::14::Truth Be Told::

My head...

He dare not open his eyes for fear of the light that would come flooding in, only helping to make his current migraine a hundred times worse. Instead he tried to block out the pain...and maybe go back to sleep in the process...

But soft murmurs hummed in his ears, quiet enough not to be deciphered but loud enough to keep him awake. His fingers felt weighted down as he lifted his left hand to his forehead, though he knew it was a rather silly human gesture that never helped. Suddenly he noticed a very faint pricking sensation in his right hand, and forced his emerald eyes open a crack to see what it was.

An IV line was running from under a piece of opaque tape to a silver pole that no doubt held fluids of some sort. Wait...this meant...

How did I get to a hospital?

Last thing he remembered, he was in his office at Hogwarts with Yusuke and Harry and his two friends. Maybe the castle's hospital wing? He sighed heavily, his head was throbbing and he couldn't think straight. What had been in that potion? Guess it didn't matter if he was still alive.

Finally, one of the lowly humming voices rose in pitch just enough for him to make out her - for it could only be Botan's - words.

"Look, he's moved! Kurama, can you hear me?"

"...Yes, Botan..."

His words were slightly slurred from exhaustion, and he still didn't open his eyes fully. Just move his lips enough to get out audible words.

"Oh, good! You're okay then!" she exclaimed, making Kurama flinch from the high pitch of her voice. It was definitely not helping his headache.

"I'm quite alright...just a headache," deciding he had no other choice, he opened his eyes fully and let a comforting smile come across his face. She sounded genuinely worried, and Kurama didn't like his friends to worry, especially if it's his fault.

Feeling along the edge of his hospital bed, Kurama found the panel where all the little buttons and such that adjusted the bed were located. He pressed one and adjusted himself as the bed raised it's front half so he could sit up comfortably.

Just then, Hiei walked into the room, not bothering to close the door behind him. "Hn. Are you in your right mind?" he asked flatly, turning those fiery crimson eyes to clash with calm, itense emeralds.

"Yes, Hiei," Kurama replied. Then he noticed the slightly familiar surroundings around him...the way the room was built, it was definitely not Hogwarts' hospital wing. He'd worked for Koenma for a very short time (Yukina saga), and he knew the palace very well (especially after having to rob it). "Am I in Reikai's hospital?" he asked curiously.

Botan nodded, "Yep. Harry and his friends are in Koenma's office, and Yusuke woke up fourty-five minutes ago."

Kurama blinked, "Yusuke was unconscious?"

"You don't remember? Oh, well of course you wouldn't, you weren't awake! Well, Yusuke transferred some of his energy to you but fainted in the process."

Kurama chuckled lightly, "Yes, I have a vague recollection of waking up and being hit in the head," he glanced pointedly at Hiei.

Hiei muttered a soft "hn" and averted his eyes from the kitsune's teasing gaze.

"Anyway, Kurama, we have a bit of a problem. See, there's a wave of youkai that are scheduled to arrive at the castle in about 5 hours...only Hiei and Kuwabara are in real shape to fight, though I daresay Yusuke will insist," Botan sighed in a long-suffering manner, shaking her head.

"Yusuke has not regained his energy?" Kurama asked, slightly surprised. Yusuke was a quick healer and had incredible amounts of ki...surely he couldn't have used that much reviving him.

"Well..." Botan bit her bottom lip, playing with her fingers as though choosing her words carefully, "you were pretty far under, and to make Yusuke faint like that..."

Kurama groaned, "Don't tell me..."

Botan giggled nervously, "Uh, well...his power is drained considerably..."

"He can't fight," Hiei stated, "but a bunch of low-class fools shouldn't be a problem."

A sudden knock on the door got everyone's attention.

"Come in!" Botan called cheerfully.

The door swung open to reveal Harry. His expression was unusually stoic...the green eyes that were an open window to his emotions seemed to be slammed shut...only someone skilled could read the suttle signs, maybe a simple gesture, that could reveal exactly what was going on in his head.

Harry glanced at Botan and Hiei, whose crimson eyes narrowed harshly. He didn't like the sudden change of demeanor in the boy - if there was one thing he learned watching Yusuke fight Sensui, it was personality could make a big difference in any situation.

"I'd like to talk to Pro-...Kurama, alone..."

"Hn. And why is that?" Hiei snapped.

"Hiei, calm yourself. I will talk to him...alone," Kurama said calmly. He had a feeling of what was coming, and Hiei and Botan didn't need to be present for it.

Hiei nodded silently, and, despite many protests from Botan, dragged her out of the room and managed to kick the door shut behind him, muttering various death threats and scowling.

"Now. What is it you needed to know?" Kurama asked evenly, gesturing for Harry to sit on the edge of his bed.

Harry paused as he sat down, fiddling with the ends of the light blue blankets. He glanced at the IV line and the heart monitor machine before choosing the correct way to word his question. Usually he wasn't so cautious when he spoke, but this was a different matter.

"How...how did my parents die? What happened that night?"

"I believe Dumbledore has told you about the attack on your parents already."

"He did, but..."

"You wish to know what Dumbledore does not?" Kurama continued when Harry nodded, "I cannot give it to you. I was not alive when Voldemort attacked."

"What?" Harry said, completely confused.

"Voldemort planned to attack a week after you were born, that was when he found out about the prophecy, and I found out about his plans and his reputation. He made frequent trips between worlds, and on one of these trips I found him and offered my services in exchange for lessons with a wand. He found a spell that would mask my demon energy to let me pass between the human and demon worlds. There, I was able to find Pettigrew and extract the necessary information about your parents' whereabouts. I accompanied Death Eaters on several attempts to kill you, but your parents were skilled and fought them off. Several of their friends were killed in these battles. There is a strict law that says a demon cannot murder a human, and killing you was not worth having the spirit world hunt me down, so I did not participate. However...soon after one of these attacks, I was on a solo burglary, where I was cornered. It was an officer of the Spirit World Defense Force, most likely going after me for fear that I would kill you or your parents. I do not know the details of what happened after that."

(episode 92, we find out the guy who killed Kurama was an officer of the SDF. he's got blue hair in sort of an afro style and wears big white hoop earrings, and his name is Sunjun.)

Harry's green eyes widened. There had been multiple attacks? But then...that made sense, Voldemort wouldn't risk himself without seeing what the dangers were.

"Why didn't they change their location?" Harry asked suddenly, his tone slightly accusing. If they knew Voldemort had a lock on their location, why didn't they change it?

"I do not know. My only conclusion is the multiple defeats of the Death Eaters lulled them into a false sense of security. They were not expecting Voldemort himself to kill you."

"And Koenma still trusts you?!" Harry blurted out, jumping off the bed and to his feet, his eyes set in a harsh glare.

"So you've met him? No, Koenma did not trust me or Hiei at first. We were given the chance to assist Yusuke on his missions in lieu of a spirit world prison sentence, or worse," Kurama replied calmly, unfazed by the young wizard's outburst, "But, yes, I believe he does trust me now."

Harry just shook his head in a disbelieving manner, his green eyes blazing with hate. The calm, collected man before him was a cold-blooded murderer, and he didn't have the decency to show a bit of remorse! Harry stalked out of the room, slamming the door hard behind him.

"I take it that didn't go so well," Yusuke commented as Harry came fuming out of Kurama's room.

"Hn," was the only reply the short fire youkai beside him gave.

"Hey! Harry, c'mere!" Yusuke called to stop the boy from going any further.

Harry snorted and snapped a bitter, "What?"

"You don't trust him, do you?" Yusuke asked casually, leaning against the wall.

"No."

"Then follow me," was all the detective said as he and Hiei turned in the direction of Koenma's office. There was something there that may convince Harry to change his views of the kitsune.

::End::Chapter::

Someone asked if they could add this story to their C2 community - well, I have no clue what that is, but I doubt F F . n e t would do anything to screw with authors' writing or anything...so yes, go ahead.