AN: Hey everyone! Welcome to chapter seven!

Hiei:You mean chapter eight...

Me:Yeah, that's what I said, chapter eight!

Hiei:u.u

Kurama:Didn't you just post a new chapter for Dark Lust yesterday, Youko-chan?

Me:I sure did!

Hiei and Kurama: ::stare in awe::

Me:...what?

Hiei and Kurama: Nothing, nothing...

Me:...right. So, onto the disclaimer and then the fic!

Disclaimer: Well, you might have thought I own YuYu Hakusho...but I don't. Oh well...

~~~~~Out of the Fire and Into the War~~~~~

~~~Yusuke's Pov~~~

I looked around at what remained of the town center. Let's see, a few smoldering buildings, some half burned houses and a lot of ash. Hm...

"I think it would be best if we headed somewhere a little more private to talk..." Shiri started around the large building that was now in ruins. It would take years to rebuild it, no doubt. Shiri didn't seem to pay it much mind though. I found that a little strange...Then he just stopped.

"Okay...this is a lot more private..." I said as we still stood out in the open. Then I noticed something a little out of place. It was a golden statue, just sitting out where anyone could take it. It made quite an impression too. It was a demon, not anything like I had seen before. It looked almost angelic with four delicate wings and long, flowing hair. It hands were raised, palms facing up, like it should have been holding something. Shiri reached into his pocket and removed a small orb, placing it in the statues hands. There was a faint glow and then I heard a deep rumble.

"Uh, guys, I think I hear an hearth quake." Kuwabara said as the ground started to tremble.

"Not an earthquake, my friends, a passage." He stood calmly as a section of land simply vanished before his feet. I faintly see a stairwell leading into darkness. "Come, it's safe, trust me." Shiri spoke, walking down the flight of stairs with his hands held behind his back.

"Easy for him to say." I was the first to approach the stairs. I tried to see what lay ahead, but it was no use. The shadows were to dark to distinguish any detail. I shrugged. "Oh well..."

~~~Kuwabara's Pov~~~

Urameshi walked to the mysterious passage. I dunno what it was, but I got an eerie feeling from it. Like there was something big down there.

"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going in." Hiei said to me, looking impatient.

"Calm down, shrimp, I got a really weird felling, alright?" I turned and followed after Urameshi. Five sets of footsteps echoed as we made our way down. I started to feel a grave presence as we descended. "Hey, does anyone else sense that?" I said as I rubbed up and down my arms, trying to alleviate my discomfort.

"Feel what, Kuwabara?" Urameshi's voice called in front of me.

"That!" I yelled when the room suddenly was lit with a miasmatic light. "What is this place?!" All around us spirits were drifting lazily past or floating in place. Some pulsed, some were bright, others were dull.

"Whoa there, warn me next time you stop, will ya?" I paused as Yusuke shouted to Shiri.

"Welcome, my friends, to Seria's Underground Palace. Tread lightly, these are sacred grounds. The true first palace of Lord Seria himself, as well as his final resting place."

"No way! So this place is some huge graveyard?!" I yelled, now realizing why there were so many spirits about.

"Indeed, it is an underground mausoleum, of a sort, but also a palace. Spirits do tend to hang about, though. The greatest warriors of Seria are buried here, even Seria herself."

"Wait, herself? I thought you said--"

"That is the most one of the secrets that this mausoleum holds." The brown haired boy cut in. "You see, Seria's childhood was miserable. She was like a slave since her people thought little of women. One day she decided that she would take control of her fate and fight alongside her brethren by impersonating a man. She did so successfully, and only the immediate members of her family were allowed to know her secret. Even when she was killed on the battle field in the Great War, no one knew of this." Shiri lead us forward, picking up a torchlight as he walked. I could hear him whispering something as the room lit up.

~~~Kurama's Pov~~~

Light flooded the room as Shiri chanted in an unfamiliar language. I was shocked to find that we stood in a room even more so hauntingly brilliant than the rooms above. The surrounding area consisted of marble floors, gem-studded tapestries, fine wood tables and gold and concrete statues. It was like a magnificent Medieval palace unlike anything I had ever seen. But most magnificent was the statue that stood before us.

"So that statue out front was a miniature..." Yusuke said dreamily as he gazed upward at the angelic war goddess. I was beginning to understand why the spirits were at such ease in their environment. Something of her saintly gaze even lulled me into a deep sense of security.

"I didn't think anyone could be that, that beautiful..." Kuwabara's eyes were locked with the statues. Everyone seemed to be in a trance. I fought my own gaze away to look at Hiei. His features were soft in the warm light. He seemed to be deep in thought. I was about to say something to him when Shiri began again.

"Please follow me, if you will." He turned to his left and walked briskly to a door, opening it with some difficulty. We slowly drifted from the room and found ourselves in another of lavish decor. I immediately noticed the rooms far more contemporary design. Had we not come from the previous room I would have thought we were in some other place completely. The furniture was fashionable as far as human standards would go. There were a lot of cool and earthen colors, and the it all had an air of sophistication yet was fairly simplistic.

"Welcome to my private chambers. This is my territory of the Underground Palace. Please, make yourselves comfortable." I took a seat in a soft looking chair. Hiei sat in an adjacent chair, Kuwabara and Yusuke took a seat on the couch. Shiri sat across from the four us. I decided to waste no time.

"I overheard something about a faction in an alleyway, Shiri. Is there something you have failed to mention to us?" The boy sat silent and finally spoke.

"There is...There are many facts that I left out that I should have told you. I figured this would be just another short-lived war that would be fought, won, and forgotten. However, it seems it will not be." The earthen haired boy sighed, leaning on his palm as he continued. "You see, when Seria was first settled, the Western Lands were just that, unoccupied land. Seria's trusted general began a revolt soon after the settlement of these lands. The people fought in the streets and separated themselves into two groups; the Serians and the Yameous. When the dust settled, those who survived either fled to the West with Yameou or stayed behind with Seria. Ever since then, the Easterners and Westerners have fought to claim all the lands of the Crimson Water for one side."

"I see..." The people were split into two territories. Some of the people in this territory must believe that they should be siding with the Yameous and are trying to persuade the other to join them. It all makes sense now...

"The faction...I had received word of a resistance not so long ago, though it didn't seem to pose any threat. I see now that I was wrong to dismiss so quickly. I was lucky I didn't lose my life today. If the Yameous had managed to eradicate my command the lands would have surely fell to them. I can only imagine the kinds of torture they would put my people through because of their decision to side with me..."

"Now hold up a second. If everyone was on the same side at one time, what's to say that some body over on their side might be resisting too?" Yusuke brought up a valid point.

"I...never really considered that. There's a great possibility--"

"We can't rely on chance. This is war, not a game." Hiei spoke for the first time since the rescue. I should have figured his reply.

"Then why don't we send out a spy. You know, send someone over and check. Wouldn't it give us a big advantage if we have someone already over there fighting?" The Kuwabara said considerately.

"Yes, it would give us quite the advantage. But in order to sneak into their territory we'd have to have someone strong, cunning, quick, silent, calm under pressure. Someone like..."

"Us?" I said referring to myself and Hiei. Shiri looked at the two of us. "We're both very experienced in the way of stealth. I don't think infiltrating their defenses would be too much of a task, don't you Hiei?"

"Not at all." He said crossing his arm. "As a matter of fact, it won't even come to me as a challenge."

"Well then, it's settled!" He stood. "At sunset I will lead you to the least guarded spot at the river's bank. Crossing it will likely prove to be the hardest part. Once past that, you should be able to find your way around the town quite easily. Just stick to the alleyways."

"What would be a good return time?"

"I'd say it best that you return at midnight."

"Very well. That will give us a good deal of time to locate any possible supporters. By midnight it would be likely that the town would be well settled anyway. Just before midnight would seem the best time for a late night meeting."

"Very well. The sun should be setting shortly. You should eat before you set out."

"One step safe, two steps warning, three steps danger, four steps death..."

~Warning above the door~