Chapter 14
Koenma sat back in his chair taking in a sigh of relief believing Yusuke took the story he told him to heart. 'If he knew the truth, there would be hell to pay in this world as well as Demon World. I wish he wasn't so hot headed…' he thought.
Unfortunately his peace was short lived when Ogre came in with less then good news.
"Um, Koenma Sir?" said Ogre.
"What is it Ogre?" asked Koenma irritated.
"Well sir. I have here the final report from the Department of Spiritual Interference. It seems Sir that he wants to talk to you," said Ogre in a curious tone.
"He what?! Give me that!" exclaimed Koenma as he snatched the paper away.
'He wants to use his final pass of communication to talk to me?' thought Koenma in awe as he read the report. 'What could he possibly have to say to me?' he wondered.
"What do you want to do about this Sir?" asked Ogre carefully.
"There is no need for him to be so drastic. I will see him without the use of his communication pass," said Koenma still taken aback.
"I am sure that would make him very happy Sir" said Ogre cheerfully "I'll go and arrange it right away!" He said as he left.
Leaning back against his chair Koenma considered long and hard as to what could be so important for him to act in such a way. Breaking the strict laws of the Spirit Interference Act and almost forcing an audience with himself were all very much against who he was. 'It has to do with Kori, there can't be any other explanation…' he concluded.
His wait was not long. Within an hour the door creaked open and in walked a guy that was small in stature but had a glow about him. His silver hair almost shined in the regular florescent lights of Koenma's office as did his white, slightly opened button down shirt and white pants. His dark, purple eyes glowed with concern as he crossed the floor to Koenma's desk. His hands rested lazily in the pockets of his long white jacket trimmed with black on the edges that dragged on the floor.
In a calm and cool voice the guy said lightly, "It's been awhile Koenma, how's things?"
Koenma answered, "Fine as ever, but you didn't come here to discuses pleasantries. What can I do for you, Kenshie?"
Smiling slyly, Kenshie answered, "You are very right," he began. "I have come to warn you Koenma. The thing we feared most will come to pass. The only hope you have is to be honest with those who you wish to help you possibly over come this hopeless situation. Especially the one I have been in communication with…"
"Hiei?!" Koenma said, shocked by his prediction.
"Is that his name? Well then. Yes, this Hiei must be told the truth about Kori. Unlike I was at first," answered Kenshie.
"First of all, why in the world did you pick Hiei of all people to act as her protector?" asked Koenma accusingly.
A puzzled look crossed Kenshie's face, "I thought you were aware of that fact…" he said surprised.
"Aware of what?" demanded Koenma.
"I was not the one who selected him. She did, just as she selected me in the past." He said calmly.
"What? Why would she do that! Might as well ask fire not to be hot for all the good it will do!" exclaimed Koenma.
"You really seem to be laboring under a misunderstanding. She is in far more control then you give her credit for, though much may be unconsciously done," Kenshie began, "It is not a choice; you are drawn to keep her from harm. I can't really explain it."
"Yes, but Hiei? Have you seen his record? And she wants him to help protect the world! I feel like I am being laughed at somehow…" Koenma said in despair.
"Give her some credit, he has a few good qualities. He has done his duty well so far considering he has no idea what he is involved in, but it will not do for him to be kept in the dark. I feel that he will surprise you if you gave him a chance. If you do not tell him the truth about what has happened to him and why she is to be protected, then I will…" said Kenshie sternly.
"I will see what I can do. There is a good chance he will not believe me and be even more dangerous to this situation…" said Koenma with concern.
"If I can, I will try to rectify that…" promised Kenshie.
"Secondly, how do you know all of this?" question Koenma.
"When you watch everything, there are paths that connect that others find hard to see. It also helps that I was Kori's friend and confidant when I was alive. Knowing the past from her and seeing how things are playing out are all I needed to confirm the disaster" he said very sternly. Seeing Koenma's disbelieving eyes he added, "Believe me or not, it is coming. You can trust me on that. He will come for her again and she will break."
"Who is coming for her?" asked Koenma. "You don't mean…?"
"Yes, the very same one who tried to take control of what is inside her and annihilate everything..." he said seriously. "His madness will not save her this time."
Koenma took a moment to ponder Kenshie's accusations. To him, it seemed too perfect to have all of this happening at this time. If what Kenshie is saying is true then someone is trying to bring about the next great catastrophe that was scheduled to happen in 500 years now when he is powerless to stop it. His energy he had stored in his Mafuuken is still too depleted to keep the worlds safe right now. If Kori showed her true self 500 years too early then the worlds as they knew them would cease to exist.
"Kenshie… Do you know what is happening to her? Why is she losing control?" asked Koenma.
"I am not sure. It is almost like the Soul is merging with her…" said Kenshie thoughtfully.
"How can that be possible…?" began Koenma. "It is supposed to be completely separate from the consciousness of the host. An observer, not a participant…"
"That conclusion makes sense even though it is impossible," said Kenshie.
Koenma thought quietly to himself for a moment considering Kenshie's words. 'I have no choice but to tell Hiei the truth. I might even have to bring in Yusuke and the others as well.'
Looking over at Kenshie, Koenma noticed something in his eyes as he stared at the wall with a distant look. "Even now you are still looking out for her…" Koenma began. "You still love her, don't you?"
His eyes soft, Kenshie looked at Koenma, "Yes, I do. Maybe not in the same way as I did when I was alive, but similar. I hope she moves on from the pain she went through when I died, but I would not like her to forget me as I will not forget her…"
"If she has indeed chosen a new Guardian, it very well may be that she has moved on. She has not forgotten you though, that much was clear during our last conversation…" said Koenma.
"Thank you…" said Kenshie with a smile. "Please, make every effort you can to convince this 'Hiei' that it is imperative that she lives."
"I will do my best. I know as well as you do what is riding on all of this" replied Koenma.
Kenshie nodded and then turned and left the office for his eternal resting place once again.
It took a few hours, but Kurama finally fully explained all he knew about the events of the last few days. He, Yusuke and Kuwabara were all sitting in Kuwabara's room the next morning after the encounter. Kuwabara was still in pain, but almost completely healed. Yusuke on the other hand stood with his arms crossed by the window. The sun was shining down strong on the new Sunday morning. Birds sang and danced on the trees below the high window, however Yusuke saw none of this.
His body shook from frustration, his mind was lost in information and his heart was full of anger and resentment for not being trusted more.
"So Kurama," began Yusuke calmly, "what you are saying is that after the Demon World Tournament the barrier net that separated Demon world and the Human World was taken down, but another net still exists deep inside Demon World holding the Demons that pose the greatest threat. Demons so powerful that not even the Three Demon Kings could take them on together." His hands tightened into fists, 'Still more who are even stronger…' he thought.
"But they don't like their confinement," Yusuke continued, "They want out at any cost to take over both worlds and destroy them."
"Yes, Yusuke," said Kurama carefully. "Kumo said that they call themselves the Kurayami. I have learned about their existence through my contacts in Demon World and then Koenma seeing as he could not fool me."
"But he thought he could fool me…" said Yusuke with ice in his voice. "Have I not earned his trust even now?! Have I not saved his ass countless times and this is what I get for it?!" Yusuke's voice rose as he spoke.
"Please, be calm Yusuke…" said Kurama.
"I am calm!" shouted Yusuke, his hands shaking uncontrollably now.
"Stop whining!" yelled Kuwabara. "At least they tell you some things! Ever thought maybe you're not supposed to know everything! There are rules, you know! Rules not even Koenma is suppose to break!"
"Kuwabara is right," said Kurama. "Koenma is most likely trying to protect us from the truth for a good reason."
"Don't know about you two, but I would like to know what that reason is," Yusuke said sternly. He turned for the door only to be stopped by Kurama.
"Wait, Yusuke! Koenma must not know that I have discussed this with you." Kurama said urgently, "Let us wait and see how this plays out. If I am right he will have to break down what ever reserves he has and have our help on this one."
"What do you mean?" asked Yusuke turning from the door.
"Kumo also said that they had created another plan for escaping the barrier. They would not have abandoned the last one without being sure of the new one's success." Kurama said. "You can be sure it will be far more dangerous then this situation was. We must be ready. If they escape, it would mean complete decimation of everything."
Seeing the warning in Kurama's eyes, Yusuke abandoned his plan to blast down Koenma's door and demand an explanation. He had the answers to his questions, but he still felt restless. 'Knowing there are more things out there even more powerful and far angrier then I am is unnerving.'
"There is another subject I would like to discuss with the two of you," requested Kurama.
"Oh?" asked Yusuke as he returned to his place by the window.
"Even me?" asked Kuwabara pointing at himself.
"Yes even you, Kuwabara," replied Kurama.
"Do you all have any idea why Koenma wanted the mission finished that day?" asked Kurama.
"I figured because he didn't want that Demon guy to finish what he had planned," replied Kurama.
"That is what I thought at first, but learning about Koenma's and Kori's relationship, his need to protect her in particular, and what she can do, I am not so sure anymore", Kurama said. 'I can not tell them about Hiei, but maybe they have noticed other things about her.'
"When we caught her," began Yusuke, "she didn't seem like much. She did little but incapacitate us and run. Are you sure she did all that damage?"
"I am sure. She was the only one there and Koenma did not seem the least surprised that she could be capable of doing it," said Kurama. "He seemed to be more shocked that she did not take the city out as well as the mansion."
"I see. Not sure what to make of it to be honest," said Yusuke. "What about you Kuwabara. Feel anything strange about her?"
"She gives me the creeps!" said Kuwabara. "And not because she got the best of me! It's deep, but something inside her is different then anything I have ever felt. Like it is above us; above mortals…" he finished with a chill.
"There is a good chance that she is far more then she seems. I don't even think she is a demon." He then told them about his misdirected feelings about her involvement with the Demon in the mansion.
"Her sense of honor is strong…" said Kuwabara thoughtfully.
"Oh, like you're some sort of expert!" replied Yusuke.
"More then you are! You big Jerk!" yelled Kuwabara.
'Looks like that is all for that conversation…' Kurama thought. 'But at least they confirmed my suspicions. There is something more to her then any of us knows. She is involved far deeper then even I can comprehend.' His gaze reached outside as he tuned out the other's bickering and meditated on the conundrum that was Kori.