Chapter two... yay.

Review? Someone? Anyone? Please?

Um, basically the same as last chapter from Ari's point of view.

"Hey, Ari, are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

I smiled at Yusuke. "I'm sure. I'll be okay."

No one believed me.

"Arivianna."

I turned to look at Kurama as I walked out the door. Our eyes met, and we stared at each other for a full minute. Like always, doing that made me sad – his green eyes were ghostly reflections of what they had been when he had been living.

"I could come with you, if you wish," he offered.

"No. Trust me, Kurama. I'll be okay." I smiled my most convincing smile.

"We'll see you when you get back, then, Ari," Kuwabara said.

I nodded and left.

Trust me, I thought as I walked to school. I wish they would. Haven't I been through enough with them? Why do they feel the need to test me like this?

I'd been Team Urameshi's alternate fighter during the Dark Tournament, and I had helped them with their previous two missions, fighting the Saint Beasts and rescuing Yukina.

Wasn't I trustworthy?

I knew this was for the best, but I wished they would let me do things my way.

It was my job to check out our surroundings, to help them see how many other shamans were around, and what they were up to. I was also supposed to gather any information I could on Hao.

Hao. I shivered. I'd heard his name, once or twice before. He was bad news.

I was supposed to go to school with Yoh Asakura and Anna Kyoyama, both of whom were shamans. This same Yoh, once upon a time, had been my best friend. But I was supposed to avoid talking to him if possible. And if it wasn't possible, I was supposed to pretend I didn't know him.

For five days, I was supposed to observe. For five days, I was supposed to pretend I didn't know my best friend.

It wasn't fair.

But I arrived at my destination, then, interrupting my brooding.

They showed me to my classroom, Yoh and Anna's classroom. I walked in to find all the students already seated, every seat but one filled. One person I noticed right away; I recognized him, even with his head down on the desk. He had chocolate-brown hair and big, orange headphones.

Yoh.

"We have a new student joining us today..." the teacher said. "Her name is..." He paused to make sure he'd read my name correctly. "Arivianna Minamino."

Yoh hadn't been paying attention before, but he was now. His head hadn't moved at all, but he was paying attention now, I could tell.

"Hello, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you all." I smiled my usual, huge smile. "I'm Arivianna Minamino."

I stuttered slightly over the name, not used to it, but no one noticed. I wasn't used to my full name – everyone, besides Kurama, always called me by my nickname, Ari. And Minamino wasn't my name; it was Kurama's. I had needed one to apply here, and I had taken his, in honor of him.

I continued, "But you can call me–"

"Ari?" Yoh screamed, bolting upright.

My smile faltered a little. I had hoped these five days would be easy, but apparently they wouldn't be.

I took a deep breath and asked, "Do I know you?"

- Kuramastrass -