Disclaimer: Is this really necessary? I don't own anything!

This takes place about the same time Hiei is meeting with the members of his dark association, after Yugi entered the Spirit World. As of yet, Yugi does not know that Hiei has become the despotic ruler of Makai..

And if you thought Hiei was evil last time, wait until you see his kingdom.

This is going to be kind of a short chapter. If anybody has any suggestions as to how Yugi and the gang met Yusuke, let me know.

Chap. 7: Hiei's Kingdom

"Oh dear God..."

Yugi had just broken through the barrier to the Spirit World. It had taken an enormous amount of Shadow powers to enter, more so than the last visit they had made to the realm between realms. Indeed, it was almost as if someone had wanted to block his arrival.

After what Yugi had seen in the first few seconds of his visit, he almost wished he hadn't returned.

The entire scene was alight with fire and molten steel that had now engulfed the plain where Yugi had entered. Thousands upon thousands of tortured serfs slowly worked at erecting huge towers and what appeared to be a colossal statue on the horizon.

Men, women, and even children were working vast bellows to melt their own gold, gold that they needed to survive. And swarming about the place were powerful slave drivers, armed with a simple whip...with a cluster of razor-sharp daggers at the end.

*Yugi, are you going to be all right? If not, I think I can take over for a while. *

Yugi barely heard his yami in the mind link communication. His entire train of thought was focused on the scenery before him, this synthetic hell.

*Yugi? YUGI! *

Yami had very rarely raised his voice to attract his Light's attention, so this time, Yugi turned his attention to his darker counterpart.

*What kind of monster is responsible for this, Yami? Who could be so cold-hearted as to force their own people to do their own dirty work for them? *

*Whoever it is, he or she must have a very powerful hold on these people. They outnumber their tormenters a thousand to one, yet as far as I can see no one has yet tried to begin an uprising against the drivers. The king of this land has perfected the balance of two devices: power, and fear. *

Suddenly, a thought struck Yugi, as if divine intervention had set it into his head.

*Yami, Yusuke told me very little about Hiei when we met him, but I did gather this: not one soul has ever tried to stand against the demon and lived to tell of it. There was also the matter of the Dark Tournament a few years back; the entire Spirit world saw him fight more than any other member of Team Urameshi, so all he needed to do was acquire enough power to back up his domination! *

Suddenly, realization came upon Yami with great force.

*Of course! That explains why he murdered Alex Rosewater! In order for Hiei to take control of Spirit World, he would need enough power to overthrow Koenma and keep the Spirit World in check; where better to find power than Paradigm City after removing Koenma from the picture. However, something isn't right here. If he already has four Millennium Items, presuming he hasn't made allegiance with Yami Bakura, why does he need the Puzzle? *

* I have a feeling we will soon find out, Yami...*

Deep within Hiei's palace there is a hidden corridor in which only he and the members of his inner circle. In this corridor, thousands of pages of text, detailing the finer points of black magic, line the walls carven of obsidian.

Hiei sat in this chamber, in a throne hewn out of skulls and black iron, using his Millennium Eye to view Yugi and his thoughts.

Sighing dejectedly, Hiei turned in his rotating perch towards a figure dressed in midnight blue, standing near the doorway.

"Once again, Yugi and his counterpart are quite mistaken in their baseless assumption. They think that my plan is simple control of the Spirit world, yet those fools cannot begin to grasp the full extent of my scheme, just as they cannot comprehend the strength of my own prowess. It is this presumptuousness that shall lead to their inevitable demise."

"SCHWARZVALD", roared the Demon King to a near-by intercom, "bring me Yugi and Yami Mouto as swift as humanly possible! And bring our guest along. I have a feeling she will like to go on a little trip." The intercom was shut down immediately. Addressing his strangely dressed caller, Hiei sneered, "I am certain you would like to devastate your friend and his ancient freeloader, wouldn't you?"

The dark hood fell away to reveal a glassy-eyed Tea Gardener.

"How ironic. The one person you couldn't live without will soon die at your hand. And I thought you cared deeply for your friends. Ah, well, I guess that's what happens if you have part of a demon in you. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Sorry this was so short. Things will pick up next chapter, when Yugi and Schwarzvald cross paths for the first time. Expect a battle royale! This is only the beginning, though, as the ultimate Duel Monsters tournament is on the horizon, where all shall be decided.

REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!

Well, it took a while, but I saw an episode of Inuyasha last night, and it's pretty good!