Dear Faithful Readers who, for some unimaginable reason, haven't given up on me,

I am very, very, very sorry. The last five years have been hard on me with several circumstances beyond my control demanding priority and dictation over my life. The primary of these have been family, work and school and have, circuitously, consumed my time, energy and attention.

Because of this, I've left you hanging, perhaps on several stories at once, with the promise that—whatever happens—those stories will be completed. The fact is, I had every intention of finishing every single story, many of which are plotted out from beginning to end. However, it isn't fair of me to keep you waiting for so long for a resolution to a story when I have no idea when or how long it will take for me to reach the final conclusion. For that reason, I'm posting my outlines for every unfinished story so that, if you so desire, you may have the ending you've been craving, however incomplete it may be.

This doesn't mean that I won't eventually write out those outlines in chapter/story form, but it could be many more years yet coming before such a thing becomes a viable option in my otherwise hectic and highly prioritized life.

Again, I apologize profusely and I understand if you wish to send me hate-mail and other such unkind reviews. The only thing I ask is that you please keep in mind that no one on Fanfiction. Net is paid in any way, shape or form for the stories they contribute and so I must resign myself to providing for myself and my family in more substantial ways.

Thank you again to all who have stuck with me for so long and, I hope, will continue to stick with me in the future. You all were my motivation these last twelve years and I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without you.

All the best,

Kaliea

In the Depth of Shadows

1) Advance in Power: Nearly six months have passed since the girls' kidnapping and Yusuke and his group have spent it steadily training and building up their powers to legendary levels. Now as their training comes to a close the former Reikai Tantei can only hope that their power has increased enough to compete with the many demons that will stand in their way.

2) The Tournament Begins: After meeting up with several old friends, Yusuke, Hiei, Kurama, and Kuwabara are ushered to the starting arena where the three demons are to draw lots for the starting match up. Thankfully, fortune has favored our heroes and none were paired up for their preliminary matches. However, will their luck hold out for the main tournament, or will they have to go head to head in a stalemated combat that none can afford to lose?

3) Dealings in Deception: An unknown force has rigged the matches of the tournament, making it so that Yusuke is forced to fight two of the strongest demons in the tournament in a row. After using up most of his energy in the first battle Yusuke is forced to go head to head once again. This time battling the fierce tiger demon Bayou, who has more then just the Makai Tournament on his mind as he faces off against Yusuke in a battle of revenge that he is more then willing to take to the death.

4) Struggles of Power: After a death defying battle with Byakko's twin brother Bayou, Yusuke has finally earned himself a rest. However mischief once again arises as the next pairing pits Kurama against Yomi in his second match of the tournament. Will Kurama be able to defeat his old partner or will his skills fall short, leaving him with no chance to rescue Botan from the shadowy grasp of the enemy?

5) Moving Forward: After a long battle between the two old partners Kurama is just barely able to grasp victory. Now, with his second win under his belt, Kurama hopes to have the opportunity to recover before his next match. Little did he know that the dark beings at work have set a trap for him in the form of an old friend long thought dead by Kurama and all else that knew him.

6) Touching the Past: After several hundred years of being held in confinement, Kurounue was finally released from his prison under the condition that he disposes of his one time best friend. Not wanting to fight but unwilling to return to his cage, Kurounue faces off against Kurama for their first and final battle as enemies.

7) Calming the Beast: The battle between Kurama and his old friend Kurounue has reached its end. With both fighters almost too exhausted to continue they feared that the match would end in a double loss. However, just when all seemed to be finished, Kurama's inner rage exploded inside his mind as the voice of Youko Kurama. After a vicious inner battle Kurama was finally able to merge completely into one with Youko; allowing himself the final bit of power that he needed to conclude the battle in his favor.

8) Friends to Foes: Having cleared the third round of the tournament, Yusuke has finally happened across his worst fear: having to face down one of his teammates. With no way out of the battle and not allowing himself to fail, Yusuke is forced to square off against Hiei in the ring for their greatest battle to date. But who will emerge the victor? And what will this loss mean for the girls for whom they battle?

9) Hiei's Resignation: After seemingly hours, the battle between Hiei and Yusuke has drawn to a close with Yusuke having emerged as the reluctant victor. Now, in the aftermath of the battle, Hiei must come to terms with his loss and just what it will mean for his sister.

10) Face of the Enemy: With Hiei's defeat looming over their heads, the former spirit detectives have decided to use their period of rest to search for the missing girls. With time running out and a dark figure shadowing their every move, will the Reikai Tantei be able to find what they seek or will an unexpected revelation cause them to lose their will to fight?

11) Yukina's Rescue: With Mukuro being controlled by the 'Puppet Master' Yusuke and his friends find themselves incapable of making a solid move. However in an unexpected turn of events Mukuro is able to regain herself long enough to tell them to end her life so that they will be able to rescue Yukina who resides in the belly of Mount Kaianai.

12) Yakumo's Return: Between the death of Mukuro and the recovery of Yukina, the battered group of fighters doesn't know whether they should be upset or relieved. Unfortunately, whatever positive emotions they managed to feel are quickly squashed by the unexpected reappearance of Yakumo, the lord of the Netherworld, who reveals himself as only one of the obstacles lying in wait for the group of friends to overcome.

13) Darkness in Shadows: Yakumo's return is not the only surprise in store for our heroes as yet another enemy presents himself. Lord Kage, the enemy from whom Lord Nolen gained his throne several thousand years before, has also returned. Unfortunately, none of the fighters have the chance to face him as they are once more thrown into a seemingly impossible tournament match with Kurama pitted against The Puppet Master in a fight to the death.

14) Death's Door: The battle between Kurama and The Puppet Master continues while Yusuke is called up to face his next opponent, Lord Kage, the former God of Gods. With two such high-stakes battles, which combatants will be able to succeed and which will be left to face the consequences?

15) Yusuke's Gambit: Hopelessly outmatched by Lord Kage, Yusuke devises a plan to fake his own death with hope that his demise will entice his enemies to reveal the location of his mate, Keiko. However, with Lord Kage's great strength and mastery could it be possible that Yusuke's farce will be made into a reality?

16) Recovered: After narrowly escaping death at the hand of his enemy, Yusuke succeeds in his plan of drawing out Keiko's captors and with the help of Hiei, Kurounue, and Kuwabara she was returned to him once again. But was it a real rescue or just a clever trap laid for the rest of his team?

17) Seeds of Chaos: It is the first match of the quarter-finals and Kurama finds himself pitted against Morzan in yet another fight to the finish. However Yakumo sees fit to tip the scales of not only Kurama's fight but also his own battle with Lord Nolen when he reveals the white shrouded body of Kaliea tied to a cross. Will this distraction prove to be the end of Nolen? And what of Botan? Could she possibly meet the same fate?

18) Breath of Life: Yakumo's attempt to gain the upper hand is thwarted by Lord Nolen, allowing Yusuke and his friends the time that they need to rescue his battered wife. Unfortunately, they find that they are too late as her life is quickly drawing to a close. Will Lord Nolen be able to save her or will she pass on from this world to the next?

19) The Final Showdown: With only the semi-final round left to go before the final battle of the Makai Tournament, Kurama finds himself locked in his greatest battle yet as he comes face to face with Lord Kage himself. After endless hours of battle will Kurama have the upper hand or will he find all that he struggled to achieve is just out of his reach?

20) A Knight's Struggle: The battle between Lord Kage and Kurama continues as each struggles to get the better of the other. Despite his inexperience when compared to the former God of Gods, Kurama has been able to prove his abilities against him time and again, but will his desperate attempts be what he needs to conclude the battle in his favor?

21) Return of the Princess: After a long and grueling battle between Lord Kage and Kurama the winner is announced as Kurama by default when a long dormant seal in Lord Kage's body is released causing his power to detonate inside of his own body. With their enemies now dispersed, Botan is freed allowing for a long awaited reunion in which much is expected.

22) Rest for the Weary: Following the semi-finals, the fighters are given a day in order to relax and restore their strength. While Kurama is confined to his bed, Botan sits at his side, the two have a long over-due conversation where much is revealed, and even more is decided.

23) The Reign of a New King: The final decisive battle of the Makai Tournament has arrived pitting Lord Nolen and the greatly unexpected Kurama as the combatants of the final round. After a grueling battle between the two, who will emerge the victor and the new ruler of the entire demon realm?

24) Blessings of a Father: The final battle has come to a close with Lord Nolen as the victor. During the final ceremonies they receive an unexpected visitor in the form of the current God of Gods, Lord Kouji, who challenges Kurama to a battle to the death for Botan. Refusing the battle, Kurama informs Lord Kouji that he will not force Botan to choose between her family and her love. After revealing this to be the answer he was searching for, Kouji gave the two his blessing.

25) A Bright Future: A year has passed since the end of the Makai Tournament and our heroes finally seem able to have a moment's peace. That is, if they can ever get Hiei to agree to wearing his tux. Fortunately, the gang all agrees that if the worse they have to worry about is the final preparations for a wedding then they are all living a very happy life indeed.