Thank you: Death101 - fox version, Shadow Realm Triforce, Rose, Mrsbeggins, ninga-of-twilight and CeresMaria for all your wonderful reviews!

Also some people were wondering what Izumi and her friend were playing. I imagined them playing the song is called 'Sunrise' by Beltaine with a few of the none interment piece not there.

Enjoy this chapter i know i did! R&R


Chapter Seven: Fire and Ice

I stared down at my custom made-to-order mid-calf combat boots with the same irritation and panic I'd been feeling since I'd woken up early this morning. The dark blue waterproof mesh of the shoe was nicely contrasted with the black rubber sole and laces. The comforting warmth they provided did nothing for the cold sweat that had settled on my forehead when my communicator had gone off. These shoes were mine yet I did not feel the joy I had felt when I had gotten them in the mail a week ago. No I could only look at them off hand as my mind raced like a gray hound on the track.

It was still early, around nine in the morning back on earth. I rubbed at my eyes again as they drooped and glanced down the hall I was waiting in. Spirit World was surprisingly quiet right now, but then again I was away from the hustle and bustle of scrambling ogres and ferry girls. This hallway was the one that almost every soul walked down, for the great gate entrance was down at one end. It was almost barren, except for the many pedestals that had items in glass cases. Most of the items looked too random and out of place for such protection: a ring, a dagger, a cane, the list went on. At one point there had been a red pendant on a chain as well as a thick-banded wristwatch. Those were gone now, worn by my master and myself.

"Musing about the past are we?"

A smile graced my face for a moment.

"No more then you are."

"Izumi!" I looked up from my boots and glanced to my left smiling slightly. Kurama had a hand raised to get my attention. I pushed off from the wall and stood up straight as he neared. He had a pleasant smile on his face and wore simple clothes that suited him well. My heart fluttered for a moment, picking up its pace and I wandered if I would ever not feel the slight high I got from him saying my name.

"I'm glad you came."

"It wouldn't have been very easy not to after giving me such news."

His reminder of why he came was a douse of cold water on my already frayed nerves. Two weeks. That was the news that had started the formation of ice in the pit of my stomach and with each passing minute the ice grew making spider web patterns in my veins.

Because in two weeks time the tunnel to demon world would be done and all hell would literally break loose. When Koenma had told me this I'd stared at him on the screen my hand shaking ever so slightly and asked him if he was joking. He hadn't been.

It had terrified me.

I'd promised to he keep him in the loop and because Koenma had not said to keep it a secret I'd gotten dressed as seven AM forgetting about school and quickly made my way to Kurama's house. I was rather sure that knocking on his window while I perched on a tree branch outside had been a bit of a rude awakening. It had been difficult to ignore Kuronue's teasing about my 'stalker' appearance so early in the morning. Still, after giving Kurama the news, we'd both agreed something was up and to meet in Spirit World to find out what.

Tilting my head slightly, I smirked. "I told you I would keep you informed didn't I?"

"I'm glad you did. I'd had my suspicions about Koenma before, but now I'm sure he is hiding something." I frowned at his words, not sure if I agreed with him or not. I had worked with Koenma for a long time now and I had never felt he withheld any information that was necessary for an assignment. The look in Kurama's eyes though told me he was sure of it, and such a piercing gaze made a shiver run up my spine and the ice in my veins fractured, spreading again.

I bounced on the balls of my feet for a moment before nodding my head. "He's in the archives room." As I said this I started to walk, leading him to our destination. He fell in to step next to me but didn't say a word.

We were quiet for a time and I listened to our footfalls and tried to calm my speeding heart. I tried to ignore the fact that he kept looking at me with interest, a question clearly written in his eyes. It was a failed attempt though, and I could feel my face heating up under his gaze.

"Is there something you wanted, fox?" He blinked at my sudden question, though I did not turn my gaze to meet his, just kept moving forward. He smiled slightly.

"I did not think that you would catch me spying. Perhaps I have began to lose my touch." He was teasing me, I knew he was, but my body acted as if I didn't. Some of the ice in my veins melted as I flushed and I for once was glad Kuronue was apparently brooding in silence.

This had become a normal response for the bat demon as of late: Kurama would be friendly, I'd smile and my thoughts would turn giddy, and the Kuronue would grumble about female hormones and sulk.

"Maybe, but that is besides the point. Was there something you wanted to ask me?"

"Yes, but it is a bit personal…"

"I did tell you I would answer all I could didn't I?" He nodded his head. "Then speak before I change my mind."

I saw the playful glint in his eyes and felt a small amount of happiness at his approval. "I was just surprised, that you said you'd meet me here in Spirit World." I raised an eyebrow at him. "It's just that normally the only people who can travel to Spirit World are those who use Astral Projection. That ability is not very easy to master unless the user has…"

"Died?" I finished for him, smiling slightly, and he nodded his head once again. His ability to use Astral Projection was no surprise to me; his spirit was very old, and he'd also separated his soul to save himself. That's how he'd come to be here now. "You are right about that."

He stopped and, confused, I halted as well, turning to look at him. "What's wrong?" He surveyed me for a moment before speaking calmly.

"You're saying that you died then?"

I sighed looking upward.

"How else do you think Koenma finds Soul Detectives? Such powerful demonic tools such as the one I use cannot simply be taken to earth. Most souls pass by the objects without even knowing it. If one glows it's a sign that there's a connection." I stopped, frowning, realizing I had started rattling off facts when it seemed he was at least a bit saddened by the fact of the matter – my death.

"I suppose I never really stopped to think about it." He looked at me frowning slightly. "Was it your time?" I knew what he meant instantly and rubbed my left arm shaking my head. No, it had not been my time to die; yet another of Spirit World blunders. "May I ask how it happened?"

To my surprise I heard Kuronue's rumble of a growl in the back of my head as I closed my eyes and saw the images of the haunting dream that always followed me. Reflexively I pushed it away, not wanted to relive it again.

I opened my eyes again and smiled sadly at the redhead. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm not up to telling that story. It's not one I like to tell." Kurama seemed to understand but seemed a bit hesitant to just let it drop. "Let's just say Yusuke had it easy."

"I see." His need for information was rather humorous at times and seeing him submit to not getting it was honestly kind of cute.

"…Maybe some day I'll tell you." I muttered after a moment, smiling slightly as he looked at me, an eyebrow raised. "It seems only fair since you trust me. But for now we have other things to worry about."

"Very well. I am glad that I have your trust."

I had to bite my tongue to not tell him he'd always had it.

We stared down the hall again making turns and descending a set of stairs. Our conversations were light and rather unimportant. I listened, interested, as he spoke about his mother. She was in the mist of planning her wedding and Kurama often found her flustered about silly things such as tablecloth colors.

I laughed at his tales, trying not to feel the melancholy that ran through the conversation. With our lives the way they were, such things as marriage seemed unobtainable to us.

The Archival Room was hidden behind large oak doors that were, for the moment, propped open on one side. I was relieved at this – I had never had to open a set of doors in spirit world, but their mere size was enough to make my muscles groan at the thought of heaving them open. Slipping in through the opening I was met with rows and rows of bookshelves that reached high into the ceiling rafters and stretched from wall to wall. Every piece of information about the three worlds, every shred of it, was kept in this endless room, written in one of the millions upon millions of books. My brain conjured a cartoon scene of someone bumping into one of the shelves and thus making it tip and staring a domino effect, toppling every single one. I paled at the mere thought of it, and suddenly felt bad for the ogres of Spirit World.

Kurama slipped in behind me and glanced around. I gave him a moment before I started off into the sea of knowledge. In the distance I could hear shuffling, the aggravated flipping of pages, and the all too common grumble of my boss. We found him five rows down and three in, sitting on one of the top rungs of a latter, a large book in his lap. He was sucking rather hard on the binky in his mouth as he turned page after page looking more and more frustrated. I gave a side ways glance at the red head and smiled slightly. He gave me an amused look back before I walked up to the latter, tilting my head up and raised a hand to knock on a leg.

"Paging prince Koenma."

Koenma looked up and blinked before raising an eyebrow as he looked from me to Kurama a few feet back. "Shouldn't you both be in school?" I heard Kurama snort behind me.

"We are absent so much I doubt we will be missed."

I smiled before looking to my boss.

"And besides we both know how spontaneous catering businesses can be."

The prince was not amused.

From the corner of my eye I saw Kurama give me a questioning look at my answer but he didn't move to voice it.

"Very well. Would you mind telling me why you're both here then?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"You really think it's that odd after the news you gave me this morning?" Koenma gave me an annoyed look. "What? You didn't say I couldn't tell any one. Besides Kurama deserved to know."

He gave his pacifier another work out as he glowered at me; I just crossed my arms and gave him an even look. I was rather sure Kurama was looking at us much like a sports fan surveyed an intense tennis match.

"Very well." I smiled at him as he shut the book that had been lying on his lap. I watched with slight interest as dust puffed into the air and wondered off hand how old the book was.

"Its not that we don't believe you Koenma, we're just both concerned. When we started this mission we were told we had over a month and now two days later it has become two weeks? How is that possible?" Kurama was worried. Though he kept his face as calm as ever, there was a slight tension in his voice as he spoke. He had a right to be though, with the world the way it was. I couldn't even begin to imagine the panic that would spread if the tunnel was completed. I only had my knowledge of past massacres to rely on from textbooks – the holocaust, the nuclear bombing in Hiroshima – all of which I was sure were only minor compared to what would happen.

Koenma sighed, looking off in to nothing but books that lay out before him. "I wish I knew myself Kurama. All I know is that it seems like the tunnel is getting a mind of its own, like the more time that passes the easier the tunnel widens, as if it wants to open."

"That's insane…" Both of them looked at me for a moment before looking away again. They'd both been thinking the same thing, that was one thing I was sure of; I'd just voiced it.

"Do you know who these people could be? Who the leader is?" Kurama's questions seemed to startle the prince and he frowned.

"If we did, you would have been informed."

"Honestly, I'm not so sure. You wouldn't if you knew we couldn't beat him, if you thought he was too powerful. That would mean you share some kind of connection with him, something personal."

"How dare you accuse me of that!"

"But it's true, isn't it?"

Koenma glowered again and stared at the fox demon beside me. I wasn't sure what to think; I had been under Koenma's rule for a while now and not once had I ever felt that I was being kept in the dark on purpose. At the same time though, as I looked at my boss, it became more and more apparent that something was up. So why wasn't he telling us?

Kurama's look was enough to freeze a person in place with fear. That shear determination to be given the truth no matter was the cost was, it was one of the reasons Koenma had him working for Spirit World. It was also one of the things I found so attractive about him – the fire in his eyes that held hardly any warmth.

After a moment of staring I bit my lip. This stalemate could go on forever. "Kurama… maybe-"

"You're right." Koenma cut me off, and, startled, my gaze went from the redhead to the prince, my brow furrowing. He looked at us both before folding his hands. "You are right. I do know who he is. I had been planning on telling Izumi first, because of her years of loyalty, but I realize now that telling you, Kurama is also a good choice."

I was a bit embarrassed by Koenma's small amount of flattery towards me but as I glanced at Kurama he seemed ever so slightly amused. After all it didn't matter if Koenma had really wanted to tell him or not, he was stuck now.

"You can trust us Koenma." My boss looked at me, and sighed again, nodding his head.

"I wasn't sure at first, but the more this case continues the more I wonder. After my last few findings, I'm rather sure."

"Last few findings, sir?" Koenma nodded his head again a look of dread falling on his face.

"It has come to my attention, that the Chapter Black Tape is missing."

Whatever ice had melted away with Kurama presence suddenly came back at full force. A chilled spiked up and ran across my spine freezing my blood. I heard Kurama respond to Koenma but I didn't hear the words. My mind was spiraling backwards, remembering the tales I had been told about such an awful piece of footage. Mankind's darkest hour: the feats that truly identify us as cruel, greedy animals, no different from any other living thing on earth.

. . .

When I'd first died and come to Spirit World, my entire view of how the world worked was shatter into nothing but dust. Everything I'd thought I'd known about the world had not really been a lie, but merely a small, tiny piece of a bigger picture. It had taken me a long time to wrap my brain about the entire idea of it. Demons, spirits, afterlife, and guardians – everything I thought I'd known about them was only half true at best.

After accepting such things, I'd thought that anything new would have been rather unsurprising, just another weird thing to cross of my list. I'd been wrong. Rubbing my hands over my crossed arms, I walked quietly beside Kurama as we retraced our steps. I'd been cold ever since Koenma had started spilling his guts, and even now it felt like I'd never be warm again.

How could a Spirit Detective be behind all of this? Why would a human want to kill his entire race? How could someone meant to be the human's safe guard, now be their executioner? How… why?

Koenma had not gone into too great of detail, telling us that he would tell the entire team tomorrow. That was fine, I'd heard enough.

"Izumi?" I almost jumped out of my skin and jerked my head up to look at Kurama who was gazing at me with worry in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

I pressed my lips before shaking my head slightly. "Not really…" Letting out a shaky breath I looked forward. "This case is becoming a lot more then I had mentally prepared myself for. I am not used to dealing with things like this head on." I was a spy, an information gatherer. I rarely took out the people I was tracking. I'd never faced a foe I wasn't sure I couldn't beat.

My head was spinning and I could hardly hear Kuronue as he tried to speak calming words to me over my screaming thoughts. I wasn't sure I could keep doing this; I wasn't sure I could handle it. I knew I needed to calm down. I knew things would seem better with fresh eyes, but it was hard to stop thinking about it.

A hand suddenly came to rest on my shoulder then and pulled me to a jerky stop. Startled again, I whipped my head around, wincing when my neck popped in protest. Kurama tilted his head, staring into what I could only assume were frantic hazel eyes.

"I think we're all starting to feel that way Izumi. You must not forget that you are not alone in this battle." His words were kind, and where his hand rested on my fridged shoulder my skin felt warmer.

"I know, I guess I'm not use to that. My job is solo for the most part. It's been difficult adjusting."

He nodded his head in understanding.

"I know. I have seen how hard you try not to block everyone out. Your mind works quickly and you forget to relay your thoughts to us at times, but I do not blame you for it. This is very different from what your job as Soul Detective entails."

The small smile that spread on my face was one of self-indulgence. He understood me. He took away some of the weight I was baring by just talking to me. My smile was short lived though, only lasting moments before I looked down. I hadn't bothered to fix my hair this morning, so blond locks fell in front of my eyes.

"… Do you think it's wrong for me to be scared?" I had not meant to voice it, but part of me was glad I had. I needed someone to talk to beside Kuronue, someone who was risking their life as well.

Kurama's hand fell from my shoulder and instantly the ice returned. I was too afraid to look up and see his expression; did he think me a coward? I suddenly wanted to run, to hide like a child. Closing my eyes I mentally scolded myself. How could Kurama ever like a coward?

Something warm touched my chin and tugged it upward. Confused I opened my eyes again and was met by Kurama's face, only a few feet from mind, a small smile on it. He surveyed my quietly for a moment before he shook his head.

"No, I don't think you're wrong at all." His hand left my chin and I left my head where it was half frozen as his fingers brushed against my forehead and swept blond locks out of my eyes. My heart stuttered a little momentarily, forgetting to function while my brain whirled. "Koenma chose Yusuke for a Spirit Detective because he felt he'd be better at fighting if he felt he couldn't die easily. It's part of the reason children can be so dangerous. Feeling fear though, in a way is much more powerful once you come to terms with it. Fear keeps people alive because they start trying to figure out every possible way to live."

His hand left my face after only moment but it had melted away a great deal of the chill in my bones. I pressed my lips again. "Are you saying some times even you get scared Kurama?" The fox demon looked momentarily started before he shrugged his shoulder slightly and smiled wider.

"I have been fighting so long that it has become easier to ignore, to overcome, but yes, it is there. I believe for people like us, those who have felt death and realize that it is so easily done that fear drives us to live stronger."

I smiled at him, so happy at his words, and nodded. "Thank you." It made me feel like more of an equal with him, that we both shared something in common. People like us. Like us. Two little words, yet I felt a strangely large amount of glee hearing them.

Kuronue growled something flatly in the back of my mind before he resumed his sulking once again. I ignored him, not wanting him to damper my mood.

We started walking again, and this time I felt a bit lighter then I had, and while the silence was nice, I knew it would not last long with such a curious fox.

"So are you going to get on the assignment Koenma gave you then?"

I glanced at Kurama before nodding my head. Koenma had given me a new assignment to do once we were back in human world. Though we had originally decided to leave the Doctor alone, with the new development, things had changed. We needed information. We needed a motive, and I was the one to get it.

"Yes, I have never had to break into a human jail before. It shall be a new experience."

Kurama snorted at my fake excitement.

"I would wait until dusk to do so then."

I nodded my head.

"Probably a good idea." I counted ten more footsteps before he spoke again.

"I was surprised, the way you acted with Koenma." It wasn't an accusation, but rather an inquiry.

I supposed I shouldn't have been surprised, that he was surprised. He was used to Yusuke, who complained about every assignment he got and called Koenma by a very large variety of insulting names. I, on the other hand, when given the new assignment had curtly bowed at the middle and given him a common 'yes sir.' I hummed rubbing my hands together for a moment.

"I suppose I feel that Koenma should be given some respect. I also owe him a great deal." Kurama gave me a questioning look and I laughed slightly. "Besides the fact that he brought me back to life? He got me into school here, gave me a place to live, and enough money to live comfortably." There was quite a lot more to it than that, but the rest would have meant long conversations that would disturb old wounds that had yet to heal. I didn't want to talk about it.

"I suppose so." I could tell from his tone Kurama did feel it was necessary to give the prince a bigger head, but then again I wasn't working for him because I'd broken the law. "It is nice to know that we are both trusted at least."

I agreed with him and we silently walked on. It made me think about things I hadn't in a little while. The fact of the matter was, I was starting to realize I was making a rather big mistake. I'd seen the look in Kurama's eyes when he'd stared down Koenma for lying to his face.

Yet wasn't I doing the same thing?

Glancing around me, I noted that we were close to the exit, and then we'd be splitting up for the rest of the day. Swallowing I grasped at what little backbone I could muster.

"Hey Kurama?" He looked at me and I reached up into my hair to toy with it as I spoke. "I know things are busy, but can you meet me in the park tonight? I figure you'll want to know what I find out and…" I trailed off for a moment, hearing Kuronue growl in warning. I grimaced a bit.

"Enough is enough Kuronue."

"You're being stupid Izumi."

"And you're being pigheaded."

"Izumi?"

I blinked smiling slightly at the redhead realizing I hadn't finished my thought.

"Sorry. I mean, there's something I need to tell you, but right now isn't a good time…"

Tilting his head he thought for a moment before nodding. "I look forward to hearing what you've learned then."

By the time we went our separate ways the ice in my veins had all but vanished, replaced with the warm feeling of triumph. It was such a little thing, but it felt good to finally say something, have the chance to fix things. I wouldn't let Kurama ever give me that look if I could help it. I never wanted to break the trust he had in me.

With that thought in mind I head back to my apartment for a nap knowing I'd need my rest for the long night ahead.