Happy New Year! Thank you Sammie46142 for favoriting me. Mrs.HatakePrime, I always appreciate your patience and reviews on my chapters Lisa-Katagirl, thank you for following me. I'm thrilled that you're enjoying the story so far. I'll message you as soon as I can.

Sincerely,

UniversalGoddess

Darkness surrounded the Spirit World. Black clouds gathered overhead. The air thick with humidity. Heavy rain poured and poured.

"Everyone, push!" An ogre soldier ordered. More than a dozen ogres pushed the Gate of Judgment while the rest placed sandbags on the palace walls. Some were covered in dirt and soaked to the bone, shoveling the wet ground.

The ferocious wind howled. Thunder rumbled in the distance, shaking the earth beneath their feet as the sky grew darker and more ominous. A distant roar echoed through the valley, growing louder with every passing second. Shouts of warning filled the air.

"The water is coming!"

"Hurry up! Close the Gate of Judgement!"

With all their might, the ogres finally slammed the door shut and tightened the latch. Silence hung heavy in the air. Their eyes clouded in terror when they heard the water surge closer with terrifying speed.

"Hold the door!"

"We can't let it enter the palace!"

Their efforts were futile. The door broke with a deafening crack. Raging water shattered it into pieces.

"Ahhh!" Frantic voices screamed for help, but the roar of the water drowned out their cries. The water rushed forward, consuming everything in its path.

Up high in the palace, the ogres scurried around like ants. Documents, file cabinets, and pens scattered everywhere. Another ogre slammed the door shut, breathing heavily. "The fourth and fifth levels have been submerged! It's going to reach us at any second! We must evacuate now!"

Fear clung to the ogres, their faces pale and eyes wide.

"What shall we do, Lord Koenma?!"

"If we stay here much longer, we're doomed!"

Jorge backed away from the door. He turned to Koenma, his face lined with exhaustion and fear. "It's dangerous up here, Lord Koenma. Please seek higher ground."

"…" Lord Koenma's hands clasped on the desk, eyebrows furrowed. A distant rumble of thunder rolled across the palace. He ignored the ogres' antics and continued to focus.

Jorge slammed his hand on the desk. "What's the matter with you?! Lord Koenma?!"

"I don't believe it." Koenma's eyes widened. He glanced at Jorge with sudden realization. "Summon Botan. I'll be at the vault."

"But my lord! Now it's not the time t-"

"Hurry up," Koenma commanded, his voice calm and authoritative. He got out of his chair and stood in the middle of the chaos as the raging water burst into the office. "That's an order, ogre."

Jorge pounded his chest. "Yes, sire. Please be careful."

"Don't worry about me." Koenma raised his pacifier in the air. "Just hurry. There's no time to waste."

The water was already to his waist when he made it inside. More continued to pour down as he trudged through. A few meters away, a glowing object stood on a stand. With his shaky hands, he grabbed hold of it and placed it inside his pocket. "They must want this. I can't let them have it."

The floodwater rose quickly. Koenma stared in disbelief while water rushed toward him with a terrifying speed. It knocked him off balance, spinning him around before he could manage to grasp onto a stone wall.

"Lord Koenma!" Botan soared, looking frantically for the prince. "Lord Koenma! Where are you?!"

"I'm here, Botan!" The floodwater roared around him. "Aahhh!" Koenma's fingers loosened from the wet stone.

Botan caught her breath. Koenma gasped for air as the water surged around him. "Lord Koenma!" She flew down, making sure her oar didn't touch the water. "Grabbed on!" Once she had a tight grip on him, she soared high and landed on a stoned cliff.

Koenma reached into his pocket. "Thank you, Botan."

"Lord Koenma, what's going on?"

"There's no time to explain." Koenma gave her the object. "This can't end up in their hands. Take it to Yusuke. There's no other way to save the Spirit World. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

"Now go. I have to remain here. You must hurry and don't look back."

"Yes…Lord Koenma…." Botan turned her back on her lord and flew. Barely avoiding a water tornado, she glanced back with a worried face.

"Keep going, Bot-rghhhh!" The water devoured Koenma, spinning him around in the deep abyss.

"Lord Koenma!"

"Don't forgrghhh the missrhghth!"

The grim reaper surged forward, bursting out of the palace window. She observed her surroundings in horror. The water, now calm, shimmered with an eerie stillness. The flood had reduced the once-familiar landscape to a nightmare. "The palace…my home…Lord Koenma…Jorge…Ayame…they're all gone…"

She stared at the dark sky, hearing the clouds rumble. "Lord Koen-ahhhhhh!" A sudden flash of thunder struck her, sending her flying to the water.

"Botannnn!" Tsuki awoke and coughed as if she was choking. She wrapped the blanket tightly on herself, but her body continued to shake uncontrollably.

"Iku?" Iku looked at her, ears perked. He landed on Tsuki's lap and licked her face.

Tsuki took a deep breath, calming her center. She stopped shivering and faintly smiled. "I'm fine, Iku. Just a nightmare." She glanced at the clock: it was six. Her alarm was supposed to wake her up in fifteen minutes. I guess I'll get ready for school.

After getting dressed, Tsuki and Iku went to the kitchen. Steamed rice and scrambled eggs were ready for them, but Grandfather Saito wasn't there nor in the dining room.

He must be in the honden. Tsuki swallowed her last sip of green tea. Now, she was getting worried. That nightmare gave her an irking feeling she couldn't brush off. "I'll be back soon to walk you. Be a good boy and watch out for grandpa," she said, patting Iku's head.

"Iku!"

Tsuki didn't bother to knock when she entered the honden. Books and scrolls surrounded Grandpa Saito while he sat in front of the Inari statue. He was so focused on a particular scroll, he didn't even bother to look at her.

Tsuki cleared her throat and walked closer. "Good morning, grandpa." Her eyes were fixated on the books. The Netherworld's Folklore and The Laws of the Spirit World caught her attention.

"Good morning."

"Sorry to bother you, but I have something important to tell you. I had a horrible dream about the Spirit World. It was-"

"Engulf in water." Grandfather Saito ran a hand through his gray hair. "I know. Can't you feel the difference in the atmosphere?"

Tsuki paused and closed her eyes for a moment. "Yes…It feels dark...and unbalanced..." Her frown deepened. "What can we do?"

Grandpa Saito averted her urgent gaze and went back to his reading. "Wait."

"Wait?" Tsuki's mouth fell. She couldn't believe it. "Grandpa, this is serious. We need to-"

"Be patient." Grandpa Saito stroked his beard. "I also need to speak with Genkai as well. We'll discuss a plan when you get back."

Tsuki bit her lip and nodded. "Okay." She headed out. "I'll see you soon."

"Don't worry about it too much at school. Just focus on your studies."

Easier said than done. "I'll try."

Tsuki should've enjoyed the moment. Walking was therapeutic. And it helped calm her anxiety. But the little voice in the back of her head was warning her to stay alert. I feel an evil presence lurking in the shadow, waiting to pounce at us.

"Tsuki! Wait up! You're walking way too fast!"

Tsuki broke out of her concentration. She smiled and waved at her friend while Puu flew behind her. "Good morning, Keiko. Good morning, Puu."

"Puu!" Puu swirled around Tsuki's head, flapping his ears.

Keiko hugged her. "I called your name three times. Not once did you acknowledge me."

"Sorry about that. I was deep in thought."

"What's wrong? You only get deep in thought when something is troubling you."

She knows me so well. Tsuki was glad she didn't have to hide things from her anymore. "I had a dream last night about the Spirit World. It was swallowed up by water. Botan was the only one that escaped." She clutched her hands, and her eyes grew watery. "But she was struck down by thunder and fell back into the water."

Keiko's eyes widened. "Oh no. Koenma, Jorge, Botan. Could it only be a dream?"

"I thought the same thing, but grandpa dreamt about it too. And something is off about the Human World's energy. It's hard to explain, but I feel an unbalanced like a dark void is slowly emerging in the atmosphere. I wanted to do something about it now, but grandpa said wait until I come back from school."

"Are you going to tell Yusuke?" Keiko asked, holding onto Puu like a stuffed animal. She waved at her classmates while they entered the school's gates. They avoided the crowd and went inside the main building.

Tsuki opened her locker and grabbed her books. "During lunchtime. Knowing him, he'll be late again."

"I swear, he's driving me crazy." Keiko slammed her locker door shut. "I've been trying to be the patient girlfriend. I even offered to tutor him to help maintain his grades, but he said no. I don't know what's going on with him."

"At least he's trying, Keiko. You know school isn't for him."

"I know, but I'm getting worried. I tried to talk to him about it, but he's not letting me in. I thought after the Dark Tournament, he'd be more open to his feelings, but I guess not." Keiko placed Puu inside her backpack. "Okay, Puu. Be a good boy, and I'll let you out during lunchtime."

"Puu!"

Students jostle each other as they rush to first period. The noise of chattering voices echoed through the hallway. The girls entered the classroom, greeted their teacher, and went to their assigned seats.

I should've stayed home. Sensei's lecture on the Edo period couldn't distract Tsuki. She always drifted back to the Spirit World. To Botan. And Koenma. Her mind finally came back to the present when she spotted Yusuke entering the school grounds. Right off the bat, she could tell by his walk and scowling face that he wasn't in the mood.

He hasn't been himself lately, Tsuki thought as he made it inside. This was the fifth week in a row he was late. He didn't even try to make an excuse anymore when sensei berated him about his tardiness.

Everyone stared at Yusuke when he walked in. He gave Takenaka-sensei a head nod before proceeding to his seat.

Takenaka-sensei cleared his throat. "Urameshi, care to share with the class why you're late again?"

"Sorry, teach." Yusuke placed his foot on the desk, leaning his chair back. "I overslept again."

"I swear, Urameshi. You better get it together before you get stuck repeating the same cycle." Takenaka-sensei turned his attention on the board. "Now, class, turn to page 422. We're going to have a quick group discussion on Tokugawa Ieyasu."

While sensei wrote down the group names, Yusuke slipped out of class. Tsuki was thrilled when Keiko was assigned to her group.

"I'm going to kill him," Keiko whispered to her. "We have clean-up duty, and I refuse to do another week without his help."

Tsuki smiled and touched her shoulder. "Let me go talk to him first. Cover for me."

"Alright. I'm giving you ten minutes."

"That's all I need." As soon as sensei turned his back to talk to their classmate, Tsuki quickly exited the class. She proceeded upstairs making sure no one spotted her.

The sun beamed at her when she opened the balcony door. Crows circled and cawed relentlessly. Yusuke sat in his usual spot, staring blankly at the sky.

"Good morning, Yusuke."

"Hey Tsuki. Skipping class today too?"

Tsuki sat next to him. "I have ten minutes before Keiko runs up here to kill you." She paused and glanced at the clear sky. "I had a dream last night."

"About me?" Yusuke grinned, wiggling his eyebrows. "Didn't know you thought of me that way. What would Hiei think?"

Tsuki smiled and playfully shoved him. "Not like that. It's the Spirit World. A Tsunami came and swallowed the palace." Her face turned serious. "The only person that barely escaped was Botan. However, she was struck by-" Water dripped on Tsuki's and Yusuke's face. They immediately glanced up and gasped.

Botan collapsed from the roof. Her beautiful pink kimono tattered and wet. Hair wild and loose. Worse of all, the pain and tiredness was written all over her face.

"What?! Botan!" Yusuke rose and caught her.

Utter shock rippled through Tsuki. She touched the grim reaper's chest and neck, sighing in relief. "She's still breathing." Blisters covered her arms. And red marks that reminded Tsuki of fennel spread through the neck down to her chest.

Yusuke shook her. "Hey, Botan. What happened to you? Talk to me!" He tapped her cheeks. "Botan! Wake up!"

Botan eyes fluttered open. "The Spirit World is…" Her voice, heavy with sorrow and pain, echoed through the balcony. She clutched Yusuke's jacket. "The Spirit World! The Spirit World!"

"The Spirit World is what?"

"In danger," Tsuki replied. Anger rose up inside of her. She stared at Botan and turned her rage into a steely determination. "Botan, I know what's going on. What can we do to help?"

Botan huffed and puffed, forcing her hollow eyes to stay open. "Go…to your grandfather…He'll know…what to do…Please…help..." Her tiredness took over. Botan shut her eyes, losing consciousness.

The door burst open. Keiko glared at Yusuke while Puu flew behind her. "Yusuke, you be-Botan!" She gasped and focused her attention on the grim reaper. "What happened to her?"

"The dream," Tsuki answered. "It was real."

"Oh no. This is bad."

Yusuke took a deep, frustrated breath. "I don't know what's going on, but we need to talk to your grandfather now."

"I'm coming with you," Keiko stated. "Botan is my friend too. And if I can help in any kind of way, I will do that."

Tsuki nodded. "Then let's go."

They went downstairs. Tsuki and Keiko made sure the coast was clear before going any further. The hallways, usually loud and bustling, now lie silent between periods. By the time they reached the main entrance, some students stood and gawked at Botan.

"Oh my gosh, what happened to that poor girl?"

"That thug Urameshi must have done something. I don't know why they hang out with that low-life."

Yusuke's teeth gritted. He glared daggers at them. "What the hell are you staring at?!" They immediately scurried away. "Go back to class, dweebs!"

"So annoying," Keiko remarked.

"At least it wasn't a teacher," Tsuki said. "It would've been harder to get past them."

"Hey, guys!" A familiar voice called out to them. "Why are you leaving school so early?"

"Great." Yusuke rolled his eyes. "Another annoyance."

"What's the ru-Botan!" Kuwabara pursued Yusuke out of the main entrance. "What happened to her?!"

"Why do you have to be so loud, dufus?"

Says the person who just yelled at some classmates. "We'll explain on the way to my shrine," Tsuki explained. "Let's get out of here before we get into more trouble."

They sprinted across the school grounds without causing too much attention. Once they turned the corner, they slowed down their pace.

"What do you mean the Spirit World is gone?" Kuwabara asked, shocked. "Does that mean Koenma is dead?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Tsuki explained. "All I know is that he was swallowed up with the palace."

"That's crazy. Whoever did this must be very powerful. There's no way an ordinary demon could've done that."

"You have a point. And Koenma knew they were looking for a certain treasure. He gave it to Botan before the water drowned him." Tsuki grimaced at her phone. "My grandpa is not answering. I'll text him that we're on our way."

"Hopefully, he'll have an answer for all this madness," Yusuke said.

The back of Tsuki's hair stood up when they came closer to her shrine. She zoomed up the stairs, gripping her divine bells.

"What's wrong?" Keiko asked.

Tsuki's heart raced as she focused straight ahead. "There's evil entities in my shrine! Grandpa! Iku!"

"Hold on, Tsuki!" Kuwabara called out.

"Keiko, wait down here with Botan!" Yusuke ordered. "You too, Puu!"

"Okay. Be careful, guys!"

"Puu!"

The trees rustled when Tsuki's foot reached the last step. A huge ogre demon with long horns and razor claws leaped at her.

Tsuki's aura glowed. "How dare you trespass?!" She took out a small glass bottle of water out of her pocket and threw it at him. "Holy water!"

The demon shrieked and boiled as the purified water made contact with his face. More came out from hiding and attacked.

Spirit arrows zoomed towards them. "Get the hell out of my shrine!" Tsuki dashed past the guts and broken bodies. "Grandpa! Iku!" She gasped when she spotted them by the chōzuya.

Ogres surrounded them with deadly intent. When they all pounced, Grandpa Saito swung his fan with ease. "Demons, be gone!" Beams of light penetrated their bodies. The ogres collapsed within seconds.

Tsuki whooped in admiration. "Are you guys alright?" She jogged towards them.

Grandpa Saito's eyes widened. "Tsuki, behind you!"

"Iku!"

An ogre snatched Tsuki by her neck. Her feet dangled in the air as she gagged and fired a beam at his eye. The grip loosened, and she fell onto the ground. She didn't have a second to think before more ambushed her.

"Shotgun!" Yusuke jumped in front and fired. Energy bullets rapidly punctured their bodies.

Kuwabara sliced and slashed the ogres, splitting them in half. "Take this and that!"

Tsuki rubbed her neck and gave Kuwabara and Yusuke a grateful smile. "Thanks, guys."

"You know we got your back. Look out, more is coming." Yusuke punched and kicked the approaching ogres, waiting for Tsuki to get back onto her feet.

"Iku!" Iku dashed, teeth-baring. He let out a powerful growl, causing the ogres to freeze.

"Nice boy!" Tsuki and her grandfather finished them off their beams.

"I think that's all of them," Grandfather Saito stated as his fan transformed back to his bead necklace.

Yusuke glanced around, swinging his arm forward. "Yeah, I think so too. What a bummer. I was only warming up."

"Iku!" Iku jumped towards Tsuki.

Tsuki caught him, giggling as he licked her. "I'm fine. I was worried about you more than anything." She glanced at her grandpa. "Are you hurt?"

Grandpa Saito lifted his arm, revealing a gash on his forearm. "Nothing too serious. They caught me off guard."

"Why did they attack our shrine?"

"I don't know, but it was unexpected." Grandpa Saito squinted his eyes at one of the ogres' bodies and pointed. "And they're not ordinary demons. Look closely at their foreheads."

There was nothing extraordinary about them. They were regular demons to Tsuki. But her eyes narrowed when she potted a red X mark on its forehead before disappearing within seconds.

"What a strange mark," Kuwabara stated.

"Very strange." Yusuke's face fell. "First Botan, now this. What the hell is going on here?"

"Botan is here?" Grandpa Saito asked. "Where is she?"

"Her, Keiko, and Puu are downstairs." A pang of sadness reflected on Tsuki's face. "But she's wounded and unconscious."

Grandpa Saito took a deep breath and stared at each of them. "Boys, bring the girls here. We have a lot to discuss tonight. Genkai and Yukina are coming as well."

"Yukina?" Kuwabara's eyes lit up. "My princess is coming. I can't wait to see her."

"Before you get all lovey-dovey dufus, let's help Keiko bring Botan upstairs," Yusuke said.

"Heheheheheh, Yukina." Kuwabara continued his rant while following behind Yusuke. "I miss you, my little angel. I can't wait to see your beautiful smile."

I have to make sure that mom's tomb and my herb garden are fine. Tsuki observed, scowling. The ogres' feet trampled heavily on their yard. And the chōzuya's roof was split apart. "Damn those demons. Our shrine is a wreck."

"Right now, that's only a minor inconvenience. We have serious matters to focus on."

"Is it that bad, grandpa?"

"Yes, if we don't do anything right now, the Human World might end up like the Spirit World."

Tsuki's body grew cold. "No."

"Iku…" Iku lowered his ears, whimpering.

They entered the main house. Grandpa Saito grabbed a towel from the kitchen, wrapping it around his wound. "Prepare some tea and make dinner for everyone. I'll help you once I'm finished setting up the futon. Tell one of the boys to bring Botan to the guest room."

"Okay," Tsuki replied, washing her hands. "I'll make some herbal broth for her as well." She opened the cabinets, taking out two large pots and a medium one. The door opened when she began cutting her ginger and yuzu.

"Where can I put her?" Yusuke asked. "Keiko says she's burning up."

"You can take her to the guest room. It's down the hallway. First door on the left."

"I'm going to clean Botan up," Keiko stated as Yusuke proceeded to the guest room. "Before I go, do you need my assistance?"

"No, the boys can help." Tsuki giggled when Iku and Puu nudged her. "And Iku and Puu."

Kuwabara rubbed his growling stomach. "Man, I'm sure is hungry. I forgot we skipped lunch today. What you making Tsuki?"

"Tonjiru, rice, and my herbal tea."

"I can't wait. Need help?"

"Yes." Tsuki placed the diced onions in the mixing bowl. She started peeling the skin off the carrot and gobo. "You can steam five cups of rice for me. Iku, Puu, prepare the dining table."

"Iku!"

"Puu!"

After everyone settled in and ate dinner, Tsuki went straight to the guest room with a tray of food. "How is she?" She asked, sitting next to Keiko. Botan lay in front of them, panting. Her face contorted into a grimace of pain. A wet towel was placed on her forehead to cool her down.

"Her temperature is over a hundred," Keiko explained, splitting her chopsticks apart. "Her wounds weren't serious, but she hadn't woken up."

Tsuki touched Botan's forehead, spreading her spiritual energy over the grim reaper's body. She frowned when she didn't feel any changes.

"Is it working?"

"No, she's still burning up." Tsuki released her power. Disappointment flooded through her. "This is strange. Usually, my healing powers work."

"Maybe it doesn't cure sickness?"

"You're probably right, but this is my first time trying it with sickness."

The door slid open. Yusuke and Kuwabara entered the room with Puu and Iku. "Has she woken up yet?" The spirit detective asked.

Tsuki shook her head. "No, but I need you to lift her." Once Yusuke had the grim reaper in a secure position, Tsuki grabbed a spoon. "Botan, if you can hear me, please drink this. It'll help you sleep better."

Kuwabara watched with unease as Tsuki slowly put the broth into Botan's mouth. "What's going on with Botan? Why does she look like she's in so much pain?"

"Not sure," Keiko replied.

"And my healing powers aren't working." Tsuki wiped Botan's mouth and placed the bowl back on the tray. "I'm waiting to see if Yukina can heal her. If not, this is serious."

Yusuke gently placed the grim reaper back on the futon. "Damn it. There must be something that we can do."

A strong knock grabbed their attention. Grandpa Saito slid the door open. Behind him were Genkai and Yukina.

A smile warmed Tsuki's face as they came in. "Genkai, Yukina. Thanks for coming."

"Of course," Genkai stated. "I just couldn't ignore this. The Human World is our home."

Yukina beamed. Her sweet smile brightened the gloomy room. "It's good to see you all."

Kuwabara rose, giggling like a schoolgirl. "Hehehehe. Oh, Yukina." He eagerly approached her. "I'm glad you're here, my beautiful sunshine."

Yukina didn't reply. Her smile turned into a deep frown as she focused her attention on Botan. Tears flowed down her cheeks. "I'm sorry, Kazuma." She quickly wiped them away. "I'm glad to see you, but Botan is….hurt…very bad."

"How's her condition?" Grandpa Saito asked.

"I'm not sure. I've never seen this type of symptom before," Tsuki explained. "My healing power isn't helping with her fever. Yukina can try, but since our abilities are similar, I doubt it'll make a difference. I guess we need to think of a different way of healing her."

Yukina nodded with determination. "I'll do whatever I can. I even brought my mom's book." Her face lowered. "It makes me sad seeing her like this. She's in a lot of pain right now."

"Aw, an unhappy face doesn't suit you, Yukina." Kuwabara clasped her hands while his face turned red as a ripened tomato. "I, the mighty Kazuma Kuwabara, will resolve everything for all of us. Soon, we'll all be smiling happily again."

"Oh, Kazuma. Are you alright? Your temperature is going up."

"That's the power of love."

"Boys, Tsuki, Genkai, let's go to the honden," Grandpa Saito stated. "We have a lot to discuss. Tsuki, bring more tea."

"Okay. Iku and Puu, stay here and keep the girls company."

"Iku!"

"Puu!"

"Don't worry. We'll take care of Botan," Keiko replied.

Yukina rolled up her sleeves, kneeling behind the grim reaper. "I'll try healing her. If it doesn't work, I'll check if my mother's book has anything."

"Sounds good." Tsuki slid the door closed and followed behind Genkai.

"It's been two weeks since I last saw you. Have you been keeping up with your training?"

"Yes. Once exams are over, I'll make sure to come visit you."

"Good. This time, you're going to do a squat on two pillars with a bowl of water on your head. Work on your kicks by striking a large boulder. And a hundred pushups, sit-ups, and crunches. Oh, and twelve miles of running the mountain.

Tsuki winced. She loved her teacher, but she had to get mentally and physically prepared to train with her. "Great, can't wait."

The rest of the group headed for the honden while Tsuki poured her special tea into the kettle. She placed the tea cups on a tray when she heard a knock on the door.

That's strange. We weren't expecting another visitor. She stood by the door and gripped her divine bells. "Who is it?"

"It's Kurama. Sorry for coming in late, but I need to speak with you."

Tsuki transformed her bells back into her bracelet. She opened the door and smiled. "Nonsense, you came at the right time. Yusuke, Kuwabara, Genkai, and my grandpa are already inside the honden if you want to go. I'm getting some tea for us."

"I'll help you," Kurama offered, following her to the kitchen. "How are you?"

"I'm blessed, but today has been crazy. Botan is here but unconscious. And if you noticed the damage in our shrine, some demons with strange marks on their foreheads attacked us."

"Interesting." Kurama held the tray, opening the door for Tsuki as they headed outside. "This is more serious than I thought."

Kurama and Tsuki entered the honden. The group was already by the table sitting down.

Kuwabara grinned. "Kurama."

"Long time no see," Yusuke stated.

"Likewise." Kurama smiled, placing the tray on the table. "So I assume you all know the Spirit World is gone."

"Correct," Grandpa Saito replied. "And I know for certain someone with phenomenal power must have done it."

Genkai folded her arms, thinking deeply. "What could have the power to do that to the Spirit World?"

"Earlier that day I went to the Spirit World," Kurama explained. "I spotted some demons trying to barge into the Gate of Judgement. But Koenma's soldiers easily took them out."

"Did they have a cross on their foreheads?" Grandpa Saito asked.

"Yes. Tsuki informed me that some demons with the same mark attacked your shrine. Have you seen the cross before?"

Grandpa Saito picked up the Netherworld book and flipped through a specific page. "I have. And I fear as much. They must have been the Netherworld demons." Placing the book in the middle for everyone to see, he pointed at a ferocious demon torturing and slaughtering smaller ones. On his forehead was the X mark. "Their symbolism is that cross on their foreheads."

Kuwabara's eyebrows furrowed. "Hey, hold it. What's the Netherworld? As far as I know, there's just the Human World, Spirit World, and Demon World, right?"

"The Netherworld is another realm for the dead, specifically demons that have done a lot of atrocious things in the Demon World. Above the Human World lies the Spirit World. Since the beginning of time, the two worlds remain in constant balance with each other. That's why certain humans have strong spiritual powers."

Tsuki grabbed the book and skimmed through the page, only stopping to read key points. "So the Netherworld is like the Spirit World to the Demon World."

"Correct. The Netherworld was in constant balance with the Demon World. Then, seven thousand years ago, the king of the Netherworld began a war with the Spirit World in order to gain possession of the Human World. The battle was gruesome, but King Emma destroyed the Netherworld and banished the king and his men to the cold darkness of space."

"So if that's true, how come the Netherworld came back to existence?" Yusuke questioned.

Grandpa Saito shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I'm certain the Netherworld king must be after the Human World again. If he's responsible for this disturbance, it could be a very dangerous situation for us all. Our own powers alone won't be enough to defeat him."

"So what should we do?" Kuwabara asked.

"We have to transmit power to the Spirit World."

"How do we do that?"

Grandpa opened a scroll, revealing a large circle. A pentagon stood in the middle; each section marked with one of the five elements. "Look here. There are places in the Human World called elemental sites where spiritual energy is collected."

"Elemental sights?" Yusuke questioned.

"Like storage tanks with spiritual powers?" Kuwabara asked.

"Yes, something like that. In the Human World, there are five elemental sites: earth, wind, fire, water, and the spirit. If they're all unsealed, an amiss spiritual power will be sent to the Spirit World."

Tsuki's eyes lit up. "With that power, we will be able to restore the Spirit World."

"Correct."

"Where are they?" Kurama asked.

"Not too far. They're all located around Osaka. I'll draw it out on the city map and have it ready for you tomorrow morning."

Kuwabara stood tall, puffing his chest. "Alright then, leave it to me. I'll destroy the Netherworld king and his evil cronies."

"Whatever," Yusuke replied, drowning his last sip of tea. "Just make sure Shizuru doesn't kick your ass when you make it back home."

"Oh no." Kuwabara took out his phone and shriveled in fear. "I got to go. She already called me twenty times. Ugh, I'm so dead. She probably thinks I skipped school again."

Yusuke rose. "I'm heading out too. I need to make sure my mom is okay. This Netherworld king seems like a big deal."

"Okay, goodnight guys. Tell Shizuru and Atsuko I said hi." Tsuki said, placing the tea cups back on the tray.

"Get some rest, you two. You're going to need it," Genkai stated. "And I hope you dummies weren't slacking, especially you dimwit. You haven't visited my dojo for a while now. I bet you're afraid of getting your ass kicked again and again like always."

"Bite me, old lady. I'll handle the king, alright? Just make sure your old ass is ready after this is over," Yusuke said before sliding the door open.

Genkai smirked, sipping her tea. "He better. I'm so tired of him being in his feelings."

"I think he just feels lost and unmotivated," Tsuki explained. "A lot has changed since we won the Dark Tournament."

"Maybe this is a good thing for him," Kurama suggested. "Feeling lost is a necessary phase in life. Yusuke will grow from this."

"Whatever. He better not let those feelings get in the way like last time. Or I'll slap him until he's unconscious," Genkai warned. "This battle won't be easy."

"It never is," Grandpa Saito stated, rising. "It's getting late. Let's head back. "

"I'll check on Botan and tell the girls to get to bed. We have a long day ahead of us."

"Thank you, Kurama," Tsuki said as he carried the tea tray. "You can stay here if you like."

"I appreciate the offer, but I'll be back in the morning. I just wanted to check in on Botan before I go. I might be able to create an antidote for her sickness."

"I hope so. It hurts me when I see her in pain," Tsuki stated. Once they made it outside, she went the opposite way. "I'll be inside in a sec, grandpa. I want to check mom's tomb."

"Alright. Be careful while you're out there. Never know when those Netherworld demons might attack us again."

Neon lights of Osaka danced in the night sky. Sounds of honking horns as cars and trucks dealt with a stream of heavy traffic. Chatter of pedestrians strolling to their destinations. The bustling city streets were alive.

In a dark alley where the rats scurried freely stood a tall figure. Above, a subway zoomed past; shining lights revealed parts of the man. Thick white hair and dangerous purple eyes.

The man extended his palm into the air. "Come, my servants!" The ground ruptured below his feet. He released a blinding burst of indigo energy.

A huge explosion disrupted the peaceful nightlife. Screams and shouts grew loud and painful. Injured casualties waited in agony. Some were killed instantly.

The demon appeared on top of the roof, watching as smoke and flames lit up the sky. "Servants, are you here with me?"

Four demons appeared behind the king. Each of them was distinct and gave out powerful demonic energy. "Yes, sire," the tallest one answered. He and the others bowed. "Your four demon gods have arrived."

"Good, it's time to put my plan into action. The Human World will be mine."

Tsuki woke up with her heart pounding. She groaned and plopped back on her bed. "Not again."

"Iku?"

"I'm fine. Another horrible dream." Tsuki tried to force herself to go back to sleep, but no luck. She cursed under her breath, got up, and grabbed her jacket.

"Iku?" Her puppy shook the cover off of him. He barked and got out of his bed.

"No, stay here. I need you to cover for me." Grandfather Saito would be upset if he caught her up this late at night. "Don't worry, I'll be back."

"Iku." Iku snuggled back into his bed, closing his eyes.

Tsuki tip-toed downstairs, careful not to make any loud noise. She threw on her shoes and slipped outside. First Botan. Now this. We have to stop the king.

Despite the mess, the shrine was not in total disarray. She smiled when she spotted her garden and shed. It looked the same as she left it. And thankfully, her mother's tomb was intact as well.

Maybe some gardening will calm my mind. The waning moon was out, and she had a lantern inside the shed. Before she could open the door, a familiar voice popped inside her head, making her jump a little.

Go to sleep, Tsuki.

I can't. I had another nightmare.

About?

The Netherworld king and his minions are here. He just caused a huge commotion downtown.

Interesting.

What's interesting about that?

Hiei finally appeared in front of her, amused. He blended so well in the shadows she didn't notice he was near the trees. "Watch the moon with me."

Tsuki's heart skipped a beat. "Okay." She began to settle in the grass.

"Not here. Get on my back. I need to show you something." Hiei turned around. Once she was secure, he leaped effortlessly onto a branch of the tallest maple with one swift movement. He put her down. "Look straight ahead. It appears your bad dream was accurate."

A chill that had nothing to do with the weather made her shiver. Helicopters surveyed the disaster. The fire rapidly spread through downtown. Smoke filled the air with a hazy dangerous fog. "Oh no."

Hiei removed his headband. His Jagan glowed as he focused straight ahead. "They're not there anymore. But the old man was right. One of them had a tremendous amount of demonic energy I've never experienced before."

"There's nothing we can do right now. It's too late to fight." Grandfather Saito was definitely teaching her patience. Tsuki wanted to fly with Inari and destroy the evil demons. But the logical thing to do was wait until tomorrow.

"Hmph." Hiei settled on the thick branch. "Finally, the Human World would have some ways to entertain me."

Tsuki sat next to him, still amazed by the horror. "How did you feel about the new threat?"

"Not my fight. Not my problem."

"I don't believe that Hiei."

"Why not?"

She stared at him hard, not breaking away from his intense stare. "Because if you didn't care, you wouldn't be here right now. And how come you didn't say hi to Yukina? I'm sure she would've been happy to see you too."

"It's better I keep my distance. I'm not the ideal brother she's hoping to find."

Tsuki shook her head. "Hiei, I swear. You always see the bad within yourself. But I'm telling you it's not going to change how she feels about you."

"How do you know?"

Tsuki smiled and gazed lovingly at the moon. "Because it didn't change for me. I remember vividly how I first met you. I thought you were a crazy cold-blooded killer. And you probably thought I was a naive weak girl." She giggled when she remembered how he attacked her on the beach. "But during the Dark Tournament, I've seen a whole different side of you; protective, courageous, wise, resilient. It made me want to get to know you better. And when I did, I caught feelings."

Hiei's gaze wandered over her face. The depth of his eyes reflected a complex mix of emotions that went far beyond a simple glance.

His eyes are so easy to get lost in. I can stare at them for hours. "I know we decided to go slow, but whatever happens, I'm really glad that I met you. You made my life path more bearable for me." Tsuki put her hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn.

"It's time for you to go to sleep."

"No." She scooted closer to him. "I want to stay a little longer."

Hiei sighed, wrapping his arm around her. "You're a stubborn girl."

"I know." Tsuki's face tensed up. "I'm worried about Botan, the Spirit World, and the Human World. I want to end this before more people get hurt."

"Embrace the dark moments, Tsuki. It gives depth and dimension to life. You're a good person. The light that you carry won't allow you to succumb to the darkness, but you must learn how to live and fight comfortably with it."

Tsuki relaxed. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight. "I swear you always find a way to calm me down."

"It's natural when I'm with you." Hiei leaned in close, his face creasing with a mischievous grin.

A faint blush appeared on Tsuki's cheek. This is it. She sat still and ready.

To much of her disappointment, he only kissed her forehead. "I know an easy way for you to fall asleep," he whispered in her ear.

"How-" Her eyes widened as he held her face, forcing her to stare at his Jagan. Captivated by its power, she began nodding off. The eye lured her into a deep trance. "…you…sneaky…little…"

"Sleep well," was the last thing she heard before drifting to sleep in his warm arms. "My stubborn moon."

"Breaking news this morning. Authorities in Osaka have launched an investigation after a gas explosion and fire damaged parts of downtown and the Kintetsu station. Hundreds of civilians are injured, and about fifty people are killed. The incident took place around midnight. Police say they have no further leads and are asking people if they know anything, don't hesitate to contact them. Now, back to sports. Looks like Hoshoryu has won-"

"So they started," Genkai said after Grandpa Saito turned off the television. "Didn't take them long."

"This is troublesome. And they're not caring about civilian lives either," Kurama stated.

Kuwabara balled his fists. "Those bastards. They're not going to stop until they get what they want."

"We have to get to those elemental sights by today." Yusuke shot a steady gaze at Tsuki. "Where do we go?"

"The earth site is near the Shitennō-ji temple." Tsuki zipped her tracksuit. She gently rolled the map and placed it in her purse. "Thirty-one minutes on the subway."

"Alright, let's hurry."

"Be careful," Grandpa Saito warned. "I have a feeling that they might be looking for the sites as well."

"It's best for us to stay here and keep an eye on Botan," Genkai explained. "She still hasn't woken up, and her symptoms aren't changing."

"Yeah," Tsuki agreed as guilt swept over her. Luckily, Yukina and Keiko were nursing the grim reaper. She rubbed Iku and Puu's head before heading out the door. "You guys be careful as well."

"Don't worry about us. We have it under control. Just focus on the mission."

"Iku!"

"Puu!"

"So what do these sites look like?" Kuwabara asked as they strolled downstairs.

"Like miniature shrines," Tsuki explained. "Grandpa said things may have changed around the area, but he's certain the sites are still there. All we need to do is use our spirit energy to release the sites' power."

They made it to the Umeda station and bought their tickets. After waiting for a couple of minutes, the group got on the Midosuji line. They manuevered through the crowd and found a corner to sit down. Tsuki pulled out the Spiritual Law book and carefully skimmed through it.

"Anything catching your eye?" Kurama asked.

"Not really. It's basically describing the relationship between the Human and Spirit World in depth. The Netherworld book wasn't much help either. I barely found any crucial information about the king."

"It would be helpful if we knew what enemies we were facing. If King Emma had a hard time defeating the Netherworld army, then it's going to be harder for us to fight."

"So Tsuki," Kuwabara began. "Is your little boyfriend coming to help us?"

"We're only dating, Kuwabara."

"Whatever. Is the shrimp helping or not?"

"He will at the right time," Tsuki assured. "He always does."

"Yeah, yeah. It'll be nice if he helps us find these sites. It's going to take us all day with only four of us."

"He's right. Hiei is fast," Yusuke stated. "Haven't seen him in a while. Hope he's doing good."

"He is, and well aware of what's happening in the Human World and Spirit World." Kurama smiled. "I know you guys don't see eye to eye, but give him some credit, Kuwabara. He cares in his own way."

"Whatever, he's still a grumpy shrimp. I still don't know what you see in him, Tsuki. You can do better."

The train stopped at Tennōji. They hurried out of the subway station, Tsuki leading the way. Navigating the city was easy with the straightforward map her grandpa provided.

"How close are we?" Yusuke asked.

"Only a few bloc-" Tsuki and everyone halted as the ground beneath them violently shook, sending tremors through the buildings.

Kuwabara looked around. Parts of the roof broke and cracked onto the ground. "What's going on? An earthquake?"

"A very close one," Kurama stated. After a few more intensifying seconds, the earthquake finally stopped.

Tsuki pointed. "Look!" A huge amount of indigo energy shot up to the sky. She sprinted. "It's the earth site!"

"What?!" Kuwabara stated.

Yusuke ran behind her. "Are you certain?!"

"What else could have made a strong reaction?!" When Tsuki hit the corner, a strong gust of wind hit her face, whipping her hair around. The powerful beam formed a dark cloud in the clear blue sky.

"What the hell?" Yusuke watched as a torri gate and Buddha statue whirled in the air.

Kuwabara looked up, mouth agape. "This is bad."

"The earth site has been destroyed. The Netherworld demons beat us to it." Realization crossed Tsuki's face. "If they're able to convert spiritual power into demonic energy from each of the elemental sites, then the Spirit World would be inaccessible forever."

Kurama frowned at the thought. "And then there'll be nothing for anyone to do."

"Then we have to stop them from reaching the other sites," Kuwabara said.

"Let's split up," Yusuke suggested. "Those bastards may be ahead of us, but we must protect the other sites."

"Okay," Tsuki agreed, opening the map. "Kurama, Kuwabara, go to Osaka's castle. That's where the earth and water sites are located. Yusuke and I will head to the fire site since it's closer to the Umeda station. Then we'll come back together to complete the last site."

"Sounds like a plan," Kurama stated. "Let's not waste any more time."