Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural. I only own Kei.
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"You know him, Hiei?" Yusuke asked.
"He's the storyteller who told me about the jagan eye," Hiei said.
"I suppose I am," the man mused. He looked almost exactly like Hiei remembered him- but there were differences. His brown hair was no longer gelled back. The stubble no longer covered his jaw. He was still chewing the toothpick. He was still tan and his brown eyes stood out against his skin. "I never expected you to actually go and seek out the Jagan eye, young one-"
"Don't call me that!" Hiei spat. Hiei watched as the man's eyes warmed at Hiei's spit fire temper.
"You are still young compared to me… but you aren't as young as you once were, are you? Right, what has you threatening to burn my favorite tavern to the ground?" he asked.
"We're looking for a man named Kei," Yusuke said. "Can you help us?" The man chuckled.
"Kei? Well why didn't you say so?" he asked, walking up to Hiei and holding his hand out. "Nice to officially meet you." Hiei looked stunned. He somehow managed to switch the sword into his left hand and shake Kei's hand. "What can I do for you?" Hiei still looked surprised so Yusuke stepped in.
"Did you know a demon named Kuronue?" Yusuke asked. He watched as the emotion changed from warmth to anger on Kei's face.
"What about him?" Kei growled.
"He's been brought back to life. We were told you might know something," Hiei spoke up.
"Perhaps," Kei said coldly. "But you'll have to tell me more. Let's go somewhere more private."
"So Kurama has turned back into his demon form to take care of that blasted bat," Kei spat. "Why am I not surprised?"
"So do you know anything? Yomi told us where to find you but that was it," Yusuke said. Kei huffed before turning towards Hiei.
"Young one-"
"Hiei,"
"I did not expect for you to go after the jagan eye after I told you that story but it seems you wield it better than the bandit did. I did expect for Kurama to escape death but I certainly never thought you'd run with him," Kei mused.
"Yeah he seems to defy expectations," Yusuke grinned at Hiei who scowled and looked away.
"Do you know anything or not?" Hiei demanded.
"You remember the Dark Tournament, where Kurama reverted into his demon self," Kei stated.
"Suzuka gave him gas," Yusuke said. Hiei rolled his eyes.
"Your friend did not invent the gas by himself," Kei said. "He needed a key component. Water from the spring of Inari, and her blessing."
"The spring of Inari is a myth," Hiei snorted.
"You can't tell me not to cal you 'young one' when you keep doing things to prove how young you really are, young one," Kei groaned. Hiei's eye twitched.
"What's this spring of Anari or whatever?" Yusuke asked.
"Inari," Hiei corrected. "And don't let Kurama hear you say that. He'll skin you alive."
"Inari is the fox goddess. Youko demons worship her," Kei said. "And the spring is hardly a myth young one. I found it with Kurama."
"You found it?" Hiei demanded. "Why have you kept it a secret?" Kei leveled Hiei with a look.
"Probably because Kurama threatened to kill me if I didn't," he said easily. Hiei and Yusuke stared at the man. "What?"
"Youko Kurama is probably the last person I'd take a threat from so easily," Hiei said. "You spoke of your temper- there's no way you could have taken that lying own."
"Ah, so it's not just the story of the jagan you remember. I've been working on my temper for a long time, young one. A threat from Kurama about keeping something so beautiful a secret would not have set it off," Kei said.
"How do you know this pond is even the reason Kurama's a demon again? Did you guys test it out?" Yusuke asked.
"I did not, but Kurama did. Since then, he doesn't look like he's ages a day," Kei said. Hiei smirked, thinking he'd have something over the vain fox's head later.
"So what're we sitting around here for? Let's go!" Yusuke grinned, standing up.
"Hold on a moment, Urameshi," Kei said. "Kurama's not stupid. You have to figure out if he's even anywhere near there or not. If he doesn't need the spring anymore, he'll get the hell out of there. If he does need it, he'll set up a base-"
"And now that he's in the demon world, he'll have access to all kinds of plants that will be more than a little happy to devour us," Hiei paused. "If not torture us. And if there was one thing Kurama didn't like about the human world, it was that he didn't have complete reign over his more… extravagant plants. Just think of the traps he'll have set up because he can." Yusuke shuddered. There was a lopsided smirk on Kei's face; one that Hiei thought meant he had a perfectly good idea of what Kurama had planted.
"Can't you just burn it down?" Yusuke asked. Both paled visibly. "Actually, forget I asked."
"Her mom gave her that!" Kuwabara shouted. "You can't just ask her to let Kurama steal it! Not to mention their friendship might be ruined if he does steal it!"
"I understand the risks, Kuwabara but if we don't, the risks of Youko Kurama running free are greater-" Koenma said.
"So what? Yusuke and Hiei are out there looking now! They'll find him and bring him back!" Kuwabara said. "What do you think Keiko?" Keiko hesitated, looking at Botan for help. "Oh, come on! Am I the only one who is on Yukina's side here?"
"There aren't any sides, Kuwabara. Just what will get Kurama back," Botan said, trying to be comforting and then she turned to the screen. "And she doesn't have to decide now. They found Kei and they have a lead. Maybe we'll get lucky- they have before/" Everyone turned their attention towards the screen, watching as the three debated their next move.
"The thing is, how does he know?" Yusuke asked on the screen.
"Know what?" Everyone asked, leaning forward slightly except for Yukina and Hiei. The twins stood or sat with similar expressions on their faces, cold and expressionless.
"Well we don't know if Kurama needs the spring or not. So if we don't know, how would he know?" Yusuke asked.
"Yes!" Koenma shouted even though Yusuke couldn't hear him. "Yusuke, that's genius!"
"Did you actually have a thought in that head of yours?" Hiei grouched, looking over his shoulder but when he looked away from the detectives, the corner of his lip was upturned in a smile.
"Save it for Kuwabara, Hiei," Yusuke shouted.
"Hey!" Kuwabara shouted.
"Let's go!" Yusuke grinned.
Yukina stared at Yusuke's face on the screen for a moment longer before she began to walk out.
"Where are you going?" Botan asked.
"Back to the temple. I think I left the stove on," Yukina said.
"We'll send someone to check," Koenma said dismissively. "You need to stay here-"
"I'm going," Yukina said firmly. There was a resound silence.
"Yukina, we need you to stay here," Koenma finally said.
"You can't keep me here," Yukina said.
"Actually, I can, but please don't make me," Koenma said. Yukina and Koenma stared at each other and then Yukina's eyes turned icy.
"Then when Hiei gets back, I'll tell him you kept me here against my will," Yukina said and Koenma felt a chill run down his spine. Yukina had decided to take a page out of Hiei's book. He- everyone- forgot that Yukina was a demon most of the time. This was the first time Yukina had personally taken it upon herself to remind them she was one.
"At least make sure someone is with you. Demons who want revenge on Kurama probably won't have any trouble figuring out who Kurama's friends are," Koenma said at last.
"Chu and Rinku are at the temple. Jin is supposed to be returning home today," Yukina said.
"I'll go with you," Keiko spoke up.
"Me too!" Kuwabara said.
"Oh no you don't," Keiko said. "You need to stay here and fight Yukina's case," with that, Keiko inserted her arm into Yukina's elbow and led her out/ Yukina turned around and, for good measure, froze the doors shut.
"Was… that really necessary?" Keiko asked.
"It will melt when we leave," Yukina said simply.
"You boys act as if you've never seen Kurama in action before," Kei spoke casually.
"Not one the receiving end," Hiei grumbled.
"How are you two so calm? We're hanging upside down, for crying out loud!" Yusuke shouted, wrestling with the vines.
"Stop moving, you'll only make it worse," Hiei snapped as a vine snaked around his leg and squeezed tightly. "I'm working on it."
"Can't you just hurry up and burn it down instead of singeing it?" Yusuke growled.
"If you want this whole forest to go up in flames than I can," Hiei snapped.
"This is stupid! Kurama! It's Yusuke! Get your ass over here and get us down!" Yusuke shouted. Hiei rolled his eyes and Kei rested his face against a vine, looking bored and annoyed. They listened as Yusuke's shouts echoed throughout the forest. When nothing happened except for the birds moving, Yusuke groaned. "Can't you just cut the plants, Hiei?"
"If I could reach my sword, your-"
"Children, quiet," Kei snapped. "We have company." Hiei quieted instantly and opened his jagan eye. His eyes widened when he realized who it was.
"Tell me, young jagan wielder, are you still sane or has the jagan taken over your mind?" Hiei's eyes narrowed as he tried to make out the shape of the demon cleverly hiding himself in the darkness.
"No one or anything rules over me, Kurama," Hiei spat. "Surely you remember that," Hiei resisted the urge to swallow his fear- an action that would no doubt show it better than hide it- as Kurama stepped out into the light and casually strolled to where Hiei was hanging twenty feet above the ground. The fox demon crooked his finger and the vines holding Hiei lowered him jerkily until he was in front of the fox demon. Kurama studied Hiei as if he were a toy, an amused smile on his face. His finger rose to trace a line from Hiei's cheek to his chin.
"Tell me, Hiei, are you scared?" Kurama asked, voice dropping and octave. Hiei glared at Kurama, just daring the fox demon to call his bluff.
"Should I be?" Hiei asked and surprise flitted across Kurama's face for a split second. Hiei frowned. He didn't know what Kurama had been expecting but he'd be damned if he'd admitted his fear. He'd rather die. Kurama reached up and untied Hiei's headband, revealing the jagan. The jagan pulsed and peered curiously at Kurama.
'You've seen him before. Now settle down and stop trying to give him a reason to kill us,' Hiei hissed. The jagan quieted almost immediately.
"Kurama," Hiei spoke up. Kurama looked up in surprise. With a wave of his hand, the vines lowered Kei down slower and more gently than they had Hiei. Kurama stepped to Kei, sniffing him curiously. His brow furrowed.
"Kei?" Kurama asked.