Ooooh~ A/N BEFORE we start :o...anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know I'm taking down chapters and editting them. I realized I've been spelling "Vaislen" two different ways (same character, my spelling for his name just varies sometimes lol.)

I also realized Entirely too late that I introduce a new character named Stenton when I kind of already have the King's name as Stenton ^^' oops~ anyway, since I really can't see this new character named anything But Stenton, I'm renaming the King to Kravyn, which is my usual "King Name" for stories I write, no idea why I didn't use it initially..

Anyway, enjoy :)

Ooooh~ also, going to probably be starting Yusuke's story, I think I am going to start it based before this story happened. Really get a feel for what happened with Keiko and the grief following it. So I will probably be retelling this story from Yusuke's perspective and what he's thinking and feeling through all of this. Which means it is going to be loooong~ .' The others won't really need a prequel of sorts, but I feel Yusuke's story needs one, in order to get the whole Keiko situation settled.

That being said, I usually like KeikoxYusuke, it is a sweet story of true love and when I play with story ideas, I always have them together, but this time, I don't know. I guess I just want to try something new and take a different direction than I normally do. HOPEFULLY, you enjoy it.

~Jessa

Update after editing: It is all done :D Just switching out all the chapters now :) Also, I have finally decided that Yusuke's story will start after Blood Ties and its eventually sequel based specifically on Jen and Hiei (Yes, they get two stories :3) This chapter is going to kind of set up for Yusuke's story, so just a heads up, there is a little Yusukeness in this chapter.

Yusuke came through to find Jen on the floor with the dagger removed and Yukina kneeling over her to heal her. Hiei was off to the side with his eyes closed seeming to be reigning in control but Yusuke could tell his friend was a mess. There was a small scratch on Yukina's cheek and a few of the wolves looked a little beaten up, Vaislen holding the most damage. Hiei's energy was all over the place, and it seemed he was barely able to hold himself together as he opened his eyes to watch Yukina heal Jen.

"What happened," Yusuke asked, turning to Vaislen.

"Couple demons appeared and tried to take Yukina. We beat them off and chased them away."

Yusuke's eyes widened. They came after Yukina? He looked over to Hiei, who seemed to be having an even harder time keeping himself under control, his eyes stricken with worry. That means Mukuro knows about Yukina. Yusuke sighed and rubbed his face as he looked back to see Salvatore setting Asher down. The entire room was silent as everyone looked at him.

Jettalynn walked forward slowly, looking up at Salvatore. "What happened to you, love?"

Her face was full of sadness as she cupped Salvatore's cheek. He lowered his head and nuzzled his cheek to her hand gently. "I went after Carlotta and was captured. Last I had seen was Asher being beaten to death before they killed me."

Yusuke frowned. "So, you are dead?"

Salvatore smirked slightly. "In a way. My younger siblings always told me I was a souless bastard, I guess now they are right."

Avidan shook his head as he walked forward to pat Salvatore on the shoulder, relief in his eyes. "I always knew you were too tough to even let death take you. Never knew you would go the whole Venatore route though."

Yusuke's frown intensified. "Vena-what?"

Salvatore turned his attention to Yusuke. "Venatore. When someone, human or demon, dies a wrongful death, their soul lets out a scream of vengence. Some are so loud, they shake the halls of the Northern kingdom in the Makai. Through an agreement with Koenma, Enki, King of the Makai, approaches these individuals with a choice. Either they can cross the river Styx and move on to their after-life, or they can trade their soul and spend eternity serving in the Venatore, fighting against those who choose to continue to hunt humans."

Yusuke tilted his head to the side. "So, you really are undead, huh?"

Salvatore laughed quietly. "Something like that."

Yusuke turned his attention to the corner of the room where two energies with a similar void-feeling appeared. His eyes widened as a woman, nearly as tall as he was, and a man, even taller than Kuwabara stepped forward. Both had the same black markings that covered the left side of their faces. The woman's black hair was tied into a tight braid that fell nearly to her hip and her entire body seemed to be covered with weapons. Dressed entirely in black, she wore boots, tight black jeans, a black tank top and a black leather jacket. In addition, she also wore sunglasses. The only color on her was the gleam of silver from her various blades.

The man was dressed similarly, his long black hair fell straight to the middle of his chest. His arms were crossed as a single brow raised over the sun glasses all three wore that kept his eyes concealed.

"I knew it wouldn't be long before you started blabbing about everything, Salv," he said with a slight smirk.

Salvatore smirked back an held his arms up. "When you look this bad ass, how can you not?"

Humor was in his voice and the woman laughed quietly. "Go figure, you would find the group that had someone that we couldn't wipe their memory."

Her voice was mesmerizing, the lilt of an unplaceable accent thick in her words. Christ, he had to focus on thinking straight when she spoke. It was a low lyrical sound, her words seeming thick in her throat. Yusuke shook his head and he frowned at the woman. "What do you mean?"

Her brow arched in a similar fashion to the male's as she stared at him for a long moment. At least I think she's staring at me. A shiver went over him before she spoke. "The fire demon's mental barriers are too strong to penatrate. We cannot wipe his memory. Wiping everyone else's would be a waste at that point, considering he could just tell you about it all."

Don't stop talking. Yusuke frowned as he bit down on his tongue to keep from saying exactly what he thought. He hadn't thought about another woman since-. He flinched; Since Keiko.

After he had returned from the Makai, she had been happy, but something was different. She had refused to talk about anything relating to his demon side or his trip to the Makai, to the point she had gotten furious everytime he tried to push it. In one particular argument, when he had told her that he wanted to share this part of him with her, she had said something that he would never forget.

I don't want to know that part of you, Yusuke. I don't want to know about the side of you that is evil and ruthless.

Those words had stung him to his core. Keiko believed he was evil. Not because of his actions, nor who he was; But because he was part demon.

I can't do this anymore, Yusuke. I'm sorry.

Just like that, the one woman he had loved more than life itself, turned her back on him.

Koenma had approached him shortly there-after, telling him that it would be a good idea to erase Keiko's memory. Something in her had fractured over the years, from what Koenma said, and it had started at the Dark Tournament. As things went on, it only got worse and would continue to get worse unless Keiko didn't remember that any of this had ever happened.

Reluctantly, Yusuke agreed. In the end, he wanted her to be happy and care-free more than anything.

Shaking himself from his thoughts he returned to the group in front of him. "Well then, I didn't know Enki had done so much to enforce the no-hunting-humans law. Good on him."

Attention shifted to Yukina as she sighed quietly. "I have done everything I can do. I hope it is enough."

She began to stand but faltered slightly and Hiei and Kuwabara both jumped forward to catch her. Without a word, Kuwabara picked her up and carried her away, Hiei for once not objecting, but still glaring at the back of his head before he turned his attention to Jen, picking her up and carrying her in the same direction. Yusuke assumed to her room so she could rest. Neither returned.

Yusuke sighed as he noticed Koenma was still standing there. "So are these the guys that had you create a portal, Koenma?"

Koenma tensed slightly before shaking his head. "No."

The woman then turned her head to Koenma, her eye brows pulling into a frown. "Someone had you make a portal?"

Koenma only nodded, visably more uneasy. Salvatore frowned. "Who?"

Koenma sighed and shook his head. "I'm not supposed to say-"

The woman stepped towards Koenma. "Koenma, don't make me-"

A new voice cut her off and Koenma flinched slightly "There will be no need for that, Blythe."

The voice was female, and Yusuke looked behind Koenma to see two forms, one male, one female, dressed in black as well, but black motorcycle helmets covered their heads. "Man, what is with everyone just popping in all of the sudden," Yusuke growled, not entirely pleased that there were now four people who had entered the room and he hadn't even sensed them right away.

In fact, he still couldn't sense the two who had just arrived. He looked around to see most of the wolves, and even Kurama stunned. He was staring at the two new comers in shock, slight fear playing in his eyes. Yusuke leaned over to Kurama. "Who are these guys anyway?"

"Pontifex Mortis," he said quietly.

Yusuke frowned again. "What?"

The male new-comer spoke up as he pulled off his helmet. His blonde hair fell in a braid to the middle of his back and sunglasses also covered his eyes. A little redundant to wear sunglasses under a helmet, isn't it? "Pontifex Mortis," he said, interrupting Yusuke's thoughts. "The High Priests of Death."

Yusuke arched a brow. "Ooooh, sounds scary," he said, his voice flat and unamused.

The entire room seemed to flinch but the female Venatore, that if Yusuke remembered correctly was named Blythe, laughed. "He has some attitude to him. I like your spirit detective, Koenma."

Koenma sighed and shook his head. "I'm sure he wouldn't be so sarcastic if he knew what the Pontifex Mortis was capable of."

Yusuke laughed and looked at Koenma. "You should know better, toddler. Nothin' gets rid of this attitude."

Koenma was a little more annoyed, but turned to the new comers. "I did what you asked. Why are you here?"

His voice had been full of suspision and unease. The female walked forward and stood in front of Kurama. Unmoving for several moments, she finally lifted a gloved hand to Kurama's chin, who remained unmoving, his face a careful mask of no emotions. "You are not what you seem," the woman said simply.

Kurama's eyes widened slightly before she released his chin and he shook his head. "I am not."

The woman tilted her head to the side. "Interesting."

Without another word, she returned to the male's side, giving Yusuke a glimpse of the traditional Grim Reaper, hooded in black on the back of her jacket. The arch of a scythe was over the reaper, the handle crossing behind its back. "You know the Grim Reaper actually wears pink and carries an oar instead of a scythe, but it's her perky attitude that is her real weapon," Yusuke said and he saw the male's lips twitch into the slightest smile but he gave no response to what Yusuke had said.

"We are here to inform you that the Assassin's League was given hits on all of the wolf-demons this morning. In addition, any and all found as allies to the wolves are to be terminated as well," male spoke in an emotionless tone. "My name is Nykairren and the woman beside me is Selene. The Pontifex Mortis has been ordered to aid against the League."

Blythe seemed surprised. "What an odd turn of events. In addition, the Venatores had also been ordered to give their aid to the wolves, but Enki hadn't told us the Assassin's League was after them. Things just got a little more interesting, aye, Stenton?"

She turned to the male Venatore, which Yusuke guessed was Stenton and he nodded slightly. "Salvatore, we wish to speak with you in private," Stenton said before both him and Blythe left outside, Salvatore following closely behind.

Yusuke watched as Nykairren and Selene both left the room in separate directions, Koenma mumbling something about securing the parameter before he disappeared from the room. He turned to see Kurama still shocked and unmoving and he waved a hand infront of his friend. "You alive in there, Kurama?"

Seeming to shake himself from his daze his smiled at Yusuke, nodding. "Good. I don't suppose you could tell me anything about these 'high priests of death,' could you?"

Kurama nodded slightly and motioned for them to sit down at the table so he could begin.

Hiei sat at the edge of Jen's bed for a long time. He listened carefully to her heart beat that was weaker than normal. He blew out a long sigh, telling himself he should get up and leave, but everytime he tried, he couldn't bring himself to it.

He studied her face silently, his attention drawing once again to the small scar on her cheekbone. More interested than he had been on the day he met her, he reached out and ran a finger over the light scar. A female voice from the door startled him and he pulled his hand away, moving it to his sword.

"So, the male twin does live. The league of assassins actually do fail at tracking. How interesting."

Hiei glared at the woman dressed head-to-toe in black with some kind of black helmet covering her head. "Who are you," he growled, particularly angered that he still couldn't sense the woman's energy.

"I was the assassin who was ordered to kill the twin hybrids. The powers that be felt their quickly growing power would become a threat. The male twin had made quite a name for himself in the Makai, quickly becoming one of the most feared bandits, while the female twin was all but unheard of after disappearing from the floating island."

Hiei watched her carefully as she leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed before she continued. "It wasn't long after that, that the male twin disappeared as well. I was able to track the female, coming across a few demons who had been stalking her along the way. Not wanting any interference, I killed them, sustaining mild injuries."

"When I approached the female hybrid, she had ran to me with concern. Completely unaware that I was there to kill her, she healed my injuries without question nor suspision. Her innocence and pure heart made me question the league of assassins' motives for the first time in my life. It wasn't long after that, that I discovered the assassin's league worked for whoever the highest bidder was, not necessarily to take out those who were guilty and deserved death. Shortly after that, Nykairren approached me. I had heard rumors about the Pontifex Mortis and was pleased to find he was offering me a way out of the assassin's league."

Hiei said nothing as he returned his gaze to Jen, who had shifted slightly in her sleep. He focused on her breathing and heart beat once again, making sure nothing had changed. "You care for her, don't you," the woman asked as she walked forward.

"Hn."

The woman came to stand beside Hiei. "I see much in her future. She will have her legacy, but not in the manner that she believes she will. Take care of her."

Without another word, the woman reached her hand out, a soft white surrounding it as she held it to Jen's chest before disappearing.

Her heart beat grew stronger with every second and Hiei sat back down on the edge of the bed. So, the high priests of death are here. Things must have gotten worse.

Pushing the thought of the woman out of his mind, he returned to studying Jen. His hand reached out to trace the scar again before his fingers slid into her hair. Mesmerized, he couldn't get over just how soft her hair was.

Jen's eyes slowly opened and Hiei froze, finding himself in the position he had been in over three months ago. He started to pull away but Jen caught his hand before he could leave. "Hi," she said quietly.

"Hn."

Strangely, the sound came out softer than normal, but dismissed it as she nuzzled his hand with her cheek with a small smile. The gesture seemed to send warmth through his body. "I am sorry for last night. I shouldn't have done that while we were both out of our normal state of minds."

"Hn. Do not apologize, onna," he said quietly, looking away. "I should be the one apologizing."

His voice was even quieter than before, and it almost stunned him that he was apologizing. Jen's eyes widened slightly as she sat up, keeping hold on his hand. He looked at her from the corner of his eyes and found her smiling slightly. "Either way, next time, we are both going to be stone-cold sober."

Hiei's eyes widened as he looked over at her. Next time? Mischief gleamed in Jen's eyes as she leaned against his shoulder, resting her chin on the top of his shoulder to look up at him. She felt good there, Hiei decided, though he was surprised he didn't feel the need to push her away. Physical contact had never sat well with him. He supposed he was getting used to her touching him however.

A peacefulness seemed to wash over him as his thumb stroked the top of her hand idly. He hadn't even realized he was doing it as he stared into Jen's golden eyes for a long time. She raised her free hand to his cheek, which he didn't flinch away from and he saw happiness in her eyes and decided he liked the way she looked when she was happy.

Why it pleased him so much was beyond him, but part of him wanted to do everything he could to make sure she always looked at him like that. He leaned forward kissed her lips gently, the way she had a few nights ago. After a few moments, he pulled back, but not much as he looked into her eyes again. "You should rest."

Jen nodded a little as he stood but she held on the his hand. "Stay with me," she said, almost inaudibly.

Hiei looked down at her, and he caught a small smile playing on his lips. "Hn."

Without another word, she scooted over in bed and he laid down next to her as she curled herself into his side. He wrapped an arm around her possessively as he realized just how tired he had been himself. Mukuro's constant summons had kept him awake almost constantly except for last night. Tonight though, she was silent.

With a light sigh, he turned his attention back to his she-wolf, who had already fallen asleep. He didn't know exactly what he felt for her but he knew one thing; No one would ever harm her so long as there was life in his body. Ever.

A/N~ Yeaah~! Second one out today and it isn't even 6 A.M. yet. Anyway, it might be a little bit before I release the next one. There is a lot of explaining to do in the next one and a lot of fighting and I'll probably be starting on Yusuke's story as well. Eventually, I want to do a story for Kurama, Yukina, Botan, Koenma and even Kuwabara, but it will definitely be a while. That is at least the plan for each of the sequels. Hiei and Jen's story will have a sequel of their own that relates directly to them, but most other sequels will be focused on separate couplings.

I'm also going to try to work on drawing a cover for the story but we will see. :)

Review~ :D I would really appreciate the feed back.

Much love ~Jessa.