Roses and Regrets

Roses and Regrets

Chapter 36

As soon as the handcuffs were off, Beth found herself crushed in Kurama's arms. "I will find out what happened. You will be cleared." She held him tightly. Still holding onto Beth, Kurama shook Itzuki's hand. "Thank you, Itzuki san." "Don't thank me yet. We still have a lot of work to do. I already have my people getting whatever evidence the American authorities think they have. The first thing I need to do is prepare a brief to block the extradition. That won't be easy. She is still an American citizen."

Itzuki gathered his materials and his briefcase. "Take her home for tonight. Get some rest. I want you in my office first thing in the morning. We will need to go over what we know and what we don't. Genkai san, there is paperwork for you to sign. If you will meet me in the clerk's office, we can get it out of the way." He walked out of the courtroom.

"Genkai. I don't know how I can thank you for what you've done." Beth said. Genkai smirked. "Had to do something. Otherwise the dimwits would have gotten together and done something stupid." She walked off muttering. "There are times when they all excel at that." "Genkai." Kurama called. She turned back to him. "Yes?" "The magistrate knew you." "Former student," was all she said. He told her where his car was parked. She nodded.

Kurama led Beth out of the courtroom. "I'll take you to the shop so you can pack your things in the morning. Your family will want to know what's happening. You can call when we get to the temple." She was still clinging to him. "I'm glad you're here. I don't know what I would do if I had to face this alone." "You have too many people who care about you to ever be alone."

The long steps up to the temple were a welcome sight. Once at the top Beth was wrapped in a huge bear hug. "We were worried." Kuwabara told her. "Everybody's here. Even Koenma. We'll find answers, don't worry." He led the way into the temple. Keiko jumped up and hugged her cousin. "I brought some things for you. Genkai said you'd be staying here."

Yusuke was next in line for a hug. "It'll be ok, Lizard. We won't let anything happen to you." She sniffled at the old nickname. "Hell, if we have to, we can take you to the Makai to live." Genkai snorted from the door. "I told you. Dimwits and stupidity. Group stupidity is a dangerous thing." "Watch it, Grandma."

Koenma was seated at the table with a mug of tea. Kurama sat down across from him. "So what went wrong?" Koenma raked a hand through already tousled brown hair. "We're not sure." "What happened after your witness gave his deposition?" "It was never made."

"I thought that was why you assigned one of your boys to him." Yusuke had not heard the story. Koenma had refused to relay the information twice. He insisted on waiting until everyone was gathered together. "They were ambushed as soon as the portal opened into the Ningenkai."

"What do you mean ambushed? Did he get away?" Kurama asked, his voice low and angry. "You could say that. They're both dead." Koenma informed him. "My officer fell before he cleared the portal. That's how we found out so quickly. The portal wouldn't close. He collapsed in the portal, half in the Reikai, half in the Ningenkai."

"Do we know who attacked them?" Kurama asked the prince. "We have a short list of suspects based on the way they were killed." Kurama arched a brow in question. "Their throats were torn out." "That means wolf demon or panther demon. Those are the only assassins who kill that way. There are relatively few of those powerful enough to take out a member of the SDF." Kurama said. "Botan is checking the whereabouts of all those on the list at the time the deaths occurred. She should have an even shorter list for you by morning."

Koenma walked over to Beth. "I have made your case an official mission for the team." He gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze as a portal opened for him. "They have never failed a mission." He stepped through the portal and it closed behind him.

Beth was beginning to succumb to the tensions of the day. Her legs felt like jelly and she must have slumped a little, because Kurama came to his feet quickly and Yusuke's arm went around her waist. "Whoa. Let's get you off your feet before you collapse." He helped her to the table. Kurama pulled out the chair next to his. "Have you eaten anything today?" She shook her head. "I couldn't. My stomach has been in knots all day."

Yukina brought her a cup of tea. "I will make you a sandwich." Kurama nodded. "Thank you, Yukina." He turned to Beth as he sat down again. "You will eat it. Understood?" Beth gave a small smile. "You know you can be incredibly dictatorial at times." He brushed a stray tendril of hair from her face. "You will go to bed after you eat. I will allow a shower if you want it, but nothing else. I want you to get some rest. Tomorrow could be a long day."

Beth snapped off a mocking salute. "Aye, aye, Cap'n." He allowed himself to smile. Her sense of humor was returning.

To be continued….