Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho

Episode 4

) In the cabin... (

I fluffed my pillow and lay down. The room was completely quiet, something I hadn't had since Jin first moved in.

I'm not complaining though, I mused. I'm glad for quiet, after all that time lying in bed, listening to Jin and Chuu snore....

"Assassin, you awake?" Yusuke's voice floated from his hammock.

"Yes. What?" I sighed. Another interrupted thinking time.

"Why are you joining the Ankoku Bujutsukai?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm just curious."

"It's my job, detective."

"What's your job?"

"Killing people."

"So you're going to the Ankoku Bujutsukai to kill people?"

"No. I also work part time for Koenma."

"Oh. So you're a spirit detective like me?"

"No. I do all the dirty work that the Spirit Detectives don't."

"Oh. But we're joining the Ankoku Bujutsukai..."

"Yeah, well, this isn't entirely my job."

"Really? Then why are you joining?"

"It's... personal."

"Come on, you can tell me..."

"Go to sleep, detective."

"Pleeeease."

"Go to sleep. Unless you want me to hack your mouth off your face."

He was silent. A few minutes later, he asked quietly," Is it for the wish at the end?"

My head snapped toward him, though I doubt he could see my expression. He must have heard the sudden movement however, and added," Gotcha!" For a split second, I was off guard. That second was enough. Memories started to surge through my mind, crushing me like a waterfall. The detective shifted around on the hammock, then...

"What are you gonna wish for?" I did not reply. "Come on, you can tell me!" I cradled my head in my hands, trying to stop the rush. "Hey, Akuryou? You still awake there?"

"Stop it!" I finally gasped.

"Stop what?" He sounded bewildered. "Hey, are you ok?" This time, his voice was concerned.

"I-I... I couldn't stop him..." the memories were overwhelming.

Yusuke immediately stopped spluttering and listened.

"I couldn't stop him from killing him..." My voice was trembling, my breath coming out in short bursts.

"Hey, stop freaking out. Who killed who?"

"Zakoro... He killed..." His face flashed across my mind. The smug look on his face. His evil laughter. His cruel game...

"Zakoro? Who's Za—?"

"Hey, Urameshi, what's going on?" Kuwabara's voice interrupted quietly.

"It's Akuryou. She's lost it or something."

"Stop... No! BASTARD WHY'D YOU HAVE TO—"I started to yell. The memory was so vivid. I could feel the rain pouring on my head. The body in my arms. His laugh... Blood everywhere...

"Yusuke? Is that you yelling?"

"Hell no, Kurama. Does that sound like me? It's the assassin!"

"I bet the whole ship can hear her."

"What happened?"

"I don't know, she just started to freak out and now she's... Hey, she stopped."

"Let go of me, Hiei."

"Hn."

Kurama must have turned on the lights, because I could see everything now. Kuwabara was half fallen off his hammock, and Yusuke was sitting upright, eyes shut. Then they opened. It must have been that he was trying to adjust his eyes to the sudden light. Kurama was standing in the doorway and looked very confused. Hiei simply stood next to Kurama, glaring at me. The space in the middle of his forehead where the headband covered was glowing brightly. The Jagan.

"Are you alright?" Kurama asked timidly from the doorway. Sweat slid down my face. I felt something else trickle down the back of my neck. As an automatic reaction, my hand slapped against my neck. I took my hand away and saw a thin line of blood. I looked at my fingers. Blood. I must have been gripping my head so my fingernails broke into my scalp. Hope it wouldn't get infected.

At least my expression was normal again. Oh yes. I forgot to tell you. I'm "mentally unstable". That's what ShishiWakamaru was always saying. It's just a nicer way of saying I'm mental. Retarded. I guess it was because I've been alive for a really long time. It's because I'm cursed. Anyhow, the detective and his gang were looking at me like I was some sort of frightening... thing. I could see it clearly on their faces. Scared, confused, and a little bit of curiosity. And something else. Was that concern?

"Are you alright?" Kurama asked again.

"Yes. No. I don't know." I sighed heavily. The memories slowed to a trickle, then stopped altogether. I'd shut them in their little box again; a box I never open; sat on the lid to keep it closed.

"Is there anything you need to talk about?"

"Yeah. Don't keep things bottled up. It's not healthy," Yusuke added. "Scream, cuss, yell... whatever. Let it all out. Like me."

I gave him a skeptical look. "And that will help how?"

He shrugged. "Works for me. Blame everyone else for the while. It helps."

I snorted. "Blame everyone else for something that was clearly my fault? That's stupid."

"Well, what did you do?"

"None of your business."

"Fine, be that way."

"I will." I snapped at the spirit detective. "And don't you bother me again!"

"Hey, Kuwabara, wonder if there's any way to get her to talk..."

"Maybe get one of her friends to do it."

"Oh yeah! So, what are you gonna wish for when we win the Ankoku Bujutsukai?" Yusuke suddenly reverted back to his previous question.

Akuryou glared at him. "Do you want me to spazz out again?"

"No... But you can tell us! We're your team!"

"Tch. And why is that a reason to make me trust you?"

"Because teams stick together."

"Unfortunately for you detective, I don't consider myself a part of your team."

"Yeah well, too bad. You're here, and our concern. We stick up for each other, see?"

"I'm going to sleep." I snapped, laying back and turning away from the others. Kurama glanced warily at me, and then sat down on his hammock with a sigh.

"Hey! Don't avoid me!" I didn't. I ignored him.

A while later, I guess everybody else decided to go to bed because the lights turned out and it was quiet. Slowly, sleep over came me.

When I woke up, the others were still asleep, thankfully, so I got my little quiet time. I could just see the sun coming over the horizon from the small, filthy window.

"I'll bring you back... Just wait a little longer, ok?" I whispered, snuggling with the red jacket I was wearing.

"Bring who back?" A voice hissed. Of course. The detective must have been on guard... I thought he was a deep sleeper...

"No one."

"'I'll bring you back...' Who???"

"Shut up and go to sleep."

"I want to know."

"It's none of your business."

"Telllll."

"Shut up, busybody."

"Well, why won't you tell me? I mean, if you want to wish for something you don't have to keep it a secret! If you tell me, I might be able to help you and then we won't have to go through this shitty tournament thing."

"You can't do anything to help me. Koenma absolutely refuses to help me... Whatta bastard."

"Ah, something we agree on," Yusuke said sarcastically. I glared at him. But then, I guess he has a reason to be curious. "Fine, if you won't tell me... Let's get to know each other!" He said brightly.

"..."

"Ok, I'll start then. I'm Yusuke Urameshi, age 16. Occupation: Spirit Detective. I have a mom. I like hanging out at the arcade. I hate school. Yeah. Ok, your turn."

"I am Akuryou no Shikaku, age 17. Occupation: Assassin, part time Spirit Detective. No relations. I like being left alone. I hate you."

"How nice." Yusuke smirked. He reached over the side of his hammock and threw a rock at Kuwabara. "Ok, Kuwabara, your turn."

"Aaargh, whaddya want Urameshi?"

"State your name, age, occupation, family, likes, dislikes..."

"What for?"

"So Akuryou can get to know you better."

"Ok... Kazuma Kuwabara, age 16. Occupation: I don't have one. I have an older sister. I like cats. I hate school."

"Kurama AKA Shuiichi Minamino, age 17. Occupation: ex-thief. I have a human mother and younger sister. I like being with my friends. I dislike... um... I dislike insects that eat plants."

"Oh, g'morning Kurama," Yusuke said.

"Good morning Yusuke, Kuwabara, Akuryou."

"You're turn, Hiei."

"Hn."

"Come on Hiei!"

"Hiei, age: none of your business. Occupation: none of your business. Sister. I hate you all." And he rolled over on his hammock to face the wall.

"Now, now Hiei!" Kurama said jokingly. "He's just grumpy, I think," He added to me.

"Eh, but he has a point." My voice was muffled because I was lying face down into my pillow.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Yusuke and Kuwabara stopped hitting each other with the rock and looked up. Kurama and Hiei tensed. I got up to open the door. A small, ratty demon stood there. Actually, at first I didn't see anyone. The little demon coughed, and I looked down. Short little midgety thing he was. No more than a foot tall.

"Excuse moi!" The midget thing squeaked. "Ze sheep 'as docked!"

"Great." I turned back to the others. Yusuke was mouthing something at me that looked like 'See sheep as duck?!'. "Hear that? Pack up!" I was about to close the door but the demon wouldn't let me...

"Pardon moi, miss. You are ze assassin, Akuryou, non?"

"Yes I am." I raised an eyebrow.

"C'est impossible! Zere is a young gentlemen down ze hall claiming zat 'e is ze one!"

"Good for him. Now get out of my sight." When the midget did not leave, I snarled. "NOW!"

"Oui, oui!" He scampered away.

"What a joke," I snorted, walking back to hammock. If Jin were here... Heh, I could just imagine what Jin would be saying if he were here. What a wee lil thing! Can I keep him? I promise I'll feed him and everything... Can I, can I? Pleeee---

"What'chu so happy about?"

I faced the detective. "What?"

"A second ago, you were all grinning..."

"Oh."

"What on earth could make you so happy?"

"None of your business." I turned back to my hammock. There was nothing there except my pillow and the red jacket. I stuffed the pillow back into my duffel back, and picked up the jacket tenderly. I buried my face into it, his scent still fresh. I grinned, glad the jacket hid my face. Then, when I was sure all traces of the smile was gone from my face, I took the jacket away, slinging it over my shoulder. The others were waiting by the door.

"Let's go!" Yusuke said, and we all agreed in unison.

Woo hoo! Fourth chapter!!!

Yusuke: Hey guys, it's me again! Soo... Whaddya make of that? Pretty deep, eh? I wish she'd tell me who's who... Anyhow... I lied! You DIDN'T find out who the canary yellow haired person was! But that's ok... Will Akuryou be able to treat us like a team? And who or what could make her all smiley like that when she doesn't even twitch at my jokes? Find out next time on Yu Yu Hakusho!

Haha, I made up the French-speaking demon while I was doing Spanish homework... Please don't be offended by his accent. -- I'm not even sure I got the accent right. Sorry.