CrazyDreamerGirl: Alright OVER 100 reviews! It's time to celebrate! -does a stupid dance- Ahem, now onto thanking people. I want to thank Rei Minamino, sleep all day rock all night, JoannaKuwabara, Time and Fate, Easy-Company-506/101, ficfan3484, Soul's Eclipse, Hirina, shadowyoukokitsune, Paksennarion ( ) for making this possible! I am so happy.

Disclaimer: I don't anything except for some dvds and merchandise and this cool Yu Yu Hakusho calendar I have hanging next to me. I have OVER 100 reviews!

The Feudal Era Across the Street:

Chapter 16: The Mysterious Cave

They easily walked the mile that separated the village and the cave. As they neared the cave, the weather changed from heat to snow. It was strange, if they took a couple steps toward the village, it would be hot, but a couple steps toward the cave, there would be snow. Yes, this guardian was either very gifted or had the power of the jewel shards on his or her side.

"I am so glad we have people that say the weather every stinkin' mornin'!" Yusuke exclaimed as half of him stood in the heat wave and the other half in the snow.

"I can't wait till this is over with!" Inuyasha also complained. It's not very nice being bare footed in snow.

"Shut up, both of you," Kagome said. She was very tired of the complaining.

"I know! Short stack can melt the snow for us!" exclaimed Kuwabara.

"Why on earth would I want to waste my energy for something so trivial?" Hiei retorted.

"Because you care about us?" Kuwabara asked hopefully.

"Me? Care about you?" Hiei asked and he had a hard time supressing his laughter.

"What? It could happen!"

Yusuke and Kurama shook their heads. If Hiei started to care about Kuwabara, then the apocalyspe is here, then again, even that wouldn't happen at the end of the world.

"Let's just go in!" Yusuke shouted suddenly.

"Well, if you haven't noticed, I'm not wearing shoes!" Inuyasha shouted angrily.

"So, the people with shoes will go in," Kuwabara chimed in.

"Well, it's the most logical thing we've heard so far and besides, the rest of us should stay behind. If this is a demon's fault, then maybe it has minions that might attack the village if it finds out we are plotting to get rid of it," Miroku stated.

"So, it's decided then," Sango said.

"I'll stay behind, I'm wearing sandals," said Miroku.

"I'll stay behind too, it's too cold in there with this skirt," added Kagome.

"Take Kilala with you," said Sango as she handed Kilala to Kagome, "I'm also going."

"Okay, then, me, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, and Sango are going in," Yusuke said.

"No way! I'm going too!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Inuyasha, you're bare footed. Your feet will get frost bitten in there," Kagome retorted, "And besides, there's like a foot of snow and we can't waste time turning back to pick up shoes."

"Feh."

They bid their farewells as Kagome, Miroku, Inuyasha, Shippo, and Kilala traveled back into the oven of a village. The rest stared into the almost frozen cave. As they ventured inside, the air became colder. A frozen wind blew automatically into their faces. The snow crunched under their feet. The stalagmites and stalactites were frozen. The water that dripped off it was frozen in middair and connected to it by a slim piece of ice. There was a bat frozen at the bottom of the cave. "Let's hope we don't end up like that bat," muttered Sango.

The further they went, the colder it became. It also seemed like the snow had become deeper. They were now drudging through knee deep snow. "Is it me or did the snow get deeper?" Kuwabara asked, making sure he wasn't imagining things.

"It's you. Of course it got deeper!" Yusuke shouted angrily.

"Stop arguing, we can't stop now," Kurama said calmly in their situation.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

The rest had arrived at the village awhile ago. They were sitting under the shade of a huge tree, enjoying the weather. Whatever the reason was, the heat wasn't as bad as it was before. Kagome was enjoying the shade, along with Shippo and Kilala who were curled near her, sleeping. Inuyasha was sitting in a tree looking toward the tree houses. Miroku was the only restless one. He was pacing back and forth.

"Miroku, will you rest already?" Kagome asked impatiently, tired of his pacing.

"Huh?" he jerked his head up, "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"About what?" asked Inuyasha, jumping from the tree.

"Well, it doesn't make sense, why is the heat so, well, not as hot as before?" pondered Miroku.

"Maybe the guardian is too busy piling snow into the cave to worry about the village," Inuyasha suggested. Miroku looked a little worried.

"Inuyasha," she scolded, "Don't worry, Miroku, I'm sure Sango's fine. From what we've seen and heard, Yusuke and the others are really strong. Nothing will happen to her when she's with them." But that's what worried Miroku. Although he said himself he would stay behind, he didn't want Sango to be with other men. He didn't expect Sango to tag along. It seems like even the most perverted monk can become jealous.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

They had been traveling for a couple hours in the cave and still no luck. So far it had only been one path. The snow was still the same height, but it had gotten colder. The wind had been persistent and it hurt. Frozen wind constantly being blown into someone's face without that person wearing anything warm is bad.
"Hiei, p-p-p-please make f-f-f-fire," Yusuke stuttered.

"No" was the only response from the fire demon for the last hour.

"F-f-f-fire?" Kuwabara also stuttered.

"It m-m-m-may be c-c-c-cold, but we can h-h-h-handle it," Sango said as she was rubbing her arms for some sort of warmth.

"Look ahead," Kurama said.

"Aren't you c-c-c-cold, Kurama?" Yusuke asked, completely ignoring what he said a second ago.

"No, as a demon I've learned to handle extreme changes in temperatue and if you look ahead, you will see about five different paths we can take," Kurama said.

"F-f-f-fire?" Kuwabara asked again, stuttering. Yusuke put his hand on his shoulder and shook his head.

They stood there examing which path would be best to take.

"If we don't hurry up, I'm gonna freeze to death and I don't wanna die before I'm supposed to be born!" Yusuke shouted and beat the stuttering for this once.

"We c-c-c-can split up," suggested Sango.

"I don't think that would be wise in the condition you three are in," stated Kurama.

"We can t-t-t-take it," said Kuwabara, supporting Sango's idea.

"What if you three suddenly collapse in one of the tunnels. The rest of us won't know until it's too late," said Kurama.

"The fox is right, we can't risk that, besides, I want to bring the end to the idiot," Hiei smirked.

"Hey! If we weren't in this c-c-c-cave freezing our asses off, I would k-k-k-kill you," Kuwabara shouted, he was louder than Yusuke's previous outburst.

"Don't shout that loud. We don't want a cave in," Kurama warned.

"That c-c-c-can happen?" Yusuke asked stupidly. Apparantly the cold was blocking his reasoning.

"Yes, you idiot," Hiei said and rolled his eyes.

"Well, what d-d-do you suggest, Kurama?" asked Sango.

"Kuwabara does have a good sixth sense when it comes to these things."

"If his brain isn't frozen that is. Then again, he doesn't have one," Hiei added to Kurama's statement.

"Hey," Kuwabara said, "But I will see if I c-c-can sense anything." He closes his eyes and barely moved. He raised his hand and pointed to the path on the second to the right.

"Let's go, I ain't getting any warmer," Yusuke announced. Hiei turned around and used his sword to create a marking on the tunnel they came from so they can find their way back.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Kagome decided to explore the village. Maybe she might find some clues about the strange guardian that has suddenly decided to hurt the villagers. First, she tried to speak to the tree house living people, but that was useless. Every single person that lived in a tree house avoided her. I've heard that talking to strangers could be dangerous, but this is ridiculous, Kagome thought.

Kagome continued her walk through the village and found her way to the part of the village with the huts. She found a woman with a small snow storm over her head.

"Excuse me," Kagome called.

"What is?" the woman said, reluctantly turning around.

"I just wanted to ask if you have any idea why the guardian is doing this?" Kagome asked.

"I don't know," she replied, "It's supposed to be a punishment, but all I did was pull weeds from my garden. Just weeds..."

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

The others had been traveling a good distance in the freezing cave. The path Kuwabara had picked wasn't very bad, unless you count the dropping temperature. "I hate you, K-k-k-kuwabara, I bet the other t-t-t-tunnels weren't this cold," said Yusuke, rubbing his arms for warmth.

"Shut up, Urameshi! At least I don't c-c-c-complain all the t-t-t-time," retorted Kuwabara.
"Shut up b-b-b-both of you!" Sango said angrily.

They walked in silence after that. The snow in the tunnel was lessening and lessening. The temperature was also getting warmer.

"See, Urameshi, I was right," Kuwabara proudly said.

"Shut up."

The tunnel was beginning to curve. It almost seemed like a circle. They walked in those curves for more than an hour. The snow drastically increased at one point. "You were wrong," Yusuke said bitterly. They reached an area with five different paths.

"Which one now?" Sango asked. Hiei walked up to one of the tunnel walls and examined it closely.

"We're back were we started," he announced.

"What!" Kuwabara shouted.

"Quiet," Kurama scolded. Kuwabara mumbled a 'sorry.'

"I made a mark on the tunnel wall were we came from and apparently, the path the fool picked for us led us in a circle and brought us back here," explained Hiei.

"We're gonna die in this cave. I just know it," said Yusuke.

I'm sure I was right. What went wrong? thought Kuwabara.

"Can't Hiei use his third eye?" suggested Sango.

"Don't you think I tried? The power used to make this snow is so great that my Jagan can't see through it all," Hiei explained.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Kagome went back into the shade of the tree. Shippo and Kilala had just woken up and Inuyasha was still in the tree, surveying the area. Miroku was sitting down and he seemed to be in deep thought. This is strange. Usually when we come to a new village, Miroku goes straight to the women, Kagome thought.

She sat down next to him and asked, "Is something worng?"

"No, it's just they've been gone for too long."

Inuyasha jumped down and said, "I'm getting shoes and I'm going into that cave."

"Inuyasha!" scolded Kagome.

"No demon has attacked. No demon will ever attack. Let's go," he said irritably. Miroku stood up. He took out a two pairs of new shoes. He smirked.

"I like the way you think, Miroku," Inuyasha smirked and took a pair.

"Oh, and what about me? If you haven't noticed I'll freeze my but off," Kagome said. Miroku went to a nearby tree and pulled a pair of pants he had hid earlier.

"Did you steal this?" Kagome asked.

"Um, I wouldn't call it stealing per say. More like borrowing without any intention of returning," he said. She rolled her eyes, but gladly accepted it.

"See that wasn't too hard, now onward to the cave!" Inuyasha said and pointed to the cave's direction.

"What about Kilala and me?" Shippo asked, spoiling his mood. Inuyasha hit him on the head. "Ow!"

"Sit."

"We can wrap Kilala and you in warm blankets," Miroku suggested.

"Don't tell me you stole blankets and hid it in that tree over there," Kagome said, pointing to the tree on the right.

"Actually, it's this tree." He pointed to the tree on the left of the tree Kagome pointed to. She sweat dropped.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

CrazyDreamerGirl: Hey! I can't believe I've reached OVER 100 reviews! I feel so special! I'm gonna clarify some things. Kilala didn't go in the beginning because, even though she's a fire cat, I don't think she would survive long in the freezing temperature. Now, if you watched the later episodes of Yu Yu Hakusho, you'll know why Hiei can survive in freezing temperatures. If you just watch the ones on Cartoon Network, well, it's a major spoiler. If you really want to know, leave me your e-mail address or indicate that I can find it on your homepage and I'll tell you.

School is just piling on the work. I just got through five tests and four were in the same day! Here are the replies:

Rei Minamino: I totally agree!

sleep all day rock all night: Thank you!

JoannaKuwabara: Thanks, I'm glad you like it.

Time and Fate: Oh.

East-Company-506/101: I kinda think they're both equal in Yusuke's eyes, but air conditioning is better.

ficfan3484: Yeah, it would be fun!

Soul's Eclipse: Nice nice review review!

Hirina: My favorite color is red and I prefer Pepsi. Those are really random questions by the way, but I don't care. I'm really random too.

shadowyoukokitsune: Don't be fooled by what everything says. (hint, hint!)

Paksennarion ( ): Yeah, I've seen Hiei asleep in a couple episodes and he is cute like that, but I still like Kurama better.