SatoriSama: HELLO! and for all my Spanish speaking homies, HOLA! (if I knew more languages, I'd say more cool hellos, but I don't, so… yeah…) I've finished another chapter. It was actually cool, I had like this wicked fit of inspiration. But now, its about 1:03 in the morning (central time) and I probably should be getting to bed, but I want to get this posted in the morning so here I am, writing everyone's favorite, my intros and conclusions. So, after I respond to the LOVELY reviews I got from everyone (there were Iabunch, I was excited!!!)

People who are cool enough to review get a wacky message from me every time, so you should too if you don't already!!! :

Spork: I thought fireworks would be cool seeing as everyone's favorite not-couple (no names mentioned) probably never would have seen them before. And I love fireworks. This New Years eve we shot some off, and I totally said to my dad, "Kickass! I still have three fingers left from last year!" Thanks for reviewing!!!

PainfulxRecovery: LOL! I seem to have a lot of friends who dream about Kurama. Anyway, I luv the idea about Kurama and Daja and Hiei (oh my!), and I just might use that, we'll have to see. And this part (part IV) is were things get complicated between you know who, okay… more complicated then they are now.

Kiarah: I truelyith thanketh thee for thy nobleth criticism, and it tis duelyth noted from noweth on forwardeth. (was that good enough grammer for you?) By the way, I totally have confidence in myself and my writing, I just simply don't like grammer. So… yeah…

P-chan: OMG! THREE REVIEWS! So awesome. Thanks, your support is awesome, and I loved your reaction to Kurama. That's sort of what I wanted to portray him as, the only stable part of the team. THANKS AGAIN!!

Venusgreenight: fireworks… heh heh…

Kitsune Kit: AS always, I thank you for your awesome Mary-sueness alert system. And about hiei and Daja and Kurama, this part (part IV) will clear everything up.

Living Impared: I do not blame you for your computer deficiency. I need a new computer, so getting to the internet sometimes can be a bother. Thanks for continuing to be an avid reader.

OMG, SO MANY REVIEWS!! ONTO THE STORY!!!


Chapter Eighteen: In the Case of Zane Gensou

Hiei: Koenma looks slightly frazzled as he looks up from the mound of paperwork on his desk and takes a glance around the room, counting the occupants to see if all his detectives are here. I stare coldly out the window as Koenma finally realizes that all of us have arrived for this urgent meeting.

It wasn't that I didn't like the child ruler of the Spirit World, it was that he called me away from the Demon World, probably to assign me to another case. That and I truly hate all his bloody innards for still dragging me in to help with Yusuke's cases, even when I finished my sentence and "community service projects" over three years ago. I've finished the time I was required to serve out for my crime, and I do not see why I keep coming back to help every time I am called.

A little voice from somewhere behind my emotional wall tries to answer my question, but I drown it out with silence so I don't have to listen to it's answer about me and my emotional barriers. Whatever the voice will try to persuade me to believe will make me weaker, and to be emotionally weak would get me killed within a few days in the Demon World. I don't want to listen to that voice. I can't listen to that voice. I won't listen to that voice…

"I know you are all wondering why I called you here," Koenma starts thoughtfully, leaning back in his chair for attain a more comfortable position.

Even from across the room, I can tell Yusuke is slightly aggravated by yet again being called to save the world, and I can't say I blame him when he mutters under his breath that whatever Koenma wants this time better be easier than that last case we had.

Carefully, Koenma starts to explain. "Detectives, a few months ago, it came to my attention that—"

"WE DIDN'T MEAN IT!!! WE SWEAR!!!" Kuwabara shouts, arms flailing and making him appear like the humongous idiot that he is. "IT WAS LATE AND—WE DIDN'T MEAN IT!!!"

Koenma's eyes look about to jump out of their sockets in surprise at the Idiot's outburst, and even looks a little flustered when trying to come up with a response. "I, uh, um… what?"

Kuwabara stops flailing about for a moment, and I guess it runs through his mind that maybe Koenma wasn't quite talking about what he was obviously thinking about. Bashfully and blushing in a quite uncontrollable manner, the Idiot sits down and says a quick apology as Yusuke elbows him in the stomach to be quiet.

Koenma looks suspicious as he continues. "As I was saying, a few months ago it came to my attention that various members of species of Demon World and Eternal Paradise descent have been turning up on the Human Realm Black Market, most of which happen to be female." Here Koenma raises his eyebrows, and I can only guess what he is going to say next: They are being sold as "personal entertainers". "I'll leave it up to you to assume what these females are being sold as." Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara look away in disgust, but I continue to stare at Koenma.

Koenma looks at me in return, and continues, as if he cannot believe I am not affected by the purpose these women are being capture, not doubt bred for. "About four months ago, our sources reported that they had pinpointed where these girls are being sold from, a very popular casino in a city in the Demon World." Koenma chews on his pacifier and rubs his chin before he continues, both habits I find very annoying. "Unfortunately, our first informants disappeared under mysterious causes before they were able to finish researching the owners of this casino. However, it was easy to obtain this information from having another operative visit the casino. This informant did come back with a file worth of information that led me to be even more concerned about this grave situation."

Now, Koenma picks up a thick, bound together notebook that is no doubt the information he was just referring to. He opens the jacket and flips it open to a page with a picture plastered on it.

The man is handsome by both human and demon standards, but I assume that his bark is much worse than his bite. Most of the time it is like this anyway for men who are too into their personal appearance.

"This is Zane Gensou." The name rings a bell as Koenma says it. Searching my mind for information on this shady looking character, it comes to mind that Zane has carved himself out a nitch in the casino industry in the Demon Realm. He trusts all the demons that come into his casino until he finds them cheating, which makes his establishment extremely popular. He makes millions of dollars in precious gems and metals a day, more than the average demon casino. The facts continue coming, but Koenma continues to talk so my thoughts are cut off for a moment while I listen. "He owns the Shattered Glass Casino." That, too, rings a bell.

At this point, I notice Kurama's face darken for a moment. Perhaps he, too, is remembering things from his past as I am from mine. It is true that I have visited the Shattered Glass on a few occasions as I passed through that town, but I never could get away with much when I tried to rob that casino. The security was very good at the time, and I could never see the guards. It was as if they were invisible.

Kurama speaks slowly, as if trying to stay focused on the meeting, and not something else. "Koenma, what is it exactly that you want us to do for you?"

Koenma closes the file, and leans back in his chair again. "I will not lie to you. When my last informant came back and refused to go again for another round of reconnaissance, I became worried. I realized that it would be beyond my ability to assign someone from the Spirit World to continue to observe the happenings of Zane's casino and underground racket. It is against the rules for me tell a spirit detective to assume this duty for over two weeks, the average time for a reconnaissance mission." Koenma stops to chew on his pacifier again.

Yusuke looks thoughtful before responding. "What are you trying to say Koenma?"

Koenma sighs and his shoulders slump heavily. "I hired a freelancer."

A collective intake of breath in the room makes Koenma look even more uneasy. "I know this has not been done for at least five hundred years, but at that point there was no other option. This freelancer agreed to go undercover and infiltrate Zane's casino, using any and every means available to them—something that a spirit detective cannot do. In return for this operative's services, I promised to reward them with a handsome prize."

The silence that follows this statement is even worse that the noise that proceeded it.

Kuwabara is the first one to speak, surprising in my eyes for he is the most stupid. "Koenma, is it really true that this guy is selling girls as slaves?" When Koenma nods in return, the Idiot continues. "Then I think we should get started as soon as possible."

Yusuke nods grimly. "As much as it pains me to agree with Kuwabara, I have to agree. Kuwabara's right, we have to stop this guy."

Kurama nods in a silent agreement, and then all the attention is on me. Four pairs of eyes stare at me, wondering if I will accept or reject this case's moral interest, or if I will reject this and continue only because Koenma orders me to.

For a moment, it's kind of unnerving. I don't know quite what to think. This kind of activity happens in the Demon World all the time. I've gotten used to it over the years, and have no ethical objection to its practice. But… I don't know. If Yukina was captured, I would be on a rampage to save her and slaughter her captors.

I close my eyes, and lean against the wall.

They must take this as me agreeing to help them because Koenma starts talking again. "Then it is settled. I'll give you to weeks to look over the file and come up with a game plan. When that two weeks is over, I'll get a transport for you to the Demon World so you can hopefully finish this once and for all. Now, are there any questions before I let you go?"

Yusuke leans forward in his chair and rests his chin on his hand before asking his question. "This freelancer, how will we know it's him when you see him?"

Koenma's eyes shoot open. "You are NOT to approach this freelancer unless they initiate the contact. This particular freelancer assures me that their work is excellent and done with finesse. They have asked me to tell you that they can handle it on their own. If contact is unavoidable, react to them as you would a stranger. Introduce yourself, make small talk. Then you can figure out what needs to be done from there, if necessary."

Kurama clears his throat and looks curious. "And what of Daja? Will she be helping us on this case?"

My eyes open as I watch Koenma for an answer. Koenma looks thoughtful for a moment, and he answers carefully. "As a spirit detective, I couldn't send her out to do a job that in the past has been hard for her. She has done enough on this case already as a member of the spirit detective team."

"How so, Koenma?" Kurama responds thoughtfully, as if he couldn't quite understand the previous statement.

Koenma smiles a moment before picking up the thick notebook of information on Zane Gensou. "Daja went through all the notes on Zane Gensou, his casino, and his dirty racket and made this case file. As you can see, her summaries are long, extensive, and undoubtedly filled with words to confuse you on purpose. But, I've looked over her work, and it is very good. Every possible bit of information of the previous two official reconnaissance missions is in this notebook, as well as the unofficial information. Don't lose it or mess it up, A) because we need it on file in the Filing Archives downstairs when your finished, and B) because Daja will probably be pissed that you ruined it."

This gets Kurama, Yusuke, and the Idiot to chuckle as they imagine Daja probably trying to kick their asses mercilessly for ruining her painstakingly long work. I can only imagine how long it took to assemble a file that big, and write summaries for it. She has patience for things I do not.

"Alright. Well, if that's all your questions, then I'll let you go. See you intwo weeks then, I'll have Botan keep you posted on developments if any occur."

I start to leave when…

"Hiei, I'd like to have a word with you before you leave."

Dammit.

I turn around and Koenma waits for everybodyelse to leavebefore motioning me to sit down. Hesitantly, almost coldly, I sit down in the chair in front of his desk, remaining silent as I do so.

"Hiei, I need you to work to your full potential on this one, and I couldn't help but to notice earlier that you didn't seem phased by the racket Zane Gensou has created for himself."

Somewhat frostily, I reply as I meet his brown eyes with my red ones. "What is it your exactly trying to get at."

Koenma isn't phased. "I know that you dislike being taken away from your work in the Demon World, but this is important. The other detectives need your skills to make this work. I want you to stay in the Human World and help with designing the plan to take Zane's Empire down. That doesn't mean I want you to plan it all out yourself," he assures me, "but you do need to be a part of this as well. Stay with somebody, like Yusuke, or Kurama, or even stay in that apartment that I have for when Botan and Daja are on leave to the Human World."

Koenma waits for me to answer, and I think this over. It is obvious that Koenma was trying to flatter me into helping, but it wont work, not on me. But he does have a point, they will try something incredibly stupid the second I leave, and I'll get blamed for letting them die. I hate that that is the only reason I'm going to help this time, but I guess it's the only good one I can think of.I nod and Koenma smiles.

"Good. Thanks for coming, we weren't sure if you were going to show or not. Now that that's settled, I'll see you in two weeks."

Yeah, I mumble irately as I close the door behind me and feel a headache coming on, two weeks of being with the Idiot and company. This is going to be "good."


SatoriSama: Alright, since my beginning intro thing was so long, I've decided just to end with a thought today because now its 1:32 (central time) and I'm about to fall asleep at the keyboard. With my sword of ancient power, this is Satori, signing out.

Song o' the review thingy:

We were meant to REVIEW for so much more, have we lost ourselves? Somewhere, we REVIEW inside, somewhere we REVIEW inside….