Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

Deep in the most deadliest of forests, protected by the creatures of nightmares and lethal curses, is the lost city of ancient times. Within this lost city is held wonderful and terrible magic of healing and destruction, untold secrets, and immeasurable treasure. Many have sought it out, but this fascinating city has only brought death to those who find it. None who journey there come back alive.
Lost City

Chapter Five

"Something's coming."

At Sango's words, Kagome became fully alert, sitting up faster than she had ever done before as a sudden rush of energy ran through her tired body. She quickly pushed the blanket off her and stood up, though Sango motioned for her to be quiet and sit back down. Kagome, however, disobeyed part of the order with a frown, only staying back because she didn't want to get in the way of either of them.

Sango shook her head when she saw how she disobeyed, but didn't give the order again. Instead she gestured to Yusuke before going back to scanning their surroundings. It took Kagome a second to figure out what Sango wanted her to do, then realized she wanted her to wake the pickpocket. Quickly she went over to him before kneeling at his side, shaking his shoulder lightly.

No response.

She tried again.

He mumbled incoherently and turned over, giving his back to her.

For a third time, Kagome shook him, though roughly this time, and Yusuke woke with a start, his body jolting as he sat up with a shout. He nearly knocked her over, but she managed to keep her balance by grabbing on to him with one hand for support while at the same time covering his mouth with the other hand. She had seen him take a deep intake of breath and knew he was going to start complaining (and loudly) about being woken up, hence why she kept her hand where it was. Still, he tried to talk, and though his words were muffled, she made out the words, "what the hell is going on?".

When he finally calmed down, she spoke. "There's something coming this way," she murmured to him.

Yusuke used one of his hands to grab her wrist, removing it from his face. "What?" he asked loudly, causing Hiei to glare their way. Oh great, now he had another reason to dislike her, even if it had been Yusuke's fault.

Kagome shushed him and took her hand back, giving him a look. "If I knew that, I wouldn't have said 'something' now would I?" She took hold of his arm, taking him with her as she stood up. "Come on."

They were walking toward the two other awake members of their party when Yusuke stopped. "What?" Kagome inquired quietly.

He glanced down at her. "Don't you hear it?"

Instead of replying with an annoyed remark, she paused to listen. Then she finally heard it, the sound that had alerted both Sango and Hiei. It was distant, but… yes, she knew that sound quite well, well enough to distinguish it. The thundering of hooves.

There were horses approaching from the way they had come and it sounded like quite a few, but that may have been the sound echoing off the hills around them. They could not see anything, however, since they had based camp at the bottom of a hill, hiding them from view. Unfortunately at the same time, it veiled any would-be attackers from them, putting them at a disadvantage had they not been alerted.

Yusuke suddenly pushed Kagome behind him and walked up to stand between Sango and Hiei. Kagome's face must have showed her annoyance; she didn't want to be pushed aside, even if they were there to help her. The keyword in that phrase was help. She didn't need to be in a protective bubble where no one could touch her, she just wanted to have people to assist her on her journey. She didn't want to stand by and do absolutely nothing.

Yusuke asked Sango a few murmured questions since he knew that Hiei would be less likely to answer. Kagome couldn't hear what it was he said and it made her all the more nervous, not knowing what was going on. She found herself glancing at her still sleeping companions. They'd be awaken if need be. The group didn't know yet if whoever was out there were horses were coming for them or even knew they were there. Better for the two girls to sleep and not worry.

Without a word to either of the other two, Hiei began to head up the hill, toward the sound of hooves. Sango wanted to protest, to say something along the lines of 'we should figure a plan out together' but knew already that he wouldn't listen. With a shrug to Yusuke (though it was anything but nonchalant), she followed their mysterious companion, unconsciously tightening her grip on her sword.

Yusuke stayed behind, going back over to Kagome. "What's going on?" Kagome asked.

"Don't know," was his simple response, though she felt he was keeping something from her. She wasn't sure though, so there was no point in arguing his words. Instead she turned her attention to the two climbing the hill.

The more sensible plan of action, at least how Kagome saw it, would have been to lay down on the hill, covered in darkness, and peek over the edge to see who or what they were dealing with. Hiei, however, only stood on top of it, wanting to see whoever it was approaching, as though he would not lower himself to do such things as hiding. Sango followed his lead only because it would prove no use remaining concealed when he was already in plain sight.

While Sango squinted her eyes to better see what was drawing near, Hiei abruptly put his sword away, which puzzled Kagome. Sango kept hers out and ready as she called back down to them, "there are two riders approaching, galloping this way." Neither spoke for a moment as Sango continued to watch, then muttered, "I don't believe this," with a shake of her head. She turned back around to glance down at the noble as she put her sword back in its sheath. "Kagome, you better come and see this."

Kagome looked over to Yusuke, who only shrugged, not knowing what was going on either. With no reason not to, Kagome began climbing the hill, Yusuke not too far behind.

"So he came after all," she heard Hiei say as she ascended.

"Can I kill the one on the left anyway?" Sango asked, turning to look at him. Her voice sounded serious, but she wasn't really. Well, maybe a little bit.

"Hn, you have my permission." Sango was almost certain she saw his lips turn upward in a fraction of a smile. Then again, it could have been her imagination. She was more inclined to believe the latter theory.

Her curiosity growing more and more by the second, Kagome finally reached the top and looked out at the hilly terrain. The wind tousled her hair and moved it momentarily in front of her face as she squinted, trying to make out the rider's faces in the night, only the moonlight keeping it from being totally dark. That's when she felt a jolt of surprise.

The horses had stopped their fast pace at the command of their riders, now walking toward them at a leisurely pace. The animals were probably exhausted from so much riding anyway. Of course, none of that was the surprising part. What was startling were the people riding toward them.

"Hello," Miroku called to them with a charming smile. He was the picture of perfect ease, leaning forward, resting his crossed arms on the back of the horse's neck as it slowly walked.

Some part of Kagome was thinking of how funny it'd be if he fell off. It wasn't exactly the best or safest way to ride a horse, even if it was only walking. The bigger part of her was just ecstatic that he was there, right in front of her.

"You came!" Kagome exclaimed happily, dashing the last few feet to him and grabbing the reins to make his horse come to a stop. "What made you change your mind?"

Miroku dismounted, jumping down to stand near the future queen. "It didn't sit well with me, sending such lovely ladies into the forest without my help. I did, after all, help enlist them," he informed her. Taking one of Kagome's hands from the reins, he laid a gentle kiss on the back of it. If it wasn't for that fact that that was how all the noble men usually greeted a high-classed lady, it would have made her very uncomfortable. As it was, it still made her blush since she wasn't expecting it.

"But you don't care about us guys. Thanks man," Yusuke told his friend, his voice thick with sarcasm as both he and Sango moved closer to the pair. He, of course, would never take any offense from the lack of concern. Flirting came first for the ex-noble. Call it one of his quirks. You either dealt with it, or you had a hard time being friends with the lecherous bastard.

Miroku gave Yusuke a smirk before he moved forward to stand in front of Sango. She crossed her arms as she watched him suspiciously, hands out of his reach.

His smirk turned into a full-out grin. "I see one day of traveling hasn't worn your hostile spirit at all," he informed her.

"I'm only hostile toward you and your lecherous attempts," she responded, leaning toward him in an attempt at intimidation, her eyes no softer.

"So against just a small kiss…" He took a step forward, reaching for her hand, causing her to jump back and run into Hiei.

Kagome smiled and, after seeing Sango's blushing face (though she tried to hide it) as the conversation continued, she laughed a bit as well. When she heard a quiet laugh beside her, she finally turned to regard the second rider.

It took him a moment to notice her gaze, but when he did, he looked down at her inquiringly.

She bowed, feeling the need to be formal, unlike how she had greeted Miroku. "Thank you for coming."

Miroku seemed like an old friend, even after only spending half a day together. This man still felt very much like a stranger.

She heard the soft rustling of material before he dropped gracefully and almost soundlessly to the ground. One of the only reasons she had known he had done so was by his shoes, coming into her line of vision.

"Please, stand up straight," the smooth voice came. Kagome slowly looked up to meet emerald eyes as he continued, "I'm not use to people being so formal."

"But you came. Why the change of heart?" Kagome inquired, asking the same thing she had to Miroku. Or at least, she thought she had.

Kurama shook his head. "Just a change of mind."

She frowned inwardly at his words, her face taking on a perplexed look. To her they meant the same thing, yet he went out of his way to change the wording. It puzzled her. "Then what changed it?"

He gave her a look she was unable to read, before replying, "just a few words a friend said reminded me of something."

Kagome titled her head to the side, a curious look on her face. "And what's that?"

"It's a long story," he said as he turned away, gathering the reins of his horse.

She crossed her arms, a slight pout on her lips. "Oh, fine, be secretive," she told him, though her eyes twinkled.

Kurama gave her a slight smile as he walked closer, pulling his horse along before taking the reins of Miroku's horse as well. "I'll take them now. The camp is at the base of the hill, is it not?"

She nodded mutely to his question. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something bothered her when she spoke with him, just like it had the first time, in the back room where they first met. He was extremely well spoken and polite, uncannily so, but… the politeness made him distance. Even when just simply talking, he was distancing himself from her.

Kagome shrugged it off, however, not wanting to think too hard on the subject. Perhaps it was only because they were still strangers. Yes, that was it. Then once he got to know them, all of them….

Just as Kurama began to pass the group, Yusuke stopped him with a comment.

"So you're the so-called genius Hiei wanted to come along," Yusuke stayed. He looked at Kurama, sizing him up. Hiei had mentioned he was a fighter too, but the new arrival didn't look very impressive. Looked to have a delicate quality about him, but not as frail as other highly intelligent people tended to be.

Kurama took the evaluation without any sort of annoyance since he'd been doing the same with the unfamiliar faces around him. "I wouldn't call myself a genius," he replied. He was being cautious.

"He is," Hiei stated. There it was, the words were set in stone.

"Wow, a compliment from Hiei," Kagome said.

"He must really be intelligent to get recommended by shorty," Sango chipped in. She almost bit her tongue afterward. Now how did that insult slip in?

Yusuke grinned at the fighter. "Oh, nice nickname. I'll have to remember that."

Hiei glared at them both, but made no comment. He simply began following Kurama as he made his way to their little camp.

Surprisingly, Kagome came to Hiei's defensive. Well, sort of. "It wasn't that complicated of an insult and you still need to make a special note of it? That's sad, Yusuke." Mostly, she had just wanted to poke fun at Yusuke. Hey, they had no problem doing so to her that afternoon, she had a right to take a few shots back at them.

His eyes burned with irritation as hers danced with laughter. He seemed about to make another comment back, something definitely unpleasant that would no doubt start a contest of witty insults, but he stopped when Sango gave his shoulder a little, friendly shove.

"Go off to bed, Yusuke. Wouldn't want you to be cranky tomorrow because of lack of sleep," Sango told him, while the girls shared a look of somewhat laughter.

He let out a breath. "Yeah, whatever," he grumbled to her and began down the hill. She followed silently.

Miroku was about to do the same when Kagome caught his arm. "How'd you convince him to come?" she questioned, referring to man, who was tending to the horses at the moment.

"I didn't, he found me," he informed her.

"What? But how…?" Kagome had been the only one to go and talk to Kurama. While Miroku knew where to find him since Hiei had told the group, Kurama had no idea who her other recruits were besides Hiei. So how did he know to find Miroku?

Miroku shrugged. "I was regretting my decision and was about to follow you, when he came along. Seeing me about to leave, somehow he knew and suggested horses if we were going to catch up. We stole a pair and rode for the rest of the day and, well, here we are." He followed her gaze. "Quite a reserved man, he is."

Kagome nodded in agreement and the two walked down to the campfire. Kagome said her goodnights there, the exhaustion from a long day suddenly pulling at her again. She glanced at Botan and Shizuru as she snuggled under her blanket.

Man, would they have a surprise when they woke up tomorrow.

Yusuke patted the neck of the black stallion. "See Kagome, this isn't that hard, we could've taken these things."

Said girl put her hands on her hips as she watched him, a safe distance away. "'These things' are animals that don't always respond well to having inexperienced riders on them."

He grinned down at her. "You're just mad that I proved you wrong."

Her argument was weak as she tried to keep from pouting. "Am not." Truth was, he was right, but she'd wouldn't admit it.

He continued to parade the horse around while she turned her back on him, starting to move toward the blanket she had left on the ground. She began folding it and was about to put it back in her bag when she heard a cry behind her. She spun around, just in time to see Yusuke get bucked off the horse, falling hard onto his back on the ground.

The stallion snorted and moved away from the man, giving him a look that all but said 'you deserved it'. Kagome rushed forward, peering down at him. "Are you okay? What happened?" she asked worriedly.

He let out a grunt. "Yeah. He wouldn't turn left," he said, then muttered, "damn stupid horse…"

Assured that he was alright, she said haughtily, "that's what you get for being careless." Kagome then moved on to go comfort the horse, telling him to forgive the "mean man" as she pet his nose in an attempt to calm the animal's feelings of distrust.

The rest shook their heads at the display or, in Botan's case, laughed at Yusuke's stupidity, but Sango was the only was that moved toward him. Yusuke glanced at the girl as she loomed over him, a smile on her face, at his expense, of course.

"Guess he showed you who's boss, eh?" she told him, though she reached a hand down. After a pregnant moment, he took the offered hand and she helped him to his feet.

The group had eaten a quiet breakfast that morning with just a few questions from Shizuru and Botan, like when the hell the two guys come along. Both took in the new members, or rather, just the unfamiliar one since they at least knew Miroku to a degree.

Even though Kurama knew he was being scrutinized by more than just the two girls, he seemed unfazed, only continuing to go about his business. He took the packs that the group had and strapped them on to one horse since there was no point in carrying such heavy bags when they had a perfectly good horse. It was decided that the few of them that knew how to ride horses would alternate riding the extra. Yusuke was a perfect example of why only the experienced would ride. It seemed the horses didn't take too kindly about being stolen and only the people that knew what they were doing had a chance of staying on.

The rest went on with whatever they liked that morning, some doing the few chores that were necessary while the others lounged about, preparing themselves for another long day of walking. They were only momentarily distracted by Yusuke's antics before returning their attention elsewhere.

Kagome watched Botan douse the dying fire with a simple word of power, which led to the healer and Kurama discussing magic, Kurama curious about her powers. She then turned her attention to Yusuke, who spoke with Miroku, though the former still seemed a bit grouchy. Hiei looked annoyed at them all, taking so long to start the day. Had he been alone, he'd have started moving hours ago.

Though her legs protested to a great extent, Kagome stood back up from her spot on the grass, trying to wince. Her legs were sore from so much walking the previous day, she wasn't use to it at all. Her 'profession' as a noble didn't require much work, if any, depending on the person and their wealth.

Sango was the first to notice her discomfort even when she tried to hide it. "Maybe you should be first to ride, Kagome," she told the noble. Seeing her about to protest, she continued, "no offense, but you'll slow us down the way you are now. And Hiei looks irritated enough already," she added, glancing briefly at him.

Kagome knew she was right. Though she would have liked to prove she could keep up with the rest of them, somehow she knew she couldn't, not how she was at that moment. She wasn't use to such work, being pampered by servants most of her life. Sure, she did go riding and for the occasional walk, but nothing to this magnitude.

With a sigh, she nodded in agreement as she walked over to the stallion. He eyed her cautiously, obviously still not trusting anyone since his last rider. With a little bit of convincing, her voice soft and soothing, she managed to get him to retain some peacefulness.

"Do you need help?" she heard Kurama ask behind her.

"I've got it, but thanks," she responded, offering him a smile. Silently hoping the stallion wouldn't resist her, she climbed on. His ears twitched, but that was about all. Kagome inwardly sighed in relief.

If Kurama was surprised that she wasn't riding sidesaddle, he didn't show it. She had often gotten complaints that it wasn't "ladylike" to sit on a horse the way she did, but she didn't care and ignored their comments. It was the way her father had taught her, and she'd stay with it.

Seeing her mounted and ready to go, the others took the hint and completed whatever task they had been doing. Within a few minutes the group took off, starting another long day of walking. Something they'd all be doing a lot of until they reached the forest. Then looked for the city. Then obtained the remedy. Then returned home.

…oh, joy. It sounded positively riveting.

Hadn't thought about that fact much, Kagome mused.

It seemed thoughts plagued them all during the day's journey since there was not much else to do. Between the group they had nothing to talk about, at least nothing they felt comfortable discussing with near strangers.

Kagome, however, was not able to travel in such uneasy silence. She drew a breath as though to speak to the person in front of her, but no words left her mouth. The redhead glanced curiously back, wondering why she hadn't spoken. He was leading the horse holding their bags and hers, which she had not protested. It was nice to have someone nearby. And he was much better to have next to her than Hiei, who already looked down on her, or Yusuke, who surely would make some sarcastic remarks at her expense.

"I just realized," she told him, noticing his gaze. "I don't know what to call you."

An inquisitive look took over his face. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I know you told me Shuichi was your real name, but you also have the alias Kurama, which is what Hiei said your name was, though you said you don't really go by that anymore. So… which do you want to be called?"

He didn't answer for awhile as he continued to lead the horses. "…Kurama will do just find," he replied finally just when she thought he wouldn't.

Kagome smiled at him, though he couldn't see it with his back turned toward her. "Kurama, it is then."

The sun looked as though it were indecisive as to whether to set or not, just hanging in the sky, neither high above them nor being chased away by the darkening sky. They knew, however, they'd have an hour or possibly two before the night truly came. Besides knowing when the sun set and when it rose, time was meaningless to them.

"We're not too far off now," Hiei had said.

They trusted his judgement. No one knew how he knew, (at least, Kagome was sure the majority of them didn't know), but they didn't feel like asking either. His annoyance toward them before seemed like nothing compared to how he was acting currently. Kurama was the only one who didn't eye him warily from time to time.

Kagome remained on top of the stallion since no one else that knew how to ride showed a desire to get onto the horse. Being gentlemen, at least in spirit, Miroku and Kurama declined the offer to ride. Besides, Miroku had added, they spent the whole day before riding, it was someone else's turn. Botan, too, had refused the Kagome's suggestion. Though her legs had been stiff, she had used a bit of her magic to loosen her tender muscles. Lucky her.

"You see over that way?" Kurama said, nodding over to their left.

Kagome looked over that way, as did many of the others in the group, having listened in on the (very) few, lighthearted conversations Kurama, Kagome, and Botan had exchanged throughout the day. Kagome searched where he had nodded to, but saw only the hilly terrain, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Yes," she replied, doubt in her voice.

Hearing her hesitation, he told her, "look closer."

Her brow creasing in a frown, she squinted and just managed to see what he was talking about.

"It's a town!" Botan called out before Kagome had a chance to.

"I didn't know there were any towns so close to the forest," the noble said with surprise clear in her voice.

"Yes, they've been there for quite some time. It's a small town, but people do live there. They don't take kindly to any being with magic or the supernatural though. Their fear of the mystical have driven them to anger and hostility toward any who wields such power."

"Well that's hardly fair!" Botan exclaimed. Being the healer of the group, her powers would be considered magic by the villagers.

Most attention drew to her then, but Sango couldn't help but notice the hard glare Hiei was giving Kurama. Kurama met the gaze evenly. Sango watched the silent exchange before Hiei looked away first.

"Although I'm glad for the wonderful history lesson, what does that have to do with anything?" Yusuke asked.

Kurama had the grace to look somewhat embarrassed. "Sorry, I've digressed. I only meant to point out that we're close to the forest. A half of an hour away, my guess would be since that's about how far the town is from it."

Hiei sneered. "With this group, it'll take longer than that. I've never made such slow progress."

Most of them fueled by his statement and heartened by Kurama's, the group moved faster than before, making good time. Surprisingly, they were able to reach their first destination before sundown.

They had reached the edge of the forest.

The group had stopped a short distance from it, no one even attempting to take another step forward. It was as though the second they took that first step into the forest, everything they heard of, all the monsters and nightmares, all the stories, they would become true. There they stood in front of the place that most of them had feared when they were younger, a place of horror and death.

It looked so… normal.

Hiei stood the closest to it, seeming impatient with them all, even more so than before. However, no one was paying attention to him, instead transfixed with the ordinary-looking trees in front of them.

"Deep in the most deadliest of forests…" Sango began the legend.

"…protected by the creatures of nightmares and lethal curses…" her cousin, Shizuru, took up the tale.

"I feel oddly disappointed," Yusuke announced to no one in particular, interrupting their recitation. "This is what people are afraid of?"

"Even the most timid-seeming animals have claws," Miroku reminded his friend. He didn't even bother looking at him when he said it, his gaze fixed ahead.

"Like bunnies?" Sango asked with a small smile. She was trying to make light of the situation because, truth was, she was nervous about what they would face once they entered.

Yusuke sent her a questioning look. "Do bunnies even have claws?"

"Are you kidding me?" Shizuru answered, giving him a 'you're-an-idiot' look, while Sango began, "well, yeah—"

"Yes, they do, but what I meant is we don't know yet what lies inside," Miroku interrupted.

"So it's like a chest that we don't know what's inside and when we open it…" the fighter began.

"Big surprise," Shizuru finished.

"Surprise, bunnies?"

There was silence as they stared at Yusuke.

"Yes. Yes there are bunnies with claws inside the chest," Sango replied dryly, "that's the big, nasty surprise."

"I've known you two days, your intelligence level is already worrying me," Shizuru muttered mostly to herself, but referring to Yusuke.

Meanwhile, Botan had taken a step forward, her eyes closed. "How are you guys joking?" Her voice was sharp and entirely serious, which was odd coming from her. Her bubbly personality usually spilled into her voice, but it was gone when she spoke those words. The three that had been joking immediately silenced, their smiles disappearing as they grew solemn once more.

"Don't you feel it? There's power surrounding the place. So much of power..."

She took another step forward, but was thrown out of her trance when her foot met something hollow. Her eyes snapped back open and she looked down. "What's this?" she asked, her voice back to normal. A few let out small sighs, the solemn mood gone, replaced by a lighter atmosphere.

Botan knelt and grabbed the object, bouncing back up to her feet. "Oh, it's a sign!" She then frowned. "I can't read any of this though." She turned toward the rest of the group, standing a few feet behind her. "I think it's written in the Old Tongue."

"But when you did magic you said…" Sango began, but didn't finish, not remembering the words she had spoke.

Botan nodded. "I can speak it. Never learned to read it though."

"If I may," Kurama asked politely. Botan walked closer and handed it to him, while Kagome looked down, catching a glimpse of the sign. After a few seconds of studying it, the redhead spoke. "To all those who enter here…" Kurama read.

"Death awaits you," Kagome finished soberly, speaking for the first time in awhile.

Yusuke looked at her strangely. "Okay… I get genius boy over here being able to read it, but why can you?"

Kagome's face flushed as all their attention drew to her and she quickly tried to find a lie that would work. "My, er, father… he was a scholar and he taught me. Yeah, he taught me to read and all…"

Truthfully, it had been her father who taught her, but it was because it was part of her education as a noble as well as something he wanted to teach her. Not many people still knew the Old Tongue, but since he did he passed the skill on to his daughter.

The group seemed satisfied with the answer, though Miroku gave her a withering look at her near escape and Botan looked like she might start bursting out with giggles. Okay, so lying wasn't really her thing. But they believe her and that was all that mattered, right?

With nothing more to say, Kagome hopped down from stallion and went to the other horse, unlatching her bag as did Botan. Meanwhile Kurama and Miroku worked on unsaddling the two animals. Kagome did not want to bring them into the forest where they'd be put in danger, especially if all was said about the place was true. While Yusuke had disagreed, it was ultimately her decision. It was still her journey and she'd make the decisions. Though she wasn't sure she really wanted that responsibility.

Once Miroku spent the horses galloping away, Kagome turned her attention back to the deadly forest in front of her. She bowed her head, saying a silent pray to the Goddess, as she had done so often since Inuyasha's illness became known. Please, guide me. I don't know where to go or even if I'll find what I'm looking for. I need strength for the journey ahead. And… I'm not sure I can do it alone.

Then again, she wasn't alone, was she?

She glanced at each of her new allies, different emotions shining on each of their face, or in Hiei's case, lack there of. Still, between them all she saw determination along with some nervousness, but their eagerness overran any doubtful emotions. Just looking at them… she was ready.

"Alright, let's go in."

Their true journey had begun.