Learning to Live Again

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Yu Yu Hakusho, its characters, universe, or any of that.

Notes: The only pairing so far is Kuwabara x Yukina, though it won't be that prevalent through the story. Possibly other pairings later on. Also there will be additions of other characters of my own creation; I do own those. :) Comments, reviews, suggestions, etc. are greatly appreciated and encouraged! :)

Please comment/review on this so I know whether or not to continue with this story. :)

Thanks and enjoy...

Chapter Three: Whispers of Murder

Hiei returned to the Toushin fortress in the east a few weeks later. He never had before believed how much Yusuke would grow on him. The ex-detective used to be his the source of most, if not all, his anger; now Hiei found himself actually looking forward to visiting him. Whether he liked to admit it or not, Kurama had always been right. Aside from the fox himself, Yusuke was his best friend. He grinned, in spite of himself, as he approached the sprawling, towering mass of the fortress.

Yusuke's head snapped up from the papers before him. "Hiei's here," he told Kurama, unnecessarily, his frown evaporating into a wide grin that lit up his face. They sat in the ballroom, at the giant table. It was where they typically ate, and where they were, currently, enjoying breakfast. Yusuke was also looking over several request forms, various in nature.

"I believe you are right, Yusuke."

"I can be right sometimes," the other laughed.

Yusuke got to his feet, Kurama followed suit and allowed the ex-detective to lead the way to greet Hiei in the front room. He smiled warmly when he saw the fire demon. "Just a visit, Hiei?" he murmured.

Hiei nodded. "It's a bit boring there now that I'm not monitoring the border constantly."

Yusuke nodded, "I take it Mukuro is making good use of the warriors I had sent over there?"

The Jaganshi nodded again, "Quite."

Hiei joined the other two for the remainder of their breakfast. Kurama and Hiei talking idly while the Yusuke finished looking over the papers in front of him. Finally, he sighed, "I don't understand what is so hard about not eating humans."

Kurama chuckled. "That's all these requests are!" Yusuke exclaimed. He flicked through them again, muttering under his breath as he stamped 'REQUEST DENIED' on each one. Upon finishing, Yusuke released a flare of energy. "I'm glad you're here, Hiei. I've been waiting to spar with you. I need to take out my frustrations on something," he added with a smirk.

"Of course." Hiei grinned mischievously. "Lead the way to your defeat, Detective." Yusuke got to his feet, and the three of them walked to the dirt ring outside, in the rear of the sprawling place.

The two demons spent the next few hours fighting each other. Kurama watched with genuine interest. They were both so much stronger now; Yusuke especially. The young toushin certainly made his bloodline proud. His amount of energy was truly insane, as he had reached the S-class level. After a few years in Demon World, he had gained much better control of this power and knew how to use it. It was fascinating to watch him fight.

Yusuke snarled as he made another attack on Hiei. The fire demon had immense speed at his disposal, and, in any other fight, he could have easily evaded attacks and wore his opponent down. In this fight, however, his speed seemed merely to rev Yusuke up. Kurama had to watch very carefully to be able to catch all of their fast movements. It seemed no matter where Hiei moved, Yusuke easily followed. Soon it became clear that they were near an impasse. Yusuke had a bit of lead on the number of punches and kicks landed, but Hiei wasn't far behind. So far, the tally included Yusuke making four connections with Hiei with his fist and one with his foot. Hiei had managed to slam the hilt of his sword into Yusuke's chin twice and landed one solid punch. Finally, Hiei threw Yusuke back with a particularly hard punch. Recovering rather quickly, Yusuke wiped away a drip on blood from his mouth. "Now we're talking!" he exclaimed, bearing his teeth at Hiei in the form of a vicious grin.

Utilizing his equally blurring speed, Yusuke managed to land a hit on the right side of the Jaganshi's jaw. "Ready to give up yet?" Yusuke cried laughingly at him.

"Never..." Hiei hissed. "We've just begun. Come now, show me what you've learned, Detective."

Yusuke released his energy in a large wave, Hiei following suit. Now, with movement backed with his hybrid mix of Spirit and Demon energies, Yusuke was managing to get in more hits, though, as typical Yusuke fighting style, he allowed his defenses to slacken considerably. The trade-off was exactly what both had been looking for, a much needed outlet. Hiei extended his right arm to smack Yusuke with the hilt of his sword. Dodge to the left. Yusuke grabbed the Jaganshi's upper arm, managing to hold him while his other hand landed a punch. He kicked Hiei out of his grasp only to have him on top of him again. A kick from Hiei this time. It connected, and the ex-detective rolled to make up for the blow.

They now were mid-air, an arm's length separating them. Their blurry punches were coming in contact with only the other's fists. Not accomplishing much with that, they landed back on the ground, not far apart. Hiei moved his head to the side to avoid a fist, and he responded with one of his own. Then, both jumped back to a fighting stance and started it over again. Fist met forearm in a block, sword hilt met dirt in a dodge and foot landed against leg in a parry. Panting, Yusuke took a step away from Hiei, allowing his blue energy to form in his fist. Grinning, he rushed his sparring partner, landing an energized hit, sending Hiei flying. Satisfied with himself, he went to extend a hand to help Hiei stand. The Jaganshi did not need it. He got to his feet swiftly and sent Yusuke back with a hardy punch to the gut. Back and forth it went; neither gaining much of an advantage for long.

Finally, Kurama convinced them to stop when the storm began dumping rain on them. "Until next time, Three-Eyes," Yusuke said, bowing.

"Hn," was all Hiei said at first, but he bowed slightly, as well, a smirk softening his face. "Not as bad as I expected from you, Detective," he mocked with no real heat.

"My Lord!" Came a sudden cry, causing Yusuke to straighten and turn towards the man who called him.

"Yes?" the Demon Lord called back.

"There's someone here to speak with you. One of Yomi's demons. I'm told it is of the utmost importance."

"Very well..." he told his servant. Turning to Hiei and Kurama, he murmured, "I'll catch you two in a bit." And he turned to leave. "What's going on?" he asked the man who had summoned him.

"All I was told, my lord, is that this demon has coming bearing important news from Yomi," he murmured, leading them briskly towards the front of the fortress.

Upon entering the grand front ballroom, Yusuke was met with a cloaked figure moving through the huge double doors of his fortress. A blot of lightning cracked outside before the large doors closed, giving Yusuke a clearer view of the figure who had not yet moved into the lamp-light of the room. The black fabric of the cloak the demon wore was soaked through from the pouring torrent of rain outside. The hood shadowed the entirety of their face beneath it. The cloak traveled down to the floor and trailed behind. From beneath it in front, the toes of their white shoes protruded with each step. The figure stopped abruptly a few feet from the young lord. With a low bow, it was revealed the demon underneath was a woman when she spoke, "My lord." Her voice was like honey, smooth and rich. Yet somehow a bit sinister. She straightened, though did not lower her hood.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of this news from Yomi?" Yusuke asked slowly. Something didn't feel right about this woman.

"I am here tonight to warn you," came the almost seductive voice.

"Excuse me?" he asked, more calmly than he felt.

"My apologies, Lord," she murmured. "I'm here to warn you." She repeated, slightly louder. Though they both knew he had not misheard her. "I am here on my own accord. Many demons would frown upon me for this, but I do not believe the... rumors flying around about you, Lord... I felt you deserved to be given a proper warning."

"A warning?" Yusuke frowned deeply, "A warning of what, exactly?" Hiei had obviously felt the churning emotions coming from his friend through the bond, for, after a moment, his voice whispered softly through Yusuke's mind. What is it, Detective?

Before Yusuke could make any reply, however, the woman spoke again. "I won't waste your time idly avoiding the truth, my lord... Yomi has been assassinated."

"What?" What?

"Something is wrong." Hiei told Kurama, eyes wide, an unusual display of emotion for the little demon.

"What, Hiei?" Kurama murmured. "What is it?"

"It's Yusuke-"

"There is more," the woman whispered to Yusuke.

He watched her carefully. "Then continue," he murmured curtly.

"There is a widespread belief that you, my lord,were behind his assassination."

Yusuke gaped at her. "That's... that's absolutely ridiculous."

"Kurama, I believe Yusuke needs us..." And, without more pause, he and Kurama hurried through the halls towards the room Hiei knew Yusuke was in. Hiei entered first. The woman turned her cloaked head at the sudden addition to the room and stared in his direction. "The Forbidden Child..." she whispered after a moment. "I have heard much about you." She bowed slightly to him. Hiei watched her, suspicion acutely evident on his face.

When Kurama entered, the woman's reason for speaking to the Toushin Lord was quickly set aside; for a long moment a stretching silence filled the room. She finally chuckled gently as her interested gaze continued to linger on the fox. "I had heard rumors that the great and infamous Yoko Kurama had shown his face in Demon World again. Though, I'll admit, without seeing it firsthand, I had not truly believed there to be any fact behind them. However... now, I have no doubts."

"Who the hell are you?" Yusuke asked coldly, his calm air of a demon lord suddenly vanishing. Something definitely wasn't right, and he knew it.

A wicked grin lit what he could see of her pale face as she spoke, "Perhaps you should ask the youko... He knows exactly who I am." Finally, she removed her hood. What the lowered hood revealed shocked the toushin. A fox demon. She could be Kurama's sister, Yusuke thought vaguely. Her silver hair; her pallid, calculating gold eyes. But it was her face that most reminded him of Yoko Kurama. Thin and pale, with that perfect, emotionless smile. Sharp, golden eyes, so very much like Yoko Kurama's own, were flicked to him. "Don't you... dear Yoko?" she asked as a strike of lightning cast a strange yellow light over her. This crude light seemed to cut her face into sharp angles. She looked positively vicious. And, if it was possible, only more strikingly beautiful.

Kurama took a step back, eyes wide, expression unbelieving, but the thunder rumbled ominously before he found his voice, "It cannot be..."

She smiled wider, "I'd hoped you would still remember me... after all these years..."