I'm ready to go whenever you are. Naomi glanced over at Kurama. You ready? She didn't think he'd take long to be ready, if he wasn't already.

Kurama nodded.

"I'm ready," he replied.

"Alright," Naomi said. "Then let me get the book and round everyone up, and we can go."

Osanna nodded and relaxed, getting up so she'd be ready to go when Naomi got back.

Hiei watched them for a moment before he dropped down a little ways away, nodding to Kurama.

Kurama nodded in greeting in return. He would have asked how Hiei had found his talk with Naomi, but he knew that his friend wouldn't say anything in front of Osanna.

Naomi went back to find Yukina.

"We're ready to go when you are," she said to her friend.

Yukina nodded and picked up a bag, carrying it easily. "Alright. What will it be like?" She looked at Naomi, just a little bit nervous.

"It's not much different," Naomi replied. "The biggest difference is that humans and youkai live side-by-side, rather than how it is here. So people will know you're not human, they just won't care." She didn't add that people knew she herself was a half-breed, and they DID care about that. They wouldn't harass Yukina, which was the important thing.

Yukina nodded and followed Naomi outside again. She stayed close between Naomi and Hiei once they were outside, a little nervous about the whole going between worlds thing, but she figured she'd go over that.

Once everyone was rounded up, Naomi opened the book again.

"Think we can go home now?" she asked it. "The five of us, to mine and Osanna's world." There. Not giving it any leeway to separate them.

The book was silent for a moment before it toppled all five of them through all the other worlds, and then dumped them all between the two houses.

Osanna grimaced as she got up. That has to be an easier way to do that...

"If there is, I haven't found it yet," Naomi replied, getting back to her feet.

Kurama didn't fare quite as badly as Osanna and Naomi, managing to stay on his feet after the landing. The trip was just as disconcerting as last time, however.

Osanna grumbled and brushed herself off before meandering over to her garden. She had a few new seeds to plant, after all.

Hiei looked around curiously, looking first after Osanna and at the house he presumed was hers before switching his attention to Naomi's house.

"Oh!" Yukina smiled as she looked around. "It's pretty here! You live here?" She looked at Naomi.

"Ah, all the little green things belong to Osa," Naomi replied hastily. "For like a mile radius." She gestured to the white house next to Osanna's. "That one's mine, and it has excellent air conditioning."

Kurama barely glanced around before following Osanna. The garden was practically singing now that she was back, and he wanted to explore a bit.

Hiei snorted. That part reminded him of Kurama's house. The fox had everything within a mile of his house trained to respond to him. The fire demon remembered the last time they'd been there, and idly wondered if he'd have to go sleep on the roof so he didn't heat up Naomi's house again.

Yukina giggled at the air conditioning comment and walked around, looking at both houses.

Osanna moved over to the roses she was working on making different colors, checking on each of them.

Digging around in her bag, Naomi pulled out her keys and unlocked her house. It was a bit warmer inside than she usually liked, so she immediately went to turn the temperature down a little.

"Make yourselves comfortable," she said.

Kurama watched with interest as Osanna worked with the unusual roses.

"One of your special breeds?" he asked.

Yukina started looking around, curious, and Hiei just perched on a windowsill, keeping track of Naomi.

Naomi got them for me. They only grow way up north. Osanna grinned at him and touched one of the roses. They were still cool to the touch.

Kurama reached out and gently brushed one of the roses with a fingertip.

"Fascinating," he murmured.

Naomi relaxed a bit as the house got cooler.

"Much better," she breathed. "Not as warm as outside anymore."

Yukina couldn't help but smile. Sometimes she felt the same way. It was nice to have a cool place to hide in sometimes.

"You have a lovely house."

Osanna nodded and grabbed his hand, pulling him off to go look at the various plants she'd picked up from other places too. She figured he'd like those.

"Thanks," Naomi replied with a smile. "It's not a lot, but it's home, and it's far enough north that there's normally some snow every winter." She made a bit of a face. "If it's not too mild, at least."

Kurama let Osanna pull him along, though he was pleased to get a look at her garden. It reminded him of his own, in a way, and he was pleased she was able to keep it up so well.

Yukina nodded. "Why don't you move any farther north?" she asked quietly.

Osanna took him on the grand tour, taking her time. She didn't feel the need to hurry back inside for anything.

"Because if I moved any further north, it would be too cold," Naomi admitted after a moment. "Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy the cold, but I can't have it all the time." She was quiet for another moment. "And I wouldn't want to leave Osanna behind, and this is as far north as I'm willing to drag her."

"Your garden is impressive," Kurama said as Osanna showed him around.

Yukina nodded. She knew how that was, at least in part. There was a reason she spent her winters with Genkai.

Osanna turned and smiled at him, clearly pleased. And maybe just a touch smug.

Naomi stretched and was about to settle in and relax when she felt a very familiar energy outside. She immediately went from relaxed to tense as someone knocked on the door. Reluctantly, Naomi opened it.

"Nomia," the woman outside greeted coolly.

"Andromeda," Naomi replied in the same tone. Looking at the two, it was clear they were related. They shared the same eyes and the same general facial structure, but Andromeda was tall and slender with her translucent, bluish hair pulled back in a loose, messy bun. She didn't have any brown in her hair like Naomi did, and her skin was a little fairer.

"Good, you're here," Andromeda said, not wasting any time with formalities. She brushed past Naomi into the house without waiting for an invitation. "I'll cut straight to the point, then. You stole something from my mother, and I'll have it back now, if you please." She glanced around and noticed the other two in the room. Her nose wrinkled a bit in distaste. "And hurry it up, I would like to get back home as soon as possible."

"Andromeda, get out of my house," Naomi said flatly. "I have nothing for you." Andromeda raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"Leave," Naomi replied.

"Who are you to order me around, half-breed?" Andromeda sneered. "Don't try to pretend you and I are equals, Nomia. You're the half-breed daughter of a mistress, you can't compete with the rest of us." She smirked. "Father left her as little more than a whore."

Naomi's hand flashed out, cracking across her sister's face.

"Don't you talk that way about my mother!" she snarled. "Don't you dare, Andromeda!"

In a moment, Hiei had crossed the room, moving behind Andromeda with his sword resting lightly against the back of her neck. His eyes were narrowed dangerously. Even Yukina looked furious, moving up next to Naomi, ice crackling at her fingers.

"I think you should leave now," Yukina said to Andromeda. She might not be as strong as the other ice demon, but Hiei was stronger. And more volatile. And definitely more pissed off.

Andromeda looked between them, surprise evident in her eyes. Clearly, she hadn't been expecting anyone to step up and defend her weakling half-sister. Well. She would rather return without whatever it was Nomia had stolen than to deal with these two. Sending one last haughty glare at her half-sister, Andromeda turned and stalked out the door. She didn't bother to close it behind her.

Hiei looked after her for a moment before he grinned, his creepy evil grin, and vanished after her.

And if her clothes caught on fire, well, she deserved it. He shut the door behind him with a smug snap.