Sorry everyone for not updating in the past month. I've been buried under school work and recently someone close to me had died and I was very heartbroken over it. But now I'm back on track and if everything works out I should have a new update every weekend.

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own Yu Yu Hakusho…

It had been anything but a quiet evening at the Kuwabara household. Given the presence of their new guest, both Shiziru and Kuwabara had been talkative that night, even though Ericka could only understand a handful of what they were saying. After being told about the various places of the house and the standard Japanese household etiquette, shoes stay in the entrance, washing yourself before you get the bath water etc, Ericka had been given some tea and then sent off to bed by Shiziru.

As the young woman laid on her futon, staring up at the ceiling, she heard the murmurings of the Kuwabara siblings. She recognized the wild cry of Kuwabara followed by what she though was a fist connecting to skin and a loud thump. She turned on her side as she held in a laugh. Soon the noise stopped and she guessed the two went off to bed. For sometime, Ericka stayed in that position, on her side, staring at the wall in front of her. Her glasses were off but she didn't need to see, since the lights were off and there was nothing to look at in the room.

Thoughts of her mother rang through her mind. Was her mother worried about her? How long had it been since she arrived here? Was it the same time back in America or the real world? She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes as she felt the pricklingof tears began to start at the corner of her eyes. She curled up on her futon mattress and pulled the comforter over her head. The thought of her mother worried about her, stressed out over her disappearance, rang through her mind again and again. She bit her bottom lip as she felt a small sob trying to escape. She couldn't hold her tears in any longer as she let them fall and sobbed quietly into her pillow.

That was how Ericka fell asleep, sobbing, with no one to hear or see her cries, except a pair of glowing eyes.

Shiziru woke up at her normal time in the morning and headed into the kitchen to start breakfast. She wouldn't normally do this or at least notthis early, not since her brother entered Jr. High. She would leave it up to her younger brother to find or make his own breakfast and in doing that she would get another two hours of sleep before she had to drag herself out to work. But with the appearance of a guest, even if it was unexpected, she could get up and cook.

She looked out the kitchen and at the door of the room that Ericka was sleeping in,seeing that it was open part way. She didn't remember the foreign girl leaving it open, and went over to investigate. She knocked on the door and called her name before coming in the room. The scene unfolded to her almost made her break down and go"Aww."

It seems that Echichi found its way into Ericka's room and made herself comfortable near Ericka. The tabby cat was curled beside Ericka, its head resting next to hers, so close that the cat's whiskers were almost touching the side of Ericka's face. Shiziru went over to get the sleeping cat, not knowing if Ericka would appreciate walking up to the face of a kitty. As Shiziru bent down and picked up Echichi she noticed the faint trails of tears on the girl's face. She stared at her for a moment before getting up and carrying the cat outside the room.

She closed the door quietly and dropped the cat from her hands. The cat twisted and landed on its feet giving Shiziru a hateful look before scurrying off. The cat passed by the feet of it's owner, Kuwabara as the orange haired young man yawned and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Before Kuwabara could even say anything Shiziru walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't mention anything to Ericka about her appearance today. Don't ask, don't question, just pretend nothing is out of the ordinary. I'm saving you from looking like an idiot, something I probably should have done sometime ago."

And that was all she said as she made her way back to the kitchen. She left Kuwabara in the living room, dazed and confused. The young man blinked a few times before looking over his shoulder at his sister as she started to make something for breakfast.

"Okay then…I don't know what you're talking about but whatever."

Kuwabara could have sworn that Ericka's mouth stayed open ever since they left the house. He wondered in the back of his mind how many bugs the younger girl had swallowed by accident. He didn't see why she was excited. They just took a train to Shibuya and were now walking around in the crowds looking for a clothes store. Kuwabara sighed and looked at the ground. Why was he here? It was Shiziru's idea to take Ericka shopping in the first so why couldn't she take her?

"I have to work, and if it hasn't gotten through to your brain yet, that's the only way I make money. So if you like the food we eat and the roof we keep over our heads you'll let me go to work and you'll take the foreign girl shopping for some proper clothes.'

Along with that little talk she had hit him on the head a few times and told him not to take her Tokyu(1).

"Tokyu usually has the best prices for clothing but I think Ericka should have the chance to get the taste of the latest Tokyo fashions during her stay here. I'm giving you enough for train fare there and back and enough to where she can buy two outfits. Watch her with the money and make sure no one rips her off alright?"

So seeing that his sister was being uncommonly generous with money, he was taking Ericka to the trend setting fashion complex of Tokyo, Shibuya109 (2). He was dreading the prospect of standing outside the dressing room having to hold the outfits Ericka wanted as she tried on other outfits in the dressing room. Wasn't that every man's fear?

He stopped and grabbed Ericka's sleeve, stopping the girl as well. He pointed up to the clothing complex. He watched as Ericka's eyes got even wider and a bright smile light up her face. He had to smile slightly. She had the expression of a little kid who had been promised an ice cream cone. He tugged on her shirt and walked towards the entrance of the building. He hoped he was prepared for this…

Kuwabara sat on a bench, his head in his left hand as his left elbow was balanced on his knee. He sighed as she watched Ericka look from one outfit to the next.

"It could be worse." he mumbled.

"She could be choosing from a million different outfits instead of two…"

They had gotten into the store and Kuwabara had prepared himself to be bombarded with a pile of clothes. But he took one look at Ericka and was surprised. There wasn't as much excitement as she held before outside. There seemed to be…disappointment? Kuwabara raised a brow. Thoughts of confusion left his mind as he felt Ericka tug on his arm and lead him in one direction.

That was about twenty minutes ago. After looking through the racks of clothes, at a pace Kuwabara thought no woman could do, Ericka found two outfits she seemed pleased with. She had gone into the dressing room and tried them on, coming out with both of them. He guessed that meant it was for him to decide what outfit she should choose and he just gave her a blank look. He wasn't a fashion expect and he learned long ago that his idea of fashion for a girl wasn't the best. Just remembering the incident left a chill down his spine as he remembered what Shiziru did to him…

And here they were now, Ericka still trying to figure out what she wanted. As Kuwabara watched her he thought that they two of them seemed like a couple. He had seen a few men around here, each with the look of despair or boredom on their face as they watched their girl's try on clothes. He had to chuckle. It felt kind of nice doing something that was considered "normal". Don't get him wrong, he did enjoy the adventure of being a Spirit Detective and he wasn't saying he was enjoying his time out becausehe was withEricka. He could imagine another person he rather be with than the foreign girl, a certain blue haired snow princess, but it was still nice.

"Okay!"

At that he lifted his head as she saw Ericka smiling at him with a look of triumph on her face. She held out one outfit to him as if asking for his opinion. He nodded and said something he thought was an agreement. She seemed to take it well so she went up to the cashier to give back the other outfit and to get the one she wanted.

"At least the shopping escapade is over for now."

Ericka looked around the homely looking bar as her and Kuwabara walked in. They were greeted warmly and Ericka smiled. They had money left over from the shopping that she did and since she felt bad for Kuwabara having to take her she offered to use the rest of the money to get something to eat. It taken her a minute to get Kuwabara to understand her but when he relized that food was involved her got it quick and dragged her out of their and near the train station.

She guessed Kuwabara had been here before seeing as how he seemed really familiar around here. They were seated at a good sized table, one a bit too big for just the two of them. They were handed menus and Ericka looked through the menu as Kuwabara looked through his. She sighed.

'What, did I forget I can't read Japanese or something? It seems like he forgot, that or he doesn't care…' she thought as she looked at Kuwabara over her menu.

Luckily the menu had pictures to go with the food so she just choose whatever she thought she could stomach and waited for Kuwabara to finish. She played with the straps of the bag that held her new outfit. She hadn't liked the choices in the store Tokyu. It may have been a trend setting store to the woman here, but Ericka wasn't one for trends. Especially the trends of the early 90's. She figured her mom wore something similar to most of the stuff that was in the store and no matter how cool your mom is it is never okay to dress like your mom…

But she picked out something that matched well and that wasn't to out of her normal fashion style so she was happy. She would have to repay the Kuwabara family back somehow…

She looked up as she heard Kuwabara yell and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened slightly and she felt her heart race. A vision of loveliness entered her sights. Long flowing red hair and the greenest eyes she ever saw was walking straight towards her.

'It's Kurama!'

The Spirit fox in human guise walked up calmly towards the two. A pleasant look on his face, but his eyes void of all emotions. His eyes swept to Ericka for a split second, as he felt that strange energy which had Yusuke on edge.

'So this is the girl he was telling me about. He was right, she does seem nice but the aura that's radiating off her puts me on edge. I feel nervous and uneasy. I believe him when he said he acted uncommonly rude to her.'

Kurama smiled and waved to Kuwabara.

"Hello, Kuwabara. It's been awhile since I had last seen you in person. May I ask who this young woman is?"

Kuwabara looked at Ericka, remembering that she was there and went to introducing, or at least trying to introduce the two. Kuwabara was giving Kurama a look as if he had something else to tell him.

'Probably about the strange energy she has. Not that I don't know but I'll play along.'

Kurama looked Ericka again and at her polite but confused expression.

'That's right; Yusuke said she didn't know the language.'

Kurama smiled at her and bowed slightly to her.

"Please forgive me if my English seems a bit…broken. It's been awhile since I last had to speak it…"

"Oh! It's not broken at all! You speak better than most natural born English speakers I know!"

He chuckled politely as Kuwabara looked between the two in confusion. Kurama sighed slightly as he relized he would have to use the two languages if he wanted to have one conversation.

"Was bringing her to Ganko-Jiji (3) the best place for a first date? Though putting that aside I'm surprised you've gotten over Yukina so very quickly…"

"Idiot! Yukina is the only woman for me! I took her here because she was hungry after we had been shopping most of the most and Ganko-Jiji is the closest, cheapest place around."

"I never knew you were one to go shopping Kuwabara, nor did I figure you to be cheap. I wonder how Yukina would find that."Kurama continued with his teasing.

Kuwabara got flustered and began yelling out a few things which would have made a normal person flush. However, Kurama wasn't normal so instead of flushing her merely chuckled and patted Kuwabara's shoulder.

"Forgive me. I was merely joking. I know your infatuation for Yukina is still strong and I find that this place has nice food, that's why I'm here today."

"And I don't like shopping!"Finshed Kuwabara.

"Yes, you don't like shopping. Hey, Kuwabara" Kurama began getting serious.

"I would like for us to get together, you, me and Yusuke to discuss…a new issue. How about a time when you don't have to entertain guests."

He glanced over at Ericka who was busy trying to order from the menu. Kuwabara nodded, understanding since he suddenly went somber.

"Yeah, sure. My sister will be home from work later so I'll leave Ericka home and meet up with you guys, at Uremashi place right?"

Kurama nodded before putting on a smile and turning to the quiet Ericka.

"I'm sorry to have to chat and run but it seems that if something important has come up. I'm sorry that we hadn't gotten to know one another better. Maybe next time perhaps?"

Ericka nodded and smiled.

"Sure! Next time seems good."

Kurama nodded to her again before saying goodbye to Kuwabara. As he left the bar, his polite façade dropped and worry began to creep into his eyes.

'That girl…her being…shifts something inside me. She throws off my normal persona, I was only there a few minutes and already I started to get edgy. Kuwabara may not have noticed but I was close to losing it…'

Kurama held up his hand s it shook lightly. He took a deep breath and slipped his hand inside his pocket.

'Yusuke was right in being wary of her. I don't know why but her being here has seemed to "upset" the two of us. And yet it has no effect on Kuwabara. He senses it but he has no trouble at all.'

"Ericka…"he said quietly trying the name out on his lips.

'I rather hope that this is nothing but some strange coincidence. See seems like a nice person. I rather not have to deal with her as a threat…'

And that's the end of Chapter six! I hope this begins to make up for my absence. Well Ericka seems to be getting along fine in Japan and the handsome fox makes his appearance. Who will appear next time? And why does Ericka's presence seem to rub Yusuke and Kurama the wrong way?

Author's Notes: (1) Tokyu: There are two Tokyu department stores in Shibuya: the main store with ten floors is located a 5-10 minute walk northwest of the station, while the Shibuya Station branch with twelve floors sits on top of the station

(2) Shibuya 109: Shibuya 109 is a trend setting fashion complex for young women with more than one hundred boutiques on ten floors. Usually pronounced "Shibuya ichi maru kyu", the complex's name can also be read as "Shibuya to kyu", identifying the complex as part of the Tokyu Group.

(3)Ganko-Jiji: An izakaya-style Japanese bar along Miyamasuzaka. Only two-minute walk from Shibuya Station. Traditional furnishing and young lively staff are waiting for you. We have 75 table seats and 85 tatami seats - good for big group parties! Original food menus, chilled beer, and other drinks are offered at reasonable prices.

I decided that Yusuke and everyone will live in Tokyo. I don't think it's ever mentioned or determined which part of Japan they live in so I'll just make it up and say they live in Tokyo. What part of Tokyo or which prefectures they live in I don't know nor will I probably write, since it doesn't seem too important.

So then what shall happen next? All answers will be answered in time, but until then please READ AND REVIEW!