Chapter Three: Death is Only the Beginning
"If anything happens to my sister, Koenma… Don't expect me to be working for you." Yusuke threatened angrily as he ran around the Makai forest.
Koenma, who was flying with Ayame; paled.
"Look, Yusuke-" he tried to reason.
"I don't want to talk to you right now, Koenma." Yusuke stated flatly as he halted. The others; Kuwabara, Hiei and Youko stopped as well.
"This isn't good… I can't smell her anywhere." Youko said as he looked around.
"Even her chi disappeared." Hiei added.
"So… that could mean two things. It's either she reverted back to Sora… or Botan's dead." Kuwabara stated casually.
Yusuke's eyebrow twitched. He didn't like how Kuwabara said it so casually. But there were other pressing matters at hand that he needs to figure out.
"Yusuke, I can only think of one solution for us to locate Botan or Sora." Youko said.
Yusuke nodded. "I think we're thinking of the same thing. There's no other choice. I am not familiar with Sora's chi. How about you, Youko? Can you remember her chi?"
Youko closed his eyes and tried to remember. Even if it has been long, I can still remember that woman's chi… but… I can't feel it anywhere this area.
"Yes, but it's not here." Youko replied.
Yusuke nodded. "Then, let's do it."
Yusuke positioned and got himself ready. With eyes looking at Hiei and Youko, who nodded back.
"Stop it, Yusuke! You don't need to do that!" Koenma yelled. "Ayame, put me down." He ordered.
Ayame merely stayed on her oar and didn't let it move. "Ayame! Didn't you hear me?!"
"I heard you, sir. But… I agree with what Yusuke is doing. If we want to know where Botan is right now, this is the only way." Ayame replied in her calm voice.
Koenma's shoulders dropped in disbelief.
"I'm gonna regret doing this, but I have no choice." Koenma said sadly as he pulled out a large golden ball from his inner pocket.
"I'm sorry…" Koenma murmured as he dropped the ball to the ground. And before any of the four below can react, a blinding light surrounded the forest.
"Ugh… my head. Where am I?"
"Why the hell are we in chains??"
"Kuwabara, cut the crap. We're all chained up."
"Whoever did this is going to pay…"
"I think I know who…"
"I'm sorry, but I had to do that."
A small light bulb flickered open the four Spirit Detectives were chained to the wall. Koenma was by the door, together with his father.
"What did you do to us?!" Kuwabara yelled angrily as he tossed himself around to get free. He tried pulling it, but the chains won't budge.
"Those chains are made especially for people like you… so, I doubt it that you'll be able to get free." Enma said proudly as he looked over the four prisoners.
"Koenma… you are going to pay dearly for this." Yusuke remarked, as he gritted his teeth.
"I think I already have…" Koenma said sadly as he turned to his father.
"Where did you send Botan, father?" Koenma asked.
"I sent Botan to where she's supposed to be." Enma replied as he watched Yusuke's reaction. Who in turn, struggled with the chains to get free.
"Why are you trying to separate them anyways? They did nothing to you. Even Sora did nothing during her life at Makai. She lived peacefully… too peacefully." Kurama said.
"Yusuke and Botan aren't meant to see each other. If both of them are in demonic forms and are at full power, bad things will happen to the three realms." Enma said.
"Is that what you're fearing…? Or are you scared of them being more powerful than you?" Hiei asked as his eyes glared angrily at Enma.
"I only want what's best for the three realms, three-eyes. And you can't just tell me what to do." Enma replied hastily as he walked away.
"Father! Please! I deserve to know what's going on. you've been keeping me in the dark far too long… I should at least deserve to know what was the price I exchanged for doing this to… to my friends." Koenma said sadly as he looked at Yusuke and others with pity.
Enma gave a snorted laugh. "You have just saved the three realms, Koenma. And I can't be more proud of you than anyone else. Now, ready the memory-eraser… these four doesn't need to know what happened."
"WHAT!?"