Chapter 21:

-(Ningenkai)-

"Where is she?" demanded Touya.

"Hn." Hiei passed without responding.

"I'm back." Everyone welcomed Kurama's arrival, he being their dinner source.

"What'd you bring Kurama?"

"Food," he replied vaguely. "If you're hungry, I'll start cooking now."

"Yes!"

Smiling, the kitsune passed into the kitchen, setting the bags down. Taking out some vegetables, he washed them, and began to chop them up into medium sized pieces.

"Yumiko is still out there."

Kurama turned to a stony-faced Touya. "Excuse me?"

"Hiei left Yumiko out in the forest."

He turned back to the meal, calmly continuing. "I'm sure he had a good reason to."

"She's in danger."

"She's perfectly capable."

"She's inexperienced."

"She has developed enough skills for survival."

"She's a child."

"She is a warrior."

"She wouldn't survive a second against Rando."

The redhead sighed. "She wouldn't survive long against any of us, Kuwabara included."

"Then why? You are her mate-"

"No." Dangerous green eyes glanced up from their work. "I am not mated to her." His eyes shifted as his hands picked up a large package of meat. Unwrapping it, he sliced it up into thin slivers as well.

"But you care for her."

He was still for a moment, before looking out the window. "One cannot intrude upon the gods' territory."

"Then tell her," he insisted. "Truth instead of visions."

"I cannot bring myself to do that," the kitsune murmured, almost finished with the meal preparation.

"And the thief king?" Touya asked.

"A world of his own," he responded, closing his eyes slightly in a half lidded gaze.

"I'm not asking you to give her secrets, or give part of your heart away. I just want her to be found and brought home."

"What about you? You are a Shinobi- you could perform the job easily."

"I thought I would give you the opportunity… to establish a more stable… connection," he responded uncertainly.

Kurama turned, kitchen knife still held, glaring. "Do not interfere. My life is controlled by myself alone."

"Yet how does everyone know that you two are attracted?" Cold blue eyes met emerald with equal strength. "Despite the gods, one cannot deny the fact that she cares for you, and you her."

"She is one of the gods' possessions."

"And since when has that ever stopped you as a thief? Reikai, Makai, Ningenkai- you have defied the Mandate of Heaven itself.

"This is one thing that I cannot do," the redhead replied, frustrated. "Stop pressing me Touya." Heating up the stove, he began to do a stir-fry of the vegetables and meat mixed together, adding some spices.

"You don't care, do you," he said flatly. The Shinobi disappeared, leaving Kurama to mull.

Walking out the door, Touya started where Yumiko had done her laps. Following her tracks, they suddenly turned wild and more spread apart. 'Hiei dragged her from here on.'

When he reached the bank of the lake, he noticed only a scuffle of foot prints. An obvious fight, but not too much blood- some smears on the tree to his left, but not a significant loss. Walking up to it, he saw several strands of olivine hair caught in the bark. 'He threw her against the tree.' Kneeling, he picked up her katana, still sheathed. Looking around, he found her other scabbard.

"Give me back my sword," a voice commanded him. Turning, he saw Yumiko. She was filthy; her clothes were dirt covered and slightly damp. Her green hair was knotted, but still tied back. Her wakazashi was held at her side.

"Suigyoku, why are you here?"

"Aoi?" She squinted, finally recognizing his form, clothed in shadows though. "I- what are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. Why are you still out here?" he repeated.

"I…" She sighed. "Don't look for me, Touya-onii." He froze at her words. Taking advantage, she took a step forward, thrusting her hands forward to push him back, grabbing the sword. Yumiko fled running back from where she came before.

After snapping out of his trance- "Yumiko!" he ran after her. "Come back!"

"Don't look for me!"

He, being a Shinobi, easily caught up to her. "What are you doing!"

"When I come back," came her panted reply. "I won't be a failure." Green hair sprung loose. "Just let me go."

"This journey you are taking- you don't need to travel far." Touya kept pace with her, not easily tiring. "Stay with us."

"I'm sorry- I cannot do that." She sped up slightly, but he matched it. Her breath was coming harder now.

'Faster, faster- he must not catch up.'

'I must prove my worth.'

'I must never fall short.'

"Yumiko, stop running!"

"I can't. I have to achieve more- enough to make you guys satisfied."

"You're perfectly fine the way you are. What got you into this zeal?"

""

"You were never like this with your family!" he cried out mentally.

She was silent for a moment. "Don't worry- I'll be someone- a person who can call you 'brother' without shame."

"Don't be ridiculous-!"

Grunting, now more than a bit worried that he would catch up, she searched for a solution to get him off her back. She jumped over a larger boulder, landing on unsteady feet. He still followed. In the split second that he was in the air, she brought up a wall of her power, so that Touya slammed into it. Rolling over the rock, his head took a hard knock; he moaned slightly.

Yumiko bit her lip; no stopping now. Moving her fingers, the solid wall turned into a grid, weaving itself so that it continued on for quite some distance, and a considerable height. Taking several seconds to regain some air in her lungs, and to recover from her energy usage, she sighed, wearily sliding her wakazashi into its sheath. "Tell Shuiichi that I'm sorry- but I'm still playing." She disappeared into the trees, now at a more calmed pace.

"Immouto…" Touya called faintly. She was already gone and out of hearing range. "Come back." Raising his hand, he touched the grid, but couldn't pass. He grunted, pulling himself up.

Building a sword of ice, he thrust it through the barrier, only to have it turn into a stump. "Jin, I need your help. Get out here as soon as you can."

"What's wrong?"

"Yumiko. She's run off."

-(Ningenkai, Tokyo)-

"Roka, open up!" She banged once more on the door. "Roka, are you there?"

"Who is it?" came his muffled voice.

"Me." Relief seeped into her voice. "It's Yumiko. Let me in."

"Alright, alright." The door swung open. Standing at 5'8", his thin form looked slightly ragged in their oversized clothing. Black, unkempt hair was tousled, partially covering his eyes, a similar shade of black. His complexion pale, and one arm (his left) was covered with spindly scars, scrawled cross his skin like webs. "I thought you were off at your friend's house."

"Change of plans." She stepped in. "But I need to go to Hokkaido."

"What? Why do you-?"

"I've got some family affairs to tend to up there." Yumiko flashed a fake smile. "But I'm going to be there for a bit- I'll come back on the 24th of August at the latest." She moved in the direction of her room, grabbing a blue duffel bag and starting to throw stuff in.

He watched her silently for a moment. "Are you going to take a shower or anything? You're filthy."

"Nah. Don't have enough time." Pausing, she thrust another drawer open and threw a sweatshirt in.

"Just take one. It will calm you down." She nodded absentmindedly, picking up another outfit. "I'll make you your tea."

"Thanks." She headed into the bathroom, the water soon starting up quickly.

He sighed. Going into the cabinet, he opened the door. A tin can stood there, sticking out; taking it, he put some in a mug of water, microwaving it. Pushing past some other containers, he drew out a small wooden box about the size of a pill box.

Use this in emergencies only.

If this wasn't an emergency, what was? Taking out the mug, he tapped in some grey powder, it dissolving into a colorless solution. Hokkaido? What had changed her state of mind? Mixing it with a spoon, he set it out on the table. She was done by now; he hid the box and the can away back in their places.

She came out with a bag slung over her shoulder diagonally. She wore a v-neck, dark green, long-sleeved shirt that stuck to her body slightly, a puffy black vest, and a pair of comfortable navy pants. "Thanks again." Yumiko drank half of the mug in one go.

"So…Hokkaido?"

"After I visit Takeo." She smiled. "I didn't leave any flowers in the past few weeks." She raised the mug. "Can I take this with me? I need to catch a train."

"Sure. You owe me though."

"I won't lose it." She grasped his hand in a quick reassurance as a goodbye, and left, door swinging shut behind her. He went to the window to watch her disappear down the street.

'Better hope my concoction works, you b--tard.' He grinned. 'I can't watch after your cousin all the time.'

"Watching out for a Sato again, Roka? This is why you got unelected as the Chosen."

"Shut up," he snapped. "Go catch your godd--- train." The shadow grinned, leaping away.

-(Ningenkai)-

She sighed. Blasted headache. She whacked herself on the temple.

'Jeez, finally gone.' She sighed.

"I'm going to go train myself. At Hokkaido. No stupid seniors. No fire demons who are arrogant cocky bastards. No dimwits. No foxes…" She slapped herself. "No foxes." Setting down a bunch of dandelions, she scratched the back of her head nervously.

"Let's put it this way." She downed a bit of her tea before pouring it on the earth in front of the stone. "I can't steal for my life. And you wouldn't want me to get caught and apprehended would you…? Ah never mind. They're pretty and yellow and if you don't like them, get over it."

Kissing the tips of two fingers, she pressed them against the stone. "I'm going to try something." Pushing a bit of her energy into the stone, she waited. Nothing happened. A bit more… more…

"This is not a good idea 'Miko."

"Takeo? Can you hear me?" Silence was her response. "Stop screwing around! I'm the one in trouble here! You're just sitting around your stone and… doing what dead people do… I guess."

"Yeah, well, you suck too." Rising, she stretched. 'Time to get a move on.' She tied her hair back, now thoroughly air-dried, and made her way through the scattered gravestones. Climbing over the gate, the way she had come, she headed in the direction of the train station, flashing her light before her.

'Take a train up to the tip of Honshu, get a boat, and take another train. Sounds easy enough. Although it's quite sad that I don't know where my passport is- flying would be much quicker. Stupid papers.' Going up to get a ticket- easily enough, as no one took a train this late at night, and she had plenty of money, courtesy of her inheritance- she stopped, sitting down on a wooden bench. Taking out her iPod, she flipped around before choosing one.

Hey, don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out or
looked down on.
Just try your best, try everything you can.
And don't you worry what they tell themselves when you're away.

A train pulled up to the stop, screeching and squealing slightly. Stepping in, she sat down on a seat, window of course, somewhere between the entrance and the conductor. After a few moments the guy came around to check she had a ticket. Leaving her to herself, and three other people, a snoring man, a senile woman fiddling with something in her hands, and a young female. Perhaps older than her, but not by much; it was hard to see from the back, and she didn't want to get up conspicuously. Relaxing back, she began to stare out the window at the station as they pulled away.

It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright).

This would be a long train ride. Shifting, Yumiko protectively pulled her bag closer to her. Not like there were many people who could steal it, but still. She sighed. Had anyone found Touya? He wasn't knocked out; she didn't think he hit his head that hard. If they had met, Yusuke would be yelling up a storm. Perhaps. Kuwabara… probably was yelling as well. Jin would be calmer, levitating, but not all out pissed; his cheerful nature was hard to deter. Touya- calm, but mentally berating himself. Hiei would be uncaring. Kurama…

Nobody knows.

Hey, you know they're all the same.
You know you're doing better on your own, so don't buy in.
Live right now.
Yeah, just be yourself.
It doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else.

She would get to the estate by tomorrow. Mentally making a list of things for her to do to improve her physical condition, she traced her hand over the glass. She had to get back in time for school; it would start in about two weeks. Preseason on the 24th of August, a week before that.

It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright).

If she got on the team, that would be enough for her. Enough to satisfy. Throw herself into sports and academics- school in other words. She'd be a good student. She would pass English in flying colors- history too. Math, Science, and Spanish- she'd work hard for it. She knew she could get it done.

It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright).

No more three worlds. No more extraordinary powers. No more fighting. No more killing. No more death. Just normal, simple peace.

It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright).

She just wanted a simple life. No complications, everything laid out. She wanted to worry about trivial things that humans worry about, like college, grad school, work. She wanted to get into a college, at Hokkaido- where the rest of her family had gone. Sports based as well as academics. Worry about stuff like that.

Maybe even family would reenter her life.

Hey, don't write yourself off yet.
It's only in your head you feel left out or
looked down on.
Just do your best, do everything you can.
And don't you worry what the bitter hearts are gonna say.
(1)

Yumiko grinned. For now, f--- normal, overrated, customary regularity. She'd let loose for a bit. Sliding her hand into her bag, she gripped the cold sheath of one of her swords tightly. Falling asleep with the music, she leaned to the side, touching her head to the cool glass pane.

It just takes some time, little girl you're in the middle of the ride.
Everything (everything) will be just fine, everything (everything) will be alright (alright).

: End Chapter

(1) That was The Middle, by Jimmy Eat World. I don't own it in any way. Besides, it's kinda fitting… don't you think? Unless you're one of the kind of people that just reads around the song lyrics. Like me. .

Insaneningen14: I'm sorry if those little whims of Yumiko seemed out of character. I just wanted to let you guys know that there's a calmer, more responsible side to out little green-haired friend. And the only trait I share with Yumiko (Yes, I'm sorry. I did slightly base her on a mix of my friends' and my personalities- the funny ones of course. But she's still very original (says the author) and not to overrated) is my intense love for sports, volleyball particularly (the season just ended when I wrote this, so I'm still recovering from the horrible shock x3).

And IS FIVE REVIEWS TO MUCH FOR MY OH SO CONSITANT REVIEWERS!

Better not be. :P You guys suck at reviewing though.