Disclaimer: I don't own the YYH characters, but I do reserve the rights to Takashi Ashitare. She's my little mystic.

A/N: This is a short chapter. Sorry! But after writing the story, this seemed a logical division in chapters. I promise the next chapter will be longer.

Kijo – means demoness, or witch

Oniisan – means (older) brother

Otousan – means father

Kaasan – means mother

Of Mystics and Youkai

Chapter 4

All together now – part one

"Out of the question."

Hiei stood there, hands crossed over his chest, face set in determination. Koenma had just finished recounting the story of the deaths in the Ningenkai, the theft of the Suspension Orb and Ashitare's involvement.

"Hiei, Ashitare has agreed--"

"I don't care. As a member of this team, I should have a say in who I work with. I won't work with her."

Hiei turns his back to the group and goes to lean against the far wall shrouded in shadow. Ashitare turns a pleading face to Kurama, but he can only give her a resigned look.

"You agree with him Kurama?"

"I understand Koenma's decision to involve you. But surely you can see why we object. It is purely personal, I admit." He sighs in resignation, meeting Yusuke's eyes, "Maybe we aren't the best people to make the decision. Maybe we should leave it to everyone else."

"Kurama!"

The kitsune turns to face his lover, apology written all over his face, "Face it Hiei, Koenma's right. There's a reason he didn't ask us to recruit Ashi in the first place."

"Hn."

Kurama goes over and stands next to Hiei, letting his hand quickly brush the youkai's as a sign he understands his frustration. Ashitare is standing in the center of the room, looking at her closest friends with an expression that hides none of her feelings of betrayal.

Yusuke slowly lets his eyes leave Kurama's and he turns to the only teammate left, "Well, as team leader I've already asked her to join the mission. Kuwabara, do you have any objections?"

"Well, from what I'm being told, she's capable of taking care of herself and if Koenma thinks we need a mystic, I trust him. Besides, anything to go against the runt."

Kurama manages to grab Hiei before he can grab his katana and go after Kuwabara. Hiei settles for a stream of colorful metaphors concerning Kuwabara's heritage. Kurama can only smile at the creativity of his hotheaded youkai.

Yusuke smacks Kuwabara on the head. "Cut it out!" He turns back to Hiei and Kurama, a serious look on his face, "Hiei, Kurama, if your only objections are personal, then I have no choice but to vote against you."

Kurama inclines his head, "We understand."

"Ok. Now that we have that settled, let's get on with this." Yusuke goes over and puts his hand on Ashitare's back, guiding her over to sit in his chair while he stands next to her, hand resting on the back of the chair. Hiei lets out a low growl and Kurama slips his hand to the back of Hiei's neck, gently rubbing his tense muscles.

Koenma looks around the room, confident in his team, "Right. The Orb must be activated in the Ningenkai. Keeping that in mind, we believe it can only be kept in one of two places once it has been fully charged. The most likely place is Mount Sakurajima, a volcanic mountain outside Kagoshima City. It was believed to once be the hiding place of Kyushu, the ancient fire demon. It contains mystic properties we're not clear on. Then there's the least probable location, Mount Koya, just south of Osaka. We doubt the Orb is being hidden here since this is a spiritual locale for many in the Ningenkai and a way station for traveling deities. I have a scouting team checking it out just in case. Now since we're hoping to catch this nut by surprise, I can have my transporters get you close, but you'll need to hike a bit."

Kuwabara slouches in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, "Remind me to never let you plan my vacation Koenma."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

All together now – part two

Ashitare was avoiding Hiei and Kurama. When the meeting let out, she told Yusuke she would meet him on the balcony in fifteen minutes and then walked out of the room. Yusuke watched her leave and turned to Hiei and Kurama. "Look, I understand how you feel about Ashitare. But you need to talk to her before this mission starts. She said she would meet me on the balcony in fifteen minutes. I think you guys should show up instead of me."

Kurama puts a hand on Yusuke's shoulder, "Thank you Yusuke. If I may ask, you seem…comfortable with Ashitare. You did just meet her today, right?"

Yusuke blushed slightly and took a step back, Kurama's grip suddenly feeling tight. He offered up an innocent smile to his teammates as he took another step back, "Yeah, I, uh, we, just kinda hit it off I guess. Why?"

"No reason. Just inquiring. I appreciate you telling us about the balcony. Hiei and I will meet her there." Kurama smiled at Yusuke as the flustered toushin left the office. Hiei kept a cold glare on the retreating and obviously nervous teammate the entire time. He noticed how "comfortable" Yusuke was with Ashitare as well, and he didn't like it. Hiei looks up at Kurama, knowing the kitsune could read his mind. "I know. I saw his reaction too. But she is a grown woman Hiei, and Yusuke is our friend."

"I know where he lives."

"C'mon you overprotective hothead. We have some apologizing to do."

"Hn."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Ashitare is poised on the railing of the balcony, looking out at the Reikai, letting the breeze caress her face. She was trying to not feel betrayed by Hiei and Kurama. She was touched that they felt so protective of her, but to be openly rejected….it was unacceptable. Ashitare closes her eyes and concentrates on the feeling of the breeze. She can feel her body relaxing, her mind clearing. Then she feels them. Close. She flips backward off the railing, landing a few feet from Hiei and Kurama. Kurama can't help but smile. Ashitare and Hiei wear the same scowl on their faces.

Kurama took a step towards Ashitare, "Ashi, we came here--"

She fixed her ice blue eyes on the kitsune, stopping him in his tracks, "Uninvited."

"Yusuke told us about your meeting and suggested we come to talk to you. Ashi, we're sorry. We handled the situation poorly. But we love you and don't want to see you put in danger."

"But it's ok for you to go charging in because……?"

"You are not a Reikai Tantei."

Ashitare focused her attention on the fire demon again, her anger not wavering under the crimson eyes, "Neither are you. You were cleared of your mandatory probation and the Urameshi team was retired."

Kurama tried to be the voice of reason between the two stubborn youkai, "Ashi, why do you want this mission?"

"Koenma asked me for help, I didn't seek this out. They can't find Shirogane. And obviously Koenma feels it's important for you to have a mystic. Why not me? You know you can trust me and you know my capabilities. I am no rank amateur."

"So now you're a powerful mystic ready to take on the bad guys?"

Ashitare's eyes flash and she takes a step toward Hiei, her voice a barely controlled growl, "I am daughter of Shirogane Takashi, and Master of Majiks. I have trained with Tagashi Masamoto, renowned swordsman of the Makai." She closes the gap between her and Hiei, leaving just a foot of space between them. "And I now call Hiei, Master of the katana and the Black Dragon my sensei. And if that isn't good enough for you, you can pick a level of hell and I'll send you there myself."

Ashitare and Hiei remain still, glaring at each other. Kurama can see the black smoke rising from Hiei and the blue glow around Ashitare begin to make contact, sending sparks into the surrounding area. He takes a few steps back from the pair. He knows better than to interfere in their battles of will. In a flash of motion too quick for Kurama's eyes to completely follow, Hiei pulls his katana and strikes at Ashitare and just as quickly, Ashitare has her katana up to block the strike. They remain less than a foot away from each other, neither one giving any ground in the exchange. A small curve appears at the corner of Hiei's mouth.

"You'll do."

Ashitare lowers her katana, takes a step back and bows slightly. Then she smiles and ruffles Hiei's spiky hair, eliciting a growl from the fire demon. Kurama lets the breath he had been holding finally escape. His family was back to normal.

To be continued….