Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, it's characters, or anything affiliated with it. I use the characters and locations for my own personal enjoyment and yours. I own Hanako Urameshi. I do use Wikia for information on locations and characters that I may need later. Rating is for language, violence, drug references, and intimacy scenes in future chapters. Please Review! Good and bad are accepted, as I value the opinions of my readers.

A/N: This chapter starts at the end of the Dark Tournament and will end after the Chapter Black Saga, where Yusuke, Hiei and Kurama make their way into Demon World, just in case someone gets confused. Didn't really care for the Chapter Black Saga myself, so I realize this is a huge leap in the story line. Thanks for sticking with me this long, it's hard to find time to write these days. Also, my other Fanfic, Addiction, I will be ending in it's next Chapter.

Chapter 7

Hanako was going through a serious case of "What the hell just happened!?"

Yusuke had destroyed Toguro, literally. Kuwabara had faked his death to motivate Yusuke, which Yusuke promptly began beating his ass over. And now the damn arena was enclosed in hundreds of feet of concrete walls with no way out; the kicker? A huge bomb was about to take all of their lives, all because Sakyo pushed a button on a remote control!

Kicker number 2? Hanako got lost in the sea of rampaging Demons trying to escape the arena. "Damn you, Sakyo!" She cursed as she looked around for any signs of Yusuke and the others. The screams and the shuddering ground were too loud for her to communicate with Hiei through telepathy. "Gah, screw this, I'll find my own way out!"

Stadium Detonation 5 minutes.

Hanako ran back through the long hall way towards the locker rooms, fighting her way through the crowds. Her heart was racing rapidly, so much so she couldn't breathe. She made a left turn into another corridor and ran right into someone, sending her to the ground. "Of all the rotten luck-!"

"Hanako!" His voice was shocked, as if he had expected her to be evacuated by now.

"Koenma! Shizuru!" Hanako grinned widely. "Hey, I am just going to follow you guys out of here!"

"I swear you're like a kid in a grocery store." Shizuru rolled her eyes.

Stadium Detonation 3 minutes.

"Run for it!" Koenma ignored Shizuru and started running. He had no idea where he was going but he had a good feeling. He couldn't believe Sakyo would do this. Also, he feared Sakyo's work would be continued; A portal between worlds would mean the end of humanity.

Hanako ran after them, and kept her eyes open for Yusuke and the others. They were probably already to safety, but something about her Spiritual Awareness had the hair on the back of her neck standing; then again it could have been due to the fact that they were all about to be blown to pieces. They came across a hole in the giant wall and didn't waste any time as they ran through it. With seconds left on the detonator, they had made their escape. Explosion after fiery explosion went off behind them as they were reunited with the rest of the Spirit gang.

Hanako grinned as Yusuke sighed in relief, obviously too worn down and defeated from his battle with Toguro to have done much good with any rescuing. She watched someone step forward from the corner of her eye and looked over at Hiei, who was standing there staring at her with wide worried eyes. Hanako smiled softly at him, reassuring him that she was unscathed and okay. Part of her wanted to approach him and kiss him infront of the entire Dark Tournament fighters and audiences, but she also knew he probably wanted to keep things under wraps for the time being, especially considering they were still surrounded by potential enemies. She ignored Botan's rant about not getting their prizes, and Yusuke sounded somber as he told her the committee couldn't give them what they wanted. It didn't take a genius to know they all wanted Genkai back.

That night at the hotel was a quiet one. Most of the rich bidders had fled in their private jets already, and the rooms were almost all empty. They wanted to celebrate but the realization of being one team member down was haunting. Everyone kept to themselves and stayed quiet, knowing the trip back home would be a hard one. They were due to embark on the "Cruise" ship tomorrow morning around 9.

Hanako sighed loudly, startling Botan next to her. "What's the matter Hanako?" Botan asked quietly, although she already knew, she was hoping for some conversation.

"I'm bored." Hanako announced. "It's weird, not having to worry about what's next and fearing for my life. I feel so bored right now. I didn't even bring so much as a book to read before I left home."

"We could play cards?" Botan suggested. Shizuru was upset over the death of Sakyo, but stayed close to Kuwabara and Yukina, who both seemed fine and wrapped in conversation. Keiko was with Puu and Yusuke, and Kurama was actually able to read a book. Hiei was by the window as usual, staring at into the ocean.

Hanako sighed again. "I'm going for a walk." She stood up and walked quietly out of the room, unnoticed. The minute she was outside she inhaled deeply, with the wind ruffling her hair. It was almost nightfall, the sun was barely a dot on the horizon. She had felt so confined in that hotel room full of grief and yet at the same time joy. The feelings she had sensed had made her claustrophobic and sick to her stomach.

She felt her feet move forward and she placed her hands in her pockets, walking all the way to where Toguro had killed Genkai. Two large craters were there from 2 different attacks. A patch of grass had been stained heavily with blood. She should feel sadder, but she was numb. Would Genkai still be alive if she had stepped in and stopped her from meeting Toguro? Hanako sighed and walked to the center of the larger crater, sitting down cross legged and staring at the now darkened sky.

Hanako hadn't sensed him approach her.

"I miss her too." His voice was exhausted. "Hiei was going to come after you, but I needed away from Keiko's worrying mouth. She keeps asking every 5 minutes if I'm okay, or if I need anything."

Hanako smiled softly at her brother as he sat next to her. "At least you have someone who worries about you."

"And you don't?" Yusuke smiled knowingly. Hanako blushed for a moment before looking back up at the sky.

"We have a lot to work on, but I suppose I have someone." Hanako finally answered, grinning as she said so.

"Don't tell Keiko, but she's the only girl who can handle me. She put's up with all my shit and she still hasn't run for the hills." Yusuke laid down in the rough dirt and looked at the stars. "You and Hiei, huh?"

"How did you know it was Hiei?" Hanako worried.

"He told me." Yusuke tapped his head, indicating the telepathy. "He didn't say it exactly, but he worded things weird, even for him."

"Yeah..." Hanako frowned for a minute before she sighed again. "So, now what? We just go home and act like nothing happened?"

"It's a bitch, isn't it?" Yusuke sighed. "Besides, we still have each other to talk to. Keiko's going to make me go to school, and I am going to skip after lunch like always. You still making straight A's?"

"Yeah." Hanako laughed at the normal conversation they were having. "Although I am not sure I can go through with school after all of this. It's too normal."

"Enough of that." Yusuke said, his tone changing. "You're going to school. It's too late for me to do anything about an education but you're a friggin genius. It'll take some getting used to again, sure, but you should keep at it." Hanako smiled down at him before looking back up at the sky. They were silent for quite some time before Yusuke spoke again. "Think Genkai is watching us?"

"I know she is." Hanako whispered.

"How?" Yusuke looked at her with hopeful eyes.

"It's...it's weird." She started. "I am not sure how much you know, and I can't remember what I told you. Genkai trained me the same day she gave you your Spirit Wave Orb, she gave me a similar one to enhance my awareness and abilities. I was able to sense Toguro's core power before anyone else. My abilities are so great now I'm not always sure what I'm sensing. But I can sense her. Her familiar spirit, her energy, I can feel it right here. I followed it out here, like she was calling me." Hanako looked at Yusuke, hoping he understood.

"I kind of wished I would have let you fight Toguro's brother." Yusuke grinned. "It would have been a fight worth seeing."

"Hey, Kuwabara did great, and honestly I was scared shitless of that creepy bastard." Hanako grinned as well before the two broke into a fit of laughter. Once they calmed down they both laid in the middle of the dirt crater and stared at the stars. "No more secrets, okay Yusuke?"

"No more secrets." Yusuke nodded in agreement.

She took a deep breath and quickly spoke of her new living arrangements. "I'm moving in with Kurama and Hiei." Hanako confessed.

"Kurama mentioned it earlier." Yusuke spoke softly. "I think it's a good idea."

"Really?" She looked at him with relief.

"Yeah. Mom's never home, and I'm not either. You would be safe with them, and you could go to school with Kurama." Yusuke stood up and dusted his pants off. "I'll come visit you guys."

"I'll hold you to it." Hanako smiled and stood up with him.

"You should stay here for awhile. Someone else wants to talk to you." Yusuke grinned at her. "Don't do anything I wouldn't, you know, be safe, wrap it and all that junk. I don't want to be an uncle just yet!"

Hanako blushed darkly. "Yusuke!"

Yusuke laughed loudly as he walked out of the crater and back into the grass. "She's all yours Hiei! I'll see you both later!" Soon Yusuke's figure had disappeared into the distance.

Hanako stood there in silence and slight embarrassment, wishing Hiei would talk to her through telepathy as well, not just Yusuke or Kurama. She crossed her arms and waited a few minutes, suddenly sensing him behind her. She kept her back to him, trying to sense his movements, and his emotions. Hanako turned in just enough time to catch his sword with an energy sword of her own.

Hiei was caught completely off guard, and it showed on his face as he stood in shock. Hanako frowned and waited for him to sheathe his sword before dissipating her energy sword. "What the hell was that for?" She questioned.

"Hn. I was listening in on your conversation." Hiei's Jagan eye was glowing, and she has just noticed. "I was seeing just how much your Spirit Awareness had increased. I couldn't catch your thoughts in time to see that you planned to conjure a defensive weapon." He sounded impressed.

"I tried to tell you before that my skills had improved." Hanako frowned again.

Hiei crossed his arms and shrugged. She took the time to notice how worn down he still looked from fighting Bui; he was even in the same tattered clothes. "I'm fine." He spoke sharply, having read her mind.

"Am I not allowed to be concerned?" Hanako glared. "Stay out of my head if it's such a problem."

Hiei returned the glare. "I am neither weak nor your concern to worry about. If I want to be in your head you can't stop me."

"Not my concern!?" Hanako hissed. "If that's the case then forget me moving in with you and any future late night visits to my room-!"

"That's not what I meant!" Hiei interrupted with a snarl. "It's my job to protect and be concerned about you, not the other way around." He explained.

"You're just afraid of looking weak." Hanako wasn't buying his explanation. "And worrying is what brought me to you in the first place! Had I not trusted my gut instinct and followed Botan to this island I would have never realized that you're real."

"Hn." Hiei rolled his eyes and uncrossed his arms. He completely ignored her glare, unthreatened by her in any way, and approached her. He used his left hand to tilt her chin upward and placed a soft kiss upon her lips, and she didn't fight him. This kiss was much more different then the others; the others had been hurried, full of lust and desperation. Yet this kiss was deliberate, and slow. It was almost unreal, like a dream.

Hanako jolted awake from her deep sleep, sweat beaded her forehead and her breathing was ragged. She kicked her feet over the bed and hurried to the window, throwing it open to let in the cool night air. The alarm clock said 2:28 in the morning; she had a little over 4 hours before she needed to get ready. Hanako closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, trying to calm her nerves.

"Still having nightmares?" Kurama's voice spoke from the doorway of her bedroom. Hanako nodded, shaking. "I can make you something. You can put it in your tea at night to help you sleep, and you won't dream."

"Where's Hiei?" She looked at Kurama weakly. She had gone weeks without a decent nights sleep and it was taking its toll. Snow had blanketed the ground outside and the bitter cold wind was blowing through the window.

"He was eager to get back into Demon World and is already waiting at Genkai's. You and I will be joining Yusuke in a few hours. The two of you will go first, Hiei and I will follow at a later time."

Hanako rubbed her temples, a migraine slowly setting in. She was feeling the effects of an anxiety attack brewing and tried grounding herself; bringing herself to the present and out of her memories. 'We won the Dark Tournament. Koenma brought Genkai back to life. Everyone is alive and okay. Yusuke defeated Sensui and stopped the annihilation of living world. Yusuke died again and was brought back a Demon. My brother and I are Demons... My brother and I are Demons... We have been summoned to Demon World... This is real... This is real...' She kept repeating in her mind. She felt a hand on her shoulder and startled her out of her thoughts.

"Everything will be alright. Yusuke will be with you while he meets with King Raizen. If something goes wrong you can always send someone to contact Hiei or myself. We won't be that far." Kurama reassured.

"Aren't we enemies now?" Hanako looked at him with sad eyes. "Koenma told me the 3 Kings are constantly at war, that means we're all on different sides-"

"Regardless of that, my allegiance lies with Yusuke. I'm sure Hiei feels the same."

Hanako shivered from the cold and closed her window. The silence that followed was deafening. She tried to hold back her tears and a strangled cry came from her throat. Everything that had happened recently had happened so quickly, and no one seemed affected by any of it except for her.

"Hey is she okay?" A voice startled both Hanako and Kurama.

"Yusuke!" Hanako stared in relief at her brother.

His eyes were so different now yet they were the same. They were filled with questions and eagerness, but so much stronger in his own way. "Glad you're awake. We're leaving a little early. Get your stuff and lets go." He spoke to her and looked at Kurama. "You coming too?"

"To say good bye, yes. But I will be traveling to Demon World a different day. I have a few things to take care of here first." Kurama spoke calmly.

Hanako quickly dressed and grabbed her already packed bag and followed Yusuke and Kurama to Genkai's temple. The wind was sharp and cold, stabbing at fragile skin as it breezed by. The sky was still dark when Yusuke went inside, and Hanako sat on the stone cold stair case, looking up at the sky.

"Hiei?" She called out hesitantly. She felt his presence beside her and felt his warm arms wrap around her shoulders. "Why can't you come with me?" She whispered, hugging him.

"I already told you. Mukuro and Yomi both need to know that Kurama and I are sworn to them. We need to give Yusuke the time he needs to do what he must, and he needs you to help him. He made that very clear."

"I don't like being away from you." Hanako sighed, looking down at her hands. She felt his hand under her chin and tilted her head up, making her look at him.

"You Humans are clingy." Hiei smirked, knowing precisely what she would say after.

"I am no Human." Hanako returned the smirk and felt Hiei's lips crashing on hers.

Hanako could hear Kuwabara yelling. And Yusuke flying through the temple doors. Within seconds she was sensing the SDF, there to personally escort them from Human world. Hanako was about to pull away from the kiss when she felt Hiei grab a fist full of her hair and pull her back into him. It was Hiei who broke the kiss with a reluctant growl, placing his forehead against hers, his Jagan eye glowing through his head band. "I'll be watching you. Get stronger and help Yusuke fight whatever personal Demons he's facing. You're the only one he's listening to at this point." He stood up and grabbed her hand, hoisting her to her feet.

Hanako nodded and followed Hiei to the ever growing crowd of people. Yusuke looked to her with a soft smile. "You ready?"

"Not her too, Urameshi!" Kuwabara argued. This was all news to him and he wasn't taking it well.

"Yeah well she is a Demon now too remember?"Yusuke started. "That whole Mazoku thing happened all at once. When I was brought back to life the second time as a Demon it woke up the dormant blood in Hanako too. Besides she's strong enough to take care of herself."

Hanako looked at both Hiei and Kurama with sad eyes, hoping they would follow. She knew it was not their time yet. 'I'll see you both soon. Don't be strangers.'

'Likewise.' Kurama nodded.

"Let's go, Yusuke." Hanako approached the black hole that was the portal to Demon World.

"Well we ain't getting any younger!" Yusuke leaped, and Hanako followed without looking back.