Chapter Four

I would like to go ahead and think those of you who reviewed; all reviews mean a lot to me, even flames! Also I'd like to say sorry for getting this out so late, but I was having some trouble with the plot, and sadly I still am.

But anyways I have a question: sense this story starts about forty years after the beginning of the series and sense so much happened, I was wondering if I should write a prequel? I mean, it wouldn't be all that long, but it's help you know all that had happened

"Yuu- um Kage-kun," Botan asked tentatively; Yuusuke looked up from the couch and smiled apologetically.

"Yeah?"

"You seem a little down, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine, just a little tired," Yuusuke lied with another grin. Botan looked at him skeptically, but decided not to prod.

"You wunna go to sleep? I could get up and let you have the bed."

"Naw, I'm gunna wait for Kokushi-chama." Botan chuckled at the name Yuusuke insisted on calling the height deprived fire demon. Earlier Yuusuke had explained his and Hiei's names, but for some reason she felt he was keeping some things from her. When she had asked, Yuusuke had told her the tattoo on his right hand was nothing more than a design, but he had talked a little too quickly as if making up a story as he went along. (Note1) But then again, after fourteen years in Makai, there were probably a few things he wanted to keep to himself, and she respected that (even though she was truly going insane with curiosity).

"Where'd he go anyways?"

"Don' know, he always wanders off by himself," another half lie on Yuusuke's part.

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Twenty minutes alone with Hiei, and Kurama was already experiencing a moment of speechlessness.

"Never knew the Fox could loose his voice," Hiei taunted from the couch; Kurama just glared halfheartedly.

"Twenty minutes, an all you've done is vaguely explain your twenty years in Makai and criticize me." Kurama retorted irritably.

"You think I've been a sarcastic, heartless bastard? Then I warn you, Kage-kun's going to be a hell of a lot worse," Hiei said seriously beckoning for Kurama to sit next to him, he had to admit he had been acting like a like a jerk, but after having your best friend abandon you for some orange haired bitch, well, who could blame him?

"So Kage took my absence to heart? I guess I can't blame him, but I had every right to go my own way," Kurama defended after taking the offered seat.

"Hai, but you could have at least let us know you were leaving, it was hard after loosing the oaf and Yuusuke's girlfriend to loose a good friend as well." Hiei muttered. He was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable, a little too, what was the word, emotional? No that couldn't be right, he was supposed to be the cold hearted, unopened fire youkai in need of an attitude adjustment. He sighed inwardly, whom was he kidding? After forty years with Yuusuke, twenty-one with Kurama, and ten years with Kuwabara, he had gotten that long needed adjustment, and now too many built up feelings were tugging at his subconscious demanding freedom.

Kurama felt guilt pull at his heart as he looked at the emotions battling behind the petit youkai beside him. After twenty long years the Fox was finally getting to see his best friend, well best friend probably wasn't accurate any longer. After all, Hiei had made it very clear that he was pretty bitter with him, and Yuusuke, well, to put it bluntly, he was nervous about running into the powerful hanyou.

"I have a question for you… Kokushi-kun: where is he?" Kurama asked after a long pause.

"Two doors down to your right on the opposite wall." Kurama's eyes widened slightly, that was where he had just been with the ass of an owner Yoshimitsu, but the man on the other side didn't sound anything like the Yuusuke he remembered.

"I was just over there, I thought that man's voice sounded familiar," Kurama muttered more to himself than Hiei. He stood up suddenly and looked expectantly at the half Koorime.

"What?"

"I think now would be as good a time as any to face the life I left behind."

"Hn, your choice. You don't happen to have a pair of earplugs?" Kurama glared at Hiei halfheartedly.

"Keep your mouth shut, you're not helping."

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Once again, Ayumi found herself socializing with the bar counter, but instead of being frustrated and completely sober, she was frustrated and drunk. Her hair was once again black, and eyes crimson, but they were closed tightly shut in pain. You would think one would learn not to hit one's head against a hard stone counter, but not Ayumi, and the last blow to her head, in combination with her multiple drinks, had left her with a major headache. (Note2)

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Hiei really has changed, Kurama thought as he followed said youkai down the hall. He seemed so much more open when we were talking, and he even walks differently. The kitsune broke away from his train of thought as he bumped into Hiei, who had stopped in front of a rough wooden door.

"Sumimasen (note3)," he apologized, and Hiei tilted his head lightly in acceptance.

"I'll go in first I guess." That being said he opened the door to a scene he hadn't quite expected. In the middle of the left hand corner wall a large bed lay occupied by two forms. Both Yuusuke and Botan lay curled up against each other sound asleep, and, to the two youkai's relief, they were both completely clothed. An unfamiliar emotion (jealousy) stabbed at Hiei as he stared at the two, however it quickly melted away as he noticed the dim pulsating protective aura surrounding the two. He's only protecting her, typical Yuusuke. He assured himself as he beckoned Kurama deeper into the room.

"Seems I get to live a little bit longer," Kurama remarked sardonically as he plopped down on the over stuffed couch; Hiei silently followed his example.

"Not much longer, Yanagi is waking up." The small demon had enough sense not to use the former Ferry Girl's real name. Said girl stirred only seconds later, and she stretched unaware of the two in the room, but when she did see them, all hell broke loose.

"N-n-nani!" She exclaimed, not quite recognizing the two at first. "Hiei? Kurama?" The duo nodded and soon found themselves buried under about 120 pounds of blue-haired death.

"I-it's been so long since I've seen you two! And Kurama, I didn't even know you were here!" She sobbed, happy to see two of her friends after nearly fourteen years. The two boys froze in shock, even though all evidence showed this was the ever-cheerful Botan, neither could actually believe it was really her. Through all of this, Yuusuke had remained curled up on the bed, or so it seemed.

"Bo-er- Yanagi, how long have you been here?" Kurama asked once Botan had finally let go of the two. Immediately the Ferry Girl's face dropped, and her features seemed to darken.

"Longer than anyone should have to," she muttered as she plopped down onto the floor. "Now, you should answer your own question, you too, Kokushi…-chama." Botan added the last part to see if she could entice a reaction from Hiei, and to her amusement he twitched irritably.

"I see you've been spending time with Kage-kun," Hiei muttered, "But to answer your question, we've only been here for the night."

"I had a show scheduled for today, so I've been here for a little under twenty hours," Kurama answered calmly.

"A show? What kind of show?"

"Wait, you don't know? The Fox left us to become one of the singers in the duo Kurio Bara," Hiei explained in a sharp voice. Kurama grimaced at the bitterness in the Koorime's voice, and Botan followed his lead.

"You are? Damn, I guess that's what I get for having a greedy-no-good-son-of-a-bitch-mother fucking boss; always he's trying to get me into someone else's bed! And now, if he hadn't pissed me off, I would have known you were here!" There was a moment of shocked silence as both Hiei and Kurama processed the words that had just spilled forth from Botan's mouth.

Not only has Hiei changed, Botan has, but I can't tell if it's for better of for worse. Kurama thought to himself as he recovered from Botan's outburst. He then looked over at Yuusuke and smirked. Well it seems he can still sleep through anything.

"How did you get here though, I can tell you don't want to work here," Kurama asked, trying to figure out more.

"I would never want to work here willingly, as you can tell I don't have much of a choice." She held out her wrists to show them the youki rings that encircled them and her ankles. "All I know is that after Koenma's death all the current reapers were 'disposed' of, and I happened to land in the Makai. Yoshimitsu found me, and I didn't have enough strength to defend, so now I'm here, and nothing but a lousy whore. I can say this is not how I wanted to retire!" During Botan's quick story Yuusuke had woken up, but both Hiei and Kurama were too busy listening to notice, but when he coughed to grab their attention, all eyes were on him.

"Yuusuke…."

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Author's notes

Note 1- Botan has no clue what Hiei and Yuusuke have been up to, and she doesn't know about Kokushi and Kage, or their crest.

Note 2- I just put this little clipping in here so you don't think I completely forget about Ayumi, she will show up again at some point I guess.

Note 3- Sumimasen means sorry.

Okay so I said I wouldn't do it again, but I couldn't resist! In case you have no idea what I'm blabbering about, I'll elaborate: I have a tendency to end me chapters (well the chapters of this story) with someone's name, and last time I said I probably wouldn't do that again. Obviously I'm suffering from bad ending syndrome, but I think I will quit doing this by the next chapter, well maybe not…

Anyway please review, and if you feel the need to criticize please feel free to (like to hear about what I need to change, it helps with my writing skills).

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