Hey all. Since my prologue is on the extremely short side, I figured I'd also post the first chapter, though it's also kinda on the short side.

Oh yeah. Telepathy is in bold, just so ya know.

Chapter One

"Shuuichi dear?"

The red-headed teen looked up from the book in which he had buried himself to look at his the woman. "Yes, Mother?"

"Would you be able to come right home after school?"

"I actually have plans until late. What is it that you need me for?"

She turned a deep shade of crimson. "Well, you see, you know that man that I've been seeing?"

He laughed. "You mean that man that you can't stop going on and on and on and on about? I think I know the man you mean."

"Yes, him. Well, I really wanted you to meet him tonight."

The boy blinked. "Is it that serious?"

"Well, I hope so. We've been seeing each other for quite a while now, but I never felt that it was the right time for him to meet you until now."

"What time will he be here?"

"We have to be at the restaurant by six, so I suppose quarter til."

"Well, I suppose I could work it out. I mean, I was only going to help Yusuke and Kuwabara study, since they desperately need it, so I guess we could study at Yusuke's until 5. How's that?"

"Thank you so much, Sweetheart. If you want, why not invite your friends over? I don't know exactly when I'll be home, so it should give you something to do."

"Sure." With that, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and headed out the door.

"The one time I need him to be here, he decides to go to class!"

"Keiko literally dragged him to class by the ear. What's up, Botan?" the tall carrot-top asked.

Hopping on her oar, she said, "I'll tell you after school, I suppose."

"We'll be at Yusuke's since Kurama's helping us with school."

"Lovely. I need to speak with him, as well. I'll see you later, Kuwabara."

After Botan left, Kuwabara left the roof of the school and headed toward his next class, which Yusuke was in as well. When he arrived at the classroom, he saw the raven-haired teenager draped across his desk, fast asleep and lightly snoring. Smirking evilly, the young man crept up to him and leaned close.

"Oh, my God! Who's that guy kissing Keiko?!"

Suddenly awake, Yusuke jumped to his feet. "Where is he?! Who does he think he is?! I'll send him to Hell!" he screamed. Realizing, after a moment, the he'd been duped, he turned toward his friend, seething.

"I always knew that you liked her more than you let on, ya big softie."

"Kuwabara! I was in the middle of the best damn dream of my life, and you wake me up just to annoy me?!"

"Actually, I woke you up to tell you that Botan needs to see you and Kurama so she'll be at your place after school." He smirked. "Bugging you was just an added bonus."

"She'd better not have a case for us, cuz I was planning on loafing around this weekend," he explained, dropping back into his seat.

"If it was a case, wouldn't she want to talk to me and Shorty also?"

"I suppose, but then again, why would she come here all the way from Spirit World to see us?" He paused. "I guess we'll have to wait and see, though I really hate to wait."

Completely out of character, Kurama was laying down on the school roof, his mind much too occupied to focus on his schoolwork or the teachers' lectures.

'Why can't I shake this feeling of anxiety?' he thought.

"Because something doesn't feel right," stated a voice on his right.

Opening an eye, the fox demon looked to see Hiei stretched out next to him, eyes closed.

"You really must have a bad feeling if you didn't pick up on my energy. Plus, you're skipping school."

"So you sensed it as well, Hiei?"

"Watch your back, Fox. I heard that someone tried to steal the Ring of Ajus." He paused before continuing. "They already have the Bracelet and Chain."

Kurama's eyes flew open as he turned toward the fire demon. "What?!"

"The Ring wasn't there, as I'm sure you already know. I mean, you are the one who stole it, right?"

"How do you know all of this?"

"Koenma. He figured that I'd see you before anyone else," Hiei explained.

"My being your only real friend and all, right?"

"Something like that."

"Why not come to Yusuke's with me? I'm helping him and Kuwabara study."

"I'm becoming increasingly bored with insulting Kuwabara's intellect, or rather, his severe lack of it. The fool makes it far to easy."

"Are you sure? I'm feeling a bit underhanded today," Kurama said, knowing full-well what would happen next.

Hiei's eyebrows lifted, along with the corners of his mouth. "What, exactly, do you have in mind?"

Yusuke was beginning to drift off during his last period class when a pair of very familiar energies invaded his senses. Looking out the window, the detective found the owners of the energies sitting in the tree closest to his class' window.

Wadding up a piece of paper, he whipped it at the snoring Kuwabara's head. Jumping awake, he too became aware of the two visitors.

When does your class let out?

An hour. Now why do we need to learn about the past? I mean, it already happened.

"Mr. Urameshi, would you please answer the question I just asked?" the teacher asked, pulling Yusuke from the telepathic communication.

"Uh, sure. It's, um,"

The Battle of Sekigahara.

"Um, the Battle of Sekigahara?"

"Very good. I guess you really were paying attention after all." She returned to her teaching.

Hiei, how the hell did you know that?

I do know how to read, Detective. She had it on the board. She was just testing you.

He looked up front and, sure enough, there was the answer to whatever question she had just asked. Just then, he realized something.

Kurama, your school lets out later than mine, right?

Yes

Then why are you here? Didjya skip?

Yes.

Oh. A moment later, the short answer sunk in and he jumped to his feet. "What?!" he shouted aloud, drawing all attention unto himself.

"Excuse me? Is there a problem?" the teacher questioned.

"Um, what did you, just say? Because, um, I missed what you just said. Yeah, that's it."

"I was just saying that you should gather your things and go to the principal's office."

"Nah. The old man sees enough of me."

"Go."

"Going." He collected his books and bag and walked out of the classroom after saluting the teacher.

Walking past the principal's office, he headed out the main doors and to the tree that the pair currently inhabited.

"Hey Kurama, come here a sec." The fox looked at him oddly as he jumped from the tree, followed by Hiei, and approached his teammate. Yusuke then began slowly walking around and observing the fox closely.

"Um, are you looking for something?"

"Yeah," he replied quietly as he began looking him dead in the eyes.

He blinked once. "And what would that be?"

"Pods."

"Pods?" Hiei asked, confusion apparent on his face.

"An American horror movie called 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'. People are taken and replaced by clones called pods." He then turned back to Yusuke as he felt his friend's hand lift his hair. "Which, by the way, has not happened to me," he stated, batting away Yusuke's hand and fixing his long red hair.

"But you're you."

"Last I checked."

"You don't skip."

"Yeah, well, something is happening."

"What?" Yusuke asked. It then hit him. "Botan!"

"Botan?" the two demons asked.

"She told Kuwabara that she needed to talk to us. She's meeting us at my place."

"First, that homework stuff," the apparition stated, evil smirk well in place. "The fox is bored and wishes to have a little fun with the fool."

"Really."

I hope you like it! Please review me. Thanx!!