It's FINALLY HERE!!!! After what seems like such a long time this next chapter is finally here and done! ^^ Sorry bout the wait (and if you didn't notice/care? hahaha OH well ^^) all of it's my fault cuz i'm just too darn lazy. ^^. Alright i'll make this short sweet and to the point! Loads and loads and loads of thanks to Brittany May and Crazy anime chick since 1993 for your kind reviews. And thanks to all of those that have read so far! I really appreciate it ^^ okie dokie! Here's the next chapter of Black Sheep! Will you please review? Pretty please? ^_^ THANK YOU!

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"Mr. Hiei? Is Mr. Yusuke dead?" Alice asks when she pokes the sleeping Yusuke's head. He groans and rolls over in response. Hiei smirks.

"No he's just a lazy ass," Hiei smirks, and Yusuke barely opens one eye, long enough to growl at Hiei, and he closes it again.

"Oh," Alice blinks, "Did Mr. Kurama and Mr. Kuwabara already leave?"

"Yes," Hiei nods, "Long before you woke up. Now it's up to the detective to entertain you."

"She's ten years old Hiei," Yusuke growls, "You can't handle her?"

"I have no interest in playing games," Hiei growls.

"Screw you," Yusuke pulls the covers up over his head and Alice takes a step back, "It's okay Mr. Hiei. You don't have to play with me if you don't want to. I can play by myself."

"Hn," Hiei smirks, "But I'm not going to let Yusuke ignore his responsibilities. Plus, this might be the most fun I have all day. Alice, leave the room for a moment. Don't come back in until I tell you to."

Alice's eyes widen substantially, and she slowly walks towards the door. She shuts it quietly behind her, and she puts her ear to the door curiously.

A loud thud resonates from the other side; Yusuke lets out a surprised yelp. For about a moment, everything is silent. Alice almost opens the door before Yusuke starts to yell.

"HIEI YOU BASTARD!!! DAMMIT I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!!"

"Hn," Alice can hear Hiei's chuckle from her side of the door, "What's wrong Yusuke? Not a morning person?

"I'M GOING TO FREAKIN KILL YOU HIEI!" Yusuke growls from inside the room and a few more thuds come from the room, and Alice can hear Yusuke cussing underneath his breath.

"Alice you can come back in now," Hiei's voice sounds slightly amused and Alice opens the door with hesitation. Unsure of what she might see, she covers her eyes nervously when she walks in.

Hiei chuckles, "You can look, luckily the detective doesn't sleep in the-"

"That is not what you want to talk about to a ten year old girl," Yusuke growls. Alice opens her eyes and she gasps quietly when she looks at them.

When Alice had left the room, he had promptly flipped over Yusuke's bed. Yusuke had crawled out and tried to…well…..kill Hiei. But Hiei had taken Yusuke's grogginess to his own advantage and pinned Yusuke down to the carpet face down. Yusuke is squirming under Hiei's grip and muttering unmentionable profanities.

"I swear to God Hiei," Yusuke growls, "I'm going to pay you back full."

"Stop your whining Yusuke," Hiei smirks and loosens his grip, "you have a play date today. Remember?"

Yusuke looks up to Alice and sighs, "And what about you Hiei? You think you can get out of babysitting?"

"That's what I've been insisting on since this whole mission began. I'm as interested in babysitting and playing games as I'm interested in shopping and dancing around like a fool," Hiei's voice turns into a growl, he releases his grip on the back of Yusuke's neck and stands up.

"So what are you going to do now?" Yusuke frowns up at Hiei.

"That's of no consequence to you," Hiei smirks and makes his way out of the room.

"Mr. Hiei you shouldn't go out," Alice's voice is quiet and her eyes are downcast, but it stops Hiei in his tracks.

"Why?" he raises an eyebrow and turns to the timid little girl, "Did you have another vision?"

"I-I had nightmare…..The monsters were in it and-"

"Was it a vision or a nightmare Alice?" Hiei's crimson eyes meet her frightened blue eyes and she immediately looks down once again.

"I couldn't tell," she mumbles and wrings her hands, "But….they're going to hurt someone….but I don't know who. I don't feel very good Mr. Hiei. You shouldn't go out. You have to tell Mr. Kurama and Mr. Kuwabara to come back right away!"

Hiei smirks, "You don't have to worry about them. Kurama can handle it, even if the idiot can't. And myself? I won't be caught off guard by such a pathetic excuse for an opponent ever again."

Yusuke picks himself up, "Think about it Hiei, the girl has a wicked sixth sense, if she senses that something screwy is going to happen. Then shouldn't we be careful? I mean we had to have Kuwabara save our asses last time. I know I'm the last one to be walking on egg shells but-"

"I'm not going to stay hidden in this mind numbingly dull mansion just because Alice has a 'tummy ache'. I'm off. If I were you I'd take good care of the girl." Hiei turns back around and makes it to the door way.

"Because you're the last one I'd expect to say that, I'm going to ask….why is it so important to you?"

Hiei turns to Yusuke one last time, "Kirikami is strong. But as she is, we can beat her. This girl has powers. Great powers that she can't begin to control. If Kirikami gets her hands on Alice's talents. We'll end up exactly like those decaying minions in the alley way."

"Forgive me," Yusuke grunts, he holds his hand out to Alice, who takes it hesitantly, "For a moment I thought you actually cared about her."

Hiei's crimson eyes narrow and smolder angrily, "You're a fool Yusuke. This is a mission. Throw your feelings aside before you get yourself killed for a little girl."

"You're an ass," Yusuke smirks, "so do what you want. Just don't get into any trouble. And please, for the love of God Hiei, stop scaring the maids. They have enough to worry about."

"Hn," Hiei smirks and disappears from the doorway.

Alice squeezes Yusuke's hand; he notices and looks down to her, "Alice? What's up?"

"I-I don't know," he pulls her hand away, "I think my stomach feels funny."

"Hey, I just noticed," Yusuke smirks, "Where's your doll?"

Alice blushes, "I….I didn't bring her with me….I…I'm not a baby anymore. I…I shouldn't play with dolls."

"Really?" Yusuke's eyebrows raise, "But I thought that it….er…I thought that she was important to you Alice." Yusuke quickly catches himself when he talks about the doll.

"W-Well she is," Alice's cheeks become twice as red as before, "She's been my best friend f-for a long time but….I can't be a kid anymore."

"Aw, what are you talking like that for?" Yusuke smirks, "You're only ten Alice. You don't have to be anything more than a kid."

Alice meets his eye timidly, "But if I'm a kid. Then I can't be any of your friends. Mr. Kurama. . . . Or You…Or Mr. Kuwabara. . . And Mr. Hiei doesn't want to be my friend if I'm only a child…..So I don't want to be a child anymore."

Yusuke smirks and picks Alice up, "Hey, just because you're ten doesn't mean that we can't be friends Alice. I can't say much for Hiei, because let's face it; he's a fun-sucker. But as for Kurama and Kuwabara? I'm positive that they'd love to be your friend."

"You mean that?" Alice squirms in his arms. Yusuke nods and Alice motions for him to let her down, "Then I'm going to get Emily."

"Emily?" Yusuke raises an eyebrow as Alice begins to scamper out of the room. She nods and takes off down the hallway towards her room.

Yusuke mumbles to himself as he follows her down the hallway "Didn't know the doll had a name."

************************

Kurama and Kuwabara step into the alleyway cautiously.

"So this is where you encountered the minions?" Kurama looks to Kuwabara quizzically. Kuwabara nods fervently as his eyes dart to every corner of the shadowed street.

"But I don't feel anything now," Kuwabara frowns, he stretches his arms over his head, "so you don't think they'll come back?"

"Oh, I believe that they'll find us," Kurama smirks, "We both bear Alice's scent to some extent."

"You especially I guess," Kuwabara smirks and turns around, "By the way how was playing Mommy all day Kurama? That kid ever get tired?"

Kurama chuckles, "No, she was especially excited yesterday. She wasn't overbearing as children usually are. So watching over her isn't that bad."

"She seems so sad," Kuwabara frowns, "I mean the way she talks is depressing don't you think?"

Kurama frowns and nods, "Yes. Fate has dealt her cruel card. But that's all the more reason to rid this town of Kirikami. Once that is done, she won't need to stay in that house."

"You know what I noticed?" Kuwabara starts to make his way back to the people filled streets.

"Hm?" Kurama looks back to the alley way, "what is it?"

"She really seems to cling to you," Kuwabara smirks, "I mean. She didn't leave your side the entire day did she?"

"Hm," Kurama smirks, "Now that you've mentioned it. I believe you're right. She became quite frantic when I was about to leave with you yesterday."

"Right," Kuwabara nods, "you think she'll be okay with Urameshi and Hiei? I mean I don't think either of them are great babysitters."

"I don't think Hiei will be of much help. In fact, he'll probably leave within the first hour when he knows that Yusuke has it under control."

"Figures the little runt would skip out on his job," Kuwabara mumbles.

"If I know Hiei," Kurama smirks, "he'll be on his own, looking for Kirikami or hunting down her hiding place."

"Yea whatever," Kuwabara mumbles, "he's probably moping around in a tree or freaking out some little kids at the playground with his third eye."

"As much as I think Hiei would enjoy that," Kurama chuckles quietly, "I think he's just as anxious to finish this mission as we are."

Kuwabara freezes and his eyes narrow, "Hey Kurama."

"Something wrong?" Kurama frowns.

"I don't know," Kuwabara's voice becomes low and flat, "But my sixth sense is firing up." He looks down an intersection and points to a different road, "I think we should go this way."

"Do you think it's Kirikami?" Kurama frowns, "or a minion?"

"I dunno," Kuwabara's frown deepens, "But it feels like it's going farther away. And if it were a minion, wouldn't it be coming to us?"

Kurama nods, "But that doesn't make sense. Why would Kirikami go to the trouble to hide herself for so long from the Spirit World and just step out into the city?"

"You're right," Kuwabara's body tenses up.

"Either way," Kurama frowns, "we have to find them and stop them before they cause any damage to the city."

"Right," Kuwabara nods and they take off down the street through the thick crowd of people.

***********************************

"You sure you don't want to go outside?" Yusuke asks for the third time now. Alice nods soundlessly and brushes out her doll's hair with her fingers.

"I don't feel so good about going outside today," Alice frowns, "my stomach feels funny."

"If you're sick I can go get you some medicine," Yusuke stretches out his arms.

"That's okay," Alice begins to re-braid her doll's hair, "You don't have to do that Mr. Yusuke. I'll be fine. But..Isn't your arm hurting you?"

Yusuke rolls back his slightly injured shoulder and winces just slightly, "Well I'll be alright. Trust me. I've had a lot worse than a cut on the shoulder."

"If you say so Mr. Yusuke," Alice nods and looks down at her doll.

"Hey why don't we play a game?" Yusuke smirks, "I'll teach you how to play poker. Where's a deck of cards?"

Yusuke gets up to leave the room and Alice stares at him as he goes, "Mr. Yusuke is…going to teach me how to gamble? …..I miss Mr. Kurama," Alice holds her doll up to her chest, "Don't you Emily?"

Just as Yusuke starts to explain the game, frantic voice start to come from the hallway. As they get louder, they become clearer.

"Miss. Christina please come back! Master Kureno insisted that I keep you away from here!"

"I don't care anymore!" Christina's childlike voice echoes down the hall and into Alice's room.

"Looks like you have a visitor," Yusuke smirks. Alice nods and a sinking feeling develops in her gut. She looks to the door and sure enough, Christina comes through the doorway at full speed.

"Alice!" she smiles and runs straight to her sister, "I want to play with you today! We haven't played together in so long!"

The nanny runs in after her, breathing heavily and walking towards Christina, "Miss…Christina. Y-You can't…be in here," her voice is interrupted several times by her shallow breath.

"I know," Christina's shoulders straighten, "I don't care. I'm going to play with Alice today. And nothing will change my mind."

Alice stands up and puts her hand on Christina's shoulder, "Christy you can't be in here. You should go. There're probably children outside the mansion that you can go play with okay? They'll be more fun than I am."

Christina's blue eyes widen and she frowns, "I don't want the other children. I want to play with you….My sister Alice."

"Miss Christina-"

"Shut up," Yusuke glares at the nanny. She immediately takes a step back when Yusuke stands up, "I've been put in charge of Alice. And I say that she can play with Christy."

"Oh thank you Mr. Yusuke!" Christy cheers and Alice freezes.

"But Mr. Yusuke-"

"I don't want to hear it Alice," Yusuke smirks and kneels down beside her, "You deserve to play with your own sister."

"But the monsters-"

Yusuke grins, "I'll protect your sister. And I'll protect you. That's what I'm here for Alice."

"Master Kureno won't like this at all," the nanny straightens her back and frowns crossly at Yusuke. And Yusuke just smirks back.

"I don't really give a damn what Kureno thinks of this," Yusuke growls, "Because personally, I hate the guy."

"Me too," Christina sticks out her tongue and Yusuke suppresses laughter.

" 'Atta girl Christy," Yusuke snickers and rustles her long black hair, and he looks up to the flustered nanny, "I have things handled here. You can go now."

The nanny stomps out of the room, mumbling about 'disrespectful little monsters' and fixing her now unruly hair.

"Well Christy what do you want to do?" Yusuke asks.

"Christy throws her hands up in the air, "Let's play outside! Alice let's play outside today okay? We'll play hide and seek, we can play tag, we can play house. Let's go! Let's go!"

Alice's blue eyes widen and a troubling feeling settles in her stomach like a sickness, "Outside? But Christy-."

"Please?" Christy takes Alice's hand fervently and jumps anxiously, "Please? I just want to play with you. That's all."

Alice looks up to Yusuke nervously, "Mr. Yusuke?"

"Don't worry," he rustles her raven hair, "everything will be okay. I promise."

"Then let's go," Alice nods and Christy takes off out the door with her twin in tow.

"Mr. Yusuke aren't you going to come play with us?" Christy twirls around to face him when she's dragged her sister past the front door.

"If you don't mind," Yusuke smirks, "I think I'll just watch."

"Suit yourself," Christy smirks and Alice timidly hands him her doll.

"Come on Alice, let's go to the garden! All the butterflies are out today! Aren't they pretty?"

Alice runs after her and glances back at Yusuke. He nods and holds her doll up, "Don't worry. I've got your doll covered."

Alice nods and follows Christy into the garden.

"Maybe now's the time I can catch up on my sleep," Yusuke yawns and stretches out under the oak tree, "They can't get into too much trouble can they?"

"Where did Mr. Yusuke go?" Alice looks in all directions for her guardian to find him nowhere in sight among the thick bushes and the tall flowers.

"I'm sure he's close by Alice," Christy smiles, picking a flower and inhaling the scent quietly, "This one sure is pretty."

"It is," Alice nods and fingers the delicate petals of the flower carefully, "What are you picking it for?"

Christy smiles, "Because I was thinking we could show it too all of the boys when they come back? I bet if we made a big bouquet they'd all like it."

"You think so?" Alice's blue eyes blink back at Christy's and she reaches over to a rose and when her finger grazes the stem, the thorn pricks her finger. She winces and frowns at the blood coming from her thumb very slowly.

"Ow," Alice whimpers and moves to suck the blood, Christy takes her sister's hand and pulls out a handkerchief and hold it against the cut, "Here"

"Oh," Alice smiles back her, "thank you Christy."

Christy nods and holds the white cloth until the cut is dry, "Be more careful okay? The thorns can hurt a little. So do you still want to do the bouquet?"

Alice nods quietly, "Yes. But. I'm not sure that they'll like them very much."

"Maybe not," Christy giggles, "But it'll be fun to make a big one anyway."

"Yes," Alice smiles and picks the rose carefully and breathes the aroma in.

Christy smiles, "There are some really pretty flowers just a little farther Alice," she points ahead, "They should be in our bouquet."

Alice follows her twin farther ahead and suddenly stops, "C-Christy?"

"Huh?" Christy spins around, picking a violet from the ground.

"I…I don't think we should go any farther," Alice's voice becomes quiet. Her stomach starts to churn and her mind begins to scream out with warning, "There are lots of pretty flowers back there. Let's…Let's go."

Christy smiles gently, blinking her blue eyes innocently, "But Alice it's just a little farther. That's all. Come on."

"B-But something bad will happen," Alice's voice begins to shake.

"We'll only be there for a little while," Christy giggles and goes forward, "just wait for me here then."

"No Christy!" Alice starts to go after her but her legs freeze, and she feels her heart start to beat harder in her chest, "Christy…Please come back."

Her stomach begins to churn and she takes a step forward. Her legs start to shake and her body feels like it's screaming at her to stay put.

A sudden shriek comes from ahead and Alice can feel heart stop suddenly. Without thinking about it any longer she starts to run to the direction of the scream as fast as her legs will carry her.

*****

Kuwabara suddenly comes to a stop at another intersection. The road is completely empty of people and Kuwabara looks around frantically.

"Kuwabara?" What's wrong? Is she here?" Kurama snaps his wrist and his rose whip materializes around him.

"N-No," Kuwabara growl with frustration, turning in circles and clenching his fists, "that energy it's….it's completely gone! I mean the trail just went cold. It was moving and….I can't feel it anymore. Did she know we were following her?"

Kurama's eyes narrow and thought races through his mind as he takes his own slow look all around him, "That's possible. She could've sensed us and masked her own energy as she did. But that doesn't quite fit; she wouldn't have let out her energy at all if that was the case. She's an ancient demon, so she can manipulate how others percept her energy."

"Then was it a minion?" Kuwabara asks.

"Could have been," Kurama frowns and his eyebrows furrow in thought.

Kirikami is no amateur. She has a plan in doing this but what could it be? The chance of her risking herself in town is slim. So then the energy Kuwabara sensed had to be one of her minions. But if that were the case it would have attacked us…..because we bear Alice's scent. But it was running away. And now it's disappeared.

"Too bad," Kuwabara scratches his head, "Since we're on the other side of the city now we'll have to head all the way back and search."

Kurama's face goes pale and he looks to Kuwabara, "Kuwabara the minion that you sensed was never going to attack us. Or lead us to Kirikami's hiding place."

"I don't like it when you talk like this Kurama. It never ends up being good," Kuwabara frowns.

"That minion was sent to distract us and draw us away."

"From what?" Kuwabara's face pales as realization sets in.

"Alice," Kurama's voice is quiet, and he looks back to Kuwabara with a fierce look of frustration and panic, "we have to hurry. Kirikami must be attacking Alice's house.

"Attacking?" Kuwabara runs after Kurama when he sprints back in the direction they came from, "But that shield is supposed to keep them hidden."

"Not if they were able to track someone who bears Alice's scent," Kurama pushes himself faster through the streets of the city.

Kuwabara's gut starts to sink, "Y'mean like Yusuke, Hiei and Me just yesterday? After they were attacked?"

"Exactly," Kurama clenches his teeth, "all this time we were playing into Kirikami's plan. We have to hurry Kuwabara."

"Why are you so worried?" Kuwabara pants, "I mean Alice has Yusuke and Hiei…..Okay well she has Yusuke."

"That's not the point Kuwabara," Kurama frowns, "Kirikami is a master of deceit and she has an army of minions working for her. Yusuke and Hiei can't protect Alice alone."

"These missions never get easier do they Kurama? I mean why can't we ever just save a cat from a tree and call it good."

"I agree," Kurama's frown deepens and he pushes himself faster and he begins to weave through the people. Leaving Kuwabara somewhat in the dust.

"Hey wait up Fox Boy I can't run that fast!!!"

*****

I don't want anyone else to die. Not ever again. And especially not because of me.

Alicepushes her legs faster and faster through the garden, through bushes. Time and time again she falls on her knees only to feel the slight bit of sharp pain and to push herself forward again.

Another scream sounds off from a closer distance and Alice falls again and this time she can't muster the strength to pull herself up, her voice cracks when she yells out, "Christy! Yusuke!"

The sound of frantic footsteps come closer and closer and Alice feels her body start to tremble. Another scream comes from just ahead of her and Christy runs past Alice back in the direction of the house. Alice pulls herself up quickly but something grabs her arm tightly and pulls her back painfully, nearly ripping her arm out of her socket. She screams and a black rough hand envelopes her mouth and hot tears start to pool in her eyes. Her heart starts to beat wildly in her chest.

"It's her," a soft voice comes from every direction. It's a soft, feminine voice, soft but terrifying.

"She's mine! Bring her back to me!" the voice becomes louder and Alice twists and turns in the monster's grip.

She bites the monster's hand as hard as she can and it screams, a disgusting stench fills the air around them and Alice stumbles away as fast as her legs can carry her.

She ducks under a bush, tucking herself in between the branches, the leaves and some sort of fence that must encircle the garden.

"Yusuke?" she whispers, "Mr. Kurama please don't leave me here."
A low growl comes from close by and she stifles a whimper, curling her legs in as close to her as she can. A disgusting odor wafts in the air around her and she covers her nose and mouth, suppressing the urge to release the scream that's building in her throat.

A black arm slithers under the bushes and the scream escapes her throat when the hand grasps her ankle and pulls her out from the bushes. The monster's nails dig into her skin and her throat constricts so that a fire erupts in the cavity of her chest. Another scream erupts from her throat and despite the brief tug of war between the bushes and the monsters strength; the monster pulls her out into the open. He takes her by the shoulders and she yelps in pain when he squeezes her shoulder blades tightly as to pick her up off the ground.

Within split seconds, Alice feels the demon's grip loosen and drop her back on the ground. She blinks and suddenly a new arm is wrapped around her waist, holding her trembling, paralyzed body in the air.

Alice looks up slowly, feeling a new scream start to form in her throat, but most of the fear vaporizes when realization settles in to her frantic mindset.

Hiei's crimson eyes are dangerously furious, staring back down at her with a glare. She hears herself squeak and he grunts.

"I'm going to kill that worthless detective," his growl is venomous and it makes Alice cringe.

He blinks at her and sets her on her feet, Alice blinks back at him, only to just now notice that he has her twin sister over his shoulder.

Her eyes widen when her sister doesn't move, she opens her mouth to ask a question but the fire in her chest, and the roaring in her ears make her incapable of speech.

He raises an eyebrow, and Alice tugs on her sister's tattered end of a dress to wake her up.

He sighs, "Stop your fussing okay? Your sister's fine. She just fainted when that…thing caught you."

Alice's eyes begin to overflow with hot tears and she starts to sob and Hiei feels his irritation skyrocket.

"Will you stop your bawling?" he growls at her and takes her by her trembling arm, "I'm taking you and your sister back to Urameshi. That is, if I even let him live for abandoning his only responsibility. And letting you walk right past the damn barrier."

Hiei's voice is a low and frightening growl, but Alice doesn't feel afraid of Hiei, in fact, relief washes over her like a wave and she follows beside him closely. Every part of her small body aching and stinging. But the fire still rages in her chest and she can't make her body stop trembling.

Could it be? A feeling of fear envelopes the little girl's sub consciousness and she can feel her burning heart start to race. Is it not over. Could there be more monsters?

She grips onto Hiei's cloak and he scowls at her when she refuses to let go. She tries her best to calm down her body, to speak to him, to tell him that the danger hasn't passed but her throat aches and burns from screaming paired with the overwhelming sense of fear she can't find her voice.

"Would you let go?" he snatches her hand away and she whimpers, "I told you to stop fussing alright?"

His words, even if that was an attempt to soothe her, do not suffice and tears start to fill her eyes, and Alice wraps her arms around herself in a futile attempt to stop the burning in the cavity of her chest.

Hiei sighs and picks her up off the ground, "You're not in danger anymore alright? You're just being paranoid."

She looks up at him, her frightened blue eyes close shut and she wraps her arms tightly around his neck in her own attempt to bury the feeling of fear that rages inside of her mind.

"Hn," he rolls his crimson eyes, "Stop your trembling will you. It's my job and my responsibility. I won't let any of those pathetic demons harm you Alice. . . . So will you get off of me now? Your legs are still in commission aren't they?"

Alice nods furiously, and untangles her arms from him and he sets her back down, "Come on. You can watch me kill the detective."

They find Yusuke under the same tree, eyes shut, snoring lightly. Even Alice can feel a slight frustration when smirks in his sleep.

He promised he would protect my sister.

He promised he would protect me.

Hiei kicks him awake and Yusuke yelps from the surprise, falling over in the process.

He gains his bearings in about three seconds, "HIEI WHAT THE HELL DO YOU-"

Before he can finish yelling, Hiei brutally connects his fist with Yusuke's stomach and Yusuke remains speechless, coughing and trying to regain the wind that had promptly been knocked out of him.

And Hiei takes the rare moment of silence to rip into him, "You're an idiot! You had one responsibility! Just one! And you fall asleep? I really hope you enjoyed that nap Detective, because you put Alice's and Christy's life on the line when you decided to stop giving a damn!"

"Wha-What the hell are you talking about Hiei?" Yusuke coughs out, looking between a trembling Alice, an unconscious Christy and an infuriated fire demon.

Hiei growls at him, "While you were catching up on your beauty sleep, Alice and Christy ran past the barrier. The demons found them in a matter of moments. You're just lucky I was nearby Detective, and I heard one of them scream. Alice was nearly taken by one, and Christy would've died."

Yusuke's face pales drastically and he clenches his fists silently, for a few moments.

"Dammit Hiei," Yusuke growls, he looks back up at him, "why didn't you hit me harder?"

Hiei rolls his eyes, "Don't tempt you me you worthless excuse for a detective."

"Yea," Yusuke stands, "I deserve everything you have to throw at me Hiei."

He walks to Alice and looks her over, "Looks like you got beat up pretty badly didn't you?"

Alice nods, still not quite sure how to find her voice. Yusuke observes the bruises up and down her arms and legs. Her tangled hair and her torn dress.

"Take her inside," Hiei frowns, "There will be more coming very soon. And take her sister as well. I can't fight them with a girl on my back."

Yusuke nods quietly and holds out his hand to Alice, "I'm sorry Alice. I won't take this for granted again."

Alice takes his hand with some hesitation, and he leads her inside, with Christy in his arm.

One of the maids drops her armload of laundry when she spots Christy and Alice. She covers her mouth and runs to take Christy from his arms.

"Oh my, Miss Christina!? Wh-What happened to her? Miss Alice? Are you alright?"

The maid looks crossly at Yusuke, he opens his mouth to explain but she cuts him off, "Is this all your doing?"

Yusuke frowns, "It's my fault that they're hurt. A demon came when I wasn't paying attention. They walked past the barrier and the demon attacked them. Christy is unconscious, but I'm sure she'll be fine when she wakes up. And it looks like Alice will be okay, other than a few scratches and bruises. It seems like she's pretty shaken up though. You have Hiei to thank for their well being."

"Oh my," the maid covers her mouth and holds out her hand to Alice. Alice reaches out to take it but suddenly her body freezes and she feels the adrenaline rush through her veins. Fear, once again roars in her subconscious. She takes back her hand and clings to Yusuke's pant leg.

"Huh?" Yusuke frowns, "Alice? It's okay she's just going to take you to be cleaned up," he looks back up at the maid, "right?"

"Yes," she nods, a kind smile spreads across her face and she takes Alice's hand without the girl's approval. She starts to lead Alice across the room to the hallway and Alice looks back to Yusuke, helpless and afraid, not able to voice her fears. Her worst fears.

This woman, she looks up to the maid, she used to hate me. Why? Why would she help me?

The maid smiles sweetly back at her and grips Alice's hand tighter, when they reach Alice's room she opens the door and shuts it behind her quietly.

"I did what you asked me to do," the maid speaks aloud and she looks to Alice's bed. Where a woman with bright red eyes and snow white hair smiles back at Alice. The woman is holding Alice's doll, the doll that she thought she had left with Yusuke. She looks to the maid and nods. She stands and takes a step toward Alice.

Alice feels her body scream out in fear and takes a step back; the maid stops her and pushes her forward. Alice falls forward and scrambles back up.

It's her. She feels her body start to tremble.

"Keep your promise!" the maid frowns at her, her voice cracks, and tears start to fill in the maid's eyes "I brought you the little monster! Let me see my husband again!"

The woman with the icy voice.

The woman takes a step towards the maid and takes her hand, "You will see your husband again, that much, I did promise you."

The woman smiles gently, "Close your eyes."

Alice reaches out to the maid, wishing that she could scream out to her.

The woman with the fiery eyes.

The woman's red eyes glow and she slides a nail across the maid's throat gently and blood flows down her neck, she opens her eyes and stares back, surprised, and hurt.

"You'll see your husband in the afterlife," she smiles at the girl, whose body collapses in on itself, "and your body will serve me in this life."

Alice's body begins to tremble and she feels the fear roar in her ears. Her entire body, screaming for her to run. But her legs feel frozen, even when the woman looks to Alice, smiling sweetly, the blood pooling just slightly under the woman's feet.

"Hello Miss Alice," her voice is smooth, sweet, icy, and terrifying all at the same time, she walks over to Alice, and smoothes Alice's tangled raven hair out, sweetly, motherly, "It's so nice to meet you Alice. My name is Kirikami. And I've been waiting a long time to meet you."

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Yup...didn't end it with a joke this time. ^^ sorry i wanted to but i didn't find this confrontation.........funny. So in it's place? A very small short story? EH? EH?

Kurama- Migoto-chan?

Me- Yyyyessss?

Kurama- This isn't a short story......this is a very very poor drawing of Yusuke dumping a bottle of Clorox down Kuwabara's throat And a...a Chibi Hiei sitting on a throne.

Me- *observing* so it is...so it is.........well then....sorry no short story.....

Kurama- Did you draw this Migoto-chan?

Me-.....yes.... VV"

Kurama- Why did you draw ....me? With a-

Me- *covers his mouth* BYE FOLKS BE HERE NEXT TIME TO SEE THE NEXT CHAPTER. *to kurama* GIVE THAT BAAAACK!

Please Review!