"Oh come on!"

Sayomi woke with a start at the sound of Yusuke's yelling. She looked out the window from her futon on the floor and sighed. It's still early... She looked at Yusuke and asked, "What's wrong?"

Yusuke threw off his covers and got out of bed. "Even in my dreams I can't be beat! I was tied up and everything!"

Sayomi yawned and stretched before getting out of bed. She had started sleeping in Yusuke's room when she found out Yasuhiro was in the Human World. It's been a month and, so far, he hasn't shown up yet. Maybe he'll stick to his word after all.

"I don't think I can take this anymore..." Yusuke muttered as he looked out the window.

"If we could, I wouldn't mind taking you to the old man. Only thing is..." Sayomi looked down at her feet.

Yusuke turned to her with a curious look. "What's up?"

Sayomi let out a heavy sigh and looked up at him. "This is something I should've told you a while ago. There's a reason I didn't speak up when it happened." She could tell he knew what she was talking about. "I didn't want to go back."

"Why not? I figured you wanted to go back as bad as Hiei." Yusuke took a seat at his desk and leaned forward with his elbows resting on his knees. "Is it because of your brother?"

Sayomi stiffened at the mention of him. She tried to ignore the paranoia that told her he was listening. "No... Not completely, at least. I don't want to go back because of how I was treated back there."

Yusuke frowned. "Did my ancestor do something to you?"

"Ha ha ha!" The idea made Sayomi laugh. "Oh no. That's not what I meant. He actually really helped me out. It's his... subordinates... that didn't like me very much. Only a few of them actually talked to me. The rest either glared down at me or just ignored me altogether."

"Oh yeah?" Yusuke asked. "Well how about this?" He stood up and jerked his thumb at himself. "After I take down the old fart, I'll teach his guys a lesson! Sound good?"

Sayomi grinned and said, "I don't think I would mind taking you back if I get to see that! I will warn you... The old man is still the strongest I've ever met. So don't think it'll be so easy to beat him."

"We'll see." Yusuke smirked and ruffled her hair. "So, I think I'm running a fever. Guess I gotta miss school. Wanna get a drink?"

"Sure," Sayomi smiled. "Where are we going?"

"Just a small diner downtown." Yusuke walked to his closet to pull out his green uniform. "Koenma is supposed to meet me there."

Sayomi took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Oh, right. I guess we should get this over with, huh?"

When they walked into the diner, Yusuke scanned the room until he found Koenma. He was in his teenage body, dressed in a tan suit with a purple headband covering his forehead. Sayomi took in a deep breath before following Yusuke to the table.

Yusuke slid into the booth and Sayomi slid in after him. A waitress came by and Yusuke ordered a cup of coffee while Sayomi asked for tea. After their drinks arrived, Yusuke took a sip of his coffee and looked at his former boss. "So what's this all about?"

Koenma took a sip from his coffee and looked at Yusuke. Then he looked at Sayomi. "Well first, I wanted to ask you about your involvement. How did you know about Yusuke's heritage and why didn't you say anything about it sooner?"

"Really, Koenma?" Yusuke sighed.

"I'm not talking to you, Yusuke." Koenma kept his eyes on Sayomi, waiting for her to answer.

Sayomi took a drink from her tea and said, "I came to the Human World, as a sort of favor to Yusuke's ancestor. I didn't really know who to look for, but when he defeated Rando, I figured he was the best bet." She looked up at Koenma, though she struggled to meet his eyes. "I didn't mention it because... I wasn't really sure he was the one I was looking for. And I didn't know what would happen if I told anyone. I didn't have proof and there was the chance I was wrong."

"A favor? Can you elaborate?" Koenma asked.

Sayomi took in a deep breath. "I stumbled into his territory when I was trying to escape the hunters. His people found me and he allowed me to stay so long as I returned the favor. He wouldn't tell me what he wanted until it was time for me to leave."

"So now that you know for certain that Yusuke is the one you're looking for, what are you going to do?" Koenma kept his tone light and calm. He wasn't Yusuke's boss anymore and he didn't have any real authority over the demoness. He just wanted answers.

"Well, now that he's awakened, I'm supposed to take him back." Sayomi looked down at her cup and frowned.

"Why didn't you speak up about it when we were in the Demon Plane? I imagine that would've been the perfect opportunity to take him back," Koenma reasoned.

"I didn't want to," Sayomi whispered. "You asked him what he wanted to do and I didn't want to force him. I still don't want to, but..."

"You have to," Koenma finished.

Sayomi nodded.

"One last thing. Why did you fight when I specifically told you not to?" Koenma asked.

Sayomi finished her tea before she answered. "Because Yusuke died. For a moment, he was alive and smiling back at us, then the next... He was dead. I remember staring down at him and something... broke. I didn't come to my senses until just before you guys showed up."

Koenma sighed and finished his coffee. "I see. Since you seem to be telling the truth, I'll do the same. I think you should've taken him while we were still in the Demon Plane."

Sayomi looked up at Koenma, her brow arched in confusion. Yusuke's eyes narrowed and he asked, "Why do you say that?"

"I didn't get punished. Not yet, anyway." Koenma leaned back and slipped his hands into his pockets. "But Dad's very sly. We must stay on our toes."

"So the Underworld wants me gone? Fine." Yusuke slurped down the rest of his coffee and smirked. "It's been too quiet lately."

"Do you regret it?" Koenma asked.

"Regret what?" Yusuke asked.

"Returning to Human World," Koenma answered seriously.

Yusuke mused in silence while Koenma paid for their drinks. After they left the shop, they strolled through the streets until Yusuke answered, "Not really. I'm just a little antsy. Life can get kinda dull around these parts."

Sayomi followed close behind them with her hands in her pockets and her eyes on the floor. You've been getting moodier by the day. If I had just spoken up about it sooner...

"But maybe I just feel that way in general." Yusuke shrugged.

"You should talk to Genkai," Koenma suggested. "She might know how to alleviate your ennui."

"Hmph!" Yusuke scoffed. "I doubt it."

Koenma turned back to Sayomi. "You too. You've known her the longest so she might be able to understand a bit more about your condition."

Sayomi nodded. The mark around her neck was a constant reminder that something had changed and she didn't know what. Yasuhiro keeps dodging my questions. Any time I've tried to bring it up, he either changed the subject or tried to use it as bait for me to go back.

Once Koenma left, Yusuke and Sayomi made their way back to the apartment. It was a quiet walk, but neither of them minded. They were both lost in thought about the news and how to move forward.

As soon as he got home, Yusuke went to change out of his uniform. He quickly slipped into a pair of jeans and a tropical button-up shirt. Sayomi blinked at the strange clothing choice.

As they walked out the door, Yusuke yelled, "I'm going to Genkai's! I'll be back later!"

"Can you grab a six pack on your way back?" Atsuko asked from the other room.

Without answering, Yusuke shut the door behind them and made his way to the nearest train station. Before they got too close to the crowds, Sayomi merged with his shadow. After several train stops and a short bus ride, Yusuke arrived at the edge of Genkai's property.

After the bus drove off, Sayomi manifested from Yusuke's shadow and prepared for the long hike. Her eyes scanned the trees, keeping her senses open and aware of their surroundings. Is Yasuhiro here too?

Although they could both make it up the stairs in no time, they were content with walking. The chirping birds and the occasional rodents soon put Sayomi's mind at ease. The shade coupled with the wind was enough to keep her cool and her breathing even. Why don't I come here more often? Hiei always seems to be in places like this...

The very thought of the fire demon was enough to make her blush. I wonder where he is now? Has he gotten impatient and left or is he still around? She started to search the trees, feeling out for his aura. When she didn't find anything, she let out a quiet sigh.

"Somethin' up, Sai?"

Sayomi looked up at Yusuke. He was looking down at her from several meters up. She blinked and said, "Sorry, guess I zoned out for a bit."

"Anything you want to talk about?" Yusuke asked.

Sayomi hesitated. Should I really tell him or...?

Yusuke smirked. "Were you looking for someone?"

Sayomi scowled. "Just keeping an eye out in case we get attacked."

"Yeah, sure." Yusuke snickered. "Since when did the idea of getting jumped make you blush?"

"Shut up, Yusuke." Sayomi stuffed her hands into her pockets and sulked up the steps. "I'm just a little winded."

"No you're not." Yusuke waited for her then continued up beside her. "When was the last time you saw each other?"

"Why are you talking to me about this?" Sayomi asked suspiciously.

"Because I know you won't talk to anyone else about it," Yusuke said with a smug look.

Sayomi sighed and shook her head. "Guess it can't be helped. We haven't seen each other since after we got back from the Demon Plane."

"That long, huh?" Yusuke frowned. "Well, if he's gonna be anywhere, I would think it would be here."

"Why here?" Sayomi asked.

Yusuke smiled as they finally reached the top of the stairs. Sayomi looked around the courtyard and she felt a sense of nostalgia. How long has it been since I first arrived in the Human World?

Before they made it to the temple, Yukina opened the door with a smile. She bowed and said, "Hello. Genkai is waiting for you in the game room."

"Thanks, Yukina." Yusuke smiled and made his way to the room. "Hopefully this won't take too long. Sai, keep Yukina company. I'll come find you when I finish talking with Grandma."

"Wait, Yusuke." Sayomi stepped in front of him. "I need to talk to her, too, remember?"

"Oh yeah." Yusuke grinned and scratched the back of his head. "Then I'll come get you when it's your turn."

Sayomi scowled and let him walk by. "You better..."

Once Yusuke was gone, Yukina smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to see you, Ms. Sayomi. How have you been?"

Sayomi turned to the ice maiden and forgot about her annoyance with Yusuke. "Oh, not bad. Things have just been pretty slow lately."

"I see." Yukina looked out towards the trees and let the wind blow through her hair. "There's nothing wrong with enjoying the peace, although I suppose Yusuke isn't really one for days like this."

Sayomi sat on the temple steps and sighed. "Yeah, he's not exactly leaping for joy about it."

"Would you like to go for a walk?" Yukina asked. "They could be a while if Master Genkai is playing games. We could pick herbs and enjoy the weather."

Sayomi stared at the trees, then turned to the temple. Knowing Yusuke, he's going to avoid the issue until she finally drags it out of him. I'd like to hear what they talk about, but... She glanced up at Yukina. This will be the first time I get to spend time with her without anyone else around.

"If you would prefer to stay here, we could find something else to do," Yukina offered.

Sayomi smiled. "A walk actually sounds pretty good right now. Anywhere you would like to go?"

Yukina smiled and started walking towards the back entrance of the temple. "There's a pleasant shaded path down this way. And there are no stairs to worry about."

Sayomi followed after her and rested her hands in her pockets. "That does sound nice. Anything we're looking for in particular?"

"I figured we could just walk along the path and pick up what we see along the way. I don't want to bore you by staying in one spot for too long." Yukina matched her pace with Sayomi.

"I don't mind." Sayomi smiled. "Anything would be better than just sitting around, waiting on Yusuke."

"Is he really feeling down?" Yukina asked worriedly.

"Just a little more cranky than usual." Sayomi shrugged. "But I've been feeling a bit antsy myself."

"You really enjoy fighting, don't you?" Yukina giggled behind her sleeve.

Sayomi grinned. "Yeah, I do. It's hard to explain unless you actually do it. Granted, I don't need the world to be in danger to enjoy a good fight."

"That's good to hear. Are you still training with Mr. Hiei?"

Sayomi could feel her cheeks get warm but she tried to ignore it. "Actually, I haven't seen him in a while."

"Oh no! Did something happen between you two?" Yukina asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

"No, not really. It's just that a lot happened in the Demon Plane so he's giving me time to sort it all out." Sayomi didn't want Yukina to get the wrong idea.

"I see." Yukina smiled with relief. "It's good to know you didn't have a disagreement or anything."

Sayomi bit her lip nervously. There is a small disagreement, but nothing she needs to worry about. "What about you, Yukina? Have you seen him around here at all?"

"No, I haven't. Kazuma has come by several times, but not Mr. Hiei."

Sayomi quirked her eyebrow. I notice she calls Kuwabara by his first name, yet she's so formal with everyone else. "Yukina, what do you think of Kuwabara?"

Yukina's face lit up and she said, "Kazuma is very kind. He always comes by to tell me news or help me around the temple. He can be a goof-ball sometimes."

Sayomi smirked as she remembered her first meeting with the human. "You're a lot nicer about it than I was."

"Did you not get along?" Yukina asked, tilting her head curiously.

"Well, it's more along the lines of having different opinions on certain topics. Overall, he's not bad once you get used to him."

"I'm glad to hear that. I heard you had a hard time getting used to everyone."

"Where did you hear that?" Sayomi asked.

"Kazuma and Master Genkai. They said you were only really nice to Mr. Yusuke, but you didn't let anyone else get too close."

Sayomi let out a sigh. "He's not wrong. I guess I did have trouble adjusting. I wasn't very used to humans and the fact that Hiei and Kurama were criminals put me even more on edge."

"So why were you okay with Mr. Yusuke?" Yukina asked.

Sayomi looked up at the trees in thought. I guess there's no harm in telling her now that everyone else already knows. "I was sent here to look for Yusuke and keep him safe. At the time, I saw everyone as a potential threat. Now that I think back, it was pretty silly of me."

"Not at all." Yukina smiled. "You were doing your job. I'm glad you were able to get along with everyone with time."

"I'll admit..." Sayomi smiled sheepishly. "I'm still a little uncomfortable with some people more than others, but I don't hate anyone."

"You prefer being around the boys, right?"

"Yeah, but that's just what I'm used to. My mother died when I was young, so I didn't really have any female role models. Just my brother, a stubborn old man, and a bunch of monks."

"You have a brother? What's he like?" Yukina's eyes lit up at the mention of Sayomi's sibling.

"Well..." Sayomi looked down at the ground. The dirt was loose and cool beneath her feet. She tried to think of the right words as she kicked a small pebble. "Before our mother died, he was very nice. He was always making me laugh and taking care of me. But then, after... He became so focused on protecting me, he lost himself. Then we got separated. I haven't really seen him since."

"Oh my goodness... I'm so sorry!" Yukina's eyes widened when she heard Sayomi's story.

"It's okay! It was a long time ago." Sayomi waved off Yukina's apology. "I know he's not dead, but I don't know if I want to see him again."

"I see..." Yukina let the topic go, not wanting to upset Sayomi.

As they lapsed into silence, Sayomi bit her lip. Damn, this is awkward. I was hoping to avoid talking about this, but... "Yukina, mind if I ask a personal question?"

"I don't mind," Yukina said.

Please don't be anywhere nearby... Sayomi took in a deep breath and asked, "What if you met your brother and found out he wasn't really a good person? Would you still accept him as your brother or would you turn him away?"

Yukina blinked and looked up in thought.

I hope she doesn't take it the wrong way. I just need advice so I'll know how to handle Yasuhiro. Sayomi waited anxiously for the ice maiden's answer.

After a couple minutes, Yukina smiled. "I would accept him. If he is truly a bad person, then he would have no problem hurting me. But if he doesn't intend to hurt me then maybe he's not so bad after all. If he did bad things, then maybe he didn't have a choice. I wouldn't want to judge him for doing his best to survive."

Sayomi stared at Yukina. Then she smiled and shook her head. "You're a much better person than I am."

When they made it back to the temple, Sayomi found Yusuke still playing games with Genkai. She leaned against the door and watched the two characters on the TV fight.

"Living's tougher than fighting, so suck up and don't be such a baby," Genkai scolded. Yusuke scowled as his teacher started her lecture. "You could get sick of it all and go on a rampage, and I'd be powerless to stop you."

"What're you yakkin' about?" When Yusuke's character died, he laughed. "Argh! Lost again!"

Sayomi quietly sighed when she saw the score. One player, 45 wins against 2 losses... That's not too bad, but has it really been that long?

"We're all capable of thoughtless destruction," Genkai continued. "It could be destruction of a toy, a pet, a marriage, or an entire country. Imagine, though, what you might destroy." Genkai smiled as Yusuke listened. "If you ever get that urge, come for me first. That might get it out of your system."

"Aw c'mon, that's crazy," Yusuke drawled.

"Maybe... But here." Genkai reached into her pocket and tossed Yusuke a folded piece of paper.

Yusuke caught it and blinked. "An address? Whose?"

"Kuroko Sato, maiden name Sanada. The first Underworld Detective. It might be worth your while to get her perspective on things." Genkai turned around and smiled. "Now get out of here. It's her turn."

"Huh?" Yusuke blinked and turned around. "When did you get here?"

Sayomi shrugged. "Who knows?"

Yusuke scowled and got up to leave. "Whatever, just don't take too long. Who knows when the next bus will come."

"Then you shouldn't have wasted so much time, Yusuke." Sayomi smiled as Yusuke grumbled and walked out of the room. Then she took Yusuke's seat and turned to Genkai. "So, where do we begin?"

"Hmph!" Genkai smirked. "We can start with what happened to all the markings that disappeared."

"Yeah, okay." Sayomi looked down at her black nails. "Well, there's not much I can tell you. One day, I was covered with them, then they were gone the next."

"Except for one," Genkai pointed out. "Any idea why that one is still around?"

"I'm not sure." Sayomi touched her neck. "I know my brother has something similar in a different place, but I don't know why."

"Did anything unusual happen in the Demon Plane?" Genkai asked.

"Unusual?" Sayomi tried to remember the fight against Sensui. "I remember seeing Yusuke die. After that, I fell into the Void. I was told that I fought as hard as I could with my aura and that I was dangerously close to fading. All I can remember is coming back and everyone was already beaten up pretty bad, myself included."

"So you weren't aware of your own condition. You fought instinctively without any concern for your own well-being."

"Pretty much." Sayomi looked down. "I was sad about letting Yusuke die. I didn't care about anything else."

"It sounds like your powers and your emotions are linked," Genkai deduced. "Instead of fearing for your life, you were sad over someone else's death."

Sayomi's eyes widened as she listened to Genkai's reasoning. "So, I didn't fade because..."

Genkai smirked. "You didn't fade because you weren't afraid of fading. You just wanted to avenge the dimwit and that pushed fear out the window. You used your sadness to fuel your aura instead of your fear and that enabled you to keep yourself together, in a sense."

But I was afraid... Until... Sayomi thought back to her moment with Hiei in the Void.

"If you want my advice, don't let your fear hold you back. If you give in to it, it'll overpower you and you'll always be a prisoner of regret. If you overcome it, then you'll break free and live your life your way."

"But... What if I lose control again?" Sayomi asked quietly. I can't remember that fight. I wasn't in control and I almost did fade away.

"When you came to me, you asked me to train you," Genkai said. "When I agreed, I put you through long hours of rigorous training with your aura. Everything you did required using it to some degree. Though you did not train with it in combat, you gained field experience. You had proper control, but you were always afraid of losing it. I believe it was that fear that caused your markings to show up in the first place."

"But then, what about this one?" Sayomi touched her neck. "And my nails? They weren't black before either, but now they won't go back to normal."

"I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that one." Genkai picked up her controller and started a round with the computer. "Is there still something that's bothering you?"

Sayomi stared down at her nails and clenched her fist. "Yeah... I guess there is."

"Well, you might as well let it out while you're here. The dimwit wasted enough time on his own." Genkai turned her attention to the screen and started her match.

Sayomi watched the screen for a moment to give herself something else to look at. "It's a couple things, actually. One has to do with Yusuke."

"I'm listening," Genkai nodded, encouraging her to speak.

"I'm supposed to take him back to the Demon Plane to meet with his ancestor." Sayomi imagined the old man sitting in his throne. I wonder how much thinner he's gotten...

"I figured that had something to do with it. It was the reason you came here to begin with." Genkai smiled at the memory as she won the first round.

"Yeah." Sayomi smiled sadly. "I didn't think it would be this hard to finish. Especially since it's what I've wanted for the longest time."

"What were you supposed to get out of it?" Genkai asked.

"My freedom." Sayomi thought back to the angry monks that tolerated her presence. They would give her the poorest fruits and vegetables from their crops. She would be the last to use the facilities or be forced to go elsewhere. "I wasn't really liked and I didn't have anywhere else to go. So when I first arrived, I was given a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"I would be protected in his territory, but then I would owe him a favor. And only after my favor was paid in full, I would get to leave and fend for myself." Sayomi could feel her old resentment rising, but she calmly took in a deep breath and relaxed her muscles. "Now that it's time to pay up, I don't really want to anymore."

"I see. And that's also why you wanted to learn to fight. You were preparing to live on your own," Genkai concluded. "Now that you can fight and you still owe this favor, you're reluctant to pay up because then it'll mean moving on."

"Basically..." Sayomi hung her head and sighed. "Honestly, this is probably the happiest I've ever been."

"Well you're always welcome to come here so long as you don't break anything," Genkai said. "So if you're scared of saying goodbye, then don't be. Now, what is this other thing that's bothering you?"

Sayomi smiled when she heard Genkai's offer to come back, but then she remembered why she couldn't accept it. "My brother..."

"Didn't know you had one," Genkai said as she won another round.

"That's because when I first got here, I thought he was dead." Sayomi scanned the room, looking at every shadow. "I didn't realize he was alive until the Dark Tournament."

"Was he there?" Genkai asked.

"No, but he showed up in some of my meditations." Sayomi tried not to show how scared she really was. "Since then, he's been showing up more and more, wanting me to go back with him."

"But you don't want to," Genkai concluded.

Sayomi shook her head. "I really don't."

"What do you think will convince him to let you stay here?"

"I don't know. He gets mad anytime I mention Yusuke or any of the guys. He was really angry when he realized I was helping the Underworld."

"Not many demons like the Underworld or humans in general. I'm curious why you don't seem to hate them."

"Yusuke's ancestor always thought well of humans, even if they were bad. I guess it's a lesson he drilled into me and I just didn't realize it until I came here." Sayomi remembered how she initially hated Rando for testing his powers on humans. Then she remembered her brother had done the same thing and she clenched her fists in her lap. "Now if I know a demon is harming humans, it really gets to me."

"Did your brother harm humans around you?" Genkai asked.

"At the time, I was too young to understand what was really happening. Now the very thought of it makes me so angry." Sayomi did her best to keep her breathing calm. "I don't want to go back, but if I don't..."

"Sounds like you're in a real bind," Genkai said. "You can't take Yusuke back to the Demon Plane now that the tunnel is closed. And even if it wasn't, you don't really want to. But if you don't, then your brother might come for you."

He's already here... somewhere... Sayomi glared down at the floor. "Pretty much..."

"Does Koenma know?" Genkai asked.

"Yeah..." Sayomi said quietly.

"Then the only thing I can tell you is to be patient. If he knows about your dilemma, then he'll probably do what he can to help. Although, he might be more limited with his resources these days," Genkai said.

"I guess you're right," Sayomi admitted glumly. "I just hope it doesn't take too long. Otherwise I'll drive myself crazy waiting for something to happen."

Genkai smirked and said, "Be careful what you wish for. The universe has a funny way of granting them."

"Ah, good point." Sayomi smiled. "Because, after I leave, I might not be able to come back."

"Then might as well enjoy the peace while you can. Take it from an old woman who's done her share of fighting. Days like this are few and far between. Try not to take it for granted just because it's boring."

"Yes, Master Genkai." Sayomi stood up and bowed. "Thank you for everything."

"Hmph!" Genkai smirked and turned back to her game. "Now get out of here. I can hear the dimwit whining from here."

"Hey! I'm not whining!" Yusuke yelled from around the corner.

"Were you listening?" Sayomi asked, walking out to the hallway.

"Not my fault you're loud." Yusuke stuffed his hands in his pockets and asked, "Are you ready yet?"

"Yeah, yeah." Sayomi headed for the stairs that led to the bus stop. "I'm pretty sure you took twice as long as me and with less talking."

"Whatever." Yusuke pulled the paper from his pocket. "Looks like we have another detective to track down."

"So the very first Underworld Detective was a woman?" Sayomi asked. That's kinda surprising, but if Genkai trained her too...

"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. Important thing is, she might be able to help." Yusuke put the paper back into his pocket. "Did Grandma help you at all?"

"Yeah, she gave me some good advice." Sayomi smiled.

"Cool." Yusuke grinned. "Good to know this trip wasn't a waste of time. Looks like I'll be skipping school again tomorrow. You wanna tag along?"

"Sure, I got nothing better to do." Sayomi grinned. So long as I'm not left alone for too long. I don't want Yasuhiro paying me a personal visit any time soon. Besides, I really should have fun here while I still can.