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.

Chapter 8

Hanako stood behind Yusuke with her pack over her shoulder. Before them stood 3 monks who Yusuke had mentioned to her a few days prior, one of the names she remembered was Hokushin. The monks almost seemed to tear up upon their arrival, praising Raizen that his children had come to their homeland. Hanako felt uncomfortable from the start. Everywhere her eyes searched could only see desert and large mountain rock. She already missed being at home with Hiei and Kurama, but she was snapped out of her fantasy by her brother standing in front of her.

"Too late to turn back now." Yusuke whispered with an almost sad smile. "You ready? We have to run there, it'll take a few days."

Hanako nodded. "I'm ready."

Hokushin almost seemed stunned. "You mean to tell me she can keep up with us?! I was certain one of us would need to carry her, this will knock 2 days off our time, how astounding!" He sounded impressed.

Yusuke smirked and gave Hokushin a thumbs up. "Let's just say she's been training with three cut throat Demons, and a kick ass Human; one of which happens to be an expert in speed. Now let's get this show on the road, we're burning daylight."

"Very well. It's this was Mr. Urameshi." Hokushin bowed before taking off at an incredible speed, his two monk companions following him.

Yusuke was next to sprint off and Hanako followed them closely, although she made sure to stay behind them. She kept her eyes open and observed the surrounding area, trying to sense any surprise attacks or oncoming threats. Yusuke had specifically asked her to come along for this because she had improved greatly, and he trusted her instinct and spiritual awareness even more then Kuwabara's now.

The days turned into nights, and nights back into day. Hanako had lost track of time and her legs were killing her from the long run. They never stopped for a break, they just kept running until finally the monks ahead of them came to a pause. Yusuke stopped and looked behind him to make sure Hanako was alright when she came to a stop as well. Sweat beaded her forehead and she wiped it away with her sleeve. Yusuke was the only one who seemed fine, and not the least bit exhausted.

"That was astonishing ! We were going our fastest and yet you haven't broken a sweat!" Hokushin praised.

"That little jog was just a warm up." Yusuke stretched and cracked his knuckles.

"And your sister was able to keep up! Not a complaint or a peep out of her!" The tallest monk looked behind Yusuke and nodded towards Hanako.

"I told you she could do it. Now where's this ancestral bastard of ours? I have a bone to pick." Yusuke's tone completely changed. He felt this ancestral father of theirs robbed him of his fight with Sensui.

"Yusuke..." Hanako whispered, sensing a devastating energy in the tower above them. "Yusuke wait-" She tried to grab his shoulder.

Yusuke charged at the tower, leaving Hanako and the monks in the dust. "Just like his father." Hokushin chuckled. Hanako could only stare at the monk with wide eyes, did he really think this was a joke!?

"Yusuke, wait!" Hanako took off at her fastest, trying to catch up to her brother. She glared at his running form. "Why did you ask me to come along if you weren't going to listen to me!?" She tried to run faster. Yusuke disappeared into the tower and she could hear his footsteps running higher and higher. "Yusuke!"

"You have to run faster if you want to see our dear old dad alive before I get to him!" Yusuke yelled back at her.

Hanako took that as a challenge and started ascending the stairs, her pace increased and it seemed like an eternity before anything happened. The tower began to shake violently and Hanako fell on the stairs, cursing softly. "Damn it Yusuke..." She got back up and continued running finally making her way to the top and seeing a tall, white-blond Demon with knee length hair kneel before a fallen Yusuke. She grew wide eyed. She knew Yusuke wasn't dead, but the thought that this Demon, their ancestral father, was able to take out Yusuke in just seconds was frightening.

"You have much to learn, my son. You hear, but you don't listen." The man's voice was deep, almost comforting. He stood up and looked at Hanako, his eyes were menacing but held a sort of kindness to them. "Hanako." He acknowledged her, and began to approach her.

"D-Don't touch her..." Yusuke tried to get up weakly but collapsed back onto the floor. Blood covered his abdomen and dripped onto the floor.

Hanako glared at Raizen, standing her ground but not challenging him either. Raizen had to kneel down to make eye level with her, otherwise he would have towered over her. "My daughter...You have her eyes. The same fierce eyes as my only beloved." His words made something click inside of Hanako, and her heart opened up to him, although she wasn't ready to admit that.

"What did you do to Yusuke?" Hanako continued her glare, trying to speak bravely.

"I only taught him his first lesson." Raizen stood up and looked at the unconscious teen on the floor. "He was kidding himself thinking he could take me." He placed his hand on Hanako's shoulder. "You will learn to get stronger too."

Some how his words brought comfort to her. She hesitated to break eye contact with Raizen, but she did and she ran over to Yusuke. "Wake up...Hey..." She shook him gently just as Hokushin entered the door way.

"Lord Raizen, shall I escort Lady Hanako and Lord Yusuke to their chambers?" Hokushin bowed.

"Yes, take Yusuke. Hanako can stay with me or go as she pleases." Raizen stared down at them before turning and walking back to his thrown, sitting down with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together.

Hokushin walked over and lifted Yusuke without struggle. He turned and looked at Hanako. "Milady?"

Hanako looked between Raizen and Hokushin, not knowing what to do. She sighed, knowing she needed to bite the bullet and get all the information she could get. "I'll stay here..." She said softly and nervously. Truth be told, she actually wanted to get to know Raizen. She always wanted a father and now here was one in front of her. She watched Hokushin carry Yusuke away and an awkward silence followed. She fidgeted with her hands nervously when she jumped at his voice.

"Come here child. Let me see your eyes again."

Hanako swallowed hard and walked towards him slowly. Finally she stood in front of him and her glare was gone. Her eyes were soft, confused and slightly scared. Without Yusuke in the room she had no buffer for bravery. She was also able to look at him more closely. He had brown eyes, just like Yusuke's, and a tattoo with strange markings under his left eye going down his face. He wore a pale yellow headband to keep the long hair from his eyes. He never broke eye contact in this instance.

"How old are you?" Raizen asked, closing his eyes.

"15...I'll be 16 in 2 months, Yusuke is already 16...we're 11 months apart..." Hanako spoke nervously.

"Still so young, my child. You do not hate me as your brother does, I can sense it." Raizen opened his eyes and looked right into hers.

"I have no reason to hate you. I don't even know you..." She answered honestly. "Yusuke hates you because you interfered in his fight with Sensui."

"If I hadn't, he wouldn't be alive right now." Raizen smirked. "He should be thanking me."

"Yeah well that's not how Yusuke see's it, and frankly that made his victory honor less." Hanako said defiantly, realizing her tone and attitude a little too late. "I...I'm sorry." She looked down at the floor.

Raizen threw his head back in laughter. "There's no doubt, you are of my blood line, as is your hard headed sibling."

"You had doubts?" Hanako questioned.

"I knew of a son the minute he was born, I could feel my blood in his body. When Hokushin told me of a daughter I was skeptical." He looked at her with his harsh eyes. "But I knew the minute you walked into my chamber that you were of my blood. You have my beloved's eyes, and her dark long hair. " Raizen spoke longingly, as if he was missing a fond memory. "Do you have a beloved, my daughter?"

Hanako's heart swelled with pride every time he called her that. She tried to clear her mind of that, she didn't need anymore daddy issues. She also didn't want to mention Hiei's name; in this territory Hiei was the enemy, working for Mukuro. "Yes...I have a...beloved." She answered, sitting on the floor in front of him.

Raizen almost cracked a small smile. "Are you as strong as your brother?"

Hanako scoffed at that remark. "Hardly. I'm strong but not as strong as Yusuke. My spirit awareness is a great deal higher then his, in fact I tried to warn him not to fight you, but by the time I arrived up here he was already on the floor."

"Interesting. You were able to sense my energy?" Raizen asked. "How much of it?"

"Uh..." Hanako had to think a minute. "All of it." She answered. "I was able to sense you about 10 miles from here, the feeling only got stronger the closer we got."

"That's a very valuable asset you have, Hanako." Raizen praised. He then sighed, as if he was drained just from talking. "Your training will begin tomorrow with Yusuke's. I need to be alone in my thoughts for awhile." He dismissed her, waving his hand.

"But...I don't know where to go..." Hanako stood up from the floor.

"Follow Yusuke's energy. Your room will be across from his." Raizen closed his eyes again. He seemed exhausted, weakened of energy.

Hanako nervously left the audience chamber and descended the long stair case, entering another stone building and roaming the halls. It was easy enough to find Yusuke's energy after 20 minutes of wandering. She wondered if he was even awake or if he was still unconscious. She looked at the large wooden door that would lead into her room and had the sudden urge to knock, although she didn't know why. She walked in and sighed in relief at the normalcy of the room. She half expected jewel encrusted door knobs and golden walls, but this room spoke nothing of riches. It had a bed, and a dresser to put her clothes. There was a full bathroom connected to it on the other side, also nothing luxurious.

She felt so alone.

She would begin her training, and so would Yusuke. Hiei and Kurama were both about to be in different enemy territories. Her ancestral father would be busy with Yusuke, so who did she have here exactly? Her heart ached unbearably, homesick for her bed at Kurama's house. She missed Kurama's mother, who was more of a parent to her then Atsuko ever thought about being. She took a deep breath and looked at her hands, balling them into fists. It was right then that Hanako vowed to get stronger. She would train every day, consuming her mind with it. She didn't have much choice, it was either that or be blinded by lonely heart ache, and Yusuke needed her to be on her game, so did Hiei and Kurama.

Hanako was shocked the next morning when she was woken up by Hokushin. "What's wrong? Is Yusuke alright?" She rubbed her eyes, having finally fallen asleep just 4 hours before.

"Yusuke is fine. Lord Raizen has summoned you." Hokushin bowed. "Yusuke will begin his training with us today, while you begin yours with our King."

Hanako nearly leaped out of the bed. "What!? He nearly killed Yusuke with one blow, I won't stand a chance!"

"He's not trying to kill you, just make you stronger. Now please get ready, I'll be waiting outside." Hokushin spoke impatiently as he left the room.

Hanako was left alone in a stunned silence.