I am not the creator of these Characters. Capcom and Yoshihiro Togashi/Shueisha . FUJI TV . FUNimation PIERROT. own the rights to these characters. I dedicate this chapter to my friend Sarah.

Another Battle At Saint Beast Castle

Yusuke looks out at the old ruins of Saint Beast Castle reminising about the last time he was here. Yusuke had just come back after a six month training period with his teacher Genkai. Yusuke was going to a movie with Keiko and Kuwabara when he noticed they were being followed. Not to worry Keiko he and Kuwabara made up a story saying they would catch up with her later. Of course they never did, Yusuke and Kuwabara had to save the city from a bunch of deadly insects that turned people into zombies. Yusuke and Kuwabara were greeted by an army of cloaked creatures that nearly defeated them when Hiei and Kurama appeared scaring the creatures away. That was a big adventure for him. It was the first with all four of them together as a team.

X stared at the castle. The castle was standing tall infront of the moon casting a dark and evil shadow. To X it looked more like a tower than a castle. If fact far away It looked like Mushroom tower. Repliforce went to war with the world in an attempt for their own nation. Zero was on a mission to cut off supplies so X was assigned to investigate a secret labratory. The labratory was a tall tower in Panama with many deadly vines surrounding it. X enter the tower carefully only to be greeted by a spiral staircase and mushroom machines. X started to fire but the mushroom heads repelled his attacks. X had to take many hits in order to make contact past the shields. The whole tower had been one large obstacle course to which he was greatful to escape. X had hoped this castle was nothing like Mushroom Tower.

The five formed a battle plan. Kurama, Kuwabara, and Hiei would find Koenma while Yusuke and X would see Awssir. X gave Kurama a short wave radio to signal X and Yusuke enter first to distract Awssir so the others could make their way to Koenma. Yusuke leads the way to where Kurama fought Genbu the rock Demon. Standing in the center of the room was a falcon demoness with long silver hair and metallice blue wings. "Greetings I am Shausta. I was sent to be the welcome wagon. Where are the others?" She asks raising his left eye brow.

"We decided to keep the the delivery short." X said quickly. "We don't want to put anyone else in danger."

Shausta smiles coldly and replies "Of course. Follow me." Shausta leads the the group to the top of the tower where Awssir stood waiting. Shausta leaves her brother enters where her brothers henchmen and Koenma were. Koenma was in the far back tied up and gagged wearing an unhappy look. Shausta stands next to him and says silently. "Your rescue party is coming." Then dissapears through a secret entrance.

Awssir stares hard at his two foes. One knocked him out the tournament preliminaries making him look like a fool while the other interfered with his plans twice forcing him to swallow his pride and call his sister. Soon he would have his revenge. All he needed to do was get that heart. Awssir eyes eyes stay locked on the two as he asks "Did you bring what I asked for?"

"Its in the bag." Yusuke says staring at right back.

"Where is Koenma?" X asks stepping forward.

For the first time since their arrival Awssir's expression changes from the death glare to a cruel smile as he replies, "He is in good company. Now give me the Heart."

"Why? What powers does it posses?" X asks hoping to buy time.

Filling with rage Awssir shouts, "GIVE ME THE HEART OR I'LL ORDER KOENMAS DEATH!"

Seeing no other option Yusuke tosses the bag to Awssir who quickly caught tearing the bag apart with an insane look in his eyes. There Awssir holds the ruby with eyes similar to that of a child at Christmas. "AT LAST! I FINALLY HAVE THE HEART. THE POWER OF THE PHEONIX IS MINE!" Laughing madly Awwsir places the heart in the center of his chest as the ruby attaches its self to his skin. Suddenly fire sprouts from the ruby covering the laughing Awssir.

The other three heroes were running down the hallway following Hiei since he was reading Koenma's mind. Reaching halfway where Koenma was the three suddenly everyone stop sensing something disturbing. Kuwabara and Kurama were sensing a powerful force where Yusuke and X were. The two had to save Koenma quickly so they could help their comrads.

Hiei felt the power rising but that wasn't the reason he stopped. Hiei felt anothers mind. The mind of Shausta the one who attacked his love putting her in a coma. Shausta knew all the Spirit Detectives were there and was leaving before things got out of hand. Little did she know Hiei had found her and was coming after her and would kill her. Hiei leaves the group in anger wanting to avenge his love.

Kurama was the first of the duo to shake away the sense of power rising and focus on the mission. Looking to his left Kurama notices that Hiei was gone. "Kuwabara, did you see where Hiei went?"

Kuwabara looks around with surprise. "No I was distracted by someone power increasing."

"As was I." Kurama says grimly.

"Great how can we find Koenma now?"

Kurama smiles and replies, "By my sense of smell. Were close enough that I can sense Koenma." Kurama leads the way as Kuwabara follows. Kurama stops suddenly at a door raising his hand to stop Kuwabara. Kurama backs up and whispers,"There are three. One large reptile demon, another humanoid that I can't tell and a sort of worm like creature." Kurama pulls out a seed and grows a daffodill with sharp teeth in the center. "Kuwabara, I need you to charge the door catching them off gaurd. I'll back you up." Kuwabara nods in understanding and stands infront of the door. Setting himself up he charges breaking through the door. Kurama rushes in tossing the flower at the worm creature killing it on instant. The lizard charges Kuwabara only to be knocked to the ground with one punch. Arctus pulls out an ice sword in defense. Kurama steps forward and says,"Surrender your are hardly a match for me." Arctus puts his sword back and kneels in surrender. Kuwabara frees Koenma as Kurama places a plant like cage over the two captives. Koenma gaurds over the prisoners as the two heroes head to Yusuke and X hoping they were not to late.

Shausta made her way to the exit of the castle almost home free. Shausta could feel that her brother obtained his stupid ruby and was growing more powerful by the second. Shausta knew that with her brothers new found it would only be a matter of time before she became a target. The two had hated eachother for the longest time and though Shausta was stronger Awssir still wanted her dead. At first Shausta was surprised when his Arctus called her stating her brother wanted to hire her. Her surprise was pushed aside when she found that he needed her help to get that ruby. Awssir had been obessed over the Pheonix Heart ever since he heard the tale. Now that he had it Shausta realized she was in a lose, lose situation whether Awssir would kill her or she would be arrested. One step away from the exit Shausta hears,"Leaving so soon. I thought you could stay awhile and play."

Shausta turns to find Hiei glaring at her. Smiling Shausta replies, "This place was becoming a little wild so I thought I would leave before it got out of hand."

Hiei pulls his sword out eyes still locked on Shausta. "I know who are. You were the one who took Koenma and buried Botan. Botan was in a coma for two days where I waited to tell her something important. Something I should have told her along time ago. Because of you I nearly lost Botan without telling her I love her."

Shausta stares back with an amused smile. "I know who you are as well. Your Hiei. You failed to defeat Makura at the demon tournament. You stayed as gaurdian of the demon realm until Rontos attacked and then you rejoined the spirit detective. But hearing you fell in love is quite a surprise. I always heard you were the lone demon type." Shausta spread out her wings getting ready for a fight. "Did you know that I could have come close to winning the Demon Tournament if I had entered. I thought of it but I really didn't want to become queen of the demons. Plus I like to keep low. Tell me do you still want your revenge or will you do the smart thing and let me go?"

"Heres your answer." Hiei charges toward swinging his blade. Shausta blocks with right wing then thrusts her left attempting to remove Hiei's head. Hiei pulls back having the edge of his hair cut. Hiei sets himself again and charges. The two warrior dance around both attemping to cut down the other. Their blades connect lighting the area with each impact both equal in speed and strength. Hiei realizes that Shausta wasn't bluffing about her power, but it didn't mean she wasn't over estimating it. Hiei ducks and throws a heavy uppercut following right kick knocking her to the ground. Taking this advantage he charges brining the sword down. Shausta quickly crosses her wings blocking the attack and sees her own openning. Shausta throws her knee up making direct contact with his groan then pushes back slicing his stomach. Hiei hits the ground his mind swirling in pain as blood covers the floor.

Shausta grabs Hiei by the back and says. "This is the attack I used against your girlfriend." Letting Hiei go Shausta screams before he hits the floor knocking him back into a wall." Smiling at her victory Shausta begins again to leave the building.

Suddenly out of the rubble Hiei charges his fist full of black fire. "Fist of the mortal flame!" Hiei shouts making full contact at Shausta's face. Shausta flies through the entrance of the Saint Beast castle. Shausta stands feeling where Hiei struck only to find shards of her beak missing. Her eyes slowly turned to Hiei who was barely standing because of the wounds. Hiei was hunched over holding his stomach as fresh blood came down his right ear from the scream. Shausta opens her wings and charges the wounded Hiei throwing him into a wall. Flying into the air Shausta fires three blade feathers at her opponent. Hiei watches carefully ready to take a gamble at victory. Clenching his right fist Hiei dodges the two feathers then strike with all his might on the edge of the third sending it right at Shausta. Shausta's eyes widen just before the blade makes contact with her right between the eyes and into the wall letting her lifeless body hang.

The fire ends immediatly revealing Awssir transformed glowing in power. His head and face were streaked in bed and silver. His back and wings were the same mettalic red on his face as the chest was silver. His eyes were red and insane with power. Smiling Awssir says, "I am now the most powerful being in all relms. Bow before me and and swear allegence to you new Emperor."