There was one more thing that Kuwabara had to do before he could give up this world completely and he was certain that he could do it. He had trained his senses and his spirit during the long life he had lived and he had to do his best now. There was no way of tricking his way out of here.

Kuwabara reached out with his mind until he found the aura that he was looking for. Within the blink of an eye he was gone for those that would have been able to see him, for everyone else nothing changed.

The old man's spirit appeared again in a well-lit corridor that seemed like it was borrowed from an ancient castle with its sturdy built walls of stone. He could sense that he was underground and he did not like the feeling. He might be dead but he had not been buried yet.

Slowly he went down the corridor taking a look inside every door he passed. Although the place seemed to be a hideout, it did not lack any luxuries and soon enough he found Jamison in his room. The man was lying in his bed tossing and turning as if in pain. Unrecognizable words were spilling out of his mouth without him being aware of it. Kuwabara pitied him. For Jamison had the worst fate of them all.

The spirit continued his search and only a light breeze that surrounded him showed where he was going. Soon enough he found a hidden staircase leading downwards. Another secret hideout in case the first one was found? Whoever had built this house had been either paranoid or foreseen that it would have its uses in the future.

This floor was less luxurious except for two rooms that were obviously added for the owner. The rest had been built to be used as prison and torture chamber, judging from the smell of dried blood and worse. Kuwabara could feel the presence of the young boy that he was looking for, but there was also something else.

Passing through the steel door as if it wasn't there, he entered the room. Shindou was lying on the floor in a tiny heap. Kuwabara did not want to imagine what he had gone through, but it wasn't over yet.

"As long as you live there is still hope," he whispered more to himself than the boy before him.

Suddenly Shindou opened his eyes and stared directly at Kuwabara.

After a few long seconds he spoke, weakly but with evident hope in his voice.
" Sai... Did you come... to take me away? ... To take me... to your world?"

"Sai?" There it was again, that name that made Go pros behave like headless chickens.

So this kid did have something to do with this mysterious entity. Suddenly it became all clear. Kuwabara stepped aside and concentrated for a moment with his spirit eyes closed. When he opened them he could see a tall figure clad in clothes from the Heian period.

The ghost called Sai finally replied. "No, Hikaru. I am here to help you. Your time has not come yet. You must be strong now."

So he had been right all along, Kuwabara thought, this boy did have a guardian spirit. With a last glance at the figure of the young man with the long, purple hair, he decided that he wasn't needed here after all and disappeared.

*****

Touya Kouyo was sitting in an armchair next to the telephone while his son Akira paced back and forth. When the phone rang both of them looked up and then at each other. Before it had the chance to ring a second time Kouyo picked it up. He listened intently to what was being said on the other end. "That's good. Thanks for letting us know," he replied before hanging up.

Akira was standing over him and was looking down on him with eyes that were filled equally with hope and fear.

"Isumi-san called. Waya-kun woke up. The doctors said that he will be alright now that he regained consciousness."

He could have said that the sun was shining and it would have had more impact on his son.

"Ah… that's good. I am happy for Isumi." Without another word he turned around and started pacing the room again, to the door and back to the window again. Back and forth, like a machine that had been programmed to do just that.

Pained by that sight Kouyo lowered his eyes and stared at the phone instead. It was then that he heard someone call his name. He looked up to see Kuwabara standing in front of him. When did he arrive? Why didn't Akira say anything?

And why, damn it, wasn't the old fool in the hospital?

Kuwabara sat down in the chair across from Kouyo and started to speak: "I have information that you may need."

Without giving Kouyo the chance to reply he continued. "I know where that boy Shindou has been taken to and judging from how your son looks at the moment it would be good for both of you if you could get those policemen out there to come and get him." He paused to look in Akira's direction. "Although it might not be such a good idea to take Akira-kun with you."

Kouyo was too surprised at first to say anything, but then he simply asked: "Where?" He took a pen out of his jacket he wrote the address down that Kuwabara gave him.

The phone started ringing again.

Kuwabara stood up and then looked back at him with a knowing smile. "This will be about me I guess. I think I have done all I could do. Don't worry, Touya, it will turn out all right."

While Kuwabara spoke his form slowly lost substance but gained brilliance. With a flash of light he was gone.

The phone rang again. Akira picked it up.

Kouyo closed his eyes, blinded for a moment and then headed towards the door, holding the piece of paper with the address that he had written down like a piece of treasure.

Akira suddenly cried out. "Father, Kuwabara-sensei is… he is…"

"He is dead," Kouyo answered quietly. "I know. Let's go. We have to get Shindou-kun back."

Without waiting for an answer he left the room.