A/N: Welcome back, I hope the last chapter was well liked! I've been trying to keep the word count around 8,000 – 10,000 words per chapter, let me know if this is too long for you guys, I don't want anyone bored halfway through. Also, yay to over 100,000 words already! I keep contemplating writing a chapter in Hiei's POV but I think I want to wait until a time comes when Kasumi is (for one reason or another) not around the Tantei. If you guys haven't noticed so far, he's been reading her mind since day one. That little scene where he threads his fingers through her hair? Yeah, not him being comforting – the only one who notices is Kurama, lol. It was a ploy to read deeper into her story. Anyway, hope you guys like this one, happy reading!

IMPORTANT: I've had a piece of fanart done up for this, it is amazingly beautiful, please go check it out on DeviantArt art / Commission-for-La-la-la-lauren-505821744 (just take the spaces out). Give the artist some love, she's awesome!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho and I'm making no money by writing this.

Warnings: Lots and lots of swearing, violence, blood/gore, adult themes, fucked up tenses cause I'm an idiot, and etc. (Seriously, I piss myself off cause I started this story in the past tense and I keep switching back and forth. Shoot me. I fixed it in this chapter, but the last few…OMG! So I apologize, my loyal readers, I'm just an idiot).

. . .

Do you understand how it feels to step out onto a stage for the first time and you're suddenly frozen with anxiety? Your stomach flips upside down and you begin to sweat, your hands get clammy, you shake and compulsively swallow over and over because you feel nauseated. From there your mind begins to race – what if they laugh at me? What if they stare? Can I get out of this? But the answers to those questions are simple though horrifying. They will only laugh if you do something funny, of course they will stare, and no, you can't get out of it. Before every competition I go through a range of emotions and fears, quite similar to stage freight, but I give myself a reality check so I can make it through. The only thing that matters is your performance and in my case, my opponent. Not the people sitting in the stands.

This was once again how I felt as I sat across from Koenma at my breakfast table but I didn't have the time to psyche myself up. All eyes were on us, everyone having chosen a seat so they could sit back and watch the show. I couldn't stop my eyes from straying to the clock hanging on the wall by the kitchen door because I knew I was on a time crunch and I was hoping it would save me. I voiced this to Koenma immediately, before he could even begin the conversation that he has deemed it necessary we have.

"I have to work in an hour…"

"No you don't, I've arranged for you to take a trip to Master Genkai's."

He was sitting with his legs crossed and his hands laced together in front of him. His face told me he was in no mood for nonsense but I'm not a big fan of being told what to do.

"You can't just mess with my life like that," I said.

"I might not have had to if you hadn't become involved in that operation last night."

"What would you have had me do then? I didn't know."

His face turned less harsh and more apologetic, "I know and I'm sorry."

I hadn't expected him to show even that slight amount of humility but because I was such an awkward human being I didn't stop being rude to him, "Then why are you here?"

"To make sure that you remain safe and with that burn, you're anything but."

"What does the burn have to do with anything?" I unconsciously have placed a palm over the mark, trying to hide it from prying eyes, but it didn't matter did it? Everyone has seen it.

"The man who gave it to you has created a direct link to your soul – "he paused so he could point at my arm, "– that's why the mark won't go away."

"So you're saying it burned her soul?" I shifted in my seat so I could look at Kazu and his face had turned grim at the news. He was the only other person sitting at the table, thinking he would be the referee if an argument broke out.

"Yes, straight through her bones even. There is very little we can do to remove it."

"But there's something?" I grabbed onto that little piece of hope and held it like a lifeline. I didn't know what having this burn meant for me, or why it was important enough to have the prince of the Reikai pay me a visit, but if I could get rid of it maybe this would all go away.

"Perhaps…that is why I'm sending you to see Genkai."

Kazuma sat back in his chair triumphant, "I knew she'd be able to help!"

"I wouldn't hold your breath Kuwabara," Koenma said. "She might be able to help; I'm not making any promises."

My friend's face fell, but I could still see the hint of confidence in his eyes. He knew that even if she couldn't help, they would find another way. I grabbed for his hand under the table and he grasped mine in return, squeezing in reassurance. It was this that gave me the strength to make it through what I asked next.

"Why am I so important to you?"

This seemingly simple question has stumped the prince completely. His lips snapped shut and his chin drooped until his eyes were shielded by his hair. The hands he had previously left folded on my table began to nervously fiddle, his fingers making tapping sounds against the wood of the table. I waited with bated breath for the answer…but it never came.

Instead he said, "I think it is best you don't know."

I was out of my seat like a bullet from a gun, it skidded across the floor behind me and toppled over but I made no move to pick it up. I slammed my hands down on the table, shaking the surface, and pinned the godling with a heated glare.

"How am I supposed to protect myself if I'm kept in the dark?!"

"That is why I had Botan inform you of your protection detail."

"And I already threw that out the window, didn't I?"

The sympathy in his eyes disappeared and anger took its place, "You should be thankful I'm taking an interest in you at all!"

"Thankful?! Are you on drugs?!"

"Kasumi…stop." I spared Kazuma only a brief glace at his words before I turned around, righted my chair, and sat back down with a huff.

"I'll agree to go see old lady Genkai, as long as I won't get reprimanded at work, but –"And I dared Koenma to refute this, because I was adamantly against it, "– I don't want any protection. Let me take care of myself, just as I always have."

He looked away from me, obviously undecided if he wanted to fight me over it or just give in. I waited patiently, because if the answer is in my favor it would be worth me keeping my mouth shut. Koenma hummed to himself, sighed, and then finally nodded.

"I'll agree to it, but that doesn't mean the rest of them will."

At first I'm confused, but when Kazu nodded sagely beside me and folded his arms over his chest I realized Koenma was talking about the boys. I hadn't thought they had anything to do with it, but I should have known better considering Kazuma's personality and his propensity to treat women like damsels in distress when given the chance. But I wasn't a damsel, even if I might be in distress. I hadn't spent my entire life tirelessly training to be considered a weakling just because I had boobs and a vagina. I had done pretty well in my twenty years of life and if the time came where I would finally meet my end, I would greet it like an old friend.

"Kazu…" I said. It came out as a warning, even as I shook my head at him sadly.

"Kas, I'm not going to let you deal with this alone."

I gritted my teeth and felt my face turn cold but Kazuma just stared at me unimpressed. He'd seen it all, knew all my tricks. It was pointless trying to argue with him though I tried all the same. "Stop trying to be a hero, it's going to get you killed someday."

I heard Yusuke snort behind me somewhere in agreement and imagined he would be sitting in much the same position Kazuma is – his arms crossed and eyes towards the ceiling.

Kazuma finished rolling his eyes at me and now it is my turn to look unimpressed. His naturally narrow eyes drew down in concern after and I could tell he had something weighing on his mind.

"Really Kasumi? What do you think would have happened last night if we didn't show up?"

"I would have died," I said. It was matter of fact and it stunned him into silence. That was the truth, no other way to look at it. I wouldn't have gotten out of there alive and there is no reason for me to deny it. That still didn't mean I wanted their help.

Apparently my answer has stopped him from arguing with me. Though I did notice a defiant gleam in his eye and knew that he would just do what he wanted, even if it was behind my back. All I could do was sigh and turn back to Koenma.

"When do we leave for Master Genkai's?"

He answered my question with another, "Do you remember when you went to see her as a child?"

I reared back in my seat shocked, "How do you know about that?"

"I know many things. Do you remember?" He asked again.

Yes…I remembered. It was shortly after my parents died…about a year to be exact. I was seven and Ojichan had taken me to see her for what he had explained as a "healing" but I hadn't known why. As far as my little self could tell I was not wounded, inside or out. I hadn't felt sick or in pain. I remembered the climb to the temple, the way the grounds had occupied my senses so much I hadn't noticed when the little old woman (old to a child's standards anyway, this was over ten years ago) had appeared to watch me or when my Grandfather stepped inside the temple so he wouldn't have to watch what happened next.

I explored the Zen gardens, climbed rocks, and poked at statues. I stayed away from the forest's edge because even the darkness encroaching from it, like the shadows were reaching with their tainted fingers for the light of the temple's gardens, carried a sense of foreboding. I plucked flowers from her flowerbeds and threaded them through my flaming hair and only then had the old woman cleared her throat and made her presence known. I had jumped and she had laughed at me, but not unkindly.

I remembered her asking me if I knew why I was there, in which I had answered, "For healing."

"No, not healing...but protection." she had said.

I hadn't understood then, but I still remembered the way I had blacked out from the force of the blow she threw at me. It had been open palmed and she had hit me directly in the center of my chest. I'd never seen it coming – she moved surprisingly fast for someone of her age. I didn't know how long I had been knocked out, but I remembered waking up to see the front of my shirt had been singed to the point it had left a gaping hole, the edges charred but my chest unharmed. My Grandfather was there too, kneeling beside me on the tatami mats that made up the floor of what I had assumed was Genkai's living room.

I told this story to Koenma as best I could, some of the memories being foggy from years of shit being piled on top of me and clouding over parts of my childhood. It wasn't something I would easily forget even if I couldn't readily recall every detail.

"Do you know why she did that?"

No, I didn't. Not even to this day. When I had asked my Grandfather he had told me it was for my own safety. I don't know how hitting a seven year old little girl was safe but apparently it was acceptable in both Ojichan's and Genkai's eyes.

"No," I said, "I don't."

"Then I will leave it to her to explain. She will remember you, no doubt."

He rose from his chair, smoothed his clothes, and then turned to the rest of the people in the room. "I've purchased tickets for you all to take the train with her – "he handed them to Botan who began to pass them out, "– it leaves at a quarter past ten, so get ready and be quick about it."

I watched as Hiei refused the ticket Botan tried to hand him and she bopped herself on the head and exclaimed, "Right, it would be faster for you on foot!"

He had no qualms about letting her know how stupid he thought she was when he rolled his eyes and called her a moron. She stuck her tongue out at him leading me to believe that years of insults have dulled her to the sting of them. Not to mention that seemed to be Hiei's favorite way of communication – putting people down. I am interested in the fact he planned to run to Genkai's, even I could recall the time it took to reach her temple and I was much closer to it when I lived with Ojichan.

"Your speed is good for long distances too?" He knew I was speaking to him but chose to ignore me. I knew it was because he believed the question was not worthy of an answer.

"You're a real asshole you know that?"

"Hn," he grunted and waved me off like I was some kind of bug that was irritating him.

I loved the random mood swings he seemed to go through…not.

Deciding it wasn't worth the effort to start an argument with him I gave Koenma my full attention so I could make sure there wouldn't be any issues when I go into work Monday night after classes. "What about the precinct?"

"Hmm, what about it?" he seems unconcerned, like he doesn't know what I'm talking about.

"How did you get me out of work?"

"Oh, that was simple, I changed your schedule."

I'm dumbfounded, "How is that simple?!"

"They don't remember anything from last night; it was easy to slip that in too when I altered their memories."

I must have looked horrified because he sighed and said, "It's not something a human can comprehend."

I felt my anger flare up again, because he had just called me stupid, and I'm far from it. Did I have my moments where I might be slow to grasp something? Sure, but that didn't make me stupid. Not to mention, how much experience did I have with this demonic shit? Next to none which is what drew me to the conclusion that I sort of didn't like Koenma. He was a pompous asshole – to be expected given his heritage, but I could at least expect some common courtesy, couldn't I?

"That's the last insult I'm going to take from you today, sir," I said and then I stood, much calmer than what I was feeling on the inside, "I'm going to take a shower."

I dismissed him just as he had done with me the entire conversation – the same conversation where I have once again learned nothing. What would get them to spill the beans, torture? I could do torture. I thought to myself as I walked off to the bathroom. I ignored everyone and everything until I had shut the door. I slid down it to the floor and stretched my legs out in front of me. I took a moment to lean forward and reach for my toes, heard my back crack and pop, and then sat back up with a groan of satisfaction. My clothing is destroyed so as I began to strip it off I just threw it into a pile in a corner to dispose of it later. When I got to my jeans I held them up sadly as I saw the big tear in the thigh area and the decent amount of blood that had soaked through them. I liked these jeans too and they were one of the few pairs I owned that weren't designed for men. I tossed them into the pile with the rest of it and then dragged myself up off the floor so I could start the shower.

I went through the normal routine: wash, soak, brush teeth, and comb through my hair. I realized I had forgotten clothes once again but all it took was sticking my head through a crack in the door and calling for Keiko to grab me some. She did so, no questions asked and returned shortly. She opened the door just wide enough to shove her arm through with the clothes in hand. I took them and called out a thank you as the door clicked shut behind her.

She had chosen a simple but comfortable outfit for me. A pair of loose jeans (also made for a woman, because Keiko would probably burn the rest of my clothes if she had the chance), a dark green t-shirt, and my leather jacket, along with them was a set of undergarments. I put those on first and then quickly pulled on the rest, when I finished I paused so I could put artificial tears into my eyes considering I hadn't bothered to take my contacts out in over twenty-four hours. The liquid trailed down my cheeks like I was crying and I leaned forward towards the mirror so I could watch their descent. I hadn't seen myself cry in so long that it was a little surreal, even if they weren't true tears. I wiped the evidence away with my towel, braided my hair while it was still wet and easier to manage, and then exited the bathroom.

When I entered the room there was a pause in activity, like they had all just been sitting there waiting for me and now that I'd arrived there was no need to continue with their conversations. I cleared my throat embarrassedly, stepped out of the doorway to the bathroom, and headed for the kitchen. I wanted another cup of coffee before we left for the train…and believe me; I was going to need it.

. . .

The train station was a bit of a drive from our apartment and we were forced to take two cars – Kurama's white sedan and Kazu's black truck. He asked if I wanted to drive and I jumped on the chance because I hated being stuck in the middle but I had nothing to worry about to begin with, because it ended up just being me and Kazuma in the truck anyway. Hiei adamantly refused to ride in either vehicle and Koenma had left for the Reikai while I was still showering, there was just one person too many to fit into Kurama's car. I hadn't figured we would all make the trip, but once again I was proven wrong. Even Hiei had decided to come and he hadn't needed any coercion to convince him either. I was starting to feel like a freak with the amount of attention I'd been receiving lately – it wasn't something I particularly liked.

For a while I drove in silence with Kazuma next to me playing with the radio. Occasionally he'd stop on a station when a catchy song both of us liked came on, but mostly it was just something to keep him occupied. As annoying as it was, I let him get away with it without comment. He seemed nervous, fidgeting in his seat, looking out the back window every so many seconds. Kurama was behind us so I assumed that's what he was looking at. Who knows, maybe Yusuke was playing around back there. I checked the mirror just to see, but didn't notice anything unusual. Of course, as Kazuma continued to become more nervous I began to pay more attention to what was going on behind us than in front.

It took me until about the halfway point to the train station to realize we were being followed. Behind Kurama's sedan was another car, blue in color, its windows blacked out, and they were driving at a discreet distance. Unfortunately for them, I was a trained police officer.

"When did you notice we were being tailed?"

Kazuma jumped in his seat, not having expected me to speak, "You've seen them too then." It wasn't a question.

I nodded, keeping an eye on the side mirror so it wasn't as obvious I was watching them. I took another turn, which hadn't been planned and would take us longer to get to the train station if I continued down it, but I had to make sure. When Kurama came around the corner and the other car was still behind him my suspicions were confirmed.

"Kazu, pull out your phone and call someone in Kurama's car."

"They know already Kasumi."

I had no doubts about that, "Just call one of them and give me the phone."

He didn't argue, just dialed the number and handed me his old, beat up flip phone. I brought it to my ear, listened to it ring twice before someone answered, "Yeah, this is Urameshi."

"Why do you have Keiko's cell?" I asked.

"Don't worry about it. I'm guessing you didn't just call to chat."

"Nope, I'm sure you know we're being followed by now."

"Yep, they're not exactly being sneaky about it."

"I'm going to try to lose them; can Kurama keep up with me?"

"I don't know, ask him yourself." Then I heard the sound of the cell being handed off, dropped onto the floor, several curse words and finally Kurama's voice filled my ears.

"Kasumi-san?"

"Hey Kurama…I'm just going to cut to the chase. I'm about to speed up, can you keep up with me?"

He chuckled, "It shouldn't be a problem."

"Good," and then I hung up and handed the phone back to Kazuma.

His face was grim, but he nodded and said, "Just be careful Kasumi."

I didn't answer him, because there was no need to. I knew what must be done. My hand went to the stick-shift as I began to accelerate, I made two different turns in opposite directions before I have sped up enough to gain the attention of other people on the road. I took an exit that lead onto the highway and here was when I am finally able to let loose. I got my speed up well past ninety miles an hour and Kurama was right behind me, keeping up easier than I had expected but we are still being followed. The other car had realized they'd been caught and were now weaving in and out of traffic to try and reach us.

At a time like this, I really wished I had my gun. I didn't have time to wonder what could have happened to it because I'm driving so fast that when Hiei landed in the bed of the truck out of nowhere it sent me skidding into the other lane. I hit the brakes hard, felt them lock up, and narrowly avoided smashing into another car. Horns are being blared at me from all angles and Kazuma was screaming next to me at the top of his lungs and I'm forced to yell at him to shut the fuck up. I righted the truck, sped up again, and then reached behind me to rip open the back window.

"What the fuck Hiei!?" I screeched over the wind.

He had landed in a crouch, one hand resting on the surface of the bed and the other holding onto the side for dear life. I could see indents in the metal from his fingers where he had gripped just a little too hard. Kazuma was going to have a conniption fit when he saw that.

"You're being followed," he raised his voice to combat the wind but he didn't move to climb inside the vehicle.

"Not shit, why do you think I'm driving so fast?!" I yelled.

I drove around another car, the bed of the truck swinging wildly because it was not made to be driven at almost a hundred miles an hour and this made me think of the fact that Hiei had just jumped into the fucking truck while it was going at such high speeds – how fast could he run, seriously? It baffled my mind so much that I had to kick the thought to the curb before I forgot what I was supposed to be doing.

Hiei was standing in the back now, even as I whipped between the cars on the highway and flung the truck around every which way, he remained standing stalwartly. It was hard to draw my eyes from the sight, truly. It was something to marvel at. The leg strength alone, not to mention the balance, to remain standing under such conditions is only something I could dream of achieving.

"Don't take your eyes off the road Kasumi, Hiei has our backs."

I didn't understand Kazuma's blind trust in him, but because I trusted Kazu I sped up more. I thanked my lucky stars I hadn't found another officer on patrol, because I didn't even have my badge as an excuse as to why I was speeding so badly. I heard the screech of another car's tires and Kurama had sped up so he was beside me, Yusuke had his head stuck out of the passenger side window and he was pointing wildly ahead of us. I could see what he was trying to tell me, the exit for the train station was coming up but I shook my head at him and blew right past it. We would miss the train at this point anyway. Genkai's would have to wait.

I saw out of the corner of my eye when Kurama swerved back behind me, letting me take the lead. I began to continually honk my horn so the other people on the road would hear us coming and move. I am not so lucky though. I reached a point in the traffic where it had become more congested and before I ended up rear-ending someone I smashed my breaks. This was what finally unseated Hiei. He went flying backwards and smashed into the window – I'm just glad he didn't break it. I also did not regret the evil grin that spread across my face because I had to admit it was a little satisfying after all the pain and suffering he'd put me through since we met.

I heard him snarl at me through the open window, but cared very little for what he had to say on the matter, so I swerved between another set of cars so he would go crashing into the side of the bed. I ended up disappointed when he didn't fall for it and a bandaged hand reached into the window to pull my braid back sharply.

My head was partially hanging out of the window now and he took the opportunity to lean over menacingly and whispered in my ear, "Do that again and I will kill you."

Even through the wind there was no mistaking the promise in those words. I said nothing and he released me after giving my hair another painful tug. A plan formulates in my mind, because the blue car following us was now stuck pretty far back amongst the traffic, and so without turning on my blinker I quickly took the next exit we came across. I cut another car off (who's driver flips me the bird and I just grin at him) and am thankful to see that Kurama is an adapt driver because he had taken the exit as well, even with no warning. I sped up again once I came out onto the main road and was happy to see I knew where we were. It was a small town outside of Tokyo, but it was quite far from the train station and even farther from Master Genkai's.

Even though I could no longer make out the car that had been following us I knew they must have seen me take the turn. I drove along until I came across a dirt road, I took it without much thought, and drove for a while longer. It eventually branched off onto another smaller paved street, I took a right when I reached the end of the dirt, and then looked for the first gas station I could find. It took about another mile of driving before I discovered one and pulled into its back parking lot so both of the vehicles were mostly out of sight. When I killed the engine I remained seated in the driver's seat and allowed the high that the adrenaline coursing through my veins had given me to rush over me. There was no better feeling in the world – it was enough to arouse me even. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could feel two sets of eyes on me and the distorted sounds of the world outside filtered through my ears, but I didn't pay attention to any of it. I just basked in the remnants of the natural drug, even when my door opened and someone asked me what the fuck I was doing, I just held up a hand and told them to wait.

I heard a distant, "What's her fucking problem?"

In which Kazuma answered, "Just give her a minute. She's an adrenaline junky."

His reply is what finally snapped me out of it. I hated when he called me that. It was even worse he had just spoken it out loud to Yusuke and Hiei of all people. "I am not!" I shouted.

"Right and your panties aren't soaking wet right now." Yusuke's vulgar comment earned him a kick in the face, the truck being the perfect height for me to hit him square in the nose.

He reared back, stumbling over his feet and slapped a hand over his nose to staunch the blood that was currently pouring out of it. I jumped down from the truck and went to stalk towards him but a pair of hot hands pulled me back and slammed me into the side of the pickup. Hiei pinned me to the door and our eyes locked in a heated battle of wills. When I refused to look away or even blink he became frustrated.

"You are a fool," It echoed through my mind, bouncing against its walls and driving me just that much crazier.

"Oh gee, thanks." I said out loud.

Then I shoved him as hard as I could. He didn't even budge: his body far too solid and me much too weak. His arms still had me caged in and I shoved at him again, but he was still staring at me heatedly, and his eyes were only becoming narrower by the second. Fed up, I slammed a shoulder into his chest and tried to push him that way. All this got me was thrown to the ground and straddled just like the roof incident. He held me to the asphalt by my shoulders and leaned over me with a face so full of frustrated anger and malice he looked like an unholy terror.

"Enough!" he yelled.

The rest of the group has gathered around us and they were eyeing the area nervously to make sure no one came out to check on the commotion we were causing. It was this and this alone that made my anger go back to its dark little corner of my mind until a later time. Hiei still had my shoulders pinned down, but not my hands so I reached up and fisted pieces of his cloak in them. I couldn't move him if he didn't want me to and his strength made it impossible for me to try and pull myself up, but I gave it a good tug anyway.

"Let me up," I said.

At first I think he planned to refuse me, so I pulled on his cloak again, asking without words. His jaw tightened and I saw his eyes flick upward briefly before he disappeared. Now that…was fucking weird. I knew he was fast…but seeing him on top of me one second and then gone the next had my mind reeling and I laid on the ground a bit longer than I needed to afterwards. I was still warm from his touch and it only seemed to be spreading further. At least, that's what I thought, until I noticed out of the corner of my eye what my body was currently doing.

Just like in the dream I had this morning my veins had begun to glow. It didn't bring pain with it this time, though it felt warm…it was a different kind…like when you put your hand over an open flame but know if you get too close it will burn you. It was as if the pain was there…but just lying in wait for the right time to strike. I automatically stiffened, my arms held in front me, and my face a mask of horror as I could do nothing but stare at myself.

"What's happening to you, Kasumi?" it was Keiko and she's standing over me with a hand held trembling half way to her mouth.

Before I could answer her, even though I didn't have an explanation, I heard Hiei say: "They've found us."

I was still glowing like a fucking rave stick, but I was off the ground and on my feet almost instantly at his words. It was easy enough to surmise who he was talking about, as the blue car slowly pulled into the back parking lot of the gas station and stopped a couple of yards away from us. Hiei turned accusing eyes on me then and he didn't even have to tell me why, because it had dawned on me the exact moment I'd seen the car.

"I'm a human fucking homing signal." I said, as I held my hands up and inspected myself further. It made sense…how else would they have been able to find us so quickly?

Yusuke and Kazuma had moved to block Keiko, whereas Kurama and Hiei were now standing in front of me. Hiei's hand was on the hilt of his sword but before he could draw it and cause a scene I pushed my way through them. I pivoted so my back is to the car and glared at them both.

"Stop, you don't know who's in there."

Hiei's glare is much more effective than mine, "They're not human and that's all that matters."

My eyes widened and I spun back around to stare at the car, no one has exited it yet and I was beginning to wonder why. I glanced back at Kurama, "How do you guys know they're not human?"

"It's easy for demons to tell each other apart, but Yusuke and Kuwabara can also sense them."

"So a demon's aura is different than a human's?"

"Very good," Kurama said, "Demons utilize what is called Youki whereas with humans – "

"It's Reiki," I interjected.

He nodded in the affirmative though he didn't look pleased. His eyes moved over to Hiei, "I feel a very strong youki amongst them."

"Hn," Hiei grunted. He had not taken his eyes off the car since it pulled up but when my veins began to glow brighter he reached for his sword hilt once more.

The driver's door opened and what stepped out was definitely not human. He was lizard like, just like all the creatures that have been after me, but I could see that it was pretending to be human. I could see through the disguise, I could make out the demon underneath, but overlapping it was the vision of a human body, almost like a mirage. It was dressed like a chauffeur and it moved around the car to open the back passenger door. One more lizard man stepped out…but the last person was much different than the other two…and I recognized him immediately.

"It's him," I heard Hiei breathe behind me and all I could do was nod.

"You two know this guy?" Yusuke asked.

"You could say that," replied Hiei.

He was dressed different, more modern, the hood a piece to a sweatshirt now instead of a yukata. He had a black leather jacket pulled over that and dark blue jeans donned over his legs. I could see a flask stuffed in his back pocket in place of the jug of sake and he only had one sword shoved through the belt around his waist and it wasn't mine. Instead of sandals he wore heavy black, steeled toe boots. Damn, those would hurt to get kicked with. Even in new clothes his presence was still just as menacing and I knew things were about to get ugly pretty fucking quickly.

"Yusuke, get Keiko out of here." I said.

"What, you think you're gonna fight him alone?" he snapped back.

"Kasumi…" it was Kazuma and my stomach plummeted at the sight of his face, he was covered in a cold sweat and shaking, "…you can't feel the youki coming off this guy. You need to get out of here too."

I tightened my jaw and stared at him in disbelief, "Are you forgetting I'm basically a giant fucking beacon?"

He looked at my glowing body, eyed it all up and down, and said, "You don't know that."

"Yes she does," Hiei said firmly.

"And what the hell do you know shorty?!" Kazuma yelled back.

"More than you, baka."

"This isn't the time for this," I snapped at them.

"They're not going to wait for us to work this out forever…" said Kurama.

"Someone needs to get Keiko out of here, end of story. There's no point in me leaving."

"Well, it's not going to be me. Kuwabara, you take her." said Yusuke.

"No way, I'm staying if Kasumi is staying!"

"We could all run," Kurama suggested.

"Where?" scoffed Hiei.

"I have an idea," I whispered, "Kurama is your car an automatic?"

"Yes, why?" he answered.

"Give Keiko your keys," I turned to my friend apologetically, "Keiko, drive as far away from here as you can."

"No! I can't just leave you all behind!"

"She's right Keiko, you need to leave." Yusuke caught Kurama's keys out of midair with a swipe of his hand and placed them in his girlfriend's hands.

"No, I refuse!" she began to cry, but Botan came up behind her and grabbed her shoulders.

"I'll go with her," she said.

"Protect each other," I said to them both and Botan nodded fiercely even as she pulled a crying Keiko away from the scene.

With that taken care of I turned back around and listened for the car to leave, the hooded man had waited patiently the entire time and I couldn't fathom what for. He allowed the two girls to slowly drive by them with barely a glance and as they pulled out to the main road he finally began to speak.

"Hello Kasumi-chan, did you think you'd be able to escape me so easily?" you could hear the smirk he must be sporting just by his tone of voice.

Outside, in the real world, the voice sounded even more familiar to me but I was still having a hard time figuring out where I had heard it before…

"Still don't remember me, huh?" he chuckled and took a step closer, this caused Hiei to finally take action.

He jumped in front of me, sword drawn and pointed directly at the hooded man, "Take a step closer and you'll lose your head."

He full on laughed, "You can try fire demon!"

The man's two cronies stepped up so they stood on each side of him, but you could tell it was more for show than anything. None of the men that surrounded me reacted to them at all. The true threat stood between them and if the lump in my throat and the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach were telling me anything he was just as deadly outside of my dreams as he was in.

"Now come, Kasumi, use your head. Who am I?" he said, the smirk in his voice still there. He wasn't showing any fear in the faces of the four men threatening his very existence.

And just like that…my world shattered around me. It broke apart into little pieces, as razor sharp as glass, tore me up on the inside and made me feel like a scared little child – just as I had felt after I'd lost my parents all those years ago. I gasped, my breath caught in my throat, and I began to shake uncontrollably. I knew this man…but his body should have been long gone at the bottom of the ocean by now.

"Hideki…" I breathed, completely frozen in shock laced fear.

"Yes…good girl, Kasumi."

I was hit in the face by a blast of heat, so hot my eyes began to water and I had to shield my face with my arms. It never lessened and the force of my need to see if what my mind was screaming at me was true was so strong I risked letting my eyes dry out. It wasn't hard to figure out where the heat was coming from, you could see the hazy lines heatwaves make coming off of Hiei in droves. I was surprised the nearby vegetation hadn't caught on fire yet just because of it.

My worst nightmares were shortly confirmed when the man pulled his hood down for the first time. Beneath it was the face I feared to find, my ex-lover's face – Hideki's face. His hair is styled different from how I remembered, it is shaved on both sides to create a rather flat looking Mohawk, but it is still just as black as soot. The same black his eyes currently were. The same black he liked to wear every day. The same black as the sinister aura that surrounded him – Hideki was nothing but darkness and deceit, this one being the biggest yet.

"How…?" I somehow managed to push out considering I felt like throwing up right that very second.

"Can't you tell? All your little friends can." he smiled cruelly, trying to make a mockery out of me.

"You're not human," I said.

"Congratulations, you guessed correctly. It takes a lot more than a knife through the chest to kill me, sweetheart."

His two accomplices laughed and he just continued to smile that same, evil little grin. I remembered he used to smile like that a lot when we were together…but he had always tried to hide it from me. How didn't I see it then? How hadn't I known I was sleeping with a demon all those months? It sickened me and my already twisted mind couldn't grasp what I was seeing directly in front of my face. How could he even be alive and why?

But then I remembered what he had said to me the very first night I had dreamt of him, about how he had killed my entire family…that he had killed Hitomi. My fear turned to anger…so much unabashed hatred welled up inside me that I felt like I was about to explode. Something inside me changed, shifted, settled into place. I felt all my fears wash away and I came clean. If this man killed Hitomi…than I was going to kill him, it didn't matter how I did it…as long as I was the one that got to watch the life drain from his eyes.

"You fucking bastard, you couldn't just stay dead could you!?" I screamed. "Where is my sister?!"

He laughed again, "If you want to know so badly, come with me." He held out a hand, an offering for me to take it and join him.

Yeah right, I thought, as I shoved my way past Hiei but a hand as hot as an open flame grabbed my upper arm and stopped me from going any further. I whipped around to glare at the fire demon, but he wasn't even looking at me. All eyes are still trained on Hideki and I have grown weary of it.

I realized why he was hanging on to me, so to reassure him I said, "I'm not leaving with him."

His eyes flicked to me momentarily before they settled back on his target, "No, you're not. Let us handle this."

"I just said I wasn't! Don't you listen?" I tried to pull my arm free, but he gripped me tighter and I could feel my skin beginning to blister.

"Hiei, you're burning her!" whispered Kurama urgently.

He didn't let go at first, too intent on what Hideki was doing to truly care, but when I cried out in pain he finally let go as if he were the one that had been burned. I looked at my upper arm to see a large red welt there, several large blisters within it, and my anger at the whole situation only intensified.

Hideki took another step closer and my hair stood on end as the sizzle from Kazuma's Reiken was heard and then a loud, high pitched, whirring noise followed. I tried to figure out where it was coming from and it took one look at Yusuke to find out. He was holding his fingers pointed out in the shape of a gun, one hand holding onto his wrist for added support, and at the tip of his index finger is a great blue ball of energy. It was so bright to look into it was almost blinding and the noise it made only got louder by the second. He must really be related to Genkai to be able to utilize such a technique. My Grandfather had spoken highly of it after having seen the old woman use it a time or two – this technique was known as the Reigan, one of the strongest techniques used by the heir of Reiko Hadoken.

"Even think about touching her and I'll blow you to smithereens."

"How sweet, I wonder how you managed to get the entire Reikai Tantei on your side so quickly." Hideki said to me.

"Reikai Tantei…?"

"I'll explain later Kas…" said Kazuma.

That was the least of my worries right now as Hideki had pulled his blade and before I could scream at him to stop, Hiei had engaged him in battle. For all the strength the fire demon appeared to have, he couldn't have defended against what Hideki did next.

A giant shockwave shot out from his body, the energy so refined I couldn't even see it, but it blew all four men backwards along with all the cars in the back parking lot. I had somehow remained standing and I watched in horror as Kazuma's truck rolled over and smashed into a tree that stood at the edge of the parking lot. The four boys landed painfully hard in various areas thanks to the force of the blast. Hiei had smashed straight through the forest's tree line, Kuwabara's body had been dragged across the pavement so badly I could see streaks of blood that had been left in his wake, Kurama laid several yards away amongst dirt and debris that had risen up to surround him after his impact with the ground and Yusuke had gone straight through the cement wall of the gas station.

I could hear screaming in the background but I didn't have time to worry about civilians or what might or might not have been seen because I am the only one left standing in front of Hideki and he is smirking at me with so much triumphant glee in his eyes that I want to wrap my hands around his neck and choke him to death.

There was still a wind blowing from the aftereffects of the shockwave and it had caused dirt and other debris to kick up around us. It was time I got serious…because if I didn't we were all going to end up dead. With the boys out of commission I did the only thing I could – called up everything Ojichan had ever taught me. I took a stance based solely off Kempo, but can be utilized in a way that my Judo training is still of value to me. With my body parallel to the ground, I held one arm close to my chest and the other slightly bent out towards Hideki. Both of my palms remained open and I paid close attention to my body's reactions as the light in my veins began to glow brighter once more.

"How come this doesn't hurt?" I asked, indicating the light shining through my skin with a jerk of my head.

"Probably because I haven't wanted it to," said Hideki.

"Why?"

"It's more fun this way, isn't it?" he fired back.

"Then why am I still shining like a fucking glow stick?"

"Just so you remember who you belong to," he smirked.

I scoffed, because I belonged to no one, least of all him. I could feel something rising inside me…I just needed to stall him a little longer.

"You're trying to break the seal without even realizing it," he said, a hint of amusement in his tone.

I didn't know what he meant and I didn't bother to answer him, I shifted, my foot hitting something solid and it skipped across the ground with a sound only metal on stone can make. I risked a look at what I had just touched only to discover Hiei's sword…he must have dropped it when he was blasted backward. I stepped on the hilt, sending the sword shooting towards the sky and upon its descent I snatched it out of the air and pointed it directly at Hideki's head.

"I'm going to kill you…for good this time."

I brought the katana back down and held it sideways, like you would when it is still sheathed. I would end it with one quick slash of the blade. All I needed was an opening. I am prepared to charge him, my mind set in a state where I could kill him without a second thought, and I gripped the blade just a little harder. Come on you bastard, make your move.

He was still holding onto his sword and that fucking smirk was still plastered to his face and my skin felt like it had begun to crack under the pressure of his aura. I saw blood out of the corner of my eye and it must have been mine, because where else could it have come from. It created a macabre trail down the pale skin of my arm and I made the mistake of trying to locate where it had started from. He came for me then. I felt the tear of skin and muscle as his blade was shoved through my shoulder, right beneath the bone, and before I could form a single thought or truly feel the pain it was going to cause me I gripped his blade with my empty hand so he was unable to get away. It cut through my palm and I am mesmerized by the sight of my blood sliding down the smooth metal surface, but I have a job to do and I easily forget about it. With Hiei's sword still tightly clutched within my hand I swung it at him in one fluid, beautiful motion and I am satisfied when his stomach blossomed with blood. It poured to the ground in a steady stream of red so dark it was almost black and he wrenched his sword out of my shoulder so he could put some distance between us. My blood followed it and splashed to the ground to mingle with his.

I screamed because the pain had finally caught up with me and the hand devoid of a sword came up to grasp at the wound in my shoulder even though it had a wretched wound of its own. Blood seeped through my fingers and down my shirt, soaking the material straight through and I could feel it running down my back – warm and sticky. It was there again…the cracking feeling and I am no longer clutching at the gaping hole in my shoulder but at my back, near my tattoo. When I felt broken skin there I was confused, because I didn't think I had been cut there as well, but soon enough little slashes are appearing all over me – my arms, legs, stomach, and face. Like an explosion my blood came shooting out of me and I had fallen to my knees, I used Hiei's sword to prop myself up because Hideki still isn't dead and I didn't want to be completely defenseless. He had a hand over his wound, I could only assume in an attempt to keep his guts from falling out, but a second later I'm horrified to notice that he was slowly but meticulously healing himself.

I groaned, "What the hell are you even?"

He turned into smoke again and I looked around for him wildly but he materialized so close to me we are practically touching. He reached out a hand, bent over me, and grasped my chin between his fingers. He lifted my head towards the sky and grinned at me.

"I'm only one of the evil things that lurk inside Purgatory."

He turned my face from side to side, inspecting me curiously and I went to stab him but he kicked Hiei's sword harshly out of my hand and it went flying off somewhere beside us. I didn't have time to find out where it went because with a balled up fist he hit me hard in the face. I was thrown backward but he had grabbed the front of my shirt to keep me from falling over and pulled me back up to face him. He hit me again, each time on the same cheek, and then again on the other side to even it out. I'd lost quite a bit of blood by then and as he continued to punch me my vision began to become fuzzy and blur around the edges. I would black out soon…

He punched me one last time, as hard as he could, and I spit blood and thanked the gods he hadn't knocked any of my teeth loose. My eyes have drooped and I was having a hard time prying them back open and I'm still confused as to where all these tiny cuts have appeared from and why…but most importantly I'm worried about my friends. Are they dead? Have I gotten them killed? And for what…what made me so special that suddenly all these evil creatures are out for my life?

My face is so swollen I'm surprised I'm even able to speak, but I managed to ask him once more, "Why me?"

He lifted me from the ground, holding me up with nothing but the scruff of my shirt, and we were face to face but I couldn't see him. My vision was almost completely gone, I'd probably lost my contacts somewhere along the way even. He drew me in closer, close enough I could feel his breath against my heated face, and it was cold compared to my skin. I shivered and this drew another laugh from him. God, I was so sick of hearing that fucking cackle of his.

With my last bit of strength I kicked him hard in the balls: a girl's final line of defense. He dropped me and I landed in a heap on the asphalt, but unlike some pathetic cry baby I didn't stay like that. I dragged myself up and began to run in the direction Kazuma had been thrown to. Before I made it very far I was tackled to the ground and the pavement dragged across my skin, cutting me open even more and leaving road rash all over my arms and face. A struggle ensued where I spent most of it hitting him everywhere I could reach. I didn't know how I was mustering up the energy to even stay awake let alone continue to fight him but I did and it bought me just enough time.

A heard a loud shout of, "REIGAN!" and a blue ball of energy so big and bright came flying within a hair's breadth of my body and I felt as it singed my clothes and any skin that was bared to the world but it had thrown Hideki off me and I would be very surprised if he survived such a blast.

It traveled through the forest behind the gas station, taking out trees and anything else it happened to encounter and in its wake it had left massive devastation. There was a rut so large through the ground that it would take every media station in the area saying it was a meteor to explain it away.

"Kasumi!" I heard Kazuma scream and I was in the process of dragging myself off the pavement…more like peeling, because I felt like I had been flattened into it.

He came running up to me and helped me off the ground the rest of the way. I looked him over and while he was beat up there didn't seem to be any lasting damage. I asked him just to make sure, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I've been through worse," he grabbed me as I began to stumble and before I could protest he picked me up bridal style, my body limp, like a ragdoll in his arms.

Yusuke after having shot off his Reigan had run off to check on Hiei and Kurama. He reached Kurama first who was already rising from the mess he had been buried in and I noticed Hiei come dashing out of the tree line he had smashed through. He picked up his sword, noticed the blood on it, and I watched in fascination as he pursed his lips and wiped it off on his cloak…remind me never to touch his clothes again…gross.

"Kazu…"I mumbled, "I think I'm gonna pass out."

And it was true, I'd lost a lot of blood and my head was dizzy to the point that even keeping my eyes open made me feel like I was about to throw up.

"You're safe now Kas, I've got you." I took that as permission to finally let my eyes close all the way…and then I saw nothing but black.

. . .

A/N: Sorry to leave it there, but I banged this chapter out so fast. Pretty proud of myself, I just hope it came out okay. So now we know who has been invading Kasumi's dreams and he's a REAL person…who would have thunk it? Who guessed that it was going to be Hideki? I bet none of you did! Muwhahaha (that is my evil laugh)! Anyway, I planned for it to be Kasumi's ex-boyfriend all along because she isn't a murderer…I mean come on, even if it was to save her own life, she would have been eternally tortured by it until the day she died, now she doesn't have to feel so guilty! Let me hear your thoughts on this chapter, I've noticed I keep straying into present tense, but I'm trying not to do that. My bad and if you notice any mistakes please overlook them, I have no beta reader! Thanks for reading!