A/N: I changed the way Koenma's office looks in my story. In the anime, there are two big doors in the south-or bottom wall-you enter into his office by, with two pillars on either side as you stand in the entrance and then his desk is about twenty feet away from the doors on the north wall and the room is huge, but mostly empty. In my story, his office is smaller, with a normal door on the east wall leading out into a long hall, his desk still on the north wall, another door in the north wall on the other side of his desk farthest from the normal door, other doors are in the west wall and then a couch and some recliners are scattered about the room. I know nobody cares about this stuff but me, but it helps me picture it in my head. Enjoy.

Overview of Chapter One (From now on it will be shortened to O/C1 or whatever the number of the previous chapter happened to be): The guys are sent by Koenma to bring Misaki Ansatsusha back to him. After a small engagement, she agrees to come back to the Spirit Detective Agency with them. They walk all the way back to his office and enter…

"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times! I never-oh!" Koenma noticed the guys standing in front of the desk. "How long have you been there?" Koenma remembered the mission he had sent them on and his eyes widened. The ogre beside him got pushed out of the way as Koenma jumped out of his chair and quickly tottered around his desk, "Where's Misaki?" he asked anxiously.

"Toddie! It's so good to see you!" She stepped out from the back of the group, holding out her arms as if to hug the toddler though she simply squatted down and pinched his cheek. "The last time I saw you, you were this big!" She held out a hand to indicate his height. "Oh…wait..." She compared her hand to his current height. "You still are this big...never mind." She patted his cheek, smiling.

Koenma batted her hand away, annoyed, "And you still call me that. You know I hate that name."

"Toddie?" Yusuke began laughing as he looked at Kuwabara, "Why didn't I ever think of that?"

"Because I would have hurt you if you did," Koenma said threateningly as the laughter died down. Yusuke was wiping tears from his eyes.

"Aw, you're so cute," Misaki patted his hat.

Koenma swatted at her hand again.

Misaki stood back up and crossed her arms, "Why'dya want me here Toddie? You know I quit this Spirit Detective business." She plopped down into one of the recliners, her legs hanging over one of the arms.

"Well I certainly wanted you here for old time's sake," he rolled his eyes.

"Aw, did you miss me toddie?"

Koenma ground his teeth.

"Why did you need us to bring her back Koenma?" Kurama asked.

"Woah woah woah, hold up! You can quit the Spirit Detective stuff? No one ever told me that! I was under the impression that I was stuck here for life!" Yusuke said.

"Would you actually quit at this point Yusuke?" Kurama wanted to know.

"Well of course I wouldn't-"

"That's right he wouldn't! There are too many people in the world that need protecting!" Kuwabara announced.

"She didn't quit, she retired," Koenma said, trying to regain his dignity.

"That's what he put down in the books. I actually quit," Misaki told the others.

"Yusuke, why does it matter?" Kurama wanted to know, "I don't really see you as the type to quit."

"Buwahahaha!" Kuwabara laughed.

"Well, at least quit being a Spirit Detective." Kurama corrected himself.

"KOENMA!" Botan burst through the door, "I JUST HEARD THAT…" she saw Misaki's head as the dark haired woman looked up over her knees to see who came in the door.

"Misaki has returned." Koenma finished, "I know."

"We just brought her in," Yusuke spoke up.

"Yeah well..." Kuwabara noticed that Yukina came in the door, "There was totally like this huge fight and everyone got knocked out 'cept for me and then I—"

Yukina didn't even notice him, "Misaki? Misaki!" She ran and jumped over the side of the chair, tackling Misaki. The recliner fell sideways, Misaki's head making a gross crack as it hit the hard floor.

"Woah…I have never seen Yukina do anything like that…ever." Yusuke thought to himself. "Waitasecond…did she seriously just tackle Misaki to the ground? We barely got her to agree to come with us and then Yukina comes in and just straight up tackles her!" He was gaping at the still turned over chair.

Misaki heard his inward dialogue and grinned in spite of herself, rubbing her sore head as Yukina apologized several times.

"I'm just lucky I didn't bust my head open." Misaki snorted slightly and examined her hand for any blood. She stood up carefully, head still reeling madly, raising the recliner back into place with one hand.

Hiei blinked a couple of times. She was taller than before, carrying Yukina on her back.

The Koorime was shooting questions quietly into Misaki's ear, "Are you staying? Will you be here for a while?"

Only Botan and Koenma didn't seem surprised at Yukina's sudden personality transformation into that of a little child.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt if I hung around for a few days," She shrugged one shoulder, "I presume you had my room opened back up for my return." The last part was aimed at Koenma.

"Misaki I..." Koenma's voice drifted off and he shifted his feet.

Something in his voice made her stop. Misaki turned around to look at him, one hand on the doorknob and the other under Yukina, supporting the girl who might have choked Misaki without the support, the small girl's arms were so tightly wrapped around Misaki's neck.

He shook his head, "Just come back after you've settled in, okay?"

She didn't like the emotion that was emanating from his thoughts and she didn't think she'd like what she found if she read his mind. She nodded solemnly and headed out the door.

Misaki started down the hall to her room, Yukina's voice quietly echoing along the way. She was playing with Misaki's hair now, separating the silver strands from the black ones. This was rather relaxing for Misaki, though she never would have admitted it.

Yukina was softly telling Misaki all about everything that had since they had seen each other last, which was quite a lot.

Misaki didn't speak too often, realizing how much she missed the girl's voice.

Misaki reached the door to her room, putting Yukina down.

"It doesn't have a doorknob." Yukina's head cocked to the side with curiosity.

"My spirit energy's pattern is what opens it. It's almost as good as using a fingerprint." Misaki was not one to humor children, but then again the koorime were exceptions to the rule. And Yukina wasn't technically a child any more on top of that.

"If someone's pattern is close enough to yours, it'll open to their touch…may I try?" The maiden asked.

As Misaki nodded, Yukina put her hand on it, not noticing Misaki's finger brush the door.

Yukina smiled when the door silently slid into the wall, walking beyond it inside the room.

Misaki flicked the lights on. The room was pretty much how she left it. Messy. She was never in the room too often anyway but the times that she did happen to use it resulted in a large pile of different things she just threw around. Things she had left behind, a small number of clothes, some shiny stuff, a couple of weapons she never used and a few notebooks, littered the floor here and there. A canvas stood in a corner on an easel, a white sheet covering it and paints and brushes scattered below in disarray.

Yukina picked up the darkest thing in the room. It was complicated to look at. A twig is what it could be best compared to, but it had no beginning and no end. It twisted and turned and one could spend hours trying to uncover its secrets. She sat down cross legged, holding it up to her face.

...

Misaki smiled at her and started digging through stuff, trying to organize things a little. She piled things on the bed, clearing the floor.

"Argh. Yukina, have you seen a—" Misaki turned around to see the girl lying on the floor asleep, the twig still in hand. Misaki looked up as her door slid open of its own accord.

"Misaki?" Kurama stepped in, "Koenma says he wants to see you now."

She hit her forehead with the heel of her hand, "Oh I totally forgot!" She stepped over Yukina to leave and then stopped. She turned back and glanced at Yukina, hesitating.

"I'll take care of her. Koenma sounded like it was urgent that you speak to him," Kurama knelt down by the girl.

"Thanks," Misaki flashed him a smile in his direction and ran out the door.

...

"There you are. I was worried that you had run off on me again."

Misaki closed Koenma's office door behind her, "Sorry. I really meant to come. It just slipped my mind."

He set some papers down that he had been holding, placing his elbows down on the desk and interlacing his fingers. Misaki sat down, leaning back comfortably in the chair she had been knocked over in earlier.

"There's going to be a major break-in from the Ningenkai tomorrow."

Misaki rubbed a temple, "Isn't it usually the other way around? And what is with you? You're really tense. It can't be that bad, can it?"

He ignored her questions, "Do you know about the Waters of Amureo?"

She looked at him strangely but nodded, "It's a sort of sacred water source between the Makai and the Ningenkai. They've modeled it after a human pool and youkai go there to swim, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"That's where they're going to make a break."

"WHAT?" Misaki leaned forward, absolute bewilderment obvious on her face.

Koenma didn't seem fazed by her reaction.

"But only a water youkai of incredible power, who was already in the Ningenkai, could achieve something of that magnitude and only..." she stopped. "No. No way."

"Yup."

"Not him."

"I'm afraid so," Koenma said darkly.

They were both silent for a moment.

"You know I made a bet with myself to see how long I could stay away from him."

"You're the only one I know of who can stop it."

"So if I can find you somebody who could do it in my place, you'd let me off? Leave me alone? Maybe I could win my bet that way." She considered it.

Koenma leaned back into his chair, "If you could find someone, sure. Can you think of anyone better suited for the job than you?"

Misaki sat back too, crossed her arms and closed her eyes. She blew a piece of hair out of her face, "Yes. Several."

"Anyone that's still alive who can interfere?"

Misaki hesitated, "Well...no."

"Thought so," Koenma's face grew concerned, "If you really don't want to do this, you don't have to. I can always try something else."

"And what else is there to try? You know you waited a little late for this. I mean what if I hadn't show up when I did? This is happening tomorrow and you..." she shook her head, "What were you planning on doing?"

Koenma didn't say anything, his face turning a little pink as he shifted his eyes around the room.

"That's what I thought. You didn't have a plan. You got lucky," Misaki sighed, "Thanks for the concern but I knew we were going to meet again sooner of later." She put a hand over her eyes, resting her head back in the recliner, "I had just hoped it would be later and not sooner." Misaki got lost in her thoughts. "I could barely hold my own against the current Spirit Detectives. And without that barrier I wouldn't have been able to even come close. What am I supposed to do against him?"

"I heard you almost killed Hiei when the guys went to get you."

Misaki didn't look up, "Yeah. He left himself wide open just long enough." she said absently, "If he isn't careful I might end up killing him some time." "If I don't end up getting killed first. Why do I always open my big mouth?"

"Oh? I heard some of the ogres betting on it."

"Really. And just what where they betting about?" She looked at Koenma from between her fingers.

"Something about you not being able to resist killing him within the week."

Misaki's eyes narrowed, "And how many of them are betting against me?"

Koenma scratched his head, "All of them except one as far as I know."

"Oh really?" She asked dangerously, "Look, I don't want to know. But you can tell them that I plan on not killing Hiei. Heck, I won't kill any of them. So they can go ahead and give it up. I may lose a bet against myself by helping you out but I certainly won't…" She trailed off, her eyes widening.

Koenma couldn't help his smug smile.

The guys came in. Misaki stood, a disgusted look on her face. She brushed past them silently.

"What's her problem?" Yusuke asked.

"Well, I tricked her into not killing you," Koenma steepled his fingers.

"She was going to kill us?" Kuwabara asked disbelievingly.

"If I hadn't made her say she wouldn't, she very well could have. This is one of the reasons why I needed you to bring her to me. I need her on our side this time and Misaki isn't known for her mercy, or for suffering fools. But she has a weak spot for bets and never goes back on her word…" he sighed, "But she's also known for her vengeance."

'One of the reasons', 'I need her on our side this time', these statements stuck out in Kurama's mind and questions raced through his head.

"You expect her to retaliate since you tricked her." Was all he said out loud.

"Oh most definitely. I'll be watching my back for a while," he shivered a little, "Anyway. I have a new assignment for you. There's going to be a break in from the Ningenkai tomorrow some time."

Kurama looked thoughtful, "Someone from the Ningenkai wants into the Makai?"

"Yes," Koenma nodded, "A powerful youkai was banished to the Ningenkai by Misaki a while back. He vowed he'd return. He was placed into a human body. Much like Yoko's situation," Koenma nodded to Kurama, "A few key differences like he was forced there but that isn't the point. The point is, he's figured out a way to come back and I'm sending you all to help Misaki contain him. She's agreed to tell you about her past in exchange for your help."

"Toddie, what in the world are you talking about? Where did that come from? Who cares about my past?"

The boys turned back to see Misaki leaning casually against the wall behind them.

"All they need to know is that I am the best at what I do and they had better stay out of my way." "Oh worlds. I really need to keep my mouth shut. I can't back that up right now."

"Come on, don't you want to tell them about your glory days?"

Misaki snorted, "My glory days were over the day I became a Spirit Detective. And like I said, why would they care?"

Kurama kept silent. He was most curious, wondering if she and Yoko had ever met before.

Yusuke snickered, "How did he trick you into that job?"

"He didn't trick me," Misaki said loftily, "He asked for my help. He knew how well-known I was."

"Notorious," Koenma corrected.

Misaki shot him a look, "Besides. He needed me. He would have gotten a lot of spankings if I hadn't."

Kuwabara and Yusuke laughed at the image of Koenma over his father's knee getting the punishment slapped out of his butt. Koenma blushed royally.

"Of course, you weren't entirely loyal." Koenma said indignantly through his blush.

"Why should I have been? I'm what most would call a mercenary. My skills are for sale, not my loyalty."

"You still didn't have to steal all of the vault items," Koenma said darkly, remembering the incident.

Misaki laughed hard, doubling over, "You wanted me to prove I was the best," she protested between laughs, "So I did. You got in so much trouble. Of course I waited until after your father found out to return them which meant you had to pay the piper for that one. And the look on your face when I came in and dumped them all on your desk and walked out," she wiped a tear from her eye from the laughter, "The look on your face was priceless. Well worth all of the stupid stuff you made me do after that."

"So why did you quit if you were the best?" Kuwabara asked.

Something passed between Koenma and Misaki that the two humans didn't catch.

"I got bored." she shrugged.

"How can you get bored doing this job?" Yusuke wanted to know.

"Too easy." "You wouldn't believe how easy even if I told you. Of course, you wouldn't believe the reason why it was easy either."

"Too easy? Koenma, where have you been hiding the easy missions?" Yusuke demanded.

She looked everyone over. "Alright, I think this little segment of 'Getting to know Misaki' is up, my little grasshoppers. I'm out," she stepped for the door.

Koenma looked shocked.

"Oh come on, you couldn't have seriously believed that I didn't know what you were doing," she scrutinized his face, "Wow. You really thought I didn't catch it. It's been much too long Koenma," she waggled a finger at him, "You're just not as sneaky as you used to think you were." she left.

"Hahaha! She totally got you Koenma!" Yusuke cracked up, pointing a finger at the tiny prince.

Koenma shifted uncomfortably in his chair, "Yes, well. Um. Yes. Okay. That's all I have for you. See you tomorrow." He picked up some paperwork on his desk as an ogre ushered them out of the door.

-lostm