I originally had this done yesterday, but Fanfiction wasn't allowing me to upload it. I now have been able to and would like to dedicate this chapter to Slancaster 113 who has been a great supporter of my fanfics. THANK YOU!

Enjoy this long chapter. Many important events!

After tucking Koka into bed, Inazuma went into the backyard of the house. Lines of houses and building met her eyes as she gazed about. It was too cluttered for her. There was not enough space to run around or canter upon a horse over the hills. She longed to be free, not to have worries. As much as she wished it, she knew it could not be so. There was a battle coming, a terrible one. Shaking her head, she sat on the grass and gazed up at the almost non-existent stars. They glowed faintly as clouds rolled by. A strange contraption glided across the sky. Smoke rose in the far east, rising to meet the grey-blue night sky. No moon smiled down upon the land. Makai was nothing like this, she thought to herself. There they did not pollute the land or air, it was clean, mostly. Blood was a common sight, especially since the restoration when Mukuro, Raizen, and Yomi assumed control of parts of the land. Mukuro was still alive, as was Yomi, and, supposedly, they were together. Yomi had a biologically-created son named Shura who admired her. Mukuro was pregnant, too! Inazuma sighed to herself. So many memories were lost to her and she wanted them back. She wants to know all that has happened to her so she will be a better asset in the up and coming war. Takanashi was growing in power and, soon, he will advance on Hiei's castle. They want her to sit within the castle when it comes. Like hell she will! She didn't want to feel useless. She could fight, better than most, maybe better then them. Makai is her home and she is not going to let a tyrant run it. Standing up, she stretched out her muscles, reaching high above her and down to touch her toes.

Hiei, having no need for sleep, looked out the window and watched Inazuma, the shirt on her rising up as she reached up to the sky. Her muscles were toned and defined. He could tell right off the back that she was a strong fighter. Maybe he should test her. Opening the window, he hopped out of the two story house and landed softly on the ground below. Inazuma, having heard, turned and gazed at him, a small smirk on her lips.

"Care to join me, Hiei-sama?"

"Hn...What do you think I came out here for?"

"A battle, of course."

"You couldn't be more right."

"Not here, though. I do not want any other people to see us fighting. We do not want to have trouble."

She turned and headed back towards the house and was met by the German shepherd, respectfully named Tani for Koka's birth mother. In the dog's mouth was a pendant, a dragon and snake wrapped around a smoky quartz sphere, all measuring about 3 inches in diameter. It was known as the Konekuta-Yume, or the Dream Connector. The Konekuta-Yume is an ancient tool used by sorcerers in Makai during the time of the Albatross Era, before Raizen, Mukuro, and Yomi came into power. What it did was connect two or more beings to one another in order to hold private conversations within their minds. What ever happened to you in the dreamscape, affected your real body. Walking back over to Hiei, she led him to two chairs on the back porch. They sat facing each other, the Konekuta-Yume in between them.

"Focus on it. Connect your mind to it and, together, we will enter the dreamscape where we cane fight on another without distractions. Time passes much more quickly in it, so we can spend hours in there and it will only be a few minutes out here. Understand?"

"Yes."

Both shut their eyes and focused on the orb between them. It glowed a faint purple as their bodies fell back into the chairs, short breaths escaping their lips every few seconds.

Rolling fields of green with sparse clutters of flowers met the eyes of Hiei and Inazuma as they arrived in the dreamscape. A simple but large table was beside them and on it was various types of weapons. The Dreamscape has the ability to read what they traveler wants and summoned weapons for their intended battle. The two of them grabbed a weapon, or two in Inazuma's case. Hiei choose a katana with an intricate gold dragon design down the blade. Inazuma took twin wakizashis, both the length of her wrist to halfway up her bicep. Standing 10 feet from each other in the field, they bowed.

"Good luck, Hiei-sama."

"As to you, Inazuma."

In a flash, they leapt at each other. Sword met short-sword in a clang of metal. Inazuma pushed against her blades and, in turn, forced Hiei back a bit. Gaining his footing, he dodged the swipe at his chest and countered with blow to Inazuma's stomach. His sword met thin air. Whipping around, he narrowly missed getting his head chopped off, but ended up with a few bits of hair falling into his face. Growling, he went at Inazuma. Swinging hard, the katana forced he swung forced her back and wound up disarming her. Without a weapon, she continued to dodge. Seeing an opening, Inazuma jumped at Hiei and did a guillotine kick, her right foot landing hard on his shoulder, causing him to collapse. She landed in a split on the ground and twisted on to her back. With her hands on the ground, she leapt up and delivered a sharp kick to Hiei's chest as he pulled himself up. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Come now Hiei. I know you can fight better then this."

As he caught his breath, he jumped at her, catching her by surprise, and pinned her down to the ground. He sat on top of her stomach, his legs tight against her thighs, keeping her in place, and her hands above her head, held tightly by his own.

"You were saying?" he seethed, angry that she managed to hit him.

She smirked at him and threw her weight into her right side, flipping Hiei off. Both hurried up and into defensive positions. They didn't move for a few seconds, but flickered away in the blink of an eye. Darting all over the field, they exchanged kicks and punches until Hiei got an advantage. Tucking his leg up, he gave her a sharp hook kick to the side with his left leg and, stepping back, delivered a rib breaking roundhouse to her side once more. She collapsed to the ground. She didn't feel the pain entirely, but the force is what brought her down. Hiei, letting the move he just did to her get the better of him, he didn't see the roundhouse aimed at his head. It collided rather sharply and he stumbled back. Blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth and he whipped it off with the back of his hand. Inazuma stood a few feet in front of him, tired but not giving up. Smirking, he ran at her. She expected this and went into a back handspring, but stopped in a hand stand. Spreading her legs, she spun on her hands and landed three kicks on Hiei. He landed on the ground as Inazuma twisted her body and landed on her feet. Jumping on him, she held the wakizashi she had hidden on her against his neck.

"I win." she announced rather happily.

"Hn...I know."

"It was a good match, though. Very tight and difficult, I must say. Nearly as difficult as when I faced Raizen, then again he was at his prime."

"Are you calling me weak?"

"Not at all. You see, in the dreamscape, you are naturally weaker, because it is just our essence that is here. If this were a real fight in the real world, I would probably lose."

"Could you get off of me?"

She placed the wakizashi on the ground beside her and leaned forward, getting into his face.

"And if I don't want to?" she asked with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Hmm...Why, what do you have in mind?" the same look in his eyes.

He grabbed her chin and pulled her to him, their lips clashing together in a feverous kiss. Their hands glided up each others bodies as a light surrounded them.

Blue and crimson eyes flickered open as Inazuma and Hiei returned from the dreamscape. Gazing at each other, a slight blush decorated their faces as they stood up. Inazuma reached down to pick up the Konekuta-Yume and together they entered the house. Only an hour had passed in the real world. The clock on the microwave blinked 5:37 A.M. Someone was awake upstairs, walking about. Everyone would be leaving today to return to Japan. Inazuma would get to 'meet' her friends again. They walked up the stairs together and Inazuma went to her room, but was followed by Hiei.

"What is it Hiei?" she asked him.

"Nothing." he stated as he sat at her window seat.

Shaking her head, she stripped herself of her tattered shirt and gazed at the side Hiei kicked. There were 3 broken ribs and a nice bruise there. Walking into the connected bathroom, she searched around for some gauze to wrap it with. Finding it, she attempted to wrap it around her, but couldn't. Warm hands were placed on her back and she looked into the mirror to see Hiei behind her. He took the gauze from her and set to work fixing her up. Setting her ribs back into place, he spread some cream over the bruise and began wrapping it. His hot hands went around her waist and back, winding the gauze around her. She trembled a bit and leaned against him when he finished. His hands lingered on her waist as he drizzled her neck with butterfly kisses and little nips. Goosebumps covered Inazuma's arms and legs. Hiei's hand slid up her back and unclasped her bra. Gasping, she whipped around to meet his lips. Kissing passionately, they removed each others clothes and made their way slowly to the shower. Not breaking their lip-lock, Hiei fiddled with the knobs to turn on the water. Stepping into the steaming shower, they continued kissing and washed each other. The gauze that was wrapped around Inazuma stayed firm against the water and soap that ran over it. Someone knocked on the door, but no one answered. It was Kurama and when he felt out for Inazuma, he found she was currently 'occupied' with Hiei in the shower (if you catch the drift) and left, blushing.

"Everyone ready?" asked Botan.

Koka held her duffle bag over her shoulder and Kazuma, being a gracious gentleman, held her two large suitcases. Inazuma came down the stairs with wet hair, holding two of her bags. Hiei followed behind with a suitcase. Kurama gazed at Inazuma and raised his eyebrows.

'You! What do you know?' she questioned him telepathically.

'Oh, nothing.' he responded, trying to look innocent.

Hiei eyed the fox sharply. Upon scanning Kurama's mind, he discovered what information he held and gave him the look ' you say and you die'. Kurama raised his hands up in an 'I know' gesture.

"All ready here, Botan." Inazuma replied.

The ferry girl smiled big and summoned a portal using a nifty little portal-summoning device Koenma had created. All of them entered it and emerged in Japan...right in the middle of Yusuke's apartment. Keiko jumped at their arrival, but screeched when she saw Inazuma. Not being able to catch herself, she collapsed to the ground.

"You're alive?" she asked, directing the question more at Yusuke. "I didn't know why?"

"It was a surprise to all of us, except Botan and Koenma of course. We'll explain later."

"Why didn't you call me? Why was I not informed as soon as you found out? Huh, Urameshi Yusuke?"

Everyone sweat dropped. When Keiko gets going, it's hard for her to stop.

Keep your eyes out for the next chapter, possibly by tomorrow.

-UtsukushiiCho