"We don't have much rice left," Yukina said as she sat down across Genkai in her dining room.

She replied, "We'll have to get some from the garden then." She froze in place as a demon's energy approached from outside. "Do you feel that?" Yukina nodded. "Stay here," Genkai warned as she ran outside.

"Wait!" Yukina said but stayed put.

Genkai ran to the side of her temple and faced the stairs. She demanded, "Who are you and what do you want?" to the wind. It was far too quiet, even as the wind blew ominously. She waited in the middle of her courtyard for something to happen.

A large, muscular, blue skinned demon that was at least 9 feet tall came out of the forest behind her. He said in a low voice, "Step aside old woman, I'm not here for you."

"Yukina, run!" Genkai shouted.

The demon took his nails and used his demon energy to slice her chest open from a distance. She hit the ground, facing down, and tried getting up to face him. "Stay down," he warned.

"Never," she whispered as she stood back up. He kicked her, hard, knocking her down and out and then moved toward the temple.

"I know there's an ice maiden in there, you can't hide from me," he said menacingly. He cut down parts of the building.

Yukina stood at the far end of the living room and asked nervously, "Who are you? What do you want with me?"

"The name's Ryu," he said as he approached her. Part of the cieling collapsed behind him, blocking any chance for Yukina to escape, "and you must know that old legend that ice maiden blood can cure illness."

She asked, "What?"

"Well, you are rather young," he said, "so it's possible you don't know the legend. That doesn't matter for now, you'll know soon enough." He grabbed her by the face and tried to make her look at him.

"No!" she screamed and shot ice at his arm.

"Ah!" he recoiled, "Stupid little broad, you're not going anywhere!" He sliced the air and cut through her kimono into her lower right leg. Blood spilled everything and stained her kimono and the ground bright red.

She fell to the ground in pain. "No," she whispered as she tried to start healing herself, "please don't do this." He punched her in the head, knocking her out so he wouldn't have to hear her begging and pleading any longer.


Meanwhile, Kuwabara, Kurama, Yusuke, and Keiko walked along a busy downtown street. Keiko turned to everyone and said, "It's been way too long since all of us got to hang out together."

Yusuke asked, "And when did that ever happen without the threat of death over our heads? Honestly I almost miss it."

"Don't joke about stuff like that, Urameshi," Kuwabara said.

Kurama added, "He's right, Yusuke. We should enjoy the peace and quiet while we can."

"Whoa," Kuwabara stopped in his tracks, "I just got the worst feeling about Genkai."

Yusuke asked, "You don't think she's-do you?"

"We should hurry to her place to put that suspicion to rest," Kurama said.

"So much for peace and quiet," Yusuke said as he turned and started running for the train station, "hurry up and get a move on! It's going to take hours to get there."


As they ran up the stairs, Kurama explained, "There is definetly a lingering demon energy here. I don't think whoever was here is still around though. They must have left by now."

They reached the top and saw Genkai on the ground. The temple was in disrepair and no demons were in sight. "Genkai!" Yusuke shouted as he ran over to her.

"Where's Yukina?!" Kuwabara shouted, and ran inside what was left of the building.

"Is she okay?" Keiko asked.

She stirred awake and started to sit up. "Hey, take it easy," Yusuke warned, "what the hell happened here?"

Genkai said, "A demon came and demanded to see Yukina."

Kuwabara came back and said, "She's not here. I can't find her. All that's left is a bloodstain on the floor and this." He held up the fabric from her kimono.

"Oh no," Keiko whispered.

"Don't panic," Kurama said, "it sounds like she's been kidnapped. She could still be very much alive but time is not on our side."

Yusuke asked, "Who came here?"

"Some demon," Genkai answered slowly, "I don't know who he is, what he wants, or where is he now. I'm sorry."

Kuwabara said desperately, "That doesn't tell us anything!"

Kurama said, "We have to remain calm, Kuwabara. We'll find her, but we're going to need help." He stood up and looked at Yusuke cradling Genkai.

"You mean Hiei?" he asked.

"We don't need shorty's help," Kuwabara said, "besides, it's not like he would help us without a threat anyway. We have nothing to threaten him with! There's no point."

"I think it's time for the truth," Kurama said, "and Hiei will have to hate me for this later since we don't have any other options at the moment." Yusuke nodded at him. He continued, "Kuwabara, Hiei is Yukina's long lost brother."

Kuwabara went pale and shouted, "What?! No way! I don't believe you!"

Yusuke said, "It's the truth, Kuwabara. He'll do anything for her, including rescue her from whatever situation she's in right now. We need his help. Keiko, take care of Genkai whlie we go to demon world." She nodded and helped Genkai sit up.

"I don't believe this," Kuwabara said, "out of all of the jerky things Hiei's ever done this has to be worst, right? He really is related to her? Why not say anything? She's been looking for him for years!"

"I'm afraid I can't explain his motive," Kurama said calmly.

"We don't have time for this, Kuwabara," Yusuke said, "Hey, Puu! Get your ass out here, we're going to demon world!"

The giant blue bird came out from behind the temple and said, "Puu?"

"Let's move," he said.