Disclaimer: Don't own YYH or Osa.

Japanese to know:

Baka na otoko no ko desu yo - Stupid boy!
Daijobu desu ka - Are you ok?
Hai, genki desu - Yes, I'm fine

Chapter 22

Mission: Masquerade

"Yuusuke, I can count on you, right?" Koenma asked, having just briefed him on their next assignment.

"Yea, I suppose," Yuusuke answered rudely, exiting the room.

"Well?" Kuwabara blurted, pushing form the wall.

"All I'm gunna say right now is that you better dust off your dancin' shoes." He paged Hiei and Kurama, telling them to get Darkfire, Angel, and Osadyro and meet in the first-floor kitchen.

Soon all were there.

"What's this about?" Kurama questioned, less than friendly.

"Our next mission," Yuusuke stated solidly.

"And?" Angel pressed, eager to get on with his day.

"We must infiltrate to home of Yoshihiro Sugisaki, a powerful earth demon. Koenma fears that he's planning an uprising. We don't know if this is true or not, which is why this mission has been called. In two days, a masquerade is being held at his mansion. At least one of us is to try and get in on the conversation he'll hold with his companions in crime; none of which we know the names of."

"That's helpful," Hiei mumbled, seating himself.

"Look, I don't care if you don't like the idea or not, you're all going. And you're all dressing for the occasion," snapped Yuusuke, growing impatient.

"Dress up?" Osadyro said, unsure.

"It's a masque…use your imagination. If you don't have one"—he looked at Hiei—"borrow someone else's. Again, you have two days." With that, he departed.

"So…who thinks this party will be full of murderous demons?" Kuwabara suggested, breaking the silence. All turned to him as though he were crazy. "Just thought I'd ask."

"Well, I already have my outfit," Darkfire yawned. "I just need to find a mask." She pulled a box of crackers from the shelf and began to snack.

"That makes two of us," Osadyro added, snacking also.

Angel thought for another moment. "This is a ball. So…I guess that means we need dates."

"Yukina, Keiko, and Osadyro are taken," Kurama said as Kuwabara darted from the room.

"Osa?"

"That's what I said."

The boy sniffed and exited.

"Wonder who he's gunna ask," Osadyro wondered aloud.

"Shizuru," Hiei replied.

"Figures," sneered Darkfire, standing and leaving. She sprawled out on the couch and buried her face in a pillow. "Baka na otoko no ko desu yo!"

"What? Did you want him to ask you?"

"I would've said no. But it would've been nice if he acknowledged my existence." Turning her face to the side, she stared up at Hiei. "Haven't you ever felt that way?"

"Can't say I have."

"You've never been in love with someone you knew didn't love you back?"

Hiei nodded in agreement and closed his eyes. "I've never been love."

"Except…you love your sister. Perhaps one day you will meet again."

"You should not speak of what you know nothing," Hiei hissed.

Darkfire sat up and stared deep into the demon's bloody eyes. "I know everything."

"Witch, you have no right to speak!"

"Search your thoughts, accursed child, you wish me to speak. You wish me to tell you all I know."

"Damn you!" He grabbed her and forced her to the floor. There he held her on her stomach.

"Release me, demon!"

He pushed her head against the floor.

"I can tell the world your most intimate secrets, forbidden one. I know who you really are and all that you've really done. Yukina would love to know her brother's not dead. She would love it more to know his name."

Hiei twisted his knee into her backbone, growling. "I'll kill you if you breathe a word."

"You would kill the woman you love?"

"I don't love her!"

"Liar! I can read your deepest thoughts! I can see you sweat whenever she comes near! You cannot fool me! Ask her for this mission. Take her hand, dearest demon, and lead her through an unforgettable night. If you do not take her, I will."

"You will do no such thing!"

"Then claim her as yours. Now release me…or I'll release her in this position."

Hiei stood and glared down at Darkfire as she stood.

"Make your move, my beloved Hiei."

"Darkfire?"

"Yes?" the girl said, rubbing her back.

"You have…a date…tomorrow night," he stated hesitantly.

Darkfire's eyes became soft and kind of sad. "Oh, Hiei…whatever will you wear?"

The demon paused for a moment. "You know, I haven't gotten that far yet."

She laughed at his foolishness. "Come, we will find you something decent."

"Kurama," Koenma began as he settled into his seat, "if a war does break out, I expect you to keep a close eye on those three. I want to know what they're capable of."

The fox nodded softly, eyes drifting away.

"You can still handle this, right?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now, what of Hiei?"

The demon bristled slightly as he recalled the encounter. "I couldn't tell you. You know how unpredictable he is."

"Well, it's up to you to keep him predictable." The young lord waved the demon away and leaned back in his chair.

Kurama bowed and exited. He walked down the hall, stopping at the top of the stairs. Gazing down them, he thought of his duty. Thought of his betrayal. Of his love. His dream. Death.

"Daijoubu desu ka."

The fox turned to find Darkfire standing right beside him. "Hai, genki desu."

"Thinking?"

"Yes."

"Sure is a long way down," the girl mused, leaning over the rail.

"You're going to fall."

"You think so? Perhaps. But I bet it won't hurt when I touch the bottom." She flipped over the rail, waving to Kurama.

"Darkfire!" the fox gasped, running down the stairs.

The girl laughed and her wings sprouted from her back. They spread to slow her decent, careful not to hit the stairs. Kurama chased after her all the while until she reached fourth floor, where this particular staircase ended.

When he got to her, he held her shoulders and shouted, "Don't ever do that again!"

"Why not?" Darkfire questioned, still smiling.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack, that's why!"

"You knew I had wings. Silly fox, you shouldn't worry so much." She paused as her wings pulled back into hiding before continuing, "Besides, you looked too serious. What vexes you?"

"I can't think of what to wear," he lied.

"You're as bad as Hiei. I bet Osa could help. Of course, I thought someone like you could pick out an outfit for any occasion." She turned and started off. Looking back a bit, she added, "Especially a great thief such as yourself."

"Don't you want to know what I know about them?" the angel questioned.

"No, I don't. I'll find out on my own," Darkfire answered curtly, staring in the mirror. She saw a woman with dark brown eyes and short, blood red hair. The woman wore a black, midriff tank top and tight jeans. Her feathery black wings rustled lightly at her back.

"But why would you take the time? I hold all the answers you seek," argued the woman in the mirror.

"I don't want it to be easy. I don't want to see them for who they really are unless they tell me."

"They lie! They tell you they mean well, but it's a lie. They only do what will get them farther. Hokage, do not be deceived."

"I'd rather love them for a lie than hate them for the truth."

"We are very different, then, you and I." The black angel rubbed a scar on her left bicep, thinking of how she got it. "Very different."

"Are we really that different?"

The angel scoffed. "I'm a Fallen Angel. You're a proposed demon."

"Does that make us that different?"

"Eh…I guess not too different."

"So, can we be friends…instead of a shell and a soul?"

"Yes…friends."

Darkfire put her hand to the mirror and the angel did the same. "Hi, I'm Darkfire."

"No, you are Hokage. My name is Darkfire."

"Alright, I'm Hokage. Now they can tell us apart."

"When they learn, that is. Until then, we can play a little trick on all your friends." The two laughed, no longer enemies sharing a body.