Disclaimer: You mean you actually thought I owned Yu-Yu Hakusho? Ha! Boy, are you an idiot!

Chapter 2

"Ow..." I groan as I crack open my eyes. My lashes are frozen together, and my entire face is numb. Come to think of it, my entire body is numb. I try and move. A sharp pain rips through my body. I let out a small scream.

Ok, I'm not as numb as I thought I was.

I raise my head slightly, looking around. I'm laying half-in, half-out of the freezing river. I reach out with both arms, but stop as another jolt of pain runs through my right arm. "Damn it..." I tuck it close to my body and continue to try and pull myself out of the icy water.

If I had known I'd survive the fall, I would have brought a fucking sweater or something.

About two feet up the bank, I collapse. This small effort has completely exhausted me. I need to find shelter, a hiding place, but I can't move anymore. I have absolutely no energy left. I had used up all my reserves, something which I almost never do.

Great. I escaped, and now, if they find me, I can't even fight back. Just goddamn great.

Sometimes, I think that someone up there hates me.

Fresh pain ran through me yet again, sharper, deeper pain. My vision swam. That's what I get for sitting up. I'm pretty sure some of my ribs are broken. Just to spite the pain, I continue to haul myself up. Finally coming to rest against a medium size boulder that is overshadowed by the steep walls of the canyon, putting me out of immediate sight, I curl my broken and weary body. It hides me well enough I think.

Tilting my head back, I can see the sky. Between the clouds I can glimpse the sun in the west. Night will be falling soon. For the first time I wonder how long I was laying there in the river.

So tired.

Against my will, my traitorous eyelids begin to lower, and sleep begins to tug at my consciousness. I try to fight at first, but in the end, I give in. I let my eyes slip closed, and I let the chariot of dreams carry me away.

"Kuwabara, you idiot, watch what you're doing!"

I jolt out of sleep, confused, and, I'm ashamed to say, frightened. My thoughts raced. I was found? By his soldiers? Or maybe someone else? What if they weren't looking for me? Could I evade them, as wounded as I was? If they did belong to him, could I fight?

I had an answer to only one of the questions. No, I couldn't fight. Hell, I could barely move for crying out loud.

My day just keeps getting better and better.

I hear footsteps. Listening closely, I'm pretty sure that there are four to six people in the group.

"Well Uremeshi, why don't you get out a damn flashlight or something? Maybe then I wouldn't have tripped on the stupid rock!" an angry guy yells at the first voice.

Hold on a sec... Kuwabara? Uremeshi? Those names are a bit familiar...but from where..?

Another voice entered the conversation. This one was cool, and calm. Soothing I guess you could say. "That actually isn't a bad idea. Night fell so quickly-

"You mean in the blink of an eye," the second voice, presumably Kuwabara, muttered.

"We didn't even have enough time to secure any type of lighting," the last voice finished as of the second hadn't spoken.

"Screw the lights! We don't have time for this! We still need to find her, or Koenma will never get off my ass!" That was the first voice. I'm betting he was Uremeshi.

"Now, now, boys. Let's not do this here, like you said, we don't have time for this. Just light a lantern and we can get this done faster."

I liked the way this woman thought, although I would never be caught dead saying, "Now, now boys."

"Fine," Uremeshi gave in. "Hey, did anyone bring a flashlight?"

I wanted to hit the guy. What kind of moron goes looking for something close to nightfall without a light? I mean, come on, common sense people.

A fifth voice stated, "You, Uremeshi, are a complete and utter idiot."

Wow. Talk about ESP.

"Back off, Hiei!" Uremeshi.

"Hiei, would you mind? No! I do not mean attacking him! I meant providing us with a little light." That was voice number three.

No response, but a glow was emitting from somewhere on my left so I guess this Hiei guy did like he was asked.

"Look over there! I can see...a leg?" This was the woman.

Shit. I tried to shift myself but ended up almost screaming in agony. Silent tears of pain and frustration coursed down my face as I waited for the inevitable. Damn it all to hell!

The footsteps came closer. Closing my eyes, I pretended to be unconscious. Maybe they wouldn't kill me that way.

"It's her!" That was Kuwabara.

"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Uremeshi said. "She looks pretty beat up though."

No shit. Now who was pointing out the obvious?

"I imagine whoever took her put her through hell. We should have expected it. It was wishful thinking to hope that she would be unharmed." That was the soothing voice again.

"Yukina? Do you think you could..?" the woman trailed off.

"I will try." That voice sounded younger, and it was so definitely a girl.

Someone knelt down beside me. My instincts took over as I panicked. I didn't know what she was going to do, after all.

Eyes snapping open, I reached out with my left arm and grabbed the small form next to me, then yanking to the side. Putting the canyon wall at my back and the girl in between myself and her friends. I wrapped my arm around her throat. She shrieked in fear, and I screamed in pain. Gashes I hadn't noticed before reopened and bled anew, forming pools around my feet as I crouched awkwardly.

"Yukina!" they all yelled, moving forward. I squeezed the girl's neck, earning a gasp. They all recognized the silent warning and backed off.

I was panting harshly. My body protested at my position, and my right arm hung useless at my side. Damn, this was a stupid move. Now...well, if they weren't going to kill me before, they were probably going to kill me now.

The girl was trembling violently. I felt horrible. I didn't like scaring people. I gained no enjoyment out of it. I didn't object to violence, but I wasn't overly fond of excessive bloodshed.

Sometimes I just hated myself.

But I didn't get the reaction I expected. The woman stepped forward. She wore a pink kimono with a white and red obi. She had blue hair, which she was wearing pulled back with a red tie, and pink eyes that were currently radiating kindness. "It's ok, Kira, we're not hear to hurt you."

I think that two of the other remaining four would have argued.

One of them had orange hair that was worn in the most out-dated hair cut I had ever seen, and was clearly the tallest of the group. He had small, black eyes, and wasn't attractive in the least little bit. He was wearing a blue jumpsuit that may have been a school uniform. I felt like I knew him from somewhere. I just couldn't for the life of me remember from where, though.

The other one was easily the shortest male. The girl I had grabbed was probably the shortest person, but this guy looked like he was possibly an inch or two taller than her, and me for that matter. I'm only 5"1. He had black hair and red eyes. A black trench-coat, cape thing and a white scarf covered him from neck to foot. A white band around his forehead completed the outfit. He had his hands wrapped around the hilt of a sword, which was still in its sheath I was releived to see. His aura screamed demon. I assumed he was Hiei because one of his hands was still glowing, sheding light on the scene. And I would like to mention that he was much more attractive, in my opinion, than the other three guys in the group.

Not that I was looking or anything.

I finally said, "Why should I believe you?" My voice was harsh, rough. I noticed for the first time how raw my throat felt. I swallowed convulsively.

"Because we're not the one's who offered you violence."

I turned my head a tiny bit and looked at the owner of the calm, soothing voice. Red hair and clear emerald eyes. That's what my first impression was. He was definitely a guy that had his own fan-girl fan club running around his school. He was of an average height; I think anyway, after all, I am crouching here. He was wearing white pants and long-sleeved shirt under some sort of long, blue tunic tied with a yellow belt. I got the impression that he wasn't human, not exactly. It seemed demon, but not quite.We locked eyes. A contest of wills, I guess.

I looked away first.

Bringing my gaze down to my captive, I paused, weighing my options. Then I realized that I didn't really have any. I glanced back at the waiting group...and back down at the girl, Yukina I think they called her. I loosened my choke-hold, but didn't let her go.

"Are you okay?" I whisper in her ear. "Am I hurting you?"

She shakes her head no.

"What are you saying to her!" That was ugly.

"Relax, Kuwabara. She didn't hurt Yukina. Now chill. She's just being cautious, which she has every right to be."

This brought my gaze to the last guy. Black hair that was worn slicked back, brown eyes... Why did he and ugly look so damned familiar? He was a tad shorter than the red-head, but made up for it with arrogance. I could practically feel his ego from here. Oh, and his high spirit level. That was pretty evident too. He wore a green jumpsuit, and stood at the head of the group, hands shoved into his pockets.

Definitely the leader.

"Who are you?" I managed to choke out of my swollen throat.

"Uremeshi Yusuke, Spirit Detective of the Spirit World," the leader said.

I know that name, but not because of the title. But before I could finish processing, the orange-haired guy spoke, "I'm Kuwabara Kazuma."

Again, I know that name.

The woman followed suit, "My name is Botan, and I'm a Guardian of the River Styx in Spirit World."

"I am Kurama," the red-head told me, and then turned to the smaller demon, "and this is Hiei."

"And you're Yukina?" I asked the girl in my grip.

"Yes, I'm an Ice Apparition."

I felt dizzy. Memories were flooding my brain of a time when the only thing I lived for was playing outside with other kids on block. Shaking my head, I looked at the whole group.

"And who sent you?" I rasped.

"Koenma, Ruler of the Spirit World," Botan replied.

I smiled grimly, saying, "If you're lying, then you had better kill me right away, because if you don't I will hunt you down and kill you as slowly as humanly, or demonly, possible." I released ice-girl, swaying as I lost the balance that her sleight weight had provided.

I could now see her clearly. Delicate build, turquoise hair, and large, red eyes. She was wearing a pale blue kimono. Seeing her how innocent shelooked made me want to hit myself over and over for scaring her. I felt like a monster.

Which I have been told time and time again that I was by my uncle.

I allowed myself to collapse against the cliff side as Kuwabara rushed to the girl's side, slipping a protective arm around her shoulders. She smiled at him, and anyone looking could tell he loved her, and she loved him back.

Not that love ever did me any favors.

"Are you in pain?" Yukina asked quietly.

"No," I lied. My head was pounding, my arm was zapping me with agony whenever it was moved, my torso just throbbed horribly, I was bleeding profusely, and the list went on...and on...and on...

"Liar."

I looked over at Hiei. "I don't need your help," I growled. I really didn't. If they helped, then I was indebted to them. I hated being in anyone's debt because I was one of those people that just had to pay that person back. Some sort of honor code, I guess. And then, sometimes, they asked formore than I was willing, or could, give.

Completely ignoring my protest, he knelt down and held me still while Yukina reached out and laid a hand on my ankle. Even as hurt as I was, I tried to pull away out of habit. I don't really like to be touched by anyone. I'd spent too much time in an environment where touching equalled pain.But acool power spread fromYukina's hand like a salve, taking away the pain. My eyes slid shut, savoring the feeling.

When I opened my eyes, my cuts were gone. I tested my right arm, and it was in complete working order. Same with my ribs. I had completely forgotten about being touched.

"Thank you." My words were faint, tired-sounding. I managed a heart felt smile for the girl. "Thank you so much."

Unfortunately, there was one problem to not being in pain; I was freezing! The thin fabric of the dress/robe that my captors had dressed me in just wasn't meant for the Siberian-like weather. My body began to shiver uncontrollably.

"Yusuke, did you bring any blankets, or coats, or anything?" Botan asked, exasperated,as she stepped closer, concern evident in her pink eyes.

"Um...no..."

I thought about protesting, but my sensible side finally kicked in so I stayed silent. I also wanted to ask something, but I was too cold to remember.

"Would my jacket work?"

"You idiot, both your and Kuwabara's jackets are huge. Plus, we don't need you two freezing as well. We already have to carry her," Hiei growled in what I assumed to be annoyance.

"Hiei is right," Kurama agreed, walking over and kneeling beside Hiei and me. "Hiei, would your powers keep you warm enough without your cloak? I think your coat would work, if you're willing."

The demon shrugged and passed me over to Kurama, pulling off the long coat. He handed it to the read head, who wrapped it around my body.

"We need to get her to Koenma, but we also need to check the tower."

I looked up at Yusuke. "No..."

"What?"

"The...tower is...empty. They're...gone..."

"How do you know that?" His eyes were flashing dangerously.

"They would have...found me...if...they were...still...here..." I was slipping into sleep again. Damn, couldn't I just stay awake? But I was warming up, and that was making me more aware of my exhaustion. I still couldn't think of what I wanted to ask. I hate memory lapses.

Botan spoke up, "She has a point Yusuke, let her be. I'm going to contact Koenma and let him know we have her."

"All right, you do that. And ask the toddler what to do with her."

"Right."

I remembered. "Yusuke, Kazuma?" They both looked at me. I smiled. "You two get any better, or am I still going to get to bet the hell out of you both when you annoy me?"

"What is she talking about?" Hiei asked them.

"We were neighbors when we were younger, and anytime they made Keiko cry or do something similar to annoy me, I beat their sorry asses until they cried uncle," I answered. My eyes were slipping closed.

"Wait that was you?" Kuwabara demanded.

"Uh-huh..."

The last thing I was aware of was Botan coming back and announcing that this Koenma guy wanted them to get me out of here, which I had no problem with, and that Kurama asked Hiei to carry me. I'm pretty sure he did.

Not that I cared or anything.