I kept my promise! Yay! Sry for the long update. This is ur thanksgiving gift, so enjoy. R&R!Happy Thanksgiving!

Chapter 16: No Longer Lost

"How's it going?" the spirit detective asked anxiously. Him, Kuwabara, and Botan were huddled outside in the schoolyard. Botan shook her head. "Not so good I'm afraid. I'm hoping that with Kuronue's help they will find her soon." she told them. Kuwabara cocked an eyebrow. "Kuronue? I thought he was dead. Kurama told us he was killed in Makai." "He did. Koenma was able to bring him back for a short period of time to aid in the search for Kurenai. Kuronue is the one who killed Rumaru's son, not to mention Kurenai's his daughter." the woman replied.

It was then that Keiko walked over to the group of three. Yusuke had explained to her what had happened. At first she couldn't believe it. She had thought that demons, with the exception of Hiei and Kurama, were evil. It took her a while to believe that Kurenai was a demon, but she did in time. "Hello, Botan." she chirped when she stood next to the grim reaper.

"Oh, hello, Keiko." Yusuke immediately closed his mouth. Although Keiko knew about the Spirit World and everything, he still didn't want to get her involved. "Yusuke," The boy looked up at his name. Keiko glared at him. "Why weren't you in first period?" "Overslept." he said bluntly. The girl sighed, fed up with Yusuke's stupid excuses. "Whatever. If you want to ruin your life, Yusuke, go ahead. See if I care." With that, she walked off.

The stunned spirit detective stared after the retreating girl. He couldn't believe what Keiko just said. Normally she would have scolded him to no end, but she walked away. "Was I the only one who heard that?" he asked no one in particular. Kuwabara glared at Yusuke. This time he'd gone too far. Keiko wasn't going to put up with him any longer. Yusuke knew it, too. He jumped to his feet and ran after her.


"Slow down! If I didn't know any better I'd say you were trying to get rid of me." Shinya's voice was dripping with sarcasm. Kurenai rolled her eyes and increased her speed. After the last incident, Rumaru didn't trust her to do the job right the second time around. The arrogant demon sent Shinya along to make sure she completed her theft correctly.

The komori went on, jumping from tree to tree with ease, a feat she knew Shinya had trouble with. She smirked as she saw her escort catch himself on a branch. The cloth ripped when he tugged on it. "Shit! I liked this shirt, too." Kurenai took the opportunity to get ahead and out of sight. It worked. She could hear Shinya's yell of frustration when he realized she was gone. Deciding it was better to retrieve the other ring than have another scene like the previous night, Kurenai rushed towards the castle.


Hiei stopped in his tracks. He had sensed a familiar presence that was not that of Yoko or Kuronue. It was her! "Kurenai!" The apparition bolted in the direction the komori was in. Half a mile away, Yoko's ears perked up at Hiei's call. He looked to Kuronue who was behind him. "I heard him." the bat demon said. They, too, took off after the fire demon.

Kuronue took flight and saw the castle-like building in the distance. He looked down to see his good friend running through the forest below. It didn't take long for them to come upon the place. Hiei was already there when the fox and bat arrived. "Where is she?" demanded Kuronue. "Somewhere in there." Hiei said staring at the castle before them. "Hiei," The apparition turned his attention to Yoko. "Can you connect with her?" He didn't answer, but opened his mind to search for her. Kurenai's mind was then invaded by someone she thought she would never see again.


The komori was almost out of the palace, ring in her pocket. "Their security really sucks."
she said with a smile. As much as she hated working for Rumaru, Kurenai loved going on these theft jobs. They got her away from the lightening demon and Shinya. But it was also fun. The thrill and excitement just overwhelmed her. "So this is why Father was a thief." She admired Kuronue very much. He was an excellent thief, a wonderful mate to Murasaki, and the best father Kurenai could've ever wished for. 'I wish I could see him again.' Putting the thought of Kuronue out of her mind, the komori strived forward.

Almost to the exit, a voice sounded in the girl's ears. "Kurenai!" Shocked, Kurenai barely dodged the metal spike that flew out of the wall at her. She tripped and wasn't able to regain her balance before the window was upon her. "Damn it." She couldn't turn around the corner and crashed through the window. Her wings folded around her body as she started to fall from the one hundred foot high floor.

The three men standing outside saw the black bundle falling out of the destroyed window.
They knew immediately what it was when it unrolled and two wings expanded. Unfortunetly, something was wrong. While trying to catch herself in the air, Kurenai's right wing gave way. Unable to support her weight with an injured wing, Kurenai prepared for the impactwith the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut, but she never made contact.

Instead of the hard ground, the komori realized she was being held by something soft. She opened her dark eyes only to meet red ones. "Hiei," she whispered. Hiei smiled at her. He put her down so she could stand. "Are you all right?" She nodded, still stunned that he was here. Her hand gently touched his cheek to make sure he was real. Hiei didn't pull away, leaning into her touch instead. "You're really here!" Kurenai exclaimed. The apparition nodded slightly. Unable to restrain herself, Kurenai wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.