A/n: I'd like to thank all the people who reviewed or emailed me. It was pretty encouraging to see all the people still interested in my story. Thanks especially to Hieiloving101 who, even if nobody else had reviewed, would have single-handedly talked me back into writing. I had almost forgotten the reason why I started this story in the first place. Thanx a bunch everyone!

Pt 5

"Well, this is home!" Kirai regarded the huge stone structure unemotionally. The towering building loomed ominously overhead and beyond that heavy grey clouds circled. Everything seemed to scream that she didn't belong there. The mere size was a bit overwhelming.

She looked over to find Hikari looking at her somewhat hopefully.

"Is anything familiar?" She shook her head. His shoulders sagged slightly but he brightened quickly enough. "That's okay. I'm sure something will trigger your memory."

"I hope so. It's pretty annoying having a great blank spot in your mind."

"I suppose it would be. Come on, let's go in." The young okami pressed his heels against the horse's flank and urged it forward. After a moment's hesitation, Kirai followed suit.

She looked back as they dismounted in the courtyard, getting one last glimpse of the forest before the gates slammed shut. She couldn't help a feeling of ensnarement from washing over her.

"Well!" She swung round and came face-to-face with an angry-looking blue-haired girl. She eyed the kitsune disdainfully, sizing her up completely before announcing, "The young lord if forever dragging in everything he finds!"

Hikari rolled his eyes and groaned.

"She was lost and needed help. Could you at least try to be nice?"

Kirai immediately didn't like her. One perfectly manicured finger poked her in the chest as she bit back the urge to flatten the woman's face.

"Such a scrawny little hussy, where did you pick this one up Hikari?" The kitsune, to her credit, bit back an insult and pasted on her best bored face. "You do have a tongue don't you? Speak up! What the heck are you?" She didn't have time to launch another insult before Hikari's horse, silently guided by Kirai, took a mouthful of the woman's hair and started chewing.

She shrieked and fought to free herself from the "evil creature that will end its days in a glue factory!"

Hikari laughed before dutifully coming to her rescue. After a few minutes, and several strands of hair later, she stood free from her equestrian hair ornament. Through it all Kirai didn't say a word. The woman glared at her and proclaimed "You can tell the people who actually have decent breeding!" before flouncing off in a rage.

Still laughing, Hikari turned back to Kirai.

"I think you're going to be just fine!" The kitsune crossed her arms.

"Friend of yours?"

"My brother wants us to get married. She's been haunting this place for two months now, doing her best to drive me crazy. Somehow I think she's able to spy on me all the time. Don't mind her, it's just her way. Her name is Boton."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"That's the ninth one this week!" Yusuke gripped the newspaper, knuckles white. "Women found raped and in a coma. Nobody can figure out how he's doing it!" Keiko looked up.

"They found another one?"

"Seventeen year old school girl found in the park this morning. She's been missing from home for three days. She was still wearing her school uniform."

"That's horrible." Kuwabara leaned on the counter.

"How'd ya think he's doing it? Could he be yokai?"

"It's possible. In fact it's pretty likely. These women had their energy completely drained from their bodies. It's just not natural. And he's taking the chance to satisfy his sadistic needs at the same time."

"He likes to watch them suffer." None of them where startled when Hiei suddenly appeared and joined the conversation.

"Hey Hiei."

"You called me?"

"Yeah, I kinda need a really big favor. I need you to follow Jen for me." The koorime's face was a picture of disdain.

"That's what you called me here for?" Yusuke was serious.

"Look, if it's the same Banshi guy that killed Kurama, and I have a pretty bad feeling that it is, then he'll come after us. If he sticks to his trend then he'll go after Jen. I don't want her hurt."

"Then you follow her."

"You're faster and are able to hide better. Besides, if he does come don't you want a few Koenma-less, unsupervised moments with the yokai who killed Kurama?" They could practically see him scrolling through the possibilities in his mind.

"I'll do it."

"Don't let her know." Hiei answered with his customary 'hn' and disappeared.

"You do realize Yusuke that there won't be much left of the guy by the time we get there. There won't be enough to bury."

"Good, makes our job easier." Yusuke's eyes followed the covert movements of his yokai friend. "The bastard deserves it. For what he did to Kurama…and Hiei."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Diary, day 608: I'm no closer to Banshi. It would appear that they still haven't figured out my purpose here. I'm not sure which brother is responsible for this. I'm sure one of them is.

I just know that Shikijou is responsible for the attacks on women in the human world. There's a pretty good chance that he works for Banshi. I'm not even sure Hikari's aware of it yet.

Facts: Shikijou has a fetish for human women.

Shikijou and Hikari both showed up three months ago after being gone for seventeen years. Neither of them offered any explanation as to where they've been.

Their father turned up dead one day before Hikari returned. Shikijou was already here.

Shikijou disappears for no reason for sometimes days.

Nobody's ever seen either of them at night.

Shikijou wants to kill Hikari.

Shikijou wants me to help him kill Hikari.

Shikijou is too desperate to have me marry Hikari.'

Boton slapped her head. I'm obsessing again! She sighed, wearily and gazed out the window. Hikari's nice but he's naïve and he's approximately 1/5000th my age. I look pretty good for my age…focus Boton! More important matters at stake here!

'I still haven't found a way to contact Koenma as yet. I'm too afraid I'll get caught and completely blow my cover. I can't help but feel lonely. I wonder where Hiei is now and if he's missing me. Probably not. Her eyes wandered to the window and they narrowed suspiciously.

I don't trust this girl, I don't trust her at all. She waltzed in and captured Hiei's heart, then the next moment she's here in the house with both bothers obsessed with her. I'm not sure what to think. I hear she has incredible telepathic powers. Maybe she's in on it too. I don't buy the 'I'm lost and don't remember anything, please help me' act. I'm going to keep a close eye on her. In the mean time I plan to make her life hell until I can force her hand. I'm hoping that she's really a victim here. I don't want to have to fight her. And I know neither does Hiei.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Miya could feel Boton watching her. Why did she hate her so? Maybe she had done something to her in the past. I probably stole her man! She chuckled quietly. That's ridiculous! She focused her attention back to the fight. Unnamed fighters competed with each other. She couldn't help but get the feeling that they were showing off for her sake. 'It isn't often a pretty girl comes around here. And those that do care more for pampering, not watching the fights!' one of the fighters informed her.

Inside was stifling and Shikijou hovered around her. Watching the fight was a welcome change. Boton wasn't exactly making her very comfortable.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Hey, you think you could teach me?"

"You're serious?" She nodded. The young fighter eyed her critically. "I'm not sure. Have you ever fought before?"

"I don't really know. I think so. I've got some wicked sword scars that I would have gotten in battle."

"I don't know…it's not all that easy. And seeing as though you're…"

Miya crossed her arms and glared. "Seeing as I'm what?" He looked properly embarrassed.

"Well…you're a…woman."

"And just what's that supposed to mean!"

"Men fight, women stitch, that's just the way it is."

"Say's who?"

"It's unwritten. Everybody knows that!" Miya raised one eyebrow. He fidgeted nervously under her glare. She smiled secretly, enjoying the way he was uncomfortable.

"So basically you're saying that there's no way I could beat you right?"

"I guess."

"So it's a fight then."

"Wait! I didn't say that!"

"So you don't want to fight me."

"Well…"

"Are you afraid of me?"

"No!"

"Then why won't you fight me?"

"Because…well…"

"Because?" He stammered. She grinned.

"So then it's a fight. Here tomorrow?"

"No!"

"So you want to fight sometime else?"

"But…"

"Tomorrow then! If I lose then you get to teach me."

"But…but wait a minute!" But she was already inside. The other fighters laughed.

"You got caught in that one!"

There's been two requests for Touya and I'd like to point out that I know just about nothing about him. (minus the fact that he's an ice yokai) so the persons who want to see him are being kindly asked to kinda describe him, I mean attitude, actions etc. Email me w/ the info. thanx.