Rea: hello! so sorry for not updating in soooo long. I had to study (which doesn't happen very often) and do homework (another odd occurrence) and junk. so, it goes without saying that the next few weeks might be a bit slow in the updating process what with finals coming up and everything. btw: since no one voted…I have made the decision myself on whether or not Minna will grow up. actually, Ali helped me. you, dear reader, will have to wait and see.

Harlequin: I'll tell you what she decided!

Rea: no you will not!

Harlequin: yes I will! she decided—.::Rea slaps hand over beak::.

Rea: shut up, Harlequin! and you, reading this! read on!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the other people living in my head and my imaginary pet duck (who gets on my nerves quite a lot…)

Chapter 5

"Choice, not chance, determines destiny."

Anonymous

"Will someone get her off me?!" Hiei yelled, trying to pry Minna off of him. However, Minna shook her head and continued to cling tighter.

"Hiei saved Minna."

Hiei stared at her for a second before using all of his strength to pry her off. She eventually fell to the ground and landed on her bottom, glaring up at Hiei as only a six year old could. He glared back before retreating to the wall.

Minna sighed sadly and stared down at the carpet, wishing that something interesting would happen besides the grown ups talking.

"Okay, Binky breathe, will you explain now?!" Yusuke asked, slamming his hands on the toddler's desk. His hair was messed up from the lack of gel and fell into his eyes. He had just been woken up at three o'clock in the morning and he was not happy about it.

"Yeah, Koenma!" Kuwabara said, yawning as he leaned against the wall. "You might as well since we're all awake now. I mean, you never finished explaining after Kurama stormed out."

Kurama sent Kuwabara a death glare before returning his gaze to Minna, who had started walking around the office, playing with random buttons. Kurama yelled at himself mentally. How could he have been so stupid as to storm out like that?! He could have at least hidden his anger until he was alone.

What was that all about, Fox? Hiei asked mentally, glaring at Kurama intensely. Kurama returned the glare. Nothing.

Kurama blocked Hiei out as he continued to throw a mental fit. Why had he done that? It wasn't like he had any bonds with the child or anything.

Because you've heard the story, a voice within his head said smoothly.

So what?, he asked it, Why should I care? Why do I care?

The voice sighed in frustration. Because you don't want to force a child into making a decision that she doesn't even understand, a decision that could cost millions of lives.

One life for many? he asked.

Precisely.

But she's only a child—

Would it be any better if she were older? You would grow more attached and would be even less eager for her to be choose the opposite of what you think is right.

Kurama growled slightly. He knew it was true. Koenma cut through his thoughts when he spoke.

"I suppose that I should probably explain," Koenma said, pausing slightly. "Minna, have you ever heard the story of 'Dark and Light, Black and Silver'?"

Minna looked up from the glowing fire ball that she had been building. She buried her brow together and looked as if she were thinking. "Nope," she said grinning, "but Minna heard Nanny talking about it. Minna asked Nanny to tell Minna the story but Nanny said no. She said it was a stupid legend that would never come true. Minna heard the maids, though. The maids said that it was about to come true and that Minna would be a part of it. Were the maids right, Koenma? Will Minna be part of the legend?"

Koenma sighed. "I…never mind."

Minna glared at him and continued making her fire ball grow.

Koenma looked at the group of humans and demons and rubbed his temples and decided that they should know right now, even if Minna was in the room. "The story of Dark and Light, Black and Silver…

The kingdoms of the Light and Dark have warred for hundreds of years. So long, in fact, that the true reason of the warring is known only by the oldest of the old. The Light and Dark fought because of their kingdom's boundaries and their monarch's proud confidence.

The king of Light decided that it would be best if the Light took over both kingdoms, overseeing both peoples and spreading their white light throughout both lands. The Dark Queen, however, thought that the Dark should rule. They would spread the cooling night upon the peoples and let their dreams reign free.

Both kingdoms fought eachother. Countless men and women died in the battles fought without thought except for power. After all, what drives a person more than the prospect of more power?

After 1,389 years of fighting, the king and queen of each opposing side made a decision. They would go to the best psychic demon in all the world and consult which would be best suited for the ruling.

As the parties traveled together, a young maiden of the light and young soldier of the dark met. They did not know that the other was of the opposing side and they fell in love. They ran away from the warring and had a child. The little girl was named 'Mina', meaning 'darkest light' or 'brightest dark'.

The parents were killed by their parent's orders but the daughter was missed. She emerged from a forest clinging to black and silver. Her destiny was now at a crossroads. She could turn to the dark, accepting amazing powers and bringing the world's Armageddon to realization or she could turn to light, becoming an average demon to help and stop the coming Armageddon.

Help she would have along the way to making her decision. However, she would choose ultimately for herself and her own interests. At the end of the trials, her body will transform into either black stone or silver depending on her choice. She alone will save the world or kill it and she alone can make the choice.

"That is the legend that I have been speaking about," Koenma said as he looked across the room at the Spirit Detectives. Unknown to him, Minna had been listening the entire time and was now staring at him, a scowl becoming visible on her small face.

"You lied, Koenma! You said that Minna was not a part of legend!" she yelled, pointing to Koenma with a slightly trembling finger. "Why did you lie to Minna?!"

Koenma looked at the young girl. "I did not lie, Minna. I didn't say whether you were or not."

Minna looked at him, anger still flaming in her coal like eyes. Suddenly, she went limp and started crying. She buried her head in her hands and sobbed, saying things that made absolutely no sense to Koenma or any of the others until Boton came in. Minna looked up as the door creaked open and ran to Boton, hugging her legs and crying.

"Mama and Papa are gone, Boton! No one to protect Minna or tell Minna what to do! No one to help Minna, Boton! I want Mama and Papa back!" she sobbed. Boton knelt down next to Minna and hugged her tightly.

"Of course they aren't gone, silly! They're right here," Boton said, picking up the black and silver necklace that was hanging around Minna's neck. "And they're listening right now, silly. Do you think that they're proud of how strong you've been?"

Minna wiped her eye and nodded, looking at her reflection in the black stone.

"You'll never be alone as long as you have this with you, okay?" Boton said, smiling painfully at the young demon. Minna smiled and nodded. She put the necklace back on and walked to Koenma's desk, hopping onto it to look him straight in the eye.

"Minna wants to be trained," she said, glaring at the small prince. "Minna wants to have sword and be best at it. Okay? Minna must be the best so that no one has to protect Minna ever again. Minna wants to protect herself and not have to rely on others, okay?"

Koenma looked at Minna, surprised to see how much she had recovered in a few short minutes. "I'll do my best," he said, his binky wiggling slightly, "but I can't promise anything. Understand?" Minna considerd this for a second before nodding. She hopped off the desk and went to the door, pausing before going through. Boton watched as she went through the door into her own room, hesitating only at the door knob.

Everyone headed for bed. Hiei stopped Koenma before he left the room. "I need to tell you another one of the kid's powers…"

Rea: okay, yeah...the legend stinks but you get the general idea. i need three more reviews before i post again. happy reading!