One Single Wish

 By Kawaii (E-mail: iNightSkyi@aol.com )
 
Disclaimer:  Apply standard disclaimer.  Rurouni Kenshin and all its respective characters are the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Sony Entertainment and all associated parties.  Yu Yu Hakusho  and all respective characters are property of Yoshihiro Togashi and all associated parties.  Fushigi Yuugi is property of Watase Yuu and all associated parties.  Gundam Wing is property of whoever it is that owns it.  (sorry I'm too lazy to do some research…) Original portion is copyrighted to me, Kawaii san! ^-^  Please don't sue me, this lowly writer is using anime characters for entertainment purposes only.  THANK YOU!

Warning: This fiction is written for RK, YYH, GW and FY fans.  If you have not seen OR read the manga of most of the mentioned series (YYH ESPECIALLY) you will be VERY confused.  There are spoilers to ALL SERIES MENTIONED do NOT read if you hate spoilers.

MOST OF ALL, this is SHONEN AI!!! If you do not like the idea of guy and guy pairings I suggest you NOT READ.   (There is a NON shonen ai REVISED chapter one as well.  If you would like to read that, e-mail my friend Chibi-K:  Wgundm0@aol.com )

SPECIAL THANKS TO MY DEAREST FRIENDS KITSUNE  SAN, RUROUNI SAN, FWAH SAN and my best friend, CHIBI-K!!! You have been a great help! ::hugs and kisses::

NOTE:

* (five stars)   ^^ It just separates scenes

Italics represent thoughts

< > - represents speaking flashbacks

[ ] - represents short flashbacks (with non speaking lines as well)

( ^-^) represents authors lil notes

***Dream Sequences*** represents Dream Sequences
*(3 stars) represent end of dream sequence
 

Original Characters in this chapter:
Sumire
Misako
Reika
Umi
Shura

ONE LAST TIME!!!  THIS CONTAINS SHONEN AI!!! DO NOT READ IF GUY-GUY PAIRINGS OFFEND YOU!!!  ^-^  I have WARNED you…

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Chapter One:  I wish you would smile…
**************************************************************************************

 "WHAT???" Yusuke, a teenager with slicked back hair yelled as he brought a hand to his head in shock.  "What did you say?"
 
"You heard what I said Yusuke.  We need help on this mission."
 
"Help? The Urameshi team NEEDS help?" Yusuke asked in an incredulous voice.  Koenma fixed him with a look and Yusuke sighed, dropping his head.

"Hai hai, we'll find them."  Kurama clapped a friendly hand on Yusuke's shoulder.

"Come on Yusuke, it won't be that bad."
 
"Not much of a choice," Yusuke grumbled.
 
"As if there ever were," Kurama answered with a slight smirk.

    * * * * *

 "I'm going to school!"  The door slammed open with a crash and a girl jumps out while trying to pull on her shoe.
 
"Ah! Misako, remember to pick up your sister!" A pretty young woman with long black hair yells from the window.
 
"Yeah! Yeah!" Misako yelled back to her oneesama as she ran for school and in the process barely dodged some fat boy riding a bicycle.
 
"Watch where you're going!" Misako cursed under her breath as she ran a hand through her two long braids and then pushing her wire rimmed glasses back onto her nose before sprinting off toward school.
 
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I am going to be SO late again! Why didn't Luna wake me up earlier?!!?"
 
Misako looked up in surprise as she sees a girl with yellow hair screaming as she ran toward her school.  She looked briefly at her watch and then grinned.  "She sure is late..." Misako thought.  "BUT SO AM I!!!!!!!!"  Misako sprinted off in a cloud of dust.

    * * * * *

 "Where is Misako?" A girl with shoulder length blonde hair thought with her hands on her hips.  Her thoughts were interrupted when the classroom door slammed open and a girl with braids and glasses rushed in.

 "Ah, Misako!  Why were you late today?" Umi asked as she watched her friend slump over her desk panting.
 
 "Woke...(pant, pant)... up... (pant, pant)... late... (pant)."
 
Umi rolled her eyes in exasperation, "It would just be like you to miss the most important day since school started."
 
Misako looked up in surprise.  "Today? What's so important about today?  Is there a test I didn't know of?"
 
Umi sighed in exasperation.  "Misako, remember? Today there are going to be new students transferred to this class?"  Misako thought for a moment.
 
"Oh yes, I heard those rumors around the school.  You mean its true?"
 
"Yeah! And I heard that one was a delinquent!"
 
"Hmm...well we can't judge till we see the person ne?"  Umi sighed and returned to her seat

What a typical answer from Misako, Umi thought as their teacher walked in.
 
"Okay class, we have two new students."
 
Two students walked in, one had long red hair with large green eyes who was so attractive that you could only describe him as beautiful.  Misako had thought he was a girl at first but judging from the clothes as well as the unmistakably flat chest, she guessed it couldn't be a girl.  The other was handsome in his own sort of way, with slicked back hair and large brown eyes.
 
"Oh my gosh... I think I'm in love..." Umi breathed softly from her diagonal seat from Misako.  Misako just sighed.  Umi fell in love on an average of three times a day.  Misako looked up at the two guys.
 
As for the two guys, I guess they are quite good-looking, Misako thought before she opened her notebook to a new page.  Misako smiled slightly as she returned to her work whereas the other girls were still ogling over the two new students.  The boys were not too happy about the two new students, most shooting dirty looks at the redhead.  Misako glanced up briefly as she turned a page at the three guys that sat in the back of the room.  These three were probably going to give the two the most problems.  Shura, the leader of that selected group of bullies was in fact a pretty good fighter.  Misako frowned.  She didn't like Shura, he always picked on her.

 Who the hell is he to judge how I look? Misako thought in a disgusted tone.  Misako shook her head, so deep in thought that she failed to notice that one of the new students, the one with the slicked hair, took the empty seat to her left.
 
 "Konnichiwa!  My name's Urameshi Yusuke."
 
Misako looked up in surprise to meet a pair of large warm eyes.
 
"Ah! It is nice to meet you Urameshi-san-," Misako began but was interrupted.
 
"Call me Yusuke."

 "Hai Yusuke san.  My name is Ikeda Misako.  Call me Misako." Misako said softly with a slight quirk of her lips to signify a smile as she returned his warm greeting.
 
Yusuke was slightly startled when a pair of beautiful purple eyes met his eyes.  They were unusually shaped and deep.  However the slightest hint of sadness hindered the beauty of her eyes.  Misako nodded slightly to the front of the room and returned to her notes, her face falling back into the serious mask of a diligent student.  Yusuke frowned as he watched her for a moment longer.

Strange... She feels... different, Yusuke thought as he turned his attention to the board.  One last
thought crossed his mind before class began.  She would look better if she smiled more often... Yusuke thought as he remembered the violet eyes.
 
"Now class, we will first begin with..."
 
Yusuke sighed as the lecture began.  "God help me..."

    * * * * *

 "Oro?" A red head with an X-scar on his left cheek thought as he looked around at his surroundings.  He blinked in confusion as he noted the trees and grass and thought, What am I doing in forest?  Was I not doing the laundry while  talking to Sano just a second ago?
 
A muffled groan made Himura Kenshin turn around.  Sagara Sanosuke, a youth in his teens sat up from his spot on the ground rubbing his head.
 
"Itte... What kind of crap is this?" Sano cursed.  Kenshin looked around, tilting his head to one side in thought.  He smiled broadly suddenly and shrugged.  Sano glared at him for a moment then sighed in defeat.

    * * * * *

 "AHHHH! That was SO boring Kur- I mean Shuiichi!" Yusuke complained as he managed to drag himself out of the school.  Kurama, irritating as it was, appeared as unruffled and awake as he had been this morning.

"How the hell do you stand that teacher?"
 
Kurama smiled charmingly, causing the group of girls following him to swoon in happiness.
 
"It's not that bad Yusuke-san." Kuranma answered in his soft voice.  Yusuke snorted.
 
 "Oi Shuiichi.  Do you remember Ikeda Misako, that girl that sits next to me with the black braids?"  Kurama thought for a moment with a finger to his chin before speaking.
 
"The one with glasses?"
 
Yusuke nodded, "I think she may be one of them."
 
"Why do you say that?" Kurama inquired.
 
"She, I don't know, she feels different..."
 
"Be careful Yusuke, you know how violent Keiko-san can get."
 
"BAKAYARO! I don't mean in that way!" Yusuke fumed.  Kurama only smiled in apology.
 
"Gomen, gomen.  I was just joking. Maybe we should check her out then.  But how do we know who we're looking for?"
 
"That would be easy." A low voice said.  Yusuke looks to his right and saw a short dark figure walking next to him calmly.  Yusuke's eyes bulged out in surprise.
 
"Don't DO that!" Yusuke shouted.
 
Hiei snorted.
 
"How will it be easy to find those people that were transferred here to help us?"
 
Hiei reached into his cloak and took out five pictures.  Yusuke grinned.
 

"So how are the developments for this mission?" Kurama asked.

 "Hmph, Reikai is so weak.  They haven't even figured out what's fully happening.  My guess would be some malfunction with the barriers."

"That would explain a lot Hiei, if there's a problem with the dimension's barriers it would affect time as well."

"So it's not really just the time portals then?" Yusuke asked as they walked.

"Iie, it can't just be the portals as Koenma sama had said.  If it were, it wouldn't concern us so much." Kurama answered with a slight frown.  He looked down to Hiei.  "Why help from the different dimensions Hiei?" Kurama asked curiously.
 
"Don't know.  Koenma said something about special abilities," was the indifferent reply.
 
"Special abilities?" Yusuke said.
 
Hiei hmphed.
 
"I guess we'll find out when we find the five of them." Kurama answered as he looked at the five photos.
    * * * * *

 Kenshin peered around, trying to figure out where they were now.  Sano watched his friend look around and then his eyes narrowed slightly.
 
"Kenshin..."
 
"Hmm?" Kenshin asked.
 
"You look different...."
 
"Different?" Kenshin asked as he looked at Sano.
 
"You seem... hmmm... there's not too much difference but you look much… younger?"
 
Now that Sano was watching Kenshin closely he saw that his friend indeed looked much younger, though there wasn't too much of a difference.  His eyes grew blurry and for once second an image flashed before his mind.  Blood… there was a lot of blood… the flashing of blades…
 
"Hmmm?" Kenshin thought as he frowned.  "I feel the same, though."
 
Sano's eyes cleared suddenly and he shook his head, pushing all confusion to the back of his mind.
"Strange..." Sano thought but decided to let it pass.
 
"Actually, Sano-san, you look a bit younger as well."
 
"What?  Oh well, that doesn't matter too much as of now.  Any idea where we are?" Sano asked Kenshin.
 
Kenshin narrowed his eyes.  "This place doesn't feel quite right."
 
Sanosuke scratched his head.  "Looks like a sparse forest, in my opinion."
 
They followed the strange winding road until they were out of the forest.  They looked around and their eyes widened.  Everything was extremely different.  There were tall buildings, cars, and lots of people wearing strange clothing.

 "Oh my..." Kenshin murmured while Sano cursed.
 
They walked out from the park (yes, the sparse forest they had presumed to be in was nothing but a park! ^_^) and into the busy streets of Tokyo.  Sano looked around, his eyes wary of any possibility of danger around them.
 
"Hey Kenshin, this really weird..." Sano whispered.  He was getting just a bit spooked.  He didn't mind fighting and a lot of other stuff but this was just getting freaky!  People on the streets watched the odd pair strangely.  They were especially nervous when the short man with the sword came nearby.  Kenshin sighed in defeat.   He just had no idea where they were.

 "Oh my, Kaoru dono is going to be quite angry with us if we're late for dinner..."

 Sano watched as a car sped by and jumped slightly.  Kenshin stopped looking around.  "Hey Kenshin, what are we going to do now?" Sano asked as they came near a corner.

 "I don't kn-," Kenshin began as he turned to Sano while walking.  A girl ran into him then though, cutting off his sentence.  "Oro?" Kenshin thought as he steadied a short girl with black hair in his arms, finding himself looking into a pair of violet eyes framed by a pair of wire rimmed glasses.
 
"Gomen nasai!!! I wasn't watching where I was going!" Misako apologized as she bowed to Kenshin and Sano.
 
Kenshin smiled, "It's all right."  Kenshin bent down to pick up the girl's bag when she noticed the two of them for the first time.
 
 "Here, you dropped your bag." Kenshin said as he handed her the schoolbag.
 
"Arigato gozaimasu.  Umm... I don't mean to be nosy or anything but, who are you?"

 
Kenshin smiled softly.  "My name is Himura Kenshin."
 
"I'm Sagara Sanosuke." Sano said casually.
 
"I see..." Misako thought as she gazed at them in thought.  Then an idea hit her.
 
"Could you two be from... another time?" she asked before she realized how ridiculous it sounded.
 Kenshin and Sano's eyes widened.
 
"Could that be it Kenshin?" Sano asked the rurouni.
 
Misako glanced at her watch and almost screeched.  She was late picking up her sister now.  Why the hell is my schedule so whacked up today? Misako thought in dismay.  She looked at the two in front of her.
 
"Kenshin, I tell you I have NO clue as to where we are," Sano was saying.  Kenshin frowned.
 
"Umm.. Himura san?" Misako asked softly.  Kenshin looked up.  "Are you two lost? Perhaps I can help you?"
 
Kenshin smiled once again.  "Thank you but I don't think you can help us."
 
Misako's eyes narrowed slightly under her gaze, a strange suspicion forming slowly in her mind.  "I don't know what is going on but you seem confused.  Perhaps speaking to me can clear a few things up for you."  Sano and Kenshin nodded.
 
Kenshin smiled.  "We would appreciate that."
 
Misako nodded and then looked at her watch.  "Oh my god..." She breathed.
 
"What's wrong?" Kenshin asked.
 
"I am SO late... Uh...  try to keep up with me, please!" Misako said as she sprinted off.
 
"Oro?" Kenshin thought before he winked off followed by Sanosuke.  As Misako stopped at the light Kenshin and Sano caught up.

 "Gosh, for a girl you sure are quick!" Sano exclaimed, earning him a-non-too-favorable glare.
 It was at that moment that a little boy, about the age of four lost grip of his ball and it rolled into the street.  The mother being preoccupied talking did not notice her son chasing after the ball, running across the street.
 
Oh my god! Misako thought as she saw a fast car heading straight for the young kid.  Without thinking she ran out into the street and pushed the little kid out of the way as the car.  Misako turned in time to see the car a few feet away and her eyes widened as the car neared.

    * * * * *

 Hiei spread the five photos on the table as Kurama ordered coffee and other eatables for them all.
 
"Oh, by the way where's Kuwabara?" Yusuke asked.
 
"Hmph, that stupid idiot probably got lost getting here."
 
"Iie, Hiei.  It shouldn't take him so long to get here."
 
The door chimes rang as another person, cute girl entered.  She had bouncy blue hair and appeared to be looking for someone.  She caught sight of Yusuke and them and her face lit up into a bright smile.
 
"Hey! Yusuke! Hiei! Kurama!" Botan called out.
 The three of them looked up and Kurama waved her over.
 
"So, did you find any of them yet?" Botan asked Yusuke as Kurama and Hiei looked over the photos.
 
"Nope, not yet.  It's only the first day, have some patience! Yeesh..."
 
"Well, hurry it up! We don't have THAT much time to spare!"
 
"Yusuke, there is no picture of that girl you pointed out to me."
 
"Girl?" Botan smirked.
 
"Shut up!" Yusuke yelled as he turned to Kurama.
 
"She's not one of them?"
 
"No, there's one girl but she has purple hair, not black."
 
"Wow! She's really pretty!!!" Botan exclaimed as she looked at the picture.  "Almost as pretty as yours truly here!"
 
Yusuke smirked, "Almost? There's no competition, this girl here is ten times prettier than you."
 
Botan's eyes burned like flames as she gritted her teeth.  "Why you...." She growled low.
 
"Ah, Botan san..." Kurama began trying to calm Botan.
 
"Yusuke NO BAKA!!!!" Botan yelled as she whapped Yusuke on the head with her oar.
 
Kurama decided it would be best for his health if he pretended to not notice Botan and Yusuke.  Kurama's eyes narrowed.  Of course the rest of the shop was peering at the group really weirdly...
 
"Yusuke, these five, they all appear... it's their eyes that seem to be catching my attention of some reason."
 
"Really? Let me see..." Yusuke said as he studied the five photos on the table.  Each picture showed a person, each unique in his or her own way.  Yusuke looked into each one's eyes, it was true.  Something about their eyes...

 "Hmmm... this boy looks similar to you Kurama." Yusuke pointed to a picture of a man with long red hair tied in loose ponytail and an x-scar on his cheek.
 
"Hmmm… a little, but his eyes are violet."
 They looked at the five photos on the table when the door to the café opened again.
 
"Oi!" A loud familiar voice rang out.
 
"Finally! What took so long!" Yusuke yelled to the tall male with carrot colored hair.
 
"I see the idiot finally arrived," Hiei muttered under his breath.  Kurama smiled.
 
"There was some big commotion a few streets from that school Koenma transferred you to.  Some girl with black braids and glasses shoved a small kid out of the way of a speeding car."
 
"She wasn't hit was she?"  Kurama asked.
 
"Well she-," Kuwabara began when Yusuke interrupted him.
 
"Was she short and wearing the school uniform of my school?" Yusuke asked anxiously.  Kuwabara scratched his head.

Botan flipped through some small book and moaned, "But there's no one scheduled to die!"  Yusuke ignored her wailing as he awaited Kuwabara's answer.

"Now that I think back she was.  I think she's from your school."
 
"Misako..." Yusuke said.
 
"Misako?" Botan asked.
 
"Ikeda Misako.  She's one of our classmates." Kurama explained.
 
"Ikeda...?" Botan repeated.  That name seemed familiar.
 
"Is she all right?" Yusuke asked once again.

    * * * * *

 Misako closed her eyes as she waited for the impact to occur.  She suddenly felt as though she were flying.  Opening her eyes she found herself in Kenshin's arms and now on the opposite side of the street.
 
"Are you all right?" A worried voice penetrated through her shock.
 
Misako shook away the fuzz to look into a pair of deep penetrating violet eyes, so full of gentleness yet at the same time a hidden dangerous gleam.  How come I feel that- that I have seen these eyes before… long ago?  Misako thought as she tried to pull herself together.
 
"Ah.. yes I am Himura san..." Misako answered hesitantly as Kenshin gently set her to the ground.  Misako peered around and saw that the little boy was safe in the arms of a weeping mother.
 
"Yo, you okay?" Sano asked.
 
"Yeah, a bit dazed that's all..." She answered before catching sight of the large clock on the side of a nearby bank.  She then sprinted off screaming, "Follow me!"
 
"Again?" Sano sighed.  Kenshin smiled and shrugged before they ran off again.

    * * * * *

 "So this guy saved her?" Kurama asked as he picked up his cup of coffee.

 "Yeah, he was very fast! He might almost be as fast as Hiei!" Kuwabara exclaimed while waving his arms about.  Hiei only snorted.

 "He was weird though, carrying a katana and kimono."
 
"Wait... what did this guy look like?"
 
"Look like? Uh.. I think he had long red hair and, oh yeah! He had this cross scar on his cheek."
 
"Sort of like this?" Yusuke asked as he held up of one of the photos.
 
"Yep! That's him all right.  Where did you get that photo?"
 
"He's one of the people we're looking for!" Yusuke yelled as a vein stuck out dangerously from his neck.
 
"Oh! No wonder! I found it strange that he was wearing a kimono."
 
"Okay, so we sort of found one of them.  He was with Misako?"

 "Yeah, I didn't see which way they went, though. Misako just started running suddenly, I think she was late or something and these two guys, one of them this Himura guy we're looking for, followed."
 
"What did this other guy look like?" Yusuke asked in a hopeful voice.
 
"Uh.. tall with brown spiky hair..."
 
"This guy?" Kurama asked as he held up a picture of a fifteen-year-old with brownish hair and deep blue eyes.  In the picture he was wearing a green tank with black shorts and his eyes appeared icy cold and blank.

 "Nope, he was wearing these weird white clothes with some chinese character in the back."

 "This guy then?" Yusuke asked as he pointed a finger to a picture of Sanosuke.

 "Yeah! That's him!"

 Yusuke grinned, "Hey! We found two in one day! Maybe this assignment won't be to hard!"

 "Don't get too joyful, yet.  We still have three more to go and we don't know where the hell to begin," Kurama objected.

 "You take all the joy out of this you know that?" Yusuke sputtered.  Kurama just smiled while Hiei snorted.

 * * * * *

 "ARGH!" Misako yelled as she sprinted to her younger sister's elementary school.  "Neechan!!! Neechan!!!" Misako called around the schoolyard sighing at the emptiness of the schoolyard.

 "Oneesan!" A small high-pitched voice squealed and Misako soon found a small girl with shoulder length hair sobbing in her arms.

 "Gomen nai Neechan, I had to do something for sensei after class."
 
"I was scared... I thought no one would pick me up like that day..." A small voice answered.
 
"It's okay, your sister is here to take care of you...nothing will hurt you with sister around. Now stop crying, ne?" Misako said in a gentle voice, smiling slightly.
 
Misako's little sister smiled broadly then, her cute face lighting up.  "Hai!!!"  She chirped, then her eyes widened slightly.
 
"Reika?" Misako asked her younger sister.  Reika looked over at Kenshin and Sanosuke, her deep eyes intent.
 
"Oneesan," Reika began in a serious voice, "Who are those two boys behind you? Are they your boyfriends?"  Reika pointed at the two of them with her tiny finger.
 
"Reika! Of course not!" Misako exclaimed as she blushed a faint red.  Reika was not listening however and she carefully walked over to the two boys, looking them over.  Unexpectedly she went over to Kenshin and tugged on his pants.
 
"Yes?" Kenshin asked in a warm voice as he kneeled down on one knee.  Reika touched his scarred cheek with a gentle hand, her eyes appearing to be quite sad for a moment before she smiled again.
 
"Is he your boyfriend?" Reika asked.  Misako flushed under her question but Kenshin just smiled warmly.
 
"Iie, we're Misako's friends though."  Kenshin replied in a soothing tone.  "My name is Himura Kenshin and this person here is Sagara Sanosuke, my companion."  Reika then pointed another finger toward toward  Sanosuke.

"Then is he?" Reika asked sadly.  Kenshin shook his head then smiled sweetly.

 Reika suddenly smiled and hugged him, her arms wrapping around Kenshin's slender neck.  Misako's eyes widened at Reika's show of affection.  Then came her soft murmur.

"I'm happy... oneesan's friends... oneesan is so nice and I never could understand why she's always alone... oneesan deserves better... ever since then..."
 
Sanosuke glanced at Misako while hearing this murmur and saw that she had looked away toward the sky.  Sano looked over at Kenshin and saw that Kenshin's eyes had widened in shock over the little girl's words...  Misako finally looked over at her little sister, but refusing to look into Kenshin's purple eyes.  She kept her expression hidden as she always had.
 
"Reika... let's go home."  Misako said in a soft voice.  Reika looked up and her expression was of regret.   "They're coming home with us." Misako said with a slight smile causing Reika's face to
light up in joy.  The little girl held out her arms to Kenshin, Kenshin getting over his initial surprise, picked her up.

 "Oh, I hope she's not too heavy Himura-san..."

 "Oh no, I like carrying children Misako-dono," Kenshin answered.  Misako smiled briefly and led the way to her house.

 Sanosuke narrowed his eyes briefly at Reika and her sister.

"Something isn't right here.  But I don't feel anything evil or sinister... more like a great welter of sorrow and loss."  He shook his head.  "Geez, when have I gotten to be so sensitive?"  But as he looked over at Kenshin, he had a feeling he was not the only one who felt this way.

    * * * * *

 "Yikes! It's getting mad late don't you think?" Yusuke said as he peered at his watch.

 Kurama nodded, "Yes, my mother will be getting worried if I don't get home soon."

 Hiei snorted, "You like being chained down, don't you fox."  It was more of a statement than a question.

 Kurama smiled, irritating Hiei to no end.  "Yes, in fact I do like this sort of chaining..."

 Kuwabara yawned, "Well, I'm tired, but I have to get up early tomorrow.  I was suppose to switch over to your school today, Yusuke, but I woke up too late to register.  I'll do it tomorrow."

 "You better, idiot! Somehow they stuck both Kuranma and I in the same class so we can't cover as much.  Hey, Hiei..."

 "Don't even bother, Yusuke-san." Kurama said.

 Yusuke sighed. "Why do I bother?" he wondered.  Hiei hmphed and then disappeared in the blink of an eye.

 "You know, I think he purposely does that."

 "Why do you say that, Yusuke?" Botan asked.

 "Because he knows it annoys the hell out of me!"

    * * * * *

 "... And that's what happened." Misako explained to her older sister.
 
"I see..." Sumire answered as she tapped a pen gently against her cheek, her eyes shut in thought.
 
"Can they stay for now, oneesama? Please?" Misako pleaded.  Sumire opened her eyes, staring into Misako's, Sumire's eyes strangely penetrating.
 
"Yes, they can stay.  They can stay for as long as they wish." Sumire answered with a gentle smile.
 
"Huh?" Misako thought blinking in surprise.  Sumire fixed a serious expression on her face.

 "Misako, you know me very well.  I believe what you have told me, as impossible it may seem. I
think it is true.  Those two boys in our living room are not from this timeline.  I don't think they mean any harm, feeling nothing sinister about either of them, though... there seems to be the slightest of barriers from the redhead..."

 Sumire coughed suddenly when she noticed the slight twitching of annoyance across Misako's brows.  Misako counted mentally to ten.

"I have no idea what you're talking about oneesama.  Sinister? Barriers?  Well, I'm just surprised you're allowing them to stay without much questioning."
 
Sumire smiled warmly at her second sister as she thought sadly, "It has been four years, yet...  I think these four years has been too much of a painful experience for you.  It has forced you to grow up before your time..." Sumire said in a gentle voice as she tilted Misako's face up.

"Whoever those two are, they are not enemies... in fact they saved you and in that sort of case we should help them out in whatever way we can."
 
Misako sighed, her sister could be so exasperating sometimes.
 "Why does she always speak in those irritating half-riddles." Misako thought, but she was smiling inside, "But you really care about me onesama..."  Sumire returned to her work then.
 
"Anyway, they might know how to cook.  Your food has become so damn bland..." Sumire drawled as she clicked on her home computer.  Misako clenched her fists as her eyes flashed fire.
 
"ON-EE-SA-MA!"  She growled in warning.
 
Sumire sweatdropped, "Ah gomen gomen... Why don't you start dinner?"
 
"Are you coming down?" Misako asked hesitantly as she stood to leave.
 
"Uh.. not today... can't take your food no more..."
 
"ONEESAMA!" Misako growled again in warning.
 
"Well, I have to work, so don't prepare for me."
 
Misako sighed softly, "Maybe tomorrow?"
 
"Perhaps..."
 
Sumire began to type on her computer so Misako left, closing the door gently behind her.   As the footsteps faded Sumire stopped her typing and leaned back in her chair, sigh escaping from her pretty lips. Sumire ran a hand through her long hair smiling ever so sightly.

"So, it has finally begun, ne?  Wonder, what Koenma has planned this time..."

    * * * * *

 "Coordinates checking?" a deep voice asked as the sounds of fast typing was heard.
 
 "Iie... This can't be right!" another male voice exclaimed, as the sound of slamming fist sends papers flying.
 
"We have to keep working until we find out where the hell we are then," the deep monotone voice stated, as the screen took on a blue glow, lighting up to show the slim figure of a male adorning a green tank top, his face hidden in the shadows.  The other boy spun around in his chair.  He wore a priest's outfit, complete with white collar.
 
"Oi, we can't stay here forever, Heero," he said as he spun back around in his chair, revealing the identity of the boy clad in tank top and shorts.  There was an immediate loud shout as his long braid got caught in the chair.
 
"Itte!" he yelled in pain.
 
"Duo, can you shut up?  I'm trying to work here."
 
"What are you doing, Heero?" Duo asked as he got out of his seat to peer over Heero's shoulder at the screen, his hands resting on the gundam pilot.
 
"Hmm... files on the school? Location?" Duo mumbled.
 
"We need to create background files or that school will realize we're not real transfer students.  Besides that, I need more data." Heero answered as he shrugged off Duo's hands.
 
Duo's eyes widen in shock.  "My, Heero! You actually said more then a few words!"
 
Heero's only reply was a snort and the clacking of keys.  Duo rolled his eyes and then reached out one hand and shut the screen off.  Heero only response was to turn the monitor back on, lighting up his face to reveal his beautiful but stony face.

"Heero! It's 3 am and we have school tomorrow! Can't you do it later?"  Duo wailed in disbelief.
 
"..." was Heero's reply.  Duo grumbled something about being inhuman as he headed for the door, mumbling a quick goodnight before he headed for his bed.

    * * * * *

 "Ahhhhh!!!" A person with long purple hair screamed.  "Where the hell am I?" The person turns around to reveal the attractive face of a beautiful girl, it's perfection marred by a frown.  He grated his teeth in frustration as he looks around, wondering where the hell he was.  As he wandered around an idea hit him.  "Maybe I'm in Miaka's world?" The girl- like male with purple hair thought, but then sighed.  "But how the hell am I suppose to find her?"  He looked up into the sky, seeing the sun set and exhaled loudly.  "It'll be getting dark soon.  Better find a place to stay..." Nuriko said to himself as he wandered through the dark streets.  He turned as he heard a shrill whistle.
 
 "Whoo... You look nice, baby!" A big man with spiky hair breathed.  He walked over to Nuriko, swaggering a little as he walked.  "So, wanna come home with me, girl?"

 Nuriko's eyebrows twitched ever so slightly in annoyance.  "Not in your lifetime."
 
The big man with spiky hair snorted.  "You won't have that choice.  You're a weak woman!  What I want, I get."
 
Nuriko grinned slightly as he closed his eyes.  "Weak, eh?" Nuriko thought silently.  "Really..." Nuriko said in a dangerously quiet voice before the man went flying through the air.  "Have a nice flight!" Nuriko shouted, waving a fist in the air as he watched the guy fly through the air and drop into a convenient body of water nearby.  "What you want you get? PLEASE!" Nuriko muttered under his breath before looking about.  He sighed, "Now to find out where I am..."
 
A voice spoke up, then.  "I can see you are not a normal person... You have extraordinary strength."
 
Nuriko immediately took a defensive stance.  "Who's there?" he shouted out at the shadows.  He saw a movement among the shadows and soon after a short person appeared out of the shadows.  Nuriko's eyes widened.  "You- you're a-," Nuriko began as he pointed a finger at the figure.  The figure ran a hand through her short wavy hair.

 Nuriko's shoulders dropped. "And here I was freaking out.  You're just an old woman."
 
The person in the shadows sighed, "Why are the young ones always so insolent nowadays?"  The figure emerged and it was none other than Genkai.  "We have been looking for you."
 
Nuriko looks up in surprise.  "Wha? Looking for me?"
 
"Come with me... perhaps I will be able to answer most of your questions," Genkai spoke as she walked toward the street.  Nuriko watches her suspiciously but decided that he didn't have too much of a choice.  He had to find out what the hell happened and most of all, where the heck he is!  Genkai stoped suddenly.  She looked over her shoulder one last time.

"Oh, and don't underestimate anyone.  Just because I am old does not mean I can't kill."  Genkai smirked.

    * * * * *

 "Oyasumi nasai, Shuichi.  Don't go to sleep too late tonight."
 
"Hai, 'kaasan, oyasumi nasai." Kurama replied as he closed the door to his bedroom.  He clicked on the lights to his bedroom to see the fire demon.
 
"Hiei," Kurama said, his voice relaying none of his surprise for the unexpected visit.
 
"Koenma has been researching on the disturbance." Hiei said in a low voice, jumping straight to the point.
 
"What has he learned?"  Kurama asked as he walked toward the white desk.
 
"Not much.  Something's bothering him.  He knows finally that someone is trying to disrupt the cycles of time.  The weakening of the barriers is probably their first step."
 
 "Does he know who is doing this?" Kurama asked as he opened a thick book to skim through.

 Hiei snorted. "No.  All I know is that whoever is doing this has a strange sort of energy.  It keeps changing."

 Kurama looked up from his book.  "How would you know?" he asked, curious.

 "Hn, has Ningenkai rotted your brains?"

 "Hiei..." Kurama stated in a queer tone of voice.

 "Jagan," Hiei answered simply.

 "Jagan?" Kurama repeated with blinking eyes.  "You used your Jagan?  Then you must have felt the energy emitted?"

 Hiei nodded as he looked out the window, an undecipherable expression on his face.  He frowned slightly.

 "Hiei?" Kurama asked softly.

 "Something isn't right Kurama.  Something I felt- I felt when I used my Jagan," Hiei said in a low voice.  Images flashed through his mind.  A tall mountain, snow all around, voices, a woman's face, tears, wind, snow whirling around, snow, snow, the ground, tears...

 "Hiei!" Kurama repeated a third time, his eyes mirroring worry for his friend.  Hiei's eyes widened slightly before he pulled his usual indifferent mask over his face again.  "What is bothering him?" Kurama thought quietly as he watched Hiei.  There was an invisible tension in the air and though Kurama was not touching Hiei, nor was he near him, he knew Hiei's body was tensed up.
 
Hiei got up abruptly.  "Something is happening.  Something that has been building up for a long time.  Justice...?"
 
Kurama opened his mouth to say something but without another word Hiei left in a blur.  Kurama watched the open window with a heavy feeling in his heart.  Somehow, though he himself didn't understand, something was going to happen.  Something big.

    * * * * *

 "Yay! Sanosuke 'niichan!" Reika squealed in her little voice.  Misako peered from the kitchen to see Reika on Sano's back, a big smile on her face as she waved her hands around in delight.  Kenshin watched quietly from the side, sipping a cup of tea.  Misako sighed as she picked up her sister's tray.  As usual Sumire had isolated herself in her room to work.  Misako shook her head.  Sumire couldn't help it.  Misako sighed to herself with downcast eyes.  She could understand it, she could take it... She just couldn't accept it.
 
Sanosuke saw from the corner of his eyes Misako peering at then for a moment from the kitchen.  A glimpse at the seated rurouni sipping tea indicated that Kenshin had seen Misako as well.  Sanosuke set Reika down on the couch as she happily began to do her homework, or what could be considered homework.  For someone her age, Reika was quite intelligent and it was most likely that she would skip a grade or two next year.  Sanosuke watched Reika do her homework conscientiously for a moment before he turned to Kenshin.
 
"Kenshin, do you find this all strange?"
 
Kenshin didn't reply immediately, sipping his tea while he mulled over several thoughts at once with his eyes closed.  "I don't think I have the right to decide what is strange or not," Kenshin began, then opened his large eyes. "Demo, this occurrence is quite different from anything else I have experienced."
 
Sano exhaled in exasperation, "Why can't you just say you find this strange like normal people?"
 
Kenshin smiled softly, "Gomen, Sano san."
 
Sano's eyes wandered over to the kitchen.  "Kenshin, what do you think about Misako?  She seems..." Sano couldn't finish his thought.
 
<"I'm happy... oneesan's friends... oneesan is so nice and I never could understand why she's always alone... oneesan deserves better... ever since then...">

Kenshin eyes traveled over to the window as the words of the little girl went through his mind.  Sano could hear the echoing voice of Reika as well.
 
"I feel... I feel that Misako, though she may seem on appearance to be well and content, she had went through a lot... enough to force a young girl to mature at an extreme rate at the cost of her happiness, where she has lost the knowledge of laughing and smiling."
 
Sano did not respond, there was nothing he could say.  "Losing the knowledge of laughing and smiling... the cost of happiness…" he repeated quietly.
 
<"...never understand why she's always alone... ever since then...">

 Kenshin's eyes closed and for one moment he thought he could smell the scent of white plums...
 "Ever since then..."

    * * * * *

 Koenma sighed as he slumped over a pile of papers, his stamp rolling from his hand.   He was no longer in his baby form, now in his adult form, his golden eyes tired and strangely disturbed.  The door swung open and Botan bounced in, her face revolving about a cheery smile.

 "Koenma-sama!" She chirruped in a cheery voice.  "We found two of the people so far.  I just received news from Genkai that she just happened to bump into another, the one called Nuriko, Suzaku seishi if I remember correctly."

 Koenma sat up in his seat, his eyes clearing slightly.  That's good. And with everyone looking for the other three... perhaps everything will be fine, he thought.

 Botan frowned as she struggled with a thought.   Being so distracted with her thoughts she failed to notice the weariness of Koenma.   "Koenma sama, for some reason the name Ikeda keeps popping into my head."

 "Ikeda?" Koenma exclaimed as he jumped from his seat.

 "Koenma-sama?" Botan said as she blinked in confusion.

 "Did you say Ikeda, Botan?" Koenma asked in a disturbed voice.
 
"Ha-Hai Koenma sama." Botan stuttered, confused by his extreme reaction.

 Koenma frowned as he thought silently, but will she help? She prefers to stay out of these things...

 "Botan, who is this Ikeda that you are talking about?"

 "Oh, uh, her name is Ikeda Misako.  She is one of Yusuke's classmates as well as the person housing two of the people we're looking for.  If I remember correctly, the names were Himura Kenshin or Hitokiri Battousai and Sagara Sanosuke, also known as Sanza. "

 Koenma's face fell, the name was different, plus her age was not that of a young student.  Botan saw this and her face acquired a look of concern.  Koenma shook his head.  "Forget it Botan.  Tell me the developments and monitor everything closely.  Also, I need people checking up on the barriers.  The time portals are not our enemies main goal for now I believe."

 "Hai, Koenma-sama!" Botan replied with a salute before leaving.

 Koenma watched as she left, then sighed.  "Even if I found her, she wouldn't be able to help in any significant way I suppose.  But she knows the different dimensions as well as the barriers for time.  She might know what or rather who is causing this."  Koenma sank into his chair, leaning his head back for a moment in thought before his eyes open and he smiled slightly.

 "Well, I guess I am stuck depending on the Urameshi team again."  Koenma continued his work.  He worried for Yusuke and their safety but, for some reason, he knew he could count on them.  They had succeeded many times, bringing justice to many.  Koenma smiled.  "Urameshi team..."  Koenma could not, however, rid the image of a woman with beautiful violet eyes and black hair from his mind.  "How long has it been?" Koenma spoke aloud with a slight smile.

    * * * * *

 "I'm going to bed, Kenshin." Sanosuke yawned as he headed to the guestroom Misako had provided for them.
 
Kenshin looked up and nodded.  "It is getting late."
 
 Sanosuke stopped when he realized Kenshin had not moved.  He turned asking Kenshin, "Hey, aren't you going to sleep?"

 Kenshin shook his head slightly, "Not yet. I don't feel tired yet."
 
Sanosuke scratched his head in amazement.  "How can you not be tired? Man, Reika-chan is one bundle of energy.  I think my back is sore."
 
Kenshin chuckled softly, "Yes, she is quite spirited, isn't she?"
 
Sanosuke sighed, "I just hope she doesn't ask me to play with her again tomorrow.  My back has had it."
 
"Goodnight, Sanosuke," Kenshin managed to say without laughing.  Sanosuke saw the suppressed mirth in Kenshin's eyes, however.
 
"Tomorrow, you will play the horse, Kenshin.  Well, 'night." Sano waved as he headed up the stairs.
 
Kenshin smiled at the retreating back then peered down at the sleeping girl on the couch.  Reika stirred slightly in her sleep, shifting to her side.  Kenshin laid a gentle hand on Reika's head before he stood up.  The house was quite peaceful now except for the ticking of the clock as well as a slight clacking that came from the second floor.  He assumed it was Misako's older sister Sumire, who Misako had mentioned and had been too busy working to come down for a meal.

 I feel when I'm near her... Kenshin thought quietly as he narrowed his eyes.  He recalled the fight with Seta Soujirou, the young boy who had had such a hard life due to his dysfunctional family.  Soujirou had suppressed his emotions and Kenshin had a feeling that this girl, Misako was doing the same.  Of course, not to the same extent as Soujirou had done.  Kenshin acquired a thoughtful expression on his face as he wondered how Soujirou was doing.
 
 "I hope Kaoru dono and Yahiko aren't too worried about me and Sano," Kenshin thought but decided that since Sano was with him, they should not be too worried.  It never occurred to him that it may be the other way around; that they were not worried about Sano because Kenshin was with him.
 
Kenshin looked up in surprise as a woman with long dark hair walked down the stairs. Kenshin smiled at her, knowing immediately that this woman had to be Misako's older sister.
 
Sumire surveyed the short ex-hitokiri with a contemplative expression on her breathtaking face.
 
Kenshin blinked a few times, not understanding but smiled.
This woman has a weird aura around her.  Demo, it's nothing evil, just slightly strange...
 
"You must be Himura-san, ne?" Sumire asked in a gentle voice suddenly.

 Kenshin nodded, "You must be Misako-dono's older sister."

 Sumire smiled, her face lighting up.  "Don't worry about time.  When you return, it will be the exact same time as when you left.  Remember, time can be controlled by the person." With that she smiled once more and left the room, leaving Kenshin stunned.

 "Himura san?"

 Kenshin blinked as Misako approached him.  "Ah, Misako-dono, you are not asleep yet?"

 Misako shook her head, "I tend to be a late sleeper.  Of course, then I have a huge problem waking
up..."

 Kenshin chuckled softly.  Misako frowned, though, as she looked to the second floor.  "My sister can be strange sometimes.  Don't mind her," Misako said softly as she bent down to pick up her little sister.

 "Do you need any help, Misako-dono?" Kenshin asked.  Misako nodded as she tried to remove the sword that Reika was holding.

 "Now, when did she get your sword?" Misako asked with some amusement.

 Kenshin rubbed his head as he answered, "Well, Reika-chan asked if she could take a look at it, and then she wanted to hold it, so I agreed.  I told her not to draw it, though."

 Misako managed to get the sword out of Reika's tight grip without waking her while Kenshin picked up the small girl, carrying her to the second floor.  Misako opened the door to Reika's room and Kenshin followed her in, setting Reika in her bed and covering her before heading out, closing the door gently behind him.

 Misako watched as Kenshin set Reika in her bed.
 It's strange how quickly Reika has become attached to Himura san and Sanosuke... Misako thought and giggled as she remembered Reika forcing Sano to be a horse.  It was quite a funny sight.  It was no small wonder that Sanosuke had went to bed already but Misako was surprised that Kenshin had not gone to bed yet.  Reika could be so energy sapping.

 Misako looked at the sword in her hands, holding it carefully.  The solid iron sheath surrounding this deadly weapon seemed so out of place with someone as gentle and kind as Kenshin.  Yet... Misako had acknowledged Kenshin's eyes.  His violet eyes, much too old and wise for the young face he had and that old cross scar on his cheek…  It just didn't fit.  It was the same for Sanosuke.  His gruff exterior and clothes, especially that shirt with the character evil on the back, it didn't match the kindness Sano had in his heart.  Misako's lips lifted slightly.
 
Of course, you can't judge a person on how they look, she thought silently.  Kenshin shut the door gently and Misako handed his sword back to him, thanking him for his help.
 
"I'm surprised you're not asleep yet, Himura san." Misako said as she climbed down the stair with Kenshin at her side.
 
"I'm not sleepy yet, but Sanosuke went to bed already.  I think he's tired."
 
"I wouldn't be surprised.  Even after all these years Reika still tires me out."
 Kenshin chuckled softly.

 "You are not going to bed yet, Misako-dono?" Kenshin asked.  Misako smiled ever so slightly, but it seemed so false, her eyes remaining dull behind her glasses.
 
"No, not yet," Misako said softly, her eyes strangely distant as though in thought.  Kenshin's eyes narrowed slightly.  Her expression reminded him of Reika's earlier words.
 
<"Onesan is so nice... but she's so lonely... always alone...">
 
"Himura san?" Misako's soft voice penetrated his thoughts.
 
"Ah, gomen Misako dono."
 
 "It's okay."
Misako headed for the kitchen.  "Would you care to join me for some tea?"
 
Kenshin nodded, "I would like that."  He followed her to the kitchen and sat down on one of the chairs as Misako waved for him to sit down while busying herself brewing tea.
 
"I always liked these moments at night... It's so peaceful and still... Many of times I would sit here sipping drinking tea, contemplating..."
 
Misako set down a cup of hot tea in front of Kenshin as she took a seat across from him, pouring a cup for herself.  Misako smiled slightly as she sipped some of the tea, but it was only the motion of her lips.  Kenshin saw the weariness in the young girl's violet eyes.
 
"Her eyes... her eyes remind me of..." Kenshin thought as he saw the reflection of his purple eyes in the dark liquid.  Kenshin looked up at Misako with soft but strangely penetrating eyes.  He was unsure of what to say.  Misako spoke again softly her violet eyes distant and unseeing.
 
"Reika was so young when both mother and father died.  It was four years ago, she was only four herself.  I remembered her weeping and how useless I felt to be unable to help her." Misako's voice was strangely guilty as she spoke, in a voice so low as to be almost inaudible yet rang like bells, entrenching her words deeply into Kenshin's mind.  "I'm not like Sumire oneesama and Reika, who are perfect in every way almost. Beautiful, popular, strong.  All I had were school and books."

Misako's eyes widened suddenly and cleared as she realized how much she had poured out from
her heart.

"Gomen nai, Kenshin- san," Misako said in a sheepish voice.  "I was rambling... I'm not usually into garrulous talk... Just disregard everything that I had said."

 Kenshin smiled soothingly, "No need to apologize.  In fact, if you do not mind, I would like to hear more of your voice?"  Misako's eyes widened before a smile slowly graced her face.  But this time, this time her smile... it was very similar to the one she had lost since she was a small child.

    * * * * *

 Light had began to color the skies a murky orange as the sun rose from the horizons.  A young boy in his teens rolled about in his sleep making a soft sound every now and then.  The soft sound mixed with the wind running through the trees sounded suspiciously like a cry…

        ***Dream Sequence***  Dark Boy of Death

"Why couldn't they just leave me alone?  I finally found some happiness and then this goddamn happens.  WHY??? Why can't I be happy?!??" A young boy curses yet the words were almost a sob as he drives a large vehicle toward some unknown destination.

 Faster… faster… faster… you must go faster little dark boy of Death…
Yet you will never be fast enough…

"No...." A small boy wearing black priest clothes thinks as he watches the last of the nun's life drain from her, her hand falling down limply from his pale face.  Ruins of a church lay around him mixed with blood and tears.  The young boy lifts his tear-streaked face to the sky as he screams, screams with every bit of anger in his soul, screams the injustice of this ugly world… and so the dark boy of Death is created…

"UWAHHHHHHHH!!!!"
     * * *

"AHHHHHH!!!" Duo cried out as his eyes flew open.  He found himself shaking and sweating profusely.  He covered his face with his hands as he tried to shake the nightmare from his mind, succeeding only slightly in shoving the bitter memory away from his mind.  Finally, he just dragged himself out of bed to the shower and turned it on.  The cool water woke him up, shocking himself out of the nightmare.  Most of the fog dissipated from his mind as he emerged from the bathroom.  His mind whirled as he obliviously thought back to the dream.
 
<"Why? Why???  Why can't I just be happy?">

 Duo rubbed his hair, absorbing moisture from it with the white towel.  He frowned as he dried his hair.

 "Why do I keep getting these weird images?"

 A flash of long rippling black hair, the flash of tears, flash of red, gold and purple... a mutitude of colors and then darkness….

 Duo shook his head.

 "Ah, why should a damn dream bother me so much.  I'm just getting paranoid."

 Duo brushed his hair while grumbling about turning into another Heero Yuy or something.  He soon realized he was still thinking about the damn nightmare.  His face showed a faint disgusted look as he braided his still damp hair into a long braid while he pushed the horrible nightmare, no, it was not just a nightmare…  It had happened… Duo made a nasty sound with his throat and with that pushed it to the very furthest part of his mind.  Peering at the clock he noticed he still had plenty of time.

 "Damn it... this recurring nightmare can't be bothering me that much, can it?" Duo said aloud to himself as he left his bedroom and headed to the living room.  He found Heero up and typing.

 Duo shook his head.  "Heero, you have to be a god to stay up all night on the computer.  There's more to life than that, you know."
 
Heero's only reply was the faint clacking of keys.
 Duo grinned.  It was another normal morning.  He headed for the fridge talking to fill up the empty silence hovering in the air.  He didn't want his mind to wander back to…
 
"Hmm, what should we have for breakfast?  I'm sure even you need some food..." Duo trailed off talking about food and eggs as Heero typed.  But Heero wasn't paying attention to either, not Duo nor his work.
 That strange dream again... Heero thought, a frown on his delicate lips.  He saw the explosion again.  The building collapsing, the small dog, flowers, black hair, tears...  "Tears?" Heero thought silently but decided he had enough.  He got up and headed toward the kitchen.  "What should we have?" he asked in a low voice, causing Duo to almost drop the entire package of eggs in surprise.
 

    * * * * *

 Yusuke yawned as he dragged his weary body from his bed to the window.  "Who the hell is knocking at my window at such an ungodly hour?" Yusuke growled as he yanked open the window with tad more force than necessary.  The entire window including the wall shook with the force.  He expected to see Botan on her hovering oar but it was Hiei.

 "Hiei! Man, look at what time it is!  Geez, you would think that you could at least get some sleep if not a vacation around here," Yusuke grumbled, clearly annoyed and definitely in a rotten mood.

 "Genkai's temple.  Half an hour," Hiei said simply before vanishing out the window in a blur of black.

 Yusuke could only watch dumbfounded before he stuck his head out the window, waving an angry fist at the sky.  "Goddammit Hiei!!!  I swear I'll wring your neck one of these days!" Yusuke screamed, his voice echoing down the street.  He pulled his head back into the window cursing his brains out.  "Ch!  Wonder who the hell called the meeting this time," Yusuke mumbled to himself as he pulled his jeans on.  He decided to get there as soon as possible.  A strange feeling  tugged at him as though time had become of the essence suddenly.

    * * * * *

 Hiei and Kurama entered Genkai's temple.

 "Ah! Hiei-san! Kurama-kun!" A sweet voice called out.  Hiei without turning knew it was his sister, Yukina.

 "Yukina-san," Kurama greeted her with a smile.

 Yukina smiled, her entire face lighting up.  "Genkai found one of the people Koenma is looking for," she said in her gentle voice before excusing herself to make tea.

 Hiei sat quietly in a corner.  Kurama looked over to him, his eyes mirroring concern for his friend.  He narrowed his eyes ever so slightly. "I know it has to do with what he saw or felt when he searched for that energy... but why won't he say anything about it? What could he have seen?"
 
Kurama's thoughts were interrupted when Genkai entered followed by a beautiful woman.  She had long purple hair done in complicated braids, adorning a strange ancient sort of dressing.  Her face was breathtaking, her features delicate and perfectly shaped.
 
Genkai cleared her throat.  "I'm sure he is one of the ones transported her from another dimension."
 
Kurama nodded, "Yes, I recognize this person to be- WAIT, did you say he?"
 
Hiei cracked open an eye at the purple haired person.  "Hmm... he IS a male..." Hiei noted and resumed his train of thoughts.
 
Genkai rubbed her head.  "Well, I didn't know until he told me himself."
 
Nuriko smiled as he extended a hand, "My name's Nuriko."
 
Kurama shook Nuriko's hand, sort of stunned but not too much, considering he himself looked much like a girl.  "Nice to meet you, Nuriko.  My name's Kurama."
 
Nuriko nodded and then turned as the door slid open with a bang and a medium height boy with slicked hair and large brown eyes appeared.
 
"Okay, now what was so important to wake me up in this damn hour-," Yusuke began and stopped when he noticed Nuriko.

"Hey… isn't that…" Yusuke began as he blinked in surprise.
 
"I found him on the streets." Genkai explained.

 Yusuke grinned.  "GREAT!  Now we only have two more to go... WHAT???" Yusuke's eyes opened very wide as he looked Nuriko up and down.
 
"Here we go again..." Nuriko muttered as he grinned.  Genkai rolled her eyes.
 
Yukina enter carrying some cakes and tea, her eyes full of surprise.
"Is something wrong Yusuke-kun?" she asked.
 
Yusuke shook his head as he walked up to Nuriko.  "You're a guy."
 
Nuriko grinned. "Yep."
 
Yusuke rubbed his head, "My god! I thought you were a girl too.  Chee, I never knew a guy could look so damn gorgeous."
 
Kurama grinned as a response.  With his long red hair and wide green eyes, he knew exactly how Nuriko felt.
 
Nuriko winked at Yusuke then.  "Does it matter if I'm a guy or girl?"
 
Yusuke stuttered at this, choking until Yukina offered him a cup of hot tea.  Kurama could only chuckle while Genkai allowed herself a small smile. Nuriko smirked.

 Kurama smiled.  "Well, he's already taken, though.  He has a girlfriend named Keiko."
 
Yusuke gulped down some tea and then jammed a piece of cake down his throat.  "Where's Kuwa?" he asked, crumbs spraying from his mouth.
 
"The idiot probably got sidetracked like last time."
 
Yusuke grinned, "Hey, maybe if we're lucky he might bump into the other two guys."
 
Hiei snorted.  "I wouldn't count on that idiot."
 
Kuwabara stalked in that moment, his face twisted in anger.  "What did you say, shrimp?" he roared.
 
Hiei snorted.  "I said you're an idiot."
 
"Shut up, shrimp!"
 
"Idiot."
 
"Shrimp!"
 
"Hmph!"
 
Genkai took a cup of tea from Yukina, ignoring the screams of Hiei and Kuwabara while she spoke with Kurama and Nuriko.

"So, did Koenma say anything about your mission?" Genkai asked Kurama.
 
Kurama shook his head.  "No, and Hiei even Hiei doesn't know eveything.  He used his Jagan to trace the energy that's tapping into the barriers but even with the third eye, he couldn't find out…"  Kurama's eyes flickered over from the fire demon and his green eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

And something has been bothering you ever since… What did you feel or see Hiei?

Genkai pursed her lips in thought.  "This is all so strange.  I usually would feel something when there is something major happening..."

 "You don't feel anything at all?" Nuriko asked.
 
Genkai looked into her cup of tea.
 "No.  But what I feel... I don't feel anything malicious in the universe.  Nothing evil.  Only, only..."
 
"Only?" Nuriko asked.
 
"It's as though the world is crying..."
 
Hiei's eyes widened for one moment before he flickered from the temple.
 
"Hiei!" Kurama shouted.
 
"Ch, leave him alone.  The shrimp's got something wrong with his attitude... AH!! YUKINA-SAN!!!" Kuwabara yelled with a grand smile.  He skipped over to the Koorime and began chattering with her.
 
Yusuke raised an eyebrow.  "Something's wrong with Hiei."
 
"I know, Yusuke-kun.  I know," Kurama replied.
 
"Anyhow, we have to leave now.  School's gonna begin soon," Yusuke said as he gulped down the last of his tea.  Kurama raised an eyebrow, Yusuke on time for school?  The end of the world must be near.
 
"Do you want to speak to Misako-san?" Kurama asked.
 
Yusuke choked. "Why do you ask that?"
 Kurama chuckled.
 
"HA!! I am going to tell Keiko on you!" Kuwabara laughed.  Yusuke shot a look in Kuwabara's direction as and stumped over to where Kuwabara sat.
 
Kurama ignored the screams for mercy as he turned to Nuriko.  "Are you going to stay with Genkai or will you go to my school?"
 
Nuriko smiled, "I'm probably stay here for a bit first.  I have to get adjusted to this entire thing  first.  Genkai explained to me the importance of helping you guys out, so I'll cooperate."
 
"She explained everything to you?" Kurama asked.
 
"Yeah, most of it.  I know that I'm needed, so I'll help.  Might as well, otherwise how will I get back?"
 
Kurama nodded.  "True."
 
Yusuke finished beating up Kuwabara (who was now, might I add, a human pancake on Genkai's floor) and turned, clapping his hands and motioning for Kurama to leave.
 
"Let's go.  I have to get there on time to speak to Misako."
 Kurama raised an eyebrow at this.
 
"We have to somehow contact the other two, don't we?" Yusuke said in a matter-of-fact voice.
 
"You're finally using your mind, Yusuke?" Genkai said in a tone that annoyed Yusuke.
 
"Shut up!" Yusuke spat out, grinding his teeth as he headed out the door mumbling about insolent teachers.
 
Kurama waved goodbye to everyone.  "Oh, and remember to go to school, Kuwabara!" Kurama said before he left.  Kuwabara could only moan in pain.

 Yukina watched him, her eyes wide.  "Are you in pain Kazuma-san?"
 Nuriko could only laugh.
 

    * * * * *
 

 "I'm going to school now!" Misako chirruped as she left her home.

 "Misako-dono!" Kenshin called out hurrying out with some object in his hands.  Misako turned back.

 "Yes, Kenshin?" She asked.

 Kenshin handed her a lunchbox.  "You almost forgot to bring your lunch.  I hope you like it"

 Misako smiled slightly.  "Arigato.  Breakfast was wonderful, Kenshin. I'm sure lunch will be just as good."

 Kenshin waved goodbye to her as she ran off to school and headed back into the house.
 Sanosuke was still eating in the dining room as Kenshin entered.

"You know, Kenshin, I think I could get to like this," Sanosuke said as he patted his stomach before stuffing more food into his mouth.
 
Kenshin smiled as he replied, "Yes, it's quite peaceful here."  He turned and went to the sink and began to do dishes.  Sano shrugged and continued eating.  (Hopefully he doesn't get a tummy ache ne? ^-^)
 
Footsteps were heard as a figure walked into the kitchen.

"Ah, I see someone else must have cooked this food.  Misako's food has become so bland lately," a voice spoke out suddenly.  Sano stopped stuffing his face and Kenshin turned about.
  (Somewhere near her school Misako sneezed... ^-^)
 
"Oro?" Kenshin replied as Sumire poured herself a cup of coffee, his large purple eyes registering surprise.  Sanosuke could only stare at Sumire with an open mouth.

Sumire had pulled back some of her hair with a ribbon and she was wearing a pale blue dress that accentuated her slim figure and made her ebony hair appear even darker than it's true color.  She looked ravishing.

 Sumire smiled slightly as though she knew exactly what went through their minds.
"Good morning everyone," she said in a pleasant voice.  More footsteps were head but this time the footsteps were loud with an accentuation on ever third step.

 "Oneesama!" Reika chirped as she jumped down the last two steps and ran into the kitchen.  She smiled as she saw her oldest sister.  "Wow, you sure look pretty today oneesama!" she commented as she sat down, reaching over casually to shut Sano's mouth with her small hands.

 "Thank you Reika.  I have a meeting today at a restaurant."
 
"Who will pick me up, then?" Reika wailed sadly.
 
"Isn't Misako going to?" Sumire asked in surprise.  Reika shook her head.
 
"She will be busy this afternoon with work.  Her teacher needs her to organize some files or something."

 Kenshin spoke up in a soft voice.  "I can go pick her up, if you wish."

 Sumire smiled.  "Why, thank you Kenshin.  But do you know the way there?"
 
Kenshin nodded.  "Misako bought me there once.  It's only about a 15 minute walk from here."
 
"I'll go with him, too," Sanosuke said as he burped.  "Excuse me."

 "Thank you so much.  It would save me a lot of time.  I guess I have come to depend on Misako too much." Sumire frowned for a moment before she went to a table and opened one of its drawers.  "Here's the keys to the house.  The one with red is for the door."

 Kenshin nodded as he accepted the keys.  Sumire pursed her lips in thought.  "Oh and when Misako comes back, tell her to take you shopping."

 "Sho-shopping?" Kenshin repeated.  Sumire opened the door and looked with a smile as Reika waved, giggling happily as she ran to their car with Sumire following.

 "You can't wear kimonos and bandages everyday here, you know."  Sumire smiled one last time before she shut the door with a click.

 Sanosuke blinked before turning to Kenshin, who had begun washing dishes again.  "I don't know about you but I find these three strange..."

 "Really?" Kenshin murmured from the sink.

 "Especially Sumire, but-" Sanosuke smiled and he could feel that Kenshin was smiling as well though the red headed rurouni had his back turned to Sano.  "For some reason I like crazy people, Kenshin."

 "Truly," Kenshin said, and then laughed.

    * * * * *

 Kuwabara looked around the school with a scowl on his face.  "Kuso, this place is so damn huge!  Now where was that damn office?"  He frowned as he heard a male voice shout.

 "Oi! Wait!!"  There was a pause.
 "OI! HEERO!!! Wait up man!"  The sound of footsteps then the sound of the door slamming.

 The voice answering was deep and sounded monotone.  "Shut up, Duo!"

 "ITTE!! Man, Heero!! THAT HURTS!"
 
Kuwabara snorted, "Who the hell is fighting at such an early hour?"  He peered around, and finally found the office.  "Ah! Now to register."  Kuwabara entered the office as two boys turned the corner, one rubbing his head.

 "Heero!  Damn, that hurt!"  Heero only snorted as a reply and Duo sighed, sweeping a hand through his bangs.  "You know Heero, I don't see the point of going to school.  It's not like we're really going to learn anything.  Besides, now we have to go through all this trouble of creating records and all that other crap."
 
Heero almost smiled.  "You're just lazy."
 
Duo blinked in surprise before he grinned.  "Well..."
 
He was interrupted by a flying book, which would had hit him in the face if Heero had not caught it.  Then came an irritated voice.

 "Shura, just leave me alone!"
 
Yare yare... Now what can be happening? Duo thought as he walked down the hall to see what the hell was causing this disturbance.  He found three boys surrounding a short girl with black braids and wire rimmed glasses.

 "Leave you alone?  You're the one bothering me," Shura replied with a slight smirk.  He was a tall teenage boy with brown spiky hair.  His eyes were narrow and gleamed cruely.

 The girl rolled her eyes and gave an impression that the boys intimated her at all.  "And just how did I bother you?"  She asked in an exasperated voice.

 "By showing your ugly face around here, Misako," Shura laughed as one of his friends tried to grab one of her long braids.   Misako dodged it and shoved past them, running up the hall.  But within a few steps, they caught up with her again.

 "Why the hell must you always annoy me Shura?" Misako growled.
 
Shura grinned evilly and shoved her, causing her to fall to the ground.  Her glasses flew off and slid up the hall while one of the long braids unraveled, the ribbon coming loose.  It landed near Heero's feet and he bent down to pick up the glasses while Duo went up the fallen girl, who was wincing in pain.
 
Misako cursed under her breath, her hair in her face as she felt pain lace up her ankle.  "Damn it, I think I twisted my ankle now."
 
"Miss, are you alright?" a friendly voice asked.  Misako looked up into a pair of blue violet eyes.  Duo helped Misako to her feet.

 "Thank you," Misako said as she winced, her foot hurt.
 
Duo looked up with a frown.  "Why the hell are three guys picking on one girl?"
 
One of the boys laughed.  "We feel like it."
 
 Duo smiled evilly.  "Too chicken to pick on someone tougher, eh?"   Shura fumed with anger.

"And just who the heck are you, girly boy?  You with that long braid of yours, are you Misako's cousin or something?"
 
Duo clenched his fists in anger but was startled as Misako limped up to Shura.  "I've had it with your mouth, Shura." Misako said in an angry voice, her violet eyes flaring up in anger.  She slapped Shura hard in face, leaving a red handprint on his cheek.
 
Duo chortled.  "Man, that was a great slap!"
 
Misako dusted herself off. "Thank you."
 
Shura clenched his fists and cursed under his breath.  "Why you son of a-," Shura began as he aimed a punch at Misako.  He was stopped when an iron grip went around his wrist.
 
"I don't suggest you hit this girl if you value your health," a low voice warned.  Shura looked to his left, meeting a pair of icy blue eyes that sparkled dangerously.
 
 Shura laughed though he felt a bit uneasy inside.  "And just what can you do to me?" Shura replied.
 
Heero smiled slightly, an action that proved to be not as pleasant as it sounds, scaring the hell out of Shura and his group.  His grip around Shura's wrist increased, causing Shura to scream in pain.

 "I warned you already," Heero said simply and released him, frowning in disgust.  Shura looked back once more before he left, his two friends following.  Misako sighed, closing her violet eyes for a moment before she limped over to pick up her schoolbag.
 
Duo frowned when he saw the limp.  "Are you okay, miss?" he asked politely.
 
Misako smiled slightly, surprising Duo and Heero.  Her hair was in her face but the viewable violet eyes were wondrous to look at.  Heero wordlessly handed her the glasses he picked up.  She put them back on as she bowed slightly to them.  "Thank you so much for your help, Shura is always such a pest.  My name is Ikeda Misako."
 
Duo smiled broadly, "Nice to meet you, Misako.  Name's Duo, Duo Maxwell.  This guy here's my friend, Heero Yuy."
 
Misako smiled again, slightly. "Thank you Duo-san, Heero-san."  She glanced at her watch.  "Oh my, I better start getting to class now."  She looked up.  "Thanks again! It was nice meeting you two.  I'm sure we'll meet again."  Misako gingerly placed some pressure on her right foot and to her relief it didn't hurt much anymore.

 Duo waved.  "Nice meeting you, too.  Watch out for that ankle of yours."
 Misako nodded and left, going up the hall and turning.
 
"Hmm... She's a nice person." Duo said as Misako left.  Heero didn't answer, but Duo had expected that.  Duo glanced once more in Misako's direction before turning to head toward their classroom.  "I hope that tall kid doesn't harass her again."
 
Heero nodded and they entered their class.

    * * * * *

Yusuke entered the classroom with Kurama, brown eyes searching the room even before a step had been placed within the classroom.  He felt a mid shock to not see the black haired girl.
 
"When Misako gets here, let's ask her." Yusuke said as he sat down in his seat.  Kurama stood next to Yusuke's desk, nodding.

 "We don't have too much time left, we have to find everyone soon and tell them we need their help," Kurama said as he tapped a finger to his cheek.

 Yusuke sighed, "Yeah, as always we don't have the time."  He looked around, "Hey where's Misako anyways?  Shouldn't she be here early?"

 Kurama frowned.  "She doesn't seem to be the type who's always late."

 "Misako?  You want to talk to Misako?" a female voice asked.  Kurama looked up to see a pretty girl with shoulder length blonde hair.  "My name's Umi.  I'm Misako's friend."

 Yusuke nodded while Kurama shook her hand, causing Umi to swoon slightly.  At that moment Shura and his two friends entered, looking slightly pissed about something.  Shura sat down with a big thump after slamming the door shut.
 
Hmmm... where is Misako? She's usually here 15 minutes early each day... Umi thought worriedly.

 The door opened and Misako walked in then, limping slightly.  In one hand she clutched a piece of ribbon.  One braid hung loose down her back, silky tendrils escaping to frame a side of her face.
 
"Misako! What happened to your foot?  AND your hair?" Umi asked as she ran over to her friend.
 
Misako smiled slightly at Umi.  "Nothing big, don't worry.  I think I might have twisted it though," Misako said, trying to calm Umi down.  Misako walked slowly over to her desk and sat down with obvious relief.  Umi frowned as she looked over to Shura and them.  She saw that Shura was glaring at Misako.

 "Shura and them bothered you again?" Umi asked in an exasperated voice.
 Misako sighed as she reached up to re-braid her hair. "When have they not?"  Umi stamped her foot as she grabbed the ribbon from Misako's hand and helped her braid the mass of sweet smelling hair.

"This time they went too far Misako! You got hurt this time!"

 Yusuke looked over at Misako.  "You mean that kid in the back has been picking on you?"
 
Misako looked over to Yusuke, startled.  "Um, yeah.  But he's always like that so don't worry about it."
 
Yusuke frowned, his eyes narrowing in anger.  He hated boys who picked on innocent girls.  He found it morally incorrect.  Growling low in his throat he began to get up, but Kurama placed a calming hand on Yusuke.
 
"Right now we don't have time," Kurama said and then motioned to Misako.  Yusuke sighed and dropped back to his seat, glaring daggers at Shura.
 
"Fine, but that kid deserves a big thrashing."
 
Misako smiled softly.  "It's okay Yusuke-san.  Don't involve yourself in it.  Shura, pest though he is, does have many people backing him up."  Yusuke blinked as he saw Misako smile, an act that was obviously quite rare with her even though there was a hint of falseness to it.  Even Umi seemed startled.

 Kurama continued from where Yusuke left off or rather did not mention.  "Misako, we have to speak to you privately about something later on.  It's about those two men you are housing.  I believe their names are Himura Kenshin and Sagara Sanosuke."

 Misako's eyes narrowed slightly, "What is it you want with them?"

 Kurama inhaled sharply at the dangerous look in Misako's eyes but continued.  "We need their help."

 "Help?" Misako asked as she rubbed her ankle gently.

 "Yes, we'll explain this a little later in privacy.  Lunch time perhaps?" Kurama asked.

 Misako frowned but nodded.  The teacher came in then so Kurama quickly returned to his seat.  Yusuke watched Misako a moment longer before he turned his attention to the front.

There is definitely something mysterious about this girl, he thought.
 
Shura in the back growled in annoyance.  "I am going to really hurt that girl."

    * * * * *

 Yukina entered Genkai's room gingerly, holding a tray with tea and some sponge cake.
 
"So you were a Suzaku seishi?" Genkai asked.

 Nuriko nodded, "Yes, well, in a way I still am.  I still retain my powers as a seishi."
 
"Your power is immense strength, I think, right?"
 
"Yep, I can lift most stuff with ease," Nuriko drawled as he accepted the cup of tea Yukina gave her with a smile of thanks.  Nuriko allowed a small smile to grace his face as he sipped the fragrant tea.  He was thinking about that time where he first met Miaka and Tamahome, lifting stone and wood like they were pieces of paper instead of dense material.

 Yukina sat down next to Genkai, pouring herself a cup of tea then.
"Suzaku seishi? What is that?"
 
"Well, in my time and place, there are four gods.  One of them, Suzaku, is our god.  The god works through a person from another dimension.  We call her Suzaku no miko, the priestess."
 
Yukina nodded, smiling as she picked up her cake and took a bite.
 
"Are you good at fighting?" Genkai asked as she sipped her tea.

Nuriko grinned.  "Sure! I should think so.  After all, I am a seishi."
 
Genkai smiled slightly before she took another sip of tea.  "Let's see just how good you are."

    * * * * *

 Kuwabara tried hard to keep his eyes open, trying to evade sleep.  He tried to keep from yawning as well, well he did try…

 "Why must all the teachers be so goddamn boring?  It's a miracle Yusuke hasn't cut yet," Kuwabara thought.  He looked around a moment longer, at all the faces in the classroom but found none matching the ones he had seen on the photos.  "Chee, it looks like finding the last two is not gonna be as easy as Yusuke had thought."

 Kuwabara fought another yawn as the teacher began something on Japan's history, Bakumatsu no Douran and the Meji Restoration...

    * * * * *

 Hiei flittered through Ningenkai, at a speed so quick that anyone, if they were lucky enough, would catch only a glimpse of a brief black blur and feel the slight disturbance in air pressure.  Hiei had a scowl on his face but it masked the turmoil within him.  That feeling he had when he had opened his Jagan to scan the dimensions...  Hiei fought back a shiver.  The energy he felt had been immense and without a doubt, he knew, he knew that whoever was trying to mess up time had power of an S-class, perhaps more.  But, the energy didn't feel as though it came from one person.  It felt... it felt as though various energies of others were included.

 Hiei stopped to rest on a branch of a tall tree.  "The strange thing is, this energy... It's not evil, and it seemed faintly familiar for a moment there..."  Still this was the not the object of his turmoil.

 The image of swirling snow, tears, a woman's face, and then another dark shadow went through his mind.  Hiei raised a hand to his temples.  "What the hell is causing this?" he thought as he growled in pain.  His eyes widened as a voice rang through his head.
 
<"Why did this happen? Why?>

The dream which had haunted him for so long… came back… with…

***Dream Sequence*** Little Shadow Boy of Fire…

"Where am I?" Hiei thought as he turned looked around.  There was so much snow… it felt cold, yet how could he feel cold?  He was a fire demon after all.  No, he shouldn't but… but he did, he did feel the cold.   A lone figure on top of a tall mountain, Hiei could just make it out.  His amber eyes widen.

"Mother…" He breathes out and a constriction is felt within his chest.  He reaches out from somewhere… but where he did not know…

There are tears, so many tears yet only one is seen.  A bundle held close to a woman's bosom and Hiei relishes silently of being near his mother again though it was not the Forbidden Koorime of now, but the Hiei of long ago.  A hand reaches out from the bundle and the woman drapes a necklace about the tiny hand.  Hiei's eyes opened and his mouth opened to release a soundless cry.

"No…" Hiei choked out yet no sound escaped his lips.

Tears… snow… hands… sayonara… snow….wind… no… no… NO!
"IIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Hiei's eyes are wide as the bundle was thrown off the cliff.  Hiei felt tears but he gritted his teeth in anger instead of allowing the sensation of hot bitter tears to trail down his young cheeks.  It was then that he promised himself, he would never cry… he would never cry…

He was a young boy, or rather a young youkai again as he looked down at the swirling mist and snow.  His mother has casted him away, casted him away… She didn't care… no one cared… no one…

Hiei hmphed suddenly and turned away with indifference.

Do you really not care?  It was a soft voice, a voice that he had heard before but for some reason he could not remember.  That voice that had echoed through his mind for so long it seemed…

"Dareda!?" Hiei shouted turning about in the mist and swirling snow.  A shadow of a figure is seen before him but he could not make out the person's features.

Forbidden Koorime, what injustice has befallen upon this world… Can you really ignore this sadness?

"Who the hell are you?!" Hiei hissed as he rushed forward but the figure before him was just as quick.

What is it that you wish for Forbidden Koorime? Do you not wish for acceptance?

Hiei stopped for a moment as his eyes narrowed and then hissed, "Get the hell out of my mind…  You don't know me at all, no one understands how I feel…"

We never deserved this… what have we done to deserve this?

Hiei clutched at his head in pain.

"WHY???!!"

There is so much grief in this world… why, we would always ourselves why…
The figure steps forward and Hiei's eyes widen.

     * * *

 He shook his head, and the pain dissipated somewhat, the nightmare fading from his mind.  He did not want to think about… he had enough… Pushing the painful memories to the very back of his mind, he recalled the short conversation with Koenma about the mission.

 Koenma's hiding something, I'm sure of it, Hiei thought.  He stood up and flittered off, determined to find out what was being kept hidden from this mission.  Perhaps it would aid in deciphering the weird recurring dream that haunts his nights.  Perhaps it would aid in loosening the constriction in the center of his soul that has been ignored for so long…

    * * * * *

 Duo stifled a yawn, tears filling his eyes as his teacher talked about equations and such in a monotone voice that could rival Heero's.  Duo shifted in his seat so his eyes could peer over at Heero, who sat near the back.  Irritatingly, Heero did not seem at all affected by the teacher's humdrum tone.

 Yeesh, I swear, Heero just can't be human... Duo thought as he doodled on his notebook.  He didn't feel like taking notes.  What did it matter if he learned about the stupid equations along with stuff about sine and cosine, and whatever the guy was teaching.  He was bought back to attention when he heard a loud rap on the teacher's desk.

 "Now class, turn to page-"

 Duo sighed, another long boring day.  He peeked at his watch.
 Yes, only another half an hour before lunch.  Thank god!  Duo thought as he slapped himself mentally to stay awake for the rest of the class.

 Heero glared at Duo as he saw the sanguine boy droop in his seat, appearing to doze off in a sitting position.  Baka... Heero thought before he turned his attention back to the teacher who had specified that they open their workbooks to some page.  Heero snorted.  This work was just too simple.  It was a wonder he himself wasn't dozing off, especially having only a few hours of sleep the night before.  Heero frowned as he remembered the strange dream he had had.  It was like his usual guilt-ridden dreams but with a definite twist to it.  Sure there was the blood, screaming, crying and stuff but…

 How the hell do you dream about someone you never see yet you feel that you know and NOT know this person at the same time? Heero thought, feeling strangely irritated for a moment.  He threw all thoughts of the dream from his mind as he flipped through his books.  His cobalt eyes flickered over to glance at Deathscythe's pilot.  The faintest hint of a smile was seem on Heero Yuy's lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came, giving all who looked his way the thought that it was all an illusion.

    * * * * *

 Koenma sighed as he looked over the stacks of papers he still had to take care of.  This will never end! he thought as he swiped some of the papers off his desk and fell onto his chair with a thump.  Botan knocked on his door.

 "Koenma-sama!  I have information on the mission!"
 
Koenma's face shot up.  "Come in!! Tell me!" Koenma ordered as he sat back up.  Botan rushed in, carrying a file with her.

 "Whatever strange energy is causing this, we finally found the reason!"
 
"What's the reason, Botan? Tell me already!" Koenma asked anxiously.

 "Whoever is doing this is not doing it alone.  There's a whole group, pretty large I would think since the combined power is so immense.  This group is definitely trying to break time but not just through the time portal but through the dimension barriers!"

 "WHAT?!??" Koenma exclaimed.

 "Yes, Koenma-sama! Whoever is doing this is trying to gain control of time everywhere! Not only this dimension, but others as well!"

 Koenma sank into his chair.  "Oh god!" he exclaimed.

 "Uh, Koenma, you are a god," Botan pointed out, earning her a glare.

 "Will you be more serious?" Koenma sighed.

 "Gomen, gomen," Botan giggled and then acquired a dead serious face.

 "Go tell everyone to hurry it up, find the last two NOW!" Koenma ordered, banging his fist onto his desk, sending another dozen sheets of paper flying.

 "Hai!" Botan squeaked with a salute and leaves in a flutter of pink cloth and bouncy blue hair.

 Koenma sank again into his chair, his face drained of color.  "Kuso... why is this happening now?" he thought with dismay.  This had happened before, but then it wasn't quite as important.  Reikai had been able to handle it without too much problem.

 "This is too big.  The Urameshi team, even with their combined strength, it might not be enough."  Koenma covered his face with his hands.

"Where is she?" he thought.  "I must find her.  I must find Sumire-san.  She would know what to do," Koenma thought as he stood up and walked from his office, flickering into his adult form before he left.
.
    * * * * *

 Sumire looked up with a frown.

  "Sumire-san?" her partner asked, worry evident in her voice.  Sumire smiled prettily, shaking her head.
 
"Daijobu, let's continue discussing the matter with Atsugi here."
 Her partner nodded as she continued the negotiations as well as relaying the plans for their business.  Sumire was not paying attention, however.
 
Hmmm... this is getting serious, Sumire thought, chewing on her lip in thought.  I never knew this would happen.  But I can't help now.  I don't have the power to help with this problem. Sumire sighed mentally.  What a headache she was starting to get.

To make it even worse... Koenma doesn't realize who his enemies are... Sumire stood up suddenly, startling her partner, as well as her friend Atsugi.

 "Ikeda-san?"
 
"I just realized I have something very important to do.  I will discuss this with you tomorrow.  Send me the report tonight, please."
 
"It's not a problem, Sumire-san.  It must be your sisters?"
 
Sumire smiled. "In a way, yes."
 With that, she left.  As she walked to her parked car, she frowned.  "How? How can this be resolved, though?"  Sumire turned on the ignition.  "How will this be resolved without.. .without…"  Sumire's eyes blurred as tears filled her eyes which she fought back with determination.  She knew who was doing this.  She had known since four years ago.

.    * * * * *

 Misako sighed as the bell rang.  Her english class had been so slow, especially since she had read ahead several chapters at home.  Misako smiled wryly.  After all, she had nothing better to do.  The only person she knew to any extent in this school was Umi, and it was only due to the fact that Umi had been failing in math and needed a tutor.  It just happened that she had been picked to tutor Umi.  The bell rang once again.
 
(Note: Not knowing anything about Japanese school's I just made everything to fit my story.  Gomen, but it works with my story.  Also the fact that I'm a lazy person adds to it. Please endure the discrepancies in this fic. ARIGATO! ^-^ Kawaii)

 Finally, I can take a break, she thought as she exhaled in relief.  She opened her violet eyes and stood up, preparing to go to the grassy area behind the school.  Misako winced as pain lanced up her leg.

"Ara..." Misako hissed softly as she bit her lower lip.  She narrowed her eyes.  "Goddamn him.  Why the hell is he always picking on me?" Misako muttered as she picked up her books and stuff, heading out of the room into the crowded hallways.  She moved slowly, heading toward the exits.  She would've had no problems if it weren't for this group of girls bumping into her.  Next thing she knew she was on the ground.

 Itte... Misako thought from the ground.  The kids around her did not try to help her at all.  A few giggled, trying to hide their amusement.  Some just openly laughed at her for.  After all no one wanted to be friends with the strange Misako.
How wonderful... Misako thought as she looked for her schoolbag which had been kicked somewhere.

    * * * * *

 Heero snapped his schoolbag closed and stood up, ready to leave.  Duo stood near the door, waiting for Heero.

 "Oi, Heero, hurry it up will ya? I'm hungry!" Duo hollered before his mouth dropped open.  Heero could have covered the distance between him and the door in a few seconds.  Instead, Heero chose to walk slowly.  Duo sighed as Heero FINALLY made it to the door.  "You know, Heero, I would think this was your idea of being funny if it weren't for the ultra-serious look on your face right now."

 "......" Heero replied causing Duo to sigh.

 "Yeah, yeah, as usual," Duo grumbled as he walked out the door with Heero.  A sharp tug on his long braid stopped Duo short of two steps.

 "ITTE! Heero, what the hell-," Duo began but was cut off short as he saw the gundam pilot pick up a black school bag just outside the door of a classroom three classes down from them.  "Matte, Heero!" Duo shouted as he ran after Heero.  He then saw a few classrooms further down the hall, the girl he had helped this morning on the ground.  "Kuso, what the hell happened this time?" Duo mumbled to himself.

 Misako winced as she got up and then felt steadying hands on her arms.  She turned and saw it was the same guy who had threatened Shura this morning.
What was his name again?  Duo Maxwell? No, that was the other one... ah!  Misako suddenly
remembered.

 "Ah, Heero-san, thank you again," Misako said as Heero handed her the black schoolbag, a slight frown on his handsome face.  Is it just me, or is today a really bad day for me? Misako thought quietly to herself with a bitter quirk of her lips.

 "You okay?" Another familiar male voice asked.  Misako blinked as she saw the bright cheery smile on the friendly face of the other boy from this morning.  This one, Misako remembered as the one who talked a lot.

 "Ah, Duo-san, how nice meeting you again." Misako said as she dusted off her clothes.
 
Duo frowned slightly.  "Did Shura..."
 
Misako shook her head.  "No, this time I was just plain clumsy.  I guess I wasn't watching where I was going and bumped into a group of girls."
 
Duo nodded as he turned to Heero and saw the slight anger in his eyes.  Duo grinned.
Ah, I see Heero here was annoyed with Shura as well.   Small wonder.  Shura irritated me as well, picking on this girl.  And that NASTY attitude of his… What was her name...?  Duo thought as he looked over to Misako and he inhaled sharply.
 
 Misako placed her foot to ground and winced as she felt the pain in her right foot after putting weight on it.  Her pain did not go unnoticed, though.
 
"Your foot, Misako..." Duo pointed out as his eyes narrowed in anger.  Misako looked down and saw a bright red stain on her white socks.

 Misako sighed, "Great.  Now I have to soak them or the stains won't ever come out."

 Duo blinked in surprise, "Um, Misako, don't you want to take care of it?"

 Misako tilted her head slightly but as she saw the time she shook her head.  "Later.  I'm supposed to meet some people behind the school.  They wanted to ask me something."

 Duo stopped her, a worried frown on his face.
 "You can't move quickly in this crowd and with your foot injured.  Heero and I are going with you."   Heero's eyebrow shot up a tenth of a millimeter indicating his surprise.
 
"Do you mind, Heero?" Duo asked as he took Misako's bag and handed it to Heero.  Heero took the bag without a word and walked toward the exit, not even looking back to see if they were following or not.

 Duo grinned as he helped Misako walk after Heero.  "He's always like that. Don't mind him."
 
Misako shook her head.  "Oh I understand, I'm sometimes like that."
 
"Huh?  Nah, you answer back at least.  That guy there, as I said before, I've had better conversations with stone, my Death- I mean, uh, poster of death on the wall even," Duo finished lamely.  He had almost told the name of his gundam Deathscythe, which would NOT be a good idea.
 
"I see," Misako answered with a slight grimace as she made her way through the students.
 
Duo smiled brightly. "Ah, well, Heero's a good guy at heart.  You just gotta get used to him."
 
Misako nodded her head. "I find Heero to be a good person."

 "Really?" Duo asked in surprise.  Misako almost laughed at the total shock on his face.
 "Yes I do Duo-san.  Why the shock?" she asked.  Duo rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly as another deep voice spoke.

 "Yeah, why the shock?" Heero said in a flat voice as he fell in beside Duo.  Duo sweatdropped as he began to ramble.  Misako could only giggle as he watched Duo ramble incoherently.

 This is nice.  Usually I'm always alone at lunch.  Having people around... It's- it's- I think I miss it…  Misako thought as she watched Duo ramble on with a distant look in her eyes.  An indecipherable expression glazed her eyes.

    * * * * *

 Yusuke stretched himself out on the grass, sighing as his back cracked in response.  "FINALLY, I can rest!" Yusuke exclaimed as he sat back up.  Kurama watched Yusuke with amusement in his eyes.

"Well, it's a nice day out Yusuke," Kurama answered as he ran a hand through his red hair.  As usual a group of girls waited nearby, swooning if Kurama even glanced their way.

 Yusuke frowned as he took a look at his watch.  "Hmmm, she should be here by now."

 Kurama looked toward the backdoor, his deep green eyes sparkling slightly in thought.  "She did hurt her ankle, Yusuke-san, that might have slowed her down a bit."

 Yusuke cracked his knuckles, "Yeah, that punk Shura did that to her.  If I had some free time I would pay that guy a little visit."

 "Did you see Kuwabara kun? Kurama asked trying to change the subject as he dropped his bag to the ground.

 Yusuke nodded. "Yeah, he's in my physical education class. I told him to meet here."  Kurama smiled slightly, closing his eyes.

 Yusuke raised an eyebrow in confusion.  "What's so funny?" he asked as he plopped down onto this back from his sitting position.  Opening is eyes he found a pair of golden eyes staring down at him.  Yusuke's eyes widened as he sat up, knocking heads with the prince of Reikai.

 "OUCH! Goddammit, HOW many times have I told you people NOT to do that!" Yusuke yelled, rubbing the bump forming on his forehead.

 Koenma winced he massaged his head, "Well, this hurts me just as much as you, god I may be..."

 Yusuke blinked. "I wonder why?"

 Koenma shrugged. "Don't ask me.  How should I know?"

 "Can we get on with why you're here?" Hiei asked out of nowhere.   Yusuke threw his hands in the air.  "I give up! If I die of shock one of these days, I'm gonna blame you guys."

 Hiei only snorted as a response.

 Yusuke peered around.  "What is taking Kuwabara so long? I'm VERY hungry right now!  I never should have told him to get the food." Yusuke grumbled.

 "You're an idiot for relying on that dumbass, Yusuke," Hiei said in his deep voice.

 "WHAT!?!" A voice shouted.

 Yusuke grinned.  "Ah, there he is!"

 "You shrimp, I'm gonna whup your ass!" Kuwabara shouted.

 "Fight all you want but GIVE me the food first!" Yusuke yelled as he grabbed the sandwiches and drinks from Kuwabara's arms.  Settling down, Yusuke began to munch, pausing to throw a sandwich and drink to Kurama.  While Kuwabara stood glaring daggers at Hiei, Hiei just looked the other way, ignoring the tall boy.

 "Oi, Koenma, want something to eat or drink? Kuwabara bought more than enough for everyone." Yusuke asked.

 Koenma shook his head.  "I need you all to listen to what I have to say."

 "Huh?" Yusuke thought as he stopped eating.  Kuwabara and Hiei hearing the tone Koenma used, looked toward Koenma as well.

 "What is it, Koenma sama?"  Kurama asked.

 "Have you contacted Himura Kenshin as well as Sagara Sanosuke?" Koenma asked.

 "When Misako gets here, we'll ask her. We didn't have the privacy needed in the classroom," Yusuke replied before sipping some soda.

  Koenma nodded. "But we MUST find the other two quickly.  The problem is now a fight against time, almost literally."

 "What's happening?" Kuwabara asked.

 Koenma sighed. "The energy we located at the barriers have consolidated somewhat.  It's aimed toward breaking time through the barriers, so whoever is doing this is trying to control time, not just in this dimension, but others as well."

 Yusuke blinked, "Wow, though I don't quite understand… Anyhow, who's doing this?"

 Koenma shook his head. "It's still not known who is doing this..."

 A girl's voice spoke up. "What's not known?"

 Yusuke and them looked up to find Misako staring at them from behind her thin wire-rimmed glasses, her violet eyes serious.

 Koenma's eyes widened as he looked at her.  "She looks so much like..." he thought silently.

 "Koenma, the two behind her," Yusuke said in an awed voice.

 "Hmmm?" Misako said, her head tilting slightly as she looked back at Heero and Duo.  "Are you talking about Duo-san and Heero-san?" Misako asked.

 Yusuke stood up, his brown eyes wide as he motioned to Kurama.

 "Are they-?" Koenma asked.

 Hiei looked up, his red eyes taking in the profiles of both gundam pilots.  "All five have been found. Those two are the last ones, Heero Yuy and Duo Maxwell, gundam pilots."

End of Chapter One

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Author's Notes:  [  Prepared to be bored to DEATH! Muahhahahahahaha!!!! >=) ]

So what do you think about the first chapter?  Whew, that was a long chapter…  I'm use to writing about 1o pages per chapter only…  Is anyone confused even though you saw every anime I mentioned?  THEN
E-mail me:  iNightSkyi@aol.com  for clarification.  Of course if you ask questions pertaining to future chapters then… I'll tell as well!!!  Hahahahaha!!! YES if you are thinking, "This person is insane…" YOU ARE TOTALLY CORRECT!!! HAHAHAHA!!!  Of course I won't give away all spoilers…

YES, there was not a lot of shonen ai in the first chapter… I don't think there will be too much *ahem* graphic stuff… ^^ The heavy duty stuff will probably be in the side stories… tee hee!!!  OH! I will probably finish the character profiles of my original characters soon… if you want them just send me a note!

THANKS AGAIN FOR READING!!! ^-^

Preview of Next Chapter:
A fun little discussion at the Ikeda home… ^^  AND Misako's story is partially revealed…
 

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Excerpt from Chapter Two:
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"Maa Maa... Please, calm down everyone!" Kenshin asked everyone as he waved his hands about.  "How did everyone start fighting?" Kenshin asked himself silently.

"SHUT UP!" Was the reply from everyone.  Misako made a distressed face as she pressed a hand to her temple.

"Misako dono, are you alright?" The rurouni asked her in his gentle voice as he noticed the pained look.  He was starting to feel pretty irritated himself.

"I'm fine Kenshin san... I just have a headache suddenly..." She winced as Kuwabara's screechy voice went up another notch and Sumire's very vocal reply to Koenma shook the glass windows. Yusuke's fist had begun to glow now and Nuriko had lifted the other cough up in annoyance, about ready to throw it at the old woman.  Hiei's bandages were beginning to burn as a small black fire dragon wound about him arm as Kurama's hair turned silver.  Misako bit her lip as so many voices went though her mind but it wasn't the yelling anymore, it was screaming... screaming and crying... Kenshin's eyes flashed golden... The room turned cold...