Hiei walked down the hallway, eyes constantly searching for trouble. He stopped when he saw the five people approaching him. Team Uraotogi, their next opponents in the semi-finals. It just figured that they had them fight twice in a row just to get them worn out. The magenta-eyed, azure-haired leader stepped forward. "I do hope you don't plan on stealing the show tomorrow."

Hiei smirked and decided to take a leaf out of Yusuke's book. "If you want popularity, start a boy band. You already have the look down."

Hiei watched, unimpressed by the demons true form when he snarled at him before walking past him, the rest of his team followed. The old man glanced at him, then followed. Hiei smirked. "Heh, so he riles easily..." He continued walking up towards the hotel, he had heard what that "Kangae" had said about Yusuke being "Yurei'ha" and it did clear up a lot of questions, but... Yusuke killing someone in cold blood for money... It just didn't seem right.

"DAMMIT! Don't DO that!" I shouted at Jin after we landed. He merely grinned.

"C'mon. Ya liked it. Admit it."

"Shut up." I groaned half-heartedly.

He just laughed.

Rolling my eyes, I glanced up at the sky. The sun was just about to set. "I should head back..."

He pouted. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He looked like a child... "Do ya 'ave ta go?" He asked, giving me the puppy-dog eyes.

"I owe my team an explanation. If I don't get to the room by sundown, they will come after me." I smiled slightly at the crest-fallen look on his face. "But if it makes you feel any better..." I paused, then decided there was no reason not to. "If you ever come to the human world, you can stay with me."

His eyes lit up. "I'll 'old ya to tha'."

I smirked. "I'll be countin' on that." I turned and began to walk back to the hotel. After a few steps, I paused and glanced back. Giving him a small wave and a grin, I turned around again and walked the rest of the way back.

When I entered the hotel room, everyone was assembled. As soon as I quietly shut the door, everyone looked straight at me. "Yo." I sat down between Hiei and Kurama. Kangae nodded from his usual spot by the window. "I suppose you want to know what's going on...?" I asked cautiously, unsure of how to proceed.

"Yurei'ha, huh?" Kuwabara glanced at me. "You were the last person I would've thought was an assassin."

I shrugged. "I needed money, they had that. They needed another hitokiri, I was willing to compromise."

Hiei smirked. "That would explain the Inazuma-ha Ito Gijutsu."

I smiled slightly, not much heart in it. "But other than techniques and knowing Kangae and the name Yurei'ha, I do not remember much else, just vague images." I stood and walked over to the open window. My hair, which had gotten loose during my flight with Jin, blew back. "I want to remember, but I know I am not ready. Not quite yet." I glanced at Kangae. "Though I know someone who can help me remember when I am, if they do not resurface before." I glanced at the others, Genkai remained unreadable. Her apprentice being a former assassin was probably a bit of a shock. I sighed.

"Yusuke!" I groaned when I heard Botan's singsong voice through the doors and began to frantically look around for a place to hide, but before I could, she burst into the room, a huge smile on her face. Damn.

"Yusuke! Koenma wishes to see you!" She, before I could protest, grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me from the room. Shit, fuck, and damn.

Following the sugar-high Grim Reaper though the forest, I couldn't help but feel slightly apprehensive. I assumed this was because my Spirit Beast was about to hatch. And if was a devil... That would not be good, to say the least. I wouldn't need to wait for Toguro to kill me.

She led me to a clearing paused, looking around. "Hello, Koenma." I remarked coolly when I heard a slight rustling sound behind me.

"WHA! I ALWAYS surprise you!" Koenma shouted in shock.

I shrugged. "Whatever. What did you want to see me for?"

"This." Koenma pulled out the egg he had given me while I was a ghost.

"Sure has grown." I remarked, it was triple its original size.

"Yes, it has been feeding off of your Spirit Energy for over a few months now, and is ready to hatch."

"So we have no clue of how it will turn out?" I asked, eyeing it.

"None." Botan replied.

I looked at the egg nervously, if it was a devil, I would be a quick snack.

Koenma watched her closely. She knew what would happen, and he fervently hoped it wouldn't, she was more than an employee to him. She was a friend, the only person who had argued with him, showed him disrespect in hundreds of years that wasn't family.

Lighting flashed. Clouds billowed across the sky. The egg shook. Lighting struck, the egg cracked open. I stared at the egg in the seconds as it cracked open and a golden flash rocketed up towards the sky. I looked around wildly after the flash subsided. "Where is it?" Koenma looked around as well, eyes searching.

Suddenly, Botan burst out laughing. Koenma got a questioning look, then he glanced up towards my head, looked stunned for a second, then burst out laughing.

"What?" I asked, getting pissed. Koenma and Botan just continued laughing.

"When I see you, I imagined scales and fangs, but cute and furry is another way to go!" Botan laughed. Thinking it couldn't be as stupid as they thought, I looked up and groaned.

In the hotel an hour later, Shizuru, Kuwabara, Keiko, and Botan burst out laughing. Kurama snickered, and Hiei smirked. I gritted my teeth. This fluffy blue bird thing with was humiliating, considering it was a reflection of her inner soul. "It's so adorable!" Keiko (Kayko) tickled it. I glanced at the elegant phoenix/peacock like thing. Better than some other stuff, but still it was... Disgustingly cute.

"Puu!" It squeaked.

"Aw, it's so cute!" Kuwabara laughed, pinching my cheek. I growled. "The famous assassin Yurei'ha has a inner soul that looks like an adorable plushie!"

Botan quickly stood, for she knew if she wanted to leave in one piece, she'd have to leave now. "Well, look at the time. We should go to bed."

"Yeah, time flies when you're mocking Yusuke mercilessly." Shizuru remarked calmly.

I got an anime vein. As they got to the door, Shizuru, Kuwabara and Keiko burst out laughing.

I lunged, hissing; "I'll show you cute! I'LL SHOW YOU CUTE UNTIL YOUR BLACK AND BLUE ALL OVER!" as I ran after them, fists ready to pound the crap out of Kuwabara.

The next morning, I left early to watch the matches, knowing Kuwabara would take forever. Nice guy, but he needed to get a brain. Not to mention some fighting skills. I watched the old guy, Onji easily defeat the others. He was no old fogey, that was for sure. I looked closer. Yes, it was a mask, a very good one. Who ever he really was, he was good at disguises. My ears pricked up at the sound of "Shishiwakamaru" and Koto talking.

"Do you think there will be any challenge from Team Urameshi?" Koto asked, genuinely curious.

"Heh. No one is a challenge until the finals." He looked straight at me. "No one."

"Pretty arrogant, seeing how you haven't fought me yet..." I whispered, raising an eyebrow. I was going to take him down.

I glanced up as the others came. "The fight's over, Kuwabara."

"What! IT TOOK JUST FIVE MINUTES THAT I USED TO BRUSH MY TEETH!"

"Yes, but I'm sure your minty fresh breath was well worth it." Hiei muttered sarcastically. He then glanced up at me. "And Yusuke, what is that thing on your head?"

"Don't ask." I replied dryly.

He let it drop. Then got tense and a sweat drop when I heard Kuwabara mutter, "Huh, wonder if Yukina's brother is here? She heard he might, but when this is over I'm goin' to help her look for him."

"Excellent idea." Kurama snickered. Then added seriously. "Maybe we all should help her, Hiei?"

Hiei growled, eye twitching. "Huh? What's goin' on? Hey!" Kuwabara glanced back and forth between us, completely and utterly clueless.

"Yeah, we'll help her look." I glanced at Hiei with a look that added "'cause if you don't tell her, I will".

I started shaking when I felt Toguro's eyes on me, seconds before the spectators noticed they were there. I clenched my fists. Energy tore from my body in a tornado of power. My eyes met Toguro; he pointed at me, then at himself, clearly meaning "you and me. A fight to the death." I nodded tersely. He smiled and walked back into the back, disappearing in a cloud of black smoke. I was not even aware of the energy I was creating until I saw it.

"Crap. "I took a deep breath and reabsorbed it.

"You put on a really good show."

"Hey, I take a lot of pride in it." I muttered.

Genkai shrugged. "Follow me." I glanced at the others. "See ya later." So, this was it... I turned and followed my sensei out of the stadium.

Kangae: "Thoughts" or "mind"

Yurei'ha: Ghost Blade

Hitokiri: assassin

Sensei: teacher

Votes:

Hiei: 7

Jin: 4

Kurama: 1

Hiei and Kurama: 8