The Darkness Manuscripts: The Great Revelations of Nami

a ancient tale woven by Satorisama

(author's note: This is this stories second incarnation, re-written and reworked. Please, construtctive criticism is welcomed with open arms.)


Debts

"Amaya, do tell me. Do you like the dress?" Koenma laughs as I take my spot at his right hand, reclining on the chaise and laying my dress over my legs.

I smile softly and look at him, nodding thankfully as I grab for a glass of wine on the table before me. "As always, Koenma-sama, you are too kind for words."

Tsuro walks from her post at the atrium doorway towards Koenma and I, bowing towards Koenma, and nodding slightly at me. "Milord, the detectives have arrived."

"Good, good—send them in." Koenma laughs and waves towards the door. In come the ragtag bunch of detectives, first the human then the demons. "Don't you think Amaya is stunning tonight? You were always stunning when I went to visit you. At least, to a child you were beautiful beyond beleif."

"The broad is eating with us too?" Yusuke asks, collapsing on one of the lounges placed around the low tables. "I thought she was just helping us find information. A librarian or something stupid like that."

I feel my face harden, and my gaze lowers to my hands.

Kuwabara laughs and grabs a glass of wine, which Kurama quickly grabs from him.

"Hey come on!"

Kurama laughs and simply places it on a tray which a servant promptly takes away. "I do not think you need to further waste your intelligence on something like that."

A grunt of approval from Hiei makes me smile a faint bit, in which I look up again. "What interesting company you take, if I dare to say Koenma."

He sends me an amused look before changing the conversation. "Did you find all you needed today in the archives, detectives?"

Kurama looks as if he wants to answer, but Yusuke cuts him off with a laugh. "Did we find anything? You've got to be joking. That place is more confusing that Keiko when she's upset about something. Sheesh."

Kurama laughed and nodded. "I must admit, Koenma, most of the scrolls are in a different dialect than I know, and it is difficult to decipher the meaning of many of the manuscripts."

Hiei nods darkly, sitting cross legged on his own chaise. "At this rate, we'll never figure out how to find the answer that…"

He trails off, looking at me darkly, then at Koenma, who quickly responds. "I see."

An answer… from the Demonia Repono Era… What could they be referring to… My mind starts to race.

"Perhaps Amaya will be able to go to the archives with you again to help your search."

Yusuke laughs. "I can't stay here any longer. School's back in session tomorrow, and I promised Keiko I'd make it to at least the first month of class."

Kuwabara punches Yusuke's arm and giggles. "You promised what? Loser! School sucks."

Koenma looks at me and his silent gaze is questioning. He knows that that part of my life is painful, but I owe so much to him…

"If you request it, I will help you further with your research."

The redhead looks in my direction, and I feel his cool gaze upon me. It's almost distressing in a way. I can't have such a demon of high class recognize me. "Thank you. I am sure that you will be able to help us. You seem to know so much already."

It takes serious courage to look in his direction, to meet his gaze, and I try to muster it as best as I can. His green eyes show nothing but a pensive state of mind, deep and penetrating thoughts… "I can assure you, no one knows more than I. You needs are my commands, Kurama-san."

His gaze changes slightly, almost as if he has detected a…

"Amaya, do you like fish?" The question is strange, and my brother laughs as I send a confused gaze his way.

"Whatever do you mean, Koenma."

The dinner servants return, bearing trays upon trays off vittles. Everything under the demon and human suns is present. Delicacies I haven't tasted for centuries are set in front of me. I laugh and allow him one of my full smiles, "You spoil me Koenma."

He leaned in and whispered, loud enough for only I to hear, "For you, I'd do anything. I owe you my life."

If only it was not only he who thought this way…