Chapter 4: Where am I?

A/n: I don't know own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Thoughts

Dream for this chapter

Telepathic speech

Recap:

"Hn, Koenma what are you going to do with the girl?" Hiei says getting back to the point.

(Siruki POV)

I can see glimpses and shadows. There is screaming coming form all directions, but I can't see where they are coming form.

Where am I? Why am I here?

A dirt road is stand with trickling blood. Thick black smoke looms over head. No one is spared from the unseen enemy.

I can't see what is happening. Why?

A baby cries out in the distance. A mother screams and pleads.

What is she saying? Why can't I understand her?

A figure stands on the top of a hill all alone.

Who is that?

Footsteps in the dark run past. No one notices the figures in the shadows.

I can almost make out the face. Closer, closer, so very close.

The wind blows, and small beads of rain fall. The droplets mix with the dirt and blood, creating thick black mood. The smoke clears just enough to see…

(Normal POV)

Siruki wakes up. Beads of sweat concentrate on her forehead. Her cloak is no where to be seen. She has a dark violet tank top and black baggy paints on. On her left arm is a violet tattoo that is easily covered, if she were to ware a short sleeve t-shirt. It is a calligraphy symbol for wind.

Her eyes scan her surroundings. She is laying on a big ski blue couch. The walls are a light pink, and the floor is carpeted in thick white shag. A small glass top in-table sits in the middle of the bright cheery room. A large window allows a stream of sunlight to peak through.

Voices come from a near by room. There is one door that has large brass locks on it. This door stands adjacent to the large window. There is a walkway leading into another room, and the voices lay on the other side.

What happened? Siruki thinks, looking around the room again she sighs. This place is way too cheery. I need to get out of here, and get back to my cave. She stands. A wave of nausea hits her suddenly. Shoot, this is from not sleeping well this last month. My head hurts. She takes a few steps, and her knees give out from under her. "Dam" she whispers to herself. She crosses her legs Indian style.

"Siruki you're awake!" Botan declares walking into the room, after hiring the sudden drop, "You slept all night, and most of the morning."

"Yes, where are we?" Siruki replies finding that her voice is slightly rough from just waking.

"Yusuke, guys, she's up." Botan exclaims to the other inhabitance.

Yusuke and Kuwabara quickly pop through the entryway, wide grins spread across their faces. Kurama eases in as well, a polite smile forever present. After a few moments, a very irritated Hiei strolls in, his face the least pleasant.

"How are you feeling? After you feel asleep we brought you here." Kurama says courteously.

"Yeah, you've been out for hours." Yusuke adds.

"I'm fine, but where is here?" Siruki says through the splitting headache.

"You're in my apartment." Botan beams, "Koenma-sama finally gave in and got me an apartment. I had to bug him for months. I told him that since I had to stay in the Ningenkai, to be Yusuke's assistant, then I needed to have a place to stay. What do you think? I did all of the decorations myself."

"Um I think… you did all of the decorations? All by yourself?" Siruki tries to avoid answering the painful question.

"Yes! It took me a whole three months to get everything settled, but now that I've painted and laid down all the carpet it really says home." Botan explains excitedly, "This is just the front room. There is a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. It is rather small, but at least I have an apartment."

"Um, I hate to interrupt, but…" Siruki politely interrupts with a small smile.

"Oh yes! I'm sorry, but when I start to talk about my apartment I tend to get a little carried away." Botan grins, "Would you like to take a tour?"

"Actually I was…"

She is interrupted when Botan grads her arm, "Come on!"

Siruki's ears quickly perk up in surprise, as she is dragged from the ground. She finds that Yusuke and Kuwabara have snuck out of the room. Kurama stands courteously waiting for Botan to finish talking, and doesn't look in the least bit surprised that Botan drags her around like a rag doll. Hiei sits, napping, in the corner, again.

Botan slides into the hallway. She walks down a short way, yanking a flustered looking Siruki with her. Kurama strolls behind them. The first room contains two rivaling teenage boys who are overly enthusiastic about a video game.

"This is the living room." Botan points out, "It, also, seems to be Yusuke and Kuwabara's favorite."

It looks like the last one, except for the large black box, there are more chairs, and it is larger. Siruki sighs, as Botan lightly points out all of the things she finds fascinating about the room.

"…and this is where you'll be staying…"

"What?" Siruki looks around the room startled by Botan's last revelation.

"Yes, you can stay in this room." Botan says as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"But I…"

"Koenma-sama pardoned you. Actually, he put you on probation. As long as you stay in the Ningenkai, you are one of his employees." Kurama clarifies.

"What do I have to do?"

"You will be working with the rest of the detectives and myself, here in the Ningenkai." Kurama answers.

Siruki takes a second to comprehend all of the sudden information through her splitting headache. "And if I decline?"

Botan looks shocked that someone would ever think of decline such a generous offer from Koenma, "Um… you'll be sent to a Reikai prison. I didn't think you would want to leave the Ningenkai."

"Hn, if she what's to be put away, just let her go." Hiei says entering the room.

"Will I be able to search for the Devil's Storm?" Siruki asks ignoring the advice given by both Botan and Hiei.

Botan places a finger on her chin thinking over her answer, "Koenma-sama said that as long as you don't let it interfere with your work, then you may. But I still don't see why you want to…"

"Then I'll accept." Siruki says definitively.

"Hn, great another member of our little 'family'," Hiei stats sarcastically, rolling his eyes, "Just what we need."

"What are you complaining about? I'm the spirit detective here. I'm the one who started out by myself. You're the ones who got put on probation, and never left." Yusuke scoffs.

"Hey! I'm not on probation! I'm the only one here who actually volunteered!" Kuwabara exclaims.

"Yeah, but no one asked you to." Yusuke huffs hitting Kuwabara over the side of the head.

"Don't hit me! I'm the guy who saved you're life!"

"Ha, you never saved my life, but you had to get Siruki to save you from a puddle."

"It was a drainage ditch and I did save your life!"

"Yeah right, I don't remember you saving my life."

"Don't you remember Maze Cattle? I gave you all that energy. You could have died."

Yusuke scratches his head, and then gets a disgusted look on his face, "Uck, that's right you did contaminate me with you revolting energy."

"Hey! What are you calling revolting!"

"Do they fight like this all the time?" Siruki asks the headache blinding with all of the shouting.

"Yes, they used to be big rivals at their school, but now they're the best of friends." Botan winks, "Come on I'll show you the rest of the house." Botan once again grabs her hostage.

"Botan would you like me to show Siruki around the house? It seems Yusuke and Kuwabara are making a mess of your living room." Kurama smoothly asks.

"YUSUKE, KUWABARA!" Botan releases Siruki's arm to bash the two boys over the head for breaking a vase.

Kurama gingerly extends his arm to escort Siruki out of the living room. "This way is the kitchen." he softly says. This way I'll be able to ask our new teammate a few questions. he thinks to himself.

Why did he take me away from the rest of the group? Siruki looks around the room suspicious of her new surroundings. It's sad. I felt safer in the larger group, but singled out things are very different.

"Do the rest of you live here with Botan?" Siruki questions.

"No, we all have our own homes." Kurama answers as he starts a pot of tea, "You look pale. Are you sure you're alright?"

"It's from living in that cave for a month, I suppose."

"No, you were tossing in your sleep." Hiei says from a corner of the room.

Strangely, Siruki doesn't seem to be startled by Hiei's sudden entrance into the room. "Well, a soft chair is very different from the hard sacrifice of the ground."

"Hn, you don't fool me onna. Why are you seeking the Devil's Storm?"

"I've already told all of you. It's the only thing I can remember at least I think it's a memory. I'm really not sure."

"What do you mean by it is the only thing you can remember?" Kurama inquires.

"I don't know. I was maybe two years old, when I woke up covered in mud, in the woods. I walked in circles trying to find something or someone to help me. Of course in the Makai, there is never anyone to help, you are completely alone. I walked for days not knowing anything, until I came a cross a village. I can remember the rancid thick smell of death. There was dried caked blood everywhere. The few buildings still standing were covered from top to bottom with it.

After that, the dreams started. There is always screaming, crying, and a thick black smoke that I can't see through. A black figure stands on top of a hill. I think they are watching everything. Something in the back of my mind screams 'The Devil's Storm' over and over. I don't know if it is the figure that screams. But I know if I could only see the figure's face, or find the Devil's Storm I know I can make sense of the dream or find my memories." Siruki finds her explanation half reluctant and half relieving.

"Why do you want to find your memories? Don't you know that some things are best forgotten" Hiei says unfazed by Siruki's story.

"Yes, you are right of course, but the stupid dream won't go away." she agrees, and adds in a whisper with a half smile, "In a way, when it does come I love it. Stupid rain."

"Would you like some tea?" Kurama asks, setting out six teacups.

"No thank you, I wouldn't." Siruki says as Kurama sets a cup in front of her.

"I'll set your tea on the table, Hiei." Kurama adds, setting it on the table, and stepping out the door. "I'll go call the others."

"I don't see why the fox always serves me tea. I don't drink it." Hiei mutters under his breath.

Siruki sits twirling the small porcelain cup on the table. Why did Kurama set this tea out when I asked him not to? She holds back a scowl, as the thought crosses her mind.

You've let your mental blocks down, onna. Hiei points out, still standing in the corner and not bothering to look at Siruki

Of course, I have nothing to hide. In fact, if you find something in this skull that I couldn't, please let me know. She responds half heartedly, still looking at the tea she idly twirls.

Why should I?

No reason. It really wouldn't do you any good, but I would greatly appreciate it.

Hn, there is just one thing I want to know?

Yes, and what is that?

Why did you really save the big Baka?

Siruki looks up, from her tea, at Hiei, and smirks. You really don't like him do you? She looks up to the sealing and sighs. Maybe I should have just let him drown, but I don't find the smell of rotting flesh very appealing. That and his screaming was getting on my nerves.

At this Hiei half smiles and shacks his head. Yes the Baka does have a very annoying voice.

Maybe, I should have severed his vocal cords, and then he couldn't scream or talk.

Hn, now why didn't I ever do that? An evil smile comes across Hiei and Siruki's faces.

Botan runs into the room. "Koenma-sama, has a mission for us." she says waving a hand for them to fallow her quickly, as she runs back out of the room. The two demons had stopped smiling when they heard her coming.

They fallow Botan out of the kitchen and into the living room.A video tape is playing with the Koenma's teenage face on the screen. "By now you have all heard that Yukina has started school at Sarayashiki High School. (A/n: Sarayashiki is really a junior high school, but for the purpose of this fic I'm dubbing it a high school.) Because of this, Yusuke I expect you to attend all of your classes. Also, Hiei and Siruki will start school in two weeks. This way, I'll be able to keep track of all of you. Botan, you will come to the Reikai to be briefed with further details." The tape ends with many questions unanswered.

"WHAT KIND OF MISSION IS THAT! 'Yusuke I expect you to attend all of your classes.'" Yusuke mocks Koenma's voice, "I bet you he's been talking to Kayko. And who is he to tell me to go to all my classes. It's his fault I've missed a lot of classes. The toddler and his stupid missions."

"Now, now Yusuke you know that's not true. You ditched school yesterday, and that had nothing to do with Koenma-sama." Botan scolds.

"Yeah, yeah what ever. Well, at least Kayko will be happy."

A/n: Now you know why it is called Dreams of the Devil's storm. Will the dreams ever end? And who is the figure on top of the hill?

The gang is going to school soon. I've got a crazy plain for them on their first day of school. It might be a little OOCish, but a friend and I have been shooting ideas at each other, and we think it will be at least semi-funny.

EternalMidnight: "The devil's storm will rain muffins for all eternity?" HAHAHAHA! That's great! I love your scene of humor, and longer chapters are good.

Don't worry this won't be some Mary-sue fan fic. And it may surprise you. At least I hope so.

Siruki: I'm so glad you reviewed. You know, once school lets out you'll have to wait like everyone else. BTW thanks for editing for me. It really has helped me out a lot. There would be a whole lot more mistakes if you didn't.

See-Ya -.0