The next morning, Kurama went to the dining hall to find Hiei and Trenton sitting at their table, silently munching on that same weird meat they've been eating ever since they got there. As soon as he sat down, Trenton's face brightened up.

"Hiya, Leaf! Hawk's been silent, he has. Didn't think that I would be able to talk this mornin'."

"Hn." Hiei said. Trenton looked at him.

"Yeah, he's been saying that, too." Only Kurama knew why Hiei was even moodier than usual today. It had been the tenth day since Raven had dropped them off at the cave. That, and yesterday's training had resulted in a nasty cut over his right eye that Daba hadn't been able to mend completely. Hiei sub-consciously rubbed his eye.

"Maybe he ate some bad…er, what is this anyway?" Kurama pointed at the meat.

"It's otter…don't ask me how they got that to be gray, though. Nasty, if you ask me, but I've got to keep my strength up!" Trenton said. Hiei and Kurama instantly pushed their plates to him.

"Not hungry." Hiei muttered. The doors burst open, and Talon stalked in. She climbed the stairs to the top of the cliff-stage-thing, and stared into the crowd.

"Ruti! Danto!" She called. Kurama and Hiei stood up. "Come with me." She ordered, her eyes gleaming with suspicious pleasure.

"Oh, no." Trenton said, looking worried. Kurama stared.

"What?" He dared to ask.

"There's only one reason Lady Talon climbs the cliff thing, and that reason is to make an example of traitors." Kurama's heart skipped a beat. "Although, she also uses it to commend excellent students… but don't get your hopes up, Leaf. It's usually the first one."

"Now!" Talon ordered. Hiei and Kurama slowly climbed the stone staircase. Talon pointed to a spot on the cliff thing.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Hiei hissed. Kurama shook his head, and felt a pit of terror slowly build in his stomach.

"There is one reason I am here today! And that reason is to congratulate Hawk and Leaf in their excellent performance. Master Orpheus himself is considering making them his own apprentices. Now, you two, come with me!" She barked. Kurama followed, with Hiei close behind. They went out of the dining hall and down a dark corridor, and kept going until Kurama saw the familiar room in which Orpheus dwelled. He felt himself shiver. The doors opened, and Talon led the two into the throne room. Once inside, she left them there and went to her place beside Orpheus.

"You two!" Orpheus rumbled, making the walls shake, "I have been expecting you! We have received information from the inside that there were traitors in our midst. The only ones we could think of were you, Hiei and Kurama!" The last words sent a stalactite crashing down from the ceiling and near the two demons.

"We have no use for traitors! The crime is punishable by death!" Talon screeched.

"But we are willing to spare your lives if you bow and pledge your loyalty to me." Orpheus said. Kurama already knew the answer, but Hiei was the one to vocalize it.

"We'd never bow to you, you sick tyrant." Hiei said, and spat in his direction. Talon's eyes took on a murderous gleam.

"You will bow anyways! Now, bow!" Kurama felt an unseen force press him to the ground. He looked over, and saw Hiei on the ground as well.

"This is bad." He said.

"Gee, you think?" Hiei retorted.

---------------

"Tell us where they are! Now!" Yusuke demanded. Raven shot them a sly smile.

"Why should I? They're probably dead by now." Yusuke prepared to shoot his Spirit Gun.

"Wait!" Kuwabara said, "I can feel their energy! It's near that old cave at the edge of town."

"Good going, Kuwabara! Now, let's go!" Yusuke called.

"Sorry, boys, but I'm afraid I can't let you do that." Raven said, and slowly started turning into a monster. Yusuke non-chantilly shot her in the head with the Spirit Gun. She spun to the ground and passed out.

"That was anti-climactic." Kuwabara observed, "I expected a huge battle!"

"Yeah, I know. Too bad, huh? But now we've got to save Hiei and Kurama!" The two boys took off.