AN: Hello readers! I'm glad that someone is reading my fic. I just watched the "Deadly Toguro" DVD with it's evil cliffhanger and decided to work on my story. I'm feeling inspired, so I hope this chapter comes out to be interesting. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: Well, I own YuYu Hakusho posters and toys and DVDs, but I don't own it. Really, I don't.

~~~~~In the Sunset~~~~

~~~Kurama's POV~~~

Sleep hadn't come easy to me last night. I stared at the ceiling for a lengthy time, contemplating on how Shiri had avoided my detecting him. I rubbed my hair between my fingers for at least on hour, until I decided it wasn't worth the effort. I need my rest for the mission tomorrow I thought, though my eyes remained wide. I sighed deeply, letting myself relax. Then I slept.

When next I opened my eyes, I could hear the morning birds waking from their slumber, chirping quietly in the calm morning air. I sat up in bed, taking a deep breath before I went to my closet. I opened a small box containing one of my special uniforms. It was my favorite yellow one. After I had changed, I got ready for the day and ate. 3:45 the clock read. The days were at their longest and the sun would rise any minute, I thought. I quickly walked outside, locking the door behind me.

~~~Hiei's POV~~~

Yusuke was a fool to accept this mission, I thought as a waited in a tree outside Genkai's temple. "Your just a fool..." I knew a lot about the demons that dwelled along the river. They were famous for the epic wars they waged. Not many knew that they were spineless cowards who couldn't finish what they started. Time and time again they found a reason to start a war, only to turn tail and ask other demon tribes to fight their battles for them. This was just the same...

The sun was just beginning creep over the horizon. The sunrise was a mix a brilliant pink and soft orange. It had been a long time since I paid it any attention. I was to close my eyes when I heard gentle footsteps drawing nearer. "Hn. Kurama..."I said to myself as I jumped down. Sure enough the crimson haired demon was walking towards the temple, looking quite vibrant in the morning sun.

"Good morning, Hiei. Are the others here yet?" His emerald eyes were bright. He almost seemed excited about the mission.

"Hn. Not yet. Yusuke and the idiot probably won't show up until the very last minute..." I turned to walk away when Kurama stopped me.

"Hiei," he began, "...never mind." There was a period of silence as I started walking. "So...you seemed to know a lot about these demons..." I glanced over at him and saw his hands held behind his back, looking forward. I returned my gaze to the ground in front of my feet.

"And you don't?" At that he looked toward me.

"No, actually. I had never heard of them, nor much of what he spoke. Would you mind telling me?" Once again I glanced into his emerald eyes, and his look of curiosity caught me as funny.

"Heh. I thought you knew everything...They're a group of demons who dwell by a river that runs red like blood. They're known to be a war-like tribe and have waged many battles against neighboring territories, usually for little or no reason. What most don't know is that they're all talk and no fight. I had been there a long time ago. I had seen their tribe retreat and call in back up forces to finish off their fight." I glanced up to see Kurama listening intently. Rather than continue, I waited for him to say something.

"Oh, I see...And about the weapons...are they as great as he said?"

"Hardly...At least, not generally." I didn't want to admit that the child was right in any way, but I knew better than to lie to Kurama... "There were a few weapon smiths who were renowned as the best of the best and it's been said that some of the most legendary weapons came from there. But that was a long time ago. There's no one now..."I trailed off as I found myself looking up into the branches. We came to the clearing and the child Shiri stood waiting for us. Surprisingly, Yusuke and Kuwabara had already shown up.

~~~Yusuke's POV~~~

I turned to look at the two demons that walked out of the forest. Only a minute or two left before we had to leave. Both of them looked shocked. "Hey. 'bout time you two showed up."

"We were expecting you to arrive late, so we took our time walking. Forgive us for wasting time." The emerald-eyed demon turned his gaze to Shiri.

"Good. Now that you've all come, it is time to head off. I can simply open the portal from here. No need to travel anywhere else. Come now." He finished as a green glow grew bright at his outstretched hand. It was the same glow as when I first visited Makai; when I went to Demon City. Shiri then motioned for the four of us to step through. I stepped forward and walked through.

~~~Kurama's POV~~~

I followed after Yusuke and Kuwabara as they stepped through the portal. I was amazed that the child could manipulate a gate to Makai so easily. There was something mysterious about Shiri. I began to feel a bit of distrust deep down, and decided I would watch him closely. No need to make careless mistakes...

As the last of Kuwabara's white jacket was enveloped, I started through. I glanced over to see Shiri staring at me. I looked ahead, but could still feels his eyes staring...watching my every move. I felt Hiei's coat gently brush against my hand, and felt comforted to know that he could watch my back for me.

The light was near blinding. I narrowed my eyes, trying to focus on the landscape around me. I was relieved to see a lush, green forest surrounding me on all sides. The smell of the forest was enticing and I took a long, deep breath. Sweet aromas consumed my senses. As the others began to walk, I turned my back tentatively and followed.

We soon emerged into a vast valley bathed in light. Not far off in the distance was a river and I could clearly tell which one it was.

"The Crimson River." Shiri said. The boy ran eagerly toward the town filled with stone houses. It was quite primitive; more or less what I expected. I felt a sudden drop in my enthusiasm as I looked the townspeople over. I could see a few demons wandering about, many carrying extravagant weapons at their sides. They were all quite large and unintelligent looking...

"I can already see what you meant Hiei. They truly boast the look of a bunch of warmongers..." I sighed and started off after the boy at a leisurely pace. It seemed this truly would be a waste of our efforts. I didn't turn around, but I felt someone watching me...When I saw Yusuke and Kuwabara pass me, I knew who it was.

~~~Hiei's POV~~~

I watched Kurama misstep once and quickly turned my gaze off to the side. He knew I had been watching him. I don't know why, but I felt a bit embarrassed. I quickly caught up to him and kept pace.

"What happened to your optimism, fox? I thought you were excited." I glared over at him and he sighed again, gently shrugging his shoulders.

"I just thought that this mission might be interesting. I've been little bit anxious since the Dark Tournament and I suppose I thought this might be of worth." I grunted quietly as he finished.

"I more or less told you that they were nothing but idiots, Kurama. It's unlike you to assume so much..." He began looking down, seeming a bit hurt. I grunted again and quickened my pace. I soon found myself looking down at dirt in contrast to the thick grass we had been walking through. It seemed Kurama had a bit of renewed hope in the new surroundings. I found it detestable. Kurama also had a look of disgust on his face. The air was stagnant, smelling of moldy straw and the stringent breath of work animals.

I swatted at a fly on my shoulder. "This place is a regular hell hole..." I was so disgusted that I didn't notice Yusuke standing in front of me. I looked too late.

"Hey, watch were your going! You don't have three eyes for nothin'." The black haired boy spoke sharply.

"Why don't you shut the hell up." I said bitterly.

"Come now, this way please." Shiri walked inside one of the plain buildings. The rest of us followed. I was surprised as I walked through the door. The four of us looked around in amazement at the site that befell us. "I hope you find the accomodations to your liking. You will be lodging here for the duration of your stay."

Shiri walked through the gigantic room and lead us further in. "These," he started, "Are your rooms." He stood at the end of a short hall to the right. I walked closer and turned to see four doorways lavished in gold weaponry. It seems they expected us...A katana, a whip, a broadsword, and a special spirit armor.

"Hey, that's pretty cool!" The redhead idiot said as he walked toward the door with the broadsword.

"We tried to match the decor to your likings. I hope you find it to your approval." He smiled kindly at me, obviously noticing my scowl. I was really starting to hate this kid...

"Shall we take a quick look at our rooms?" Kurama said with returning curiosity. I nodded, not feeling up to refusing. He walked toward my room first, opening the brilliantly decorated entryway. As I walked through the doorway I found myself speechless. What I expected was something dark, shadowy. What I saw were glistening glass ornaments and soft blues and lavenders. There was a stand made purely of glass with a snowflake etched delicately on it's surface. The whole room reminded me of fresh fallen snow in the morning sun. My eyes narrowed and I was about to dismantle the room when Kurama spoke softly.

"It's truly beautiful, isn't it Hiei?" He turned and looked at me. My expression softened at his words. I was furious that Shiri would mock me like this. He obviously knew a lot about me, more than I though I told anyone.

I saw Yusuke slide through the door and begin to look around. "Wow. This is a lot different than my room. Kinda icy feeling in here too." He said as he rubbed up and down his arms. "So they really messed up, didn't they?" He said.

I wanted to say that they didn't mess up, that this was exactly how I would have liked it. But not with them around. Not anyone. "Hn. Figures." He walked out and Kurama started for his room.

"If you like mine any better, we can switch, Hiei." He said invitingly.

"It's just a room. Who cares what it looks like..." I looked out the window to see the sun setting. The horizon was tinted with pinks and lavender, making the room glow softly. Kurama eyes looked gentle as he turned once again and left the room.

"On summer's eve, see it now that blood-red sky, hidden under veil o' gentle eyes. On summer's eve, see it now that Crimson Water stainin' the land with it's essence of hate. On summer's eve, see it now that shadow o' your loved one's, whisperin' at your bedside, waiting on your step."