By Hotaru Hope Maxwell

I do not own SM/YYH. There. Said it. Done with it. Oh yeah. DON'T CALL ME BAMBI TARU!

Oh yeah, couples are as follows: Hiei/Hotaru with a little Hotaru/Kurama, Kieko/Yuusuke and Botan/Koenma ((teen style)). Sorry Yuusuke/Hotaru fans, I'm too big a Hotaru/Hiei fan or Hotaru/Kurama, but I don't want to effect Ketsuki's work or Shalia's either. As for the story I'm writing on the series titles; well here you go.

It's called all that for personal reasons. I liked the irony and will be using chocolate later on in the series. Oh and Winter Cocoa comes from Lil Taru's suggestion on the second story which I will begin writing probably around Christmas time. Ciao.

"REMIND ME TO KILL YOU SHINO!" the violet-eyed princess of Saturn screamed at the petite figure near her as she dodged the large staff of the giant pig monster. "What's the point!" Shino cried. "Their gonna get us first." He screamed like a little girl as the raven haired one did an extensive back flip to land on the pig's head.

"Because you're the one who dragged me here!" Hotaru hissed, her violet orbs dark in color and her spirit self's clothing torn at the knees. The once decked in long black silk gown now wore a torn up, high collared sleeveless, knee-length version of the dress. Her long hair had been disorderly cut as she had dodged the sharp blades of the staff from the pig boy. Creamy legs were covered in muck as she skillfully leapt from branch to branch. Her energy somehow remaining strong in the strange world where she thought she'd full out faint.

"It's not my fault!" Shino cried as he jumped out of the way of the pig's hand. "Yes it is!" Hotaru argued with him, landing skillfully on the ground next to Shino's current position. Picking up the tiny "insect" as he'd been again colorfully dubbed by Hotaru, the princess made a full out dash towards a nearby curve in the rocky path.

_______

Yuusuke Urameshi, a boy who'd lived past death and past the evil ambitions of a fighter named Toguro, a 15 year old human kid whose life seemed to be on a downward path till he died stood glaring at the guide of the afterlife, Botan. "Is this little demon really that important?" Yuusuke groaned. "Why don't we just go to the bosses home and kick his ass." He commented, stretching his arms in a laid back motion over his head.

"For one thing, Yuusuke Urameshi, we don't know where to find this leader or that human that he's making contact with. And for another; Shino is a great spy that Lord Koenma needs for information." Botan pointed out, a finger pointing right in Yuusuke's face as the violet eyed grim reaper yelled at the boy. "Yuusuke. It is your future at stake." Kurama calmly stated from behind the angry and arguing duo.

"Who cares. Its not like Urameshi does anyway." Kuwabara smirked. "I do so care!" Yuusuke retorted. "I just don't see why we have to trudge through another stinking forest!" Yuusuke snorted, arms crossed. "Because, Yuusuke, this was the last area Shino was seen in or heard from." Botan told him, her own look stubborn. Suddenly she was knocked down with a cry. She let out a scream as a person decked out in black and mud tumbled along into her.

"Ouch…" The grim servant of Koenma groaned darkly. "Ack." The person on her back jumped off quickly and it was then that the group realized it was a girl. This girl wasn't as ordinary as some would have desired. She wore a high collared black dress with no sleeves. Her arms were covered in long gloves that too had the fingers removed. Looking at the paleness of her skin, one might presume she'd hardly seen the sun. Black purple hair sprouted out in long waves that seemed to be cut at one point near her upper shoulder and another down to her waist in the most unnatural way. Her dress went to her upper knees as well, cut and torn in a patchwork way as if ripped to run. Little black slippers on her feet were also almost torn apart.

The girl before them looked no older than 14 and when she looked up at the boys, they were surprised to say the least. Dark violet eyes like the world had never seen, eyes so brightly shaded that they seemed to be the night sky themselves stared at each of the figures. Eyes that seemed to know far too much to be said. Hiei was the first to make any motion. He quickly removed his sword and was about to sneak up for an attack when the girl turned away to look at something on her shoulder. When she did this, everyone finally noted it wasn't something it was someone!

"Are you alright, Shino?" Hotaru muttered, trying her best to rid herself of the headache that had resulted from the head on collision with the blue haired woman. She'd taken her chance to glance about at the men and single woman. Each held their own oddness about them and made Hotaru feel somehow, in some strange way more at ease. She groaned, looking at the little creature whose own yellow-green eyes were spinning. "I'm okay." The tiny thing moaned/groaned out as he too shook his head to rid himself of the dizzy aftershock of stopping so soon.

The two glanced nervously out at the four men and single teenaged woman. The girl wore a pink kimono and had blue icy colored hair and a very light shade of violet eyes. She was much taller than Hotaru. The boy standing beside her had orange-red hair and eyes so squinty and small Hotaru couldn't make out the color. Near him, yet still somewhat away; stood a purely red head. The hair on his head was so red Hotaru could compare it to that of a rose color. His eyes were a soft yet darkly calculating green emerald color. Beside him yet not was a shorter man with gifted brown eyes and dark black pointy hair. Finally the last that stood was a boy with green-black hair and darker harder brown eyes. From what Hotaru could sense, two of them were from Earth's stronghold while the others' she couldn't place.

"Um…Who the hell are you guys?" She questioned, letting her language and proper behavior slip for a moment in front of these strangers. "We should ask you the same thing little girl!" the green-black haired boy shouted at her. Hotaru flinched, glaring at the boy before hissing out, "I'm not little. Idiot." He too flinched.

"What was that?!" Yuusuke yelled at the smaller teen. "I am not little, brat!" She yelled right back, her eyes almost completely black. "Arg! Let me at her!" Yuusuke had to be held back by both Botan and Kuwabara. "Human. Now is not the time for this." Everyone finally took note of the little demon sitting on her shoulder. "How many times do you have to call me that. I'm not-" the girl stopped as a loud crash echoed across the area. "Um…Shit…" She cursed, taking in the huge pig creature. It had to be as tall as a house. "Shino…" The pig grumbled, reaching out for the strange raven haired child and the tiny little bug sized creature on her shoulder.

Hotaru gasped as she dodged to the left to avoid the large hand coming down in an effort to seize her. She back flipped away from the fast moving staff he held in his other, but slipped on her landing. "Ack!" She gave a cry, falling backwards. She landed against a cushion of flesh and warmth. Hotaru blushed hotly as she glanced up at the slightly taller black haired boy with piercing brown eyes. The blush grew brighter as he scooped her up ladylike style and dodged the next attack from the demon. "Spirit Gun!" Hotaru's attention was caught off the strange smaller fellow as the one she'd previously been fighting sent an attack in the direction of the pig that let out a last scream.

Hiei was a bit surprised when the young dare devil that even challenged Yuusuke dodged the assault of the giant pig to trip on a simply misplaced stone. He was fast enough to catch her and met her dark purple eyes with strange curiosity. He felt odd for some reason. Those eyes; they were too dark. It was as if the death of worlds had been viewed through them. It was like he'd been when he was first left to the cold. Shivering slightly, Hiei had to stop his gaze to invoke his speed. The staff missed and Yuusuke launched his assault. The pig demons remains were charred to tiny bits of dust and swept off with the wind. When Hiei landed, he gently set the young girl in black silk down. She backed away while the creature on her shoulder hopped in front of her. "Who are you people?" It squealed. "Shino? Is that you?" Botan asked.

"Shino is that you?" The blue haired woman asked Shino. Hotaru smiled softly when the small thing leapt into the waiting woman's hands. "Botan! You moron! You were supposed to meet me in section D! Where were you!" He screamed at her, which looked kind of funny to Hotaru. Here was a creature up to the young woman's ankle size yelling at her and causing her to shrink back. "Hey Shino. I've gotta get going. No telling what's happening back at my home." She winked, turning to leave. "Wait a second! You have to meet Koenma first!" Shino yelled back at her.

Yuusuke looked on interested as the girl flinched with her back turned to them. It seemed that the Shino character they'd just saved and this odd little girl had something they needed for Koenma to deal with. "Urameshi. That girl." Kuwabara muttered, catching the other two members of the small band's attention. "She's got this weird feeling about her. Like she's some kind of ghost or something." He told them. "That's right. I feel it too!" Botan stated, setting Shino on her arm. "Young lady you really need to move on. Don't you understand that you're dead. It's heaven or hell for you." She told her, pointing out a finger. The girl stood there with a blank look on her pale features as the blue haired woman made a motion to grab her hand.

Hotaru blinked as the woman tried to grab her. Her senses on high alert, she hit the hand away. "I'm not dead." She stated in a cold disserving tone. "Now if you don't mind. I'm going back to my body." With that she started to make her way towards where she thought was the direction she and Shino had come from. The red haired boy and the black haired one appeared before her. "What the hell?" She hissed at them, crouching slightly. "Listen. You just admitted you were dead." The black-green haired one stated coming in from behind her. "So why don't you just give it up and move on already." He smirked, standing next to her, bending to be at eye level. Hotaru, being a little unused to anyone being that close, fell backwards and onto her bum. She blinked eyes wide, "I thought I said I wasn't dead."

Yuusuke grinned, trying to be the Ghosts hero again. He never even noted the spark in the girl's eye like Hiei or Kurama did. Even though her eyes were innocently wide, he noticed that she had that spark growing with agitation. "Listen girl! You're dead! Deal with it!" He smirked. "My name isn't girl! It's Hotaru! Repeat it with me, you moron, Ho…Tar….RU… Got that you idiot!" She sneered, getting up and trying her best to look him dead in the eye with her short stature. Hiei had to admit is a rather unique sight. "Alright Hotaru. But that doesn't change the fact your dead." Yuusuke pried, flipping her off with a grin. Hotaru snarled, ignoring the odd looks. "I am not dead, ass." She started.

"I am merely outside my bodily limitations thanks to some idiots in robes." Hotaru crossed her arms. She glared darkly at each of the five higher than eye level tall people. "And I don't need some whacked out human telling me what to do!" She shouted right back. "Yeah well you're a crazy human ghost who can't move on!" The red-orange headed one yelled. Hotaru froze as anger took over her body. She was pissed. No one treated her like Kan poop ((*)). "Are you guys all idiots?" She hissed out, her tone dark as her head lowered.

The stranger's eyes became covered as she glowered at Kuwabara. He gulped, taking a step back as spirit energy circled about her. Even Hiei and Kurama seemed a bit toward the surprised side. When she looked up, Hotaru's eyes were glowing. They weren't white any longer but seemed to glow a brilliant purple with a the image of nothingness promised in them. "How dare you…" She hissed, her tone becoming devoid of emotion. "How dare you compare me to a human like yourself, earthling!" She shouted, her energy peeking. "What's she doing?" Botan cried. "We'll handle all this later." Yuusuke smirked, "Hiei. Do it." He stated. Hiei nodded, putting on a feral grin as he vanished. He reappeared behind the girl and knocked her out with the back end of his sword. Black hair, unkempt and uncut in some areas fluttered around her as she fainted.

Hotaru felt darkness take her and warmth as well. A feeling of comfort she'd not felt since before the sleep, since before being 7 surrounded her. It was all fading into her favorite color; black. She looked up just in time to see dark brown eyes and handsome features of a youkai in human form before everything faded into nothing. It was so warm…

TBC…

Kan ((*)) In my book it's a Saturn styled black pig that is used in Saturnian dishes and delicacies but leaves an unpleasant after odor.

Next time on Dark Chocolate:

Hotaru gets through into a bitter twist of confusion involving the great yet childlike King Koenma and more fighting with Yuusuke and his little band. And what's so important about Shino's information is also given up. Find out in Chapter 3 of Dark Chocolate.