Chapter 16: Thoughts of Rivals

Mizu and Yusuke walked in silence. Mizu was barely catching up to him. Thinking about his mother fueled his rage and will to press harder. He could hear Mizu struggling behind him. It was less then a few days away until they presented her to Koenma and the rest of the spirit world. And here they were in the Demon World looking for his mother who was kidnaped by perhaps a parasite demon. This didn't sit well with Yusuke. After what seemed like hours to Mizu, Yusuke suddenly stopped. Mizu slowed her walk thanking silently that he actually wasn't moving and walked close to him to stop and look directly at the back of his head. Her legs were burning from the brisk walk. But now at a stand still they felt like rubber, she wasn't going to be shocked if she were to collapse right there. Was there any water she wondered looking around for some sort of area where water would be present. Yusuke turned around.

"We're camping here for the night." He announced.

Mizu looked around to only see forest floor. The trees were well close together causing a feeling of claustrophobia for her. Yusuke made a clearing using the spirit gun where it was drier to start collecting fire wood. Mizu sat down on a fallen tree and stared at the wood.

"Light it." Yusuke said throwing down more wood from surrounding trees.

Mizu didn't think twice. She pointed her finger feeling the familiar pull of her spirit energy that gathered at the tip of her finger. She let the energy go in a small amount and watched the twigs and thicker wood pieces catch on fire. The flames leapt in a brilliant blue only to fade away as the colors of orange and yellow took its place.

"Great." Yusuke said coming around and sitting on the opposite side of the fire.

"Now what?" Mizu asked watching the flames dance.

Yusuke shrugged.

"I think I have an idea where we may be going."

Mizu looked up quickly. Yusuke looked brighter in the natural light of the fire. His markings on his face were darker his eyes were brighter. Somewhere deep inside her knew this is where he belonged or at least fit in where he wouldn't be questioned on his behavior and in this instance his looks.

"So..."

Yusuke looked up lost in thought and shook his head mentally. What was he saying before? Yes about Maze Castle, this is where they were going. He never would have thought this is where he would be heading again. He drew his attention towards Mizu who was anticipating his answer.

"Maze Castle." He said.

Leaning back he looked up towards the canopy of the trees. What was in Maze Castle now? Most of it he thought was destroyed. But this area looked familiar to him and Maze Castle was the only 'Tower' like building he knew around here unless they built over the years but demons usually weren't know for their architectural designs. It was the humans influence on their life's that caused buildings in this world. Looking towards Mizu he found her staring at him. Her eyes darted around she looked down at her hands and up at him again.

"Do you think all this would have happened if we were raised together?" She asked.

Yusuke didn't bother to touch that subject if it meant never doing this line of work again. But he knew she was waiting for an answer. He took a deep breath and leaned forward closer to the flames this time. If he was anyone else the flames would have been too hot to be this close but he wasn't anyone else he was Yusuke Urameshi half demon and spirit detective. He wasn't allowed anything else.

"I suppose it would." He finally answered.

Yusuke stood up dusting the moss off his backside from his personal fallen tree and started gathering things that would hold against the cold in the demon world. It wasn't anything to be compared to in the human world but it still was quite uncomfortable when cold and trying to sleep. The fire was dying during the middle of the night. He wasn't worried lower level demons would attack but he could sense Mizu's distress which kept him awake most of the night. At times Mizu would quietly gather twigs that weren't too moist that they wouldn't be able to light by her spirit.

To say she caught some sleep was far from the truth. Everything bothered her to the cold down to having a sibling who was also your cousin lying a few feet away from you seeming content with lying out in the open. She was spoiled she had to admit and just thinking this was a normal camping trip wasn't helping. Surprisingly the birds were out and the demon worlds sun woke Yusuke up. Mizu was staring off into space when he sat up. She looked tired and drained. Her usual straight hair was frizzy, her eyes were bloodshot and if on cue her stomach began to growl.

"Do you regret coming along with me?" Yuske asked kicking dirt on the already smoldering fire.

Mizu stood up and stretched she took a long time before answering.

"What do you think Yusuke." She took a deep breath. "God I mean this is all crazy bull shit."

Yusuke didn't bother to carry on a discussion. He only tilted his head towards the direction they were supposed to go. Just a couple of more hours and hopefully they'd reach Maze Castle, get in kill some demons and then leave for the human world. And hopefully his mother would go back to drinking to cope with being kidnaped if her memory wasn't erased, but he was hoping it would.

The sun was high causing the enclosure of the trees and their surroundings to become unbareable to breath. Mizu didn't bother trying to stop but began pushing herself harder where she was just behind Yusuke. Towards the beginning of the afternoon the came out into a clearing leaving the sanctuary of the trees behind. A breeze came hitting Mizu in the face. She held back the joy of finally feeling air on her sweating face. She opened her eyes and saw a grey building out in the distance. It must have been the tower. Mizu smiled thankfully being able to get out of the hot enclosure of the trees but when she looked at Yusuke she couldn't help but notice his expression was of anger. His face was hard and set in a hard line. He took a deep breath and tured towards her.

"Defenses up. Its just us."

Mizu nodded at Yusuke and set walking with him but this time instead of being behind him she was beside him. Out of the corner of her eyes she could see movements behind scattered trees and boulders.

"We aren't alone are we?"

"Nope." Yusuke said.

"Is there anyway we can contact the spirit world?"

Yusuke shook his head.

"Shigure might have done it already."

Mizu looked at Yusuke's profile before asking, "What do you mean?"

"There already here?"

Mizu looked up and around but couldn't spot anyone that wasn't a demon trying to spy on them. But when she turned around towards the exit they came from did she see movement. She squinted against the sun and shielded her eyes. First she saw Kuwabara who had a frown on his face. He stopped to glare at the back of Yusuke's head. Yusuke grunted and turned around.

"Couldn't have come at a better time Kuwabara." Yusuke said.

"Urameshi!" Kuwabara yelled as he started running fists first.

Kuwabara ran full speed and punched Yusuke. It would have landed square on Yusuke's nose no doubt breaking it if it had made contact. Yusuke avoided the blow and then tripped Kuwabara instead. Kuwabara was sent flying, skidding on the graveled dirt floor. When he got up his hands were cut and he had a gash on his chin. He bawled his fist at his side and glared at Yusuke.

"How could you Urameshi." Kuwabara panted.

"Do what?" Yusuke said casually picking at his finger nails.

"Your sister. This is a death trap."

"Hey." Mizu protested.

"Its true you know." Yusuke said looking at Mizu.

Mizu turned away just to see Kurama approach her. Hiei was behind Kurama his arms crossed that familiar scowl on his face. She could see his sword he was ready for a fight, that's if these demons even lower level were willing to sacrifice their life.

Kurama was wearing a black fighting toga. His now growing hair was loosely tied back. Mizu caught his eyes and then looked away quickly as the fight between Kuwabara and Yusuke heightened.

Mizu rolled her eyes as the friends continued to verbally insult one another. It wasn't long before the cool wind stopped and started up again but this time the wind was harsher sending sand smashing into Mizu's flesh. The sting from the sand didn't come close to the amount of pain she was experiencing across her face.

It was as if she was still standing but now she was flat on her stomach holding the side of her face. From the slit of her swelling right eye she could see a familiar girl standing above her grabbing a fist full of her shirt. Grabbing the girls arm she pulled but the hand gripping her shirt didn't budge.

"Finally." The girl said.

Mizu grunted and then kicked out making contact with the girls stomach. The girl made a grunt and loosened her grip on Mizu's shirt. Mizu scooted back and almost had her head greet with the girls foot but Hiei was close by grabbing the girls foot and swinging her around, letting go as she was slammed into the nearby boulders. Mizu was helpped up holding her face.

"Who the hell was that?" Mizu asked.

Mizu pulled her hands away from her face, there was a little blood on them. She began massaging the skin around her eye. Pain shot across her face like lightling. She flinched and stood her ground. Her vision cleared just as the girl was getting out of the rubble. Wearing little to nothing Mizu knew who she was. She was older the Mizu but always had a smile on her face. The scowl and anger displayed on her face wasn't that of the girl she knew back home in the suburbs of America where they grew up. She was a demon that much she knew.

"Who are you?" Kuwabara called.

"Call me Himiko please." She said making her way towards the group.