Kittie ()
Hi again. Im sorry, if you thought i was flaming you. And im sorry i judged too soon. Your totally, right, ^bows^ please forgive me and understand i am an idiot! so, um, dont be mad, ok???? PLease??? *puppy face* i was in a bad mood...im always in a bad mood... gomen, again.

Aqua: *beams and glomps* Of course I'm not mad! ^_^;; Honestly, I did forget completely that, when saying pairings, the order signifies dom/sub. *nods nods* I should of made it clear that I don't know who's gonna come out on top. O.o; *cough* I mean... Eto... ~-~ you know what I mean.

Blackdragon
waaah!!!!!! i hate that bastard! he hit my hiei! HOW DARE HE???!!!!! go kurama, hurt him! hurt him!!!! how can this one be a father????? the poor woman!
:b
hmpf! go on! we all wanna see him die! (*ahem*)

Aqua: LMAO!! Hai hai!! I'm pretty sure all of us want to see him die! Although, I think I hate Ikare more... (for reasons revealed later on.) You're gonna really hate Haru after this chapter!

Black Starr Kitsune
How dare he hit Hiei!!! Well Hiei did indeed win that round. :) I can't wait to see Kurama go ballistic. Haru is a dork. I love this fic please right more soon. (^_^)

Aqua: Hai hai! He might of got slapped, but he sure cut Haru down a peg or two! *cackle* Go Hiei!!

Yonaka no Inu-Ryuu
I just got back from baby-sitting three unholy terrors, BUT I GOT $40!!!! ^_____^ This has put me in a good mood. Therefore, *rips out Kei's fingernails one at a time* ^_______^ Happy now?
ANYWHO! I hope Koenma's tricks don't involve a jet pack. -.-;;; And, of course, WRITE MORE NOW!!!

Kei: *just kinda sits there with a half grin on his face*

Aqua: O.o; Jet pack?? Do I even want to know?? (wai wai, so I get to chat with you tomorrow!! Tell me about your experience with the three unholy terrors then!! *grin*)

Brady and The Voices
Bum bum buuuum! And the plot thickens! ::cackles like the insane yaoi fan she is:: I can't wait to read the rest; I hope Kurama remembers! And Hiei BETTER live or I'llbe all...ANGRY! And sic my faeries on you!

Aqua: O.o; One thing you can be certain of, there will be no character death!! (Unless it's a badguy). I really really dislike character deaths! *nod nod, has only one ficcie with a character death, and he was dead to begin with neways!)

ShiTiger
Oh good, they are going to rescue Hiei. Does Hiei's father know about Yukina yet? Go Kurama, go! (oh, the others too). Bye!

Aqua: Hai hai!! He knows he knows!! (LOL@oh, yeah, the others, their in this too, ne?)

Someone pointed this out to me: My enemy is called Haru. ^^; Fruits Basket has a character named Haru. (For those of you who haven't seen FB, never mind about this.) Neways, it is a total coincidence. I actually named my villian that, before seeing FB!

Author's Note: Rei Gan = Spirit Gun. Same deal as with Kuwabara's sword. ^_^; As better as the Japanese name sounds, I've translated it for this ficcie. Also, if you're looking for references in the show to the different demons and the like that are in this ficcie, don't bother. I've made all of it up!


Reaching Your Limits: A YYH alternate universe

Episode 44: First Encounter. Stalking the Enemy


Despite the stories the twins had told them, Yuusuke was shoked when they stepped through the portal into the Demonworld. There was no sign of actual civilization anywhere, thick trees twisting around them as far as the eye could see. There was no sounds of animals around them, the familiar air of Humanworld nature absent here. The sun beat down hotly upon them, and there were strangely colored clouds in the sky.

"We're in the Southern region, about one hours walk from Haru's claimed territory. It will be impossible for us to keep our energy from being sensed, so Koenma chose this place in order to give you some time to adapt before going into battle," Yukina explained.

"It doesn't look so bad," Kuwabara commented, looking around.

Genkai snorted, rolling her eyes. "Things aren't always what they seem to be in this world, child," she stated.

Yukina smiled, then pointed off to the side. "Do you see those flowers there?" she questioned. Yuusuke turned with the others to see small pink flowers, much like daisies, growing around the base of a large tree.

"I recognize those from a dream," Kurama commented. He smiled and made his way over to them.

Yukina grabbed onto his arm and gave a firm shake of her head. "Those are the Ahura. If you step to close to them, the stems with suddenly grow and the flowers will force themselves into your mouth. They block off your windpipe until you die from lack of air, then eat your corpse," she stated.

Kurama turned an alarming shade of white.

Yuusuke shuddered, inching away from the flowers. "That is definately a bad way to go," he commented.

Genkai nodded, stepping up beside Yukina. "I have never been here, but the twins have told me about the dangers in some of their stories. This world is very different from the Humanworld, and very dangerous."

"When it comes to the environment which you are now in, even the most innocent looking things can be deadly. Even water may not be water. Make sure you ask me before touching anything. Also, I will clear a path for us to make sure we don't step into any hazards," she said.

"I have to admit that I'm curious to know about whether or not I can manipulate these plants," Kurama said as they began walking.

Yuusuke shook his head at his friend. "I wouldn't take the chance of trying. It may decide to eat you before you have the chance to gather your youki," he said.

"Well, Koenma gave me some seeds that he thought may be useful," Kurama replied with a grin, letting his fingers trail in his hair. Yuusuke had seen the red-head hide them there earlier. "I wouldn't mind growing a dangerous plant, if I could make sure it devoured Haru."

Yuusuke shuddered at his friend's cold tone. He had seen Kurama mad only a few times in the past, and it had been a scary sight. Now that the youth possessed a plant manipulating ability, he was even more of a danger. "Remind me to never piss you off," he stated firmly.

Kurama actually laughed, while Yukina maneuvered them around a rock. Kuwabara was looking at it suspiciously. "Don't tell me rocks are dangerous too?" Yuusuke asked, disbelieving.

She smiled at him. "They are when they're actually disguised youkai. I can feel the youki signature coming from it. Weaker youkai often hunt their food by disguising themselves, then pounce when the prey is close enough. I'm afraid that, as humans, you would seem like very easy targets to these creatures," she explained.

"Except that we have uncommon human abilities, and Koenma's gifts to strengthen us," Yuusuke said with a cocky grin.

"Koenma gave you a ring. Neither of you actually told us how it helps you," Kurama said, looking at Yuusuke's hand.

The youth lifted it, showing off the strangely shaped golden band. "Genkai trained me very hard since yesterday," he started, but was interrupted by the old woman.

"We hardly scratched the surface of what you are capable of. You are strong, Yuusuke, but don't get cocky. You've learned only the very basics of what you need to know in order to control your powers," she stated.

"You've gained powers too?" Kuwabara questioned.

Yuusuke nodded, pointing out his index finger. "I've learned to focus my Spiritual Energy into one point, the tip of my finger. It's called the Spirit Gun, and I can shoot my opponent with a blast of my spiritual energy," he explained.

"Previously, he could only use it once a day. However, Koenma has given him a ring that will allow him to use it up to five times a day," Genkai finished.

"Well, hopefully, this time won't be one of them," Yukina said, interrupting the conversation.

"What do you mean?" Kurama asked, then stiffened as a sudden wave of youki washed over all of them, strong enough that even those untrained to sense it were able to.

Yuusuke took a fighting stance, giving Kurama a nod when he pushed Yukina behind him. "Is it the enemy?" he questioned.

Before anyone could say anything, something leapt out of the trees that appeared to be more fang and tenticle than anything else. Kuwabara gave a shreik, looking like he was going to pass out. Kurama suddenly produced a rose from nowhere, while Yuusuke readied himself to fight. The Spirit Gun would be his last resort.

He felt Genkai shift in beside him, also in a fighting stance. "It's a Seglif. The outter shell is nearly impossible to penetrate," she stated.

"Well, at least it will be a good warm up," Yuusuke joked, before throwing himself forward into battle.

***

Haru looked at the screen before him, a look of interest on his face. The Seglif had not been sent by him, but it would be a good opportunity to measure up his opponents. He had not doubted for a minute that they would attack, even if it was before schedule. It seemed that Hiei was rather important to them.

"The girl is there too," Ikare commented beside him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"No matter. She's Koorime. I have no connection to her," he stated.

"Are you certain?" the woman asked with a coy smile.

He gave her a look of disgust. "I seduced that ice woman simply to show that I could. The girl which I've spawned has none of my blood in her. She will be killed along with the others," he stated.

"And the boy? What of him? You seem overly interested on his behalf," Ikare questioned.

Haru shook his head. "I do not need to explain my reasons to you," he stated.

Inwardly, he smiled. Ikare's dislike of Hiei was obvious. Just as obvious was the loyalty of Hiei's companions. It would be interesting to see how this little drama played out. If necessary, he could use their feelings toward Hiei against them.

"Which one is the youko?" Ikare questioned, looking over the human boys.

"The red haired one," Haru replied.

Ikare smiled widely. "I certainly want to be there when his little surprise shows up. It will be precious, seeing the expression on his face when he realizes we've hired the same person who killed him long ago to kill him again now."


End Episode 44