AD: Time to post another chapter. OI! These seem to take forever to write…but I love the story and all the reviewers. :D

all review replies have to be deleted for now...sorry!

Here's an interesting fact about IMM: at first, it was going to be a Harry Potter cross-over! But then I realized the readers would have no clue who Mika was or why they were in the situation. Thus, Inside My Mind was created. I wanted it to be a short, introductory story so I could move on to the Harry Potter one…but you can see where this whole thing led. I dunno if I want to make it a cross-over anymore, but I do have a sequel in mind. What do you all think?

Disclaimers and warnings at beginning.

'Mika'
#Kurama#
:Karasu:
/Hiei/
((Kuronue))

After stealing a free breakfast and bidding Mrs. Minamino good-bye (she shoved a bunch of I-Love-You-Shuicihi notes into Mika's arms), Mika and Ayumi were out into the streets. It was then, a new problem arrived.

"…I spent my last dollar on the bus yesterday." Ayumi stared pitifully at her empty hand and pocket.

"I AM SO NOT WALKING TO AKITA!" Mika shouted, slumping against a park bench, the Demon Bible laying in her lap. "It's bad enough my head feels like exploding all the time, I do NOT need my feet falling off!"

Ayumi frowned and sat down next to her best friend. "So…what do you suggest? We can't fly."

((OOOH, I CAN!))

"We're gonna die…"

"Ooh, we're doomed. We've faced obsessive stalkers who have no life, we were nearly killed by supernatural beings in the underworld and now we're doomed to forever walk the streets of Tokyo with no cash." Ayumi fell into silence. She then smacked Mika upside the head with her fist. "SNAP OUT OF IT, KIDDO! WHERE'S THAT MURASAKI SPIRIT THAT'S KEPT US GOING THIS WHOLE TIME!"

:Murasaki spirit? I thought that was all rage towards the imaginary demons inside her mind.:

"I'm a demon now, Ayumi, but I don't have all the power to get us back to Akita. Man, my mother's going to kill me." Mika rubbed her head, sulking. "All of this cause of a bunch of psychotic demons who had nothing better to do than to possess an innocent teenage girl."

/Innocent? Bull/

'Shut up, ok? It was just a random adjective.'

((Ooh, what's an adjective?))

"I WANT MY OWN HEAD!" Mika cried, leaning over in her seat.

Ayumi scowled and got up. "Stop being a whiner, Mika. We've got to form a plan to get outta here! I mean, its not like we're on the moon!"

"Easy for you to say! Your mind's not a war zone!"

"Well, you can't just sit here and moan about that. We need to get to Akita before our asses get pinned to the wall by out parents! We've been gone for what, almost two days now!"

Mika sighed heavily. She knew Ayumi was right. They had to get home before their parents when insane. Kicking deranged demon-hunter butt just came in second place compared to being in danger of being mobbed by off-the-edge, emotional parents who haven't had coffee in over 24-hours.

"Ok, ok…let's just think for a while…try and see what we come up with." Mika closed her eyes, trying to focus. Her guests were being unusually quiet, either they went back to sleep or they knew she wanted quiet. Either was good, though.

Ayumi sat back down and both thought in silence. A few cars drove by and the birds chattered in the tree branches above them.

Suddenly, Mika heard something. A sharp, distant whisper. She looked up and saw two guys staring at her. Glaring back, Mika waited for them to turn away, embarrassed at being caught red handed. They just grinned back.

"Hentai-bakas." Mika gave them the finger and went back to thinking. Then, one of the guys called over.

"Hey."

"Not interested, go away, I have mace."

"No, I just want to talk." Mika didn't look up. "About your demon problems." She did look up.

Ayumi did too. "WHO SAID THAT? I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS!"

Mika gave her a bewildered look, mentally thinking it was very random, and then looked back over at the guys. "Ok, who, or shall I phrase, what are you?"

The second guy just jerked his head over to an ally. "Just come on. We want to help you."

"What are you, kidding me? I have had enough bad experiences with creepy strangers this week. I ain't coming near you."

"Don't you want your body back? All five of you?"

/Yes./

'Shut up, can't you see I'm negotiating with some hooligans wanting to get laid?'

Kurama raised an eyebrow. #What a way to put it.#

:Just talk to them. If they try anything, send them to a one-way trip to a black hole thing.:

'Evil, cruel and horrible. Great idea, Karasu. I'll go talk to them…' Mika got up, put the Demon Bible on the bench, and frowned at the guys. "If you try anything, you're going to find yourselves in a very uncomfortable place."

"Heh." They both slid back into the ally. Mika looked both ways and crossed the vacant street, towards them. Her heart was beating fast.

'Before I put my life on the line again, do you think these guys know anything useful? Like where Aki is?'

#I don't know…be on your top guard, though.#

((They look dirty))

/You are too, idiot./

((Well excuse me for not being able to take a bath for centuries!))

'WHAT THE? EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!' Mika froze, horrified. 'THAT IS SO GROSS!'

((what?))

'HYGIENE!'

((ooh, what's that?))

'DEAR GOD!' Mika shuddered and walked faster over to the ally. Ayumi was crossing the street behind her.

"Ok," She looked up at the two guys, glaring. They were a little intimidating, since they were hiding in the shadows. Luckily, she controlled the shadows, so she wasn't scared. "What do you have to offer?"

"The amulet back." The second one said, grinning.

Mika glared harder. "You do work for Aki. I'm definitely gonna send you to a black hole."

"He told us that you have weird powers, kid. You won't be pulling any surprises," Someone said from behind her. Turning slightly, she saw another goon was there. Ayumi was standing in the street, ready to lunge at the guys.

"Back off now, before I kill you," Mika said in an even voice, looking into the eyes of the one guy.

:Wait, I thought you didn't want to kill people:

'DUDE, I'M TRYING TO SCARE THEM! IT'S CALLED ACTING, MR. IT-WAS-A-PLOY!'

:I swear, if you mention that incident one more time, EITHER OF YOU, I'm going to implode and destroy this whole damnation of a mind:

'Do that and I'll make your second after life a living hell.'

:I'm already going there, so it doesn't really matter, now does it:

"You can stall and talk to your little mind friends all you want, kid." The one guy moved up closer. "They won't be able to help you."

Mika braced herself and said darkly. "Calling them my friends has crossed the line, pal. Prepare to hurt."

She swung her leg up, aiming for the guy's chest. He caught her leg, jerked it upwards and sent her sprawling on to her back. The other guy went for her, but he was slammed to the side when the waiting Ayumi finally attacked. Soon enough, all of them were attacking each other fiercely.

Jamming her knee into one of the guys' gut, Mika called out in her mind, 'Karasu, I need you to fill the area with bombs. That should take care of these bozos!'

:Are you nuts? That would blow up you and the other brat:

'ARE YOU KIDDING ME? YOU CAN'T REDIRECT THE EXPLOSION? YOU SUCK!'

#He's right, Mika. Its too dangerous to use explosives in an ally of all places.#

'WELL WHAT DO YOU EXCEPT IN A STREET FIGHT, PRETTY-BOY?' Mika shouted, dodging a fist. She was surprised at their quick movements. They appeared human, but were pretty strong. Then again, why would the demon-hating freak Aki want to have demons working for him? Mika growled. 'Think of something, anyone!'

/Run/

'I'M NOT A WUSSY!'

:Then get beat up by some guys only to be killed by some stalker.:

'…that is just a little TOO creepy to imagine.' Mika shuddered, backing into the wall. She gasped when she saw a fist coming right at her face. It would have hit too, if something very hard had not knocked it off its aim.

It was a binder. Someone at the other end of the alley had thrown it with accuracy.

"Who…?" The gang leader turned to find out the thrower. Mika tilted her head and gaped.

There, arms crossed and wearing a jogging suit, was Ms. Ryoko. She had her eyes narrowed dangerously, glaring at the gang. "Touch the kids, and I'll beat your body into the cement."

"M-MS. RYOKO!" Mika exclaimed, shocked. What was she doing in Tokyo, let alone getting involved in a street fight!

Ayumi stopping her kicking of one of the guys. "That's your psychiatrist?"

((HEY KARASU! IT'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND!))

:SHUT THE HELL UP:

Mika didn't answer either of them. This was bad, at least for Ms. Ryoko. She knew about the demons, but she didn't know how to handle a bunch of street punks working for a stalker. Or did she?

"You heard me, punks. Get yourselves away from the girls," Ms. Ryoko said, this time with even more force.

"Want to fight too, lady?" The second gang member grinned evilly.

"No, get away, Ms. Ryoko!" Mika shouted, wide-eyed. "They're after the demons and me!"

"I suspected much." Ms. Ryoko looked over at her. She smirked slightly. "I'm surprised they're not gone yet. What's keeping you?"

"These morons, a freaky guy who's stalking us and wants to kill us, and the fact he stole the thing we need to get out of this mess."

"Interesting." She bent back on her right knee. She stared expectantly at the gang members. "Well? Don't just stop your little battle cause of me. I want to fight too."

/So far you've got a doctor, a teenager and a bunch of currently bodiless demons into your mind. Anything else you plan to add to your list of supporters/

'How about an army of rabid squirrels?'

#Fight, Mika. Just fight the evil people#

'Which ones, the guys trying to kill me or the guys in my head trying to drive me insane?'

:Gee what a toughy. Try the ones who have their own bodies first then go after the ones in your head:

'Good plan…' Mika took this moment of temporary peace and swung her fist into the second guy's face. She was satisfied when she heard a dull crack.

That was, yet again, stupid, cause that started it all up again. Someone next to her punched her in the side of her stomach, and a few feet away she heard Ayumi gasp in pain. Luckily, Ms. Ryoko had barreled through the chaos. Mika opened her eyes and saw her ex-doctor kicking ass. Literally.

Ms. Ryoko had obviously had lessons in some type of martial arts, as she sent two of the guys flying into the wall with one kick. Another one, the one who had punched Mika, was on the ground, getting kicked repeatedly in a place where the sun don't shine by the angry Ms. Ryoko.

"YOU JACK-ASS, YOU DON'T HIT WOMEN!" She shouted, a stressmark appearing on her head. "I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE A LEPRECHAUN, IF I EVER CATCH YOU PUNKS SCREWING AROUND WITH THESE KIDS AGAIN, I'LL NAIL YOUR ASSES TO THE SIDEWALK!"

"…" Mika and Ayumi stared at their newest savior, in awe and in somewhat a horrified trance.

#…# Kurama looked the same.

Karasu, on the other hand was laughing hysterically. :DAMN SHE'S GOOD:

((Karasu and Ms. Ryoko sitting in a tree…!)) Kuronue had to duck as Karasu started to kick at him.

'Dude…she promised to help heal, protect and save people's lives and she fights like a frickin psycho-chick? WICKED AWESOME!' Mika cried, smiling widely. She now had a new idol to look up to.

"…Mika, your psychiatrist needs a psychiatrist." Ayumi finally whispered, supporting a bruised arm.

"I know…isn't it awesome?"

After succeeding in making the gang member cry, Ms. Ryoko pulled back and glared at the three. "Ok, bozos, get the heck outta here before I get angry."

/And that wasn't/

'I really don't wanna see her pissed off then…' Mika shivered. She then turned to the about-to-flee gangsters. "Hold up there, I have one question." She grabbed one of their collars. "Why the flipping-ding-dong are you working for Aki?"

"He sent us to just capture the demons, honest!" He cried. "He offered us some cash, we needed it! What were we supposed to do?"

"Grow a back bone and pay for drugs yourself." Mika dropped him and they scampered off.

Ms. Ryoko smiled and placed a hand on Mika's shoulders. "Good fighting, kiddo. Did the demons teach you those moves?"

"Nah, I learned them in P.E. when we played dodge ball and I was nominated the target." Mika frowned. "Those popular kids sure are retarded to aim for my head when they're right in front of my fist."

Ayumi laughed. "Ha, I remember that! You nearly got expelled."

#You know, your life's history is really violent…#

/But still interesting./

#True…#

Suddenly, Mika looked up at Ms. Ryoko. "Um, thanks for saving us, but why are you here? How did you find us?"

"Your mother was very worried and since I was the only one who knew about your demon friends, I felt obligated to look too." Ms. Ryoko smiled again. "My friend saw you in the city yesterday and told me. So, I just followed what was left of your trail and found you here."

"Wow, thanks." Mika smiled brightly, the first time in days.

Ayumi suddenly frowned. "We need to get back home, Mika. We're gonna be toast if we don't."

"Right…can we bum a ride off ya?" Mika looked hopefully at her laughing psychiatrist.

Ms. Ryoko stopped laughing and nodded. "Sure. Come on."

The girls turned and quickly retrieved the Demon Bible they had left alone. When they returned they saw Ms. Ryoko heading for the other side of the alley.

"I swear, this lady had better be on our side, Mika. If I have to save you from the forces of evil one more time this week, you are on your own," Ayumi muttered to her friend as they followed the doctor.

Mika rolled her eyes. "Gee, best friends forever to you too…"

&&& A long drive later&&&

"…I can't believe you like Hamasaki Ayumi too! HOW COOL IS THAT?" Ayumi shouted happily, jumping out of Ms. Ryoko's car. They had been listening to the doctor's collection of CDs, and surprisingly there had been a few the girls liked. Namely, all of them.

"What did you expect, Bach and Beethoven?" Ms. Ryoko laughed, turning off the engine and stepping out the driver's side door.

They were in front of Mika's house, only because it was closer and her parents were probably the most angry/emotional. Mika vehemently denied they would care.

"They're gonna ground me and then ban me from seeing the both of you ever again." She said darkly. "I just wish they could get rid of my little free-loaders the same way."

:You know, you're the one who's making this difficult to handle.:

'Shut up…'

"Come on…let's get this over with…" Ms. Ryoko said softly, walking up the front walk.

The door was slightly ajar, so Mika opened it and walked in first. Her mother was sitting at the dining room table, staring at a photograph in her hand with distant eyes. When she heard the door open, she saw her only daughter staring at her, blankly.

Silence filled the room.

"…aren't you gonna yell at me?" Mika finally asked quietly. She sounded a little harsh, as if expecting to be reprimanded for 'running away'.

Another long, eerie silence followed.

"Mika!" Her mother leaped from her chair and slammed into her daughter.

"…Mom?" Mika managed to stutter. Her mom was hugging her fiercely.

"Don't ever do that again, Mika! Your father and I were so worried…!" Mrs. Murasaki cried. She actually sounded worried.

Mika pulled away. She moved out of her mother's embrace and stared at her with a shocked look. In an instant, she had run past them all and into the hallway, heading towards her bedroom. She slammed the door shut loudly and moved her dresser in front of it, since it didn't have a lock. She tossed the Demon Bible onto the corner chair, then sat on her bed and hugged her legs. She moved so fast, it shocked her mind minions.

#Mika…why…did you just do that?#

/I thought you wanted attention from your parents./

Karasu would have said something sarcastic, but he was silenced when all four demons heard a strange sound. A distant, but rare sound.

Mika was crying.

She was sobbing into her knees, shaking slightly. The sound of her mother and visitors were far away in the living room and her sobs echoed across her room.

Kurama recovered first. #Mika, are you alright? What's wrong?#

:Snap out of it. Demons don't cry.: Karasu glowered, though he did look a little shocked at her sudden break down. She usually didn't act so…mushy or openly sad.

((Mika-chan…why are you crying?)) Kuronue hated it when people were sad. He didn't quite know what to do.

'Th-that…' Mika said softly in her mind, though still sobbing in the real world, catching the attention of her guests, 'was…that was the first time…in ten years…my mother hugged me…out of love…'

That was why. She was so shocked, and yet so moved.

((ten years…?)) Kuronue echoed, shocked.

'I never thought…she'd…actually care…' Mika squeezed her eyes tightly, the last of her tears falling. She wasn't one to keep crying for long. 'When she just…hugged me like that, I never saw it coming. I needed to cry…but not in front of them…not in front of her. I can't let her know how much that…hurt and yet still felt so good.'

#Mika, that's the problem…# Kurama began soothingly. He was really good at calming people down. #You never tell your parents about how you feel. Maybe if you did, they'd be a little nicer.#

'You don't understand my family, Kurama, so back off.' Mika suddenly said coldly, yet again shocking her mind minions.

Kuronue pouted. ((He's only trying to help…))

'I don't want or need help. Leave me alone.' She said with such a poisonous voice, it shut up any comment the others were going to say.

Her room was very quiet for the rest of the afternoon.

&&&out in the living room&&&

Ayumi listened to the two adults talk about what had happened (Ms. Ryoko was courteous enough to leave out the whole demon-possessing and ally fight scene). She didn't want to run after Mika, considering she knew what her friend was upset about. Mrs. Murasaki usually was harsh and strict, but she wasn't totally unloving. This whole scenario proved it.

"…she acted so strange…" Mrs. Murasaki said softly, looking confused. "But at least she's safe."

Wanting to scream at the older woman, Ayumi bit her tongue. How stupid could she be? Didn't she want to go check up on Mika? Ayumi suddenly felt extremely grateful for her mother, no matter if she slept in till the late afternoon or not and didn't do a lot of work.

'Poor Mika…stuck with her parents and psychotic demons…' Ayumi thought sadly, leaning against the wall. 'I really hope Aki butts out of Mika's life for a while…or forever…'

Suddenly, she heard someone moving in the other room. She looked up and saw the two older women chatting still, unaware. Sighing, Ayumi got up and turned into the hallway. If it was Aki, she'd handle it by herself. Mika had enough troubles.

A dim light was coming from the study, a joint room that connected with Mika's parents' room. Ayumi and Mika often stayed there when they watched TV or were on the computer. Ayumi put her hand on the door knob and braced herself for seeing a familiar stalker.

She turned it.

Instead of the creepy Aki, there was the form of Mika's father, surrounded by many piles of books. Some were on the floor, piled high. Mr. Murasaki was hunched over his desk, engrossed in whatever he was reading. He didn't even look up when Ayumi opened the door.

"Oops…" Ayumi whispered, turning around to leave. Good thing she had not burst in with her fists flying…

"Demons…the three worlds…"

Ayumi froze dead in her tracks.

"…the Makai…the Reikai…and the Ningenkai…"

Slowly turning with an almost horrified look, Ayumi looked back at her friend's dad. He was still hunched over, muttering things that he should not have known.

"M-Mr. Murasaki…?" Ayumi began, utterly shocked. Was he possessed or something? "Are you alright?"

He stopped muttering, flinched and turned his head a half inch towards her, not showing his face. "…Mika's home?"

"Y-yeah."

"…with her friends?"

"Um, you mean me and Ryoko-sama, right?"

"No…the demons."

Cue psycho theme. Ayumi stared at him, not sure what to say. What the hell was up with this guy! How did he know so much?

"They're there. Yeah." She crossed her arms, defiantly, though her voice was shaky. "Who are you, now? Aki's second minion?"

"…" He remained silent, turned back to his books and kept reading. Ayumi remained very tense. He could attack her at any moment.

A full ten minutes past. Neither occupants of the room moved a muscle. That is, until Mr. Murasaki got up jerkily, causing Ayumi to jump back with surprise.

He turned and held out a book.

It was an almost exact replica of the demon bible, only a light shade of gray. Ayumi stared at it.

"Please…give this to Mika…" Mr. Murasaki said softly. His face was sunken and haggard. He had been researching for two days? But for what?

Ayumi hesitated, but took the book. "If this is a trick from Aki, let him know there are more people on Mika's side than he'd like to know." Kinda, she told herself mentally. Herself, Ms. Ryoko, Yusuke sorta, and Mika's little mind minions…

Mr. Murasaki sat back down at his chair with a suppressed sigh. "…just help my daughter…please."

Ayumi didn't reply. She moved out of the room, peering at the book's cover. It had strange writing on it, but she was sure one of Mika's 'friends' could decipher it later. She went up to Mika's door, heard nothing and set the book down against the frame. When she was ready, Mika could read it. For now, things had to settle down.

Returning to the living room, Ayumi left the house. They had school tomorrow.

The thought made her shudder with fear and a little amusement. How the hell would Mika survive four extra people to maintain in the middle of school?

Tomorrow would be more interesting indeed…

O.o my God, I have never been more disgusted with anything I have ever written. PLEASE FORGIVE THE LATENESS AND NOW THE HORRIBLE-NESS! Oi! I feel so bad…but I have so much to do lately…I'll try my best to do better in the future…

Important note: for whatever reason, if my account and/or stories are deleted (I always get in trouble for no reason…) please know that I have this story up on another site. Just in case. Got to my profile to find the link. It's at the top. :)

1. Hamasaki Ayumi– a random J-POP singer. What's J-POP? Only the coolest thing. Basically it's Japanese bands/singers.

2. more angsty emotion…gah! I can't help it! Mika is a very dark minded character…in humor and in sadness…

3. yes…Mika is mean to Kurama…wouldn't you just be a little snippy with voices that constantly annoy you?