Authoress here.

My hands are cold. So are my feet.

I broke my promise of having a chapter up each day. I can't think of what to write! I'm sorry!

I'm considering changing the rating of this story to "R" because of the language. It may actually get worse if Yusuke's mood doesn't improve.

Another name that means something: Emiko – blessed, beautiful child. I really got her number there! (cough PenPusherM cough).

START CHAPTER

Yu Yu Hakusho

Yusuke's chocolate brown eyes narrowed skeptically at the demon addressing him. "You know where that asshole went?"

Tamasine blanched under the look Yusuke was giving him. "I...we," he corrected himself. "We have an idea."

"An idea isn't enough," snapped Yusuke. "She almost died because of that asshole! She's an innocent – a civilian! She wasn't even involved in all this crap, and he targeted her!"

Tomo stepped forward. "We're almost one hundred percent sure that we know where he is, if that's enough for you."

Kurama looked grave. "He could be anywhere. How could you two possibly know where he might be? I have the distinct impression that you aren't telling us everything you know."

Two identical pairs of aquamarine eyes were lowered to the floor.

"Not entirely. I know a few things that Tomo doesn't," Tamasine replied.

Tomo frowned. "And I know some that he doesn't."

"Classic," Kurama replied. "Raidon tells his lackeys different information so unless you have both of them in your grasp, you can never locate him. Tell us what you know."

Tomo started after a pause. "He mentioned a safe house in demon world that we could all go to if there was any trouble, but he didn't tell us where it was."

Tamasine spoke next. "A cabin in the mountains was another possibility, but he didn't specify what mountain range."

Tomo went next, the pair of brothers swiftly making the choice of speaking alternately. "A condo somewhere in America."

"His mother's home in demon world, deep in a forest."

"A dojo. He didn't tell us the name, or where it was."

Both were suddenly silent. "That's all the more we know, I guess," Tomo said quietly.

"Oddly specific," Hiei remarked in his usual sarcastic manner.

"Five possible locations," Kurama mused. "He never figured in the possibility of betrayal when you first began this project. So the only thing that you hoped to accomplish was killing Yusuke?"

"No," Tamasine whispered. "Raidon wanted to isolate all of you in turn by taking the person that you value most and offering their life in exchange for your own." He glanced at Ayame. "He never intended to let her live. Your arrival wasn't planned on."

"If Yayoi hadn't helped you," Tomo continued as his brother fell silent. "Ayame wouldn't be alive now. She deserves a proper burial. It's the very least we can do." After saying that, Tomo cast a bleary glance at Yayoi's charred corpse. "I loved her," he whispered thickly. At that, he went to her side and sank to his knees with his back to them so they could not see him weep.

The mention of her name had been too much for him. Having never been able to confess his feelings, he was left with the heavy weight of regret sitting upon his shoulders. He could never rest now that he had unfinished business. If he was to be struck down there and now, he felt that his tortured spirit would linger on this earth for eternity.

Tamasine moved to follow, sensing his brother's pain, but decided against it. "I think Raidon left five locations on purpose...one for each of you."

Emiko and Kurama exchanged glances.

"Yes, fox. You too," he commented, catching Emiko's startled look. "He must have figured you in as a threat. After all, you are very capable of taking care of yourself."

Emiko would have smiled proudly if the situation had been different. Now, her mind was occupied. "Did Raidon ever mention his mother?"

Tamasine paused thoughtfully for a moment. "In passing, yes."

"Her name?" Emiko pressed.

"I think it was...Kaoru. Kaoru Nozomi. They had different last names, her and Raidon."

"Kaoru Nozomi was killed three years ago. Caught in the crossfire, you could say, during a conflict relating to her husband. He died shortly after. Their house was burned to the ground," Hiei replied placidly.

Kuwabara nudged him with his elbow. "How'd you know? Hey shrimp, was she your girlfriend?"

"I spent years looking for my sister. Kaoru's was only one of many unfortunate endings that I witnessed. She is only another name to me, nothing more," Hiei replied coldly, stepping away from Kuwabara to avoid more jabs in his shoulder. How he longed to just slice off that arm. But he mustn't.

"I suppose that eliminates one possibility. If the house no longer exists, he couldn't have gone there," Emiko reasoned.

"Good point," Yusuke said, his eyes on Ayame.

Yusuke Urameshi

She's still not awake. I know her pulse is steady because my hand hasn't moved from her wrist. I'm being really paranoid, but I think it's understandable. She could've died.

How do you explain something like that to someone's parents? Come to think of it, I'm not totally sure she has parents. They weren't home when I...shot her house. I'm still embarrassed about that. It's disgraceful that after all this time and training with Genkai, I could miss an easy target like that stupid demon kid.

I've been thinking, though. If it hadn't been for that demon, I wouldn't have met Ayame. I keep thinking that Raidon would've just killed her if it hadn't happened. He would've gotten annoyed with her being just some other human girl with no purpose. I hate thinking shit like that.

I'm kinda scared that something'll happen between Ayame and me. I only wanted to be friends with Keiko, and look what happened there. I guess the older you get, the more dangerous a friendship can become. I don't think things will ever be the same between us.

I never mentioned it to the others, but Keiko was the one who dumped me. She told me she needed time apart, and that I should just move on and forget about her. I talked to her the other day. She knows about Ayame. She saw us together, and is apparently upset that I moved on a bit faster than she had hoped.

I can still hear what she said reverberating in my mind. "How can you cast me aside so easily? I thought I meant something to you!" I find that a little hypocritical, considering she broke things off with me.

What the hell am I doing, thinking about Keiko at a time like this?

"What were the other places again?" I asked, wrenching my gaze from Ayame's peaceful, unconscious features.

Emiko replied smoothly, "A safe house in demon world, a cabin in an unknown mountain range, a condo somewhere in America, and an unknown dojo."

"A spirit is too weak to cross oceans without a host, and even then, the trip would take time. I don't think he is in America," Kurama reasoned.

"Right," Emiko agreed. "So then that leaves three."

"Do we really hafta find this guy?" Kuwabara asked, frowning thoughtfully.

"No," Hiei replied coldly. "Unless, of course, you care about human world."

Kurama reached up to smooth his hair back, a kind of thoughtful, stress-relieving gesture. "Hiei has a point. If we let him roam free, this portal will become big enough for demons to slip through. Right now, the lower-class demons are trying. It is only a matter of time before they succeed. For the time being, I think it would be best to stretch a kakai barrier across the portal that will grow at the same rate to cover the entire gap at all times. This little hole could cause some major problems," he finished.

"No kidding," I replied, adjusting my grip on Ayame so I could stand up.

Tomo and Tamasine seemed to be growing gradually more and more uncomfortable. In fact, neither of them had spoken for quite some time. Identical aqua eyes were focused on the floor beneath their feet.

They were the least of my concerns. At that moment, Ayame opened her eyes. Her head had been resting on my shoulder. I was holding her kinda like you'd hold a platter; out in front of you in both arms, her torso against my chest. I could feel her breath against my neck. When she opened her eyes, she must've gotten a nice view of where my neck connects to my chin.

"Yu...suke?" she whispered.

I turned my head to look down at the mystified girl in my arms. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision so she could see what was going on.

In the background, the others were using their spirit energy to make a barrier for the hole, but I barely noticed.

Kurama called out to me, "Yusuke? We're going to go to my human mother's home to sort things out. Meet us there, all right?"

I nodded, my eyes still on Ayame.

Yu Yu Hakusho

Ayame smiled at Yusuke after they had left. Leave it to Kurama to give them some space. "You saved me?"

"More or less. That asshole got away, though. His spirit got away, actually." Yusuke seemed rather glum admitting it. His mind was soon tugged to other thoughts as he felt Ayame's lips on his neck. "Ayame! What are you doing?"

She grinned. "Let's celebrate." She shifted in his arms, and soon her lips came down over his.

His index finger glowed blue, and he released Ayame so that she fell to the damp floor of the factory. He pointed his spirit gun at her.

"W-what are you doing?" she sputtered, sprawled on the floor, her expression incredulous.

"I know Ayame, and she's not that kinda girl. Get the hell out of her body, Raidon."

She giggled then, a shrill piercing sound that escalated until she had to pause to catch her breath. "You're a bit smarter than you look...but keep this in mind: this is still Ayame's body, and the conscious part of her mind is still active. She's fighting me right now to get control. I'll give her access to our speech centers for just a moment."

Yusuke's eyes widened, and his hands shook.

"Yusuke! Get out of here!" the true Ayame cried as soon as she was awarded control. It was creepy to watch her face. Her eyes were no longer under her control, and they glinted as she begged from Yusuke to flee while he had the chance. "He's gonna use me to kill you! Please, just get out of here!"

"Ayame!"

"Go!" she shrieked. Moments later, a satisfied smile rested on her face. Raidon had taken over once more.

Yusuke stood his ground. "I'm not gonna leave you here, Ayame! You must think I'm a real chicken."

Ayame-Raidon smiled wider. "Stupid choice, Detective. It's a real pity, though." He paused to meet Yusuke's eyes. "She really did like you, you know."

"You piece of shit!" Yusuke yelled, his hands shaking more now. "You piece of shit!"

A strange expression came over the possessed teenager's face at that moment. Yusuke heard then the most forceful words he had ever heard Ayame speak: "Get the hell out of my head!"

Her hands moved to press down and the sides of her skull. The part of her that was Raidon cried back, "Stop fighting me, Ayame!"

"Get out of my head!" she shouted again.

Her next words took Yusuke by surprise. "Yusuke! Shoot me!"

END CHAPTER

I know I haven't updated in quite some time, and I have a biology book project to thank for that. Curse you, oh-so-quirky-teacher-man! I'm currently reading a rather good book called Stiff: the Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. It's actually really interesting, as morbid as that may sound.

I recommend it to those who are intrigued by forensics or just like books about dead people. Which could be that same two groups of people.

Authoress out for the count.