I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho.

Hey it's an early update! :) Why do you ask? 'Cause I'm in a very, very, very, good mood since it's my birthday :D

Thank you miyako14 and RAW19 for reviewing! Thank you for the idea, I shall try it out.

On with the chapter


Chapter 7

"Yah!" Yusuke yelled happily, "We're finally off that dratted mountain."

The group had just gotten off the mountain and their spirits where heightened slightly because of it, but they would have felt better had Era been with them. They had about half a days walk before they could reach Ensuren and they hoped that Era would reach there soon after.

Touya had not spoken since they had left the fire on the mountain, even when the others tried to spark up a conversation with him. The ice master simply walked with a passive face, but in his eyes almost everyone could see the pain and sorrow flowing over his icey barrier.

There was little left for the group to do and they decided not to wait around to see if Era was behind them. After all she could have found another route, or she could be in front of them.

Kurama looked up at the clouds and sighed, "It looks like a storm is coming in," he said breaking the silence that had befallen them.

"Great!" Kuwabara exclaimed, "Out of one and into another."

Indeed a storm was coming; in fact it hit them when they were two hours from Ensuren. The storm was relatively fierce but when compared to the ones on the mountain this was minor; it held heavy rains, thunder and lightning and a small bit of wind. The group was not pleased with the weather, but they had to admit that they'd rather be in it this than in the ones on the mountains.

When the group was within a half-hour of the city they felt something that sank their spirits into the mud at their feet. "Why'd he have to follow us here?" Yusuke groaned.

Somewhere behind them they could feel the unchecked dark power of Van-Gareth. In the present time he could be called an evil god, for even the powerful demon lords feared his awesome might.

Touya looked behind him in worry, not because Van-Gareth was somewhere behind him but because Era was somewhere back there. She was closer to the evil being that roamed freely and he was more powerful than her at the moment.

"We shouldn't worry about him right now," Kurama told them, "He has yet to pass the mountains from the way his energy is flowing. Let's just get to Ensuren and dry off."

"You should take your own advice Kurama, "Hiei said as he walked by.

Kuwabara stopped walking a few minutes later, "That thing is huge!"

Jin looked at the giant footprint that was larger than his height (which is just over six feet). "'ome biggy went though 'ere."

"Must have been big foot," Yusuke said jokingly.

"I don't think this is something to joke about Yusuke," Kurama told him.

Yusuke shrugged, "I can take on anything that's thrown my way... except Van-Gareth."

"Don't be a fool," Hiei told him, "There's no need to exert ourselves before we reach that goddess's forest."

"Wonder 'ow 'ard those demons 'ill be," Jin pondered to himself.

"We won't know until we get there," Kurama said as he took his gaze off of the footprint, "Yusuke you know that this is not a normal print right?"

Yusuke raised a brow, "'course it's not. It's huge."

Kurama sighed and shook his head, "It's a print of an adult dragon."

"A what?!" Yusuke yelled in surprise.

"An adult dragon," Hiei repeated, "Are you going deaf?"

Yusuke glared at Hiei, "Kurama what would a dragon be doing out here?"

Kurama shrugged, "I'm not sure."

Something in the mud behind Touya moved before popping up. The ice master turned and glared at the creature that was known as a mucker; they were creatures whom were always found in muddy and grimy places. The creatures themselves were ugly and the mud flowing over this particular one's body did not help any.

Touya extended his hand to freeze the creature, but found his spirit energy would not obey him. Perplexed by this he barley had time to doge the mucker's assault. The offending creature met his death with a swipe of Kurama's rose whip (a very long, relatively thick, piece of a plant that resembled the stem of a rose; thorns and all).

"Touya?" Jin questioned, worry evident through his Gaelic accent.

Touya looked down at his hand while rain drops fell onto his palm. He closed his fingers around the water tightly. Something was happening with his spirit energy, but he did not know what or why.

Kurama had seen what had happened perfectly, but he did not understand why the ice master's power was faltering. Touya was the strongest ice master around, yet if someone who did not know him had seen him at this moment they would question his abilities.

With a frustrated sigh Touya ran his hand through his soaking wet hair, loosening it from its tight form. Despite its look Touya's hair was relatively long, about jaw length, but he always kept it combed back.

Jin grasped his friends shoulder, "Common Touya, let's be getting to Ensuren." Touya nodded before turning and walking in the direction of Ensuren as he contemplated what was affecting his spirit energy.

As Touya walked away Kurama could not help but wonder if the reason behind the ice master's problem was because his mind and body not being in uniform with one another.

A half hour passed and the group finally arrived at the great city of Ensuren. The rain had dwindled down to a light sprinkle by this time.

"'ere at last," Jin said cheerfully, "It'd be mighty nice if 'ah rain would go away."

Yusuke laughed, "Can't ask for everything. 'sides the rain isn't that bad anymore."

The group had not gotten far past the entrance when a guard came up to them, "One of you must enter the contest."

"Contest?" Kuwabara questioned.

"Yes a contest, also known as a tournament of strength."

"Why must we enter?" Kurama asked the guard.

"City rules. Anyone that enters the city two days before the contest must enter. For groups at least one must enter," the guard answered.

Yusuke frowned, "Well that's dumb, but we have to stay and wait for Era. I'll do it."

"You sure Urameshi?" Jin asked, "I can be doing it."

Yusuke waved the comment off, "It's no problem. I want to kick some demon butt anyway."

The guard reached into a bag at his side and pulled out a slip of paper. "Show this to the clerk in the hotel you chose to stay at and you'll all get free lodging and food. Any and all hotels will accept this."

With a nod Yusuke took the paper and headed into the city with the other. They had not gotten far when they heard a familiar voice. "Oi! Urameshi!"

"Hey!" Yusuke called upon seeing Chu and the others, "I thought you guys were going to meet up with us later."

"That was the original plan, but the cities laws bound us here," Suzuka said.

Chu noticed the slip of paper in Yusuke's hands, "You in the tournament."

Yusuke nodded, "One of us had to be, I volunteered first."

It was then that Rinku noticed that something was out of place, "Where's Era?"

No one spoke right away but Hiei explained when no one else seemed to want to, "We lost her in a storm on the mountains. We're going to wait for her here."

The four were quiet after hearing the news. What really could be said after hearing something like that?

The two groups walked to the hotel Chu and the others were staying at. They all sat in the lounge before any further discussions occurred. "You think she'll make it here?" Rinku asked.

"'Course," Yusuke answered.

"She knows we were heading here," Kurama told him, "Besides she has a better sense of where we're going than us. She'll have little problem finding her way off the mountain if she hasn't done so already."

"That lass sure has good sense," Chu said with a laugh.

Touya got up without a word and walked out of the hotel, leaving his confused friends behind. The rain was still coming down, slightly heavier than before, as he walked. This however did not bother him since he was already soaked.

With little effort he snuck past the guards and sat down on the concrete ground on the other side of the wall a good ways away from the entrance. He leaned against the wall and gazed out to the mountain, which could be seen faintly in the rain.

He would sit there in the rain well into the next morning.


Aw. Poor Touya. What's up with his powers?!

So from now on anyone who enters the city has to join the contest, unless in a group....

Find out what happens in the next chapter!