A/N: I reposted this chapter to inform readers that I won't be able to work on this story at least until November-December of this year. I'm working on another story called Canis and Chiroptera which needs to be completed before November-December. Thus this story has been put on the backburner. I apologize but details explaining why I must do this are on my profile. I hope you understand.
-D101

Operation Code 20-2000

Civil law wasn't Fox's strong suit but he had a feeling at least one lawsuit would be filled because of what had happened at the amusement park. Thankfully, that lawsuit would not be directed at Underworld so he and his team had nothing to worry about from the court system. However, they had many other concerns. The most pressing being the three unconscious girls who were asleep in 45's room and a few other interesting changes.

Fox looked up from his novel when he heard 45 shout from the bathroom, "They still aren't coming off!"

Spirit's voice floated up from his makeshift bed on the floor. "Well at least you only got tattoos. I'll have to dye my hair!"

From the pile of black cloth in the dormer came the muffed shout of: "Shut up both of you. At least you don't have red eyes!"

Fox sighed as he placed his book down. So far he had been the only one not to show any odd changes. Although from the headache he was gaining, it would almost be preferable. Seeing the black cloth shift, Fox said, "Enough. This isn't going to help us. 45 come here. We need to plan out our next move."

For a moment the room was silent. Then Fox heard 45 grumble and put something down before he walked into the room. The boy's face was red, most likely from aggressive scrubbing in an attempt to remove the blue tattoos that covered the teens face. Beyond the tattoos and red-rimmed eyes due to lack of sleep, the teen was unchanged. Spirit sat up from his bed and scratched at his head where his black hair had been replaced with copper curly locks. Finally, Dragon's face peeked out from the cocoon of black cloth revealing blood red eyes. When the smallest member of Team Urameshi finally unwrapped himself from the cloth, one could see that his black hair now refused to obey gravity and a white star was located in the hair directly above the boy's forehead.

Many jokes had already been made about Dragon's hair so thankfully Fox did not have to listen to anymore as 45 sat down on the couch beside him. As he had everyone's attention, Fox took a deep breath and made sure Youko was quiet before speaking.

"Our first course of action should be to speak to the girls and learn what we can. Perhaps they know of a way to reverse this or at least tell us what happened."

45 slouched into the couch. "We already know what happened. They were kidnapped by Demon World. Demon World experimented on them. We went on a date with them. Idiots started shooting. Fires started. Girls pass out. We wake up next morning looking like we went to a rave."

Fox pinched the bridge of his nose. Normally, he was infinitely patient but after listening to the other boys complain for over ten hours and having to deal with Youko trying to have his say had fried his last nerve. "You forget, 45. We were also 'experimented' on when we broke into the lab. It is possible that this is a delayed effect of that accident."

Dragon huffed. "Then why are you the only one unchanged."

Fox shrugged. "I said it was possible. I did not say that was what happened. Regardless, it appears we are at a stalemate until the girls wake up."

45 stretched. "Well if that's the case, I say we get some whipped cream and a feather."

Spirit instantly jumped up from the floor and placed himself between 45 and the boy's room. "I don't think so, 45. There is no way you are going to use the old whip cream trick to wake them up."

Jumping over the couch, 45 landed with a fist outstretched. "Oh yeah? You gonna stop me, carrot-top?"

Spirit's face froze into outrage as he shouted. "I'll show you carrot-top, Mr. Tattoo Artist!"

Heaving a sigh, Fox decided it was probably best to let the two fight it out. With luck the loud shouts would wake the girls so they could learn what was going on. Glancing around the room for something to do as his book was becoming boring, Fox was left to sit with his thoughts. Thankfully before he became bored with that as well Dragon spoke up.

"So where were you when the buffoon went looking for you?"

Fox sighed again. The other boys had already traded stories of their night. Apparently 45 had run into the gang members first with Keiko. When Dragon found them, Keiko somehow created a shield that repelled the bullets. However, 45 grabbed her hand and bullets of light suddenly appeared and effectively cut down the gang members. In the process somehow Keiko was knocked unconscious. While 45 removed Keiko from the park, Dragon searched for and found Yukina and Spirit. Apparently, the temperature dropped and ice encased the feet of a few thugs. According to Dragon, Yukina was glowing light blue at that point. When Dragon touched her arm to pull her out of the line of fire, a wall of fire appeared around him. Similar to Keiko, Yukina fell unconscious and Dragon helped her out of the park. Meanwhile, Spirit went in search of Fox. Instead of finding his teammate, Spirit was attacked by Sumire. When he grabbed her wrist, a large stick of glowing light appeared in his other hand and Sumire fell unconscious. Spirit was able to escape the park with the unconscious Sumire and found Fox with the others outside the park. Due to them trying to avoid the cops, Fox had not been able to explain his whereabouts nor had anyone had time to ask.

"I'm afraid I was looking for a quiet spot so that I could concentrate on forcing Youko back into his place," Fox now explained. "For some reason, he decided he wanted to join in the fun when Sumire suggested going on the Tunnel of Love."

Dragon nodded and opened his mouth, no doubt to ask another question, when a shout came from 45's bedroom. All four boys looked towards the doorway to see a disheveled Keiko glaring at 45 and Spirit. Looking at the two boys himself, Fox was unsurprised to see 45 holding the front of Spirit's shirt while Spirit had a grip on 45's hair. Both had a fist pulled back to punch but lowered them when they Yukina joined Keiko in the doorway. Spirit promptly rushed towards the doorway asking Yukina if she was alright while Keiko addressed the remaining males.

"Where are we?"

45 shrugged. "My apartment, where else?" Seeing the confused look on her face, 45 added, "After you disappeared, our old place had a fire so we moved here. Not too bad, huh?"

Her glare softened as the girl looked around. At the same time, Fox noticed a change in appearance. The girl's tattoos were missing on her face although the ones on her arms remained. His eyes narrowed as he glanced at Yukina. The girl's eyes were red but not to the same extent they had been. Now she no longer appeared like a demon with glowing red eyes. Her aqua hair had also darkened in colour to become turquoise. Glancing towards 45 and Dragon he found that Dragon's eyes were the same shade as Yukina's and 45's tattoos matched Keiko's. So it appeared the accident in the Demon World lab was not to blame for this or not completely at least.

A scream appeared from the bedroom causing everyone to look at the door to see the final girl appear. If Fox had not known there was no escape from 45's room due to the clutter he would have thought Sumire had escaped and left some unknown girl in the room. Like Keiko and Yukina, Sumire's appearance had changed. However, hers was a bit more noticeable. Her curly hair was now completely straight and the colour of a moonless night. Her blue eyes scanned the area with a rage lit fire inside them. When her eyes fell on Fox, he felt Youko stir. Closing his eyes, he focused on his other personality and found him circling the corner of the mind he bound the violent personality in. Youko seemed to growl as Fox forced him back but eventually the other personality faded back into their subconscious allowing Fox to return to the world of reality.

He returned just in time to block a knife aimed for his heart. Grabbing Sumire by the wrist, he stood up from the couch and threw her onto it. The knife made a clatter as it hit the floor and fell under the TV set. Dragon appeared at his right hand with his sword, and 45 was on his left with his gun pointed at the girl. Sumire stared at them for a moment before breaking into heartbreaking sobs. Leaving Dragon and 45 to watch her, Fox turned his back to look at Keiko and Yukina. He found the girls staring at Sumire in fear and Spirit standing protectively by Yukina with his back to the girls. He paused to wonder how Spirit was still alive with his lacking of self-preservation but pushed the thought from his mind. He had other worries.

"We have a few questions for you," he started to say when he felt as though he was grabbed by the shoulders and pulled back. Too late, he realized he had let his mental guard down. Now it was Youko's turn to play.

*O*C*2*0*

She wasn't sure what Sumire had been thinking when the girl lunged. If Sumire had really wanted to kill the Underworld agent, it would have made far more sense to wait until the boys weren't looking around with their senses on high alert for danger. If Sumire hadn't really wanted to attack Shuichi, why had she lunged towards him with a knife? What had Sumire wanted? Watching the girl crying on the couch, Keiko felt something like pity. Out of the three of them, Sumire always seemed the most eager to please her masters. It was something Keiko never understood even after the years of brainwashing attempts by Demon World. Keiko had learned, of course, what were the correct things to say and do. She had learned how to hide her emotions from her masters but she had never allowed them to disappear. Deep down, she had kept a hold of her identity because the moment she lost that was the moment she lost everything.

Yukina had also kept strong but Sumire… Keiko had the feeling Sumire had given up her identity long ago but now watching her cry, Keiko wondered if she was wrong. Watching Sumire cry, Keiko had to wonder if those were tears of fear, anger, or relief. Was Sumire fearful of the consequences of failure? Was she angry to have failed? Or was she thankful that Shuichi had been able to disarm her?

Keiko didn't know the girl well enough to say but one thing was for sure. Yukina, Sumire, and she were safe for the moment from Demon World. How long that moment would last was up for debate, especially since Demon World was expecting a message of confirmation from them. For now they were safe from Demon World but that didn't mean they were completely safe. After all, the boys were Underworld agents. Sooner or later, Underworld would find out that they had captured Demon World employees and then she and the other girls would be trapped again. Keiko doubted Yusuke and Kuwabara would tell Underworld but Hiei and Shuichi were unknowns. How much loyalty did they have towards the organization and how closely did the organization watch them.

Her eyes moved from Sumire to Shuichi as the boy turned to face her and Yukina.

"We have a few questions for you," the boy said before he fell silent and Keiko's eyes widened in fear. The boy's eyes had turned gold.