A/n: This is a collaboration crossover fan fiction that I am writing with my friend, Golden of Neopets! It is one that I have been itching to write for a long time, but wasn't sure how to approach. She helped clear a lot of things up and contributed a lot to this fan fiction. Thanks for everything, Golden!

Tales of Demons

Chapter 1

Beyond Tokyo and the Return of Mithos

One cold and stormy night in the forest near his Master Genkai's temple, Yusuke Urameshi and friends were fighting a tough demoness named Wilhelmina. She had the ability to make the air temperature warm or cold, and could shift dimensions. She had long platinum blonde hair, one purple eye and one red eye that had black speckles in it, and was about 4'9". Her strength was surprising for one of her size, for she had already wounded Kurama gravely. She was a cousin to the late Karasu, whom Kurama had killed in the Dark Tournament basically three years ago. She smirked, "Surely that's not all you've got. You guys didn't win the Dark Tournament on pure luck, did you?"

Yusuke growled, "No...we won it because we were stronger than Toguro. You're just...stronger." He smirked, "This is the most fun I've had since the Makai Tournament." He looked to Kurama, who was kneeling behind Kuwabara, "Kurama...are you okay?"

Kuwabara quickly replied, "No, Urameshi, he's not okay! He's gonna bleed to death if we don't get him to Master Genkai!"

Hiei sighed, "Calm down, you fool. Kurama's strong enough to last the rest of the fight..." He winced a bit, the bad wound on his arm dripping blood onto the wet ground beneath him, "Assuming we can finish her off."

Wilhelmina, who liked to be called Willie, replied, "Heh...it won't be that easy, Hiei." She cooled the air around her, to make his fire less effective against her, "Just try it, I dare you...weakling."

Yusuke looked at Hiei, knowing the last word she uttered would play to Hiei's ego, "Hiei, don't. She obviously has some kind of plan."

Hiei glared right back, "I don't care. No one insults me like that and gets away with it. No one, Urameshi." He raced at Wilhelmina with his sword drawn and caused flames to lick up the blade, trying to hit her with a strong fire-based attack.

Wilhelmina caught the sword before it could hit and significantly cooled the air around both Hiei and the sword, "You need to chill out, little man." Using her energy, she managed to form a cage around Hiei, using the cool air as the basis for it. She looked at Yusuke and the others, "Are you ready to give up yet?"

Kurama got to his feet, breathing hard and leaning on Kuwabara, "No...no way we'll give up so easily." He managed to call on the Rose Whip, and looked to Yusuke, "Yusuke, on my mark, get ready to hit me with your Spirit Gun. I trust you can adjust it to be like rocket fuel and boost me at her."

Yusuke nodded, "Sure...but what's your plan?"

Kurama smirked, "You'll see. Just do it."

Yusuke blinked, "Umm...okay then, get ready." He powered up the Spirit Gun and fired it at Kurama.

Kurama was rocketed forward by the attack, straight at Wilhelmina. However, she darted away at the last second and Kurama's Rose Whip hit air, "...the heck?"

Wilhelmina was now behind him, "Try being a little faster next time." She commented, stabbing him through the back until the sword came out his front. She then withdrew the blade and formed another "cage of cold air" around Kurama. What was she planning?
Yusuke gritted his teeth, "Dammit! Kurama, are you okay?"

Kurama replied, now on his knees and unable to move from that position, "...I'm not sure, Yusuke...it really..." He coughed lightly, a small line of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.

Yusuke growled and looked at Kuwabara, "We have to get Kurama and Hiei out of those cold cages somehow...yah! What the-?"

A large circle of light was forming around Kurama and Hiei. It looked to be some kind of vortex that led to another dimension. It was taking a lot of Wilhelmina's energy, but she didn't seem to care and continued to expand the vortex until it encased everyone. As she was teleporting them all to Symphonia, Yusuke blacked out, his bruised body unable to take the stress of traveling across dimensions.

Once he came to, he looked around the lush forest environment he was in. Nothing he saw, heard, smelled or touched was familiar in this new place. His mind instantly went to Kurama, who was already badly hurt. He had to find him before he could bleed to death!

Kurama groaned as he came to in the Iselia Forest, not too far from Lloyd's house. His wounds greatly hurt now, having been made worse from the stresses of traveling across the dimensions to get here. He hoped that someone he knew would soon come up, for he knew not where he was, and nothing looked even vaguely familiar. He sighed and sat up against the tree he was under, not moving after that. He probably couldn't even stand up because of his poor condition.

Hiei came too just outside Iselia Village. He rubbed his throbbing forehead, then grumbled, "...What the hell is this place?" He demanded of a small boy who was making his way into the village.

The boy answered, frightened, "...Please, sir, you're just outside Iselia. Don't hurt me..."

Hiei nodded, "Thank you. Now leave me be." He sensed Kurama not terribly far away...and it didn't seem he was doing well at all. He could smell Kurama's blood in the air, and sighed, "Hang on, fox, I'm coming." He went towards the forest to help him.

Lloyd was in the forest, taking a short walk with Colette, when the two stumbled upon the injured Kurama. He gasped, "...the heck? Who are you? What happened?!"

Kurama looked up at Lloyd, "...I'm Kurama, and it's a very long story..." He winced as his wounds hurt.

Colette spoke, "Lloyd, he's hurt! We should try to find Professor Sage...or your father...or someone to help him!"

Lloyd nodded, "I know...but first let's get him out of the forest before the monsters find him and make things worse." He asked Kurama, "Can you walk?"

Kurama sighed, "Not on my own..."

Lloyd replied, "I'll help you then...come on." He put Kurama's arm around his neck and supported him, "Just hang in there. We'll try to help you, okay?"

Kurama nodded, "Thank...you..." He blacked out, going limp in Lloyd's arms.

Colette gasped, "Lloyd, we should hurry!"

Yusuke walked up just then and startled at the sight of the two people already helping Kurama. He spoke up, "Umm...thanks for finding Kurama...but I think I can take it from here."

Colette turned around, "Who...who are you?"

Yusuke replied, "Name's Yusuke Urameshi, I'm a friend of Kurama."

Lloyd responded, "Can you heal people?"

Yusuke shook his head, "...Well, no, I can't, but..."

Lloyd told him, "Ohhh...well, you can come with us to my house then. Just don't try anything funny or you'll be sorry."

Yusuke sighed, "Look, you helped Kurama, so I can guarantee you I won't attack you, all right? Kurama's one of my good friends, and so long as his life is in your hands, I'm sticking around whether you want me or not."

Colette giggled and nodded, "All right then, Yusuke. I'm Colette, and this Lloyd. We're pleased to meet you. Anyway, was there anyone else with you when you came here?"

Yusuke nodded, "Yeah...now that you mention it, Kuwabara and Hiei were there too...I hope they're okay."

Lloyd replied, "I'm sure your friends are already looking for you, and they may even be somewhere nearby. If you stay in one place, i.e., my house they will find you faster.

Yusuke responded, "Okay then, I'm coming...can either of you heal him?"

Colette shook her head, "No...but we do know several people who can. He just has to hang in there until we can get ahold of them."

Hiei was in a tree above Lloyd and jumped him from behind, landing neatly on his shoulders and causing him to drop Kurama. He pressed his blade to the boy's throat, "Who are you? Why were you holding Kurama?"

Yusuke sighed and spoke, "Relax, Hiei. They're going to get some help for Kurama. They weren't going to attack him or anything."

Lloyd told him, "Yeah, get off me...please?" He said somewhat sheepishly. He didn't want to die by the hand of someone so much smaller than him.

Colette took hold of Hiei's arm, "Please, Mr. Hiei, put down the sword. Your friend is telling the truth. We just want to help...I'm sorry if we startled you."

Hiei finally relented, jumping off of Lloyd and putting away the sword, "Are either of you able to heal?"

Lloyd shook his head, "No, but we do have a few friends who can. You and Yusuke can come to the house with Colette and me. It's not that far from here..."

After a little while, the five people (and demons...but at this point, Lloyd and Colette don't know that about Yusuke, Hiei, or Kurama.) arrived at Lloyd's house.

After putting Kurama up in the bed and tying one of his scarves around the worst of Kurama's wounds as a makeshift bandage, Lloyd came back downstairs, "Yusuke, other than you and Hiei here, was there anyone else that came?"

Yusuke nodded, "Yeah, our friend, Kuwabara. He should be along any minute. I'm sure he'll be able to find us."

As if on cue, Kuwabara walked through the door, "Hey Urameshi, Hiei...who are you guys?"

Colette smiled, "I'm Colette, and this is Lloyd. Pleased to meet you Kuwabara."

Kuwabara replied, "Nice to meet you too, Colette." He smiled at her, then looked at Yusuke and Hiei, "...How's Kurama?"

Lloyd answered for them, "Not well at all, but we can get a healer for him."

Colette told Lloyd, "I'll go and try to find Professor Sage, and you can write a letter to your Dad. Is that okay?"

Lloyd nodded, "Yeah, good idea, Colette. I'll send the letter to him using the Eternal Sword."

Colette replied, "Okay, good luck!" She took out her pink angel wings and flew out the chimney, being mindful not to fly into the fire, though she did hit smoke as she came out of it.

Lloyd began to write his letter, and once it was finished, he took the Flameberge from his mother's grave and the Vorpal Sword and combined them into the Eternal Sword. As his golden-blue wings came out, he muttered, "Eternal Sword...please get this message to my father. It's very important."

The blade seemed to respond, as the letter in Lloyd's hand was beginning to disappear. A moment later, it was gone from sight, most likely in Dherris-Kharlan by now.

Colette was back that night, though it was kind of late.

Yusuke had already fallen asleep, and Hiei was beginning to show signs of exhaustion as well. It was most likely a result of the arduous fight earlier.

Lloyd asked, "So...did you find the Professor?"
Colette nodded, "Uh-huh, she's in Palmacosta, but she and Genis are going to try to be here by tomorrow evening to see about Kurama."

Hiei replied tiredly, "Who...is this...Professor?"

Lloyd told him, "Professor Raine Sage...she can use healing arts...though, I don't know how well they'll work since your friend doesn't have an Exsphere."

Kuwabara blinked, yawning tiredly, "What the heck is an Exsphere?"

Lloyd replied, "It strengthens your natural abilities and speeds up the healing process. Though...the cost of manufacturing one is too high for my liking..."

Hiei replied, "How are they made?"

Colette sighed, "...They are made from human lives."

Kuwabara gasped, "...That's...that's terrible."

Lloyd nodded, "Yeah...that's why not so many people have them. You guys...you're so different from anyone I've met before."

Colette spoke, "Yes, they are, Lloyd. Their auras are different too. Well, Yusuke's, Hiei's, and Kurama's anyway. What are you guys?"

Yusuke woke up and answered, "We're...we're demons. Don't hold that against us though..."

Kuwabara spoke up, "Yeah, don't hold it against them. They may not be human, but they're good guys."

Lloyd shrugged, "It doesn't bother me at all. I was just curious." He sighed, "I hope that Dad writes back soon. I'm getting a little worried..."

Yusuke was suddenly tense, his hands clenching and unclenching into fists.

Hiei was also tense, his hand clasped tightly around the hilt of his blade.

Colette gasped, sensing the aura of the powerful demon. It overwhelmed her to the point where she was almost screaming, "...What is that?"

Lloyd was also sensing it and was slightly tense, his hand clenched around the hilt of the Vorpal Sword, "...I don't know, Colette, but stay close to me."

Kuwabara finally told them, "...This is the demon we were fighting before she brought us here...but why did she follow us?"

Kratos spoke from the roof, "Perhaps she wanted to finish you off."
Lloyd blinked, "...Dad?" He darted up to the balcony to make sure he wasn't hearing things. He wasn't, and Kratos was standing on the roof, "Dad!" He gave Kratos a huge bear hug.

Kratos blushed slightly uncomfortably, then tactfully returned his son's embrace, "It's good to see you again, Lloyd. Take me to Kurama...the letter you wrote pretty much explained everything...except for the part about them being demons." He was walking into the house with Lloyd as he said this.

Kuwabara spoke, "Don't worry, guy, they're not going to hurt you. Well, as long as you don't hurt them."

Kratos nodded, "...I sense another strange aura, other than your friends...what is going on?"
Colette spoke, "Umm...the demon they were fighting before they arrived is here."

Kratos narrowed his eyes, "Then I take it that the demon they were fighting was one with evil intentions and a lot of power."

Lloyd replied, "Yeah dad...but her aura doesn't seem that strong right now. She might be still exhausted from the fight with these guys."

Hiei nodded, "She is. She used a lot of her energy to bring us here...but the question is...why?" He looked to Lloyd, "Do you know anyone that was especially strong?"

Kratos gasped, realization hitting him the moment the question was asked. He replied, "Well...there was Mithos Yggdrassil...but we killed him, and there is no longer any threat from him."

Colette's eyes widened, "You don't think...she has the power to bring him back...do you?" She was tense and scared now.

Lloyd sighed and took the blonde former Chosen into his arms, "Listen Colette, even if she does, I won't let them near you, okay? I'll protect you to my last breath."

Yusuke smiled at the two, and was suddenly reminded of Keiko and himself. He sighed, missing her, and turned away.

Kratos sighed, the scene also reminding him of Anna and himself at the beginning of their relationship. He cleared his throat and said, "Why don't all of you get some sleep and let me heal Kurama to the best of my ability? I'll let you know how he's doing when you wake up."

Hiei nodded, "Sure. Thank you." He could tell that this man wasn't one to be argued or toyed with and that he wasn't ordinarily one to go out of his way to help a stranger.

Kratos replied to Hiei, shrugging, "I consider any 'friend' of Lloyd's to be a friend of mine."

Hiei responded, "Is it because he is your son?"
Kratos blinked, "...How did you know that?"

Yusuke spoke, "Well, you two sort of look alike when you're mad or worried about something, so it's not hard to put two and two together."

Raine spoke from the doorway, "It is for a certain red-wearing twin-bladed hero."

Lloyd blinked and turned, "Oh, Professor Sage...when did you get here?"
Raine replied, "Just now. Genis is here too." She stepped lightly to the right to show Genis standing behind her.

Genis smiled, "Lloyd!" He ran up and tackled his best friend into a hug. It had been months since they had seen each other.

Lloyd laughed and returned Genis's embrace, "Hey, Genis. Good to see you again...oh, guys, we have guests. This is Yusuke, Hiei, Kuwabara, and...Kurama."

Genis nodded to everyone politely, "...What happened to Kurama?"

Yusuke answered that, "He got hurt badly by a demon that was fighting us before we came, to make a long story short."

Colette finally said, "Professor Sage...please help him."
Raine replied, "Of course I will...well, Kratos and I will together. He seems pretty seriously hurt and I doubt I could do it by myself." She looked at Kratos, "But that doesn't mean you overexert yourself. If you are running low on mana and he's not fully healed yet, withdraw from it. I don't think Lloyd would be happy with me if I allowed his father to drive himself into a coma because he used too much mana."

Kratos sighed, "Point taken..." He looked to Lloyd and everyone else, "You all can go to sleep. We'll do everything we can for him."
Yusuke nodded, "Okay, be careful, you two. Night."

Raine replied, "Good night, Yusuke." She turned to Kurama, kneeling down next to Lloyd's bed and placing her staff gently above the huge wound on Kurama's stomach.

Kratos rolled the redhead gently onto his side and focused on the wound on Kurama's back where the sword had gone in.

Everyone left except for the healers and the one to be healed and went to sleep.

Morning found Kratos and Raine asleep near Kurama's bed.

Kurama began to stir, feeling refreshed, revitalized and not in pain at all. He then noticed the auburn-haired seraphim and white-haired half-elf asleep near his bed. They must've healed him. He sensed that the energy of the half-elf was dangerously low, and that the energy of the seraphim was also low, but not as low as the half-elf's. He muttered, "They must've...healed me." He walked over to Kratos and whispered in his ear, "Thank you."

Kratos began to wake up and whispered back, "You're welcome." He rubbed his head, having a terrible headache from intense mana usage, "Are you going to be all right?"

Kurama nodded, "Thanks to you, yes. What is this place?"

Kratos replied, "You are at my son Lloyd's house, in the Iselia Forest on the world of Sylvarathe'alla (A/n: O.o; Try to say that five times fast...and it's pronounced Silva-rah-thay-alla.). My son and his girlfriend Colette brought you here. Your friends are here as well."

Kurama responded, "Oh, all right. Are they okay?"

Kratos told him, "For the most part, yes. Right now, I believe they are sleeping. They weren't hurt as badly as you were so they weren't exactly a priority." He got to his feet, "If you'll come with me, I can take you to them."

Kurama nodded, "All right."

Kratos led Kurama to the room that Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara were sharing.

Just then, Yukina literally dropped in, landing at the foot of Yusuke's bed.

Kurama blinked, "...That was a little strange. Hello, Yukina."

Yukina looked at him, "Oh, hi Kurama...who's that?"

Kratos replied, "I am Kratos Aurion. Who are you?"

Yukina smiled, "I'm Yukina. Nice to meet you, Kratos." She noticed that Yusuke, Hiei, and Kuwabara were hurt, "I'll heal them, Kurama. Were you guys fighting something?"

Kurama nodded, "Yes, we were. A strong demon that..." He shuddered at the thought.

Kratos placed a hand on his shoulder, "That what? What's wrong?"

Kurama finished, "That I believe may have followed us and is related to Karasu...a demon I killed in the Dark Tournament who was interested in finding out what I was like outside the ring. He was really strong and very much a creep..."

Yukina gasped, "Oh my..." She went over to Yusuke and healed the wound on his arm. She then went to Kuwabara and healed the wound on his ankle. Lastly, she went to Hiei and healed the wound on his shoulder.

Kratos sighed, "Strong, you say? How strong?"

Kurama answered, "Very strong...she had the ability to shift dimensions as well as to alter air temperature. I think, that if she wanted to, she could revive people too."

Kratos's eyes widened and his face paled a bit the instant Kurama had said that. Surely this demon wouldn't...

Kurama looked confused at him, noticing his sudden paleness, quiet and wide eyes "...Are you okay, Kratos?"

Kratos sighed and spoke, "...I'm just worried that if she has the power to do that, she may use it to bring back someone I know that is really evil, that's all."

Yusuke woke up first, "Who is that you know that's really strong and evil?"

Kratos replied, "Mithos...Mithos Yggdrassil. We killed him, but if it is as your friend Kurama says, he may be brought back to life by the demon you guys were fighting." He sighed, "It is likely he will come after Lloyd and myself first, since I betrayed him and Lloyd was ultimately responsible for his death."

Lloyd walked in just then, "Wait a minute...Mithos is coming back? How, when...?" He already seemed nervous.

Hiei sighed, sitting up now, "The demon we were fighting could revive him at any time. She's strong enough."

Kurama nodded, "She certainly is." He lightly placed a hand over the spot where his wound had been, the memory of the pain causing him to flinch, "For once, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to make it."

Kuwabara sat up too, "Yeah, but you made it."

Raine woke up as well, "Only because he was able to get healed in time. If you guys hadn't been brought to us, he very easily could've been killed."
Hiei growled, "Don't insult him, onna."

Kratos sighed, "She merely speaks the truth, Hiei. Calm down. Anyway, we should send someone out to scout for this demon to see if she did follow you guys before we jump to any conclusions."

Presea walked in now too, "I will go. I can be very quiet and am the perfect match for such a mission."

Lloyd looked back at Presea, "...Presea? Are you sure you want to? I mean, it's very dangerous. If you get caught, you might get hurt pretty badly."

Presea smiled up at Lloyd, "I can handle myself, Lloyd. We need to find out whether or not Kurama and the others were followed, and establish whether or not Mithos has been revived. So please...let me do this."

Lloyd nodded, "...Okay, just be careful, Presea."

Kratos added, "Yes, please be careful."

Presea nodded to them, "I will be." She grabbed her axe from a wall near the front lobby of the house and walked out, headed into the forest to find out if Yusuke and the others were followed.

Meanwhile, in Triet desert, Wilhelmina was dressed in ancient, multi-colored ceremonial robes. She chanted in a language that only demons would understand, using a spell that would revive Mithos.

Presea made it there within a few hours and saw the demoness. She saw how the girl was behaving and gasped, as the final steps of the spell played out before her. Mithos was revived, in body, spirit and mind. She gulped from her hiding spot and ducked back behind it, so as not to be spotted.

Mithos spoke once revived, "Well now, what am I doing back here? Why am I in the desert? I was with my sister and happy...and now I find myself here? What's going on?" He was in his childlike form right now, for as he said, he had been in the afterlife with his sister.

Wilhelmina spoke, "Mithos Yggdrassil, I revived you, in order to help me wipe out my enemies. You were one of the strongest warriors this land has ever seen and hoped you would."

Mithos crossed his arms, "That depends on what I get out of it."

Wilhelmina told him, "Well...umm..." She searched the boy's memory for anything useful. She smirked, "Heh...I know where Lloyd and Kratos are."

Mithos glared, "...Kratos betrayed me...and Lloyd stopped me from bringing my sister back. What are you saying you'll do?"

Wilhelmina replied, "Well, I'm saying that I'll let you do as you please with Lloyd and his friends, while I deal with my enemies. Does that sound good?"

Mithos sighed, "I was content with my sister before you brought me here so you'll have to give me something better than that."

Presea seemed relieved that Mithos wasn't satisfied with just their destruction. Maybe he was happier in death than in life and if that was the case maybe he wouldn't come back after all.

Wilhelmina smirked, "How about I help you revive the Angelus Project and bring your sister back? I know a world that has plenty of humans for you to harvest potential Cruxis Crystals on so that she could be an angel just like you and that traitor."

Presea's eyes widened at her proposition. As she put two and two together, she realized what Wilhelmina meant and began to dart out of her spot, going to warn the others.

Mithos's eyes lit up at the prospect of more humans suffering and nodded, "Oh yes, that's perfect! So wait...who and what are you anyway?"

Wilhelmina replied, "...My name's Wilhelmina and I'm a demon from another world."

Mithos nodded, then glared over at the spot where Presea was hiding, "We're not alone, Wilhelmina. One moment..." He set the cactus hiding Presea ablaze, revealing the pink-haired ax woman.

Presea gasped at having been discovered, "...Mithos..."

Mithos glared, "So, you were spying, were you?"

Presea's eyes were now slitted a bit, "Yes I was. I was going to find out if what the others were saying was true. To find out if Wilhelmina was really the demon that Yusuke and the others had fought and to see if she had the power to bring someone back to life. I see that it is true."

Mithos seemed angry, "You're that ax girl that helped kill me, Presea. I'm not letting you off the hook so easily. JUDGMENT!"

Rainbow-colored rays of light rained down from the sky and quite a few of them scorched Presea.

Wounded, Presea managed to flee. She was going to warn the others that Mithos was back and that the Yusuke-tachi (A/N: Japanese term for 'Yusuke and his group of friends') had been followed.

When she arrived, it was dark out and she had very little strength left since she had been fleeing wounded. She cried out, "..Lloyd!"

Lloyd wasn't the first to hear her though. He was sound asleep.

Kratos had heard her though and came outside. He saw how badly hurt she was and gasped, darting over her, "Presea...what happened?"

Presea replied, "It's true...everything you guys were saying is true..." She blacked out before she could say anything else.

Kratos collected the tired and injured ax girl in his arms and carried her upstairs, placing her on the single bed. He had walked right past the sleeping Genis, Sheena, Regal, Colette, Raine, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, and Hiei without a single word. He healed Presea as best he could with what little mana he had, then collapsed shortly thereafter.

As/N: Well, it was about what we expected. Preview for next chapter: Yusuke and the others find out that their speculations were true. Mithos has been revived and they fight him and the demon that followed them. They must also figure out a way to send Yusuke and his friends back to their dimension. Hold onto your hats, because it's sure to be an exciting adventure!