Author's Notes: This is long if I remember correctly. Please enjoy.

In case the italics don't work, *~*~*~* means a flash back or a dream. ***** is a change in point of view.

Dragons in Time

Part 10: The Demon Ball

Botan landed the oar right in front of Aniya's hide-out, in the alleyway by the Chinese take-out shop. "Good bye, Aniya. Don't forget: you need to leave before the ball actually starts so you can get there on time!"

"Thanks Botan. I won't forget."

"If you need any help with your hair or your dress please let me know."

"Thank you Botan. I'll see you later."

"You know how to contact me in case something happens?"

"Yes Botan. Bye."

"Good. Don't forget to actually arrive with your date, other wise you'll stand out!"

"Botan? Good bye." Aniya quickly ran, dragging the dress along with her. "My god, I swear she's as annoying than Firenzy can be sometimes. Wait, what am I saying? Someone as annoying as Firenzy? I must be out of my mind—she's more annoying than him!" Slamming the door behind her, she entered her little hide-out.

'I still don't want to go to the fucking ball in this stupid piece of crap. I don't believe that I ever said yes.' She threw herself down on the sofa (may it rest in pieces). Then she realized that this was messing up her hair. 'To hell with this.' She was about to remove the fans when she thought how angry Botan would be. 'It wasn't as if I behaved badly. It's not my fault that plastic dummy wigs burn. Thank goodness the fire department got there in time, otherwise, Botan would have killed me. Oh well, better leave them in.'

She stared at the wall for about five seconds before jumping up. "Dammit. I can't just sit here for two hours. I need to do something. See someone." She stopped. "Hey, maybe he would? Nah, probably not, but it's worth a try. Sani! Sani, you here?"

With that said, Sani flew in through the open window. "Sani, where have you been? I need you to send a message to Kurama."

'Bailing out, are you?' The little dragon was panting. 'Damn, that was close. She nearly knew that I was delivering messages for Kazuma.'

"What was that Sani?"

'Damn. I forgot that I can't think around you without you knowing what I'm saying.'

"So what was this about delivering messages for Kuwabara?"

'He wanted to know if I would assist him. I delivered a letter to Yukina for him and returned with her reply.'

"Oh?"

'Apparently, he was worried that he wouldn't be able to invite her to the ball because he didn't know if the post office delivered to the ice world.'

"Dumb ass."

'My thoughts exactly. I was about to say no, but then I decided that I would help, on the account of your wanting to meet Yukina.'

"How thoughtful of you Sani," Aniya replied sarcastically.

'Anyway, she accepted and now he has a date. You know what that means.'

Aniya smiled, "Yup. Hiei has to do what the baka tells him to do at the ball, right?"

'Right. You said you wanted me to deliver a message to Kurama?"

"Ask him if I can come over early."

The little dragon gave her a look. 'Why would you want to do that? You two aren't…are you?'

Aniya clenched her teeth and balled her hands into fists. "Why does everyone think that we're together? We're just friends! Oh my fucking god!! I'm bored out of my mind and I don't want to just sit here and think about the stupid legend that I'm supposed to be working on! Just deliver the message!!"

Sani squirmed. 'Why don't you just use telepathy? It'll save both of us some time.'

"Because I have the decency to respect other people's minds. Unlike some people *cough* Hiei *cough*. Besides, I'm a good girl. I don't show up where I'm not invited."

'Fine, okay. I'll deliver the message. Happy?'

Aniya smiled at Sani as she flew out the window. Then she began to assemble everything that Botan had made her create. "Let's see. Shoes, make-up, what she calls 'essential fashion accessories' otherwise known as 'fucking pieces of shit' and the dress." She shoved the lot in her duffle bag and was waiting impatiently for Sani to come back.

*****

Lord Doukai sat in a chair, watching many television screens. Each of which showed a different angle of a certain silver-haired dracon. 'Yes, she's nervous. That will be good. In an unfamilar setting, where she won't be completely sure of what's expected of her, yes, this will be very easy indeed. Just one little drop and everything will be perfect.' A grin planted itself on his aging face, "Yes, Aniya. This time, we will do this right."

Tarukon stood several feet behind his father. 'She's pretty. Even prettier than she was when she was in the hospital.' Shaking his head, he glanced at his father. "Father? I believe you said that you needed me?"

"Wanted to speak to you is more like it." His father swung around in his chair. "I hope you are aware of how much this missions means for us. This is vital that we get to her before the CEF. I also ask that you stay clear from her because I don't want any mess-ups. You remember what happened last time, don't you…"

*~*~*~*

"Ah-ah-ahchoo!" The little girl was sneezing, each time, revealing either wings or claws. "I think I'm sick."

Lord Doukai held the little girl in his arms. "That's all right, Aniya. The doctors will fix you."

"Fix me? How?"

"They're going to give you a little dose of medicine, that's all. Then you can go back to where you came from, okay?"

"I'm not sure…"

He carried her into a room, where there were a lot of scary doctors. They were all wearing white ninja suits. Aniya noticed this and commented, "Why aren't they wearing lab coats? These aren't the doctors!"

Twisted her around and putting her on a chair, he strapped her down with spirit-energy-enforced bands. "You're right Aniya. These aren't your doctors. These are your executioners." To the 'doctors' he said, "Go ahead boys. Just make sure that she never becomes a threat to me again. Do you understand?" When all the doctors replied that they did, he left the room, laughing.

One of the people walked right up close to Aniya. "Hold still little girl, this may hurt a bit. We're only sticking a ten-inch needled into your head!" He began to laugh as he got the syringe ready. (And because this always happens, there is a close up shot on the syringe as he empties it out until it's at the right level. Of course, it squirts some of the strange pink liquid out as he does so, and then there is a shot of Aniya looking worried as she's strapped down to the chair.) Aniya squirmed as he approached.

"NOOOO!!!" She turned her face away into a corner as he came closer. She saw a little boy her own age, staring from a corner of the room. He had black hair and gray eyes. He was watching it horror as the man came closer to her.

'I have to do something. I know!' He crept over to the emergency alarm and pulled it. Immediately, alarms began to sound and the doctors started running around. The lights dimmed, but flashing lights soon lit the room again. The little boy ran over to where Aniya was struggling to get out of her bonds. He began to unbuckle the bonds and Aniya asked, "Who are you?"

He didn't answer, except her pulled her off the chair and ran down a hallway, where there was no one. Turning he faced her. "My name's Tarukon."

"My name's Aniya. Why did you help me and what were they trying to do?"

"I don't like what my father does. He finds weird demons and hands them over to people that he calls the freak squad. They try to make them normal, or at least normal looking. I think they were trying to get rid of those wings and claws of yours."

Aniya noticed that she had stopped sneezing, so her wings and her claws were both hidden once again. "What was the pink stuff that they were using?"

"From what it's done before, I think that it's used to 'clip' bird wings. It dissolves a piece of the wing off so they can't fly. From the dosage they were going to use, I would say they were trying to clip your entire wing off. The syringe didn't touch you, did it?"

Aniya shook her head. "Nope, and thanks. I hafta go." Suddenly, the crazy ninja-doctor people came running down the corridor. "There she is! Get her!" Aniya tried to run with Tarukon, but he fell and she went to help him. The doctors grabbed her.

"Tarukon!" She grabbed at him, as if that would make the doctors let go. She released her claws and she scratched three little scratches on his neck before her grip was loosened. Kicking and screaming the whole way back, she fought them as they put her in the chair again.

Then she began to glow. Brilliant white light filled the room, blinding all the of crazy ninja-doctor-people. Tarukon finally made it back to the room, but his father was there too. "Tarukon! Traitor! How could you mess this up?!" He grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck and hauled both their asses out of there, into a helicopter. As the helicopter pulled away, Tarukon stared out of the window and he saw a little figure fly away. 'Aniya…'

*~*~*~*

Both father and son snapped back to reality. Doukai stood. "It was quite amazing that she didn't remember you, me or anyone intimately involved in that incident. I would have killed you if she had remembered. This time however, we will be more cautious and throw different opponents at her. I won't have the chance of you getting in the way again. If this was other than Koenma's demon ball, I would have prohibited you from going, but as it is, I cannot prevent you from going."

He took a step closer to his son. "I will say this though. If you come anywhere near Aniya, or anywhere near Nara Ska, I will make sure that you never have the chance to mess anything up again. Do I make myself clear?"

Tarukon nodded. "Yes, sir." 'Are you joking you old bastard? I will do everything in my power to make sure that Aniya sees me. I'm sure she'll remember me.'

Satisfied with his son's answer, Lord Doukai turned back to his chair "And in the even that you were hoping to catch glimpses of her, or of dancing with her, forget it. I have everything planned out perfectly. You will be escorting Calisandra to the ball, and it will be your social duty to make sure that you are there with her every single minute."

Tarukon stared at his father in horror. "I am not going to the demon ball with such a slut."

"Slut? My boy, she's rich, she's pretty and she's popular. What's the matter with her?"

"She's stupid, she's obnoxious and she's out for the family fortune. I hate her."

Lord Doukai glowered. "You will be escorting Miss Calisandra to the ball, you will stay with her the entire time, you will be a perfect gentleman to her and you will stay away from Aniya. Is that understood?"

Tarukon turned on his heal and stormed out the door. Lord Doukai put his head in his hands. "I will never understand him. Just when I think that he's on my side, he's really with them. Timbles!"

The little butler who had served Katomi entered the room. "Yes, sir?" 'What the hell do you want fucking bastard?'

"I need you to summon Calisandra and Nara Ska for me."

"Certainly, sir." 'Hell no. Why don't you get your lazy-ass self off that fucking chair of yours and get them yourself?'

"And I need you to get the limo ready…"

"Of course, sir." 'I think the bloody bastard should walk.'

"That will be all, Timbles."

"Sir." 'I liked serving the crazy Katomi bitch more than you. At least she knew what a servant really was.'

"Oh, one last thing Timbles?"

'I don't believe this piece of shit,' "Yes, Lord Doukai?"

"Work on your attitude a little. It's not quite "british butlerish" enough. We don't want to drop the standards, now do we?"

"Of course not sir." 'Hell yes. We will lower the standards if we want to!' Timbles walked out as least stiffly as he could.

Lord Doukai turned to watch Aniya as she made her way over to Kurama's house. "My dear, it will be my turn to show you who's boss very soon."

*****

Aniya stood in front of a normal, human house. She was already wowed by the fact that it was a house. 'I thought all fighters lived in dingy places. Guess not.' Knocking on the door, she hoped that Kurama's mother wouldn't ask too many questions.

KNOCK KNOCK! Shiori looked up from her cooking and wondered who could be at the door. "Suichi? Will you get that? I'm in the middle of cooking something!"

Kurama walked down the stairs. "Certainly. I think I know who it is anyway." Walking to the front door, he opened it. "Hello Aniya. Come right in." He showed her to the living room. "If you want, you may leave your bags and other possessions here. I don't think that you want to bring them up to my room."

"Suichi? Who is it?" Aniya looked confused for a moment before looking through his memory and finding that he was Suichi Minamino in the human world. Shiori came in. "Ah, Suichi, who is this fine young lady?"

"Mother, this is Aniya. I am bringing her to the dinner party tonight. Aniya, this is my mother."

Aniya took the hand that Shiori held out to her. "Pleased to meet you Mrs. Minamino. This is a very nice place you have here."

"Why thank you Aniya. How sweet of you. Run along upstairs and Suichi will be with you in a moment."

Aniya followed the direction of her finger and walked up the stairs. She looked at the pictures on the wall. 'Ahhh, here's one with Kurama as a baby. It's sooo cute.' Walking into his room, the first thing she noticed was—

"He's got a sofa!" She raced over to it and started to bounce on it. 'This is so cool! It's an acutal sofa that looks like one! Oh, my god. I wonder if he'll let me take it with me! Ah! Sofa! Sofasofasofasofasofasofasofasofa SOFA!!!'

Kurama walked up to his room to find a very happy dracon bouncing on his sofa. "Aniya? Are you feeling all right?"

She nodded. "You have a sofa!" Kurama sweat-dropped. "Yes, I do."

Aniya saw his weird expression. "Oh, I'm sorry. It's just that I've always dreamed of having a real sofa. Mine's in ruins and it was when I got it, so this is the first time I've ever sat on a real sofa before." She smiled again before she started bouncing up and down once more.

Kurama sat down in his wheely desk chair. "Are you all right? I was wondering since you are not the type to normally go socializing."

Aniya stopped bouncing. "I had another one of the dreams."

"One of the ones from Sukeisa?"

She shook her head. "No, one from the dragon man. He said that I had watch out for these people called Calisandra, Lord Doukai and Tarukon. That was the most important part. Except for the fact that he told me that I was the stupid dragon child in the legend, that I only made four of the eight friends and that I needed to find the last three soon, so I can be friends with the eighth. I assumed Yukina would be the eighth, but apparently, he tried to tell me that she wasn't."

Kurama looked at her, "Are you saying that he might be implying that one of the others is the eighth one?"

Aniya nodded. "But I can't think of who it would be. The only people I have to be friends with are the idiot, the old lady and the toddler. I don't think that any of them are going to be the secret weapon that I need to fight Sukeisa. Anyway, how am I supposed to make friends with the idiot? We're practically enemies."

"By idiot, I assume you mean Kuwabara?"

Aniya shook her head. "No, that dumb-ass Hiei."

"Oh. Well, it might not be as difficult as it seems. After all, you two have a lot in common."

"Like what?"

"You were both only children, you were both social outcasts, you both have a flair for being quite violent in situations, you have similar temperaments, and you have the same level of control for your spirit energy."

Aniya's mouth dropped open. "First of all, he has a sister, I don't. He had a family to be cast out from, I didn't. I was on my own since day one. Then he was adopted by the theives, so I wouldn't call his childhood exactly a hardship. He is plenty more violent than I am, but I'm smarter. He'd be the first to jump into a situation he knew nothing about, while I tend to wait until I've weighed my options."

Sani decided to jump in, 'but you'd wait two seconds verses his one second, is that it?'

"Shut up Sani. Also, how can you say that we act the same? He has more friends, which means that he's weaker because he has more crutches that can be used to hurt him."

'But a bunch of his friends are your friends too.'

"Shut. Up. Sani!" Then Aniya got quiet. "Beside, he has a lot more control over his spirit energy than me. I have no control over mine."

Kurama was confused, "But when you fought…"

Aniya shook her head. "I use my spirit energy to power my magical attacks. I don't actually use my spirit energy for the attacks. The last time I used my spirit energy was in a hospital and the entire ten mile radius around it was instantly destroyed. I can't control it well enough for it to be safe. So I use either my magical energy or spirit energy that other people shoot at me and use that to fight." Shaking out of her slum, she gave Kurama a stern look. "How can you even think of comparing me to someone who has hair that makes him look like a skunk?"

"Well, you're no better. You look like a table lamp."

Kurama and Aniya turned to see Hiei crouching on the window sill.

"Hello Hiei. I'm glad that you decided to come after all."

"Hn." He got down from the window sill and cautiously moved away from Aniya, who would have moved to the opposite side of the room, if it had been normal circumstances. But this was a sofa she was sitting on. A real sofa. She wasn't going to move if her life depended on it. She turned to Kurama, "See what I mean? Totally different attitudes."

"I wouldn't say that Aniya. You will note that both of you reacted in exactly the same way."

"Are you still trying to compare us? Give it up. We are nothing alike. Nothing. Read my lips. Nothing. Alike."

Kurama shrugged and looked at the clock on the wall. "Well, we have just under forty-five minutes before we have to leave. I suggest that we all begin to get ready."

Aniya swore. "Damn, and I thought I could get away with not wearing the dress. Fuck this shit."

"Aniya, where is your dress?"

She smiled, "Oh, it's downstairs. In my…bag…" She smacked her forehead. "Great, now it'll be covered in wrinkles. How the hell am I supposed to fix that?"

"I suppose you could iron it."

"IRON IT??! I have no skills when it comes to doing chores around the house. My life doesn't revolve around having to iron clothes. The last time I checked, armor didn't need ironing!" Aniya was freaking out. "One thing after another. First dragon man, then security, now this! Why is my life so fucked up??!"

"Because you made it that way, baka."

She whirled on him, standing and getting into a fighting stance. "Like I would choose to make my life that messed up."

"You can never tell with idiots."

"Take that back."

"Hn."

"Dumb-ass is that the only comeback you can think of?"

"Fool."

"Ass hole."

"Idiot."

"Son of a bitch. Or should I say, son of an icy bitch?"

"Baka."

"Bastard."

"Will you two please stop? I am going downstairs to iron Aniya's dress. Can you two stay here and promise not to kill each other?" At this point, both of them were inches away from each other, with some form of weapons out, ready to kill. Kurama was trying to break it up by standing between them (which probably wasn't the best idea in the world, but hey, even smart people have to be stupid sometimes). Holding his hands out, "Do you think that you two can handle ten minutes alone without beating each other into different dimensions?"

"Hn."

"Maybe."

Kurama sighed and left, closing the door behind him. 'If this doesn't work, I don't know what will.'

"Hn."

"Is that the best you can do?"

"Lamp shade."

Aniya froze. "That's it. I'm losing the fans. I never liked them anyway."

Hiei watched her as she pulled the metal contraptions out of her hair, letting her hair fall loose. "Then why were you wearing them in the first place?"

She sighed. "Botan thought it'd be a good idea for me to cut my hair. Of course, I don't trust anyone with sharp metallic objects near my head. So I put up a fight. Botan finally bought these in the end and put them in herself. She seemed ready to kill me."

"Why should that phase you?"

"She had this evil look in her eye and I think that after burning down the hair salon, I did what she told me to. Just because she wouldn't leave me alone."

"Hn."

"Stop your fucking 'hn' will you? That's all you ever do. 'Hn', 'hn', 'hn'. All fucking day long!"

"At least I don't have to wear a dress."

"You're a guy, so obviously you wouldn't wear a dress." Then Aniya thought of something. "Hey, wait a minute, what are you wearing. You can't go in that."

"Why not?" Hiei was getting bored with this conversation.

"Because it's against the rules."

"Rules of what? Besides, in case you hadn't noticed, I don't follow the rules."

"Sure you don't." Aniya rolled her eyes. "Then why isn't Kuwabara dead?"

Hiei blinked. "Because the baka makes Yukina happy."

Aniya sat down on the sofa. "Jeeze, just say 'my sister'. Everyone knows for crying out loud! She's probably the only one who doesn't!"

"Hn."

"What did I say about the hn? I told you to stop it."

"Why should I listen to you?"

Aniya turned around and shut up. 'Okay…so let me review. All I have to do is watch out for the important people, the CAF, the CEF, Lord Doukai, his son, Calisandra and whoever else plans to bug me. Dammit…too many people.'

"So you two managed to let each other live. I'm glad." He handed Aniya her dress. "Here's your dress. I did the best that I could. The scarf was somewhat difficult. I also brought your bag up because I thought you'd need it. There's a bathroom down the hall to the left that you can use to get changed in."

"Thanks." Aniya smiled and walked to aforementioned location. Kurama turned to Hiei and gestured toward the black cloak, white scarf ensemble. "Hiei, you do not seriously think that you could get away with wearing that to the ball."

"Hn. I'll wear what I want."

"Not if you're going to the ball. I took the liberty of renting a tuxedo for you."

"I am not wearing a tuxedo."

"You're starting to sound like Aniya."

"Hn. Fine."

Kurama smiled. "Here you go. It's not as bad as you think. There's another bathroom down the hall on the right."

Grumbling, Hiei made his way to the other bathroom. Meanwhile, Aniya was having a crisis.

"Great, now how am I supposed to do my hair? Never mind the fact that I totally destroyed Botan's 'master piece'! The only thing I can do is put it up in a pony tail." Then she smacked her face, "That's it! I'll just do this…." She pulled her hair up, "…and then do this…" She tugged out two strands of her hair in the front of her face, "…next I put a little of this in…" she took a bottle from her bag called "Curlz X-treme" and sprayed a lot on, "…and finally I twist these around…" she curled the ends of the two strands in front of her face, "…and I'm done." She surveyed her hair in the mirror. 'Not that bad.'

"Sani?"

'Yes, your royal curliness?'

"Can you do my make up?"

'…'

"Please?"

'Why can't you do it yourself?'

"Because I've never worn make up before in my life and I have no idea how to use it!"

'And you think I'm going to do a lot better because…?'

"Because you can actually see what you're doing."

'Beside the fact that you could do the same thing by looking in the mirror.'

"Please Sani?" Then she had an idea. Grabbing the little dragon, she shoved a spray bottle in her face. "Do my make up or I'll spray you completely with body glitter. Then I'll make sure that you have enough hair-spray on to make it stick to your scales."

If Sani could have paled, she would have out of horror. 'Okay, okay! Just no glitter.' Aniya smiled as the little dragon started fingering the make up compartments. 'Here goes nothing.'

*****

"How long can a stupid ningen possibly take to put on some make up?"

"Patience Hiei. She is probably nervous and she is heading into a new branch of society that she has never had to deal with before. I would not criticize her too harshly."

"Hn."

Aniya walked in timidly. "Does it look okay?"

"You still look like a table lamp." Kurama glowered at him and then nodded, looking at the big black ball gown to her curly hair and her face, adorned with light make up. "Sani did my make up and I'll be glad when I can take it off."

Moving, Hiei walked to the door. "We should leave." Kurama nodded and the two of them were instantly surrounded by light. "Um…guys?"

"Yes?" Kurama turned around. "How am I supposed to get there?"

"Fly, baka."

"I can't."

Kurama was puzzled. "I thought that you could fly. You clearly did so when we traveled to Katomi's castle."

Aniya nodded. "Yes, but my fighting clothes are specially designed to accommodate wings. They transform to fit with the wings and claws. This dress, which Botan bought at a regular human store, does not."

"Then teleport, idiot."

She turned to face the other midget. "I could do that, but it would be risky. It would be highly unlikely that I would manage to get where we're going without destroying either you, me or the surrounding area."

"And why is that?" Hiei looked at her.

Aniya squared her shoulders. "I don't have much control over my spirit energy. To tele-port would mean to use my spirit energy. Since I've already blown up something today with my spirit energy, I wouldn't suggest trying to do something else. I don't know any magic spells that would work either.

Kurama sighed. This complicated things just a little bit. "Fine, hold onto me and I'll bring you when I teleport."

"Kurama are you mad? You might not be able to reach a finalized destination if you take her along."

"Well, Hiei. Do you have an alternative solution?"

"I say we both take her. That way neither one of us loses so much energy that we can't focus on where we're going." Facing the wall he crossed his arms, "I can't say that I'm happy with the arrangement, but it's the only thing and we don't have much time."

Aniya crossed her arms. "Fine. Let's go."

"Suichi? Can you come down for a minute?"

"Yes mother." Turning to the two of them he said, "Come down in a minute when I call. I have to think of an excuse as to how Hiei got into the house without using a door and I also have to explain why we're 'walking' to the dinner party. I'll either come and get you or call." Then he shut the door behind him.

"Something's up."

"Really idiot? I hadn't noticed," said Aniya sarcastically.

"No, really. Kurama isn't one to call. He also doesn't normally go out of his way to explain strange occurrences to his mother. I suspect something is going to happen."

Hiei closed his eyes and his jagan eye glowed. "He says to come down now." Opening the door, he pushed it back and made his way downstairs. Aniya took one last look at the sofa and headed off right behind him. When they got down, they both noticed that Kurama was no where in sight.

Aniya sensed life energy and pointed to the living room door. "He's in there."

"I know that."

Hiei pushed open the door and Aniya followed when they were momentarily blinded by a flash of light. Blinking, they saw that Kurama was holding up a camera, taking pictures. Aniya shot forward. "Give me that camera!" Kurama easily moved the camera out of reach. She started to pull at it with her telekinetic powers, but Kurama shook his head, and looked toward his mother. She hadn't noticed, but Aniya got the message: don't do anything unnatural here, she doesn't know about spirit world and demons. Aniya turned to Hiei.

'Help me get the camera.'

'Why should I?' He was standing in a corner. 'It doesn't matter. It's just a stupid picture.'

Aniya fumed. 'Just a picture? Do you want everyone to see you wearing a tuxedo?'

'No one will. I plan to keep out of sight at the ball.'

'Wearing a tuxedo with a stupid expression on your face, with me right behind you? Do you want Yusuke to see that? Or Kuwabara?'

Horror spread over Hiei's face as he thought of what the baka would do if he saw a picture of Hiei in a tuxedo with the most stupid expression imaginable on his face. 'Fine. On the count of three, reach for the camera. I'll take care of the rest.'

'Okay, fire-boy.'

'One…two…three!' Aniya lunged for the camera and Kurama, once again held the camera out of her reach. Hiei easily nabbed the camera from his hand and gave it to Aniya. "Do what you must to get rid of the picture."

After a quick survey, Aniya found out that the camera was digital. 'That makes life a lot easier.' She clicked through the pictures and erased the pictures (turns out there was more than just one) of her and Hiei. Tossing the camera back to him, she smirked. "I thought you were smart, Suichi. Clearly you underestimated us and you obviously weren't thinking when you decided that you could take pictures of us, but your actions are forgiven."

Kurama bowed. "Shall we leave?" Hiei and Aniya nodded. As they headed out the door, they looked around to make sure that there were no more cameras that could take embarrassing pictures. Kurama smiled as he kissed his mother on the cheek. "We'll be back late, so you don't have to worry about us." Shiori smiled and nodded. "Have fun, but don't get into trouble." Kurama nodded and closed the door behind him.

Shiori went back into the living room and took out the camera, and clicked through the pictures.

*****

Kuwabara and Yusuke arrived at the ball via Botan's oar. Stepping off, they looked around them. In front of the decorated palace, dark limos lined the pavement. Off to the side, there was a space where people were teleporting from everywhere. Yusuke was about to make a remark to Kuwabara, but he found that the stupid red-head was staring at a certain green-haired, red-eyed, kind, pretty, ice maiden.

"YUUUKINAAA!!!" He ran over to her and immediately started babbling to her, while she smiled back, listening to all of his nonsense. Yusuke shook his head. There was one happy person here at least.

"Yusuke, there's Koenma! Let's go say hello!" Botan began to drag Yusuke over to the ruler of spirit world. Yusuke looked around desperately for an excuse to not have to talk to Koenma. He wasn't really in the mood to have to been seen speaking to the toddler. His eyes caught sight of a familiar face and he ran toward the person. "See you in a sec Botan. I'll be right back."

Walking up to Four-eyed Joe, Yusuke tapped him on the back. "How ya doing Joe?"

"Yusuke Urameshi? I'm doing great. How about you?" The coversation paused as Joe walked toward a limo. He opened the door and an elderly gentleman got out.

"Pleased you could make it Joe. Keep your eyes open."

Joe nodded, but looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with the man. "Yes, sir."

The next person to step out of the car was a young man, who looked to be about fifteen or so. He held out a hand, and pulled a lady out of the car. Yusuke's eyes popped out of his head. Her dress had such a low neckline that there was hardly any point in her wearing the dress at all. Seeing Yusuke's gaze, she winked at him and tossed her light blonde hair. Giving him a small wave, she walked away with the young man.

Joe poked Yusuke. "You get enough of Calisandra yet?" Blinking Yusuke looked at him. "Who's she?"

"Apparently, she's trying to get Tarukon interested in her because she wants the fortune. But, he doesn't seem to have any interest in her. From what I've heard, he's only got his eyes on some girl that he met a long time ago, but he can't seem to find her."

"Tragic. Hey, where's Gantoi. I thought he'd be here."

"He is. He's in the garden posing as a statue. It's been his personal goal: be mistaken as a statue in a garden at a fancy social event. The guy may be smart, but he's a little weird."

"Aren't we all."

"Good point."

Yusuke looked around again and saw a very large light appearing in the teleportation area. The large light became a small figure, flanked by another small one and a larger one. Yusuke recognized two of them immediately. "Kurama! Hiei! Over here!" In the seconds that it took them to get over there, Hiei had managed to disappear.

Joe was looking at the pretty young lady on Kurama's arm. "Aniya, is that you?"

*****

As they made their way over to Yusuke and Joe, Hiei disappeared into the darkness. Aniya rolled her eyes and muttered, "Scaredy cat." Then she saw who they were walking towards. Suddenly, she got nervous. 'What if they think I look like a freak? What if they think I'm weak? What if they think I'm weird? What if…'

'What if they think you're insane?'

'Shut up Hiei.' None the less, her grip on Kurama's arm tightened. Kurama noticed this and looked down at her. "Aniya, try to relax and have some fun. Remember this is almost like acting magic. Make them believe you are who you really are." She smiled her thanks and tossed her head back. Kurama smiled at her and continued walking forward. 'Her ability to adapt to new situations is incredible. It's almost as if she lives a life of complete improvisation. It's astounding that she has very little control over her spirit energy. It's surprising, especially since she has such remarkable control over the magic energies, which require spirit energy in some way.'

Joe was looking at Aniya. "Aniya, is that you?"

She nodded. "Can you really not tell it's me in this fucking dress? Wow."

Joe smiled. "No, I can tell it's you. You walk like a fighter, with more controlled grace, unlike the ditsy ladies who pretend to walk gracefully."

Aniya smiled. "Thanks Joe." She looked at him in his tux. Her smiled widened. 'He looks funny enough in a tux. I wonder what the other guys look like…I wonder how on earth they managed to get a tux that fits Gantoi…' Her smiled didn't last long. Looking around Joe, she heard a familiar voice.

"HEY JOE! Who're you talking to?" Everyone groaned. Firenzy came over and saw Aniya. "Well, hello pretty lady. What's your name? My name's Firenzy. Would you like to chat for a while? Would you like a drink? Would you like to dance?"

"Would you like my fist implanted in your head?" Firenzy, as always, missed Aniya's subtle hint for him to leave. "Save me a couple of dances okay?" He bounced away, only to latch onto some other couple. Aniya shuddered. "Imagine, having to dance with him."

Botan ran over. "Yusuke! I thought you said you were coming right back! Koenma wants to talk to you, and oh, hello Aniya." Shock came over her face, "What did you do to your hair?" Aniya smiled. "It accidentally got messed up and I had to redo it. I'm sorry I don't quite have your skills when it comes to styling hair."

Botan looked suspiciously at her. 'Ten to one that she was fighting with Hiei.' "You weren't fighting, were you?" Shaking her head, Aniya sword that she hadn't fought with anyone, but that the hair had actually come undone itself. Sani, who had just arrived, wanted to contribute to the conversation, 'but Aniya, you…' Aniya grabbed the little dragon around the neck and gave her a death glare. Gulping, Sani continued, 'but Aniya, you…you were really upset that you couldn't wear the fan things, weren't you?'

Aniya sighed and released the dragon, letting her go back onto her shoulder. Botan shook her head, 'We really have to work on her people skills.'

'What do you mean, "have to work on my people skills"? My people skills are fine. If you want people skill problems, go look at Hiei.'

'What did you say ningen?'

'For the last time, I'm not a ningen. I'm a dracon. Say it with me: drac—on. And I said that you're people skills are worse than mine.'

'At least I don't have to cover up for stupid actions.'

'So you admit you're stupid then.'

'I said no such thing.'

Aniya turned her head and stared at a tree which was currently hiding Hiei. She glared at him as he glared back. Kurama, seeing this exchange, sighed. 'I wouldn't be surprised if Aniya and Yukina ended up as sisters after all.'

'What?!'

'Hn.'

Botan smiled at the group. "If you guys want to come this way, the early reception room is the large chamber on the left." Grabbing Yusuke and putting a grip of death on him, she pulled him away from the group. "You, Yusuke Urameshi, are coming with me to talk to Koenma." She led a protesting Yusuke away.

Kurama smiled at Aniya, "Shall we proceed?" She nodded. Kurama turned to look at the tree that Aniya had been looking at just seconds before and said, "Hiei, you should come too, especially since you're one of the telepaths that we have to use in the event of an emergency." Turning back to Aniya, he saw that her fake smile was back in place. "Just try to relax. You don't have to worry about meeting a lot of people, neither of us is that well known for fan people."

On Kurama's arm, Aniya walked toward the room where she kept telling herself, 'All I have to do is smile and nod…smile and nod…smile and nod…"

A/N: Just so you know, this is not an Aniya + Kurama or Aniya + Hiei fanfic. I plan for Aniya to be with someone, but I'm not telling who (it's kind of obvious). Everyone's going to be friends, and watch out for hidden cameras. They could be anywhere. Sofas too.