DISCLAIMER: Yu Yu Hakusho belongs Yoshiri Togashi, Fuji TV, Pierrot, etc.…

A/N: Sorry I was late this time! (It was only a few days…) My computer crashed and I haven't been able to access the Internet... I promise the next chapter will be out soon! Give me about two weeks, since I have finals all next week and won't be able to get much done. Thanks for staying with me this long!

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To Look Upon a Rose: Chapter 4

- Kurama's pov -

Hushed voices drifted around me, encasing me in a comforting blanket of familiarity. Families talked among themselves while waiters drifted among the tables like black-clad ghosts, carrying and clearing away plates and cups in near silence. A stick of incense burned on the table across from us; the smell was heavy, but I was thankful for it. It dropped another layer of the curtain around me, driving my unease further away. No nightmares could reach me here, wrapped in a cocoon of banality and normalcy.

I blinked and looked up as my mother called my name, gesturing toward my nearly untouched plate of tonkatsu. "What's the matter, Shuuichi? You've barely eaten a thing."

"Nothing's the matter," I replied instantly, shifting slightly on the cushion. "I'm just not very hungry."

Shuuichi leaned over, grinning impishly, and picked at my food. "I'll take it if you don't want it…" I shrugged, and his grin widened as he scooped half of the tonkatsu off my plate with his chopsticks.

"Oh, by the way…" my stepfather began, glaring pointedly at me for drawing the attention away from him. My mother and stepbrother turned back to him, and I was left to my thoughts once more.

I glanced own at my hands clenched tightly in my lap, then brought one up to brush the smooth surface of the hiruseki stone that hung around my neck. I shuddered as my fingertips touched the cold stone; strange that, despite being a fire demon, Hiei's tears remained eternally icy.

Tucking the necklace under my shirt, I closed my eyes as a wave of guilt and fear swept over me. How could I have said such things to Hiei? I wasn't thinking straight, I'd been too upset… Yet no excuse was enough to justify my words.

"Is that how you solve your problems, Forbidden Child? By running away?"

What scared me – terrified me – was that those words had left my mouth of their own accord; I had not been able to hold them back. I had been frozen, unable to resist as my mouth loosed invective at the one I held closest to my heart. As if… as if someone else was speaking through me.

I shivered again and forced those thoughts from my mind, wrapping myself in the cloak of security the familiar lights and sounds created, knowing that soon, I'd have to face the darkness again.

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- Koenma's pov -

Things just kept getting better.

George still had not returned with the list of names – not that I didn't have enough to keep me occupied – and Ayame hadn't returned either after I'd sent her to find him. Moreover, four of my ferry girls had stormed in, one even sporting a nasty gash across her arm, to complain about a group of escapees who were skulking around the Reikai, terrorizing them as they brought in new arrivals. So far, only two had been apprehended; six still lurked somewhere outside the palace walls.

And, to top it all, my father had requested a special report on my progress.

I dropped my head in my hands and moaned. "Why me? Why can't things ever just go right for once?" I groaned again.

"Koenma-sama?"

I looked up as Ayame entered, sighing as she eased the door closed behind her. Of all my assistants, she alone managed to never irritate me, no matter how miserable a mood I was in. Even Botan couldn't claim that feat – she was irritating on even the best of days. Rumors had always been in abundance about Botan and me, but truth be told, if I were to get involved with one of my employees, it would be with Ayame. Not that Botan hadn't hinted several times… "Yes, Ayame?" I said wearily.

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, she handed me a single piece of paper. "These are the names of the prisoners who have not yet been apprehended, not including the two just captured. Full background reports have been compiled, should you wish to see them. The apprehended criminals have been temporarily placed in the restraining rooms in E block, which has been reinforced with extra wards. Captain Takeo requests your permission to assemble special teams to escort the ferry girls to the palace… Koenma-sama, are you alright?"

Exhaustion and a feeling of inundation overtook me; I didn't want the responsibility of it all anymore. I'd jumped at the chance to oversee the Reikai when my father had decided to take a less active role in ruling the worlds, not knowing – and not caring – how much effort and time that role required. How stupid I had been. "I'm fine, Ayame. Tell Takeo he may have two men per ferry girl. And tell him to step up the search. I want those prisoners back by midnight tomorrow."

The dark-haired girl nodded. "Yes, sir." She made a half-bow before turning and walking silently from the office. The door thudded softly behind her.

I glanced down at the list of names. Tsukino Ichi, A-class, convicted of murdering seven human women after abducting them. Muryama Sayuri, lower S-class, convicted of torturing and murdering her two children. Miakami Ryuen, B-class… Wait, why is there a B-class on this list? I thought these were all high level youkai–

"Koenma-sama!"

"What?" I growled, angry that yet another complaining ferry girl had decided to barge in on me. I looked up, frowning, then blinked as a familiar head of blue hair poked in the door. "Oh, Botan."

"Koenma-sama, you've got to do something about those escaped criminals!" she exclaimed, leaning over my desk, her voice so excited that I couldn't tell whether she was angry or afraid or both. "Yumi just returned nearly unconscious, and the soul she was transporting was destroyed. The ferry girls are revolting! One of them found a dead guard by the gateway. They're refusing to work until they get some kind of protection. There's already a major soul backup in the Ningenkai!"

Slumping back in my chair, I groaned again

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A/N: That wasn't too bad, was it? I'm not really crazy about writing from Koenma's pov – or Botan's – but it's a necessary part of the story. Have you gotten the connection between them and Karasu yet? If not, the next few chapters will clear everything up.