Author's Note: Thanks to all of you who have reviewed my story! I appreciate it. Tabi, you think you know what's going to happen? E-mail me privately and let me know what you think, I'm interested to hear your assumption. And if you're right, I will gladly announce it to all. P.S: I reread the previous chapters and noticed a few errors. Those will be fixed shortly, and I apologize for them. Also, late but not forgotten, thanks to Pat for being the first to review this story! Queen of Roses, thanks for the offer. You could help me out by pointing out the errors you find. Thanks.

"Geeze, looks like something from a horror movie. When you said lair, Hiei, you weren't kidding. Looks like Dracula's hide out," Yusuke said, freezing on the stone path.

Unfortunately, I had to agree. The trees surrounding the demon's lair had decayed, casting a dark, foreboding image immediately once it came into view. I shivered, feeling the temperature drop several degrees the closer we got to the winding castle.

Hiei pushed open the heavy oak door and stepped inside. I followed slowly, cautiously peering around the dark hallway. The door slammed shut behind Kuwabara, causing me to jump at the loud bang. Hiei turned to glare at Kuwabara.

"If he didn't know we were here before, I'm sure he does now. Does Yusuke need to hold your hand or can you keep your thumb in your mouth?"

"Shut up, shrimp!"

"Originally pathetic."

I stepped around Hiei, ignoring the nasty retorts being thrown back and forth. I glanced up the spiral staircase, frowning. Why did this castle seem so familiar? Why couldn't I remember?

"Something wrong, Kurama?" Yusuke asked, stopping beside me.

"This castle seems familiar, but I don't know why. I don't understand it."

"You think that you've been here before?"

"Possibly. That's the only explanation."

Yusuke walked forward and looked up the stairs, scanning the darkness. He glanced at me, one eye brow cocked in a challenging way. "The only way to find out for sure is to continue. I'll beat your answers out of the demon when we find him."

"I appreciate your offer, but I would prefer to handle things my way. After all, it was me he attacked."

Kuwabara pushed past Hiei, earning a sharp glare from the fire demon. He reached out to pick up a golden candle holder from the table beside the staircase, but Hie shoved him away before his fingers could brush across the metal. He whirled angrily to confront Hiei.

"Fool, did you not hear what was said before? This is a trap! Anything in this castle could be rigged to trigger a trap. Keep your hands off everything!"

"You can't tell me what to do!" Kuwabara shouted, turning to stomp toward the stairs. One foot landed on the first step and was quickly followed by a soft rumble. I went still, listening intently. What had Kuwabara done?

"Fool," Hiei hissed, glancing around. Suddenly the floor beneath him gave way. I lunged forward, attempting to grab him, but it was too late. Hiei fell through the hole as a startled cry sounded from Yusuke. I turned in time to see him fall through the floor as well.

Kuwabara stared down at the hole Yusuke had disappeared through, shock etched across his face. He glanced at me, his dark eyes wide.

"You should have listened."

I knelt on the floor and gazed down the hole Hiei had fallen through. Darkness blocked my view, shielding whatever lay below. I leaned forward.

"Hiei?"

Silence answered my soft plea. My hands clenched into tight fists. This was definitely not good, not by a long shot. With Hiei and Yusuke missing, the demon had too many opportunities to steal another identity.

"Maybe he's too far down to hear you," Kuwabara said softly.

"That would be quite a fall, and even Hiei couldn't survive that sort of blow. He's a fire demon, not an immortal. And Yusuke is human. The fall could have killed them both."

"No, they're not dead. I can sense their youki. They must have been knocked unconscious. We just have to find them."

I pulled a seed from my hair and gently set it on the floor. Cupping my hand over it, I filled the seed with my power. A dark vine burst free and began sliding down into the hole. Other vines formed from the original and reached out to curl around the stair railing. I glanced back at Kuwabara.

"I'm going to climb down to check on Hiei. Keep your eyes open for the demon. He's most likely watching us."

I slowly lowered myself through the hole and caught onto the vine. The vine held, easily holding my weight. Relieved, I carefully slid down until my feet touched bottom. I released the vine and glanced around, trying to see through the darkness.

"Hiei? Hiei, where are you?" I called, creeping cautiously forward.

"I'm here," came a hushed reply.

I turned toward the voice and reached out with one hand. My fingers brushed through soft hair that was quickly moved out of reach.

"Hiei?"

"I'm going to kill that idiot."

I crouched and drew another seed from my hair. Growing it out, a small plant bloomed. Light shown from with the plant's opening.

Hiei was bent over slightly, one hand covering his ankle. Dirt covered his clothes, turning the black into an ashy gray.

"Are you hurt?"

"It's nothing."

Hiei forced himself to his feet, the effort nearly tearing a cry from his lips. Pain filled his eyes as he put weight on his injured ankle. I offered my arm. "Lean on me, Hiei. There's no need to harm yourself any further."

"I'm not hurt. Let's get out of here."

Hiei grabbed onto the vine and began quickly climbing up. I followed and pulled myself onto the floor. The vines shifted places, now flowing down the hole Yusuke had fallen through. I climbed down once more only this time I found only empty space. Yusuke was gone.

I climbed back up and sat on the floor, eyes closing. "Yusuke is gone."

Hiei mumbled something under his breath, some insult directed at Kuwabara, I'm sure, and removed his bandanna. He closed his eyes, and the jagan began to glow. After several minutes had passed, his eyes fluttered open and he looked at me.

"He has somehow made it upstairs. He is the only one I can detect."

"The demon is blocking his presence."

I pushed myself to my feet and turned my gaze warily to the stairs. "The only way up is that staircase."

"Yeah, but it may be rigged with more traps," Kuwabara protested.

Hiei was suddenly on the stairs, making his way up. "Hey! What'cha doing, shrimp?!" Kuwabara shouted in alarm.

"Shut up, fool, or fall into one of those holes you triggered," Hiei sneered, not stopping.

I brushed past the startled Kuwabara, forgetting my fear of the stairs. There was only one way to find out if there were any more traps, and Hiei was doing it. A wounded huff from Kuwabara preceded his advancing steps. So he had decided to follow, after all, I thought, glancing up.

The stairs seemed to go on forever as they wrapped around the castle and led us to the upper floors. Yusuke was there, but what else? The demon was close, waiting to enclose us in his trap. It was only a matter of time.