I've decided to change a few things in my writing (Not the story, by the way).

And also.

Sorry it's been so long.

Karei's golden eyes snapped open to the thick darkness surrounding her. The musty smell of bad breath and alcohol pierced her nose and she immediately sat up. That's when she realized her head was pounding. She grabbed her aching head and let her head rest on the downy pillow. Then she remembered drinking the alcohol that Yusuke called "Bacardi". It was tasty and had a hint of a type of flavor in it she wasn't familiar. After all, this was the first time she really had human food, except alcohol. You could find it anywhere in Makai.

In the other bed, Hiei's eyes fluttered open. It took him a moment to realize the ache in his head and he groaned loudly. Karei stole a glance at Hiei and found him with his eyes open and gripping his head.

The noise coming from the kitchen wasn't helping either of the two. Someone was washing the dishes rather loudly and it echoed throughout the house and even into their room. Hiei squinted as he tried to determine whether Karei was awake or not. He found himself staring right into her pained eyes. Straight off he knew that she, too, had a hangover.

A slight grin appeared on his face, for it almost made him joyous to see her suffer. The only thing that kept him unhappy was that he had the same pain, if not worse. "What?" Hiei snapped, trying to ignore this pounding headache.

"Don't shout," Karei moaned and rolled over, avoiding the little fire demons dark, red eyes. They almost scared her, those eyes of his. When open, it felt they were burning two holes into her skin. She wouldn't have minded it as much if the eyes weren't attached to the demon she felt absolute loathing for.

Later that day, Karei wandered outside to the bridge. The grey clouds over powered the sun and there was barely any sunlight, except for a few streaks seeping through cracks in the pure grey clouds. One ray lightly rained upon the lake underneath the brick bridge Karei stood upon. Her head still hammered loudly, but not as much as it had in the morning. Thankfully, the day was almost over which meant the splitting headache would be gone soon.

Yukina joined Karei on the bridge. The two girls leaned against the railing and stared down into the shimmering water. They're reflections were absolutely still in the serene pond. Yukina stole a quick glance at Karei, who seemed to be deep in thought. Her eyes instantly fell back to her reflection as soon as Karei's gold eyes shifted to Yukina.

"What is it?" Karei uttered, her eyes wandered back to her own reflection.

"Yesterday, you and Hiei seemed to have a really good time together," Yukina whispered, almost sounding ashamed of the words pouring from her mouth. Karei's eyes shot up at Yukina and she snickered.

"Maybe it was partly because we were buzzed."

"Probably." The two were silent as a green leaf floated through the air and gracefully lay upon the quiet water. Ripples appeared around the leaf, making the reflection of the two demons dance slightly.

"There's something going on between you two," Yukina finally broke the silence and turned to face Karei. Karei was once again in deep thought as she stared at the little green leaf. There was no reply, but Yukina knew Karei was thinking about what she'd just said. Yukina could see it in her eyes. "I'm not sure what it is."

"Loathing," Karei growled after a deep silence. Yukina smiled to herself, knowing Karei was lying not only to Yukina, but to herself. There were other feelings in the relationship, but both Karei and Hiei were stubborn enough not to notice them. In fact, the only people who had noticed them were Yukina and Keiko. Actually, it was really Yukina, but she had talked to Keiko about her theory.

"Hn," Yukina sighed, sounding just like a feminine version of her brother. Karei snickered at the resemblance and thought to herself, 'they definitely are siblings. Except Yukina was actually polite.' Karei giggled again and let her head hang. The wind playfully tossed Karei's hair and it lightly brushed against Yukina's body.

Yukina glanced down at the velvet hair hitting against her body. She couldn't blame Hiei for falling for this magnificent demon. Everything about Karei was perfect, her curves, her hair, her skin, her face and her eyes. Oh, those eyes! They were always intense and seemed to tell a silent story to whoever looked into them. Yukina knew that Karei had a dark past that she wasn't telling anyone about and her eyes were the things that helped Yukina discover it. If only she could understand the tale they told.

"Have you ever been in love?" Karei asked and Yukina glanced at the little kitsune. Finally, she would admit she loved Hiei.

"Well, I like Kuwabara but I don't love him."

"Oh." Karei drew in a deep breath and let it out through the corner of her mouth. "Well, do you have a cigarette?" The question threw Yukina totally off guard. In one second, Karei managed to switch the topic from love to cigarettes. Yukina wasn't even aware there were cigarettes in Makai.

"No. Why?"

"I've been craving one for a long time now...Are there even cigarettes in Ningenkai?" Karei's eyes narrowed as she looked at Yukina.

"Yes, actually."

"Well, who would have them?" Karei stood up, seeming a little bit happier. Yukina hoped that the nicotine was the only reason Karei acted like that around her elder brother.

"Maybe Yusuke. I know for a fact that Genkai has a few packs somewhere in the temple," Yukina thought for a moment, trying to remember which closet she had opened and found a plastic box containing the cigarette packages.

"Karei, could you maybe try to-" Yukina turned to find Karei was already walking toward the temple. Her long, silver tail moved back and forth as she disappeared into the side door. Yes, Karei really was a gorgeous fox. Whoever would have her was a lucky person.

Inside, Yusuke slipped past Karei in the hallway to get to Keiko's room. Her door was closed and Karei guessed Yusuke had said something wrong and caused Keiko to become angry. As Karei walked down the hall, she peaked in every open door, hoping to find Genkai. Finally, she found her in the laundry room, washing a black beater which Karei guessed belonged to Hiei.

"Yo, Genkai," Karei snapped to get the old woman's attention. Genkai raised her solemn eyes, but lowered them back to scrubbing the beater.

"Yes?" Genkai finally replied, now feverishly scrubbing the shirt.

"Do you have cigarettes? And why are you hand washing the shirt instead of using the machine?"

"Too many questions," Genkai scoffed, though Karei knew she didn't really care. She was probably frustrated from scrubbing this shirt. Karei didn't blame her. After all, it was his shirt. "There in the cupboard to the left when you leave in a plastic box. You can have a pack. And this shirt is hand wash only." She grumbled something to herself and threw the shirt into the awaiting, clear water.

"Okay," Karei glanced into the bucket at the floating shirt. "Arigato!" she chuckled and bounced excitedly out of the room. Finally, she would be able to smoke after waiting for two long weeks. She tore the door opened and desperately searched for the little treasures. Her hands brushed against a plastic box and her entire body immediately froze as her eyes fell upon tons and tons of cigarette packages. Most of them still had the wrapping around them, too!

She gaped at the little plastic box and snatched on wrapped pack. Her fingers shook as she opened the wrapping carefully. The lid flipped open and she pulled one out. Now all she needed was to find a lighter.

Karei shoved the unlit cigarette in her mouth as she ran her fingers through the closet, hoping to find matches or a lighter or anything that could create fire. No luck.

"Having a bad day?" Kurama stepped out of his room and closed the door swiftly. Karei shrugged and Kurama withdrew the cigarette from her mouth. Her golden eyes widened as Kurama took out a lighter from his jean pocket and lit the cigarette.

"Give it up!" Karei tried to grab the cigarette, but Kurama held it above his head mockingly. Just because she was short. Anger infuriated Karei as Kurama smirked at the kitsune. It wasn't fair, even though she knew he was playing with her. It just wasn't fair. "Fox!" she whined loudly and jumped for the cigarette. Kurama stood on his tip toes each time she jumped for her treasure.

Karei began to shake as the cigarette slowly burned closer and closer to the butt. A slight whimper came from her throat as she watched it singe. Kurama looked up at it and back down at Karei. Her bottom lip shook as she stared at it. Her craving was killing her.

"Smoking's bad for you," Kurama said, giving her the almost burnt cigarette. Karei shrugged, snatched it and shoved it in her mouth. Smoke poured out of her mouth and a content sigh came from Karei.

"Maybe for humans, but not demons," she took another drag and blew the smoke in Kurama's face. His eyes watered and he turned away to wipe his face clean. "Besides, I've been smoking since I was 7."

Kurama turned back to Karei. That was before he left because he left when she was 9. "So you smoked while we were friends? Why didn't you tell me?" Kurama's eyes got larger as his stomach flipped. She kept a secret from him when they were best friends and it seemed to pierce his heart.

"Well, you never asked," Karei said playfully and let the smoke rain from only the right corner of her mouth. Kurama smiled and realized it was true. She didn't have to tell him everything, but only if he asked. After all, they were best friends.

Later, Karei was leaning against the railing of the bridge, again. Only this time, no one was besides her. The sun lazily sunk behind the horizon, leaving the clouds and sky a soft pink with a hint of orange. The soft colors reflected against Karei's pale face. Her golden eyes glimmered slightly as the sun as she stared, deep in thought, trying to figure out what Yukina had been implying, when something brushed against her bare leg and foot.

Kabu stares up at Karei with his giant golden eyes that seemed to engulf his tiny body. His silver tail swirled, draping itself politely on the floor. Karei bent down to pick up the tiny kitsune, but he immediately backed away.

"Kabu?" Karei reached for him again, but he took another step back. Karei began to grow frustrated and she turned her back from the fox, with her eyes closed and her nose in the air. Whenever she did this, Kabu would usually become upset and nip her leg for attention. At that point, however, the little animal started to growl. Karei opened an eye and realized why. On the bridge was a face mask with a red string to hold it around the face.

For a moment, she couldn't feel a single thing. Her entire body shut down and darkness slowly poured into her vision. The mask! He was back to get her, to kill her just like he promised. She cried out and collapsed. Luckily, Yusuke was still by Keiko's door so he heard the scream.

"Keiko! Something's wrong!" he pounded on the door. Keiko, who was still upset, ignored this and thought it was a trick so he could get her out of the locked room. There was no response so Yusuke banged his head on the door in frustration. He ran outside and found Karei laying on the bridge. Kabu was licking her cheek and nudging her, desperately trying to wake her up. The kitsune just lay there.

At her feet was the grey face mask and Yusuke picked it up. He stared at it for a moment as an attempt to figure out what it was. Once he couldn't, he stuffed it into his pocket to show Genkai. Then, he scooped up the unconscious girl and carried her into the house. Kabu was right at his feet, but the little fox kept looking back. Yusuke ignored the foxes growls because he sensed no presence.

In the temple, Yusuke lay Karei in her bed. Hiei watched from his bed as Yusuke tucked Karei comfortably in, lining the blanket perfectly with her body. Kabu jumped lightly onto Karei's stomach and glared up at Yusuke. Since he wasn't aware of Kabu's pet peeves, Yusuke watched the cub. Deep growls came from Kabu as they held eye contact. Yusuke laughed and reached his hand out to pet Kabu, but received a bite for his attempt.

"Ouch!" Yusuke whined and stuck his bleeding hand in his mouth. Kabu licked his lips and settled back on Karei's stomach. Yusuke looked down at the mask bulging from his pocket and took at it to look at it. Instantly, Kabu started to growl extremely loudly. A little shocked, Yusuke jumped a couple of centimeter's back and looked at Kabu.

"What the hell are you growling at?" Yusuke glared down at the little fox.

"It's a fox. It can't answer you," Hiei informed Yusuke, who turned to look at the fire demon. Hiei received an I-know-what-I'm-doing-face from the ex-spirit detective. Yusuke turned back to the fox, only to discover he was hiding behind Karei's sleeping face.

"He's scared," Yusuke said, pointing out the obvious. Hiei decided not to say anything and let Yusuke feel smart for once in his life. "But of what?"

There was a long pause before Hiei got aggravated by how slow Yusuke was. "Maybe the mask in your hand," he snapped. There was another silence as Yusuke slowly moved the mask toward Kabu. Immediately, Kabu got on all fours and began to growl at the piece of metal in Yusuke's hand.

"Yep, it's definitely the mask," Yusuke placed it back into his pocket and left the room to aid his bleeding hand. So, the room became silent once more as Hiei sat against the wall, staring at the two kitsune's on the other bed. Kabu has curled up once again on Karei's stomach, placing his head on her chest. Once he realized Hiei was watching them, he began to snarl again.

"Hn. Shut up, fox," Hiei growled right back and looked out the window at the dark blue sky. It was twilight, the most gorgeous time of day in Hiei's opinion. It was neither black or shining from the sun. The dark blue almost forced Hiei to look upon the day that had just passed by like lightning. Maybe it was because nothing happened.

Yusuke dropped the piece of metal on the kitchen table, right in front of Genkai. She stares at the mask for a couple of seconds and her eyes widen. Fear and anger seemed to boil up inside her at the same time as she stared at the small masked perched on the table.

"What the hell is this?" Yusuke grunted. "Whatever it is, it scares that stupid fox, Kabu. And I think it's one of the reasons that Karei fainted."

"Yusuke, do you not recognize this?" Genkai glanced up at the ex-Spirit Detective, who instantly went into deep thought, trying to remember what was so important about the face mask. Genkai slowly grew impatient until finally, she snapped. "Yusuke! Your as blind as a bat! How could you not-"

Out of no where, a hand snatched up the mask. Yusuke turned around to find Kurama gaping at the mask. Now, he began to become angry and confused.

"What is so special about this mask?" he hollered, glaring up at the red head. Kurama glanced down at Yusuke and gave him the saddest expression. His eyes seemed to grow big and his lip began to tremble. "What?"

"Yusuke. Look at this mask," Kurama shoved it into his face, without even realizing how rough he was being to the boy. Yusuke stared at it, but he couldn't help it. It was forced right in front of him. "Don't you recognize it?" Kurama almost screamed in desperation. It was bothering him that Yusuke had such a bad memory.

"Uh," Yusuke tried to dig into his brain, desperately trying to remember what they were talking about.

"Karasue!" Kurama wailed finally, collapsing to his knees. "Karasue's mask! Karasue is back!" Yusuke looked down to the mask and suddenly, the memory smacked him right into the face. But how? How could Karasue be back? Kurama had killed him.

Hadn't he?

"I can't believe this!" Kurama began to shake and wrapped his arms around his chest.

Yusuke watched the fox with curiosity. He couldn't understand why Kurama was acting this way. He leaned over to Genkai and muttered, "what's with Kurama? If he defeat him once, he can defeat him again."

"It's not as simple as that," Genkai whispered.