Disclaimer I don't own Kurama, or any of the other YYH bishie-crew, but I'd be willing to buy them! ...how does fifty cents sound?

A/N I hope no one's upset about the delay, I really intended this to get out faster. But so many things have happened, some good, some extremely bad. It's been an emotional roller coaster these past few weeks, and I hope everyone understands.

On a better note, LGO is making pretty good progress, despite my delays. This is the fifth chapter, and at the end of this one, we will have 11 chapters of the original crammed into 5. XD There are 31 in the original, so I think we're doing pretty good, eh?

And I'm so happy I got more reviews! Seriously, if you're ever at a loss at what to get me for Christmas... (hinthint) So here's a few quick responses to some points brought up by you guys.

Noyesgirl: Great story so far! I like how Kurama and Jess met up, it was diffrent from most of the stories I read, I can't wait for the next chapter! Update soon

Thanks, I tried. :) I know it's... kind of corny, yeah. But original is good. So thanks again, good to hear what people like about the fic.

anorethunbound: --... 1, it wasnt bad. it was pretty good. 2, it was kind of...weird 3, update soon

1. That's nice to know, as long as it didn't have major suckage.
2. Agreed. After looking over it, I decided I didn't love it that much, either. There's a new take on this chapter. Tell me if it's better.
3. This doesn't really qualify as soon, but here ya' go. ;)


Life Goes On

By: SunshineandDaisys

Chapter 5: Egregious


That night, after her shower, Jess flopped out on her bed and hummed happily to herself.

After her pseudo-doctor appointment, she had gotten back to school just in time for detention. Mr. Kort had fallen asleep ten minutes in, and the delinquents had chatted until their time was up. The latest from the detion-ee's was that Fran's mother had announced that she was having children by way of her secret lover, and her father was leaving with his secretary. Fran didn't mind, however, because she was more than happy living with her boyfriend David.

As soon as she sat down in Mrs. Pluff's room, Stella passed her a note saying how 'suicidally sorry' she was, and that Kurama was 'beyond hot'. In hopes of not getting anymore detention, Jess declined to write a note back. After class, however, she yanked Stella away from the Barbie's, and the two burst into giggles all the way down the hall.

Despite what loomed in her future, Jess found herself smiling at the thought of it. She would, after all, have her excellent teacher by her side all throughout. Not to mention she would be training in this "Spirit World" Kurama talked about so often. It was surreal, but at the same time, it was incredible reality.

Jessica turned over on her side and set her alarm - for the first time in years - to seven. A change of life should include every aspect. Even education.


Jess awoke to the sounds of 'Yeah!' on her clock radio.

"Turn it off!" she moaned into her pillow. "You don't get dreams like that every day!"

Finally, after she became sick of Usher and Co. informing the world of how they liked their women, Jess turned the radio off and got out of bed. She dug through her closet absentmindedly, trying to recall the details of her very Kurama-centered dream.

'We were in Venice, maybe.' she thought to herself. 'There was definitely a weird boat and a singing man involved...'

After selecting a black tee with the McDonald's arch on it, Jess pulled her hair up into a short ponytail and walked into the kitchen. Her mother had just turned around to yell her usual good morning when Jess sat down at the table.

"Hey, do we have any Captain Crunch?"

"Uh... yes. Yes, we do." Margaret gave her a strange look before pulling out a box of cereal and sitting it on the table. She had that odd look as well as the underlying one of shock, which she seemed content to switch between as she stared openly at her daughter. Finally, she gave them both up for her usual parental demeanor. "What's the occasion, Jessica?"

"I just felt like getting up early." She shrugged, glad that the one-sided staring contest was over.

Her mother, not satisfied with that answer, switched from gaping to interrogating.

"Things are never that simple with you. Are you planning something? Are you going to hop a bus to LA?"

Jess choked on her crunchberry. "What?"

Before her mother could repeat herself - or think up other crimes - her father walked in, bidding them all a good morning. Then he double-checked the table's occupants.

"Jessica! You're up early. Any particular reason?"

She could've scooped out his insides with a spork.

"No!" she snapped, thinking the spork idea would have to wait for later. "I just want to be on time! Is that illegal now?"

"Stop talking back to your father and eat your breakfast! You'll be late if you don't stop yakking." her mother reprimanded, sending more parental-type looks her way.

Alright, now both of 'em were going to get the spork treatment.


On the way to school, Stella had complimented her hair, saying it was nice to see it up for a change. If Stella liked it, then it wasn't bad, and could be considered agreeable to the cheerleading population of her school. Jess had half a mind to pull it out.

School went as well as school could go. Lunch was uneventful for the second day in a row, seeing as Chad had been taken out of school for a nice little vacation to the funny farm. Even detention went exactly as planned. Mr. Kort graced them with his consciousness the entire time.

After classes were over for the day, Jess left Stella in the clutches of the fake nail models and headed for a stroll in the park. She'd been looking forward to playing twenty questions with Kurama again.

As she walked along the sidewalk, the trees swayed and tossed their leaves into the wind. The rejected appendages swooped and swirled through the air 'till they found their place on the ground. Or in Jess's hair, as the case currently was.

"Damn thing," she muttered, pulling it out and feeling the top of her head to realize it had successfully ruined her ponytail. With a sigh, she yanked out the elastic and wore it on her wrist, glaring at the leaf all the while. She noticed it had been turning brown in places.

"It's almost autumn," an intelligent voice commented behind her. Jess grinned. "You'll be needing a jacket soon."

"Yes, I will," she agreed, turning to face her teacher. "What about you? Do your awesome fox powers make you immune to the cold?"

Kurama gave her a wry smile. "Yes, my fur coat is a constant warmth in these hibernating months."

"I'll take that as a no."

"I would hope so."

Jess stuck out her tongue and continued her walk, Kurama falling quietly into step beside her. She liked that.

"So what are you going to teach me today?" she asked after a while, attempting to put her hair back in captivity while the wind attacked her face with it. So far it was a losing battle.

"Well, nothing, actually. I want to make sure you have the basic mind clearing down before we move on."

It was her turn to mock. "Oh, so you're here for the company, huh?"

Kurama turned those dazzling eyes of his on her. "Or maybe I was just enjoying nature?"

"Nobody just enjoys nature anymore," Jess said bitterly, finally succeeding in getting her hair back up. "It's a major pain in the ass."

The demon shrugged, moving his gaze back to the world around him. "I enjoy nature."

"I'm not saying I don't like it," she rushed, suddenly hoping she hadn't offended him. "I just think it's uncooperative at times."

As if it had heard her, the wind picked up and assaulted her bare arms with chilly air. Kurama seemed to find this amusing in his own dark sense of humor. He was wearing a long sleeved sweater. Albeit it wasn't a thick one, but it was still warm enough to let him laugh without being a hypocrite.

Jessica growled in annoyance, thinking of how thoroughly she'd enjoy 'sporking' the wind right about now. In fact, she'd do just about anything to make it stop. Just so long as she didn't have goosebumps or messy hair... anymore...

Kurama's snickering stopped as abruptly as the wind. Jess blinked and shrugged it off. The wind was highly unpredictable. Her companion wasn't so easily convinced. He turned to give her an inquiring look.

"What?" she snapped, tired of everyone staring in her direction today.

"Did y–never mind."

Jess narrowed her eyes at him. " What?"

Kurama chose his words more carefully this time. "I think, maybe, you're not as lost a cause as you think you are."

A pink tinge found its way onto her cheeks as she remembered his comment from the day before. "And what do you mean by that?"

He seemed to be having quite a mental war as his face scrunched in thought and a few sighs made their way past his clenched teeth. Finally, the battle was won.

"If I promise to tell you later, will you not ask again now?"

"If I promise to wear my shirt that says 'gullible' tomorrow, will you bring your pet unicorn?"

Kurama closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair. "You are very stubborn."

"Beats gullible." She crossed her arms, refusing to back down. The wind thing was what got him, and she wanted to know why. If this was bad, she needed to work on something. If this was good, she was going to buy a slice of cheesecake later.

"You just... controlled the wind." he faltered.

Jess blinked. "How?"

"Well," he explained slowly. "It's a matter of several things, but mostly it's focus and power. The wind weakened too abruptly for it to be normal." Kurama paused as a new thought entered his brain. It caused a grim look to form on his face. "You should come back with me tonight."

"Huhwha!" she spluttered as they came to a stop. "Seriously?"

He nodded, pocketing his hands and facing her completely.

Jess swallowed a little harder than she expected. Her stomach was doing the flamenco.

"Don't worry about anything," the vibrantly featured boy instructed. "I'll come for you tonight after I talk to everyone I need to. This is not a bad thing, Jess. Stop looking like someone slapped you."

With that, he smiled slightly and walked off. His smile had been genuine, but it only made his words more serious. Jess put her palm to her forehead and let out a deep breath. She was leaving, ready or not, for the Spirit World. Tonight.


Jessica was too deep in thought to notice the extra cars parked outside her house when she returned home. The only thing that registered in her mind was the fact that this might be the last few hours she'd ever spend at home. Not to mention that she'd be missing from school for a while. And Stella... wow. The last thing she'd said to her was that she'd wanted some Gushers.

She briefly wondered if this was what dying felt like.

"Jessica? Is that you?" her mother called from the kitchen as she walked in the door.

"Yeah." Jess answered, trying to get some semblance of order in her head before dinner. That idea flew out the window when she walked into the kitchen.

"How are you, Jessica?" Principal Trenton raised his glass to her before taking a sip. "More tea, Darla?"

"Yes, please." Mrs. Pluff beamed and held her cup up for a refill.


If earlier was dying, then this was Hell.

Jess popped another bite of chicken in her mouth and tried to endure the rest of the stories on Darla's cats.

"And so Tassles was running at the door, still not realizing it was made of glass - imported glass, actually. From Paris. It had the most elegantly sloped panels. Anyway! Tassles hit the glass so hard that he shattered Aunt Mia's priceless door and flew headlong out into the pool!"

The table burst into giggles, all except for Jess, who had finished her salad and half her chicken in the time it took that story to get off the runway. If only Kurama could whisk her away right now. Maybe he should invest in a Batman-light? Or at least a pager.

"...and in any case, the pool had to be drained and the filter replaced. Tassle's funeral was the next week."

Everyone nodded in unison, including Mr. Madison, who was the only guest Jess would've ever agreed to. Then Margaret spoke up.

"So, is everyone liking dinner?"

"Yes," Mr. Madison, or rather, Elliot said. "I'm in love with this chicken. Is it dijon?"

Her mother nodded and blushed. It seemed that it wasn't only high school girls found him attractive.

"My wife would love these potatoes." Principal John Trenton smiled and ate another.

"I had a cat named Dijon once!"

And so dinner went on. After the chronicles of Dijon the calico, a few bad jokes, and some mentioning of new office staff, the table sat in an after-meal silence. Everyone was remembering their last few bites of chocolate pie except for Jess and Darla. Jess's stomach had taken quite a liking to its dance routines and was now attempting the electric slide. Darla was swiping meringue smudges off her plate and licking it from her finger. Maybe she was part feline?

"Well, I think you all know why I've invited you over." Margaret began, clearing her throat.

Darla stopped molesting her dessert plate and folded her hands over her napkin. The men nodded, sitting back in their chairs in preparation for a conversation. Jess's heart seemed to like dancing, too, all the way down to her toes.

"Jessica and I have yet to discuss this matter, but I feel it's best that we talk while you three are present." She inhaled and exhaled slowly, as if to drag it on even longer. "My daughter's attitude has always been a little testy. But lately, with all her cafeteria tantrums and peer pressure, I feel like it's gotten worse. In fact, I have been reading up on the subject, and I think it is time to find her a private school."

...her heart leapt off her toes, flipped her the bird, and ran across the room to hide in the corner.

"I think Jessica is a fine candidate for private school," Elliot opined. "She's very intelligent. It would challenge her."

A lot of help her favorite teacher was turning out to be. Didn't all these years together mean anything to him!

"But up until recently, she has been very reserved in school," John said. "And for the most part, all her outbursts have been provoked."

Two points to the old fat guy!

"However, it does interfere with her schoolwork." Darla added, stroking her napkin lovingly.

Margaret seemed like a sponge, soaking up their every word. The staff rattled off a few more opinions, each varying from their first, but all ending with: "Whatever you think is best."

Half an hour later, the last guest walked out the door. Jess's father and brothers were at Putt Putt, enjoying their father-sons bonding ritual of hitting the ball into the octopus's crotch. This left the whole house to Margaret and Jessica. Somehow, it seemed much smaller than usual.

"You were going to put me in private school?" Jess asked, incredulous.

"Who says I still wouldn't?" Margaret stood in front of her daughter with her hands on her hips. They shared the same eye and hair color, but that was the extent of their likeness.

"But why! I make good grades, I haven't killed anyone--"

"Yet!"

"That's not fair! I would never kill anyone!"

'You know, except those demons I'm supposed to massacre in about two weeks.' Jess thought bitterly.

"Well, you're certainly on that track. You drove that poor boy clinically insane!"

"I think he managed that on his own, actually!"

"You're an antagonist, Jessica. That is what you are. A rebel."

She wasn't sure if that was an insult or a compliment. Coming from her mother, it was probably the former.

"Okay Mom, yeah. I'm a rebel . I have secret maps of the CIA building which I plan to invade. Then I'll proceed to pull their nose hairs until they hand over full power to me. Then I'll take out the president and blow up the rest of the world 'till they bow down to my--"

"That's enough! Don't talk smart to me, young lady! I am your mother!"

Jess crossed her arms and glared at the living room carpet.

"For lying to me repeatedly about your detentions, I'm grounding you for two weeks. For being late after school for the millionth time, I'm grounding you for an additional week. And for all your smart-ass comments, you're grounded from all things electronic until further notice. Now go to your room, and don't come out until it's time for school tomorrow."

Green eyes clashed angrily, but neither said a word. Jess nodded slowly and turned on her heel, walking as she assumed a convicted felon would to his cell: slow and angry. Once she reached the hall, she called back to her mother.

"I'm sorry I'm such a failure to you. Maybe you'd be better off without me."


It was an unfair thing to say given the situation, and Jess knew it. Her mother had no idea that she'd wake up in the morning one child short. Or that when she called, and called, and called for her to eat breakfast - she'd never come. She would storm in her room, demanding that she stop acting like a toddler, only to stop short upon seeing her made, and very empty, bed.

A few hours ago, she would've felt sympathy and remorse. Now, however, she really just didn't want to think about it. Leaving home on a bad note was never in the plan, but what could she do? March in there and tell her mother that her being late was for important world-saving problems? That her blow-ups at Chad had been a long time in coming? That she got those "smart-ass" remarks from her?

Jessica blew out her cheeks and glanced around her room. It was nearly eight, and she couldn't think of a thing to do. Packing would be good, the small voice in the back of her mind said. But what would she need? Two weeks worth of clothes? ...did she own two weeks worth of clothes!

"I'll always needs a toothbrush," she muttered, walking into her connected bathroom. "And a hairbrush. Oh, and it's almost the end of the month..."

She busied herself by filling a travel sized Hello Kitty backpack with all her necessities. Zipping it up, she walked back into her bedroom and froze.

Her teacher was leaning patiently against the wall beside her computer while three other males and a blue haired female paced and poked at her belongings. Kurama looked up and grinned at her.

"You really don't have to pack anything," he said quietly so as not to alert her mother to his presence. "You'll be staying in the palace."

Jess blinked and nodded slowly.

"Oi," said the boy with cropped black hair. "Is this a fairy or an angel?" He pointed at a figurine on her shelf.

"A fairy," she managed, quickly regaining herself and all the repulsion she would normally have with strangers bothering her stuff.

"Told you, moron," the black haired boy elbowed the other redhead in the room.

"Shut-up, Urameshi. You didn't even know."

They both stuck their tongues out at each other and began sorting through things on her desk. Okay, that was too much.

"Kurama!" Jess hissed, dropping her bag and marching over to him. "What the hell is going on here!"

"We're here to take you to Spirit World," he explained, clearly amused. "Do you already dislike the people you'll be working with?"

She whirled around and eyed them all cynically. There was a shorter black-haired boy standing by the bathroom doorway she'd just left. What he lacked in height, he made up with his piercing red eyes. Despite his height and sullen gaze, he wasn't hard to look at. Jess could swear this was the ex-felon Kurama had worked with, but the name escaped her at the moment.

The blue haired woman smiled at her as she leaned against a tall oak paddle. Her mauve eyes sparkled cheerfully, almost as bright as her turquoise hair. Somehow, she reminded Jess of Stella.

The black haired boy who'd inquired about her fairy earlier was still sorting papers on her desk. He wasn't short, but not quite tall, either. His eyes were just mere shades lighter than his hair, and both contrasted immensely with his easy going smile. The way he carried himself was with an air of intensity, though she couldn't tell what that might be just yet.

Then there was the other redhead. He was tall, taller than Kurama maybe, if he'd only stop slouching. His face wasn't attractive, and his eyes were squinty. He looked friendly and strong, though maybe not very intelligent.

Still, not one of them held a candle to what she thought of Kurama. That thought made Jess relax a little. Her teacher wouldn't bring people here he didn't trust.

Wait. This was her team? The Spirit Detective and the others she'd heard about? Suddenly, they all seemed much more important.

'The one with the short black hair must be the Spirit Detective,' she decided in her mind. 'But who are the rest of them?'

Kurama seemed to read her thoughts.

"Yusuke," The fox demon addressed the boy Jess had assumed to be Spirit Detective. He stopped nosing around her desk and turned to Kurama. "This is Jessica Matthews."

Yusuke smiled a boyish smile and nodded to her. "Nice bag."

Jess blushed. "Oh, yeah, it was a phase--"

"No, really. Kayko would love it."

A look of confusion formed on Jess's face as she turned towards the blue-haired woman. "So you're..."

"No," The woman flapped her hand. "That's Yusuke's girlfriend. I'm Botan, Grim Reaper and Spirit World transporter."

"She is not my girlfriend! We've been over this at least a thousand times!"

"And every time we end up with the same conclusion." Botan lilted.

"Yeah, that you don't listen!"

"Would you two shut the hell up?" the dark figure by the bathroom hissed. "I'd rather not have to meet the rest of her family."

The name that had eluded her before suddenly came to mind.

"Hiei?" Jess questioned. Deep scarlet eyes flicked their gaze to her, causing a frisson to slide down her spine. Hiei narrowed his eyes at her before turning them elsewhere. She got the feeling he passed judgement this way a lot.

"Don't mind him," Kurama said in a whisper that was meant for her alone to hear. He spoke up for the last part. "Now you've met everyone but Kuwabara."

"Hey," The other redhead waved. "It's nice to meet you."

Jess nodded, feeling slightly more at ease. Yusuke and Botan were still fuming quietly at each other, having toned down the volume per Hiei's "request". They stopped once they realized the room had fallen into silence.

"Is it time to go?" Yusuke inquired.

Kurama looked at Jess. "Is there anything you need to do?"

It was time. It was really time. She bit her lip and glanced around her room. Maybe she should leave a note--

"Jessica!" her mother's voice called from outside her door, causing everyone's insides to dance mercilessly. "I want those lights out in twenty minutes. You're going to bed early tonight, understood?"

Her green eyes turned a frosty glare towards the door, her voice just as cold: "Yes, ma'am."

Margaret's footsteps became faint, and Jess turned to Kurama. "Nope, nothing left to do. Calgon, take me away."


End A/N Next chapter, the fun begins:D Once again, you guys are truly awesome for not flaming me about the delays. (No one's called me a bitch this time!) Lets keep this review thing going. If we reach 25 reviews by next chapter, I'll be forced to be extra nice to everyone and, uh... bake you all cyber cookies! Yeah:P

Translation: I love answering readers questions, and listening to crit. or requests. I want to know if all this revision is making a difference, and if anyone thinks something else should change. So let me know, and stay tuned!