Changing Death

An all-dialogue interlude chapter. No flashback.

10: Night Visions

(Prelude 12/21 - AFI)

"You're going home?"

"I am."

"But why can't you stay with Genkai like you have been? You said you liked living at the temple."

"I will soon, but first, I have something I must do at my village."

"But―do you have to?"

"I do. The Elders will never forgive me if I don't return immediately and apologize."

"But you didn't do anything!"

"I brought you into my village, against the law, and you broke our hospitality. The responsibility is mine."

"Some hospitality! That doesn't make any sense! And won't you get in trouble?"

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. The Elders will find a suitable punishment for me, but no one has been banished from the tribe in all our recorded history, except―except my brother."

"I still don't get what their problem is with men. Did men do something bad to them, and that's why they're mad?"

"No, it's not that. Things have always been this way."

"That's stupid. There's nothing wrong with men, and you don't throw someone out of your city just because they got born different. No offense, but I don't gotta lot of respect for people like that."

"I have never agreed with them, either, but I will not presume to judge my own people."

"Hey―I'm sorry, Yukina. I didn't mean to upset you."

"No, it's all right. Would you like to come with me as far as the village? I would feel safer if I weren't alone."

"Of course! I'd go anywhere if you asked me to!"

"Thank you, Kazuma."

"No need to thank me, my love, just lead the way!"

-o- -o- -o- -o-

"What are you doing here? It's pretty late."

"I didn't mean to wake you; I just heard from Yuusuke."

"Really? It's about time. Come on in. Would you like a soda?"

"No, thank you."

"Do you mind if I have a beer?"

"No, that's fine. Wow, things are really clean here. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to―"

"No problem, I understand what you meant. It's amazing what can happen when my brother is gone for a while. So what have he and Yuusuke been up to? Will they be back soon?"

"Pretty soon, probably in the morning."

"Wonderful. What were they really up to? Off fighting muscled freaks again?"

"Actually…"

"What's wrong? Did something happen? Is Kazuma all right?"

"He's fine. It's not that."

"Don't keep me in suspense, Keiko!"

"I know your brother told you about Kurama. Yuusuke says it's not true."

"Really? That's great news! So if he's not dead, where's he been all this time? Was he captured or something?"

"He was on some sort of mission that Yuusuke wasn't supposed to know about. Something top secret. But he's really okay, although Yuusuke said he might not be back for a while."

"But something else is wrong, isn't it? That was the good news, so what's the bad?"

"Kurama's not dead… but―Hiei is. For sure."

"Oh. I'm so sorry, Keiko; I thought you knew. Kazuma told me about it, but not much else, and not how it happened."

"Yuusuke wouldn't say either."

"I had felt something strange…"

"Shizuru?"

"A little over a week ago, I sensed something, like a wave of pain across my chest, but it disappeared. I thought it was a dream―I have them sometimes, since the Tournament."

"Yuusuke was so strange, Shizuru! He seemed so angry, but he would hardly talk to me, and I'm afraid! What if he has to leave again? What if the same thing happens to him that happened to Hiei?"

"It won't. Calm down, girl."

"What do you mean, it won't?"

"I'm not sure why, but I'm certain of it. He's safe for now. What happened to Hiei was something different."

"How can you know that?"

"I just know. Look, where did Yuusuke say he was going?"

"Home. He said he wanted to see Genkai tomorrow."

"Well, there you go. He can hardly be in danger there. And she's not the one who sends him on cases, is she?"

"I guess not."

"I'll bet he'll be better in a day or so. Hopefully Genkai will help him and Kazuma get through this―Hiei was a pretty good friend."

"I thought Kuwabara didn't like Hiei at all."

"Men stuff. They were friends, they just never admitted it. I'm glad that Kurama's alive, though. I'm not sure Yuusuke would… well, never mind."

"What? You're not sure Yuusuke would what?"

"I said it's not important. It's the middle of the night; you should go get some sleep. You'll be late for school if you sleep in."

"Well, all right. I just wanted to tell you what was going on."

"I appreciate it, kiddo. We'll have coffee tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

-o- -o- -o- -o-

"Sir? You called for me?"

"What? Oh, yes. I'm very pleased with your efforts in this matter. I wanted to tell you that you have a leave of absence for a few days, if you'd like."

"Yes, sir. Thank you very much."

"Make sure you finish up your report before you go."

"Yes, sir… what is it?"

"Can't you even look me in the eye anymore? No, don't answer that. I'm sure I don't want to know."

"But sir, I―it isn't that."

"Then what is it?"

"It―it's just so sad. They'll never come back here again. They'll never visit just because, or show up grumbling about work. It's… empty."

"I know. Things won't be the same around here. Even the oni aren't working up to par."

"So they've noticed, even this soon?"

"The way Yuusuke stormed out, did you think they wouldn't?"

"I suppose not."

"Do you think what I did was right?"

"Truthfully? No. I think it was cruel and horrible and I hate you for it. But I also think it was necessary."

"Fair enough. What now?"

"I'm not sure. Hiei should be captured soon; we can try again with him."

"No. That's not an option any longer. This whole situation is a ticking time bomb, and I can't wait for him to come around. When he's brought in, I'll process him as usual, and send him on. I'll let you know when that happens, if you want to say goodbye."

"But―I understand, sir. Just don't punish him too much. We forced him into it."

"I'm already waiving his sentence for breaking jail. That's the most I can do. But now we have to focus on our options. I can't use it myself, Botan. The backlash would be too strong. I needed Hiei to use it for me, because he's the only one who wouldn't be in danger."

"What about Kurama, sir?"

"Not unless he wants to join Hiei. Given his body's composition, it could very easily kill him. Then he'd be a willful death case and I don't want to deal with that."

"That's a ridiculous law and you know it. I don't know why King Enma hasn't changed it already. It's not fair!"

"It's dumbest rule in the book, but there's no getting around it. At least the sentence is relatively light―it's a lot better than an outright suicide, anyway. Though there ought to be a clause exempting Tantei; maybe my father would be willing to review it."

"You made an exception for Yuusuke."

"Yuusuke didn't quite count; he knew he was putting himself in danger, but he didn't know he'd die, and it's not the same for most Japanese, anyway. Besides, we still wouldn't have had a place prepared for him at the time. Even if he had been a willful death case, though, I might have made an exception for him anyway―I needed a detective, and he just fell in my lap, and I don't think I'd have been able to pass up the opportunity."

"If I may ask, sir, why can't you make an exception for Kurama? He's a valuable asset."

"I've broken too many rules already; with things this close to the wire, I have to follow the rules, or I could catch my father's attention. This situation will go up in flames if that happens."

"Then we have to use one of them soon, before it gets any worse."

"I can't use any of them, Botan! None of them are safe!"

"But what about Yuusuke?"

"No! I won't let that happen again!"

"But he's only―"

"That's enough that I can't afford the risk! You're the only one who knows why, so don't push me!"

"I think he could do it!"

"I won't take the chance!"

"Then let me!"

"Hah! Interesting, but we can't afford that either. We have no idea what it might do to you―or to me."

"We're all out of options, Koenma. Either let me do it, or find someone strong enough who won't be killed. Or use Yuusuke. No one is irreplaceable in a situation like this."

"Stop it. You have no idea what it would mean if he were to die this way. I can't give him a reprieve―he'd be given a mandatory sentence, just like Hiei, because he's been brought back to life once already. I probably wouldn't even have to see him."

"You would."

"I won't. I won't let it come to that."

"I'm sorry. But you know those are your only options."

"Fine. I appreciate your help. You can leave now if you want."

"Thank you, sir. Let me know if―if anything comes up that you need me for."

"I will."

-More weird Reikai laws regarding death. Flavor text this time for the most part. I imagine they'd have trouble figuring whether to shelve Kurama under demon standards or human ones, anyway.

-I'm being intentionally cryptic regarding the last bit of Botan and Koenma's conversation. I just think they should be given credit for basic intelligence, and therefore that they should know something that canon says they don't.