A.N.: Ouch, not a lot of response for my last chapter. Was it because I posted on a weekday, or because the chapter was short? I like reviews; they tell me what you like and what you don't like. That feedback also lets me know if I've got everyone in character, which is a little important to me. Please review and tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: Do I really need to say it?

A few days passed with me doing nothing but float around following Keiko and some other people I knew from school. The only real highlight was the blackmail I got on a couple of my old teachers, Akashi and Iwamoto. I mean, seriously; changing school transcripts to make the school look better? Very unoriginal.

Peeping in the girls' locker room? Naturally.

Bribing students from other school to try and beat the 'problem' students at my school into submission? I can see that.

Bribing the cops to look the other way when the other boys win? Naughty, naughty.

Of course, sometimes their plans to get the 'thugs' kicked out of school backfires. Like today. I was following Keiko as she walked home, because lets face it, she's way more interesting than watching my mom get drunk. At least she's smart enough to walk home with friends. Of course, those Kasanegafuchi punks couldn't resist such an easy target as three girls, so they got cornered on an over pass. I drifted closer.

"It's a toll road, see. You pay the toll and you get to cross. We're not asking much, just 5,000yen."

"Of course, if you'd like to bargain the price down a bit..." I really didn't like the way the thug was eyeing Keiko. Forgetting I was dead, I swung my fist into his head. Not that he noticed. Now he and his buddies were advancing, their leers getting more and more grotesque.

Keiko screamed and slapped the nearest thug, bloodying his nose and nearly knocking him over the edge of the over pass. A guy's voice halted everyone.

"The hell is this?" Never, in my life, have I been so happy to see Kuwabara. Or his band of tag-a-longs. "What the hell are you losers doing to Urameshi's girl?"

"Urameshi's dead, dumbass."

"You think that's gonna keep him from getting revenge?"

And wouldn't you know it—my reputation was so bad-ass, those punks who knew I was dead had to stop and consider what I would do from beyond the grave. I almost laughed. One look from Kuwabara sent the girls on ahead, and the moment they were around the corner, he attacked.

You know, I'd never noticed before, but Kuwabara's actually a pretty good fighter. He could take a hit like it was a pillow, and knocked those guys aside like they were bugs. Though his guard was terrible, letting a few hits in on his face like that. In just five minutes, those Kasanegafuchi punks were running home to their moms, crying about getting him back. Kuwabara just laughed, prompting his friends to join him, followed by a bought of play-fighting.

For a split second, I wondered what it would be like to have friends like that. What would it be like to have people to goof off with, who wouldn't nag at me for one thing or another? Gah! What am I thinking? A quick slap to my face brought me back to reality. My bad-ass reputation, while good for scaring the daylights out of punks, was worthless in making friends. It doesn't matter anyway; I've already got a few friends who know me past my reputation. Anyone else was just a target.

The next morning, Kuwabara and his buddies were called in to Akashi's office. Apparently, those boys had not only complained to their parents, but the parents had complained to the police, which meant that Akashi was notified about it. And now he was sneering and whining and trying to get a confession. Naturally, they were silent, and Akashi pulled out the proverbial big guns. Now, if any of them got into a fight, Okubo would lose his job. You know, the one he got to help out his single mom support his little brother and sisters.

I really don't like that teacher.

Kuwabara, however, is pretty sure that this can be done. He tells his buddies to hurry home, and takes off himself. Halfway to his house, those Kasanegafuchi punks show up again, determined to start a fight. They swing, but Kuwabara doesn't even try to defend himself. Not that he needed to, really. Remember how I said he was tough? Well, even with all three of them wailing away on him, he didn't even flinch. Those punks wore themselves out without even getting a reaction out of him. One of them was even cradling his hand, whimpering in pain.

Serves him right. I may be the strongest punk at Sarayashiki, but I only got there by beating on Kuwabara. To knock him out, I had to hit him as hard as I could. Eventually, it was second nature to fight with everything I had. I didn't realize, but all that time pounding on him made him tougher, easier to shrug off blows from weaker punks.

Kuwabara grinned at their retreating backs. I'm pretty sure he knows why they haven't hurt him, and when he starts talking to himself it just proves me right.

"After all the fights with Urameshi, those guys felt like nothing. Next time I should ask them to go for my back. I could use the massage."

Akashi wasn't happy that his plan was failing. Apparently, he was never told that 'no plan survives contact with the enemy'. So now he resorts to cheating.

"In six days, I will be assigning a test in science class. Each of you needs to score a 50% or higher for Okubo to keep his job."

"Hey! You can't just keep adding conditions like that!"

"I just did."

It wouldn't be too much trouble for the other guys, but Kuwabara scored even less than I did on the last test ("7%?!" "And what was your score?" "I got a 12%!"). And to top things off, thugs from several schools started showing up wanting a piece of Kuwabara. Some of those guys were from high-school! Was there anyone he hasn't picked a fight with? Sheesh! At least this bunch didn't do any real damage either.

Later that night I went to check on Kuwabara, and I found him asleep at his desk. I shook my head and started tutoring him in his dreams. Hopefully it would help.

The days passed like that, with Kuwabara so engrossed in his science book that he didn't even notice the punks hitting him as he walked, and with me in his dreams helping him study, it seemed like no time at all until the test was given. Kuwabara was smart enough to copy his answers down and went to go check them during lunch. Their celebration was cut short.

"So sorry, Kuwabara, but you didn't score high enough. I'll go and tell Okubo's employer that he lost his job."

Kuwabara spazzed when he realized that Akashi had erased several of his answers, and moved to punch the teacher. I panicked, once again forgetting I was dead, and tried to latch on to his arm, yelling for him to stop. He did, thankfully, and backed down; realizing that the past week would have been for nothing if he hit him. Akashi, however, starting spewing this garbage about getting Kuwabara expelled for raising a hand to the teacher. Tanaka, the only teacher I've had even the slightest bit of respect for, put a stop to that, saying he knew what happened to the answer sheet. I don't think I've ever seen Akashi so pale.

Okubo got to keep his job. Cue party at the nearest arcade.

On their way out, Kuwabara looked up at me. Not 'near me' or 'through me', but right at me. He smiled, and said, "I owe you one."

"Hey, man, who're you talking to?"

"No one. Let's go."