A/N: I made it a LOT longer than I normally like because I am going to be gone for a week. Gone for a week with NO ACCESS TO A COMPUTER!!!! -cries- it's sad...it really is...not to mention the fact that it means no chapter postings for a whole week...it stinks...no typing, no contact with a keyboard...or internet...all very sad...anywho, enjoy the longness!

O/C10: Amureo, given power by the Shadow Rider, has ripped asunder Misaki's mind, tearing apart her ability to keep any memory at bay. And so Misaki relives the deaths of all of those she remembers. Over and over and over again. She manages to defeat Amureo and watch Kuwabara, Genkai, and Yusuke fight against Sirens. As the three Sirens sing their alluring song, Kuwabara and Yusuke step off into the water and take a fatal dip with doom...

--

Genkai reacted faster than most youkai watching would've given the old sensei credit for. She struck one of the huge electrical lights hanging from the ceiling with a blast of spirit energy and then forced the crackling light down to the water with another blast from above it.

The huge light fell like a rock. Genkai landed on her feet soon after it hit the water.

An electric shock of that magnitude was enough to shrivel most humans. Genkai formed a barrier around Kuwabara and Yusuke but allowed them partial shock to awaken them.

They both shot out of the water as fast as possible, skidding to a steamy halt on the island.

The Siren sisters burst from the water, but they flew higher and farther than the guys. They hit the ground with a thud, rocking the island dangerously, electricity snapping in arcs over their bodies.

Genkai walked over and touched each of them, making sure she was well-guarded against any accidental exchange of shock.

"Team Urameshi, the match is yours." The ref announced.

"B..But!!" Navy's lip quivered.

"Yeah!" Kuwabara and Yusuke celebrated but Genkai gave them a look and they settled down.

"But we touched them first!!" Navy protested, pointing at Kuwabara and Yusuke. "As soon as they hit the water!"

"And she drew blood!" Violet showed him her profusely bleeding wrist.

The ref briskly walked over to examine the wound, careful not to actually touch the still charge youkai.

Genkai knew what the blood meant. She also knew that electricity would not cause a slash across the wrist. Bleeding from ears perhaps, eyes as well, but not wrists.

"Self-infliction." The ref decided, "An electric shock does not cause such bleeding. Thus she touched the three of you and her team wins. Call stands."

Genkai nodded thanks, her thoughts confirmed.

"B...but!!" Navy and Violet protested.

"Imbeciles!" Sea seethed knowing that Violet had a knife up her sleeve, and intended to give them both a good beating, but ended up giving them all a good shock instead.

--

"Well I certainly wasn't expecting that." Soren said, turning to Misaki. But she was gone.

Ike looked around but didn't catch a glimpse of her. They shrugged at her sudden disappearance.

Misaki practically flew down the hallways, tears stinging her eyes. The memories and emotions Amureo brought to the surface after years of her keeping them back was too much; they waged a savage and heartless war within her mind, seeping through her soul all at once and Misaki was powerless against them.

She somehow ended up outside and collapsed underneath a tree, pulling her knees to her chest and encircling them with her arms, burying her face in them.

"I...I can't..." Her thoughts waned for a moment. "I wish to be without emotion, without pain." She wished her brother was still alive.

Misaki got up, wandering aimlessly, not caring where she traveled as long as she kept moving for a while.

It got to be so late in the night that it was early in the morning, though only a few minutes past midnight. Her whole body was exhausted from the ceaseless tirade.

Managing to find her way back to the apartment, she ran into someone in the middle of the dark hallway, but stayed on track, not stopping until she had collapsed on the couch. She curled up, clutching a pillow in her hands.

Misaki felt the pillow in her hands taken away and someone sat her up, gathering her into their arms.

Hiei had been barraged by Misaki's emotions through the Jagan and he wouldn't get any sleep until the source was stopped. Feeling a little awkward, he held her close as she shook uncontrollably.

A thought, prompted by the Jagan, popped into his head. Share her burden.

"A mind meld?"

The Jagan echoed an affirmative. If he approved, they could meld his mind with Misaki's and allow them to lend her strength as well as provide an anchor, dividing whatever was wrong between them. Of course, Misaki would have to help, it couldn't be one-sided or it wouldn't work.

Misaki faintly hear her name being called and her hands felt Hiei's chest vibrating. Gathering up the last of her reserves, Misaki shoved back the onslaught, knowing she wouldn't be able to a second time.

"Misaki...I can't sleep with you like this."

Somehow his tone of voice made Misaki want to laugh.

"If we mind meld it will create a stronger barrier from whatever is in your head."

Taking a painful breath, Misaki pulled away from him, "Hiei a mind meld is more taxing than anything you could ever dream of. If we manage to pull it off correctly, and that's a big if...our memories, our thoughts...our awareness...we'll become like one mind in two bodies...you can't...hold anything...back..." She finished with great effort, struggling against what Amureo had done to her. She heard the laughter again and was lost once more.

Hiei saw her face contort in pain as her eyes closed. Unsure of the result, Hiei reached out with the Jagan to find that what was left of her mental barriers had dropped. With the Jagan as the rope between the two of them, they could pull together.

There was a resounding snap that echoed across their mind. It was almost like being at the movies. All of Misaki's life in her current form flashed before Hiei's mind's eye. It was all a blur and he only caught bits and pieces. Along with the countless years of life came vast storages of wisdom, as well as pain.

He felt her every emotion, heard her every thought, knew everything she knew and had been with her for every memory. Hiei never realized what type of person she was until just now. And he understood.

"Your turn." Something itched in the back of his mind and his focus suddenly collapsed inward onto himself.

Every feeling, every encounter, everything that made Hiei who he was, Misaki saw.

As it dawned on him exactly how much Misaki would know—which was everything—he pulled away. For the first time in his life, Hiei was afraid. It was an odd feeling, fear. Fear, panic even. No one could ever know that much, should ever know that much.

On one side of him, the Jagan was shrieking and he became indistinctly aware of what it was saying. If he tore away now, there was no telling the damage that would be done to him and Misaki both. And since his mind was already entwined with hers, the result would be fatal for her most likely.

Misaki, feeling his anxiety, unlaced his thought patterns from hers. Hiei felt the mental shove as the weave was unwoven. As each part of him was left behind, he could feel the barrenness, as if she was taking all of him away with her anyway.

Desperate, Hiei reached out with all of the Jagan's strength to latch on to her fading presence. Suddenly she was there again, silent.

"Take your pick. I'd prefer not to be stuck like this forever." Her voice rang true and Hiei felt it bounce off of the unfinished work as it wavered in and out of his mind, half there and half not. "If you know me, I know you. That's just how it goes. But I can't..." He heard some sort of laughter that didn't come from either one of them and he was enveloped in death. But he was the one dying. Over and over again, he died many deaths within her memories. The feeling was raw and unchecked but she couldn't help him, not unless he let her mind join his.

Reluctantly at first, but with a growing sense of urgency, Hiei's memories and knowledge were interlaced with Misaki's.

The deaths stopped.

It was different talking to someone telepathically and being melded as they were. When simply talking, one had to wait until a thought was formed and then sent back to be heard. Like this, the thoughts were simultaneous, one person knowing exactly what the other was thinking and responding in kind so that a simple conversation happened almost instantaneously.

"...thank you..." Misaki said, at last claiming a little relief.

She hadn't needed to actually form the thought as Hiei could feel her gratitude washing over him.

They were able to easily repair the damage Amureo had done and reinforce the mental barriers, finding that they were intensified with both of them behind the blockade.

Not having to worry about herself anymore, Misaki's thoughts switched over to someone else.

"Where's Kurama?" Was the general feeling Hiei got from her, though she hadn't actually formed the words. She sat up looking towards his and Kurama's room but Hiei kept a hold of her. She grinned at his reaction; he wasn't planning on letting her go.

"We don't have to be joined at the hip." A brief image of her with Hitune bolted to her, accompanied by annoyed amusement at the image, floated from her recent memories. "We're joined by something a little stronger than that." Hiei could feel her smile, literally feel the pleasant spark of emotion that accompanied it.

Carefully releasing her in case it might cause a horrible rupture between them, Hiei watched her get up and go into the other room.

Kurama wasn't there. Misaki frowned. He left last night too. Misaki went to the window, wondering where Kurama could be going and if he was alright.

"He can take care of himself." Hiei came up next to her.

Her frown deepened, "I must have run into him in the hall earlier."

The memory of her fumbling down the hall in despair popped up and Hiei stepped closer as if even the memory would cause a stir.

"I...I'm better...now." It managed to sound reassuring. And it was true enough.

"You're short." Hiei noted in mild astonishment, seeing that her eyes were barely even with his own.

"Not much shorter than you." She retorted.

"Baka short onna." He said, though there wasn't as much force behind it as there usually was.

She opened the window and sat outside of it on the edge, her feet dangling in the air. She scooted over as he sat next to her.

"My baka short onna." It was possessive and Hiei surprised himself by thinking it. Misaki refrained from commenting on it for which Hiei was grateful.

He was also grateful that she didn't insist on sifting through his memories. Nothing could be considered 'private' between them anymore but as long as neither of them had any desire to search for anything they managed to keep their minds their own. They respected each other too much to do anything of the sort without the other's express permission.

"Where could he be going?" Misaki still worried about the kitsune despite Hiei's convictions.

Though even Hiei had to admit that he was acting strangely. Especially after—

"This morning." Misaki cringed.

At the same time, they both remembered that morning's events. However each perceived it through different eyes and that launched them in to a two hour discussion of perception, referencing their first meeting when the gang had been sent on the retrieval and other events they both encountered.

--

Hiei yawned and Misaki noticed how tired he was. He looked cute when he yawned.

"Cute?" One of Hiei's eyebrows shot up.

"You're about to fall asleep." She quickly changed the subject, "You should get some rest."

"What about you?" He suppressed another yawn.

"Don't sleep, remember?"

Right, then what exactly did she call what she was doing last night?

"You got lucky." She archly replied.

"Lucky?"

"If I hadn't fallen asleep, what would you have done?"

"But you did." He pointed out.

"So?"

"So it really doesn't matter now does it?"

They glared at each other for a long time until Misaki laughed, breaking the silence. Feeling her amusement, Hiei smirked.

"Whatever." She said non-committally, slipping back into the room.

He leaned up against one side of the window frame, putting his arms behind his head, resisting an urge to make her stay.

Satisfied, Misaki kissed his cheek before turning briskly and leaving.

Hiei stared after her, even when the door was closed. He could feel her tireless delight as she settled onto the couch. Then he fell asleep.

--

"Wakey-wakey-poo!"

"Do you have to be so utterly annoying?" Hiei opened one eye to see the cheerful face inches from his, feeling the cool heat of the rising sun on his body as he rested in the open window sill.

"Yes! Yes I do as a matter of fact." Misaki stood beside him, hands on her hips.

"What's with you?" He grunted, closing his eyes again.

"Can't you tell?" Her brightly flashing green eyes were restored to their former and complete greenness.

In a flood Hiei's awareness of their connection rushed back to him and he knew why she was in such a good mood.

"No fighting today?"

"Nope! Here." She held out a white strip of cloth: Hiei's bandanna. "Came off last night I guess."

"Hn." He accepted it from her and covered the Jagan.

"Don't mention it." She waved a hand dismissing it, feeling his appreciation.

"Wasn't going to." He leaned back again.

"I know."

Exchanging wit out loud was more enjoyable.

A doorbell rang

"Who could that be?" Misaki headed out of the room. After a searching sweep with her mind, she smiled.

Hiei knew who they were through Misaki's memories of them.

Misaki opened the door only to be swept up by the towering Ike.

"Misaki! We have the day off!"

"Holy blood Ike!" Misaki exclaimed, "Put me down!!" She pushed at his shoulders, trying to get away.

"Aw, is the little Misaki afraid of heights?"

"Ash it, Ike! Put me down!"

"Ike, put her down." Soren ordered calmly, coming in the door.

"Oh alright!" Ike made a big show of sighing as he gently placed her feet on the ground.

"Soren! It's so good to see you!" Misaki deliberately walked around Ike to Soren and gave him a quick hug.

Ike's face was a picture of mock disbelief, "What? No hug for me?"

"Baka!" came the answer.

"Fine." He crossed his arms and pouted, his short spiky hair seeming to droop a little.

"What are you doing here so early?" Misaki glanced up at Soren.

"We almost got beat by some telepaths yesterday..." Soren began.

"They practically creamed us." Ike added, plopping onto the couch and stretching his long legs out, crossing them at the ankles.

"And you said you'd help us in that area." Soren finished.

Misaki edged away from the door apprehensively, "Nicolai too?"

Soren chuckled, "He's not here right now. But yes, him too."

"He's a bit of a womanizer," Ike rolled his eyes.

"As if I didn't already know that." Misaki interrupted.

"He was up early this morning." Soren noted.

"Said something about 'opportune time'."

"Which can only mean one thing..."

The two of them looked at each other.

"A girl." They both said.

Soren sighed long-sufferingly, "We told him to meet us later."

"He'll be fashionably late, as usual, so no hurry." Ike reassured her.

"Where are you meeting him?" She asked.

"You mean we." Ike corrected.

"I never said I was going." She countered.

"But you agreed to help us; didn't she agree to help us?" He sat up.

"She certainly did. Of course we could always just pick her up and take her with us." Soren said innocently, taking a step towards her.

Misaki backed away from the both of them, finding herself against the counter, "No way. I can get there on my own two feet, thank you."

Soren stopped advancing on her, "So you're coming."

"No...I didn't," He took another step, "Okay, okay!" Misaki held up her hands in surrender, "I'll come."

"Great!" Ike stood up.

Hiei wasn't in the bedroom, he had left some time ago after Ike and Soren came in.

"I'm here." Misaki heard him say. She could feel him running through the woods outside and she turned her attention back to the present situation.

"Do I need to carry you?" Ike was asking her.

"No! No, I'm coming." Misaki stepped out of the door Soren was holding open for her.

The two guys flanked her as they walked down the hall to the elevator. They got in it with Ike and Soren playing the question game.

"Statement, one love." Ike said.

"That was not a statement!" Soren protested.

"Exclamation, two love."

"Why was that a statement?"

"Oh, are you talking to me?"

"Did you ask me a question?"

"Is there anyone else around?"

"Does she count?" Soren pointed at Misaki.

"Is she playing the game?"

"Which game?"

"This game."

"Ha! Statement. One to two." Soren triumphantly announced.

"Is she playing this game?"

"Repetition. Two all."

Ike made a face.

"Stalling. Three, two. Game point." Soren smirked.

"What is the meaning of life?" Ike looked philosophical.

"Fault. No relevancy. Game point."

"Why do I always lose this game?" Ike grumbled.

"Do you insist on challenging me every time?"

"Could I beat Nicolai at this game?"

"Would he pay attention long enough to hear the rules?"

"You've got a point there."

"Statement. Game. I win."

"Dang it!"

Misaki listened to them with amused interest.

The elevator stopped soon after the end of the game and the trio stepped outside.

Soren held a palm up as a breeze swept past them. "I can't believe they managed to climate control the area around here." He shook his head.

"That explains it." Misaki nodded, "This temperature seems unnaturally calm. And it's been good weather so far. Where are we going?"

"There's a courtyard around here." Ike looked to the left, then the right.

Soren decided to go with the right and Misaki fell in step behind him.

Misaki noticed that the two of them were strikingly similar to each other and briefly wondered if they were related, brothers even. Include Nicolai in and they could be triplets. Despite Soren's hair being long enough for the small pony tail he wore it in, all three of them had the same basic jaw line and face shape. And they were all unbelievably tall. Add to that the fact that Soren and Ike could finish each others sentences when they wanted to and it was a pretty convincing case.

"Oh no." Soren stopped abruptly and Misaki ran into him.

--

So of course seeing as how I'm going to be gone, I've left you with a cliff-hanger. What kind of writer would I be if I hadn't, hm? The answer to that is probably 'a good one'. I prefer being 'an evil one' anyway; makes for much more interesting results, you know? Muahahaha. heh heh. ahem.

Anywho, I put my tribute to the movie 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' in this chapter: the question game. I pretty much had this chapter all written out about the middle of last year because I had just watched the movie and pictured Ike and Soren as perfect characters for having the tennis-like question game match. I really liked the movie—obviously. And now after typing this up...I want to go and watch it again...grr.

-lotsm