A Reunion of Sorts


L.A.: Hello everyone! Apparently my mind shut down from all the work it has endured and now I am on a writing frenzy.

Amu: Hoozah!

L.A.: In this chapter, we'll see a few familiar faces and maybe a few answers…

Amu: Now Read!

PinkxXxPoisonxXxLemonade: Thanks for the review! Do I get a cookie? (sees spork monkey) er, I think I'll leave now…

Valinor's Twilight: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you are enjoying the story!

Out-Of-Control-Authoress: Thanks for the review! You want to know where Carl went. I will say this much. There is a method to my madness. (shifty eyes)

Angel of Randomosity: Thanks for the review! Yes, the subconscious is annoying. Amu likes to sometimes pretend to be my subconscious. It is very annoying.

Spidey meets Wizard-Theif: Thanks for the review you two! Sorry, W.T. but I don't think Kurama's going to get a spirit beast in this story. It just isn't working out. And Spidey, you know we don't ever bring up the C. word around Amu. (Amu looks at L.A. suspiciously) (whistles innocently)

UpperClassK9: Thanks for the review! I predict you will learn who Akira works for very soon.

Suzakus Wings: Thanks for the reviews! Yay! Someone else who has read Crime and Punishment. Fun times.

Yume Ninja: Thanks for the reviews! Don't worry, starting now, pieces will start to fall into place.

dragongirl-8507 : Thanks for the review! I'm glad this story puts you into a better mood.

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho. If I did then I wouldn't have to suffer for my art.


Night came quickly and although Tori was exhausted, she found that she couldn't sleep. So, instead she found herself wandering around the outside of the temple. She settled for sitting on the steps outside the temple door. This gave her great access to see the stars.

Summer was coming. There was promise of warmth in the air. She still couldn't believe that they had been here for so long. She wondered what her family was thinking and what was going on now at school. A part of her though, never really wanted this adventure to end.

"Couldn't sleep?" a voice asked.

She turned to see Kurama sitting down beside her.

Tori grinned. "Not really. Guess I still have some adrenaline left in my system."

"I've heard that can cause problems," Kurama said with a smile.

They were silent for a few minutes.

Kurama watched her from the corner of his eye. The moonlight shone down on her causing her to look like she had a blue aura dancing off her body.

She was beautiful. This was strange thing to say. She didn't look like a model. In fact, right now she was only in a pair of shorts and a tank top. Her hair was pulled up in a sloppy ponytail causing many hairs to stick out. There was nothing really extraordinary about her.

And yet…

The way she moved, the way her eyes shone in the light, even the curve of her lips seemed to fascinate him.

He shook his head as he turned his attention back to the stars. He needed to stop thinking that way. There was no need to break any hearts when there was another way.

"Hey Kurama?" Tori said, refusing to look away from the stars. "You remember what I said earlier?"

Kurama frowned. "I'm not sure..."

"You know, that we shouldn't be together," She paused. "I didn't mean it."

Kurama looked away. He knew what she was implying but he knew that it wasn't wise. He was supposed to protect Sira and her. That was his job. Showing romantic inclinations to one could jeopardize the mission. "Tori I don't…"

"Just hear me out," Tori said. She kept her gaze fixated on the stars. "Before, I thought it would be better, for both of us, if we weren't together." She shuffled her foot. "The truth is that it hurt more not being with you." She sighed. "I will have to go back to my world sometime. That is inevitable. But, wouldn't it be better if we spent whatever time we had left together?" She turned to look at him. "Well, wouldn't it?"

As he stared at her, he realized that he wanted nothing more than to agree with her.

It is better to have had love and lost it than to never love at all.

He smirked at the thought. How ironic. He watched as his hand cupped her cheek and drew her towards him. If she was okay with it then so was he.

They didn't have to make each other promises or profess their undying love like in b-rated movies.

They had no future but at least they could enjoy the present.


"What?" Tori and Sira yelled at the same time. It was the following morning. When they entered the den, they were greeted by none other than Genkai who had startling news for them.

"You heard me, as soon as Sira is fully recovered you two are going through training," Genkai said with her arms crossed.

"But we can't," Sira whined. "Neither one of us are athletically inclined."

"You two looked like weaklings out there," Genkai said. "You can't expect those idiots to save you all the time."

"B-but…" Tori said

Genkai glared. "Do you want to be damsels in distresses for your entire lives?"

"No," Sira said as Tori and she shook their heads.

"Then you will start training." She left before they could protest.

Sira sighed as she slouched back in the sofa. "Well, this is great." Haku quickly hopped in her lap and curled into a ball. Ever since the dream reaper incident, Haku has never left her side. He even tried to follow her into the bathroom. When she wouldn't let him in, he whined and scratched at the door until she came back out.

Seeing Haku reminded Tori of a certain missing fox. "Have you seen Akira?"

Sira shook her head. "Not since yesterday." An evil grin appeared on her face. "I bet he left when his lackey was killed."

"Very funny," Tori said sarcastically. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Akira pass by a window. She quickly stood up. "Akira!" She yelled as she ran after him.

Sira sighed as she scooped Haku up and followed her. "Wait up, Tori!"

By the time she reached Tori, Sira was nearly out of breath. "Hey… did you…forget…I'm still recovering?"

Tori grinned sheepishly as she scooped Akira up. "Sorry about that." She turned her attention back to Akira. "You shouldn't be running off on your own."

Akira stared at her with owl-like eyes. "Nu-lack!"

"I'm glad to see that you two are okay," a voice said.

They both looked up in surprise.

"Carl?" Tori said in disbelief.

Sure enough, it was the ogre.

"Where the hell have you been?" Sira asked. "I thought you were dead."

Carl frowned. "But, Tori told me she didn't want to see me until I told her who I worked for." He puffed his chest out. "And now I can. He wants to see you."

"He?" Sira said as she hugged Haku close to her "Who's he?"

"That would be me," boomed a familiar voice.

The scenery around them seemed to melt and was replaced with the interior of a castle. Sitting on the throne in front of them was a familiar furry dog like creature.

"Molester!" Sira shrieked as she hid behind Tori.

Haku jumped out of her arms and stood protectively in front of them.

The molester grinned. "It's good to see you too. Although, I do wish you would quite calling me that. I do have a name, you know."

"So," Tori said slowly as she looked at Carl. "You work for him?"

Carl nodded. "And, I'm not the only one."

Akira wiggled out of her arms and jumped onto the arm chair.

The molester grinned at him. "Hello, dear friend. How are you?"

"I'm doing quite well. You though, look as if you went through hell."

Sira's eye twitched. "See, I told you Akira was evil. He talks and even rhymes."

Akira cocked his head. "I cannot help this tick of mine. I always have to end my sentences in a rhyme."

"And he's not evil," the molester said. "His name is Mystère. You could say he's the embodiment of mystery."

"That's sound so stupid," Sira said with a glare.

Tori stepped on her foot and sent a glare.

"Well, it is," Sira muttered.

"Why did you send Mystère if you had Carl keeping tabs on us?" Tori asked.

The molester looked at them as if they were idiots. "You wouldn't let Carl near you so I needed an inside man."

Akira shrugged. "I was bored and needed entertainment. He needed a spy so I was sent."

"You know," The molester said casually. "We only have a limited amount of time. Don't you have some important questions you would like to ask me?"

"Well for starters," Sira said. "Who are you and what do those freaky people that keep attacking us want?"

"That's two questions but I'll answer them." The molester leaned back on its hunches. "They call me the Argos. How I got the name I'm not really sure. As to the second question, they want you two because you're special."

Tori and Sira looked at him skeptically.

"Uh-huh," Tori said. "Then how come we can't do anything."

"You can do everything," the Argos said. "Didn't you ever wonder why I chose a painter and a writer?"

"You're a big supporter of the arts?" Sira said.

"Think of what a painter and a writer have in common," Akira said calmly. "In that lies the answer to your problem."

"Come again?" Tori asked.

"Only you know the answer to your own question," The Argos said. "I cannot help you there."

Sira and Tori looked like they were about to protest but he cut them off. "

"I don't have much time left so I'll say one last thing," He looked them in the eye. "If you were to think of this whole ordeal as a game then you must realize that the final boss will come soon. With the final boss is your way home. You must tread cautiously because with the final boss, all rules are thrown out."

Tori frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

The Argos cocked his head as if he heard a noise. "You must go. Just remember to heed my warning."

In a blink of an eye, they were back in front of the temple.

"Whoa," Sira said as she rubbed her head. "That was crazy." Haku watched her warily to make sure she wouldn't fall.

Carl gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry about the boss. He wanted to be more cordial but times are pretty stressful now." He sighed. "I guess I should say my goodbye as well. I've got a few errands I have to run for the boss."

"Oh," Sira said. "Well, see ya!"

"Bye," Tori called after him. "Sorry I thought you were evil."

"No problem I…" He was cut off as he tripped over a bush. He quickly got back up and brushed himself off. "I meant to do that," He said before disappearing.

Sira sighed. "Same old Carl."

Tori looked down at Akira. "So, do I have to call you Mystère?

Akira shook his head. "Akira is just fine. I've come to like it as a name of mine."

"So, why did you pretend you couldn't talk?" Sira asked.

"I am the embodiment of mystery as you can plainly see. If I wasn't mysterious then I wouldn't be me."

"Freak," Sira muttered.

"We have more important problems to worry about," Tori said causing all three to look at her. "The final boss will show itself soon."

"And we need to figure out why we're here," Sira said. She glanced at Akira. "You wouldn't tell us, would you?"

Akira smiled mysteriously. "What do a writer and painter have in common?"

"In that lies the answer to our problem," Tori muttered.


L.A.: Bwahaha! I gave you some answers and left you with more mysteries!

Amu: Mystère, seriously?

L.A.: There is a reason. It's actually a hint to something in this story though I doubt anyone will pick it up until the end.

Amu: Hm, being clever are we?

L.A.: Like I always say there is a method to my madness.

Amu: (whispers) There is no method. There's just madness.

L.A.: (grins evily) We're all mad here…

Amu: Gah! You quoted him! I hate that freak! ( begins to throw stuff around room)

L.A.: Okay, probably not my best idea. Anyway, you know what to do. READ and REVIEW! (notices Amu's destruction and sweatdrops) Er, I should probably try to calm her down now…