A/N: So I /did have this cool thing going where each story arc was seven chapters long...emphasis on the /did.

O/20: Hiei, Kurama and Yukina all return from their trials; Yusuke, Kuwabara and Misaki taking their turns. Yusuke just picked something up in a cave, Kuwabara just got shoved into a tent at the fair and Misaki just died…

Yusuke realized that it wasn't the object talking to him. The voice came from a couple of meters away, standing in the middle of the more open, well-lit part of the cave.

Yusuke stepped into the light.

The figure was a darkly robed man, nothing on his face but a mouth.

"So…I'm supposed to fight you?" Yusuke asked.

The man nodded.

Yusuke shrugged, "Okay."

His fist shrouded in spirit energy, Yusuke pulled him arm back to deliver a bone-crushing punch.

He stumbled forward when the man disappeared, recovering quickly and crouching as his eyes swept the cave around him.

Yusuke became aware that the thing he had picked up was slimy and…moving.

Giving a little shout of surprise, Yusuke dropped it to the floor.

The heart lay on the ground, pulsing slightly and Yusuke quickly wiped his hand on his pants, making a face.

"Please don't do that."

Looking to his left, Yusuke saw the faceless man frowning.

"I still use it you know. It isn't as if this sort of arrangement is permanent."

"Oh gross!" Yusuke wiped his hand on his pants again. "That's disgusting."

"You might want to pick it up-"

"I don't think so!" Yusuke blanched.

"If I get to it, you lose." The man seemed to be floating forwards slowly.

…

"Come in! Come in!" Someone cackled.

Kuwabara stood just inside the musty tent, moving forward at the invitation.

There was a woman behind a table, crystal ball in place just shy of her fingers.

"It smells." Kuwabara scrunched his nose up.

"Take a seat." The woman gestured to the chair near him, on the other side of the table. Her oily smile matched the condition of her hair.

Every time the gypsy moved her patched clothing tinkled, the heavy skirt and top covered with semi-bright knick-knacks, her shawl the same. There were several gaudy rings on each of her hands, sometimes more than one per finger. Her nails were long and the deep blue polish was cracked in places. Her jewelry did not only cover her hands, there were bracelets on her bony wrists, numerous dangling earrings in her ears. As for her face…there was way too much make up in way too intense colors.

"My good man," Her eyes were expressive, due to the massive eyeliner, "I want to let you know that my associate out there, the one who pointed you in my direction, has been informed to only allow a select few into my tent. He has an eye for character and can pick someone with high morals out of a dense crowd."

Near her knee, at about the height of the table, was a small stool with a bowl, warm coals in it. Hooked over the edge was a ladle which she picked up, scooping water out of a bucket at her feet and pouring it over the coals. A steam filled the room.

Kuwabara sat up straighter. Kuwabara was the most honorable person he knew. Of course that man could pick him out of a crowd.

"Something about your eyes." The gypsy continued, "Yes, I see it now. There is no doubt." She nodded wisely. "You are the best person I've seen in years. I would say that without a doubt I can trust you with what I'm going to say next."

Kuwabara grinned, liking her more with each passing moment.

"I have a proposition for you." She put her elbows on the table and leaned forward confidentially.

…

The cave disappeared for Misaki. Everything disappeared for Misaki. She stood in darkness, unable to even see her hand in front of her face.

Way ahead of her a small pool of light with no obvious source shone faintly and so she walked towards it.

"Stop."

Misaki's feet were rooted to the ground, the pool of light no closer than it had been when she started out.

"Your lack of ability physically shall be tested mentally."

Misaki groaned. She knew the whole riddle episode wasn't over, she just knew it.

"Answer correctly or pay with your life."

"Same 'ole, same 'ole." Misaki sighed.

"The part of the bird, not in the sky, swims in the sea and yet remains dry."

Misaki and Eldred had once gone through a riddle phase and this was among the ones they asked one another.

"The shadow."

Misaki felt the floor beneath her move and the light was closer.

"What makes more noise dead than alive?"

Again, this was a familiar one.

"Leaves."

She moved along the floor again.

"What fills up a room, but take up no space?"

Surprised and pleased Misaki was that all of the riddles were ones she had heard before. "Air."

The light was obviously quite near.

"A man is caught by cannibals and in order to decide how they will kill him, they allow him to make one statement. If what he says is false, he will be boiled in oil. If what he says is true, he will be tossed into a bonfire. The man thinks for a moment, and then makes his statement. The cannibals are put into a bit of a bind by his words and they let him go. What did the man say?"

Misaki opened her mouth but she hadn't heard this one before. She supposed the man just changed sizes. "Wait, what?"

"Can you repeat the riddle?"

The riddle was said again. Definitely no mention of anything that had to do with changing sizes. What made her think of that?

Misaki shook her head, focusing more on the question. One statement.

"'You will boil me in oil.' If they do so, his statement will be true and they must throw him in the bonfire, thus making what he said false and forcing them to boil him in oil."

Misaki jerked her head around. She hadn't said anything!

The ground moved underneath her and she stood in the pool of light.

"I am tired of people answering my questions for me!" She shouted at no one in particular.

"Would you rather die and start all over again?"

"Oh no…" Misaki knew that voice. Velvety. Almost to the point of disturbance.

"I said, would you rather die and be forced to start all over again?"

Standing just at the edge of the light, face shadowed, was the man from Amureo's pool. The walking Jeopardy. The dragon who rampaged in her forest. The man who saved her life. And the man who took her arm.

"YOU!" Misaki shouted, remembering. "Give me my arm!"

"What?" He truly seemed confused.

Misaki marched over to him, death in her eyes, "Or should I rip off your own instead?"

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." He frowned, "And you still haven't answered my question."

"I would rather die." She answered it.

He stepped completely into the light, a small smile on his face, "You don't really mean that."

"Oh, I really do. I'd much prefer death to your presence."

"I'm flattered." He inclined his head slightly.

"Don't be." Her voice was flat.

His amethyst eyes shimmered in the light. There was something different about him. The last time they had met, just as Yukina stumbled to the step of Misaki's house, Misaki's sixth sense had been going off like crazy. This time he seemed calm and reposed.

"Now what's this about an arm? It appears to me that you have both of yours." He reached over brushed a hand against her new arm.

Eyes still glaring at him, she flinched involuntarily.

"I see." His gaze was knowing and he drew back his hand. "So it's new."

…

Cringing, Yusuke picked up the heart, trying to steel himself to the steady beat that now pulsed in his hand.

"It doesn't seem that taking it from you will be a problem. You're barely able to hold onto it now." The man kept advancing, Yusuke taking a step or two back.

"I've got it, why am I not leaving? I just gotta collect this item right? Well it's been collected." He tried not to make a face.

"I'm afraid that is only half of it. You have to defeat me in order to activate the portal that will take you back."

"That's exciting. You don't mind if I make this quick do you? I don't want to hold onto this any longer than I have to."

"By all means. 'Make this quick.'" The man shrugged.

Yusuke pointed his finger at the faceless man who regarded him thoughtfully.

"That's right. Just stand right there." Yusuke mumbled, smiling a little. "Spirit Gun!"

…

"Whaddya need from me little lady? I'll help yah in any way I can!" Kuwabara said gallantly, though he fought to keep his eyes open. He didn't want to be rude, but he was feeling quite tired.

"I never had a doubt that you would." She assured him.

The steam had lessened and to keep the mood she reached over and absently poured more water over the coals.

"Is there anyone here with you? I wouldn't want to keep them waiting."

"Oh, it's fine!" Kuwabara grinned, "It's only Urameshi. And Hiei. And Kurama." He counted on his fingers, "Oh, and Yukina! She's my favorite."

"So, what brings you here?"

"Well, you see," Kuwabara scratched his head, "You know…I don't really know. There were these people and they told us that we had to take Misaki…somewhere…"

"The Ansatsusha? She is with you?" The gypsy's voice was a trifle more anxious.

"Who? Oh! You mean Misaki? Yeah I guess people sometimes call her that." His mouth hung open in a stupor, "I don't really understand it though. Assassin? It doesn't make sense." He leaned forward confidentially, "Do you know why they call her that? I won't tell, honest!"

"You must have come here for the Oracle." The gypsy said absentmindedly.

"Yeah! That was it!" Kuwabara slouched back in his chair, looking at the ceiling. "The Oracle…"

The gypsy waved her hands over her crystal ball, giving a small gasp of astonishment.

"What? What!" Kuwabara exclaimed, gazing into the crystal.

"These…these people you are with… No, it can't be!" She looked again.

"What can't be?"

The gypsy glanced around suspiciously before crooking a finger at him and gesturing him closer. "I only tell you this because I care. These people that you are with…they're going to kill you."

"What?"

She shook her head sadly, "They're afraid that you're going to find the Oracle before them, that you will be the hero of the story!"

"I am the hero of the story!" Kuwabara stuck out his chest.

Taking a deep breath, she considered him gravely. "I have never met one like you. And so I will do this thing for you. I will get rid of the others. You will be able to find the Oracle, unhindered! Your praises will be sung throughout all history!"

…

"What do you want?" Misaki demanded.

"I'll give you what you want, if you agree to do something for me."

"A trade?" Misaki wasn't about to fall for any cheap tricks. Not now. Her guard was up.

"Yes, I suppose 'trade' is a decent enough word for it." He agreed.

"What could you possibly have that I want?" The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.

"Information."

She scoffed, "I think it would be wise to take anything you say with a grain of salt."

"Then, what about relieving you of a bit of your mortality?"

Misaki was all ears for that one. Was he serious?

"I guess that could be considered to hold some sort of value with me." She didn't want to let him know that he had her right where he wanted her. She would do basically anything for him at that moment. "But then, what could I give you in return?"

He took a step closer, uncrossing his arms from his chest.

Her stance shifted, defenses raised almost automatically. He could sense this.

"I harbor nothing against you." He raised his hands so that they were in view.

Misaki's posture didn't change.

He shrugged. "I know what lies in your path. There are six of you, too many to be taken across the waters. And the air is dangerous, you know this."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I can give you dragon's blood."

Misaki didn't doubt that, considering his true form. But dragon's blood was fickle.

"I'm offering it to you, it comes freely. Thus, it will do you no harm."

She had heard this. If dragon's blood was stolen from the dragon without its permission, the result was deadly. If the dragon offered, a high honor, then the blood would grant…well, that part of it remained a mystery that most did not know. And others had searched hard for the answer, Misaki thought irritatingly.

"With what you are, the blood will react differently with you than with others. I'm sure you can guess at the result, but it will not last long as your body will burn through it rather quickly. However, what it leaves behind is what interests you the most: it will restore a little of your former power."

"Only a little?" Misaki knew exactly what the 'result' would be.

He nodded, "You will no longer be mortal, but I would not suggest any great undertakings."

"What if it doesn't restore any power?"

"It will." He assured her, "But in the odd case that it doesn't, you are no worse for the ware as I am offering it."

Misaki considered his words. She couldn't see anything wrong with that. "Again I ask, what would I do for you?"

"A simple task. Leave this place." He gestured around him, "Continue to the Oracle."

"That is not all." There had to be something else. There was always something else. It was never that easy. And yet her body ached with the knowledge that even a part of her mortality could be banished, the solution standing not half a meter away.

"I admit that there is more to it than that. Essentially, I wish for you to carry my blood out of the cave."

She still remained suspicious. "So, I drink blood, your side of the deal, and I take blood with me, my side."

"No, you misunderstand." He smiled, the facets of his eyes glowing, "All of that is your part of the trade. The drinking, the taking. My part is the information I offered before."

Misaki couldn't see anything wrong with it, and she scrutinized it well. He got the bad end of the deal. She got rid of some of her mortality and she got information that she apparently wanted. Even if the information was worthless, she still got the blood.

"Deal?" He held out his hand.

"Deal." She shook it, noticing that he was kind enough to let her shake with her good hand.

"Wonderful." He smiled again.

-lotsm