Disclaimer: Yu Yu Hakusho and all the subjects connected to it are properties of Yoshihiro Togashi and all the other companies.

Identity

Chapter 7

"... home."

Kurama started.

"What?" he asked, squinting at the glare of the flashlight.

"Oops, sorry". Yusuke redirected the beam. "I said, do you think we can check on the others back in our world?"

"Oh, you want to contact home." Kurama stretched lazily and sat up straight on the boulder he was perched on. "No, I don't think that would be wise. That may point them - or us- out to Lakashka."

"Right." Yusuke blinked as he plunked down beside the redhead. "Are you sure they're safe?"

"Quite."

"Oh." Yusuke sounded doubtful.

" Well, Koenma's wife is with them, you know. He would have definitely pulled a few things. That's some considerable assurance. Reikai would be obliged to provide our families the best protection available."

At that point, Yusuke clicked off the flashlight. "Save batteries," he explained. "Anyway, are you telling me Koenma would put his wife in that danger for insurance?"

"If you would insist on putting it on those terms... " Kurama shrugged slightly. "From what I understand, it was her idea."

Though he didn't know why, Yusuke blinked in surprise.

Kurama chuckled. "You seem surprised."

"I am?"

"Yes. You are."

"Oh. Can't he just order them to provide protection to a certain group of people?"

Kurama shrugged again. "Politics. Koenma has been playing these games of authority with his father for a very long time now."

"A game?" Yusuke spat out indignantly. "It's my kids we're talking about here!"

"Yes, Koenma's playing for them. It's gonna be tough, but he's maneuvering the best he could to give us as much advantage as possible."

Yusuke shook his head. "I don't think I understand all this."

Kurama just smiled wryly. It was easy for his eyes to adjust to weak light of the full moon, him being what he is. Yusuke's eyes have probably adjusted as quickly, though he wouldn't notice at all. He could see more than their silhouettes now, but thought it was his imagination.

"There's just something that keeps popping out of my head," Yusuke suddenly spoke. "Something about okaasan."

"Oh? What is it? It may be important."

"I really can't... grasp it, you know? That's why I have to check on them."

"A compulsion?"

"Yeah... I guess, you can call it that."

"I'm sure they're fine. Koenma would have been alerted otherwise."

"I suppose so." Yusuke sighed.

"But there are so many things you should remember about Urameshi Atsuko."

"Toyotomi." Yusuke corrected absently.

"Sorry, I've known her as Urameshi-san for so long. It keeps slipping off my mind she's remarried."

"And you? Hatanaka, right?" He blinked. "Er... sorry. Don't know where that came from."

Kurama smiled a curiously piqued smile. "Actually, yes. My mother raised me, like you. Alone, until he met my stepfather when we were fifteen. Hatanaka Shuichi would be my brother. And like you, I didn't change my last name."

Yusuke laughed. "That would be complicated. Can't you use the name you go by sometimes? Kurama?"

"Even rumors can give out calls than can reach distances over countless miles, and traverse time in either direction," he replied quietly. "Not a beacon I'd care to erect."

"Ah."

A pause.

"But you're right, you know," Yusuke said.

"About what? Beacons can also be useful. That's what advertising is about."

"Eh?" Yusuke stared at him with a frown. The man can scramble a person's brain the way he jumps from one topic to another. "I mean, what you said about my mother. There is a lot of things I should remember about her. Actually, I don't remember much of my childhood or teenage years. Just that..." He turned an odd look at his companion. "Apparently, I made her cry often. And that's most of what I remember... It kinda hurts, you know."

"Yes, I know," Kurama agreed softly.

There was another thoughtful pause. Yusuke was roused out of it when a hand touched his arm.

"I owe you."

Yusuke laughed almost nervously. iThis bunch of weird people.../i "No... As far as I know, iI/i owe you."

Kurama shook his head as he drew away. "Just keep that in mind. I heard you're quite vigilant of your assets, Urameshi-san."

"And so are you, Minamino-san." He grinned in spite of himself. iPlay, while you still can/i. "Care to do business? I'm sure a a veteran like you won't let the past color future... investments... too much?"

"Some other time." Kurama laughed openly. "Practice with Toyotomi-san, first."

"Fine," muttered Yusuke a little peevishly. "Being richer, bigger, smarter and handsomer doesn't make you more experienced."

"Age does. I'm hundred years your elder. But that's not what we're here to discuss." He gave him an appraising look. "Well?"

Yusuke shifted uncomfortably. "You keep speaking of these powers. What powers?"

"Spiritual powers. Ki. Energy procured, sometimes created, by the spirit."

"Oh, I see. So how does it work?"

"Well, theoretically-"

"Ahem. Um, Minamino-san? I'm not really much of a scientist so... Let's get to the practically part. iHow/i do I do it?"

Kurama chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course. Just gather all your energy into your right index finger. Gather it to that central point, aim and release the energy."

"Eh?" Yusuke stared at his finger. "That's-"

"Preposterous, yes. You mentioned it several times before."

"But... " He looked up at the other man. "I can try it?"

"Oh, why not?" replied Kurama laconically.

So Yusuke did. How did he do it? Apparently, it involved widely of glaring at his fingertip and muttering curses at it. Finally, he gave up disgustedly.

"You knew it won't work," he accused.

"You think too much, Yusuke. You want to channel your energy into your finger but the idea that it's impossible is so prevalent in your mind that you contradict yourself."

"Teach me how," he insisted.

Kurama shook his head. "It's not the time or place. We can be traced by our spiritual energy remember? We'll have time enough for training later."

"Right." He sighed.

"Besides," Kurama continued. "You're so concerned about high level combat- Can you even fight with your fists?"

"Of course!" came the quick reply. "Er... I think so. Everybody does, right?" He turned expectantly at his companion. "I was a bully in high school."

"Oh? Try to remember more. You were a bully?"

"Yes, I was. I'm- I was." Yusuke became deep in thought. "Weird. I know facts. I was a school bully. Then, I go into an accident. Because of that, I reformed and joined a relief mission overseas for three years. When I came back, I went to business school and married Keiko. I've treated these things as facts for years but... " He turned a quizzical expression at the other man again. "When I try to recall... There's nothing much. If it isn't all so strange, I might actually buy this- this alternate past you people insist on being true."

"It goes to show how well the Spell of Oblivion worked. Frankly, we didn't believe it would back then. Unreliable sources, you know."

"Unreliable sources?!" Yusuke was scandalized. "If I really worked for Koenma- That man is cheap, scrimping that much for his employees! I oughta-"

The redhead stood. "Now don't change the topic , Yusuke-san. You want training? Fine. Stand up and punch me."

"Excuse me? Punch iyou/i?"

"What? You can't even throw a punch? If you're knowledge of martial arts doesn't even cover such rudimentary-"

"I know how to do it! It's just that- Are you sure?"

"You heard me."

Yusuke reluctantly stood up, and held up closed fists. "I'm telling you in advance I can't afford to face a lawsuit right now."

"Just do it, Yusuke."

"As you said." He sighed in resignation, and struck the multimillionaire square in the jaw.

And he didn't even give any indication of feeling it.

"Youch," complained Yusuke. "Didn't you know you're supposed to be the one to say that?"

"Yusuke, with that kind of punch-"

"Eh-"

"You know, any idiot can become an umpteenth belter in any martial art but it's not going to do any good if that idiot didn't have any guts to hit another person. Now try to be less lily-livered about it this time around. Again!"

That got the former spiritual detective. "You asked for it!" He said through gritted teeth as he swung a balled fist.

But then-

"Whaaat?!" He exclaimed, nearly stumbling as his fist connected with air. "What did you do that for?"

"Oh, that?" Kurama verified patiently. "I thought you knew that was generally what's supposed to be done."

"Temee, kitsune!" Yusuke just roared, leaping for him.

Kurama merely sidestepped the blow. "Kitsune? Now, where did that come from?"

"I have no ide- Stand still, will you!"

"I don't think so."

"Rrar!!"

/ANote: LOL! "Temee, kitsune!" I filched from Hana-chan of Slam Dunk. ^.^ "... can become an umpteenth belter in any martial art...etc" That I quoted from an Arnis demonstration. He he.

I'm slacking!!! Aurgh!!! @.@ /

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The hush pervaded the room, as it had done so several times that night.

It was Kuwabara who first spoke among them. "But I though Lakashka killed Yusuke's father?"

A five-hundred page, leather bound book that came hurtling towards his puzzled face answered the question.

"You're ruining the story, you idiot!" screeched Shizuru.

"I'm just trying to clarify things!" he mourned, nursing a new batch of bruises.

"All in good time, Kazuma-kun," said Atsuko sympathetically.

"Yes," added Shizuru. "A storyteller can damn well tell the story whatever way she damn pleases. You don't have the slightest notion about art and I'm sure your low-pick up tendencies will act up again but you have no right to ruin it for the rest of us. Now, shut up!"

"Wah!" wailed Kuwabara, helplessly, as he was wont to when faced with such an adversary.

"Actually, I'm not that much of a narrator," said Atsuko kindly. "But I do have to keep things organized. It's a fairly complicated story, you know."

"Oh, I guess you should take your time then," conceded Kuwabara nobly.

"Well, that's what she was doing," interjected his sister acidly. "What other choice does she have with a dimwitted listener like you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The carrot-head glared at her. "Never mind, weird-o-sis. Anyway, I don't get the part where in this guy keeps on visiting you," he told Atsuko.

"Oh, they're two different people. The man I saw in my apartment was Al Mintaka and the man whom I met in the bar and brought me to the hospital was Alnilam. I'm sorry if I've been too obscure. It's um... it's-"

"Artistic embellishment," said Shizuru with a cute smirk.

"Ah... I suppose so."

"But who are these people?" asked Keiko, trying suppressing a yawn.

"I'm about to tell you, actually," said her mother-in-law. "Or maybe we can out it off till next tomorrow evening."

"Yes, I'm pretty sleepy," said Shizuru.

Kuwabara started to protest. "Hey, wait-"

Shizuru kicked his attention towards Yukina's droopy eyes.

"Yes. Yes!" he announced enthusiastically. "To bed, ladies, for your beauty's sleep." He stretched his arms and yawned theatrically.

Keiko sighed. "I suppose we do have plenty of time in our hands."

"Yes, dear," said Atsuko brightly. "Better for you to conserve your energy. With those two you need constant recharging. An extended rest won't be too bad."

"Not so extended, though." Keiko smiled.

"Aa." Atsuko agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The moon's face haughtily looked down from its lofty perch, surrounded by its unaffected cohorts. Each star seemingly beheld an exiled counterpart languishing in the humble earth down below, watching each grain of sand scintillate in its vain covetousness of the former's eternal elevation. Thus, ethereal light awashed the shifting sands, and like a great sea flowed in all direction, as far as the eye could see, its restless waves jostling one another.

Kurama himself felt the tug of the tide. There was a barely intelligible voice, from something, somewhere, a voice that could well have emerged from within as without. It urged him, invited him- be us, be one, come to me you have denied so long... Return me here, for my turn has come - teasing him to become as his environment, to be as silver as the world around him.

"You said you'd never throw away either of your identities," he murmured.

iYou lied/i, the voice seemed to whisper.

"What are you doing in there then?" he sardonically answered aloud. "Shouldn't you be in a hole somewhere?"

But the voice refused to reply and it was the prince of Reikai who gave his indignantly.

"That's not really helping, you know," the irate Koenma said, glaring at him. "I'm trying my best here."

"Hn," commented Hiei. "Amazing, you still managed to lose us."

"What's going on?" asked Kurama, as he approached the three men.

Hiei raised an eyebrow at him. "Where have you been? Moonwalking?"

"In a manner of speaking," Kurama murmured as he turned questioningly to Yusuke.

"We seem to be a little lost," he explained tactfully.

"We are NOT lost," protested Koenma.

"We aren't." Yusuke repeated, looking around the virtually featureless landscape stretching as fast as he could see. "Yet."

"May I see the map?" said the voice of reason.

The prince gave him a ream of charts that didn't make any sense at all at first glance. After a few moments, Kurama frowned.

"Koenma, what is this?" he asked the fidgety man. "I can't make it out."

The prince vigorously scratched his head. "I'm sorry," he said distractedly. "Those are star charts. It helps navigating here in Makai since the stars are quite permanent landmarks relative to others here in Makai."

"Coded, of course."

"Well, Reikai took pains in mapping out areas of this world and continue to do so. They want the information for their advantage, not anybody else's."

Kurama was silent for a few moments. Yusuke hovered around him earnestly, while Koenma shifted his weight from one foot to another nervously. He was obviously feeling the moments passing more heavily than the others.

Finally, Kurama spoke. "I get it," he said.

"Eh?" exclaimed Koenma in horror. "You- You just decoded a classified document!? Wah. I'm dead meat!"

The other man, however, was busily mapping out the stars above him.

"Koenma, these maps are fairly consistent with our surroundings."

Koenma mussed his hair in frustration. "I know, I know!" he grated. "We are on the right track. Just that... iSomething/i feels wrong. And we've been in this monochromatic, god-forsaken place for hours and it doesn't look like we're actually going anywhere and - kami-sama! I'm worried about Botan!"

With that, he grabbed the metallic case Yusuke was carrying, flopped down on the sand and began operating the communication device. The open case suddenly snapped shut, missing his fingers by a few hairs' breadth.

Koenma scowled at the fire youkai sitting atop his equipment.

"Get off it, Hiei!" he demanded.

Hiei gave him a hideous smirk. "Make me."

"Oh, I will!" Koenma's eyes lighted with maddened fury as grasped the smaller man by the scruff.

Hiei smoothly disengaged himself, and sent his captor flying some yards off, faced down. A subtle crease on his forehead belied his surprise at the demi-god's reaction.

The blow seemed to have knocked sense into the tall man, for he rose slowly, and lazily sat on his haunches, giving clear indication that he wasn't planning another attack any time soon. Yusuke, however, was alarmed by the seeming rift in their party.

"Uh, what was that about?" he demanded, a hint of admonition evident in his voice. "Well?"

"Ask, ototosama, Otousan," replied Hiei sarcastically.

"Koenma, this isn't like you," said Kurama worriedly. "What's wrong?"

"Obviously, he wanted to call home," said Yusuke. "And frankly, I ought to-"

"No, Yusuke," said Koenma in a pained voice. "We shouldn't. I'm sure their fine. Gah! No, I'm not sure." He stood up groggily, and began pacing around in circles, basically ranting. "She's the queen, so they'd be obliged to protect her, and her companions, as well. Or not. But my people definitely would. Or would they? Reikai workers generally do their duty. But you never know with otousama. He's always scheming, and even I don't know what... He certainly doesn't have scruples about using people, even me! He's a good plotter, but he is old and a simple slip- Ugh. Keiko's a doctor. A good one. Relatively new, but excellent. She'll take care of Botan. Yes. But a bait! They're the perfect bait. A bait? Ridiculous. What would Lakashka possibly want with me? Hospitals, yes. Hospitals are good. Money is no object. But if this is otousama's scheme...I bet he wants new grounds for divorce, that conniving bas-"

"That's unreasonable of you," said Kurama quietly, finally interrupting the frantic man's litany.

Koenma snorted. "I know," he said sarcastically. "It's not as if Reikai would thoughtlessly eliminate anybody who gets in their way." He sighed. "I shouldn't be here."

His hazel eyes were suspiciously glazed but the pupils were dilated, giving him a wild brutish look. But Kurama saw past the layers of emotions: guilt.

iWhy/i? Kurama frowned s he pondered through the question. Koenma was a man with a strong sense of responsibility, a man with a conscience, yes, a man who loves dearly, but still... He can't easily be pushed into self-imputation like that. iWhat's going on?/i

Koenma was speaking again. "You know, the last time-" He stopped, shook his head, and ran his hands wearily down his face. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with me." He gnashed his teeth in frustration. "What is it with this place?"

"It's too empty..." said Yusuke. There was a faraway look in his eyes, speaking in whispers how much Koenma's soliloquy affected him. "Where are we anyway?"

iIt's too empty./i The words echoed in Kurama's mind. Yes, empty. Devoid of anything; flora, fauna, spirits, traces of it, life on the whole. A place so lonely.... A place where you would be so alone you'd be forced to face yourself, face the guilt you've been pushing aside. If you have guilt...

"Endorphus," he voiced.

Koenma snapped out of his stupor. "Endorphus?" he repeated. "How do you know? Even if- Are you sure?"

"Yes."

The prince's face cleared as a realization dawned upon him. "I understand. We must leave now."

"Easy thing to say," said Hiei, his forehead glowing with the third eye's power. "Where to?"

Belatedly, Yusuke looked up: the sky was cast over by thick dark clouds.

"Is that natural?" he asked.

"This is Makai, remember? Your concept of normal may be different from what is normal here," replied Kurama. "Where to now?"

"I don't know," said Koenma. "We could follow the path we've been following. I mean, we can walk straight towards the direction we're facing right now. We'll have to hit the oasis eventually, and from there, travel out the desert by some landmark."

"That's good, right?" said Yusuke. "I don't see any problem with that."

"No, that's where the Erinyes are," said Kurama.

"Erinyes? Like in the Greek myths?"

"Winged youkais. They were documented first by Reikai a few thousands years ago. They were named so after the Ningen mythological figures because they're basically involved with similar things. For example, guilt."

iYes, the Erinyes/i, thought Kurama. They were the reason why he knew about Endorphus, why he knew it so well.

"Okaaay," said Yusuke. "So if that's bad, where can we go?"

"We were supposed to just use the oasis as a landmark and change directions well before the vicinity of it," said Koenma. "But now we won't be able to unless this lets up." He pointed up.

"Trust me, it won't," asserted Kurama. "We'll have to go to the oasis and pass through it."

And confront the Erinyes? Will you? Or will you run like before? Can you face them? His thoughts flickered dizzyingly inside him, but his face was as set as his words.

"There's no other choice."

Hiei raised an eyebrow.

"Are you afraid?"

Hiei shrugged. "Not my funeral," he answered levelly.

"Do we make a run for it?" Koenma asked, still too disturbed to vituperate Kurama about his knowledge of the place, as he would normally.

"No," replied Kurama. "They may find panic indicative of guilt. We cannot risk handing over an advantage to the enemies."

"You're hoping to sneak past the Erinyes?" asked Hiei. There was an overtone of something like incredulity in his voice.

Kurama simply passed by him in silence.

"What is this Erinyes?" asked Yusuke as they started a brisk walk. "And this Endorphus? And don't you people have iother/i maps?"

"One at a time," muttered Koenma.

"Endorphus is here, a place in Makai that inspires unreasonable guilt from an individual. If left unchecked, it can push a person to the brink of insanity." He fixed a gaze on the prince as he spoke, but Koenma was staring at his palms, seemingly oblivious to his words.

"Why is he the only one affected?" asked Yusuke in a subdued voice. "I have more things to be guilty about."

"Melodrama," Hiei spat half-heartedly. "Hn."

"Koenma has lived more years than you can imagine, has touched lives and events in more ways and occasions you can believe possible. He has many reasons to fear the unforeseen, to feel guilt now."

"And he hasn't before?"

"Like you, like me, like anybody. Guilt sometimes, guilt in moderation, guilt that keeps us on the right track."

"Are you saying he's weaker for succumbing earlier than any of us? Or that he is more sinned?"
"Nobody has any right to pass judgment on anybody else. Koenma can, and must. He doesn't make it alone or as a person but as an institution, a tool of this universe."

Yusuke stared at him, dot-eyed.

Kurama pulled short his walk, and allowed a sheepish grin to crack on his tightly drawn face. "Youkais are immune to it to some level. He's the only one isn't youku here."

"That's what you should have said," grumbled Hiei.

"But what about me?" protested Yusuke.

"You're only half human," said Kurama.

"And him?" Yusuke motioned to the prince.

This time the prince reacted.

"Would you people quit talking as if I'm not here? Geeze..."

"You knew about this place," Yusuke addressed him. "Why did you bring us here?"

"I didn't now that this is Endorphus."

"Obviously," said Hiei.

"So how-?" started Yusuke.

"Are you aware of the Christian concept of purgatory, Yusuke?" asked Kurama. "It's a state, not a place actually. But you can actually call this place Purgatory."

"Kurama, where the hell do you get these?" demanded Koenma.

"I have my sources." Kurama smiled.

"Augh." Koenma rubbed his temples. "Try not to let Reikai find out about this please? Thank you. Now would you mind elaborating? I'd love to know how much you know exactly."

"That's pretty much of what I know, Koenma. You'd have to take it from there."

Koenma looked at him suspiciously.

"Really." Kurama laughed. "I promise that's all I know."

"Never mind," continued Koenma. "I don't think I'm mentally fit to know right now. Okay. I sort souls when they die based on how they have performed in life. I don't really have much of a say because I merely follow protocol, standards. However, there are times when a soul does not fit any existing stereotype, is found between two graduations. To settle disparity, Reikai sends that soul to Endorphus to reveal what that person thinks for himself, and settle the issue by sending it down a rung, or allowing it up. Also there are some people who refuse, or cannot see their faults. We send them to Endorphus, too, because a soul MUST know. Occasionally, there are souls who choose punishment themselves. An example was Toguro."

"Okay," said Yusuke, not even bothering to ask who Toguro was.

"It was thousands of years ago," Koenma continued his lecture as he searched the horizon. "When they discovered a race of youkai, ghouls, living in the Endorphus. Apparently, they've never been large enough to detect before then. Reikai gradually began losing souls sent here for screening, so they sent a team to investigate. What they found was, of course, the Erinyes, that feed on the human souls, and use their guilt to detect them. They are suspicious of everyone. Nobody every researched enough to determine why, but they are, which is probably why their race (species?) developed the diet of human souls, and ultimately, their special 'organs' to detect guilt . Hmmm... Or maybe, it was their special organ that came before, some defensive to tool to uncover ill-intent....Yes, yes. And that then led them to adapt to the available prey? Still... It's a-"

"Get on," growled Hiei impatiently.

"Whichever came first, they live here because guilt is naturally invoked by the environment. However, their population was controlled by the scarcity of food. When Reikai had this place shut down, the Erinyes' population dwindled. They were too suspicious of other youkai to get out of Endorphus. Anyway, they went back to their old mode of feeding, which was waiting for and ambushing intruders. I didn't know about this iis/i the place because this has been hushed up. Data was probably destroyed to hide the identity of the incompetent fool who started operations here without prior investigation and analysis of the area. My father, and those before him, aren't that tolerable."

"So how come you knew about Endorphus?" asked Kurama.

"You're not the only one who sneaks." Koenma stuck his tongue out slightly.

"Typical Reikai frivolities," muttered Hiei.

"So how do we get out of here?" insisted Yusuke. "We lost all sense of direction."

Koenma sighed, stopped walking, and sat down on the sand. Using his fingers, he began to draw.

"We don't have time for this," said Hiei imaptiently.

He was ignored. "Okay, here's the portal from Reikai. That's a little to the north west." He drew cloud-like scribbles at the right of the 'P'. "This is the forest we traveled through. We went south because we were trying to avoid the territories taken by Lakashka, formerly bits of Gandara. Then we turned to head east again." He drew squiggly parallel lines. "We came to that gorge, and then this desert. Up in the north is still desert, but Lakashka has soldiers there since, it's a straight route to Raizen's territories, and therefore needed barring. A little to the south is Mukuro's protectorates. There's lots of fighting there with Lakashka trying to eat up more territory. And, we, people, are stuck in the middle. In Endorphus of all places." He facefaulted. "So that's why they left this piece alone. I thought it was like no-man's-land or something. Neutral ground. Aurghh..."

"I thought youkai are immune?"

"Up to some level. Besides, in war, you can't risk weakening your troops with even the slightest remorse. And the Erinyes are fiercely territorial. Nobody wants two-front war, so this desert was probably used as some sort of divider by Lakashka's generals. Because all sides would avoid this place." He slapped his head. "Why? Why didn't I see this?!?"

"What do they look like?" Yusked cut in out of morbid curiosity.

"Like that," said Hiei, coolly pointing.

The horizon before them was black, a ripple shimmering through regularly to mark the wild fluttering of wings. Doubly, or singly, they wheeled in great circles, their bulk too heavy to make hovering possible.

Again, Kurama felt a tug. Yes, it was that calling.

iCome. Come back. Deny yourself no longer. /i

It was a subtle call, but he felt his conviction to remain in the present waver slightly. He gritted his teeth.

"Standfast," he said aloud.

"Standfast?!" exclaimed Yusuke. "I thought you said those things are predators?"

"They'd eat anything," piped up Koenma. "Anything meaty, and alive, and hot and squirming."

Yusuke looked positively sick.

"Worms," said Hiei in disgust. "As if, iI/i ever got inclined to eat you."

"The Erinyes can't see color, but movement very well," replied Kurama. "It has something to do with the rods and cones in their eyes. If we stand still enough they might miss us completely."

"Might."

"But they can sense guilt," Koenma said uncertainly, obviously wanting to bolt out of there. "You guys are immune, but what about me? And don't they have noses?"

Kurama gave him a steady look. "Self-control. And birds of prey usually hunt with their eyes."

iControl, yes/i, he thought. II must keep control. Control is everything/i.

"Distract yourself," he continued. "Think something else. Think Enma Daiou."

Koenma gave him a surprised look, then actually smiled. A not-so-nice smile. "Of course," he said, as if he had thought of it in the first place.

"They're also dying to hear you," remarked Hiei caustically.

That silenced them for a while. Koenma fidgeted a lot that great little while, and Kurama could not be silent. Yusuke stared at the mass of youkai hunting for them, disbelieving, and Kurama could not be silent.

The Erinyes were carefully scanning their desert for intruders. Methodically, they scoured the area by rows, each individual assigned to some definite plot, searching for movements, feeling for ill-intent.

Kurama could not be silent.

Their raucous cries echoed in the vast emptiness. There seemed to be undertones of impatience in their voices. And of hunger.

It was disturbing to sit so still as predators searched for you, and you being mere meters away from them. To hear the music of the hunt was maddening. Shades of that madness could be seen in Yusuke and Koenma, frozen like deer. Hiei was tensed up, like a coil, a trap waiting to be sprung. But to him, Kurama, iit/i was like music to him. Calling, calling... Beckoning. It was a struggle not to bolt, just as with the others. But for him, it was harder, a temptation just within arms reach.

How can he be silent?

They watched as the search brought the Erinyes above them, the great sweeps of their black wings adding to the din. The darkness was a blessing; each nervous gulp and each trickling of sweat brought one of the ghouls past, flying over them without raising alarm.

iCome back. I am here. Come back./i

Koenma sighed as the last of them disappeared into the horizon.

"Did you see the wingspan of those things?" he said despite Hiei's death glare. "I could have sworn-! If they see, we'll be dead in a heartbeat."

"Speak for yourself," said Hiei.

"I mean, even if we make a run for it, they'll swarm all over us. Besides, can you two fight and protect two at the same time?"

Kurama didn't think so. He was already fighting an internal battle as it was, one in which the stalemate would not last long. iIt's not a fight you need to put up/i, that voice asserted. Ignoring it, he looked at Yusuke's tight-lipped expression. Perhaps, he too thought the Prince should speak for himself. Yusuke was still fundamentally Yusuke.

iAnd you are fundamentally what you are. /i

"..en meters wingspan." Koenma was still at it. "Those scale-like things- how can you be sure you can cut through that? And if you call the Black Flame, how sure are you that you won't roast the rest of us. And the claws! If they get hold of us we'd be bird food. I mean, look at that muscle mass. And their pectoral muscles are overdeveloped. Its an adaptation to flying with excessive weig-"

Kurama suddenly burst out laughing.

Koenma stopped and stared. "It's true," he said defensively. "It's true!"

"Those aren't pectoral muscles," Kurama explained patiently, though still chuckling. Yusuke blinked. Hiei was painfully warring with the grimace creeping on his face. "Well, it's there, but it isn't overdeveloped as you say."

Koenma reddened.

"Yes those are breasts." Kurama grinned at him impishly. iThis frivolity is your distraction?!/i a part of his rational mind screamed all the while.

"You mean they're mammals?!" Koenma exclaimed.

At the same time, Yusuke went, "They're women?!?" In disbelief, he went on. "Women covered with scales and feathers? With wings?"

"No, and no," replied Kurama seriously. "They're humanoid youkai. Like me. Like Hiei. Like most of the more powerful ones."

"Humaoid youkai could be more dangerous than others actually," put in Koenma, attempting to put up some semblance of dignity. "The more humanoid a youkai is, the more it takes on human attributes, which I'm afraid is not always clean and pure."

Kurama stared off. "The more human-like it becomes, the more it becomes human-like in intelligence, and dexterity in certain movements that require certain grace. Naturally, the evil they're capable of increases."

Koenma glanced at him thoughtfully before continuing. "Yes, it gets harder to distinguish them from humans, so it is harder for Reikai to keep balance between the worlds. Still, there are creatures with ihumane/i qualities, and appear grotesquely subhuman. Some of them are more humane than humans themselves. Appearance deceive. Always."

iAppearances deceive. Even your own. You deceive yourself. You must come. Come!/i

Kurama clenched a fist and shut out the voiceless call. He tried to blank his mind. iConcentrate/i. On what? Waiting for the hunters. But the void he was erecting in his mind was continually pulled down by images. Memories.

He snapped out of it when he saw Yusuke staring at him almost quizzically.

"Go on," said Kurama quietly. "Ask."

"Are you human?" asked Yusuke. But the unaired question was "am ii/i human", and Kurama heard it.

"Yes," he replied fervently, not only for the sake of his friend. "I am human."

IPhysically, yes. But in essence? No. Accept this truth. Come back./i

"A part of me is human," he added firmly. "I am human."

Yusuke nodded as firmly. The silence was reestablished, to Hiei's approval. But the silence was still deafening. That disembodied voicelessness speaking, calling...

"How come you know so much about this?" demanded Koenma, irately, scratching at his nape, as if some bug was pestering him.

"I'm a robber, remember?" iWas!/i his mind insisted, incensed at the slip. "Their oasis. They are protecting something in their oasis."

"And they didn't sense your ill-intent?" said Yusuke. "I thought-"

"I was youkai." IWas?/I challenged his mind. "And am. I am immune." iNo. Guiltless. Simply that. Don't you remember the invincibility that rendered you? You are weakened! Humans are weak./i "But it was still hard to infiltrate them. I had to become friendly with their leader."

"You iseduced/i one of those?" asked Koenma, horrified.

"Stuck-up hypocrite," muttered Hiei.

"I-i am not naive, okay!" exploded the Prince. "I just can't reconcile the idea of those things and- and-"

"It's a peculiarity of their species," continue Kurama calmly. "They're quite promiscuous. Basically, they're a matriarchal society. Only a single male remains to be the consort of the tribe head. Weaker males are usually those isolated reports Reikai gets from the rest of Makai."

"You have got to be kidding." Koenma was dot-eyed.

Kurama laughed. "Do you doubt the most powerful human drives? You'd know them so well, I should think." Yes, it applies to youkai, too. They're not at all that different, twisted and entwined in evil and self-centeredness. "The Erinyes aren't that smart," he continued, half-absorbed in reminiscence. "But minus the wings, and the talons and the lighter bones, the have the body of a female Ningen. Those curves, the softness, the movements... Definitely a woman."

Yusuke had a sick puzzled look on his face- the Yusuke of old had never wanted to fight women or kill fellow Ningens- a revulsion, and an acceptance he couldn't quite place. Perhaps like his red-head companion.

iMaybe/i, thought Kurama. iMaybe you do feel the same way I do. Maybe you can hear that calling, feel that longing. Standfast. Not yet. Not now.../i

But Koenma was blushing again. He was bright red with shame, and perhaps a tinge of-"

WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!!! EEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAKK!!!

The scream viciously tore at the firmament. The creatures swiftly backtracked in their paths, once again near their prey.

"Koenma, there's nothing to be guilty about!" exclaimed Yusuke in exasperation.

At the same time, Hiei burst out, "Nobody's gonna tell your airheaded woman!"

"It's not that!" retorted the Prince. "It's the stupid song."

"You call that a song?" murmured Yusuke. "I can't stand it anymore."

Hiei continued to mutter disgustedly. "What is it with humans and breasts? Breasts are breasts. Kuso. Youkai have them. Dogs have them. Cows have them. Kuso."

iI hear it, too/i Kurma's thoughts claimed frantically. iI hear it!/i

Come. Come.... Come back. I am you. Me. You. One and the same. You are me. Accept.

iI can't stand it./i

Why? Why not? You have left behind this portion of yourself? You said you would not let go of either.

iI haven't let go. Never. I cannot return to what I have never left at all. I have accepted. I have acknowledged. But, you... I will fight you. You are not me. You confuse./I

"It's the song?" Hiei snapped. "That idiot song is their doing? Koenma, you weak-"

"Not the prince," Kurama said. "Me. They have found me. They have locked on me. They've waited decades for this. They won't lose me now." Everyone stared at him.

The Erinyes were ruthless, powerful and inexorable - same as what he boasted. A match. Perfect. Worthy executioners. Demise or salvation?

"They only recognize your youkai body, then?" Koenma said in panic. "Which also means you got caught. Then, long ago. You got caught?!! I thought you were supposed to be the best?!"

Yusuke just stared in shock and disbelief.

Still their attention caught as the inaudible singing stopped.

iTension/i.

His golden eyes constricted. Waiting.

iThe stillness before the storm/i...

"They're coming!" yelled Koenma.

His muscles tingled with excitement.

iThe anticipation of the hunt/i.

"Shut up, you fool!"

iI've never forgotten. To live /iisi to hunt. And I won't be baited like that/i.

Soon, the blackness returned, heralded by raucous calls that ripped down the sky.

"Kurama," called Hiei sharply.

"Hiei."
A glance sufficed. There was readiness in both sets of eyes. Commitance. The battle would commence now.

iNot if we escape/i!

You would run again?

Hiei moved quickly, as always, dragging the prince with him.

"I can run by myself!" Koenma said, but the black-garbed warrior carried him away. Wailing back plaintively was all he could do. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? Kuramaaaa!??"

"I forgot," Kurama called back. "I didn't tell you that was why I had to escape to Ningenkai."

Kurama was left alone with Yusuke, a bewildered man trapped with a stranger in an alien wilderness full of predators. Yusuke still stood there, and stared, as if busy working out whatever magician's trick was gripping him.

"It's me," the youkai kitsune assured.

"Yes, but who is 'me'?" murmured the man absently.

"I am Kurama. I am Minamino Shuichi."

Yusuke blinked. "I realize that but-" He shook his head. "I think we should run, too."

iNo more running/i.

"Perhaps," he replied. "Come."

And they ran.

iI still am the hunter. It is I who will hunt you down. I will disperse you and I shall pick you out one by one to bring down./i

To be continued...

Note: Minna, thank you for reading this. I write really slow and it might get even slower. I'm sorry. It's school (and some poersonality issues. ;;;^^). Anyway, I might not be posting for a while (yeah, as if five months wasn't a iwhile/i, ne?). I think I'll just finish the whole first and then polish. That way it won't keep you hanging, if ever. And, uh, if you really want to know, this fic has still quite a long way to go. But I will finish it. Wish me luck. ^^;

To Yukitsu: I'm not the author of "White Blindness". I believe the writer's name is Mina Lightstar. ^_^ Hope that helps. (I heard read somewhere she's about to finish it too.)