"Talking"
"Thinking"
-Telepathisis-
Flashback

-x-x-x-x-
Chapter Three:
Excuse Me?

"Now what are we going to do?" Kat ponders aloud as we take shelter from the sudden downpour in a cave.

I prod the fire I managed to create with a stick and watch the sparks dance in the air above it. As per usual, I have no answer, so I say nothing...though, I, too, wonder what we will do. We stayed there for almost fifty years. I sigh as I think of it; perhaps that was the problem. We became complacent because we stayed in an area too long. It may be why he was almost able to find us.

"We should have been more prepared."

I agree with that statement, but she knows it, just as she knows my non-verbal reply.

"Yeah...we will be more prepared next time."

I simply nod and continue to tend the fire.

"Where to now?"

I pause, thinking. "The shinobi compound?"

She pulls a face. "Why there?"

"We can continue our training."

Kat bites her lip and eyes the ground.

I relent. "Alright. I can continue my training. You can...do whatever it is you would rather be doing." I wince mentally, as my irritation seeped into my tone.

"It's...it's not that I don't enjoy training." She pauses; the next bite draws blood. "I...I'm just..."

"Tired of fighting? Tired of killing?"

Her reply is very quiet. "Yeah."

The corner of my lip twitches. "I apologize. Those things are a part of my nature and I have yet to tire of them."

"Killing is in your nature?"

"Well...not in the mindless serial killer fashion. Or even the I'm always looking for a blood bath one. I just...I kill because necessity demands it."

"If it didn't?"

I pause before answering. "Like I said...it's in my nature."

"And what nature is that?"

"The nature of a fighter."

"At least you didn't say warrior..."

I smother a laugh; this is the first joke she made since we separated from Youko and Kuronue. "Actually, I was thinking ninja..." Then I laugh; the look on her face makes it impossible not to.

0x0x0x0

Koenma frowns before sighing. "Alright--"

"What're we supposed to do?!" Yusuke explodes. "Just sit around?!"

"Last I checked, you always bitched about missions anyway. Why're you complaining because you're getting some time off?" The brunette grumbles.

"Because something's going on and we want to know what it is." Kurama supplies.

He shrugs. "Suit yourselves." He then heads for the infirmary, fully intent on verbally chewing someone to shreds...if, that is to say, the person who's refusing to be tended is who he thinks it is.

0x0x0x0

In the depths of Makai, something stirs; its vast unconsciousness is beginning to pick up the faintest tinglings of the prey it has sought for so long.

A wicked smile shows off pointed fangs and blood red lips. A sultry woman in a dark, yet elegant gown watches her master's slumber.

"Soon..." She murmurs as her imagination conjures up memories of the days she once lived for. "Soon I shall live for them again...and all my master's enemies will be no more..." The wicked smile grew. "And I'll start with you, Youko Kurama...as soon as my master wakes...you're mine."

0x0x0x0

One of the three in the infirmary grins. "Here he comes."

The second, sprawled out haphazardly across the hospital bed, rolls her eyes. "I'm getting bitched at."

"For what?" The third questions.

"For refusing to be treated." Snaps Koenma as he enters.

"Uh...that was me."

Said demi-god turns toward the voice; the owner has black hair and blue eyes. "And you are...?"

"Maki, Sora."

"Well, Sora--"

"That'd be him." Interrupts the one sprawled across the bed.

"Quit interrupting, Kimi!"

That earns him a tongue stuck out in his direction.

"You are immature!"

"This is coming from a toddler?" Said demoness needles.

Yusuke and the others catch up; they enter in time to hear the last exchange.

"What's--"

"What the hell is he doing here?" Kurama snaps; all, save Sora, stare.

"I could ask you the same, Shuichi." Sora smirks. "Does your mommy know her perfect widdle angel is a demon?"

His reply is a wordless snarl; Kurama's aura flares sharply.

"OY!" Shouts Kimi. "You, redhead. Control yourself!"

He turns to her, furious. "And--"

"Some of us don't feel like trying to block people who cannot control their auras. Please refrain from being one of them or...hm..."

"Just go with castration."

"KIMI!" Kat snaps, both irritated and impressed.

"What? It always works..."

"Do I want to know?" Sora interjects.

"No." Both reply in unison.

Koenma pinches the bridge of his nose as Kurama fumes; the fox demon is more in control of himself now, though he finds himself adopting Sora's normal posture against the wall. The other three members of Team Urameshi stare, unsure of what to make of this.

"Who're you guys?" Yusuke eventually inquires.

"I'm Kimi." The demoness in question has light blue-green hair; her eyes are orange. She gestures at the girl with brown hair and green eyes. "That's Kat." She then gestures at the boy sitting on the edge of the third bed. "An' that's Maki, Sora. Interesting name, by the way."

"...thanks." He murmurs, unsure if it's a complement.

Koenma coughs. "Anyway...Kimi, are you healed?"

The girl in question sits up. "Mostly. The injuries I still have are gashes at best and they're stitched and bandaged."

"D'you think you can handle a quick run to Makai?"

"Sure, why not?"

Kat shakes her head. "Battle bait."

Kimi smirks. "You know it."

"Can I go?" Sora questions.

All, including the still-irritated Kurama, stare; his, though, is icier and he also raises an eyebrow at him.

"No." Kimi calmly laces her hiking boots and begins to slip them on. "This is a non-human only mission...and no, that wasn't an invite, Kat."

Said girl smirks. "Awww, but they're cute."

The bluette's left eye twitches. "I have absolutely no idea what you've been smoking, but if you haven't been smoking anything, please don't come near me."

"Why?"

"Because I heard stupidity is catching."

Kat pouts. "You're no fun."

The other girl rolls her eyes. "If I'm not back after a week, don't send search parties." With that, she calmly exits the room and heads toward the portal generator.

Sora sighs. "So what now?"

The demi-god echoes him. "Well, how much do you know?"

Kurama fights to reign in his temper. "Koenma, you can't possibly--"

"He knows now." The brunette on the bed interjects. "We may as well tell him everything."

Koenma raises an eyebrow. "What d'you mean 'he knows now'?"

"I fought the--demon, right?"

Kat nods. "Yeah, demon. I ended up in a...compromising...position and this guy helped Kimi get me away from the freak who wanted to have me for dinner."

Sora blinks.

She sweatdrops. "I didn't mean a date."

0x0x0x0

A week passes.

Kat is still in the infirmary, as her wounds don't seem to want to heal; Kurama is rather annoyed and ignoring all summons to Spirit World; Sora has spent every day after school with Master Genkai, training; Hiei has split his time between guarding his sister from Sora and making sure the fox doesn't do anything stupid; Yusuke's been skipping class and hitting the arcades; Kuwabara has been alternating between that and school after a few threats from his sister.

0x0x0x0

Koenma glares at the communication mirror and contemplates throwing it at a wall. He has tried to call Kurama numerous times, but it appears that the irritated fox shut his off. Botan enters without knocking; her eyes are excited and her breath is leaving her in pants.

"Koenma sir!"

"Yes?"

"Kimi's back!"

0x0x0x0

"Hey." Kat's voice snaps me from my reverie.

"Mm?" I answer; she gestures ahead.

A young boy--he looks maybe eight or nine--is being pinned to a wall by an ugly demon. What's more, though, is the fact that he emanates no youki...meaning he's human or something else.

"I was getting bored anyway..." I murmur before launching myself at the demon; Kat groans behind me but doesn't interfere. I successfully pummel the guy and he runs off; I then turn to the kid. "You okay?"

He nods, sniffing slightly. "Mm-hm."

"Alright, well let's find--"

"THERE THE BITCH IS!"

I spin around to find that the guy's back...with five or so friends.

Son of a bitch.

-x-x-x-x-

Longest chapter yet ^^
Emma