Disclaimer: I don't own YYH or the characters. Just my OCs.

I know, I know. It's been freaking forever since I worked on this one, but take heart. Some of my other stories haven't been updated since last year, so yeah…anyway. Sorry for the delay. I hadn't forced myself to sit down and watch YYH in a while, at least not Season 3. But I have a cold right now, so I figured I'd get to work. I'm planning on wrapping up the Season 3 stuff soon so that I can push to the end of the series. I have a post series sequel planned, something I've been hinting to randomly the whole story. So I want to finish this story so that I can work on the original material. It'll be easier.

Also, in addition to trying to work weekly updates for a few of my stories, I'm hoping to also keep you more notified. On my fanfiction profile, I do a monthly update deal and occasionally change the stories in my "Currently Working On" section. I decided that I wasn't doing much with my DeviantArt account except the occasional practice drawing. So now, I'm going to be using it to give you more real time updates. Feel free, if you have or decide to make an account, to search and watch Firestorm1991 (makes it easier to remember, right?). That way, you can know what I'm up to and updating.

Anyway, onward!

Kaili paced around the outside of the apartment, her mind in disbelief. They finally knew the ring leader of this whole enterprise. According to the Spirit World prince, Shinobu Sensui was once a spirit detective just like Yusuke. He had always done his job well, protecting the human race from demons who wished to destroy and feed on the unsuspecting innocents. He had disappeared over a decade ago, and had now reappeared causing this whole ordeal. Koenma warned them all not to engage the man. He was lethal, incredibly so. Considering that one of his teenaged lackeys had nearly killed Kaili and Chris, the human had no qualms about sitting this one out.

The problem she was faced with was how deep they were all linked in the confrontation. Koenma would be coming to speak about the specifics. Kaili didn't know if she wanted to hear the specifics. This was just too much for her. Something had to give.

"You should be inside."

The teenager halted in her tracks and turned to see her mate watching her with stern yet curious eyes. How long had he been standing there? Kaili blushed slightly, embarrassed over being this anxious. "Sorry…just…I couldn't sit still and I didn't want an audience."

Kurama eloquently descended the steps that led to the sidewalk and took Kaili's hand. "I understand. The offer to take you and Chris home still stands."

"I know," she murmured, "but…I don't know, I feel like we just can't leave yet, especially with how worked up Mitari had been. I know Chris and Botan are with him."

"Botan has been offering the boy comfort while Chris is trying to get him to talk to him about what he's experienced," Kurama stated. "As admirable as that is, the two of you are still unequipped to deal with it. Botan is a deity of death and has seen much. You two have not really been exposed to it until recently. It would be better if I took you both home."

"Maybe…" Kaili pulled her hand and turned away. "But still I…I can't sit there and wait for you to come back and pretend around your mother that everything is normal. I know you're strong and I trust you, but I'd rather be here where we know what's going on out there. I want to hear what that guy has to say." Kurama's expression darkened. He clearly didn't want her there, but he nodded his surrender. He wasn't going to make it worse for his mate. "Thank you, Shuichi."

Koenma had arrived soon after while the other girls were changing Mitari's bandages. Keiko decided she would leave to go pick up more when they ran out, and that was the time Chris entered the room. Botan noticed the air get heavy as Chris and Mitari met eyes. "We should leave these boys for just a moment, Shizuru," the ferry girl suggested, pulling back. It didn't stop her from flashing a worried glance towards Kaili's brother. "If you need anything, we'll be right out here."

"We'll be fine," Chris clipped, Mitari's eyes shifting to the sheets covering him. When the door closed, Chris took a seat beside his friend. "Hey."

"Hey, Chris," Mitari forced out, not glancing to his former roommate. "Are you-?"

"Hurt? No," Chris interjected. "Okay…no. Mitari, why didn't you tell me what was going on? What they were forcing you to see?"

Mitari's head whipped around, his eyes narrowed as he shouted, "I wasn't forced!" He tried to calm himself down. "I…I chose to watch it. Mr. Sensui said-"

"I don't give a shit as to what 'Mr. Sensui' said," he sneered. "That man is a lunatic, Mitari. He sent Hagiri to off me because I didn't want to join up with you guys for what I thought was some new form of anger management. When you weren't getting any better, I told you. I told you to come stay with me at my house and go to therapy with me. Why didn't you get out when you sensed something off?"

"Because I didn't sense something off," Mitari explained calmly, looking away. "Everything he said made perfect sense to me." His eyes went to his friend. "You know what it's like. Everyone has been awful to you since you got kicked off the football team. They've either feared you or tried to rile you up. They've bullied me, too, at my school."

"Yeah, I know," Chris huffed, "but the reasons for me are different. I talked with Kaili's…you know, I don't know what exactly to describe him as yet…" Mitari's eyes grew bored. "Anyway, I told him everything, about my abilities, how Sensui helped us learn to control our territories and how afterwards I never felt right about the guy. I know anger management didn't help you, but when I changed therapists, you should have come."

"Don't tell me what I should have done," Mitari sighed. "You don't know…"

"I heard the tape," Chris admitted. Mitari looked stunned. "Sensui didn't exactly keep it low despite my studying. I thought…I thought it was a terrible action movie. I wondered why you didn't leave because you hated that stuff. Mitari, that's not all humans are capable of. I've seen it. Look, my dad was a monster. I was, but now we're back on track. Life has turned around. I'm even planning to do more to help people, especially now after you brought all this up. You can do so much more, too. Those people at your school, Sensui, Hagiri…don't let them turn you into the monsters they are. You have to be stronger than that!"

"Shut up!" Mitari shouted, prompting Botan and Shizuru to enter the room again. "You don't know anything. I am a monster! I mean, just look at what I did…" His voice got quiet and soft and was full of guilt. "I toyed with them, Chris. Kuwabara and his friends…I actually played with their lives. I taunted them, belittled them. I was the bully. It felt…it felt good in the moment, but to see that this is who I am… Sensui is right. No matter what intentions we have, even good intentions, we're all just monsters."

"So because we're 'monsters,' you want monsters to come and destroy us," Chris stated. "Do you hear how messed up that sounds? Look, Mitari…I actually hurt my sister. Stalked her, made her feel like crap. There was a restraining order before I got help. It was hard, Mitari, so hard, but I kept with it because I made the decision that that guy was not the guy I wanted to be. Do you want to be a bully?" Mitari shook his head. "Do you want to go out and do all those horrible things you saw on the tape?" Mitari's eyes clamped shut, and he shook his head vigorously denying the desire while also trying to rid his mind of the images. "Then you aren't the monster. They are. Seriously, Mitari…get out now. Help the guys stop them…before it's too late. Don't just go with the crowd and what they want or say this time. It's not you."

Mitari looked so torn between what he believed and what he wanted to do. Chris could feel his inner struggle and saw the confliction pass over his eyes. "I…I don't know what to do," Mitari whispered. "I…I can't…Chris, I just can't even think right now. I don't know what to think."

Chris sighed, but he offered his former roommate a smile. "Hey, man, it's okay," he assured him. "I'll leave you alone for a bit. Just…think about what I said, not what they said, alright?" The blonde didn't answer, but the soft grin never left Chris's face as he exited. "Ladies," he greeted before going to find the others.

Mitari watched him go, his mind still in a haze of indecision. He was so tired…and he didn't know which choice to make. The right one felt like it would be the hardest one, and he was scared to take the leap. He laid back down, practically throwing his head against the pillow of Yusuke's bed, not even noticing the concerned glances the two women in the room exchanged.

"Let's hear the down and dirty on this guy," Kuwabara stated after Keiko had left the apartment.

Koenma sat with his arms crossed, his countenance troubled. Even Kaili could sense the ruler's distress. Her mate spoke up, and his words resonated with all of them. "I trust you must have taken great care to commission him as spirit detective. How did he turn from humanity's protector to its greatest threat?"

"Exactly," Kuwabara piped in again. "In other words, how did you mess up so badly that the whole world is in danger?"

Kaili bit the inside of her cheek to scold Kuwabara, but Genkai beat her to it. "Shut up and let him talk," she said to the teenager.

Koenma cleared his throat and got ready to explain. Everyone listened intently to the story he had to tell about a boy, a prodigy, who could destroy the demons who would try to attack him. He had had a very strong sense of right and wrong. He had a mentality where there was only black and white, no gray. Demons were evil and humans were good. Apparently, he had gone on a case where humans had made demons their playthings, the predecessor to the Black Black Club. Kaili flinched when she heard that organization brought into this. She had already known they were vile because of the Dark Tournament, knew her father had been evil, but just how terrible did someone have to be to torture demons?

Because of what he saw, Sensui's mind snapped. No longer were humans to be protected and demons to be killed. Instead, humans were the evil ones and demons were not. It was all because this group of rich, evil humans decided to capture demons through a smaller tunnel, sell them, and toy with them because they could. Kaili shook her head to rid herself of the thoughts. Those men had been no different, watching her friends suffer in a tournament where killing was part of the sport. Those monsters…

"Sensui lived his live on the straight and narrow," Koenma uttered calmly, as if he were giving a report and trying to push his emotions aside. "What he saw that night went against everything he knew the world to be."

Kuwabara grew pensive. "A lot like we felt when we went to Tarukane's place and saw what they were doing to Yukina…" Yusuke agreed.

"But there was an important difference between your reaction and his…" Koenma stated. "There, in that moment, Sensui fell into a rage and murdered every human there." All of the teenagers were stunned, and even Kurama's eyes held a tinge of solemnity. "Something in him fractured that night. He became obsessed with the Chapter Black tape...and then they both vanished without a trace."

Koenma stayed as rational as ever, but then he started to offer up his thoughts on what had happened. "Maybe Sensui was too dedicated to his cause, too hard a worker. He gave himself entirely to the purging of evil. Then he came to question the sanctity of the human race itself. And now he wants the life of every human…" The prince stood up. "…as atonement for their collective sins."

Kaili felt a chill run through her and hugged herself. She noticed her brother standing close by and noticed the sheer terror in his eyes. She worried about Chris. He had met the man, trained with him. To hear how he reacted to something with murder was probably earthshattering. Her brother really had no idea what he had almost gotten himself into…

At least Yusuke had managed to add light to the discussion, claiming proudly that he didn't take things too seriously and half-assed everything. That way he wouldn't become a fanatic like his predecessor. He shouldn't have made that claim for Koenma agreed one-hundred percent, and even Kurama saw the brilliant logic in the selection making the current spirit detective the butt of the joke. Yusuke was not pleased.

Koenma brought it back down saying that he had hoped that Sensui had just decided to become a hermit and hoped that he'd be content living in hiding, but he never expected this. He berated himself for not keeping a closer eye on the man's case. Now, he would never give up his endeavor. Apparently, that wasn't the style of the previous detective. They all needed to watch out for him.

That became the literal consensus when both Yusuke and Kurama picked up on the energy. "We're not alone," Yusuke said, everyone taking note of both Sensui and a teenager with dark hair.

Chris looked even more nervous. "Hagiri…" Kaili's eyes shifted to her brother. That was his other roommate…the one who tried to end his life.

The former spirit detective stood proud and tall, a smirk on his lips. Both Yusuke and Kurama ran to the window, getting ready to deal with the men if they chose to attack.

It was subtle, but Kaili noticed the two exchange nods, and Hagiri held out his hand getting ready to shoot at someone. With the current detective and a demon standing in their way, she knew they couldn't be going after Chris. Her mind flashed, her face full of horror. Were they really going to…?

Kuwabara gasped out, sensing the same thing. "They're after Mitari." He was on his feet and ran to the room, Kaili and Chris following close behind despite the two hearing Kurama call the girl's name.

The human psychic barged into the room, shocking Botan who was reading. "What's up?" she greeted questioningly, but Kuwabara didn't answer. He just looked over to Mitari and saw his sister sitting beside the blonde. He needed to stop this.

He yelled out, screaming "get down" as he pushed Mitari from the bed. Five dice consecutively flew in, shattering the window and getting stuck in the wall. Kaili looked at the dice, her form shaken. How could anyone take a toy and make it a dangerous weapon? Well, she had seen that happen at the Dark Tournament plenty of times. This didn't make her feel any better. It was something like that that had nearly killed her.

Even Botan was horrified by the sight, the woman cringing from where she was sitting. No one could believe that they had been attacked like that. "You mind telling me what that was, Kazuma?" Shizuru questioned, her voice sounding only slightly frantic.

"The bad guys found us!" Kuwabara explained. "They're here!" He warned everyone to get down and remain unseen while stating he had no idea how he got there.

Mitari got up off the floor and felt something in his pocket, his brows furrowing in confusion. "What is this?" he asked, rummaging through the pocket. He pulled out this small transmitter, and was shocked.

"They were tracking you," Chris figured out.

"They bugged you," Botan stated before yelling out, "How could you do that to your teammate?" Once again, objects flew through the window.

In the other room, Kurama, Yusuke, Genkai, and Koenma were observing Sensui, the man speaking from across the way. "What I wouldn't give to know what he was saying," Yusuke grumbled.

Kurama continued to watch, but he told Yusuke, "They let Seaman go so they could follow him to us." Of course, he also stated that he counted on the betrayal. As he had already acknowledged, the boy was just that, and was far from evil. He could still be brought back onto the side of good, but they needed to get out of this conundrum first.

"You can actually hear him from all the way up there?"

"Not exactly," the fox told the detective.

Genkai stated, "We are lip reading. You should try it sometime."

Sensui said something else, Kurama not sure he understood correctly. "He said the one they need is among us…"

"What?" Yusuke questioned. Even he was confused. What could Sensui possibly mean?

"Maggots," Kuwabara spat. "Ready to kill their own teammate because he lost his convenience." Full of righteous fury, Kuwabara ran from the room yelling that he would teach both Sensui and Sniper a lesson.

"Hey, stay put!" Shizuru ordered, but her brother didn't listen.

Mitari cried out, "No, that's what they want you to do!" He flinched in pain, so he couldn't chase after Kuwabara, but his warning hit hard. Kaili immediately ran out of the room after her friend at the same time Yusuke was already chasing the redhead down. The girl paused in the hall, Kurama coming to her. He gently grabbed her arm and noticed her terror.

She looked to her mate. "Shuichi, you have to stop them. Something's not right."

Kurama nodded, agreeing. He had heard the blonde's outburst. "Stay here," he ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "It is going to be fine. We will go."

Kaili nodded, her boyfriend disappearing from sight. She went to the window and noticed that Yusuke and Kuwabara were already facing their two enemies. "Be careful guys," she whispered. At least Kurama, Genkai, and Koenma had flashed into view. Hopefully with all of them together, everything would be fine. She had to believe they could beat this guy. Imagine her dismay when she had learned that they wanted to use Kuwabara. Of course, they couldn't even go to warn them after Mitari had explained what Sensui needed. They had Sniper to deal with.

The whole day had been a mess. Shizuru had run off to warn her brother, not wanting him to be captured. She had been injured, and so had Botan after she defended Mitari from a falling bookcase, Chris being the one to have rescued her, though he could not wake her up. Thankfully, Genkai had later returned and healed the ferry girl. Yusuke's apartment had been destroyed, panicking everyone, especially Kuwabara and Kurama whose sister and mate were still in there. Kuwabara had been the one to try to check up on them, getting himself kidnapped in the process. The chase began as Yusuke and Kurama tried to go after the enemy. Everything was a mess. It was like they were falling to pieces.

Mitari had had his breakdown, aghast that Botan would risk her life for his and frustrated that people kept saving his life. He kept yelling out that it wasn't as Sensui had said. It was Chris to tell the teenager that he was right because Sensui was a lunatic. Kurama had much wiser words to offer the boy. Though Mitari had at first argued against his statement that many act without thinking when another person's life was at stake, he listened when the demon had told him that if his eyes remained open, he'd see the best of mankind all around. The kid struggled with what he had experienced and what he had seen on the videotape. Kaili had sensed a shift in the blonde and relaxed. Even if he was still debating with himself, she didn't think he'd be a threat again. That would, at the very least, make Chris happy. Her mate certainly had a way with words. Mitari had even offered to help, asking what he could do. Even then, Kurama remained the voice of reason, told him to search his soul for the answer, that he was free to join them or be their enemy. Even the way the fox had threatened the teenager was polite. Mitari needed to choose what he believed and take a stand. Eventually, he chose to join them, offered to aid. Chris had been relieved, especially because Mitari had more information to give.

Kurama welcomed Mitari into the group with an extended hand of friendship informing the teenager that it was never too late to reform one's ways. It was time to plan how to get Kuwabara back and away from the enemy.

It was later in the evening when the group ran into Yusuke, and surprisingly the unwitting member of their team returned. Botan had been quite taken aback that Hiei had returned, the fire demon not saying much. Kaili was the one to notice the slight, upward twitch of the ferry girl's lips. Having more members to their group definitely increased their chances of defeating these guys. The tunnel to Demon World was progressing much faster. Large, weaker demons were already starting to enter the human realm. They needed to put an end to this before it got any worse. The tunnel would be open in just two days.

Mitari had led them all to Demon's Door Cave, the place where Sensui's group was hiding out. Kaili had heard of the cave, all the legends and the stories of people getting lost and worse that she dared not to think about. The plan was for a small group to enter the cave, and naturally that included Yusuke, Kurama, and Hiei with Mitari leading them. All the other humans, Kaili and Chris included, would remain with Genkai as the second line of defense provided it should come to that. Still, even if it was a small chance, Kaili hoped and prayed that her mate and their friends could handle it. She didn't think she could take on a whole bunch of demons without her mate by her side.

They had entered, and all that was left to do was wait, and since Kaili was terrible at waiting, she paced around instead, the other guys and her brother getting agitated watching her. It had to have been over an hour. Too bad no one had brought a watch. "No offense, but could you sit still for a moment?"

Kaili's eyes narrowed into slits as she regarded hers and Kurama's classmate. "Shut up. You have no idea what I'm feeling right now, so don't even pretend that you do."

"The world is at the risk of ending," the teen shot back calmly. "We all are feeling the same."

The girl snorted and shook her head. "Yeah, sure," she wryly commented. "We're all freaking out, I get it, but it's my mate and friends who are down at ground zero. You didn't see what they had to deal with during the Dark Tournament, so you have absolutely no idea how bad this really is. It sounds bad to you, and the bugs make it look bad, but that's nothing in comparison to what I've already seen, so if it's all the same to you, keep your comments to yourself. They aren't helpful."

Kaito and Yana gaped at the girl, but Genkai merely shook her head. "You done?" the old woman asked the frantic girl. Kaili had to admit that even though she was gasping she did feel strangely better.

"Yeah," she answered honestly, regaining her composure. "I'm done."

Genkai smirked slightly. "Hm," she grunted. "Sounds like you've been holding on to quite a bit. I take it you and Kurama haven't talked much about the tournament."

"We have, just not often," Kaili offered. After all, Genkai had expressed worry about hers and Kurama's relationship given her past lover. "Lately, we've both been worried about the other and the tunnel, and we just haven't had much time to discuss anything or even just be together."

"That sometimes happens, especially when the next fight comes along," Genkai warned. "Of course, it wasn't the plan for any of us to have another giant problem arise so soon after the Dark Tournament. When we get out of this, hopefully the two of you will be able to hash all this out and make the most of your relationship."

"You mean if we-" Kaito cut his statement off there when both Kaili and Genkai shot him a dirty look.

Chris chuckled before approaching his sister. "If you need to expend energy, why don't we go for a short walk?" he asked kindly, smiling. "Like when we were kids."

Botan called out, "That isn't wise. We're literally right on top of the enemy."

"We won't go far," Chris stated, glancing at the ferry girl. "Besides, the enemy will be focused on the guys for now. My sister is going stir crazy. We need to talk it out."

Kaili looked to Genkai who nodded. "Just don't go far and yell if you run into anything unpleasant," her mentor ordered.

"Will do," Kaili agreed.

The two walked off for a bit, both sighing and feeling slight relief. Maybe, it was because they were trying to save face around the others. Kaili had definitely been bottling her emotions lately, not purposefully, but she had. Chris, too, had to have been feeling the weight as well. He was the only one who could sort of understand. It was clear to her that Mitari was Chris's friend, probably the only friend he had since they moved there. "They're going to be okay," she assured her brother. "I'm just antsy."

"That makes two of us," Chris replied before sighing in exasperation. "Even though Mitari got involved with this, he's not a bad guy. He's one of the few people from anger management I could relate to, and honestly that was funny because he was being bullied and I was a bully. But we both unloaded our problems at first meeting, because honestly I felt awful, Kai, for what I put you through. Mitari had been truthful, pointing out that I had been a bully towards you, and that actually helped me. I hated admitting it, but he was right, and accepting that I think made it easier for me with the program. Maybe I should have been more honest with him too, but I couldn't. His problem was that he was…don't repeat this…but spineless. He let others control him and get to him and wouldn't come out with his own opinions or feelings. He just let others walk all over him, and I'm sure you could already see where that led him."

"Yeah," Kaili agreed weakly. "But I think it's better that you weren't honest. Sometimes you just need to be there. I can tell he trusts you."

"He's like a brother," Chris said fondly. "Even though he had a huge cloud hanging over him, even though he let others' words get to him, he was always really nice to me and a good roommate. When Hagiri was out riding, we'd stay up late watching stupid shit on T.V. He was the friend I needed at the time. I just wish I could have been for him."

"You're here now, aren't you?" Kaili pointed out. "A true friend sticks around even when it's hard and even when you're at your worst point. I'm sure I'm not the only reason you're here. I know you came to protect me, but you didn't even try to keep me from going, and I'm still injured. You wanted to be here like I did, because our friends need us here as moral support, even if we're not with them in that cave. I think your friend is going to be okay when all of this is over. And you will, too, Chris. We just may all need a decent dose of therapy when this is all over."

Chris's laugh burst from his lips, her brother chortling. "Yeah, okay then. Think Spirit World would offer those services? I don't think any human therapist is going to believe any of this."

Kaili just smiled. "Yeah, I'm sure they'd have us all committed. That will be a good story for mom and dad." Chris's expression sobered, his dark eyes meeting hers. "What?"

"That's the first time you've called him 'dad' around me since he left," Chris stated before a smile broke out on his face. "You know, however dysfunctional we are, we're at least becoming a family again. I'm sure they'd both be happy to bail us out of a psyche clinic."

His sister's confusion was replaced with a soft gaze. "Yeah, maybe," she murmured before she clipped, "but let's not test that theory. We can always pitch the idea of a shrink to the prince guy. I mean, even his spirit detectives are in need of therapy."

"You can say that again…" The edginess Kaili had been feeling had finally calmed down enough to where she didn't feel the need to pace. She was actually thankful her brother had suggested the walk. She had gotten some insight into his life and what he went through to get back to the way he used to be. She got to learn about his friendship, glad he finally decided to get to know people there instead of always looking back to their original home. They had joked around, talked about being a family. It really did remind her of when they were kids. "I think I'm ready to go back now." Her brother nodded, and the two headed back to the group.

Only Botan was standing there looking a little perturbed. What had happened?

"Hey," Kaili snapped at Botan. The ferry girl looked to the human nervously. "Where did everyone go?"

She explained, "The others came back. There was a trap that was set." Kaili felt her heart stop, but thankfully Botan's words assured her that no one was injured. "One of the psychics made some videogame come to life, some game where they needed seven people to enter, so they had to come back."

"Seven people?" Chris repeated. "What game requires so many?"

Kaili thought for a moment, realization creeping in. There was only one game, an arcade and videogame, that she knew of that required seven people. Goblin City. She smiled, relieved. It was a no brainer. The game in question was one that Shuichi liked to play from time to time, and he was good at it, too. He'd get them through it with no problem.

Gamemaster had been defeated, and the territory was no more, yet there had been no sense of victory or relief. Instead, Kurama was warring with his own mind. In his past, killing was an everyday occurrence. Death surrounded him. He never would have hesitated to kill anyone, especially not based on age or gender. If they were an enemy or standing in his way, he would end them without regret.

But he certainly regretted the child's defeat. No, he would not think of it as his victory, even if he had been the one to beat the child at his own game. He had done the best thing to further their team to prevent the world's end. He had done the right thing. However, in this trial Sensui had set for them, right and wrong blurred always. It was the right thing for the fate of the world, but wrong for both the boy and himself. He couldn't believe that the only way to win had been to frighten the child by informing him that he would die if defeated. It was what he had to do, yet he could not feel good about it.

And that is what angered him. He had justified the kill, but he didn't agree with it. He never would have cared as Youko Kurama, and yet the humanity he had grown attached to had been conflicted. At first, when he figured it out, he had almost surrendered to the temptation to keep playing the game and prolong the child's death. There was no way out. Even when Amanuma stated he'd throw the game, the boy still had no clue that he'd die at the end. He was just buying time for the tunnel being built, and they could not afford to waste time, not when Kuwabara was at the mercy of the remaining psychics. Not when demons were already infiltrating Human World.

He should not have been feeling guilt over this, but he was and he was not pleased. The enemy would prey upon that guilt if they took notice, so he needed to harden himself. The rage he felt towards Sensui and their other remaining opponents had intensified, and nothing would assuage it. Nothing but the death of the remaining three psychics.

Yusuke had been the one to notice the toxic air around the fox, telling Kurama not to blame himself. The redhead had buried his guilt down inside, his gaze focused and sinister, and he informed the detective that he had no regrets. That was a lie. If he were in a better, less irate mood, his mind probably would have told him that Kaili would have scolded him for such a lie, but that wasn't even a thought on his mind. All he wanted now was death, to kill the right people who were demented enough to put them in the position they had been in.

They had finally reached Sensui's lair, Mitari leading them in, and as luck would have it Kuwabara was still there. He had not become prey to Gourmet. It meant that his new power hadn't re-emerged. They couldn't cut through the Kekkai Barrier. That was at least one point in their favor.

Words had been exchanged between the two detectives and the other members of the group. Sensui had given a warning. The tunnel would open in thirty minutes. Then, after Sensui had begged the question, "What if all humans were bad?" Yusuke said…

"I don't deal in what-ifs."

Gourmet came into play, then. Another challenge placed in front of them. If they could kill him, Kuwabara would be returned to them unharmed. If they tried to avoid the battle, Sensui would deflect any other attack using their friend as a human shield. Kurama bit back a growl. He was through being toyed with.

"Don't trust his word," he stated to Yusuke. "We'll make a push for Kuwabara the first chance we get. In the meantime, just play along." Yusuke smirked, relieved that Kurama seemed to be acting like his rational self. And he was. It was just his more ferocious, rational self. Like Youko. And it was when it was revealed that Gourmet had eaten the mind reader who had once assisted them that Kurama's wrath was prepared to come out in full form. He had already decided then that his opponent would exist in a world of unending torture before he insulted the fox repeatedly picking at his guilt and voiced his one darkest fear, that his human mate would never accept him again after what he had done to the child, Amanuma. "I'll take this one, Yusuke. Don't argue. I am not in the mood."

Kurama took out a rose and then hardened himself and his thoughts. This was not the time to think, only the time to act, and he knew he was best suited for this fight. Yusuke and Hiei were both to brash, too cocky, and too easily incensed. Even in his own anger, the fox had mastery over his thoughts and actions that took centuries of experience to form. He only reacted by instinct, not thought, and Gourmet could do nothing as his rose whip cut through his head.

But that was not the end of the battle. Kurama knew this. He walked up to the body, his words devoid of emotion. "Rely on impulse and not even thoughts can betray you," he spoke eloquently. "Now come out…Toguro." Yusuke looked on in shock. "Did you think I wouldn't notice? I could smell your stench since we entered the cave."

A sinister laugh could be heard as the form of the elder Toguro brother began to emerge from the human body. Yusuke and Mitari were horrified, Hiei a bit surprised. "Good Kurama," the sickening voice of Toguro murmured. "It seems your powers have improved even in your human form. Though the red hair isn't nearly as pretty as the silver."

Toguro explained how he managed to come to be, that Gourmet had been unsuspecting. He believed he would be the one in control, Toguro playing along. He explained how Sensui had discovered him. The elder of the Toguro Brothers had been the one to tell Sensui about the Spirit Detective which solidified the former detective's drive to eliminate the human realm, now that they had a defender. Then Toguro went on a tirade about how Gourmet had been so fearful when he realized what was happening, how pleasurable it had been.

"That's enough." Kurama's firm voice cut through Toguro's piercing voice. He began to circle the other demon, never letting his emerald eyes leave his visage. "You've survived far too long." Once across from him, Kurama stopped there and stared the creature down, speaking with finality. "And now it ends."

"Oh? The fox thinks he can finish me." Another sickening laugh. "But I'm better than before. Yes, recovering from what brother did to me has made me stronger. Now I can regenerate from anything. I'm invincible!"

The brother ran to attack Kurama, the fox releasing a smokescreen from his hands. Everything was going according to plan. It was meant to confuse Toguro. The mechanism of illusion was in place now. Kurama had planted seeds in Gourmet's head, the seeds of the Sinning Tree. Now and forever, Elder Toguro would be trapped in a battle, a hallucination, and the tree would drain his life from him since he could not die. Kurama came out from the smoke, his actions explained to the group. He looked back to Toguro and gave one final speech.

"The tree won't stop until its host is dead. As you said, Toguro, your regenerative powers make you unable to die. You will suffer for eternity here torn between your hate, your agony, and so be it.

"Rogues like you deserve to be damned."