Disclaimer: I still do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or any of its characters and I never will. Lawyers, begone!

A/N: Thanks to ShibuNoNeko and Proxima Shining for the reviews. I'm glad the two of you are interested in the story. Hopefully more readers will join the ranks of the fan army. But, seeing as how you two fine individuals reviewed first, you can be co-tyrannical overlords and have everyone else be your personal bitches. W00t!

Chapter 2

"Ya see, Shorty? I'm talking about EVERYTHING here." Kuwabara explained, pointing to various buildings that the small group walked by, "The asshole Sakyou has his fingers dipped in every stinking business and shop. He's got more pull around here than even the Mayor. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he had already bought him too!"

"Hn. Then why have you yet to cut his throat?" Hiei answered stoically, taking a long drag from his cigar. Now that he was back in possession of all his gear, Kuwabara stayed a few steps away from him when they walked still. In all, they had counted ten pistols and eight knives on him.

"It's not that easy. The punk has got his own personal army of mercenaries here." The sheriff chimed in, enjoying his own smoke as well, "The biggest weapons he's got though by far are the Toguro Brothers."

Hiei's step faltered slightly as his brow twitched. He managed to recover and hide his reaction.

"And who are they?" He asked, feigning ignorance as he almost bit down on his cigar. He inhaled deep, breathing out smoke through his nostrils.

"Real badasses. They came from somewhere up North from what I hear." Kuwabara answered, shivering slightly, "The older one looks like a real wimp, but his brother…."

"Is a giant. They've killed seventy six people. Men, women, children…. And that's just the police record. Guaranteed that's just a fraction of the real number." Yusuke grunted, "Them and their men are always nearby when you see Sakyou." He nodded as they suddenly came to a halt. They stood outside of a large and yet all around shitty looking gambling den.

"Is this where we'll find the bastard?" Hiei questioned, releasing a puff of smoke as he spoke. Yusuke shook his head.

"No, this is where we get our last partner." He answered, sounding less than enthusiastic. The bandit raised an eyebrow. "Youko Kurama. This is HIS gambling den….. it would be best if you just ignore anything he says and let me do the talking." He said, pushing pen the double doors as the three stepped inside.

It was one of the most miserable sights that you could ever take in. Drunks and druggies passed out, the air dark from smoke and the language foul as a dead oxe. Scantily clad women could be found all over, some of them completely nude and in the process of "love making", if you could even call THIS by such a name. Yusuke frowned as they made their way to a game of cards that was currently underway. A handsome man with long, flowing red hair glanced up at them as they approached, his poker face being tossed aside as he smiled, crushing his smoke into the ash tray by his left hand.

"Yusuke." He said, standing and extending his hand towards the sheriff, who took it in a firm clasp, "The day always seems to take a considerable turn for the better whenever you arrive."

"Heh. Guess I'm lucky." He answered, placing his hands on his belt as Kurama returned to his seat, drawing a new cigar from beneath his pink vest and placing it in his mouth. Beneath that he wore a long sleeved prim looking white dress shirt, the ends of the sleeves on which were quite "puffy". He wore a small smirk as he turned to a "woman" to his left, leaning his head forward.

"A light, Madame?" He spoke as she drew a match and lit it, holding it to the end of the gambler's cigar as he breathed in deep, the edge lighting aflame before he turned back to look at his hand.

"However, it is unfortunate that you rarely come about unless it is for a reason." He addressed Yusuke, counting out ten dollars in chips and tossing them into the pot. He glanced up at the small party, "I assume that this is the case for this visit as well?"

Yusuke dropped his smoke and crushed it into the ground to put it out. In most places that's considered rood, but in this, Kurama's little version of paradise, it simply joined at least fifteen other around it.

"Yeah. I need your help with the Sakyou problem." He answered, his brows furrowing, "Your offer from earlier still good?"

Kurama watched as one of his competitors met his wager before looking back up, "Yes. My offer still stands. I have to inquire, though, what makes you feel more ready to solve our little ordeal now when you hesitated to act earlier?"

Yusuke gestured to Hiei, whose face remain hidden beneath his black sombrero. Kurama snorted, raising an eyebrow as the players all flipped their cards.

"Two pair. Aces high." He announced, raking in his winnings with a smirk, "And what makes your short companion here so special? Other than an apparent un-festive chip on his shoulder, there seems to be nothing of interest to him."

"Trust me. He's got a better gun than even you, Kurama." The sheriff answered, narrowing his eyes. Kurama's smirk turned into one of annoyance.

"Then perhaps the gnome would think it fitting to display such a feat." He challenged, leaning back. In a matter of seconds every person in the room felt the hair on their necks rise up and stand still. No one had even seen him move.

The dark marauder stood with his black cloak billowing about, a six shooter in each hand. One was extended towards Kurama, the other towards the man seated across from him who was grasping a pistol of his own under the card table. Kurama's mouth simply formed an "o" as Yusuke felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead.

The sheriff almost toppled over when Kurama chuckled.

"You've made your point." He put simply, nodding his head, "When you are ready, I am ready." He stated, eyeing Hiei who now sheathed his firearms. The desperado offered a curt nod before turning his attention to a woman who was suddenly at his side caressing his chest.

"That was amazing…. You're soo brave…" She slurred in her drunken stupor. Hiei snorted and gave a scowl as he effortlessly kicked her back into a table, causing it to topple down on top of her. Kurama only laughed more as Yusuke tilted his hat to him and the three left the parlor, taking in a breath of fresh air now that they were out of that hell hole.

"Dammit, what the hell was that?! I almost crapped my pants!" Kuwabara exclaimed, immediately losing composure now that they were out.

"Hn. It earned the pimp's allegiance, did it not?" Hiei questioned, his expression emotionless as he flicked his cigar into the dirt.

"Urameshi, he's gonna get us killed!"

"Shut your mouth, oaf, before I put my foot up your-"

"Yusuke!" a feminine voice suddenly called, interrupting the argument before it could escalate further. Coming their way were two women, one with brown hair and the other with blue.

The one who had shouted, who possessed the brown hair, was short than the other and was clad only in a simple tan dress that went down to her ankles with a brown tie strapped about her waist. The other wore a foreign looking clothing, a pink kimono imported from Japan.

"Ay, Keiko!" Yusuke shouted back as his fiancé jumped in his arms and planted a big wet one right on his mouth, "Hey, Botan." He added, looking to the bluette who smiled happily.

"Yusuke, Kuwabara." She said in greeting, her eyes stopping on Hiei, "Aww, you've made a new friend?" She asked. Kuwabara and Yusuke glanced nervously at one another.

"I'm Botan." She said, introducing herself as she extended her hand. Hiei glanced at the Sheriff, his look just screaming Do I have to, only to receive a quick nod. Hiei restrained himself from snarling. As he took her hand and planted a quick kiss on it.

"Hiei." He stated coolly, his face a stoic mask. When he wasn't about to blow someone's brain from their skull, his smooth tenor voice and rugged looks could make any woman swoon. That would explain why Botan suddenly looked as though she were light headed.

"P-Pleasure to meet you…" She said, straightening herself out. Yusuke resisted the urge to break out laughing.

"Botan here is the mayor's daughter." Yusuke informed Hiei, giving an explanation on why politeness was suddenly so important. Hiei managed not to give a snort of unconcern. He offered a nod in her direction before his hands disappeared beneath his cloak to rest on his belt.

"What brings you to town, Hiei?" Keiko asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I sell soap." He lied. Keiko smiled and nodded, giving Yusuke an I-don't-believe-that-for-a-second look which went unnoticed by the rest of the group.

"Are you just travelling through or will you be staying for a while?" Botan asked, clasping her hands together and smiling. Hiei grimaced on the inside. Never in his life had he been forced to suck up until now. Maybe the real reason he was here wasn't worth…. No. It was worth anything. Even if it meant brown nosing some spoiled brat.

"I don't expect to be here long." He answered, casting a meaningful look Yusuke's way, which gave Kuwabara the moment he needed to get payback for earlier. Slinging his arm around the bandit's shoulder(making him stiffen instantly), he gave a goofy grin.

"But while he's here it would sure be silly not to know the town, eh Hiei? Maybe you could show him around the town!" He suggested. Right now he felt like the smartest son of a bitch to ever grace this hellhole of a town. Botan nodded quickly.

"That's a wonderful idea, Kuwabara!" She exclaimed, looking hopefully at the short outlaw, who was screaming on the inside of his head. He wanted to kill himself for the next words that left his mouth.

"….I…. would like that very much." He almost vomited, clenching his fists. Botan clapped her hands together ecstatically.

"Alright, it's a date! I'll see you later then! By, Yusuke! Kuwabara!" She said with a wave as her and Keiko continued down the street. Yusuke burst out into a fit with Kuwabara as Hiei stood there, eyes ablaze and teeth gritting against each other in a death match.

"You will pay." He seethed, glaring daggers at the carrot top.

"Yeah, yeah. Blow it out your ass, short stop." He laughed back. Yusuke could no longer stand as he fell to his knees, the sheriff, rolling around in the dirt laughing like a maniac.

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"I saw it with my own two eyes, boss. He ain't human." Explained an exasperated man, drenched with sweat and breathing heavy after a hard sprint from Kurama's saloon, "He was like lightning!"

Before him, in a large, plush, red chair sat a dark haired man dressed in an extremely formal fashion. He wore a pinstriped black suit and tie and sat with his legs folded, allowing his newly shined shoes to gleam in the light of the room. He took a long drag from his cigar, breathing out calmly. He shut his eyes for a moment, a large scar now visible on his left one.

"First and foremost I would like to thank you for your loyalty, Mr. Ichigaki." He said, his voice suave and calculating. The man nodded feverishly, wringing his hands together in a nervous fashion, "Secondly, I am sure that you would desire fair compensation for your services."

The man nodded again, beaming like a madman as a juggernaut of a man appeared from the shadows at the "Boss's" right. His hair was black and trimmed in a crew cut fashion and he wore a pair of dark spectacles over his eyes. Even through his clothing, which was nothing more than common, you could see his rippling muscles.

"Unfortunately, I did not reach where I am today by throwing around handouts…" The man trailed off as the giant suddenly stepped forward, grabbing the servant who gave out a quick yelp before his head was twisted about in a three hundred and sixty degree circle, a sickening crack filling the room before the body fell limp to the ground.

"Have his body burned out back, Toguro. We don't need that annoying sheriff being any more of an annoyance than he already is." The boss ordered, taking another blow from his cigar. The giant nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Sakyou." His deep and bone chilling voice answered as he effortless tossed the dead carcass over his shoulder with one hand, "What do you think of this ghost? Maybe this rat over embellished his story a tad."

"Good point. However, it's an unnecessary risk to turn a blind eye to such a problem. If Urameshi has truly made such a friend, he needs to be dealt with immediately."

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Day and night in the place were like yin and yang. For all the cursing and shouting of the day, it was completely silent at night. The only lights out tonight were the stars above, and then full moon staring down on them.

Perched upon a tree branch, his sombrero hanging down his back as he sat, was the silent Hiei. His crimson orbs were locked in a staring match with that massive beacon of light in the sky, its dim illumination giving him a paler look.

In a bandaged hand he held a small, silver locket which hung from a thin chain. Fondling it slightly, he snapped it open and gazed at the small portrait within, his eyes showing a longing that his face would not.

"Hn….. I'm one step closer to you…."

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A/N: Alright, that's chapta 2. I take all reviews, signed anonymous and flames so toss'em at me. If one of you has good enough an arm and hits me in the eye I'll buy you a cookie.