In Which Nothing Happens…Which is a Bad Thing


L.A.: I know. I'm late.

Amu: Fail.

L.A.: Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

Review Replies:

Angel of Randomosity: Thanks for the review! Yes, poor Shizuru. She'll have to put up with so much. I don't know if Hiei remembers or if he's just annoyed with Sira. Either way, it'll be entertaining.

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did, I would totally not feel bad when I have to take off for the holidays.


Sira stared blankly at the ceiling. The TV was playing softly in the background and Tori was fast asleep beside her. She noted all of this with mild interest as she continued to stare at the ceiling.

Why was she staring at the ceiling? Because she was bored out of her freaking mind. Two days they had been locked up at Kuwabara's. Once the novelty of sock sliding, junk food eating, and binge watching had worn off, the boredom of seclusion had set in.

She could write, but no motivation was powerful enough to inspire her to lift the pen. So, now she was staring at the ceiling. With her gaze unfocused, it would shift and move as if it were composed of waves.

She blinked a couple of times as she tore her gaze from the ceiling. "I'm so bored!" She wailed.

Tori jumped nearly falling of the sofa. "Was that really necessary?"

Sira nodded. "I'm staring at the ceiling trying to make it move in my mind. What do you think?"

Tori yawned. "Yeah, okay. I see you're point."

"How are you not bored?"

"I am," Tori stretched, her back giving a satisfying pop. "I'm just hibernating through it."

Sira jumped to her feet. "That's it. We're getting out of here."

Tori eyed her skeptically. "And how are we going to do that? Koenma gave us explicit orders to stay put."

"Koenma can kiss my ass. I'm tired of waiting. Let's get this show on the road."

Tori eyed the ceiling warily. "You do realize one day, Koenma's probably going to strike us down with lightning or something."

"Probably," Sira slumped back down on the sofa. "but he said himself that we're supposed to be retracing the steps we first took. How can we do that if we're trapped here?"

Before Tori could comment, the sound of the front door opening interrupted them. They looked up to see Kuwabara and Yusuke entering. They both looked like they were in foul moods.

"Something the matter?" Tori asked.

"Just lost track of a stupid low level demon." Yusuke gave Kuwabara a pointed look.

Kuwabara glared back. "Hey, that wasn't my fault."

"You wanted to see the cat hiding behind the trash."

"But he was mewing," Kuwabara's eyes widened as a warm smile spread across his face. "How can you resist that?"

Yusuke stared at him as if he was an idiot.

Sira had forgotten how much she had missed their squabbling. It was just like old times… well, almost. Besides Shizuru, Yusuke and Kuwabara were the only ones to come see them. Sira knew Tori was disappointed that Kurama wasn't here. She had tried everything she could think of to make her feel better.

Because Sira was fine. She wasn't upset that Hiei wasn't here. Oh no, she didn't care about the jerk. Not one bit.

Sira's eye twitched. "I need to get out of here."

Tori frowned at her.

Sira stood up. "Okay. That's it. You're taking us to the mall."

Tori lit up. "That's a great idea. Koenma can't be mad if you go with us."

Yusuke glared at us. "No. I'm not going to carry your shopping bags."

Sira blinked innocently. "You know what happens to two bored girls? We need outlets. We'll do makeovers…" A crazy smile crossed her face. "…on you."

Yusuke's hand sparked. "I will shoot you with my spirit gun."

Tori shook her head. "No you won't. Koenma will kill you." She shared an evil grin with Sira.

Best friends. They always back you on your evil plots.

Sira turned back to Kuwabara and Yusuke. "So what'll it be? Take us to the mall or," her grin widened, "we'll make you the prettiest princesses of the ball."

Kuwabara gulped loudly as Yusuke glared.


The mall was packed with Christmas shoppers. Tori and Sira happily navigated through the crowd while Kuwabara and Yusuke followed them like two whipped puppies.

"It's so magical," Tori breathed out. "I love Christmas! The lights! The Music!"

Sira shook her head. "But it's too early. I don't want to start celebrating until November."

Tori stared at her as if she's an idiot. "You do realize it's Christmas here, right?"

"I know," Sira sighed. "My body clock is so messed up right now."

Yusuke looked longingly at the arcade nearby. "It's so close."

Kuwabara sighed. "It's calling to us."

Sira rolled her eyes while Tori suppressed a giggle. "Okay, fine, go. We'll meet you in an ho-"

They were gone before Sira finished her sentence. "You know. I find it a little insulting that they don't want to spend time with us."

Tori shrugged. "They're boys. Are you really that surprised?" Tori glanced around the mall. "So, where are we going?"

Sira crossed her arms. "To pick out Christmas presents for everyone of course."

Tori frowned. "But I thought you didn't want to be in the Christmas spirit?"

Sira sighed. She didn't, but she didn't have much of a choice. If they wanted everything to go back to normal… "It's what we did last time."

"So, we have to get the same presents too? That doesn't sound like fun."

"Maybe for you," Sira grinned evilly. "But I'm going to have fun."

"You're going to get Hiei the stress reliever doll again, aren't you?"

Sira nodded. "Paying for the stress reliever doll again: annoying. Seeing Hiei's face when he receives it: priceless."

Tori's expression softened. "You really miss him, don't you?"

Sira stiffened. Why did Tori keep bringing it up? She didn't miss Hiei. It wasn't like they were in love to begin with. Infatuated maybe, but not love. Infatuation was easy to get over. If it was love…

Sira shook her head. "No. I'm doing this all for Haku. He's the one I miss."

Tori smirked. "You do know that Haku is a part of Hiei, right?"

"So?"

"So, if you miss Haku then you're missing Hiei as well."

Sira's face turned beet red. "Stop pointing out I'm a hypocrite." She stormed off with Tori calling after her.

"Wait, I'm sorry."

But, Sira wasn't listening. She'd show Tori. She'd show them all. Hiei did not matter to her. Not in the slightest.


Sira sighed loudly as she waited outside the store. Her arms were ladened with shopping bags and fatigue was starting to creep through her limbs.

Ugh, where is she?

Tori was still shopping. Sira didn't understand why it was taking her so long. They were getting the same exact presents they got last time. It couldn't be that hard.

Readjusting her hold on her bags, Sira let her gaze wander through the passing crowd. People continued along their way. She knew Koenma had said that no one was aware of reset. They were going about their lives oblivious to the fact that they've done it all before.

But what if like Tori and Sira, there was someone out here who hadn't been affected? Sira squinted at the people. Like maybe that little girl carrying a red balloon, that elderly man hobbling with a cane, or Ash Ketchum.

Wait, what?

Sira did a double take. For a moment, a boy had looked like Ketchum. The same outfit all the way down to the hat. But now, she saw the differences. The hat was black and the vest was blue.

I need to stop imagining things. Still, there was something nagging at the back of her mind. It was like she was missing something.

She nearly jumped when she felt a hand tap her shoulder.

"Geez, chill. It's just me."

Sira turned to see Tori, her arms ladened with bags as well, standing before her. Tori frowned. "Something wrong?"

Sira shook her head. "Nothing. Let's just find the others."


Sira couldn't tell if Yusuke and Kuwabara were happy to leave or pissed that they didn't get to finish their games. Both had barely spoken a word as they stomped out of the arcade.

And they say girls are fickle, Sira thought as she suppressed a snicker. They were heading out to the parking garage when Sira felt a cold sweaty hand grab her arm.

Sira turned to face Tori. "You okay?"

Tori was pale and sweaty. She shook her head. "No."

Sira frowned. "What's wrong?"

Tori licked her lips nervously. "It's the parking garage. You remembered what happened last time we were here."

Sira's eyes widened. She had forgotten. The parking garage was where the makai bats were. The Makai bats that bite Tori.

Sira let out a shaky breath. "You ready?"

Tori shook her head emphatically. "I can't do it, Sira. I just can't."

Sira placed a hand on each of Tori's shoulders. "You can do this. We have to fix this world. Don't you want to be with Kurama again?"

Tori stared at her, deadpanned. "Yes, but my logical self preservation self says that being bitten by a bat for a boy is the dumbest idea ever."

Sira winces. "True, but we are trying to save the world."

Tori raised by an eyebrow. "By being bitten by a demon bat?"

Sira shrugged. "No one said saving the world was easy." Sira looped her arm through Tori's. "Okay. On the count of three we bust through the doors and brace for impact."

Tori closed her eyes. "I don't think I can move."

"3."

"Huh?" Before Tori could react, Sira shoved her through the door.

Sira and Tori squeezed their eyes shut as they prepared for the onslot of bats.

"What are you doing?"

Sira pried her eyes open.

Yusuke and Kuwabara were staring at them as if they had gone crazy.

Sira pointed to the ceiling. "But there are…" Looking up, the ceiling of the parking deck was empty. Not a bat in sight.

Tori blinked slowly, confused. "Huh. That wasn't what I expected."

Kuwabara frowned. "It's a ceiling. What's it supposed to look like?"

Sira snapped out of her stupor. "Never mind. Let's go."

Yusuke shrugged while Kuwabara gave them a worried glance before following. Sira and Tori traded concerned glances.

If the bats, aren't here, Sira thought. What else has changed?


The figure watched from the shadows as the two girls and boys walked away. His golden eyes glowed with intrigue.

"Hmm, this is an interesting development." Though his tone was filled with amusement, there was a hint of venom there too.

He would keep this quiet for now. No need to tell the others yet. If his plans fell into place, those girls could prove useful to him after all.


"What did we do wrong?" Sira moaned as she flopped onto her bed.

Tori sat on the edge of the bed, her expression a mixture of relief or concern. "I don't know whether to be happy I didn't get bitten or sad that it's not working out."

Sira rubbed her head. "I don't get it. We did everything right. Exactly as we did last time…" She sat up and looked at Tori. "Right?"

Tori shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe we peed in wrong toilet and that messed it up. You know the Butterfly Effect?"

Sira stared at her in disbelief. "You're telling me the fate of the world is screwed because we peed in the wrong toilet?"

Tori shrugged. "I don't know. The Butterfly Effect is complicated."

Sira crossed her arms. "Stupid Butterflies. This is why I like dragonflies better."

Tori's eyes widened. "Wait a minute, since I didn't get bitten, does that means I'll get dimension sickness?"

Sira shrugged. "Could be."

Tori's face paled. "Oh, no."

Sira shrugged. "It's not that bad."

"I don't want to be erased," Tori moaned. "It sounds terrible."

Sira glared at her. "You told me to suck it up. That it wasn't bad."

Tori grinned sheepishly. "That was when I thought it wasn't going to happen to me."

Sira flopped back on the bed with Tori soon following. All of this was too confusing for Sira. She sighed. "It doesn't make sense."

Tori nodded. "I know."

Sira shook her head. "I mean just in general. Everything seems harder. Getting the octopus demon to attack us."

Tori raised an eyebrow. "That's a bad thing?"

"Trying to get the Yu Yu Gang to hang out with us."

"They always thought we were weird."

"And nothing is happening." Sira frowned. "I mean by now, we were going into Makai after you got kidnapped."

Tori shivered. "Don't remind me."

"It just doesn't make sense. Stuff should be happening to us. We should be further along and oh my god this isn't are story."

Sira had sat up at the last part.

Tori frowned at her. "Come again?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense. If we aren't the main characters then stuff wouldn't be happening to us."

Tori sat up. "So we're this world's side chick? I don't think I'm okay with that."

"Me neither."

"But then why did we get the email? What was it for?"

Sira frowned. She had been wondering that. If they weren't the main characters then why were they summoned here?

"Perhaps I could answer that question for you." A familiar muffled voice said.

They quickly turned to the window. Outside on the window sill sat a little silver fox. Its silver eyes glowed in the dark. "So please open the window, you two."


Amu: The stupid fox is back. Why is the stupid fox back?

LA.: So, Christmas is next week and I may not be able to post a chapter. To make things worse, this wacky schedule will probably continue until after New Years.

Amu: Yay Holiday season!

L.A.: Why are you happy?

Amu: (looks at L.A. like she's an idiot) Because holidays mean baking which means…

L.A: Pie. You know this joke's getting old.

Amu: Pie will never get old. Unless there's mold…then maybe not eat it.

L.A.: Anywho, you know what to do. READ and REVIEW!