Disclaimer: I don't own YYH characters or plotline, nor do I own Katrina Kon. I only claim onto the storyline.

Chapter 10: The Rest of the Gang

I wake up. My god, I've never been this tired in my life before. It's been almost a week since I was nearly strangled and saved by a midget called Hiei. This is the week that completes my first month of school, and that is not a good thing. The teachers are getting into sync with projects now, and have dumped three, yes, three of them on me. And they are all huge!

My stress level is not helped by the fact that Featherbrain is getting, well, a bit shirty with me. She can't stand the fact that I escaped her twice, plus all those detentions I got out of. I haven't yet had another confrontation with her out of class, at least not life-threatening. Sometimes I will pass her in the hall, and she will whisper 'You die' or something, but she is taking no more chances. I wouldn't either.

I can't help thinking, The third time I might not be so lucky.

This one guy is stalking me, I swear it. He is a classmate of mine, and he is the typical Jap kid; black hair, brown eyes, and is weird. Every day he dresses in green, which is against the school uniform code thingy. And he is constantly bugging the teachers in any way possible. Your average class clown. He looks at me funny whenever he sees me, as though sizing me up. I'm five' seven" thank you! I don't need sizing up, Yusuke Urameshi!

In another class there is a real quiet guy with short red hair and is really proud of his fighting prowess. His name is Kazuma Kuwabara. He's gotta be seven feet tall. I can't believe he's only 14. He also seems to follow me around no matter what I do. So, because of my blunt nature, I have to say something.

"Look, I don't know what you want or what you're after, but stop following me!" I say this afternoon to the human carrot top. "At least, I'd really appreciate it."

He laughs weirdly, in an I-know-something-you-don't-know way. That way ticks me off. "I'm a friend of Kurama, okay? So's Yusuke. I can't believe he didn't say something about us..." His eyes cloud over. "Here's the proof." He holds out what is unmistakably a Commir.

"Okay, fine then. But stop following me!" I hiss.

"Just acting on my orders."

Orders? Whose orders?

"See ya, then."

I watch him walk off. How many people are following me, for the love of God?

I ask Kurama that very question in the parking lot at resource break. I told Ms. Soshi (the science teacher) I was going to the bathroom , and she fell for it. She won't even notice if I stay the whole period. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

"Kurama, how many people are watching me? You know, all the time?"

"Let's see..." He counts on his fingers. "Keiko Yukimura, Yusuke Urameshi, Kazuma Kuwabara, Hiei, Botan, Genkai, and Yukina."

"What the hell...?" I explode. "YOU MEAN I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF?"

"Until you can control the panther, yes."

I seethe, but then force myself to calm down. I'm getting good anger management. "But why aren't you teaching me how?"

Ignoring me, he takes out 6 different mirrors at once, and calls into them the names of all of his spies. I watch, and a girl flies in on a paddle within seconds, looking so incredibly stupid I want to slap that grin off her face. Yusuke and Kazuma run out with Keiko (Keiko had been forcing them to study in the library with her) and then Hiei materializes from a spot on the roof (what's his obsession with roofs anyway). An aqua haired girl then runs up from behind a bush. Lastly, a magenta haired old woman, makes several amazing leaps to land in front of me.

I study all the unnaturally colored hair. COOL!!!!!!

"Can I touch your guy's hair?"

They stare at me. Kurama buries his head in his hands.

After everyone gets over the thing I just said, the all argue over who gets to introduce who. Like little babies. Even Hiei. The aqua haired girl just hangs behind like a wuss. Finally, they seem to come to an agreement when Kurama brandishes a thorny whip at them. I didn't know he could do that! Oh well, must be a fox power. That would explain why he's so good at herbs...

The aqua-haired girl is chosen.

The aqua haired girl steps up. "Hi...I'm Yukina. And this is my boyfriend Kazuma."

Now I know she's a wuss. Going out with such an oaf...

"The blue haired girl's name is Botan, and she is a guide to the Spirit World for lost souls. Her paddle is a token of the Spirit World." To tell the truth, I still don't get the point of the paddle.

"You must know Keiko and Yusuke, who---"

"---Hi," says Yusuke. "I'm Yusuke..."

Why's he blushing? And why does Keiko look ready to kill him?

"Continue, Yukina," says Keiko, dragging Yusuke away from me, complete with steam coming out of her ears.

"Thank you, Keiko. As I was saying, Keiko and Yusuke are also a pair. This woman's name is Genkai," She says, indicating the old woman. "She was the one who gave Yusuke both training and useful powers---"

"---Except for some simple respect..." mutters Yusuke.

"Shut it, fool," says Grandma/Genkai. "I'll take it from here, Yukina." Yukina nods gratefully.

"The last two are both your brother Kurama, and Hiei, a fire demon."

Hiei and I glare at each other. Finally I can't resist. "How are you, old friend?"

"Hn."

"Glad to hear it. Hiei, I was wondering..."

"WHAT?!"

"How does such a scrawny midget get to be so powerful? I mean, I bet Beauty's your idol, powerwise, anyway, But you take the cake for being a jerk."

Hiei is rising to my bait, as I expected. He's turing red. He obviously wants to play the mature adult figure, but is way failing.

"Stop it," says Kurama, looking ready to laugh. Hiei and I both give him the you-should-be-on-my-side look. "I don't know how this rivalry happened, but you are part of the team now. Both of you."

Hiei glares at me. "Hn."

Me and him friends? Not in this lifetime.

"How could you, Keiko?" I asked, deeply hurt. We are both getting ready for bed.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't want you to get all mad at me. Then you'd kill me with the panther form, and in case you didn't know, I can't defend myself." She sniffles.

Why would I have gotten mad at her because of that?

"The only reason I'm allowed on the team is because of my connection to Yusuke. When I saw him flirting with you today...I..." A sob escapes Keiko. "I just don't want to give up this life. I'd die without exposure to the adventure I've grown accustomed to, and if he finds another girl, then they won't keep me. And I like him somewhat, but not like he likes me. I'm dragging them behind, I know I am, even if they won't admit it..." She's crying freely now.

"Keiko, Keiko, calm down, please," I say, failing to stem her crying. "Keiko!"

"What?" she blubbers.

I've tried everything else. "Never figured you for a wuss, you know."

She's taken aback. "What?" she repeats.

"You're what keeps Yusuke strong, Keiko. He really likes you a lot. He's really confident all because you believe in him and his abilities....And..." I've heard this in a movie, somewhere....C'mon, c'mon, how did it go..... "You're what keeps him afloat. Of course he's going to annoy you sometimes, that's what friends do. Just put up with him, and you'll never regret it. Don't get mad, just accept him for who he is. And as for the team, they need your brains."

"Really?" She says, her pretty light-brown eyes shining.

"Really."

"Thanks. Thanks a lot, Kasumi. How can I repay you...OH! I could help you with your projects!"

"You don't have to, but thanks, Keiko." We smile at each other.

Well, I got off pretty well. I'm getting first class project help from the most school oriented girl ever, and just told her a few lines from CasablancaHahahahaha!

A/N Bye-bye! This was written differently from the other chapters, so I hope you like the new style!