A/N: I can't believe they started the whole series over!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooo mad! Well, anyway, I got 1 review asking me to keep Lantur in, and 0 reviews asking me to get rid of her. However, I'm starting to get bored of her, so maybe I'll get rid of her anyway. Maybe.

Disclaimer: *sighs* I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho, so don't sue me, okay?

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"We have a definite lock on Mokkan's position in the Makai," Koenma's voice said from the television screen in Yusuke's house.

They were meeting at Yusuke's house because Kurama's mother was back in town, as were Kuwabara's parents, and they decided Yusuke's mother would be least likely to care what they were doing. In attendance were Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama, Kai, Boton, Keiko, Yukina, and Lantur. They had invited Shizuru, but she declined, saying she had a date with some cute rich guy *coughSakyocough*

So they were all gathered around the television screen, listening to Koenma talk about the mission. A picture of a dense forest flashed on the screen, looking suspiciously similar to the one near Tarukane's (? Who cares?) mountain stronghold in Ningenkai. The only visible difference was, this one was in Spirit World.

"I know where that is!" Lantur exclaimed.

The entire room swiveled around to look at her.

"The problem is," Koenma was saying, "is that we have virtually no idea how long he will be there, or how long it will take you to get there."

"I know," Lantur said. "The closest possible entrance to the Makai is about ten miles from that spot."

"An easy walk," said Hiei. Kai nodded.

"Wait, but how do we know he'll still be there when we get there?" Yusuke asked.

"His home is a few days' journey from there. He will be there."

"You seem to know an awful lot about this, missy," Hiei commented.

Lantur blushed and looked down.

'Now why that reaction?' Kai wondered.

Hiei must have noticed too, because he remained silent and brooding for the rest of the day.

"Well then, off you go!" Boton exclaimed. She sent the six through the portal into the demon world.

They stepped out into a clearing in the middle of the forest from the video tape.

"Which way now?" asked Yusuke.

"Koenma never told us," Kurama said.

"Kuwabara? Can you sense the spirit energy?"

Kuwabara screwed up his face, turned around a few times, and opened his eyes. "Nope."

: : anime fall : :

"It's all too muddled," he said, by way of explanation.

"Lantur?" Kai asked. They all looked at the kitsune. She, after all, was supposed to know where they were going.

She hesitated. "Th-the castle is north…"

Yusuke interrupted her. "Why does EVERYONE in this STUPID world live in CASTLES?!" he exploded.

"Not everyone," Hiei said. "Just big-shot demons who think they're really special and better than everyone else."

"There are a lot of them," Kurama said.

"And those are the jerks we usually have to fight," Kai added.

Lantur spoke again, quietly. "But I don't know which way is north…"

Exasperated sighs met this statement. They all looked around. The forest looked exactly the same in all directions.

"We could wait until nightfall, and use the stars," Lantur suggested.

"I'd rather not travel at night," Kurama said.

"What, afraid of the dark?" Kuwabara taunted.

"No, moron, many more dangers lurk in darkness than in light. The fox was concerned for your safety," Hiei said. "Though I can't imagine why," he added under his breath.

Kai's green eye flicked back and forth between the speakers. "I believe I have a solution to our current predicament." Not wasting a moment, she scampered up the nearest tree and poked her head through the leafy canopy.

She climbed quickly back down after seeing what she needed to see. Kai pointed to the right. "That way."

They set off at a fast pace in the direction Kai indicated. They had not gone far when they were intercepted by a huge demon wielding an axe. Kai wrinkled her nose.

"Hey, I know that guy's ugly, but aren't demons supposed to be more tolerant of physical differences?" Yusuke asked Kai, whose facial expression left little doubt as to her opinion of the monster.

She muttered something incoherent under her breath before answering. "No, baka, I know he is ugly, but haven't you idiots tried to breathe in the last five minutes?"

Soon they all realized something about this demon. "He really stinks!" Kuwabara shouted.

"That's called stating the obvious," Kurama said, holding his nose. Hiei, as usual, maintained his dignity, although his nose twitched and his eyes watered.

"So who's gonna fight him?" Yusuke gasped.

"I will!" Lantur said. 'Shouldn't be too hard,' she thought. 'The trick is…' The demon threw his axe directly at the kitsune, who dodged it. Not giving her opponent a chance to recover his weapon, she launched her own attack. Long vines snaked out of the ground to wrap themselves tightly around the monster. They squeezed tighter and tighter, crushing every bone in the unfortunate demon's body. The vines didn't stop until there was nothing left of him but an oozing mass of blood and mutilated remains on the ground.

A/N: I have a minor sadistic streak…

The team could only stare in shock. Yusuke and Kuwabara watched the messy battle with horror. Hiei's face was unreadable. Kai wondered how such a delicate she-demon came up with an attack like that. It just didn't fit.

Kurama now wore a mixture of apprehension and admiration on his face. 'What a terrific use of plants! I'll have to ask her how she did it…Did I know she could cause that much destruction?'

Hiei had started to walk again. "Are you all going to stand there gaping like a bunch of idiots and waste more time, or are we going to start moving?"

"Wha-er, yeah, let's go," Yusuke said, snapping out of his trance.

Lantur surveyed her handiwork, smiling. 'That had the desired effect…' A chilling wind that only she could feel wrapped itself around her. It seemed to whisper words in her ear… She shivered and hurried to catch up to the others. She felt weak, and dizzy. On impulse, she stumbled over to Kurama. Lantur tried not to show it, but that attack had taken a great deal of energy.

"Are you alright?" Kurama asked her.

"Yes, I'll be fine. Don't worry," she replied, putting on a brave face.

"Good." Kurama put his arm protectively around Lantur. She leaned gratefully into his shoulder. She couldn't help but feel a little guilty…

Kai watched with narrowed eyes and a small frown. Everyone else attributed this to her unpredictable temper, but Hiei wondered why. Was it because she was jealous…? Of what? Hiei suddenly felt unreasonably angry. He strode ahead of the others, wishing he could vent on someone.

Kuwabara remained blissfully unaware of the mounting tension in the group, but Yusuke felt like he would explode if somebody did not explain. Finally, he did. "WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?! I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A FRICKIN' SOAP OPERA!" he yelled.

"More than you know," Lantur said, glaring at Kai. Kai glared back. They matched each other, glare for glare, until Yusuke motioned for them to get going.

"All right, you won't tell me. But we do have a mission to complete."

"Now that the entire forest has been alerted to our presence," Hiei muttered.

"They already know," Kai replied.

"Explain yourself."

"Later."

The day passed relatively uneventfully, with only a few minor skirmishes with a few low-class demons. One of the team easily took care of all of them. As the sun set, the team knew it was time to make camp for the night.

"Here we are," Lantur announced.

"Where?" Kuwabara asked, clueless as usual.

"The place from the tape," Kurama answered.

"Oh."

"So," Yusuke said, "do we press on or stay here for the night?"

Kai felt that they should press on, for she began to sense an ominous feeling in the supposedly innocent clearing. Hiei and Kurama also, were for moving, because they felt the sooner this mission was over, the better. Yusuke and Kuwabara wanted to stay, because they were tired and decided this was probably going to be the best place they'd find for a while, and Lantur was also visibly fatigued. They decided to vote. Kai and Hiei voted go, Yusuke and Kuwabara said stay. Lantur, not wanting to appear weak, abstained, but it was clear she was too weary to travel much further. She needed to stay for another reason, but she didn't want to think about that…

Kurama's was the deciding vote. He almost said leave, but the sight of Lantur's face swayed him. He considered, then said, "We stay."

Kai shrugged off the bad feeling, and busied herself setting up her makeshift bed. Yusuke and Kuwabara were the only ones who needed sleeping bags, the others being more accustomed to spending the night outside. Hiei offered to sit up as sentry, not needing as much rest. Kurama settled between the roots of a large oak tree, and Lantur curled up beside him. Kai buried herself in the soft, warm loam and fell asleep instantly.

Hiei listened to the soft breathing of the peaceful sleepers, the chirp of the crickets, and other familiar nighttime sounds. The moon was beautiful that night, and the stars shone brightly. Nowhere in Ningenkai was it quite so lovely as the country in Makai. He sat back and cast his awareness around for disturbing signs, but found none. Closing his eyes, he let his thoughts drift off to wherever they usually go…far away…

Eyes, looking at him. So many eyes. Golden amber, calculating brown, ice blue, blood red. A pair, staring straight at him…brilliant green. The silhouette of a she-demon… She faded, and was replaced by the eyes. A roaring behind him, and his entire body was engulfed in a fiery blaze, pain rushing through him, raw power burning his hands… Black Dragon Wave…

Hiei sat up bolt upright, breathing heavier than he usually would. His mental clock told him he had only been asleep for a few minutes…a few very disturbing minutes. He raised his face to the night breeze, trying to wash away the feeling of the dream. But wait. The air in the clearing had changed. It became thicker, almost sickly sweet. Hiei jumped down from the tree he had been sitting in and went over to Kurama. The kitsune had a troubled look on his usually calm face.

"Kurama!" Hiei whispered fiercely. "Kurama, wake up!" But nothing happened. Kurama would not wake up. "Kai!" The cat demon would not wake either. "Yusuke!" No one would. Troubled, Hiei sat by the smoldering embers of the campfire to await the coming of dawn. 'There is a bad feeling about this place. We should not have stayed here…'

A black shadow hung over the small camp, evilly seeking out its next victim…

He stood, paralyzed with fear, in a dark room. Thin hands, as cold as death, wrapped themselves around his neck. "As a fighter, I like you the best, Kurama…" Pale fingers twisted themselves in his vibrant red hair. The emotionless yet passionate voice spoke… "And when I like something, I like to take it away…" Their touch filled him with unimaginable dread. He felt the darkness closing in. "…It gives you a feeling of despair that makes you feel so real…" A bead of sweat trickled down his forehead…his beautiful green eyes dilated with fear… "I know you fear what my touch can do to you, yet, maybe, you also want to know…"

"Get away!"

Kurama's eyes snapped open. He slowly sat up, shaking madly. He looked down at his hands and recalled the memory that had prompted the dream. How many years had it been, since the Dark Tournament…and he still had nightmares…nightmares of the powerful demon Karasu. Even thinking the demon's name brought a horrible feeling to the pit of Kurama's stomach. Kurama settled back down and tried desperately to calm himself, stroking Lantur's midnight black hair.

Lantur felt the motion and moaned in her sleep, knowing she would not be spared. Better to get it over with.

Lantur watched as a young woman, strikingly beautiful in her innocence, ran blissfully through a golden field. She heard laughter ring through the woman's home. Her soft, warm, blue eyes lit up with pleasure as a young boy, also with black hair and blue eyes, scampered up to meet her. The woman took the child in hand and walked peacefully off toward home…

The scene changed…another day. Dark clouds gathered overhead. Screaming, screaming…running through her head. The woman clutched her face and moaned softly, trying to shut out the sounds of her dying family. Deep laughter, as cold as the winter snows, rang in her ears. "No…no…"

"Come."

"No…" More screams…then silence.

The menacing figure chuckled. "I have severed your last ties."

"No…"

Without a word, the figure with the amber eyes raised his hand.

"All right…" she sobbed. "All right…"

Lantur, over time, watched the woman's eyes become hard, like the amber ones from both the dream, and the reality. "No…"

Lantur awoke to find herself with silent tears streaming down her face. Was this a warning? Or just a detached memory? She shook the feeling away. Lantur turned to look at Kurama, resting next to her. The knots in her stomach tightened. She reached up to touch his face, and felt a pang she had never experienced before. It was one of regret, and sorrow, and love…

Kuwabara looked around at an interesting scene. It was all white, with white tablecloths and white napkins and silver dishes. Roses adorned everything. White roses, red roses, pink roses, yellow roses. It reminded him strongly of Kurama. He turned and beheld a familiar face. He recognized the minty hair, the kind, crimson eyes. His love…Yukina! Kuwabara came to a startling conclusion about the setting. It was a wedding! So that was why Yukina was wearing such a beautiful white dress. She was the bride… Everyone was there. The maids of honor – Keiko, Boton, Shizuru, and Kai. The best man – Kurama?! 'Wait, where's the shrimp?' Kuwabara wondered. It seemed odd he was not there. 'And what about Yusuke?' No offense to Kurama, but surely he would have been the best man. Something was very odd.

There was Yusuke, leading Yukina down the aisle in place of her father. That made sense, Yukina didn't have a father. Kuwabara felt mounting excitement rising in his chest. He was going to marry Yukina! All through the ceremony, he watched only Yukina. When the priest finally said, "You may kiss the bride," the groom turned around. HIEI?!?! The fire youkai seemed to smirk directly at him, Kuwabara, as he kissed Yukina passionately on the lips. HIEI?! Kuwabara felt himself falling through clouds of darkness, plunging through dreams into the waking world…

A/N: I am not a hentai, it was just a dream…

Kuwabara clutched a trembling hand to his chest, trying to calm down. "Pull it together, Kuwabara! It was just a dream!" he told himself. But he glared all the same at Hiei's back, on the other side of the campfire. He was a threat to HIS love, Yukina. Yukina was his!

A/N: Kuwabara, you paranoid freak…As if it wasn't obvious…

Kai felt an overwhelming sense of loss. It was the future, she could tell, but she had no idea how far, or what place. It seemed familiar, but she couldn't quite place the setting. She touched her heart, where she felt only an empty void. The grief was threatening to engulf her, but she had no idea what it was she lost. Her dream self gave a hollow laugh. 'So this is why demons reject love…not because it is a feeling for the weak, but because they are afraid…' The real Kai could only watch in horror at her future self. Where were the icy walls she had worked so hard to construct around her heart? Who had melted them? And what was the burning feeling inside her chest? What was it that she lost? She looked again at herself in the picture. She had now taken out an elegantly ornamented knife, with black tear gems set in silver on the hilt. It was a beautiful thing, and reminded her strongly of someone…but she couldn't remember who… Now Kai was merging with her other self, saw the blade as she did…the razor sharp edge. How nice it would be…oblivion…no pain…The keen blade drew closer. The cold point touching her breast…

"NO!"

Eyes wide with fear, Kai snapped awake. She was shaking madly like a leaf, her entire body drenched with cold sweat. She lifted her hand to touch the place on the left side of her chest, the place where the knifepoint entered…

In his dream, Yusuke felt warm and pleasant. Someone was sleeping peacefully beside him…Keiko! He was astonished to see that she wore a golden ring, and that he wore one just like it. So they were…married… Yusuke couldn't help but feel all was right with the world. Even some demon coming to take over couldn't ruin this moment. How wrong he was. The clouds darkened and turned a shade of black. Yusuke could feel the raw power in the air. It was threatening to consume him… "I'll fight!" he shouted to no one in particular.

"Very well then," a deep demonic voice said. "You will fight…and you will lose…"

"I…I…lost…" Yusuke gasped. The concept was new to him. And this was not some silly tournament. This was real life…and he lost. "Keiko!" he cried out.

"Yusuke!" Then her screams drowned out every other sound.

Yusuke was forced to look at the destruction all around him. He could smell death heavy on the air. He felt responsible for the desolation, somehow. He knew that it was his fault. The death of…everyone. Everyone he really cared about was dead, because of him, his loss.

"Halfhearted," he heard Genkai say again.

"Genkai!" he exclaimed. The small voice of reason in the back of his mind told him that she was dead…but he didn't care.

Then she faded…and he saw once again the result of his halfhearted fighting…death…destruction…total annihilation…

"NO!"

"Yusuke!" Kuwabara called. "Yusuke, wake up!" He started slapping him.

"NO!" Yusuke shouted, leaping up with his fist raised. "I won't let it happen!"

Yusuke realized that everyone was staring at him.

"Nightmares, correct?" Kai asked.

"Yeah…" Yusuke answered, massaging his face. "But it seemed so real…"

The others nodded. "You all - all of you – had nightmares, too?" Kuwabara asked. More nods.

"Maybe we should share," Lantur suggested. They agreed.

"Yusuke first."

"Well…I dreamed…that Keiko and I were married, and that we were very happy…but then…someone…wanted to take over the world again…I tried to stop it…but I couldn't, and I saw Genkai…everyone…" his voice broke.

"We understand."

Hiei went next. "Eyes. I dreamed about eyes. And…the Black Dragon Wave…" There was more, but what happened after he woke up and fell asleep again was his business.

Kai's turn. "I – I lost something…that was very important to me, but I don't know what it was…I had a knife…a beautiful one…I – I…suicide…" she ended in a whisper.

The others looked at her. None of them had died in their dreams…so far.

Kurama looked nervous. "Karasu…Dark Tournament…" It was enough. Everyone knew what he meant.

"Karasu…" Kai said slowly. "Wasn't he that…*guy* in the Dark Tournament, Team Toguro, that Kurama killed?"

"Yes, he was," Hiei replied.

"How do you know that?" Kuwabara asked.

"I was there," she answered.

"I dreamed about my family," Lantur said matter-of-factly, although her voice broke slightly.

"Kuwabara?" Yusuke prompted.

"I, well, if you must know…" he started.

"Get on with it!"

"I, uh, well…Yukinamarriedtheshrimp!"

"WHAT?!" everyone shouted.

Hiei's face turned bright flaming red, right up to his ears. He looked torn about whether he would roast Kuwabara on an open spit, or chop him to pieces with his katana.

Yusuke was rolling around on the ground, unable to control his laughter. Kurama tried to remain impassive, but in the end, had to burst out laughing. Kai looked like she might be able to control herself, but she ended up laughing just as hard as Yusuke and Kurama.

"Hey, it was scary!" Kuwabara protested.

"Ha, ha," Kai gasped. "And you don't know the half of it!"

Hiei continued to fume. "IT IS NOT FUNNY!!!"

"Aw, poor baby!"

They continued to laugh helplessly for several minutes. No one noticed someone slipping quietly away to the edge of the clearing, in the shade of the trees…

Kai sobered herself as the memory of her own dream came to mind.

"Is something the matter?"

She smiled gently at Kurama. "No, nothing really. I'll be fine."

"Dreams are rarely prophetic, you know."

"Thank you," she replied. "In Hiei's case, he better hope they're not prophetic," she laughed jokingly.

"I agree," said Kurama.

"Enough of that!" Hiei snapped. "Don't you all think it odd that we all dreamed like that on the same night?"

"It is odd," agreed Kurama.

"I think we should leave this place right now," said Yusuke.

"Where's Lantur?" asked Kurama.

"Right here." She returned, and walked up to Kurama, kissing him lightly on the cheek. She smiled when he blushed, and thought, 'I'm going to make the most of this…while it lasts…'

A/N: I think this is my longest chapter yet! I probably won't be updating for a while, because I am really busy with schoolwork and graduation and parties and stuff. Remember to review and tell me whether you want Lantur to stay or go. It might make a difference; it might not. BUT REVIEW ANYWAY!!! OR ELSE!!!!

Sister: Hey, look at these pics of Hiei, Kurama and Youko!!!

DMG: *drools*

Sister: Aren't they cool?

DMG: *hyperventilating*

Sister: Well, that's all for now, she'll be like that for a while…