Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakashu

Chapter 10

BANG!

Nyoko froze.

A brief moment of darkness occurred.

"OH FUCK!"

Nyoko blinked. 'Did Kurama just cursed in a high-pitched voice?' "Er. . . I know it's a good thing but even a baby cannot miss such a close range." Kurama paid no attention to her. He seem to be trembling.

"She's going to kill me," he whined.

'What the hell?' Nyoko followed where the young man's eyes fell. Her eyes went huge. Her hands automatically went over her mouth.

"I didn't mean it! Please don't kill me!" Kurama went on his knees. His voice was still high-pitched. "I thought it was empty."

Click.

"You fool!" it was Takara. In her hand, she held the gun. "She wasn't supposed to get killed. You are stupid! How many times do I have to tell you that you always screw up in these kinds of threatening situations?" Then she growled. "Not only that but you used this gun. This gun with those bullets. . ."

"I—"

BANG!

Nyoko covered her eyes. Then she looked, expecting to see Kurama in a pool of blood but instead she saw a demon.

"Low-class demons. . ." Takara muttered. She removed her jacket and threw it down over the first mess. "It's a crime to take human life. . .that's why I wanted Kurama dead. . .he wasn't all human."

There were crashes not far off and yells.

". . .What are we to do?" Katsuma appeared. "Kai's dead." Then he noticed Takara's jacket covering a body and saw the corpse of the demon. "Oh. . ."

"We're going," Takara announced.

Nyoko watched the former teacher and friend disappeared through the door. She sat down or rather floated over the floor. She was too numb to comprehend. Then. . ."I'm . . .dead. . .I'M DEAD!" She clutched her head. "OH MY KAMI! I CAN'T BE DEAD!"

"NYOKO!"

The girl looked up to see the two former infamous thieves. She never noticed how they contrasted. Youko Kurama's light clothing compared to the dark that Kuronue wore. Behind them were Yusuke, who for some strange reason had black body tattoos, and Kuwabara.

"What the hell happened?" Kuwabara demanded, seeing the decreased demon. "Where's Nyo—"

"She's dead. . ." Yusuke punched the floor, creating a crater. "DAMMIT!"

"Takara betrayed us all," Kuronue spoke, suddenly tired. This was not a nice reunion with his best friend. He looked at Youko. . .saw the darkening look in his amber eyes.

". . . ." Youko's eyes darted to Hiei.

"I'll start looking. . .a demon can take another demon's life. . ." Hiei's voice was devoid of all emotions. Then he vanished in a blur of black.

"Hey, can't you see me?" Nyoko waved her arms. They couldn't. "Kuwabara!" she went in front of the young man with the highest sixth sense. He couldn't. Then it hit her. What if that gun or the bullet had something? Didn't Takara mentioned that before? Now what?

"Hey. ..we'll go to Koenma. . ." Yusuke spoke, watching Youko place a seed over the covered physical body of Nyoko. The seed blossomed into a rather large flower, cocooning the body.

"Right. . ." Kurama muttered having shifting back into his human form. He picked up the cocoon.

KOENMA!

Yeah, that's the guy who might be able to help! Nyoko floated after the group of fighters. . .all silent.

"I'm sorry. . ."

"WHAT?!" Yusuke exploded.

"GAH!" Koenma, a toddler, cried out.

"BASTARD, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE SORRY?!" Kurama struggled to break free from the bat demon.

"Yeah," Kuwabara agreed, his hands clutched into fists at his sides.

Strange. . .how only Kurama lost control.

Nyoko swallowed. Reikai won't be able to help? She had so much hope. Her ghost sulked in the corner. Gone. . .forever.

"Her body. . .yes, I can have it good as new," Koenma made it sound like Nyoko was an object. "But I need her spirit. . .her soul. . ."

"Where is she, then?" Kuronue questioned, placing Kurama down into an empty seat. He had to knock out the kitsune.

"This. . ." Koenma held up the bullet. "This is no ordinary bullet."

Nyoko blinked, looking up.

"Then what is it?" Yusuke spoke, controlling his frustration.

"This bullet is crafted. . .only a few were ever made. . .I need you to find the gun. Takara might have it," Koenma stated. "I'll arrange a couple things. . .Ningenkai will not know that Nyoko Kokoro is alive without a soul."

"Hn. . ." Hiei returned. "Got back before the barrier came up."

Koenma answered the confused looks. "I've decided to place up the barrier between the two worlds in order to contain Takara and Katsuma. . .Go."

Everyone left. Kuwabara volunteered to take Kurama to Genkai's.

"I had to say that. . ." Koenma muttered. He looked over to the corner. "Hello, Nyoko. I believe you know that I'm Koenma."

"You can see me?" Nyoko's jaws dropped.

"I am the Reikai Prince," Koenma went. "The others couldn't see you yet. ."

"So, you can put me back?" Nyoko started to smile.

"It's not easy. . .like I told Yusuke. . .there is a test," Koenma said. "But your case is different. You weren't supposed to die at such a young age. I'm not saying, you can't come back. You can. It takes a couple requirements. For now, the others can track down Takara and Katsuma. They're both wanted and I need to return that gun into the vaults."

"But they can soon see me, right?"

"No. . .you will remain invisible to their senses. . .that's how the gun works. A soul can wander forever without Reikai ever picking it up because the body was shot with that gun. I, alone possibly, can see you."

"Oh. . ." Nyoko sighed sadly. "How long will the task take?"

"By my estimate. . .a month we have to get you back otherwise your body will shut down," Koenma stated.

Nyoko didn't want to think that she won't make it back in time. Instead she said, "I can't believe Takara would do that. . ."

"She's a demon. . . what do you expect?" Koenma forgotten that most of his team held demonic blood.

Nyoko sighed as she wandered around the temple of Genkai's. Koenma confided her there until he could gather more information on the tasks that lay ahead. She hoped this had been all a dream but as the hours passed, it proved to be real.

". . .He's not awake yet," Nyoko poked her head through the door where Kurama laid on the futon. "Kuronue must have hit him too hard." She sighed and decided to wander around more.

"Hello, are you here to see someone?"

Nyoko turned and saw a pretty girl with familiar yet gentle scarlet eyes. "You can see me?"

"Yes," the girl blinked. "I'm Yukina. And you are?"

"I'm Nyoko. . ."

Yukina's eyes went huge as if she recognized the name. "Oh. . .Kazuma told. . . ."

"Yukina. . .you shouldn't bother to tell anyone about me. . . otherwise they'll think you're nuts," Nyoko explained the situation.

"Well. . .I believe you'll come back," smiled the ice maiden. "It'll be nice to talk to another girl around here."

"But it'll look crazy to see you talking to air," Nyoko sweatdropped.

"It doesn't matter. . ." Yukina smiled. "Well. . .at least I can keep an eye on you." She giggled.

'Wait. . .' Nyoko blinked. "And here I thought you were innocent."

"I'm not naïve like I used to be. It's not good to be naïve in this world," Yukina smiled. Then she hummed. "I got to take in the laundry."

"Hey, wait just a minute!" Nyoko went after Yukina. "I am not that kind of girl."

"Uh huh. . .but given the opportunity. . ." Yukina giggled. "Please. . .I blame myself for watching too many movies."

Nyoko laughed. Yet Yukina's words nagged at the back of her mind. Would she actually take advantage of being invisible to the others. . .especially Kurama?

"No, coming back to life is more important," Nyoko hissed to herself under her breath. Damn. . .even as a ghost, there were still some of that teenage hormones.