Yusuke woke up to a very loud noise and a surprise attack.

"Lord Yusuke!" the guard that Yusuke said he didn't need but was forced upon him anyway exclaimed.

Yusuke quirked an eyelid up to squint at the demon that was right upon him, ready to deliver the killing blow. Small, speedy and tiny energy. Small fry. Even his guard could take care of her, if she didn't use her built and small reserve to her advantage and planned for a sneak attack.

Yusuke yawned as he closed his eye again, simultaneously bringing up a finger. Damn, if they were going to force a guard on him, the least they could do was make sure his nap wouldn't be disturbed. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.

Yusuke flicked his finger, sending the smallest amount of demon energy towards the demon and a loud boom soon followed across the rather empty room.

"Just kick her out, would you?" Yusuke said, settling back down and willing blissful sleep to come to him once more.

A long shocked pause followed, soon punctured by the sound of the demon coughing.

"Umm, my lord," the guard-whose-name-Yusuke-never-got started hesitantly. "Are you alright?"

Yusuke was pretty sure the question was asked for the sake of being asked than for the answer itself.

"Peachy," Yusuke replied after a moment, listening to the rather noisy ruckus the demon that attempted to attack Yusuke made as she struggled to peel herself off the room's wall. A thud signaled her success and Yusuke held back a sigh. If she specialized in stealth/speed, why couldn't she be just a tad quieter?

Now Yusuke was completely awoken.

Guess I should stop being a lazy bum, Yusuke thought as he cracked his eyes opened. He swung his feet towards the floor a moment later, relishing in the cool feeling the stone floor emitted against his bare feet.

Yusuke let out another yawn as he stood and stretched. The silence in the room stretched with him and when he was finally done, he looked up to find the two other demons in the room staring at him.

"Good morning to you too," Yusuke said dryly as he approached them. The female jumped to a stand, before wincing and wrapped an arm around her ribs. She glared at him. "Mind telling me what I did to warrant an assassin?" he asked, tilting his head to look at the female. "I've only been back for so long, ya know."

"Fool," the female hissed and Yusuke's eyebrows rose unbidden. Tough cookie. "I'm not an assassin."

Yusuke raised a hand to stall his guard from reacting in offense on Yusuke's behalf. "What are you then?"

"Just kill me," the female said, lifting her head proudly to gaze up at Yusuke.

Yusuke stared at her steady gaze for a moment, before snorting. He dropped the hand that prevented his guard from doing anything. "You know what," he said, turning away. "I don't care anymore. Mr. Guard, do your job and toss her out, would cha?"

Xxx

"Hey Raizen," Yusuke greeted, giving the other demon a jaunty wave. "What's up?"

"Touo's told me you let the assassin go," Raizen said bluntly and without any preamble.

"Not an assassin, she said," Yusuke corrected, not even surprised that his guard –Touo, apparently – told Raizen about the incident. Touo was Raizen's after all, and his little band was as loyal as heck.

"A thief," Raizen informed. "Gathering information on you was apparently the initiation Youko Kurama set up for ones eager to join the rank of his band of thieves."

Yusuke started a little at Kurama's name. He knew a long time ago and had so much more time to adjust, but how could he not react to the name of his once-friend and presently-not-friend?

"Gather information?" Yusuke said dryly after a moment, recovering. Raizen gave Yusuke a look that said the pause did not go unnoticed and of course Raizen was surprisingly observant. Yusuke got that from his ancestor, after all. "That lady demon tried to kill me, ya know?"

"She's just a wannabe upstart who is out of her depth," Raizen said. He raised his gaze to meet Yusuke's squarely, steady and rather matter-of-fact. "I've killed demons for less."

Yusuke paused for a moment, knowing Raizen was questioning him, before shrugging. "Upstarts like her are what make life interesting, don't cha think? Nipping buds before they could bloom like a paranoid old man is tedious."

Raizen's vein twitched. "Did you just call me old?"

Yusuke merely smirked in reply.

Raizen shook his head, slivery mane swinging behind him. "It's a wonder the other me didn't kill you in your universe."

"Oh, he tried, but other you also appreciates young upstarts like me," Yusuke said, standing. Razien snorted. "I'm heading out. Take this time to upgrade your fort's security, would cha?"

"Not going to bother," Razien said. "My subordinates can take care of themselves."

Yusuke tsked disapprovingly, in a way an elderly would with a young child. "That arrogance," Yusuke said in mock disappointment with the shake of his head. He grinned cheekily at Raizen and ducked out of the room before his technically speaking ancestor could throw something at him.

Xxx

Yusuke crouched in the tallest tree closest to the location and tucked his wayward energy tight against him. For a moment, he considered activating the seal so his signature energy wouldn't give away his presence, but he quickly discarded the idea. He valued the feeling of freedom that came from being in his demon form too much to willingly seal it away.

Except when you enter the Human World, a part of Yusuke whispered to him, but he brushed it aside. Instead, he focused on staying concealed. While it wasn't exactly that he wasn't supposed to be here, per say, Yusuke had no real desire to be caught spying on a group of demons partying.

Yusuke's eyes darted about the clearing, searching for two specific demons, before finally catching a glimpse of black at the edge of the crowd. A soft amused smile flitted across Yusuke's expression. No matter the universe, Hiei would always remain anti-social.

His smile lowered a notch as he recalled that Hiei had eventually became less reserve in the time Yusuke had known him and hung out with the detective group more in his original universe. He thought it was a pity that Hiei wouldn't learn to relax more in this universe, although if rumors were anything to go by, Kurama would do that for Hiei since they were getting chummy. Now whether that was all physical or if it included emotionally, Yusuke didn't know. He did find it interesting that the attraction between Hiei and Kurama was pretty much universal though.

Yusuke's sense pricked, alerting him of someone stealthily approaching him. Yusuke was impressed. It wasn't easier to get a drop on him, but then again, it was the renowned thief Youko Kurama that he was talking about.

Yusuke casually took a step back from the branch he was standing on, foot meeting air and hanging precariously in the air for a moment. He inhaled, head tilted up towards heavens with his eyes closed as he soaked in the air of Demon World. Then, with a faint smile, he stepped off completely.

The air whooshed passed him, fresh and wonderful without any pollution. His long hair whipped up in an act of defiance against gravity, slapping against Yusuke's face and sending a tendril of thrill through him as he continued to fall. All too soon, his body moved with deliberate muscle memory, safely landing him on the ground.

When Yusuke opened his eyes to face the world again, Youko Kurama was before him.

Yusuke maintained the faint smile that he had on his face. "Hey, Kurama," Yusuke said, the corners of his mouth easing a little at the sight of Kurama's startlement.

Kurama recovered quickly. "Ah, if it isn't our mysterious resident Yusuke," he said, a teasing smile curling on his lips. His eyes, however, were sharp and assessing. "Mind telling me why you are observing us?"

Yusuke outwardly shrugged casually, ignoring the little stab of pain in his heart at being reminded once again that this is not the Kurama that you know. "Can't a guy sleep in a tree without someone questioning him?" he asked, knowing it would make Kurama think of Hiei.

Kurama paused for a second, before smiling disarmingly. "Of course," he said amiably, "if that was what you were doing, that is." Yusuke made a move to talk, but Kurama continued. "It doesn't matter either way. Would you like to join us?"

Yusuke jerked his head up, staring at him with obvious surprise. Kurama simply continued smiling, silver fox tail swishing behind him. "'Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer?'" Yusuke quoted questioningly.

Surprise flitted across Kurama's face, before he let out a chuckle. A gleam shone in Kurama's golden eyes as he said mildly, "That applies both ways, Yusuke. No need to worry."

Yusuke quirked an eyebrow up at Kurama's phrasing, knowing Kurama got to him even as he said, "If you're fine with me entering your territory, sure."

"Oh, please don't be concerned about me." His grin took on an edge of wickedness, more devious. He looked like a fox satisfied with a game well-played. "After all," he continued, turning his back towards Yusuke and starting to head back towards his band of thieves, "I am a plant-master."

A tree branch hanging in front of Yusuke moved out of his way.

Kurama pivoted back to look at Yusuke with the same mild expression. "Please," Kurama said, gesturing ahead of him with a faint smile. Ahead of him was a clear path leading towards the glade where Kurama's people were. They were in a forest, yet there was no plant-life on the path.

As Yusuke walked ahead, following Kurama's lead, the path that he previously stepped on slowly closed.

Xxx

Laughter and smiles that were palpable in the air slowly faded as Yusuke stepped into the clearing, replaced by a tense kind of suspicious silence. Then all demons' gaze drifted to the fox that led him to them and the air shifted, lifting ever slightly.

Kurama, clever and sly, let his minions attempt to stare down at Yusuke for a long moment, seeking to intimidate him perhaps, before finally speaking up when he saw it was his own minions that were imperceptibly shifting back away from Yusuke.

Kurama gave his subordinate thieves an ingenuous smile and a guileless look like there was nothing preternatural about the situation. "He's my guest," said Kurama by way of explanation. "I expect you all to treat him like one."

"But -" someone started, eyes flashing towards Yusuke with evident unease.

Kurama obligingly turned - his movement all grace and danger- to face the demon who spoke up. "Yes?" Kurama said inquiringly, softly, sounding and looking so genuine with his head tilted minutely to the side as though puzzled.

The demon froze as Kurama's golden gaze landed on him.

"Well?" Kurama prompted.

"It's nothing, Youko," a demon beside the one Kurama was addressing to spoke up. The demon licked her lips, a little nervous as Kurama's attention went to her, and smiled, nudging her friend playfully. "He just wanna get back to the partying."

The tense atmosphere didn't dissipate. Kurama didn't allow it to until he finally parted his mouth and said, "Ah, is that so?" and smiled gently at his subordinates, graciously forgiving. The band of thieves let out a collective silent breath as though a great crisis had been averted.

"Go back to partying," a new voice ordered, a familiar voice deeper than Yusuke had ever remembered. He was startled to find himself unsurprised as Hiei stepped in and ambled towards Kurama. The demons that were previously all around Kurama parting before Hiei like the Red Sea, as though that was only natural.

"Yes," another voice said and it took another moment for Yusuke to place that voice. The other side of the circle around Kurama parted, revealing Yomi in all his glory and youth. This Yomi had four ears, two on the either side of his head and a scar biting deep into his left eye. Yomi walked with all the confidence of a demon whole, self-assured like a child knowing he was favored by something –or someone- much greater than man itself. "Resume with your activity."

And when Kurama nodded his head and all the demons around them scattered, leaving only Kurama, Hiei, Yomi and Yusuke himself still standing motionless, it was unquestionable about who was really the boss there.

"Kurama," Yomi said, the first to break the silence. He stepped forward towards the renowned thief without any hesitation, his steps eager but even. Unadulterated happiness shown in his single visible eye as he clasped his hands around Kurama's and leaned up to peck Kurama's lips.

Kurama let him, not surprised by Yomi's first course of action, and leaned down to meet Yomi half-way. He radiated contentment as he straightened, a small smile lingering on his face.

Yusuke brought his gaze away from the pair of thieves when he realized Hiei, previously at Kurama's other side, was walking away. Yusuke glanced at Yomi and Kurama for a moment, before he curiously followed Hiei.

The only acknowledgement Hiei made of that was the brief flicker of his eyes, before he grunted and basically ignored him. Yusuke wondered briefly if Hiei was jealous but discarded the idea almost as soon as it came. It wasn't jealousy that shrouded Hiei; it was disinterest.

Hiei plopped himself down on a wooden coach, which was long enough for about three people to sit on comfortably. Yusuke took a second to study it, finding something about it to be inexplicably strange, before it abruptly hit him. The 'couch' was still connected to its origin, which was a tree that was preternaturally urged to grow outward and then expand lengthwise to accommodate to a certain plant-master's wish.

Yusuke wondered inwardly if that was just for convenience sake – so Kurama wouldn't have to bother with the furnishing of the clearing – or was there some kind of deep meaning behind his choice.

Hiei's gaze was on him, deep and steady, and Yusuke realized Hiei was waiting to see what he would do. Yusuke's eyes flicked briefly to the bench that Kurama personally made, the fact that it was enough to fit exactly three people standing out in his mind, before he finally sighed and dragged out a wooden chair from a nearby table.

Without any preamble, Yusuke swung his legs over the chair so he was straddling the back of it and he was facing Hiei. He sat. "I see life is treating you fine."

Hiei narrowed his eyes, mind assessing any double meaning behind Yusuke's words. Finally, he drawled, "I never repaid you for that, did I?"

Hiei stood, his body stiff and menacing.

Yusuke remained sitting. "Chillax," Yusuke said, holding his hand placating-ly in front of him. "Everything turned out just fine, didn't they?"

Hiei cross his arms and snorted. "Like you cared about that when you guided me to Kurama's band of thieves and left me there."

Yusuke coughed rather awkwardly. "Well…" Yusuke started, but Hiei cut in before he could get in another word.

"I don't care about that now," Hiei said. His gaze cut to Yusuke and bore holes into him. "What I want to know is if you planned that."

"Me?!" Yusuke said, reeling back. The surprise wasn't hard to display, since he was surprised Hiei managed to figure it out. "No way," Yusuke lied with a laugh, waving it off.

Hiei arched an eyebrow, waiting, and Yusuke inwardly wondered if he learned that from Kurama.

"I was just…" Yusuke started, fishing around his mind for some sort of idea. He never planned for this scenario where he had to explain his actions. How could Yusuke tell him he wanted Kurama and Hiei to meet because he couldn't stand them not ever knowing each other in this universe? "Trying to kill you," Yusuke finally finished.

Hiei gave him a look that said he was not impressed.

"You see," Yusuke said, mind whirling. "I always wanted an Ice Maiden's tear gem. Kinda like the one you wore back then."

Hiei's hand didn't move, but it was clear to him that Yusuke was referring to the tear gem Hiei was wearing around his neck under his shirt.

"You always wore that damn thing out in the public," Yusuke continued, trying to recall what Kurama and Hiei of his universe told him of Hiei's past. "When I heard about it, I just knew I needed to get my hands on that gem, since I er… you know, have a thing for marble collections." Well, Raizen did at least. His national treasures were goddamn marbles, for heaven's sake.

"So I went after you and we fought. You know the story, you were there. I blasted you off the mountain where we were fighting and you coincidently landed right smack in the middle of Kurama's traveling thieves. I was like, damn, that's a shit load of people to get through for a little gem, I thought it was only a shorty " – Hiei growled at the description and Yusuke inwardly grinned – " that I needed to go through. It was either my skin or that tiny gem stone and you know, collecting marbles is really only a passing hobby of mine, so I left."

Yusuke shrugged at the end of his story, movement making him seem more relaxed and his story more likely to be true.

Hiei gazed at Yusuke, knowing some part of his story was undoubtedly off but unable to put a finger on it. Finally, he got it. "That was merely a century ago," Hiei said, "but you were acknowledged" –however grudgingly Hiei would admit this – "as the strongest demon of Demon World even before that. Why would you fear fighting a bunch of thieves?"

Yusuke's eyebrow twitched.

Of course he hadn't covered up all the basis. Of course Hiei was being the typical bastard to catch that plot hole in his story, because damn, of all times why now. A part of Yusuke that he wouldn't admit exist – the same part that refused to let go of the past – was glad Hiei didn't take his cover story at face value.

"Too troublesome," Yusuke answered semi-casually, shrugging yet again. "Like I said, not worth the trouble."

Now it was Hiei's eyebrow to twitch at what he perceive as an insult to his precious gem. Finally, his hand drifted to his side, and Yusuke didn't need to look to confirm that Hiei's hand was on the handle of his sword. "Then you don't mind contending for the gem, now, do you?" Hiei said, sliding his blade out of the sheath in one razor sharp move. Hiei brought the blade out in front of him. "Now it's only you and me."

Yusuke brought out a calm smile while a powerful rush of adrenaline stormed through him. He already shot out most of his extra energy when he sparred with Raizen the moment he came back, but Hiei always got to him the same way Kuwabara had. For old time's sake. That and memories, imagination and his goddamn demon blood wouldn't settle down, wouldn't let him not rise up to an undeniably interesting challenge because while they were both Hiei, this Hiei fought differently. Not as compacted or as controlled but equally brimming with so much potential that Yusuke wanted to see and experience how their battle would end.

And Hiei undoubtedly would have gotten stronger since the last time Yusuke had a mock battle with him and that was something equally hard to resist.

Yusuke's skin pricked as two sets of energy approached. Yusuke pasted a smile on his face as he turned his head, resisting the urge to bare his teeth in annoyance at the interruption even though his logical mind knew it was for the best. "Hey, Kurama, Yomi."

Yomi bristled at Yusuke's casual address to Kurama, and Yusuke mused at the difference between this Yomi and the Yomi Yusuke knew.

"I hope you're not going to fight Yusuke, Hiei," Kurama said to Hiei, even as he placed a placating hand on top of Yomi's. Yomi relaxed after a beat.

Damn, Yusuke thought as he watched Hiei huffed and put away his sword after throwing Yusuke a look that said 'it's not over yet.' Kurama has them whipped, doesn't he?

Kurama's amused eyes met Yusuke's, as though knowing what Yusuke was thinking. Yusuke's lips quirked in response, before he finally swung his leg over the chair.

"I'm going to get go," Yusuke said, eyes flicking among the three demons. His upturned lips lifted another degree with amusement as he said, "Wouldn't want to be in the way, after all."

"Or you can always join in," Kurama said, never missing a beat. Yomi and Hiei stared at Kurama, puzzled and questioning, but Kurama only had his eyes for Yusuke. Searching.

What are you planning, Fox? Yusuke wondered, even as he let out a short laugh.

"Flattering, but I'll have to pass," Yusuke answered. "You guys are so young it makes me feel old," he said, and here his eyes drifted to Yomi again.

Yomi lifted his head higher as Yusuke's gaze dropped to him, his eyes defiant and challenging. Yusuke's lips curved.

"Pity," Kurama said, although not a trace of regret was in his voice. "How long would you stay, Yusuke? Perhaps we could schedule another meeting."

A few more days or so, Yusuke almost answered, except 'stay'?

Yusuke inwardly held his breath as he brought his gaze to Kurama, whose eyes were glinting with razor sharp intelligence. Was Kurama beginning to suspect that Yusuke had the ability to enter Human World?

Yusuke pasted on a smile. "Anytime would be fine," Yusuke answered casually, not flinching away from Kurama's piercing golden eyes. "I'm 'round most of the time anyway, though probably not recently."

Good old Kurama, intelligent like hell yet too curious for his own good. He took the dangling bait. "Oh?" Kurama said, prompting Yusuke for more info.

"Well, someone just entered Raizen's fortress and tried to kill me," Yusuke started, watching as Kurama rapidly made the connection that the 'someone' must have been one of his prospective thief. "Obviously they didn't succeed or I wouldn't be here, but I'm gonna spend some time trying to update his fortress defense."

"We're always willing to lend a hand if you need," Kurama said, lips curving. "Different perspective and all."

Yusuke chuckled. "Undoubtedly. It's fine though. That's just a pet project that I wanna work on. Don't worry if you don't see me often."

"Oh, I think I'll see you very soon," Kurama said, eyes glittering with some kind of hidden knowledge. His tail swished once behind him, calm and steady with an underlying element of excitement.

Yusuke grinned even as he inwardly wondered what Kurama was planning to do. "Looking forward to it then."

Xxx

"Hey Raizen, if anyone asks, I'm off at some kind of secret place training to upgrade your fortress' defense," Yusuke called out, grabbing a hair tie off the table as he crossed the room.

Raizen leaned against the door way, watching. "Leaving already, descendant of mine?" Raizen asked, a smirk lingering on his face. "Why so fast?"

"Kurama is as sharp as ever," Yusuke declared, pausing for a second as he recalled. "I don't know how long can I hold up under his scrutiny. Might as well leave now."

Raizen's gaze drifted to Yusuke, pensively. "You told me about your past. Why him?"

"If you're fishing for compliments," Yusuke started, gathering a handful of his hair. Raizen's lips quirked at the sight. "Don't bother. I'm not going to tell you you hold a high position in my heart and all."

Raizen snorted. "I rather not hear that from you at all. Demons don't care much about genders, unlike what I recall of humans, but I… what is that phrase you used again? 'Don't swing that way'?"

"I don't care which way you swing," Yusuke said, wrestling his thick mane into a low ponytail. This was one of the rare reasons why he didn't like transforming into his demon form. "Just don't swing my way because that would be pain weird."

Raizen gave Yusuke a critical look over, his biological descendant but age-wise ancestor with his hair finally under control. "You're not much to look at, Yusuke." Yusuke huffed at that, as Raizen smirked. "So you're going back."

"Yups," Yusuke answered. "Might as well… Besides, there's something interesting going on in Human World right now."

"Really now?" Raizen rumbled, interest piqued. Raizen settled down and crossed his legs. "What?"

A grin spread across Yusuke's face, wide and dangerous. "The Mafia."