Summary: For Mika, life is a constant struggle for survival. After some very unfortunate situations, she has isolated herself and is dangerously close to losing her sanity. That is, until she meets Kurama who turns her life upside down. But things begin to get out of control when it is discovered that she could have some strange connection to a mysterious legendary force that could be plotting a major takeover of all three worlds! Could her misery be nothing more that a cruel twist of fate or is this all connected to something even bigger?

Disclaimer: Hahaha, I wished I owned Yu Yu Hakusho. But, as we all know, I don't. However, all the original characters belong to me.

Angel's Cry

Chapter 3

"New Roommate"

17

The young woman sat on a bench in the quiet park. She let out a content sigh as a cool breeze gently blew her long silvery hair and caressed her face.

"Here you go, Mika!"

She looked up and saw a young man. He had short messy black hair and bright blue eyes that sparkled like the ocean. He held out an ice cream cone to her.

"Thank you, Katashi." She smiled back and took the ice cream from him as he sat down beside her.

The sun was beginning to set, and the two teens were silent as they watched the sunset and slowly devoured their ice cream.

"Katashi..." The young woman murmured as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Yeah," he smiled and leaned his head against hers. "But it's not as half as beautiful as you."

She giggled in embarrassment and they fell silent again.

It was Katashi who broke the silence. "Mika? I need to ask you something."

The usual note of mischief was gone from his voice which worried her. Was something wrong?

She was almost reluctant to answer him as her heart instantly began to pound nervously. "Y-Yes?" Her eyebrows collided in confusion as she watched him stand up and move so that he was standing directly in front of her. He got down on one knee and took her hand in his.

"Mika," he started, "Let's promise that when we're old enough---we'll get married."

"Katashi..." The young woman closed her eyes. She could feel her cheeks warming, and she knew that she was blushing. "I-I don't know what to say..."

"Say you'll marry me."

"I-I'm not sure..."

"Look at me." She opened her eyes and stared at the man before her. The smile that usually graced his lips was gone and was replaced with a mouth as straight as a line. The mischievous twinkles in his blue eyes were gone as they focused on her. "I love you, Mika. More than anything in this world." He said as he ran his thumb along her hand. "I'd never ever hurt you."

"I love you too, Katashi..."

"Then let's get married. We'll be together forever. That's what you want, isn't it?"

"Yes," she nodded, "I want us to be together for as long as we live. You're what makes me happy, Katashi."

"Can I take that as a yes?" He grinned mischievously.

"Yes, you may," she giggled.

"I love you," Katashi pressed his lips to her hand.

"I love you too."

~.~.~.~

"Kurama, I tried. Something is blocking me from erasing her memory."

"That's... very strange."

"Even though I can't erase it, I looked through her memories. They were blurred. She won't remember much. It was too much for her tiny brain to take in."

"Hiei, that's very rude. Even if she can't hear what you're saying."

"Hn."

"Her memories may be blurred at the moment but if something were to trigger it, you'd be surprised how sharp memories can become. We'll need to be very careful around her. We don't want to raise any suspicions she may have."

~.~.~.~

"I see that you're feeling better now."

Mika sat up and clutched her pounding head. She turned towards the source of sound and saw a familiar redhead sitting in a chair nearby. He closed his book before he sat it on the table. His lips curled into a smile that didn't match his emotionless eyes. She blinked at him and slowly she recollected what had happened the last time she was conscious.

"M-My house?"

"I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news," Kurama's lips twisted into a frown. "It caught fire and burned to the ground. You were bleeding badly and needed medical attention immediately. When we returned, it was too late; the flames had already spread to the surrounding area. It was too dangerous for anyone to try to stop it."

She let out an exasperated sigh as she pulled her knees to her chest. She buried her head in her arms as she contemplated the situation. What was she going to do now? Where would she stay? She couldn't go back to her parents; they would laugh and slam the door in her face.

"I understand that you are in a difficult position and that you need time to think things through," Kurama started, and she could hear the wooden chair creek as he stood. "But may I suggest that you eat something? You were unconscious for a while. You must be hungry." Her empty stomach responded before she could with a loud growl causing the redhead to chuckle lightly. "I'll take that as a yes," He said as he helped her out of bed.

When she finally looked down she realized that she was dressed in a pink tank top and a loose fitting pair of matching plaid shorts.

"I'm sorry," Kurama apologized when realized what she was thinking. "But you were bleeding so much that it seeped through your clothes. My friend Botan attended to your wounds and dressed you. Those clothes belong to her."

She nodded in understanding and followed him out of the room. The sound of yelling and shouting rang in her ears as they began to descend the stairs. Kurama's friends were scattered amongst the living room. Two sat on the black couch with a bowl of popcorn between them, loudly cheering on the wrestlers on the television. Another sat on the window sill and turned his head to scowl at her when they entered the room.

Her eyes widened like a frightened rabbit and her breathing became heavy. It was strange. How such simple things could bring back the most horrible memories. The way the boy glared at her reminded her of the looks her parents used to give her when they were displeased. All the yelling and shouting from the pair sitting on the couch reminded her of her drunken father watching television with his cruel friends. Everything brought back memories.

Horrible memories.

She slowly backed out of the room before she turned and bolted up the stairs. She dashed into the nearest room and collapsed against the wall. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her shaking arms around them and hid her face. She could hear faint footsteps outside in the hall and felt her body tense. Someone had followed her.

"Mika?" Kurama's voice questioned from the hall. She could hear his footsteps getting closer, and soon the creak of a door opening filled the silent room. "There you are." She could hear him approach her but she refused to look at him. "What's wrong?" He questioned, and she could feel him brush against her as he took a seat beside her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Did something upset you?"

She was silent for a while, and he waited patiently for her to respond. She swallowed and began in a voice shaking heavily with tears, "T-Those boys..."

"Yes?"

"D-Don't let them hurt me! P-Please!" She cried out.

Kurama frowned and began to rub her back in an attempt to comfort her. He remained silent as he allowed her to calm herself. It was five minutes later when her sobs had been reduced to scattered sniffles that he spoke. "They won't hurt you. They're good friends of mine. Come with me and I'll introduce you to them." Mika remained deadly silent and lifted her head to look at him. Fear shone in her eyes.

"They won't hurt you." He stood up and held his hand out to her. "I promise."

She stared at him with her tear stricken face for a while before she took his hand. He pulled her up and they made their way down the stairs once again. She gripped his hand tightly as they entered the living room and he squeezed hers reassuringly.

"Everyone," he called out and waited patiently until he had captured everyone's attention, "I'd like you to meet Mika." He led her across the room towards the couch. "This is Yusuke Urameshi," he pointed to the brunette with slicked back hair.

"Hey," Yusuke greeted her with a jerk of his head, and she gave him a small quick wave while avoiding his eyes.

"Kazuma Kuwabara," Kurama pointed to the one with bright orange hair that sat beside Yusuke.

"Everyone calls me Kuwabara, but you, m'dear, may call me Kazuma." Kuwabara said in a suave voice.

"Kuwabara, you're an idiot." Yusuke muttered as he shook his head.

"What'd you say, Urameshi?"

"They bicker like this all the time. You'll get used to it." Kurama laughed when she stared at the two strangely. He pulled her across the room where the boy who had attacked her sat perched on the window sill. "And this is Hiei Jaganshi."

Hiei stared at her with his cold red eyes before he turned to continue gazing out of the window. "Hn."

"Don't be so rude, Hiei." Kurama scolded the boy before he turned to her. "I'm sorry. Hiei isn't much of a people person."

Mika jumped a little when the boy suddenly launched himself from the window sill. He glared at her before he started across the room and up the stairs.

"He'll warm up to you eventually." Kurama shook his head as he led her into the kitchen. "What would you like to eat?"

She shrugged as she took a seat at the table.

He walked over to the refrigerator and opened it. "Hmmm... I guess Yusuke and Kuwabara got to the leftovers before we could. That's alright." He glanced at the clock on the wall before he began to pull several pots from the wooden cabinets below the counter. "It's about time for lunch anyway. I'll make something for everybody. How does soup sound?"

Mika smiled out of polietness. She had never been asked what she would like to eat before. But it didn't matter much. She never did eat much anyway.

Kurama glanced at her and then turned away. "You should smile more often. You have a nice smile."

"Thank you..." she murmured as she looked down at the table.

"Lunch won't be ready for a while. Why don't you go talk to Yusuke and Kuwabara? Maybe they'll give you a tour of the house."

Mika frowned at his suggestion. Talk to them? Alone? She didn't think she could.

"They're harmless. They wouldn't hurt you although they may try to hurt each other," he frowned as he filled a pot with water. "If something happens I'll be there before you can blink."

Mika frowned but nodded as she stood from the table. She pushed her chair in slowly, purposely stalling, earning a chuckle from Kurama. She walked towards the living room but paused in the door frame as she thought of a way to start the conversation.

"Hey, Mika!" Kuwabara called out causing her to jump at the sudden call of her name.

She forced a ghost of a smile at him before she stared down at her feet and kicked one back and forth nervously.

"We were just getting ready to watch a movie," Yusuke said as he opened the door to a wooden cabinet that was filled with DVDs, VHSs, and video games, "Do you want to watch it with us?"

She could feel Kurama's eyes on her back. She turned only to see him smiling at her. His smile brought her some comfort as she turned back to Yusuke and Kuwabara who were patiently awaiting her response. She nodded slowly.

"Great!" Yusuke said as he motioned her to come over. "What about you Kurama? Feeling up to a movie?"

"I'll join you when I'm finished making lunch." Kurama called from the kitchen.

Mika gingerly sat down on the couch beside Yusuke as Kuwabara jumped up to turn off the lights. She nervously fumbled with her fingers and kicked her foot back and forth.

"We're watching this movie that Kuwabara's friend lent us. I'm not sure what it's called but it's supposedly really scary." Yusuke said as he popped a piece of popcorn in his mouth. "You may not want to sit too close to him though. The last time we watched a scary movie he almost pissed his pants."

"Damn it, Urameshi! That's not true!" Kuwabara yelled angrily.

Mika smiled halfheartedly. They were pretty funny. Maybe they weren't as bad as she thought.

~.~.~.~.~

The sky was painted a deep bluish-black hue. A countless number of stars were scattered across the sky and glittered tauntingly at the people below them. The night air was a bit chilly yet pleasantly cool.

Mika sat in the garden with her legs pulled to her chest and her chin resting on her knees as she stared up at the stars. She shivered slightly as a gentle wind blew her hair and she pulled the leather jacket that Yusuke had lent her tighter around her body.

"They're wonderful, aren't they?"

Mika turned only to see Kurama leaning against the sliding door, his eyes watching her intently. She nodded as he walked over to her and took a seat in the grass beside her. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh as a gentle breeze blew his crimson hair around his face.

They fell silent for a while as they just gazed at the stars that shimmered before them. She loved watching the stars. They had a soothing effect on her soul and made her feel calm and at peace with herself.

"I haven't seen them in a while..." she murmured in an almost inaudible voice.

"I'm sorry?"

"I haven't seen the stars in a long time..."

"Why not?" He questioned as he tucked a lock of fiery red hair behind his ear.

"You can't see them in the forest. It's dangerous at night; I stay home." She said quickly as she pulled a blade of grass from the ground. Her heart was pounding. She still wasn't used to being around people.

He nodded in understanding, "I see."

She fell silent as she was reminded of her troubles. Where was she going to stay tonight? It was already dark. She didn't know her way around town. She didn't even know what town she was in!

Kurama seemed to have read her thoughts as he said, "Mika, I understand that you're in a difficult position at the moment. Your house is gone along with everything else you own. If you'd like, you can stay here with us until you figure out what you're going to do."

"B-But..."

"I've already discussed the situation with everyone else. They don't mind if you stay for a while. I, for one, certainly don't mind. The final decision is up to you."

Mika closed her eyes as she considered his offer. Kurama was the sweetest most thoughtful person she had ever met. He was so kind to her and easily put her at ease. She couldn't remember the last time that someone could just make her feel so calm and so safe. Then she thought about how much fun she had had today. She was finally being offered the opportunity to branch out---to change her life. She wouldn't have to be alone anymore. She wouldn't have to feel so lonely all the time. She wouldn't have to feel so empty. It was nice for a change just to be able to forget everything and actually enjoy herself. It wasn't something that she wanted to give up. Not yet. She wanted this happiness to last as long as it possibly could.

"I'd like to stay."

"Alright," he said as he stood up. He held his hand out for her and this time she took it without hesitation. "We should tell everyone."

They entered the living room to find Yusuke and Kuwabara lying lazily on the couch. Hiei had resumed his seat on the window sill and was staring out into the distance.

"Everyone," Kurama started and paused until he had total attention of the room. "Mika has agreed to stay with us."

"Nice," Yusuke grinned.

"She can share a room with me!" Kuwabara volunteered, his voice joking.

"Kuwabara, you idiot!" Yusuke said as he whacked his friend upside the head. "Now why would anybody in their right mind want to share a room with you?"

"It was just a frickin' joke! Damn it, Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled as he rubbed his head. His face was purple with rage as he jumped out of his seat and dived towards Yusuke. "I'll kill you!"

"Don't worry; you won't be sharing a room with any of us." Kurama shook his head. "You will stay in the guest room. I will show you where it is."

They turned from the room and ascended the stairs. They turned down the corridor and continued on their way until Kurama stopped in front of a plain white door.

"Here we are. I'm sorry about the room, it's not the best. We never expected a visitor to stay with us overnight so we were lazy with the decor."

"Thank you," she whispered softly.

"You're welcome." He waved his hand through the air as if it were nothing as he glanced at the clock on the wall. "Well, it's getting late. I think I may turn in for the night. If you need anything, my room is just across the hall."

She nodded as she watched him disappear into his room with a soft "good night". She smiled slightly and turned to her room. She reached out and turned the cool silver doorknob and popped open the door. She slowly entered the room, her gaze wondering around.

It wasn't much with its bare white walls and simple furniture. On the wall opposite the door was a large bay window which offered a fabulous view of a forest not far from the house. Situated beneath the window was a wooden desk with a matching chair. A plain four-poster bed sat in the far corner of the room along with a nightstand and a simple lamp adorning its top. On the opposite side of the room there stood an empty closet and a short dresser. Another door, after opened, revealed a pristine white bathroom with a counter that had a built in sink and a mirror that stretched out above it, a toilet, and a bathtub.

A normal person would've been dissatisfied with their surroundings but Mika smiled. This room was like a grand suite in the swankiest hotel in the world compared to where she used to live.

She walked into the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. It was the first time that she actually saw herself clearly in quite a while. Her silver hair was disheveled and dirty. Her face was pale and her eyes were sunken and shone a dull brown color. Her lips were pale and chapped. She looked ghostly as if she had died and somehow come back to life. She fingered the tiny scar on her cheek and frowned at purple bruise along her jaw. She stared at her reflection, chewing on her bottom lip as she resisted the urge to break the mirror. She was so ugly. It was painful to even look at herself.

With a disgusted shake of her head, she turned away from her reflection and stared at the bathtub. It was quite funny how excited she got from seeing it. She sat on the edge and began to turn the glass knob left and right causing the stream of water that flowed from the faucet to cut on and off. There was no plumbing out in the forest; she always bathed in a spring that was only a few minutes away from her house. It had been a long time since she had actually seen a bathtub.

"Having fun?"

She lurched forward a bit as she was caught off guard. She turned slowly to see Yusuke leaning in the doorway with his arms folded. His brown eyes danced with amusement as a catlike grin spread across his face.

"I-I was..." she stuttered as her face turned bright red.

"We could hear the water turning on and off downstairs." He laughed as he scratched the back of his head. "I just came to check it out."

"I'm sorry..." she murmured as she relinquished her grip on the knob.

"It's no problem." Yusuke laughed again and gave her a thumbs-up. "It's nice that you're feeling better. Just enjoy yourself."

She nodded quickly and watched as he turned out of the room and vanished down the hall. The dull 'thump' of a door told her that he had decided to turn in and that she should stop or she would disturb someone. She flicked off the bathroom light as she walked into her room. She decided that she should go to sleep as well.

She turned off the light and slowly made her way to her bed in the corner. She climbed in and pulled the covers to her shoulders and smiled as she lowered her head onto a soft pillow. She thought of the day she had just had. It had been pleasant and it had been nice getting to know everyone. She had a feeling that her luck was changing for the better.

She smiled lazily as her eyelids became heavier with every passing minute. She closed her eyes and rolled over onto her side.

Thank you for everything, Kurama, was her last thought as she slowly fell into a deep slumber.