Author's Note: Sorry for taking so long with this update. Some things popped up unexpectedly. Thanks for all the reviews I've received so far, and please keep them coming!

I paused at the hall's end and cocked my head to the side, listening. The sound came again. Steps heading in my direction. Was it Razel or Hiei and Yusuke? I knelt, using shadows to cloak my presence as I waited.

Hiei stepped into view and stopped suddenly as I moved out of the shadows. Yusuke appeared at Hiei's side, eyes widening in surprise as he saw me.

"Kurama! What happened to you?" he asked.

"Kuwabara is dead. The demon has been using his form since we fought him earlier, and now he is posing as me."

Hiei stared at me. "How are we to know if you are the real Kurama?"

I shook my head. "I can't prove who I am, so you can't believe me. I just want you to be on guard. Razel wants me dead, and then he'll kill both of you."

"You know this demon?" Yusuke asked.

"Yes. His family helped me when I was a young thief, and I swore to protect them. When I was nearly killed, they were attacked, and he blames me for not saving them. Their murderers were looking for me, and his family didn't give them the information they wanted."

"So they killed them? You couldn't have stopped them," Yusuke said, frowning.

"No, but he blames me anyway."

I turned away, eyes closing. It was my fault for involving them in my dangerous life. Who could blame Razel for hating me? He had every right to seek my death but not at the expense of my friends.

"We should leave. This castle holds too many advantages for him," Hiei said, drawing my attention.

"This hall leads to the dungeon."

"That's weird. We didn't pass any openings, did we?" Yusuke asked, scratching his head in confusion.

Hiei sighed and clenched one hand into a tight fist. Black flames crawled up his arm, swarming to life as he summoned it. He drew back slightly before slamming his fist into the wall in front of him. Bricks crumbled to the ground, revealing a dark room behind the wall.

Hiei allowed the flames to fade as he slipped through the hole he had created. Yusuke glanced at me. "Remind me to never get in a fist fight with that guy," he said before following Hiei inside.

I bent at the waist and stepped inside. Hiei was already scanning the room for an exit.

"Now where are we?" Yusuke asked.

"I'm not sure. It's too dark to tell," I replied, pulling a seed from my hair.

I filled it with my youki and watched it grow until it shown with light. Yusuke stared at the small plant, stunned. "What is that?"

"A plant known only to Makai. Thieves often carry these type of plants."

I stepped forward, moving the light so that I could inspect the room. Empty. Hiei followed the lights path with his eyes.

"Another trap room," he murmured.

"How do you know that?" Yusuke asked.

"How many rooms would be completely empty? Watch where you step. There's no telling what's rigged to go off at the slightest provocation."

"Great, just great."

A red light suddenly flooded the room. I jerked back, eyes widening. Now what?"

"You could say I was running out of ideas, but personally I think my traps are rather clever. Remember the water fall? Let me show you the fire fall!" Razel's voice screamed from the walls.

The floor jerked forward, knocking my feet as it broke from the wall and began to spin. Flames leapt up around the spinning plate, wringing a shocked cry from Yusuke.

"I don't think you'll be jumping this time," Razel continued, laughing.

I rolled onto my hands and knees and closed my eyes as my stomach clenched. The spinning was increasing rapidly. In no time it would be enough to throw us from the plate.

"You coward. Why don't you fight us instead of playing these childish games?" Hiei snapped.

"Of course."

The red light faded before suddenly bursting back to life. I turned my head to stare at Razel who had somehow appeared during the brief darkness and now crouched, mimicking me.

"Kurama?"

We both turned towards Yusuke's hesitant voice. He swallowed hard and glanced at Hiei. "Hiei?"

Hiei moved forward slowly, carefully keeping his balance. "Let me guess. If we kill the impostor this spinning will stop," he said, glaring down at me and Razel.

"And if we don't kill the right one, the impostor will kill us, and if we wait, the trap will succeed in flinging us to our deaths while the impostor escapes."

"Hiei, you can't be fooled," Razel said with my voice.

"I'm sorry for bringing you two into this," I whispered.

Razel stood and stared at Hiei. "We have to stop this thing."

"He is right about that. We're running out of time," I agreed, coming to my feet.

Hiei glanced from Razel to me. "Kurama, you must know so way to prove your identity."

"Hiei,..." Razel began.

"No, enough, Razel. You won't kill my friends."

I took a shaking step backwards. "Hiei, kill Razel and get out of here," I whispered before stepping quickly off the spinning plate.