An Hour Later

Boton had returned to pick up the four boys and they had entered into her portal. "Alright boys here we are," was the only thing that Boton said as they came out the other side.

"What the hell Boton?! I thought Koenma said that they lived in a castle?" Yusuke exclaimed as he looked around at the dense woods that surrounded the clearing that they had appeared in.

"Well," Boton replied looking sheepish. "They do, but unfortunately only the Lord and Lady have the power and ability to simply appear in their home or the two miles surrounding it. Not even the other lords have the ability. So you have to simply walk up to the castle. It's right over that way," Boton explained as she pointed behind Yusuke in the direction of the setting sun.

"Thank you, Boton," Kurama replied as he waved to her and along with the other three turned to head towards the castle; Yusuke muttering to himself all the way.

Two miles and a lot of Cussing Later

"Well, I guess this is the place," Yusuke muttered as he and Kuwabara looked up in wonder at the castle before them.

They stood before the gates of the palace which seemed immense by themselves and seemed to be made of some sort of plant, though it was designed like a highly decorative iron gate. Beyond the massive gates was the castle itself. It seemed to cover all of the land around it and looked as if it could have been right out of the childhood fairytales. Beautiful gardens were everywhere with every type of flower imaginary. There were normal and demon plants too by the looks of it.

"I have heard that the Lady of this castle takes kindly to all matter of flora and that the gardens her were of her own making. That is except for the one. It is a rose garden that contains roses of all colors and breeds. It is said that it was a gift from the Lord in order to gain her affections over 400 years ago. I once tried to sneak into the castle and see this garden for myself but was unfortunately unsuccessful in ever finding it," Kurama stated as the boys continued to stare in all at the sight before them. Hiei simply 'hn'ed and glanced at the gate.

The castle itself was of a gray stone that had warm earthy tones scattered through out as the sun set for the night. It was several stories talk and stood back from the gates by at least half a mile. There were several wings, though it was hard to tell much else seeing how they were still a bit far from it.

"What is your business here coming unannounced?" The four heard a stern male voice from out of no where. Hiei quickly grabbed the hilt of his sword and looked around. While at the same time the others all got into fighting stance and did the same. "I will not repeat myself again, state your business here. If you have none, leave or die where you stand."

Kurama quickly spoke, for he found that the voice was coming from a newly bloomed flower at the center of the gate. "We were sent on Lord Koenma's orders to act as guards for the up coming meeting of the Lords and Ladies of the Lands."

There was silence for a moment before they heard the voice reply, "Very well, proceed up to the courtyard and await further instruction there." And with that the gate grew back far enough for the four boys to enter in a single file line. As the last one came though, who happened to be Kuwabara, the boys watched as the gate quickly regenerated itself into the gate once more.

"Umm, I guess we better keep going towards the castle," Kuwabara stated after shaking of the creepy feeling of being caged in.

"Yes, I would hate to remain on even the grounds as night approaches. Besides, it is getting late," Kurama stated as he and Hiei both began the half mile trek towards the castle with Yusuke and Kuwabara falling in behind.

During the whole walk to the castle it was unusually silent, not a complaint or protest coming from Yusuke or Kuwabara. Not a word was spoken between any of them. And about twenty minutes later they arrive in what seemed to be the castles courtyard. As the sun had gone down it was hard to see anything outside of the courtyard's light due to the moonless night and the star filled sky. But the courtyard itself was lit with torches and small lights seemed to glow in the air and in the bushes and plants of the garden there.

The fountain in the middle caught all of their attentions. It was a young girl with a small ponytail on the side of her head wearing a checkered kimono. Through out her hair small stone flowers were woven and in her hand she held a necklace that seemed to be made of flowers as well. But what drew their attention the most was the expression on the stone girl's face. She seemed to be smiling up at the night sky with a look of awe, respect, and admiration in her eyes and features.

"Ah I see you have found the fountain," a soft feminine voice flowed out across the courtyard and into the ears of the four. They quickly turned around, startled and feeling slightly foolish for being caught off guard. A figure stood facing them with their back to the torch light, causing it to cast a shadow across their face and being. They could simply make out the individual's silhouette that seemed to be wrapped and draped in a cloak. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," a giggling voice replied as the melodic words once more floated across the courtyard to them, as if upon a wind. "I have simply come to show you all to your rooms."

Kurama bowed to the individual before replying, "Thank you. We are sorry to have kept you waiting with our staring."

"Not at all, I often stop to gaze up at the statue of Rin."

"Rin?" Kuwabara questioned.

"Yes, she was the child of a demon slayer and a monk and was alive about 500 years ago. She was only a human, just as her parents were. The monk and demon slayer had been allies of my lord and the child and he met before the separation of the worlds. She loved flowers, though unfortunately, like the flowers that she loved, she too wilted and died away," the figure stated with saddened voice. "I am simply happy that she was able to find a man who loved her and gained the acceptance of her friends and family. They had many children whose descendants are still present in the human world today."

The five figures in the courtyard once more look up at the statue of the fountain in silence.

"Well, enough of reminiscing. It is high time that I show all of your where you will be staying." With that the figure turned and began to head into the castle.

The entrance way was grand and large, as would be expected of any lord's castle. Candles and torches lined staircase and hallways leading out of the entrance at intervals, well all except for one.

"What with that hall?" Yusuke questioned pointing in the direction of the dark and unlit way.

"That is the hall to the West Wing. None may enter it at this time of night. The lights will turn on every where should a soul, living or dead, enter into it with out the Lord and Lady's allowance. Both are gone from the wing and it is a way at night to see quickly all those who enter it uninvited in the night. Now come, you will be staying in the East Wing. There all of the servants stay. You will see where the soldiers and guards sleep tomorrow when the Lady comes to you," the individual replied as they were lead down the hallway to the East Wing to their new rooms.

After a flight of stairs, several corners, along with a few twists and turns the detectives found themselves stopping behind their guide. "This will be your room. I hope you will find it comfortable and large enough for all four of you. Right next to your balcony and window is a tree with branches that are most comfortable if any one is interested in using them during their stay. Every couple of rooms has its own tree for just such purposes. Now good night, and remain in the room tomorrow until you have been summoned." With those final bits of information the figure departed from them with a bow and headed back down the hallway towards the entrance.

"Wonder why they have trees by the windows," Kuwabara ventured.

"I believe it is in memory of the Lord's half-brother," was all that Kurama stated as he opened the door to their room and walked in with the others following.

The room was huge to say the least. There were four beds, one positioned with its back to each of the four walls. To the right of where they were standing were the windows that inevitably lead to the balcony and the tree right below it. To their left was another door which they quickly discovered to contain a small, private hot springs along with a powder room off to the side: which included two sinks and a toilette. In the far corner of the hot springs room appeared to be a shower should one wish to bath there instead.

Returning once more to their room they looked around and saw the trunks with strange locks at the foot of each bed for their personal belongs.

"What with the weird design?" pointed out Yusuke.

"It is a way to lock your belongs in the trunk so that only you can open it. You simply put a bit of your energy into the lock and it will either open or shut. If you want certain others to be able to get into the trunk as well, then they simply put a small amount of their energy into the lock as well when you fist set it. You must put your energy into the lock each time after you open it in order to reseal it. It basically resets after every use," Kurama stated, once again supplying the answer.

"Awesome!" both Kuwabara and Yusuke replied.

"Now I suggest we get to bed," Kurama explained while the two remaining detectives put away their belongings. Hiei had already vanished through the open balcony windows to the tree below.