SLN: "Alrighty, before I start I want to take a moment to thank those of you wonderful enough to review!"

UK: runs up "Caaaaaakes! I wanna say it! Can I?"

SLN: "Sure, go for it..."

UK: "Alright, thank you's go to: Honeychica04, Yuki Amida, and myself! Can I say that? Thanks to myself?"

SLN: laughs "Ya just did. And please forgive me if my info on Hiei's Jagan Eye is wrong!"

UK: "Right...On with the story!"

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Botan skips up the stairs to Rika's apartment and knocks on the door. After a moment the door is unlocked and opened to allow the somewhat goofy guide inside. As she closes the door and removes her shoes, Botan notices that one of the doors has a sign posted on it. Curious she walks over and reads the sign which has been written in bold english, "WARNING! Dark room. Any who open this door will be beaten and thrown from the window."

Slowly she backs away from the door, careful not to touch the knob, and turns to Rika, who is setting up something on her desk. Walking over Botan asks, "What's that?"

"My laptop."

Curious, and slightly suspicious, Botan questions her again, "What are you using it for?"

Apparently finished setting up what she needs, Rika sits down and begins placing photos in a scanner, "Work. They mailed it to me when I told them I was going to stay for a little while. I still have to get my pictures to them, and this is the best way to do it. Besides, it gives me the chance to touch them up."

"Oh," Botan perches on the only other chair in the room, "So you're still working?"

Absently, the woman replies, "Yes. I was sent here to work in the first place. My magazine is doing a three month special on Japan. It won't actually come out for another six months, but I was allowed to come over so early because I was paying half the plane ticket and most of living expenses. The fact that I'm stuck here doesn't bother them that much, so long as I send them pictures."

Botan blinks, "So...are you going to write the story too?"

Rika laughs, "Write? Heavens no girl. I take the pictures. The guy writing it won't get here for a month or two. I've managed to gather just about all the pictures I need. So now it's just edit, process, and send."

The blue-haired girl smiles, "So you're okay to stay here for a while then?"

"Yes, unfortunately. I can stay here until the Japan issues start publishing."

Botan claps, "That's great! It means you won't have to think up any excuses or anything!"

The photographer nods, "Yes, I just have to send them a file once a week or so. The last month I can use as vacation."

"Wonderful!"

Meanwhile (Isn't that a fun word?)

"This sucks! Couldn't they at least give us a place to start looking?"

Kurama looks at Yusuke, amused with his antics, "I suppose not. It sounded as though finding this demon is very important."

"Yeah, well if it's so important why didn't they find him with all those do-dads they have?" Kuwabara complains.

"Who knows..." Yusuke grumbles, "Yo! Hiei! Can you find him using your Jagan eye?"

"Hn," Hiei simply looks away from everyone.

"No," Kurama answers for him, "He has to know what their Spirit Energy is like. Otherwise it's like looking for a needle in a hay stack, without knowing what a needle is."

"Oh." Yusuke manages to sound very disappointed, until he turns his gaze to Kurama, "What about you? You know a way to find this Ishida dude?"

Kurama thinks for a moment, "I know of someone who might be able to help us. If we can find her, she should be able to find him. That is, if you're willing to travel a bit."

"It beats just wandering around Demon World," Kuwabara says.

After a few hours of walking, Kurama leads the group into a village. Many of the demons there appear human, though there is the occasional bestial demon watchingthem. The villagers stare at the boys walking past, but make no move to hinder them. Kurama walks up to a hut that is slightly larger than the rest and stands outside.

"Yes?" The woman who exits the hut is short with cropped black hair that spikes naturally. Her simple pants and blouse do little to accent her figure, but the way she carries herself states how important she is, or thinks she is.

"I have use of your skills Taibia. Hopefully this won't take too much of your time."

The woman, now known as Taibia, studies Kurama with piercing black eyes, "Come inside."

After everyone is seated and presented with tea, Taibia turns her attention back to the fox, "What is it that you need now Yoko?"

Kurama sips his tea, taking time to carefully construct his reply, "There is an aquaintence of mine that I would like to find. Would you be willing to help?"

Taibia chuckles, "Perhaps. If you can pay the price required."

Kurama's green eyes bore into hers, "And what might you require?"

The woman's smile is not entirely friendly, "A FrogWart plant."

The fox studies the small woman for a long moment, then nods, "Alright. I only have one seed, I suppose you'd like me to help with it's growth?"

Taibia nods slightly and fetches a pot with rich black soil. Kurama appears to just touch the soil; a few moments later a sickly green slime spreads across the dirt. The slime darkens,then bubbles up and produces small yellow beads of what looks like puss.

"Aw man! That's gross!" Kuwabara, who had been sitting next to Kurama, jumps up and runs to the other side of the room.

"What the hell is that?" Yusuke yells, making faces.

"A treasure beyond price, if you know how to use it," Taibia responds, now beaming at Kurama, "Would you like to tell me the name of this friend? I would certainly be able to find him if you do."

Standing from his place Kurama slides his hands into his pockets, "Ishida."

Taibia's eyebrows shoot up, "Oh? Well then, I can take you right to him."

Hiei's eyes narrow but he remains silent.

Taibia practically skips out the door, leading the four boys down the main road of the village. At the edge of town, a particularly small hut sits near a clear creek. The woman knocks lightly three times before opening the door. An old demon, only slightly taller than Taibia, steps out into the sunlight, leaning heavily on his walking stick.

"Yes, Taibia dear?"

"Ishida-kun, these men were looking for you."

Yusuke and Kuwabara try to keep from laughing, as Kurama sends them a rather menacing glare. While the two idiots turn their back to laugh openly, Kurama approaches Ishida.

"I would like it if you could accompany me."

Ishida stares openly at the red-head, "And where might we be going?"

"Lord Koenma wishes to speak with you."

"What!" Taibia yells, "He hasn't done anything! Why does the Spirit World brat want to see him?"

"Child," Ishida chides, "Calm yourself. I will accompany you Kurama. I knew that I would be summoned again, I was only biding my time."

While Ishida packs a few things, he consoles Taibia and convinces her not to try and kill the Spirit Detectives. After assuring her that he would return soon, he followed the boys into the forest.

"Yo!" Yusuke called into his comunicator, "Bink! We have the old guy!"

"Yusuke," Koenma replied, sounding very tired, "What are you talking about?"

"What do you mean 'What are we talking about'? We found the demon you sent us to get!"

Koenma is quiet for a moment, "You mean Ishida?"

"Yes of course I mean Ishida! Who else would we be out lookin' for!"

"Very well Yusuke, I'll open up a portal for you."

"'Bout time! I want to get home! I'm frickin starving!"

A portal opened in front of the group and they all trooped in. As they appeared in Koenma's office they noticed Botan on the big screen talking to Rika. No sound came from their mouths but it appeared as though Rika was explaining something to the blue-haired reaper.

"You needed me, Lord Koenma?" Ishida asked, bowing.

"Yes, I think you know something about the 'Truth Seers' and I need as much information as you can give me."

"I know as much as you. The prophecy can be deciphered in so many ways. You must understand that they all have the same out come."

"Yes," the small ruler sounded dubious, "With Rika having the fate of the world in her hands."

The older demon sighed, "Yes. Should she learn how to control her power, that will be the outcome."

Koenma suddenly brightened, "And if she doesn't?"

Ishida eyed the toddler, "The only way that would come about is if someone killed her, or somehow obtained the secret of her power."

"Just what IS her power?" Kurama questioned.

Ishida studied the fox, "That I can not tell you. Only Rika will ever truly know."

"Well," Koenma declared, "We'll simply have to make her choose the right decision. And if we can not..." Koenma let the rest of that sentence hang. Everyone exchanged glances before looking up at the young woman on the screen.