A/N: I'm sure that after the long (once again) wait, you do not want to listen to me talk. So…on with the chapter!

And, as always, I loved all of the reviews!

Disclaimer: As you can see, world domination is not yet in my grasp. When it is though, the YYH and HP gang will be mine. But for now, I'll just have to do with these fanfictions!

SPOILERS (maybe)

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"Blah" Talking

Blah- Thinking

Blah- Telepathic

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Last time:

"And why would we believe you?" Yusuke questioned, voice cold.

"At this point, it's not whether you want to believe us. You have no other choice."

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"What do you mean?" Harry questioned harshly. "There's always a choice!"

"They are coming after us, Potter." Snape drawled. "The fact that we are here is living proof that we are no longer associated with the Dark Lord. Only a fool would not believe us."

Pointing at Draco, Snape continued. "Does it look like he would do that to himself?"

"But…why?" Hermione asked timidly.

"The Dark Lord ordered me to go after Dumbledore." Draco replied softly. "But…I couldn't do it."

"What does it matter who?" Harry half-shouted. "It happened! It was done! It doesn't matter who it was done by!"

Kurama shook his head slowly. "No…I understand."

Ron turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well…" Kurama looked skyward. "It…the assignment, I mean…was only a test."

"A test?" Hermione asked, confusion colouring her tone.

"To test the strength of one's loyalty." Hiei spoke unexpectedly.

Kurama nodded in his direction. "Exactly. Sometimes, people are given…tasks. Ones that are extremely difficult and near impossible. This is so the giver of the task can judge exactly how far their…lackeys, so to speak, will go for them."

"Yes." Malfoy nodded slowly. "That's exactly what he did. To be able to survive while in the clutches of the Dark Lord…you must be willing to give your life up without a second thought."

Hermione and Ron looked slightly startled at this revelation, and even Harry drew a blank.

"Surprised?" Snape asked with a twisted little smile. "Death Eaters are considered the most evil, the biggest sinners. But no one ever wondered why they are what they are. They used to be wizards also, but now, they serve the Dark Lord as his mindless puppets. After all, when one's family and friends no longer exist, what else is there to care for?"

"They could've chosen another life!" Harry argued. "Surely death would be better than living like they do."

"It would be." Snape answered. "But even after all else that he has done to you, the Dark Lord will find some way to make you stay. He gathers leverage…and will somehow convince you."

"Blackmail…" Yusuke hissed.

"It's all the same to him." Snape raised his voice. "If he chooses someone to join him, he will make sure that they listen."

"But why have you come to us?" Ron asked, puzzled.

Snape laughed, a harsh bark that echoed in the cold air. "Why? They are after us, Weasley. Out for our blood. Both Draco and I proved to be traitors on that night."

"That doesn't answer the question of why you're here, with us." Hermione said pointedly.

"We know what you want." Draco said slowly. "And we think we can help you."

Harry narrowed his eyes. "How?"

"Working for the Dark Lord…" Snape paused. "You learn and hear things that someone like you cannot dream of. He has gathered more power than one ever thought he could."

"And you will help us?" Hermione asked, sharing glances with Harry and Ron. Reluctantly, Harry nodded, a tiny, near undetectable movement.

Malfoy glanced over at Snape. "Yes." He said quietly. "We will."

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Sitting around the fire, the mood was somber. It seemed as if everyone divided off into groups. The Tantei, the Hogwarts trio, and Malfoy and Snape. All was quiet, until Kurama broke the silence.

"What did you have to tell us?" He asked, making eye contact with Snape and Draco.

Draco stared into the greenish-gold eyes that reflected the firelight. "The Dark Lord has new recruits. They are nothing I have ever seen before. Not humans…and more powerful than most magical creatures."

So the Death Eaters know, Kurama mused. The existence of demons is not unknown.

"We will fight them." Harry said determinedly, looking around the small circle.

"You are foolish you think you can hope to beat them alone." Snape sneered.

"That may be true." Kurama said. "However, they- " He gestured towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "-are not alone."

"Who is going to help them? You? Normal wizards cannot compete with what the Dark Lord has."

Kurama grinned, showing his canines. "Did we say we were normal?"

Yusuke elbowed Kurama in the side, but apart from giving the detective a withering glare, the kitsune did nothing to retaliate.

In the firelight, Draco's face took on a sickly pallor. "What are you then, if not like us?"

From where he was standing behind Kurama, Hiei bared his fangs. His eyes glinted as he smirked. "Different." He said. "We are different."

Before anyone could comment further, Kurama stood up. "That's enough for today, I think. We'll talk more tomorrow morning." He glanced over at Malfoy, hesitating, before reaching into his hair and growing a platter shaped leaf filled with a sticky looking fluid. "For those cuts." He handed the leaf to Malfoy, then turned to walk away.

"Thank you."

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Harry glanced over to the sleeping forms of Malfoy and Snape. Seeing their unmoving figures, he crept over to the area where the Reikai Tantei slept.

"Hello?" Harry whispered softy. "Are you awake?"

Hiei's eyes snapped open, revealing scarlet orbs glinting through the leaves of a tall oak tree. "What?" He snapped menacingly.

"Uh…" Harry backed away slightly. "I was just wondering if we can really trust Malfoy and Snape."

"I do not know." Kurama's calm voice floated over, startling Harry. "But it does not matter. They say they can help, but if they can't, we can take care of them…" He trailed off.

Harry nodded once hesitantly, had another doubtful look towards their two new additions and crept back to where he lay before.

A long silence passed between Kurama, who leaned against the tree, and Hiei, who sat on the branch above his head.

Suddenly, an uncharacteristic smirk tugged at the corner of Kurama's mouth, and silver strands bleached its way into his hair.

Hiei glanced down and mirrored his smirk. "Demon," he said, flaring his nostrils.

Kurama laughed gleefully. "Let me take care of them, Hiei. It would be wise." His voice suddenly turned deeper, much unlike his old gentle tone.

Hiei leaned back against the tree trunk, throwing his face into the shadows. His fangs glinted as he smirked. "Put on a good show, kitsune. I'll be watching."

With that, a flash of light enveloped Kurama's form, and smoke soon filled the clearing.

Moment later, the smoke cleared, and in place of Shuuichi Minamino, the lithe form of Youko stepped out.

Dressed in his casual outfit, his silver mane glowed under the moonlight.

"Hiei." Youko nodded to acknowledge the other demon, his fox ears twitching slightly.

Wrinkling his nose slightly, Youko swished his silvery tail back and forth. "They're getting closer, he commented, smirking slightly.

"Hn."

"Perfect." Youko smiled as if Christmas had come early.

Such low levels. They will be Youko's playthings, Hiei thought, slightly amused.

The two demonic auras were swiftly approaching, and strengthening. Youko drew out a plant seed from his hair and rolled it around in his fingers in eager anticipation.

They are slow. Hiei commented.

Kurama laughed. Yes. But what else can we expect from lowlifes like them?

Hn.

But as long as I have time…. The fox walked over to where Yusuke and the humans lay, still deeply asleep. He reached into his long hair and withdrew six seeds, which he scattered, each equally apart. Kurama then flared his youki so that he formed the Tate-bara, or Shielding Thorn.

A precaution. Kurama thought.

We will not need it. Hiei answered. If you are incapable- he smirked- then I will take care of them.

Of course. But I am afraid you will not get your chance today, my friend. I have some stress to work out. They say that holding back your emotions is not good for you. He smirked, and cast a wry glance over towards the sleeping humans enclosed in the poisonous shield.

Hiei chucked inwardly at this, getting the message. Ah…the ningens are annoying, aren't they?

Well, I'm about to make my life healthier, and their life safer. Youko cracked his knuckles, eagerly awaiting his opponents.

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"Brother, where are those others, hmmm?" A shadowed figure dashed past the other, in search of someone. The shadow stopped and peered through various shrubbery into a clearing.

"I- " The other did not get to reply, as another voice fluttered by.

"You sure took your sweet time getting here, didn't you?" Youko's form was silhouetted in the clearing, along with some huge greenish, spiked bubble behind him.

"Who are you?" the first figure asked.

"Are you the ones working for dear old Voldy?" Youko mocked, smirking at the steamed youkai.

"Not for him, no. But it doesn't make a difference, not to you." The other, shadow joined the first, placing a hand on his shoulder to calm him down.

"Hmmm, brothers, I presume?" Youko inquired, inwardly cursing the Gods who sent such weak demons to him.

This is going to be boring. Youko sighed.

Suddenly, the two figures disappeared, to reappear behind Kurama as two identical snakes. They swayed threateningly as they stared at him.

"Yesssss," hissed one of them. "We are the siblings Manabe and Monoke. We are known as the demons of the wild. No living creature exists that we have not been."

"Oh, how frightening. Shall I surrender, hoping this is all a nightmare?" Youko asked sarcastically, seed in hand.

"Perhaps you should. It would be wise if you did not challenge us. Unfortunately for you, either way you shall not be spared. Not one of you."

"No? How depressing. Well, since the future is not looking bright for me, I might as well bring as many others down with me as possible. After all, misery loves company. I'm afraid you will have to be the company."

With that, his signature Rose Whip appeared, grasped in his clawed fingers. He cracked it loudly and watched with flashing eyes.

"What's a little flower gonna do?" Manabe taunted, feeling more confident.

"Well…" Youko raised an eyebrow. "I'm assuming none of you know who I am?"

"You?" Monoke questioned. "Why would we know who you are?"

Youko sighed. "Pathetic."

With a flash, he disappeared in a blur, and appeared in front of Manabe.

"Well, perhaps it is time for some education." Youko laughed. "I guarantee you will remember my name for the rest of your short, pathetic little lives."

Manabe gasped, surprised, before ducking to the side, just in time, as the Rose Whip slashed past where his head was seconds ago.

"Brother," Manabe breathed, "we must work together to beat him. He's too strong!"

Monoke nodded grimly. "Let's go."

With that said, they shimmered, and both grew into identical lions, snarling ferociously. Their gaze were piercing as they stalked towards the former thief.

"Ha." Youko smiled. "You hope to faze me with that ridiculous act? Lowlifes!"

As quick as lightning, Youko reached into his hair once again and threw razor-sharp blades of grass at the two sibling demons. The brothers barely dodged the projectiles, exchanged a quick look, and returned to standing side by side.

Manabe licked his lips, and smirked. "We know now! You are merely a kitsune! You almost had us fooled, fox!"

Suddenly, the lions changed into two small, reddish brown foxes. Manabe seemed to grin, red tongue lolling out of his mouth.

"What's can you do now?" The small creature's eyes glinted, watching Kurama.

The Youko smirked widely. "What will I do?" He re-formed his whip and slashed at the two animals, catching them unawares. The small animals flew across the clearing to hit a tree, where they fell and lay on the ground, back in their original forms.

"Wh-why?" Manabe spluttered, coughing up crimson specks of blood.

Kurama smiled, though his eyes stayed a flinty gold. "Why? You made several basic errors. First of all, you made the mistake of assuming I was above killing my own species. That proved to be fatal. Second, you insult me by saying that I am like a common fox. You swear to have been every type of living creature. Youko Kurama will not be treated with disrespect."

"Youko…" Monoke coughed.

The demon turned back, silver hair swaying with each step he took. "Yes." He cocked his head slightly towards the left, where he knew Hiei to be.

"Hiei." The two demons heard.

Through the fog, the brothers saw a small shadow appear. "Hn"

"I'll get rid of these vermin." Youko reached into his hair, pulling out a seed. "Please step away, unless you do not mind my plants."

"Vain fox." Hiei disappeared just as a gigantic, vicious plant rose up into the sky. The Death Tree.

Two of the several heads filled with razor sharp teeth lunged forward, and snapped their fangs around the two motionless bodies on the ground.

"That was less that entertaining. I think I confused them with my big words." Youko pouted, upset by his lack of 'playmates'.

Hiei smirked before leaping off the tree branch he was occupying.

"Better luck next time."

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Harry groaned as he turned over onto his side. He blinked blearily, and was confused to find his vision had turned into a very pale shade of green. He shook his head, thinking that he was still in a dream-like state. Suddenly, into the clearing walked two shapes. The smaller one, he knew was Hiei, judging by the blurry, short stature. But….beside Hiei walked a tall, slim figure…who could that be? Too tall to be Yusuke...and not Shuuichi either.

He reached up to rub his eyes, when everything turned back to it's normal colour. The taller figure stooped down to pick up something, silver hair falling down to cover his face. As he started straightening up, bright golden orbs met with startled green eyes.

The figure smirked, and fog began filling the clearing. Harry suddenly felt himself getting tired once again. He heard the figure say something as he drifted off into what seemed to be an unnatural sleep.

"Nice to meet you, Harry Potter."

For the rest of the night, Harry slept restlessly, dreaming not of Death Eaters and Voldemort, but of eyes. Golden eyes, filled with a predatory gaze.

Watching him.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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Wow. Hm…that was an interesting ending, If I may say so… .

Well, please review! You'll make my day! Or night.

Thanks again to all who reviewed, and, for the first time, I noticed how many people made it to this chapter without reviewing. Thanks to you guys too! I appreciate you sticking with the story……XD

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Cya L8ter!