Sorry, this took a while, things have been a bit crazy lately... it was a very long chapter that I ended up rewriting a few times because I wasn't sure how i wanted it to go. Anyway, I hope it reads alright!

Thanks to Counting Sinful Stars for your continued reviews! It means a lot that you've stuck with me!

Bonus Triva!

When I first started thinking through Izumi's story almost 5 years ago, she was almost completely different. She really was an exchange student form America and she was staying with the Kuwabara's. She had no connection to Spirit World or anything else expect that she happened to be Kuronue's line, but extremely deluded to the point of having no powers at all - at first. That changed completely though when she happens to find his pendant at a shop and starts hearing voices. haha.

As you can probably guess i scrapped the idea just simply because it was so...iffy.

Also: As I have said before I have no Beta reader... still looking...so sorry for any typos and stuff.


Chapter Twelve: Shadows of Life

The wind howled over the demonic plans, tarring at the open space with freshly sharpened claws. It was cold, icy in nature and it sent chills down my extremities violently. Winters in demon world were far worse then that of human world and it made her begrudge Kuronue's choice of clothing.

Using his full powers though, did help the situation seeing as demons didn't feel the cold as sharply as my human self. Still, I wasn't use to my final form, the black hair and the pale skin. I tug at the ragged hat with annoyance, my wings wrapped around my shoulder to keep out the wind.

"Tell me, why a barely useable vest? It's hardly worth wearing"

"Did you not see what Kurama wore back in the day?" Kuronue grumbled, making my blush at the thought. The fox demon's shirt was hardly any better then his old partner's. "That's what I thought, you know how demon world is. Clothing its really important."

"I've realized that." The women of demon world wore even less then the men, to the point of wear some of them looked skankier then strippers in clubs. "I guess I don't see the point."

"Its just how its always been." Kuronue explained and I could feel the smirk he was giving me in my mind. "It's a good thing you are a human, you wouldn't do very well here, miss modest."

I floundered for a moment, irritated at his rather truthful statement. "Just because I don't walk around showing off my body doesn't mean…I just don't see the point of doing it." I had never been much of a show off in that regard, my wardrobe consisted – as Shizuru had pointed out – of mostly long sleeves. The assumption that I did it to hide my scars was partially true, but I had never felt comfortable in anything else for a long time now.

In another life, it had been different.

"I'm sure Kurama wouldn't mind a change." Kuronue teased and I rolled my eyes, we had gotten too far off topic now, so I rubbed my arms a bit and got back to work, choosing not to answer my partner.

I tried to keep myself busy doing my job to ignore the chill and the echoing feeling that I had missed something as of late. Even if there wasn't much left to do, it was better then going around in circles trying to figure out what was bugging me. I kicked over a half frozen blanket near a dead fire pit in annoyance. This was the third known camp sight for the rebels that Hiei had extracted from the demon Kuro. We had missed them again. Either that or they had known we were coming.

Either prospect wasn't good.

"Izumi?" Saitō walked up next to me, his long hair blowing around and got in his eyes from the wind while mine stayed put thanks to the high tail Kuronue kept his in. I was glad my friend was well again, and that once again we were working together. I had never been able to admit it to him, but I had worried Saitō wouldn't recover from the burns. Spirit World really was amazing. "Did you find anything else?"

I shook my head crossing my arms as I chewed on the inside of my cheek. "These guys are quick, well organized. Their higher ups know what their doing."

Saitō sighed, brushing hair out of his face as he looked around. "You said you'd found Kyousuke's journal and that it might help us figure it out, did you ever find anything?"

I frowned, hating that I had not only invaded my master's privacy, but also having to share his privet words with others. "There are a few places towards the end where I think he might have known something was up. He told me once time powers some times backfired on a person. He saw a lot of events and premonitions when he slept or meditated. Sometimes they were from the past, sometimes from the future. One of his last entries spoke of a vision he had where I had been burned." Absently, I reached to my right shoulder where the traces of that scar remained. Maybe that had been why Kyousuke has wanted me to run so badly. Maybe he had seen me die. Shaking my head I finished my thought. "There was nothing solid though, I'll look it over again once more just incase."

Saitō nodded his head, his dark eyes skewering the area again. He hated failing just as much as I did, and lately that's all we'd been doing when it came to the rebels. "It almost seems like they know us too well. Spirit World hardly tells outsiders how we operate. It makes me uneasy."

"Just what are you suggesting Saitō?" The third member of our little group came stocking up, his blue hair ruffled and the tips of his ears almost purple with the cold. Shun-Jun, the new head of the SDF was a pain to work with, and he was another reason I was glad Saitō had been able to come. It was unlikely much would have gotten done if it were just Shun-Jun and myself, we weren't very friendly.

"Nothing." Saitō said evenly. "Spirit World is too hard to get into for there to be any infiltrators. Not too mention the energy scanners at the entrances. " He sighed looking around again. "I was just thinking out loud."

Sometimes I forgot how fail safe Spirit World was now a days – what with Hiei and Kurama braking in and then Chapter Black being stolen – it was almost military based now. It reminded me of some secret military branch, like Area 51.

"Maybe it is. Mr. blue-haired-high-and-mightily looks like an alien to me."

I snorted slightly, quickly covered my laughter with a cough.

"Kuronue…Your not helping."

"You know its true. Besides I'm just trying to make sure you don't get too bored."

"Gee… thanks."

"Anytime."

Shun-Jung gave me hard look before eyeing the area again. "Did you check for cover ups?"

I nodded my head, but just to make sure I blinked once and activated my Shadow Eyes to see through hidden traps. The ground was splotched with colors of energy, but nothing feasible. Still it was worth double-checking, as we knew the leader was an illusion demon.

"No. Just the remains of several auras. There were a lot of demons here, but it doesn't seem they hid anything to come back too. It's likely they won't come back at all if they knew we were coming."

"Which would mean our information is no longer valid." The leader said flatly, brooding almost. What did he have to be upset about, I'd been the one who spent all that time finding it and Hiei had been the one to get it from the demon.

Yet another reason to dislike the guy.

Releasing my power I fished my newly acquire cellphone from my pocket and checked the time. It was around noon in human world, which meant I'd been working for roughly eight hours now.

"Look, if we're all done here then I'd like to start heading back." I said evenly, businesslike, as I always was round Shun-Jung.

"Tich. Have some where to be?" He replied.

"I do." I answered.

Saitō sighed, putting a hand on his teammates shoulder and giving me a small smile. "I'm sure we can handle it if there anything else, right sir? There's nothing here to find."

The blue haired SDF scowled, shrugging off the hand and shaking his head. "Yeah, fine. Get going if you're going to Takara, before I change my mind."

I smiled, silently thanking my friend with my eyes before turning and giving a small wave. I quickly took to the sky, trying to ignore the cutting wind and wishing Kuronue had a scarf.

Either way I would be back where it was at least a little warming soon. Hopefully, I would make it on time for my date with Kurama. Flying through the dimensional layer, I found myself back in he forest outside the city. Flapping my wings I landed on a high branch of a tree and pick up my messenger bag which I had left there in the early morning. Jumping to the ground I released my hold on Kuronue's powers watching from the corner of my eye as my hair came back into view once more and was blond in color.

With Kuronue's clothes melting away they were replaced with my attire from this morning. One thing about using Kuronue's clothes and powers was anything I had been wearing myself were kept clean ad neat until I was myself again. Smoothing my light blue cashmere sweater over my dark jeans I shouldered my messenger bag and started the walk back to the city.

The snow had gotten deep after an entire night of it falling the first night and while it hadn't snowed since, it was cold enough that none of it had melted away. It was times like these I was glad my combat boots were waterproof. Pulling the scarf from my bag I quickly put it on as I stepped out of the park, covering my lower face with it. The soft gloves came next and I rubbed my hands together as I went down the street.

Thankfully the teahouse I was meeting Kurama at wasn't too far away. It only took me ten minutes of walking to get to the right street. Turning the corner I spotted the small building and hurried towards it, pushing the door open. The inside of the shop was dark with amber lit lights and a sharp pleasant scent of many freshly ground teas. It was a good sized building for what was needed, with a café styles front for purchases and the back half full of seating areas and a large burning fireplace. As I walked in further looking for my favorite redhead the soft sound of musical interments playing Christmas songs whispered in the background.

There were a few people in the sitting area, a pair of couples and a small group of girls. As I pulled off my gloves in the warm room the lady at the front gave me a gentle smile and I returned it before walking into the seating area.

I found Kurama sitting on a couch that faced the fire, a waxed oak table in front of him. His back was to me, and as I walked silently closer I saw his eyes were focused on a book. I watched for a moment, as he flipped the page only a short minute after just doing so. It was kind of scary how fast he could read. Smiling I gently laid my hands on his shoulders, leaning over the back of the couch.

"Boo."

While he didn't stop reading right away, a smile crept on to his face and a hand reached up to grab one of mine. "You made it on time." He mused before finishing the page he was on and closing the book with an audible snap.

I snorted a bit, letting go of him so I could walk around the couch and sit down next to him, setting my bag down at my feet, and I pulled my scarf off before putting it and my gloves into the bag. That done I leaned back and snuggled into Kurama's waiting side, his arm resting over my shoulders as I leaned my head back to look at him. "I do try to make things on time when I can you know. "

"I know." He agreed, rubbing my shoulder with his hand. Shortly after his words one of the waiters came over with a fresh pot of tea and two cups. Smiling she left with out a word and I raised an eyebrow at the fox demon. He smiled, leaning forward to pour the already brewed tea. "I remembered what you got last time." He assured me.

I smiled to myself, rather unused to something so simple as a real outing with my boyfriend. Thinking about that was a bit sad really, had Spirit World ruined me for simply living? I smiled taking the cup from him and adding sugar like I always did. He shook his head slightly and I rolled my eyes.

"Blame the American in me." I said easily before taken a sip of it. "What are you reading?" I asked after a moment, glancing at the book.

"American fairy tales." He teased, holding the book up for me to read the title. I might have shoved him for his banter, if we weren't holding scalding drinks. Scanning over the name I laughed slightly.

"The Grimm Fairy tales aren't from America you know." I pointed out.

"I know, but your country did remake them. This book compares the two." He eyed the book for a moment before setting it down in front of him. "They differ quiet a bit."

"No kidding." I agreed. "When I first read the real version of Cinderella, I was horrified." My explanation was vague just incase he hadn't reached that story. Judging by the look on his face he hadn't and I just smiled at him. "Trust me, you'll understand when you get to It." Something about people cutting up their feet to get favored by someone was just really wrong.

Kurama hummed returning his arm to around my shoulders, his other one on the cup of tea. I held my steaming mug in my hands to warm them as he ran his figures though my hair. After a few minutes I felt the tug of the chain and knew Kurama had found it under my hair. "Would he mind?" He asked quietly, his mouth near my ear. I wanted to tell him it shouldn't matter because there were people around us, but I knew why he wanted to take it off.

He wanted me to be able to think without someone chiming in.

"At least he asked first?" I thought sheepishly to my partner. Kuronue had been quiet for a while now but I still felt his annoyance at the fox's question. After a moment he sighed.

"It's fine, I could use some time to meditate any way."

"Alright…"

I nodded my head and no sooner had I done so I I feel the connection snap apart and the feeling of my hair flipping up and then landing back on my shoulders a moment later. I watched as Kurama held the pendant for a moment, eyeing the red gem before he easily tossed it into my open bag.

"Has everything been alright with you two?" He asked, pulling me closer. I shrugged, my eyes watching the dancing flames a few feet in front of us.

"Yeah, he's been a lot better lately." Ever since our day apart things had been easier between us. Within minute of us reconnecting the link that next day the bat demon was apologizing and saying he'd over stepped the line. I could see in his mind that he often forgot he was just a ghost, which I couldn't blame him for… still it made me wonder why he'd had the change of heart so suddenly.

What ever it was, Kuronue kept that to himself so I didn't push. Something in the back of my mind told me once again that I already knew what had changed his mind, but I couldn't seem to quiet grasp it, and that bothered me more then it should have.

"The camp was empty again." I said, changing topics. Kurama shifted slightly nodding his head. He didn't really like talking about my job, it made him feel more involved then he wanted to be. It stung a bit, because it was part of my life and that meant he wanted nothing to do with part of me. Still, he'd chosen to disconnect from that world, in mind and spirit. In that manner I couldn't help but agree with Kuronue in how ridicules shunning his demon self was, but it was his choice, so I said nothing. "We can't figure out how they know."

"What happened to the demon Hiei and you interrogated?" He asked after a moment, taking another strip of his drink. He was humoring me, because he knew it worried me, and it was considerate that he didn't completely shut the topic down. I paused, thinking back to my conversation with Hiei about it.

"I think he was let go, but Hiei brain washed him into forgetting that day. Do you think it didn't work?"

"That's always possible. The workings of the mind are different with everyone and to make someone completely forget about something is difficult and can be damaging." He seemed to ponder his own thoughts for a moment and I looked up at him, watching his face carefully. When he stayed quiet for more than a two-minute period I reached up slightly and nuzzled his neck with my nose. That broke his thought process and he took in a breath, smiling.

Setting down his empty cup, Kurama used his newly freed hand to lift my chin to look him in the eyes again. "I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure you'll catch the rebels soon enough." His dismissal of the subject was clear, but I let it go when he ducked his head and kissed me soundly on the lips. I twitched, half annoyed that my hands were holding my teacup and quickly freed up one. I kiss him back eagerly, eyes closed, my free hand reaching up and brushing his bangs back, touching the side of his face before tracing it down onto his neck.

He bit at my lip and I could do anything but comply, I'm too involved, too intoxicated to do anything else. I half choke on a small moan, but it squeaks out and I feel him smirk against my lips. When he finally pulls back from me, he gives me a cunning smile that reminds me how much of a fox he is, even if he is denying that part of him.

In all reality we know it hasn't been that long, I've only been back in town a little over a month now, but all I can think about lately is him when I'm lying awake in my apartment. We're moving too fast, a small part of me chimes in and I relent to that, knowing its right and knowing it's probably a good thing we're in a public place.

At the same time though I'm reminding myself that I'm 22 years old and that this isn't my first engagement with him or other people. We're we moving to fast? Was there such a thing? I knew the body he was in was only nineteen, but he himself was much, much older. So did it really matter? I couldn't think clearly enough with all the heat he was giving my scenes, and shook my head.

"You're driving me insane." I grumbled out quietly, and I heard him laugh just as soundlessly. I narrow my eyes at him. "Your horrible…"

"Sorry." He mused, and I can tell he's anything but that. I pull back to set my cup on the table and glance around, glad no one is looking at us and sighed slightly. Rubbing at the bridge of my nose I leaned back against his arm again. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." I muttered looking at him. "I'm just tried, I've been up since 3am. Don't worry about it, just don't ask me to go running off with you some where… or running at all."

He eyed me for a moment, slightly amused, before he nodded his head and reached out to pick up his book. "Why don't you just listen for a little bit." He muttered, stoking my hair. I'm surprised by his offer, because I wouldn't have thought he'd be willing to do such a thing. It fit his bookworm status though, and so I nodded my head, quickly finding out I love listening to him read out loud.

We stayed at the teahouse for three hour, him reading out loud quietly to me, the both of us going off in tangent conversations, and the ever sneakiness of stealing kisses. I told him about how I plan to pick up my newly fixed Violin in the next day or so and spend some time with Miyumi and looking into the music tryouts she had mentioned before. Kurama seemed interested in meeting her boyfriend, Hiroki, after I told him about the boy's job at a tattoo parlor. He couldn't understand why people got inked, and while I tried to explain he seemed unimpressed. Shamelessly I told him I had been thinking about getting one, to which he quirked an eyebrow at.

Around four, we packed up and headed back out into the snow towards my apartment. It was darkening outside and the street laps gave the snow a ghostly look as we passed under them. Even with my gloves on my fingers felt numb in the biting cold, though I took comfort in the fact that it's still warmer then Demon World.

As if sensing my discomfort, Kurama grabbed one of my hands in his and tugs me a bit closer. After another block we can see my apartment in the distance and Kurama finally speaks again. "My mother wanted me to ask if you wanted to come to the Christmas Eve party our family is hosting." He smiled when I give him a surprised look. "She's knows your family isn't in this country and I think she hopes that will make me more comfortable." He made a face at his own words. "I'm never very sure of what to do at them."

I laughed; surprised he was willing to admit that so easily. Still, it was cute that he did seem to fail at something. "Sure. It's not like I had anything else planned." I pointed out smiling. "I'd love to come."

The crunching of our steps stopped when I suddenly jumped, my left pocket buzzing to life. I groaned slightly, using my free hand to fish out my communicator and glare at its blinking green light as it buzzed. Glancing at Kurama he frowned slightly before shrugging his shoulders. He knew I had little control over the thing. Popping it open I pressed the button in the middle and the small screen lit up quickly showing Koenma.

"What is it?" I said lowly, to which the prince only frowned more then he already had been. This made me stop in my tracks, my annoyance freezing as I looked at my boss. Something was bothering him, and while that happened a lot, something about this time seemed different.

"Izumi, sorry to bother you, but this is important." He said stiffly. "We received a video today from an unknown source…"

I frowned, wondering what all of this was about, my eyes flickering to Kurama as I spoke. The redhead had stiffened at the sound of those words, knowing it couldn't be good. The last time they'd gotten a tap it had been a collection tape about Yukina. "What's that have to do with me?"

Koenma look in a breath, his hands interlinked in front of him. "Because Izumi, its addressed to you."

Stunned I stared at the little screen and felt Kurama's hand tighten around mine. "Me?" I muttered, brows pulling together. Why would something come for me? Hardly anyone even knew I existed; Spirit Detectives took all the heat normal, leaving the Soul Detectives in the shadows. But Yusuke had been fired long ago and the program had come to a halt…

"Yes…" Koenma paused for a moment – glancing to Kurama who had leaned in to the picture as well – before finishing his thought. "It had… your name on it."

My heartbeat jumped up its place at those words and I scowled. Beside me I could feel Kurama's confusion as the action. "I'll be there soon then." I said tightly before clicking the communicator shut before the Prince could say anything else. Shoving it into my pocket I looked at Kurama and sighed. "I need to go check this out, sorry."

"I'm coming with you." He didn't even give me a chance to think, his voice was demanding and I knew not to argue with him. I nodded my head taking out Kuronue's pendant and slipping it back on. The dream of a normal life was over for now as reality had just knocked.

Knocked hard.

Kuronue caught up with events as both Kurama and I traveled to Spirit World, checking in at the Gate of Truth that now scanned us before clearing us for entry.

Yep, it could really give Area 51 a run for its money.

The entire way down the hall, Kurama kept close to me, knowing I was troubled, even though I did my best to hide it. It didn't help the matter when we arrived at the Prince's office to find Saitō there, leaning on the wall near his boss. My friend gave me a half smile and neither of them looked surprised to see Kurama there.

"We haven't look at it yet." Koenma stated, skipping the pleasantries, I must have known I wasn't in the mood for them. "Saitō was the one that found it."

"Have any idea how it was sent here?" I asked, walking closer as Koenma pressed buttons and a giant screen came down over the door.

"That's what is so weird, we looked over the camera footage of the drop off zone and nothing ever shows up, one minute its empty, the next the tape is just sitting there. " Saitō explained, the frustrated suckling of Koenma's binky only caused me to become fore agitated, and Kurama seemed to be eyeing the now blue screen like it could hurt us.

Taking in a deep breath, I tried to calm myself, tried to ready myself. If the tape had been addressed to that name, to her name, it wouldn't be good. There was no way I couldn't watch it though, even if I wanted nothing more then to leave right that moment. "Alright, lets see what's on this thing."

No said anything, there was just the click of a few buttons as I turned to fully face the screen, and watch.

The screen was black, or so I thought it was, as I looked upon it wearily, but as I watched, portions of the screen began to chance color, lightening into an eerie dark red. At the seconds ticked on, the color formed numbers, and then letters, and after a moment my brain picked up what it was.

A date.

Mid March, over two years ago, during the crises with the tunnel to Demon World, I recognized. We were left to stare as the date for a few seconds of silence before finally, a voice spoke, unhinged from a mouth in the darkness.

"Look closely human." It hissed, male and seething with hate so solid I would have touched it if the person had been present. "This is the date in which you began your own defeat."

I frowned, eyeing the screen carefully, unable to look away from it. What had happened that day? It had been so far back that while the event of the tunnels was still fresh, the days had begun to melt together. I didn't recognize the voice, but that fact meant little, yet if I knew it then I might have known what was going on.

"What should I call you? I suppose 'Detective' will work, though your list of names is a bit long." The words burned, making me flinch slightly as Kuronue growled quietly in the depths of my mind. "It certainly took you long enough to reappear, I do hope you enjoyed your disappearance, for I know I have not. You will pay for that day, girl, you will come to me willingly when I choose and surrender to your crimes."

"Doubtful…" I grumbled quietly, truly annoyed that some demon thought this would work. Was it a demon though? I had no way of knowing, and with that timeline in mind most of the people involved were humans, and most of them were dead or had turned over a new leaf. There were only two unaccounted for: Sniper and Doctor. Could this possible be one of them? I thought it unlikely, I had never even met Sniper was pretty sure the Doctor knew better then to mess with me, further more he owed me his freedom. So if they weren't in on this then…none of this was making any sense.

"If you do not, you will not be the one to pay." The warning brought me back and I stiffened slightly as the date melted away back into the darkness, only to drag up another scene, a more real one, not just letters and numbers.

The place was still dark, but I could see the lines of walls and a table towards the back. My eyes were drawn to the light though, as was the camera as it zoomed into the light cast by a single ceiling light. On the ground was a figure, bulky and human in form. It sat tied to a heave metal pole in the ground, both of which drew sharp shadows. As the camera drew closer to the figure, zooming into a bust portrait, I was able to pick out features even in the contrasting light.

Soft light brown hair, short but cut to cover the ears. Pale skin mostly covered in a bloodstained green shirt. A face of fear and panic that stared intensely back at the camera with light gray blue eyes, only marred by a single scare on his forehead that was a thick curved line, no larger then a thumb nail indent.

The very scar I had seen created as the same boy no older then seven had crashed face first into a cement garden block.

I took a step back and stumbled, my limbs suddenly numb and wooden like as I stared in disbelief at the young man on the screen. No, this couldn't be happening. Beside me I heard Kurama give a startled question, but I didn't hear the words, nor did I wondered why he had said them. All I could do was stare at the screen and listen.

"I will assume I have your attention now, Detective." The voice continued, his anger ebbed by the twisted amusement that crept into it. "You will come to me, but as to when that is you will not know. I would be waiting intently, if I was you, unless you want this boy to die that is." The speaker paused for a moment and in that time the young man on the screen seemed to wince away, closing his eyes and looking away. "Till then… Izumi Takara." There was no pause after that, just the sudden loss of the picture as the screen went black and a cry of pain drew out the end.

Then it was over, and the screen was blue again, but I didn't move, didn't even breathe. No words were heard not from the room or from inside my head, they were all swallowed up by my own raging thoughts that twisted and turned like a newly born tornado.

No.

This shouldn't have been possible.

I had gone through too much, done too much to prevent this. There was no way, I had been promised.

…I been been promised!

There was no recollection of my movement, one moment I was staring at a screen the next moment I was across the room, a hand buried deep into the garbs of the ruler of Spirit World as I held him, half yanked over his own desk. I felt no movement, just an intense, sudden anger that burned deeper then even my rising panic, fuelled from a deep snarl in my head.

Koenma stared at me, his face torn between shock and horror, as his hands planted on the desk to keep from crashing onto to it awkwardly. A growl peeled from my throat, the first sound I had heard in the room, and that seemed to break whatever trance had been held. The other's in the room came back to life for me.

"Izumi!" Kurama snapped, more confused and surprised then angry. I could hear his footsteps behind me, getting closer to me, but I growled again, and the feet stopped. To my right I saw Saitō tense, his frame only feet from me, but he didn't move. He must have thought I wouldn't hurt Koenma.

I wanted to though.

"Explain." My own voice didn't sound like me, and suddenly I realize my anger wasn't just mine, not entirely. Kuronue must have known, must have realized. The growl had been his, not mine, and his anger made my own voice colder then the snow I had walked though all day.

Koenma took in a breath, but he seemed too shocked to speak at first, when he did, it came out evenly, and he must have known he deserved my anger. It was his fault, after all.

"Izumi…"

"How the fuck did this happen!" I snarled, yanking again and making the prince wince. "You promised, you said they were safe." It was in English, I realized off hand, I had been speaking in English since the tape had ended.

"They were-"

"Did that look safe to you?" My other hand rose, meaning to strike him down. This was his fault; everything was his fault!

A hand touched my should, the one my free hand was attached to, and I stopped, my hand shaking in the air as Koenma stared at me with guilty eyes.

"Izumi, calm down." Kurama muttered, his voice right behind me. "You don't want to hurt him, it may seem like it, but you'll regret it later."

"You don't understand." I jabbed, but let his other hand pull my raised arm down anyway. "We had a deal."

"I know," He said calmly, though I knew he knew nothing "and he will explain, I promise you."

I saw Koenma's eyes flicker to the fox's behind me and knew Kurama's expression must have been one of his famous cold stares. Slowly, I felt my anger recoil back slightly; Kuronue withdrawing, as if realizing what he was doing. The grip on Koenma's robes loosen and after a moment, I let him go, and he fell back onto his chair in a muddled mess. As the prince straightened in his chair, my eyes flickered to Saitō, who stood as still as before, but had at least lowered his hand. He would have attacked me, I realized in that moment, even if we were friends, it was his job to keep Koenma safe.

It was probably why Kurama had stepped in.

I took a small step back as Kurama's tug on my shoulder, but I couldn't look at him. All I could really think about was that message and that Koenma needed to tell me how in the world it could have happened. "Explain, now."

Koenma nodded tightly, though he still looked lost to an explanation. "I have no answer for you Izumi." He stated, clasping his hands in front of him. "Nothing in our deal changed. That shouldn't be possible."

My hands clenched at my sides, and one flew to point back at the screen. "What do you call that?"

"I do not know." He said honestly, looking at me just as guilty as before, but there was honest worry there now. "If something had happened the agent I have watching him, watching all of them, should have alerted me. He gave me a weekly report just a few days ago; I will need to contact him. This could be a trap."

"Unlikely." I said quietly, shaking my head, the anger slipping away as reason caught up with me. "If someone knew about them, knew I had a connection to them, then there is nothing that would have stopped them. Why bother with a fake?" I sighed looked at the prince already knowing what he would fine when he tried to reach who ever was doing that job. "Your employ is probably dead."

"I will have to took into it." Koenma repeated, showing no emotional sign for my reasoning. "For what it is worth, Izumi, I am sorry, I am as horrified as you are. We will fix this."

"I don't want another promise." I snapped out, looking away from him for the first time and pulling away from Kurama to pace the room for a time. The redhead said nothing, letting me be for a moment before he finally spoke. "Izumi, you need to tell me what's going on. I can't help you if I don't understand what's happening."

I stopped, looking at him for the first time and wincing. He looked concerned, and for the first time, a bit lost. He didn't know what had just occurred; he didn't understand what had made me so angry. Surely he knew that I had a connection to the boy, but to what that was, he was blinded to.

"I think it may be time for him to know Izumi. Everything, not just bits and pieces of it." Kuronue muttered, and I knew instantly he was right. Hadn't I promises Kurama I would tell him one day? It all seemed too wrong now, so rushed and unfit. Glancing to Saitō, the SDF gave me a worried look as well, but he nodded his head as if hearing what Kuronue had said. Kurama was the only person in the room who didn't know what was going on. On any other days, for anything else, that would have been hysterical, now though, it made me feel guilty on top of everything else.

This wasn't suppose to happen, it shouldn't have been possible. That was all I could think, even as I watched everything unravel before me. Everything I had done, everything I had scarified, meant nothing now. The lies and the stories were gone, and all I had left was my story, my life from before, I just wasn't sure who that was. As I sighed and looked to Kurama, I knew there was only one thing left I could do now.

I had to tell him the truth.