disclaimer: i don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

author's note: the story is set right before Yusuke is sent to Tarukane's mansion to rescue Yukina. Enjoy and please review!!!

Prologue

"Thousands of years ago, demons roamed freely between the Human world and Demon world. The Kekkai barrier had not been erected then so demons of all class entered the Human world, terrorizing and eating humans without opposition. It was a kill or be killed world where the strong preyed on the weak.

While the majority of the demons migrated to the Human world to feed and wreak havoc on the humans, one particular group of demons remained behind in Demon world – preferring to live in peace and solitude. They were commonly called Ice Demons. With Demon World empty of the rowdy, bloodthirsty demons, the Ice Demons expanded their territory, dominating the Northern half of Demon World and covering the lands with a beautiful and peaceful blanket of winter.

However, on the day the Kekkai barrier was erected and the demons forced back into Demon World, fighting soon broke out. Many powerful demons found their old territory covered in snow and inhabited by disgusting, peace-loving Ice Demons. With so many demons suddenly flooding back into Demon World and so little land left to divide among them, it was no surprise that the strongest – the S class demons – decided to take back what was theirs.

The Ice Demons decided to fight back. Their king, Okori, was legendary. His power was on equal playing fields with the other two kings – Raizen and Mukuro. So the three kings fought over the land; but up against two S class demons and their armies, Okori soon found that his lands crumbling away, swallowed up by the other two kings. Finally, Demon World was divided into three almost equal kingdoms –the Ice, Mountain, and Forest Kingdom ruled by Okori, Raizen, and Mukuro respectively. This unstable peace lasted for the next two hundred years… until one day Okori was assassinated.

This was the moment Mukuro and Raizen were waiting for. They attacked with full force, determined to conquer Okori's now vulnerable and leaderless land in one final battle. With enemies attacking on both sides, the Ice Kingdom's army was wiped out in the blood bath that ensued. While the males fought to their deaths, the women and children were evacuated into the Ice Kingdom's capital. Soon, Raizen's and Mukuro's army surrounded the capital. There was no one left to defend them – their army, their men, and their king were all dead.

It was then that the Ice Maidens stepped forward. The Elders of the Ice Maidens fused their powers together and did what was thought to be the impossible – they turned the Ice Kingdom's capital into a floating continent. The two kings and their army could only watch in awe as the ice castle took flight and disappeared above the clouds. From that day forward, the Ice Kingdom was located in the sky, floating in the heavens where no one could reach them.

Upon their island of icy solitude, the women and children grieved for their husbands, fathers, brothers, and lovers. The Ice Maidens could only watch as grief over took the remaining Ice Demonesses – some fell into madness and threw themselves over the edge of the island while others killed themselves, wanting to join their loved ones in Spirit World. Those that remained tried to marry and breed with their own sons.

This was the final straw for the Ice Maidens. Disgusted at how the women have fallen to pieces without men, they purged their island of this taint. They killed the men and the women who have fallen into madness. For those that remained, they were given a choice to either join the Ice Maidens or live in exile. Many joined and were converted; those who did not descended to Demon world where their fates remain unknown to this day…"



Koenma, son of King Yama (the ruler of Spirit World), shut the heavy book and set it down on his desk.

"Um, pardon me, Koenma, sir, but what does the Ice Kingdom's history have to do with Yusuke's new case?" asked Botan hesitantly.

Koenma pulled out a video tape from his drawer. "I want you to give Yusuke this video tape. It'll brief him on this case. The history was for background information on the target – an Ice Maiden name Yukina."

"Oh, I see." Botan took the video tape and tucked it into the folds of her pink kimono. "Is there anything else?"

"No. That'll be all."

Botan bowed and left the room, her blue pony tail trailing behind her as she hurried to Human World.

As soon as Botan was gone, Koenma pulled out a thin, manila folder and hopped off his plush red armchair.

"Now it's my turn. I can only hope she's willing to listen before trying to rip my head off," muttered Koenma darkly. Ogre was waiting for him and together they made their way to the Human world.


Two days ago…

"Hey, Riri-chan! Wanna go to the arcade with Sayoko and me?"

Risika looked up from packing her school bag to see her classmates, Yumi and Sayoko watching her anxiously. Yumi had short brown hair that was pulled back with a hair band while Sayoko had black hair tied in pig tails. Both were very nice but chatty girls who strangely became Risika's friends even though Risika was a girl of few words.

"Oh, sorry Yumi, but I can't. I have to go grocery shopping today. Maybe next time."

"Aw, come on Riri. You never hang out with us. You're always busy doing this or that – "

"Yeah! Between work and studying you never have any time to have fun," said Sayoko.

"I'm really sorry guys but the book store is understaffed and I'm the night manager so I have more responsibilities."

Yumi sighed and shrugged. "I guess it can't be helped. You live alone so you need the job to support yourself."

"You're so responsible, Riri. No wonder the class elected you president."

Risika smiled. "Thank you, Sayoko-chan. And I'm sorry but I have to go now. I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay?"

Yumi and Sayoko nodded. "See you, Riri!"

Risika was almost out the door when her homeroom teacher stopped her. "There you are, Aisu-chan. You're heading home, right? Please deliver this to class 3-C. There was a mix up in the teacher's lounge and their handouts ended up in my box."

"Um… sure – "

He hurriedly shoved the box into her arms. "Great. I'm going to be late for the faculty meeting so please deliver this right away."

"Right…" Risika watched her homeroom teacher practically run down the hallway while smoothing his hair back. "Faculty meeting my ass… more like a date."

Risika sighed as she headed in the opposite direction towards Classroom 3-C. "With my luck, 3-C's class president will have stuff for me to do too… I'm never going to get out of here."

Her mind drifted to her shopping list and she was so distracted that she accidentally passed the classroom. Risika quickly doubled back and hurried in only to crash into the student closest to the door. The force of the crash knocked Risika back and she fell to the floor. The box flipped over and landed on her head as piles of paper were scattered across the floor.

Risika cursed at the mess. She readjusted her glasses on her face and quickly grabbed at the papers. She stuffed them into the box while frantically apologizing to the student she hit. To her surprise, the boy stooped down to help her gather the papers. He had vibrant green eyes and red hair the color of roses. For a boy he was very pretty and feminine looking.

"Sorry! Sorry! I'm so sorry. I wasn't paying attention and – "

"It's all right." He smiled. "Here." He handed over the last of the papers, which Risika quickly stuffed into the box.

"Thank you and I'm sorry again."

"It's fine. Don't worry about it. What's the box for?"

"Oh, they're your class' handouts. They got mixed into my teacher's handouts so he asked me to bring it here. Do you have any idea where I should put it?"

"Hmm, our teacher usually keeps handouts on his desk so I think if you put the box there it'll be fine."

"Thank you. I'm Aisu Risika. I'm class 3-A's class president."

"It's nice to meet you Aisu-chan. I'm Minamino Suichi."

"Suichi… what a gentle name." Though personally, Risika didn't think it suited him. He had an aura around him that said he was a lot fiercer than he let on.

"Thank you. I'm heading home now. What about you?"

"Same. Just dropping this box off and I'm out of here." Risika quickly placed the box on the teacher's desk and left with Suichi. They descend down two flight of stairs and exited campus together.

"I'm heading for the bus stop," said Risika. "I'll see you around okay?"

"Sure. It was nice meeting you, Aisu-chan."

"You too, Minamino-kun."

Risika caught the bus to the local grocery store. Luckily it was only a few blocks from her apartment so she didn't have to go far carrying all her groceries.

"Today's list is extra long too," muttered Risika as she grabbed a shopping cart and entered the store. She checked her watch and estimated that if she hurried, she could be home with dinner ready before sun down.

"If I didn't have to deliver that stupid box of papers I'd already be done with this by now… though then I wouldn't have met Suichi…" For some reason, his name was familiar. Like she'd heard it somewhere before… But Risika was sure she'd never met the boy before today.

But aside from that, she really needed to get this shopping done. Risika rushed up and down the aisles, grabbing everything she needed – carton of eggs, a couple boxes of instant ramen, some vegetables, and a gallon of milk.

Hmmm… it's almost that time of the month again… Risika quickly grabbed a box of black hair dye and proceeded to the checkout line.

The sun was starting to set as Risika made her way home. The sunset gave the city a feel of peace, she noted. People were going about their lives without disturbance – kids were hanging out at the arcade or watching movies; couples walked hand-in-hand down the streets; and parents were driving home from work to spend time with their families. This peaceful air made Risika smile and it soothed her soul.

I'm glad I decided to move here… this city is much nicer than the last one.

Risika lived in the top floor of an apartment complex. Her apartment was one of the largest in the entire building – it took up half the floor and the rent had been paid for the next four years.

"Toji, I'm home!" called Risika as she took off her shoes at the door. A pure white cat leaped onto the kitchen counter and purred in greeting. Risika scratched Toji behind his ears before turning her attention on making dinner.

She made a small pot of chicken curry and had just turned off the stove when the doorbell rang.

"Hmm… now who could that be?"

Risika opened the door to find a small package sitting on her doorstep. She looked around but there wasn't any sign of the person who left it there. Risika picked up the mysterious package and shook it. The box rattled.

Curious, Risika sat down in her living room and opened the package. Inside was a black video tape with a note taped to it that read, "Please watch."

"Who would send me a random videotape?"

Toji hopped onto the coach next to her and meowed.

"Oh, you're curious too, huh Toji. Okay then, let's pop it in and see what all this is about."