I don't own YYH

Sorry for the long delay a lot has been happening, but I'm currently on winter break so I'm hoping to update much more often.

Thank you for reviewing:

Ice Kit– Sorry for the delay. I'm hoping to have another chapter up before Christmas!

Ani Mei– Lol. Ya, I kinda lost interest in this story for the longest time, but now I've re-found it… only problem is I'm back to having multiple stories to work on. Ah well. Silven usually taken takes me several minutes to write a sentence for, but it that's alright because he's a fun character to write for. Lol. Sorry for the delay!

Chosen Paths and Deadly Warnings

It was not long before Devin returned with a map in his arms. Setting it down on the table he said, "This is an old map, but it will do the trick."

"Why don't you have a newer one?" Kuwabara asked.

"Because no one really travels through these area's and because of that little would have changed from last I was there with my parents many centuries ago," Devin explained as he began unrolling them.

Kurama's green eyes scanned over the maps quickly. "Many of these terrains are treacherous."

"Even the Shinobi don' go wanderin' about there," Jin said with a grimace. "Nasty places many o' them be."

"And unfortunately there is no way around them, at least no way that is any easier," Devin sighed. "I went through these area's here-" he made a line with his finger on the map "a long time ago with my parents. Treacherous doesn't begin to define many of these places. You might think you are finally in a safe area, but within moments find yourself in a worse predicament than you had been in before you had found the place."

"And we're traveling through them," Yusuke slightly frowned before giving the thumbs up, "Let's go for it."

Devin sat upon his knees and studied the maps carefully. Kara sighed and shook her head, "Wherever Tara is being held is going to be very troublesome to get to."

"Her captors will have it worse once we get there," the ice master said calmly, though the chilling air surrounding him gave the silent message that he was angry.

There was silence for several moments as everyone waited for Devin to figure out the path Silven had given them. The gray old man sat quietly on the couch looking uneasy as he fiddled with his staff.

"Icy gates and steely blood. Chilling calls and menacing nights. The constricting cage within hope is burned and will is stabbed. I fear for my dear's flickering candle light."

Touya's fists clenched, "Don't say that," he gritted out from between his teeth.

"Touya?" a concerned wind master questioned.

Looking over to the boy who could call her son she smiled wearily. "Tara will be alright. She has a strong will and a heart that will undoubtedly know we are coming for her"

"Found it," Devin said nonchalantly.

Everyone's attention fell upon him and the map as they waited for him to explain. "The way Silven described the path is backwards to the way you will be traveling, but that makes sense since he was fleeing and you are entering." Pointing to an area at the edge of the map he spoke once again, "This is a vast plain tainted by the blood of millions of demons who long ago died in a great battle. Be weary of it, spirits haunt this place with such ferocity that is uncommon amongst those spirits found in the Ningenkai."

He moved his finger and pointed to an area northwest from the plane. "This is simply a bog. It's perhaps the safest place you'll travel through on your journey. All you need to watch out for it the slime monsters than roam about, but they are weak creatures for the most part."

Tracing his finger across the paper he rested it on an area north of the bog. "These are the sea's of hell, or at least that is what everyone who knows anything about them calls it. The sea is fierce and there is never a day when its waters are calm, nor a day when its temperatures are above that of negative numbers. Few creatures dwell within these waters, but those who do are not to be underestimated from what I have come to understand. My parents evaded this place when we traveled, but this is on the quickest path to get where you are going."

"There is supposedly a ferry here," he continued, "It will take you across the sea, but it will come at a heavy price, a very heavy price. Since Kara will with you it will be even heavier because the ferryman does not think highly of the female gender. You must also be very mindful of your bargaining, the ferryman will try to rip you off or steal one your companion's right from under your nose with his so called bargaining and there are no take backs once you have struck a deal."

Yusuke frowned, "Another words, we're screwed once we make a deal."

"You're only 'screwed' if you do not pay attention and analyze his words to the most fine of details and do the very same for your own words before you speak them. Take your time when talking to him, he will try to trick you by making you think that he isn't smart by making horrible offers very obvious, but you all must keep in mind that he will quickly make deals worse, but hard to see the faults in. This is why I must tell you to take all the time you need here," he poked his finger into the are to further make his point, "do not be hasty or foolish. To save Tara all of you are going to be needed to be present and in good health, don't let this place prevent you from doing so."

The group nodded. Kara took in a deep breath, "So we should have only those who understand him speak. I guess that means Kurama, Touya and I are the one to speak with him."

"Why only you guys?" Kuwabara asked.

"They are the only one among us who understand Silven," Hiei said, understanding the predicaments they were soon to face, "And if they can understand him then they will be able to understand this ferryman for what he is truly saying."

Devin nodded, "Yes. Now," he looked to the three chosen for the task, "If you are going to discuss what to counter his offers with you must step away, but make it very clear that you need a moment to discuss it. Do not debate in front of him, or have one of you counter the other's offer. He will take that fault and declare it the deal he will use if he likes it and then you are, as Yusuke said, screwed."

"I would say it sounds simple enough, but that would be a very foolish thing to utter," Touya said.

"Indeed it would be," Devin said. "Well, moving on," he pointed to land far to the west and a good many leagues north of where the ferry's dock had been located, "these are the dark forests Silven spoke of. Very little light, if any, will ever break through the limbs of these haunted trees. So do be sure to a light source, but make sure it is not flame base, lest of course you wish to anger the spirits and dark creatures that dwell here, in which case your chances of ever leaving this place are very slim." He looked to Hiei, "So you, Hiei, are bound to only your physical strength here."

"Hn," was the fire demon's only response.

Devin moved his finger due west of the forest, "Here are the great mountains upon which it is said that the goddess of ice was slaughtered mercilessly countless millennia's ago. Legend says that her blood made the terrain little more than an icy trap for anyone who wanders there. Snow or freezing rain falls almost every day of the year here and warmth will seem to be a figment your imagination during your travel. Be sure to pack ten times as much more wood than you think you'll needed, but, I will warn you, do not harm any of the trees in the forest back here," he pointed to the forest they would be coming out of to get to the mountains.

"Then how do we get the wood?" Kuwabara asked.

"Ya be takin' wha' is already dead and layin' on the ground," Jin said. Years of being a shinobi had taught him such simple, yet valuable, things.

Devin nodded, "Exactly." He took in a breath, "The last place you must travel through to get to your destination is not actually on this map."

"What? How can that be?" Yusuke asked, "There's a lot of land left on this map."

"Yes, but you will no longer be traveling on any of the land you see here," Devin said before further explaining. "Here," he pointed to a small thing that looked like a pile of rocks with a black hole in the middle located at the base of the mountain on the far side, "is a cave. It is here that you will enter and," he moved his finger quite some ways away to the northwest, "come out here." He sighed, "I've never been through these caves, nor have I heard much about them, so I'm afraid that this is the one place on your journey I cannot help you with, or lend you the map to guide you through."

Kara placed a comforting hand on his shoulders. "It's alright Devin, you've helped us a lot already."

"Dismal winds and countless gaps do lie in that dreadful place," Silven spoke for the first time since Devin had begun explaining the path. "What seems so right is but so wrong and what seems so wrong is but so right."

Kara smiled softly at the man, "Thank you Silven, I will keep that in mind for when we reach the caves."

Devin took his hands away from the map, "Now the only thing left to do is to find a way to get here so you can start your journey."

At that moment Botan came wandering in through the door of the house and into the living room. "Koenma has arranged for a portal to get you to the outskirts of the Haunted Planes. Unfortunately he could not get you anywhere within these terrains you are going to travel through as it would be far too dangerous to even attempt such a thing."

"I take it you two have been listening into everything Devin said," Yusuke said with a grin.

"Of course," Botan smiled, "We want to know what's going on so we can help you guys."

"And for that we are thankful," Kara smiled.

The spirit envoy nodded. "The portal will open outside your house in an hour, this is to give you time to gather everything and anything you guys need, but the portal will only be open for a few minutes so you must be prepared to go through it immediately."

With a nod everyone got up and did what they could to prepare for the long and hard journey ahead of them.

And so the adventure begins. How will the gang make out? Will they get to Tara in time to save her?

Please review.

Thanks!