Author's Note: For those who was wondering, chapter one started off with "Standard Disclaimers Apply". CAUTION! DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ PREVIOUS CHAPTERS!

One of your fellow Spirit Detectives is dead....

I covered my face with my hand. Dead.... It wasn't possible! What have I done?

"Hiei?"

"Kurama, get a grip on yourself. We must deal with our present problems before we begin worrying about what might have happened," Hiei's voice broke through the darkness.

"But how do we know if he's the real Hiei? You heard what that demon guy said," Kuwabara spoke up.

"Guys, we really don't have time to argue. We have to get out of here," Yusuke said.

"Kurama, draw your whip and strike down one of your friends. You might actually kill me," the demon whispered again.

"I..can't...do that..." I whispered. When had I become so weak? Youko had often had to do things that he would have preferred not to.

"You two, whichever two are really who they seem to be, make up your minds quickly. I'm not about to be intimidated into anything. Kurama, I recommend jumping."

My eyes widened. Hiei was going to willingly jump into water? I glanced at him, squinting through the darkness. Hiei was prepared to face his fear, like he has so many times before, instead of risking killing one of his friends.

Hiei and I jumped together. I hit the cold water below and went under. Fighting my way to the surface, I broke free of the water and glanced around frantically. Hiei appeared seconds before Kuwabara and Yusuke broke surface. The impostor remained, still playing his part as a Spirit Detective.

"Hey, guys, see those tunnels?" Yusuke asked, struggling out of the jacket that was weighing him down.

"Two tunnels.... Which way leads out of this prison?" I murmured.

Hiei swam toward the tunnel closest to him and peered inside, using his jagan to see within it. "This one. It will lead us back into the lower level of the castle."

"No, my senses tell me that this tunnel is the right one," Kuwabara protested, swimming to the other tunnel.

"You, fool. That tunnel leads to the dungeon. We'll never get out of there if we go that way," Hiei said, frowning at Kuwabara in suspicion.

"Hey, wait a minute. We gotta figure out who the impostor is because right now I don't trust either of you," Yusuke interrupted.

"I don't need your trust, human. If you want to live you'll follow me and not the idiot," Hiei replied.

"He's impersonated you before..." Yusuke began.

"So you automatically suspect me?" Hiei demanded angrily.

"All three of you have been left alone. There was enough time for him to take all of you," I whispered, remembering the traps that had taken Hiei and Yusuke out of sight and Kuwabara being left alone while I searched for them.

"So you don't trust any of us?" Yusuke asked softly.

"I can't, not now."

"It's your choice," Hiei snapped and disappeared within the tunnel.

"Hiei, wait!" Yusuke exclaimed, hurrying after him.

I swam forward, preparing to enter the tunnel, but the gate slammed shut, blocking my path. I stared at the bars, stunned.

"See, I was right. It was a trap," Kuwabara said and ducked into the tunnel he had chosen.

I glanced toward the tunnel, my chest tightening in unease. Left with no choice but to follow Kuwabara, I swam into the tunnel, following its long length until it reached an opening. I reached up, grabbing the edge of the opening and pulling myself up.

Chains rattled around me, and the floor creaked below me as I came to my feet. I stared down at the blood stained floor for a long moment before raising my gaze to the instruments of torture scattered about the room. My eyes closed as I swallowed.

"When?" I whispered.

"In the mist. Kuwabara was dead before you heard his cry. I must admit, it wasn't hard imitating him. His intelligence, was how do humans say it, lacking?"

I turned to face the Kuwabara impostor. "Who are you? Why are you doing this?"

Kuwabara smirked at me. "Razel."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Razel.... You were just a child when I saw you last! Why are you doing this? I never hurt you."

Razel laughed. "Hurt me? Youko Kurama, you destroyed me."

"No," I denied, shaking my head.

He stepped toward me. "You, dear Kurama, destroyed me. You are the reason my family was slaughtered. They died protecting you! They wouldn't give up dear Kurama, and what did he do for them? He never came back! Not once!"

"I was nearly killed!"

"You abandoned those you gave protection to. For that, my lovely Kurama, you will die slowly, painfully. I will hear your screams as I heard theirs. You will beg for your life!"

"Razel, I didn't know. I didn't."

Razel stood in front of me now and leaned toward me. "You betrayed them, and now betrayal will be your death. You will be hated, and you will be destroyed as I was, and then I will watch you die."

I shoved him away from me. "You are not Razel. That child wasn't a monster, and that is what you have become."

"Not yet. Now I am."

Kuwabara's form shifted, reshaping until I stood staring at myself. Razel grinned. "Now I am a monster. What do you think?"

My whip slashed out but he had already vanished. The rose transformed in my hand as tears stung my eyes. My friends would kill me. How could I prove my identity when I myself was so easily fooled before?

"Hiei, Yusuke.... Kuwabara, I am so sorry. I'm so sorry," I whispered, falling to my knees.

Kuwabara was dead. Soon I would be dead, and then Razel would finish off what was left of my friends.

"No! I am Youko Kurama, and I don't give up, not without a fight. Razel will not win."

I forced myself to my feet. If Razel wanted a fight, he was going to get one.