Disclaimer: Not in the owning of Yu Yu Hakusho.

Silver Rose Assassinator

Kurama raced through the maze, putting forth all that he learned while living in the guild. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his red hair clung to his face, and he hurriedly shook it from his eyes. Already, he had encountered two of the guild's experiments and he had to kill them quickly before he could continue. The guild had created a special growing formula that could be used on anything living, and as their first experiments, they used wild cats. The cats, that were once lions, were nearly tripled in size, their fangs sticking out of their mouths their claws nearly a foot in length, and they roared as Kurama fought and killed them. He didn't escape unscathed though, his bicep dripped in blood were the tooth of one of the beasts had grazed his arm. He didn't care though; his whole being was set on the task before him. He needed to get to the center of the maze and see Hiei once more. But I can't touch him! Our lives depend on it, and I can't watch him die, like I saw my mother die all those years ago.

***

Hiei looked around him as he tried to get his bearings. He was breathing hard, his hand gripping the katana the council members had given him so he could at least defend himself. Small cuts and bruises marked his body, the last passage had been filled with shooting daggers, and Hiei, thanks to his years of hard training, managed to get by them with only a few cuts and bruises. He stood still and calmed himself, his breath becoming easy and deep. He closed his eyes and he let his feelings tell him which direction he should take next. A tug in his mind said he should go right, towards the east, and Hiei quickly took that path. He ran along the corridor, wondering what he was going to face next as he went along. Silence met his ears, his footfalls making no noise against the smooth marble floor. I don't like this, he thought to himself as he turned down another deserted hallway, The fact that there is nothing in these halls makes me nervous. My senses are already to the breaking point, damnit!

He ran around another corner, and stopped dead in his tracks. There, sitting lazily, was a mechanical creature that was the figure of a lion, but it had the head of a woman. Hiei remembered he had learned about these creatures when he studied ancient mythology, and he knew that this machine would ask him a riddle. The sphinx looked at Hiei with a mysterious glint in her eye that was none too friendly, yet she smiled sweetly at him, which made him even more nervous. He approached cautiously, sword held tightly in his hand, and didn't take his eyes off her.

"Hold mortal, for none shall pass unless you pass my riddle," she said solemnly, "If you answer wrong, I attack, if you answer correctly, I let you pass unscathed, and answer with silence I let you walk away the way you came. The quickest way to the center and to your love is through me. Shall I tell you my riddle?" Hiei watched her pace back and forth, until he cleared his throat.

"Tell me the riddle," he replied, "I am ready." The sphinx sat down in the middle of the path and opened her mouth to speak.

"I live downwards, where the hot sands burn your feet.

They worshipped me and praised my name.

I found joy in their praise, yet I could be cruel

When I dried the bed of the Nile that stretched more than a mile.

Who am I?"

Hiei opened his eyes in utter confusion, his mind going carefully over the riddle. He leaned his chin on his finger and muttered the lines to himself. He asked the machine for the riddle again and she smiled again and repeated the phrase. 'Dried the bed of the Nile,' well I know it's in Egypt. Who did the Egyptians worship that could be cruel and dry the river? Hmm, it's hot down there, with a lot of sun. Half a second, sun? Hello! The Sun God Ra!

"I know who you are! You are Ra, the Sun God!" Hiei cried in triumph. The sphinx's smile broadened and she stepped to the side of the path and Hiei rushed by, saying his thanks as he ran by. Kurama was closer to him already, but could he keep the promise, and not touch him?

***

"You are the Moon Goddess, Isis," Kurama said to his sphinx, which was male. The male moved to the side and Kurama ran past, thanking the machine as he went by. The center should be near, but what am I to do if Hiei is there? I can't touch him or we'll die!

Kurama rounded the corner and the maze opened up into a large circle. There was a circular, wooden table in the center of the maze where stone statues of troubled looking, noble men sat looking at this one man that seemed to be their leader. The leader wore a crown upon his head, yet his face was sad and noble to the eyes. He wasn't old, nor was he young and his eyes, though made of stone, seemed to hold a vast knowledge in them. Kurama approached to the stone table, and his heart jumped when he thought he saw one of the statues move. The table was carved with ancient runes that Kurama had trouble deciphering. All he could translate, were the words, 'love,' 'no rules,' and 'Truth on your side.'

"Perhaps these men are sitting at a judgment table," Kurama said softly, and he turned at the sound of footfalls coming from the opposite side of the maze. A short, strong man with blue-black hair and red eyes came into view and saw the red head with green eyes standing near the table, and his breath caught in his throat.

"Hiei," whispered the red head.

"Kurama," the red eyed man replied. The wind, which had been blowing gently through the maze, ruffled their hair as they stood in silence and simply gazed at each other. Their souls cried out to each other.