I'm STILL ALIVE! I'm still adjusting to operating solely from my phone but I'm getting used to it! :)

I LOVE to hear from you guys! Whether it be reviews, or PMs don't be shy! I'm nice I promise!

The next chapter should be up much sooner than this one was! And boy does it pack a punch! ;)

-B.J.

Chapter 15: Growing Ties & Troubles Brew

Kirazuki sat peacefully on the porch railing of Genkai's temple, waiting patiently for the sun to rise itself into the cool morning air. Her ears twitched slightly as she listened to the crickets chirping in the distance. The Ningenkai certainly had its beauty. She couldn't wait to see the Makai, somewhere she hoped to call her home land some day.

"You're up quite early," A meek, kind voice cut through her thoughts.

Kira turned to see Yukina walking down the porch. She hadn't gotten much of a chance to connect with the small demon as she had with Keiko and Botan what with the whole venom coma incident, "Good morning," She greeted happily.

"Good morning" Yukina nodded, leaning against the railing, "Would you care for some coffee or tea? I normally have everything ready before anyone has awoken," She had such a pleasant, gentle air to her, it was refreshing.

"The sun will do," Kira replied, returning her gaze to the sky once again where the sun had finally begun to show itself.

Yukina smiled, "It is quite wonderful. Where I come from originally we have no sunrise or sunset."

Kira chuckled sadly, "Yes, they don't have these in the Reikai either. Where do you come from?" She questioned.

"It's a place called Hyouga," Yukina explained quietly, her eyes almost glistened with the memory, "It's a floating island within the Makai where only ice maidens reside."

Kira blinked in confusion, "I'm no expert but how do you all survive if you're comprised only of maidens?"

Yukina gave a light but sad laugh, "They give birth every 100 years through immaculate conception. I'm unsure exactly how it works to be honest,"

"And I thought we were made weird," Kira smiled, fascinated by the ice maidens story, "Tell me more,"

Yukina's eyes widened a fraction, it was really the first time she had actually been asked about her life prior to the Ningenkai, "Well.." She started with a small pause, unsure if she should continue, "I do have a twin brother,"

Kira's ears twitched in interest, "I thought you were all female?"

"They bare male children when they have broken the lands most sacred of rules," Yukina explained sadly, Kira could tell how much pain it brought her, "My mother.. She fell in love with a man.. It had been rumored a fire demon. When she gave birth, it was expected to be a single female, but instead my brother was born."

"You ready for this?!" Yusuke suddenly boomed from the front sliding door, a grin plastered across his face.

"Yes, Detective," Kira sighed in annoyance, swinging herself back over the rail, "We'll have to finish this conversation later," She smiled towards Yukina, before following after Yusuke.

Yukina returned the smile sadly, "Be safe," She felt drawn to the ice creature for some strange reason, she wanted to further connect with her, perhaps it was simply their mutual ice title; but it would need to wait, despite her disappointment.

Yusuke crouched down on the porch, "Hop on, I don't want you getting tired out before we even get there," Kira glared at him, but climbed up in classic piggyback form, "Trust me, it's a long walk," He grinned again, hooking his arms under her knees and standing up, beginning the long journey.

"You still awake back there? We're here." Yusuke squatted, releasing the tiny demon on his back.

"Yes I'm awake," Kira muttered as she stepped down, looking wearily towards the large mountain in front of them, "We're climbing that, aren't we?"

Yusuke grinned wryly in return, "We sure are."

'And The fox thought a tree would be too difficult,' Hiei scoffed to himself, having followed the two out of pure curiousity. He had yet to return to Genkai's since his... Mistake of an incident with the dog. Luckily for him, she truly didn't have the slightest idea what had occurred; from her thoughts she had believed she'd been cursed. But one would suppose thatsthe consequence of being born in a test tube and raised in a basement. He sat back against the trunk of the tree as the pair began to hike their way up the steep mountains dirt path.

"And what has brought you so far from the temple, Hiei?" Kurama's amused voice pierced his thoughts.

Sure enough, there was The fox standing slyly at the foot of his tree. "Simply waiting for the clumsy mutt to topple down the mountain side." He retorted with a smirk.

Kurama chuckled, "Yes, I'm sure that's your intention."

"You gettin' tired already?" Yusuke teased from a few feet in front of Kira.

She glared at him heatedly, "Just pacing myself," Truth be told, her leg was already getting sore, but she wasn't about to tell that to Yusuke.

"Seems like you're falling behind!" Yusuke teased before stumbling over a large rock.

"How is Keiko so nice and you're such a cocky asshole?" Kira harped, avoiding the rock Yusuke had almost tumbled over so unintelligently.

Yusuke sent her a sharp glare, but his grin gave away his lack of actual anger, "I don't know, why is Taryuu so nice and you're such a bitch?"

Kira's eyebrow twitched in irritation, "Why does everyone think that?" She muttered grudgingly; this was going to be a long hike.

Yusuke snickered, "Nahhh, he already told me you weren't," He turned around briefly to help Kira over a fallen tree on the path, "But probably him almost splattering Hiei while you were in a coma,"

"Why did that happen?" Kira questioned in confusion.

Yusuke shrugged one of his shoulders; perhaps the mountain was a poor choice, even he was beginning to tire, "He wanted Hiei to leave, and Hiei's a stubborn bastard,"

"Are you done fox?" Hiei's irritation was rapidly growing; he merely wished to be left alone in his tree in peace.

Kurama chuckled again, "I was simply coming to ensure Yusuke's training wasn't too difficult,"

"I think you've seen,"

"But why?" Kira questioned further, intrigued by whatever had occurred.

Yusuke looked at her with a look of confusion on his face, "You don't remember? I mean you were out but you definitely shot Ice at Ryuu,"

"I did?" Kira gasped; no, she definitely didn't recall anything from when she had been out. Her intrigue was causing her to pick up her pace in an effort to stay close to Yusuke.

He sighed in exasperation, "Ryuu had just gotten there; he asked for a minute alone; Hiei wouldn't leave; Ryuu tried going after him, but you shot an ice shard into his back," Yusuke explained all at once.

"Why didn't Hiei just leave?" Kira asked quizzically; noting they were almost finally to the top of the steep mountain.

Yusuke shrugged casually, "Now that I think about it, I don't think he left at all,"

"Come to think of it.." Kurama said with faux thoughtfulness, "I don't believe you've returned to the temple since your training session,"

Hiei sighed in further irritation, "Because I've always been such a poster child for socialization," He replied sarcastically.

Kurama chuckled, "I suppose you have me there,"

"If you're quite done I'd prefer to be left alone," Hiei closed his eyes; but the fox certainly noticed the glow from behind the thin fabric on his forehead; before he nodded and began making his way back to the temple.

"I can see Genkai's from here," Kira grinned in excitement from the mountains peak.

Yusuke smiled at the creature's happiness, "Keiko thought you'd like it,"

Kira's grin widened, "Keiko is very right," She could not only see Genkai's, she could see the entire forest, a small waterfall in the distance, a camp set up a few miles from the temple, she could even see a city in the distance; she would definitely have to come back here, "It's beautiful,"

"What's it been like?" Yusuke asked somberly, sitting himself down on a nearby boulder, "Coming here after spending such a long time locked up?"

"Overwhelming," Kira answered without hesitation, "Theres so many new smells and sounds, sights, emotions," She explained carefully, "We don't carry.. Bonds in the Reikai. We all have the same past and upbringing; yet we have no attachment to each other,"

Yusuke nodded slowly, "Except you and Ryuu?"

Kira shook her head slowly, "I'd still kill him as I would anyone else there if it was necessary."

Koenma knotted his hands before him, gnawing anxiously on his pacifier as he sat watching a video from his desk; George stood at his side, nervously watching the tiny rulers growing worry, he could have cut the tension in the room with a knife, "Koenma, sir... Perhaps we should bring Taryuu back?" He offered.

Koenma glared at the ogre from the corner of his eye, "I'm afraid that will only cause more of an uprising." He admitted ominously, picking his phone up off of the receiver and dialing it quickly, "Botan, I have something for you." Was all he said before hanging up the phone. He watched on the large screen as the congregated group of creatures talked in small whispers heatedly, occasional small fights breaking out between them; they were certainly plotting something without the presence of their leaders. "We need Kirazuki."

"Kira," Botan corrected with a large smile as she entered the room unannounced, but it instantly fell from her face at the sight of Koenma's deeply troubled expression, "Sir?"

Koenma sighed weightedly, knitting his fingers in his lap, "I need you to bring Kira back."

"Has something happened?" Botan asked quickly, her concern growing by the second.

Koenma began massaging his temples, shutting off the video before him, "It's what I fear is about to happen.."