A/N: Hi there… peeks out from behind tree Now, I know that this update has taken long, way too long, but……..well….here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't think anything has changed since last chapter, but I'll just clarify. I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Harry Potter. Sad.

SPOILERS (maybe)

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Blah" Talking

Blah Thinking

Blah Telepathic

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Last time:

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.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"I'm sure it was just a dream, Harry." Hermione whispered at the boy when he shared what he had seen last night with his two best friends. "I mean, I'm sure it's better than those dreams of You-K-..I mean, Voldemort you had."

"Well, it doesn't really sound scary." Ron agreed. "Just a bit weird."

Harry shook his head. "No…it wasn't scary. But it was so real! And it doesn't even fit with anything else that I would have a dream like that." He broke off as quiet footsteps approached the group.

"Hey there." Kurama said, looking down at the group huddled on the ground. He smiled at them. "I thought there would be no more secrets kept from us?" He asked them teasingly.

Hermione laughed nervously. "Oh, no. We're just talking."

Kurama grinned and nodded, but not before he was called.

"Oy, Kurama! Come over here!"

The former thief turned and walked over to where Yusuke and Hiei were standing, and eyed the detective questioningly.

Yusuke looked Kurama up and down before asking him, "You're not still Youko, are you? I thought you got rid of him last night."

Kurama smirked, and Hiei snorted.

"No, Yusuke. This is merely a remnant of him. I shall be completely…ah…normal soon."

Yusuke blinked, looking confused for a second. "Oh, sure. Okay…whatever you say."

Kurama laughed, and raised an eyebrow. "Yes Yusuke…whatever I say."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sitting around the remnants of the previous night's fire, the odd group began discussing their next destination.

"Where are we going now?" Ron asked, looking around.

Kurama hesitated. "There is the choice of finding the other Horcruxes, or going directly to Voldemort."

Snape shook his head, glancing at the kitsune before surveying the group. "If you decide to go to the Dark Lord, then there need not be a choice. The Horcruxes, as Draco and I have learned, are very close to where the Dark Lord stays."

Hermione narrowed her eyes. "How do we know we can trust you to lead us somewhere that we don't know anything about? You might be taking us into a trap."

"Like we said last night." Draco said, slowly and deliberately. "There is no reason that we would even want to help the Dark Lord now. If he catches us, then we are dead."

Kurama nodded, before turning to the Golden Trio. "There is no lie in their words, none that I can sense." He continued in a softer tone. "Besides, we do not have another choice than to follow them."

Harry shrugged, as if to agree, but he still had a skeptical look on his face. Kurama gave a reassuring smile before whispering to the wizard. "Learn to forgive and forget, Harry, as hard as it may be."

A dark look passed over the features of the boy-who-lived, before he hissed, "They killed Dumbledore. Am I supposed to forget that?"

The former thief shook his head sympathetically. "We are not asking you to forget his death, Harry. We are asking you to let go of the hatred and the resentment you harbour in your heart."

"Would you not hate someone or something that killed someone dear to you?"

Slight pain marred Kurama's features as he thought back to the countless comrades he had lost. "Yes…I would. But you must learn to accept these things. Hatred will not make a loved one return to you. If you think back to that night, I will ask you to recall for me one thing. Did Draco look like he enjoyed all the death?"

"…No" Harry admitted quietly.

"And Snape?"

Harry gritted his teeth as he thought back to that terrible night. The night when another like a father to him died as he lay there, useless and watching. He thought of how Professor Dumbledore had pleaded quietly with Snape.

"Ye- " he began to say, until the kitsune's soft voice interrupted him.

"Answer with your heart, Harry."

The wizard looked up into the demon's green eyes, and suddenly felt as if the fox could read everything going on in his mind. The keen gaze reminded him of Dumbledore's blue eyes, watching him, twinkling at him.

Harry felt a lump rise in his throat and swallowed, turning his eyes away from Kurama's piercing gaze.

Kurama clapped him on the shoulder, giving him another supportive smile before turning back to the others.

"So it is decided." He said smoothly. "Lead us on."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The group of eight traveled in the daylight, being led by the two dark figures up in front.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione trudged in the middle of the group, still feeling a bit put out by the turn of events.

"Well, Harry," Hermione started. "I know you're still a bit unhappy by the turn of events, but don't let it bring you down."

"Yeah…" Harry murmured. "But as Kurama said, maybe I should just forget what happened for now. I can always deal with them later."

"Good thing too, mate." Ron offered. "I don't care for the ferret and Snape, but with those three- " He jerked his head towards the three demons. "I don't think that they'll be able to try anything."

At the back of the group, Yusuke grinned. "They're talking about us again." The detective looked towards the Hogwarts trio, noticing the quiet mutterings and occasional backward glance in their direction.

Hiei smirked at the spirit detective. "Is that so? What other nuggets of wisdom do you have to share with us?"

"Now Hiei," Kurama spoke lightly from in front of his companions. "Yusuke was merely stating a fact. And now that we have more people traveling with us, we mustn't embarrass ourselves."

The disbelieving gaze that Hiei gave Kurama quickly passed and was replaced by his usual bored look.

Kurama laughed once more before turning to survey the others in front of him. He couldn't really help but grin again. It really was a mis-matched group. At the front, leading the way, was Snape and Draco, both hunched over as they walking, still wearing their filthy black cloaks. Some distance behind them was the Golden Trio, occasionally muttering to each other, but mainly keeping to themselves. There was Harry, with his head down as if lost in thought. Then Ron, absently waving his wand as he walked and finally, Hermione, her pack still slung over her shoulder.

Then there's us. Kurama reflected. He turned his head slightly to see Yusuke and Hiei, side by side. With their faces turned down, and a slightly strained tension between them, it was almost as if they were sleepwalking. Yet despite this fact, Kurama knew that they were both carefully listening and sensing for any possible dangers.

Before long, though, the silence that had before only been punctuated by occasional murmurs was broken.

"Where exactly are we going?" Harry asked?

Without looking back, Snape answered monotonously. "To the other Horcruxes."

"Where is that?" Harry repeated. He stopped walking. "I'm not going to move unless you two tell me exactly where you are leading us."

Without another word, the boy-who-lived and his two best friends stopped abruptly, causing Kurama to raise his eyebrows and Hiei to bit back a scathing retort. Yusuke merely crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

With a sigh, Draco turned around reluctantly. "We are going…to the Riddle House."

Harry's eyes widened. "What? Why there?"

"It is where the Dark Lord has hidden the Horcruxes. He moved them into various places in the house and the yard behind it." Snape answered, still facing forwards.

"Hey, what's the big deal about this Riddle House anyways?" Yusuke inquired, voice loud.

"I had a dream about it once." Harry replied. "A long time ago. It was where Voldemort killed off his family and this old man."

"With a bone?" Yusuke commented with a grin.

Kurama groaned at Yusuke's reference to an old nursery rhyme while Hiei spat out. "Just shut up, you idiot. Your moronic comments are enough to drive anyone insane."

Before Yusuke could throw an insult at the fire youkai, Kurama spoke up. "Well, Harry, I supposed that this information is enough? Shall we move on?"

Wordlessly, Harry nodded, and they continued their journey to the town of Little Hangleton.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"How much further are we going?" Ron panted, swallowing to moisten his dry throat.

Snape stopped and turned his head, looking back at the Golden Trio. They had chose not to speak much during the long walk, preferring to try to save their energy.

"We can stop here for tonight." He said in answer. "It's not too far from here."

Immediately, the three sank onto their knees in various positions, hoping to catch their breath.

Kurama nodded. "I will go around and retrieve something to eat." He turned and walked away, with Hiei following.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The two demons walked in silence for awhile before Kurama inquired, "Is there something you wanted to ask me, Hiei?"

The fire demon hesitated before answering, "It is nothing."

"Now," Kurama said with a small smile. "You cannot lie to me. If you had nothing to say, you would not have followed me, ne?"

Hiei snorted, before relenting. "It was something you said, during the exercise session you had earlier."

"Ah." Kurama grinned, remembering how Youko had destroyed the two lesser demons.

"You said to them that you were not above killing your own species. I do not understand."

"You know," Kurama mused thoughtfully. "It was just something to say."

"Was it?" Hiei asked, eyebrow raised.

"Well…" Kurama began. "I suppose. Obviously, I knew that what they changed into were not really what I was, so that knowledge was probably why I said that."

"Hn."

"Also, you know as well as I do how the Makai is. It is unheard of to show extra kindness or even mercy to another, even if they are of your kin."

To this, Hiei nodded, while Kurama's small smile grew fractionally.

"Now Hiei, I must ask you a question."

"What?"

"What is it that had you in such a foul mood earlier?"

"I do not know what you mean, kitsune."

This time, it was Kurama who raised his eyebrows. "I'm speaking of when you nearly relieved Yusuke of a few of his limbs."

"He made an idiotic comment."

"Indeed. That is all?"

"Hn."

"Really. I supposed then, you are not at all concerned about the Hiruseki gem that you left behind?" Kurama asked, eyes flashing mischievously.

The former thief reached into his shirt pocket and slowly withdrew the beautiful gem Hiei normally wore on his neck.

Hiei's eyes widened. "Did you…were you the one who took it?"

"You think so little of me?" Kurama asked, mock-hurt. Then, turning serious, he replied, "No, I didn't steal it. I found it when we left the clearing early this morning. It must have been hooked off by my Death Tree as you jumped."

"Why didn't you let me know sooner?" Hiei asked, accepting the gem from the other demon with a nod to show his thanks.

"I didn't know if you wanted it kept a secret or not. Anyone one could have seen it and ask questions."

"…Arigato, Kurama." Hiei said to the redhead, albeit in a slightly forced tone.

Kurama laughed. "It's nothing. When did you realize it was missing?"

"Sometime in the middle of the journey. When Yusuke and I were at the back."

"You and Yusuke were at the back for the whole time." Kurama reminded Hiei, voice filled with suppressed mirth.

"Hn."

"Well anyways." Kurama said, voice turning serious. "All that doesn't matter now. Besides, Yusuke and the others are probably wondering what's keeping us. And also, I still have to get something for their dinner."

"Make them get food themselves." Hiei suggested, smirking.

"I suppose I could do that." Kurama said, eyes glinting. "But then, they'd either starve or get themselves killed. Koenma didn't send us to do either."

"Tch. Who cares what he wants?" Hiei said scornfully. "All he does is sit there and stamp papers, with that utterly ridiculous thing in his mouth."

"True." Kurama replied, nodding. "However, if they were to die, that would make me just slightly annoyed. I refuse to spend such a length of time with someone just to have them pass on. I have no intention of letting them die."

"Baka kitsune. You hold yourself too high."

Kurama grinned. "Well, as nice as this conversation has been, it really is time to get back. If you would like, you can go ahead, while I find something."

Hiei snorted. "You know these ningens get on my nerves."

"Then you can stay and help." Kurama replied, laughing.

"Hn."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yusuke paced back and forth, waiting for his companions' return. He nearly growled. How dare they leave him here alone to watch the disgruntled glares and sneering that was passing between the Hogwarts students. He looked towards the group. It seemed that even though they were traveling in each other's company, they would not learn to trust one another.

Well…he thought to himself, almost grinning. That's another thing that Kurama will have to teach them. Eventually.

TO BE CONTINUED…

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A/N: Ehhh….That was an awkward chapter. It seemed to me that Harry was being too annoying, Ron was being too dumb, Kurama was laughing too much, Hiei was talking too much, and Yusuke talking too little. Ah, well. Change is always good.

I'm sorry if this chapter seemed a little slow, but this transition was needed. Soon! Soon, there will be more…action! I promise you all.

And once again, I apologize for the extremely long wait. I'm sorry!

Like it? Hate it? Won't know if you don't tell me!

Cya L8ter!