Kurama was not in a happy mood when he entered Koenma's office. He had managed to tell the other Tantei what had happened, but he hadn't spoken since then. Even when Botan tried to engage him in conversation, he didn't say a thing, even though he knew he should make an attempt to be polite. Somehow, he didn't even feel like being polite.

Koenma noticed this immediately when his greeting was only returned by Kuwabara and Yusuke. Hiei was worried for his two friends, both the kidnapped one, and Kurama.

"What's wrong."

"Kassandra's been kidnapped." Hiei said, getting right to the point. Koenma didn't take this well, though it could have been worse.

"- How do you know she didn't simply go shopping or something?"

This time, Kurama spoke up. "Obviously, you don't know Kassandra very well. She doesn't go shopping, and I watched it happen with my own eyes."

Koenma said nothing for a long time. "Tell me what happened." Yusuke and Kuwabara told the story, with Hiei making sure they told it right. Kurama had gone back to being silent. After they had finished, another long silence spread across the room. Unfortunately, this reminded Kurama of someone who hated silence more than anything. Someone who was now in danger, because of him.

-- Shuuichi, it's not your fault… --

- I should have acted! It is my fault! -

--- No, Kurama, even if you had stopped him this time, he would have come back again. Now quit blaming yourself. ---

-Hiei! -

-- It's true! --

--- Now you've heard it twice, so you've got to believe us…---

-It's still my fault! -

-- It wasn't! --

- I was right there! I should have done something. I should have attacked him, but I didn't… -

--- Because you didn't want to hit Kassandra. ---

-Yes, exactly! -

-- It's natural not to want to hurt someone you lo- care about. And just because you feel you should have done something, doesn't mean you didn't do the right thing. --

--- Shush. The baby is talking. ---

"Can we find this demon? Did you get any form of identification?"

Kurama, still silent, handed a small black object to Hiei, who placed it on the toddler's desk.

"Only this. He left it behind."

The orb that had created the black hole that had sucked Kassandra away had left behind a smaller version of itself, with an insignia painted on it. A large Y in demon language, with crossed blades above it, and a decorative border below it. However, that decorative border was more than it appeared at first glance. Koenma had only been examining it for a moment when he dropped it on the desk again. "Goodness! It's words!"

Kurama managed a nod. The words spelled out a location, or at least he hoped. Castle Kurokami. Youko knew where it was, but he needed permission to go to the Makai, the Demon world. And he wouldn't be able to do this alone. The blades themselves were another problem. Each blade had another name on it. Goro and Taro, the Kuroko twins, sons of the everlasting darkness. And, underneath the castle's name, could be seen a third name. Sen, guardian of Kuromori, the black forest, surrounded the castle. Sen, Goro, and Taro are all formidable opponents, but the last would surely be Yukio himself. Kurama had every intention of fighting this one himself (That'll probably be a chapter in itself… Which means she isn't getting rescued this one :p Sorry, deal with it!)

Koenma had figured all this out miraculously be himself. "Kasumi's power can not be allowed to fall into whoever this is. At the moment, it remains sealed, but there are ways to break it. Surely he'll eventually find one of them. And if he can convince Kasumi to join him…oh dear, I don't even want to think of the consequences. And if he unlocks her powers, surely she'll feel indebted to him and agree. This is urgent. Botan!"

The blue haired angel of death fell through the door when George opened it. She'd been eavesdropping. She'd been worried about Kurama's behavior. Now she knew why…

"I'll get right on it, Koenma sir!" After rising from the disorganized heap of pink kimono she was in, she promptly disappeared, even before Youko could give her the coordinates. Not wanting to make Kurama run after her, Youko gave them to Hiei, who reached out and gave them to her even from half way down the hallway.


Kassandra sniffed the water in the glass given her. She didn't trust the demon who kidnapped her. Of course, she hadn't seen him since he had led her in here, pushed her onto a cot, and then left, locking the door behind him.

After that, she'd seen a red hand that pushed her food under here, along with a mug of what appeared to be beer. After knocking politely on the door, she asked for something else. He'd shrugged and assumed it to be a human girl thing. Maybe human girls didn't drink beer three times a day, every day. So he left and came back with rum.

After explaining she didn't drink alcohol, he came back with champagne. Groaning, she tried to explain again, and thought she got through to him that time. Then he came back with what looked like cranberry juice. Then after the tiny sip she took she realized it was wine. This time, she just asked for water. He couldn't go wrong with that could he?

Well, the drink he returned with had no odor, but it didn't look like water. It had an opaque sheen to it that made her think of anti freeze. After showing it to Kasumi, the cat shrugged.

That's what water in the Makai looks like. Don't worry; it still tastes the same…for the most part.

For the most part…

Then she detected, a small scent. Only slightly there, and she'd missed it the first three times she'd gone over the drink.

Kasumi, what's that?

Um…Oh…it's one of those little switchatives.

Switchative?

Yeah. If you have another form, it makes you assume that.

How much is in there?

Not much. In fact, if we could find something to store half of it in, we could have two doses.

The little bit in this water is enough for two whole doses?

Yup…Very strong stuff. Almost three actually…

So what do we do?

We drink it.

What?

Well, we drink half of it.

Explain!

Okay, so obviously, they want me out, right. So if I come out, we can see what they want. One thing about the drink is, unlike when one of us takes over, it can't be reversed without the same chemical. Obviously, he's going to try to use that to his advantage…in whatever he wants us to do, which we have still yet to determine. Understand now?

I think…

Good…now we just need something to put the second dose in. We can't leave it in the glass because then he'll know we didn't drink all of it.

Thinking carefully, Kassandra stuck her hand out of the food flap. That's where the soup she'd gotten had come from anyway. Sure enough, just within arms reach were three containers, one of which was quite small and could easily be hid. Right next to it was a small vial that was now empty. That was probably what was holding the chemical before he put it in my drink.

She grabbed both the glass and the vial.

Pulling back in she filled the vial, as it was the smallest, and hid it in her pocket. She had about…oh…13 of them? Yeah she was wearing one of those pants that had a bazillion pockets on them, that of course she'd found in the guys aisle at Wal-Mart.

Then she poured about half of the remaining liquid into the other cup, and then set the remainder aside. She hid the second cup under the cot she'd been sitting on before the whole drink thing. Kasumi smiled.

Good girl. We'll trick him into thinking we drank all of it, so when he thinks we have no doses left, we have two.

Actually, I was planning on not drinking it at all. When he comes in he'll make us drink the whole cup.

True…But we could-

But-

They had just started arguing when the door opened. Not the food flap, the entire door. Kassandra quickly plunked herself down onto the cot. Her plan would have to do…


"Ah Kassandra, sorry for me being so rude as to not have visited before. I had some important issues to attend to."

"I'm sure." She answered coldly.

"Come now, don' be so cold, we're all friends here…"

"Uh-huh…so that's why you kidnapped me?"

A shadow crossed his face for a moment, and then he decided to change the subject.

"I am Yukio, Lord of this Castle. And I'm going to conquer the world."

"You know…a lot of people have said that, and look what happened to them…"

"Ah, but I have something they don't. You."

"Excuse me?"

"I have the Storm Shaper. You can create anything with your power, and I need everything I can get."

"And what makes you so sure I'll help you?" Kassandra asks, even though she figured she already knew.

"Because." He glanced over at the water and was pleased to find it half empty. "In a few moments, Kasumi is going to be out here, and I have a little surprise for the both of you?"

"What the heck do you-"

Kassy! Let me out!

Good idea…

Kassandra put on a face as though the transformation was happening without her consent. When the electric mist faded, Kasumi went into action.

"That was clever. The traces of the switchative were so slight, she couldn't even taste them…"

He smiled. This was more like what he was used to. "Yes, I know, wasn't it? Don't know why I thought of it..."

"I know why..." She said standing up, then accidentally on purpose tripping, right into Yukio.

Kassandra grimaced. You are bad...

I know, isn't it wonderful?

"Oh...sorry..." Kasumi said, while somehow managing to make it sound like it really was an accident.

Yukio however smirked. "It's alright." Sneakily he slid his arms around her waist. "I don't mind..."

However, Kasumi ducked out after a few seconds. She wasn't called a tease for nothing...

"Anyway, down to business. You obviously have a business proposition." She asked as she settled on to the cot.

"You might say that."

"Well? Are you going to leave me in the dark, or are you going to try to...sell me?"

He smiled. "Here's the deal. I can break you free from Kassandra, then she can go back to live with the humans, and you can stay here."

Kasumi looked interested, though really, she as wondering why she'd want to do that. It was kind of fun sharing a body with Kassandra... "Go on..." she prompted.

"With your powers at my side, nothing could stop me from conquering the Makai, then the Reikai, and eventually the human world."

"Why do you need me?"

"Because of your unique powers. You can supply me with everything, and anything I need."

"But whats to keep me from leaving after you tear me from my host?"

"Well, I can unbind your powers-"

"Do what? Why would I need you to unbind my powers?"

"Because Koenma has sealed them."

Kasumi stood up. "What!"

"Oh, you didn't know? Yes. Part of the seal that kept you suppressed inside that human for those 16 years."

Kassy…did you know about this?

Um…would you kill me if I said yes?

No...I wouldn't kill you…

Then yes…

And you didn't tell me this…why?

Because I knew you'd be mad…

Mad is an understatement…I'm positively ticked! I think my fur is standing on end!

And so it was…a little anyway…

Geez…Sorry… Kurama and I decided it would be best if we didn't tell you right away…

Of course…I should have known this was Kurama's idea.

And what's wrong with that?

He has that idiot of a fox in his head!

Oh…so I take it your still mad at Youko…

Yes, I am still mad at the fox…

"I'll have to think about it…could you leave me alone for a bit?"

Yukio smiled. "Of course…" He left the room with a smirk on his face. Opening negotiations had went well…