Yesh, I know this is a bit late. I... Kind'of forgot about updating. D;
Yush, I admit it. >>;;

Anyway, here it is. Hope you enjoy! It's my longest chapter yet.

I belive... C;

Should've

Hm…?

I slowly pushed myself off the hard ground, wincing slightly as pain shot up from various scratches and bruises across my body.

What… Happened?

I-I'm alive?

W-Wait… Why should I be surprised if I'm alive…?

Baka…

Hm…?

Is it just me… Or am I in a cave?

A cold breeze blew through the large, and empty looking cave. I shivered. W-What? I shouldn't be cold. I'm wearing…

My eyes widened, and a gasp escaped my mouth. What the HELL happened to my clothes? T-They had rips all over them! Not to mention, my blood.

Grr… Whoever did this is going to pay. These clothes cost a lot!

I dragged myself over to the cave wall, 'cause my legs weren't respondin right now. Which sucked ass. Grabbing onto the wall, I pulled myself up, and held my breath. Why, oh why, do my legs HURT so FUCKIN' much?

Taking a deep breath, I proceeded to walk through the cave. I could spot a small orange-ish light, as if it were a fire or something, so I decided, that's the direction where I'm going to.

Iie. Don't…

I rolled my eyes. When did my conscience start talkin' in JAPANESE?

D-Don't go!

I rolled my eyes again. I'm not going anywhere.

When my conscience didn't answer anymore. I kept on going.

Finally, I caught sight of a fire.

Creeping closer, I caught sight of a dude. Lying with his back turned to me.

"H-Hey. Um… Do you know where we are?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.

Another cold breeze hit my exposed skin. I shivered. He still hadn't answered.

"Hey? You alright?" I asked again, bending down besides him, and placing my hand on his shouldar.

He seemed to totter for a moment, before falling on his back.

I screamed.

I mean, I had the right to.

His eyes were wide open, bloodshot, his eyelids ripped away. His mouth was open in a silent scream, but his tounge had been, what seemed like, chewed off. He… He had no nose, it had also been chewed off, as well as his ears as well.

But what scared me was his chest.

It was… Nothing. A couple of ribs were still connected to his backbone, but other than that, there was nothing.

A huge, gaping, red, hole. Skin torn away. No hearts, no veins, no organs, no nothing.

My hand shot up to my mouth, and I gasped for breath. My body wasn't listening to me. It had been frozen in fear.

And the next thing I knew, I had barfed on him… No, in him. In that large hole of a chest.

W-Why did he look so familiar?

"I didn't know you would be so easy to seduce, my dear…"

My eyes widened.

A…A male voice. T-Talking to me…

"You're a real big paycheck for me…"

H-His hands tore open my shirt, and he forced himself upon me.

Everything came back to me. Shai, the birthday party, Hiei, him…

"NO!" I screamed, and ran away from his body.

Only to be stopped, as I bumped into somebody else.

"W-What?"

I looked up, a horrible stench filling my nose.

"Why, you've woken up, haven't you nigen?" The demon grinned, showing bloodstained, fangs.

I took a step back, but another demon picked me up by my waist.

"Urgh. She's vomitted. We'll have to wait a bit before she gets clean and tasty again." The one who had picked me up swore, and spat on the ground.

My breath caught in my throat.

"You think we could have some fun with her before we eat her?" Another demon said.

W-Was it just me, or were there like, ten… DEMONS around me now?

"Hai. There's more than enough to go around…"

N-No…

I didn't want to go through it again.

E-Especially with demons.

A scream rose in my throat, and I thrashed violently, trying to escape the horrible grasp.

"SHAI!" I screamed, "IVY! H-HELP!"

The demons merely laughed, and one of them put a bloodstained hand to my cheek.

"You're in Maikai now, nigen. No one's goin' to help you."

XOXOXO

"You sense somethin' wron' Touya?"

He lifted his head up into the air, frowning at the sudden feeling of disaster.

Icy blue eyes narrowed.

"Hai. Something is definetely wrong, Jin."

XOXOXO

Shai gasped for breath, her pace slowing down considerbly. She had been running for a whole day. Through Maikai.

Not to mention, getting rid of any lower class youkai who stood in her way.

Kurama slowed down as well, and stopped next to Shai. "Tired…?" He asked, but of course, by just glancing at her, he already knew the answer.

"N-No… DUH…" Shai gasped, collapsing onto the floor.

Maybe NOT eating the three days before this was a BAD idea.

Kuwabara and Yusuke had gone off into another part of Maikai. The fairy had disappeared, saying she needed to check where Jo was.

The red head slung Shai's arm over his shouldar, and picked her up, bridal style. "Jo'll be alright, Shai. You know she's too strong to die…" He whispered, walking slowly, since he couldn't exactly run with the extra weight.

Shai sighed, burrying her head into Kurama's chest. "You know you're lying to yourself…" She whimpered, "And me. This is Maikai. Youkai eat nigens out here. And Jo, is most definetely a nigen."

Kurama was silent, but kept walking forward. "But she is strong, no?"

Before Shai could reply, a blinding blue light popped up in front of them.

"J-Jo!" The fairy gasped, fluttering around them, obviously distressed.

Shai jerked up in Kurama's arms, "Where!"

"B-Being chased by youkai. H-Hurry!" The fairy squealed, "T-To the North!"

Kurama gently let Shai down, and before he could say anything, the wolf demon had already begun to run. A small smile slid onto his face. Always so hasty, Shai…

XOXOXO

"STOP FOLLOWING ME!" I screamed, trying to urge myself to run faster.

But I was never the athletic one. I could barely run the mile without stopping ten times, at least.

I don't know how I got away. It had something to do with Hiei, I'm sure. 'Cause I saw him. Before I started to run. A katana in his hands.

But you know, I'm panicking. I could have been hallucenating, for all I know.

A hand grabbed my foot, and I winced in pain, as sharp nails dug into my skin. I squealed, as I fell to the ground. My eyes quickly scanned the ground around me, and I grabbed a sharp stick. "S-STOP IT!" I screamed, and jabbed the stick into the hand.

Dark green blood splashed onto my ankle, and I tried not to look at it much. "Y-YOU BITCH!" The demon yelled, letting go of me.

I took this as a chance to start running again. Sharp stabs of pain were coming from my side, and I could hear my heart, just beating in my ears. Loudly.

The next thing I knew, I was in a forest. Plants were snapping at my feet, and shrieks of demons or something were echoing around. Heavy footsteps were behind me.

My eyes darted around, wildly. I couldn't keep going. I know I couldn't. My heart beat louder in my ears, until that was all I could hear.

Thump.

I'm going to die.

Thump.

I-I don't want to die though…

Thump.

How's Daddy goin' to take it?

Thump.

Oh my god. I'm pinned to a tree by that demon I stabbed earlier.

Thump.

H-He's telling me he's going to kill me. Right here, right now.

Thump.

A sharp stick swings from his fists. The same stick I used to stab him with.

Thump.

He's slowly bringing it up to my stomach.

Thump.

P-Please… No…

Thump.

XOXOXO

Hiei swore, crimson eyes widened in anger, or what was it…?

That baka onna had gotten herself stabbed. And by the looks of it, she wasn't going to survive.

The stick that she had been stabbed with, entered her body through her stomach. The youkai had thrust it in a diagonal direction, and it had exited around her mid-back. Her body was pinned to a tree, blood slowly leaking down its bark.

He swore. He couldn't do anything, if that baka onna wasn't touching the demon! But no, she was struggling, feebly trying to pull the stick out.

Blue eyes were rapidly glazing over with pain, and the sign of death. Her breath was coming out in short, rapid gasps.

She blinked, once, twice. And looked up, tears rising in her eyes.

But even near death, she would not let those tears fall.

"H-Hiei…" She gasped, blood leaking out of her mouth, as she talked.

She could see him.

"The Forbiddon Child? Here? HA! You are a clever nigen, aren't you?" The youkai hissed, bringing his disgusting face closer to hers.

"S-Sorry…" She said again, more blood dribbling over her chin.

Slowly, she forced her hands up, and grabbed the youkai's wrist weakly. The youkai laughed. "Begging now? It is too late for that nigen."

Hiei knew this was his chance. Bringing out his katana, he brought it down upon the youkai's head. He kept going, until the youkai was completely split in half.

Breathing heavily, he collapsed onto one knee. Pft. In his ghost form, it took a lot out of him just to kill a E class youkai? Pathetic…

Looking up, he frowned Green-ish blood had splattered over Jo. But what bothered him was her soul was not yet coming out of her body. Of course, he was slightly glad, he would never admit it though, that she hadn't died yet. But still, with that kind of wound, on a nigen no less, her soul should've been at least half way out.

And yet, it was not.

"Is it just me, Touya, or did that loo' like Hiei's handwor'?"

Hiei looked back, surprised to see the wind master, along with Touya, the ice master behind him. It was obvious Jin had been about to attack, for the wind was just slowing down behind him.

"Don't be a baka." Touya snorted, "He's dead."

"You neve' k'ow, Touya!"

XOXOXO

Green eyes filled up with tears. Shaky hands, pale from the lack of food and rest, palced themselves upon the other girl's hands.

"Jo… Y-You…" Shai's voice faltered, and she buried her face into her hands, "H-How could you be so STUPID!"

Her last living best friend. This close to death.

She had always know nigens would die before she died. But not this soon.

"Come on, Jo…" Shai begged, tears spilling out of those green eyes of hers, "D-Don't leave, neh? I-Ivy and your bro will understand if you don't go to them yet…"

Of course, Shai knew her best friend wouldn't answer her, but she just kept talking randomly, as if nothing was wrong. And all Jo was doing, was going on a little trip.

"C-Come on, Jo! D-Don't be m-mean!" Shai laughed, tears rolling down her cheeks, "Y-You know you hate to see me cry!"

A hand was placed on the wolf demon's shouldar, but she did nothing. She already knew who it was. And frankly, right now, she wanted to be alone.

"Shai…" His gentle voice whispered to her, but the wolf demon merely shrugged his hand off.

"Leave me be, Kurama. I don't need no pity right now." She said, her voice ice cold. All traces of crying had left her voice, although salty liquid still ran down her face.

Kurama placed his hand back on her shouldar, and spoke up again. "Shai… I know you're upset, but-"

"BUT WHAT? YOU NEVER IN YOUR DAMN LIFE, LOST A BEST FRIEND! NEVER THE LESS, TWO!" Shai screamed, jumping up to her feet, and slapping away his hand. Green eyes blazed with fury, as she stepped in front of her dying friend's body, as if portecting it from something.

Crimson eyes frowned with displeasure. That wolf girl… Yelling at the kitsune like that. She never really did have that right, but of course, that wolf girl was insane as she was.

Hiei let out a sigh, and his eyes wandered to Jo. Well, he had nothing to lose, and this would be a good chance to try out what he had been working on, before he died of course.

Walking over to her pale, limp body, he took a deep breath, crimson eyes narrowing. He had never really taken over anybody's body before, so, this was a first time for that as well.

Kurama looked as if he had been severely hurt. He had lost a best friend before. And Shai knew about it. She had no right. Saying those words.

"KURAMA!"

Red locks turned in the wind, as he turned his head to see what Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Jin were screaming about. Three pairs of fingers were pointing at where Jo's body lay. Even Touya looked remotly surprised.

A small gasp from Shai, 'caused him to turn around once more.

Jo had sat up, her face showing no pain, though her body trembled from exhaustion. Placing her hands over her wound, she bent her head down, as if everything was normal. A familiar ki rose from her finger tips.

This time, a gasp came from Kurama. "H-Hiei?" The kitsune gasped, taking a shaky step forward.

The wound slowly closed up. From both sides.

Jo, no, Hiei, lifted her head, a smirk playing on his face. "You three have really let yourselves go." He sneered, scorn in his voice.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY SHRIMP!" Kuwabara yelled, jumping up to his feet.

Rolling 'his' eyes, the smirk never left his face. "You have no chance beating me, even in this body."

That cocky grin of Yusuke's was on his face. They all had missed Hiei oh so much, although none of them really admited it.

"I tol' you Touya!" Jin cried, poking his partner and best friend in the shouldar, "I told you Hiei was ther'!"

Touya glared daggers at Jin, and slapped his finger away.

Shai's eyes were wide open, as if not believing anything she saw. Rubbing them, she slowly sat up. "D-Does this mean… J-Jo's alright?" She said slowly, tears rising in her eyes once more.

Hiei turned to Shai, and nodded. "She'll be fine. Weak yes, but fine."

"YOU KNOW JO!" Yusuke yelled, jumping up to his feet.

The fire koormine winced, and gasped for breath. "Hn. T-The onna will explain it to you. I can't control her body any longer."

XOXOXO

Hands cluthced my stomach.

An ugly leering face.

The stink of blood on his breath.

The hands clutched deeper into my stomach, until as I looked down, nothing was there.

Just a giant, empty hole.

XOXOXO

I woke up sweating.

Closing my eyes, I tried to remember where I was, and how I got here.

Urgh.

I remember now.

Stupid, stupid conscience.

Never there when I need its advice.

Only there when I don't need its advice, and it becomes increasingly annnoying.

Standing up, a sharp pain from my stomach and mid back made me sit back down.

Oh yeah… I was stabbed.

Sticking out my tounge in disgust, I lifted up my shirt.

Oh wow. No visible wound, apparently.

Putting it back down, I stuck my tounge out once more.

I was so very, confused.

Sliding open the door to the room, I timidly stuck my head out into the hallway.

Great.

No one around.

I had the faint memory of yelling at them, and then splashing boiling hot tea over Yukina. I winced at the thought. I had to apologize to her later.

Although, I was still pretty freaked about them being demons. I mean, demons ate people. What if this was all a trick, and Shai had just been pretending to be my friend, and then was going to eat me soon!

Are you stupid? If Shai wanted to eat you, she could've and would've done it long before.

Oh yeah… Good point. At last, one point scored for my conscience.

"J-Jo-chan?"

I spun around, and nervously smiled at the small sea green haired girl.

"H-Hey Yukina…" I said, still pretty nervous.

Walking over to me, she placed a hand over a bandaged place on my arm, which I hadn't noticed before.

"My nii-san saved your life you know." She said, smiling at me.

H-Huh?

Hiei?

Really?

I had the sudden feeling of joy, 'cause I just found out, Hiei didn't hate me!

Yay!

"Y-You mind telling me… Everything?" I stammered, wanting to know.

Yukina smiled, and I had another sudden feeling, that Yukina wasn't all what she seemed. As in, although she looked innocent, she sure wasn't. In a good way.

"H-Hai. If you tell me everything you know about my nii-san." She replied, her eyes lighting up with hope.

"How could I resist a face like that!" I said, and stuck my tounge out jokingly, "You've got yourself a deal."

XOXOXO

Hei Huo