Chapter 6
Kurama yawned and rubbed at one of his eyes before pulling on a thick fur coat.
"You look tired," commented Kuwabara tugging on a pair of fur-trimmed boots.
"I had the strangest dream last night," said Kurama. "I dreamed that everyone was a dragon running around without any clothes on. Yusuke kept trying to sleep with Hiei and I was caught peeking on Hiei and I think Yukina taking a bath together," said Kurama scratching his chin.
"What?! Yukina-san and Hiei! Taking a bath TOGETHER!" raved Kuwabara
"Calm down, Kuwabara," said Kurama waving a hand at him. "I'm not sure it was Yukina. The girl's hair was black, not blue, and she appeared to be a white dragon not a Koorime. Besides, Kuwabara-kun, it was just a dream.... I think."
Kuwabara seemed only slightly appeased by Kurama's reply, he continued to grumble under his breath while he finished pulling on his weather gear.
"Ready?" called Yusuke shouldering his rather large pack.
Kurama and Kuwabara nodded and wordlessly collected the rest of their gear to follow after their team leader.
"Okay, listen up you guys!" shouted Botan. She was sitting on her oar in her traditional pink kimono. "The Crystal Caverns are at the dead center of the Makai's North Pole, but they're really hard to find because there are no land marks at the pole. It's just white terrain for as far as the eye can see. You need to make sure you're going in the right direction or you can get lost for days out there. Keep track of your distance so you know where to stop and start your search for the cavern."
"Is their anything special about these caverns we should know?" asked Kurama.
"They are said to be forbidden grounds by the gods. Few ever journey to them. It's a dangerous trek out in the middle of nowhere. I've never heard of any treasure being buried there either so the place should be mostly deserted."
"How long a trek will this be?" asked Kuwabara.
"A days journey," said Botan.
"A whole day!" shouted Kuwabara.
"Isn't there a faster way?" asked Kurama. "With Korin's ability to open portals he may already be there."
"I'm sorry," said Botan bowing her head. "There is no faster way available to use."
"We better get going then. The sooner we start the sooner we'll get there," said Yusuke.
Botan nodded and opened a portal for them. "Be careful," she said as they entered. "And, good luck!"
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yoko entered the temple and found Korin lying on the floor near Suoh. The tiger demon was playing with the Ruffian sphere in his hands, twirling, rolling, and tossing it lightly in the air. a very pleased look was painted on his face.
"Did you spend the night in here?" asked Yoko moving over to him. "You must have been cold," she murmured sliding down beside him and pressing herself against his side. "If you'd called me, I could have kept you warm," her voice held much promise to it and for added affect she tilted her head up to gently bite one of his white and black stripped ears. She releasing it she leaned back to look Korin in the face. "What now, Korin? What's the next step to your plan?"
"We wait," he said his eyes had never once left the sphere.
"Wait? Wait for what?" asked Yoko giving up on her seductive posing, since it wasn't having any affect, to sit up straight.
"You'll see," said Korin grinning. "Don't worry, my pet, I have everything under control," he said finally turning his head to regard her. "This night Suoh Ryu shall be mine."
Yoko smiled and leaned back in to kiss him on the lips. "I can't wait, Korin."
* * * * * * * * * * *
The soul flapped its wings and leapt from one side of the sphere to another. It had been unable to form any other shapes but that of Suoh Ryu for hours and had finally given up trying. It was Suoh now and there was nothing it could do to change that. Not that it dislike this particular form in any way or fashion, but it did come with some discomforts. Namely worries and wondering thoughts.
Where were Inari, Kogare, and little Kaoru? The soul was lonely and tired of its plain prison: it wanted out, but there were no doors, no exits, no escape. It was trapped.
It stopped its restless roaming of the sphere and sat down cross-legged in the middle. The sphere tugged at its memories again as it'd been doing not stop for the last couple hours. Suoh was under the impression that it seemed to delight in rummaging though his head, not that he didn't take some pleasure in reliving some of those memories, but they did have their… discomforts. The Ryu spirit snorted, the damn thing was giving him a headache with its constant prodding, why fight it? Looking at old memories was far more entertaining then pacing around in his empty prison of boredom.
Relaxing his form the ryu lay back to curl up on the bottom of the sphere, burring his face into his arms. He could almost smell and feel the soft texture of that silky silver hair....
* * * * * * * * * * *
Out in the blaring blankness of the Makai's North pole Kurama froze in his tracks.
"Kurama? What's wrong? Why did you stop?" asked Kuwabara who had been walking a step in front of the red head.
Kurama's green eyes stared blankly ahead focused on something only he could see. The endless plains of white were lost to him as his vision swam and faded from white to black. Another time, another place, another world that was and was not his waited to regret him.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Inari stood, his silver eyes fixed on the roof where ryus of all colors leapt down to land gracefully on the aqua stone floor.
Where are you little black thought Inari restlessly scanning the pack. I've been training so very hard for this day. You won't find me an easy victory this time.
The cocky god was very sure of himself now. He would defeat Suoh Ryu. After much consideration he had decided to make the ryu his mount. After all, he needed a reason to challenge the ryu again and Suoh would fit the roll quit nicely. Yes, he could see himself, Inari, the silver fox god, riding into battle on the back of a midnight black fire ryu. One of the untamable beast of legends. Oh, the fear the sight would inspire in his enemies... He rather liked the thought.
His hand wandered down fingers sliding over the silver collar that hung from his belt. The simple solid band was an extension of his will. Any ryu that wore it would follow him loyally till death, the ring of cold metal left no room for disobedience. He would collar Suoh now while he was young and still hadn't reached his full potential. It would be an easy victory for him one that would give him a valuable servant who would only grow stronger with the passage of time.
"You look eager," said Aresism standing off to the side. The purple ryu was now gone. Inari had seen it enter from the roof awhile ago with the rest of its clan. An ugly scar ran down one eye and over its nose, a wound received in the battle that had nearly crippled it. Thus Aresism was forced to let it go or go into battle without a ryu while waiting for it to heal.
"I plan on issuing a challenge," said Inari hand petting the hilt of one sword.
"You've improved greatly since last time," stated Volcanus looking at Inari's silver aura.
"Will you be challenging Suoh again, dear Inari?" smiled Aphrodite as if she knew some kind of secret that no one else did.
"Indeed," said Inari. "I will make that ryu mine."
"Oh, so you've had an eye on him too?" said Aresism.
Inari spun on him and narrowed his eyes at the god of war.
"I had considered the ryu as a mount," said Aresism. "He's a bit young, but with a little training he might make an interesting mount ." The wicked grin that flashed on the war god's lips spoke of a double meaning to his words.
"I claim right of challenge this day," growled Inari.
Aresism simply smiled. "Very well, I'll hunt the little ryu after the challenge then or perhaps the other young black," he said with a considering look on his face. "They both have potential. Although, the smaller one is prettier to look at."
Inari felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He didn't want to fight someone as powerful Aresism for Suoh Ryu, but he wasn't about to give in to the war god, he was a prideful and stubborn creature. "You think you can catch Suoh? Not if he stands by my side as my mount this day."
Aresism smirked. "We'll see, he is a black. And no black as yet been mounted by one of our kind, remember that Inari, there is a reason it is so."
Inari frowned at the war god, was Aresism mocking him, or giving warning? His train of thought was broken as he caught the flap of a black wing out of the corner of his eyes. Turning his head he watch the black ryu clan descend and join their brethren.
The latest new on the black was they'd lost another one of their kin to a battle against the Meikai. A very messy destructive battle that had created no less then three lakes and one small mountain range in the Ningenkai.
The black ryu clan was decreasing in numbers too fast for them to ever hope of recovering. Inari briefly wondered if it was right to continue to hunt the blacks with so few left. But, the blacks would always be hunted, their beauty, their power was well sot after. The only reason a god had never collared a black was because they welcomed death before surrender. If a black lost a fight, he was dead, that was their nature.
Inari's eyes found and locked on the form of Suoh Ryu. The little ryu did not wear armor this time; the only real protection he had on was a belt with hip guards on it: one in the front and one on either side of his hips. Under that was a plain white loincloth forked in the back for his tail. Of course, the ryu wore several pieces of jewelry like the rest of his kin, dragons did so love shiny things.
After the ryus had all arrived the Golden Ryu once again asked if the rules of their agreement were the same. And Enma once again agreed that they were.
The challenges began: some quick and over fast, others long and bloody. Ryus fought, ryus won or lost. It was as it had always been.
After seven fights, two won by ryus, five by gods when Enma call out for another challenge Inari stepped forward. "Suoh Ryu!" he challenged seeking out the small ryu and locking gazes with him.
Suoh smiled and stepped forward.
"Suoh, I challenge you for your freedom."
Suoh smirked. "Do I not, silver fox, get to ask a request of you if I should win as you so generously did in our last match?"
Inari frowned and thought about it. He did not have to give Suoh a request, there was no reason she should, but he would humor the ryu; after all, he did not plan to lose.
"You may ask a favor if I should lose," said Inari.
Suoh's grin widened. "Very well, silver fox god, if I should win this match I want your silver mane."
Inari was shocked. His mane? The black ryu wanted his hair? "May I asked why you make such a request?"
"Once you challenged me for the right to see my face. I see no reason why my request is so different. Ryus like to collect pretty things."
Inari grinned wondering if that was a complement. He was very vain, and had a right to be since he was beautiful beyond words; his mane was one of his best features.
"Very well little ryu, your freedom or my hair," said Inari crouching down.
The ryu drew his weapon, a bladeless sword, and crouched down as Inari had done.
Inari tensed and charged forward raising one of this twin-blades to strike at the ryu's shoulder. Suoh raised the sword hilt and before Inari's slender blade could reach him and slice into flesh, a massive blade of ever-changing colors of fire formed from the hilt and stopped Inari's short.
A fire sword, a magic weapon that drew power from its wielder. For the most part the fire was black, but would flicker orange, purple, and red from time to time, an appropriate weapon for the pretty little ryu.
"Yah!" shouted the black ryu, pushing Inari away with his blade. He would have to be careful, Suoh far out did him in physical strength.
Suoh blurred to the side and Inari turned to meet him. His twin-swords clanged loudly as they struck repeatedly at Suoh, who managed to block or dodge them all with his one sword. The twin blades crossed and came down at the same time. Suoh's met them in the middle where they strained against each other. Suoh growled low in his throat and a black wing whipped around to strike him on the side breaking their stalemate. Inari realized just how useful those wings were. It was like the ryu had four arms to attack with while he only two.
Suoh leapt up and dropped into a roll coming up right under him. The ryu's leg kicked Inari's feet out from under him, the other clawed foot snapped out to latch on to one of Inari's ankles.
Inari fell to the side and looked over his shoulder at the grinning ryu balanced on one foot. With a grunt Suoh snapped the foot holding Inari's ankle up. Inari was flung into the air where he spun in a complete circle before gravity began pulling his body back down. He expected to hit the ground hard, but clawed feet cushioned his fall. He looked down into the mischievous eyes of Suoh Ryu- now lying on his back with Inari held up in the air on his feet. The sharp claws of the ryus feet dug into Inari's armor and made it impossible for him to wiggle free. The ryu laughed and began to spin Inari on his feet like an acrobat would a beam.
Damn it! Inari realized that the ryu was playing with- no mocking him! He called on his powers and commanded a vine to grow in his hand. It snaked down to wrap around one of the ryu's ankles. The ryu snarled as its feet became tangled together and he could no longer move them to spin the fox god around.
A slightly dazed Inari raised up one of his swords and aimed it down at the ryu, who managed to jerk his head out of the way. The blade bit into the floor to the side of Suoh's face nicking his ear. Suoh roared and Inari found himself flying through the air as the ryu launched him forward.
He landed on the hard floor and picked himself up to see the ryu ripping the plant around his feet to shreds. Once the planet was in pieces Suoh climbed back up to his feet and turned his burning gaze on Inari.
They faced off for several seconds before Suoh raised his sword and threw it at Inari like a javelin. Inari easily leapt over the flying sword and blinked in shock as the blade winked out and landed on the floor with a clang. He looked up to see Suoh Ryu right in his face. The ryu's feet landed on either one of his shoulders, sharp claws clamped down and tore through his armor to pierce his flesh, and then they were both spinning in a tight circle as Suoh spread his wings, leaned forward, and curled into a ball.
Inari could only watch as his vision switched between the sky- seen through the open roof- and the aqua blue floor as they continued to spin. He then felt himself falling down at incredible speeds as Suoh uncurled and flung him at the ground with all the strength and momentum he'd built up with the spin.
Inari hit hard on his stomach coughing up blood on impact. His whole body hurt like nothing he remembered in his short life. He was sure he'd be dead if it were possible at that moment. He felt pressure as weight was applied to his back and looked over his shoulder to see Suoh perched there.
"You've gotten better fox god," said Suoh with a grin. He crouched down and began petting the silver hair, fingers brushing Inari's furry ears making the fox god shiver at the contact. If Inari wasn't in so much pain he might have enjoyed the feeling of the black ryu's fingers running through his hair.
Suoh gathered the long tassels of silver up and away from Inari's neck. He then raised up his other hand and whipped it across the fine strands cutting them with his sharp nails.
Inari gasped in shock as he felt the wind from the ryu's swinging arm. He turned his head again to look over his shoulder at the ryu, who now held Inari's silky mane in one hand. The fox god reached up a hand and felt his now short hair.
Suoh petted Inari's furry ears once again then jumped off the beaten god. Inari sat up, his eyes wide, one hand tangling in his uneven length of hair. His mouth worked to say something, but no words came out.
Suoh smiled and turned around. "You underestimated me, Inari," he said before walking back over to the ryu's side with his silver trophy. Once back with his clan Suoh sat down cross-legged and began dividing the silver hair and braiding it.
Inari stared with open mouth at the ryu while he worked.
Enma cleared his throat to get the fox god's attention. "Next challenge," he said.
Inari's ears flattened in disbelief. He'd lost? He'd lost again? He'd lost his silver mane! Inari got up and glared at the small black ryu as he walked back over to Aphrodite, Volcanus, and Aresism.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Rouin stared in a mixture of frustration and awe at the small ryu sitting at the edge of the spring. Suoh's toes dipped in the spring he sat by while his slender fingers continued to work on the silver braid.
"I can't believe you. You cut off a GOD's hair! A very vain god at that!"
Suoh didn't even look up from his work. "He asked for it."
"Asked for it! You're the one asking for it! You really think he's going to let that go?!"
Suoh hummed to himself, not listening to Rouin. He'd melted a solid gold bracelet he'd been wearing on his arm and had stretched it out into a fine wire to wrap and hold the hair together as he wove it into one long fine cord. He smiled happily as he finished tying the ends together. He admired his work and the incredible soft silky hair that had been Inari's silver mane. He breathed in the fox's scent: a rather pleasant smell of fresh cut grass, herbs, wild flowers, and a mix of other earthy scents.
"Hello!" shouted Rouin at the smaller ryu.
"Hn?" said Suoh looking up from the cord.
"Ahhh!" growled Rouin. "You're more interested in that fox god's hair then you are in having sex with me!" He grabbed Suoh and slammed him on to the ground to climbing on top of him. "You know you're mine right?" he asked their nose inches apart.
Suoh laughed and tapped a long nail on Rouin's nose. "Don't be jealous, Rouin." He sat up forcing Rouin back. "I think this was a prize well worth the trouble," said Suoh holding up the cord. He put it around his neck and stood up posing for Rouin. "Well, what do you think?" he said fingering it.
Rouin sputter. "Me?! Jealous! Ha!" he turned around giving his back to the smaller ryu. "I'm not jealous."
Suoh giggled and knelt down pressing up against Rouin's back. "He's a god, Rouin. I could never be any more to him then a plaything," he said softly into Rouin's ear. The taller black ryu groaned and leaned back while Suoh began running his fingers through Rouin's wild mane.
Suoh lowered Rouin and had him turned over. He then climbed on the taller ryu's back and pulled down his jacket to kiss the nape of his neck. Suoh's slender fingers moved up to begin massaging Rouin's shoulders as he sat down on the other black ryu's rump.
"You sure you don't want to breed?" asked Rouin in a relaxed groan. "Because I really want you at the moment."
Suoh smiled down at his partner. "Sorry Rouin," he murmured moving farther down the ryu's back so he was now sitting on his thighs, finger trailing down the black's spine.
Rouin sighed into his arms and closed his eyes. "It's okay, I understand."
They stayed like that for a long time, Suoh massaging Rouin till the ryu felt boneless.
"That looks like fun," came a voice.
Both black ryus lifted their heads to see Chi and Sunoo walking in their direction.
"Rouin, you don't deserve a mate like Suoh. He's wasted on you," smirked Chi. She petted Rouin's head with her foot as she walked past him to perch on a rock by the spring.
"You want one, Chi? I'd be more then happy to give you a back rub. Might loosen you up a bit," smiled Rouin for his place on the ground.
"What's that supposed to mean?" growled Chi. The plants around her waved sensing her anger.
Suoh wisely got off Rouin and scooted away.
"Now look what you've done," said Rouin lazily sitting up on his knees. He stretched out cat like and looked up at Chi. "And I was enjoying some quality time with my mate."
Chi blushed watching the smooth movements of Rouin. She looked away and the plants around her went back to normal. "Rouin no baka," she said softly under her breath.
Rouin grin widely. "What? What was that, Chi? Why are you blushing?" he teased walking over to her on his hands and knees wagging his tail like a dog.
"Baka!" shouted Chi grabbing him by the hair and smashing his face into the ground.
"Ouch! What did you do that for, Chi?!" barked Rouin rubbing his nose.
Sunoo and Suoh exchanged looks before both got up and walked away. Chi and Rouin could be heard shouting at each other for quite some distance.
The twin dragons once again found themselves at the spring by the outskirts of Dragon Springs. They stripped and began basking in the sun and water.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Aphrodite put down the pair of silver scissors she'd been using and ran a hand through Inari's now short hair.
"I kind of like it like this," said Aphrodite playing with the short soft strands.
"Well. I don't," barked Inari fisting his hands up on the pants of his armor.
"It'll grow back," smiled Aphrodite.
"Shouldn't have bet your hair if you were so attached to it," laughed Aresism.
"Shut up!" shouted Inari at the god of war.
"Well, I guess that little ryu's free game once he leaves Dragon Springs. Are you going to hunt him?" asked Aresism.
"Why would I want to do that?" growled Inari. He wanted to make that little ryu pay for cutting his hair, but how? The ryu was just too strong!
Inari stood up.
"Where are you going?" asked Volcanus.
"Out for air," growled Inari.
The fox god stomped out of the hall of challenge not caring where he went. How dare that ryu! How dare he! Inari stopped to look at his reflection in a spring. He touched the short mane. His bangs were now the longest part framing his face and ears. It didn't look bad, but he already missed his long flowing tassels.
'It'll grow back.'
Inari snorted at Aphrodite's words. If he didn't know any better he'd say she was overly amused by the whole Suoh Ryu business. Well she could just forget about the whole thing, they all could, he quit! That little ryu was nothing but a pain in his side.
Inari looked at the water and suddenly realized he was once again in Dragon Springs. He'd stomped off right into it without thinking. He stood up and began walking again looking around the springs. Many gods stayed at Dragon Springs when the ryus were there, either to served as protection for the ryus as was part of their agreement with them or to keep an eye on a ryu that held their fancy. The agreement really only said they couldn't touch, everything else was for the most part open to debate.
Inari found his feet taking him to the same spring he'd seen Suoh at and to his surprise the ryu and his twin were once again bathing and chatting together at the same spring. Inari crouched down and listened to them. This time they would not know he was there.
"You left one on," said Sunoo going over to Suoh and tapping the silver cord around his neck. She blinked and ran her hand over the fine cord marveling at how soft and beautiful it was.
Suoh smiled. "You like it? I made it from Inari's mane."
"It's so beautiful," said Sunoo. She leaned over and sniffed it. "It smells nice."
"It smells like Inari," said Suoh fingering the cord.
"Way did you ask him for his hair," asked Sunoo.
"I figured it was the fastest way to get him to give up.... plus, I wanted it," said Suoh climbing out of the water and lying down on the grass by the spring with his eyes closed.
"Give up?" asked Sunoo. "On what?"
"On me," said Suoh looking up at his twin. "Inari has much pride. Most gods do. If I didn't do something to take that away from him he'd keep challenging me till he either got tired of the game or strong enough to defeat me. Both seem like they would take forever so I took away his pride."
"His hair is his pride?" asked Sunoo.
Suoh laughed. "No. Although, it is something to be very proud of," said Suoh petting the cord around his neck. "By cutting Inari's hair I embarrassed him in front of his fellow gods and wounded his pride. I think it should be enough so that he'll give up on trying to defeat me."
"Maybe," said Sunoo. "It could just make him more determined."
Suoh shook his head. "I don't think so. He knows I'm stronger, he knows it would take him many years to defeat me. He'd have to suffer through much more embarrassment and shame if he continued to challenge me, and I think he's too vain and spoiled for that. He'll give up, it's too much trouble and work for him."
"You don't think too highly of him, do you?" said Sunoo.
"No, I think very highly of him. He is a god after all, but he's young. He has yet to develop his own style and power. Once he does, he'll be a force to reckon with. He could get very strong really fast so I don't want him paying too much attention to me."
"Are you afraid of him?" asked Sunoo.
Suoh opened his eyes and stared forward, unknowingly looking right in the direction Inari was hiding. "No. He underestimated me and I will not fear him till he stops seeing me as his inferior. When he sees me as a true challenge that must be won, then I will be afraid," said Suoh closing his eyes again. "Nothing is as frightening as a determined god."
Sunoo waded over to him and leaned against the water's edge still submerged. She reached out a hand and ran it down his back, dripping water on him. "What of the Meikai? I heard you lost one of your kin fighting them? I'm sorry."
Suoh rolled over on his side facing her and took her hand bring to his cheek. "They are a powerful enemy," said Suoh. "Raiden fought till death, as all black do. He died with honor. We are proud of him."
Sunoo stroked his hair with her other hand. "We ryus are fighting a war on two sides: the Meikai and the Reikai. I don't understand. We and the Reikai have the same enemy shouldn't we be fighting with them not against?"
Suoh kissed Sunoo's hand. "My dear, sweet Sunoo(*grin* get it? Sweet Snow). If only we all had your kind heart. We can never be allies till we see each other as brothers and sisters. Only when we are equal can we work together as one. The gods see ryus as inferior and the ryus see gods as arrogant fools that care only for their games.
"But if we all worked together we could beat the Meikai," said Sunoo.
"Probably," said Suoh sounding drowsy.
Sunoo smiled down at her twin and kissed him on the cheek. She stayed that way stroking his hair till Suoh breathed in the deep even breaths of sleep.
Inari silently crept away. He was getting much better at his sneaking skills. Those might be useful in the future. Once he was far enough away he sat down on a rock and thought about what Suoh had said to his twin.
"There's nothing more frightening then a determined god," said Inari quietly to himself. He was angry with himself. He'd almost played right into the ryu's hand. He'd been ready to give up. It was true it would take much on his part to defeat the ryu, and at the time he hadn't been willing to spend that much effort on him, but now.... Now, he wanted to hunt the ryu even more. Suoh was wise and tricky, he knew that sooner or later Inari would surpass him in power and so had tried to discourage him from continuing the hunt.
Inari licked his lips. Oh no, he wasn't going to give up. The ryu should be afraid, he thought, promising not to underestimate Suoh ever again.
He briefly turned over the other part of Suoh's and Sunoo's conversation. Suoh was right. Together, the ryus and the gods could defeat the Meikai, but the two would never work together. It all seemed so foolish and stupid when he thought about it. Here they were, wasting all this time and effort fighting with each other when if they joined forces all their problems would be solved.
Inari glanced back in the direction of the spring he had left the dragon twins at. He wasn't going to give up on Suoh. He had decided that he would put all of his effort into catching that elusive black ryu. He would start hunting Suoh outside of the tournament where he could better understand the ryu and test him without having the eyes of his fellow gods fixed on him. He would learn all there was to know about Suoh Ryu till he could read the dragon's thoughts and anticipate his every move.
The god licked his lips. For some reason the thought of the hunt sent thrills down his spine. This was a game he was going to win.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Kurama groaned. He could feel he was moving, but it didn't feel like it were his legs doing the walking. Kurama opened his eyes and squinted as the landscape kept bouncing back and forth slightly.
"You awake?" asked a familiar voice.
Kurama blinked his eyes and realized he was getting a piggyback from Kuwabara. Poor Yusuke, who was walking a little farther ahead, looked like an over loaded pack mule carrying all of their stuff since Kuwabara was carrying him.
"Is he awake?" asked the mound of stuff that was Yusuke.
"Yes," said Kuwabara letting Kurama down to stand on his own two feet.
"Good!" said Yusuke dumping the packs on the snow.
"Are you okay?" asked Kuwabara as Kurama got his bearings back. "Did you see more images of Yusuke molesting Hiei?"
"What?!" demanded Yusuke. "I've never touched him!"
Kurama laughed despite himself. "No. This time Hiei cut off my hair and wore it as a necklace."
"What?!" shouted both boys. Kurama laughed harder.
"What time is it?" asked Kurama.
"It's late at night," said Yusuke.
Kurama looked around he could still see fairly well it wasn't dark at all. His glaze wandered up to the sky where a silver moon, a red one, and just faintly a black one could be seen in the sky. "Oh I see, the light created by the moons are bouncing back off the snow," he said out loud.
"Yah," said Kuwabara. "It's almost as bright as day time."
"According to Botan's instructions, we should be around the right area," said Yusuke gazing around. "We'll leave our stuff here and go look for that cavern."
Kuwabara and Kurama nodded.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Misuki stood out in the chilly air. She smiled back at Korin even though her teeth were chattering. Korin smiled back and motioned for her to go ahead.
She pulled out the mirror of UtterDark and put it on the snow in front of her. The three full moons of the Makai reflected back on the mirror's surface causing it to come a live.
"What is your wish?" asked the mirror.
Misuki looked on in wonder. She almost hadn't heard the mirror's question.
"Um..." she blushed getting down on her knees to better see the mirror. "I want you to remove the seal on Korin's dragon, Suoh Ryu, please," she said.
The mirror was silent a moment. "Very well, in exchange for this service you forfeit your life to me."
"W-what?" stammered Misuki. She screamed as sparks surround her and began feeding off her life force. "Korin-sama!" she cried in panic. "Make it stop, Korin-sama!" She looked up into his eyes, tears rimming hers in fear.
Korin only smiled down at her. "Thank you, Misuki. Now Suoh will be free."
The bunny girl's pink eyes widened and her mouth dropped as Korin turned and started walking away.
"Korin-sama!" she screamed trying to get up, but failing, already weakened by the mirror's drinking of her life energy. She fell on her stomach. "Korin-sama... please don't leave.... I won't... mess... up... anymore.... I promisss-" her words trailed off as her essence was pulled from her leaving a empty shell rapidly losing its heat in the icy land of the Makai's North pole.