Author's Note: Hi everybody! I am so sorry it has taken me this long to update. I got the flu and my homework piled up in unbelievable amounts because of it. I'm very happy to be back, though. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Little personal thing- Julz, I got the notebook today. That was so awesome! Thanx for taking the time to mail it!
Ok, on with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho.
The clearing that Kurama had been ambushed in was a sorry mess. Every trace of ki, ally and enemy, was faded and blended until not even a master could have picked up a trail. Hiei snorted in frustration, thrusting his katana into the ground.
"This is hopeless," he snarled. "You waited too long to come find me. Hn, I knew you would mess this up."
"Shut up, ok?" K'Ray snapped back. She walked around the battlefield, occasionally poking one of the demon corpses with her boot. "I'm tired of your trash."
"My trash?" Hiei knew that he was purposely starting an argument, but he honestly didn't care. He was tired, frustrated, and his best friend was missing. He was going to vent on someone. "You're the one that has condemned Kurama to death, just because you weren't smart enough to mark out his trail."
"You know what?" K'Ray whirled around to face the fire demon, violet eyes blazing. "You have no right to say a thing! Because of you and your stupid pride, Kurama ran in the first place!"
"What?"
"Oh, come on! Don't you see? He was nearly suicidal after you said you didn't care. You were his best friend, and he questioned whether or not you would be better off without him. He trusted you and could only pray you trusted him back. Idiot, this is your fault."
Hiei was stunned. He stared, wide-eyed, as K'Ray stormed out of the clearing. The Ryokun didn't look back as she disappeared between the trees.
Kurama woke up slowly, not wanting to leave the comfort of his bed. With a sigh he sat up, stretching his sore muscles. Warm morning light filtered through the curtains to bathe the room in peace. The fox stood up, drowsily shaking his head.
On the table by the door were some new clothes for him. The pants were very similar to the ones he usually wore, except these were black. The tope was Chinese looking, with a high collar and frog closures. It was deep green and had the kanji for trust embroidered across the left shoulder. They were extremely comfortable.
After washing his hands and face, Kurama slipped outside of his room. Softly he padded down the hall, meaning to go outside for a breath of fresh air.
"Kurama-kun! Wait for me!"
Kurama flinched when he heard Ren's sing-song voice. "Of course," he replied, a fake smile plastered on his face. He did not care if Ren said they had been friends for years; she was really starting to get on his nerves.
The girl came running up, instantly attaching herself to the redhead's arm. "Let's see the town, shall we?"
Kurama sighed but followed the girl out of the hotel. She led him down the street, looking around. As they walked, Kurama studied his surroundings intently, hoping to recover some shred of memory. His eyes fell on a small, round mirror that was displayed in a shop's dirty window.
"All this time we thought you were a brilliant strategist, when really you were just a lucky fool!"
"Watch it fox-boy! What does that word mean, anyway?"
"A strategist is someone who uses his brain."
"What!"
"Now now, boys…"
Kurama blinked in surprise. He vaguely remembered a boy with slicked back black hair in a green uniform. He had used a mirror to rebound something, hadn't he? The mirror had been important too, but what…?
"Kurama-kun, look!" Ren pointed out a small restaurant down the street. "Let's have breakfast, ok?"
Kurama, once again, let himself be pulled along by the girl. This was becoming very tiring.
Hiei caught up with K'Ray the next morning. She was sitting by a creek, her knees tucked under her chin. She didn't respond when the fire demon sat next to her.
"Are you going to say something?" Hiei snapped. No, he berated himself. Don't get angry! We need to make peace so that we can find Kurama.
"What do you want?" K'Ray sighed. She continued to stare at the sparkling water before her.
"Hn. Fine." Hiei made to stand up, but froze when K'Ray caught his wrist.
"Don't. I'm sorry, really I am. I'm just so worried. He could be hurt or dying, and I can't do anything!"
A single tear rolled down the girl's cheek. She jerked in surprise when she felt a callused hand wipe it away.
"Now, do not cry," Hiei said, quickly covering up his kind action. "The last thing I want is a friend who cries."
K'Ray nodded, hiding her smile. So, the rock hard fire demon had some compassion after all.
"Do you think we'll ever find him?" she asked softly.
"We'd better," Hiei replied. "That baka fox has caused me enough trouble already."
Despite herself, K'Ray laughed. "Only you, Hiei," she said.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Standing up, K'Ray brushed herself off before turning to survey the land around her. The clearing was about five miles behind them, Hiroku Mountain an imposing force to their left. Matsuji, she thought, where are you hiding?
Suddenly, she had it. With an excited yelp, the girl dragged Hiei up onto his feet. "I know where they are! I know where they are!" she exclaimed.
Hiei looked at her incredulously. "What are you babbling?" he asked. K'Ray ignored him, pointing at the mountain.
"Think. Matsuji wants us to find him, but he wouldn't be so stupid as to hide somewhere as obvious as on Hiroku Mountain. But he knows we'd know that, and he wants us to know that he knows we know, so he'd hide where we'd know to find him. Get it?"
"What!"
"Look!" K'Ray pointed at the base of the mountain. "He would have figured out that we'd team up to find him, so he'll use my knowledge of his habits to lead us to his new hiding point. And he'd also use your knowledge of Kurama. Now, if you were Kurama, where would you be?"
"I'd be in a crowded town stealing every little thing that was of value," Hiei answered automatically. K'Ray grinned.
"Exactly. And if I was Matsuji, I'd be in an out-of-the-way place where I could monitor every movement my agents make."
"That still doesn't explain where they are."
"But it does!" K'Ray looked as if she was about to burst. "Next to Hiroku Mountain, by its base really, is a shabby city absolutely thick with thieves. About two miles above it, on the mountain's side, is a waterfall. Do you remember its name?"
Suddenly, Hiei grinned, too. "Trickster's Cavern."
"Yes! So Matsuji and Kurama are somewhere near Trickster's Cavern. I'm guessing we'll find them in that town."
"You're a genius," Hiei said, in awe. K'Ray blushed.
"Nah, I just know my geography."
Both grinned before setting off full-tilt for Hiroku Mountain.
Matsuji smiled as he watched Hiei and K'Ray in his scrying mirror. "So, the little detectives have figured it out. How positively cute."
He flicked a gloved hand, causing the image in the mirror to shift to Kurama and Ren. The two were eating at the restaurant, Ren being her usual simpering self while Kurama just stared at his food.
"I think it's time I stirred the pot a bit," Matsuji contemplated. He opened a telepathic link between himself and Ren.
"Do it," he commanded.
Kurama sighed heavily as he listened to Ren chatter on and on. He played with his chopsticks, not really listening.
Suddenly, Ren stopped talking. Kurama looked at her curiously to see her studying him intently.
"Ren, what-"
He was abruptly cut off as the girl leaned across the table, locking Kurama in a heated kiss.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: Hehehehe, I am positively evil! Isn't Matsuji the type of guy you love to hate? And don't you just want to slap Ren? I do. And what's this? Hiei shows his soft side? Ooh, the plot thickens! I hope you all enjoyed it. Please, please, please review! It would mean the world! Thanks everyone! Until next time!