Ryan and Shawn returned to where they were split up. " What's going on?" Ryan said. " What's up bro? I just fought this tough demon and I didn't even need a Concentration Ring. "

" That's nice," Shawn said. " You were giving the Concentration Ring while I was giving the Demon Compass and the Psychic Spyglass. Everything around me becomes transparent. And my Demon Compass allows me to find where the rest of the demons are hiding, which according to my compass is close." Shawn felt a ringing in his pocket. Shawn pulled out his Communication Mirror. The blue-haired spirit Botan was translucent in the mirror. " Botan?"

" Hello Shawn," Botan said, her voice was happy. Botan was the spirit that brought Shawn and Ryan to the Spirit World where they awaited their trials.

" Hi Botan," Ryan said, jumping in front of the mirror. Shawn grabbed his immature brother's hair and pushed him away.

" Are you calling to tell us help is coming?" Shawn asked.

" Unfortunately you two are on your own," she said. " Koenma would like to speak to you, Shawn?"

" What about me?" Ryan said. " I want to talk to Botan"

Shawn pushed Ryan to the ground. The mirror wasn't the only thing translucent in this store. Shawn sighed. There was never any piece when someone was around Ryan. Classrooms were disturbed by his snoring coming from his low attention span. When an awesome movie was playing he'd sneak behind you and yell very loud into your ears. And he had this loud rumbling noise in his room Shawn wasn't sure what it was, but it was as loud as a military air show where the planes descend over your house and you hear the sound wave.

Koenma appeared in Shawn's mirror. Shawn recognized him by his red-irises and his brown eyes, and that small blue pacifier in his mouth. Shawn was surprised Koenma's voice wasn't muffled even though he always spoke with the pacifier in his mouth.

" Shawn," he said. " I don't want to intrude right now, but this battle is escalating. We found Floodgates on the basement floor."

" Pffffftttt!" Ryan blew a raspberry into Koenma's screen. " Floodgates? Are they going to drown all of us with water?"

" Excuse my brothers misdemeanor, sir. "I'm sure that we can handle this situation maturely, just like the responsible adults that we are. Why don't you tell us what a Floodgate is."

" Certainly. Have you ever heard of Matter Transportation and Portals?"

" I have," Ryan said. " Beam me up, Scotty. We will return to the Enterprise. Get it? I'm making fun of Star Trek."

" Ryan, shut up," Shawn said. " I understand you're talking about taking something and teleporting it to another realm?"

" Correct. A group of demon marauder's stole these Floodgates. They're very difficult to destroy. As long as they're open demons can pass freely through to the human world. Normally only a few demons can come to the human world because we have servicemen like you to safeguard different cities of different towns."

" Is that all we are to you?" Ryan shouted. " Just two boys who will protect you and this resilient world? We are nothing but pawns to you?"

" Ryan, one more word and I will bash your teeth open. Koenma knows we're versatile. It means we adapt to whatever situation comes our way. You call us pawns, Ryan, but Koenma needs us. If he didn't need us why would he bring us back to life? Because we weren't suppose to die that day."

" Thank you, Shawn. You have to be careful. But you also have to be very fast. The longer you wait the stronger the portal will be. There are some demons who even know necromancy. If you want to avoid war you have to start with the leader."

" The leader? The leader is the demon with the strongest Youki?" Ryan asked.

" Yes. That's the one we'll fight. We'll take down him, than we'll destroy all the weak cowards."

XXX

Three humanoid demons were playing poker at a card table, dealing out. Then one demon hears a noise. He approaches a reinforced door. He slid open the viewing slot and peered through. He looked left and right, there was nobody outside. The demon turns back to his poker buddies, shrugging.

" Nobody's th-"

A giant blue claw ripped through the door and sliced the demon like a piece of baloney. The two other demons stand up, two small beams of spirit energy hit them directly in their foreheads as their heads explode. Ryan and Shawn walk in. Ryan's index fingers were burning from the Spirit Gun he used and he blew out the smoke.

" That's it. No more Spirit Gun," Shawn said.

" At least I've got mace."