Dragons of Shame

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho, Saiyuki or Journey to the West. They belong to their respective owners.

AN: Hello, my little darklings. I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. It feels great to be updating this story. With each chapter, I feel closer and closer to the end. If you are subscribed to my profile, you may have received a notification of a new story. If not, I am delighted to inform you of my latest story, Before the Veil: a companion to Dragons of Shame. It isn't really necessary to read, but I feel that it adds some insight to Botan's feelings on her relationships with those around her. I have it sort of focused as a prequel, but they're mostly drabbles. I won't be updating it very often, I'm not even sure if I'll update it until after I've completed Dragons of Shame. I may remove it after completion of this story, so it's definitely worth a peek.

But I digress, please enjoy this latest chapter, I have certainly enjoyed writing it:

Chaptire Twenty-Two: Temporary Friends

Botan wasn't sure what to expect of Yusuke's return. She was genuinely concerned for everyone's well-being, and she couldn't say she was on anyone's side, except for Ranma's side, of course. Then again, she was in love with Hiei and truly felt he would be the man she and Ranma spent the rest of their lives with. So, maybe she could say she was on Hiei's side as well.

Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't Yusuke and the others returning completely livid with her. She wasn't expecting Yusuke to scream in her face, demanding to know how to enter Heaven again, demanding to know if Goku had brainwashed Yuji. She was shocked at even Koenma's frustration, although he assured her it was not directed at her.

"Yusuke," she tried to calm the former spirit detective down, he screamed and began to throw things. For a split, selfish and inwardly reflective moment, Botan mourned for and wondered why it was always her nice things being smashed to bits.

The moment passed and she found herself, once again, urging Yusuke Urameshi to calm himself and take a deep breath. Yusuke's read face went slightly purple, as though he was going to burst like a balloon, but slowly, unsteadily, he let out all his hot air in one breath. Tears stung his tired brown eyes, and he turned away from everyone. He held his breath until he could rein in his emotions.

Though Yusuke was in so much pain, he was grateful to have Botan back. She had always been one of the few people in the universe who could calm him down. Just to see her concerned face broke him. She was like his little sister, the one he could never say "no" to. She was so brave, and he was surprised at how well she was able to compose herself when her son, the greatest joy in her life, was gone.

He respected her a great deal for her courage, because she was in the same boat-if not worse off- than him. Botan loved her son, it was easy to see, and without her child around she couldn't seem to function very well. Who did Botan speak to about the pain of her child's absence?

Yusuke's children were his pride and joy, they were everything to him, and he felt very blessed to have three of them, and another one on the way. Keiko, Yuki, Konrad and "Peanut" (as they like to call number four) fed him strength during the agonizing absence of Yuji, the child Yusuke found he had the closest relationship with.

So, it was excruciatingly difficult for Yusuke to watch Yuji turn and flee from his salvation.

"Yuji's face," Yusuke growled, sitting next to Botan on the couch, "had this pained expression on it. It was like he wanted to leave, but he just couldn't…"

Botan furrowed her brow, "What exactly happened? Where were Ranma and the Princess? Tell me everything."

Yusuke filled her in on everything, up to the moment when Koenma had blown up a pacifier in Jessy's face. Botan interrupted with a horrified gasp, and a glare at Koenma. "You threw a bomb in a little girl's face?"

Koenma threw his hands up in surrender, "Now, Botan, remember—Jessy Wu K'ung isn't a normal little girl. She's part goddess and part demon. I am sure she was fine." Botan's horrified face turned into outrage.

Yusuke shrugged his shoulders, and continued before she could say anything. "Well, the explosion was enough to knock her out." He left his mouth hanging open slightly, a thought having crossed his mind. "You know, she yelled something before that, though. It sounded like your name, Botan."

All eyes fell on the blue haired woman, her cheeks went pink.

"Botan," Kurama started suddenly, the first thing he'd said to her since their return. "When we arrived there, the entire palace was void of any god. Only Jessy, Yuji and Ranma, who was unconscious, were there. Why is that?"

Botan was genuinely confused, "How would I know that?" She asked, not sounding defensive. "I told you before-Jessy probably knew you were going to break in to Heaven."

"Yes," Kurama pressed, "But how and why wouldn't she tell her father? I assume he would be there, had she forewarned him."

Botan rolled her eyes, "I told you, the Princess is very astute. Also, I know she is, at this point in time, an enemy of the Spirit World, but she doesn't necessarily enjoy violence. She is like any of us, she'll protect what she feels is right. I'm sure that she would not want to cause Yusuke or any of you harm-seeing that she and Yuji get along quite well."

Yusuke's eyebrows rose in curiosity.

"Okay," Kurama reasoned, "However that still does not explain why she called out your name." Botan stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Kurama, I have a feeling, that you are trying accuse me of something." She glared daggers, Kurama turned away, confused with himself even.

"I have a feeling you're hiding something from us." He finally replied.

The room filled with an awkward silence, Botan admitted that there were a few things she was still hiding, such as the fact that the gods were fighting another enemy. A fact Koenma had completely failed to mention. But, when compared to the kidnapping of Ranma and Yuji, the unknown enemy didn't seem so important. There was also the fact that she and Hiei were going to be together. Yet again, it didn't seem too important.

"Do you have some sort of way to contact them?" Kuwabara had been staring between Botan and Kurama.

"No," she replied. "Well, not really. There's a sort of contact I have with Goku, but we rarely use it since it takes a lot of concentration. It always takes a lot out of me, and anything more than a few minutes conversation wipes me out. Jessy called out my name, and she sent me some mental images of you guys, but that was the first time she had ever done anything like that. It was also very brief. "

She furrowed her brow again, a thought struck her. Panic set in. "Wait a second." Botan stood suddenly, "All of you must leave, right now."

"What's wrong?" Everyone in the room went on high alert, Yusuke stood in front of Botan to shield her.

"You guys just broke into Heaven—into Goku's palace," She said. "You injured a goddess, Koenma, a very important goddess. Goku and the others are undoubtedly looking for you."

"So?" Kuwabara snorted, though everyone in the room had already started sweating bullets. The ginger man just happened to miss the train.

Yusuke stared at his friend, "SO, Kuwabara, it means that we are all in big, big trouble yet where the first place we run to is Botan's house, whose son is just as much of a captive as Yuji. We just put her in a whole lot of danger."

It seemed to hit Kuwabara like a MAC truck then, and he started to freak out. "We can't go home! We'll put everyone else in danger!"

Everyone seemed to agree that the best place to hide out would be the Demon World, where they could stay in Yusuke's inherited territory and train until the Summer Tournament.

"You should all go home and tell your families goodbye," Koenma suggested.

"We'll reconvene in an hour, outside the usual place?" In a matter of moments, Kuwabara, Koenma and Kurama were gone, Yusuke stayed behind to speak with Botan.

Just like the first time they'd met, Yusuke had a million questions for the former deity.

They stayed sitting next to one another on the comfortable couch, sitting in a pregnant silence. Yusuke struggled to sort through all of his questions; he wanted to initiate his border-line interrogation. To his immense surprise, Botan started with that he had been thinking would be a good starter.

"Kurama said my son was unconscious," she started; Yusuke noted that her voice was icy and flat. "You guys didn't cause it." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

"Right," Yusuke replied slowly. "I was actually going to ask you about that. Do you have any idea-"

"No," Botan answered quickly-a bit too quickly. Yusuke was able to pick up on her lie.

Having watched Ranma fight his entire life, Botan was well aware of her son's weaknesses and how he reacted and handled the copious amounts of spirit energy within him. She knew that whenever Ranma's emotions and anger got the best of him, his spirit energy often overwhelmed him, which usually ended with Ranma falling into a short coma.

The comas, which were very similar to the sleep Yusuke had been through during the Dark Tournament, could last anywhere from three days to a whole month. Typically, after a tournament, Ranma slept for a few days. After the most recent tournament, the teenager had slept for three and a half weeks.

There was no doubt, in Botan's mind, that Ranma's most recent coma was a result of having met Hiei, and she was sure that had been a very traumatic experience.

A wave of dread spread through Botan, at that very moment she wished she could be with her son more than anything else in the universe. It brought her back to the conversation at hand with a heart-wrenching ache.

Yusuke gazed at Botan with a mixed sense of worry and suspicion, "Botan?" He asked tentatively, "Kurama said he thinks you're hiding something-is he right?"

Pink met brown as the two friends stared at one another for a long while.

"Yes," Botan replied quietly, realizing then that there was a lot she was hiding. It was then that she also realized she might never be able to be honest with Yusuke or anyone ever again. Not only was she hiding her relationship, and the tidbit about the other enemy, and some other things about Ranma, but there were a million things she hadn't told them. She hadn't even been honest with herself for a long time.

With a sigh, she continued. "Yusuke," she put her hand on his knee, "I have many secrets. But they aren't things I can share…just yet." She added the last part with a small smile.

Yusuke scrutinized her silently for a few moments more, finally, he gave her a curt nod. "I understand," he said, "I don't expect you to suddenly share every little thing with us. But I do expect you to be in our lives again, I don't want you to disappear on us." He grinned.

It was the same grin Botan had always pictured him wearing whenever she thought fondly of the past. She always remembered the love that everyone'd had for one another back then. She was overjoyed to find that that love was still there, for the most part. Though Kurama and Hiei were different, she felt that they might one day, after all of this was over, be whole again.

With a small sob, Botan gathered Yusuke into a hug. He was stunned momentarily, but then he found himself holding her tightly, grateful to those bastard gods for having kept his little sister safe. He was glad he could hold her again, to hear her voice. He knew that things were bad just then, they had been bad in the past, but he felt that-with Botan at their side again-things were going to get better.

When they separated, they both laughed at themselves through the tears they'd been trying to hide. They discussed a few things, far different from the questions Yusuke had had lined up in his brain. He told Botan how much he admired her for being so brave, and when he asked her how she could do it, she smiled.

"It's not easy," she admitted. "But I know that Ranma is in a safe place, they won't hurt him, so that makes it somewhat bearable. Although, I have to say, not having him here has me a bit lost."

"I know that feeling," Yusuke smirked sadly.

"Yuji is going to be fine, Yusuke." Botan assured, "I don't know why he wouldn't come home, maybe Ranma or Jessy said something to him, but I promise you—he hasn't been brainwashed. I can also promise you that while he is in the care of Goku, he will be alright."

Botan's words were so full of certainty that Yusuke felt she might be right. But, being a former spirit detective, he knew the way things could suddenly take a turn for the worst. So, Yusuke Urameshi was not going to let go of his concern for his son until he had that boy in his arms once again.

Yuji awoke to a great dissonance of voices, and through half-opened eyes, he found that he was surrounded by the gods again, but they were not in Heaven. He sat up and stared around, Jessy was also awake, being tended to by Hakkai. Ranma was still asleep, covered by a fur blanket. Though they were still in the Demon World, they were no longer in the cave, instead, they were in a small hut that seemed even smaller crowded with several tall and powerful gods.

Goku, Sanzo and Gojyo stood close to each other, discussing, in very low voices, what their next move should be. Master Yu and the rest of Ranma's teammates were nowhere to be found. Yuji shakily got to his feet and made his way out of the hut, nobody seemed too concerned that he'd left. Or perhaps they just hadn't noticed.

It didn't matter to Yuji, he'd had a great deal of turmoil boiling within him. Although he felt slightly guilty for leaving Ranma alone, his guilt for causing Yusuke pain weighed greatly on his mind and heart. His father's expression-the last thing Yuji saw before jumping into the portal-had been the single most painful experience of Yuji's young life.

Yuji stepped out of the hut and took in his surroundings. He was in a small demon village that was bustling with gods and demons alike, most of the gods were easily recognizable to Yuji, having seen them come and go through Goku's palace. As he passed by a small group of gods and demons, he overheard them mention the damage dealt to the palace.

"The Princess' quarters were completely caved in…" Said one god in a low voice, "The throne room was the only thing that survived, it seems that was where Urameshi came in…"

Yuji ducked his head down low and walked in the opposite direction. If the gods held any grudge against him before, they would surely be worse now that his father had successfully infiltrated Heaven. Silently, and lost in his own thoughts, the young teenager made his way out of the village and into the dense forest of Demon World.

Yusuke's face would forever haunt him, Yuji knew it would. There would be nothing he or anyone else could do to erase that image from his mind. The shame would leave a permanent scar on his soul, and his heart. He had run from his salvation. From, quite possibly, the only way he would ever see his family again.

Goku had, at one point, promised to take him back to the Human World, but there was no guarantee Yuji would see his family alive there. Gods were complex, tricky, and, to Yuji's opinion, quite fickle. Yuji had once voiced his thoughts to Ranma, but his friend had merely dismissed it.

"Gods are difficult to understand," Ranma had said with a wave of his hand. "You just don't understand, it's something you probably won't ever be able to grasp." Yuji had been hurt by those words. It was as though Ranma was saying Yuji was inferior. But he'd let it slide, thankful to at least have someone to talk to.

Recently, however, talking to Ranma had become rather strained. As the tournament drew closer, the less time they had to spend with each other. Though Ranma, Jessy, Goku and some (few) of the other gods seemed pleased to have Yuji in Heaven, everyone else either ignored him or treated him like filth.

Thinking about it, Jessy and Ranma had been discussing things without Yuji. They'd been having their own private meetings. Even though Ranma had told Yuji it was to keep him safe, it still hurt to be left out. To be considered weak.

"To be considered useless?" Said a small voice in the back of Yuji's mind. Yuji jumped at the thought and gazed around, there was a sudden prickle in his mind-a strong prickle. "Why did you even save them? It's obvious that neither Ranma nor the Princess care for you."

Yuji admitted to himself that he'd been wondering about his actions. He had merely acted on instinct when he tossed Ranma and Jessy into the portal. True, he had told the Princess that he would stay. But seeing his father had been a game changer.

The suddenly wind blew through the trees, leaving what sounded like the ghost of a malicious chuckle.

The prickling in Yuji's mind grew stronger, and he was suddenly on high alert. He concentrated his energy, blocking out the voice and the prickling. He held his hands together in the style of a gun, as his father had taught him to do many years before. Someone was watching him. Another gust of wind swept through the trees, blowing away the prickling sensation and the voice-but not the feeling of being watched.

"Hey, you!" A dark shadow suddenly fell out of the trees in front of Yuji. Without thinking, he fired his spirit gun. The spirit bullet hit the person in front him, issuing a scream of horror and agony through the forest.

Shinobu dropped to the ground, blood poured from his ears and face, he gripped his eyes and cried out.

Kaito abruptly appeared at his friend's side; Yuji jumped violently but was paid no attention. "NO!" Kaito screamed, his hands hovered above Shinobu's body, unsure if he should pick the injured wolf demon up or not. "MASTER YU!" He bellowed, and then in the blink of an eye, the old demon master was there, as were Jessy, Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo.

"Shit," Gojyo hissed, staring at Yuji. "Did you do this?"

All eyes turned to Yuji, who held up his hands defensively and stammered, "I-I didn't-He startled me! There was this voice and it-"

Shinobu cut him off by yelping in pain. Hakkai picked up the young demon carefully, stopping at even the slightest whimper. With Shinobu firmly in his arms, the doctor god began to head back to the village. Kaito and Jessy moved to follow, but Master Yu stopped them with a shake of his head.

Once again, everyone was staring at Yuji. For the first time, Master Yu was truly surveying him. Yuji had never felt more uncomfortable. No one spoke for a few moments.

The silence built up, and it was too much for Goku. "What happened?" He demanded in a rather bothered voice.

Goku stared pointedly at Yuji, "Well-"

Kaito cut him off, "THIS BOY," he snarled, pointing at Yuji, "ATTAKCED SHINOBU-UNPROVOKED AND UNJUSTLY!"

"It was an accident!" Yuji exclaimed.

"LIAR!" Jessy grabbed a hold of Kaito's robes, restraining him from attacking Yuji. "LET ME GO! I WILL KILL THIS MAGGOT MYSE-"

"ENOUGH!" Master Yu's voice was so loud and piercing that even Goku and Gojyo flinched. The elder demon grabbed Kaito, "Calm yourself, boy. It is rare that I see you so out of sorts, I pray I never see it again." Kaito lowered his sea green eyes to the ground and nodded sadly.

Master Yu then turned to Yuji, his voice low and threatening. "Boy, continue with your story." Yuji nodded and told them everything, when he'd finished, Goku and Gojyo were staring at one another, exchanging a conversation telepathically, or so Yuji assumed. After a moment, Gojyo faced the direction of the village and whistled.

It was a high pitched, ear-piercing noise. It made Yuji's ears twitch, Kaito covered his ears and winced, and even Master Yu seemed lightly annoyed. Jessy, Goku and Gojyo seemed to enjoy the sound, however; as did all of the other gods who abruptly appeared at Gojoy's side. The gods were all clad in armor with a special emblem on the front; Yuji assumed the emblem meant they were warriors in Gojyo's army.

Yuji's thoughts were confirmed when the armor-clad gods and Gojyo took to the sky on clouds, with Gojyo leading the way.

Before Yuji could ask any questions, Master Yu spoke to him again. "You were able to suppress the voice?" Yuji nodded. "You were also able to harm one of my pupils?"

Yuji felt cold, but he nodded, "Yes, Sir." Master Yu turned to Goku.

"Is not Raizen his forefather?" Goku frowned in thought and nodded. Master Yu smirked. Suddenly, everyone stepped back several paces, leaving the old demon and Yuji facing one another.

In a flash of grey, Master Yu disappeared. Yuji gasped and jumped to the right, barely dodging a deadly blow from the old dragon demon. The teenager found himself in the middle of a sparring session. The two moved so quickly that to any untrained eye, it would seem that neither was there. Yuji was extremely glad he'd paid attention to everything Yusuke had ever taught him.

He was able to avoid nearly every attack that Master Yu threw at him, until he tried to fight back. Yuji threw his hand out, expecting to connect with the old man's neck, only to be hit in the chest and thrown backwards, knocking down several trees. Yuji growled, anger and embarrassment seeping through his every pore. With a feral yell, he burst forward, aiming a kick at Master Yu.

But Master Yu was quicker; he grasped Yuji's leg and began to spin, expecting to throw the boy through the trees again. Yuji surprised him by taking his other leg and wrapping it over one of Master Yu's arms and breaking the hold. Taking advantage of his opponent's surprise, Yuji punched Master Yu square in the face.

Jessy gasped, distracting Yuji. He was met with a punch to the jaw so strong that he blacked out. When he came to, Master Yu was standing over him, holding out a helping hand.

Master Yu laughed, "You are definitely a descendent of Raizen!" Yuji glanced around at everyone gaping at him, they all burst into laughter-even Kaito.

"What?" Yuji frowned, he knew who Raizen was-Yusuke had made sure he knew about his family's history, but he was severely confused. Had he missed something?

"Ranma wasn't lying," Master Yu continued. "He did say you were strong. You will be my newest pupil, young Urameshi." Master Yu turned back to Goku, "I will recommence training tomorrow morning. Now, if you'll excuse me—I must see to Shinobu." Master Yu disappeared in another flash of gray.

Yuji and the others made their way back to the village silently, when they reached their destination, the three new team mates were ordered back to the hut. Jessy tried to protest, but anything she might have had to say was quickly cut off by her father's dismissal. She stormed into the hut and sat in the corner, where Ranma still lay in slumber.

The silence in the hut was thick, Yuji had a million questions. But he was still wary of Kaito, who hadn't looked at him once since their return. None of them was quite sure how long they'd sat quietly, and it might have continued if Ranma hadn't suddenly let out a loud snore. They erupted into laughter.

Kaito finally turned to Yuji and held out his hand, "I wish to apologize." Yuji stared at the peace offering. "I mean it. We are team mates now, we will be fighting beside one another. This means I will have to trust my life with you at some point. I'd rather we be civil."

After a moment of careful observation, Yuji shook Kaito's hand. "But," Kaito continued while their hands were clasped, "I cannot forgive you for harming Shinobu. Perhaps, one day, I will be able to." Yuji nodded.

It was completely understandable.

As Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama walked through Makai towards Yusuke's inherited territory, Yusuke realized that he'd never been happier to be back in the Demon World.

He realized that he shouldn't be happy, having left his children and his pregnant wife behind, but there was no better escape from Keiko's piercing voice and raging hormones. She had been more than heart broken to hear not only that her son had voluntarily left, but also that her husband was going to be leaving for several months-again.

"You better be the strongest being in the universe when you get back, Yusuke Urameshi!" Keiko had warned him as he left, waving one hand over his shoulder. Yuki, Yuji's twin brother, had been quite difficult to deal with as well. Yuki had begged to join Yusuke in the Demon World and the tournament, but Yusuke had drawn the line. There was no way he would put anymore of his family in danger again.

It was difficult enough having Yuji involved, there was no telling what Yusuke might do should Keiko or any of their other children be endangered.

But the well placed emotions and worries of his family were not the true reason Yusuke was happy to be back in the Demon World. He was happy to be there because there was simply no place like it. In the Demon world he was able to test his powers at their fullest, he was able to train and fight until he passed out. It was something that was in his blood-literally.

Kuwabara, on the other hand, found it exceedingly difficult to be in Makai, away from his family. He was very attached to his wife and children, and hadn't been apart from there for more than a few days since he and Yukina had first married. When Kuwabara had informed his beautiful wife that he and the others would be gone for several months, she had held a brave face. He'd had no intention of telling his children, Yukina would've been more than glad to inform them after her husband was already in Demon World.

Things, however, hadn't turned out the way Kuwabara had expected. Zuma and Sakura had been eavesdropping and the moment their father was walking out the front door, they burst from their hiding places. They begged their father to stay. Their pleading voices and concern had brought tears to Kuwabara's eyes. He'd promised them he would come back safe, and that he'd bring everyone home safely.

Thinking about their faces and their protests brought new tears to the red head's eyes. He stifled a howl of sadness by shoving a fist in his mouth. He missed the awkward and highly uncomfortable glances thrown at him by his two companions.

Kurama took a few steps away from the sobbing man. Yusuke did the complete opposite. The dark haired man threw an arm around his friend, "C'mon, Kuwabara!" He laughed, "It's alright! We'll get through this, it's only a few months. Then, after we kick everyone's asses and get the kids back, we can see our families again!"

"He's right," Kurama agreed, staying a few feet behind the two. "We'll be back home before you know it, Kuwabara." Kuwabara sniffled and nodded glumly.

They walked for an hour or so, before they finally came upon Raizen's former abode. They made themselves comfortable and rested for a few hours to let the rain die down before they went out again to train.

It wasn't even thirty minutes before they were interrupted. They detected a massive wave of spirit energy heading their way-fast. Kurama transformed into his Yoko-form, Kuwabara extended his spirit sword and Yusuke had his demon gun at the ready.

The approaching person didn't bother to conceal themselves, they were completely tactless. The three men assumed it to be a young and foolish demon. The bushes near Kurama moved, he snapped his vine-whip lightly and wrapped it around the person's leg to drag them out. A scream rang out through Makai.

Nobody was more surprised and outraged than Yusuke was to see Yuki on the other end of the whip.

"Don't kill me!" Yuki shouted, closing his eyes and shielding his head from his father. Yusuke picked his son up by the collar of his shirt and slapped Yuki over the head several times.

"WHAT. THE. FUCK. ARE. YOU. THINKING." Yusuke bellowed, emphasizing each word with a slap. "WE. COULD. HAVE. FUCKING. KILLED. YOU. YOU. RETARD."

"I want to help you fight, Dad!" Yuki was holding his hands over his head, desperately trying to protect himself. Kuwabara and Kurama chuckled and shook their heads. Yusuke released his son, fuming.

He stood with his hands clenched, breathing heavily through his nose, trying to calm himself. Yuki shivered in fear. His father's reaction had not been what he'd expected. He had hoped that Yusuke would be overjoyed to see him.

With a shake of his head, Yusuke opened his brown eyes. "No."

"Aw," Yuki whined. "C'mon, Dad, you know I can help! I'm a good fighter, I'm just as good as Yuji!"

"Yeah," Yusuke scoffed. "And just look how well Yuji's managed to protect himself!" Yuki and the others winced at Yusuke's response. "I won't have any more of this family get into trouble. I'm gonna drag your ass home. Right now."

"No, wait, don't!" Yuki protested, managing to jerk himself from his father's sudden grasp. "I can seriously help you fight, I mean, you guys can't fight in the tournament with just three guys. Where are you expecting to magically come up with two more people?"

Yusuke made to object once more, but was cut off by Kurama, "Yuki makes a valid point, Yusuke." Yusuke stared at the fox demon in horror.

"Fuck that!" He shouted, "There is no way I am putting my kid through this tournament—we're in the middle of a war, Kurama! Or did you forget that little piece of information?"

Kurama smirked and shook his head, "Weren't you just saying a few weeks ago that you were planning to enter Yuji or Yuki into this same tournament?"

Yuki and Kuwabara stared between the composed Kurama and the umbrageous Yusuke, "You were?" Yuji screeched, grinning from ear to ear. Yusuke glared daggers at his crimson haired friend before finally turning to his son.

"I was," he admitted. "But things changed when your brother was taken from us." Yuki made to protest, but Yusuke continued, "Since you're already here, I'm willing to train you…if you can keep up with me. Right here. Right now." He took a fighting stance.

Yuki gulped.

Hiei wasn't sure what he would be met with on his return to Demon World. He'd been sure before, when he left Botan, that he might reach some insight on what to do about their situation. Things had changed, however, once he'd actually made it into Makai.

The fire demon had been met with surprising silence. It was as though Makai was in an unspoken, yet insurmountable frightened state. The low demons and beings within it seemed to be in hiding. Typically, Hiei would find fights no matter where he went, but there was nothing.

From an outside view, one might say that the Demon World was peaceful. But to those actually there, it was evident that there was something amiss. As to what might be causing such a strange alteration, nobody had any idea.

For over a week, Hiei met nothing. Although he felt several demons-in all ranges of classifications-he didn't encounter any of them. Nor did he run into any trouble.

Until his eighth day.

Hiei had been considering going back to the Human World. For days he'd been wondering what had happened and if there was any point to him even being in Makai. But he continued to shake off the thought, feeling an intuitive urgency to remain there.

As the sun began to set on his eighth day there, he stumbled upon a deserted demon village. Although the village was small, it still seemed peculiar to Hiei that it was so empty. What seemed even more peculiar to Hiei was that there was no reason for it to be void of life. It was near a river, uphill, plentiful in wildlife and fruit for food. It appeared to the fire demon that the former inhabitants either been wiped out (though there was no evidence of dead bodies) or they had suddenly bolted out of fear (though there was no evidence of that, either.).

Usually, Hiei would just pass by the village, giving it no more thought. But there was something about it that made him stay. He decided to explore the small shelters.

During his exploration, he felt a small prickle at the nape of his neck. It was weak, but it was familiar. Suddenly, a wave of spirit energy swept over him. Hiei's skin broke out in goosebumps. It struck him as strange, for the energy he'd felt was not one of a high class demon, but that of a low class. With a dark flash, Hiei burst from the hut he'd been exploring to face the demon.

What Hiei was met with was surprising on several levels: One being that the demon had the appearance of being quite strong, and, in a sense, held small resemblance to Kurama in his Yoko form. While Kurama was fair in both hair and skin, this demon was dark. His skin was the color of red dirt, a beautiful mixture of brown and crimson. His hair was silky, black and long, it hung like curtains from his head, on top of which was a massive set of black antlers.

The demon was surprised to see Hiei, his coal black eyes glistened with a mix of fear and fury. Hiei got the strange notion that the demon knew him, which was another striking oddity. Hiei knew he'd never met this being, yet there was a strange sense of familiarity: as though he'd seen the demon somewhere before. But Hiei was sure he would remember such a strange looking creature.

"What…are you?" Hiei asked, cocking his head. The demon never answered. In a flash too quick for even Hiei to notice, the demon was in front of him. Standing nose to nose, and before Hiei could react, the demon placed his long-clawed hands on Hiei's head.

And then everything went black.

AN: Have a great weekend, everyone! Remember, Reviews are Love!