Part Four: Seryuu Versus Hiei

The four were silent as they walked down the stone halls of Maze castle.

"Well…two down and two to go." Kuwabara muttered.

"Yeah." Yusuke's stomach growled. "Oops."

Kurama laughed. "Well, that sure was a moment-breaker."

Yusuke laughed nervously. "Yeah, I guess so."

He reached back and pulled out his backpack, pulling out some food. "Anybody else hungry? I've got more."

"Well, why don't we just take a break and eat a little?" Kurama smiled, sitting down, making sure not to irritate his wound.

Hiei sat down as well, as did Kuwabara and Yusuke, the four of them sitting in a square.

Kuwabara sat near Kurama, across from Hiei. Kurama was sitting across from Yusuke, who was next to Hiei. (Get it?)

Yusuke took out some chips and fruits and stuff. He also had some soda shoved into a miniature cooler in his bag.

"Yusuke how did you fit all of this in your backpack?" Kurama asked as he munched on a bag of Sour Cream and Cheddar chips, an apple, and a Dr. Pepper.

"That's a secret that I'm not about to tell you." Yusuke smirked, sipping his Red Cream Soda. In his other hand was a bag of Funyuns.

Suddenly, the chorus of Lonely No More by Rob Thomas belted out from his bag.

"Oops." He reached in and pulled out a small black and silver cell phone, and flipped it open. "Urameshi."

Yume? Yume? That doesn't sound like you! What's going on! Who are you! What have you done to my baby!

Yusuke winced. "Uh-oh…it's my mom."

Kurama snickered, as did Hiei. Being called by your mother on a mission didn't seem very cool.

Very quickly, Yusuke took off his necklace. Yume sighed. "Mother, I'm right here."

Dear? Who was that man that was just on?

"That was one of my friends mother. He decided to answer my phone as a joke."

Oh okay. Yume, where are you? Are you still at that Training Camp of yours?

"No mother. I'm out with some friends." Yume looked over at Kuwabara. "Hey! Kuwabara! Stop teasing Hiei…oops…too late. Kurama! A little help!"

"Certainly." Kurama rose to stop the problem, meaning he grabbed Hiei from chasing Kuwabara around the corridor for calling him short again.

Dear? It sounds like you're surrounded by boys…

"Uh…" Yume blushed.

Kurama and Hiei noticed this.

"Mother, it's not what you think!"

Whatever dear, but remember, if you're going to start doing group sex, make sure to use protection!

Kurama then dropped Hiei. "What the hell!"

If Yume were blushing any harder, her head would explode. "MOTHER! They're just friends!"

Dear, are you with that redheaded man that kissed you a few weeks ago?

Yume blushed, not meeting Kurama's eyes. "Yeah…"

Oh, he tried calling you while you were gone. He tried every day. He started to panic when I said I hadn't seen you for near a month.

"Oh really?" Yume drawled, looking over at Kurama.

"What did I do?" he muttered.

"Well, I didn't know he would be that worried about me. That's so sweet." She smiled.

Honey, did you get a boyfriend and not tell me?

Yume laughed. "No mother, Shuichi is not my boyfriend….nor is Hiei. Don't you EVEN bring up Kuwabara!"

Okay. I was just wondering where you were. I can be a good mother sometimes, can't I?

Yume smiled sadly. Yeah, she could be a great mother when it counted. "Yeah mom. Don't worry about me. I'm not gonna leave you again."

I love you, Sai-chan.

"I love you too, mom. Yeah, I'll be careful. Bye." Yume hung up, putting her necklace back on.

Yusuke looked up, seeing Kurama and Hiei snickering.

"What?"

"Sai-chan?" the two chorused.

He glared. "Shut up. Childhood nickname."

"But Sai isn't a part of your name…" Kurama muttered.

Kuwabara decided to pipe up now. "Oh, Urameshi's full name is Saiyume Ariashika Urameshi."

Yusuke stiffened. "Shut up!" he punched Kuwabara. "Jeeze, baka!"

Kurama blinked. "Why are you so mad, Yusuke? Your name is so…cute."

"I'm not CUTE!" Yusuke yelled.

"So, what was your mother talking about that had you looking at the fox, Sai-chan?" Hiei drawled.

"Uh…oh, she said that Kurama started to get a little panicky when he found out that my mother hadn't seen me around anywhere for near a month." He grinned at Kurama. "Oh, that is so sweet!"

Kurama blushed, looking at the ground. "Oh, shut up. Let's get going."

Yusuke snickered. "Whatever Captain Pretty."

"What!"

Yusuke laughed, running ahead of the now-miffed kitsune.

"Did he just say…?"

"Yep." Hiei answered.

"Okay, so I'm not going deaf."

"That was a little weird." Kuwabara muttered.

"Yep."

"C'mon you three! Let's get going! I wanna get outta here as soon as possible!"

"Coming, Yusuke!"

The three hurried to meet up with their team leader. Fully ready to handle the next task.

The next door was decorated with ice dragons.

"This must be Seryuu." Yusuke muttered.

"How did you know that, Yusuke?" Kurama asked.

"Well, Seryuu is the Chinese god of water and ice, taking the shape of a dragon. It would make sense."

Kurama blinked. So he's not a total loss.

The doors opened by themselves, like always, and the quartet stepped into the VERY cold room.

A blue-skinned man, and not the handsomest guy ever might Yusuke say, stood wearing all blue and silver. "Welcome. I am—"

"Seryuu, the third Saint Beast. Yeah, we know. Let's just get this over with!" Yusuke grumped.

A sudden very loud thumping came from behind them, revealing a charred Byakko.

"S-Seryuu…help me…they…tricked me…they…"

Seryuu rolled his eyes and spat on Byakko, the single drop of saliva spreading ice over the body of the overgrown blue-ish white tiger. Seryuu punched him, shattering him into a thousand pieces, his head cleanly coming off fully encased in the ice.

Yusuke's fist shook. "How could you do that? He was your comrade!"

Kurama looked at the head of Byakko. "Apparently there is no honor amongst the Saint Beasts."

Yusuke stepped forward to fight Seryuu when Hiei stopped him. "No, Yusuke. This is my fight. You need to save your energy to fight Suzaku." Hiei pulled off his cloak, throwing it over in the direction of Byakko's head, 'incidentally' covering it.

"Hah! A sentimental gesture? From you, Hiei? I would have expected you to step on it. Like I would have done." Seryuu laughed coldly.

"Hn." Was Hiei's only answer.

Seryuu raced forward, punching Hiei's leg, which froze immediately on contact.

Hiei jumped around, despite this, a mere blur to the untrained eye.

One second, Seryuu stood whole, the next he fell into many pieces.

Hiei sheathed his sword, melting the ice off his leg. "Stupid. Underestimated me."

Yusuke blinked. "Man, how many times did you slice him?"

"16."

"Damn, I was only able to count eleven!" Yusuke laughed.

Kurama chuckled. "Well, that's better than me and Kuwabara! I only caught the first slice."

Kuwabara nodded in agreement.

Yusuke looked at the door that had stood behind Seryuu.

"Well…it's time for the final Saint Beast."

The others nodded.

"Let's go!" Yusuke yelled, walking towards the door, and pulling it open.