It had been a long day at the hospital. After having her little chat with Kurama, Cora had decided to skip classes that day and spend her time at Shiori's bed side. The human turned 'mother' spent most of the day sleeping, but the nurses had stopped in many times to keep Cora company. They were shocked when she actually spoke to them.

"Oh goodness! That's fantastic dear; you're voice is simply beautiful!" The new nurse, Amaya, said with a cheerful smile on her plump face. "Has Shiori learned of this yet? I'm sure she'll be so happy to know her little girl is talking again!"

Cora smiled sadly in response. "I'm afraid not; even when she's not sleeping she's hardly lucid enough to speak, let alone interact with us..." Cora shook her head, ridding herself of her own sadness. "But I'm sure she knows; the Dr told us to talk to her as often as we can."

The nurse nodded, patting Cora on the shoulder. "It's true dear; I've seen some people come back from the brink of death just from hearing the voice of their loved ones." The nurse checked the monitors, taking a few notes as she continued. "Even if she doesn't respond, she knows your here if you're talking."

Cora smiled a little before having to cover a yawn. So many hours of sitting in the relatively quiet room was oddly draining.

"Cora, why don't you go home dear; visiting hours will be over in a few minutes." Amaya said.

Cora's brow furrowed in confusion as she looked at the clock; it was nearly 10pm. Well shoot, it seemed as if time was not on her side today. She glanced at Amaya and nodded reluctantly before she stood and placed a soft kiss to Shiori's forehead. She wasn't sure when she would see the woman again; or if she ever would...

Cora waved good bye to the nurses station and made her way into the elevator, pressing the first floor button. The elevators music blared from the speakers, it's horrid out of tune melody sounding like a morbid version of "La Bamba". It didn't take long for the elevator to reach the bottom floor, and she was more then happy to escape the terrible sound. She waved at the receptionist as she walked out of the front doors.

A small shiver ran down her spin; it felt like it was going to rain tonight. Cora wrapped her arms around herself in order to keep a tad bit warm. "I knew I should have grabbed a coat." Cora slowly left the brightly lit parking lot of the hospital, taking to the mostly deserted city streets. She felt the first drops of rain start to fall, which only made her shiver harder. Great; now she was going to be cold and wet. She felt a sense of de-ga-vou as a second drop fell on her head.

This night reminded her of the night Hiei left. It had been drizzling lightly when Yustade had attacked them; she could remember the fear she felt when the horrid demon had revealed it's self, and the panic that had clawed at her insides when Hiei had been struck with a near fatal blow. Cora shivered; she could almost feel Yustade's clammy hands wrapped around her arms and legs as he carried her off, leaving Hiei for dead in the rain. She wondered if things would have turned out differently if she had had her gun with her... thinking back on that time made Cora feel sick; she had been so pathetic then, believing that because Hiei was gone that she wouldn't be able to survive. But now, having survived three years with out him, she liked to believe that she wasn't that same scared child she had been-

"Hey. You there. Little girl." She froze mid step, her sense's going into over drive with her nerves still on high alert from the vivid memory; she did not recognize this voice. It was gravely, and dark. Cora looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening as she took in the large figure that stood only feet behind her. He wore an army green shirt, and a pair of dark blue long pants with black shoes covering his large feet. He looked basically human, if you didn't count the horns that adorned his head. Cora gulped; while this demon didn't feel very strong, something about him was screaming at her to be on her guard. Maybe it was the fact that his biceps were nearly the size of her head. Yeah, that was probably it.

"May I help you?" Cora asked, trying hard to sound as bored with the situation as she could. He gave her a toothy smile, or at least what looked like it was supposed to be a smile; it made him look more like a shark then a friendly neighbor.

"Yeah, heh, you can help me. You see, I lost some friends of mine, and I was wondering if you could help me find them." He started walking towards her.

Cora backed up at the same pace, keeping the distance between them. She wanted to reach for her gun, but she knew that would require taking her eyes off of him, something that didn't seem smart at the moment; in hindsight, her waist harness along with a jacket to conceal it would have been a great idea. Easy access to her gun, and a shield from this damn rain. "I'm sorry to hear that; I haven't seen anyone else around here, so I don't think I'll be of much use..." Cora's back hit a telephone poll. The demon's smile widened, making her shudder.

"Well that's just it; I lost them in the woods, right over there," he pointed a clawed finger towards a forested area that lay across the street." You should help me find them." The demon reached a hand out to her. Cora lashed out with her only other weapon, a hidden blade from her pant's pocket, slicing at the palm of his hand. As it connected with his skin, the blade broke off, clattering to the ground. Cora stared at the broken off blade, shock and fear flashing through her. She should have known better then to underestimate her opponent.

The demon looked down at her, his eyes wide in surprise before he threw his head back, laughing heartily. "Did you really think that your puny, human made weapon would stand up against a demon my level?!" As he shouted this, he clasped one of his massive hands onto the back of her tank top, lifting her from the ground. Cora started to struggle, her legs and arms flailing as she tried to land a hit on him. He held his arm out, taking her out of striking range. "I see you have a little fire in you; I think I'll bring you with me little girl, you could prove to be quite entertaining!"

"No, put me down!" The demon laughed as he started walking towards the forest, his hold on her never faltering. She used the laps in restraint to reach for her gun, but it was just out of reach...damn! What's the point of having a gun if I never get the chance to use it!...

"Quiet down kid, or you'll wake the neighbors. I think you'll like my 'friends'; we have big plans for this pathetic little world." Cora continued to struggle, her arms and legs flailing uselessly. "Just a bit further now girl! Now stop your squirming, before I decide that you would make a much nicer snack then a play thing." Cora looked at him with wide eyes, her arms and legs falling limply to her side. "Heh, that's more like i-" Cora spat at him... hitting him straight in the face. "Damn wench!" The demon launched her from his grasp, sending her flying over the top of some bushes.

Cora landed flat on her back, hard. The air was forced from her lungs, making her eyes widen in a mixture of panic and pain. She lay there, her head spinning for just a second; its strange how even though she was sitting still the world decided to keep moving..." You have to learn how to protect yourself... at least until I can get to you... do you understand stupid?"... Cora gasped loudly, her fingers digging into the ground beneath her as the pain from her fall started to spread across her back...yeah yeah, I get it... she heard hurried foot falls from above her head. With lightning fast movements she reached down, ignoring the protest' from her back, and drew her gun, aiming it in the direction of her assailant and letting a single bullet fly. "FUCK OFF!" She heard the bullet fly through the foliage, lodging it's self into what sounded like a tree. Fuck, she missed.

"Cora!"

"Watch were you aim that thing you stupid girl!" Cora felt herself relax against the ground as the familiar faces of Kurama and Hiei appeared above her. She allowed her arm which was hold her gun fall to her side as Kurama knelt down and helped her to sit up.

"Oh, Kurama! I'm so glad to see-cough, cough- you!" Cora gasped loudly, forcing her lungs to relax. "I'm sorry Hiei; I didn't know you were here- there's a demon, he-" The demon from earlier came crashing through the bushes, making Cora gasp and wiggle a little in Kurama's hold, raising her her gun and aiming it at the demons head. "Him! It's him! This bastard trying to-"

"There you are you little wench- Kurama? Why are you helping that useless girl?" Kurama gave him a cold glare, while Cora furrowed her brows in confusion; did Kurama know this terrible creature? "Heh, this saves me the time of finding the two of you; I found us a little entertainment. Saucy wench this one is, she's bound to give us hours of fun-"

"I would hold your tongue, Gouki, before you lose it." Cora glanced back at Hiei who was glaring daggers at the taller demon. Gouki growled, taking a step back to show his submission, but he still looked at Cora like she was a piece of meat.

"Hiei, whats goin-" He glanced at her, his cold eyes making her go silent as he looked her over before they shifted back to Gouki, his garnet iris' burning with nothing put anger and hate fire. If look's could kill...

"Kurama, take her home. We have business to attend to, and we cant have her slow us down." Kurama helped Cora stand, his eyes still glaring hatefully at Gouki who gave him a sneer of his own. His black eyes slid to Cora, making her take a step back, her gun still aimed at the demons head. She wasn't taking any chances with this one.

"I'll deal with you latter, wen-" A low growl stopped him mid sentence. All heads turned towards Hiei who was giving Gouki a dark look, his top lip barely pulled back in a sneer. He glanced over to Kurama, giving him a barely noticeable nod, which Kurama responded to with a grim expression.

Kurama grabbed Cora's arm gently as he steered her away from the angry demons. They had hardly left them when the sounds of a small scuffle followed by Gouki's grunt of pain filtered through the trees. Cora gave a light snicker and a small smile; at least someone was kicking that ugly bastards ass.


Kurama and Cora entered their empty house in a deafening silence. Cora removed her shoes, that like her tank top and pants, were now covered in dirt and a bit of mud; Gouki just had to throw her onto the only patch of bare earth in the clearing. Kurama watched her as she pulled her hair out of its pony tail, running her hand through it gently, her lower lip pushed out in thought.

"Cora-"

"You will hear what I have to say." She said making Kurama pause. "I will not allow you, or Hiei, to keep me in the dark about this anymore." Kurama frowned. He wasn't entirely sure what all Cora didn't know by this point; he was sure to keep the details under-wraps by Hiei's request- "Gouki mentioned big plans for this living plain. Kurama, if Hiei has planned something foolish that could get us all killed, I would hope you would give me some warning."

"Cora... I'm sorry. He asked me not to tell you; he asked me not to let you get involved. He didn't want you to get hurt-" Cora looked up at him, a glare set on her normally soft face. Kurama didn't falter in his blank stare. He had grown used to her evil glares that, despite their rare usage, could rival Hiei's.

"Well a whole lot of good that did, huh? And what about Shiori? Did you ever stop to think of what these plan's might have in store for her?!" Cora spat out at him, storming into the kitchen and riffling through the cabinets, taking out a coffee cup; she needed something to sooth her nerves. Tea normally did the trick."And don't try to use that whole "he's just trying to protect you" bull shit on me; Hiei's reason's are his own, and I doubt I have anything to do with why he's suddenly decided to lose his damn mind! The only reason Hiei doesn't want me involved is because-" Cora stopped mid rant, her hand's suddenly shaking as she held the box of instant tea. "Damn him..." She growled out to herself, slamming the box onto the counter. After everything she's been through because of Hiei, she still couldn't sell him out. Where was the justice in that for her?! Why did she still have to care-

"Cora?"

Cora let out a long breath, opening the box with tense motions and spooning some tea into her mug."Forget it. It doesn't matter-" Kurama pat her head, making her tense up and shoot a heated glare at him over her shoulder. His eyes were wide with surprise; it had been almost two years since she had ever reacted negatively to physical contact with him.

Kurama reluctantly retracted his hand. "Forgive me Cora, but I don't believe you," Cora stiffened, pushing her anxiety from her throat back down into her gut; of course he didn't believe her, she was lying after all, and she was horrible at it. Kurama continued, attempting to sound reassuring in his tone "I wish you would tell me- but I wont push it if-"

"Then stop using that tone with me," she grumbled at him. "I don't know why, but my honor requires that I keep what I was about to blab a secrete. Information like that could be detrimental to Hiei's plan's, and while I don't approve of his actions, I won't get in his way either." Cora turned to shoot him a small glare. "Not to mention you won't tell me what's really going on, so why the hell should I tell you anything?"

"You should know by now that I would never use anything you have to say against anyone; let alone Hiei or yourself." Kurama said as Cora filled her coffee cup with tap water before placing it in the microwave. "I understand that your relationship with Hiei is... complicated. He seems important to you, and while he tries to hide it, I believe you are important to him. But if I am to be completely honest, I know very little aside from those few details, especially about you; just a week ago you spoke for the first time in three years. And while I told you that I believed it was because of Yustade, in reality I believe it was Hiei's departure that caused you to loose your ability to vocalize." Cora frowned at her reflection in the microwave door. " If you hadn't become aware of Hiei's involvement in any of this, I wouldn't be worried. But, with you knowing he is here, and with all of us knowing that there is a chance that Hiei might be arrested, or killed... it makes me worry about what to expect from you should either scenario happen." They stood in silence for a few minutes, until the silence was broken by the dinging of the microwave. With careful fingers Cora removed her coffee cup from the microwave and began preparing her hot tea.

Cora felt at war with herself; should she divulge in Kurama? He doesn't have to know everything... just enough to help ease his mind, not that she felt he deserved it at the moment. He definitely didn't need to know the real reason Hiei didn't want her involved brought to light. " Our relationship-" She paused, going over her options in her head before choosing her next words carefully." It isn't as complicated as you may think it is; he saved me, so I traveled with him as a half assed healer to pay off my debt. We met some five years before I came to live with you; I was kept in a shack covered in sutras. I don't know why, and I don't know who my parents are, but Hiei mentioned that he thought he had taken out the person that had been keeping me there, though this was before stumbling into my 'home'. Hiei just kind of showed up one day," Cora took a tentative sip of her steaming tea, sighing as her nerves seemed to settle with the soothing heat it made pool in her stomach. "He was injured. I healed him, and when he woke up he tried to use his Jagan on me-"

"Tried? As in, it failed?" Cora gave him a side long glance; should she go into details? She wasn't sure... what if he let it slip? Though Kurama wasn't one to let such a slip happen...

"I know I haven't told you anything about myself or my abilities; but I do know that I am not psychic. In any way." Cora paused again. Kurama could see the internal debate in her eyes, only adding to his curiosity. "Hiei's jagan's energy bounced off of me... It caused him great pain. It's why he doesn't use his jagan to look for me." Kurama stared at her in wonder; he had never heard of someone being immune to the jagan's power. "After he recovered, he broke me out of my shack; as to how he got in there to begin with, I am not sure. It was kind of like when food and water would show up; like it was made of thin air." Cora chuckled a little; as if that were possible. A whole demon being born from thin air. "I vowed to stay by his side, to heal him and care for him when he needed, as a way of paying him back for his breaking me out of my prison. I still owe him a great deal for the other times he has saved me from certain death..."

Kurama sat there, waiting for her to continue, but she never did. She gave him a small smile instead, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "And that's all?"

"What do you mean? I told you that it wasn't as complicated as you thought; what could be missing?" Cora asked with mock confusion. Kurama shook his head; she was lying again.

"Nothing Cora-san," he said as he stood. "Thank you for telling me; I wont tell Hiei that you told me." Cora looked up at him, uncertainty shinning in her eyes.

"Promise?" Kurama smiled and ruffled her hair lightly, glad to see that she didn't shy away from him this time.

"I promise."

Cora smiled, nodding her head in acceptance. Her smile turned into a serious stare. "Just... don't get yourselves killed, ok? I don't trust that Gouki guy, and what ever Hiei has planned has me questioning his sanity. If he is actually trying to keep it under the radar, then it has to be a dangerous plan."

Kurama sighed. "I will pass on your worries to Hiei; I promise that I wont let him do anything to foolish." Kurama said with a small wink. Cora snickered; Hiei would be livid to know that Kurama had called him foolish. He was so prideful. "I should get going before Hiei starts to wonder were I am. Do not leave the house until one of us come's to get you, ok? There should be enough food here to last you a few days." Cora nodded, following him to the back door. She waved in good bye from the back door until he disappeared into the woods that lined the yard...be safe you two...


Two days later...

"Heh, we've stolen the artifacts without a hitch," Hiei said as he examined the ugliest sword he had ever seen. The blade looked fine, if not a bit over sized, but the hilt was nasty looking, with claws as a hand guard and a skull at the base...not that it's looks matter much... it will serve it's purpose well enough... "It'll be interesting to see what kind of havoc we can reap in the human world. I will use this Shadow Sword to make an army of brainless drones-"

"And then I will use my Orb of Beast to collect souls to feed the brainless army!" Gouki held up his stolen treasure; an orb that looked to be made of large, glowing green scales. It almost looked like a child's toy.

"Of course, and with the Forlorn Hope-"

"I apologize," Kurama said interrupting Hiei, who turned to give him a surprised look. "But I'm withdrawing."

"What? What do you mean? Your backing out of our plan?!" Hiei asked furiously. Kurama sighed, placing his hands into his pockets, lightly stroking the hand sized mirror that lay hidden there.

"That's right." Hiei growled, his garnet eyes burning with irritation.

"Coward! Your time with these humans has made you weak!" Kurama gave him a blank stare in return for his callous words, making Hiei even more irritated.

"We don't need to give part of the loot to a person like you! Give us the pretty mirror!" Gouki stepped forward, his hand outstretched the take the mirror hidden in Kurama's pocket.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that; I have use for the Forlorn Hope myself." Gouki growled, his hands balling into fists.

"Then I shall use my own power to take it back from you!" He drew back his fist, ready to strike, but a loud, boisterous voice stopped him.

"YO! HANG ON!" All three of their head wiped around to see a young man, with slicked back black hair, playful brown eyes and a green jump suit standing opposite of them in the clearing. "Why don't you just pass me all three treasures? Then you can continue your little pissing match."

"Who the hell are you?" Hiei growled out.

"How do you know what we did in the spirit world, boy?" Gouki asked threateningly. The boy snickered, pointing a thumb at himself with a cocky grin.

"The names Yusuke Urameshi, Spirit Detective. Now put up your hands and surrender demons!" Hiei scoffed, placing the Shadow sword into his belts for safe keeping.

"So this is Koenma's newest stooge; how pathetic. I can't feel his spirit energy at all. What a weakling." Yusuke's brow ticked.

"I'll say, I think I could take him out with a single punch."... tick-tick.

"Hey, you guys don't look very tough either!" Hiei studied him over, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly...but if he was chosen by spirit world, there has to be something to him; they can't possibly be dumb enough to chose a mere human to protect them... it's possible that he has a huge reservoir of energy, hidden under the surface...

"Hn. Gouki, take care of this fool. I refuse to waste my energy on the likes of him." Hiei said as he jumped into the air before flitting from sight. Kurama sighed; he knew that Hiei was planning something...I can't be caught now either... Kurama turned, and simply walked away, leaving a bewildered Yusuke.

"Hey, wait a minute! I said you were under arrest; that means you cant walk away damn it!" Kurama didn't pause in his steps, nor did he glance over his shoulder.

"Sorry, I have some business to attend to, and I don't have time to go to jail."

"WHAT?"


...992...

...were are they? Kurama said a few days, and it's already been three days...

...993...

... they better be ok, or I'll hurt them myself...

...994...

...I wonder if Hiei will stay for a while...

...995...

... maybe I should go looking for them...

...996...

...no! They would only get upset if I wen't out when they told me not to...

...997...

...Hiei said something about escaping to the Mikai after all this...

...998...

...does that mean I'll be going too?...

...999...

...seriously, my hands are about to fall off!...

...1000...

... thank god!... Cora finished stringing the last of her paper cranes together. She had spent the last three days making them for Shiori's hospital room. "I hope she likes them..." she said softly as she picked up the thousand crane bundle and laid it gently on the table.

"Hn."

She jumped, turning around with lightning fast movements and tossing a pair of scissors she had been using to cut the rectangular paper into squares towards the intruder.

"Not bad. If I hadn't expected it, you would have actually hit me, stupid girl." Cora stared as Hiei took the sharp scissors from between his index and middle finger and placed it on the counter next to him. "Kurama has been training you."

"He is a grade above me, so we don't have the same classes; he wanted me to be better protected." Her tone and mannerisms were clipped and sharp, making Hiei frown internally. The hell was she so prissy about?

"You spit on Gouki." Cora felt her cheeks grow hot; it may have been a little childish, but it had been effective in getting him to let her go. A small smirk tugged at Hiei's lips, and he couldn't fight down the small glimmer of pride he felt knowing that she had been bold enough to pull such a trick. The look on Gouki's face had been priceless; if he were a man prone to laughing, Hiei was sure he wouldn't have been able to contain himself. "That was a foolish thing to do. He could have killed you in an instant stupid girl." She sighed, her shoulders relaxing a bit. They sat there in an awkward silence for a few minutes, each one doing their best to not be the one to look away first."You've changed girl. Three years ago you wouldn't have dared try something so crude."

Cora gave him a surprised look, before it settled into one that showed her irritation. "Did you expect any different? Three years is a long time, and the world isn't kind enough to slow down for the weak. I had to change." Hiei's eyes widened marginally; she really has grown over the last three years. "Why are you here?" Her tone had changed back to its soft soprano but Hiei could still sense her irritation; but there was something else there. Something that he couldn't quite place. She fiddled with the hem of her shorts, and she even seemed to shake as if every nerve in her body was on edge...she almost seems... frightened...no, there isn't any fear in her eyes... she's stretched thin...

"Hn. I have business to attend to in the human world." He propped his right leg up, resting his arm against it casually.

"I mean't, why are you here... at mine and Kurama's house. Kurama already told me about your little plan-"

"What?" In a flash Hiei was standing only inches from her, his eyes narrowed in anger. "What all did he tell you?"

Cora took a step back, hitting the table in her haste and wincing; she was sure to get a bruise there now, damn it! Why does he feel the need to move so fast; he actually made her nervous just then. "He didn't tell me any details!" Her voice was so rushed and low that Hiei barely heard her." Just that you came back a few days ago, asking him for help."

Hiei looked her over, nearly wincing as he absorbed the fear that flashed through her eyes though it was quickly covered with annoyance as she regained her balance against the table. Hiei grunted and stepped back, putting a couple feet between them. He shook off his unease...why do I care if she is scared of me..."Good. You don't need to know the details." Cora puffed up her cheeks, crossing her arms over her chest... it's because she never used to be scared... he didn't fight the negative emotion that washed over him this time; he couldn't place what this feeling was, but suddenly he thought back to what Kurama had told him. About what had caused her to lose her ability to speak, though it was clearly temporary given how ready she was to shoot her mouth off at him now. Thinking back on the night he left her here, he supposed he could have been more... subtle about it. The note he had eventually left her had been rewritten more times then he would ever care to admit; it was sharp, and got to the point. If he wasn't going to be around, then she shouldn't acknowledge her affiliation with him. It would have only brought her trouble. But had he really pushed her so far as to cause a physical ailment?

"Why are you so tense?" She froze again; she didn't think her actions had been that noticeable. Why was she tense? "You act as if you expect to be attacked." He took a few more steps back, leaning casually against the counter, feigning indifference. "Like you expect me to attack." His voice was lowered, so much so that she hardly heard what he said.

"No." She was aghast with the thought; she didn't think he would ever attack her. So what was she scared of? "I... I don't know..." She said in a monotone voice. "I'm nervous... that I've finally lost my mind." Cora hopped up so she was sitting on the table, her legs swinging back and forth. " You know, before you came, all I knew was that shack. I'd never stepped foot outside... I wasn't allowed. And then you showed up, and my existence shifted. I never thought I could live outside of my shack; the world was a dangerous place." Cora picked at her thread bare sleeping shorts, refusing to look up and expose her sudden embarrassment. "The world was still dangerous; but I wasn't scared to explore it, because even if you hated me, I knew I could count on you to have my back. If a situation got to dangerous, you would hide me somewhere until you could come back for me." Cora thought back to those times; many times Hiei would hide her in some tree, or a cave. ""Don't move" and "keep quite"; those where the instructions you would give before leaving, sometimes for days on end." Cora shot him an irritated scowl to which Hiei huffed and crossed his arms in aggravation. "But you always came back, crabby and covered in new wounds." Hiei scowled when she called him crabby, the facial expression making her smirk at him. "In some stupid, idiotic way, I had come to view you as my new 'home'. After knowing only the shack, I came to know only of waiting for you to return." Cora frowned at him then, annoyance clear in her eyes. "I guess when you left me here, I thought I had lost my 'home', as pathetic as that sounds."

"Why are you telling me all of this?" Hiei asked, clearly uncomfortable with the way her ramblings were sounding.

"To force you to understand what you did-what you are doing!" She growled out at him making him scowl in response. "When you left... damn it, I still needed you! And you just up and left; no explanation, no warning-" Hiei scoffed. He'd had just about enough of this conversation. "Don't back sass me Hiei- you wan't to know why I'm so tense? It's because I can't trust you any more." Hiei frowned at that; if there was one thing he had always been certain of before, it was that his stupid girl had a ridiculous amount of trust in him. Sadly (and secretly), he was almost positive it was one of the reason's he couldn't just kill her off himself. To hear her tell him that she didn't trust him anymore, caused that strange emotion to rear it's ugly head once again. "It's been three fucking years, and the only reason I even know that your here now, is because of a chance run in with some random demon. Otherwise, I doubt you had any intention of letting me know you had come back to the human world." Cora took a deep breath, attempting to calm her temper at least a little. "I've learned a lot during this time spent in the human world; and the first thing I learned, was that I shouldn't rely on anyone to look out for me." Cora sighed, falling back onto the table and rubbing at her eyes which she could feel getting moist. "Damn it- and what's worse is that I can't even try to hate you're dumb face, because it makes me feel like I'm being a bitch! How fucked up is that?!"

Hiei... was speechless, not that he was one to talk much anyway. It was now blatantly obvious that he had made a mistake three years ago; the one person who had ever accepted him on sight could now barely stand to be near him. He didn't understand; this is what he had always wanted, right? To have this irritating woman out of his life, out of his head, for good. But he didn't feel elated or relieved; the heavy weight that fell into his stomach made his feel sick, and though he couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was he was feeling, he knew he didn't like it. And he knew that it was his own fault. And what was worse, was he had no idea how to fix it. While it had been annoying to find himself checking in on Cora from time to time, the feeling he got during those few visits was nothing compared to what rolled through his stomach right then.

"Hn." He didn't know what else to say; he wasn't one to apologize, or to hand out pity; he didn't know what she wanted from him-

"Because of my brains stupid inability to hate you're guts, and although that apology is really lacking in, well, all departments... I guess I'll accept it." Cora said with a huff, letting her arms fall to her sides and she pushed herself back into a sitting position. Hiei's eye brows touched his hair line. Cora smiled at his shock, though it didn't reach her aquamarine eyes. "So is there another reason you came here? Or do you just like to listen to me bitch about shit I can't change?" Hiei grunted; he wasn't sure how he had apologized, but he knew enough not to ask.

"Believe it or not, I didn't come here to listen to you bitch in the first place," He said earning a deadpanned look from Cora.

"But you're soooo good at listening..."

Hiei glared at her sarcastic tone, but decided to let the comment roll off his shoulders. "Hn, I came here to inform you that my plan will be complete in one weel." He said, pushing away from the counter and stepping up to her once again. Even when she sat on the table she was still an inch shorter then him, a fact that pleased him to no end. "I plan to make my escape at that time; you will wait here until then." Cora frowned, leaning back onto her hands.

"And what about Kurama?"

Hiei pinned her with a calculating look, one that made her cheek's flush. She didn't understand what was wrong with her- "One weel. I will come fetch you then, and we will escape to demon world. The fox is more then capable of taking care of himself." Hiei said, making her sigh in mild annoyance.

"Thanks for clearing that up for me."

Hiei growled, getting tired of her smart ass comments and sarcastic tone of voice. "Your new attitude is grating on my nerves." He growled out, turning away from her and making his way to the kitchen window from which he had originally entered.

"And your inability to never learn how to use a door grates on mine." She said, motioning towards the back door which was only two feet from the window Hiei was know kneeling in. Hiei glances at the door, letting out an indifferent grunt before taking off into the night, leaving Cora standing alone in the kitchen. Cora sighed, walking over and closing the window being sure to lock it for good measure. "Maybe I'll just start locking all the windows... force his ass to use the damn doors."


Cora flipped mindlessly through the stations on the television; over 700 channels and not a single thing on. What the hell did human's find so entertaining about these magic boxes? Kurama had attempted to explain them to her on many occasions, but the information had never truly sunk in-

"Ow- watch it Botan-" Cora sat up straight, her sense' kicking into over drive as the unfamiliar voice filtered through the back door in the kitchen. Who ever was out there was whispering; they didn't want to get caught. She reached for her gun; crap. Cora had left it in the kitchen. She sighed, allowing her eyes to close as she listened to the sure movements of the intruder. They were working skillfully to unlock the back door in the kitchen. She could make it to her gun in time to intercept them.

With quiet, sure movements, Cora made her way to the kitchen door way, pressing herself against the wall. She peered around the corner at the back door. She didn't see anything... I could have sworn-

She was suddenly struck across the back of the head, the force of the blow knocking her off her feet and into a small table on the other side of the door way. A vase fell with her, shattering on the floor around her. Cora tried to pick herself up, ignoring the pain of the glass as it cut into her palms.

"Yusuke! You didn't have to hit her!" A female? Cora was roughly picked up and thrown over a shoulder. Her head swam from the combined effects of the blow to her head and the quick movements.

"It was either that or let her get her hands on that gun of hers!" And a male. Cora felt herself being carried out of the house, her head and arms swaying freely with every step her kidnapper took. She started to struggle, beating against his back dizzily. "Hey! Don't make me hit you again! I'm not scared to hit girls." No shit!


Kurama stepped up to the front door, pulling out his keys. He placed them into the door, and then paused; something felt off, and it was coming from the other side of that door. Kurama quickly unlocked the door, throwing it open. "Cora? Cora, are you here?" He stopped, his balance faltering as he took in the shattered vase and the hand prints of blood that accompanied it; other signs of a struggle flowed into the kitchen, where more bloody hand prints were visible on the edges of the table and counter tops from where Cora had tried to slow down her attackers.

"Cora?!" He rushed around the house, checking every room for the small woman. Kurama sniffed the air, picking past the smell of Cora's blood and her own natural scent. His eyes narrowed as he picked up a scent that was new to him, but still familiar. "The Spirit Detective..." A spike in familiar energy caught his attention before the sound of the back door being kicked open echoed through the house.

"Kurama!" Hiei was not happy. Kurama joined the angry fire demon in the living room. Hiei stared down at the bloody hand prints, his rage growing by the second; she had been taken. Only hours after he had been with her, talked to her, she had been torn from her home. "What happened here? Where is she?"

"I think it would be obvious; Cora was kidnapped, and by the smell of things, it was the new detective and some strange woman who took her." Hiei snarled; he knew he should have killed that boy when he had the chance. Now Cora was missing; held captive by that idiot of a detective. "They will be wanting the three artifacts back in exchange for her I am sure."

"They are fools." Kurama looked at his friend, taking in the angry fire demons face and stance. "Before this is over, I will have the Detectives blood on my hands. He will pay for what he has done."

"What do you think we should do."

"Hn. You have only a few days to prepare for the mirror. Leave her to me,"

Kurama looked as if he was about to protest, but thought better of it. "Thank you."

Hiei glared at him. "She will never forgive you for this. You know that don't you?"

Kurama gave him a troubled look before he knelt to pick up the larger pieces of glass. "Yes."