Me: Er, Due to certain persuasion methods by Ashira, I have put up another chapter

Youko: -tied up and held hostage by Ashira- 'thinks: Damn woman!'

Ashira: You haven't updated your story in a year! –growls- I had to do something!

Me: -sniffles- I know but you didn't have to take Youko from me!

Youko: Yeah!

Ashira: Maybe I should gag him too….

Youko: -keeps silent-

Ashira: Now, on with the fic! Ayare, now known as Kirei, does not own anything from Yu Yu Hakusho. She does own the other characters though except me of course…

Me: Here it is! Longer than the last chapter too…

The Life of a Kitsune

Chapter 11: The Unmasking

As Rei watched the group rejoice in seemingly finding him, Hiei spoke up to interrupt everyone.

"Hey, Rei? How about a spar?" he suggested, seemingly out of the blue.

"Hiei, what are you doing! He just came back from being held captive and now you're challenging him to a sparring match! What on earth are you thinking!" yelped Ayare, glaring at her cousin.

"It's alright, Aya. I'll accept his challenge." Rei replied.

"You aren't serious, are you? You can't even beat Blade. What makes you think you can beat Hiei!" Youko said, knowing Rei wasn't one to accept spars so quickly unless it was with friends.

"I can't better myself if I don't try, now can I Youko? Besides, it's only a spar. It's not like it's going to be a real battle.." Rei countered, deciding to use his katana as his weapon of choice.

"You're going to use a katana against me? If that's really what you want to do…" Hiei said amusedly, a smirk playing upon his lips as he moved into his battle stance. Hiei watched Rei doing the same.

The rest of the group took a step back from the two fighters; most looking confused or worried or a mix of the two. Ashira wasn't included in the group that had taken a step back; rather, she had jumped into a nearby tree to watch how Hiei planned to expose the fraud's true identity.

Without any sign of starting, Hiei became a black blur before disappearing completely. Rei looked about cautiously, trying to predict where the fire apparition would appear next for his first assault.

"Ha!" Rei said as he turned to counter Hiei's blade with his own.

'Woah… Rei was never THAT fast… He certainly couldn't have gotten fast in just a few moments… What was going on…?' Everyone besides Hiei and Ashira seemed to be confused with Rei's sudden transformation in power and speed.

"Hn… Rei could've never blocked me. He's much slower than me and a blow like that would have at least caused him a light wound. Who are you and what have you done with our friend Rei?" Hiei questioned, jumping back from the Rei impersonator, his katana still unsheathed.

The Rei imposter smirked and sheathed his weapon. The imposter then transformed, disappearing in a cloud of smoke for a moment. As the smoke cleared away, a woman with deep blue eyes and sky blue hair was revealed. A pair of leathery light blue wings protruding from her back covered her like a cloak.

"Jaganshi, no doubt... You found Rei, hadn't you?" she asked, sending him a slightly narrowed gaze.

"Hn, what else could have lead me to believe you were an imposter? You should have at least tried shapeshifting with the condition he was in instead of coming out all perfect and clean. Though I suppose not all are smart enough to consider all the possibilities..." Hiei retorted dryly, "Besides… studying his everyday routines would have given you more of a chance to pull off this little ruse without being detected, but again, it seems you didn't think things too well through."

Her glare instantly became fiercer. 'Damn', she thought, he was right…They had rushed into this a bit too soon… No matter though, she'd still accomplish her task. With that thought, her glare slowly changed into a confident stare, her lips slowly transforming into a smirk.

"Clever, Jaganshi, but you can't stop me from accomplishing my task. The young kitsune lass will soon be put under the spell I have kept in my mind for quite a while." she mused aloud, before throwing the spell at Ayare, hitting her before any of them could react.

"Now," began the water demoness, disappearing from the spot she had been and reappearing behind the now unconscious Ayare. "I'll take her and be leaving you all."

A portal soon appeared behind her and she stepped back into it, taking the unconscious Ayare with her. The portal closed just before Youko reached the spot where it had once been, leaving the fox to only meet the ground, empty handed and very angry. The kitsune thief slammed his fists upon the ground, "Damn it!" he growled, picking himself up from the ground, "She was taken right from under our noses!"

"Calm yourself Youko… we'll get her back, along with Rei." He paused, "Did the woman's scent seem familiar to any of you at all? asked Hiei.

Kuronue answered first, since Yoko was still in a rage, "Actually… it does. I think it's the same scent from Ureshii Palace.." the bat demon said, glancing to his friend.

Youko overheard them and had to agree. "If that's so… then we have to head in that direction." without anything more, Youko was off in that direction in a mere blur of white and silver. "No one steals from me… and especially they don't steal Ayare. That witch is going to pay for taking her and Rei" he growled aloud to himself, his actions fueled by the mere thought of saving the two siblings whom had grown quite close to him.

"Youko..!", but of course, Kuronue was too late to stop his fox friend. He soon rushed off after his friend, not wanting him to go there alone.

Hiei sighed heavily, "I suppose we'd better follow them. They'll end up getting tricked again." Hiei said running off after them at a speed Ashira could keep up with.

Ashira nodded, jumping from her spot in the tree and following after him as quickly as she could.

Me: Well, that's as much as I'll put in this chapter. Hopefully I'll get Youko back... Please review! I'll update faster!

Hiei: She'll probably get Youko back too if she puts her chapters up faster.

Me: Hai... Ashira san is quite persuasive... Well, see you guys later. I'll let you know if I get Youko back! Bye! -Leaves-

Hiei: All of you review her story. -Leaves after her-