At last... I made it to the perfect number 10! Five more days and it's my
one-year mark of effort on this fic... ^_^;; I can't believe I could
actually write an epic so long... =) Anyway, comments are really welcome
here. =) FFMLers, please send your C&Cs to [wsiewlee@tm.net.my] because I
had set the flag to 'vacation'. :) 

P/S Many thanks to Jeremy Teen and Bulma for their support and inspiration.
=) AND not forgetting Sylvia for nagging at me alwayz... I may have been
overcame by laziness to post the following parts if not for her. =) Doumo yo! 

All previous chapters and the first story is posted up at my page:
http://members.xoom.com/hiei 

Siew Lee 
[wsiewlee@tm.net.my] 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

                ~~~The Past, The Present And The Future~~~ 

                        ~~~The Present - Vengeance~~~ 

            Chapter 10 -  Secrets Revealed, Emotional Turmoil

---------------------------------------------------------------------

        "Arisa? Arisa?" A voice asked softly in the dimly lit room. 

        *Owwww...* Arisa groaned at the sensation of a splitting 
headache. "Huh?" asked Arisa dimly, unsure where she was at that 
time. 

        "Are you okay?" asked the soft voice again. Arisa closed her 
eyes for a single moment and blinked them open again. She tried to 
focus on the person in front of her but could only see a blur figure 
bending over her.  

        *That pain in my head...* 

        Arisa groaned again, but this time her eyesight was slowly 
recovering. 

        "Kurama?" mumbled Arisa as she looked into the thoughtful green 
eyes. 

        "Yeah, it's me... Everything's alright, alright..." assured 
Kurama as he began stroking Arisa's hair. What he felt for her was so 
special now, unlike the time when he first met her. Maybe it was 
because of his unborn child... 

        "Am I really okay?" asked Arisa, tears were starting to fill up 
her doubtful eyes. A sudden thought popped up in her mind, a terrible 
question. "Did I lose my baby?" asked Arisa frantically, beads of 
sweat forming on her forehead. 

        "No, you are fine. The baby's fine," smiled Kurama, 
unconsciously laying a hand on Arisa's belly. 

        Arisa heaved a big sigh of relief, her hand reaching down to 
grasp Kurama's hand. "Thank god..." whispered Arisa as she closed her 
eyes, breathing in slowly and exhaling. The scenes before this were 
so terrifying... She could barely remember that she jumped onto a 
table, then the table giving way underneath her, the fire disc 
growing closer and closer aimed for her neck... Arisa nearly 
encountered Death. 

        "Hiei-san! Is he alright?" asked Arisa quickly as she 
remembered the small figure that leapt beside her and saved her. 

        Kurama just kept quiet, thinking of the small fire youkai. No, 
Hiei hadn't died in him. He just felt so guilty talking about Hiei in 
front of Arisa. 

        "Is he okay?" asked Arisa in a stronger tone, anxious for 
Hiei's safety. 

        "Yeah... He's fine. No broken arms or internal injuries..." 
answered Kurama slowly. He swallowed unhappily, restraining the 
excruciating pain in his throat. 

        "What's the matter?" asked Arisa, seeing his subdued facial 
expressions. *Something must be wrong, right?* 

        "Um... nothing. Just thinking about the fight earlier." 

        "Alright then. What happened at the end?" 

        "Well, Yamaro turned up at last to challenge all of us to a 
major tournament one month later. Yusuke accepted; I guess accepting 
was the best way to save ourselves first at the time," explained 
Kurama, his facial expression turning thoughtful. 

        "One month... Do we have to train?" 

        "Yes. Koenma-sama wanted us to train here in Reikai for ways to 
defeat them. We would have to be here by next Sunday..." 

        "One thing, can we go back to Ningenkai now? We still have a 
major exam tomorrow and I want to sleep early." 

        "C'mon, let's go now," smiled Kurama as he helped Arisa to get 
up from the wide sofa. I think it would be around midnight in 
Ningenkai now..." 

        "Well, sleep tight!" 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

        One week passed, it was already Saturday night. The mid-term 
break had started yesterday... 

        Kurama and Arisa sat together in the comfort of the silent 
balcony in Kurama's room. The entire house was dark and quiet as 
Kurama's parents had gone out for some function with little Shiuchi. 
In just a few more hours, they would have to return to Reikai for 
some intensive brainstorming and physical training. 

        It was quiet alright. Maybe both of them were trying to find 
some peace in the secluded nighttime. At least time still gave itself 
in for some thinking by confused souls. 

        It was Kurama who started a conversation. 

        "Arisa, are you sure you want to go also?" asked Kurama, his 
voice showing his worry. 

        "Yeah... I'm a Reikai-tantei so when Reikai has difficulties, I 
can't just run out like that," answered Arisa softly, looking far out 
at the horizon outlined with uneven rooftops. 

        "But your condition..." 

        Arisa placed a finger at Kurama's lips, indicating her 
decision. "I don't have a huge and bulging belly." 

        Kurama sighed inwardly. Arisa could be so headstrong at times, 
but he couldn't shake off that niggling doubt of joy if Arisa would 
have a miscarriage. 

        Feeling full of guilt again, Kurama asked Arisa a question. 
"Have you ever regretted choosing me?" Kurama hoped for a 'no', but 
he couldn't resist thinking of a 'yes'. Because of Hiei? Kurama gave 
a mental shrug. 

        "I don't know... I really don't know... It's a lot of sacrifice 
involved... School, then my parents's reaction..." answered Arisa 
plaintively, resting on Kurama's shoulder. Arisa closed her eyes 
and began imagining her mother's response about Kurama. She was happy 
with Kurama alright; but as time passed by, Arisa felt that he was 
hiding secrets away from her. She didn't know what, nor did she knew 
the person involved here. She was just getting a little doubtful 
about things she was previously so sure of. 

        "Well, we'll be going to Reikai tomorrow," said Kurama, 
changing the topic. No, she was too vulnerable inside and he couldn't 
bear to hurt anybody, let alone Arisa. 

        "I hope I might be able to find some peace away from school and 
parents," sighed Arisa, her eyes still closed. Her father's reaction 
wouldn't be nice and understanding, instead he might just drag Kurama 
all the way to the nearest police station... He might even renounce 
her. She could not bear to think deeper anymore, as it might just 
lead her to some very unpleasant thoughts. 

        Arisa opened her eyes and stole a look at Kurama's face. 
Unknowingly, tears were beginning to brim in her eyelids but she just 
blinked them away. She couldn't afford to cry anymore... Life was 
just so cold and hard. 

        Slowly, she forced herself into a deep sleep on Kurama's 
shoulder... Dreaming of her future, dreaming of her life. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

        Yusuke and Kuwabara were standing together in the sports ring, 
arguing about which stall sold the best ramen in town. Hiei looked at 
them amusedly as he perched on a bench outside the ring. 

        "Stupid moron," muttered Hiei, referring to Kuwabara, and 
looked away. 

        Kurama sucked in the fresh morning air and did some stretching 
exercises on the cement ground. He took a cursory glance at the 
others, waiting for someone to call the meeting. Arisa was sitting on 
a wooden exercise horse, doing a full split effortlessly. He had 
always marveled her soft grace and flexibility. 

        Kurama's eyebrows met in a slight frown as he noticed Yusuke 
walking towards Arisa. *What does he want?* wondered Kurama 
aimlessly. Slowly, he raised his youki slightly to enhance his 
hearing. 

        *Arisa-san... sure... you... train?* was all he could catch. 
Kurama really needed some practice on hearing this time. *Well, if 
Arisa is willing to quit training, I'll give you a thousand yen,* 
thought Kurama. From afar, he could make out a surprised gasp from 
Arisa and her two slim brows met in a frown. 

        Kurama waited for a few minutes, occasionally throwing a few 
glances in Yusuke's direction. Suddenly, Yusuke raised up his hands 
and clapped a few times to draw everybody's attention. Kuwabara and 
Hiei grudgingly made their way over to the wooden horse. Kurama 
obviously heard the clap so he got up from the ground and dusted his 
clothes gingerly. Quickly, he walked towards the small group, not 
wanting to be left out of any important discussion. 

        Arisa ended her split with a handstand on the wooden horse and 
landed on the ground with a soft thud, nearly losing her balance. 

        "Watch it!" yelled Kurama, lending a hand a help Arisa stand 
properly. Arisa smiled and sat on the wooden horse again, but making 
space for the rest to sit. 

        "Alright, since all the members of the Urameshi team are here, 
we might as well discuss how to face this tournament," announced 
Yusuke as he optioned to sit down on the ground instead. 

        "Yeah, I'm quite scared of that pressure point attack by 
Murashi..." joined in Kurama, feeling little shivers of fear down his 
spine. "It was like it cut off all my ki at once, and I feel weak and 
powerless." 

        "His folding fan, we must take care of his fan," continued 
Kuwabara from the wooden horse. "That bastard... His flicks the fan 
around dangerously..." 

        "Fan? Ah! Kuwabara and Hiei, the double sword attack that both 
of you performed that day was excellent!" exclaimed Yusuke with a 
wide grin. Hiei rolled his eyes irritably and Kuwabara cleared his 
throat. 

        "Ahem Urameshi? What did you say?" asked Kuwabara menacingly, 
already cracking his knuckles. 

        "I said you and Hiei will form a great pair!" yelled Yusuke 
loudly, ignoring Kuwabara's threatening stare. Loud enough to have 
the words rumbling in everybody's ears. 

        "Urameshi, you say that again about me and that shrimp and I'll 
punch you all the way to the moon and back! I swear I will!" 
threatened Kuwabara with his fist aiming for Yusuke's eye at the end 
of the sentence. Yusuke saw the fist coming and merely dodged the 
punch, letting Kuwabara punch the empty air. 

        "Stop that both of you! Grow up!" shouted Arisa suddenly as a 
fight between Yusuke and Kuwabara ensured in front of their eyes. 
Hiei, Kurama and Arisa looked at the kicks and punches thrown by the 
duo and beads of cold sweat formed at their foreheads. Yusuke and 
Kuwabara didn't take heed the order and continued fighting. 

        At last, two battered figures lay down on the cool cement 
floor, worn out. 

        "Hiei, you and Kuwabara really made a perfect pair for double 
sword fighting!" coaxed Kurama, trying a convince Hiei into joining 
hands with Kuwabara. 

        "Hn. I won't cooperate with that moron," answered Hiei rudely, 
looking away from Kurama and the rest. He paused for a while before 
growling angrily. "That was only for an emergency so don't expect me 
to fight side by side with that jerk." 

        "Me too, stupid koorime," bit back Kuwabara, cursing Hiei. 

        "Arisa! Arisa! I found you at last!" called out a female voice 
suddenly. Kuwabara bolted up immediately as he recognized the voice 
as Yukina's. 

        "Yukina..." croaked out Kuwabara, his eyes turning glassy. 

        "Yeah?" Arisa looked at the young koorime girl. 

        "Misuko's looking for you," answered the girl simply and shot 
an amused look at Kuwabara. 

        "Why? Why is she looking for me?" asked Arisa curiously. *Yeah, 
what a dedicated wife she is going to be. She is here even without 
any missions. Koenma-sama ought to thank his lucky stars...* chanted 
Arisa mentally, a picture of Misuko in her wedding dress forming in 
her mind. 

        "Well, according to Misuko-san, she wants to discuss something 
with you," shrugged Yukina. 

        "Um... Yukina, do you mind passing a message to her that I'll 
see her this afternoon?" 

        "No problem. Hi Kazuma-san!" greeted Yukina as she saw the boy 
staring at her with glassy eyes. "What happened to your eye?" giggled 
Yukina, finding Kuwabara's black eye... interesting. 

        Kuwabara, with a black eye, answered, "Oh nothing. Nothing 
happened." 

        "Kuwabara is fighting with your dearest oniisan in joining 
hands in a double sword attack," answered Yusuke, throwing eye 
daggers at his long time friend. 

        "Is it true, niisan?" asked Yukina, directing the question to 
Hiei. 

        "Hn. That moron..." spat Hiei, his eyes fixed on Kuwabara. 

        Yukina looked at both Kuwabara and Hiei, her eyes were starting 
to fill up with tears. "Why must you two fight? Both of you are the 
dearest to me..." choked out Yukina tearfully. 

        "Please, Yukina... Please don't cry..." pleaded Kuwabara as he 
went to grab Yukina's pleasantly cool hands. 

        "Only if you promise not to bicker with my niisan anymore..." 
requested Yukina, looking up at Kuwabara with her tear brimmed eyes. 

        "What about you, niisan?" asked Yukina at Hiei, giving him her 
most innocent and pitiful look. 

        Hiei was about to answer 'no' when he saw Yukina's look. 
Slowly, he felt his heart soften at that look. "Alright, whatever," 
mumbled Hiei as he looked away again. Well, he couldn't bear to hurt 
his sister, she looked so vulnerable at times. 

        Yukina's face lit up again and she smiled. "Bye everybody. 
Arisa-san, see you later at Misuko's place." 

        "Anyway, why are you here?" asked Arisa. 

        "I'm here because Misuko-san wants more helpers in the ferrying 
department. I thought it may be interesting to ride an oar like 
Botan-san does," smiled Yukina happily. 

        "Oh..." 

        "Goodbye!" said Yukina again as she released Kuwabara's grip 
and walked off. 

        "See? Yukina is still the undefeated champion of persuasion," 
commented Arisa, gazing at the now faraway figure. 

        "Okay, now Hiei and Kuwabara..." began Yusuke. 

        "No! It's Kuwabara and Hiei! Don't ever put my name after that 
shrimp!" yelled Kuwabara, interrupting Yusuke. Hiei glared at 
Kuwabara dangerously, but Kuwabara just ignored that look. 

        "Alright, alright, *Kuwabara* and Hiei, can you both perform 
that perfect set of sword techniques again for us? We might be able 
correct some weak points for the tournament," continued Yusuke, 
rolling his eyes irritably. 

        "You play the woman this time!" demanded Hiei insistently. 

        "You will never learn. I'm too tall and bulky to perform all 
those grace leaps and jumps!" explained Kuwabara cheekily, thus 
making Hiei even more annoyed than before. 

        Hiei gave his infamous 'hn' and unsheathed his new katana while 
Kuwabara concentrated for a while before a spirit sword materialized 
in his hands. Hiei undid his black cloak carefully and threw it aside
The duo stood together, poised in their respective roles. Arisa 
blushed, seeing Hiei doing the index-finger-on-cheek-gracefully 
stance. *Gosh, he looks so adorable there...* commented Arisa 
mentally. Yusuke tried hard not to laugh but a choking sound soon 
escaped from his throat. 

        "C'mon, why not both of you go against me?" challenged Kurama. 
With a tap of his heel, he leaped up and landed a few feet in front 
of them. There was an alien object in his right hand. 

        *What is that?* asked Kuwabara mentally, staring at the new 
weapon. He blinked and looked again, this time realizing that the 
long and slender object which Kurama was clutching was a foldable 
fan! 

        "What?! Don't tell me you have never seen a fan before!" chided 
Kurama playfully, flipping open the fan and began flicking it around. 
Kuwabara looked again, noticing this time the frame was made out of 
bamboo, not iron. 

        "I didn't know you know how to use a fan as a weapon..." 
commented Hiei, raising a quizzical eyebrow. 

        "I can fight with any weapon, it is just the matter of 
effectiveness," smiled Kurama and he clamped the fan shut again with 
a soft thud. "Besides, I didn't know that both of you could copy that 
off the television set... Especially you, Hiei. I didn't realize that 
you had watched movies before." 

        Without giving Kuwabara and Hiei more time to think, Kurama 
lunged forward with the tip of the fan directed at Kuwabara's solar 
plexus. 

        Kuwabara and Hiei both saw the fan coming. Almost 
instinctively, Hiei jumped up high into the air and touched down 
beside Kurama. Kuwabara gave Kurama's fan a backhand slash with his 
sword thus forcing Kurama to sidestep only to face Hiei's attack from 
the side. Hiei raised his leg high and his katana shot forward, 
aiming at Kurama's chest. 

        Deftly, Kurama unfolded the fan into full spread and leaned 
backwards. The sword pierced through the paper and missed Kurama by 
just inches. Quickly, Kurama clamped the fan shut, taking Hiei's 
katana with him. 

        At once, Kuwabara saw the golden opportunity and gave Kurama a 
downward punch on the midriff. Kurama lost his balance and crashed to 
the floor with a shocked gasp, releasing his fan by accident. Kurama 
was just about to get up before he felt something cold resting on his 
throat. He looked up and saw Hiei holding the katana blade close to 
his skin. 

        "Alright, I admit defeat," surrendered Kurama as Hiei took the 
katana away and sheathed it back into it's ebony case. 

        "Good! Good performance!" clapped Yusuke as he looked on with 
awe. "*Kuwabara* and Hiei, well done!" 

        "Actually, there something I want to say..." began Arisa, 
walking up to Hiei. With a quick motion of her hand, she drew Hiei's 
katana from the case and pointed it at Kurama. 

        "Try again." 

        Kurama's face showed worry but immediately picked up the fan. 

        "First thing, never leave your chest unprotected. The opponent 
might have just thrown a dart and hit you there." Arisa took the 
katana and leaped towards Kurama with the sword forming circular 
motions. Kurama took the attack easily, his fan followed the katana, 
forming circular motions thus creating a stalemate. Suddenly, Arisa 
turned the sword anti-clockwise and Kurama was taken by surprise. The 
next second, the tip of the katana was already threatening to poke 
through his shirt. 

        "Second thing, concentrate on your opponent. Look at your 
opponent's eyes. Never look at his weapon." 

        "Where did you find out all these things, Arisa-san?" asked 
Kuwabara curiously at the girl. 

        "From a television martial arts drama," answered Arisa, a wide 
grin lighting up her already smiling face. 

        "Do you guys think it's enough to defeat Murashi? Don't forget, 
we still have his 'friend' to deal with," voiced out Yusuke suddenly, 
amid the laughing group. 

        Kurama slowly shook his head, followed by Hiei's low grunt. 
"Murashi's speed is simply too high. He might even be faster than 
me," explained Hiei, taking the katana which was handed back to him. 

        "Didn't Koenma-sama say something about an old archive with 
ancient scrolls? We might find something there useful!" Kuwabara 
yelled and snapped his fingers. 

        "Well, it's nearing afternoon now and I guess that's all for 
today. I'll get the keys from Koenma tomorrow and all of us can meet 
outside the archive. You too, Arisa-san. I think Kurama can show you 
the way. Your Reiki attacks still need more practice and perfection," 
announced Yusuke as he dismissed the meeting. Arisa nodded. 

        "I have a date with spring!" grinned Kuwabara, walking off down 
the garden path already. 

        "I think you mean 'winter', Kuwabara," interrupted Yusuke, his 
mind already thinking of Keiko. By then, Kuwabara was already too far 
to hear him. Almost at once, Yusuke also jumped up and headed for the 
Reikai place, leaving Hiei, Kurama and Arisa. 

        Kurama helped Arisa as they walked outside the sports ring. 

        *Even Kurama seems to be so attentive of Arisa now...* thought 
Hiei emptily, his ruby red eyes trailing the couple that were 
vanishing in the distance. With a flick of his cloak and without much 
further thought, Hiei flew off. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------- 

        Misuko sat on a chair made of cane, the beautiful lace-like 
weavings framing her lithe figure perfectly. She was leaning on a 
cushion, embroidering a pair of pink camellias on a piece of maroon 
colored satin. She wasn't paying full attention to her work anyway, 
her mind was so full of thoughts and daydreams, that she didn't 
notice the soft knocking on the door. 

        Slowly, the knocks got louder and louder, thus snapping Misuko 
out of her daydreams. At last, Misuko placed her embroidery on the 
coffee table gently and heaved herself up to answer the door. *Is 
it Koenma-sama? Why is he so early today?* wondered Misuko as she 
turned the doorknob and opened it a crack. 

        "Hi," greeted a female voice though the crack. Misuko looked up 
and saw that it was Arisa who was standing there outside. 

        "Come in," invited Misuko as she opened the door a little 
wider. 

        "Yukina said you were looking for me..." began Arisa as she sat 
down on the cozy sofa, her face showing slight signs of exhaustion. 

        "Yeah... I was. How was your training this morning?" asked 
Misuko, surprised that the girl showed any signs of fatigue. From 
Yukina's words, Arisa shouldn't be training today, there was only the 
fight between Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama... 

        "Just normal. We did some warming up and Kuwabara paired up 
with Hiei because they were forced to," said Arisa slowly, her mind 
replaying the awkward scene. 

        "Kuwabara and Hiei?! I thought both of them are wary of each 
other!" exclaimed Misuko. Her eyes were gleaming with mischief. 

        "Yeah, Yusuke-san and Kurama forced them both to fight," 
answered Arisa, letting out a contagious laugh. "I can tell you this, 
but do not tell Botan or anybody. You know... Hiei-san has a bad 
temper." 

        Misuko quickly nodded. 

        "Hiei-san... Hiei-san had to imitate a female pose and style," 
burst out Arisa, already going off in giggles. 

        "Hah?!" exclaimed a shocked Misuko. 

        "It's true. In fact, Hiei-san's sense of imitation is really 
good. You should have seen him leaping around gracefully... I wonder 
if I can get him to wear one of your kimonos... He could have passed 
for a girl!" suggested Arisa, her mind already thinking ways to coax 
Hiei. "You know, the perfect skin, the slim frame and those eyes..." 

        Both girls burst into laughter with tears running down their 
cheeks. "By the way, I wanted to ask you about something..." began 
Misuko, wiping away tears with the sleeve of her kimono. 

        "Yeah..." 

        Misuko looked at the girl seriously, her eyes focused on 
Arisa's face. She laid an assuring hand on Arisa's shoulder, and 
asked: "Have you spoken to Kurama?" 

        "Why did you ask that?" questioned Arisa in return. 

        Misuko kept her silence. *So Arisa doesn't know that her 
biggest secret was revealed by that baka doctor...* 

        "Why?" asked Arisa again, this time her tone demanding an 
answer. 

        "Well, after your visit that day, I was worried about you. Did 
Kurama say anything?" explained Misuko. *Well... I 'still' want to 
know...* 

        "Kurama was upset of course. He was very considerate although I 
hated him for what he did that night. I guess I would just have to 
listen to fate... I'm going to be a mother soon and Kurama decided 
that we'll just have to get married. We don't have a choice..." 
answered Arisa, playing with her golden ring around her fourth 
finger. 

        "Congratulations, Arisa-chan..." Misuko got up and gave her 
cousin a hug. *In a way, this is also good for everybody. At least 
Reikai's name won't be tainted and Koenma-sama wouldn't be that 
angry.* 

        "Thanks..." Arisa released Misuko and resumed twirling the ring 
around her slender finger. "I always wonder how Kurama got this ring. 
He doesn't seem to be rich anyway..." 

        "Er... I have no idea," answered Misuko, silently adding some 
phrases. *Kurama is a thief in Makai back before he is Shuichi 
Minamino, he should have a lot of treasures, not to mention a simple 
ring... He could get you a diamond the size of a golf ball if he 
wanted...* 

        "Anyway, how did Yusuke know about my condition? Kurama told 
him?" 

        "Well... um... no..." hesitated Misuko as she twirled a lock of 
her long hair around her index finger. "Well... you were injured that 
day and we had to bring you to Reikai quickly... The doctor who 
treated you kinda... pricked the bubble." 

        "Pricked the bubble in front of everybody... So practically 
the whole Reikai knows about it..." added Arisa slowly. 

        "Er... yes. Yusuke-san even went to the extent of nearly 
bashing Kurama up..." continued Misuko, aware of her cousin's 
reaction. 

        "Well, never mind. They were bound to know sooner or later..." 
smiled Arisa, relaxing back onto the sofa. Misuko secretly heaved a 
huge sigh of relief, thinking of how subtle her cousin's reaction was 
if it was to be judged by her temper. 

        "Anyhow, why isn't your belly bulging yet?" asked Misuko, 
rapidly switching subjects. 

        "Hey! C'mon! It's only slightly less than three months! What?! 
Do you expect to see me in a panting and huffing condition?" 
exclaimed Arisa, looking down for good measure. 

        "A boy or a girl?" asked Misuko curiously, her eyes gazing at 
Arisa's belly for a split second. 

        "Well, I don't know... I want a girl, but Kurama sounds like he 
wants a boy..." 

        "I guess that's the nature of youkos..." answered Misuko 
softly, unconsciously saying it aloud. 

        "Huh? What nature...?" 

        "Er... no, nothing," reacted Misuko quickly. *Besides, I don't 
think Arisa-chan knows that her darling fianc� is actually a youko 
from Makai... Yeah, 'darling' fianc�...* A sweat drop appeared on 
Misuko's temple. 

        "Is that all you wanted to ask me?" asked Arisa, getting 
suspicious of Misuko's motives. 

        "Er..." Misuko began racking her brain furiously for something 
to say... Surely she couldn't just tell that to Arisa straight in 
the face! "Er... I just want to ask you whether you know how to play 
this musical instrument!" blurted out Misuko, getting up hurriedly 
and grabbing something from the side of the main table. 

        "Yes! I love playing musical instruments!" cheered Arisa, 
looking intently at the strange object in Misuko's arms. 

        "Um... This is a Chinese lute and Koenma-sama kinda got it 
somewhere from the Reikai treasury. I don't play musical instruments 
and I was just wondering whether you can..." explained Misuko, the 
corners of her mouth curving into a smile. 

        "Well, I haven't tried this yet," answered Arisa, her fingers 
trailing across the five strings strung like a guitar except it was 
held upright on the lap and it was also considerably smaller and 
lighter. 

        "Well, well, you should try it anyway," commented Misuko as a 
a sequence of clear notes vibrated through the air. 

        "Can I have it?" 

        "Sure, of course! I intend to give it to you." 

        "Thanks! I want to get back quickly so I can experiment on this 
lute!" said Arisa, taking her leave. Carefully, she held it with both 
of her arms and bid farewell. 

        "Yeah, bye..." replied Misuko faintly as she watch her cousin 
going out of the door. 

        *How am I going to explain this to Koenma-sama? It is one of 
the valuables in Reikai itself...* asked Misuko softly, mentally 
gearing for a long talk. 

        *Well, that's better than facing a pissed off Arisa...* 

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Copyright reserved 1998 W. Siew Lee 

All standard Yu Yu Hakusho disclaimers apply to this fanfic. 

E-mail: Siew Lee [wsiewlee@tm.net.my] 
URL: http://members.xoom.com/hiei 
UIN: #14025577 

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