Authoress...you know.

I ate too much ramen. I feel sick now. Oh well. I'll recover.

By the way, I don't know if I mentioned this: for the full story of Emiko the Vixen and Kurama being lovers, read Emiko's story in the Yujo Chronicles, written by the oh-so-talented PenPusherM.

START CHAPTER

Yu Yu Hakusho

A clawed hand pointing to a door was the last thing that Yayoi could offer them.

"This is the only place that I know where they could be," she said in a quiet, slightly apologetic tone. "I was not a main figure in this whole thing. I was a pawn, so I do no know any other location where they could have gone."

"Thank you, Yayoi," Emiko said, offering her a smile.

Kuwabara glanced around. They were standing in an alley a few miles from Kurama's house, situated between an old warehouse and a drug store. The streets were dark by now; a few hours had passed. A siren wailed past, and the mismatched group of humans and demons froze until they were out of sight.

"There's somethin' creepy about this place, Urameshi." Yusuke turned to cast a curious look at his friend. "I don't really know what it is, but I just get the feeling that we're not supposed to be here."

Yayoi sighed audibly, and Kuwabara shot her an annoyed look. "I've got spirit awareness, okay?"

"What you are currently feeling is the energy from three demons, one unconscious human, and the beginnings of a portal to demon world. Once it is complete, the human-"

"Ayame," Yusuke interjected.

"-will be thrown into the portal," Yayoi continued as if Yusuke had not spoken.

Kurama took a cautious step closer, extending his senses to feel out his way through the room. He shut his emerald eyes momentarily. He could feel two demons and Ayame in the main room, and a large surge of power showed exactly where the portal was. The energy of a third demon came from a room down a hallway lined with crackling silver fire.

He opened his eyes once more. "Thankfully, we are not outnumbered. There are indeed three demons, but only two are in the first room. I believe that they too are pawns, and the real threat is down the hall."

Yusuke punched his fist, eyes gleaming with pre-battle energy. "So let's go in there and kick some demon ass already!"

Kurama frowned. "It is not that simple, Yusuke. One false move, and Ayame could be killed. The two demons that are holding her captive are not to be underestimated."

Yusuke frowned, lowering his fist. "So then what are we supposed to do?"

Meanwhile-

"Tomo, why do we have to keep this human here?" asked a human-like demon, rubbing his eyes. "I'm tired."

The other demon, Tomo, sighed. "Raidon told us to. We have to obey his orders, even if we don't really understand them. Besides, Tamasine, we're getting paid for helping him out."

Tamasine's crystal blue eyes were thoughtful as he looked at his brother. He and Tomo were twins, not identical, but looked very similar. Their eyes were the exact same color, and sandy blonde hair, cut choppily, fell into their eyes in the same way. A streak of red in his bangs set Tamasine apart from his brother, and was one of few ways to tell them apart.

The pair of demons appeared to be men in their late teens or twenties, attractive in the same sense as danger luring people curiously to learn more about something. They were classic punks, dressed in black.

They were human-like in appearance with the exception of navy blue markings in the shape of elongated diamonds that spanned across their cheeks. The marks on Tomo's face were thin; those on Tamasine's were thicker. Their skin was faintly blue, and the tinge was invisible in most light. A muscular build had allowed them to meet their fair share of women, but both demons were without mates. Considering demons mated for life and the twins were young, it was not that big a deal to either of them.

"So all we have to do is watch over her until the portal is done?" Tamasine asked, glancing at Ayame's limp body. They had placed her on a threadbare blanket that they had spread out on the floor, having some empathy for her and enough of a conscience to realize it was a kind thing to do.

Tomo nodded, also looking at Ayame. "When she wakes up, I think I'd like to know who she is."

"Her name is Ayame Kushinjyo. She is fifteen, and attends Sarayashiki Junior High; a classmate of Yusuke Urameshi."

Turning around, the twins found themselves looking at their boss, the demon lord Raidon. He too was human-like at first glance, but small details that proved otherwise soon became apparent.

His fingernails were claws; long and black, sharp and curved inward. His eyes were a misty aquamarine that gleamed when he smiled. Pointed fangs protruded over his lower lip, causing him to look like a vampire. Long, pointed ears stuck out from under his spiky black hair.

"She's crucial to our plans, so keep a close eye on her," he continued. His voice was light and musical, exactly the opposite of what one might expect if they judged him by how he looked. Dressing to impress was clearly not his strongpoint. "Yayoi didn't hit her too hard, so she'll be awake soon."

Tamasine nodded obediently. Tomo frowned. "And what do we do if Yusuke Urameshi and his friends show up here to save her?"

Raidon laughed. "Yayoi is the only other person who knows where we are, and she's in love with me. She'd never betray us."

Tamasine was not convinced. "Do you love her back?"

Raidon looked at him for a moment before answering in an icy tone, one that they had never heard him use before, "No."

Yayoi

Listening outside at the door, I could hear everything Raidon said.

So it was true, everything the fox demoness Emiko had told me. Before, when I said I was a pawn, a small figure in a large plot, I had only been guessing based on what she had said. Now I knew for real that I had been chasing a dream that would never come true.

But yet...I still love Raidon. I can't get over that feeling, even when I know that it will do no good. A love that is not returned can never be love, but that cannot and will not help me to know it. No matter what I tell myself or the people around me, I cannot control my heart.

Life will go on, with or without Raidon by my side, and I know that.

It doesn't really matter all that much, I suppose. There are other fish in the sea, as they say.

But what happens when you only want one of them?

Yu Yu Hakusho

Ayame stirred, catching the attention of the demons around her, all of which waited patiently until she opened her eyes.

Her head ached from where Yayoi had hit her with...something. Her memory went foggy as she attempted to recall the events that occurred earlier.

"Where am I?" she asked groggily.

Tamasine found that he was replying without thinking when he said, "This is an old factory that isn't used anymore. It'll be torn down in a week."

Ayame looked at him for only a moment before her eyes widened and she scrambled away from them. She was almost to the wall when a slender rope of silver energy caught her around the waist and pulled her back.

When she turned to see who had captured her, her heart sped up. She could already tell that this demon was much stronger than the other two just by looking at how he carried himself.

Ayame was growing more and more suspicious, and she had yet to notice the portal due to her lingering blurred senses. "Who are you?"

Raidon laughed. "You ask way too many questions, kiddo."

Ayame's body tensed. "Call me 'kiddo' again, and I'll smash your face in," she snarled, not really weighing her odds in that impending fight before speaking.

He laughed at her again, wiping the back of his hand across his eyes, more for effect than anything else, miming wiping tears of laughter away. "You're too much. It's a pity I have to toss you into demon world where you'll undoubtedly die."

"You didn't sound too upset about that," she replied coldly.

"Oh, cheer up!" Raidon said, pulling on the silver rope to haul her closer, having to admit to himself that for a human, she was putting up a great deal of resistance. He yanked her to her feet, shifting the rope to hold her arms down.

He reached out a clawed hand to seize her chin, tilting her head up to get a better look at her face. She dared not lash out and hit him when his claws were so close to her throat.

"You're kind of cute, for a human," Raidon observed, smiling at the annoyed look Ayame was giving him. He traced a curving line down her cheek with his clawed index finger, sweeping over her cheekbone and skimming over her lower lip. She drew back as far as she could.

With a sigh, Raidon released her from the spirit energy bonds that were holding her. "My name is Raidon Aguri. I'm a demon."

"I noticed that," she replied acidly, clearly in a bad mood as she rubbed the pink spots on her arms left by the ropes.

Tamasine stepped forward. "I'm Tamasine Kurogasa, and this is my twin brother Tomo." He stuck out a hand in a friendly gesture. Ayame recoiled as if it was a poisonous serpent, and he lowered it swiftly. "Sorry."

Ayame scowled at Raidon. "Are you the one in charge here?"

Raidon nodded, beaming at her with boyish energy.

"Then you're the one who gets to hear this: go to hell, you bastard."

The boyish smile faded. "That's not very polite." Suddenly, the ropes entwined her again, tugging her close to Raidon's face. He placed a hand at the nape of her neck, holding her close enough to feel his breath.

"Don't forget who the strongest one here is, Aya."

"My name is Ayame," she replied coolly.

"Call it a nickname, from me to you."

Ayame twisted her head to look away from him, a look of disgust marring her face. "Don't call me that. Only people I like can call me Aya."

"You don't like me?" Raidon asked with mock surprise. He chuckled a little, ruffling her hair. She jerked back, not seeming to notice the scratch left by one of his claws on her cheek.

"Pretty much."

"That's awfully rude, with all things considered."

She flashed him a determined smile. "I never said I was polite."

"Neither did I," he reminded her. By this time, Tamasine and Tomo were as good as forgotten. A careful verbal war was being waged.

"I didn't ask if you did. I really don't give a damn about any aspect of your life."

"Watch your tongue, or your life will end early," Raidon warned, his eyes flashing dangerously. She was pleased to have made him angry.

Ayame smiled at him, laughing lightly. "I never thought a demon lord would get this upset just because some human girl was being mean to him."

Raidon pulled her close to his face, silencing her laugh instantly. "Does that make you uncomfortable?" He laughed when silence fell in the room. "Are you angry that I'm so close to you?" He slipped an arm around her shoulders and nuzzled her neck.

She pulled away as hard as she could, furious. "Touch me again and I'll kill you."

Ayame?

Ayame drew in a sharp breath. Raidon hadn't reacted to the voice, meaning it was purely in her mind.

Ayame?

She wasn't quite sure how to respond, so she thought, What?

Good. You can use thought-speech. This is Hiei.

Ayame was startled. Hiei?

Yes. Listen carefully. Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, Emiko, Yayoi, and myself are all outside the front door to the warehouse you are currently in.

What? You are? Who's Yayoi?

She could hear Hiei heave a mental sigh. The cat-demon, he replied, choosing only to answer her last question.

Oh...are you here to help me?

Silence for a moment. If you wish to call it that, then it's close enough. We're here more to prevent the destruction of the human world. What we need you to do is this: somehow, you need to be in a different room when we come in so you aren't killed. Get the main demon to take you to his room or something.

What?

You heard me.

After that, Hiei broke the mental link, and Ayame was aware of Raidon giving her a curious look.

"What was that about?"

Ayame looked at him curiously. "What?"

Raidon mirrored the curious look, not seeming to notice that he had let the silvery ropes fall harmlessly to the floor. Ayame noticed too, and realized that it might be her only chance.

I'm going to kill you, Hiei, she thought moments before she let herself crumple into Raidon's arms.

"Ayame?"

She opened her eyes slowly. "I-I'm okay." She tried to stand by herself, and swayed on the spot.

"No you aren't," Raidon replied.

Tamasine was looking at her worriedly. "Is she sick?"

"I think so," replied Raidon, his voice carrying a slight tone of concern. He sighed a moment later. "Tamasine, could you take her to my room? She should get a little bit of rest. It would be unfair for her to die of an illness instead of a demon getting her."

Tamasine made a slight face at his reasoning, but nodded and took Ayame away. She had shut her eyes to make her act more believable, and opened them only when she was placed upon the bed.

Tamasine took a seat beside the bed, frowning at her.

"Sorry," she muttered, averting her eyes from his face.

"Don't be," he replied. "You're sick."

Ayame felt like crying then. She didn't want Tomo and Tamasine to die. They were too nice. Neither of them deserved a fate like that.

Yusuke? Unsure if he could hear her too, she waited.

A moment later, she heard his uncertain reply. Ayame? Are you okay?

Yusuke, please don't kill all the demons.

What? he replied, his tone incredulous.

Ayame struggled to think of the right words to use. I don't want Tomo and Tamasine to die.

Who are they?

Two of the demons, she whispered.

The reply she received was silence.

"Ayame?"

Startled, Ayame turned to Tamasine, having forgotten he was there. "Yes?"

He was frowning at her. "Why does Raidon want to kill you so badly?"

"I'm...friends with Yusuke." Ayame limited the word choice to 'friend' for lack of something else to say. After all, that's all they were to one another.

"Oh. Maybe...I could help you," he offered awkwardly.

Ayame sat up, her full attention on him. "What?" she whispered.

Tamasine fidgeted, averting his piercingly blue eyes from her. "I was thinking about it...and I realized you shouldn't go to demon world just because you're friends with Yusuke. Humans and demons should settle their differences without using dirty tricks like this one. As soon as the coast is clear, I'll help you get out of here. Tomo's going to distract Raidon."

"No," she muttered. Startling Tamasine by getting up swiftly, she said hurriedly, "You have to warn him! They're outside! Hurry!"

"What? Who's out there?"

"Just go!" Ayame cried feverishly, rushing to push him out of the room.

Her warning arrived a moment before Yusuke blasted the door open with a spirit gun. She was standing there beside Tamasine when everyone seemed to freeze in their tracks.

Yusuke lowered his hand slowly, his eyes flickering to Tamasine. A spark flashed there for a moment, and that was when Ayame knew that he didn't know which demon was which.

"Tomo! Tamasine! Get out of the way!" she shouted.

Her shouts were enough to make them look in her direction, responding to their names, and Yusuke leveled his spirit gun at Raidon.

"Wait!" Emiko called, throwing forth a stream of powder that rendered all three demons immobile. Paralysis powder, Ayame soon realized.

Tamasine had been unbalanced, and teetered dangerously before Ayame grabbed a hold of his shoulder to steady him.

Yusuke Urameshi

Why the hell won't she let me kill all three demons? They shouldn't be here, they kidnapped her, and they're threatening to put every human here at risk to get at me.

She's standing next to one of the twins, hanging onto his shoulder so he won't fall down. Why doesn't she just let him fall? I came here to help her, and she's helping the enemy?

Ayame was giving me a pained look. "I didn't really get to explain to you before. Tamasine and Tomo, the twins, were going to help me escape. Raidon is the only one here to have actually done something wrong."

Tamasine wobbled and his knees gave out; an aftereffect of the powder being physical and mental weakness. Ayame crouched down next to him to ask if he was okay.

Does she like him or something? I don't really care. Then why am I thinking about it? Why did I have to dream about her last night?

Ayame and I were in a field, sitting side by side. She was content to pluck the petals off a fragile daisy as the wind whipped her hair behind her. She smiled at me, abandoning the daisy to seek out my hand.

A dream that short can influence a lot.

Yu Yu Hakusho

Raidon groaned as the original paralysis wore off and he was hit by a wave of dizziness coupled with the sudden inability to stand. He too crumpled to the ground, but this time it was Yayoi who rushed to see if he was okay.

She cradled his body as if he were a child, her eyes full of worry as they waited to meet his.

Raidon's eyes focused finally on the woman holding him. "Yayoi? What are you doing here?"

Yayoi's eyes brimmed with tears as she confessed, "I lead them here."

"I would have expected as much from you."

Yayoi choked on a sob. "I love you, Raidon, whether or not you feel the same towards me. I didn't betray you. I helped you. You haven't done anything wrong. We can all go home, to demon world, together."

Hiei scoffed. "Nothing wrong?"

Yayoi chose to ignore him. "Please, Raidon," she pleaded softly.

Without warning, Raidon swung up a hand to pull her head towards his, an unmistakable kiss. He closed his eyes, savoring her taste.

Yusuke rolled his eyes, noticing that Ayame was still beside Tamasine. No one had gone to check on Tomo.

"Tamasine, can you move?"

"I...don't think so."

Ayame seized his hand. "Squeeze my hand."

Tamasine tried. The pressure applied was feeble, but there nonetheless.

Yusuke allowed himself to glance away from Ayame and focus his chocolate brown eyes on Raidon instead. "Now what are we gonna do with him?"

END CHAPTER

Is ten pages long enough?

Authoress out.