Yo. Um... Yeah. This is Chapter III. /// Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: You know the drill. I own none of these characters, no matter how much I madly want to.
The sun was streaming in, leaving shadows even through the paper door. Genkai sipped her tea quietly. It was early, soon after dawn, and she assumed that most of her guests were still sleeping. The birds were chirping loudly outside, but she knew she could hear over them for the noises of her home. She opened her eyes sharply. "Come in."

The door slid open, though his shadow appeared on the wood floor before so. The dark-haired young man entered, wearily, and sat on the floor across from his mentor. "Yo, Grandma."

"So?"

Yusuke yawned before answering. "I don't see why I'm invited for vacation and as soon as I get here you tell me I have to stay up all night." He rubbed the back of his neck. "And I'll bet Keiko's pretty pissed that I never showed up last night."

"She'll live," Genkai replied. "I suppose you'll have to tell her soon enough. But..." Her gray eyes flashed.

Yusuke sighed. "I got nothing. I was out all over your huge property til dawn and I couldn't sense anything more than a homicidal squirrel. If there's a demon stalking Yukina, it wasn't there last evening."

Genkai sighed, and sipped her tea again. If Yusuke hadn't noticed anything unfamiliar, then there was nothing unfamiliar out there. She didn't want to analyze the meaning of that revelation. Drinking kept her from having to answer to the silence.

Decked in bikini, wrap, and flip flops, a towel under her arm, and sunglasses, sunscreen, headphones and a book in her mesh bag, Keiko was waiting impatiently outside the other brunette's bedroom. "Shizuru?" She repeated, subconsciously tapping her sandaled foot on the wooden floor of the hallway. "It's just the beach. No make-up needed."

"I know that!" The muffled voice replied. A moment later, the Kuwabara sister stepped out from her room, catching Keiko off guard. Shizuru smiled. She dashed down the hallway, turning to give her friend a half-impatient glare. "Well? Aren't you coming?"

Keiko rolled her eyes, laughing, before heading to catch up with Shizuru. She halted midway, though, turning back as though she had forgotten something. "Yukina!" She called. "We're ready!"

The door flew open, and Botan materialized in the threshold, her face flush with the anxiety of being rushed. She wore a yellow t-shirt over blue jean shorts, but the strap of her bikini was obvious around her neck. Yukina peered out shyly from behind the Guide. Botan laughed, pulling the aqua-colored hair along with her. "No need to worry, Yukina. The boys will be staying here!" She encouraged matter-of-factly.

The boys. Now that was still something that bothered Keiko. Where was Yusuke?

Before she had time to dwell on the subject, Shizuru whined again from across the hall. "Let's go!"

Grabbing Yukina's pale hand, Botan ran after Shizuru. Keiko stood still in the empty hallway for a moment before shaking her head and following. If Yusuke was avoiding her..

Kuwabara stepped out from the intersection of halls, nearly running into Keiko. His sober face slowly transformed into a grin when he realized she was wearing a bathing suit. That meant that Yukina would be going to the beach.

Keiko smiled, and stuck out her tongue at him as she dodged back to follow the others. "She's already left with Shizuru and Botan!" she called out to the redhead.

Kurama watched with mild amusement as the gaggle of girls danced out of the house, clearly excited that they'd be able to use the beach while at Genkai's abode. Not five minutes after they had appeared into the courtyard, all four had disappeared with haste down the stone steps that led to the rest of the property. It was such a nice day; Kurama could see why they wouldn't want to waste it.

The sun was high in the sky, casting light on all and leaving nearly nothing in shadow. That was why it was so obvious to Kurama when a shadow that had been occupying the front corner of Genkai's roof jumped off, flashing after the girls.

Snickering to himself, Kuwabara pushed the brush aside to get a better view at the rolling waves and the porcelain sand. But of course, that wasn't the scenery he had been looking for. How could he possibly allow himself to miss seeing his precious Yukina in a bikini? She didn't have her own swimsuit, so she'd had to borrow a two-piece from Keiko.

They had already set up towels, and the brazen three had already stripped down. Yukina still hung back, though it was obvious she was mesmerized by the glittering water. She fidgeted with the tie on her traditional Japanese robe. It was crimson, the same as her eyes.

"Yukina! Come on!" Botan yelled, jumping into the water. She laughed, a bit shocked by the cold of the water compared to the heat of the day. "The water's great!"

Yukina smiled, waving off at Botan. Yet she hesitated. Keiko came up behind the ice maiden, smiling softly. "Let's just go have fun, okay?"

Yukina nodded. She undid the tie, letting the silky red fabric fall onto her towel. Keiko stepped forward, blocking Kuwabara's view, to tie Yukina's thin hair into a bun high on her neck to keep her hair from getting soaked. The brunette stepped back, grinning. "Perfect!"

Yukina blushed. Though her aquamarine hair was tied back, bold tendrils had escaped the holder and framed her doll-like face. Her shoulders and abdomen were a creamy color, matching the milky white of her thin legs. Her swimsuit was also red, darker in hue than her robe. When she smiled, her eyes looked brighter than ever.

Following Keiko's hand, Yukina followed her to the edge of the tide, shrieking in delight.

"What are you doing here?" Came an icy voice just behind Kuwabara.

The teen spun around, half expecting Yusuke to be there, ready to insult him for being a perv and knock him out and leave him there for the girls to find him. Instead, he was quite shocked to see Hiei. "Shorty? I could ask you the same thing."

Hiei stood from his kneeling position. "Genkai wants to see you," he said simply. He closed his eyes, and let a half-smile alight his face. His expression of ultimate superiority. "She wants you to hurry." Dropping a hand on his black sheath, he turned, and disappeared into the dense forest.

Kuwabara stared after him, confused. The space five yards to the left of him felt emptier. Had Hiei been standing there longer than Kuwabara?

Arg. Sucky Chapter.

R&R. – Please critique!!