I don't own Yu Yu Hakusho

Thanks for reviewing RAWnineteen (finding different ways to spell your name I see) and (I guess I should say) n/a (I would hardly call your review as barging in, so do not worry).

It's not surprising that Era's death brings about question, I had expected it. There is reasoning for it and as the last few chapters arrive (which includes this one) it will be reviled (no need to be ruining it for you ahead of time). But thank you for asking.


Chapter 20

Botan looked down at the book in her hand and sighed, "Koenma you lied."

"How so?" Koenma asked as he looked up from an old map lying on his desk.

"You said a while back that Era wouldn't leave us until, at least, Van-Gareth was killed," a single tear trailed down her cheek.

Koenma sighed, "That was my assumption," he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger, "But, unfortunately, I was wrong."

"I just wish we could have done something," Botan said sadly as she dried her face.

The Rekai prince looked remorsefully towards his assistant, "I know, but for now we have to concentrate on helping Yusuke and the others. The quest now lies in their hands."

There was a moments silence before Botan spoke, "What should happen if we cannot help them?"

"You know very well what will happen," was Koenma's only reply as he once again turned to look over the old and faded map.

"Understood sir," Botan said quietly as she too turned her attention back to her work; looking through a mountain of books, some of which were so faded there was no ink left on them. If she had thought finding information on Era and Van-Gareth in the past had been hard, finding information on Eralasea's shrine by far surpassed that.

It wasn't long until another one of Koenma's assistants walked in looking utterly perturbed. She had dark eyes and hair and wore a black kimono with white socks and wooden sandals. "Sir, we have a problem."

Koenma looked up from his map once again, "What ever to you mean Ayame? I think we have a big enough problem already, could it get worse?"

"Um…" Ayame wasn't sure how to break the news to her boss, but knew she had to one way or another. "Van-Gareth is on the move again, he seems to be heading in the same direction as Yusuke. His destination is undoubtedly the shrine."

"What!" Koenma cried as he stood on his chair, a humorous sight since he was in toddler form. "That's definitely a problem!"

Botan looked from Koenma to Ayame several times, "I thought we expected that…"

"Yes, but not so soon!" Koenma cried, "I thought we'd have at least a day! It's only been a few hours!"

Ayame shifted uneasily, "That's not the only problem sir."

"Could it get worse?" Koenma asked before realizing he's asked that question many times before, "On second thought I take that back."

"What's wrong?" Botan asked, her voice filled with fear and concern.

"Era's missing," Ayame said lightly.

Koenma looked at Ayame as if she had two heads, "She died about half a day ago and you're telling me this now?"

Ayame sifted once again, "I know sir. I meant that we- we can't find her…" she paused a moment and looked the prince in the eyes, "Soul."

Koenma fell of his chair onto the ground face first. He was quick to clamber back into his chair, pail with fright and surprise. "What do you mean you can't find her soul?"

"We can't seem to locate it sir," Ayame responded, "I searched the entire area with every possible method and couldn't find any signs of her."

"Could King Yemma have taken her soul right away?" Botan asked, "Without us knowing I mean."

Koenma thought for a moment before shaking his head, "I don't think so. My father would have sent her to me, at least I would think since I'm more involved in this endeavor than him."

"But it's a possibility right?" Botan asked desperately, "I'd hate to think Era's soul is lost."

"It is a possibility," Koenma told her, "But I don't know how good of one it is."

"What are we to tell Yusuke?" Botan asked with a shaky voice.

"Nothing," Koenma answered quickly and sternly, "We don't need them worrying over this while a more important task lies at hand. I think Era would more than agree."

Botan nodded and once again turned to her work as she flipped through a new book. Ayame made sure Koenma was done with her before she departed.

Koenma sighed in annoyance, "Things are getting worse by the hour."

vvvvv

Kuwabara yelped as he tripped, once again, over a tree root sticking into the air. He grumbled and picked himself up, "I swear these tree's hate me!"

"You're just clumsy Kuwabara," Yusuke said with little care.

"No one can help that you're a moron," Hiei told him with a smirk.

Kuwabara growled, "Watch it shorty!"

Touya sighed and shook his head, but no words came from his mouth. He had gone into one of his silent states again and no one forced him to speak, as they could all see the immense inner turmoil he held.

"Do you think Van-Gareth is on our tail?" Rinku asked when no one spoke.

"I hope not," Suzuka said, "I've had more than enough of him for several life times."

"He's probably still gloat- yah!" The last word was lost as he cried in surprise upon tripping over a tree root.

Hiei chucked, "Pulling a Kuwabara Yusuke?"

"Hey!" Kuwabara cried in defense as he raised his fist.

Yusuke sat up, "I swear it wasn't up until I was about to walk over it."

"Oh ya Urameshi, the root jus' wanted to trip 'ou," Jin said with a laugh.

As if to prove that Yusuke was correct the root lowered itself to the ground where it lay gently as if it had never moved. The group moved away from the tree, half in fear, half in bewilderment.

"This place is alive," Chu said in slight awe.

Kurama murmured something to himself. Hiei raised a brow, "Do you know if they're being controlled or acting of their own accord?"

The fox in disguise shook his head, "I'm afraid I don't. That's not ever easy to know."

"Figures," Yusuke said as he finally got to his feet.

Touya moved to the still root and knelt down before resting his hand on it. A pulse like feeling spread through his hand before he motioned for Kurama to come over. Kurama was slightly amazed at what he felt, "It's like the tree itself has free flowing spirit energy."

"That's not a good thing, right?" Rinku asked with slight fear.

"I'm not sure to tell you the truth," Kurama told him, "They're not causing much harm, just simple pranks. I think they're more or less toying with us."

"Or warning us of something," Hiei said with his arms crossed and eyes scanning the area.

"Warning us of what?" Shishiwakamaru asked.

Touya stood and looked about. Everything seemed calm enough, besides for the bit of uneasiness felt as they walked farther into the forest, which grew darker and darker as they advanced. He knew all to well though that just because something seemed calm didn't mean it truly was.

"Van-Gareth is still out there," Kurama reminded them, even though he knew all to well that the beast was on everyone's mind. "We don't know where or what he's up to. So let's not linger here since the warning, if this is indeed a warning it might be about him."

"I think we're going in the wrong direction," Touya spoke for the first time in hours.

Everyone turned their gaze onto him, "'at do 'ou mean?" Jin asked.

This," the ice master picked up his foot and the root in front of him also picked itself up.

"So?" Yusuke questioned, not understanding the significance of it.

Touya sighed and walked to his left, which put them in the direction they had not traveled in, and lifted his foot. The root in front of him did not move in response. To further prove his theory he went to each of the other main directions and did the same thing, the roots lifted each time.

"All but one," Suzuka said in slight surprise.

"How do we know it's not a trap?" Hiei asked as he picked his foot up in front of a root and watched as it mimicked his movement.

"How do we know its not," Touya countered quietly.

Kurama nodded, "Touya's right. Without Era we don't know what direction to go in, this is our only lead right now. We'll follow it for a while and see if it is indeed what we want, if it's not we can easily leave it."

"You're dismissing your last idea quickly mate," Chu pointed out, almost humorously.

"Well, to be honest, I think it's both," Kurama told him, "The trees might very well be afraid of Van-Gareth finding and destroying the shrine. I think these trees are strangely connected to it, which would explain their free spirit energy and free wills."

"Or this all could be Van-Gareth's handy work," Suzuka pointed out.

"No," Jin quickly said, "Biggy 'as no need to be doin' 'at."

"What?" Yusuke asked, not catching what his friend had said.

"We are of no threat to Van-Garth," Kurama explained, "It would be utterly pointless to place us in an illusion. If he wanted us dead all he'd have to do is let his power flow freely."

"That's comforting," Chu said sarcastically.

Jin looked to Touya, "Where's Zeek?" He had finally taken notice to the wrymlings absence.

Touya sighed and shrugged, "I don't know, he never came back after Era…" a pained expression crossed his face and he did not complete his sentence.

"Let's get moving," Yusuke said as he moved in the direction Touya had found to be less 'playful.'

"How far are we from the shrine anyways?" Shishiwakamaru asked as he followed Yusuke's lead.

"Who know," Suzuka said bluntly, "We don't even know if we're going in the right direction."


Era's soul is missing…. Does King Yemma have it or is it trapped between worlds? Will the gang get to the shrine before Van-Gareth? Perhaps the question that needs to be asked first is, are they even heading the right way? And where has Zeek run off to?

Find out in the up coming chapters!

Please review.

Thank you.