A Dead Man's Wish

by InuYasha's God sis

I couldn't take a life- said as much to my self appointed spirit guide- so I thought that'd be it. I thought, eventually, I'd get released from this freaky asylum and be allowed to pass on. Didn't end up happening that way.

25. Trust Me To Care

A/N: So it's been a while. I'm very sorry about that and this chapter was also an absolute pain. It ran off and became it's own thing for reasons I cannot fathom but there's Kuwabara, Hiei and Kurama and Sass so I suppose I should be accepting that the chapter was finished at all. Canon continues to twist and next chapter will be... interesting if it actually listens to me.

But this one here is a big 'un. I even have some lovely tension because Reasons and shit.

As always, I enjoy your comments and thoughts.

Happy Spring! Happy almost May!

And to all the Reviewers, Followers, and Favoriters: This chapter length is for you!

Kisses!

~Yasha's Sis

---

Chapter 25:

Trust me to care

---

Just one more step, She promised herself, muscles burning with exertion and sweat stinging both eyes. One more step and I'll stop.

She took that step, promised the same, and lied to herself again. One more.

And then another.

And another.

Until her ten steps became one hundred. One hundred steps one thousand.

Izumi forced herself to move out of the infantile limitations her Spirit Energy tried to cage her in. She wouldn't resign herself to wait and waste away while it considered helping her. Not now, not after it left her shaking and in pain for weeks in a fit of pique.

It took a month to walk without gasping, two to run longer than a kilometer at anything other than a trot.

She hadn't felt this helpless since Atsuko's womb and before that-

Teeth gritting, Izumi threw herself over the grey chalked out line drawn on the charcoal colored track. She staggered to a stop, lungs burning and legs screaming at her to lay down and stay still, but Izumi ignored the urge. She swallowed the bile that crawled up her throat, a tell tell sign she pushed herself too far- again- and coughed harshly.

"Time?" Izumi demanded with a wheeze.

Kuwabaraa Kazuma glanced up from his glowing hands to the clock stationed on the infield.

"52:25." The teen answered with a brief glance for Izumi's rasped breathing and shaking limbs before turning back to his task. "Three minutes and 15 seconds faster than last week."

Izumi scowled, jittery arms fumbling for the bottle of water propped up in the only chair they managed to find in Kazuma's garage. "Still too slow," she muttered back.

She used to have a sub 8 minute pace for a half marathon before Sensei. Six miles should be easily doable. Instead Izumi had to drag her body across the finishline, half dead by the end of it.

It wasn't even all that hot outside. The humidity was refreshingly low for a late spring day and there was a soft breeze that pulled through the track in comforting intervals. The amount of sweat and effort she put into meeting what used to be a warmup for herself was frankly galling.

It fucking burned that this was just one deficiency of many. Her control over her spirit energy had dwindled to near nonexistence while her agility, flexibility and fucking stamina embarrassed her compared to before Genkai's tournament.

Speaking of the old bat, Genkai tossed her out on her rear once the old woman realized Izumi wasn't going to heed her advice anytime soon. Izumi had been left on her own for three months, clawing for every scrap of ability she could retrain.

At the rate she was going, she didn't have high hopes of being back to snuff anytime soon.

A sigh distracted Izumi from her pity party and chestnut eyes slid to the ginger now sprawled next to the rainbow colored lawn chair nestled beneath the shady oak. "I know you hate to hear this-"

"Feel free to spare me, Kazuma." Izumi interrupted with a scowl. The taller teen tilted his head and gave her a scowl of his own, frustration making his voice a grumble.

"But you're pushing yourself too hard, Izumi. The baby hasn't come knockin' recently so you can take the time to heal-"

Izumi whirled on him with more energy than her half dead appearance should allow. "I am healed, Kazuma! Don't start this again."

She balked when Kazuma jerked himself to his feet from one blink to the next, towering over her with a look that she would have expected on Yusuke's face when directed at her. "I'll start whatever I damn well want. You and Urameshi always call me stupid, but I'm the one who can sense spiritual energy the best. If you keep trying to push through your spiritual block like this, something will tear. I can feel it! So sit down and shut up already, will yah?" He emphasized his rant by thrusting his finger at the uncomfortable lawn chair, grey eyes blazing in protective anger.

Izumi kind of missed the days when he was falling over himself to impress her, not standing in the way of her well thought out and necessary goals. She wondered briefly when he stopped putting –chan at the end of her name, but she was pretty sure it started after she killed a guy and walked away without a backwards glance. The initial wariness was a little upsetting but soon enough Kazuma came around again. He stopped harassing her with declarations of affection and stuff like that but he didn't turn his back on her and, when he saw her struggling, offered to come and help her train.

The ginger learned soon enough not to baby her or crow encouragement while she struggled through her routine but his presence was steadying in the wake of Kurama and Yusuke's absence.

And, at least privately, Izumi could admit that he always knew when she was pushing it too hard.

But she didn't want to stop yet. She was so close to a real improvement. She could at least run another mile and see how her recovery was.

Stubbornly, they continued to glare at one another, Izumi embarrassingly still panting from her run. Her temporary enemy stood rigidly for a breath longer until Kazuma's shoulders slumped and his expression softened. "You don't understand: I feel your spirit ache, Izumi. It's like…. Like watching a kitten limp around with two broken legs. It freaks me out and pisses me off because I don't know how to do a damn thing about it." He grasped her hands, uncaring of the clammy feel to them and let his voice drop in earnest. "Leave off for the day, please?"

Izumi shut her eyes and forced her breathing under control. Kazuma was her barrier. She asked him to be. If she was just going to ignore the resident Spirit whisperer's advice, she shouldn't have bothered asking for his help at all.

"Ok." She muttered finally, ignoring the taller teen's grin of relief and stumbled only slightly to the lawn chair. Kazuma hadn't released her hands so she twisted her wrist to grasp his and tug him to the floor. "Fine. I'm done for the day, but that just means we get to spend the rest of the day testing you."

Kazuma puffed his chest out. "Psht, I got this thing down already, see? Watch!"

His right hand fisted and a surge of spirit energy crackled through the air as his Spirt Sword burst forth. Kazuma waved the two foot long blade enthusiastically as he said, "See, see? I've already got it down! I can call the sword out on my own now! I haven't needed that stupid spirit stick in over a week!"

Izumi couldn't help but smile, glad that the twinge of bitterness at seeing him control his energy was an easily ignorable thing. "Nice job, Kazuma. It's great that you don't have to rely on a foci anymore." Genkai was pretty certain he'd achieve this once he realized how materialization occurred. "What else can you do?"

Kazuma straightened from his slight slouch, offended. "What do you mean what else? This material-whatever thing ain't easy, Izumi. I had a hell of a time getting it to stretch this long. At first I could only get a dagger."

Chestnut eyes blinked and Izumi took a swig of water to gather her thoughts on how best to say this without sounding like an ass. "Materialization is just a matter of focus and will. You can make any shape you want, Kazuma. It doesn't have to be a sword."

Kuwabara narrowed his eyes at her while his Spirt Sword fizzled out of his grasp. "Yeah, you said that when I started training how to draw it out on my own, so what? I like swords."

Fighting back a smirk, Izumi wiped the lingering sweat off her forehead and forced her voice to stay neutral. "The point is to know your limits, man. Do you have to stay connected to your spirit energy inorder for the materialization to maintain itself? Can you use it to tie someone up, or scale a wall, or make a shield? If it has to be a sword: how long can you make it? How broad? Can you force it through two hands or only one? What shapes will your spirit energy maintain? The answers to those questions matter otherwise you're limiting your potential."

The second biggest punk in Sarayashi Middle School made a face. "Well I didn't think a all that. Can't I just stick to a sword?"

Izumi kicked him in the shin with a frown. "No. You wanna nag me into being patient, you get me nagging you to be more creative. Get started, carrot top."

Kazuma grumbled a bit about nagging sister types but Izumi only kicked him harder. With a yelp, his spirit energy crackled to life in an unstable ball of light.

Izumi thought about warning him on concentrating too much Spirit Energy in one place without a clear goal- tended to end in… explosive results- then decided he wouldn't kill himself with the distracted way he kept grumbling under his breath.

Besides, for a moment there, she thought she could feel his Spirit energy brush against her in happiness.

---

Two days later, Izumi found herself being hauled off the track by her mother this time instead of her well meaning friend. She hadn't seen much progress in her pacing -or forcing any energy towards her limbs when before it had been a subconscious endeavor- especially with Kazuma hovering over her now whenever she pushed just a little harder.

Kazuma had taken one look at the impatient air on the Urameshi Matriarch's face and ran like the coward he was. "See you later, Izumi. I um remembered something my Pops told me to take care of."

Coward. She thought harshly while she verbally asked her mother to give her another 15 minutes so she could finish her stretches and cooldown routine.

Atsuko rolled her eyes, propped herself against the tree Kazuma and Izumi had called their own, and caught the teen's arm the moment 15 minutes had passed. Izumi was dragging bodily from the school track towards their faded, puke green car. The teen's irritable complaints were answered with an oddly cheerful, "Don't be such a drama queen, that's Yusuke's department. You're supposed to be my happy child. Yusuke can take the roll of ungrateful turd when he gets back."

Izumi debated struggling out of her mother's hold but ultimately decided against it. Atsuko now had practice wrangling her much weaker self and Izumi didn't have the heart to let her mother fret alone.

Hence, why she even bothered to ask Atsuko to pick her up from her daily meets with Kazuma. Atsuko wanted something to do, something that involved her children, and Yusuke was hours away getting his teeth knocked in. In an odd moment of empathy, Izumi asked her mother for help, both with picking her up and testing her reflexes with randomly thrown household items when Izumi least expect it. One was a far more painful assist than the other, obviously, but it wasn't a choice she could regret. The teen had to ignore the swell of guilt that churned at the grateful relief that flickered across the older woman's face immediately after. She tried not to think how Kazuma's was disturbingly similar when she asked him too.

It's not that she didn't have a choice, but the he alternative had been asking Kurama-

Nope. Not going there. I'll handle this without him, thank you very much.

Shaking her head, and then regretting it because it made her dizzy, Izumi fell into the front passenger seat of their beat up hatchback.

She mustered the energy to snap her seatbelt on and let her head rest against the cool glass of the window pane. Atsuko grumbled something about smudges but Izumi paid her no mind. Izumi was the one to clean the car every week, she could do whatever she damn well wanted to it.

---

The car ride home was quiet. Mostly because the radio broke last month and Izumi hadn't had the time to spare finding a replacement. Atsuko also wasn't one for idle conversation, unless it was for Shiori's sake. The tall brunette only glanced at her daughter on occasion and Izumi hoped they'd stay nothing but glances.

She was disappointed.

"We're having dinner guests."

The comment was so abrupt Izumi had to blink a few seconds and process the words. Warily, the teen shifted her head so that she could see her mother clearly.

"Guests?"

Atsuko snorted. "Yes. As in more than one."

Izumi frowned. "Since when do you host anything?"

Unbothered by the sass her daughter presented to her, Atsuko drily returned, "Since my kids decided to almost die on me twice. Company keeps my mind off becoming a grieving mother."

The daughter flinched, despite herself. "I haven't gone anywhere."

"Because you can't." Atsuko returned bluntly.

Izumi couldn't argue with that and she wouldn't insult her mother by trying. The woman was right to worry and Izumi was selfishly letting her, not even trying to convince her otherwise. What kind of a daughter was she to try? She scolded Yusuke for treating their mother poorly but in the last three months, Izumi hadn't been much better.

Atsuko was many things, a negligent and inconsiderate person who probably never should have been introduced to alcohol, but she loved her children. She gave up much to see them well and it took Izumi years to see it, more to acknowledge it and give her the respect that deserved.

Silence held through two more lights before Izumi's curiosity won out. "Who's visiting?"

The mother of two didn't reply as she guided the vehicle into their designated parking space and turned off the ignition. She turned to her daughter and smirked. "Friends."

The nonplussed expression that earned only caused Atsuko's smirk to widen into a grin. "Come on. Shower and get changed into something other than sweatstained shorts and a t-shirt. Kashi taught you his Katsu recipe and it's twice as good as your grandfather's. Besides, you like entertaining people so don't drag your feet."

Thirty minutes later, hair still damp but clean, Izumi joined her mother in the kitchen and lost herself to the mindset of cooking. Honestly there wasn't much difference between the recipes but her much loved father figure's food always came out significantly better than most of the dishes her mother used to make. The past three years had seen improvement but Atsuko still didn't cook as well as the bear of a man who taught her to fight.

"It's because you need to put love in your cooking, Mimi. You could match the recipe spice for spice but a man can taste the feeling in the meal. Never cook when you are angry or frustrated, you'll spoil the food."

Looking back on it now, Izumi sees the grooming for wifehood in the wording. Nevertheless, she had taken that lesson to heart. She let herself relax and forced her heart to ease enough to banter with her mother.

Tossing panko at her mother for ruining the second batch of anko caused the older woman to flick bean paste in retaliation. Izumi found herself laughing and was mildly shocked to hear her mother doing the same.

In that moment, Izumi saw her face reflected back at her.

The hair was too light, height too tall, but she was given a stark reminder of just how much she resembled Atsuko Urameshi. The thought was brief as another glob of paste smacked her in the cheek but it made Izumi wonder what she would be like as a parent. Would she give up just as much? What would her potential kids be like? Would they listen to her? Could she even have kids?

Her introspection was cut short by the phone ringing and Izumi dodged Atsuko's attempt to wipe her hand off on her daughter's clothes to finish breading the pork. Standing there, humming some tune from a life she once lived, Izumi allowed herself a moment to be grateful she had the family that she did, delinquents and all.

Twenty minutes later, Atsuko hung up the receiver and winked when her daughter caught her eye.

Bemused, Izumi shook her head, dropped the last of the pork into the oil and turned to the sink. The Ichigo Daifuku added a spring flavor to the meal while the miso soup, pork Katsu and some green monstrosity Izumi had no hand in making rounded out their dinner. Having more than just Ramen, sushi or tempura of some kind with a salad, raised a flag or two in the young Urameshi's mind. Not to mention the amount they made of everything could feed a small army. Who could have inspired this much effort on the lazy woman's part?

The bell rang almost on cue and Izumi rinsed her hands quickly before she tugged off her oil splattered apron and headed to the door. The Urameshi's new place of residence was thrice the size of their old apartment. Fire insurance and the settlement from their former apartment complex not repairing the window locks set the family up nicely. Who would have thought refusing to fix a 200 yen window lock could cost the land lords a hefty penny?

Izumi was impressed her mother hadn't spent all of the money on partying and booze before Izumi returned. Even more surprising was Izumi coming home to find out her mother left the bulk of the settlement under Izumi's name with the careless shrug and vague complaint that Yusuke would waste it on videogame arcades.

It was… a humbling discovery, more so the maturity of the response than the act of suddenly being the financial supervisor of her family. She did well enough on the meager funds they had before but this somehow rang different.

Looking back on it now, Izumi wondered how her mother could have trusted a ten year old with managing the bills and then a fourteen year old with a small fortune. She once would have said it was her recklessness, but now...

Shaking her head, Izumi decided not to let that thought continue.

She glanced at her reflection, pleased that her mother's apron had managed to catch all of the potential mess, sparing her midnight blue skirt and cherry red blouse any stains. The hallway mirror showed a girl who looked well put together, though a little tired if the slight bags under her eyes was any indication. Izumi sighed and tucked an errand curl of dark hair behind her left ear. Her hair was braided in a part to the left, the plait thick and coiling around her head like a half crown before coming together at the knot of her skull and secured in place by a shimmering length of black ribbon. As the remaining strands of hair sat in a tail, the lower half of her thick near ebony locks hung in slight waves just past her shoulders and behind her ears. She ignored her mother's nag about makeup, allowing a single coat of chapstick to keep her lips moist and slapped a smile on in greeting before she turned and opened the door.

"Welcome-"

The words stuck in her throat.

It wasn't the raven haired beauty, with a soft smile and a regal face that caused her to stumble, nor the blue haired river styx handler that managed her brother and now Izumi. It wasn't even the red head, green eyes cool and assessing as they gazed over his mother's head. Izumi might have paid more attention to her estranged friend if her spirit energy hadn't bristled at the sight of this newcomer.

Tall and annoyingly handsome with soft brown hair that tapered to his neck, the man looked entirely too fashionable with his dark grey peacoat and black slacks. He looked to be in his mid twenties and the smirk he favored her with was something sly and knowing. A curious flash of silver caught her eye as he tilted his head in greeting. It was an earring, suspiciously resembling the ever present pacifier, cheerily dangling from his right lobe.

He didn't have the tattoo of Jr. printed on the center of his head and the overly large binky was out of his mouth, but Izumi knew who he was as easily as if he'd waved his hand as said "Yo".

What the fuck was Koenma doing here?

---

"Izumi-chan, is everything alright? I haven't seen much of you recently."

Izumi tore her gaze from burning a hole in the Interim Ruler of the Spirit World's face and met the mildly concerned eyes of Shiori.

No. She wanted to spit. Not when this idiot shows up. But she didn't say that. She couldn't be rude in front of Shiori and the brat had somehow managed to endear Atsuko.

Her mother was genuinely laughing at something Koenma said.

Izumi had to stop herself from glaring on principle as the former toddler's head tipped back with a charming chuckle at Atsuko's retort. She didn't think the Spirit World toddler was capable of being likable let alone good company.

Why was he here?

It took more effort that she expected to answer Shiori in an even voice. "I'm alright, Shiori-sensei. Just been feeling a little under the weather lately." An understatement if there ever was one but most assuredly the truth.

Atsuko scoffed so hard Izumi felt herself cringe but prayed the woman would keep quiet. Urameshi's weren't ones to air their own dirty laundry after all.

The hope was again futile.

"Under the weather," Atsuko's wry alto interrupted. "You could barely walk two months ago, kid, and you're working yourself into the ground now to do anything more than jog."

"Ma!" Izumi whined as Shiori's gaze immediately turned alarmed. Boton and Koenma had varying degrees of shock on their face, while Izumi determinedly did not look at Kurama. He'd know what that meant and she had no desire to see his look of displeasure.

"Izumi-chan, I had no idea you were feeling so unwell. Shuichii, why didn't you say anything?"

The red head's body language tilted to his mother. With a furrowed brow, his face was a perfect mask of concern and disquiet.

"I did not wish to worry you, mother, and I was respecting Izumi-chan's privacy, as I know you would understand." The subtle rebuke made his mother calm some but she still looked unhappy.

If she wasn't feeling the frantic pulses and itch of annoyance herself, she might have been fooled. Izumi could register his youki crackling with a vehemence that told her they'd probably be having words.

Joy.

Still, the fact that she could notice it at all made a corner of her mind giddy.

After months of near silence when it came to progress sensing spiritual anything, the less than welcome results gleaned from his displeasure were worth celebrating.

"I thought Genkai sent you out once you were on the road to recovery," Boton blurted in disbelief. "Yusuke never would have let you leave the temple otherwise."

Sweet baby Jesus, that girl had no concept of what a secret was or even discretion. How had anything been kept under wraps with that woman there to blab?

"I'm much better now, Boton." Which the ferry girl damn well knew if you compared the wheezing, hobbling, mess she was just after having her body healed. "Sempai helped as much as she could and the rest is up to me."

There was no cause for alarm.

Yeah, a sarcastic corner of her mind sneered, you keep singing those lies and maybe one day you'll wake up to it all being a unpleasant dream.

Because she had already made so much progress.

It was Atsuko's turn to frown. "Genkai?"

"Temple?" Shiori queried curiously.

"Genkai is an acquaintance of mine that specializes in martial arts and various healing techniques." Koenma interjected smoothly, brown eyes staring Boton down hard enough to make her give a nervous laugh. "Yusuke now works with her as an apprentice of sorts and she is rather isolationist. Her home is enclosed in miles of forest at a temple which specializes in spiritual and physical control."

Izumi blinked at the reply. If she didn't know any better, she'd think Koenma was actually covering for the fact that the twins were used as demon exterminators.

As if sensing the impressed air, reluctantly acknowledge or not, Koenma turned to Izumi and gave her a smile bordering on smug. "As I mentioned over the phone I've grown to know your twins quite well and they've assisted with some unusual problems I've had with my father's business. Yusuke is a surprisingly capable bodyguard and your daughter is one of my best investigative staff. You should be proud of their accomplishments."

Unfortunately, Izumi had taken that moment to sip her drink and ended up choking on the strawberry lemonade. The only other person to give a verbal reaction outside of shock was Kurama and his snort was so soft, the female detective's hacking cough smothered it.

Eyes watering, Izumi would have strangled both men if she had the energy to breath.

Her mother reached over and patted her back, but the conversation wouldn't be derailed so easily. "Izumi, an investigative secretary? I can see Yusuke thriving from a fight and Izumi's plenty organized but I don't see her doing something so dull."

Izumi glared at her mother for the secretary crack while Koenma answered with a sly smile. "Oh I assure you she could have a very exciting job that travels all over the world if she takes her internship seriously, wouldn't she dear?"

The look on Boton's face at the endearment made Izumi smirk. Who the hell came up with their cover? It was probably Ogre, as petty revenge. 'Boton and Koenma acting as a couple coming to pay their respects to the mother of two of their hardest workers?' Fucking gold.

Knowing the way Koenma talked down to Boton when she wasn't arguing some sense into him, made it not all that ridiculous of an idea.

However, the thought of his toddler version and the leggy bluette being in any way intimate towards one another caused stitches every time the image reasserted itself.

Boton's mildly disturbed expression showed she couldn't get over the image either as she replied, "Of course, my lor- er love."

"We were very glad to get both Ms. Urameshi and Mrs. Minamino together to talk about the future of their children. Shuichii has already passed our intern application process and we would love for him to join the company as well."

Despite herself, Izumi was enthralled as he produced pamphlets and brochures detailing some up and coming defense company specializing in organizing and subduing homeland threats. "It's a very small portion of the government that would pay very well and ensure you and your families receive the care you need should you need it. Yusuke's position is undeniably more dangerous than one most families would, understandably, be comfortable with but know our companies supplies only the best for our employees. Additionally, Izumi acts largely in an intel capacity, preventing her from facing the same level of threat as others in our workforce-"

Izumi's breath caught at that particular tidbit of information. Her hand clenched around her chopsticks but she managed to suppress the inherent violence at being regularly sidelined as she forced herself to sit back and listen. Besides, as she was now, he wasn't even lying. Izumi wouldn't be capable of field work for some time yet, hopefully unnecessary for much longer. When she was back up and fighting again, she wasn't likely to correct her mother's misconception. She was glad Atsuko wasn't the type of person to treat the twins differently because one was a girl and the other was a boy. Izumi didn't have to worry about being the sheltered one in the family.

Although the down side to providing them such a cover was that Atsuko would put together Izumi's sudden stretch of invalid-status equals working with Koenma.

The twin's mother shot her a look as Koenma continued exposing on the pros and cons of their working relationship (leaning heavily on the positives). It let Izumi know that Atsuko was very much the Yakuza daughter that drowned herself in alcohol.

Atsuko knew, but she was sober enough not to ask. Their mother, for all her faults, knew when something was done for courtesies sake. She didn't have to be given this fancy lie that Shiori was eating up for the apparent benefits of her son. Neither of the women did, but the show was performed none the less. For the twins, for their mother, it didn't matter. The Urameshi family would know the truth.

Atsuko didn't have to like it though she knew Yusuke and Izumi would do what they wanted regardless when it came down to it.

Just like she had.

Izumi was grateful they'd have a worthwhile lie to give friends and Shiori. Not even six months had passed since she tore into Boton for not telling their families where they were. She didn't want to think her word could have caused such thing, she was insignificant in the grand scheme of Spirit World shenanigans, but this dog and pony show was a bit of a coincidence.

As Shiori took it all in with quiet awe, the twin's mother showed a surprising amount of business saavy in her questions of what would be required of the twins and Koenma assured it would be nothing that they wouldn't agree to or be forewarned of in advance. Izumi shared a glance with Boton at the lie but said nothing. She didn't know if her mother would have a problem with what they really did but if it limited Shiori's worry, Izumi was willing to leave her in ignorance.

By the second hour, Koenma looked to Izumi for an escape from her mother's relentless inquiries. Izumi should probably take pity, only because she wanted to know the real reason he came to her house, and the cover was nice...

But he wouldn't have bothered to come himself if it didn't revolve around Spirit World. The thought made her queasy.

As she was, she wouldn't be able to handle anything more hazardous than weak bugs or other parasites that required little to no spiritual force to dispatch.

So, perhaps pettily, Izumi offered to take plates and clear the kitchen, smiling when Boton bounced up to help, both women more than willing to abandon Koenma to his fate.

Shiori stood a breath later, pausing half way from her seat as a wave of dizziness swept her and she seemed to waver.

The woman was well on the road to recovery but her illness had been long and painful. If she stood too fast, sometimes it left the woman light headed.

Shiori tried to ignore her son's calm but firm request for them to head back but she couldn't dissuade everyone from wanting her to get better. Finally, Shiori said her goodbyes and was gently herded to the door by her ever dutiful son. Kurama didn't spare Izumi a glance as he said goodbye.

Izumi told herself it didn't sting.

It took half a bottle of wine and one of her mother's favorite shows to come on before she reluctantly stopped badgering the Prince with questions. Izumi maneuvered herself into a position to see them out and called back to her mother that she'd be back after she went for a walk. Atsuko eyed her, considering, but waved her off.

For once, Izumi was grateful for her family's shitty past.

---

"So," Izumi began once they entered the elevator. "You two are dating now?"

Boton blushed and waved her hands frantically in denial. "Of course not. Lord Koenma is much too old to- eke. Er I mean…"

Koenma grimaced. "That's enough, Boton. I don't think Izumi was serious."

Said detective snickered at the guide's sputtered protests. Wiping her eye, she took in a deep breath and grinned. Totally worth the impromptu visit. Speaking of-

"To what do I really owe the dubious honor of your company?"

"You should show more respect to Lord Koenma." Boton scolded half heartedly. The other two paid her little mind.

"I had another mission for you and I recalled someone complaining about leaving her family out of the loop."

Izumi blinked. So they had paid attention to her. Shocking.

Her brow furrowed as she ran over his sentence just as the elevator gave a pleasant 'ding'. "Had a mission?"

Koenma stepped out the elevator as the doors hissed open, followed closely by his Blue haired subordinate and Izumi cautiously followed. "Yes, had. As in the past tense."

Chestnut eyes narrowed and despite knowing the truth, reflexively said, "I can take a mission." Then they exited the building and her thoughts stalled at the direction Boton was heading. "Wait, you have a car?"

The Prince of the Spirit World shot her a disbelieving look as they reached a sleek navy blue sedan with tinted windows. Boton fiddled with the keys for a moment, sniffing at the incredulous tone. "Of course I do. I have to blend in with Human Society now that we have multiple detectives once more. Besides, the train cars make me nervous."

Izumi wanted to say something to that. She wasn't sure what, but Koenma spoke again before she could manage. "In case you hadn't realized, you're suspended until you get your health back in order. Genkai wouldn't go into specifics of what was wrong, but she assured me you would be able to fix it. Until you do, you won't be assigned work with or without your brother."

The brunette didn't know whether to be grateful Genkai allowed her this privacy or angry she interfered with protecting her brother.

She settled on angry.

"I thought I had to work for you to repay my debt." She bit out sarcastically. Internally, she knew this was a futile conversation. Hadn't she just admitted to herself she wasn't up to fighting?

Koenma didn't pay her pettiness much mind.

"Contrary to your beliefs, I do not send my people into dire situations if I have a better alternative. As you are," he continued when she looked ready to retort. "You're a liability. You'll either get yourself killed or get your brother killed as he tries to protect you."

The matter of fact way he said it, the certainty of it, made her chest ache.

"So I don't have a mission for you." He fussed around the inside of his nice peacoat and produced a thick manila envelope. "Just because I won't send you on anything, doesn't mean I can't appreciate another set of eyes for planning. I meant what I said about you acting in an Intelligence capacity. Yusuke doesn't have the patience to wade through history reports or tactical analysis. He'd rather pictures and a 2 minute brief."

Izumi glared in sibling defense but Koenma had a point. She took the packet in acknowledgement.

"That is a list of a few potential cases your brother could be sent on." His eyes flickered with something like regret before he shook his head and turned away towards the door to the rear left passenger seat. "I won't lie to you, in any of these situations your presence would have helped greatly but we must make due. Take a look and pass your insights on."

Izumi sighed and tucked the packet close to her body. "Yeah, I'll check it out."

Boton shot her a sympathetic glance but a loud ring interrupted whatever she was going to say. Koenma shoved his hand into his slack's pocket and tugged out what looked to be a makeup compact. It was dark purple with three light green teardrops emblazed on the cover. The drops arraigned in a falling circle.

"What now, Ogre?" The Spirit World Prince demanded with a sigh once the screen flipped up.

Oger's voice was tinny as he replied, "Sorry for interrupting you, sir. I know you said your date with Boton was very important-"

"It was not a date, Ogre! I told you we were meeting at the Urameshi residence."

"Of course, Sir. As you say." Ogre didn't sound very chastened. "But, we have a demand from the Saint Beasts and it's er… worrisome."

Boton stiffened as Koenma scrubbed his face, muttering curses under his breath. "Who cares what those monsters want. We're not dropping the barrier."

"Yes.. we um, we told them that, but their threatening the Human world with Makai insects-"

Boton gasped and Izumi tilted her head to the side as Koenma paled. "They what?"

"Saint Beasts?" Izumi broke in as Koenma started snapping orders into the odd mirror device. He ignored her and jerked the car door open, sliding into the back seat and closing the door with a slam.

Izumi turned to Boton, expecting the bluette to spill when Koenma's voice barked out "We're going."

"Should I be worried?" Izumi asked wryly as Boton jumped and hurried to the driver's side.

"Er, I'm sure we'll have it sorted our shortly. Those Saint Beasts are nasty demons and I'd hate for the Human world to-"

"Now!" Koenma snapped, voice practically teleporting Boton into the car.

"Never you worry Izumi, everything will be… uh fine… I'm sure."

The River styx girl managed to yell that out the window as the car back out of the parking lot and peeled off.

Yup, real assuring guys.

Izumi couldn't help thinking she had to get better. It sounded like the next crisis was barreling towards them whether she was ready or not.

The question was: how?

She needed to get her Spirit Energy to accept her again, not just as master but as protector as well. It wouldn't bow to her will if she wasn't going to defend herself when it thought it mattered.

Genkai's advice, Kurama's blunt retort, her own failings in thinking of anything but her brother all circled in her mind as descriptions of her problem but she had no idea how she was supposed to just accept not caring about Yusuke more than life itself.

She owed it to him, didn't she?

Yusuke was the reason she survived after Limbo. He gave her a purpose. He deserved to have her devotion after she robbed him of the sibling that could have been. He said he needed her-

Alive. A Kurama like voice pointed out wryly. He needed her alive.

And happy, and whole, and not killing herself in the hopes that something might work out from her death.

She let out a laugh, quiet and sad, and turned back to the entry way for their apartment complex. On auto pilot, she crossed the lobby and punched the up button. Leaning against the wall to wait for its arrival, she absently wondered how it got called up that quickly.

Envelope sitting heavy in her hand, Izumi admitted Kurama may have had a point in telling her she wasn't being realistic.

The more she tried to defend her actions, the more desperate Izumi realized she was being. It had taken months to get to this point, but she fought to be more honest with herself ever since Yusuke died. She managed to push her introspection to the sideline day after day as she wore herself into the ground, but Koenma's parting shot-

"You're a liability. You'll either get yourself killed or get your brother killed as he tries to protect you."

Brought the question back to the forefront of her mind. It sat in the same place Kurama's disappointment hummed, like a song she wanted to forget but couldn't.

Why am I so afraid of living for more than Yusuke?

The elevator chimed, but it was a distant sound, and Izumi gazed unseeing into the reflective metal doors as they slowly slid open.

Because that's what it was: fear. She was afraid.

Yusuke gave her something to focus on outside of that fear. His support was as unwavering and dependable as the strength of the ground or the air in the sky. She worried about losing his faith, but those moments were few and far between, flashes of insecurity that were extinguished almost as quickly as they sprung up. Yusuke wouldn't leave her, not really. She Knew that as well as her own mind, but-

But if she let anyone else in….

"If you stand there any longer, the lift will leave without you."

Izumi started at the voice, hand spasming around the manila envelope hard enough to crumple the thick bundle. It was only the familiar dark purple button up and vibrant red hair that saved the man from getting decked.

It didn't leave her any less surprised at his return. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was a disbelieving accusation, emotion bleeding through the words strong enough to make her wince if she wasn't so tense. She hoped he wouldn't notice, kinda wished he would leave, but it was a wasted desire.

Kurama's gaze darted back to her face at the tone more than the question. Unconsciously, she straightened her back and decided: Nope.

Izumi jerked away from the elevator, spinning on a heel and headed out, away from the building entirely. She'd be cornered if she went inside, and Kurama probably came back because Shiori forgot something. There was little reason for him to be there for her specifically with the irritable way he'd been treating her.

Picking up her pace and stretching her meager but gradually improving senses out, Izumi promised to never swear again if he just left her alone.

Kurama eased into step with her less than a minute later and Izumi immediately swore.

She kept her eyes forward, ignoring the red head that shifted beside her.

She didn't need this right now. She could feel the answers to her question buzzing in the locked away corners of her mind where her past lay and a train destroyed.

Why are you afraid to live?

Izumi could barely handle Kurama when her mind was at peace. The fox spirit had an uncanny ability of laying out her thoughts and fears for herself to see and leaving her wrung out in the aftermath. If she let him bully her into another talk, one of them would walk away maimed.

Why are you afraid to live?

"Izumi." He only said her name, but Izumi felt like he reached for her anyway. She flinched and edged closer to the grass lining the sidewalk. Cicadas chittered in the low light of dusk and the sky was a dull red with streaks of purple and the grey of clouds.

"Can we not do this right now?" It came out as a demand instead of the plea she meant it to be. Funny how an hour ago she wanted him to look at her and say good bye but now all she wanted was to see the back of him. Was nothing simple anymore?

Kurama's youki shifted oddly. For a moment, she thought he'd oblige her.

And then a strong form barred her path and Izumi wearily noted that Kurama could move when he wanted to. She hadn't even felt the shift in wind before he blocked her way and forced them to a stop under a slowly flickering streetlight. The light struggled for several more seconds before steadying into a soft off white glow.

Izumi clenched her jaw and pressed her lips into a thin line, considered turning back around, then shut her eyes and wished for an escape.

They hadn't spoken since his cool near rant back at Genkai's home.

At times she had wanted him to talk to her, to treat her like he usually did, but after watching her for a brief moment Kurama always shook his head and turned away-

Turned away like that boy did, because one lost life was better than two-

-turned away because he knew she wasn't going to change her mind and arguing with mules wasn't something Kurama tolerated.

After the first four times it got past the point of being annoying and deep into the realm of upsetting. So she was avoiding him, no point in denying it, but he hadn't exactly been trying to search her out and any other time they crossed paths, he allowed her an escape.

Seems he was done with that.

She could feel his gaze, heavy with question and something that felt like concern but Izumi didn't want this sudden and focused attention. She already felt emotionally strung out from the revelation that Yusuke was yet again in danger and she was once more useless. She felt like she deserved a little time to herself before diving into Spirit World drama and dealing with the confusing and oft ire inducing thief wasn't making her feel any better.

"Kurama," she tried again, voice wavering but damn it he always got a reaction out of her when she was emotionally compromised and she was so so tired of worrying, of having that odd sliver of fear with him recently and not knowing what she was even afraid of. "Please, not now."

She'd take Hiei right now, over this man. At least Hiei wouldn't care to harass her mental state any more than usual. Where's my murderous vampire when I need him? The thought made a bubble of hysteria worm up her throat but Izumi forced it down. Keep it together.

A sigh filled the air, long and slow. He was even closer than before and Izumi swallowed thickly at the heat just outside her touch. A callused thumb brushed against her cheek and her eyes snapped open. Dark brown eyes darted up to see the curtain of red hanging over her shoulder. "You know me better than that, hime." Kurama murmured, eyes half lidded so she could see only the impression of green irises under the shade of his hair.

I'm not leaving you like this.

Izumi wanted to laugh but she was fairly certain that wouldn't be what came out if she opened her mouth. He'd left her stewing in confusion and hurt easily back in Genkai's home. What difference did it make now?

"I think your pet can go a little longer without you there to aggravate it."

The words were surprisingly bitter and for a moment Izumi wanted to take them back. Kurama used the term to tease. He never meant it seriously. Now she tainted that joke between them.

But, immediately after, she told herself not to care. As if sensing the thought, Kurama's face blanked and Izumi wondered at the sudden stillness to his youki.

Stop that. An angry thought snapped. He wants to be all Mr. Disappointment, Mr. Depend-On-Me and Be Logical as you go through a literal spiritual crisis. All he does is fuck with your head and demand you thank him for it! Fuck him.

He makes you happy. A Yusuke like voice returned. Him, Kuroko, Fubuki, Kaisei, Hiei, Keiko, Shiori, Kuwabara, and even Boton. You like them and you need them just as much as you need your brother. You know why you do, fear it even-

If you let him in, let them in, it's just more people to turn their back on you when you need them most. Yusuke's safe because Yusuke would put you before him over any and everything.

Thinking of the tired, straining wisps of his spirit energy after he batted Izumi into her flesh, Izumi realized the truth of it: Yusuke had put her first since his birth.

"Fuck, Tony, take my hand-"

No one else had shown her such loyalty. No one else deserved that level of loyalty in return. She wouldn't be here otherwise-

You shouldn't need anyone to validate your existence, girl, let alone that dimwit. Genkai's voice was harsh but nonaccusatory. A soul needs community, belonging, otherwise it withers and grows cruel. If you deny your very soul's needs, you might as well stab yourself in the heart and get this pathetic existence over with.

Think about what would better your life for once.

If I knew what would help, Izumi thought tiredly, I'd have tried it already if only to make the ache in my chest go away.

Izumi shook her head to scatter the thoughts. This though, this she was definitely not in the mood for. She ignored the sliver of concern that he hadn't said a word in the wake of her scorn, fought past the desire to lean forward and hug him because she missed his cranky ass, and made her voice stay even. Dark brown eyes slowly hardened as they sought his. "I've gone months without your mothering, Kurama. Give me a few days and I'll deal with your overwhelming disappointment. Right now, spare me."

Kurama stood there, silent, so very still, and her skin was prickling for no reason at all.

Something's wrong- Her instincts bristled in warning, Spirit energy perked and curious.

He wasn't looking at her and she couldn't read anything off the blank stare. What the hell was wrong with him?

Emerald eyes hung unfocused at the space above her head until he shut his eyes in turn, head dipping in a slight nod. Izumi felt a brief, confusing mix of frustration, anxiety and relief at his acceptance-

-Mixed emotions suck-

- and was abruptly engulfed in the scent of earth and roses and life. She stiffened immediately, baffled at the corded muscle holding her close and the show of affection. Wasn't he mad at her?

Izumi spared a fleeting thought to snatching back or snapping at him for holding her like she was a distraught child, but the contact eased some fretful corner of her that feared she'd lost him months ago and her traitorous body tried to sink into the embrace like a woman starved.

Kurama hates physical contact, how much has he seen through to know that you needed this, despite his abhorrence?

Izumi squeezed her eyes shut and let herself relax in his hold, anxiety flowing out of her from one breath to the next. Ok, she admitted quietly to herself, maybe I did need this.

"I thought you needed time to adjust to what I said." His voice was quiet but no less understandable in the chirping of the night. "I did not believe you would welcome my company after Genkai's and a portion of me was… concerned you would ignore my advice entirely and let yourself wither." His grip tightened hard enough to make her gasp into his collar, breath curling up to his neck. Kurama lessened his hold slightly at the noise but he did not release her. "I was angry." He admitted into her hair. "Angry at you for being so willfully blind, annoyed at myself for allowing this to fester, furious at your brother for never noticing your weakness until it's always too late-"

Izumi made a noise to disagree but Kurama's voice kept going, bullying over her almost complaint like if he let himself stop she'd keep him from starting again.

"It was a mistake leaving you to your own devices after the tournament." And his voice was rough with something dark and dangerous that made her skin pebble and hair stand on end. "I do not enjoy being wrong, and I like even less that you were in a position so vulnerable when Genkai could have allowed you to remain."

She tilted her head so her voice would come out unmuffled. Her grip unconsciously tightened around him as she spoke and she felt the manila envelope crackle at the abuse. "It's not Genkai's responsibility to make me value myself."

"No," Kurama agreed bitingly. "It's mine."

Izumi jerked away at that (or tried to), unused to what she was rapidly realizing as something close to rage directed at himself. Kurama had always been level headed. Always the one with calm, if condescending, words. The most she got out of him on a regular basis was annoyance.

More importantly, it wasn't anyone's responsibility to make her see her own value. It was hers and hers alone. She didn't think she was worthless or anything but obviously there was some internal disagreement between what was considered smart choices with her health. She tilted her head up more, opened her mouth to scold him-

And then unceremoniously closed it with a clack of teeth as his head dipped and red hair tried to stuff itself into her mouth. Warmth pressed against her tilted throat and a rumble rattled out of his chest, sinking into her own with tones of ire, yearning, and something that made her shiver and sweat.

"Hiei has watched you struggle to regain what you once had every day since you returned home and he tells me now, only because I asked, that each moment was painful. Your stubbornness is the only thing that allows you to progress as well as you have and Kuwabara is the only thing keeping you from straining yourself to the point where you cause more damage. I did not realize the extent of your weakness until your mother mentioned it." With each word Kurama's voice gets more and more menacing, his youki sharpening to pins and needles against her skin. The animalistic corner of her brain, a holdover from her species' time as prey, screamed gibberish at her proximity to a beast that was furious and far too close to her precious throat. Only Izumi's trust in him kept herself from being truly afraid.

"Kurama," She tried hesitantly, absently rubbing a small circle with her free hand on his back. The action was mildly ludicrous, like trying to scratch the belly of a starving stray as it strained to reach a plate of steak.

The fox thief's jaw shifted and she felt the press of canines against her throat that instinctively caused her mouth to snap shut.

Hind brain shrieked in compliance. No talky. Got it.

He held her there for a breath or so longer, youki agitated and thrashing and demanding obedience, before pulling away enough to nuzzle her neck in something like apology. His voice was like gravel. "Don't." He warned, taking a single breath to continue as if he hadn't just threatened to rip out her fucking throat. "I had assumed you were fine if slightly weakened as Koenma and Boton had because there was no way Genkai would release you otherwise. I would never have known-" A growl then, fierce and unnervingly possessive before Kurama took a deep breath and just breathed at the crook of her shoulder, arms like bands of steel around her.

Hind brain had a vice grip on her vocal cords so if she wanted to talk, it would come out as a wheeze at best, a whimper at worst.

But she wouldn't allow herself to cringe away like a frightened animal.

(It'd be totally ok if you did, predator and prey, you know?) She snarled at that coward-ish thought. She was Urameshi Izumi and Urameshi don't back down. Not from death, not from fire demons with an attitude problem and sure as hell not from animal spirits in the midst of some kind of breakdown.

Kurama had always been dangerous, she fucking knew that, and right now was more of a reminder than she'd allowed herself to think of because he could be so disturbingly inoffensive when he wanted to be. He had been concerned for her, was weirdly enough almost hating himself because he hadn't seen what she was dealing with. Whether that was due to his sense of pride or righteousness or whatever blinding him, it didn't matter.

He felt helpless and apparently the demon side of him didn't handle personal disappointment too well.

But how the hell was she supposed to reassure him when every effort to speak was met with being ignored or down right threatened?

Izumi let out a shuddering breath and forced herself to relax. Kurama obviously wasn't thinking all that well right now either, which means he either cared a lot about her, or a lot about being wrong. She'd lean towards the former for personal narcissism and focused on how best to remind him that she was very much here and very much alive.

Hesitantly, Izumi twisted her head to look at him but he wasn't moving from her shoulder and the taller teen continued to take slow measured breaths against her skin, arms as immovable as stone around her. The sniffing would be kind of creepy if it didn't tickle a bit.

Blinking as an unbidden memory triggered by Kurama's behavior came to mind, Izumi mentally shrugged and tucked herself more firmly against his collarbone. Her hands tightened and she pulled him down closer to her so she could return the odd nuzzling motion he seemed to keep doing to her throughout their entire friendship.

A handful of seconds had to have passed even though the sure as hell felt longer but Izumi grunted irritably as Kurama slowly came back into himself and his grip loosened to something more resembling a hug instead of a death hold.

An inane corner of her thoughts dedicated itself to noting how his skin was soft and smelled like autumn and rose oil. She told that corner to shut it and narrowed her focus on being annoyed as his hair still managed to get between her face and her target. Izumi had to fight off two sneezes until she took to blowing the strands out of her face.

Frankly, she was past the point of caring how ridiculous their relationship was and told herself there was no such thing as normal- she obviously should have accepted that when her brother was resurrected- because everyone she ever cared about was weird as fuck.

Case and point: the following reaction.

Izumi had just meant to lick her lips.

She hadn't pulled back enough.

Kurama was practically purring and she was pretty sure the only reason he hadn't pulled away was because he didn't notice the frankly adorable noise he was making. And maybe it was nice being reassured (hugs were fucking life, foxy) but the moment her tongue darted out and accidentally flick against his skin, he went ridged and tore away from her so fast that Izumi almost fell face first into the concrete. Only her weakly returning reflexes turned her face plant into a painful kneel.

"Ow, jackass!" Her knees were screaming far more colorful expletives at the red head crouched three feet in front of her. "A little warning next time."

Emerald eyes only stared at her, wide and uncomprehending. His lips were parted, breath exiting in a shaky rush and his face was confusingly flushed. Izumi scowled at him.

"Well?" She demanded at his stupefied expression. "Are you back with me now?"

Kurama's face went through a complicated range of expression before settling on careful neutrality. "I- yes. I apologies for… for scaring you?"

The near uncertainty in his voice, the unconscious unease, would have been laughable at any other time but Izumi was a little too ticked to appreciate his flash of insecurity. She was confused as all fuck.

No, blunt and uncompromising honestly right now so she could figure out what the heck is going on with him.

Izumi leaned forward and settled her hands on the ground. The documents rested under her right hand, reminding her that she needed to look at them, soon. A heavy lock of ebony hair curled in front of her cheek and Izumi made sure to roll her eyes hard enough to hurt when she lifted them from the packet. "Do I look scared?"

Kurama's lips twitched but his eyes were searching hers far more intensely than expected. "Not particularly." He replied before hesitating and looking for once unsure. "You licked me."

Izumi stared.

All the times this guy lapped at her face and the moment she does an accidental tongue poke he gets weird?

End point: What. The actual. Hell?

"Yes, I did." She returned in a deceptively calm voice. "More importantly, you ruined my knees by letting me swan dive into the damn sidewalk."

Kurama's nose twitched and then he was by her side again, shifting her gently off of her horribly skinned knees and swallowing thickly as the blood blossomed to trickle down each leg.

Oddly, after seeing her blood, Kurama seemed less inclined to touch her. Normally, Izumi injured produced the opposite effect. The brunette frowned. "If anyone gets to be weird about this, it's me. You weren't the one about to have your throat torn out for speaking out of turn."

The fox had the grace to grimace at the statement as his hands opened and closed in a repeating fist. "I was frustrated and you would have tried to belittle my frustrations. That was… not the time for it." His eyes lifted to hers and she saw the message in them clear: I would not have truly hurt you regardless. The curl of apprehension that sat in her gut since seeing him dart away eased at the reassurance.

"Still didn't stop my simple prey brain from making me clam up." Izumi debated it for half a second- decided to hell with it- and reached forward, grabbing a lock of his hair. "I didn't mean to upset you." She finished quietly, brown eyes earnest.

Kurama's gaze softened. He leaned forward and scooped her into his arms, rising to a stand despite Izumi's squeak of surprise. Her skirt lifted slightly in the breeze and Izumi slapped a hand over it while glaring at him for the manhandling.

He chuckled and Izumi's shoulders eased at the returning warmth to his expression. Her Spirit energy unfurled a little in lazy interest. "Let's get you home, hime."

She should be more worried at how easily people took to carting her around like she was an invalid. If his strides weren't so smooth and her knees didn't hurt like the dickens, the teen would throw herself from her arms and stalk home like the independent woman she was.

Izumi sighed, leaning back into his shoulder and trying not to think about the panicked, confused expression on Kurama's face as she started to glare at him for pulling away. Kurama didn't know how to handle whatever she did, and if Kurama didn't know then that meant she probably did something inadvertent when she tried to lick her lips.

She should let it go and pretend it didn't happen.

Foxy was probably doing that right now.

... But she wanted to know.

"Why did you freak out when I licked you?"

To his credit, Kurama didn't break in stride. The only evidence of his discomfort with the question was the slight bob in his adam's apple. "You had already made me feel more comfortable by your actions. The addition of… licking me confused what I think you were trying to convey."

Izumi stared at the side of his face because he was concentrating a bit too hard on their path of travel.

"And what message did I accidentally send?"

Kurama didn't say anything as they entered the building and beelined for the elevator. Izumi held her tongue as they passed the front desk and gave a reassuring smile when the doorman saw Izumi being carried. She said something appropriately convincing about a fall and frowned when Kurama called the lift, entered, and pressed the 15th floor for the Urameshi residence without so much as a nod of acknowledgement.

That was incredibly rude for him.

"So the message?" Izumi prompted at the closed door and the soft chiming began signaling the passing floors.

Kurama sighed and pressed a closed mouth kiss on her forehead. Izumi blinked at the action but moreso at the way he lingered, eyes dark and conflicted. She arched a brow to hide her fluttering heart, her simmering Spiritual Energy, and Kurama huffed, brushing his nose against hers before straightening.

"You were offering comfort." Was his short reply.

Izumi's brow furrowed. Comfort? That couldn't be right. He wouldn't have ran off like Yusuke does to his homework if it was just comfort.

The elevator chimed cheerily and smoothed to a stop, forcing Izumi to glance forward, out into the hallway leading home. Kurama moved on, easily managing her weight, and twisted the handle to the door without fumbling once. Izumi wasn't surprised that it wasn't locked, Atsuko never remembered to lock anything, but she was surprised that the woman in question was still up and about.

Kurama gently knelt and braced her back with one hand while he pulled off her sandals with the other, neatly placing them aside. Izumi complained about the mothering but Atsuko only eyes her skinned knees with bemusement. She shook her head and headed for the door once Kurama toed his own shoes off.

"Be back tomorrow, 'Zumi. I can trust your boyfriend to prevent you from killing yourself when I'm not around." Izumi scowled at her, Kurama's smile was slightly strained, as Atsuko glibly tossed over her shoulder, "Keep it PG, kids."

The door shut with a snap.

"Cow," Izumi muttered, twisting to be put down. Kurama, per usual, ignored her and moved to set her on the kitchen counter. The kitchen and bathrooms were the only parts of the house that weren't carpet or hardwood and her right knee was bleeding a little generously. Red wound down her shin, almost to her ankle.

"A moment," Kurama murmured as he turned to grab the medical supplies from the upper kitchen cabinet.

Izumi resigned herself to his ministrations and tossed the packet of potential missions on the other side of the kitchen sink. She turned to find curious green eyes scrutinizing them. "Koenma?"

"Yeah, it was supposed to be new missions with Yusuke but I'm not going into the field until I've been cleared by the toddler."

"Prudent." Izumi rolled her eyes.

"Just because I know it's for the best doesn't mean I have to like it."

A soft snort caused her lips to quirk up even as the red head soaked a towel in the sink and started washing off the blood.

"So comfort?" She continued leadingly. "Was it a bad kind?"

"No. Not in and of itself."

She waited.

"But?!"

The former thief sighed. "It was a… carnal comfort, hime. You didn't mean it, so think nothing of it."

"Oh." It took a moment for understanding to click. "Oh."

Her cheeks pinked despite the fact that she knew what sex was and in another life had enjoyed it, thank you very much, but the act of unintentionally propositioning her best friend, to the point where he was uncomfortable, was mortifying.

"Shit, foxy. I wasn't- I mean it was an accident! Not that you aren't- um… well, you know if you maybe taught me all your weird doggie quirks I wouldn't make implications like that." Here she scowled. "And you lick me all the time. It's not like I'd know it had special connotations."

Kurama licked his lips and lifted his gaze to catch hers. "I know you wouldn't."

And maybe if she hadn't looked down and his tone hadn't been the slightest bit off, she wouldn't have noticed.

The fox's voice was almost daring and that made Izumi do a double take because if he had known the connotations behind it, why had he done it repeatedly?

"Kurama," and there was warning in her voice, a hazardous quiet that preceded a flood of emotions, because why would he do that if he didn't mean it? Was he mocking her? Why would he do it even if he did mean it? How would she have known unless he said something or someone pointed it out to her?

The asshole took that moment to spray disinfectant which made her jerk her leg away, hissing- and maybe rear back to kick him in the face- but the former thief caught her limb and began wrapping it firmly with clean bandages.

"Peace, Izumi. I can explain, though I doubt you will appreciate the truth of it."

She did an impressive growl for a human but remained gloweringly silent as he finished wrapping and disinfected her other leg. Once completed, Kurama bundled everything back in the med kit. He left it on the counter as he swooped and scooped the irate teen back up into bridal style. She hissed at him but he dropped her quickly enough once they reached the living room.

Kurama sat slowly, outside of arms reach on the floor as Izumi leaned back on the couch. Briefly, she wondered why he chose that position but then she realized she'd have to put in just that much more effort to attack him from that distance. He'd be able to get away from her now.

Her scowl deepened and Kurama returned it with a smirk before his expression sobered and he ran a hand through his hair.

"Initially, I did it to aggravate you. I saw Yusuke do something of the sort and you were rather enraged by it. I wanted to make you uncomfortable." His lips pulled in a depreciative smile as he stared at her wrapped legs. "It was easy to ignore the action as anything other than playful because you were a child, you smelled like a child." He corrected absently, gaze rising to her pulse point. "And then your scent changed."

Emerald eyes flickered to her face for a moment before blatantly appraising her body. Izumi's mouth opened and closed unsure of what to say in the face of that and settled for glaring at him until he caught her gaze again and kept talking.

"I hadn't noticed. I saw you almost every day and it was such a gradual shift. I didn't realize I was touching you more, didn't see that I was attempting to… aggravate you more and more often. It was only by grace of hearing you speak with Mother about girl issues during one of your visits to the hospital when her health took a momentary turn for the worst that the change registered."

Izumi probably should have been embarrassed about Kurama eavesdropping on one of her Period talks (aka being a woman sucks and I hate this how do you deal with the unfairness of XX chromosomes) with Shiori, but it was undoubtedly more painful for him to overhear. Besides, she'd gone through puberty twice now. She was pretty over being embarrassed by womanly things.

Though she couldn't deny the flush to her cheeks as Kurama's matter of fact recitation of finding her attractive enough to be drawn to her subconsciously if nothing else. It had annoyed her for years to be treated like a lollipop at the strangest times but eventually she found the humor in it.

But she remembered that hospital visit.

Shiori's health had taken a dive for the worst and Izumi came as soon as she heard about it.

She had never seen Kurama look so… disappointed. She wasn't sure what with, but there was an inkling that it was directed more inward than anything. 'Shuichi' had needed someone, something, so she'd hesitatingly placed a hand on his arm and he surprisingly didn't mock her for the touch. His condescending nature, at times, was a very capable deterrent to dishing out physical affection, but she usually ignored it. On a whim she had decided that now was one of those times to continue the policy and Izumi let her compassion pull him towards her.

'Shuichi' had always been taller than her- even at the beginning of puberty- and that moment, with her arms wrapped around his waist and his chin pressing against the side of her forehead, she felt the difference in height keenly….

She also felt every unfortunately defined play of muscles as he cautiously returned her hug, slowly drawing her closer and tighter to the point that she was on her tiptoes in his grasp. It had been…. Nice to be held like she anchored him to the present, like that hug pulled him from whatever strange sense of melancholy he had been neck deep in. It had felt good to bring him back even moreso when he murmured awkward thanks.

But, Izumi's face had burned with the unfair understanding that her friend was built unacceptably well for a bookworm and her hormonally driven body had nearly rubbed her face against the well-formed peck pressed against her face with a purr.

She'd jerked away from him as soon as his grip relaxed the slightest bit and the awkwardness had lasted until they were allowed to see Shiori and 'Shuichi' walked out to do something. Izumi took that time to complain about the unfairness of hormones and the awful nature of the dreaded period because she was sure it was coming again with all the drooling she'd been doing over 'Shuichi'.

There she had stayed until Atsuko decided to be a parent for once and picked her up from the hospital when she found out where she was. It was one of the rare occasions the Urameshi twins were not within earshot of one another and Izumi wished for her brother dearly to cover up her stupid response for Shuichi's sudden recognized maleness, especially when the boy came back in and wished her a cool goodbye.

Belatedly, Izumi realized that her jerking away may have come off as if she hadn't wanted to be touched by him for very long. To cushion the reaction, Izumi asked very pointed questions about what the boy did in his free time to be that stacked. She bore the required heckling for mentioning his physique and tried not to flinch as Shuichi had been rather curt with her afterwards.

It had taken months for Izumi to breakdown whatever barrier was starting to form and drag her reluctant friend back. She made sure to shower him in the physical touches so that he wouldn't think she was repulsed by him and at the time considered it a ludicrous thought. Izumi would suffer under Shuichi's ego if she said it aloud but who would be even remotely disgusted by something so… visually pleasing.

To think that his distance had nothing to do with her thoughtless action and everything to do with her budding womanhood, left Izumi dumbstruck.

She cleared her throat, drawing his gaze back to her face and Izumi fought back a flush. She was completely imagining the predatory glint in his eyes. Fucking hormones.

"Right, well that doesn't explain why you still do it, or why you reacted like you did earlier."

Kurama held her stare, lips tilting crookedly. "I am rather possessive of those I care for. You are the only female of an age to evoke this reaction. I wanted my scent to be heaviest on you, outside perhaps your brother, and your eventual humor at my action, which at first rankled, soon became a source of amusement for me as well. I knew you would not understand the potential significance, so I saw no reason to change my actions." He glanced away and snorted softly. "It was my hubris which assumed you would never reciprocate the act."

The teenager was torn between annoyance, flattery and exasperation. Izumi's gut reaction responded before she could fully quell the emotion. "Accident. Also, I don't belong to you, foxy."

Emerald eyes flickered back, a challenge in them momentarily before Kurama seemed to force the response away. A sigh. "You ooze my scent and spiritual energy, hime. Any demon to come in contact with you would know to whom that scent belongs and it is much the same the other way around. A tentative claim for protection and responsibility. To a demons senses, it's as good as a sign or a collar. Ask Hiei." He finished, cutting off her disgruntled retort. "You do not have to like that fact but it is done."

"You act like its permanent!" Izumi snapped back, uneasy but not really sure why. The initial reaction was to be offended at being thought of as belonging to anyone but once the outrage subsided, Izumi found that she didn't care what other people thought, demon or otherwise. She and Kurama knew the truth and so did those closest to them. That was all that mattered. Still though, to always have that hanging over her, like an unasked for brand-

Kurama's returning smile was sinful.

"Are you telling me you don't want me around anymore, Izumi?"

She glared at him, proud to be unaffected by the almost purred question. "Maybe. I'm still waiting on that explanation on your reaction, Kurama."

The fox's smile turned less seductive and more fond. "You are quite adamant."

"I don't like being ignorant of my actions." Here the girl let her gaze soften and reached out a hand. "Come here, you ass. I'm past the point of hitting you. Scouts honor."

That conflicted expression was back for an instant before he smirked and uncoiled from the ground. "You were never a 'boy scout."

She placed a hand on her forehead in mock distress. "Curses, I've revealed too many of my secrets."

Her best friend shook his head and edged to the farside of the couch but she wrapped a hand around his wrist and yanked. Hard.

The strength behind it surprised them both because Kurama came barreling for the couch and landed on Izumi with a grunt. Eyes squeezed shut, she regretted her ill thought out response immediately as her knee was jostled. The gasp of pain forced Kurama back, one leg bent on the cushion, the other bracing himself on the floor.

"Izumi?" Urgent hands checked her knees briefly to see if it was bleeding through before they cupped her face.

"I'm fine." She reassured breathlessly, feeling like a wimp because she's had so much worse. "Peachy keen. Just- just stay with me." She swore softly as the throbbing died down and crunched open watering eyes. Her vision cleared and Izumi wondered how it was possible for a person to be that damned charismatic but so standoffish with physical affection.

It was kind of sad.

The man in question eyed her critically for a moment more. "Are you asking me to spend the night, hime?"

She giggled. Honest to God giggled at his uncertain question.

"Yes," She decided just to see his face do that complicated dance. To make sure he knew what she meant, Izumi continued in the driest tone possible. "Take me, man-meat."

Kurama choked out a laugh.

"You are incorrigible." The fox managed with a chuckle, leaning into her side and somehow pulling her against his chest. How did he maneuver her that fast? One second Izumi was sitting with her feet stretched out on the sofa and the next she was half spooning, half sprawled on the couch with her own personal back heater.

"You are a magician." She returned less amusedly. "Answer my question."

She felt him lean forward, like he was going to nip her again, when Izumi leaned away and shifted her hips to face him. It fucked with her knee and she was practically snarling as she faced him but the resurgence of her aggression seemed less of a deterrent than more of one.

Kurama reclined anyway though. She could tell he was humoring her, which made her want to bite him but the last thing she wanted was to give off more canine vibes that she didn't fully understand. He smiled and after only another handful of seconds of staring, finally opted to reply.

"It unsettled me that I'd let my guard down enough for you to perform your ill conceived attempt at comfort. Nothing more, hime."

She flashed him a disgruntled look. "Excuse me for caring then."

Kurama's laugh was fond as he shifted them both into a more seated position. Izumi huffed at the manhandling but decided to let both that and his odd reaction go. She would catch him off guard later and press.

"Whatever. I'm going to change. Go be more useful and less of a perv by grabbing me that packet over there. I need to figure out how to handle Yusuke's newest playmates."

Emerald eyes flickered to the envelope with carefully hidden interest. "Manners are certainly not beneath you, hime."

"Please go be useful and less of a perv." She returned sweetly, even as she sent out a tentative mental stab at the surly fire demon. Her spirit Energy had been more aware and attentive ever since Koenma and Co. came to her home. Maybe, she'd be able to reach him.

And if she could, she'd ask both demons for advice on how best to handle the threat.

The pair were definitely the most experienced in the subject and no one else would know more about criminals aiming to harass the human world.

---

The reason Hiei showed up to her window at all is because he was bored. Perhaps, slightly curious.

It has nothing to do with the fact that he couldn't feel the onna's spirit energy for months and hadn't felt her so much as whisper at him mentally since before the Tournament.

He was not and had never been worried.

He most certainly hadn't been pleasently surprised when she reached out with a mental probe asking for advice.

Hiei watched her struggle for months to retrain and much of her methods were left wanting in his eyes. If asked, he would have scathingly pointed it out.

But the stubborn brat hadn't done that.

Hiei was equal parts frustrated and bemused that she refused to seek out actual help. That oaf sensor hardly offered true assistance. Although, he was impressed with the idiot's slow rolling ability to shape his spirit energy. He wasn't completely useless in that regard at least.

Hiei hadn't had any intent to intervene, loath as he was to watch such inept wallowing. If he decided to indulge in berating her lackluster attempts at bettering herself, he was sure it wouldn't be at her request.

Hey Sparky, if you're free I could use your advice on a few things. Come by my house if you're able?

The idiotic endearment was ignored, and just to show he wasn't really listening out for any hint of her regaining spiritual awareness, Hiei waited a whole fifteen minutes before responding.

I suppose I could use some entertaining. He retorts, voice dry with just enough reluctance to cover the jolt in his youki.

Her response was immediate and grateful. Thanks Sparky, I'm making those cinnamon rolls you like. Heads up on the fox, he's acting... weird and might be more tetchy than usual.

Hiei is dodging over roof tops at the mention of her offered sweet, but the warning on the fox gives him pause.

Explain.

He can feel the huff of her amusement through the link, fond and exasperated and surprisingly strong in comparison. Hiei wants to know how she'd regained this much of herself but decided to find out in person. The fox though? That was curious.

His youki is being oddly touchy and earlier he kept sniffing me. Kurama's mood shifted from fury incarnate to playful in less than 10 minutes and the emotional whiplash is going to make me break out in hives. He's making my Spirit energy do metaphorical summersaults, Spark, and to be blunt I need a buffer.

Hiei was torn between amusement and annoyance for the woman's situation. As if she can read it in him on her side of the link, she continued.

Mostly though I need your help with planning out a few potential cases. It's looking like a kidnapping, some asshat running around, attacking virginal teenagers, and a gang of human psychics that are putting the Spirit World on edge. Oh, speaking of Koenma on edge: the Saint Beasts. You ever heard of them?

Any aggravation he may have felt is snuffed out quickly at the question.

I know enough. He answered with a frown.

In another instant, he's sliding the girl's bedroom window open and alighting into her soft carpeted floor. The room is all sea blues and forest greens, nothing like the explosion of red and yellow in Yusuke's. The Detective's room was like a fire in cloth form burning out from his bed to encompass the whole of the room.

The girl grinned when she spotted him ghosting into the living room, wrists sprinkled with flour and hip leaned against the counter. She looked comfortable in the baggy black sweatpants and loose fitting grey top, hair piled in a messy bun. A large snowflake sat centered on the chest with the phrase 'One of a Kind' written in jagged scrip. Hiei sniffed at the affection in her expression, shoulders loosening, some of the tension he hadn't know was there drained away. He ignored the fox's surly flicker of welcome, knowing the thief was displeased with the knowledge Hiei failed to inform him of, but also understanding.

It wasn't Hiei's place to tattle after all.

"Hey Sparky, long time no see." The girl greeted as she dove her hands back into the sink and washed the remnants of her baking off.

"Hn." Hiei answered, drifting over to Kurama to peer at the papers that so absorbed the fox's attention. "I'm surprised the moron isn't here hovering over you like usual."

The first sheet was of a fat man, bald with beady black eyes. He wore a fine coal colored suit and was scowling to the side of the camera. Black market dealer, interested in rare treasures. Possible assailant? Was scribbled in the margins of what Hiei realized was a criminal report.

Izumi scoffed, drawing his attention from the papers. Her left hand was fisted in an oven mitt and she absently flicked dials on the stove. "If you mean Kazuma –rude by the way- he ran off to be with his family as soon as Atsuko dragged me from the track. And speaking of hovering menfolk," She pulls the oven door open and Hiei is blasted with a much stronger whiff of the cinnamon treats. A spark of something warm tries to nestle in his chest and he crushes it ruthlessly. "You," Izumi accused with a tug on the heavily packed tray, "have been stalking me, again. What did I tell you about creeping on people when they aren't aware?"

Hiei didn't let the amusement reach his face when she turned and jabbed the hot tray at him threateningly. "Something I obviously didn't care to listen to."

Kurama's youki crackles with amusement.

"Ass." He heard her mutter. A soft clatter of metal on metal signaled the tray being placed on the stovetop and Hiei pretends not to track her as she leveraged six of the fist sized pastries onto a plate and hobbled into the kitchen.

Hiei's eyes narrow at her pained gate, the telling flicker of guilt in Kurama's youki whispered he was the reason for it, but the onna is talking again before he can demand an explanation.

"If you're worried enough to spy on me, you can come out and sit in the open like a normal person. Or, better yet, if you got any pointers, I'd appreciate the help. Sensei doesn't own a phone and I can't disappear like usual to see her. My Ma would kill me when I got back."

The offer, better yet the request for assistance, was unexpected. He would never advertise his weakness to a potential enemy and he sure as hell wouldn't ask them for help.

As if reading his silence for the confusion that it was, the stupid girl held out the plate, eyes practically beaming: I trust you with all my heart.

Hiei forced himself to turn away, though he snagged a treat in a flash of black, before adjusting his sword and dropping to a seated position across from the couch the two teens shared. "I doubt you could survive my training."

Kurama smiled at him knowingly as the girl brightened. "Sweet, I can't stand being this goddamned slow anymore. You're doing me a huge favor, Spark. I'll make cinnamon rolls or my special hot chocolate whenever you like as payment-"

Hiei stared. What part of that sentence was a yes?

But she's still talking, exclaiming on the unfairness of being benched and the upsetting cases that her brother would potentially be taking on his own. And then she's frowning, grumbling about Koenma and his bizarre response to the Saint Beasts which does well enough to push away the uncomfortable acceptance that hung in the air like it was obviously meant to be there.

Saint Beasts.

Yes, he could focus on that: Seiryuu: the Blue Dragon, Genbu: the Black Turtle, Byakko: the White Tiger and their mysterious leader Suzaku: the Red Bird. Murderous demons the lot of them, with a hatred of humanity that made Hiei's seem pale in comparison.

The Detective would have a hell of a time with them if he had to face them alone. Even with all his resourcefulness, the boy would fail in such a daunting task.

When Hiei said as much, Izumi- the girl- looked stricken before her fists clenched and she forced out a breath. "Not that it'd ever come to this but…. If Koenma tossed my brother out to handle those bastards, if I- if I couldn't be there, would you look after him for me? I know you hate babysitting and you'd probably be dealing with Kazuma and Yusuke but… could you make sure those knuckleheads get home?"

And there it was- that trust- again.

Because if Hiei learned nothing about this girl other than this: it was her fierce devotion to her brother. To trust him with aiding in her place….

"The detective won't die until we've had our rematch." Hiei declared gruffly, garnet eyes darting away from the large brown pair peering at him.

"In Hiei speak, that's as good as a promise, hime."

Izumi swatted at the fox, relief covered by fond irritation. "Stop calling me pet names, will you?"

---

(A/N): Sorry for not listing the reviewers this time. I promise I read every one!

Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

Next Chapter: ACTION!

See you then.

~Yasha's Sis