FCL64: We have arrived at chapter thirteen.

Kiyoshi: Already?

FCL64: Yes, you moron.

Kiyoshi: I am going to ignore that comment.

FCL64: Okay, so you're not a moron, but you control an unbelievable amount of my life, for a person in my head! Only Ayaka, Kaien, and Kyo. Here we go!

Kurama pulled Ayaka to her feet. "Ayaka," he said, "Are you alright?"

She looked at him, tears welling in her eyes once more. Her eyes asked quite clearly if he was being serious. "No," she suddenly wailed. "He's dead, Kurama. Kaien is dead, gone forever. I'll never see him again." The tears had no more room in her eyes and spilled over and down her cheeks.

"Ayaka," Kurama said gently, hugging her. "You do not know he's dead. Hiei just admitted that Kaien wounded him nearly as bad. And Hiei is alive and well."

Ayaka sniffled and wiped her eyes. Looking at Kurama through icy blue eyes she asked, "Then what am I to do, Kurama? No one is more important to me."

Kurama nodded. He understood her feelings and said, "Just wait, Ayaka. One obstacle at a time. Let us kill the bounty hunter, then I will help you find your brother, no matter how long it takes."

"You promise?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"Not to me. That I know of."

Kurama smiled. "Yes, Ayaka, I promise."

"Thank you, Kurama."

"Hiei, will you come with us to my house, to try and create a plan of action?"

"I suppose." Hiei's obvious reluctance to help was new to neither Kurama nor Ayaka.

As the three of them headed back to the Minamino household, Kurama suddenly froze. Instinctively, he had allowed his ears to appear. Seeing this, Hiei and Ayaka stopped. Ayaka followed Kurama's actions, and Hiei took a defensive stance. After a minute and a half, Kurama relaxed, though only slightly. His voice was hard. "He's following us. We must discover how."

Upon arriving home, Kurama found Yusuke and Kuwabara were already there. The three of them walked in, and Yusuke said, "We figured you were talking to Hiei and would come back here afterward. You're really not all that unpredictable, Kurama."

"Well, I suppose it's a good thing you're here. He showed up again. I cannot figure out how he's following us without attracting attention. It's like he's there for a moment, then gone." After a moment, Kurama spat out, "It's like he's playing with us. He know what he wants and how to get it, but he wants us on edge."

Ayaka breathed in once then exhaled. "So we remain calm. Keep our heads. When we sense his presence, we pretend we don't. Just go about our business."

Kurama calmed slightly. "Yes. Yes. We can't play by his rules. That will result in the game he wants. We must turn it around."

"What's he after?"

"He wants us dead," Kurama replied sharply.

"Other than that. What's he after?" Hiei asked again. "He's followed you this far, after this many years, just for a reward that's dwindled to almost nothing? I think not. There is some other motive involved."

This had evidently not crossed Kurama's mind, as worried as he was about keeping Ayaka safe, staying alive and not letting Shiori discover the truth. "What else is there?" he asked rather coldly.

Hiei gestured vaguely to Ayaka's waist. "Pink Hair came after Kaien once. He wanted the locket."

"My locket?" Ayaka gasped. All of this was her fault then.

Kurama didn't buy it. "Then why kill… why come after me after Ayaka and I split up? That doesn't make any sense."

Hiei didn't answer, his silence revealing that he had nothing more to say on the subject. He'd given his opinion and now had little to no more interest in the conversation.

Yusuke, on the other hand, said, "There must be something else in combination with the lockets. But that can wait. We need to find a way to keep you two as safe as possible first."

Kurama nodded. He wasn't worried about himself. He'd faced death many times, yet here he was. Ayaka, however, he was concerned about. She knew it, too. "Quit worrying about me, Kurama," she muttered, almost insulted. "I can take care of myself and have been in plenty of dangerous situations—with and without you."

Suddenly Hiei muttered, "There is one thing it could be. Would go along with the lockets quite well."

Kurama looked questioningly at Hiei, who then said, "Don't you remember? It was only a few years ago."

reviews...

animegrlsteph: no definitely kaien. you haven't really met kaien yet. he's a lot more fun to write than the rest of them. of course, zuberi is a lot of fun to write as well...

Foxgirl Ray: Yep, more about the twins. More about them not next chapter, but the chapter after that. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Its only real purpose was lead-up to the next chapter...