Yay! I got reviews. I'm happy. I give thanks to the following ppl who reviewed: animelover217-69, Sonya-White-Angel, Thorn Willowfly, and miniri02. And for animelover and Sonya, I will try to make the chpts longer. Ok, one last thing and then I'll let you read. The song in this chpt is actually part of a poem I wrote and it really sucks so...forgive me. Thanks and enjoy.

Chapter 3: The Black Hearts

"Kurenai Nokimura," Koenma took a moment to think. "I don't recall that name. George!" The startled blue ogre rushed into the room, out of breath. "Yes, Lord Koenma?" "Look up Nokimura in our data files. If anything comes up, bring it to me." George nodded and ran back out the door. Kurama leaned against the wall. "But, Koenma, what if she doesn't turn up in your records. She could be human." "Hm, good point. Botan," The grim reaper faced her employer. "Yes, sir?" "Sneak into the school and bring back the girl's record. There is bound to be something useful in there."

Without another word, Botan disappeared. Koenma turned his attention back to the four in front of him. "You should go back. I will send Botan if anything comes up." The others agreed and headed for the exit. "Oh, and Yusuke," The boy looked back. "Keep an eye on her." Yusuke frowned. "Whatever, shorty." He left the office before Koenma could yell at him.


The team returned to earth. Hiei decided to stay and the four walked down the sidewalk. "I think we should check around my neighborhood since that's where the energy is popping up." Kurama suggested. "Sounds good." "Hn." and "I have nothing else to do." were the replies he recieved.

They were only a few blocks away from Kurama's house when Hiei stopped. "What's wrong, shrimp?" Kuwabara got a death glare thrown his way. "Quiet." Kuwabara was getting angry. "Don't tell me to be quiet! I am..." "Kuwabara," Kurama stopped him. Once he stopped talking, some sounds could be heard. "What the hell is that?" Yusuke strained to hear it. "This way." The kitsune and apparition ran around the curb. The human boys bolted after them to catch up.

The noise only got louder as they ran. Finally, an old abandoned warehouse came into view.
It was one street over from Kurama's house. Yusuke started to bob his head to the beat. "That sounds like music. Rock music." They found a window and peered into it. There was a set of drums with someone beating on them, a person at the keyboard, two guitarists, and someone at the front microphone.

A small creeking sound was made as the window opened. One by one, they quietly climbed in. They stood inside, hiding the best they could. Yusuke obviously liked what he heard because he kept moving his head. But Hiei also seemed to enjoy the music. He watched the band closely. The lead singer was a girl with a beautiful voice.

"You want me to be like you

You want me to desert my ways

You want me to give up my personality

But that isn't going to happen.

No one is going to tell me what to do

No one is going to run my life

No one is going to own me, or control me,

Or keep me away form my destiny."

"Wicked! That one was perfect!" exclaimed one of the guitarists. The girl faced the guys with the instruments. "Nice job on the guitar solos, guys." she said. The drummer walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you did an excellent run, Rei." They started messing with the speakers and amplifier. The four upstairs watched their expressions. "Who are they?" Yusuke wondered aloud. "No clue, but they're good." Kuwabara tried to shift his weight, but couldn't see what he was doing. That was his downfall, literally.

His foot slipped on a metal sheet and fell from the ledge he had been on. CRASH! Everyone in the warehouse quickly looked at the pile of empty boxes where the noise came from. "Baka," Hiei muttered. "Who's there!" one of the boys called out. Kuwabara tried his best to get up out of the boxes. He stood up only to trip again. "Show yourself!" The girl called Rei yelled. The baka finally got up and faced the strangers.

An embarrased look crossed his features. "Uh, hello?" A tall man around the age of twenty stepped in front of the girl protectively. He had messy brown hair and was wearing baggy, blue jeans with a black T-shirt. "Who are you?" "Kuwabara. His name is Kuwabara." Three other teens jumped down from the ledge. "And he's an idiot for falling." Yusuke concluded.

Rei stepped around her protector. "Yusuke? Kuwabara? What are you two doing here?" It was then that the said ones realized who the girl was. "You!" Kuwabara startled everyone. The man in front turned to the one next to him. "Rei, do you know them?" She nodded. "Kurenai is the new girl at our school." Yusuke said.

"Excuse us." Kurama said. "Oh," Yusuke side-stepped to reveal them. "This is Kurama and Hiei." Kurenai did the same and then introduced her group. "This would be Ryo on drums, Togusa on keyboard, Iwasaki on the electric guitar, and," She punched the man next to her. "Sanzo." Sanzo pulled her into a playful choke. Kurama stole a glance at Kurenai before speaking. "Your band sounded really good. Do you have a name?"

Sanzo let go of Kurenai so she could talk. "The Black Hearts." Hiei looked up at the name. 'Interesting.' he thought. 'She doesn't look or act like an insignificant human. And her spirit energy is abnormal for that of a ningen.' "Why don't you guys go on back? I'll catch up later." The band members agreed and packed up their things. Sanzo was the only skeptical one. Kurenai reassured him, then he left with the others.