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Sorry for the late update! I've been busy. Sorry again!


Chapter 23

All the ice master felt was the bitter cold of the river, an odd feeling for him, and all he saw was darkness. His mind could vaguely make out anything besides these feelings and even that seemed to be a struggle to make out. One feeling was as clear as day in his mind however and that was guilt. He hadn't been able to do what a dear friend had asked him to with her dying breath.

When he thought all was over he felt his back hit something solid, but did not hurt in the slightest. Curiously he opened his eyes and sat up only to be amazed and confused.

They were in a dark turquoise colored oval type object that could be called a bubble and it seemed to be protecting them from the harsh current outside of it. There was no water within it, not their cloths brought water in, in fact they were completely dry.

"What is this?" Rinku asked the question on everyone's mind as he looked about curiously.

"Whatever it is, it saved our lives," Kurama replied as he too looked at the bubble.

"But 'ho did it?" Jin asked curiously.

Suzuki shrugged, "Who knows."

Yusuke took his gaze from the water that flowed quickly by the bubble, a deep frown etched on his face making him look slightly mystical as the light coming through the water played on his face. "What was with those trees? It's as if they wanted to kill us."

"Not kill, I think," Kurama voiced.

Hiei raised a brow at the fox in disguise, "For once I have to agree with Yusuke. Why do you disagree?"

Kurama sighed and thought a moment, "Perhaps they were a bit too violent but-"

"A bit violent!" Yusuke cried, "They smacked us into this river, rather harshly might I add!"

"I'm well aware," the disguised fox replied as he rubbed his aching left side, "I think they broke a rib or two, but that's not what I'm trying to get at. All that I meant is that, perhaps, this is supposed to happen, but the trees might have taken a bit of pleasure in doing so."

There was silence for many moments before anyone spoke, and that person was Shishiwakamaru. "What makes you suspect that?"

"Ever since I first sensed the strange life within the trees in this forest I've found myself contemplating why," Kurama began. "Yes there are many places in the Makai that have living vegetation, mostly all vicious, but here the life seemed sluggish, as if it's just awoken from a long slumber."

"I wouldn't call the tree that smacked me sluggish," Yusuke retorted.

Suzuka nodded, "I have to agree, but also there's something else that counters your idea Kurama. When we first arrived in Ensuren the guards called this place a 'forest of no return.' Even Koenma told us this at one point, so that must mean these trees had to have been awake."

"Only on the outskirts, as there would be little need for them, or many of them anyway, to be awake further in," Kurama told him. "Era's goddess is said to reside here, or at least a very sacred place dedicated to her does."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Kuwabara asked.

"Moron," Hiei muttered. Kuwabara growled but before he could shout back the fire demon spoke once more, "This place is sacred, which means its going to be protected from all those who would desecrate it. If you have not caught on that would mean practically the entire demonic race, not to mention your race, but they do not reside in this world."

Kurama nodded, "Precisely. No one really knew what this place was until Era came about. Not even Koenma knew and he is the prince of the Reikai, which amounts for a great many things. So it's only natural that the trees would want to protect a place that was, and perhaps still is, the most sacred of places in the entire Makai from."

Touya looked over at him, "It might just be that and the fact that the ones who once visited this place still live, but have long ago forgotten of their ancestries." He sighed, "Meaning my kin, the ice demons."

"The water demons might have died with a final wish," Kurama offered, "Which would make your theory as correct as mine."

"This is all fascinating mate, but that doesn' explain this bubble," Chu pointed out. "We don't know much 'bout this place, so we're little better than others demons to these plants. Given everything you just said they'd want us dead, not alive."

"I doubt our safety has anything to do with the trees," Kurama told him. "I believe an alternate force is the cause for this, but I'm not yet sure what that could be."

There was a short silence as this was contemplated by the group. "What about Era?" Touya questioned softly. "She has more than enough power and control over water to do such a thing."

Jin frowned slightly at his friend, a hit of sadness in his eyes, "Touya, I don' think she can be doin' anythin' anymore."

"No," Touya said quickly, "She wants to see the death of Van-Gareth more than all of us combined. I think she would defy even King Yemma to do all she could, regardless of any- set back." The last part was hesitated and seemed strained, but easily understood none the less.

Rinku smiled, "I agree. Era's really kindhearted, but likewise she was really stubborn when anyone disagreed with her on something she thought needed to be done."

Yusuke chuckled, "Ya and most of the time her stubbornness was rightfully placed, we just didn't see it right away."

"True enough," Kurama chuckled, "She was a- what the?" His sudden shift in speech was due to the bubble bearing them safe passage suddenly removed itself from the water.

They were carefully brought over to the land to their left and put down. Not a moment later did the bubbled pop, but none were splashed with water as it all hovered in the air for a second before flying back into the river, which was flowing slower than when they had first seen it.

The group looked at one another in confusion for several moments. The fact that the fog seemed so much thinner passed by them unnoticed, as did the fact that there was too much noise for an area so deep within a darkened forest. They were only brought to their senses as a loud roar was heard, causing them all to jump to their feet and look around nervously.

"What was that?" Rinku questioned in a quavering voice, one hand in his small bag so as to grab his weapons, several small yo-yo's, should they be attacked.

"Not su- Zeek!" Touya cried the last part as the wrymling came flying into view. "Where have you been?"

Zeek shook his head back and forth in an attempt to reveal the chain still dangling in his mouth. The ice master caught the message and held out his hand where upon the object was dropped before the dragon went to rest on his shoulder. He nuzzled Touya's neck affectionately for a moment, all too pleased to see him and the others once more.

Touya was slightly surprised by action as eek had never before acted in such a way to anyone besides Era. He smiled and gave the wrymling a soft pat, "Good to see you too."

"'at's the chain for?" Jin asked as he came closer to look at the object in his friend's hand.

"No idea," Touya admitted with a frown. "Why'd you bring this Zeek?"

The wrymling gave a noise of exasperation and bit the collar of the ice masters shirt, wringing his head around to effectively move the material.

Touya was shocked by this and grabbed the dragon and carefully pulled him off his shirt. "One minute your being kind and the next you're trying to bite me," he frowned, "What has gotten into you?"

The wrymling flapped his wing about and wiggled until he was released, where upon he bit into the ice master belt and pulled backwards. "Zeek!" Touya cried and once again grabbed the dragon, less gently than before, causing a small glimmering object to fall to the ground at his feet.

In surprise Touya let the baby dragon go and stooped down to see what had fallen. "The charm," he said softly as he picked it up, "I forgot I had this with all the commotion."

"I think that may be what Zeek was trying to tell you," Kurama told him. "They must go together."

"But the chain this was attached was rusted and broke when I touched it," Touya reminded him, "How can they go together?"

Zeek took the pendent out of Touya's hand, surprising him, and placed it on top of the chain resting in the other one. With a pleased squeak he re-placed himself on the ice masters shoulder, looking down at the two objects once he was comfortable.

Touya took Zeek's actions to mean that Kurama was correct. "No harm I suppose in reattaching it, even if it isn't the original chain." He carefully picked the chain up, positioned the clasp properly and slid it onto the chain.

Zeek made an approving noise and nuzzled the ice masters neck once more. "So this is what you wanted?" Touya gave a small smile, "Very odd, but your welcome." He closed the clasp on one end of the chain to the joint on the other end to prevent the charm from falling off.

What happened next was completely unexpected.

Everything became still and silent, including the river, causing the group to realize that there had been quite a large amount of noise going on. Then the fog seemed to gain a will of its own zoomed past them at a great speed, heading up river.

Some members of the group were knocked of their feet by the sudden movement, but those that stood had barely been able to do so.

vvvv

Van Garth looked below as the fog filled section of the forest suddenly seemed to come alive. All of it was moving towards a center point at a great velocity; even it meant it had to rise like a wave above the tree tops, which created an oceanic type effect.

After several moments all the fog was within one area and was moving rather violently. To any onlooker it would have seemed as if the fog was battling itself.

If the ancient beast thought that the occurrence was odd, what happened next was far beyond so.

The fog, seemingly shaped like a great dragon with eight wings, shot upward with enough speed to catch him completely off guard. The foggy beast was as solid as anything Van-Gareth had ever known and its impact caused such pain he was instantly reminded of one of Era's extremely fierce blows.

The impact caused enough of a jolt, both from the pain and the fact he'd been caught off guard, that his dragon appearance was dropped instantly and with the lack of wings he was sent hurtling towards the ground.


What the heck is with the fog! It seems even more vicious than the trees! Heck, what's with the mysterious bubble? Is what Touya said about Era correct? What will happen to Van-Gareth?

So many questions and so few chapters left! NOOOOOOOO! Dangit. I this is my favorite story out of everything I've ever written!

Oh and I'm hoping to have the next chapter up in a week, but I can't promise anything since I have to have a chair painted (In the style of a famous artist) and done with in about 4 weeks and I have barely anything done on it… :;sigh;: I'll do my best. That I can promise!

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