Chapter 45
As it turned out, it took Hiei and Kurama five days to gather and compile the kind of information Koenma required to persuade the English Minister for Magic that the Dark Lord Voldemort had indeed returned. The prince was right about the oni in the Records Department. They did a great job of recording. Kurama had the feeling that they took advantage of the sophisticated surveillance system the Reikai used to keep a watchful eye on volatile situations or persons of interest where ever they may be in the Ningenkai. It was only a shame that the magical community did not employ the practice of keeping a track on bank transactions. The transactions could've provided a list of Ministry employees being bribed by the Death Eaters. Shiori and the others at the Black family home only saw the two yokai at breakfast and dinner. No one mentioned it other than the customary 'how was your day'.
On the flip side both the oni and the shinigami really warmed up to them. Once they were assured that neither Hiei nor Kurama would harm them they were quite happy to keep them a little company during the long hours spent in the Records Department. Botan, the shinigami that Kurama saw with Yusuke that fateful night and again in Koenma's office, became a little attached to her new coworkers. She quickly learned not to take Hiei's surly demeanor seriously. In fact she seemed determined to get the jaganshi to open up. It couldn't be healthy to suppress your own feelings was her reasoning. Hiei begged to differ. Kurama found himself hard-pressed to keep from laughing during these little impromptu therapy sessions.
So it was with little fanfare that the demonic duo came to the Gate of Judgment rather early on a Friday morning. As usual the oni hurried about carrying on with the matters of life and death where every second counted. But the atmosphere was charged with a sense of anticipation, not the usual anxiety of harried workers. A few even stopped and greeted them for a moment. Jorge calmly walked up with a platter laden with steaming food and a big friendly smile on his strong face.
"What's going on?" Kurama asked.
"Oh, everyone gets a little excited when important people come by." Hiei raised an eyebrow.
"A corrupt politician, important?"
"Well…he does oversee an entire hidden community." Kurama replied.
They accompanied the oni to Koenma's office. The prince himself appeared to be relaxed as he finished a with pile of papers on his oversized cherry desk. Jorge placed the platter down so the diminutive ruler could eat at his leisure.
"Ah, you're here early!" the prince chirped happily. "Good! I've scheduled the meeting for eleven o'clock but you can never tell when someone is going to show up. Chances are that both Fudge and Dumbledore will bring an entourage with them. You two will act a bit like my personal bodyguards. Feel free to intimidate them. Remember, no killing ningens. I'd hate to have to send two of my best back to jail."
"Why Koenma, who knew you could be so devious?" Kurama said, a wicked vulpine grin spreading across his face.
"So what are we supposed to for the next few hours?" Hiei asked.
"Why don't you two go 'persuade' the Reikai inmates to behave? They're getting a bit feisty as of late." A nasty grin made it's way onto the jaganshi's face.
"No problem."
It was fairly common knowledge that yokai had a soft spot for violence, Kurama and Hiei more so than others. Perhaps it was because of the rough start they both had in life. But both yokai made it a rule to never hurt the defenseless and the weak. That sort of thing just sit well with them. Heartless criminals on the other hand…the scummier the better. For the yoko it was like spring cleaning, everything was so much cleaner afterwards. He didn't know if Shiori had any idea of that side of him. It was probably for the best if she didn't.
Needless to say the two yokai let off some steam. The oni on guard duty couldn't really care. They were just happy at the prospect of having a little peace and quiet for a while. One could imagine the shock the inmates got when none other than yoko Kurama strode confidently into the prison complex in all his silvery glory along with the arguably just as infamous jaganshi Hiei. Those arrogant or foolish enough to challenge them quickly found themselves on the wrong end of their claws. The blood, the screams, the feeling of flesh parting underneath his claws, it had been so long that he found himself drunk off the feeling. None may have died but a small part of their bloated pride did. As the injured licked their wounds the spectators backed away from their cell doors fearing that they may be next. No one would be rowdy for some time much to the onis' delight.
Kurama walked back to the main hall of the Gate of Judgment in a daze, stumbling into a nearby bathroom to pull himself back together. Icy cold water ran red as the drying blood was washed from his hands. Gold eyes stared into the mirror. Crimson liquid was splattered all over his front and some even matted in his long hair. Vulpine ears quivered in an alert stance.
"Kurama…"
He turned around and saw Hiei standing there covered in blood as well. Those ruby eyes drew him in. That wildfire smell he associated with the jaganshi became thick and heady as it did that chaotic night. Without thinking he got in closer to examine the scent further. Hiei's body tensed as that nose hovered next to his scarf covered neck. Something in that scent tickled at the yoko's mind but he just couldn't grasp it. Unconsciously he licked away a splatter of blood off the other's cheek. Salt and copper bloomed across his tongue in a way that made his fur stand on end.
"We should clean up." the yoko commented in a deep tone.
"Why?" the jaganshi countered. "You look good like that."
"Kurama and Hiei, please report to Koenma-sama's office!" a disembodied voice announced. Kurama blinked and looked at the clock on the wall. It read ten till. Hiei brushed past him.
"We shouldn't keep Koenma waiting." he said. Kurama shrugged it off and followed.
The oni didn't even spare the two a second glance. It made the yoko wonder about what they see on a daily basis. Down the hall from the prince's office they could hear a great deal of arguing. Apparently the Headmaster and the Minister had brought along quite an entourage. As the double doors slid open no less than a dozen people where split into two groups that were too busy hurling insults at each other to notice much else. Jorge stood by, fidgeting with his leopard print loincloth that served as the uniform for all the oni who worked in the Reikai. Koenma sat behind his desk assuming his more mature form holding his head in his hands. He gave Kurama a pleading look. Who was he to deny?
"May I ask what the hell this is all about?" he boomed. That dark animalistic voice did miracles. Everyone stopped almost simultaneously and turned to him in surprise and perhaps a little fear. A frog-like woman with mousy brown hair in a hideous pink robe muttered something about dirty animals under her breath. In a flash Kurama was in front of her. With a single clawed hand he lifted her up by her collar. Slitted brown eyes bulged their sockets. Her large mouth was open in shock.
"At least dirty animals have loyalty…honor…respect…but I doubt scum like you could wrap you tiny brains around such concepts." He threw her over his shoulder like she was a piece of trash. She landed with an undignified 'oomph'. No one helped her up.
"Ah, Kurama!" Koenma exclaimed as if he just noticed the yokai. "I trust by your appearance that the inmates are behaving themselves little better?"
"Hai." he answered.
"Good. Perhaps you and Hiei can help keep things in order. You know how ugly these kinds of meetings can get."
"Couldn't you have cleaned up a little first?" the humiliated woman asked hotly. The yoko pinned her down with his eyes.
"I did." A few faces in the two groups paled.
The room was quiet as Koenma spelled things out for the magical dignitaries. A long history of mental instability plagued the Gaunts, Voldemort's magical relatives, due to constant inbreeding in their quest to keep the blood of Salazar Slytherin that flowed through their veins pure. Merope Gaunt became infatuated with a handsome Muggle named Tom Riddle who happened to live in the same village. Once her cruel father and brother were imprisoned for attacking Muggles and Ministry officials she ensnared the youth with a Love Potion. They eloped stirring up a whirlwind of controversy in Little Hangleton. Merope eventually stopped slipping Tom the Love Potion as she became pregnant hoping that at least he'd stay for the baby's sake. Tom didn't. Merope sold her possessions for food to stay alive. She died giving birth to a baby boy she named Tom Marvolo Riddle. An orphanage took the boy in, raising him for eleven long years. During that time peculiar instances occurred that displayed the young boy's magical potential. Then Dumbledore came into his life exposing the boy to the magical world. While at Hogwarts the darkness within his soul grew. He released the basilisk from the Chamber of Secrets, only locking it away when the school was in danger of closing and blamed the attacks on a young Rubeus Hagrid. After school he worked a while at a renowned Dark shop in Knockturn Alley. Then he disappeared for a time, coming back as the Dark Lord Voldemort with Death Eaters consisting mainly of old school acquaintances. The rest, as they say, was history.
During the little history lesson Kurama scanned the two groups before him. He could see several Order members known to him such as Mr. Weasley who sat closer to the middle of the room and closer to a stony faced Percy roped in with the Minister's group and Mad-Eye Moody who kept his magical blue eye on the yoko. Lucius Malfoy was also there, enveloped by coworkers and possible fellow Death Eaters. Kurama would've chased the lot of them off but the repeated excuses of 'I was under the Imperius Curse', as weak as it was, was enough to keep Koenma's hands tied. For the moment.
Then the prince showed them the recording of Voldemort's resurrection. Many of the wizards were simply awed by the technology. Years of persecution by Muggles before they went underground resulted in a distrust in what they deemed to be Muggle things. Those like Lucius Malfoy was it as some silly toy created by an inferior people. People like Arthur on the other hand saw it as genius. There were shrieks of fright as Voldemort rouse from the flames.
"I don't get it." Moody said. "How was he still able to be resurrected with all that hellfire incinerating everything?"
"It's not the blood itself that was vital to the ritual but the negative energies contained within caused by Cedric Diggory's fear." Kurama explained. "Darkness feeds off of fear, chaos, injustice, and selfishness. You can't prevent a bolt of lightning from striking a copper rod any more than you could keep something as insubstantial and as neutral as energy from assisting your foe."
"Before I forget, did you bring that diary with you Albus?" Koenma asked. Dumbledore pulled that damaged small black book from his midnight blue robes. The prince motioned for Kurama and Hiei to examine it.
At first the two yokai were a tad confused. They both saw it before when they slew the basilisk. But then Kurama's eyes, enhanced slightly in his yokai form but not as much as his yoko one, picked out broken limp strands of some bizarre energy trailing from it. It almost looked like the mechanism used to manipulate marionettes. Gold eyes widened in realization.
"An ascendance device?" he breathed in disbelief.
"A what?" the Minister demanded.
"It's an object that imparts the owners will upon another creating a sort of sleeper." Kurama elaborated automatically.
"What?" another asked in total confusion.
"Shimatta, it controls people!" Hiei snapped.
"Well, that does explain a few things…" Dumbledore said thoughtfully.
"You're saying that someone planned to manipulate someone against their own will deliberately?" Arthur demanded, face reddening at the thought that someone used his daughter on purpose. "Who'd do such a thing!"
"A Death Eater most likely. One with a grudge against you. One who had access to the school at the time." Kurama refrained from glancing at Lucius. Mr. Weasley had no such qualms.
"Why, you make it sound like someone in the Ministry is responsible!" the frog lady, Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge, interjected in a ridiculously high girlish voice that caused the yoko's sensitive ears to ring.
"According to our records," Kurama began, "he had placed several of his Death Eaters in the Ministry for various purposes. Some of those Death Eaters still work there."
"That's preposterous!" Umbridge shouted. Kurama silenced her with a steely look.
"We are currently looking into the matter." Koenma continued. "You can expect those suspected of aiding Voldemort and his followers to be brought in for questioning and imprisoned if found guilty. Any who dare to impede the investigation will be detained for anywhere up to six months."
"But-" Umbridge started.
"No buts!" Koenma interrupted. "This goes far beyond than you could possibly imagine! If he is left to continue this madness he could quite literally throw open the gates of Hell for demons who are not so friendly or mild-mannered as Hiei and Kurama here! Do you honestly think I care about some silly power struggle or ideal that has gone on for centuries? We have to act now! No dallying! No waiting and watching! Every minute wasted gives Voldemort more time to destroy all that we worked so hard for, all that we hold dear!"
Fudge cleared his throat and stood looking quite uncomfortable.
"Perhaps we all should take the rest of the day off." he suggested. "There's much for us to think about." With that he left, his entourage trailing behind. Percy and the members of the Order of the Phoenix stayed put.
"Think we got through to him?" Hiei asked.
"Well, we've certainly shaken his faith in his people." Kurama replied. "If nothing else he thinks one of them is making him look bad on purpose, hoping to take over his job."
"In any case you two are dismissed for today." Koenma added. "You've certainly proven yourselves to be more competent than the Minister and his people."
"I must apologize." Dumbledore spoke up. His long age worn face was heavy with distress. "I had no idea…"
"No one's perfect." Koenma told him. "Lets just do our best to bring down Voldemort."
"I'm impressed." Moody admitted. He clapped the yoko on the back, surprising the taller yokai. "You're not as evil or devious as I first suspected." There were a few murmurs of agreement. The Headmaster smiled in joy and with a flick of his wand cleaned the two yokai of the dried flaky blood.
"I believe Shiori and Molly would be delighted to have us over for lunch." he commented.
xXx
Omake
Ron, Fred, and George stood on the third floor of the Black family home staring at a particular door that looked like any other. But hidden behind that simple oaken slab was a secret, one that nagged at the trio for some time now…what was in Shuichi and Hiei's room.
The others had given them odd looks when they shared their curiosity. They said it would be just like any other bedroom. How can that be? They were demons. There must be something strange or otherworldly in there. Unfortunately neither Ron nor the twins were able to summon up the courage to open the door.
"What if there's something dangerous in there?" Ron asked nervously.
"No there isn't" Fred answered. "Shiori goes in there all the time. Do you think Shuichi would let anything dangerous anywhere near her?"
"I bet it's a bunch of fetish." George said. Ron gave him a confused look.
"Fetish?"
"You know, kinky stuff. Naughty stuff."
"Honestly," his twin huffed, "the way you talk it sounds like they're a couple of perverts going at it like animals. They're demons, not dirty old men."
"Nah!" George waved him off. "I've read about this kind of thing."
"Where?" Ron demanded slightly mortified at the concept of two males, one of them a close friend of his, doing such…adult things.
The three were silenced as Shiori maneuvered up the stairs with a basket of freshly cleaned clothes neatly folded in a laundry basket. She ignored them and opened the door. Inside the room was brightly lit thanks to the open window looking out over the small overgrown green patch across the street that was supposed to be a park. Various potted plants took up most of the surfaces on the overly polished furniture. Opening the sadly ordinary wardrobes Shiori put the clothes away where they belonged before heading back downstairs. Ron gave George an ill-humored look.
"Fetish?"
"Could be." George shrugged. Ron stormed off to find something that would rid him of the disturbing images his brother had instilled in his poor innocent head. He would definitely have nightmares tonight.
Translations:
Yokai- demon
Yoko- demon fox
Jaganshi- one who wields a jagan, a third eye bestowing enhanced mental powers.
Reikai- spirit world/land of the dead.
Oni- ogre
Shinigami- grim reaper/ messenger of death.
Ningen- human
Ningenkai- human world
Hai- yes
Shimatta- damn it
AN: Please review!
