Disclaimer. I do not, and never will, own Yu Yu Hakusho or any person from any other show/comic/story that appears in here. (Yes, I will put some cameos in this possibly. The disclaimer to the individual owners of said characters will be given credit at the beginning of the chapters.)

A/N: I've been living off of instant ramen for the past few weeks, so pardon the insanity. I've had the week off but I've been without internet, so I'll be getting this out as soon as possible. Okie, this chap is mostly about Yukina and her past. I'm making up a past for her so don't complain if it doesn't make sense. It was inspired by the fic My Brother, Hiei, and I by Kowareta Tsubasa, a lovely fic, I suggest you go read it. Anyways, mleh.

Just in case anyone is confused by my descriptions of the times, here are the ages from oldest to youngest:

-Tsukiko: 2,500 years

-Koenma: 2,400 years

-Youko/Kurama: 2,300 years/ 18 years

-Hiei: 85 years

-Yukina: 85 years

-Yusuke: 17 years

-Kuwabara: 17 years

Everyone get that:Sees people nodding: Good.

Edited and updated: February 15, 2006

Last time on First Impressions Can Be Changed:

"So, can you stay or are you being forced to go back to your home?" Kurama asked politely, seeing that nobody was going to say anything.

"He said that I . . ."

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Ch. 4

"He said that I can stay with you people as long as I write to my stepfather every two months, help the team, and live with Genkai for contacting purposes," she said, grinning at their anxiety of what her answer could have been. "You didn't really think that he'd make me go back to Makai if I didn't want to, did you?"

"Heh, maybe," was Yusuke's sheepish reply, as he was not keen on seeing if Tsukiko's wrath was as painful as Keiko's was.

"For Kami's sake, the man hasn't seen me in over one hundred years and you think he's going to deny me the one thing I ask for?"

"Well, Koenma seemed pretty nervous about asking him. I thought . . ."

"My brother's a worry wart. Has that ever occurred to you?"

"Uh, heh, yeah."

"Good, you do have a brain, albeit a small one, but a brain nonetheless," she waved her hand idly, "A portal, to Genkai's temple," she said simply in answer to the confused looks she was receiving.

"Why," Kuwabara asked.

"Hm, let's see. One, it'll be easier for me to find you from there, two, my apartment is quite small so I daresay that the temple will have more room, three, so I can receive news regarding my stepfather easier without attracting unnecessary attention due to a portal," she took a deep breath before continuing her rant, "and besides, Tokyo isn't really my thing and the hag would probably be quite surprised to see me after all this time." She grinned slyly before stepping through the portal.

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"So I'm to expect someone I haven't seen in forty years," came the old master's incredulous response from the main room. This perked the young koorime's attention as she walked slowly from the kitchen with tea. Yukina figured that Genkai was talking to Koenma via the communicator and the young prince was telling her that someone was coming to visit or something. That would be pleasant, they hadn't any company in a very long time.

"Genkai-san, I have the tea. Do you want me to set it down on the table?" She asked tentatively, the old woman's temper was phenomenal and often awed the young Koorime. The master's temper was almost comparable to her brother's, only he was a bit more violence prone than the old woman.

"Yeah," Genkai replied absently before returning to listening to Koenma babble on about who was coming. Yukina thought she heard the name Tsukiko Kurasawa in the conversation somewhere and paled a bit. If this was the same Tsukiko that she knew two centuries ago, she was, to put it bluntly, screwed. Stepping out of the room hurriedly, she returned to the kitchen to prepare for guests.

After the passing of almost two minutes, a knock was heard at the door along with Yusuke's and Kuwabara's voices arguing about something petty yet again. Yukina shuffled quickly to the door, following Genkai, and saw the one person she never wanted to see again in the doorway. She hid her dismay and surprise and smiled innocently. "Hello, everybody. Come in, I made some tea," she said, still keeping the innocent façade up.

"Hello Yukina, my love," Kuwabara's obnoxiously loud voice called, Hiei's eye twitched and his hand flitted to his katana's hilt.

"Long time no see," Tsukiko said, breaking the tension between the two guys, 'If you don't want them to know, I won't tell them as long as you promise to speak with me later tonight my dear, ex-hitokiri'

The shock was visible on Yukina's face. It had been fifty years since that incident, hadn't she forgotten, or at least forgiven? The woman was two and a half millennia old; that was far too old to hold too many grudges. Yukina had stopped her 'hobby' not long before her brother received his jagan eye. Was it just coincidence that brought Tsukiko here, or was it something deeper? A want for revenge maybe? Yukina was brought back to the temple from her pondering by Kurama's slight cough and gentle hands leading her back in through the doors where she disappeared into one of the halls, reappearing seconds later with a tray of tea things. Serving everyone who accepted the tea, or everyone but Tsukiko, she quietly made her way out of the room, leaving the guests to their own matters.

She wandered along the halls until she arrived at her room. It was small and white, but peaceful and it made her forget who she once was. She sat on the pile of folded bedding and leaned against the wall, taking in the sound of the soft rain hitting the roof and sides of the temple. Closing her eyes against the tears welling up, she was soon lost in a memory that she never wanted to see again.

:OoOoOoOoO:

"Kage-san, I have another mission for you," said a voice from under a dark brown cloak.

"What is it, Master?" the still young teal haired maiden replied. She was dressed in a black outfit, a man's shinobi outfit, and her hair was tied up and covered with an equally dark scarf that covered most of her face.

"The daughter of the Reikai king must die, she has caused too much trouble, fail me this mission and consider all help I offered to find your brother revoked, along with your life. Do you understand Kage-san? You. Must. Not. Fail. Me. Not on this."

"I understand Master, where can I find her?"

"The castle of the Kurasawa. Her name is Tsukiko and is the daughter of the wife of the Kurasawa leader. She will most likely be at the upcoming ball that the Leader is hosting. She will be well guarded, don't let down your guard for an instant and what ever you do, don't expose your identity. You are to be known as Maemi (Smile of truth) to everyone there. Do you understand Kage-san?"

The girl nodded, she understood perfectly. That was why she took this job, to learn more about the Forbidden Child, her brother, and the Makai itself. The island of the Koorimes was not very inviting to others out of the clan and those who did come were often turned away before they arrived. She rose from her kneeling position in front of her Master and bowed out the shoji doors. This would be one fucking long week, she hated parties. They always bugged her for some reason. Must be the sheer amount of people in one place.

"So, how'd it go Yukina-chan," asked a dark haired girl who was throwing daggers at a target on the wall of the training room.

"You know how he is, Hoshiko-san. He gave me an assignment, this time it's actually supposedly a challenge. King Enma's daughter is my target," said the shrugging, teal-haired girl.

"Ouch, she's got pretty good guards I've heard," Hoshiko winced.

"I know, I dunno what I'm going to do though, I have to finish this job, but . . ." Yukina trailed off lamely, her imagination getting the better of her. "Anyways, I've got to go to the ball at the Kurasawa Palace tomorrow, would you help me prepare?"

Hoshiko nodded curtly. "What's your alias this time Yukina-chan? A lady? A princess? What?"

"I'm not sure of my title, but I'm to be Maemi."

"Ah, Maemi-sama, a lovely name, but so . . . not you, y'know? Smile of truth, my ass," Hoshiko said wryly, causing Yukina to grin softly.

The next day was as dreary as the previous one when Yukina rose with the sun. She sighed wistfully and made her way to the training room. She didn't want to be too stiff today at the ball. It would be best if she was stretched out before she prepared herself. She unsheathed her katana and began to go through the motions. Almost two hours later, her best friend's noisy shuffling through the corridors interrupted her. "Yukina? Are you awake?" Hoshiko asked sleepily.

"Hai, Hoshiko. I'm awake." Was Yukina's calm reply.

"You need to start getting ready, the ball thing begins at sundown, I'll start your bath up," yawned Hoshiko.

"Thanks Hoshiko-san."

"No problem, just don't forget to come. I don't want to get yelled at 'cuz I left the tub filled."

Yukina laughed slightly, and sheathed her katana. She straightened her yukata, sat down cross-legged in the center of the room, and took a deep breath. She cleared her mind, mentally preparing herself for what she had to do later today. It wasn't going to be too difficult but it was an odd feeling, knowing that you're going to kill someone who hasn't done anything to you.

Almost thirty minutes later, the sound of footsteps padding up and down the hallway outside of the training room stirred her from her reverie. She stood and walked to the door. Hoshiko was pacing in front of the door, apparently waiting for someone, most likely Yukina.

"You quite done making me dizzy Hoshiko-san," asked Yukina sarcastically.

Hoshiko blushed and laughed, "Yeah, your bath's ready."

Yukina nodded and turned down the hallway, still deep in thought. Eventually she came upon the bathhouse and walked in. She stripped of her clothes and washed herself. She took a bucket of water and poured it over her head before entering the furo. It had been a long time since she had time just to relax like this so she savored the moment, never wanting to need to wait this long for a decent bath again. Eventually the water chilled too much even for the young koorime.

Yukina stood at the doorway to her room, looking in on her best friend who was fussing over a kimono. She cleared her throat and Hoshiko looked up, smiling. The young youkai rushed over to her and steered her inside, babbling about needing to get her ready. The shoji slid shut behind them and Yukina was given naga-jugan (traditional undergarments), three thicker, pale blue kimono and a final, deep blue, embroidered silk uchikake (most formal kimono, yes I did my research). Yukina slipped them on as Hoshiko unfolded an obi. After the kimono were on, Hoshiko tied the obi tightly and started fixing Yukina's hair.

Over an hour had passed before Yukina was finally allowed to leave her room, looking like a girls' day doll. She sighed, only an hour left until she was allowed to leave for the ball and her mission. She trudged about, searching for weapons that would easily be concealed in her kimono. She found her throwing stars, daggers, and dirk and concealed them in her obi. She turned to the window and saw the level of the sun, it was time to go.

:OoOoOoOoO:

It had been a long time since Yukina was at a formal party, they had barely changed though. The same shallow people, the same pretentious music, the same cheap food, everything was the same, only the souls in attendance were different. She sighed; it would be one fucking long night. Her carriage was greeted at the gates by the palace doormen. She was helped out of the black box by a young man, human possibly, and showed up the stairs to the obvious doorway. Do they think that I'm simple or something? I'm not that naïve looking . . . am I?

"How may I announce you, miss," an aged attendant asked.

"Maemi," she replied quickly, still confused at how she came across to people. She turned to a silver-haired kitsune who was swinging a silver brocade drawstring bag, "Excuse me sir, but do I look naïve to you?"

He stared at her in shock and then started to laugh, "You really want my answer?" She nodded, "A little, but they typically treat all women that come alone like a simpleton, hell they treat any woman like an idiot. Don't worry, Maemi, don't let them get to you." With a wink, he turned and walked off, silver tails swishing, and a black, drawstring bag swinging in his hand.

"Youko, you bastard! Get your ass back here! I'm going to kick your ass," a dark-haired, dark eyed, bat-winged youkai yelled. She, or quite possibly he, judging by the voice, was wearing a long, dark blue ball gown. Regardless of gender, the yôkai still looked gorgeous, just a bit flat chested.

"Kami, Kuronue. You're the one who lost the coin toss. You chose tails so you have to wear that. And I would suggest that you keep better track of your possessions," the kitsune said slyly, still swinging the purse lazily in one hand. He turned back around and started walking off.

So that's the infamous Youko Kurama, huh? The rumors were not lying, he is handsome. Kami, Yukina, get a grip on yourself, you've got a mission to complete! She turned back to the old man at the door, "I'm sorry, you were saying?"

"Yes, through this door, give this paper to the attendant, he will announce you properly," he sniffed disdainfully, as though he had seen too much of Youko's antics in his time at the palace. Yukina nodded and followed his directions.

Right, guy at the door. Gotta remember that, the hell am I saying? He's only . . . kami-sama! I've never seen anything like this! She stepped out into the next room where there were guests in traditional Japanese and European dress milling absently about. The floors weren't the normal marble of the palace, but instead a thick glass that suspended the guests over a large pond. There were lights under the water, showing that there had to be some light demons in the palace's employ, but kami, Yukina had never seen anything like this. She instantly forgot about getting announced and disappeared into the crowd. The ceiling was a good fifty feet above the guests' heads and encrusted with jewels and precious stones of all sorts.

"'Mazing, isn't it," asked a feminine voice behind Yukina. She whipped around to find the owner and wound up face to face with a pair of disheartening deep purple eyes belonging to a lilac haired demoness. She was about as tall as Yukina and was wearing numerous layers of violet kimono. She had painted pale skin that contrasted with her painted, red lips.

"Ye-yes, it is quite amazing," Yukina gasped back, taken aback by the sudden appearance of the woman who could possibly be her quarry.

"What's your name, miss, I can't just call you 'Hey You' all night now can I," the demoness asked.

"Maemi, ma'am," Yukina lied through her teeth. She just hoped that this woman wasn't a mind reader.

"I don't feel like giving out my name, so just call me Yumi, 'kay?" The strange woman, now called Tsuki, tilted her head to the side, waiting for a response.

Yukina nodded, "Alright, Yumi-san," and grinned. Yumi nodded and grabbed Yukina's hand, pulling her off to the side of the room. She was pushed roughly into the smooth, marble wall and found Yumi hissing into her ear.

"I know why you're here. Trust me, it won't work. Leave this place before you cause a scene getting your ass royally kicked. Understand, Kage-san?" Yumi's voice was harsh and sent chills down Yukina's spine. Yukina nodded meekly, attempting to regain her composure to say something, anything.

"I understand. I do only what I am told by my master, it was not I who decided that you must die, it was my master. It is with him you have this quarrel. I will give you the information to find him as I cannot kill him myself, he holds too much over my head."

"Right, and I'm supposed to believe you, an assassin? Why should I?"

"I'll tell you my true name, the name that nobody knows outside of my only friend. Not even my master knows my true name," she whispered desperately.

"That doesn't change the fact that you accepted the mission. You could have refused."

"And submit myself to endless torture and the loss of information that I need to find my only living relative? I think not. He sprung this upon me as I was preparing to leave the guild. I would have developed a new life had he not given me this assignment."

"Then you should have faked your own death, possibly by faking suicide, but that's rather harsh. They would probably search for the body," Tsukiko trailed off.

"My point exactly. I was trapped. Whether or not you wish to believe me, is your decision."

"I still don't exactly believe you, but as long as you don't make an attempt on my life, you shall live."

"I am sorry, but I must finish this job. If you wound me enough as to get me to stop, I will leave you alone and abandon all information that bastard has of my brother."

"Alright, but we mustn't fight in the main hall, there's a place in the courtyard for us to hold this battle, come, I'll show you. By the way, who is your brother?"

Yukina broke eye contact, sighing. "The Forbidden Child." She turned to Tsukiko, "Do you know anything about him, apart from the rumours? Even just his name would help beyond my wildest dreams." Tsukiko regarded her levelly before she grabbed Yukina's wrist and dragged her out through a pair of doors leading out to a spacious courtyard. She continued to drag her until they reached a clearing in the center of a rose-hedge maze. "Prepare yourself, you have five minutes."

Yukina took out her daggers and pushed her spirit energy into them, freezing them to the point where they were as cold as dry ice. She steeled herself against any attacks the other demoness would send against her. "I'm ready."

Tsukiko nodded and closed her eyes. In front of her, a large mass of blackish purple energy swirled lazily. She reached into it and drew symbols with her finger, like a child draws in the sand. It swirled faster and formed a double-edged sword in her hand. She gripped the still glowing sword tightly before stepping forward and staring stoically at Yukina, who held her daggers loosely in her hands, immune to the chill they were giving off.

Yukina lunged at Tsukiko, narrowly dodging the glowing sword's block and thrusting the dagger in her left hand towards Tsukiko's stomach. It barely grazed the silk covering the flesh but the cloth froze on contact, numbing the skin in that area. The two women sprang apart, Tsukiko from shock, Yukina in a dodge of the sword. With a growl Tsukiko lunged, her sword swinging in a graceful arc, landing with a squelch in Yukina's left arm. The woman gasped with pain and threw her dagger at Tsukiko's head. She easily dodged it and pulled her sword, now bloody with Yukina's life force, out and readied it for another swing.

Yukina took out her dirk and chilled that the same as she had her dagger that was now lying, useless, on the ground behind Tsukiko. She made another lunge and managed to create a gash on the other woman's stomach. The flesh, having been frozen on contact with the dirk, parted slightly but no blood seeped out. Yukina felt a sharp pain in her side and found the sword embedded in her flesh, just above her hip. She hissed in pain and pulled away, breathing heavily. She wasn't used to fights, in-and-out missions were more her style versus the full out brawl that she was engaged in at the moment. She pulled out her throwing stars and prepared to send them towards her enemy. At that moment, she heard a sudden . . .

:OoOoOoOoO:

"Yukina," a feminine voice called from the open shoji, stirring Yukina from her memory, "are you alright? You've been in here all night."

Yukina stirred from her spot on her folded bedding and looked up. Her eyes met a magenta pair that could only belong to one person. "Hai, Botan-chan. I'm alright, don't worry about me, I was just tired, that's all."

"You sure, 'cuz you were yelling like you were getting hurt or something," Botan sank to her knees next to the teal haired koorime and pushed Yukina's hair from her eyes.

"I'm fine, just a bad dream is all. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine," Yukina insisted.

"Alright, I'll trust you. But we need you to meet someone out in the living room. We were wondering where you went during dinner it's not like you to just disappear like that."

Yukina sighed and allowed the ferry girl to help her to her feet. She followed Botan out of the room and put on her innocent façade yet again. She pondered the name that Tsukiko had called over her shoulder as she left the scene of the duel. 'Hiei. That is the name of the Forbidden Child.'

:OoOoOoOoO:

And I'm gonna end it here, just cuz I'm that mean. :Sticks tongue out:

Next time on First Impressions Can Be Changed:

Narrator: Will we see if Yukina ever admits to being more than the naïve young koorime she's been playing? Will Yukina and Tsukiko ever forgive each other? Will we ever find out even more about Yukina's past? Find out next time on First Impressions Can Be Changed!