Nobara: Okay so right now I'm in the eye of the hurricane with right now. But it probably won't be long....

Hiei: You're so pessimistic

Nobara: Oh well watch the pot call the kettle black

Kuwabara: I don't get it

Nobara: I didn't think you would, anyways I'm sorry it's been so long since my last chapter

Yusuke: She's been rather scary these past few weeks...

Kurama: And it's done nothing to help her imagination

Yusuke: Feel glad knowing you haven't shared our fate to deal with her

Nobara: Oh come on I wasn't that bad

Kuwabara: Yusuke can't help it he's a drama queen

Yusuke: What?

::Yusuke & Kuwabara begin to fight::

Kurama: As you can tell tensions are very high at Nobara's house...

Nobara: But we'll still be writing this chapter. Even if I have but one muse to help me.

xXxXxXxXx

Kurama awoke the next day to find Kim, Kit, and Faia packing up. Kenshin was beside a fire cooking breakfast and Nobara was tending to the newest addition. Hiei and Youko were no where to be seen as he stood up and moved to help Kim and the two she-foxes. Nearly a hour later after everything had been packed up and everyone fed they started out again. Christine had insisted on moving on, wanting to find Kakashi as soon as she could. Rose watched Christine walk silently, holding all kinds of respect for the slender blonde. She was apparently quite devoted to Kakashi. Someone moved closer to her and brushed her hand. Turning she saw Faia standing beside her. The tall kitsune had become silent over the days, something Nobara wasn't use to. Everytime they did happen to glance at one another they'd felt like they'd lost a sister.

Kurama noted this and decided to hang back with Hiei. The koorime had adapted to his attachment and seemed not to mind as much as he had to begin with. Kurama's eyes shifted to the ruroni and Kim. They had been walking together and making small talk. Slowly Kim reached out and took his hand, gently lacing her fingers with his. A faint blush spread across Kenshin's face as he looked over at her and gave a gentle smile. Kurama gave a soft laugh as he finally caught Youko and Kit's conversation...world domination. The peaceful quiet was interrupted by a kunai knife that flew into their paths, aimed at Lizzy who was close to falling asleep on Hiei's shoulder. But the koorime had caught the knife and snapped it in two pieces which fell to the ground. A growl came deep from his throat as he defensively moved Lizzy behind him.

Kenshin had released Kim's hand and unsheathed his sword while Youko and Kurama merely stopped and looked into the forest trying to find the owner of the knife. "Way to go moron you just gave away our position!" said the young voice of a girl. "Might as well come out then," came another voice, this one male and very cocky. From the bushes sprang an orange blur which stopped directly in their path. "I am -," started the small boy only to be interuppted by Christine. "Naruto!" she said happily. "Aw man Christine you just ruined my dramatic enterance..." he said. "What are you doing here?" asked the blonde as she stepped closer to him. "We're here to save you!" he said glaring over her shoulder at the group.

"But I don't need saving, these people are my friends," she said as two more joined them from the same bushes Naruto had sprang from. "See Naruto? You should've listened to Sasuke and waited," said a girl with pink hair. Beside her stood a boy who reminded Kurama of Hiei some what. His hair was black and spiked and he said nothing as the other two began to argue. It was then Kurama noticed the matching headbands (?) they wore. "Sakura, Naruto, that's enough," said a deep voice. Everyone's attention was focused on a tree branch where a man was hanging upside down by his feet. "Kakashi!" said Christine excitedly. Before they could blink Kakashi had came down from the tree and embraced Christine warmly.

He too wore one of the headbands, so these were the ninjas Christine had come here with thought Kurama. "Thank you for taking care of her," said Kakashi as his and Christine's hug was broken. Nobara stepped forward and held out her hand, "We were just glad she found us when she did, she was badly hurt," said the redhead as Kakashi took her hand and shook it. "What happened?" he asked looking from Nobara to Christine. "It's a long story I'll tell you later. Nobara this is Kakashi, the short obnoxious one is Naruto, the girl is Sakura, and the silent one is Sasuke," said Christine. Naruto flashed a victory sign and Sakura rolled her eyes. "Our introductions may take a while...would you care to take a lunch break with us?" said Nobara, still playing the sophisticated spokesperson. Kakashi nodded, "Thank you, we would love to."

Again they all set down their things and Faia and Kenshin had began cooking. "Why are they after the authoresses anyways?" asked Naruto through a mouth full of ramen noodles. "We're not sure, but it seems that they're only after the ones that came here with the bishounen and bishoujo (sp?)," said Kim. Kakashi nodded, "So they'll be back?" asked Sakura. "If they want us bad enough," replied Christine. Lizzy had been busy fighting Naruto for the last bit of noodles when she went rigid. "Are you all right?" asked Hiei from the tree. Nobara was slightly surprised to hear Hiei ask that bu then she saw Lizzy. She looked almost like a doll. Her spine was straight and her skin was very pale. "They're coming," she said softly. Hiei hopped down from his tree and kneeled beside her. Lizzy hurried and wrapped her arms aorund him and buried her face in his shoulders. He could feel the fear coming from her as she began to speak again softly, "Don't let them take us."

A shiver ran through Kurama as he heard her. "What are you talking about?" asked Kit moving closer to them. Before she could be answered Kenshin, Sasuke, and Kakashi had sprang to their feet. "It's the bandits again," said Kenshin. Youko was no where to be seen, nor Faia. Nobara had grabbed Kurama's hands, for the first time he saw she was truely afraid. "So we meet again," said the figure of a man as it moved closer to them from the trees. His beard hung down to his chest and he leaned on a saber in a sheath. He had blonde hair that was pulled back into a loose ponytail and tattoos on his bare arms. "You..." said Christine, anger building up in her. Kakashi put hand on her arm to calm her down. "What do you want?" asked the ninja master calmly. "The authors, they're to be taken to headquarters," replied the biker looking poacher. "And just what makes you think we'll come?" asked Kit as she took a place beside Kenshin. "We don't that's why we're taking you," he replied. "Try..." snarled Hiei in an angry but monotone voice.

The poacher only laughed, "Well, if you insist." At that moment bandits and poachers of all sorts began to come from the trees and attack. All who were able didn't loose a moment in defending each other and began to battle fiercely. Unnoticed by all were seven figures in the trees. They watched as Naruto and Kakashi created their dopplegangers to aide them in the fight. As Sasuke's flame died down they made their move. The smallest of the figures looked over to the tall one beside him through the slits for his eyes in his mask. "Well master Zabuza, shall we kill them?" asked a rather young voice behind the mask. The tall man called Zabuza shook his head, "We're only here for those girls Haku," he replied. Haku nodded and followed the others into the crowd of people. Kurama had been careful to stay close to Nobara, in case she needed his help. While the redheaded boy lashed at the bandits with his rose whip (which surprisingly he still could use even though Youko was no longer part of him) his focused dropped long enough for one of the many figures to slip past him.

Kenshin had caught the one who was heading for Kim but was preoccupied with the six men who surrounded him. Zabuza watched from the trees as his shadow ninjas wove through the crowd with ease. Christine was the first to be snatched, then Lizzy, then Kim even though Kit was right behind the kidnapper. Faia had succeeded in knocking out her attacker before he could attempt to grab her. Nobara was picked up by Youko who sprang high into the trees away from the fight below. "The hell are you doing Youko? Ya'll need help!" she said and tried to climb down the tree. He shook his head, "Kurama can't fight while he knows your in danger, you're safe up here," he said and disappeared back to the ground. Nobara settled onto the branch, muttering a string of choice profanities. Kurama gave a mental sigh of relief as he saw Youko take Nobara above the fight.

"Master Kakashi! It's Zabuza!" shouted Sakura over the yells of the bandits. The silver haired ninja turned to look into the trees and sureenough, there stood the once dead foe. Zabuza snickered and leapt to the ground. The bandits immediately made a circle for him to stand without being touched or bumped into. Everyone lowered there weapons and ceased everything for a moment, curious of what was happening. "If it isn't Kakashi, and the brats..." he said and began walking towards Kakashi. "I thought we killed you!" shouted Naruto as Zabuza gave a soft laugh. "I did but thanks to my employer I breathe once again," he said as his eyes filled with malice. Hiei had finished off the bandits he was to deal with earlier and was searching for Lizzy in an almost frantic manner. His attempts to find her were in vain, she was nowhere on the ground or in the trees. Zabuza and Kakashi had stopped their exchange of words and stood only staring at one another.

The koorime knew that this man was the reason for Lizzy's disappearance. "What hve you done with them?" came a cold new voice that made everyone search for the owner. Hiei had stepped forward beside Kakashi and glared at Zabuza with a fire burning in his eyes. "Where are the authoresses?" he asked again. Zabuza only gave another faint chortle, "With my men." Kit was still on the trail of the ninjas who had snatched Kim, her rage growing stronger every moment that she couldn't find them. In a small clearign she saw a small boy. He looked to be almost the same age as Naruto and the other two, maybe he'd seen the ninjas. As Kit dropped to the ground a few feet from the child he turned around and looked at her. The mask he wore sent a chill down Kit's spine even though she knew not why.

"Excuse me," she asked as shook off the feeling. "Yes?" he answered. "Have you seen a group of men come by here recently with three girls?" she asked taking another step towards him. He nodded his head, "They are part of mine and master Zabuza's group," he replied calmly. The anger rose another level in the she-fox. "Where are you taking them?!" she asked in a yell as she snapped and sprang at the boy with every intention of taking his head off his shoulders. Before she knew what had happened Kit was laying on the ground slowly losing conciousness. "We're taking her to the faerie as we were 'comissioned' you could say, to do," he replied and sprang into the trees leaving Kit alone. That was the last thing Kit could remember as she blacked out.

Kit hadn't been the only one to lose her temper, Hiei was viciously attacking Zabuza and Zabuza was successfully dodging every attack. "Your rage blinds you demon," said Zabuza as he swung the giant blade he carried at Hiei. The koorime moved back in time to remain in one piece but not in time to save himself from a large cut across his chest and abdomen. Hiei went down on one knee and held his bleeding chest, pain was running through every part of his being. He had suffered much worse damage before so why was this one small cut causing him so much pain? Kurama watched as Hiei clenched his teeth in agony, Zabuza's blade was laced with something. "If you didn't know the faeries that run this place are very good with herbs and potions. This blade is coated with a powder that affects only demons in its purpose to temporarily paralys the body, if your lucky, you'll be unconcious for a few days," he replied.

Kurama watched as Hiei fell over, dead still. Apparently the substance Zabuza just described had just gotten to Hiei. A small boy approached Zabuza with another man who had an unconcious Faia draped over his shoulder. "We've accomplished our mission master Zabuza sir," said the boy. Zabuza nodded, "Very good Haku, let's go." Zabuza quickly returned to the trees along with the other ninja and Faia. Haku stood remained, making sure that no one went after Zabuza. Kurama had begun to worry again, Nobara hadn't made a sound in what seemed forever. "KURAMA!" came the authoress' voice as it cried out in fear. The red head turned and saw Zabuza had Nobara slung over his shoulder and hurrying off in towards the west. Youko had already made a move to save her but was stopped by an acupuncture needle in his neck. The fox had ignored it for as long as possible, the pain, the dizziness, until he too had froze mid air and fell to the ground.

Even though he'd watched what had happened to Youko, Kurama wasn't going to let them run off with Nobara so easily. Haku knew that Kurama was more human than demon, the poison wouldn't work as well on him. So the small ninja did the next best thing. Kurama was greeted with a needle through the neck much like Youko. Only this time the needle hit a vital spot that knocked the kitsune out instantly. "Quit playing with sticks and fight for real!" shouted Naruto in his usual cocky manner. Haku only laughed and tossed the small faerie grenade into the group. As it exploded overhead it released the same dust into the air, except this time it was designed for humans. Sakura and Naruto hit the ground, followed by Sasuke. Kenshin and Kakashi did a better job of coping with the powder, but only for a few moments. As the last two hit the ground the bandits disappeared in wisps of smoke.

The only one left was the poacher who'd looked like a biker. He sheathed the saber he carried and moved to the fallen group. Gently he began to pick them up and set them upright against trees. He removed the needles from Youko's and Kurama's necks and watched the trees, he was apparently waiting for someone. "Sorry we're late Luke, Rowan got caught in a spider web..." said an almost musical voice from behind him. He turned around and saw the tall slender brunette stepping from the shadows. She worn a pair of black pants with straps on the sides of the legs and black tank top with a skull and crossbones that was hidden by a long black trench coat. On her shoulder sat a tiny woman with platinum blonde hair with black and burghandy streaks in the ends. She wore a black dress with long bell sleeves and a long flowing skirt. "That's the problem with working with pixies...." said Luke in a playful manner.

The small blonde leapt from the brunette's shoulder and began fluttering in front of Luke's face. "I'm not a pixie I'm a faerie! FAERIE! Not a PIXIE! Roland's a pixie, not me!" she shouted angrily in a high voice that sounded almost like crystal bells chiming. Luke put his hands up in self defense, "Sorry Rowan, just yanking your chain there," he replied. Rowan gave an irratated snort ans fluttered back to stand on her companion's shoulder. Now that she was still Luke could see Rowan's wings, the thing that seperated her from the pixies. They were larger than Roland's had been and had graceful curves like a butterflies wings only they were silver and sheer. "Sorry they're all unconcious Tatiana, but you two weren't here yet," he said and put his hands in his pockets. "That's quite alright, in a day or two they should be awake," replied the brunette. Rowan pushed a strand of Tatiana's long dark hair off the tall woman's shoulder so the faerie could sit down. "But what if they don't?" asked Rowan.

Tatiana closed her eyes and softly shook her head. "Then we'll all be out of luck, especially the bishies."

xXxXx

Nobara: Wow that was long...

Hiei: Why was I the first to be paralyzed?

Nobara: Because I wanted you to be

Kurama: Let's not start fighting....n.nU

Nobara: He started it...

Hiei: Did not!

Nobara: Did to!

Kurama: STOP IT!!

Nobara and Hiei: Yessir....o.o