Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. Only OCs over here!

Three updates in one year, WHAT? :O Haha, yeah, inspiration has finally struck with this one. Anyways, Happy Early Birthday to dragoscilvio (her bday is on Sunday, so everyone say 'Happy Birthday.' Lol!) Hope everyone enjoys the chapter :)

"I can't believe you actually stole her chocolate!" Yusuke shouted loudly in the streets after they all left the apartment.

"Not cool, Hiei," Kuwabara grumbled, to which the fire demon replied with a simple, "hn."

The four started to walk down the street in the direction of Yusuke's home. "I'm not sure how I feel about this friend of hers getting involved," Kurama stated. "Koenma wasn't thrilled when we told him about Tsukiko."

"Uh…I don't think we have a choice," Kuwabara responded. "I mean, we can't really stop someone from getting involved. If you think about it, the only reason I'm part of this team is because I jumped into the portal to fight the Saint Beasts."

"Hn, how can we forget? It was foolish." A glare was sent to the fire demon by the human, but the receiver remained unfazed. "Just like it's foolish that these human girls are getting involved. It's their own fault if they get themselves killed."

"Um, Hiei, you did hear what Koenma said…" Yusuke muttered. "We may not know what Tsukiko's power is, but the demons are pursuing her for a reason."

"Yeah, we have to keep her safe. It's an order."

Hiei scoffed. "I take orders from no o-"

The fire demon froze mid-sentence as he sensed something strange around them. He turned to look back at the girl's apartment with narrowed eyes. Whatever he had sensed had disappeared completely. Maybe it was just a fluke. "Hey, shorty, you okay there?"

"Hn," Hiei grunted. "Fine. As I was saying, I take orders from no one. Now will not be the time I start."

And with that, their friend disappeared, but not before conveying to Kurama telepathically that he had sensed a demon of malicious intent nearby. Unfortunately for them, they really would have to watch this girl.

A couple weeks had passed since Tsukiko had her late night visitors. Since then, things had been unusually quiet save for Eiko coming by more to make sure her friend was safe. Tsukiko tried to assure her friend that everything was fine, but the truth about some of Tsukiko's recent late night escapades did not make Eiko feel any better about the situation.

"I don't like this," Eiko stated as she and Tsukiko were walking back to the girl's apartment. "How can you so easily put your trust in these guys?"

"Well, for one, they promised they'd protect me." Eiko gave her friend a surprised stare. Tsukiko sighed before smiling at her friend. "You know I can handle myself, even against them. Don't worry; I'm being careful."

"Not careful enough if you're fighting demons at night." Eiko crossed her arms and pouted, still not comfortable with the danger her friend was in.

Tsukiko couldn't really fault her friend for her concern, nor could she counter her claim. Instead, she offered a change of subject. "Movies and popcorn at my place?"

Though Eiko was still bothered, a smile graced her features. "Yeah, sure…just, no horror this time, okay?"

"Deal!"

They were both oblivious to the fact that they were being watched.

An annoying ringing that Yusuke hadn't heard for the longest time woke him up on his one day off. Grumbling, he reached for the compact on his nightstand. "Whatdya want, Botan?" he asked with a yawn. "I'm sleeping."

"Yes, well, you need to get to Genkai's right away!" the ferry girl shouted looking very adamant. "There's something very wrong going on. I've already alerted Kurama, and Hiei's with him. Get Kuwabara, and HURRY!"

Yusuke closed the communication device and shook his head. He sometimes wondered why he still had it. When his job at spirit detective came to a close, he still had ALL of the little trinkets Botan used to hound him about. It wasn't like they'd come in handy or anything, but he figured he kept them for sentimental reasons. The compact was no different. Now, though, he wanted to burn the dang thing.

"Why can't we ever have team meetings at my place? Have to take a dang train and everything…"

Still, despite that logic, he found himself getting out of bed and dressed, quickly running out the door to pick up his friend.

"So, why have we all been called to Grandma's house?"

"Shut up, dimwit, and she'll tell you."

Yusuke looked to his former master and frowned. Something about what was going on had the elderly woman on edge. Even Kurama and Hiei seemed to be bothered. "Alright," he said cautiously, "what's up?"

Botan bit her lip, appearing more nervous than anyone in the group had ever seen her. "Koenma said there had been some very strange readings in Demon World," she informed the group. "He…decided to send in some observers who returned saying that a massacre was taking place. A class demons were involved. We…don't really have the authority to go in and stop them. Innocents are being killed."

"Why are the demons attacking their own like that?" Kuwabara asked, horrified.

Hiei's fist clenched as he thought on the redhead's question. "Well, no one really knows for sure," Botan stated. "That's why…we think you should check it out. It's happening somewhere between Mukuro's and your territories, Yusuke."

"Great," the former detective muttered. "Because I needed another reason to kick some a-"

Kurama's cell went off, a text from his mother asking him if he would be home for dinner. He shook his head and pocketed the device. "Well, there's something else we need to discuss before we head out."

"Which is?" Botan questioned.

Kurama and Hiei exchanged glances before Kurama explained. "We have reason to believe that the girl, Tsukiko, is being watched."

"How can you be sure?" Kuwabara asked. "Did something happen?"

"Not exactly." The fox demon looked over to the fire demon.

"I sensed something strange outside her apartment the night we were there."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Yusuke exclaimed. "Don't you think that's something we need to know?"

"We were monitoring the situation," Kurama interjected. "However, with us needing to leave, she could be in danger. We'll have to secure her before we leave."

"Have her come here," Genkai instructed. "There's enough wards here to keep demons at bay."

"We'll do our best…"

Kurama hesitated a bit, mainly because he knew what the answer would be. Over the last two weeks, he noticed some things about the girl. She wouldn't like the idea of going into hiding when she believed she could handle herself. Besides…she did say something about school.

Tsukiko and Eiko were watching some movies together, a nice break from the studying both girls were doing for their respective courses. "You know, these sappy romances aren't that believable. Why do we watch them?"

"Because we're hopeless romantics?" Tsukiko joked. "Besides, wouldn't you want a guy who would kill a giant squid witch for you?"

"The magic of Disney," Eiko murmured as she reached into the bowl and frowned. "Hey, we're out of popcorn!"

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Eiko froze as she looked over to the barricade. "Um…expecting someone?"

Tsukiko also looked stunned. What are they doing here?

The psychic moved to open the door, revealing the boys she and her friend had been getting to know. "Why..."

"We don't have a lot of time to explain," Kurama stated, "but we need to get you to Genkai's right away."

"Um, I don't think so, buddy," Eiko retorted from her spot. "Tsukiko and I have exams this week. We can't miss them."

"Are you for real right now?" the fire demon snapped. "This is a matter of life and death and you're worried about 'exams.'"

"You can't blame them," Kuwabara stated. "You don't know how tough it can be, especially if they can't retake them."

"Exactly, so maybe you should tell us what is going on so we can prepare," Tsukiko suggested.

Kurama sighed, trying to think of an alternate solution. "We don't have time for this." Then, an idea hit him and he grabbed Tsukiko's wrist. Eiko was instantly on her feet, ready to attack the people she clearly had no chance against. "Look, we'll work with you if you work with us. There is no time to waste. You can stay at my house. It's protected by my plants. You'll be safe there."

Both human girls eyed him strangely, but they realized something serious was clearly happening. Instead of fighting them on this, they decided to go along with it. After all, Kurama was trying to work with them.

"Wow…it's actually really nice and normal looking in here," Eiko said in awe.

Yusuke laughed at the girl's remark. "Well, what were you expecting? Fire and brimstone?"

The girl eyed Yusuke warily. "Would you be surprised if I said 'yes?'"

"So…what, we just stay here until you get back?" Tsukiko questioned, not liking the idea of being in a stranger's home. And when she said stranger, she meant his mother. "What are we supposed to say to your mom when she gets back and asks what we're doing here?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something," Kurama replied. "You're good with words and misleading people. Just say something believable. Now, we need to leave."

"But we're not good at lying!" both Tsukiko and Eiko shouted in vain. The boys were already gone, disappearing through a portal.

The girls exchanged looks. "This is not good," Eiko remarked.

The two of them leaned back against the fridge, sliding to the ground when they realized what they were leaning against. "Stress eating?" Eiko asked her friend.

"Stress eating," Tsukiko agreed.

About an hour later, the girls could be found sitting on the floor of Kurama's kitchen in front of an open fridge, stuffing their mouths with food. Tsukiko was noshing on grapes while Eiko was eating out of a tub of ice cream. The green-eyed girl looked at the tub and jolted. "Why am I eating this? I'm going to get sick…" And yet another bite was taken. "Hey, pass me the nuts."

"Pass the ice cream…"

"I'm not done with it yet!"

"You'll get sick. Here, eat the grapes instead."

Tsukiko tossed one at her friend who looked unamused as it hit her in the forehead. "Here, fine!" her friend shouted, shoving the tub in her lap.

"Um, who are you girls and what are you doing in the middle of my kitchen?"

Horror. Pure horror is what the two girls felt as they turned and saw Shiori standing in the kitchen doorway. The dark-haired woman eyed the girls with curiosity, waiting for an explanation. Tsukiko shakily stood up, Eiko following her leading. "Uh…uh…we're friends of…" Tsukiko had been introduced to Kurama by his human name, but in her state of panic, she could not remember. "Uh…Cuchi…no, no wait not Cuchi." She looked over to Eiko for help and whispered loudly. "What's his name, again?"

"Why are you asking me?" Eiko whispered harshly back. "Sue?"

"No, not Sue," Tsukiko said with a shake of her head. "That's a girl's name…"

"Shuichi?" Shiori corrected, still a little hesitant about the girls in her kitchen. It wasn't the first time girls had come to the house, asking to see her son, but they usually weren't let in…and they knew his name.

"Right!" Tsukiko returned excitedly. "Shuichi, we're friends of Shuichi. Not Kuramamamamamama…mama! Are you his mama? That's what I said, not Kurama."

Slightly alarmed, Eiko attempts to step in, but all she could manage was a shrug while shouting, "Who's Kurama? I didn't say that," effectively making things worse.

The mother sweat-dropped. "Well, if you are friends of my son, that doesn't explain what you're doing in the middle of the kitchen. Where is Shuichi?"

The girls' mouths dropped open, and they looked at each other hoping the other would have thought of something. Eiko tried to help. "We're house-sitting..?"

Tsukiko then closed her mouth and forced a smile as she thought of the best thing she could have that moment. "As in we're sitting in the house." She blanked before she added. "He…he said he'd be back," she said, starting with the truth. "He just…forgot his homework at home." Her eyes widened as she realized her mistake. "I mean, not at home. At someone's home…Yusuke's! Yusuke's home." She took a deep breath and shouted, "He forgot his homework at Yusuke's home!"

And then something struck Eiko. "Wait, does Yusuke read?"

"SH!" Tsukiko exclaimed, not wanting her friend to ruin her very poor illusion.

"Do they even go to the same school?"

"She doesn't need to know that!"

"Um…my son graduated."

The girls both looked horrorstruck as Shiori told them this. "Well good for him!" Tsukiko awkwardly tried to sound excited. "Hey, I know! We should have a party to celebrate his accomplishments and-"

"Three years ago."

Eiko sighed in dismay as she slid back down to the floor and hit the back of her head against the refrigerator. "We're doomed."

In Demon World, the former spirit detective team was assisting with the attack on the village between the two territories, a place where innocents resided. There was nothing in value kept in the town, no prominent figures, no militia, nothing. Whoever was attacking had absolutely no reason.

Or so they thought.

Hiei was the one to register the attacking demon first, going off after him as he tried to lure the boys away from the small town. Once a great deal away from the encampment, the demon stopped unexpectedly and chuckled. "So, you think you have me, hm?"

"Hn, Hiei scoffed. "I know I have you. You're the one who was running."

"With reason," the demon cockily replied. He looked behind Hiei and smirked. "Looks like your friends finally caught up."

"What is that thing?" Kuwabara asked, huffing slightly. "Looks freakier than anything we've fought."

"Are you listening to yourself?" Yusuke countered, rolling his eyes before looking at the demon, his arrogant demeanor emanating. "Now, are you going to come quietly," and then his expression darkened in a way that would remind anyone that he was half-demon, "or am I going to have to rip your face off for what you just did to those people."

"There won't be any need for any of that," the demon replied with a raspy laugh. "After all, I've already completed what my master wanted. You'll never get back in time, now."

They all sneered at the villain in front of them. Of course, they now needed answers. He wasn't going to walk away from this. The tree behind him became his shackles as Kurama's demon energy pulsed through it. "Hey, what is this?"

"Who sent you?" the fox demon asked, his eyes murderous. "And what do you mean that we won't get back in time? In time for what?"

The other demon smirked. "Fine, kill me," he remarked, "but that little human you're protecting will already be in my master's custody."

"No way…a distraction? You attacked innocent people, woman and children…for a distraction?" Kuwabara questioned, feeling both surprised and appalled.

The cruel demon's eyes met the human's. "It got you here. My purpose is served."

"Who is your master?" Kurama asked again, growing angry. He didn't understand why any demon would put his life on the line to serve as a distraction for another, unless there was something in it for them. But this one was accepting of his death. It only meant that whoever was pulling the reins would be doing something that would serve his interests even after death…but what?

"Wouldn't you like to know, fox?"

And with that, the demon managed to free his hand, plunging it in his stomach and ending his life.

"Oh my gosh! Did he just?"

"He sensed my presence in his mind," Hiei huffed angrily. He looked to Kurama stoically. "Whoever they're working for, no one wants anyone else finding out."

Kurama nodded, but was the first to say, "We need to hurry back. Tsukiko is in danger. Yusuke, call Botan and get her here. We need a portal immediately."

"You got it, fox boy."

Eiko and Tsukiko sat at the kitchen table with a plate of cookies, watching Shiori nervously as she stared back at them with slightly calculating eyes. "So…where is Shuichi again?"

"At Yusuke's;" "At Hiei's," Tsukiko and Eiko said simultaneously before exchanging dismayed expressions. Both of them had been hoping that the other would say the same thing.

"Hiei doesn't have a place," Tsukiko stated before an idea hit her. "Yes, Shuichi went to Yusuke's to meet up with Hiei and they were going to look for his new place! Ha!"

Shiori sighed. "Is he really?" The mother could already tell the answer, especially when both girls smacked their heads down on the table.

"I can't do this anymore," Eiko grumbled. "He's going to kill us."

"Um…Eiko, you probably shouldn't say that in front of his mom," Tsukiko replied, also surrendering to the fact that this lie had run its course. She smiled over at Shiori and said, "I'm sorry. I don't know exactly where your son went, but I know he's okay. And he did say he'd be back. That wasn't a lie."

"What is going on?" Shiori questioned forcefully. "You at least know that."

Both girls hesitated and turned away. "Look…He-"

Before Tsukiko could even give an explanation, the glass windows shattered into the home and a dark energy overtook the place. The three humans were pushed back as the kitchen was destroyed by the sheer force. Tsukiko was on her feet immediately standing face to face with a black-skinned, dark-haired, humanoid demon whose bright red eyes held an evil hunger as he smirked at her.

"What in God's name is that?" Eiko shrieked as she picked herself up off the ground.

"That…would be a demon," Tsukiko answered.

"What?"

Tsukiko then looked over to Shiori who not only looked stunned but confused. She pointed over to the demon. "Before he barged in here I was going to say that your son is a spirit cop who protects people from these things. He went to go help other people being attacked."

"Oh, you mean the village," the villain in the kitchen remarked. "Yeah, those weaklings won't know what hit 'em. Too bad it was a distraction. The real prize is you, human."

"Me?" Tsukiko questioned, pointing to herself. She had known demons were after her, but to go through so much trouble… What did they really want from her?

"Leave my friend alone," Eiko growled, stepping forward.

Alarmed, Tsukiko shot her friend a look telling her not to take another step. Eiko stopped, but an attack still came in the form of the plants that Kurama had grown for his home's protection. They tied up both Eiko and Shiori, and that's when Tsukiko panicked. "Wait, stop!" she shouted to the demon whose attention fell on her. "I'll go with you willingly if you leave them alone."

"Tsukiko, are you crazy?"

Despite her friend's shrill exclamation, Tsukiko stayed strong, eyeing the demon with heat though her knees were shaking under her skirt. The demon believed her to be playing him until his eyes met her firm gaze. He chuckled in delight. "Why not? My employer will be ecstatic."

With Tsukiko going willingly, the demon didn't have to do much. A flash of light engulfed the two bodies and, once they disappeared, the plants fell and released Eiko and Shiori. Eiko fell to her knees, shaking at the thought of her friend being in the hands of some unknown monster.