OMG!!! I know, I haven't updated in a long time. I think now it's a good…. month and a half. It's taken me forever to come up with this chapter, I've just have had NO inspiration to write lately. But now I do! The fact that after this chappy there's only ONE chappy left! :D yaaaay!

Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu Yu Hakusho characters or ideas. Those belong to Yoshihiro Togashi, the wonderful genius behind the whole YYH series. :D Thank you Togashi-san! (Cht' Like he's reading this…..) I do, however, own this fanfic, and any original ideas I come up with within it. Thank you.

No Devil Demons were hurt in the making of this fanfic. Let's continue!

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When Dealing With Spirits

By Pixie Ayanami

Chapter 14: The Four Seals

"How dare she!" It mused, mauve colored walls shuddering in pure anger. It could see everything that went on anywhere if It wished, and has been using it's time to survey its pet's movements. And It was not happy with what It found.

Cackling evilly, It boomed, "No matter, I will destroy those who detest me. Their death will be slow and painful, and then I'll move onto everyone else." With this announcement proclaimed, It started to form a plan.

A mist formed in front of It, slowly transforming into shapes. These shapes took the form of spiky creatures, and just as slowly settled with a demon existence. Like the beating of a heart, the walls protruded further, quickening with excitement. The demons lined up, awaiting their orders.

"Go. Find those demon traitors and kill them!"

At the sound of this, the demon raced off into the dark.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Yukina shuddered. The two demon boys observed her with great concern, before Kurama finally asked, "Is something the matter?"

She shook her head. Looking up, she said, "We best be going now."

The boys agreed. Yukina shifted into a stance of deep concentration, as a blue light enveloped around her. Looking up to the sky, she raised her hands, forming more energy around them. Four pillars of light shot down into the garden, wavering and

"I knew this would eventually happen when you opened the gate, Kurama," she explained. Seeing that the two were confused, she continued, "There are four seals. The gate to this garden was the first, I am performing the second right now."

All the roses flew off the garden's surface, as she threw her energy down at it. The soil parted, revealing a large circular symbol melded into  the metallic flooring. This shocked Kurama, while Hiei was left unfazed. The ground began to shake, and they started sinking….. And soon the edge of the tower was above them. 

The three continued to go down deeper and deeper below the surface, until they were shrouded in darkness. Kurama instantly grabbed Hiei's shoulder, to know where he was. Feeling this, Hiei formed a small fireball in his hand so that they could have light. What the two saw was unexpected. The walls were an icy metallic blue, with windows that showed various machines, frantically running back and forth, completing tasks and starting new ones.

As they stared at this in awe, the platform finally came to a thud at ground level. Yukina motioned for them to stay back. Walking up to the doors which were shut and locks, she placed her hands on two spots of the door, more blue energy surrounding them. This triggered the door to slip open, allowing the three to pass.

"What's the meaning of it all?" Kurama asked, "Was that the third seal?"

Yukina shook her head. "No, that was just a basic security measure."

"Well, then what about those machines?" Kurama asked again, motioning to a window.

"Those are part of It's hold. Usually, they are working in a rhythmic, steady fashion, but they have been becoming faster because of It. Unfortunately, their efforts are going in vain," she looked down, "I feel responsible for it."

No one said anything as only the quiet hum of the florescent lighting that was now above them could be heard. Kurama stared out the windows they passed and noticed something peculiar. The machines were thinning out. Wouldn't there be even more machines as they approached It to constrain it?

Before he could ask, Yukina spoke up. "It is starting to break free. Slowly, it is breaking out of the seal, and is gaining power. You will see….."

Over time, the walls started changing from a blue to a metallic blood red. Kurama slightly shuddered at the color. The lights also were going out. One was broke and was sparking. Soon they were in total darkness. Hiei brought out his fire again so they had light. Suddenly Yukina stopped dead in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" Kurama asked. Then he felt it, too. Odd little traces of ki, frolicking as if nothing effected them in this dark. Childish laughter came closer and closer. Kurama ran a hand in his hair for his rose seed, but Hiei stood there with his fire.

"What is it?" Hiei asked cautiously, eyeing the darkness. At that moment, they appeared.

Little devil like creatures, with small bodies along with small arms and legs, fanged teeth, large yellow eyes, big ears, horns, thin devil tails, and a pitchfork to fight with scurried into view. They were only half the height of Hiei, making his eyes widen with amusement. Seeing this, Kurama hit him across the head. Going back to the task at hand, he transformed his seed into a rose and then quickly into a deadly whip.

"Be on your guard," the Yukina warned. The two boys nodded as Hiei dashed forward to slash through one with his katana. The poor targeted demon crumpled into dust by the force. Hiei smirked and moved onto more, in which Kurama joined.

"This isn't so hard, Yukina," Hiei commented, slashing through a dozen more.  Kurama concerned, but the Yukina stood there, wary.

After about twenty minutes, the two boys stopped, seeing no more demons to slash, dust being the only remnants left of them. Kurama smiled. "Shall we go on?" Kurama asked. The two agreed, and started walking on.

But something didn't feel right to Yukina. Looking back at the demons remains, she let out a yelp. Kurama and Hiei both regarded her with concern and quickly looked back over, not expecting what was to be seen.

Every particle floated up in the air and grew bigger, taking a shape. Demonic laughter rang through out the hall, as all the devil like demons crowded around the three. Kurama and Hiei took out their weapons once again and started cutting a path through them. Except more and more came from the remains, until they were surrounded by the little demons, cackling evilly, bouncing around knowing the pain the three will suffer.

The three back up into each other. "What do we do?" Kurama whispered, "We kill them and more come."

Yukina breathed hastily in and out. Clenching her fists, she instructed, "On my count…. Run down the hall and keep running. I'm sure you can figure out…."

This puzzled Kurama. "Wait, what are you-"

"1"

Hiei understood and grabbed Kurama's wrist. With the free one grabbed the hilt of his Katana.

"2"

Kurama looked down at his lover, obviously confused. Hiei looked back up with a reassured look.

"3"

Hiei bolted as the cold air seeped from Yukina's being. The demons screamed in anguish as ice enveloped their bodies in its freezing grasp. Kurama winced. And then he shot a glance in realization.

"How will she get out of there?!" Kurama asked, looking back down the hall. Hiei only quickened his pace as he felt the cold nip at his feet.

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Finally deciding that they were far enough away, Hiei came to a stop and looked back. "She's an ice apparition, or at least taking the image of one. Doing so she can copy attacks and abilities, strengths and weakness'. Knowing this I think she'll be fine."

Kurama looked wide eyed at his other. "But how can you be sure?"

Hiei looked away and down the hallway. "I'm not, but I believe she'll do fine."

Kurama smiled. "You know, you have learned a great deal since I first met you. You wouldn't be so optimistic."

"I think it was because of you," Hiei replied with a smile. The smile. It was so simple yet exquisite and Kurama loved it. So much he bent down and kissed its curves.

Standing back up, he explained, "Yes, I know now is not the time for that. But you smiled and I couldn't resist."

"It's alright, fox. Let's get going," Hiei suggested as he started walking down the hall. The fox followed.

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Eventually, the two came to a rather large opening in an overlarge room. After some ki sensing, they felt no presence within it. Knowing this, Kurama and Hiei walked through and passed down the halls. The halls winded and split into all directions, and a confused Kurama and Hiei stood there looking at them all.

"It looks like we have come across a maze," Kurama said bluntly.

"Right," Hiei said sarcastically, eye twitching.

"I bet the Yukina look alike would know how to get through it," Kurama said.

"Of course she would, she created it," Hiei said.

"Which is why I said that," Kurama answered. As so, the two spent some time "studying" the openings. With coming up with no resolve. Kurama absentmindedly ran a hand through his hair before saying, "It might be harder, but maybe we can search for the ki of It. You and I have both felt It's power before, we might have a chance of finding it."

Hiei cocked his head. "What makes you think we might not find it?"

Kurama looked back with such a dull and blatant look on his face that Hiei felt like biting back his words. "Honestly, Hiei. I can't feel it now. I very much doubt you can."

Hiei looked at his feet. "Well, I'm different from you."

"You're saying that you can feel it?"

"…..No."

"Thought not," Kurama said as he closed his eyes in concentration. Hiei followed suit. They both spread their spirit energy softly through out the place, where ever they could send it.

And a faint heartbeat could be felt. A dark, pulsating heart to the right of them. As the ki protruded further, the beating became stronger, more violent. Opening his eyes, Kurama came to the conclusion that that was It's energy. He shook Hiei's shoulder and gestured to the right passage way.

Having a lock on the wave of energy, Kurama easily pinpointed which ways to go. After about fifteen minutes of navigating through the maze, the boys came to a large metallic door. According to the Yukina, they should be able to figure it out by themselves.

Hiei walked up to it and inspected it, while Kurama observed from a distance. Tracing his fingers along the very detailed walls, his hands landed into a large hole. "What's this?" he asked. There seemed to be no other hole. Kurama walked up to it as well.

"Looks like a key would fit there," Kurama answered, inspecting it. Smirking, he continued, "Well, maybe I can pick it. I've done a few in my day."

"Stop being humble and just do it," Hiei said bluntly. Kurama sighed and took out a small seed. Placing it in the lock, he used his energy to grow it. The sprouted vines rapidly spread along the contours of the giant door, in both an attempt of trying to force it open and trigger the lock. In time, both of these worked, unfortunately Kurama was drenched in sweat.

Even so, he only used a portion of it, almost one fourth. This didn't matter in any case because it did not help their current situation: on the other side of the door was a large open space…. A canyon almost. Except there was no river at the bottom, actually there was no bottom at all. It faded into a puffy white mist.

The two demons disdainfully peered downwards into the pit. Kurama started to mutter.

 "Oh…"

"Crap," Hiei finished, "What are we gonna do?" He looked up and peered across the gap. There certainly was a door on the other side, most likely leading straight to they're enemy. So what were they gonna do?

"This is probably another seal the Yukina imposter was talking about," Kurama stated. Hiei snorted.

"Is she nuts? How are we supposed to get across?"

Kurama thought for a moment. "Well, judging by the way of how she used spirit energy for the last one, I'd say the same thing would be needed here.'

And so the two demon boys studied the gap, thinking of ways to make this happen. Neither were absolutely sure how the Yukina gathered her spirit and force it into the seal like that. Neither were sure of where the seal even was. How this would be done was puzzling. Kurama analyzed the situation carefully as Hiei thought up of ways he could blow the place up.

And then Kurama noticed something. The walls that sided the gap…. They were intricately patterned. Beautiful designs ran across it, along with weaving indented lines that connected across all walls, finally coming to one place on his side. Kurama kneeled over to see where the lines lead to, and much to his surprise, there was a large circular shape adorned in the wall. Kurama looked up and smiled at Hiei.

"Well," he began, "I think I figured it out."

Hiei raised his eyebrows. "Really?" he asked. Kurama nodded, then closed his eyes for concentration. Gathering his energy in his hand, like the Yukina did, he placed it on top of the circle, causing it to glow a light green. This green energy rapidly spread from the point of contact, quickly inching the way to the other side.

When the energy reached the other ledge, it gathered in the middle and started to sparkle white. Shooting forth from this show, was a milky white bridge that connected to the other side. Kurama sat back smiling at his handiwork, even though he was slightly panting. Hiei threw a rock on the bridge to see if it would hold, although he knew that a bridge made of a friend's energy would probably not give way.

"Can you stand?" Hiei asked, noticing the jaded state Kurama was in. Kurama waved a hand and nodded.

"Of course," He said, slowly getting up. The demon fox gave Hiei a triumphant look. "See?"

Hiei shrugged and started across the bridge, Kurama right behind him.. Neither decided to look down, for fear of losing nerve or balance and to will their legs ahead. Of course, neither of them particularly wanted to plummet to their deaths or worse, either.

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Upon reaching the other side, the two pushed open the door and stared into its darkness. Kurama looked down at Hiei, who stared contently down the corridor. He bent down and hugged the little fire demon tightly. Hiei was shocked at the abrupt motion, but returned it anyways.

"What's this for?" he asked.

"Silly, it's for good luck," Kurama explained. Hiei snorted.

"Cht' Like I'll be needing luck."

Kurama laughed, "That's what you say now." He glanced into the darkness. "I can feel It, right beyond that darkness. Energy is flooding from it like crazy."

Hiei nodded. Pulling away, he faced the corridor again, and motioned to go in. So the two started walking, darkness quickly spilling over them.

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*nods* Yup, that's my poor excuse for a chapter. *sigh* I actually took ideas from other things for this….. lol…. Those demons that attack Kurama, Hiei, and Yukina are actually from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. I thought they were so cute, and that they'd fit perfectly for this. The third seal was mostly based on Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail. Hahaha…..

Spark-gurl: Gee, thanks. ;) I'm actually quite uncomfortably with my style of writing…. I think it's very redundant. I'll have to work on that.

Assassin of Shadows: I'm cute when I'm sad? Gee, thanks! :D I don know how well this will end…. I know what I wanna do… but making it end will be hard.

Storm31: And so I'll keep writing 'em. :D I like the way I had Karasu be put to rest… It was so… wonderfully beautiful. And to think that he'll be waiting for Kurama in the afterlife… it 's just so lovely.

Yami Krissy: I do, do I? I hope I can get more than 75, that'd be awesome. :D

Hasuko: *tears up* Really? She's really better than other oc's? SCORE! I really hate oc's. They are just so WRONG. In my opinion anyways. You shouldn't have a character fall in love with someone no one else knows about. It's horrible. There's my rant. Thank you!

Lessa4: Thanks for the chocolate! :D

Please review, I love to think what other people think of my works! :D