Crimson: Call the presses! I'm updating sooner than two months!
"Ah, there you are!" Botan exclaimed as I entered the living room. Right next to her, Koenma stood quietly, head bowed and arms crossed. He looked quite…pensive.
I smiled in Botan's direction before finding myself a spot next to Kurama on the couch. He reached up and patted my shoulder reassuringly, and I leaned my head comfortably on his shoulder. It was only awkward feeling for a second or so.
"Is something wrong Hiei?" Kurama suddenly asked. I turned my head to glance at him, and he quickly turned his head away and sat down in a chair.
But I saw the look. If I didn't know any better I'd have to day that he was jealous. Hmm, things are looking up…I think.
Koenma coughed suddenly, putting my attention back to him.
"As interesting as that all was, perhaps you would be even more interested if I said that I knew why this is happening." He began.
"And what might it be that is happening, sir?" Kurama interrupted. Koenma waved off his question.
"As if you didn't know," he stated sourly. Then he turned back to me.
"Now where was I?" he nodded to himself. "Oh yes, now I remember. As you all well know, Kurama is a reincarnation of the demon thief Youko Kurama."
Actually I didn't know this. I don't even know who Youko was, but I can see where Kurama's name came from. I mean…it was pretty obvious. But I guess it doesn't really matter who Youko was…I knew what reincarnation meant after all. So I went along with the facts and nodded with everyone else.
"But the thing that most of you don't know is Youko's partner and friend; a bat demon named…"
"Kuronue." Kurama finished for him. Koenma nodded patiently.
"Yes," Koenma agreed. "And if I'm not mistaken, Hiei was part of this group for awhile."
"That's true," Kurama nodded along.
"Get to the point. I don't see where this leading." Hiei growled out. Well, somebody's got something up their ass today.
"I was getting to that Hiei," Koenma glared at him. "As I was saying, I have recently become aware that Youko wasn't the only one to cheat death and the spirit world. The problem is, I'm not sure who he was reincarnated as."
"Wait," Kurama interrupted. "You mean that Kuronue is alive?" Koenma nodded seriously.
"Yes," Koenma began. "And you probably know better than I how much money he cultivated over the years."
"Millions," Kurama said, as if it was obvious. Sorry to say this, but I was confused.
"Exactly!" Koenma exclaimed. "But not even you know where he stowed it all."
"Wait a second." I stopped him. "Are you saying that those things think that I know where this treasure is?" Sorry if I sound arrogant, but all this had something to do with me, and that was all I could think of.
"Yes," Koenma stated calmly. "And you do know where it is, or at least the person who does."
"What!" Kuwabara cried. He pointed at me accusingly. "You mean you've known where millions of dollars are and you've been holding out on us?"
"Shut up Kuwabara," Yusuke smacked him in the head. "For once I actually want Koenma to finish talking."
"Thank you Yusuke." Koenma began. He reached into his pocket and pulled out four pictures. One by one he put them face down on the table. I raised my head from Kurama's shoulder to get a better look. Koenma flipped over the first picture, and motioned me forward to look.
I reached out and lifted the picture, looking at it with aw. It was a picture of a guy, with long, silver hair and ears, amber-gold eyes; dressed in a white toga outfit. He was leaning against a tree, eyes looking up to the sky. I gently traced his outline, looking at Koenma questioningly.
"That's a picture of Youko Kurama." He explained. I looked at the picture closer and I could see the slight resemblance. I placed the picture back face up on the table and reached for the next picture.
I automatically recognized it as Hiei. He was sitting on a tree branch, eyes closed. The only difference was…well….two of his eyes were closed. There was a third eye wide open located in the center of his forehead. I looked over at Hiei with a start.
"The bandanna on your head," I gaped. I didn't know what to say.
"Spit it out onna," He spat venomously. I shook my head.
"I didn't know you had a third eye, but I don't think it really matters." I said truthfully. He didn't reply. I placed that picture back quickly.
The next picture stole my breath away. I could have sworn I'd seen him before. He was laughing; a ruby pendant swinging from between his fingers. He wore a tattered black vest and pants with a black hat that I would have expected to be found on a scarecrow. His long, black hair was pulled up into a ponytail through a huge hole in the hat. But the most distinguished feature were the two black wings that protruded from his back.
"Kuronue?" I asked. Kurama looked over my shoulder and grabbed the picture from my hand.
"Yes." He breathed. He closed his eyes for a second and toke a deep breath, letting it out slowly. It wasn't until I saw his eyes wider than usual that I realized he was trying not to cry. He placed that picture back down on the table.
"I want you to look very closely at that next one Yumiko. I believe it will answer all questions for you." Koenma said suddenly as I reached out for the last picture. I hesitated for a second, then flipped it over and looked at it closely as instructed.
This was another picture of Hiei, except he was with another woman. He wasn't quite smiling, but his face was lit up, and his eyes seemed to twinkle around the edges. Hiei and the woman were laying down next to each other in the middleof a grassy field, looking up at the sky.
I toke my eyes off of Hiei to study the woman. She had long, wavy black hair and dark purple eyes. She was laughing, and she was looking toward Hiei as she did it. Her outfit consisted of a purple tank top and baggy black pants. On her neck was a pendant that looked like an exact double of the one Kuronue had had. Then I saw it.
The tips of two black wings from her back.
I gasped and grabbed Kuronue's picture from the table, comparing the images. The resemblance was astounding.
"Kuronue had a sister," I said finally. Kurama nodded.
"I was already aware of this." He began. "But I don't think Kuronue told her where his treasure was either, sir." Hiei suddenly got out of the chair and snatched the picture from my hand.
"Where did you get this?" Hiei asked Koenma. Emotions flew across his face. There was no way I could catch them all.
"It was a gift actually," Koenma replied. "Sent in with one of the ogres. Now give the picture back to Yumiko." It was the first time I heard a very serious command comefrom Koenma. Hiei looked at him in numb shock.
"What?" He asked confused. Koenma glared at him.
"You heard what I said Hiei. I want Yumiko to take a closer look at that picture, now give it back to her…now!"
Hiei's face went completely blank. He stiffly held the picture out to me, and I grabbed it wordlessly. I looked at it again, trying to figure out what it was Koenma wanted me to figure out. So far I got the fact that I supposedly know where millions of dollars are, Kuronue is a friend of Kurama who's been reincarnated, Kuronue had a sister who seems to have been dear to Hiei, and Koenma claims that I would know who to go to find this treasure. So that would mean…
"Oh Kami," I breathed. Everyone looked at me, and I glanced at Hiei before I looked at Koenma.
"You think that I'm the reincarnation of Kuronue's sister?" I asked him, feeling myself go numb. Everything was making sense. Kuronue's sister would have definitely known and trusted Youko, which would explain why I trusted Kurama already. The demons needed me to find the treasure, but it explained even more than that.
Why I was in love with Hiei after only a day.
"I don't just think Yumiko." Koenma disagreed. "I know." I shook my head. This was almost too much to comprehend.
"There's something else I think you should know Yumiko." Koenma began. I looked at him questionably. What more could there be? He looked towards Botan nervously before turning back to me.
"I think Kuronue's incarnate attends Kurama's school."
Crimson: So now you all know, and everything makes sense now. There's a little more involved regarding the treasure, and now it's obvious that Yumiko's got to go to school with Kurama! This should be interesting.
Thanks to my reviewers who were able to read last chapter before I updated:
slancaster113: Yes I did like your idea. Expect it to be within the next 4 or 5 chapters. I fit it in eventually. Sugar highs are very inspirational though. The idea for this story came from a sugar high.
luvanime4life: I'm sorry that I've been so slow in updating and that you had to wait so long. But now that I've only got three more days of school left, I'll be able to update more often and hopefully finish it up. Glad it's still funny. This chapter wasn't.
Coodle: Thanks. I'm glad you understand about the exams thing. My English exam is tomorrow. Wish me luck!
KawaiiMe-srs: You're new. I don't think I remember getting a review from you before. I'm glad you like it!
SarnaKiro: Extremely short review. It makes it hard for me to write back to you. Hmm, well I hope you enjoyed this chapter. There were quite a few tender moments.
ShadowRenaman: Friend! Yeah, I thought you'd get a kick out of her getting hit in the head with a sword. Sorry that there's no action in this chapter, but I had to get it in for explanation. Just wait until Yumiko's first day of high school! Now that's going to be interesting. Especially since Hiei's got to go with her! I mean his is her bodyguard. Mwahahahaha.
SugiSaki: I think you're new too. I don't know if this is the funniest story out there, but thank you. I'm very flattered. Um, I'm afraid I didn't understand what you wrote. Now I quote this but you wrote "I think Hiei woulda kill her is she was a he." ….what?
HieiFan666: So I was right. I knew it! Oh Yumiko is definitely no Mary Sue character. She has flaws just like every normal person out there. She's very smart and clever, but I don't think her grades will be as perfect as Kurama's will be. Those two girls will be back later on, and everything will come together a bit better.
Mysadeyes: Another new person! I'm glad you love it, and I'm glad you agree with me over his hair. I mean it's practically screaming 'obsess over me!" Hehehe.
Onna of fire and pain: I think the new people are lining up. Not that I mind…because I think that that's definitely a good sign. You don't have to worry about flames. I haven't got one yet, and even if I did I would just accept it. That's part of being an author. Not everyone can like my writing after all. I'm very glad you like the story.