OMG! My first Flame ever! I'm so excited! I know, weird. How can a flame be a good thing? Na, I'm just hyperactive because this is the first, REAL flame I've ever gotten, one without anything good in it.

Princes Kandra: Yep, you were in Chapter Four, and now I'm metioning you again! Once again, really happy that you liked it, and hoping that you'll keep reading the story.

Blah-Blahness: Love the nickname, sounds like me during school. You enjoyed it? That's brilliant!

Mary Tyson: Lol! Ah grammer, how I hate thee. Let me give you a qoute a friend of mine once told me. "When the whole world turns its back upon you, you'll be sure that typos willstill be by your side." Really, one of my other fanfic I had to update four times, each time finishing and thinking that I've found all the mistakes, only to discover the next day that there was still that one tiny mistake that somehow eluded my scrutinizing.

What's a One-Shot? It's exactly what it sounds like, a fanfic that's done in one shot. A chapterless short story that might have been planned, or im my cases, just jump out from the air and demanded to be written if one wishes to retain their sanity. And nope, no insults in your review what-so-ever. Do don't worry!

Ok, I knew someone was going to point it out sooner or later. There is a story behind all this, why my fanfic seem so... fragmented.

Yami no Riz:

Once upon a time, on a stormy night, my Hikari had a dream. It was a strange dream, one of YYH, which was strange, considering she was watching Naruto that night. The dream hazy, the details lost in time, but my Hikari managed to retain most of the dream. Three days later, when she was once again watching Naruto (See the pattern yet?), my strange Hikari once again had a dream of YYH, this one a sequal of the first one. Now really curious, and really bored, she began to piece the two dreams together, filling in the blank bits and pinning gaps together. Thus the fanfic was born, rather stiched and bumpy, but passable for a fanfiction...

Riz:

Yep, that's the full story of my fanfiction! Sounds weird? Your not alone, I'm scared too!

Chapter Six: ...When All Else Fails, Follow the Singing Flowers ...

Picking her way across the fallen rubble, Roviel coughed at the stench filled air. And just when she thought that there couldn't be a place worse than Nigenkai... Well, this just proves the fact that one does learn new thing everyday. Behind her, Kurama's soft steps were barely audible amidst the continuous growl of the thunder laced sky. In front of her, heavy grunting could be heard, accompanied with the occasional cursing as a tedious block of marble crashes close by. Padding along, she followed Kuwabara's path, which was easy considering the trail of needless destruction the boy left behind. Placing a careful foot over some indistinguishable black liquid, Roviel wondered just how exactly she allowed herself into this...

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An eye twitched as Kuwabara and Yusuke's loud brawling thundered the room. Sitting opposite her, Yuki rolled her eyes in despair.

"Anyways, Koenma-sama said that I could stay and keep my memory, but if only I don't tell anyone else about this place. And he gave me this!"

The excited girl lifted up a pin, a small thing that could be attached onto a collar of some school uniform. It was simple, a tiny ruby embedded in a round bed of gold.

"You see? This allows me to come to Reikai anytime I want! Isn't that great?! I have to show Kurama this... Where is he?"

Looking around the room Roviel failed to see any signs of the kitsune. Yusuke was there, with that foolish grin on his face. Kuwabara had left his argument with Yusuke, and was now yelling at Hiei for getting too close to his Yukina. Her lips twitched... Now Hiei's angry, and beating the living daylights out of Kuwabara. Yusuke's laughing at the two, how rude... Now Yukina's stepped in, begging Hiei to stop this. Snorting in defeat, Hiei suddenly left the room, gone in the blink of an eye. Kuwabara can't be hurt that badly, for now he has his hands clasped around Yikina's and proclaiming his undying devotion to the girl. Roviel bit down on her fast spreading grin. Suddenly Yuki sprang up, half running to the door in excitement. Ah, the red-head had arrived, smiling as always, and... Half chocked sounds burst out from her throat, a result of her desperate attempt to prevent laughing out. He's wearing pink; the fox was wearing pink... Unbelievable... Laughter burst from her, and Roviel fought to breath. Everybody was staring at her now, and Kuwabara wondered aloud if she's gone mad.

The past four days have finally caught up with her, the sudden rush of true realization finally dawning upon Roviel's mind. Oh she knew before, listened to all the conversations, and learned about this new world. But it never really sank in, rather floated around her mind like a transparent layer of grease on water. Only now, her head sank into her hands and her body shook with soundless mirth, Roviel truly realized just what her life has turned into...

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"Hey look! There's a garden here! And there are trees!"

Climbing over the last fallen block, Roviel scanned this strange scene. A garden stood there, or at least the remains of one. Signs of cultivation was scattered around the place, the symmetrical structures some of the plants were in, the faint hint of pruning on several trees. But with the fall of the tower, order collapsed with it. Now the place looks every bit as wild as the rest of Makai. Wandering aimlessly around, a trailing vine adorned with soft iliac flowers caught Kuwabara's attention. Sniffing at the sweet scent it gave out, the boy raised one finger towards the gentle petals.

"I would advice strongly against that action, Kuwabara."

Roviel startled at the sudden arrival of the kitsune. She didn't even hear him climbing up the rock. Jumping lightly down onto the soft grass, Kurama continued his lecture.

"That is a deadly plant. It's a parasitic organism, one that uses its scent to attract unwary prey. The petals contain thousands of minute spores, which will sink into any form of living organism that touches it. The spores would burrow into the flesh of its victims, growing and germinating within the body. In the end, the shoots will push out from its host's body, resulting in a very unpleasant death for its prey."

Hearing this, Kuwabara gave a yelp and jumped several feet backwards, tripping on a rock and falling flat onto his back. Scrambling up, the orange haired whelp proceeded to hack the offending plant into tiny particles with his Spirit Sword. Kicking at the tattered remains, Kuwabara eyed the kitsune with confusion.

"How can you be so calm while knowing all of this stuff? Don't they make your skin crawl? Certainly made mine."

Kurama just chuckled lightly at the comment, had shrugged his shoulders.

Still breathing hard from his earlier scare, Kuwabara glanced around at the crawling place.

"Didn't Koemna say that the artifact thing, what's it name? The thing that we are looking for should be somewhere in the center of this castle?"

A grin curved up on Roviel's lips. Finally, something that she knows...

"I'm not sure about Makai, but back home an indoor garden would either be at the front or back of the house. That or it's right in the center. And from the looks of some of the collapsed rooms we passed earlier, I'd say that we are right in the middle of the ruins. And if Koenma said that the Key of Ages is supposed to be in a hidden chamber in the center of this place, then..."

"Then that means..."

Tawny orbs met emerald, and a silent agreement passed between the two. A smile came over both of their faces, and Kurama chuckled lightly. Looking from one to the other, Kuwabara waved a hand before Roviel's face.

"Hello? If you haven't noticed, I exist too! What, what does that mean then? Finish the sentence. What do you two know that I don't?"

And to Kuwabara's utter amazement, Roviel stretched, pushed up the sleeves of her fawned colored trench coat and cracked her knuckles.

"Right, let's start digging then!"

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"Makai? Isn't that where youkais lived?"

Roviel frowned. Reikai was bad, Nigenkai was horrid. So how is Makai going to be like? Eyeing Koenma with an unpleasant look, one which the toddler decided to ignore. Sighing loudly, one hand absently brushed strands of raven black from her vision.

"So, you want me to go with Kuwabara and Kurama to some sad half wrecked castle in Makai to get a golden key for you? Don't you already have enough keys?"

Koenma actually stopped stamping the papers, only to rub his temple with stubby fingers.

"It's not just a key; it's the key. It was made long ago, when my father was the prince of Reikai. You see, the key was made by a youkai whose wife was turned to stone. He labored for countless years, trying to create something that would allow his wife's form to escape from her curse. And he succeeded, making a key that could unlock all binding curses and spells ever created. But sadly, before he could reach his wife, the youkai was killed. You see, he owed much money to many people, none of them nice, to say the least Waiting too long for their money, these youkais came for their revenge. Searching his body, they found the Key, but did not know of its power, keeping it only for its beauty. Through the years, the Key traveled through all the levels of Makai, changing owners frequently. In the end, it fell into the care of Ryuku.

The last of a lost race of powerful youkais, Ryuku immediately felt the power of Key, but like so many before him, did not know what it was used for. He locked it away somewhere, in a hidden chamber in his castle fully, intending to unlock the Key's secrets. But one day Ryuku mysteriously disappeared. Nobody knows where or how, he just went missing.

In the last few days, I've been given disturbing reports that a group of youkais are searching for the Key of Ages, preparing to use it to release their lord, someone who was sealed up by my father in his war against Makai. And that's why I want you three to go and fetch the Key back for me. If those youkais gets their hands on it, who knows how bad things will turn out."

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The twin crescent blades sank into the rocky soil. Slinging the earth out of the ever growing hole, Roviel halted for a moment, resting against her glaive as seeking eyes roved aimlessly. Ten meters to her right, chaos ruled supreme. Kuwabara, being Kuwabara, has long tossed away the notion of using a tool. Now showers of pebbles, plants, sand and soil were flying through the air as the human went at it with his bare hands. Eyeing the boy's backside with distaste, Roviel had to admit that his method was effective; dirty, but effective. She could be digging faster than him, purely by using her new found ki attacks. But that would be a waste of ki, and who knows what they'll encounter next?

Some distance away, behind Kuwabara, Kurama was also in full swing. The kitsune had somehow grown some ivy like plant, one who was, even now tunneling their seeking vines deeper into the soil, breaking and destroying in its path. She glared at Kurama now, the damned fox. Standing there, smiling his usual smile, doing nothing but watch as his plant progressed... Damn fox...

A loud thud broke the quietness, and she watched, amusement playing over her features as Kuwabara dragged himself out of the hole and onto the green grass. Rolling onto his back, the boy panted up at the rolling sky, tongue lolling out in exhaustion.

"That's...it... I... finished with...this bus...iness..."

Kurama and Roviel looked down at their fallen comrade, one trying to keep a straight face while the other simple sighed. Turning away from his own hole, Kurama walked over to the bag they've brought from Reikai.

"Well, I suppose a short break would not hurt us much. If the youkais arrive here later, we could always let them do the work for us."

Looking through the bag, the red head stood up, a large water container and three plastic cups in his hands.

"Tea, anyone?"

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Picking away at the bread roll, Roviel continued her survey of the garden grounds. It was a large place, full of roots and rocks. Just how does Koenma expect them to find the bloody Key? Two fingers tore at the soft bread, pecking away at the food. Stupid Hiei, stupid Yusuke. Why did they get to go on that other mission, the bomb threat one? Stupid...

"You know, it would be a lot easier if there was some kind of mark telling us where to dig?"

Kurama grinned.

"Kuwabara, the whole concept of a hidden chamber is so that the room would be hidden. If Ryuku did make a mark of any sort, it must be concealed so that only a selected few could find it."

The conversation died down to a silence, each person musing over their own thoughts about the mission...

"I was just saying. Jeez, don't take it so seriously. It's that, this whole thing would be a lot easier if there was a clue of some sort. Like the whole how X marks the spot thing?"

Perhaps she is going insane, but Roviel was actually getting used to the dolt's meaningless comments. But still, some were just too stupid to ignore.

"And just how do you plan on finding this X? Unless the flowers can sing out the directions in paradox riddles, I really doubt it's going to work."

"Of cause! How could I have not seen that! The symmetrical order of the garden!"

That random outburst caught the arguing pair's attention. Kuwabara was frowning in puzzlement again, while Roviel simply lifted on brow in Kurama's direction.

"... Are you actually saying that the flowers are going to show us the way?"

"Why yes! That is exactly what I mean. I'm afraid that we do not have the luxury of spare time on our hands, so I will explain later. But for now... Kuwabara, would you mind climbing up onto that rock there? The tallest one? We would truly appreciate."

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Even from this distance, her brown hinted eyes can see Kuwabara's legs shaking. She grinned. Who would have thought that the "Great Kazuma Kuwabara" was afraid of heights?

Forcing his quaking legs to steady, Kuwabara stood up, glaring down at Kuama and Roviel, both of which was happily landbound.

"Yea, I'm up here. Now Kurama you better tell me what I'm doing all the up here?"

"Calm down Kuwabara. You are in no danger. Now can you see anything from up there?"

Dropping onto his knees, Kuwabara crawled slowly to the jutting edge of the stone.

"I definitely am seeing things, like your smiling face. Just wait until I get down from this place... Eh... I see the wasteland we just crossed, and the hole where I nearly killed myself in just then... And what else..."

Sweat fell from his brow, blurring his vision. Lifting a shaky hand to wipe his face, Kuwabara suddenly stopped. He was staring at something, the astonishment of it making his jaws go slack. Then he was laughing, praising himself with a voice that could easily go one full mile.

"I see it! I see the X! HA! I knew I was right! What do you have to say now Roviel, ne? I told you that, AHHH!!!!!"

In his excitement the idiot forgot where he was, and one ill placed foot in his victory dance caused the boy to fall. It was a long way down...

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Rubbing the large bruise on his arm, Kuwabara sulked as he watched Kurama and Roviel diligently clearing a patch of land of any soil. He was lucky, a jutting point snagging his shirt and holding the boy in midair for two whole seconds. Not enough to prevent the fall, but enough that he landed without too much in the way of injuries. Now he's sat there, nibbling on an apple while watching the other two dig.

"Hey, Kurama. How did you figure out that the flowers pattern makes a giant X?"

"Actually, the credit is yours by right, Kuwabara. When I first saw the garden, the strangeness of its layout perplexed me. I had dismissed this oddity as a trivial matter, and it was not until you mentioned X did everything suddenly fit. The placement of the plants in the garden; two diagonal rows, each intercepting each other in the middle and at a right angel. What else could fit be but a cross, or in this case, an X?"

"Well if you figured it out, then why did I have to climb all the way up there for?"

"I'm afraid that I wasn't quite sure of my theory, and therefore asked you to see the garden from a higher perspective. That way, you would have seen this whole place and would be able to see the X."

Standing in the shoulder-deep pit, Roviel shook her head softly. But she's got to admit, these whelps. Who would have thought, that the chamber they were looking for was right under their very nose, where the two lines intercepted. Scooping away at the sandy soil, her fingers suddenly touched metal. Wiping the dirt away, sunlit eyes crinkled in silent laughter. In the words of Botan; Bingo.

"I think we've just found our hidden chamber. It's made from metal, thick too."

Picking up a piece of rock, Kurama brought it down hard onto the casing. A bare scratch showed, just a tiny mark on the dull surface. Rolling her head in slow circles, Roviel heard a slight crack as something around her neck settled back in place. Hell if she was going to break this bloody thing open...

"I see! A job for the Great Kuwabara! Do not worry, for I will soon smash the thing into dust!"

Injuries forgotten, Kuwabara jumped down into the hole, and before Roviel could yell "STOP IDIOT!" the boy brought his Spirit Sword crashing down onto the metal at their feet. Oh it broke alright, falling away in scattered shards. The only problem was that, having nothing under their feet anymore, Roviel, Kurama and Kuwabara found themselves dropping down into a dark hole, one that hopefully lead to somewhere soft, for their sake.