Smoke drifted through the air like low hanging clouds, filling the large circular room with the smell of tobacco and herbal scrape. Machines too complex to be fully understood in such a time of crisis beeped and twanged, reading their mysterious subject as Hiei lay anesthetized at their center... cold and quiet upon Shigure's operating table.
Shigure took another long drag from his pipe, studying Hiei with impeccable scrutiny as he pondered over the bloody and bruised jagan. He raised an eyebrow, only to let it fall before raising another. He chewed on his pipe and clucked his tongue in thought. He didn't say a word, merely poking Hiei every so often with odd metal instruments and muttering under his breath. He was irritated, perhaps even astounded, and refused to give Mukuro any answers until he was certain beyond a doubt.
Mukuro sat shivering in the corner, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and a cup of hot demons blood between her hands. She was soaking to the skin, pale and clammy from running in the rain amid the hail of demon attacks that had plagued them all the way on their final leg to Shigure's hut... and even upon arriving there had been more complications.
Shigure's eyes slid from Hiei to Mukuro, still ever wary.
"... Tell me everything you know. From the top. Again." Shigure grumbled.
Mukuro took a deep breath, hiding her nerves and starting from the top.
"Nothing!" Shizuru cursed, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she searched tag after tag for information on Shimo. It was past hours, and all the lights in the Police Station had been turned off save for Shizuru's office in which Yusuke and Kurama lounged. The pair of them stood behind Shizuru, leaning upon her desk and chair as she tried another search engine only to come up clean once more.
"Does Shimo have a last name? Does Yukina have a last name?" Shizuru pondered.
"Not that I'm aware." Yusuke shrugged, "Never thought to ask... Does Yukina have a last name?" Yusuke turned to Kurama for this, only to see the same look of confusion upon Kurama's face. "Why is this hard for you." Yusuke griped, "You're supposed to be the smart one."
"Well..." Kurama stretched, letting out a small yawn in the process. It was late after all, "It's... complicated, Yusuke." He paused, scratching his chin and thinking his answer over, "Demons do not use last names to depict family honor as humans do. We are given a name. Not a first name or a last name. Yukina's name is Yukina. I don't think Shimo has a last name. I think Shimo simply is his name."
"Well that's bullshit, what if there are two guys named Shimo?" Yusuke demanded. "How could you tell people apart?"
"There are seven billion people on this planet." Kurama's tone had taken a hard edge suddenly, "There are, perhaps, five hundred thousand demons in total? The mortality rate is extremely high Yusuke. Demons rarely make it past D class... and even if they do, they die soon after. Hiei and I are the rare exceptions. Well-" Kurama shook his head, "That isn't exactly sound either. Both Hiei and I were born A class demons. I lost my power when I gave up my demon life and fled to human world... Hiei lost his power when he had the jagan implanted."
"Really?" Yusuke was shocked to discover this, "It drained you both that much?"
"You of all people should know that the transition of a soul is a demanding process." Kurama offered Yusuke a coy smile at this, "And as for Hiei... the jagan is a dangerous implant. It often kills it's bearer. But Hiei was far too strong willed to be overruled by a simple implant. If anything, I do believe the jagan has grudgingly accepted defeat." Kurama chuckled at this.
"It's useless then." Shizuru let out a sigh of defeat, sinking down in her chair and closing out of the search system as she turned off the computer. "Fuck it boys. Dinner was nice and all, but I'm going home. You two should do the same."
"I have to return home, simply for Shiori's sake." Kurama shook his head, "She's worried. I'll give her some excuse and be back in the morning."
"Don't worry. Keiko and I will stay at the temple." Yusuke assured his friend. "Someone needs to stay there to keep an eye on the little shit. Even if he's clean in human world, he could be a tyrant in demon world."
"I will make it a point to drop in on Botan and Koenma." Kurama thought aloud, "I'll let you know if they find anything out of the usual."
"Thanks, bud!" Yusuke felt instantly relieved upon hearing this, "Hell if Koenma draws a blank I may have to concede that Shimo is harmless."
"Yusuke..." Shizuru warned. "Anonymity does not equal harmless."
"Yes miss police woman." Yusuke sneered. "You want to slap handcuffs on me while you're at it?"
"Don't tempt me."
Slowly, tenderly, Yukina brushed her hair. In the gloom of the darkened dojo, only a small oil lamp with a delicate pink glass frame gave her light. Her bedroom was well kept but unmistakably lived in with fresh flowers upon the nightstand and her birdcage in the far corner. All the finches were at rest, nestled tight in their woven hides as they burrowed underneath strands of straw. Before her armoire, Yukina observed herself as she let her long sea foam hair drape over her shoulder and down her chest. Her white nightgown barely revealed the tint of skin beneath.
She could not sleep and she did not know why.
Shimo lay next door, undoubtably fast asleep after having such a delicious meal with Shizuru, Kazuma, Yusuke, Keiko, and Kurama. Genkai had been so gracious, allowing them to hoard her pantry so that Yukina could make a finely roasted duck. Keiko had supplied her with a wonderful family recipe. Yukina made a mental note to ask Keiko for the instructions later so that she could save the recipe for christmas or other special times. One never knew when they would need a good duck recipe.
She could not sleep... She simply could not sleep.
Something was gnawing at the pit of her stomach, filling her with dread even though all was well. Something was warning her, urging her to pay attention and notice something that had slipped by her... but what?
"What's wrong with me..." Yukina whispered, slowly setting her hairbrush down so that her hands fell into her lap.
Silence greeted her question, and gave her no answers.
(Four Hours Earlier)
Mukuro awoke in the tree hole, feeling sore and unrested. Hiei was fast asleep upon her shoulder, with puss and blood oozing from his forehead down to his chin. At once, Mukuro tore fabric from her sleeve and cleaned his face taking great care not to be too forceful as she wiped puss away from the corner of Hiei's jagan. Hiei winced in his sleep, mumbling.
Mukuro felt his forehead. He was feverishly cold, sweating so badly that his entire shirt was was sticking to his chest. Mukuro quickly undid the clasp of his black cloak, helping him to shrug off the hot fabric as Hiei groaned in his sleep.
He opened his eyes, took a deep shuttering breath, then clutched his stomach as if it terrible pain. He gasped, siezing and moaning. Mukuro did not know whether he was going to vomit again, or if he was simply mad with fever. She took him in her arms, holding him so that he could focus on healing instead of sitting up straight.
"Hiei!" Mukuro begged, "Tell me what's wrong; tell me what hurts!"
Hiei kicked out, his foot connecting painfully with the inside of the tree as he writhed and shouted incoherent nonsense!
"Fuck-!" Hiei cried out, and Mukuro could hear the pain in his voice, "I can't-! I- Damnit all!"
"What can I do?" Mukuro begged, feeling utterly helpless, "Tell me what I can do to help you!"
Yet Hiei gave her no answer, instead clutching onto her as if she were the only true thing in existence; terrified to let go for fear of falling into dismal blackness where there was no escape and no solace. He siezed again and again, every muscle in his body tensing up and letting go as if it were trying to purge. He gave one final, horrible shuddering gasp-!
Hiei fell still in her arms, his eyes closed and his mouth sagging open.
Mukuro shivered, frightened.
"...H-Hiei?" Mukuro whispered, trembling as she shook him a little.
There was no response.
"Hiei?!" Mukuro cried out, her voice sharp, loud, and clear as she shook him hard.
There was no response.
For one small moment of terrible swelling silence, Mukuro simply stared at Hiei in shock unable to grasp what she was seeing.
Was he... was he...?
No. He could not be. He simply could not.
Without the slightest of hesitation, Mukuro immediately dropped down the barrier separating their tiny tree cove from the muddy forest awash from yesterdays rain. Heavy clouds overhead were still threatening to drop, and soggy earth spilled into the hovel as Mukuro dug through the dirt to drag Hiei forcibly out of the hole. They were covered in mud now, their clothes stained with dark earth. Mukuro hoisted Hiei onto her back, carefully wrapping his cloak around his limp form so that if rain fell he would not be bothered. There would be no stopping now. She would run rain or shine. Before she'd wanted him to get some rest and not be troubled with a head cold. Now...?
Now Mukuro didn't care if they arrived with half chopped limbs. They would reach Shigure's hut by the end of the night. She would have it no other way.
Mukuro sped off, the earth flying beneath her feet as she tore through the forest at a frantic pace! The ground underneath was slippery, and flecks of mud were flung up onto her pants and shirt as she gained even more speed. Perhaps her mind was too frantic to be bothered with time, but it seemed only a very short time until they broke through the other end of the patch of forest onto hilly terrain that was bordered by swamp like slopes. Mukuro knew these were dangerous territories, full of low class demons that attacked travelers. Normally she would not have been troubled, for she could easily defeat thousands of such fiends under normal conditions.
But these were not normal conditions, and she could not allow Hiei to fall into any more harm.
Mukuro nearly slipped upon the hillsides which were still slick with rain. Thunder rumbled overhead, and rain began to fall down as she mounted another steep slope. She shifted Hiei a little higher upon her back, ignoring the pain in her scarred muscles where her bionic limb shifted in the cold. She could afford no slack in pace as the sun climbed high overhead despite the overcast skies. The blood red heavens were full of lightning and hot heavy air. The smell of the slums and swamps filled her nostrils. It was the smell of decay, the smell of death and pestilence. It reminded Mukuro painfully of Hiei's jagan, now rotting in his skull.
She paused to huff a breath, shaking head to get the water out of her eyes and nose. Through the torrent, she could see the very edge of the swampland which was marked by a shift in the earth from grass to sludge. Mukuro knew that hints of quicksand could sink an unaware passer, and so she decided she would instead flit from tree to tree. The vegetation was dead, dried and rotten so that only strange spires of old oaks once heavy with life remained. Sure enough, tiny bands of rodent like demons with massive yellow teeth and lolling tongues were huddled together underneath pathetic tents attempting to keep dry. It was a lost cause, but they were already so wet and dirty from the sludge that Mukuro doubted they could tell the difference.
They smelt the air, their long noses and whiskers twitching with delight at the stench of puss and blood coming from Hiei's jagan. Mukuro grimaced as a few rose up from their huddles, their beady eyes locked on Mukuro with greedy hunger.
"Go fuck yourself." Mukuro spat, and she leapt high into the air!
A rodent immediately flew after her, but was far too slow to catch Mukuro's great pace. It fell away into the sludge, but its squeals of delight alerted the others as Mukuro landed on the first tree and leapt for the next. Once again, she was able to outpace her pursuers, but there were others up ahead and Mukuro was still on shaky terrain as the trees underfoot groaned ominously. She could not afford to trip!
As she passed through the first wild slope of swamp, she entered a gaseous area above which purple fumes were ejected from the muck. She coughed, the vile stench burning her lungs as she desperately tried to avoid the pillars. Yet the trees had officially run out and now Mukuro was forced to wade through the sludge. Her pace was slowed to a horrible gait, and she looked over her shoulder just in time as a rat with long spidery fingers leapt for her with a hiss! At once, Mukuro blasted the fool with a taste of her energy, and he was smoked like a macabre barbeque. Yet his death did not deter his brethren, and soon Mukuro was overwhelmed!
"Damnit!" She snarled, up to her waist in mud. She had no choice but to let Hiei go in order to defend them both, and Mukuro dropped her companion with bitter regret as she flung her hands wide-! Great slashes through the air suddenly rent the scene with blood as rat after rat fell to her advances. None could come close enough to gain an edge; yet even as she blew holes through the enemy line Hiei was beginning to slip below the mud. Mukuro made a desperate grab for his arm, and in her momentary blunder a rat charged for her neck! It bit down with razor sharp teeth and she screamed in pain as she took the beast in hand and broke its jaw. The rat howled, thrashing wildly as it scrambled to get away. Mukuro kicked it's retreating hind, and the rat sprawled onto its back. More rats were coming, and Mukuro had to drop Hiei for a second time just to fend off the onslaught.
"Go-to-hell!" Mukuro screamed, slashing left and right with energy so that crimson stains flew through the air and dyed the mud a dark red.
But the rats just kept coming, seemingly in endless droves, and Mukuro suddenly felt a sharp pain in her side as a smaller beast clawed its way up her leg and bit her squarely on the hip. She struggled, dropping her hands to grab the rat and fling it far from her person. In that moment, several rats leapt forward and Mukuro's vision was obscured by greasy black fur!
They bit her on the arm, the face, the legs, and the stomach; tearing at her with razor sharp claws. Mukuro thrashed and screamed, desperately trying to blast off her attackers. But they had overwhelmed her, and she could feel her back slowly sinking into the mud-! She would either be ripped apart by disgusting rats or drown in the quicksand-
"DRAGOOOON OF THE DARKNESS FLAAAAAAAME!"
Her world became one of searing hot black flame, and she heard the screams of the rats fade to silent as all were simultaneously evaporated. The mud underneath hardened to clay, and the dead trees suddenly became kindle as an inhuman howl soared through the sewer laden landscape. High above her, Mukuro watched the black and purple spiraling flames curl and unfurl, thrashing back and forth as the image of a beast revealed itself- a massive dragon with a long snout marked by massive glistening fangs. She felt air suddenly seize in her lungs, and she gasped as she struggled to sit up. Light headed, throbbing in pain, she looked left and right to find Hiei- for surely it was he that had conjured the dragon... but how? How when he'd been knocked out, laying in the mud? How when he'd been feverish and dying only moments before?
But there he was, hunched over with his hands upon his knees.
Hiei gasped for air, trembling as he slowly raised his head to look Mukuro dead in the eye. Blood and puss flowed freely down his face, now marked with mud from the swamp.
"...That's all... I've got." Hiei managed to stutter out. "Now... It's up... to you."
And with that, he collapsed onto the ground in a heap.
Lightning flashed overhead as the dragon of the darkness flame vanished into thin air, leaving nothing behind but a sweltering heat that brought forth a sudden onslaught of rain.
"Hiei!" Mukuro screamed, scrambling to her feet even as her limbs throbbed with pain from the rat bites. She ran over the now hardened clay, reaching Hiei's side and scooping him up into her arms. He felt frighteningly light and cold, like the corpse of a child.
"Up to me." Mukuro repeated, the rain beating down upon her shoulders and back as she took off running through the swamp. The dragon had carved a hot path through the waste, making a highway through the swamp. She followed the trail right to the very end where the dragon had taken off from the ground and soared into the sky. The clay sudden returned to soggy mud, and so she was plunged into knee deep sewage that she struggled through. With all her strength, she stomped through the decay till the ground underneath began to harden once more. Signs of grass were peeking through, and she almost cried aloud for joy when she reached the other side of the swamp. The plains returned, streaming with little rivers from the hard torrential rain. Yet there was sanctuary up ahead in tall pine forests, and Mukuro knew that she was close! On the other side of this forest, Shigure's hut was to be found.
Mukuro charged into the forest, her heart pounding.
"I know barely anything." Mukuro began, her voice hoarse from the struggle with the rats.
"Well I know nothing." Shigure countered. "So catch me up."
"A stranger came to Master Genkai's temple in human world." Mukuro began. "A demon of unknown origin. He claimed to be Hiei's sisters brother-"
"Yukina." Shigure supplied.
"Yes-" Mukuro paused, confusion marking her brow, "How... did you know that?"
"Hiei and I have history long before you." Shigure's answer was vague. "Continue."
"Hiei tried to confront the demon... he tried to see into the strangers mind. But something happened, and the stranger did... something to the jagan." Mukuro gestured helplessly at Hiei as he laid upon the operating slab. "That's all I know. Hiei was on his way here when I found him in the southern fields. I accompanied him the rest of the way; A few days ago he took a turn for the worse... He got a fever, he couldn't talk straight... The jagan just started dripping with puss- it was horrible." Mukuro shook her head. "What do I do? What do we do? What's even going on?"
Shigure nodded, saying nothing as he leaned heavily upon the operating table and observed the jagan underneath the high fluorescent light. Far above them on the ceiling, a strange tentacled creation wriggled gently. Mukuro glanced at it every so often... what was that beast?
"Well..." Shigure pursed his lips, cracking his lips and leaning back from the operating table "Only one way to find out... This is going to take a while."
Mukuro nodded to herself, taking a slow sip of demons blood. She didn't realize Shigure was looking at her till she glanced up to see him glowering.
"What?" She grumbled.
"I work alone." Shigure growled. "You need a bath, and a meal. Take the stairs, you'll find my living quarters below... Have a nap while your at it. I'll come get you when I know more. ... Scram." Shigure added irritably. Mukuro balked.
"Are you kicking me out?" Mukuro snapped. "I'm you boss! I employ you! Your salary comes out of my pocket! You can't just force me to leave-"
Shigure strode to a door on the near wall, opening it wide and gesturing for her to follow through with queen like introduction.
Mukuro seethed, getting to her feet and storming through the door. She left her demons blood and blanket behind. As soon as she'd crossed the threshold, Shigure slammed the door behind her with a loud thud. Mukuro barely managed to contain her temper, stomping down the circular stairs that curled round into the dark.
Behind her, she heard the whirring of a high pitched machine start up. She felt her heart drop into her stomach.
It would be a long night for Mukuro... and for Shigure both.
Kurama had many secrets up his sleeves, and one of them involved getting into Spirit World undetected. It wasn't too grand of a feat in reality... after all, he'd done much greater heists in his earlier years and Spirit World's defenses were poor at best. Of course, Kurama would never mention this to Koenma, now king of Spirit World. Really it wasn't Koenma's fault that his late father had been a boob.
Spirit World was just as Kurama had remembered it, even though it had been years since he'd last stepped over the golden threshold. The skies were bright pink, whirring with new spirits on their way to paradise or damnation. Ogres walked past carrying stacks of papers or parcels being delivered. As they spotted Kurama, their eyes grew wide with shock and surprise; Kurama parted through them with polite grace, excusing himself till he made his way through the front hall where massive statues of gods and goddesses bore down on the visitors. A side staircase gave him easy access to higher floors; an added bonus made it a secret passageway so that he could travel alone and swiftly. Koenma was on the top floor by now, perhaps even on his father's throne. Yet Kurama had a feeling that Koenma would rarely leave his precious side throne which had been his ruling spot for over five thousand years. So instead he decided not to venture into the main throne room and took the long familiar walk to Koenma's old quarters.
He'd told Shiori upon returning home that an emergency between friends had occurred. Hiei had been to their house often but had seldom seen Shiori since he stayed in Kurama's room and rarely left. Yet Shiori had walked in on Kurama and Hiei once, and had been shocked that Kurama had not introduced them. After all, a friend of Kurama's was a friend of his mothers. Kurama had been nervous that Hiei would not know how to behave in front of Shiori that could pass for human nature. Yet... surprisingly enough... Hiei had been very polite. Short, yes... but very polite.
Kurama had left early that morning, bidding his family goodbye for a while until he could sooth things over with friends. He promised that he would call when he could and stay out of trouble.
Of course, staying out of trouble was not in the plan.
He'd reached the door.
There were hardly any ogres on the top floor because Koenma worked intimately with George alone. Kurama wondered when he would run into George or Botan, and kept his eyes out for familiar faces as he straightened his white and magenta tunic. Retying his sash, Kurama ran his fingers through his hair and let out a deep breath. Taking the doorknob in hand, Kurama knocked and then opened it wide.
Inside, the room was just as Kurama had remembered. A massive flat screen TV stood behind Koenma's desk which sat empty. Papers were piled all around, a half eaten tray of sashimi was growing cold, and a pair of shoes kicked off in the corner suggested Koenma had been hard at work for a while. The screen was blank, and Kurama wondered if Koenma ever turned the TV on anymore now that Yusuke was no longer spirit detective.
Kurama looked around, and suddenly... there they were.
Koenma stood by an open window, in his adult form. His familiar blue and red tunic blew in the wind from the breeze outside, and as Koenma's dark brown hair fluttered around his forehead, Kurama noticed that the familiar Jr. was long gone.
Indeed, Koenma had taken over Spirit World. He was king now.
"... Am I so surprising?" Kurama offered in the silence, crossing his arms with mild humor. "Say something."
Koenma just stared endlessly, his eyes blank with clear shock. Yet as if snapped from his reverie, Koenma dropped his guard at once and ran to Kurama's side with a great smile. He embraced Kurama like a brother, and the pair of them laughed with joy.
"Kurama! Kurama, I can hardly believe it!" Koenma cried out, shocked. His voice was slightly deeper than Kurama remembered but the man's child like spirit still remained. Koenma pulled back abruptly, still holding onto Kurama by the upper arms, "What the hell are you doing here?!" Koenma laughed aloud, astounded.
Kurama could not find the appropriate words, and so he simply shook his head. It felt good to be here, with Koenma. It felt like old times, and reminded him of days when life had not been so complicated... Well- life had always been complicated. But back then, life hadn't been confusing.
"I need your help." Kurama finally issued, giving Koenma a grim smile. "... We need your help."
Koenma seemed to gather that the sudden surprise visit was not one of a jovial nature, for his enigmatic smile fell away to a sudden frown.
"What's wrong?" Koenma's voice was urgent, "Is everything alright? No one's hurt, right?"
"That remains to be seen." Kurama admitted, "Which is why I'm here. There has been an intruder-"
"An intruder?"
"-In our lives. We know utterly nothing about him, but we do believe that he is dangerous. If we could get any information from your sources, we would be utterly grateful. It might help us solve this odd case."
At once, Koenma took charge, ushering Kurama into a seat by his desk. Kurama sat down, relieved to be off his feet. Koenma pressed a large red button on his speakerphone.
"Botan! George! Come to my office at once." Koenma ordered, a smile beginning to spread across his face, "I've got a surprise for you."
As Koenma sat down with a groan, he pushed papers out of the way to make room for Kurama and chuckled once more.
"Forgive me, but I can't stop smiling." Koenma admitted sheepishly. "Its been far too long, Kurama! Where have you been? What have you been doing? Where's Yusuke? What about Kuwabara and Hiei? Tell me everything! Wait-!" Koenma stopped Kurama even as Kurama opened his mouth, "Wait for Botan and George! No point in telling the same story twice eh?"
Koenma grinned and popped a piece of sashimi with great delight, "Oh Kurama I'm so glad you're here I can't tell you how boring its been! Paperwork and meetings all day long! I thought being ruler would be more gratifying than second place. But I guess some things never change!"
"You seem to be handling the stress well." Kurama commented with underlapping humor as Koenma dug into more sashimi. "Have you found being King to be difficult? What happened to your father?"
"My father's in jail and long may he rot there!" Koenma snapped in his childish way, "Drugging innocent demons and letting them loose in human world just to up capture numbers. It's despicable and I won't stand for it!" Koenma slammed his fist onto his desk in great authority. "Fact of the matter is half the cases I sent you boys on involved demons that had done nothing wrong. It makes me sick to my stomach. Why I can hardly eat thinking about it!"
But eat Koenma did, and Kurama rolled his eyes as Koenma finished half the plate in enormous bites.
"Koenma sir!"
The familiar floaty voice of a long forgotten face drifted merrily through the air, and Kurama looked around in his chair with great delight to see the beautiful face of Botan.
She wore her hair in a different style, now loose in waves instead of held in a high ponytail, but it was still Botan.
"I heard you calling, George is on his way, what can I do for you-" Botan trailed off, locking eyes with Kurama's own as her mouth fell open in great shock. She clapped her hands over her cheeks as they flushed with heat, letting loose a scream that could have sent birds flying from trees.
"Kurama!" Botan squealed, flinging her arms wide and bull rushing him even as he rose from his chair. Kurama almost fell over, unable to keep his balance as Botan squeezed him tight. A laugh escaped his lips, and he hugged Botan tight as she rocked them back and forth, her laughter turning to tears as emotion overwhelmed her. Her pink kimono was long gone, replaced with a white one of higher authority. Clearly her job as guardian of the river styx had been passed on to another, and now she held a different position just like Koenma.
"What on earth?!" Botan demanded, wiping sparkling tears from the corners of her bubble gum eyes as she gave a hearty sniff. "What are you doing here?! I hardly expected to see you! It's been nearly seven years! Why- I- oh let me hug you again!" Botan begged, wrapping him up in her arms once more. "Oh you've hardly changed... but you look so much older! More handsome than ever! Tell me! Tell me everything!"
At this, Botan began to bounce upon her heels, "Tell me all your stories! Where's Yusuke? What about Kazuma and Hiei? Are they well? How about Yukina and Keiko! Oh tell me all, Kurama?"
"Calm down, Botan or you'll give yourself a seizure." Koenma quipped. "I was just about to hear Kurama's story myself when you burst in. Now where is George?"
"Overwhelmed with paperwork sir, you missed three meetings today!" Botan did not look happy at this, and she gave Koenma a beady eye of irritation. A slick drop of sweat trickled down Koenma's temple, and he made several clucking noises as he looked anywhere other than Botan's face.
"Ah, yes, well- being King is an difficult job!" Koenma retorted. "Sacrifices must be made!"
"Oh don't give me that folly, you were up here lounging about!" Botan shot down at once, "I know you far too well!"
"I- You- we're getting off subject! Kurama, sit back down! Tell Botan and I everything!" Koenma parried, desperate to regain control of the situation. Botan regretfully let go of Kurama, and Kurama retook his seat as Botan wedged herself atop of Koenma's grand desk.
Both sets of eyes, brown and pink, turned to Kurama as Kurama laced his fingers and propped his chin atop the bridge. Kurama toyed with them by flashing a charming smile.
"I confess, I had not planned on visiting." Kurama admitted, "Then again, I had also not planned on disaster unfolding during such a peaceful era of my life. I thought my battles over for the most part... but it seems that there are some who simply cannot stop looking for trouble."
"Quit teasing, and spill!" Koenma urged. "What are you talking about?"
"Over a week ago, a stranger approached Genkai's temple." Kurama began, "A man by the name of Shimo. Yukina greeted him, only to be greeted back by a man... who claimed he was her brother."
A pin drop could have been heard.
"... What?" Botan gasped, "But Hiei is Yukina's brother! This man, this Shimo is a liar! An impostor!"
"Allow me to finish." Kurama asked, and Botan fell silent at once as Koenma gripped the edge of his desk with white knuckles.
"Yukina was overjoyed, but she was not alone. Believing Shimo to be her brother, she at once introduced him to Kazuma who was visiting her that day... Kazuma was also excited to meet the man he believed to be Yukina's twin, and at once left the temple to retrieve Yusuke and I. At the time, I was having a ritual dinner at Yusuke's ramen stand-"
"Yusuke has a ramen stand?" Koenma snickered aloud at this, but Botan hushed him at once.
"I dine there often. Yusuke is an excellent cook. Hiei was with us that night... he visits human world when he can." Kurama paused, "Kazuma found Yusuke, Hiei, and I at the stand and told us everything. Little did he know that he was the only one to rejoice... the rest of us were horrified."
"I don't doubt it." Botan murmured thoughtfully.
"We ran to the temple at once, Hiei leading the way. We found Yukina alive and well, tending to Shimo inside of Genkai's temple. She, of course, had no idea of the danger in which she was. Kazuma was just as clueless, but Hiei did not spare time for details. He attempted to confront Shimo and... well..." Kurama shook his head, "I am unsure as to what truly happened in those moments. Perhaps, Koenma, you could supply us with a tape of the events? Look to the friday before last, around ten at night."
"Yes!" Koenma snatched a remote control from underneath his desk, turning around in his large chair to turn the TV on. Fuzz greeted them, and Koenma flipped through a series of controls until he could finally find the scene which he desired. Using a fast action reverse, he scanned through hours of footage, till at last he hit the correct date- and there Kurama saw the scene he'd already beheld once before.
Hiei, Yusuke and himself at the stairs, with Shimo, Yukina, and Kuwabara confused on the other side of the dojo foyer.
"Let's see." Koenma urged, pressing play.
"My name is Shimo." The boy finally answered, "I come from the Hyouga."
At this, Kurama cast a look over his shoulder at Hiei. Upon hearing the term 'hyouga', Hiei's eyes widened significantly. From claiming to be Yukina's brother, to knowing that she came from the Hyouga, Shimo seemed to know far too much... and Kurama was keen to know why.
"The Hyouga?" Kurama repeated calmly, frowning as he spoke, "And... you believe that you are Yukina's brother? I'd rather like to know why. What makes you so certain that Yukina is your long lost twin?"
Shimo, once again, was not quick to speak, and Kurama took note of how often the young man needed to pause before opening his mouth. Was he thinking his words over, or did he simply feel unpressed for time? Did he feel that this was not a nervous encounter, and if so, why?
"I have wandered far in my journey." Shimo began, "I was raised by bandits after being cast aside. From there I became my own man, and have since then been searching for my dearest sister Yukina-"
"Enough!"
Without warning, Kurama was almost knocked off balance as Hiei bolted past him and grabbed Shimo tight by the throat with both fists! In a swift jet of speed, he carried them to the wall and slammed Shimo hard against it! Kurama heard pottery break as Hiei knocked over furniture, and cries arose as Hiei bared his teeth right in Shimo's face and let his hot breath blow across the boys pale features.
Kurama threw out a hand to stop Yukina from running forward, his eyes locked on his old comrade's back. Whatever Hiei did now, Hiei did out of fear for Yukina not himself. The room fell into another terrible swelling silence as Yusuke and Kuwabara waited with grave anticipation for the climax.
Shimo and Hiei stared at one another, eye to eye.
In the great gust of energy Hiei had used to swoop down upon Shimo and pin him to the wall, he'd been determined to behead the boy. Upon ramming him against the paneling, he'd felt a fire in his belly, ready to pounce and finish off the impostor who knew not only so much about Yukina but clearly about Hiei as well.
A strange transaction of muttered lips that none could hear.
Hiei seized Shimo tight by the throat again, and threw him hard across the room! Shimo fell like a rag doll, his limbs sprawled about as he crashed into the sofa and toppled over the back of it! Yukina screamed, making to run to Shimo's aid, but Kurama held her back once again even as Hiei ripped off the band concealing his jagan.
Shimo gasped for breath, looking up in alarm as a great purple light filled the void between the two of them. For a split second, Shimo looked like he might run, as if he finally was beginning to understand the danger of the situation; but his revelation came too late and the jagan opened wide to scan Shimo with it's great bulging violet iris.
A sudden stuttering pause as something terrible shifted from Shimo to Hiei-!
Hiei stumbled backward, eyes wide and mouth open as Shimo cowered upon the floor with his hands over his face. Hiei covered up his jagan at once, eager not to be sucked back into Shimo's mind again on accident. As it was covered, the purple light faded as did the voices ringing in Hiei's ears. They'd covered up the shouting around him, and as angry voices finally reached Hiei's brain, he looked around irritated.
"What the heck is wrong with you, man?!" Kuwabara shouted, stumbling forward out of Yusuke's grip and helping Shimo off from the floor. Shimo clung to Kuwabara's meaty arms, looking pale and shaken, "Why have you gotta be such a jerk to everyone?! How could you just invade his mind like that!? Freaking creep!" Kuwabara's honor code and sense of human moral made things like the jagan's influence impossible to convey. He saw only Hiei's cruelty, his constant desire to be in control of the situation. Kuwabara might not understand the jagan's influence, but he was no fool. He knew that the jagan was powerful, that it was dangerous, and seeing Shimo's weakened color and sweating brow tipped the scale. He wiped dried blood from under his nose and fixed Hiei with a furious glare.
"I won't let you treat Yukina's brother like that! She's the love of my life, and her brother is my brother!" Kuwabara snapped.
Koenma stopped the tape, and silence fell upon the room once more.
"What... on earth was that." Botan was agog, and Kurama could not blame her.
"I have been asking myself that for over a week now." Kurama admitted. "Koenma, if you could, please reverse the tape. I want to see something."
Koenma did as asked, and Kurama threw up a hand to halt the process right as Hiei pinned Shimo against the wall.
"Now up the volume." Kurama urged. "I saw Hiei and Shimo's lips move."
Koenma turned the volume up nearly all the way, and pressed play once more. The noise was full of static, but words could be heard.
"... What are you?" Hiei drawled, narrowing his crimson eyes as he gritted his teeth with apprehension, "How do you know the things you know."
Shimo never wavered in staring at Hiei, his empty eyes like that of a china doll as he titled his head in mock curiosity.
"Why do you fear me, Hiei?" Shimo replied with a question of his own, "What are you afraid of, when you look at me."
It was after these words that Hiei snapped and threw Shimo to the floor. Koenma stopped the tape again.
"...How do you know the things you know." Koenma repeated Hiei's words. "Shimo's little introduction held great meaning to Hiei."
"There's more. Fast forward to when the jagan opens. It's there that I want to see. Volume all the way up please." Kurama urged.
Koenma did as he was asked once again, and Botan winced as the volume hurt her ears.
It was a fragile moment barely five seconds in length, but it was all that Kurama needed.
"Now, if you would..." Kurama felt a hunch growing, and he was determined to pursue it to the end, "Select those five seconds... and..." Kurama paused, "Go to underlying volume."
"Underlying? You think a ghost is in that room?" Koenma clucked his tongue, "Or are you just trying to break my fancy TV."
"Just a hunch. If you will." Kurama asked politely, and with a shrug Koenma followed the request.
"...Now. Press play." Kurama murmured.
Koenma pressed the button, and at once a terrible hissing sound filled the air!
"Noooo! Please, NOOOOO!"
Botan gasped, clapping her hands over her ears once again!
"Turn it off! Off!" Botan begged, for Koenma was so startled by the scream that he'd almost fallen out of his chair. Koenma scrambled for the remote, shutting off the TV with shaking hands as he took a great breath. The scream had scared them all and though Kurama had not moved to hold his ears nor fallen out of his chair his heart pounded with fear.
"... What... was THAT?!" Koenma demanded. "Did you hear that scream the first time?! Did anyone else hear that?!"
"No, that's the point." Kurama shook his head, taking the remote from Koenma and switching the TV back on. "On the surface, nothing happens. Look underneath the waves, however, and a storm is occurring." The selected scene was still preset, and Kurama turned the volume down back to normal as he selected the normal volume range instead of the underlying. Upon pressing play, the same scene occurred, yet no scream could be heard. Botan held her heart, biting her lip nervously.
"... That was a woman's voice." Botan murmured, fear in her tone, "But there's only Yukina and Genkai and... I don't think either of them screamed."
"No." Kurama shook his head, "But someone did..." Kurama paused the scene just as Hiei began to pull back in pain and so the image of their friend contorted in agony stared them all in the face.
"... What do we do?" Botan asked, "Hiei and Yukina are in trouble. We have to do something."
"And now you know why I'm here." Kurama finished. "I require your resources... and I believe that you may be able to shed light on this Shimo character. I want to know everything on this boy, if you have any files... If something turns up, then at least we'll have a lead to follow."
"What about Hiei?" Botan asked, "He looks hurt."
"Hiei left after this confrontation." Kurama explained. "I believe he's gone to demon world, seeking Shigure."
"The demon surgeon." Koenma agreed. "The one who implanted the jagan."
"Oh my I hardly know where to begin." Botan drew a shuddering breath. "I'm going to start pulling files at once! I'll report back the moment I know more-" She hopped off of Koenma's desk, rushing past for the door. Yet she turned on her heel one last time to return to Kurama's side. She drew him into an intense one armed hug full of passion and true happiness.
"Regardless the circumstances." Botan whispered, "I'm glad you're here. It was a mistake for us all to grow apart. We are family, after all."
"I quite agree." Kurama chuckled. "I'll join you soon. I want to give this case my personal attention."
Botan drew back, running out the door without another word. Koenma had not looked back from the screen, still staring at the expression of pain on Hiei's face.
"...How do you know the things you know." Koenma repeated Hiei's words again, staring up at Hiei's image as he spoke.
"Simple." Kurama rose up from the chair, making his way towards the door. He looked over his shoulder at Koenma with wisdom beyond his many years. "We learn. Every weed has a root, Koenma. I intend to dig this one out."
With that, Kurama left the room.
Koenma continued to stare at the screen.
(Authors Note: Thank you to all the reviewers who are reading Who Dare To Lie. I hope that you are enjoying this fic as much as I am enjoying writing it. I'm working hard to make the format more readable, but there are troubles with Fanfiction... sometimes things like asterisk breaks don't show up. I'm trying to resolve this. Thank you for your understanding.)
