A/N: Yeah…so some of the stuff in here is made up but hey, I get to do what I want, right? Of course right.

O/C2: Misaki came back with the guys to Koenma's office. He gives them all a new assignment: they have to prevent a break in from the Nigenkai into the Makai by a powerful youkai… (Haha, that all rhymed…ehhe…ahem…sorry…)

Hiei stood by the window, facing Kurama who sat on his bed. Kurama had been reading a book when he felt the fire youkai drawing near, so he had opened the window and sat back down at his desk while Hiei quickly appeared through it. Hiei was in the middle of informing Kurama of the problem.

"I'm telling you Kurama, I keep hearing her thoughts. She's in no condition to face whoever we're going up against."

"Strange. Usually you aren't hearing another's thoughts as often as this."

Hiei shifted his feet, his eyes looking out the open window. "It…it's the Jagan." He scowled and crossed his arms. "I never had any trouble with it at all. Then she comes along and seems to have some decent abilities in telepathy and it goes haywire, reading any thought that passes over her mind." Hiei had told Kurama of the scanning she had done when she first met them.

"And you can't get it to stop."

Hiei ground his teeth angrily.

"I'll take that as a no." Kurama stood up and walked over to his door, pacing thoughtfully before he turned back to Hiei, "You wouldn't even mention this at all unless it was a problem."

"More like annoying." Hiei growled, his eyes flickering upwards to his bandana.

"That wasn't what I meant. But what are you implying is annoying: the fact that she will apparently be useless or the fact that you keep hearing her thoughts?"

"You know what I meant." Hiei snapped, "If she's of no use to us, why should she even come? She could betray and turn on us, helping whatever we're facing tomorrow."

"If she's of no use to us, then we shouldn't have any problem containing her. Just like we had no problem containing her and bringing her back to Koenma." There was the lightest touch of sarcasm behind Kurama's voice.

Hiei glared at the red-head. "What are you saying, Kurama?"

Kurama sighed, "All I'm saying is, even if she had trouble keeping up with us when we went to get her, she did still beat us. You in particular if you'll recall."

"She got lucky." Hiei pointed out, referring to one of the thoughts he had heard. "And she had that barrier thing."

"Even so. For now Koenma has partnered ourselves with her and if we were in any immediate danger, I believe the Princeling would not have done so." Kurama paced another time. "You know this could be useful to us." Kurama had a hand up to his chin and if he had a beard he probably would have been stroking it. "I am certainly not to the point where I would trust her with my life but if you continue to be capable of reading her thoughts so easily like this-"

"More like forced too." Hiei growled again.

"Then you will be able to alert us to any change in her loyalties." Kurama went on, ignoring the short youkai's comment. "This way we won't be surprised. Not that I will actually be surprised if such a thing does happen."

"Stop showing off. I know how smart you are and I don't care."

"Except when this intelligence helps us in the midst of a battle."

Hiei ducked out the window, not saying anything to the contrary.

Kurama sighed when he was left alone. While he had never seriously considered not trusting this woman, now he would be forced to be on extra guard, to be prepared for if she did turn on them. Oh well. It would keep things interesting.

...

The next day...

Kuwabara flexed his biceps, "A little training before we battle. Perfect!" he said as the four guys walked down the hall to the training arena in the Spirit Detective Agency.

"Hn. Just don't wear yourself out before we actually fight anyone."

"What did you say micro man?"

"Your skills in listening match your skills in fighting."

"You are so going to get your—" Kuwabara was interrupted by shouts coming from the arena.

They all picked up the pace and Yusuke threw open the door.

An angry legion of youkai filled the arena floor. The guys heard sounds of battle from somewhere in the middle of them. One was flung over the heads of the others and he slammed into the wall beside the open door, his backbone making a crunching noise before he slid to the ground.

Kuwabara ran forward yelling a battle cry, his spirit sword glowing in his hands, and sliced through the one nearest to him, turning to face the next.

-SYSTEM TURMINATED OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE- A mechanical voice announced.

All of the youkai instantly disappeared, revealing a very shocked Misaki standing in the middle of an empty arena.

"What the..." she saw them by the doorway, and they also looked a bit confused; Kurama with his whip at the ready, Hiei with his katana drawn and Yusuke crouching in an attack position.

Kuwabara stood dumbly, his mouth hanging open and his spirit sword gone from his hands.

"I can't believe you idiots!" she exploded, "Can't you tell the difference between real youkai and fake ones?"

"Ansatsusha! What is going on here?" A voice called from above. A figure appeared beside Misaki. A female figure about medium height wearing a nondescript orange kimono. But what caught everyone's eye definitely wasn't her choice of clothing, it was her hair. It was made of fire. White flames, the hottest kind, reflecting her mood, raged down her back silently, waving and gushing.

Misaki cringed, imaging the roaring sound fire of that magnitude would make.

"Woman, who is this thing?" Hiei growled, speaking to Misaki.

The woman ignored him and glared at Misaki, "So...what happened?"

"It's not my fault! This idiot over here interfered," Misaki waved a hand at Kuwabara.

"That is no reason for insolence!" she raised a hand to hit Misaki's cheek but Misaki moved just out of reach and the swing missed.

A smile played wistfully over Misaki's lips.

The woman kneed Misaki in the stomach, sending her careening into one of the arena's walls, cracking the stone and causing dust to rise.

Misaki stood up as the dust cleared, mumbling about humans who are so dumb that flaming hair entertains them.

"I'm glad you specified on the human part." Hiei's thought brushed across Misaki's mind though she only half-registered it.

Misaki looked over at the guys. Hiei's katana was put up, he decided this female wasn't a threat; Kurama stood smelling a deep red rose and had a slightly amused look on his face; Yusuke and Kuwabara were staring at the woman and Misaki could practically see the drool from where she was. She brushed the dirt off of her clothes.

"How do you expect to prevent any break-in if you're so out of practice that I can kick you across the stadium!" the lady yelled at her.

"How do you expect me to improve when you're forcing me to do stupid things? Impossible!" Misaki's response out loud was simply a nod as she made her way back to the center of the arena and the woman.

Hiei groaned inwardly. He thought that perhaps over the night the Jagan would have gotten over its first obsession. If Misaki was truly as good a telepath as the Jagan thought, surely she would be able to block any mind-reading or even at least notice when her thoughts were being heard. The Jagan bristled up in his head, refusing to talk to him, and continued to study Misaki in its own way.

"I don't think I've introduced you all. This is Coahtu," Misaki told the guys.

Coahtu turned towards the door, as if she was just noticing the four figures standing there. Her arms disappeared into the sleeves of her kimono as she crossed them over the top of her stomach and she inclined her head slightly in greeting. "I take their entrance to mean the end of our session today. I will be watching you Ansatsusha. Do not disappoint me." She closed her eyes and everyone felt a small surge of energy. Her flaming hair grew longer and started to rotate around her. The fire circled faster until they couldn't see Coahtu any longer, then she and fire vanished.

Misaki rolled her eyes, used to the flashy exit, but Kuwabara was staring open mouthed at the place Coahtu had moments before occupied.

"Oh will you get over it! She has no interest whatsoever in humans. Least of all you," Misaki said. Coahtu usually put her in a bad mood and this time was no exception. "Heh. She would never date a human if her life depended on it."

"Hn." Hiei thought before he could help it.

"Will you stop that!" Misaki thought back at him. "And before you ask, you don't really want to know who she is." Misaki could tell that Kuwabara wanted to know.

"I was actually going to ask how she managed to hit you," Yusuke said begrudgingly. "First Yukina, now this fire-lady! How come everyone can hit her except me?"

Misaki bent down to brush off more dust, pretending she hadn't heard him.

"And yet you seem uninjured," Kurama noted.

Hiei looked smug, "It almost makes me wonder if you knew she was going to—" Hiei didn't get to finish.

He slammed hard into the wall a few feet behind him, Misaki's shin across his stomach. Misaki knew that Coahtu was still watching, and listening, and while she figured Coahtu might already know that, she didn't want it spoken out loud. She figured that Hiei knew this.

"Maybe I just know the right way to fall," she whispered fiercely. It had been a long time since she had been around anyone with any amount of intelligence in them. "And I gotta get used to having a telepath around; I keep forgetting about that stupid Jagan eye he's hiding under his bandana." She was careful to shield that particular thought.

Misaki alighted on the ground and stepped towards the doorway. It flung open, barely missing her nose. Yukina and Botan stood there, Botan with a noncharacteristic serious look on her face.

"It's time."

Yukina grabbed Misaki's hand, pulling her towards the door.

"Koenma will want to brief you all a bit more before we leave," she explained.

"Why do we need briefed? We know everything we need to. We go, we kick some tail, we come home. What else is there to know?" Yusuke stretched his arm.

"Why is it that when you say it, it sounds as if Koenma's going to talk to you about underwear?" Yukina made a face.

There was a moment of awkward, half-amused silence.

Misaki pulled Yukina out the door after a moment of stillness, "Let's go."

Misaki noticed all of them nodded except Hiei who looked like he wasn't going to do anything but glare at her for a long time. It took a look from Kurama to get Hiei out the arena.

...

Most everyone sat down in a chair or on the couch except Botan, who stood by Koenma; Yukina, who sat down as on Misaki's lap; and Hiei, who leaned against the door.

"All of you are going to be required to go with Misaki. Yes, Botan and Yukina as well," Koenma said as Kuwabara opened his mouth to object, "Misaki will tell you why, if needed."

At this point, Koenma looked a little uncomfortable. He pulled at his collar.

"Also, there is something that I haven't told you at his point. You'll have to...um...go undercover for this one. And...well..."

"I'm supposing here that you haven't told them what this place looks likes." Misaki spoke up.

"Of course he has," Kuwabara glanced over at Yukina, "It's all dark and scary and evil. But don't worry Yukina," he took her hands in his, "I'll be there to protect you."

"You amaze me with your…um...chivalry but I think with you there to protect her, she has every right to worry," Misaki said dryly.

Everyone laughed; Yukina looked solemnly at Kuwabara, and he liked to think her eyes were reassuring him that she would trust him with her life.

"The Waters of Amureo are a sacred—"

"Youkai dancing ritual?" Yusuke provided.

Koenma shot him a look and took up where Misaki left off, "No, it's a barrier between the Makai and the Ningenkai. And it isn't easily broken. However, there are a select few who can do it. Misaki for instance."

"If only he knew. I really don't think I could at this point. But he just had to add this little bit of information didn't he?" Misaki thought to herself.

Koenma went on, "Its counterpart in the Ningenkai is a swimming pool, so of course it has the same properties in the other realms."

"So it's a watering hole."

"No Yusuke," Misaki rolled her eyes, "It's a swimming pool."

Yusuke cocked his head.

"What are you doing now?" Botan asked exasperatedly.

"Trying to imagine a youkai swimming pool."

"But won't the twerp be in trouble?" Kuwabara pointed at Hiei, "Don't his kind like die in water or something?" He sounded a little hopeful.

"Just because I'm a fire youkai does not mean that I melt in water, fool." he retorted.

"You…you're a fire?" Miaski asked.

"Did I not just say that?" Hiei, still leaning against the wall, didn't even look up, "Hn. Is that so surprising?"

"No...no. I mean, yes. I mean I guess I just didn't think about it.," her eyes looked far off into something the others couldn't see. "Why does it come as a surprise to me? Did I not see it before? …"

"If these 'waters' are supposed to be so sacred, then why is it a swimming pool, a public one I'm assuming," Kurama's question brought everyone's thoughts back onto the mission.

"They aren't so much sacred as they are inviting," Misaki provided, "It's really quite popular among all classes of youkai," she shrugged, "The name is more for show than deriving any practical purposes."

"I think I'm getting the gist of what we get to do," Botan sounded a bit excited.

Koenma blushed, "Um. Yeah. About that."

Misaki spoke up again for him, "What he's trying to say is that we all have to—"

"Go swimming." Yukina finished, a smile on her face.

"Now why is that so hard to say?" Botan put her hands on her hips and faced Koenma.

"Well it's just that the water is kind of...um," Koenma stopped.

Yusuke and Kuwabara burst into gales of laughter and Misaki smiled, "You still haven't changed have you toddie?"

Yusuke tried speaking between heaves of breath, "He's afraid...he," Yusuke didn't get very far.

Yukina looked quizzically at the two of them, "I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Well Koenma has this fear of water," Misaki's smile grew wider.

"I fail to see the humor in this." Hiei said darkly.

"You would," Misaki retorted.

"It's not that!" Koenma protested a little too loudly, "I just don't like wearing a swimsuit, that's all. I'm glad I get to send you and I don't have to go."

"Um, Koenma-sir?" a blue ogre stuck his head in the door.

The laughing died down a little.

"It's time for your bath, sir."

Koenma sulked as Yusuke and Kuwabara went into hysterics again.

"Um, was it something I said sir?" the ogre looked puzzled.

"No, no," Koenma hopped down from his chair and followed the ogre out. "Everything you need is laid out in the next room," he called as the door shut.

"Kuwabara, Yusuke," Misaki snapped, "You need to take this seriously." Her personality changed the instant Koenma left. Poor Prince. He had no idea how difficult this was really going to be. He thought Misaki was the same Misaki he had know all those years ago.

"Take what seriously?" Yusuke said as they kept laughing, "I never knew Koenma was afraid of—"

"I mean it," her voice grew deathly cold.

Both of them stopped laughing out of surprise of her sudden change of mood.

"The reason Koenma needs me to come with you, the reason Botan and Yukina are coming, is because no man has ever been able to face what you're about to go up against."

"Man? You're calling them men?" was Hiei's snide remark. He went on before the other two could protest, "And what makes you think a woman can do any better?"

"I would like to know the same thing, though perhaps not in the same words," Kurama added.

"You'll find out when the time is right." Misaki didn't want to talk about it anymore. So Kuwabara piped up.

"I can take him all by myself. No need for any of the rest of you to come." He stood and flexed his muscles.

"This is no matter of brute strength, or brute stupidity whichever you prefer," she grinned impishly, "And none of you have ever been to the Waters before. Trust me; you won't be able to handle them on your own."

"Them?" Kurama asked.

Misaki sauntered for the doorway, ignoring him. Hiei stepped in front of her. She narrowed her eyes, glaring into his, "Care to get out of my way." It wasn't a request.

He noticed she was his height again. But he was too irritated to think about it, "I believe he asked you a question."

"And I believe I am not answering it."

The room got dead silent.

Misaki coolly brushed past him, leaving everyone, including Hiei, in a state of shock. "I expect to see you all back in the arena in an hour."

"And if we choose not to come?" Hiei scowled at her, recovering quickly.

"Then I leave without you." She shut the door behind her.

"I don't trust her," Hiei said as soon as she left.

"We couldn't tell." Kurama smiled a little.

"I don't either," Botan agreed with him.

Everyone's jaws dropped open. Botan? The eternal optimist? Not trust someone? Surely somewhere part of the Makai was freezing over.

"Which is why I'm not letting her go alone," she quickly added, "She could help who ever it is get through the barrier instead of preventing them from coming through it."

"She will." Hiei agreed silently.

"She knows more than she's telling." Kuwabara frowned at the door Misaki just disappeared through.

They all just stared at him. He had said something smart again.

"What? Didn't you see the look on her face?" Kuwabara's frown deepened again, "She knows who is coming through the portal."

"And she won't tell us. Another reason not to trust her." Botan crossed her arms and nodded sagely.

"I also seem to remember hearing about an accident Misaki supposedly caused concerning you. One that upset you quite a bit Botan. Do you think that could possibly intrude on your better judgment?" Kurama pointed out. He knew as well as anyone else that Botan never acted this way about anybody.

"Where did you learn this juicy bit of information?" Yusuke asked.

"I don't think Kurama has a right to be talking of such things." Botan glowered at him.

Yusuke and Kuwabara looked ready to know about the incident but Kurama ignored them and stood gracefully.

"Such as it is, I believe that we should get ready if we are not going to allow Misaki to go on her own."

"Alright," Yusuke got up and stretched, "Let's get this over with."

"My sediments exactly." Hiei thought.

Botan walked over to a door in the office and opened it, "Hey, there are rooms in here with our names on them. I guess we have to get changed." She was back to her old chipper self again.

Everyone walked over to see. Six doors. Six names. Botan walked over to her door and opened it, "Yukina, I can help you with suntan lotion when you get ready."

"Okay," The Koorime walked softly over to her own door and went in.

"Wonder what's in here..." Kuwabara walked over to the door with his name on it.

"A youkai whose only goal in life is to bring about your death," Hiei said, going to his door.

"Really?" Kuwabara cringed back from the handle.

"No you dolt," Yusuke hit Kuwabara on the back of the head.

"It's only true because I'm out here." Hiei said as he entered his room.

-lotsm