"Talking"
"Thinking"
-Telepathisis-
Flashback

This is kinda a filler chapter...but there is an actual important going-on that happens...ish? ._.

-x-x-x-x-
Chapter Five
I Refuse

I enter the throne room; I follow the purple ogre; I am flanked by Kat and the perverted imbeciles with clubs. Seated in front of us on top of a dais was King Enma himself. He is immense...and most likely immensely angry. I glance over at Kat; she is biting her lip in an attempt to stave off tears. I frown mentally but school my face to blankness as we are brought before the "Lord of the Dead". His already stern face becomes down right cold as we near.

This does not bode well.

0x0x0x0

"Mm?"

The soft mumble from the couch rouses Kimi and Yukina, both of whom were asked by Koenma to look after him.

"You alright?" Kimi questions as Yukina fetches a glass of water.

His eyes snap shut; his face is tight with pain. "Headache." He manages out.

"Yeah, well, we've got wonder boy to thank for that..." She mutters, then places an index finger at his temple; the throbbing slowly ceases.

"Thanks." He murmurs.

Yukina reenters, water and Kuwabara in tow.

"How are you feeling?" The ice maiden questions as she offers him the cup of water.

"Better, thank you." Sora replies as he slowly sits up and accepts the water.

"What happened?" Kuwabara inquires.

"Not sure..." The other boy responds.

"I can explain that one." Kimi interjects. "It's the reason you weren't told outright who you are...er...were. You still have all your memories...they're just sorta...sealed? I'm not too sure how to put it..."

"You have your memories but you can't access them on your own." Yukina synthesizes.

"Exactly." The other demoness grumbles. "And when genius said your name, your memories tried to shift from wherever they're stored now to your active memory but...that's somewhere around 500 years worth so...you blacked out."

"...am I going to have flashbacks?" He questions after a few moments of silence.

"Most likely." Yukina sighs. "They could come while you're awake or in your dreams."

"Let's hope for dreams." The blue haired girl mutters.

0x0x0x0

Kimi, who was told to report to the main room at five, enters to an awkward silence. Sora/Kuronue is idly fiddling with his newly reaquired weapon; Shuichi/Kurama is sitting in an arm chair, eyes scanning a book, though it's obvious he's taking in nothing; Yukina is sitting in the other arm chair, quietly observing; Hiei is doing the same from the window sill; Yusuke and Kuwabara are arm wrestling and playing video games, as they had already tired of ribbing Sora/Kuronue.

She blinks and decides the safest spot is next to Sora, on the couch; she then steals the seat beside him. "Feeling okay?"

"Yep." He gives her a forced grin; the two wrestling boys smirk.

She glares, snatches up a pillow and lobs it at them. "It's not funny, nor is it something to mock."

"Really?" Yusuke questions.

"Yes, really." Yukina interrupts. "The memories could cause him to die if they all try to return at once again."

"Or were you idiots unaware of that?" Kimi snipes as they stare; they then return to their games, acting as though nothing happened. She rolls her eyes and mutters "idiots".

"Thanks...I think." Sora mumbles.

"You're welcome." Yukina and Kimi reply in stereo.

"Ah, good to see you all here." Koenma bwinks in. "Kimi, before I explain, Kat says to tell you that she's fine, but her stay in the infirmary--"

"Will probably be extended? It figures." The girl sighs. "Sorry, continue."

Koenma shakes his head. "Anyway." He turns to Sora. "Would you like to join Team Urameshi temporarily?"

"What?" Kurama interjects before he can reply.

"He could use the training and experience, Kurama." The demi-god states as though it's the most obvious answer in the world.

The red head's eyes narrow. "Then I quit."

The brunette consults a folder he brought with him. "Well, your probation is over and you've finished your community service."

Kurama wordlessly stands and leaves.

"So...he can just go?" Yusuke murmurs, stunned; the others can only stare at the last spot they saw him in.

Said pacifiered boy grins. "He'll be back."

0x0x0x0

Sora groans and yanks the covers over his head when the lights in his room are switched on. "It's four am..." He whines.

"And it's also break...meaning you get to train all the more." Kimi informs him tartly. "Up and at 'em, sunshine."

The black haired boy grumpily pokes his head out and fixes her with a nasty look. "You're pure evil, you know that?"

She grins. "Yep. Now c'mon. The sooner you finish, the sooner you can crawl back into bed." The demoness then exits, leaving a sullen boy to mutter curses upon her.

It has been a week since Kurama up and left; the newer members of Team Urameshi have been focusing on training; the older members are still stunned, though now somewhat annoyed, by Kurama's actions.

"I mean...what the hell?!" Yusuke pounds a fist on the table as Kimi enters and pulls out a frying pan.

"...would you like some breakfast, since you're up?" She questions hesitantly as she gathers the supplies needed.

He stares at her blankly. "You cook?"

"I can cook most breakfast foods and I can make 'soldier rations' but beyond that...no."

"Fine." He mutters.

She cooks omlettes for him, Sora and herself; the plates are deftly placed on the table with toast, milk, orange juice and butter.

Yusuke blinks. "...you've done this before?"

"In my spare time, I've worked as a waitress. I'm pretty decent at it...and don't make any 'girls belong in the kitchen' cracks..." She grumbles as Sora enters, tired but dressed.

"...is that for me?" He motions at the lone omlette.

"No, it's for the Queen of England." Kimi retorts. "It'll be cold by the time she gets here, though, so she'll have to do without."

Yusuke has to smother a grin in spite of himself; Sora sticks his tongue out at her and joins them before digging in.

"What? You guys had a party and didn't invite me?" Kuwabara grumbles as he enters; Kimi obligingly makes him an omlette as well.

0x0x0x0

Four PM finds the four lazing on one of the outer deck portions of the dojo; the entire day has been spent training. Genkai eyes the four but says nothing, as they had worked hard the entire time. Yukina enters from the kitchen, bearing ice cold lemonade for all. She is welcomed by cheers and many, many thanks; she grins, blushing slightly, before taking a glass to Genkai.

Hiei, who is observing from a nearby tree, is startled when a glass of lemonade is offered to him as well; he reluctantly accepts it, which earns him a grin from Yukina, who then rejoins the group sprawled out on the deck.

0x0x0x0

Kurama is training in the forest nearby. When he nears, he is taken aback by how easily the four are getting along. Sora rolls his eyes at something Yusuke says; the brown eyed teen then says something that prompts the middle finger from Sora; Kimi and Kuwabara are watching and discussing something with Yukina; Genkai and Hiei are watching the group from afar, but paying attention to what is said. He is even more taken aback by the sudden urge to join them; he shakes it off and returns home, mentally scolding himself for wanting to join them.

"Besides, Sora and I aren't friends...even if he is Kuronue's reincarnation."

0x0x0x0

Koenma appears the next day, which is the day before school starts up again, while the four are playing video games.

Kimi pauses the game. "What's up?"

"Uhm..." The brunette murmurs.

The bluette glares. "What?"

"Well...you see..."

"I'm not going to like this, am I?"

"Not really..."

With that, Koenma takes Kimi to a separate room and explains what he needs done.

0x0x0x0

Kimi returns. "Someone shoot me. Please."

"Why?" Kuwabara ventures.

"Because I'm making her go to school." Koenma supplies.

"I don't do skirts!"

"Then cross dress!" The demi-god snaps.

"Maybe I will!"

"Well...you don't have any ti--" Yusuke's comment is cut short by an oar slamming him upside the head. Botan then leaves to complete an assignment Koenma gave her; the others sweatdrop.

"Why do you have to go anyway?" Yukina inquires.

"Until we know which way the flashbacks will manifest themselves, someone should be around Sora as often as possible." Koenma explains.

She turns to Sora. "If you're in all the smart classes, I will have to cry."

"No worries." He grins. "I'm in all academic."

"Thank you!"

"But you still have to wear a dress..."

"Son of a bus."

0x0x0x0

Jin and Touya wander closer and closer towards the border that divides a land dead with the present kingdoms. They play it off as a mission or a dare or both to anyone who asks, though they do have a real reason. They heard that a friend off theirs was meandering the dead land and they want to investigate. The problem is that the place is near impossible to enter...and that it is known as a "land dead" for a reason.

Despite this, the two intend to enter...as they intend to locate their friend.

0x0x0x0

The woman in an elegant dress smirks as she surveys the two shinobi in her crystal ball. "The fools..." Her smirk becomes predatory. "They are so desperate for word of their little friend...they're willing to forfeit their lives..." An unlady-like snort escapes her. "Friend. What a pathetic word...and it has such little meaning..." She leaves the room that contains the ball, but forgets to cover it.

A pair of demonic red eyes appear in it and use the opportunity to spy on their chief rival. The owner of those eyes spots what it's looking for and promptly uses a spell to copy it. The eyes then vanish as their master decides that enough has been done for today.

The trouble will begin later.

0x0x0x0

I am right.

"...and, in conclusion, both of you will be sentenced---"

"Stop!" The little boy we rescued comes running in through the doors.

The two of us trade glances, hardly daring breathe. Who is he that he is brazen enough to interrupt King Enma?

-x-x-x-x-

Nyahaha =3 Funfun.

Yeah, I gotta write quickly, 'cuz I'm gonna have no time next weekend. (Parties are supposed to be fun...but they're not. :sigh: )

Ah well...hope everyone had a good President's Day/extra long weekend!
Emma