A/n the next paragraph is just, as my brand new shrink put it, a constructive outlet for my inner turmoil. To get to the story just skip the paragraph in italics next. Bon Apetite! Don't worry if it's a bit confusing right about now, it'll all be clear soon enough.

(Correction, a lot late. Turmoil? TURMOIL? I've got NO turmoil! Well maybe only a little. What did you expect? Every teenage angst writer has turmoil! It's kinda upsetting for a writer though: what with term tests, end of term tests, exams, pre-exams, post exams, make-up test, projects, college applications: I still got a year of high school left by the way, evaluation tests, mental evaluations and contrary to popular opinion I'm not CRAZY! Oh yes, don't forget total computer meltdown. The damned antivirus program got a VIRUS! That has completely destroyed my faith in antiviral programs… Oh well, enough about me …)

Oh, incidentally, you are the proud witnesses of the complete change of my teeny mind. Remember when I wanted to call it quits? Well I got gentle hints from my co-writer (not so gentle), suggestions from 2 unnamed offline readers and slight persuasions (with a painful folder and umbrella to my head) from my self-proclaimed editor. Thanks to these hints, the third story is in the planning stage and its pretty good. Hell, its even better Next to Nothing and Never After put 2gether. At least I think so. Welcome to the birth of the trilogy…oh yeah, names for the trilogy and for the third story (mostly from the 5 who've already read bits and pieces of story 3) are welcome. 

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"Hiei! Hiei talk to me!"

"He's dead Yusuke." The human's head shot up. Kuwabara struggled to push himself up off the ground where Yusuke had placed him. The black-haired human had figured that since he was still breathing Hiei needed a bit more attention. Regardless of his efforts, however, the koorime's body remained lifeless. "She took him with her." Kuwabara shuddered. "It was horrible Yusuke. She's got no idea what she was doing. It was almost like she yanked us out of our bodies. She ripped one guy's soul to shreds. Some guy named Shikijou. She let two of us go but Hiei…she held on to his soul."

"What are you talking about? What happened?"

"I don't know how to explain it. You've got to find her. She can stop all this." His eyelids drooped. "I'll be fine. Just go after her." Yusuke glanced worriedly at the koorime's body.

"I can't leave the two of you. Kami knows what'll happen to you?"

"I said I'll be fine. There's nothing you can do for Hiei here. You'll need to get his soul back."

"I'll send Boton back for you. Find Jen."

"Right." He struggled to his feet. "Hey Yusuke?"

The human turned to look at his friend.

"Yeah?"

"Don't just ask him. Don't give him a choice: force him to help you. He'll try to find a way around him but don't let up."

"Who?"

"Kurama. He's the other player in the game."

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"Kirai..." She stood, framed in the window, brilliant hair flowing in the breeze. "What the hell…are you alright? Where's Shikijou? Did he hurt you? Damn it, I sound like a human, rambling on like that…"

"I'm…I need help Hikari. I can't remember what I was supposed to do. Everything is so…mixed up inside my head. I'm going insane, I can feel it."

He stepped closer and reached out to her. "May I?" She nodded. Gently he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. For a moment she stiffened then slowly she relaxed as his hand traced lazy patterns down her back.

"Hikari…"

"It's okay Kirai. You did the right thing in coming here. Everything's going to be alright. It will all be over soon…" His voice trailed off as, unseen by her a knife appeared in his hand. Faster than the eye could follow his hand launched toward his target, burying the knife up to the hilt in her back.

Her eyes widened and blood spattered from her mouth, dripping from between her lips. A shadow over his face hid his eyes but she could see the smile on his face. The fingers that had only a moment ago brought her comfort clenched around the protruding knife.

"Don't feel bad Kirai. You couldn't have known. Master Banshi baited you perfectly. It's all for the best…" Blood-red ripples flowed from his hand, through the knife and into the wound. It tore at the edges and ate though her. She couldn't move, couldn't yell, could do nothing as the okami used the minor knife wound to amplify his fatal waves and pass them through her. With a final, malicious twist he kissed her neck and whispered, "That's for throwing me off my horse, subeta." Then he stepped back to let her fall…

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The entire world seemed like it was trembling. Entire sections of the roof came down on fleeing castle residents. The surge carried Boton with them. Without warning someone grabbed her arm and jerked her from the wave of bodies and almost immediately she found herself outside, transported through a brand new hole in the wall.

"Yusuke!"

"Where the hell is Miya?"

"Who?"

"Kurama's kid, red hair, looks just like him."

"Kirai, I'm not sure. I didn't know she was here."

"Go to the tournament grounds, get the others to the human side. See if you can get a hold of Koenma." She nodded.

"Right!" As usual she whipped out a broom from thin air. She straddled it and lifted off. "Just don't get yourself killed. I'd hate to bring your body home and have Keiko baby-sit it while I go hunt down your soul." A thunderstorm crossed the ningen's face.

"Now that you've reminded me – Boton…would you do me a favor?"

Immediately Boton was alert. Something was not right.

"Sure I guess, what is it?"

"Would you…would you have Keiko take care of Hiei's body until I can get his soul from Miya?"

"Kami!" Yusuke stepped forward to catch the former Shinigami as she fell off her broom. "No, it can't be true. Tell me you're lying. Please Yusuke, Hiei can't be dead. It's just not possible."

"I'm sorry Boton. There was an accident and Miya lost control…"

"…and she killed him!"

"We don't have time for that right now Boton. I know how you feel about Miya and Hiei but try to put that off for a while. I think that Miya just may be our last hope."

"For what?"

"I'm not quite sure yet." She glared. "Boton please…"

"Fine. But tell … that girl, if she doesn't release Hiei's soul I'll kill her myself."

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"I've done it Lord Banshi. I've done what you wanted."

"Don't be a fool Kiete. Underestimating her will destroy you." As if understanding the danger her mother was in, the baby in Banshi's arms began to scream. "Come now little one, after all the trouble you've caused this is the only thing that bothers you? It looks like we'll have some more work to do." He turned to Kiete. "Well done Kiete. You'll get the reward you deserve soon. Ensure I'm not disturbed, would you?" Banshi waved Kiete out, fully knowing what was waiting for him the moment he left the room. He would lose another game-piece. Well, it couldn't be helped. The thing was an idiot anyway. It was about time he started relying on player two.

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Kiete scuttled through the door quite happily. Banshi had complimented him! No doubt the reward waiting for him would make him more powerful.

"You realize that the master you serve so faithfully has just singed your death warrant?" Kiete spun around to face the tall, silver-haired yokai.

"What the hell! How did you get here?"

"That is not your concern. Where is Banshi?"

"Any business you have with Banshi-sensei can wait. He is not to be disturbed."

"Is that so?" The yokai moved towards him with such a speed that he couldn't even see. The next thing he knew was a searing pain in his stomach. He was slammed against the floor so hard that he heard his bones crack and the taste of blood filled his mouth. Fleetingly he wondered who his master's powerful visitor was.

"Master…help me master Banshi…" he smiled as he saw his master appear in front of him. He reached out to him but was too far away. Suddenly the look in his master's eyes froze him.

"I never told you to try to kill the girl Kiete. Now you will pay for your error."

"Wait! Banshi-sensei! Don't leave me!" Banshi's lip curled in disgust as he turned away. "My lord! Help me!" But Banshi had already disappeared. "Master…how could you…betray me…"

The yokai's fingers tightened around his neck and blood poured out of where the long nails punctured skin and veins.

"Banshi…you'll pay…master." The last word he spat out before the bone snapped and his lifeless body fell to the floor.

"Why would anyone serve a master who would be so willing to sacrifice them? It doesn't make sense…"

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"Banshi!" The demon turned to face his rival.

"Yokou Kurama, it's always a pleasure to see you. I see you've taken care of that little Pest Kiete. Thought you might."

"Cut the crap!"

"Come to see little grand-daughter have you?"

"This is a new low for you Banshi!" The fury that shone in Kurama's eyes seemed to delight the demon.

"On the contrary my narrow-sighted friend. I am merely ensuring that this game keeps going. Its quite simple really. I really cannot afford to have our game overthrown by a half-Kami, not even a grand-child of yours."

"A What!" Kurama stepped back as if shoved by an invisible force.

"What a pity…you hadn't even noticed had you? And your own daughter too. For shame Kurama."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

A wave of Banshi's pale hand cleared a way through the mist and a picture of Miya appeared. She had been stabbed but she wasn't bleeding. Vines poured from her wounds and spread through the castle, blocking all entrances. "What's happening!"

"She's creating a paradise for herself. She's got the soul of her beloved and the memories of her friends. She's managed to fulfill the destinies that you and Shinbi-sama were unable to. You were so close to ascending and I couldn't allow that. That's why I was forced to kill you. Then dear Shinbi manages to start ascension. I had to kill her too. I hadn't planned to have Miya ascend but that bumbling fool of a yokai you destroyed tried to kill her. It must have set off some sort of hidden ability." He smiled.

"Don't you see Kurama dear? Your daughter is almost invincible, a virtual Goddess. She inherited the ruler of the earth abilities from you and ruler of the heaven status from her mother. It's a vexing situation to say the least, but I could use it to my advantage."

"Is that what you've been aiming for all this time? To become a god?"

"Of course…isn't that what we were made for?"

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