Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or any of it's characters. I do own Katrina, Lisa, Serena, Marissa, Alex, and Cassandra. And I own Garn Roak (Ragnarok from now on).

AN: Alrighty, I think I've finally found music that'll help this story along until the end. I don't think I'll drag this out any longer, since all the fun stuff is over. I'm not too happy with how it's progressed, but I'll wait to see the end. If it goes fast, so shoot me. I didn't plan on it being any longer than it already is. I just didn't have the inspiration to write, I was too stressed out. That is the biggest understatement of the year so far. I emotionally broke down in public twice cuz of all the stress. I just started bawling. v.v; -Shrugs- Ah well, lets get started...

Bewitching Ties

Legend

-Thought-

-Telepathy-

Noise

"Ghost speach"

'Ghost thought'

'Ghost Telepathy'

Part Two

Chapter Seventeen: Family

"Mom, Dad," Katrina said quietly as she walked into the kitchen the next morning. Her parents looked at her questioningly.

"What is it dear?" her mother asked, quickly flipping the last french toast she was making onto a plate and turning off the burner. Normally her daughter was extrememly chipper in the morning.

"Is something wrong?" her father asked, laying down the morning newspaper. He saw from the look in Katrina's eyes that something was wrong. Concerned he pulled out the seat next to him, "Come on, sit and talk to us. You know you can talk to us about anything. What's troubling you?"

Katrina shook her head, "I think you and mom should be the ones sitting..." she said, gesturing for her mother to take the seat.

Becoming more concerned by the moment her mother took the seat, "What is it dear?" she asked again.

Katrina took a breath, "I have something to tell you and it might be hard for you to understand, even believe, but please, hear me out first..." she started, pausing to see the reaction on her parents' faces. Finding nothing but trust and love she continued, "Remember when me and Cass were little?...Remember the stuff we were able to do? ...the odd stuff...?" She paused for her parents reply.

Her parents were quiet for a moment, then her mother spoke, "Did you have a vision?"

Katrina shook her head, "No...But I have found out why we had such special abilities...I know where me and Cass came from...We're not..." she stopped, unable to continue, afraid of seeing rejection on their faces.

"Ahem," a voice said behind her. Her mother gave a startled squeak and her father jumped out of the chair and rushed towards Katrina and pushed her behind him. Katrina turned to find Hiei, Kurama and a teen Koenma standing behind her. "Maybe we can explain better," Koenma said cheerfully. He held out his hand to Katrina's father, "Hi, I'm Koenma."

Katrina gave her dad a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "Don't worry, they're good guys."

Her father untensed, trusting his daughter's judgement. He took the offered hand, "I'm Shane Lee."

"And I'm Diana Lee," her mother said, coming up to stand beside them. "What do you mean by 'explain better'? Explain what?"

"Katrina's and Cassandra's origins," Koenma said. "And you really will want to be seated when you hear this and other things."

Diana nodded and showed them into the living room, though she gave them suspicious looks, -What could they possibly say that'll make me fall down. Nothing has been able to do that since...- she shook her head, dispelling the thought as she and Shane sat down on the couch.

"First off, let's introduce ourselves," Koenma said, "I'm Prince Koenma of Reikai, son of King Enma. This is Kurama, a kitsune in the form of a human, ex-thief of Makai, and Hiei, a fire apparition and also an ex-theif of Makai," he motioned to Kurama and Hiei. Kurama nodded his greetings and Hiei 'hn'ed. "Okay, now that that's said, let me explain about the realms of Reikai, Makai and your world, Ningenkai," Koenma started, "I'll give you the abridged version...Reikai is 'Heaven' and 'Hell', the place where spirits go when they die. There I and my father are gods. Makai is a place where 'demons' live, but they're known as either youkai or apparitions. There are several different kinds; kitsunes, like Kurama, are spirit foxes in human form, and there are elemental apparitions, like Hiei, and several other types of youkai and apparitions. Not all take human shape though."

Katrina watched her parents closely and sighed, recognizing their expressions. -They don't believe Koenma, dammit. They're wearing those stupid 'I beleive you completely dears, what a wonderful tale you're weaving' look. They think Koenma is putting on a stupid play!- She sighed, "Mom, Dad," she said, interrupting Koenma's 'abridged' telling of the difference between the three worlds, "This is real, not a story or play, please believe us. Koenma, just get to the damn point already!" she snapped at the teen god.

Everyone jumped at her waspish behavior. "Katrina Lee!" Diana reprimanded her, "What have I told you about cursing!"

Katrina looked away, "Sorry, Mom."

Koenma shook his head, "Don't worry Mrs. Lee, she has every right to be tense, especially with what we have to tell you..." Koenma took a breath. "Katrina and Cassandra aren't human, or as the people of Reikai and Makai call you, ningen. They're seirei tsuin. Spirit Twins. Apparitions..." he paused for the reaction. All he got from her parents was a stunned silence. He sighed, -Might as well get it over with...- "Seirei Tsuin apparitions have power over the element of Spirit and can exist on this plane in living form or as a soul after they die. Your daughter Cassandra stayed in this world as a spirit, watching over you both and Katrina..."

At this point Diana gasped in outrage and stood up, glaring at the visitors and her daughter, "Katrina Raine Lee, this is a horrible joke! Stop this charade at once! Cassandra's dead, she's no longer here, stop fooling yourself that she is!" She turned to the boys, "And how dare you manipulate Katrina's feelings about her sister and her powers into believing she's a demon and that Cassandra is still in this world! I want you out, now!"

"Mom, this is no charade," a voice said from behind the three young men. Diana and Shane gasped as Cassandra stepped out from behind Kurama. "It's true, we're apparitions. I've stayed in this plane to watch over you. I'm sorry I never showed myself to you, but I thought that would hurt you even more."'

Diana's knees gave out and she fell back onto the couch. "Cassandra?...This can't be..." Diana whispered as Shane held her.

"But how...?" Shane asked as he comforted his wife.

Koenma shook his head, "There isn't time to explaine that. There's something more urgent that we have to talk to you about, it concerns both of your daughters..."

Katrina got up, "I've already heard this, I'll be in my room," she excused herself as she headed up the stairs.

Hiei followed her, his excuse being, "Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. Lee, I'll be protecting her."

"'Protecting her'? Why does Katrina need to be protected?" Shane asked, concern in his eyes.

Koenma sighed again, "That's what I have to talk to you about..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Katrina? What is bothering you?" Hiei asked as he watched Katrina stare out the window. He was currently sitting on her bed since she had taken his usual perch. They had been sitting quietly for the past ten minutes, in that time Hiei had watched Katrina's face gather lines of sadness, her eyes become dim and distant.

Katrina didn't answer him immediately, though he knew she would because of one of his earlier orders. Finally she sighed, "I'm just scared Hiei."

"Scared of what? I know it's more than being scared of Ragnarok."

She sighed again, "I'm scared for everything, scared of the upcoming battle, scared for my parents safety, scared for my friends, scared for Cassandra, scared for myself and..." she turned and looked at him, "Scared for you."

Hiei's eyes softened. "Don't worry, I can take care of myself. I've been through 'end of the world' battles before. I can take this battle. You don't have to be scared for me or any of the other tanteis." He sighed in turn, "What you need to focus on is yourself and your sister. You need to train your powers and ready yourself for the battle."

She looked away, "I also need to learn how to obliterate my soul should the worst happen..."

Hiei didn't reply immediately, he just stood up and walked over to her, taking her by the shoulders and turning her to face him but she turned her face away. "Katrina, look at me," he ordered, not intentionally using his 'mastercard' but it forced her to look at him. He saw unshed tears in her eyes. He sighed and held her, "I can't guarantee that we won't come out unscathed, but I doubt it will come to that. I'll protect you."

Katrina clenched his cloak in her fists as she cried softly into his chest, "Promise me Hiei, promise me you won't die."

Hiei smiled, "I promise I won't die on you."

There was a soft knock on the door followed by her mother opening it. "Katrina?" she asked, concerned, seeing her daughter crying.

Katrina looked at her mother for a second then got up and rushed to her to wrap her arms around Diana, crying, "Oh Mom! I'm sorry!"

Diana held her daughter tightly, "Sorry for what dear?"

"Sorry that I'm not human, sorry that I got you into this, sorry that you're in danger because of me," she cried.

Her mother shook her head, "Oh baby, don't be. You and Cassandra are our daughters, no matter what you are, whether human or apparition. And we don't blame you for what's happening. Don't worry about us being in danger. You know we'd walk into the line of fire to protect you. Know that we'd fight beside you if Koenma would let us, but he said we have to go to Reikai for protection. I know, why don't you come with us?" she asked her, an idea coming to her, "You don't have to fight."

Katrina shook her head, "No, I'm fighting. They need someone strong to help them and I want to fight. I want to be the one to do the protecting now. You and Dad have protected me and Cassandra all our lives, now it's my turn to return the favor."

Diana laughed, "It wasn't a favor, it was our pleasure." She held Katrina tighter, "Oh my baby, you've grown into a beautiful young woman, I'm so proud of you."

"I am too," Shane said, coming in with Cassandra. He walked over and embraced his wife and daughter. "I'm so proud to have such wonderful and brave daughters," he said looking down at Katrina then up to Cassandra.

Hiei watched the family in silence for a minute then escaped out the window silently to sit in the tree, his back turned to the family to give them space and time alone. -We have to defeat Ragnarok, if not for the world, then for their happiness,- he thought to himself, determined.