pink blossoms with a curious heart-shaped design immediately gave reason for its odd name. The heart shape had a small tail, making the heart appear to be "bleeding." Koenma studied it, wondering if he had ever seen a demonized version of the plant from one of Kurama's escapades when a feminine voice broke into his thoughts.

"Can I help you sir?"

Koenma turned around and broke into a smile. It was Aya, Ran's little sister whom Koenma had awoken from a coma. "Yes. Is Ran around?"

Aya nodded, a smile coming to her face. "One sec."

She turned and went though the door behind the counter. Koenma could hear her yelling Ran's name from where he stood. He heard a muted answer, and then footsteps.

"How can I help y-Koenma!"

"Been awhile, Ran," Koenma grinned at the red haired man standing horrified at the counter. Ran seemed to shake himself out of his surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well," Koenma sighed. "It's rather a delicate matter."

"And?"

"And it involves the fact that my Spirit Detective and the rest of his team are missing." Koenma said carefully. He watched Ran's face closely. His features had a weary, pinched look about them. He looked like he hadn't gotten sleep in days.

"I'm truly sorry to hear that, Koenma." Ran said, running a hand distractedly through his hair. "But I'm afraid I can't help this time."

"What!" Koenma demanded. "Why not?"

"Because," Ran lowered his voice so that the prince had to lean foreword to catch his next words. "My wife is pregnant."

"You've gotten a wife?" Koenma was amazed. "I didn't even know you were dating anyone. How'd you manage to meet and marry a girl in six months?"

"Ran? Who is it?" A distinctly familiar voice rang out from the back room. Koenma frowned, trying to place the voice…

"Ran, I- Oh!" A brunette had just walked through the door behind Ran, making Koenma gasp. Her brilliant blue eyes were widened in shock as she saw Koenma, a man she had only met once, shortly after Ran had worked with the Spirit Detective team.

It was Narrin. She had retained her slim figure, although her stomach had a noticeable bulge to it.

"Narrin!" Koenma managed out. Ran turned to her and immediately started scolding her.

"You should be resting! Didn't I tell you to take a nap?" The red head's fierce expression was replaced with gentle worry. The once-goddess laughed, pushing his hands away.

"If I "rested" as much as you told me to I'd take root." Her voice remained as compelling and musical as it had been, although she put no power behind it any longer.

"Koenma, you remember Narrin, right?" Ran said neutrally. Koenma almost laughed at this. Because of Narrin, Koenma had been forced to send the Spirit Detective team plus Ran to France to try and stop her from taking the country over. It was not an ordeal he was likely to forget.

"Ran, that was an idiotic question." Narrin said irritably. "Of course he remembers me. I only tried to kill his employees." She turned to Koenma and bowed slightly. "My apologies."

"Thank you, Milady." Koenma bowed formally back to her before turning to face Ran again.

"I will be blunt with you, Ran. I don't know if they're dead or not, but I think it's only a matter of time before they are. Someone very powerful must be behind this to have captured them all, and I doubt that whoever went through such trouble to do so will be content keeping them caged for long."

Ran's face had set during Koenma's dire prediction. He hesitated, and then shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry, Koenma. Things have changed. There are too many reasons I have to stay alive, and facing a demon strong enough to overcome your team makes serious and fatal injury seem quite possible."

He opened his mouth to continue, but was interrupted by Narrin.

"Koenma, do you know where they are?"

The price was a little taken back. "N-No. Somewhere in Demon World."

She sighed. "Not too specific, but that will do. I have power enough still to persuade some of the locals to help me find them."

"What?"

Ran and Koenma spoke together, both disbelieving of what they heard. Narrin merely shrugged.

"Well, I happen to owe your team quite a bit. If my memory serves me correctly, I caused terrible pain to them all and I hate what I did." The woman hugged her arms around herself, eyes downcast. "And I know that if there is a way to repay them, I will attempt to do so."

"I won't let you go!" Ran burst out, some of the ferocity returning to his eyes. He turned to face her, his posture momentarily excluding Koenma. He placed his hands on her cheeks, forcing her to meet him eye to eye. "Narrin. Please don't go. I will never lose someone I love again, least of all you."

Koenma looked at his shoes, feeling slightly intrusive at the moment. The bond the pair shared was evident; Koenma recognized it immediately. It was something he saw in Emiko and Kurama, something he had started to see in Katsu and Yusuke's relationship.

Narrin was speaking again, calmly, quietly, but firmly. "I must do this, or forever suffer the dishonor placed upon me. Please Ran; come with me."

He didn't say anything for a second. Then, he raised his voice. "Aya? Omi! I want a word, please."

Clattering footsteps announced their presence as they hurried down the hallway.

"Yeah?"

"Tell Yohji and Ken that Narrin and I are leaving for awhile." He said levelly, eyes not leaving Narrin's. "Important business. I don't know when, or if, we'll be back."

"One of those?" Aya's voice quavered. Ran nodded.

"Sure thing, Ran." Omi took Aya's hand and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing her. "We'll hold down the fort."

"Thanks."

"Well then." Koenma broke the silence that followed. "We'd best get going as fast as possible. I'll fill you two in on the details on our way to Spirit World headquarters."

End Chapter

Authoress coming.

Authoress here.

So, another chapter finished. Are we excited for what will follow? If not, here's a ….wait for it…TEASER!

Coming next:

Koenma's recruited Ran and Narrin to rescue everyone's favorite Spirit Detecting team, but they aren't the only two planning on coming along! Thanks to extensive research pulled off by George the ogre and Boton, the names of the demons that've demon-napped Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama have been discovered. And who is mentioned on their list of recent contacts? None other than Seto Kaiba!

Armed with information, allies and desperation, Emiko and Katsu bring their own team to face the multi-millionaire to get answers. Along the way they discover Hiei hasn't been taken with the other three, but the only one who knows where he is, is Kurama. The tangled web of mysteries only gets more intertwined in the next chapter of Yujo Chronicles: The Final Chapter!

Now review!

Authoress leaving.