Behold! I Trunksgirl85 bring you chapter 6! Cower before my great might and ability to smile 24/7! Read please!

Chapter 6: Creatures of Habit

Kurama arrived at the top of the staircase and found the upstairs atmosphere to be dusty. He inhaled slightly and the sent of chipped wood and fresh blood flooded his nose. He frowned as he rounded the corner to find Hiei attacking the far wall.

Hiei was punching the wall with all his might, well what was left of it. His face, drawn in a permanent scowl, showed no hint of what he was thinking. His hands and arms were covered with scrapes and scratches that were bleeding. The bandages he had put on them recently were frayed and provided little defense against the sharp jagged wood he was currently pummeling. Without warning he stopped punching the wall and turned to face Kurama.

"Why is that you lose your temper around her Hiei? She has done nothing but try to be a friend to us."

"Kurama, I warned you in the begining that I did not want her anywhere near me. That also included the High Hallways and my room. " Hiei glared at Kurama daring him to find an excuse for Ashley's appearnce in his corridor.

Kurama sighed in defeat and cast his eyes downward and stared at the blood stained floorboards. "She was practically in tears when she came running into the formal dinning area. When she lied about where she had been I knew it was your fault she was upset."

Hiei grunted loudly and turned away from Kurama. " I do not care about her feelings so you can stop trying to make me feel guilty with your sentimental rubbish and leave me be."

Kurama knew he'd been caught and silently left in the direction he had come. They were going to need a miracle to get Hiei to cooperate.

In one of the smaller living rooms Ashley, Yusuke and Kuwabara sat quietly on a large couch watching the snow through the window. Yusuke kept mumbling under his breath, looking extremely ticked about something. Kuwabara was either bored or on the verge of falling a sleep. Ashley had a look of utter confusion on her dark skinned face.

"So it's snowing in late spring because?" Ashley looked on either side of her awaiting an answer from the teen boys.

Yusuke replied first in a monotone voice"It's snowing because this forest is enchanted by the spirits and life force of ice demons. So if they feel like a little snow, they whip up a snowstorm and then the whole forest is a shining white winter wonderland." He held his fingers up and wiggled them in time with the last four words.

Of course Kuwabara had to add in his two cents as well. "The worst is when they make it snow in the summer. Dumb old demons."

Being satisfied with their answers she decided to ask a few more. "So if this is an ice demon realm why are we all able to live here without, you know, dying!"

"That's a good quetsion I don't know the answer though." Yusuke replied.

"Ok then, how long have you two been here?"

Yusuke went into thinking mode as his face schrunched up slightly. "We've been here for three years. We used to live in a village outside of the forest but becuase we have "special abiliteies" we were exiled from it and sent here to die."

"They were going to kill you!" Ashley's face took on a look of horror.

"Yep. Me and Kuwabara here are made of tougher stuff then that and we soon found this place. Botan, Hiei and Kurama were already here when we arrived." Yusuke's usual cocky grin came back as he finished his short explanation. "We left someone back there and one day we'll get out of here and see her again."

Kuwabara nodded his head in a solenm agreement.

The three companions went silent again as they returned to watching the world turn white in front of them. Each one lost in they're own thoughts of the past.

Meanwhile, Botan sat quietly in her room devising a plan to pay Ashley back for the boys ignoring her. She would send Ashley unwittingly to Hiei's room. Hopefully he would scare her off and she'd leave. "Oh yes, this is going to be perfect." Botan exclaimed.

At the edge of the forest Nomino and his men had set up a temporary establishment. They had transformed the ruins of the village into a small tent community.

Two of the soldiers stood guarding a large crate. Both men were very nervous standing so close to what lay behind the bars.

"Hey Zesto, What do you think the boss is planing on doing with them.

"How should I know Heros. Maybe he's gonna send them on a chase to find that girl."

"He's using Vacers to capture her! B-but everyone knows Vacers don't capture anything. They just shred the meat from any living creature they sink they're teeth in to." Heros shook violently just thinking of all the stories he'd heard about the Vacers.

"You've gotta be the dumbest person I have ever met! Sir Nomino tamed these Vacers with his bare hands. As legend has it he went into the very core of the Vacers homeland and found the two strongest ones. Then he tied them up with some string and brought them home."Zesto looked smug as a look of awe plastered itself on 's face.

"He tamed Vacers with his bare hands! Sir Nomino IS the greatest warrior of all time!"

Zesto scoffed "Of course he is. Who else could out do him? We should be thanking God that he's on our side."

Yeah I guess your right Zesto, so since he's got these beasts we won't have to go into the forest!

"Exactamundo my brainless friend." The two continued to chitchat until Nomino came out of his tent.

A silence fell over the campsite as Nomino made his way to the crate. He placed one hand on the shaking cage and all movement within ceased. "My pets, guess who it is."

Nomino slowly opened the crate and a blur of black and red came shooting out. The Vacers appeared instantly at Nomino's side.

They stood about 5 feet from the ground. Both were covered from head to foot in a thick fur. Their long necks arched as they growled at some of the men. One was red with black tiped legs and fur and the other was black with red higlights. Both of their eyes seemed to be lit with a fire as they glared at the surrounding soilders.

Nomino smirked as the Vacers stopped growling and looked up to him as if awaiting orders to kill the weakling in their presence. He shook his head no and his entire company breathed a collective sigh of relife. He bent down and spoke in a hushed voice as they listened.

Nomino stood up and patted each one on the head then they took off. Nomino and his men watched as the two Vacers ran off going towards the heart of the forest.

There you are! smiles I have done it! I was gonna make this one longer but the holidays have cut into my writing time. So next chapter expect some action! How'd you like my Vacers. I'd love to show you a pic I drew of them but I don't have the technology to do so. Well Hope you like and PLEASE review!