Disclaimer: Ya'll know by now after at least fifty chapters of story that I don't own YYH, but I do own Bri.

Chapter 5: Missing

…Kurama…

Something is missing.

I have felt it ever since I was a freshman at Meikou High School, ever since that first morning in Gun Wa-Sensei's biology class. Something is wrong. I just can't seem to think of what. It had nothing to do with our missions, which were remedial at best. I trained with Yusuke and Kuwabara. Hiei was there often as well. He usually trained alone, but I also knew that he was helping his soon-to-be mate, Kokomo Wolf. With what, I did not know.

I sighed and stretched my legs lazily under my desk. In just two short weeks, I would be graduating and heading to college. My mother was pleased with my decision to continue on to be a teacher. Despite his similarities to a certain Toguro brother, Gun Wa-Sensei was a very pleasant man and very supportive of my decision. In fact, he offered me a job after my education was completed.

A soft knock echoed in my room.

"Shuichi-kun, Keiko and Koko are here to see you," my mother's voice said. "And your friend Hiei is with them."

"Okay, mother, thank you," I said. I set my pencil and notebook down, in which I had been writing haiku poetry (in English) for my English teacher, Gunner. She was also Koko's aunt. I found it interesting that Kokomo Wolf was related to at least half of the teachers at Meikou, or in some way family friends with them. Sometimes I wondered where her mother, Ayame, had gone. It was not my place to ask.

I entered the living room, where Hiei was already sitting on the couch uncomfortably between Keiko and Koko. Koko looked like she was going to be ill. "Good afternoon. Is something wrong?"

"I was talking to Koko earlier. She said that you've never met Okuro and Bri," Keiko said. Bri? That name…"They're her cousins."

I blinked in surprise. Then why did Koko look like she was about to cry and Hiei look about ready to wring Keiko's neck? "Of course, I would love to meet them."

"You'll love them," Keiko said. "It's almost like they understand a lot more than they're letting on. They're both geniuses! They can read and write already, even thought they're only three. It's amazing."

I allowed one of my brows to rise in question. This was something that was almost unheard of in the human world, but it was something familiar to me. I had heard it all only once before. Just once.

When "I" was small.

"Yes, amazing," I said. "You said they were three already?" Why hadn't I learned of them sooner?

"Yeah, I kind of kept my little cousins a secret," Koko said wryly. "I didn't want people just suddenly barging in on my Uncle Marion and Aunt Ichigo."

I sometimes wondered about this family. Marion's name was foreign, but from what I knew of Koko's family, they were only half German. I was certain that Marion was not a German name, but in fact a Native American name. Perhaps they had simply wanted "different" names? After all, Gunner and Gun Wa were also not normal Japanese names.

"It was by chance that Keiko found out," Koko continued after a few moments. "They were staying the night over at my house when she came over for a math assignment."

"And it's a good thing I did, you and Hiei had your hands full with those two!"

Koko blushed sheepishly, something I rarely saw in her. "Well, Snowball wasn't exactly a skilled babysitter, then, either!"

Hiei merely grunted and moved toward the door. I could tell he was ruffled by his girlfriend's statement. It was amusing, in an alarming sort of way, to know that Hiei had been, at least on the surface, helping her care for two infant children. I mused in my mind what possible situations my old partner could have gotten himself into.

"The funny thing is, they aren't entirely—" Keiko cut herself off, glancing around the room. In a whisper, she added, "human."

"What do you mean?" I asked, also keeping my voice quiet.

"Their mother is a fire fox spirit," Keiko answered, her voice barely audible, even to my own sensitive ears. I wasn't entirely sure I'd heard correctly. Fire fox spirits were very common and were usually the type that were able to cross into the human world with some ease. "Koenma is keeping an eye on her, but she's apparently a weaker spirit, only around the lower C level. She's apparently very connected to Inari, though, so he can't do much else."

I blinked in shock at my good friend. I had known that Yusuke was explaining more to her these days, but I hadn't known that she knew that much about our missions. And, being a silver kitsune myself, I knew what an honor it was to be connected to Inari in such an intimate way. Halfling children of a fire fox spirit were very blessed, if Inari indeed had blessed them. I wondered.

Hiei glanced at me. A flash of uneasiness flew across his red eyes. I'd seen that look on his face several times before, but never in this sort of situation. I was slightly stunned to see just how much he'd changed in these past three years. Even Kuwabara had noticed it. I think it had everything to do with Kokomo Wolf.

It was only a matter of time before he marked her.

Sometimes I wondered why he hadn't yet. Hiei usually got exactly what he wanted when he wanted it.

"We should go before their naptime comes," Keiko said, standing up and walking over to their shoes by the front door. Had I not been looking for it, I would have missed the worried glance that passed between Koko and Hiei. There was something more amiss than they were letting on. I told my mother where I was going and stepped into my own shoes.

I followed the others onto a train and waited for the familiar ride to Nemoi. Wait a second…I've never been to the Nemoi District. Why would it be familiar to me? I held firm to the bar overhead as the city flew by outside. Keiko had continued telling me about the two three-year-old Wolf children, although I admit that I hadn't paid much more attention after she started going into some story about her and Yusuke again.

It wasn't that I didn't want to hear it; I was very fond of Yusuke and Keiko both. I had, in fact, been there for this particular story, and I had heard it from both of them several times over. One can only laugh at a funny story so many times. I was more curious to figure out why I was so eager to "return" to a place I'd never been to.

The pleasant feminine voice echoed over the speakers: "Nemoi Station. Please exit to your left and have a nice day."

Why was it that I felt I'd known that sentence for far longer than those three seconds? I followed Koko, Hiei, and Keiko off of the train and down onto the street. It was unmarked, as most Japanese streets were, but I knew that most people called it the "main street" of Nemoi. I stared at the trolley station, something familiar as well. I saw the approaching rickety wooden trolley approaching on its wire. The Ma n' Pa atmosphere, interrupted only by a McDonalds a little further down the street. An arcade full of DDR machines, a favorite game of Yusuke and Kuwabara, and secretly of mine.

Why did it seem like I'd passed all of this before? And not on just a single instance, but many, many times. Years. Years that had seemed so intentionally wrong and yet in every way correct.

"Hey, Kurama, you just gonna stand there and gawk? Or do I have to kick you in the balls to make you walk? Hey, I think I rhymed!" Koko grinned back at me wickedly. She'd done this on several occasions, but for some reason, I could see her doing it here, in this place, more than once.

"I am coming, Wolf-san," I said, climbing aboard my normal seat—the first time I'd ever done so?—next to her and Hiei. Keiko sat in the wooden seat in front of us. I couldn't help but feel that something was still missing. The trolley lurched once, at the same old slow pace. The pace that I wasn't supposed to know and yet I did.

The trolley station came into view, but somehow I knew that we wouldn't be waiting that long to get off. Sure enough, Koko pushed at me to get off in front of a large white house with blue and gold trim. The front yard held two lovely trees, a cherry tree and a red maple, both still young. I ran along the ground as if I'd done it several times before, although I'm positive I hadn't.

"You're a natural at this, Kurama," Koko giggled nervously. Keiko plopped onto her knees shakily.

"I still need to work on that," Keiko admitted sheepishly. I offered her a hand up and she took it. When I turned back around to head into the house that Koko was already knocking at, I stopped short. The house next door…that green trim…that single cherry tree…

"That's Koko's house," Keiko said, smiling. "That's where Gun Wa-Sensei and she lives. I spent the night once, he's really different at home. Not as strict."

"Interesting," I said lightly. I turned my attention firmly away from the house. I couldn't help the thought that splayed itself all across the interior of my mind.

That used to be my house.

But I'd never moved a day in my life!

How was that possible?

I remembered…a basement bedroom…a room next to mine…a face…

I shook the image from my mind. I'd never been here before. I certainly never lived in this part of Tokyo, I've never had a basement bedroom, and I know I've never had a room next to a woman aside from my own mother's. I couldn't get the slightly chubby girl's face from my mind. She reminded me tentatively of Koko, but her hair was short and her eyes more innocent and a little sad.

A fierce love of Dance Dance Revolution.

An artist's hand.

Gabriel, the angel of fate…

College…

Who was this girl?

And why am I remembering her as if I knew her?

"Hey, Uncle Marion, can we go see Bri and Okuro?" Koko asked as I followed Keiko onto the porch. "You know Shuichi from school, right? He hasn't gotten the chance to see them yet and—"

"Of course, of course!" Marion-Sensei smiled brightly at me. "Can't have a friend not seeing them, eh? Nice to see you outside of school, Shuichi, I was beginning to think you lived there!"

I chuckled softly. Our mathematics teacher was indeed a very jolly fellow, and he deserved two children of his own. At least I wasn't getting those strange, familiar-but-unfamiliar vibes from him. In fact, those strange feelings had begun when I first met Kokomo Wolf at Meikou High School. Maybe this all surrounded her, somehow. Or perhaps I am getting paranoid.

I hope that was not the case.

I kicked off my shoes at the front porch and left them neatly by the door. Marion called into the house for someone named "Ichigo", whom I supposed was his wife. I turned out to be correct, as she appeared soon after. She took one look at me, then at Keiko, Koko, and Hiei, and a broad smile split across her face.

She reminded me of myself, in several ways, with pale golden hair and slim, fox-like eyes.

"You're no ordinary human," she pronounced immediately.

"Nor are you," I said, letting a small smile answer hers. "You serve Inari."

"You do not." A flicker of concern crossed her eyes. I smiled disarmingly. I didn't want to alarm her. Most kitsune that did not serve Inari were considered to be bad omens.

"I serve Koenma above Inari."

She smiled in relief. "It is a pleasure to meet the great Youko at last. I've caught your scent around many times."

Marion-Sensei looked back and forth between his wife and myself, a seemingly normal human boy from his math class. With a muttered "Whatever", he threw both arms into the air and turned back into the living room. He began watching television, obviously tuning us out. Ichigo laughed.

"Your real name is not Ichigo, of course," I said, smiling.

"You should really try to conceal your own name more often," she shot back with the all-too-well-known kitsune smirk.

"Touché."

"How do I know you're not here to steal my kits?"

I smiled again. "I would not wish the wrath of both Kokomo and Hiei on my head."

She smirked again. "Well said. You may see them."

Ichigo let her illusion fall, letting me see the true her as she walked into the Western-style living room with her husband. She truly was beautiful, even for a kitsune. Golden ears and a golden tail, tipped with a splash of red. Kitsune, fire kitsune in particular, were known for their seductive movements and Ichigo, whoever she really was, was no exception to this rule.

And she was all Marion's as far as I was concerned.

Hiei tapped me on the shoulder, gently. I have never known him to be so gentle. Perhaps being in this place brought out a different side to the demon I thought I had known. I followed them through the house, allowing the familiarity of this strange scent wash over me. I knew this scent, the scent so similar to carnations, prairie grass, and something indescribable, and yet it was warped, strange.

The house itself was warm, welcoming, and at the same time intimidating. It reminded me of my own home back in the Makai, in fact. Bright colors embraced each room, toned down by chosen piece of art. Keiko led the way up red-carpeted stairs, but I couldn't help but stop short to stare off to the side.

On the white walls, strange for any part of this house because nothing else was white, were drawings. Paintings. Sketches. Every single sketch was of several different people, but one painting in particular caught my eyes. It was of a small girl who I felt I recognized but couldn't possibly and of a small boy I couldn't miss if I tried. He looked a tad different, perhaps the nature of the painting. But I would recognize that mischievous grin anywhere.

Kuronue.

"Can you believe that a three-year-old drew those?" Keiko asked, breaking me from my thoughts. "I've sat and watched Bri at it. She can draw just about anything."

"That is a rather unusual talent for a three-year-old to possess," I said. Just like the ability to steal Mommy's keys without her knowing, I added silently.

"Okuro's a bit stranger," Keiko admitted, pulling me away from the art pieces I now knew were by Bri. "He's a mischievous little boy and quite the pickpocket. If his mother has something he wants and she says no, somehow he always gets it."

I tried to catch Hiei's eye, but he was either avoiding me or too focused on getting to the nursery to care. These skills suggested that these two children were not merely children. I wondered if Koenma knew about them. Surely if Hiei was involved, he had informed our toddler boss?

Or perhaps Koenma had already known.

Then why would they keep this from me for so long?

The upstairs room was large, covering the entire house. Koko struggled with a baby gate for a few moments before letting the three of us pass and replacing the gate behind her. I didn't notice the two children at first because they seemed to be nowhere in sight, though I could feel their energy levels in the room.

The nursery was a pleasant shade of blue, but the thing that got the most of my attention were the bookshelves. Had I not already been told that this was a nursery, I would have thought it was a private library. I stared at some of the titles on the shelves, perplexed. There were no actual picture books, as was customary for children of three year old to be reading. I had found them intriguing as a "small child" myself because I was still learning about my human culture.

But these books…

These were definitely not normal three-year-olds if they could read and comprehend Dante's Inferno and the Canterbury tales. There were also language books, though these were probably more their age's speed.

Another thing that made me wonder was the state of the room itself. It was entirely spic and span, not a speck of dirt nor a stray toy out of place. There were plenty of toys, of course, and board games, coloring books, and paints of all sorts. I'm not just talking about simple finger paints, either. Artist-quality acrylic, oil, and watercolor were stacked neatly in boxes next to several different types of paper on a low shelf near a round yellow table.

"Bri, Okuro, where are you two?" Koko laughed. "Are you playing hide-and-seek with us? Yes?"

Why did Koko sound as if she was actually talking to these children? It wasn't the normal type of talking-to-children voice, where you asked rhetorical questions while you played with them. This sounded as if she was having an actual conversation with them. I did, of course, know that she was an Empathe, as everyone in her family seemed to be one. But she couldn't possibly be speaking literally to them.

Could she?

A squealing laugh pierced the otherwise silence of the nursery and Koko picked up a small girl. The laugh stopped almost immediately afterward as she turned to face our group. The three-year-old girl looked exactly like the child I'd seen in the painting, but that isn't what took my breath away. I knew this child. Somehow, I just knew that I knew her. Koko whispered hushing noises into her ear as she set the girl down.

Bri. Her hair was longer than it should have been, paler by a few shades, and drawn back into two neat pigtails. Her eyes were still that crystal-clear blue. She was small, where I seemed to recall her a few centimeters beneath my eyes in this form. But…this was wrong. I remembered this child as an adult, but I had never met anyone like her before.

This was so confusing.

"Hello," I said softly, extending my hand and kneeling. "My name's Shuichi. What's yours?" My brain screamed at me for lying. Somehow, though, I knew that she did not want me to know anything. I would let her believe that she had succeeded, though at what, I still didn't know.

"I'm Bridget."

A Western name? "It's nice to meet you, Bridget." But I slaughtered the pronunciation, as I had the first time I'd met her. The first time? This was the first time!

"You can call me Bri," she said, giggling nervously. She pointed at a small closet near the two Western style beds. "My brother is over there. I'm going to paint!"

She stalked off toward the other side of the room, her hands clenching and unclenching. I watched her for a moment before turning to face the other child. Hiei held him up to me in a silent motion that read, "You're going to freak out, aren't you?"

I probably would have, had I not remembered the painting in the hall. He was unmistakable in every way. Okuro Wolf was Kuronue. He now had blue eyes and paler hair, but it was still him. He smirked at me as Hiei put him down.

"Let's play 'go fish'," Bri said suddenly, jumping up from the yellow table where she'd barely begun drawing something. She put away the watercolors she'd gotten out hastily, throwing the other boxes askew. They were still stacked up, but in a haphazard way. She reached into the toy chest and produced a deck of colorful cards, beckoning us all to take a seat at the yellow table that couldn't possibly hold the rest of us.

Okuro grabbed my hand and drew me to the table, just as excited as if we were going on another raid together again. I found out later from Koko that he loved to play go fish because it reminded him of fish. I preferred rainbow trout, but he liked halibut. I remembered that from our days as legendary thieves.

Bri's hands moved fluidly over the cards, even though I could tell she was nervous. She didn't move nor act like a three-year-old. She dealt each person seven cards, while most children her age would still be trying to learn how to count to their own age. I knew Kuronue would be able to play. I vowed to get him alone and question him. Why did he wait this long to be reborn? Twenty-six years since his death and he chooses now, with this girl whom I had some idea and yet no idea of her identity.

If there was anything I hated in my long life, it was being confused.

I pushed it all to the back of my mind and played go fish. I was Youko Kurama. I could take things in stride and keep my façade. I could take it.

For now.

…

…

…

Okies, now we're getting somewhere. Hmm…Kurama's getting this major déjà vu thing, but does he really remember Bri? I'm going to explain where the names of the OCs in this story come from and why I chose them. I don't know if you're at all interested in that, but I thought it might be cool if you knew.

Bridget: According to Behind the Name, Bridget comes from the Irish name that translates roughly as "exalted one". In mythology, she was the goddess of fire, poetry, and wisdom, hence why she and Kuronue were reborn as fire kitsune. I sort of chose this name because I absolutely abhorred it almost as much as I did my own (Sarah). It put some distance between the character and myself, therefore making an interesting one who wasn't a thinly disguised "me".

Kokomo: From the Beach Boy's song and from my brother's girlfriend's dog. I have no idea what possessed me to name a girl like her after a Chihuahua. I took the dog's personality and created a more human person for it. Koko originally came from the end of Keiko (which means "respectful child" O.o), but I decided that the connection was too much for the character and found a way to nickname it.

Marion: It's actually a girl's name, derived from Robin Hood's Maid Marion. However, it also has Native American derivations, as well as Roman. It comes from Mars, the god of war. Kansas and Virginia (my two fav. places in the world) have a Marion county. Also named after one of my professors at Hesston College, the Bible Literature teacher, Marion B.

Gun Wa: I wanted it to be vaguely Korean in nature, though I've got no clue what it means at all, and Behind the Name doesn't seem to have the translation. I know that gun is roughly "war" in Japanese. Basically, I was playing around with words one day and this dude's name came! Yes, I'm stupid.

Gunner: Norse mythology, though misspelled. It's "Gunnar", and it typically means "warrior" or "soldier". I liked the name. --()

Gina: Mean's "silvery" in Japanese. I also connected it (somehow in my little head) to Viriginia.

Tsuki: Moon. I actually like this name, so it was hard to make an antagonist with it. ;;

Okuro: It means "little black". I saw it somewhere that currently is slipping my mind…

And to my reviewers:

I love you all! I have some time issues at the moment, so I will be sure and answer your questions next time. (Will someone remind me, I forget easily. --() )