Yukina had not been into Demon World for more than ten years. More than a a decade ago she'd stepped out of a poorly made portal into a new terrain full of bright colors, sweet smells, and lovely landscapes. The human forest outcropping Tarukane's stronghold had seemed ideal for starting her search to find her twin, but she'd been kidnapped within three days of her maiden voyage. For months, she was locked in a small cell that became her personal hell. Deprive of food, water, and sleep she was beaten, tortured, and raped repeatedly... all for the goal of her tear gems. Humans had seemed just as vile and cruel as demons, and for a while the species merged as Yukina watched Tarukane's thugs march in and out his doors. All claimed they could make her cry. All really just wanted to taste her supple flesh and maybe get a fuck out of it. None of them could comprehend the multi layered nature of koorime. Still, kindness could be found even in the sickest corners of the world, and a few of Tarukane's men had showed her gentleness beyond her wildest dreams. One had brought her books and blankets. One had given her candies covertly, and once even chocolate on a day that he called 'Valentines' along with a thoughtful card. The last had given her hope for freedom... and had been gunned down in the hallway like a dog.

Then a dark stranger came, bringing with him a cloud of menacing cruelty that rivaled even the worst of her rapists. He'd taken from her the only part of her freedom that she still possessed: two little birds. She'd finally broken down, wept, and had lost hope for a few days.

But in those few days everything changed.

A man in a fine blue uniform with curly orange hair had come charging to her rescue wielding a magnificent sword of spirit energy. He'd not been alone, having two friends with him. He'd promised to save her, and even claimed to be in love with her. She'd been highly doubtful at first, but as Tarukane's men began to fall... well.. Yukina felt her heart warming again for the first time in many weeks.

She'd been drug to a room to view the supposed death of her newfound savior. Yet things had not gone as planned for Tarukane. The dark man was felled, her savior was declared the winner, and Tarukane attempted to get out while he could.

And then he'd come.

Like an angel.

She'd met many dark people in her life, but none quite like him. He wore black with a white scarf, with stocky hair sparked by a white starburst. With eyes of menacing crimson that seemed to seethe with an inner fire, he'd beheld Tarukane as if he were a cockroach... and killed his men swiftly with a slashing sword. She'd witnessed killings like this before, but the man did something entirely new.

He stepped in front of her.

And protected her.

Clearly he'd been searching for her, and even proclaimed to have a jagan eye. Yukina was immediately impressed, but her delight turned to horror when the man began to savagely beat Tarukane slowly to death. Her savior down below in the muddy pit had begged the dark warrior not to kill Tarukane, but the man wouldn't stop.

"They're just afraid of justice!" He'd snarled, and in those moments Yukina knew the man had come not for bloodshed or for violence but to save her... and to seek revenge for her pain. The final blow was raised, his fist flew, but Yukina caught him and pleaded with his better nature. She'd expected him to yell at her, and to beat her off his offending arm. Instead he'd consoled her, asked her not to cry, and had dropped Tarukane to the floor.

He was new. He was strange. And he was amazing.

He'd seemed familiar then, in a way Yukina couldn't explain. His eyes were full of a pain she'd known since her infancy. His nose, eyes, and lips, reminded her of her dead mother. His hair was almost pointed like a black flame... and so Yukina had wondered even then if he was her brother.

But he'd denied it.

And she'd momentarily believed it.

Much had passed since that day.

She'd been escorted to the northern provence of Hokkaido where a portal close to the Hyouga lay in a shrouded icy mountain. Kuwabara had begged her not to go, but she'd promised him her heart even while walking away. Hiei had watched her go, and not said a single word... yet Yukina could have sworn she saw violet glow upon his forehead, as if he was still watching her with his jagan. She'd returned to the Hyouga to find it in a poor state full of disease and plague. Rui had been ill even then, and she'd nursed her sordid mother back to health. She'd told Rui of her adventures, and they seemed to fill Rui with a great delight. But even so, her heart was heavy with age, and she asked Yukina to leave once again... and this time not to come back.

Yukina had been shocked, but Rui had pressed further.

"Leave and do not come back... For your mother... For your brother... For us all."

That had been her last request, even as she lay like a child in Yukina's arms.

And so Yukina had snuck out a second time, escaping from underneath the Elder's every prying gaze, vowing never to return.

She'd returned to human world through the same portal in Hokkaido, and had ventured far searching for her brother. She'd been amazed to hear that a tournament was being held on a place called 'Hanging Neck Island', and she'd traveled there at once. Who did she find waiting for her, but the man who'd vowed to save her life... and the man who actually had.

The Urameshi team fought hard, but not without support. Yukina met a wide array of women who were there to support them onto victory, and victory they did claim! Still, she'd found herself in grave danger again, this time against a massive clash of rock and steel- and Hiei had saved her again. They'd barely escaped a collapsing stadium, and when they had they were all very tired. Yukina had ventured home with them, unsure where else to go... and Genkai had offered her a home at her temple. Yukina had worked hard, building a garden and keeping the kitchen cozy. She'd even gotten birds for her room, a few lovely finches, and had felt at home for the first time in a long time... still...

She had a man to find... and no solid leads.

Worlds were saved, worlds were lost... lives came and went. Seasons changed, and the people she came to love grew tall and strong. But the day came when Hiei had to leave... and Yukina did not know where he might go.

She knew she would never find her brother by herself. Who could she turn to in a crisis? But of course... the same man she'd turned to in every crisis: Hiei. She'd given him her hiroseke, told him her miserable tale, and bid him to find her brother.

He'd told her to not waste her life away on a ghost. What an odd thing for her hero to say. But it had fit... as if the words were perfect for the emptiness in her heart.

And so he'd vanished for a very... very very... very long time.

And when he'd returned, he looked old and tired. He was empty handed, and told her her brother was dead. Perhaps Hiei had imagined Yukina to be upset with him because of the news he'd been forced to give, but her heart was simply too happy to see him again to lament for the twin she'd undoubtably never know. She'd held him then, and had told him how happy she was for him to be home.

And he'd seemed utterly lost for words.

"Yukina?"

Yukina looked around, rubbing her weary eyes.

It was late. Very late. Demon world was quiet all around them.

Mukuro lay opposite her in a small campsite hollowed out of an abandoned cave. A dying fire between them kept them warm, and outside their little shelter the forest gleamed with savage life. A fat red moon hung high in the sky, giving little light, but Yukina could still see her companion clearly. She smiled.

"Yes, Mukuro?" Yukina asked.

Mukuro simply stared at her.

"You need to go to sleep." Mukuro grumbled. "I'm not slowing down tomorrow if you're tired or something."

Yukina continued to smile, timidly toying with the frayed hem of Hiei's scarf. Mukuro had worn it all day long as they'd traveled, and so it now smelt of her sweat along with his. Still, Yukina didn't mind. It felt nice to hold these things, and to think of Hiei where ever he might be. Somewhere in the forest, a wolf howled.

"I'm not tired." Yukina paused. "... I'm lonely. And my heart hurts."

"All hearts hurt." Mukuro muttered. "Try to sleep while you can. Your heart won't stop hurting just because you deprive yourself."

"Oh, I'm fine." Yukina assured the older demon, "I'm just... sad." She paused, casting a glance at Mukuro. "I miss him. Don't you?"

Mukuro snorted, looking unamused as she stared at the fire with distaste.

"Oh yes." Mukuro sneered, "I certainly miss his boorish attitude, snide comments... his asshole opinions on everything." Mukuro rolled her one good eye. "Yeah, I miss his shitty-."

"So do I." Yukina giggled, and Mukuro only frowned deeper.

She looked over at Yukina, and her anger seemed to vanish into somber silence.

"... I know you miss him." Yukina added after her laughter died away into respectful quiet. "How could you not when you love him so?"

"Fuck." Mukuro snorted, rolling onto her side so that she no longer had to look at Yukina, "Maybe you are twins. You both annoy me the same. Go the fuck to sleep."

Yukina just smiled.

"What was it like, when you first met him?" Yukina asked. "He saved my life. Did he save yours?"

"OH for the love of-!" Mukuro snarled, jerking up and glaring menacingly at Yukina. Yet for all her attempts to be frightening, Yukina just smiled even more. She put her chin on her fist, waiting for Mukuro's response.

Mukuro's rage faltered, she stared at Yukina for a while as if debating how best to answer her question before finally accepting that, like her brother, Yukina would be impossible to avoid.

"... I demanded his presence. He came. I made him a general of my army." Mukuro responded shortly. "That is all."

"... And when did you fall in love with him?" Yukina asked, curious. "I know it's hard for demons like us to love... most of us just... mate." Yukina shrugged, "But... you love him don't you? That's rare."

Mukuro blinked, blushing a little as she cast her gaze downwards.

"I put up with his shit." Mukuro shrugged.

"That's part of love." Yukina laughed. "That's a great part of love. To deal with each others insanity. Heaven only knows Hiei has many demons that he battles. I see them in his eyes."

"...So do I." Mukuro mused softly.

She gave Yukina another glance.

"... I..." She paused, emitting a low deep sigh. Yukina's expression changed, and her eyes widened as she realized Mukuro was revealing truths to her.

She waited patiently, well practiced in the art of hardened hearts.

"... I... I asked him to slay one hundred men... and he did." Mukuro bit out, "Without question. Without cause. Not once did he pause... until all were dead. I brought Shigure, the jagan master, to him. And I realized in that moment Hiei had not come because I'd asked... He'd come because he wanted to die. And he knew death waited for him in my arms."

Yukina was shocked, but Mukuro continued.

"... They fought. So quickly, so beautifully, like art made from blood and bone... and he lay dying on my floor...and..." Mukuro broke off, staring at the embers which dwindled in their tiny pit.

"... And he showed me his heart." Mukuro whispered. "...And it was home."

Yukina flushed, touched by her words.

"... He showed me every ounce of pain. Every angry moment. Every ugly day. He showed me everything... and at first I thought his life was nothing but hell. But then he showed me every delight he learned from the Mazoku. From the fox, and Kuwabara... He showed me how their friendships had shaped him and his heart... and you." She cast a glance at Yukina. "...You were there, Yukina. So deeply ingrained in his heart."

Yukina felt sorrow weighing upon her chest, and she looked down to not meet Mukuro's eyes.

"I fear I was a burden." Yukina admitted.

"No. You were joy. You were the only joy. When you gave him that stone... he realized that nothing else mattered in life. He'd found you, what he'd wanted all that time. He'd found you, he'd seen you smile... and you'd given him your mothers gem. Everything had come full circle. That's why he wanted to die Yukina. Living didn't matter anymore... Because you'd given him everything life could possibly offer."

Yukina blushed even harder, staring out the cave entrance to the vast forest.

"... I healed him." Mukuro continued on after a moment. "And in return for his gesture, I showed him my mind. I showed him my own past."

"And what is your past." Yukina's voice was toneless from her heavy heart.

"... Slavery. Sex unwanted and feared." Mukuro admitted. "I poured acid over my naked body to disgust my father into not wanting me anymore. It worked, and for my whole life I ran like a heathen through the forest picking up a dangerous reputation. I came to rule the land I'd once crawled upon... but nothing was ever enough. No amount of blood satisfied my angry heart. No amount of crying or pain on my enemies could diminish my own pain... Till..." Mukuro let out an oddly stifled laugh. Yukina cast her a curious look.

"Till?"

"... Hiei- I- It's all rather funny now." Mukuro snorted. "He called me out on my weakness, saying that my father was my personal demon. I hated him then, I wanted to destroy him despite the bond we shared. So I punched him in the gut and flung him through a wall." Mukuro laughed at this, as if it were a gay joke. "...and he left. I thought for good. Till he returned, with a potted plant." Mukuro snickered again. "... My father, a potted plant! How queer!"

Mukuro burst out laughing, and jammed her metal fist into her mouth to cut off the snickering noise.

"...I... I'd never been so moved. He told me he'd entombed my father in a flesh eating plant that would forever root him in a half life... a hellish nightmare. And he said..." Mukuro paused "And he said..."

"He said?" Yukina pressed.

Mukuro smiled.

"...Happy Birthday." Mukuro whispered. "And it was, Yukina. For the first time, it was."

Despite her bizarre turn for the jovial, Mukuro suddenly fell into a serious silence that was only broken by the cracking of embers.

"... I loved him then." Mukuro whispered. "And I haven't stopped since. He's the biggest asshole the world has ever seen. He's mean, he's surly, he never has anything good to say and yet... " Mukuro's gaze did not break from Yukina's own. "... I love him. I think it's the worst possible fate to succumb to. Falling in love with a dick like Hiei. But... oh well." Mukuro shrugged. "I guess I'm tough in my own way as well."

Yukina let out the tinniest of laughs.

For the first time, Mukuro decided not to take offense.

"WHAT?!"

"Just as I said dimwit. All three of them are gone. They've been gone since this morning-"

"And you just let them walk away without any fucking help?! Are you crazy grandma they're going to a death trap!"

"Your obsession with living is boring the rest of us to death, you dirty little punk. Dying is not so atrocious as you make it out to be. If they wish to die then so be it-"

"SO BE IT?! SO BE IT?!"

Genkai winced at the volume of Yusuke Urameshi's voice. Four very angry people glared her down, and despite her best withering looks she could not make a firm enough impression to get them to back off. Kurama, Kuwabara, Keiko, and Yusuke surrounded her in her favorite arm chair, even as she drank her favorite mountain tea and attempted to find some peace in the late afternoon.

Peace be damned, these youngsters were about to have her up against the wall soon enough. Fucking do gooders.

"So be it." Genkai snapped, setting down her tea and fixing Yusuke square in the eye. He glared at her, unshaven and clad in nothing but boxers. To be fair, all three boys looked worse for wear, with Kurama's hair in the nattiest tangle Genkai had ever seen. "Hiei left last night to make good on his promise. When Yukina and Mukuro found out, they decided to follow after. They are taking Hina's charged ashes with them, which will hopefully kill the elder koorime. Then again, maybe not. It's all in their hands now."

"And you didn't try to make them stay?!" Yusuke squalled.

"Why should I." Genkai sneered. "They are following the path they choose. Yukina knows the truth, and she wants to make good on her mother's murder. I don't see why you're so hot and bothered. If you have a problem with it, go after them but I doubt you'll make it far."

"Man I'm so mad at you right now I could- I could-" Kuwabara made a noise like a wounded animal, threatening Genkai with false promises for doom even as his heart raced in his chest.

"You could, you could what." Genkai retorted, "Break my neck? What a shame, you'd be wasting a lot of time... Why not invest your energy in chasing after your dream girl if that's your true intention."

"Careful granny, you're making death sound real appealing." Yusuke ground out through gritted teeth, his amber eyes blazing.

"Genkai is right. We cannot invest our anger this way!" Kurama warned, his voice hardened, "We must move, and quickly, if we wish to catch up with the other three."

"But how will we find the Hyouga?" Kuwabara demanded. "It's like... friggin... I don't even know!" Kuwabara cried out exasperatedly, awash in a flood of fear.

"I don't know either, but I will by the time we're finished!" Kurama snapped.

It seemed that between the insanity of Hiei returning to human world with Mukuro, the battle with Shimo, and the new reveal of three people running wild, Kurama had finally lost his age old patience. The wise demon stalked away from the group, hassling only to make sure that Kuwabara and Yusuke followed. Keiko was torn, glancing from her fiance storming away down the hall and Genkai who kept abnormally quiet in her chair.

"What do I do?" Keiko demanded. "I- I can't go to demon world, can I?"

"Don't be ridiculous you're not going anywhere!" Yusuke shouted from down the hallway, re appearing in a few moments clad in jeans and pulling a t-shirt over his head. A sweatshirt was right behind, and as Yusuke yanked on tennis shoes, he almost fell over onto his rear. "You're staying here, and holding the fort. I won't be gone long."

"You so sure about that, punk?" Genkai sneered from her chair. "The journey will be over a month."

"I'm not in the mood, granny!" Yusuke shouted, red in the face as he jerked his jacket collar into place. "Keiko, keep the restaurant going while you can. Use your father as a resource. Do whatever you have to do, that's your job. Think you can manage it?"

"Of course." Keiko stuttered, a little flushed in the face as she watched Kuwabara and Kurama parade down the hallway dressed to travel. All three men looked irritated in the extreme, yet Kuwabara seemed very nervous. He kept wiping his sweaty palms on his jeans and looking over his shoulder. "Kuwabara, are you okay?"

"Yeah, just my first time going to demon world, you know? Didn't really pack accordingly." He tried for a wise crack but failed.

"You'll be fine, it's a nasty place." Yusuke scowled, "Think of it like a huge subway full of thunderstorms."

"Great." Kuwabara winced.

As the three boys climbed the steps to exit the dojo foyer, Keiko was right on their heels. Genkai was slightly perturbed, and she rose up from her chair to follow behind so that all five descended the outer steps into the brisk mountain air. Instead of going down the steps straight to the cars parked on the street, Yusuke took an immediate right turn and continued around the side of the dojo to the outer fields.

"Where are you going?" Kuwabara demanded.

"You think I'm taking a month to get to this Hyouga place? What do I look like, an idiot?" Yusuke snapped, and he quickened his pace across the field. "I got a quicker way to travel!"

"What?" Kuwabara asked, extremely confused at this newfound idea of Yusuke's. Yusuke just cocked a grin, throwing a glance over his shoulder. In one word he summed it up.

"Pu!"

Kurama broke into a wide devious smile at the sudden idea.

They practically ran the rest of the way to Pu's storage hide out. What had once been used as an underground well had long since run dry, leaving a rather cozy cave for the massive blue phoenix to use. Yet the result of such a large bird being cramped into a rather small space (for his size) was a smelly odorous mess covered in enormous blue feathers that had been molted and clusters of dried white bird droppings the size of elephant dung.

The bird itself was in the far back end of the abandoned well shaft, resting its head upon what had once been the well in question now boarded up with fine oak.

"PU!" Yusuke shouted, grinning from ear to dear as he descended the steps into the well shaft and threw his long arms wide, "You son of a bitch! Come here and give me a hug!"

Pu's head popped up at once, inquisitive and seemingly delighted to find his master returned. With a soft cry of reunion, Pu inched forward in the small space, dropping his elegant swan like neck to caress Yusuke's dirty face. He clicked his large black beak, clearly pleased as he made odd chirruping noises that echoed about the cave.

"Hey, let's blow this joint. What do you say?" Yusuke stroked Pu's black beak, coaxing him out of the well shaft into the light of the world above.

"Hello, Pu." Keiko waved cheerily, and the bird let out another lovely cry as he stretched his neck right out of the cave and touched her with the tip of his beak. "It's good to see you again, too!"

"Up! Up and out." Yusuke smacked Pu lightly on the back of his feathered flank, and the phoenix clambered out with as much grace as a newborn giraffe. Kurama had to jump out of the way as Pu floundered to the surface, wasting no time in stretching his wings and legs. Curling up one long taloned leg to his chest, the phoenix stretched his wing to the shoulder joint with a succession of popping. The other leg was next, and he fluffed off his shiny coat with another cry. Looking much more content, Pu flung his long neck back and forth and ground his beak with delight. Yusuke slapped Pu on the side without any true force, and the bird immediately lowered his back for Yusuke to climb aboard.

"Come on guys, I'm flying this son of a bitch straight to the Hyouga!" Yusuke grinned cheesily. Kurama shrugged, a smug smile upon his face as he climbed up after Yusuke. Kuwabara was the last to hop aboard, for the last time he'd flown Pu had been after the battle with Sensui over ten years ago. Still, it was like riding a bicycle.

If a bicycle was a man pigeon the size of a mac truck.

Down below on earth, Genkai and Keiko looked up upon their friends, their teammates, their lovers, and once again wondered to what extent of danger they were journeying into. Once upon a time over ten years ago, Keiko had had to bear witness to this sight for what felt like an entire lifetime. Yusuke, running off to save the world without ever once considering that he was her world. Yusuke, always certain that he could defeat the odds no matter how insurmountable they were. Yusuke, with that dumb ass smile of his, always promising to come back but never telling her how long she'd have to wait.

And wait she would. No matter the length.

"I'll come back soon!" Yusuke promised with a shout, "This won't take long!"

"Keep telling yourself that, brat." Genkai snapped.

"Shuttup Grandma, you're the whole reason we're having to do this!" Yusuke snarled, still hot headed with Genkai's strange acceptance of Mukuro and Yukina's bizarre fate (not to mention Hiei).

"Yusuke!" Keiko cried out, and he looked down upon her with sincere warmth. "Please... Please be safe! Don't do anything out of your league. Promise me!"

"Have I ever?" Yusuke grinned.

Keiko felt a knot rise in her throat.

Yusuke kicked Pu's sides, and Pu let out a mighty cry of delight as he spread his great wings and took to the sky in a single bound. Kuwabara screamed the whole way up, clearly not enjoying the ride even as Kurama let out a laugh that echoed across the heavens.

The sky was bright, white hot with light, and the cool wind stung tears into the corners of their eyes. Clouds flew beneath them, encompassing them so that the world below had no idea of the chaos above. As they broke through the layer of dense stratus, the bright blue sky above them suddenly appeared. It became strangely warmer despite the fact that it was downright freezing compared to earth. The sun now shone upon them with full force, not apprehended by the cloud cover.

"We'll take the portal!" Yusuke shouted. "And we'll fly straight to the Hyouga!"

"Just don't drop us!" Kuwabara shrieked, still uneasy. Yusuke just kicked Pu again, and the phoenix flew even faster, "URAMESHI! I hate you! I hate you! Slow down, for gods sake slow down! Auugh!"

Winter was slowly falling on demon world. Hiei had been through many a winter before, and could recognize the signs of its icy approach. Fruit was now rotting on the limbs of trees, and leaves were dropping at an alarming rate so that the forest floor was now covered in soggy mulch. The sky was constantly a haze of damp dark red, overcast with the threat of rain. Regardless the weather condition, Hiei walked onward. Animals scattered about the forest desperate for last minute harvest gatherings were sufficient food. Hiei did not stop to cook the meat, instead breaking open the bones and eating the marrow. He would need to be in optimal strength, with no room for fatigue or weakness. He kept his jagan open the entire way, locked on the northern prowl of Demon World where, high in the sky, the Hyouga lay waiting. There was a thousand miles to go yet, and Hiei knew that his journey was far from over. Yet a promise rang in his very bones, forcing him every onward despite his weary feet or growling stomach. He would find Shikei for what she had done to his mother and sister. He would find her, and he would kill her. There would be no other way.

Mukuro followed Hiei's scent trail with all the perseverance of a deranged blood hound. He walked in a straight line, skirting from treetops to ground so that Mukuro often had to flit high into the canopy to keep following the scent. Along the way, she could not help but notice that corpses of freshly slaughtered animals littered the trail. She would pause in her pursuit, picking up the remains to spot only maggots and fire ants eating the muscle... Only the bone marrow had been taken out. Yet Hiei's scent reeked from the tissue, and Mukuro knew that he'd done the deed. He was powering up, strengthening himself for the battle ahead.

It made her speed up the pursuit, forcing Yukina to climb aboard her back in order to keep up.

They cut straight through the northern edge of Mukuro's old territory, headed for the Mountains of Misery which dominating the horizon line day and night. Mukuro was pressed, nervous at any given moment to hear Hiei screaming out or feel the hairs stand up on the back of her neck as unholy flame cut the trees. Yet she heard nothing. She felt nothing. She saw nothing. If it were not for Hiei's scent and scarf, it would have been as if he did not exist in the first place. It troubled Mukuro deeply. The sooner that things returned to the way they were, the better. She would find him, she would murder him, she would help him murder the ice witch, and then they would go home. A good tongue lashing and a few holes to his stomach would teach him not to stray from her again without so much as a warning.

Fucking puny bastard.

Late one afternoon as Mukuro and Yukina begrudgingly made camp after a long and weary day of extensive travel, Mukuro stooped down by a thin mountain stream to wash her neck and face. She was sweaty, and remnants of bone marrow covered her fingers. She licked them, washing them as she paused in thought. Hiei was no fool, and neither was she. He undoubtably knew that she would pursue him. Part of her wondered if he was trying to lead them off course deliberately, if he was running them on a fools errand. Yet at the same time, Yukina confirmed they were on the right path beyond a shadow of a doubt. 'Take the mountains' Yukina had instructed.

Take the mountains indeed. Mukuro could have bit her tongue in spite.

The mountains were crawling with rouges and bandits. Everyone knew that. Hiei had been raised in the mountains by a crew of thieving vagabonds, and Mukuro herself had once plummeted from the rocky heights to escape her crazed father's madness. There was no warmth in the mountains, and hardly any vegetation. No animals lived there save for scrawny goats and snow leopards with massive paws and long thick tails for better balance. Vultures marked the cliff side, cawing menacingly at passers by... and eyes were constantly on the roof of the slope to spot any scouts waiting for foolish travelers.

"Take the mountains." Mukuro seethed under her breath as she washed her sweating armpits and splashed water between her legs, "Take the mountains she swears. How the fuck did the girl make it through the mountains the first time? Lucky as shit, you are." Mukuro scowled. Over her shoulder, she spotted Yukina piling up meager firewood, setting down on her knees to spark warmth. Mukuro scrambled to her feet, running over to Yukina's side and kicking the sticks at once. Yukina looked up in shock, her mouth ajar!

"No fire!" Mukuro hissed, "We'll be spotted in a heartbeat, are you insane?!"

"You do not honestly mean to fear bandits." Yukina scoffed, working to gather up her sticks again, "I thought you were made of steel."

"Aye, steel not stone." Mukuro snarled, squatting down so that she and Yukina were at eye level, "I'm not stupid, and neither are you. Only a dumb ass makes a fire that others can see... and those twigs of yours will smoke. We'll be cornered easily. I'm not eager to fight when I can save my energy for the elder of yours."

Yukina flushed, setting the sticks down again in a huff.

"Then what do we do. Freeze?" Yukina asked shrewdly.

"You're an ice maiden. I think you'll live." Mukuro snapped. Yukina rolled her large red eyes with disdain, yet did not argue with the older and more menacing demoness.

Kuwabara managed to hold on well enough while Yusuke guided Pu downward towards the portal to demon world. Yet as electrical current and spiritual power shifted about him like a turbulent ocean Kuwabara felt he might be sick. There was nothing so unsettling as feeling the very measure of time and space bend around you like a rubber band. The norm of life and society washed away as easily as sand on a beach, and Kuwabara was left with only a few plain simple truths: That he was with friends, that he was determined, and that he was going to puke the minute he got through the portal.

Lightening exploded all around in the gloom. Black, white, blue, red- flashes of color that were unbelievably stark and bright- blinded him and threw him off axis. He felt firm hands on his back, rooting him in place as Pu let out a mighty cry. There was another flash, a strange feeling of electricity jolting his entire body- and they were through!

Kuwabara waisted no time, leaning over the edge as far as he dared and vomiting the contents of his stomach.

"Nice one!" Yusuke crowed, not unkindly.

"Shuttup, Urameshi." Kuwabara groaned. The putrid smell of rotting flesh and smoke filled his nose. He knew they'd arrived in demon world even as he kept his eyes screwed shut. He dare not look, or else risk vomiting again, and so he pressed his face into Yusuke's back. Brusque and manly needs be damned, Kuwabara simply could not keep his head up with Pu winding and wheeling through the air like a roller coaster ride.

He felt himself growing weak and almost fell asleep.

"Guys I'm... not feeling... so good..." Kuwabara mumbled, his head still between Yusuke's shoulder blades.

"Rest yourself!" Kurama urged from behind, his arms wrapped securely about Kuwabara's waist and locking him tightly into place. "We have a long way to go."

"Where do I head, Kurama?" Yusuke shouted over the wind roaring in his ears.

"To the Mountains of Misery!" Kurama shouted back, "To the north! We'll make camp there tonight and start again in the morning. Yukina and Mukuro no doubt went this way as well... though I have no way of knowing where they might be!"

Yusuke did as Kurama bid, and laid his head low to Pu's mighty throat as he steered their path towards the mighty north where the temperature dropped, the population declined, and death ruled supreme.

Demon world was just as Yusuke remembered from so long ago. It was chaotic and yet ordered around a primeval way of life. Human world was about art, education, politics, and pleasure. Demon world was about food, sex, fighting, sleeping, and survival. Yusuke found it oddly pleasurable, and something ancient thrummed happily in his blood. A shiver went down his spine, and his scalp suddenly became incredibly itchy. He scratched his head, only to find that his hair had sprouted into extremely long locks!

"Ah, goddamnit!" Yusuke cursed, scowling at the unpleasant surprise, "Not this shit again! I'm back to lookin' like I've been electrocuted!"

"I confess, I too am feeling the overwhelming urge of my demonic forces." Kurama called out, and Yusuke looked around to find that sure enough Kurama had changed as well. Long gone was his youthful and charismatic friend; in his place the sharp chinned and highly domed brow of Yoko Kurama had taken hold. Those narrow gold eyes were like daggers, glaring at Yusuke unintentionally as a long silver mane whipped fiercely in the high wind. Yusuke gave an impressed nod.

"Howdy." Yusuke made a strange face, unsure of what else to say to Yoko.

Yoko did not look happy, his white garb billowing out around his thin ankles. Clearly this was not his way to travel.

"What?" Yusuke sneered exasperatedly, "If you don't like it jump off. "

Yoko shrugged and promptly jumped.

"I DIDN'T FUCKING MEAN IT!" Yusuke screamed, his heart leaping into his throat as he immediately urged Pu to go down! Yet even as he thought he might faint, cry, or throw up, Yoko soared back up into the air with strange moth like wings sprouting from his back. A plant was wrapped firmly about his waist, anchoring him into his odd little craft, and Yoko gave Yusuke a sinister smile. Yusuke let out a noise similar to a distressed infant.

The boys, despite their harrowing journey and awkward descent into demon world, followed Yoko Kurama's word and started their trek in the mountains. As the dark of night fell, visibility decreased into the very real danger that Pu would run headlong into the mountain side. Growing nervous, Yusuke decided to land upon a great summit right in the face of the Mountains of Misery where Pu would have enough room to sleep comfortably. Yoko Kurama plummeted out of the air with speed and grace, landing comfortably on his feet as his moth wings disbanded.

Kuwabara all but slid off of Pu's back, woebegone and looking worse for wear. Concerned for his friend, Yusuke patted Kuwabara awkwardly on the back as he shook like a leaf. He was sweaty and pale, clearly still nauseous. His normally stiff orange hair was plastered to his head as if soaked from the sea. Yusuke felt Kuwabara's forehead, and grew even more concerned to find him burning hot.

"Dude, you're freaking me out." Yusuke dropped down to Kuwabara's side, rubbing him on the upper arm, "What's up? Are you just sick from the flight?"

"Yeah... I ... I guess." Kuwabara mumbled, taking a deep breath, "I really need some water, man."

Yoko Kurama came to Kuwabara's aid, bringing forth a plant with his massive powers that bore strange fruit. Heavy and bulbous, Yoko picked one of the bulbs and slit it's side to reveal a clear liquid bursting from within. Kuwabara took it and drank deep.

"God that's good... what is it?" Kuwabara asked, seemingly instantly relieved.

"A plant poultice. Water is ahead, but we cannot access it tonight. The path is far too dangerous." Yoko looked about, his narrow eyes growing more slanted still as he surveyed their surroundings.

"Something up, Kurama?" Yusuke asked, leaning against Pu for support.

Yoko said nothing, but he became intrigued by an open aired passage in the rock face ahead that wound out of sight.

"... Wait here." Kurama spoke up, prowling ahead through the rock face with silent feet. Yusuke watched him go, crawling up next to Kuwabara for shared warmth against Pu's body.

"Where's he goin?" Kuwabara asked, curious.

"Hell if I know. Drink the rest of that poultice. Maybe he went to scout out what's up ahead." Yusuke tugged at his enormous mass of hair, attempting to find reason in it, "Shit man, look at me... I'm like some kind of freak!"

Kuwabara said nothing, which was out of character given his boyish nature. He continued to drink, pale but no longer shaking.

Yusuke watched Kurama's shadow vanish from sight, and began to silently start count in his mind.

If he got to five hundred and Kurama had not returned, he would follow behind.

Footsteps.

And then silence.

Mukuro sat bolt upright, keeping quiet as she awoke from troubled sleep into a wary blackness. Yukina was curled up in a ball at her side, fast asleep. The cave was empty, and its opening remained vacant. Still, Mukuro had a wary feeling that she was not alone... and so she began to rise to her feet.

Yukina fretted, awakening and spotting Mukuro's movements.

"Are we leaving so so-so-soooon?" Yukina gave a huge yawn, "We should rest so more."

"Shh." Mukuro gestured for Yukina to be quiet, and the petite ice maiden seemed to gather something wasn't right.

They waited.

They listened.

Mukuro let out a small sigh, figuring that perhaps she'd imagined the footsteps in her paranoia. Turning her back, she rubbed her tender shoulder joint where metal met muscle.

"Never mind." Mukuro grumbled, "Go back to-"

"MUKURO LOOK OUT!"

Yukina's scream of danger had come only seconds too late, and Mukuro whirled around right into the open arms of thirty massive attacker- they were trapped in their cave, blocked in by bandits!