Disclaimer: so i do not own the YYH characters... this is getting old... i own Yokiko in this chapter though...

Author's note: please review... happy holidays... and this chapter is kinda long... i'm sorry if some of the chracters don't sound like themselves... i tried to remember stuff as muh as i can... functioning on memory here... okay here it is...

please take note I will fix up the naming later, still to be editted... sorry not really sure what the real names were... functioning on memory... please to correct me if you have time... thanks...

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Chapter 4: Dragons Collide

Yokiko gradually increased her spirit energy to a Class D to prevent from being ganged up on and mistaken as another demon's next meal while inside the town gates. She would have taken anyone that would have presented themselves or challenged her but she needed rest and time to heal. Once inside the town premises, Yokiko proceeded to search for an Inn to rest.

Hn, You decided to show up. A familiar voice echoed in her head.

Ah, you aren't dead yet Voorime? Yokiko questioned.

Disappointed?

Not really, it gives me the chance to kick your Jagan butt.

Hn, with seven years of zero practice in Ningenkai, you actually think you can beat me, baka?

And what makes you think that I haven't gotten any practice? Nonetheless, I shall still kick your sorry ass, Voorime.

Tomorrow sound good, baka?

Tomorrow then, Voorime.

Back where you beat the stuffing out of that baka, Fu.

Oh, is the little kitty awake?

Not when I left him.

I see, I'll be kicking your ass tomorrow then, baka.

Hn. Come prepared. Then the connection was broken.

Yokiko checked into a decent looking Inn using the loot she just got from the bunch of Class D demons from the forest. She took a shower and eyed her bruises in the mirror. They'll be gone by tomorrow, she concluded. She bolted the door, place her tanzo under her pillow then fell asleep.

> > >

That baka thinks she can beat me? The Voorime thought to himself as he settled into a tree in the outskirts of the town. He had full view of the Inn Yokiko stayed in. I'll fry her sorry butt. Then promptly fell asleep.

> > >

Yokiko awoke early the next day. She proceeded to do a little floor stretching before taking her shower. Her bruises had completely disappeared. She got into her fighting attire and she examined her cloak. There were a couple of long rips. I'll have to let the Voorime buy me a new one later on, she thought.

Yokiko brought out her katana and eyed the hilt. A white dragon was imprinted there and in its eye there lay imbedded a small red stone. Yokiko smiled, I have better control of you now, don't I? We'll make the baka eat his words today. She tied the katana to her waist and hid the rest of her weaponry. She donned her cloak and proceeded out the Inn.

Upon reaching the agreed battle area, Yokiko noted that the Voorime had already been waiting for her.

"Ohayo Gozaimasu, Hiei." Yokiko greeted the fire demon.

"Hn, I thought you'd never show." He said mockingly.

"And miss seeing your sorry ass fall? Not in a million years." Yokiko replied as she took of her cloak. Hiei did the same and placed his hand on the hilt of his katana.

"Baka." He said as his power rose. Yokiko smiled as she increased her spirit energy as well easily matching Hiei's.

Hiei took the initiative of starting the fight and rushed at her. Yokiko narrowly missed his first few attacks. She countered his moves with her own narrowly missing him. He did have the upper hand at speed which came with that fact the he was a fire demon.

"Ah!" Yokiko cried as finally one of his blows caught her at the arm. Hiei smiled at his small victory, as blood flowed from the cut. "Good one, Hiei." Then she rushed at him, her well-choreographed moves landed him a cut at one of his legs. Now it was her turn to smile.

A few minutes later, both fighters were cut and had their own share of bruises. Both stood apart from each other, their breathing shallow. Dammit, Hiei can still move.

She hasn't let up after seven damn years. Hiei assessed. "I'm gonna finish you now, baka." Then slowly the bandages around his arm began to sizzle as his power grew. His Jagan eye opened.

Yokiko took a defensive stance, placed her katana fore her, and raised her spirit energy as well. Time to show off. Hiei was engulfed by a black aura. He was getting ready to use hisBlack Dragon Spirit Technique against her. Yokiko in turn was engulfed by an amber and deep bluish glow.

"Ensatsu-Koku-Ryu-Ha!" Hiei released the dragon towards her.

Yokiko fed her spirit energy to the red stone set at her katana turning the sword into a deep red glow, and then rushed at the approaching dragon. She leapt and raised her glowing red katana and brought it down through Hiei's dragon.

"What the--" but he wasn't able to finish, Yokiko was already in his face. Both katana's met in a resounding clash. Yokiko released a final burst of spirit energy.

> > >

Yokiko leaned against a tree, her katana in still in her hand. Her breathing slow and shallow, trying to slowly regain her strength. Hiei sat across her, backed against a tree as well.

"So, you finally gained control over that thing." Hiei uttered in between breaths.

"Of course, what? You actually thought I'd mellow down." Yokiko said as she took a look at her katana, then she sheathed it.

"Hn." Hiei replied and moved towards her. He was limping, his right leg bleeding profusely from the earlier blow she had given him. He tossed her a roll of bandage from his pocket. Yokiko swiped it of the air and began to bandage her arm bleeding arm.

He sat beside her and began bandaging his own arm covering the black mark of theBlack Dragon Spirit,Yokiko reached out her palm towards the bleeding cut at his leg. Hiei swatted her hand away.

"Dammit, Hiei!" Yokiko reproached.

"I don't want to be walking around Makai carrying your life force, baka."

"It's just a little cut, Hiei. It wouldn't take too much." Yokiko reasoned.

"You're already weak as it is, keep it. I'm not the one with a deep cut at my back." He told her, "Mukuro could heal me later."

"Floating in a tank for a day? Suite yourself." Yokiko could heal others but to do so she had to give a little of her strength an in that transmitting her own body's healing ability. Usually jump starting the other person's or demon's healing metabolism, ten times faster. "You still working for Mukuro?"

Hiei nodded, "For the last seven years. After the recent Makai Bujustukai, we came close."

"Who won?"

"Enki. He still takes his counsel at the Raizen's old palace."

"You wouldn't happen to know where Yomi is by any chance?"

"No, he disappeared with Shura again after the last tournament. He still lost to Enki." And I lost to that baka's son.

"Anything else I should know?"

"Hn. You should ask Mukuro, she has all the latest news. Why the hell are you back anyway?"

"Maybe I should speak to Mukuro. You heading there anytime soon?" Yokiko replied completely ignoring his inquiry.

"Hn. Can you still run?" I'll get my answers later.

"I'm not the one with the bleeding leg." She replied as she got up.

"Smartass." Hiei uttered, Yokiko merely laughed at this. She quickly took her things from the Inn. Then they both took off.

> > >

"Stay close." Hiei told her. "We're near."

"Finally. What is in this forest anyway?" Yokiko asked as she side stepped another slithering root as she caught up to Hiei's sure footing. "So, how's Yukina?" And with that question, Yokiko triggered a steam of curses from the fire demon's mouth. "Okay, care to share, Voorime?"

"She married the Baka few years ago." Then continued with the cursing.

"Kuwabara and Yukina are married?" Yokiko confirmed and the fire demon got back to his cursing. "Where are they now?"

"Ningenkai," Hiei spat the word out like poison.

"Right, and she still doesn't know who you are?" Hiei shook his head. Yokiko shrugged dropping the subject as they broke free of the forest and approached a high wall. Hiei tapped a few bricks and passageway revealed itself.

Yokiko followed Hiei in. He led her to a steel door, and behind it Yokiko could here cries for mercy. Hiei pushed the door open. Mukuro stopped kicking the demon in front of her and looked up.

"Finally, you decide to show up, Hiei. Report?" She glared at the demon at her feet and kicked him towards the door. His body slammed into the metal hinges and then the demon scrambled out past them.

"Hn." Hiei replied, whether this was good or bad news only Mukuro and Hiei knew. Yokiko didn't pretty much care.

"This is what kept you." Mukuro said as she eyed Yokiko. "Yokiko." She said in way of recognition.

"Mukuro," Yokiko returned.

"What brings you back to Makai?" Mukuro asked.

"Personal reasons at the moment, Mukuro," Yokiko replied. "Oh yeah, I think Hiei needs one of your regeneration tanks. We got carried away."

"Hiei," Mukuro nodded and Hiei left the room shutting the door behind him. "So now you want to talk?"

Yokiko nodded and place her duffel bag on the floor and sat on it. "I need to know more about Makai's current state of governance. What's been going on since the last Makai Bujustukai?"

"Enki won, naturally seems like he can never tire. Same set up as when you left. I still get to keep my territory as long as I help the lost ningens back to their world. Enki still stays at Raizen's old place since the heir seems to be in Ningenkai," Yokiko nodded, she already had news on Yusuke. Mukuro continued, "Enki decreed the west lands as a free territory for the dog clans, I am not sure who holds counsel there as of late, but I hear he has one hell of a sword technique."

"And Yomi?" Yokiko prodded.

"Yomi? He's gone again, but he left someone to tend to Gandara and his property. I'll be sending Hiei there to find out who soon, you can wait here if you want to. I need someone to spar with."

"Love the offer but no thanks, I need to keep moving." Yokiko replied.

"At least let me know what all of this is to you."

"I'm in search of a little trinket." Yokiko said, "Besides, information is always a good thing to have."

"What has Yomi have to do with this quest of yours?"

"I'm not all that sure yet. That's one of the reasons why I need to find him."

"And the trinket?"

"Powerful, dark, ready to wake. The usual apocalypse description, I have to deal with." Yokiko replied. "To tell you, I'm only speculating at this, I'm not a hundred percent sure. Anything else that I would need to know?"

"I told you the state of Makai, but concerning this trinket of yours, Enki would be the best to consult." Mukuro advised, "For all I know he might be sitting on it."

Yokiko gave a little laugh, "I'll be staying for the night, give me time to freshen up?"

"Not a problem," Mukuro added, "but you do realize I do not usually extend my hospitality."

"If you want to kick me out just say so, Mukuro." Yokiko told her, as she stood and took her bag.

Mukuro shook her head, "I respect you as a fighter, nothing more."

"As I do you." Yokiko replied and made her way out. And after a couple wrong turns, Yokiko finally found a sleeping quarters.