"Kind of stupid to have a mountain trail that ends halfway up the mountain, huh? I guess they don't encourage much camping around here." Yusuke commented.

"Yeah, the stronghold is very well hidden, but we should be able find it eventually by following Yukina's energy." Raye said while looking down at the demon compass watch in her hand. "But I don't see why Botan even bother giving me this little thing?"

"Maybe she thinks you'll get us lost with your sense of direction." Yusuke said as he chuckled.

"Hahaha. That was so funny that I forgot to laugh." Raye said sarcastically.

"Why are you even using that thing? Just follow my way. The Red Pinky String." Kuwabara said while waving his pinky around.

"The what now?" Raye asked as she and Yusuke looked at him.

"The moment I saw her, my love stretched out and tied us together. You see!" A red string tied on Kuwabara's finger appeared and out into the woods. Obviously, Raye and Yusuke couldn't see it.

"Let's follow the thread of destiny tied to my love!" Kuwabara exclaimed before skipping off into the forest.

"Yusuke, be honest with me, is Kuwabara always like this?"

"Only if it's something or someone he's really in love with."

"I see." A sweat drop appeared on the back of Raye's head.

The Toguro brothers, Tarukane and Sakashta were in one of many of Tarukane's lounges. On the wall next to the window, there were many expensive statues. A small coffee table was in front of the window. A bottle of wine was open. Tarukane sat in a leather brown chair facing the window. The seat next to him was unoccupied.

Toguro was standing up, looking out a window. "This is unexpected."

"Speak up, boy." Tarukane said before he took the cigar out of his mouth.

"Hirue, who I sent to deal with the trespassers, is dead." Toguro continued.

Tarukane slammed his glass of wine down on the table. "Hey! What kind of people you sendin' out there? Bums off the street?"

"I assure you, my men are all well picked." Toguro replied, keeping his voice calm. "Whoever has defeated Hirue, must have been very strong and have unusual powers."

"Well, unusual powers is what I'm payin' you for! Don't expect me to hand out the cash if you can't handle the job."

"You needn't worry."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you've said that, but I'm not the kind of guy who gets satisfied off cheap talk." Tarukane said after getting from his seat.

"Oh?" Toguro turned towards him. "What do you suggest?"

"Come with me. You can prove your stuff." Tarukane began to walk out of the room.

"Triple our security outside."

"Of course." Sakashta bowed.

Tarukane led Toguro to some other part of the dungeon. Strange creatures kept in cages as if they were part of a zoo.

"Well Tarukane, your tastes are unique." Toguro commented.

"Discovering you demons has been quite a pleasure." Tarukane said while playing with a demon's tongue. "Gives me plenty of new things to spend my money on."

He walked over to another cage. "Lights up!" Tarukane called out. The lights in the demon's cage turned on.

"This beauty's name is Helen." Helen looked like a stegosaurus with a lie of white fur traveling down her spine. A lion's mane of white fur surrounded her neck as well.

"Believe it or not, she's a human creation. Black-market genetic engineering. They were trying to make her into a weapon. But they could never control the gal so I got a pretty good deal." Tarukane turned towards Toguro, "I want you to kill her, barehanded."

Toguro just stared at the beast.

'Surly he can beat those intruders, but he won't take on that beast. Giving me an excuse to drive down his price.' Tarukane thought while smirking.

"I don't feel like killing her." Tarukane turned away from Toguro.

'I love winning gamble. Especially when I bluff.'

The Toguro that was usually on the shoulder jumping down. Toguro walked pass Tarukane, who was bewildered. Someone punch the code to the cage and Toguro went inside.

"Hey!" Tarukane called.

"Of course, with my job, I do many things I do not enjoy." Toguro took off his coat. He wasn't wearing a shirt. His torso was well built like the strongest man in the world; all of his muscles were up to par if not more so. Helen took a quick interest in her new prey.

"What are you doing? Are you freakin' crazy? Who's gonna make Yukina cry me more jewels after Helen rips you apart! I didn't mean for you to go in there for real!" Tarukane yelled from the door.

"Then you shouldn't have asked. 30% of my strength...yes, that should be more than enough for her."

"What?" Tarukane pressed his face against the glass. Toguro's body began to get even stronger-looking, if it were possible. You could even almost see his veins popping out. Helen stood on her hind legs.

"Am I going blind or is he getting bigger?" Tarukane mumbled. "I'm a very untalented apparition. The only thing I can do is change the size of my muscles." Toguro explained.

Helen roared and brought down a claw, but Toguro dodged the arm and a small crater was created beneath his feet. He hooked his left arm over his right arm.

"Hey, don't blame me. Blame the science that created you and the human who made me kill." He apologized before he pushed on Helen's arm and the bone inside cracked. With his right arm, he punched Helen in the gut. Helen's body broke in half and blood sprayed everywhere in the room.

"Not even the best of contracts justifies killing as cruelly as I have just done. I apologize to this creature."

Tarukane back away from the wall that was dripping with blood and began to laugh. "Get a load. I love this guy! Rips 'em in half and then he says he's sorry. Boy, you have to be my bodyguard; Top pay."

"I'll think about it." Toguro put on his jacket and walked out of the cell before the paler Toguro jumped on his shoulder.

"Toguro, now let me get this straight. You saying you only used 30% of your whole strength to do her in?"

"20% probably would have done a cleaner job, but I do tend to get carried away." He said while buttoned up the army green coat.

"Sakashta, get your ass to the telephone."

"Sir, I've already notified the black market." He let Tarukane know.

"That's not what I mean, dumb ass! Call the boys from the Black Black Club together."

"I see, sir. You wish to place a wager." They moved to another one of Tarukane's offices.

"Think about it. I got the fight of the century in my own backyard. The Toguro Brothers' Gang versus the mysterious intruders. And since I'm the only one here who know Toguro's true powers, I'll be at a real hustling advantage. I'll bet the broad's jewels against my pals at the Black Black Club and double my fortune."

"Cheating your friends isn't exactly honorable." Toguro said while lighting a cigarette.

"Hey, when you're rotten like me there's only one thing you can do, spread your stink." Tarukane said.

It was now dusk and the three fighters were still searching for the mansion.

"Yukina!" Kuwabara cried with his pinky out.

"Wait a minute, Kuwabara! It's this way!" Raye yelled.

He jumped into the brush, the opposite way Raye was pointing. "Yeah, but I just got a really bad feeling. Let's go around."

"C'mon Kuwabara, we don't have time for this." Raye began walking and tripped over a wire. It got caught around her leg and hoisted her up in the air. Her backpack fell off. Yusuke ran to grab her before she was all the way up in the air.

"Raye!" Yusuke yelled.

"Well now, this is pathetic..." She mumbled.

She was caught in a giant spider web. Red eyes glowed next to her as the spider demon appeared next to her. It looked like a normal spider but gigantic. It was a bluish gray with black stripes. The first pair of legs was actually hands and the spiders head had blonde straight hair. Raye turned towards the spider demon with an expressionless look on her face.

"What a nice catch!" The spider demon admired.

"Ooh. It's a spider this time. Hey, let her go!" Yusuke shouted while Kuwabara ran over.

"Go? Now why would I let her go if I'm planning drink her blood? If you want to save her you'll have to come and fight me in the evil spider's lair!"

Kuwabara already extended his Spirit Sword and swung it between the spider and Raye. "Sorry to mess up your plan, but no one's getting between Yukina and me!" He began cutting the web away. Raye flip herself forward and landed on her feet like a cat.

The spider jumped down. "You can't possibly be human!"

"Yup!" Yusuke grinned.

"We just happen to be really, really tough." Kuwabara added.

The two "hands" that the spider had, turned into spider legs.

"Pardon me if I make this quick." Yusuke said, raising his fist that was glowing Spirit Energy. The spider jumped into the air and lunged at Yusuke. When the spider was close enough, Yusuke swung and created a hole in the spider's abdomen. Blood spurted everywhere and the demon was dead after several twitches.

"Nice one." Raye complimented.

"Thanks. If this detective thing doesn't work, maybe I can try exterminating." Yusuke joked.

"Hahaha." Koenma laughed sarcastically at Yusuke's joke.

"It's getting dark, sir." George took note of the time of day.

"How it's going? Kurama asked, entering the prince's office.

"It's going. You locate Hiei yet?" Koenma asked.

"No, I'm afraid he never came back."

"Well it was just a matter of time before he found about the mission, I guess."

"Uh, if mind if I ask a question about that, sir?" George asked. Koenma turned to him. "Well why does Hiei's sister being kidnapped have to be secret from him? I mean doesn't he deserve to know?"

"Moron! Once Hiei knows, he'll barge into the company slashing his sword at everyone in sight. He'll know no doubt feel the need to execute everyone including the servants and the family dog! The family dog will be unfortunate. But the humans, well, it's a serious crime for demons to take human life no matter what the circumstances. You know that."

"It's best not to worry. Even if Hiei is heading for the compound, I'm confident he will work with Yusuke and Raye." Kurama said.

"I'm surprised you're so calm, Kurama, since if Hiei does any harm, you'll punished with him." Kurama laughed slowly.

On the screen Yusuke, Kuwabara, and Raye built a fire and were camping out.

"Well, you'd better come tuck me in. We'll record the rest on tape." Koenma said while sliding off of his chair.

"Yes, sir." George followed Koenma out of the office.

The Toguro brothers were in another one of Tarukane's many rooms. Tarukane was sitting in a chair with the Toguro brothers standing to his right and Sakashta pouring a glass of wine to his left.

"All of the members of the Black Black Club have been notified of the meeting, sir." Sakashta informed Tarukane.

Five big screens were facing Tarukane as one by one each of the Black Black members showed their face.

"How ya doin' boys? Must admit I'm surprised to see all five of you on such short notice." Tarukane said while sipping his wine.

"I for one would meet even on my deathbed." said man one. He was bald, wearing a red suit with yellow tie, and had a German accent.

"Well said! This is our only means of entertainment." said man two. He had gray hair and wearing a blue suit with a red tie.

Man three was an African American and was sipping wine.

"Yeah, world's gotten too clean to have fun anywhere else." Man four was bald and had a white beard and glasses on. He wore a hakama.

Man five had long black hair and a scar going down the top of his right eyebrow to his right cheek. He had on a black suit and blue tie.

"Well fun, gentlemen, is exactly why I called you today. As we speak, intruders are heading towards my house." Another screen to Tarukane's left lit up and showed the three fighters walking through the wood.

Man five's attention was directly at Raye. 'Looks like I've found you...my little toy.'

"So, let's start a betting pool on if they make it or if my security beats them." Tarukane continued.

"Well that would hardly be a challenging proposition, Tarukane. We have no reason to believe that these intruders can survive your demons." Man one said.

"Wait, let me give out more information before you decide. Hit it."

"The situation is really quite simple, sirs. There are three intruders. They are walking through our forest to our stronghold," the screen changed showing a map. Little red dots in front of a building and four dots in the woodsy area, "Twelve from the Apparition Gang are moving to stop them." Sakashta explained.

"Come now, they're children. I don't know why you're so anxious to give away money Tarukane, offering a gambling pool where the odds are so ridiculously stacked. Have you gone mad?" Man one said.

"Let's get on with the bidding. You got two choices. Pick either the demons or the intruders to win. Sakashta will show you the stakes."

Sakashta removed a blanket off a pile of money. "In the event of a win, Mr. Tarukane will pay double of what you bid."

"200 million on the demons." Man one bid.

"Same here." Man two wagered.

"Yeah, yeah. Same for me!" Man three agreed.

"300 million on the demons, please." Man four bid.

"News has been circulating recently about two human boys with extraordinary Spirit Energy. It is said that they have defeated the Four Saint Beasts as well as the human-hunter Rando, extremely powerful demons. There is a very good chance these intruders are those boys." Toguro told Tarukane. "And if they are...the first group of fighters in my Apparition Gang will suffer most unpleasantly."

'I'm going to make a fortune.' Tarukane laughed. "You're the only one who hasn't bid, Sakyou. Tell me you're not getting cold feet."

Sakyou exhaled smoke from his cigarette. "I will wager 5 billion on the intruders' victory." Tarukane's eyes grew large.

"That's absurd." Man one cried.

"Yes, absurd. A trio of human misfits can't take on twelve different demons." Man two agreed.

"In normal circumstances, no. But I have a certain little hunch. I've heard a rumor about two boys who have been hunting down demons and I also know that woman who's with them. I believe it's a risk worth taking." Sakyou explained.

Tarukane laughed, "Sakyou boy, you've always been a big gambler, haven't ya?" 'Sweet mother! Where'd he get that kind of information! I'll just have to hustle him better in the next round.'

Suddenly, Toguro turned his head.

"Huh? What's the matter?" Tarukane asked.

"Very strange. Six of my fighters' Spirit Energies have disappeared all at once."

"WHAT?!"

"They're even more impressive than I thought." Toguro rubbed his chin. Tarukane looked at the screen with the map on it. The screen was searching for the trio.

Kuwabara sliced through some demons. "Piece of cake."

"Why are they even bothering with all these wimps?" Yusuke asked.

"I know, seriously." Raye said when she was done drinking some of the demon's blood. "If they're that desperate, that means we're very close to Yukina."

"Yeah, let's go!" Kuwabara tied a hand band around his forehead.

"What the hell is that?" Raye asked.

"The Great Fighting Headband of Love!"

Suddenly another group of demons appeared.

"And all those guys there hate love! They want to try and keep me from my Yukina!" Kuwabara let out his Spirit Sword and charged at them. Two demons jumped from a tree. "Stand aside evil doers." Kuwabara impaled a demon and slashed away at three more.

"You're not gonna be the only hero!" Yusuke ran and punched two of the demons.

"Great I get stuck with the big guy." Raye ran before she flipped forward in the air. She punched the demon multiple time before biting the demon's neck and drinking its' blood as gravity pulled them down. The demon died from blood loss before Raye pulled away.

"Man, what's a girl got to do to get some good blood around here?!" Raye growled.

"2 x 5 billion is 10 billion, right?" Sakyou asked. Tarukane growled.

"There's the stronghold." Kuwabara said as he saw the mansion.

"It's the same as the video. Yukina must be up in that tower." Raye pointed out.

"Hold on my darling. Your brave man is coming." Kuwabara began walking.

Raye stopped Yusuke before he followed Kuwabara. "Take care of him. I'm sensing some energy from three very strong demons. Don't let him rush in blindly. I'll go airborne and try to sneak a peek." Suddenly a pair of black-purple bat wings sprouted out of her back before she took off to the sky. "Don't worry about me!"

"She's full of surprises, ain't she? What do you think? Raye says it gonna be three nasty demons against little old us." Yusuke told Kuwabara as he walked up to him.

"It sounds good to me. One of each of us. This mission's felt different from the very start. It's like I've become invincible." Both of them smirked.

"Well, shall we go?" They began to walk.

"Fastest money I've ever lost," Man two chuckled.

"Very impressive. Obviously the members of the Apparition Gang aren't as frightening as I've been told," Man one sat back and crossed his arms.

"Don't dump your stock just yet, old boy. The next group a' demons are on a whole different level," Tarukane told them.

Toguro snapped his fingers, "They call themselves the Triad," as three demons appeared.

"Demon one…Miyuki." She had purple hair, light red eyes and a horn.

"Demon two…Inmaki." His whole face was covered except his eyes and ears by black cloth.

"Demon three…Gokumonki." He had three horns, yellow eyes and brick red skin with matching brick red hair that went from his eyebrows and beard to his actual hair.

"The Triad? Word is they're the toughest set of demons in the whole Apparition Gang!" Man two exclaimed.

"You must be forkin' over a lot of money for those kind of names." Man three seemed interested.

"He'll be in a real bind of those Hiruiseki Stones don't come through." said Sakyou.

Tarukane's eyebrow twitched, "Let's move on," he stood out of his chair, "You're second bet, the intruders or the Demon Triad!"

"500 million on the Triad." Man one bid.

"Yeah, gimme 300 million on them." Man two wagered.

"Me too." Man three agreed with man two's bet.

"Yes. Same for me." Man four bid.

"20 billion on the intruders this time." Sakyou wagered. Tarukane gasped.

"What?" all the Black Black Club asked. "20 billion? On those humans?" Man one asked.

"Yeah, that Sakyou for ya. Doesn't know when to quit." Man three chuckled.

"Obviously that man is not thinking with his brain." Miyuki spoke.

"No one's askin' for your opinion, broad." Tarukane squeezed his cigar, "Just go do your stuff!"

"We'll take care of them." the Triad vanished.

"What a waste of a gorgeous home. It almost reminded me of Cain's family home." Raye observed the mansion from a bird's eye view when a huge explosion came from behind her. This triggered several other explosions.

Smoke was rising from the forest. "Yusuke! Kuwabara!" Raye flew around the entrance looking for them. She saw a wall of fire in front of the gate.

"Oh no." She mumbled.

The fire rose and she had fly backwards to get out of the way. From the fire came two figures. A sphere of Spirit Energy surrounded the two, protecting them from the fire and blowing the fire out of the way. Their Spirit Energy was crackling and surrounding them. With the two of them alright, they looked at the house.

"Alright!" Yusuke gave her a thumbs up when she landed and made her wings go back inside her body.

"Doesn't that hurt?" Kuwabara wondered.

"At first, yes. But after a while, you can barely feel any pain from it." Raye replied.

The trio went into the house. There was some purple carpet and fancy wallpaper. Then Miyuki appeared. She was wearing a red Chinese dress that had a slit up the side. A purple sash was tied around her waist and a white long sleeved shirt was under the dress.

"Hello there intruders, my name is Miyuki," she greeted them with a hand on her hip, "How'd you like a fight?"