Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Never have, never will.

Opening the door to my apartment that night, I had to stifle a yawn. I'd stayed later at Keiko's than I'd originally planned. We got caught up talking and the next thing I knew it was ten o'clock at night. Now it was way too late for me to go running like I had wanted to.

I try to run everyday, it's habit and I enjoy it immensely. It relaxes me, lets me get my mind off whatever is currently wrong with me life, though lately there hasn't been much to complain about.

I'd started running in high school when I joined the cross country and track teams. I'd been a fringe varsity running, never scoring points but always running in the varsity line-up.

There are definite perks to being a runner. Besides acting as a distraction, running prevents me from blowing up like a balloon from all the food I eat, a bad habit I like to blame on Kuwabara. And then, of course, there's the infamous runner's high. The scientific reasons for the so-called high go way over my head, but I can most definitely attest to the euphoric effect of a good run.

But tonight there was going to be no runner's high. I'm not crazy enough to go running at ten o'clock at night, not with all the wack-packs that live in the city. I'd go out and never come back, and while Yusuke would get a kick out of that, it doesn't sound particularly thrilling to me.

I flicked on the light-switch and tossed my jacket on the nearest chair. My apartment is tiny, ridiculously tiny. A combined living room and kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom make up the entirety of my living space, but, all things considered, I really shouldn't complain.

My only income is the money I make working for Keiko, which is entirely too much considering all I do is waitress. She claims that she has more than enough money, what with Yusuke being a demon lord and all, but I still think it's unnecessary. Of course, after years of being her friend I knew better than to argue when she told me how much I was going to be paid. But even with Keiko paying me too much, my pathetically small living arrangements are all I can afford.

Having already eaten at Keiko's, I headed straight for bed. I changed quickly into shorts and a t-shirt, set my alarm for early the next morning so that I could go running, and climbed into bed.

The blare of my alarm clock woke me. Rolling over, I slapped the obnoxious machine and threw my legs out of bed. Twenty minutes later, dressed in running clothes, my dark brown hair thrown up into a ponytail, I was standing in my kitchen stuffing a muffin down my throat.

I grabbed my spare house key off the counter and looped it onto the shoelace of one of my sneakers before tying the laces. Locking the door behind me, I left my apartment and headed for the stairs that led down to the first floor of my building. I live on the third floor and, considering that I run three miles almost everyday, I figure it would be rather pathetic for me to take the elevator.

Exiting my building, I set off at an easy jog down the sidewalk, feeling the thud of my feet on the ground and the slap of my key on the top of my shoe.

It was early, early enough that few pedestrians were out and the traffic was thin. Checking the street for cars, I crossed over to the park that is half-a-mile from my apartment. I always run in the park, preferring the scenic route to that of the city streets.

I ran a two-mile loop in the park before leaving the same way I had come. The streets were busier on my way home and I used the time to people watch, as was my habit. I try to pick out the people who are rushing to work, not a particularly hard task seeing as they are always the rudest.

I was out of breath and sweating when I entered my apartment. I headed for my bathroom, kicking off my shoes and stripping as I went. I took a long, cool shower and dressed for work at the restaurant.

The drive to work was boring and made longer than usual by the fact that I hit every single light on the way. Entering the shop, the bell tinkling overhead, I said, "Morning."

Keiko was behind the counter, working diligently to get ready for the day. "Hey, Shy."

"Did you know you work too much?"

She glanced at me, raising a quizzical eyebrow.

"Just making an observation, no need to get annoyed."

"I'm not annoyed," she responded. "I just don't understand what makes you think I work too much."

"You're always preparing or cleaning or cooking or washing or organizing or –"

"Alright, I get it," Keiko laughed at me. She paused in her work for a second and then said, "I just want to make sure I do a good job. Running the restaurant I mean."

"Um, if I was running this place it would have burned to the ground by now. You're doing a great job."

"I don't want to disappoint my parents."

"If you're disappointing your parents, then mine are going to be chronically depressed."

"Shy," Keiko protested, "Don't be silly."

"No really, Keiko. You're running a pretty successful business and I'm working as a waitress. Who do you think is more of a disappointment?"

Keiko sighed and shook her head, but didn't respond. Knowing her well enough to see that the conversation was over, I asked, "What can I do to help?"

"Could you fill the napkin dispensers?"

There was silence for a time, while Keiko and I worked to get ready for the day and I finally broke it by asking, "So what were Kurama and Hiei talking to Yusuke about yesterday?"

"I'm not really sure. There's some kind of trouble in the Makai."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is Yusuke going to have to go back to Tourin?"

"I don't know. We haven't had a chance to talk about it."

I paused in my work and looked at Keiko. She was focusing intently, her lips pressed tightly together. I suppressed a sigh and went back to work.

It was Keiko's biggest hang-up about her relationship with Yusuke. She was never sure if he was going to disappear again and the worry ate at her constantly. Yusuke had never given up his title in the Makai and he continues to remain in contact with Hokushin, his second in command.

I was surprised when Keiko started talking, her words spilling forth rapidly, as though she was afraid that if she didn't say it now, she never would. "I hate that there's that side of him I can never relate to. I just hate it. What if he goes there and decides he likes it more? Why can't he just cut ties with that stupid world? Am I not enough to keep him happy?" Keiko stopped talking, her breath coming in harsh pants.

"Keiko, it's not like that. Don't you know that? Yusuke does everything he can to be here, but he can't just pull out of the Makai, his influence there is too important."

"I know that. I know that," Keiko murmured to herself, seemingly trying to convince herself.

Hesitantly, hoping I wouldn't upset her more, I said, "Do you know anything about what's wrong?"

Having regained control of herself, she replied, "Yusuke said something about a powerful demon causing trouble. I don't see why it's a big deal. Demons are always causing trouble."

So, there it was. That's what was bothering Keiko so much. If whatever was going on in the Makai was serious enough for Hiei and Kurama to come see Yusuke then it must be dangerous. Keiko was worried Yusuke was going to get hurt fighting in the Makai.

"Yusuke will be alright," I said. "He knows what he's doing."

She sighed and nodded. Recognizing another conversation as done, I focused on my work and the room lapsed back into silence.

Yusuke and Kuwabara made an appearance later that day, during the lull between the lunch and dinner rushes. I contemplated bringing up the conversation Keiko and I had had earlier, but changed my mine when I remembered what was going on tonight.

Yusuke and Keiko were going out for their customary Friday night date. The last thing I wanted to do was ruin their night by bringing up the sensitive topic of the Makai.

Instead I opted for a relatively harmless subject. "So Hiei has a serious stick up his ass, huh?"

Yusuke snorted, "'Stick' is seriously understating it."

"Yeah, the shrimp has a whole freaking tree stuck up there."

"Don't be so rude." Keiko's reprimand wasn't overly effective. Not considering how hard she was laughing.

"What brought you to that realization, Shy?"

"Oh, you know, just the whole I-don't-have-to-have-an-opinion-'cause-I'm-a-demon thing."

Kuwabara laughed and said, "Don't worry, you get used to that."

"To what?"

"Hiei sees demons as the superior race. We humans are rather pathetic in his eyes," Kuwabara explained.

Keiko frowned, "That isn't completely true. I think Hiei just doesn't want to admit that his opinion of humans has changed."

"You think he views us as the equals of demons?"

"Maybe not their equals, but certainly not as dirt like he used to. He just doesn't come out and say it because that would hurt his pride."

"You know what wouldn't hurt his pride?" Yusuke asked. Then, not pausing for us to answer, he said, "You guys talking about him, that's what."

I rolled my eyes and teased, "You're just jealous because we aren't talking about you."

"Damn straight," Yusuke laughed.

Shaking her head, Keiko said, "If you guys aren't going to help when customers come you may as well leave."

"Whoa, why the hostility?"

"It's not hostility. I'm running a business and I can't have you guys under my feet like children."

"Not exactly something to say to someone taking you out to dinner tonight."

Keiko ignored her boyfriend and glanced at me. "Speaking of tonight, are you sure you don't mind closing up tonight?"

"Keiko, I close every Friday. Why would today be any different?"

"I don't know. I just feel bad making you work Fridays."

"Why? It's not like Shy has any friends to hang out with."

Keiko shot an outraged look at her boyfriend. Grinning, I said, "Don't worry, Keiko, I've got it." I whacked Yusuke on the back of the head and he yelped in surprise.

"Jeeze, Shy. I was kidding!"

"Keiko was too far away to do it, I felt obligated to help her."

"Bullshit! You just wanted to hit me!"

"What are you gonna do about it?"

Yusuke lunged for me and I ducked behind the unsuspecting Kuwabara. Yusuke redirected his attack, causing Kuwabara to yell, "Hey, Urameshi, you can't attack me. I'm not involved!"

"What the hell, Shy? Did you chicken out?"

"Nah, I just outsmarted you."

Grumbling, Yusuke grabbed Kuwabara and dragged him behind the counter and up the stairs to the apartment. Over his shoulder he called, "This isn't the end, Shyle. I will get revenge."

"Revenge? 'Cause I outsmarted you? Way to be mature." The only response was the slamming of the apartment door.

Keiko laughed, "He's going to be mad all day."

"Sorry about that," I joked.

Remembering Hiei's weird comment from the day before, I asked, "Is Hiei under the impression that women like him?"

"Where in the world did that question come from?"

I shrugged, "He just said something weird yesterday, when we were up in the apartment."

"Weird in what way?"

"He told me to calm down because he wasn't interested."

"What?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought too."

Keiko was quiet for a second, apparently lost in thought. Then suddenly she said, "What were you thinking at the time?"

"What was I thinking?" She nodded and waited without responding.

Feeling a blush spread across my cheeks, I said, "Um, I was thinking that he was more attractive than Kurama."

Keiko started giggling and then outright laughing. "What the hell is so funny?" I demanded.

"Hiei can read minds. He has a Jagan that gives him telepathic abilities."

"He has a what?"

"A Jagan. It's a third eye he had implanted surgically."

I shuddered and asked, "So he can hear anything I'm thinking? Not only is that creepy, but it's a violation of a girl's privacy!"

"Don't be overdramatic."

"Oh, yeah, because being offended that someone can hear everything I think is being overdramatic."

"As far as I know, he doesn't listen to people's thoughts most of the time," Keiko said, shrugging.

"I don't care about these 'people,' I just care about me," I complained.

"Ah, I see." Keiko paused for a second and then burst into another round of giggles. "So you think Hiei's attractive?"

"Yeah, I guess. What of it?"

"I was under the impression you still thought guys had cooties."

"Oh, shove it, Keiko. I've dated plenty of guys."

"Plenty?" she raised an eyebrow mockingly. "I only remember three such guys."

"My point is that I date. I clearly don't think guys have cooties."

"You know, the first step to recovery is admitting your problem."

"Excuse me?" I asked.

"I think you're in denial."

"About what?" This conversation had taken a turn I was not expecting. Had I know Keiko would make this about my dating habits I would never have brought Hiei up.

"Your dating issues."

"Keiko, I don't have dating issues."

"Sure you do," she insisted.

"Then what are they?"

"Well, there's really just one: you don't date." I opened my mouth to remind her that I have but she continued without pausing. "In my opinion, you'd rather be friends with guys than risk a relationship. I know you think that you date, but you haven't in over a year. And why haven't you dated?" She paused, waiting to see if I would respond, but I remained silent, too annoyed to bother defending myself. Realizing I was going to maintain my silence, Keiko said sarcastically, "Oh yeah, I remember why. It's because last time you went on a date you got dumped. I just think that you have to get over it and start dating again."

Seeing that she had finished, I said, "It's not that I'm scared to date, which, by the way, is what you're insinuating. It's just that I haven't met anyone I want to date."

"Fine, if that's your argument, then why don't you date Hiei?"

"Because I'm not interested in Hiei."

"But you find him attractive?" I didn't understand where Keiko was going with this new line of questioning.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well then, what are your criteria for someone you want to date? You shouldn't be so picky. You'll never find someone this way."

"Maybe I'm not in a rush to 'find someone.'" I didn't bother to mention that she shouldn't be giving romance lessons. It's not like she has any experience dating. She and Yusuke have always known they were going to be together, even if it was only on a subconscious level.

"Shy, don't get angry with me, I'm just trying to help you."

"Thanks but no thanks," I snapped.

Further conversation was cut off by the arrival of the first costumers of the dinner rush. Turning my back on Keiko, I moved to greet the couple and take their orders.

I wasn't sure where Keiko's sudden interest in my love life had come from, but I certainly didn't like it.

That night I watched Yusuke and Keiko climb into their car and waved as they pulled away. Flicking the lock

on the door into place, I took a deep breath and planned how to get all my work done so that I could go home.

We closed at eight on Fridays because Keiko felt bad leaving me alone at the restaurant, which meant all I had to do was clean up the day's mess and then I could get the hell out of here. I didn't even have to prep for the next day because Yusuke had convinced Keiko to keep the shop closed on weekends.

I made quick work of cleaning off the tables and sweeping the floor, and then set to work on washing the pile of dishes that had piled up over the day. We washed dishes periodically but they accumulated anyway.

My fingers were pruned when I finally finished the last dish and began to dry the pile. I shoved a lock of hair behind my ear and sighed.

What Keiko had said about my dating habits had been bothering me all day. Was she right? Should I be dating?

I hadn't lied when I said that I hadn't found anyone I was interested in, but I wasn't sure why that was. Was I intentionally finding faults with guys because I was scared of relationships?

"Enough," I murmured. "There's no point worrying about it now."

I grabbed a pan off the counter and crouched down to slide it into its place. "I'll talk to Keiko about it later, without getting mad."

I froze, my hand in midair, when the bell over the door tinkled. Keiko and Yusuke weren't due back for at least another hour, but they were the only people with keys to the store. Had something gone wrong with their date?

The sudden stench that filled the restaurant immediately erased any chances of it being my friends. The only smell I could relate the reek to was that of rotting meat. I shuddered and began to breathe through my mouth. What the hell was going on?

"Come out, little girl. I know you're behind the counter."

Shit.

AN: I hate the way I was naming chapters so I've got a new way. The chapter titles are all going to be song names, but they might not accurately reflect what the chapter is about. Either the title may mean something in terms of the chapter or the song itself will. Regardless, the titles aren't really important, it's more of just a quirky thing I want to do. My point is: don't take the title to necessarily reflect the chapter's content.