"Where are they when I needed them?" She was thinking of Botan, Shizuru and Yukina. So much for expecting someone to help me!

She readied her rei gun. With them or without them, i'm doing this! A small sphere of pure energy formed at the tip of her finger. She can't really do more than that, she hasn't been able to hid her powers well and anything bigger than that small sphere would cause her opponents to feel her energy.

She concentrated on aiming for the smallest one, thinking that her rei gun will be able to knock him down. I can't miss this time...

"Here goes... one...two...thr."

"Hold it!" Botan whispered as she landed beside her.

"Not a good move." She added.

"And why not? And why did come just now? I almost got my shirt ruined with one of their swords!" Keiko asked, raising her eyebrow at Botan.

Botan avoided her last comment and answered her first question with her familiar know-it-all look. Well, who can blame her. She's the thinker among them. "Because there are eleven of them. Five hiding. Six were set up as trap."

"So?"

"One shot from you, they'll know where you are. The hidden five will attack. I'll escape and you'll be dead." She teasingly said.

"You think i'm that easy, huh?"

"Nope, I don't think that. What I think is that they are strong. Not like us though but still, there are eleven of them."

Botan motioned for Keiko to look at their opponents. One by one, Botan pointed at the demons, informing Keiko of their classes and their capabilities.

"So all of them are class A's?" Keiko asked. Worry starting to cloud her eyes. If there's one thing Keiko really is, it's that she's a big time worrier.

"You're bad with math, aren't you? Nope, three B's and and the rest are all Class A's. "

"What do they want, anyway? I'm not liking this. Four days in a row. It's getting pretty tiring."

"Actually, I think they're after Yusuke. Not you. Don't flatter yourself that much."

"And how did you know that?"

"Look, all of them wanted to come to Koenma's Temple. They just never had the chance, you keep on beating them before they can even set foot on the stairs. Which means they want to go to Koenma's Temple. And who has been there since they started attacking?"

"Yusuke. But what do they want from him?"

"Ssshhh! They heard us." Botan hissed. Both of them ducked lower, not wanting to be caught.

"Why are we hiding? Why not just attack?" Keiko asked.

"I said quiet!" Botan annoyingly retorted.

They sat still. Waiting for what will happen next. Botan pulled a rose from her hair, getting ready to summon her rosewhip.

"At my count of three, we attack." She said with a tone of authority.

"Wait, you said that was a bad move. There are five of them hiding."

"I took care of them a while ago. See this?" Botan smiled opened her palms, in there were seeds.

"Gee...thanks for getting all the fun!" Keiko retorted.

"Then, i'll stay here. You go get 'em girl!" She replied patting Keiko at the back.

Keiko made a face. Momentarily picturing the fight in her mind. Then as if reaching a conclusion, she pushed Botan out of the bush. Exposing Botan's startled face for the demons to see.

"Why did you do that?!" Botan shouted as she quickly stood up. Two of their opponents were already at her. She summoned her rosewhip. She quickly slashed the other one with it while her left foot came flying to the other.

"Don't ask, just fight!" Keiko answered. She jumped over the bush to the back of the demons. Getting the demons off-guard, she released her rei gun. One by one, all of them went down.

After all their opponents were dead. Keiko found Botan standing still with a rose in her hand. She was grinning at her crazily, as if she was trying hard not to laugh. "I think I got yah this time." She said, still with that annoying grin.

"They weren't Class A's, right? You're making fun of me, aren't you?" Keiko asked. Acting as if she's pissed off while pointing an accusing finger at Botan.

"Yup!" Botan began to laugh hysterically. Her hands on her tummy. "You should have seen the way you reacted the whole time we were behind the bush!" "Haha! You were this close to freakin' out!" Botan added as she showed Keiko her pinky.

"Haha, that's not funny! Good thing I pushed you out. That makes us even!" She replied sticking her tounge out.

"Yeah, why did you do that?! I bruised my elbow!" Botan touched her elbow, a frown formed in her forehead. She examined the scratch with her fingers. Then she showed it to Keiko.

"Well, I don't want all of their yuckie blood staining my new jeans!" She explained, striked a supermodel pose and showed off her new jeans.

"That's called vanity. You're sick."

Keiko laughed, feeling a lot relaxed. Good thing the fight was over. And she still has a new-looking jeans.

"That's the last of it, right?" Keiko asked, suddenly becoming serious. She was asking about the fight they just had.

"No, I think not. If i'm right, they'll be sending another troop tomorrow and my guess is that it'll will be a lot stronger troop."

"They?"

"Yes, "they". I recognize their badge. The ones you beat the past three days also had a badge like that. Someone is on you, Keiko."

"On me, but you said they want Yusuke. Or was that a part of the joke?"

"Nope, they do want Yusuke but I think what they really want is your power."

"So why want my boyfriend?"

"Blackmail. They'll get your powers in exchange for his life."

"Yah, right! As if i'll let them touch my Yusuke!"

Botan smiled in reply. Both of them started to head for Koenma's temple. She noticed Keiko trying to put up her famous im-not-afraid-of-anything act. But Botan knew it was all an act, deep inside she's worried about Yusuke. She has trouble controlling her emotions, her eyes tell it all.

"I hope lunch is ready. I'm starving" Botan remarked as she checked her wrist watch.

Keiko ignored the remark and continued frowning. Thinking of what should she do to avoid Yusuke getting kidnapped.

"Maybe I should inform Genkai-sama about this." she said in almost a whisper.

"And then what? Get the whole Spiritual World breathe down our necks?"

"Maybe she can help us, she's the princess of the Spiritual World." Keiko said trying to convince Botan.

"Nah, you'll defeat them. Even if you have to do it all by yourself. You're that good, girl!"

Keiko knew Botan was only trying to make her feel better. But she also know that no matter what Botan say, she'll still worry. "Well, I guess i'm just scared. I don't want to lose either my power or Yusuke."

"Hey, don't worry. We'll be here to help."

"Who's we? All I see is a you."

"Hey, don't get all mushy on me. Shizuru still got her spiritual sword, Yukina has her Black Dragon and I have my plants. We'll be here. Not to mention, Koenma is still alive. He may have given you his powers but he can still kick butts you know!"

"Yah, I know. I guess I shoudn't be that worried, huh?" She answered with uncertainty.

"Nah, no need for worry."

There was a long pause. Both of them absorbed with their own thoughts.

"Where's Yukina anyway?" Keiko broke the silence.

"Patroling. But I guess, she's more into looking after her twin brother Hiei."

"Oh..." "What about Shizuru?" She quickly added.

"Home, my guess. She's already serious with her studies. And with a big brother like Kuwabara watching her at all times, no wonder she got too serious all of a sudden!" Botan got an imaginary cigarette from her pocket, lit it up with an imaginary lighter and smoked, giving a perfect imitation of Shizuru's brother.

The two laughed as they climbed the stairs leading to Koenma's temple. Both of them joking about their friends. Shizuru's brother, Genkai-sama's pacifier, Yukina's short temper, and even Kurama's falling off the stick he uses to fly in and out of the Spiritual World.

"If you really think about it, we had loads of fun, hadn't we?" Keiko said.

"You bet!"

They saw Yusuke waiting for them at the gate. He was wearing an apron and an unmistakably delicious smell was coming from inside the house.

"Hmmmm... that smells really delicious!" Botan commented.

"It should be. My Yusuke cooked it for me. Didn't you?" She faced Yusuke.

"Uhmm... uhmm." Yusuke's face blushed. He scratched his head and just smiled ridiculously at Keiko.

"Oh! Nevermind! Let's just eat!" Keiko said as they head for their lunch.

"Looks like, your Yusuke is bad at the chummy-chummy part!" Botan whispered teasingly at Keiko.

"One more remark and i'll kick your ass!" Keiko whispered back. Botan just laughed and offered Keiko one of her sushis.

This sure is starting to be a good day after all. Keiko thought as she got one of Botan's sushis.

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