Hiei was released from King Yama's hypnotizing room and left, under the influence of hypnosis. In the hallway he saw another demon. "Who are you?" Hiei demanded, he tried to grab his sword but it wasn't there. He had left it behind.

"The name's Goki," he said, "a little birdie told me that King Yama's leaving tomorrow. The artifacts of darkness will be left wide open. I'm after the orb of bast."

"I'm Hiei," he replied, "and I like the way you think. The shadow sword will do for me. You're sure he's going to be gone?"

Goki replied, "I'm sure of it. What do you say?"

"We'll need reinforcements," Hiei replied, "even if he is gone it'll still be heavily guarded."

"Who are you thinking of?" he asked.

Hiei answered, "Yoko Kurama."

"What?" Goki asked, "The legendary spirit fox? He's been dead for years, Hiei. You're out of your mind."

"No," he explained, "he's alive and well in human world. I can recruit him. Trust me, we'll need all of the help we can get."

Goki replied, "A chance to meet Yoko Kurama? I won't pass that up. Very well, we'll go back to human world."

Back in the living world, Hiei met Kurama in his bedroom. Meanwhile, Kurama came home from the hospital and found out his mother was in fact dying. He had to do something. "Hiei," he said, startled that he was in his room, "how did it go in spirit world?"

"I met someone named Goki and we're going to steal the artifacts of darkness from King Yama's vault," Hiei replied, "you're welcome to join us, the legendary bandit you are."

Kurama asked, "Are you okay?" He noticed he looked and acted different from before.

Hiei demanded, "Are you in or not?"

"The forlorn hope," Kurama remembered, "it can grant any wish the user has." He thought to himself, In exchange of the user's life. Yes, perfect, I'll wish for my mother to be well in exchange for my life!

"We should kill all of the humans," Hiei replied, glaring at him, "then we can take over this world with that forlorn hope. What do say?"

Kurama asked, "Who did you meet in spirit world?"

"His name is Goki and he wants to meet Yoko Kurama," he replied, "come on, hurry up."

In the woods, Goki, Kurama, and Hiei all met up.

Goki laughed and said, "You're telling me this is him? That's very funny, Hiei! I heard boogyman stories about Yoko in lockdown, and this red haired princess ain't him. You want me to believe you're the real legend? You're going to have to come out of that skin."

"I cannot do that," Kurama explained calmly, "this is a merger, not a possession. I can not merge out of my human biology like you can not separate from your horns."

"Convienent excuse!" Goki replied, "We're about to storm King Yama's most guarded vault and you can't prove you're not some human kid playing pretend. I don't like it."

Hiei asked, "Why don't you settle it then? If you don't trust his abilities just fight him and see."

"That's why I'm running with you Hiei," he replied, "you're always keeping it simple. Yep, I'll just have to crush him!"

Kurama explained, "It is true, I'm not as strong as before. I've also accuired priorities to protect. I'm glad to show you what those new priorities can make me do. If you care to try." He pulled out a rose.

"We going on a date?" Goki laughed.

"Rose whip!" Kurama shouted and cut down nearly every tree surrounding them.

"Hm," Hiei said.

Goki said nervously, "Okay Kurama, I was just joking. I'm sure you'll be fine to work with for a while."

Hiei replied, "You said King Yama leaves tomorrow, correct?"

"Yeah," he said, "we should leave for spirit world just after he does."