Chapter 2
Koenma frowned at the paper he now held. It seemed like he was doing that a lot lately. Yusuke came marching into his office, the other three trailing behind him at a more sedate pace.
"This had better be good, Koenma. I hate having to come here more than once a day!" he growled in greeting.
"Watch your tongue, Yusuke!" barked Koenma. "You have no idea what trouble I went through to set up this meeting!"
"Trouble? What trouble? All you ever do is sit behind that desk, all nice and safe, and watch us do all the work like some freaking soap opera or anime series!"
The godling frowned at him, and without warning suddenly changed into his adult form. "No, Yusuke, you're not having a normal meeting with me. We're going to see Inari, the fox god."
Kurama's eyes widened. "Are you serious Koenma?"
The now-tall godling nodded.
"What? Why are we going to see a fox god?" asked Kuwabara.
"Uh, he'd better not turn out to be another toddler," said
Yusuke, crossing his arms.
"Since the files on every soul reincarnation are so long, it would take years to read through one to find detailed information about any one life or event that happened in that life. Plus the back-up files aren't nearly as organized or well put together as the good copies. I have a whole team of oni scanning pages and running them through a computer to look for key words. For all I know Kurama may have run into the three treasures several times throughout his soul's existence, or another one of you may be the key player as to what the thieves want," said the god. "Going to see Inari is a long shot at best, but the sooner we solve this case the better. I don't want those treasures out any longer then they have to be."
"So you think Inari would know why they stole the treasures," said Hiei. "Why do you think that?"
Koenma sighed loudly. "There's something strange about Kurama's reincarnations. It seems that every time he's been reincarnated as a fox, in one way or another. Not only that, but a silver fox god is mentioned a lot in the sections of his existence where the three treasures came in."
"A fox every time?" said Kuwabara. "Well, I can see why. I mean, I really can't see Kurama as anything but a fox." Kuwabara didn't notice the death look Hiei shot him.
Koenma shook his head. "No, Kuwabara, Kurama always being a fox is more rare then any fraction I could give you. The odds are near impossible for something like that to happen. I'm guessing that during one point or another, Kurama encountered something that fixed his fate... or that he's someone important to Inari."
Kurama shifted a little uncomfortably not liking the way things were developing. Could he really be someone important to Inari? No, a past version of himself must be the one that held the fox god's interest. He knew of nothing special about himself that would attract special interest from his god. Not even the fact that he was a powerful and rare-colored Youko should have made the god watch him so closely, and for so long.
"When are we going to see Inari-sama?" asked Kurama feeling lightheaded.
"We're leaving now," said Koenma. "I've arranged for us to see Inari this evening."
Kurama felt week in the knees. Today! He didn't feel ready to see his god today! He hadn't been this nervous in a long time, he really wished he'd been a more devoted fox. Oh God! When was the last time he'd prayed to the fox god, really prayed?! Kurama felt a soft brush along his side and turned his head to see the small Koorime boy. He smiled softly. Hiei would be there. He didn't know why, but the moment he'd met the dark little youkai he had trusted him. Even to the point where after Hiei collapsed from his wounds, when they had first met, he'd brought the unconscious fire demon home with him to treat his injuries; that was a big no-no in the Makai. Never let your enemies into your territory without a damn good reason. He just felt comfortable around the small demon, as if Hiei had always been by his side. Strange, since he'd only known the demon a few short years yet he himself was several hundred. He'd only felt such trust and closeness to one other: Kuronue.
Kurama bowed his head and pressed his side to Hiei's, needing the contact as he though of his good friend, partner, and even lover at times, which he had failed to protect. He would never take good friends for granted again. Sad, but it had taken several hundred years for him to realize that they were more precious then any treasure in all the three worlds.
"Well, why are we standing around here, then?" Yusuke's voice snapped Kurama out of his thoughts. "Let go see this Inari fellow."
"Will you be all right with this?" asked Koenma, sensing
Kurama's discomfort.
The fox smiled and nodded his head.
* * * * * * * *
"Misuki!" shouted Korin at the bunny girl. "How could you mess up such a simple task?" he demanded in an angry voice.
"I'm sorry," whimpered the bunny demon, bowing her head in shame, "But it wasn't easy, Korin-sama."
"How could it possibly not be easy!" shouted the tiger youkai.
"You said that the one we wanted would bear a resemblance to your ryu! But, I've never seen him!" shouted the bunny girl.
Korin frowned. She was right. He'd forgotten that Misuki had never been to the Crystal Caverns to see the black ryu, so naturally when he told them to bring back the one that looked similar to the ryu, she wouldn't have known which one it was.
"See, it wasn't my fault!" said the blond.
Korin wanted to rip out her throat, but he did have a use for Misuki. He planned on using her when he finally did get all the pieces to the puzzle. He smirked to himself as he thought of the role he had planned out for the annoying bunny demon.
"That's okay, Misuki," he said in a surprisingly civil and gentle voice. "I'll tell you who the one we need is so next time there will be no mistakes. When we do go on the hunt, I shall join you to make sure it is done right."
Misuki looked at him in shock, not having expected that answer. "Ha-hai, Korin-sama," she said.
Korin smiled and turned away from the group. He was so close, so very close. He was certain now who the one was that he needed to wake up his ryu. He hadn't been one hundred percent sure when he'd first laid eyes on him, but after going through those files he was certain that he was indeed the one he'd been looking for close to 600 years.
He grinned. He could wait a little while longer. It wouldn't matter. In the end, he would have what he wanted.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yusuke and his team stepped out in front of a large stone temple and looked up at its flawless walls with a degree of awe.
"So this is where this Inari lives," said Kuwabara in a dazed voice. "Why is he in the Reikai?"
"All those of godly descent live in the Reikai under my father," said Koenma. "It's one of the rules. It's been here before I was born."
"Your old man must really be powerful," said Yusuke, still staring at the temple before him.
"He's the leader of the gods," said Koenma, and began walking up the steps towards the entrance. The others quickly followed.
Once they were inside a tall golden Youko with deep blue eyes greeted them. "Welcome," said the Youko his voice deep and musical. "Inari-sama has been expecting you."
Kurama looked with awe at the golden Youko. He seemed to give off a holy aura, which really shouldn't be surprising: Gold Youkos were said to be made in Inari's image. Therefore, most golden youkos were trained to be his priests. This Youko served Inari himself: of course, he would project such an aura of beauty and power.
"Please follow me," said the Youko and lead them down a lush hall full of plants, paintings, statues, and other rich treasures.
"Yo!" came Kuwabara's voice. "Hey guys, take a look at this," he pointed to a large painting hanging on one side of the hall.
"What?" demanded Yusuke strolling over to look at the painting. "What's so special about this? It's just a painting."
Kurama, Hiei, and Koenma stopped to look as well.
"Dummy, look at it!" growled Kuwabara. He lifted a finger and pointed to the image on the painting. "See, there's a silver Youko in this painting."
Everyone looked. Indeed, there was a beautiful silver Youko in the picture. He was dressed in battle armor and covered in the blood of his enemies, twin swords in his grip. Many silver tails showed behind him.
The gold Youko cleared his throat to regained their attention. "If you don't mind, it would be rude to keep Inari-sama waiting."
"Ah, you're right," said Koenma. "Sorry, we're coming. Come on," he hissed at the group and they followed the gold Youko down the rest of the hall till they came to a pair of double doors with gold ivy leaves all over its frame.
The gold Youko opened the two doors and bowed down. "Inari-sama, Koenma-sama and his companions are here to see you."
"Thanks you, Gabel. Bring them in. I will call you when I have need of you again."
"Yes, Inari-sama," said the Youko, bowing his head lower. He turned to the group. "Please enter."
Yusuke strolled calmly into the room and the others followed, looking around at the beautifully furnishing. The Gold Youko, Gabel, closed the doors behind them.
"Koenma, it's been a long time," said the honeyed voice and everyone looked up to see a tall golden creature before them. His beauty was too much to describe, gold eyes set on a pale face, with gold hair and tails. Inari was breathtaking even in the simple robes of white that he wore.
"Inari," said Koenma, also in awe of the creature before him. He shook himself out of his stupor and bowed to the fox god.
"Inari, as you know I am in need of your help."
"Yes," said the golden fox god. "You mentioned the three Reikai treasures had been stolen."
"Yes, that is why we are here. Ah, I'm being rude!" cried Koenma. "I have yet to introduce you to my team. This is Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, and Kurama."
"I know those names," said the fox god smiling. He walked forward to stand before them. A look of shock flashed on his face as something under his white robs began to glow softly. He reached down the front of his shirt and pulled out a small white horn strung on a gold chain. The horn glowed with a white light. His eyes scanned the group and landed on Hiei.
The Koorime boy blinked in surprise as the golden fox god walked over to him and took hold of his chin, tracing his thumb down Hiei's pale cheek and across his slightly parted lips.
"Kaoru?" said Inari looking Hiei in the eyes.
Kurama looked on in shock as his god went over and fondled his lover's face. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't just go over and grab the Koorime out of Inari's reach and bare his teeth. It was his god for crying out loud! Plus, the others were unaware of his and Hiei's relationship, and they both preferred to keep it that way.
Hiei couldn't hold eye contact with Inari long. His gaze was searching, full of emotion, and strangely sad. He looked down and shivered.
Inari removed his hand. "Sorry," he said. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. Would you be so kind as to loosen that bandage around your arm a bit so that I might see what's under it?"
Hiei snapped his red gaze up. Inari wanted to see his black dragon tattoo?! This meeting was getting strange! Hadn't they come here to have Inari answer their questions? Hiei nodded his head and slowly undid the bandages around his hand, using his mind to clamp down on the black fire dragon to insure that it wouldn't try and break loose; to his surprise the Kokuryuha didn't fight him at all.
He lifted his arm, bandages dangling loose, and presented it to Inari.
The fox god took hold of the Koorime's arm and brushed the wrappings aside to reveal the black dragon's fiery head. A beautiful smile crossed Inari's mouth as he rubbed a thumb over the black serpent-like head, then leaned down to kiss the back of Hiei's hand.
Hiei nearly jumped back in shock. He had a 'GOD' touching and kissing him, and right in front of Kurama no less. He lifted his gaze and locked it on his fox who was looking more then a little possessively at him.
Inari stood back up straight and bowed his head slightly at the Koorime. "Thank you. You may cover him now."
Hiei blinked his red eyes a few times in confusion, then looked down at his arm and began wrapping it, feeling incredibly uncomfortable at the moment.
"What was that about?" Yusuke asked. Koenma nearly choked at the boy's rudeness and was going to scream at him when Inari laughed sweetly. Inari fingered the small horn around his neck and closed his eyes. "Long ago, so very long ago. You have grown, brother. It is good to see your are true to your blood."
The group looked at Inari with confusion, not understanding the meaning of his words.
"Forgive me," said Inari. "What is it you wanted to talk about, Koenma?"
"Inari, we have reason to believe that the three treasures that were stolen from the Reikai may have something to do with you and my detective, Kurama."
Inari turned his golden gaze to Kurama, studying the fox in human disguise. "Explain," said the god.
"The thieves stole files dealing with the reincarnations of my team. By going through the back up files, we discovered something very interesting: that the three treasures, one of Kurama's past carnations, and you were all connected at a certain point. We were hoping that you could give us some information as to what the thieves' goals could be, and why this information is important to them."
Inari's face dropped and he looked away. "You are mistaken."
"Excuse me?" said Koenma.
"There is no connection between myself and the three treasures."
"But it says so in the files," Koenma protested.
Inari turned his burning eyes to Koenma. "A true god cannot lie!" his voice boomed. "I am not connected to the three treasures. You have been misinformed."
Koenma took a step back, not understanding why Inari was suddenly angry.
"Gabel!" called Inari, the golden Youko opened the door and stepped in.
"Yes?" he said, bowing his head.
"Please show Koenma and his friends out."
The golden Youko bowed deeply. "Please," he said gesturing with an arm.
Koenma sighed, "Very well. Thank you for your time, Inari. But may I ask you one more question before I go?"
"You may ask," said the golden fox god.
"Is there a reason that Kurama, throughout the whole of his existence, has been a fox of some form or other?"
The fox god looked at Koenma a moment, then his golden gaze landed on Kurama. "No. This is not of my design. Perhaps of his own or another's, but not mine," answered the golden fox god.
Koenma wanted to ask some more questions, but realized that he must have touched some painful memories for the golden god. "Thank you Inari," said Koenma bowing low and moving to leave the room, the others followed him.
Kurama who was the last to leave the room paused at the door as he thought he heard Inari say in a soft voice someone's name: Suoh?
Hiei glanced back at his fox who appeared deep in thought as they walked down the hall, he himself was troubled by their strange meeting with the god of foxes. As he walked his eyes found and stopped on the painting that Kuwabara had pointed out earlier. Hiei moved to stand before the painting and he noticed something that shocked. As Kurama was passing the picture and Hiei the small Koorime's arm shot out to grab his.
"Hiei?" said Kurama looking at the fire demon, then at the painting, seeing it was the one that had caught Kuwabara's attention early.
"Kurama," said Hiei. "Tell me: how many tails does Inari have?"
Kurama looked at the demon in confusion, "Hiei you know that Youkos can only have a total of nine tails. As the god of foxes of course Inari-sama has nine."
"Then why does this one have ten?" asked the Koorime boy.
"What?!" questioned Kurama getting the others attention.
They all crowded around the picture once again.
"What is it?" asked Yusuke staring at the painting finding nothing special about it once again.
"This Youko has ten tails," said Kurama pointing at the circle of tails that showed behind the Youko in the painting.
"So?" said Kuwabara. "Why is that important."
"Kuwabara if this Youko had ten tails that would make him more powerful then Inari," said Kurama.
Everyone's eyes widened, they all stared harder at the painting.
"Gabel," said Kurama addressing their guide. "Do you know who this Youko is?"
The golden Youko shook his head. "I once dared to ask Inari-sama about this painting, but he would tell me nothing. It seems whoever that Youko was the mention of him brings Inari-sama sad memories."
"Then why keep his picture here?" wondered Koenma aloud. "He must have been someone important," mumbled the god leaning closer to the painting to get a better look. "Ahhhhh!" shouted the godling pointing at the fox in the painting.
"What?!" shouted Kuwabara looking around for someone to jump out of he walls and attack them.
"Look! Look! It's a silver fox!" shouted Koenma.
"So," said Hiei. "Kurama is also a silver fox. What's so special about that?"
"No, remember the files on Kurama's reincarnation mention a silver fox god!"
Kurama's eyes widened. "Inari is gold, not silver."
Once again they went back to staring at the painting.
"Could there be another fox god out there?" questioned Kuwabara.
"No," answered Gabel from behind them. "There is only one fox god and that is golden Inari-sama."
"Perhaps there is no longer a silver fox god, but maybe there once was one," said Koenma rubbing his chin. "A silver fox god with ten tails."
"Well, that puts us back at square one," said Yusuke. "If this fox god is dead, then we can't go ask him about the treasures, now can we."
"I think Inari knew something about all this," said Kuwabara, glancing in the direction they had come.
"I think so, too," said Koenma. "He probably knew who this other fox god was, but I don't think he wants to give us that information."
Gabel cleared his throat once again to get their attention.
"Inari-sama did ask me to show you out."
Koenma sighed. "Very well, then lead the way."
The golden Youko lead them out of the temple and said his good-byes.
"Well, now what?" asked Kuwabara.
"We find those thieves and defeat them," said Hiei, starting to walk away. "We won't have to worry about their goals if they are never given a chance to fulfill them."
"Well, then, let's get back to the Ningenkai and find them," said Yusuke, eagerly cracking his knuckles. He was looking forward to a good fight.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Yusuke and his team were walking through the thick forest not far from Genkai's temple. They had detected a brief flash of youki when they'd returned as if, just for a moment, an unknown demon had used its powers. So now they were walking around the woods looking for its source.
"You should let me scout ahead," said Hiei quietly to the fox.
"It's safer this way. We still don't know which one of us they're after," said Kurama keeping his eyes moving around for any signs of life.
Hiei snorted. After all that had happened he was pretty damn sure that it was Kurama that the thieves were after. After all, they already knew that Kurama had had all three treasures at one time or another, and that redhead Youko seemed pretty determined to fight him. Yes, Hiei was sure that they wanted his fox. Well, they were going to have to go through him to get to Kurama; he wasn't going to let the fox out of his sight till they'd finished this case if he could help it.
Korin glanced down at the four walking along on the ground and smiled to himself as he spotted the one he needed. Yes, everything was going perfectly, he almost had the boy in the palm of his hand. He glanced at Yoko who was not far off to his side.
"You understand right?" he said softly to her.
She nodded. "Yes, I'll wait for your signal."
"Good," said Korin and opened a portal in front of him.
Yusuke stopped and jumped back as a black portal opened up right in front of him. He'd almost walked right into the thing since he'd been looking over his shoulder at Kuwabara when it opened up.
"All right, about time," said Yusuke, stepping back a little more to get ready for whatever was about to step through the portal.
"Look out, Yusuke!" shouted Hiei, leaping and taking them both to the ground as another portal opened up right behind the teen and a long ribbon slashed out at the back of the boy's head.
"Damn! How can he open up more then one portal at once?" asked Yusuke from his place under Hiei.
The Koorime suddenly pressed tightly against him.
"Wow, Hiei! I never knew-" said Yusuke and gasped as the fire demon jumped again pulling him along as well. Yusuke watched as a third portal opened up on the ground right were they had been.
"Baka, what were you thinking?" snorted Hiei pushing Yusuke away.
Yusuke also snorted and crouched down as a fourth portal opened: a figure stepped out of each one.
"Ah! You guys again," said Yusuke, recognizing the demons from that morning- also the ones they were looking for.
"Looks like they saved us the trouble of having to find them," said Kuwabara, forming his rei ken.
The eight split off one on one, with Yusuke against Korin, Kurama against Yoko, Kuwabara against Genma, and Hiei against Misuki.
Hiei and Misuki leapt about the treetops, both at incredible speeds, but Hiei was faster still. The small fire demon's problem was that he was trying to keep an eye on Kurama while fighting the bunny demon.
He glanced at the two foxes fighting, then jerked his head out of the way as a needle on a silver thread flew past his face. He cursed to himself as the bunny demon laughed.
Korin was also watching the other fights, waiting for just the right moment. He took in everything, even Hiei's occasional glances at the two fighting Youkos.
Yusuke ran forward at the tiger demon and punched out at him, but the demon simply stepped back into a portal he created and disappeared.
"Damn it! Hold still and fight me!" he shouted angrily at the tiger demon.
A laugh was heard behind him. "You can't hurt what you can't find!" A hand landed on his shoulder and electricity ran through his body. Yusuke cried out in pain and was thrown forward as the tiger demon's ki sparked and exploded.
"I am part lighting demon, although my specialty is opening portals, I can give off quite a shock," hissed Korin flashing white fangs. "I also know that the base of your power is also that of lighting since Raizen's line is descended from a clan of lighting demons."
Yusuke cursed and wiped the blood off this lip. If what Korin said was true one of the reasons he'd come through so well was because they were of a similar element. Well, let's see how well he survives one of my attacks thought Yusuke channeling ki into his hands.
Kuwabara had really had enough of Genma, the earth elemental. He'd turn him into a pile of rubble for daring to threaten Yukina. He was having trouble getting close enough to the elemental to hurt him though since the ground he was standing on was quite literally moving. Kuwabara dodged yet another earth spike that threatened to skewer him as it shot straight up from the ground.
"Damn it!" shouted Kuwabara running forward and cutting down all spikes that got in his way. He reached the earth elemental and leapt at him swinging horizontally at the demon. "Take this!" he shouted cutting the demon across the chest.
Kuwabara landed and grinned. His grin quickly disappeared when the elemental turned around to glare at him. The slash marks on its chest didn't seem to bother it at all.
"No way," Kuwabara said, then yelped and jumping out of the way as several more spikes popped out the ground under him.
Kurama danced with the red-haired fox, their weapons singing through the air as they struck at each other. Yoko raised up her hand and a fireball appeared in it. She tossed it at Kurama who ducked under it. It exploded behind him and flames licked at his backside.
If she wanted to take it to another level, that was just fine with him. Kurama reached into his hair and pulled out a seed. He ran at the red fox and leapt up over her, carefully dropping the seed down her shirt. The fire fox turned on him with a snarl that turned into a cry as a many-toothed plant monster exploded out of her shirt, ripping it in the front. The plant champed down on her shoulder and began tearing at the flesh there.
Yoko screamed and burst into flames that consumed the Makai plant. It screamed as well, and then died. The red Youko was now bleeding badly on the shoulder, her shirt barely covering her front. "Not bad," she panted, putting a burning hand on the wound and cauterizing it shut with a hiss of pain.
"Not bad yourself," said Kurama lifting his whip.
Korin glanced at the fight between Kurama and Yoko and figured it was about time. He smirked as he teleported out from in front of Yusuke once again, and appeared right next to Kurama's side.
Kurama gasped and snapped his whip over to strike the tiger demon. Korin ducked under the whip and charged his hands with more shocking ki.
"Kurama!" shouted Yusuke getting Hiei's attention as he saw that the fox was being attacked from two sides at once.
"Damn it!" cursed the Koorime running at top speed towards the fox.
Korin couldn't hide his triumphant grin as the small fire demon appeared right next to the silver Youko. "Yoko!" he called.
The red Youko snapped her ribbon forward as he threw his ball of charged lighting ki at the two.
Hiei pushed Kurama out of the way of the lighting ball, but in doing so he put himself right in the way of the silver ribbon. His heart all but stopped as he thought that it would surely cut him in half.
"What?!" shouted Hiei as the ribbon struck him on the flat part, not the edge, causing it to wrap many times around him pinning his arms to his sides. The red Youko pulled the ribbon tight forcing Hiei to plant his feet or be dragged forward. He struggled, trying to move his sword up to slice the ribbon, but having great difficulty doing so with his arms pinned to his sides. Hiei looked up to see the red Youko lick her lips and knew he was screwed.
"Gotcha!" shouted the red Youko snapping the ribbon up and throwing the light Koorime into the air. "Misuki!" she called.
"Right!" shouted the bunny demon pulling two silver threads with white papers strung through them. She twirled the needles on the ends a few times then threw them at the airborne fire demon, tangling him up even more.
Hiei cursed. He couldn't even land on his feet now that they were tied tightly together. He could only watch helplessly as the ground got closer. This is going to hurt he thought closing his eyes. He exhaled sharply as something grabbed him by the back of his black cloak and opened his eyes to see the ground only a foot away. He looked up to see the rock demon had been the one to catch him.
"Shit," said Hiei trying to raise his ki, but if anything, his ki was getting weaker. He caught sight of one of the white papers tied on him. His eyes widened as he realized it was a ward, which probably meant that all the white papers on him were wards. That was a damn lot of wards! A wave of dizziness hit him and he had to fight to keep his eyes open as the rock demon tucked him under his arm.
"Hiei!" he heard Kurama call his name before darkness swallowed him.
Korin laughed out loud as he watched the fire demon's eyes roll back in his head as he lost consciousness. "Finally!" he shouted stepping into a portal and reappearing next to Genma. He took hold of the unconscious Koorime boy's chin and peered at his face. "After all these years, I've finally found you, Suoh Ryu!"
Yusuke fired a shot at the group, but they all jumped out of the way. "Put him down right now!" shouted Yusuke leveling his finger at them again.
Korin laughed while petted the fire demon's hair. "Now, now, none of that. After all, you won't want to miss and hit your friend now would you?"
Yusuke's finger quivered, but he narrowed his eyes at the group. "Who says I'd miss?"
Korin only smiled at him still petting Hiei's wild hair. "You can thank Koenma for me. It might have taken me years to capture him if he'd been with Mukuro and I've already waited 600 years for this. No, wait," grinned Korin. "I'll thank him myself when I invade the Reikai."
"You bastard!" shouted Kuwabara.
Korin laughed and a large portal opened up behind them.
"Hiei!" shouted the group running forward, but too late as it closed before they could reach it.
"Hiei..." said Kurama falling to his knees where they had disappeared with his lover.
"Damn it!" screamed Yusuke.