There were lots of corpses here too, lying just as they had fallen. The head of one rested in some tall grass. Another was on its back in a small stream. Still another was entangled grotesquely with a yet another. The snow and wind had washed the blood away, and in the snowlight the dead flesh looked like fish scales. All around them was the lonely winter litany of freezing wind in the distance, with snow crunching underfoot. The bodies were frozen solid, for the most part, some turning a pale shade of azure…it was…words could not describe.

"I fear it is no longer safe here as well…"

How did they find the location? Had someone tipped them off? Was there a trap laying in wait inside the mouth of the cave, towering a few feet above even Kuwabara, and wide enough for all six of them to stand shoulder to shoulder. Wait…six? Yusuke turned quickly, spotting the intruder beside Botan. A small, wrangly looking demon with a pale, off color flesh that seemed ridden with cuts and bruises…likely a lower class, maybe a C, but that was beside the point, someone had snuck up on them, and not even Kuwabara had noticed…

"Tsk tsk."

The raspy voice sounded out as Yusuke swung his leg in a valiant effort to kick…only hitting air as the demon had vanished and reappeared a few steps back.

"Okay, now you're pissing me off."

"Pity I can't stay and KILL you then…but Yukario would likely love to know this information…the Spirit Detective of Earth has arrived to try and stop him…this will be amusing…"

"About as amusing as my fist in your face, huh?!"

Another valiant effort of a swung, Yusuke moving as fast as he could, but it seemed the demon's speed was somewhere near Hiei's, as he was gone again…Not even Kuwabara could keep track of the demon's leave…but the air fell silent again with the presence gone…

"Dammit, now they know we're here."

"All the more reason to stay in the cave."

"Have you lost your mind, Hiei? If we stay here all those scary demons are gonna come after us, and I don't know about you, but I don't want to die facing an army all at once!"

"Calm yourself, Kuwabara…Hiei has a point. If we do stay where they know we are, then they would send someone after us. The point being, someone we could capture and interrogate, of if they do send a small force, it would be better to be ready and prepared rather then taken by surprise in this forest. It appears there is something…peculiar about these woods. I did not sense his presence coming…facing them from a single direction we know they would be approaching us from would be the best choice. Don't you agree, Yusuke?"

"Well I suppose that's a good idea…"

"He wasn't talking to you, you oaf. What do you say, Spirit Detective?"

Yusuke was still standing where the demon had vanished from, fists clenched as he thought about it…that certainly wouldn't go unpunished, that was certain…Urameshi was rather set at this point…the demon camp was going to be demolished likely on principle alone. And because they pissed him off.

"Sounds good, let's get set up then. I want to get looking for these guys…"

"Splitting up would not be wise."

"I don't care if it's wise…I'm going to do it."

"That sounds like our Yusuke…Oh dear…"

Botan and the others were already walking into the cave, carrying the last of the supplies…but…Yusuke still hadn't moved. This was just a tiny bit personal…and in the distance, he swore he saw that same demon appear…just…watching. At least they had a name now…

"Yukario…"

A turn as the Spirit Detective faced the cave, not entering, instead picking up the bodies, one by one, and piling them off to the side to make a funeral pyre later, though it likely wouldn't last long in these temperatures, the bodies deserved some kind of burial…It just wasn't right to be left dead like that…If they'd just been a bit sooner…if they'd just…

"There was nothing you could have done."

A voice, from nowhere once more…the male turned, expecting to see some monstrous demon from the low, solemn tone of the voice…but instead no one was present.

"One can not extend outside of their reach…you will merely fall."

Again it sounded…cold…maybe a tiny bit soothing, or was that just imagination…it was undoubtedly male…however it didn't exactly sound like a demon. Maybe like one of the demons from the tournament, but not a demon alike the average lower classes that Yusuke often fought…no…this one was…different. Hell, he almost sounded human…but how human? Was it even a demon…?

"You can go ahead and show yourself, whoever you are…"

The only answer…was naught but silence, and the rustling of the wind through pine trees in the distance…

"I hate this place."

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This one I liked a bit...nah...a lot more. It more the length that kills me...not really enough going on to rightly call it a chapter...but it's how much I sit down and write at a single time. I'm glad to be getting some reviews though, thanks for making them, guys. Maybe two new characters introduced in this chapter, and a few more in the next, hopefully, until the story finally really kicks into gear. There's a lot planned down the pipe...I think...

Also, those of you expecting to see romance? You may or may not be sadly deprived. I haven't decided yet, but just for those of you expecting it, I'm not a fan of yaoi. Or of Yuri. And I am a distinct fan of canon pairings. So. There ya go. shrugs Depends on how I feel when I write!