Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. Just OCs.

Happy Birthday to my dear friend, dragoscilvio. I know it's been a crazy year, hence this break from reality XD Hope you have a great day!

Famous last words, indeed.

Tsukiko threw herself down onto the bed after coming in from her training session with Genkai. The woman worked her in ways that made no sense to the girl. Sure, she had gone to the gym quite often, exercises on her own, but this? This training worked muscle groups she didn't even know existed. What was worse was that everyone had been watching her between the running up and down the million stairs about twenty times and then being thrown into an actual fight with the elderly master. She was stronger than she looked and kind of...mean…when it came to training. The insults she flung were just as exhausting to deal with.

Still, the feel of the mattress under her was incredibly comforting. The reason she had a break was because the guys had informed their boss about the incident. Now that she and Eiko were involved, Koenma would have to work with them, albeit reluctantly. Well, it couldn't be helped now. It was now a fact that the demons were after her and that she would need to be trained, and her friend wouldn't let her go through it alone.

How did things get to this? Why was she born with this power? She always saw it as a gift, but was it a curse? No, definitely not, she settled. After talking to Yusuke, she actually felt relieved that it was her. What if it had been someone who actually wanted to use the power for their own selfish gain? Clearly, she was sought after because there was someone who wanted to do exactly that. If she could learn to defend and protect herself using her power, then she could keep others from using it.

She wondered how Eiko was doing with all of this. Her friend didn't ask for this, either. Sure, she understood that Tsukiko had a power and a tendency to get hype analyzing speech patterns and tone which her friend knew how to handle (that chocolate was delicious…). But her friend didn't sign on for helping her deal with crazy demons, and Tsukiko never thought her association with her would result in this.

Had she not left willingly with the demon, would he have killed her friend and Kurama's mother? She didn't doubt that he would. He indirectly threatened her friend, and that didn't sit well with her. With that thought, Tsukiko pushed herself off the bed with renewed energy and went to find her friend. At least they could talk about this, and maybe talking to Eiko would put her mind at ease as well.

Eiko was currently in the yard lying in the grass while cloud gazing. Earlier, she watched as her friend was ordered to run up and down some stairs, meditate which didn't go over well as her distraction kicked in, and then actually fight the old woman who owned the temple. She felt bad that her friend was going through so much abuse, and she wondered what any of it had to do with her ability.

"Oomph," Eiko called out as a sword in scabbard was thrown down on her gut, startling her. She tilted her head up to see Hiei standing over her with his arms crossed. He didn't look very pleased. Eiko sat up to get out from under his looming shadow. She picked up the weapon and looked to the fire demon questioningly. "What's this for?"

"You're involved," Hiei stated simply. "You, like your friend, need to learn how to protect yourself. Your spirit energy is laughable, but that doesn't mean you can't fend for yourself. Most likely we'll be ordered to protect your friend and you, but if it came down to us needing to protect her over you, you'll need some skill."

"I'm pretty resilient," Eiko retorted. "You don't know what I can do."

"You're right," Hiei agreed. "I don't know. We're about to find out, and I'm not going to go easy on you. You threw yourself into this, so deal with it."

Eiko scoffed. "Charming. Do you honestly think I'd put myself in a situation where I have to fight you? Be realistic."

"I am."

Hiei disappeared from Eiko's view making her gasp. She ended up getting hit from behind and knocked into a tree so hard that it actually made an impression in the wood. Eiko could barely register anything except the wind being knocked out of her. Of course, the moment she looked up Hiei was coming directly at her with his sword drawn. She was paralyzed for a moment, closing her eyes and looking away while waiting for impact.

It never came.

Eiko opened her eyes when she heard Hiei grunt in frustration. "What is this?"

Tsukiko was standing behind Hiei having quickly sung a little number freezing him in his attack. In response, Eiko took the covered sword in her hand, and with all her might swung it at her attacker and knocking him down. The demon glared up at both girls, Eiko over by an angry Tsukiko. "There's a better way to handle training. Maybe learn about your student before you start attacking her. Eiko doesn't like to fight, and though she can enjoy any good action movie fight, she doesn't like violence. Now that you know that, maybe you can create a better training program. Or Genkai can, maybe."

"Genkai is focused on you and your power," Hiei bit out. "This girl does not have the luxury of being against violence. She got involved."

"Because I got involved and she's my friend," Tsukiko countered, hands on her hips. "Up until a couple days ago, she did have the luxury, so deal with it. I appreciate you wanting to help, not hurt, my friend. Eiko, let's go for a walk, kay? We can talk about this stuff."

Eiko smiled at her friend and nodded. "Yeah, let's go." The girl was about to leave the sword behind, but decided against it and tied the strap around her should. "Just in case."

"Right on," Tsukiko laughed. "Now, come on. Let's go!"

Hiei watched the two women retreat into the forest, eyes narrowed. He thought for the brief second that they were crazy and stupid for entering the forest without any combat experience. Then, he remembered when Tsukiko had used her power to get through unscathed. He couldn't believe that witch had used it on him, even if it was to protect the other human. The enraged fire demon felt, for lack of a better word, violated. He couldn't control his body in that moment, had been frozen in time.

He would not take this humiliation lightly.

"So…what was that about?"

Eiko laughed sardonically. "Nothing to worry about. He just wants to train me so that if we all get attacked they can focus on you and I can worry about myself."

Tsukiko frowned at that. "Yeah, well, you're my friend. Even if they don't protect you, I will."

"As evident by the save back there. Thanks for that. It would have been a bit hard to explain to my professor why it looks like I was assaulted," Eiko joked. "So, how are you feeling after your training session?"

"Exhausted and worn," Tsukiko replied. "Pain. That running hurt my knees."

"I can imagine," Eiko murmured. "Tsuki…I know you're probably worried about what's next after what happened, but you're going to get out of this. As reluctant as I am to admit it, these guys seem to know what they're doing. I mean, it's not like we can figure out who's after you."

Tsukiko's lips quirked upward. "I don't know. I mean, we make a pretty good team. I think we'd make excellent detectives."

"Maybe," Eiko chuckled. "Alright, so, I've cooled down. We need to get back. Their boss is supposed to show up soon. Maybe he'll have a lead or something."

"Let's go, Watson."

Eiko's eyes narrowed playfully. "You know…you say Watson, and my mind immediately goes to Crick."

The two of them laughed before they started taking off towards the temple. At least now, they both had a better attitude towards all of this. After all, it wasn't every day you got to solve your very own mystery.