Disclaimer: I own nothing of importance.

Also, I'd like to include a special thanks to anony for reviewing chapter two. I'm sorry you can't use email anymore, but I'm no longer allowed to post review replies in the chapter. Anyway, thanks for your review!

Chapter 3

The redhead made his way back to the park, heading for the nearest portal to the Makai. A shadow passed over him, causing him to pause and look up.

Botan circled back around on her oar, coming down to float in front of him. "I've been looking for you everywhere, Kurama. Where have you been?" she asked.

"I had some things to take care of at the hospital," he replied. "What did you need to see me about?"

"Well, I'm here to take you to Reikai," she answered, a little nervous.

"Does Koenma have another mission for us?" Kurama asked, making no move to climb on to the oar.

"Not for you," she replied, biting her lip. She paused. "Hiei has disappeared into Makai, and according to the terms of your parole..." she trailed off, looking to the side.

The redhead's expression remained blank, carefully concealing his thoughts. Koenma is already aware of Hiei's disappearance, I see. Time is of the essence, yet I cannot gather sufficient information if Reikai is after me, not to mention the repercussions of my actions if I flee. It would appear that the best option is to go with Botan. It will waste time, but if I go willingly, I doubt she will bind my energy. If Koenma refuses to listen to me, then I will waste no time with incarceration and simply escape, he thought. His shoulders slumped slightly as if he had realized he had no other choice and he nodded his head, closing his eyes. "Very well, Botan. Might I receive an audience with Koenma?" he asked.

Botan released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. If Kurama had decided that he didn't want to be brought in, she knew there was nothing she could do to stop him. "I'll see what I can do, you know how busy he is. And he's rather upset over Hiei's disappearance..."

Kurama nodded, mounting the oar behind her. He held onto her waist as she took off, wind pulling at their clothes and hair as they climbed higher. They traveled in silence, the rushing wind making it almost impossible to be heard even if there was anything to say.

After a few minutes, King Enma's palace loomed before them, the tall white buildings standing out against the dark sky. Botan landed, the oar disappearing as they walked through the tall doors. Kurama followed the ferry girl through the familiar halls and rooms. However, instead of taking the elevator up to Koenma's office, the blue-haired girl pushed the button to take them down several floors. The kitsune recognized the number of the floor containing the detention center.

The elevator doors opened and they stepped out, walking along the rows of cells. Most of them were empty, all the permanent residents having been moved to the actual prison. Kurama wrinkled his nose slightly at the smell, wishing he could grow something to freshen the air, but not daring to risk reminding Botan that she hadn't bound his youki.

The ferry girl led him to a cell that looked a little cleaner than the rest, although not by much. She unlocked the door, stepping back as she looked at the kitsune apologetically. "I'm sorry, Kurama, but the rules..."

The redhead nodded to show he understood, stepping into the cell. Botan locked the door behind him. "I'll go talk to Koenma right now, but he may not be able to see you for a while," she said, walking back towards the elevator. Kurama watched her depart. If he does not deign to see me within a reasonable time period, then I will not waste time waiting. I can spare a few hours, but I will not stay any longer than that, Kurama thought, sitting down on the bed. He leaned back against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, and closed his eyes.

. . .

Blinding pain shot through Hiei's skull, bringing him to full consciousness. His body tensed, straining against the restraints holding him until the pain began to fade. When he could see clearly, he looked around, noticing he was in a grey room with poor lighting. He was lying on a table, completely immobilized. He couldn't even turn his head to look to the side. Some sort of contraption was set up next to him, part of it reaching out to hang several inches above Hiei's head.

Closing his eyes, the koorime tried to locate the source of the pain that had woken him. A blurry picture began to form in his mind as the Jagan tried to focus and the fire demon realized that the ward on his forehead had been removed. Knowing from experience that it would be another minute or two before he could use the evil eye again, Hiei focused on his youki. The rest of his energy was, unfortunately, still bound. He stared at the device above him, wondering why his captor had chosen to remove the ward blinding his Jagan. He shivered, his damp clothing reminding him of the water-filled box he had been kept in previously. He repressed a shudder at the memory. He had been completely submerged in the cold water three times before gas had replaced the remaining air, knocking him out. He had woken up here. Whatever they have in store for me here must be better than that coffin, he thought, firmly quelling the fear instilled by the mere thought of returning to it.

Hiei gasped unexpectedly as a drop of what felt like acid landed on his Jagan, burning as it slid across his forehead and disappeared into his hair. Clenching his teeth against the pain, Hiei looked more closely at the contraption above him. What was that? he wondered. He could make out a drop of water right above him. He watched as it slowly grew larger, finally gaining enough weight to fall free, landing on the fire demon below. Hiei was unable to stifle a hiss as the acid-like substance again dropped on his third eye, rolling across his skin.

Holy water, he realized, his Jagan pulsing painfully. Combined with a ningen water torture. A slow and extremely painful way to purify my Jagan or drive me insane, whichever comes first. The corners of his lips lifted up, a smirk forming on the fire demon's face. You will find that I am not so easy to break. Hiei flinched, as another drop of spiritually enhanced water landed on his evil eye, directly attacking his exposed youki. If you wished to hear me scream-- then you will be disappointed, he thought, biting back a cry of pain as another drop landed.

. . .

Kurama opened his eyes as the sound of keys rattling in a lock disturbed his slumber. He looked towards the source, wondering how long he'd been asleep.

A red ogre was fumbling with the keys, trying to figure out which one unlocked the door. He had brown hair with two horns on his head and was dressed in a tiger-striped loincloth. Finally managing to get the door open, he stepped back. "Koenma is ready for you," he informed the prisoner.

The kitsune rose gracefully from the bench, stepping out of the cell. He waited while the ogre locked the door again, following as the red-skinned creature led him to the elevator. No words were exchanged between them as they walked through the halls, stopping in front of the large double doors. The ogre motioned for the redhead to wait while he went to announce his arrival. It was several seconds more before the doors opened and Kurama was bid to enter.

He walked into the room, stopping in front of the desk as he waited for Koenma to acknowledge him. The toddler was busy as always, stamping the papers from one stack and placing them in another. "You wanted to speak with me, Kurama?" he asked, not looking up from his work.

"Yes, Koenma-sama. It is regarding the prison sentence that currently awaits me," he replied.

"You knew the risks when you asked for Hiei to be released on parole, as well as the punishment. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do," Koenma said, still stamping the papers.

"I do not believe Hiei willingly left Ningenkai," the redhead continued.

"Oh? And why is that?" the toddler asked, his voice slightly sarcastic.

"I was supposed to meet him last night in the park for a sparring match. I was a few minutes late, but I couldn't locate Hiei. I did, however, run across a ningen that had been knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of the head. Hiei's sword was lying next to him," Kurama stated.

Koenma had stopped, his hand hovering over the ink pad as he stared at kitsune. "What are you suggesting?"

"Hiei would not concern himself in human affairs without a good reason. He would also not leave his sword behind under any circumstances. I believe he was kidnapped."

Koenma almost laughed out loud at the ludicrous thought of someone being able to kidnap Hiei. He contained himself, however, when he saw the expression on Kurama's face. "You're serious, aren't you? Do you honestly think someone could capture Hiei without causing a massacre in the process?"

"It is true, there was no sign of a struggle. However, I took the liberty of questioning the ningen who was knocked out. He informed me that he had been hired to chase Yukina. If his sister was in danger..." Kurama let the sentence hang, allowing Koenma to draw his own conclusions.

The prince of Reikai knew how protective the fire demon was of his twin. However, Hiei insisted on hiding his feelings for her, keeping himself aloof and distant to reduce the probability of her being used against him. Even if someone had managed to find out the relationship and try to gain leverage over the fire koorime through Yukina, his superlative skills as a fighter should be more than enough to deal with his opponent. Although, Koenma had to admit, if a demon had done his homework properly, it was feasible that he would be able to subdue Hiei through his sister. The toddler met Kurama's eyes, his expression unreadable. "What do you propose we do?"

"I ask that you allow me to venture into the Makai alone to search for him. While Yuusuke is an able fighter, he does not know his way around and, being ningen, he would not be able to blend in and gather information. He would only slow me down and time is of the essence," the kitsune replied evenly.

The small ruler folded his arms, staring unseeingly at the desk in front of him, apparently deep in thought. Hiei being captured is certainly unexpected, but it is possible. However, Kurama is quite the tricky one, himself. His reputation as Youko unquestionably showed that he thrives on deception, and the threat of going to prison may have caused some of his old habits to resurface. However, his actions since joining the Tantai indicate he can be trusted. I was even beginning to trust Hiei, to a certain extent. But, now he's missing and Kurama is asking permission to search for him in the one realm where I can lose them both! he thought, studying the redhead in front of him.

Koenma looked over as the doors were opened, Botan slipping inside. She hurried to his desk, pink communication mirror in hand. "Genkai wishes to speak with you, Koenma-sama. It's about Hiei," she said, handing him the mirror.

"Genkai? How did you even get a communication mirror?" Koenma asked, looking at the screen.

"I asked Puu to bring it from Yuusuke's apartment," the psychic replied.

The prince of Reikai sighed. Why did I even give him Spirit Detective tools in the first place? he wondered. "Never mind that. You have something to say about Hiei?" he prompted.

Genkai took a sip of tea before responding. "Yes. Several hours ago, I found Yukina at the foot of the steps leading to my temple. She had been drugged and dropped off there. When she woke up, she told me that she was being chased in the park when Hiei showed up. He disarmed himself to save her and was knocked out by a dart. You may want to find Kurama and have him look for Hiei," she finished, taking another sip of tea.

After a long moment, Koenma inclined his head. "Very well, Kurama, you may return to the Makai to look for Hiei. However, you'll have to stay in touch with Reikai," he said.

"Of course," the redhead replied.

"Botan."

The ferry girl straightened up. "Yes, sir?"

"You are to escort Kurama to Makai and he is to get in touch with you every day. You can arrange a place to meet or he can check in via a communication mirror, it doesn't matter to me, but he must contact you on a daily basis. Do you agree to those conditions?" Koenma asked, directing the last question to the kitsune.

Kurama inclined his head. "Yes. I would prefer using the mirror to communicate. I may have to travel around before I find Hiei," he said.

Genkai raised her head, looking off to the left of the screen. "Yukina asks to be kept informed on the progress of Kurama's search," she relayed to Koenma.

"Very well," he said, handing the mirror back to Botan and waving his hand to dismiss them. Bowing, the redhead followed the ferry girl as she left the room.

"So, you're going to Makai to bring Hiei back? Are you sure that is where he was taken?" Botan asked, making conversation.

"Well, I'm not sure, but I believe so. Demons don't care for Ningenkai and I highly doubt a human could have captured him," Kurama replied.

"I still can't believe it. I didn't even think that was possible!" the ferry girl said.

Kurama smiled slightly. "Not probable, perhaps, but it is possible, given the proper circumstances."

"Yes, I suppose so. But still..."

"Hiei would do anything if Yukina's life was on the line."

Botan stopped walking, a thought occurring to her. She turned towards Kurama. "But, how could the demon have known about Yukina? No one knows the relationship between those two!" she argued.

The kitsune returned her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Not all information is lost over time. Anything can be had for a price if you have the right connections," he replied evenly. He continued walking down the hall. "Come, we're wasting time here."

Botan hurried after him, disbelief written all over her face. Even if Yukina was there, I still find it hard to believe. How could someone have captured Hiei?

. . .

Another drop of water fell, the innocent liquid plummeting towards the bound fire demon below. Hiei's eyes were screwed shut, his entire body tensing as the drop landed, the feeling similar to that of a burning anvil being forced through his skull. He waited for the agony to subside, his harsh breathing the only sound in the room. Opening his eyes he glanced once more around the room, pain-filled crimson orbs searching for anything that might provide a distraction. There was, of course, nothing.

His eyes slid shut again, waiting for and anticipating when the next round of anguish would begin. His thoughts tumbled over each other, the intense pounding in his head making it difficult to think clearly. How long had be been here? Hours? Days? Time, as well as everything else, had become meaningless. The only thing that mattered here was the pain. It was the only certainty, the only thing he could keep track of. He had been able to predict unerringly the exact instant the water would touch his skin after the first few drops. This awareness did nothing to alleviate his anxiety, however. Instead, it only made it worse.

Even as the pain subsided from the last drop, a pit of dread was already forming within his chest. The purified water was gathering together again, just waiting to fall. It wouldn't be long before the torturous process was repeated in an endless cycle he knew he couldn't break. The anticipation was almost worse than the actual pain itself. He knew what to expect and could practically feel the searing kiss of the holy water against his skin, despite the fact that it had not yet fallen. His anxiety continued to grow, becoming unbearable as he watched the small drop get a little bigger. It was almost time.

Right-- now.

It fell, landing with a soft plop on Hiei's sensitized Jagan. The fire demon's entire body flinched as he was plunged once more into burning agony, desperately straining against the restraints holding him in place. Yet, underneath the anguish, there was a measure of relief. The wait was over. The drop had fallen. In a few more seconds the cycle would start again, but for right now it was done. One might have found it laughable that the least stressful part was at the climax of the pain. Hiei, on the other hand, knew that it was this very aspect of the torture that drove people to insanity.

As the throbbing in his head began once again to decline to a more manageable level, the fire demon forced his body to relax. Dull eyes stared up at the contraption above him, noting the moisture already beginning to form the next drop, as always. His breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening as the anticipation started all over again. He sighed, completely exhausted from the countless hours he had been forced to endure this cruel punishment.

If I stay here too much longer, I will surely go insane, he thought, unable to tear his eyes away from the clear liquid. Oddly enough, the thought of losing his mind didn't bother him as much as it did earlier. Of course, the endless cycle had a way of grating on one's nerves and wearing them down, making even death preferable by comparison.

Hiei snorted. Death is the cowardly way out. He paused as another thought occurred to him. A wry grin spread across his face. Is wishing for insanity any better? he wondered, chuckling softly. However, it's not like I have a choice in the matter. I wonder what it would be like... he trailed off, his weary mind pondering the new subject. Would I completely lose it and go on a killing spree like everyone seems to think I will? It would certainly make all three worlds a better place. I wouldn't kill everyone, though. Yukina and Kurama would live. Kurama's mother, too. I'd probably leave Yuusuke alive, as well. The baka would definitely have to go, Hiei thought, his face twisting into a malicious smile as he contemplated how best to make Kuwabara suffer for every insult to himself and every time he flirted with the ice maiden. He laughed suddenly, finding his thoughts amusing. I am mere moments away from insanity and possibly death, yet I am debating how best to exact revenge upon the baka if I end up losing my mind! Perhaps it has already begun, he thought, unable to contain his mirth.

Another drop of purified water landed on his head, yet his laughter only grew louder. I undergo the horrendous torture of having my Jagan implanted for the purpose of finding Yukina, yet now my sister is the very reason I am lying on this table being tortured! he thought, the irony of the situation striking him as incredibly funny. His dark laughter echoed off the cold stone walls around him.

. . .

Two apparitions were wrestling, biting and clawing at each other as they rolled around in the bottom of the pit. The top of the hole was lined with about twenty more youkai, all jeering and calling for more blood. One of the demons was sitting in a chair as he watched the fight below with interest. He had placed a large sum of money on the smaller fighter.

Stunning his opponent with a blow to the head, the little demon clamped his jaws around the larger youkai's neck, ripping it away from his body. The dismembered head rolled to the side, signaling the end of the fight.

Kosho sat back in his chair, smirking. Most everyone else were cursing and throwing things at the small demon in the pit, angry because they had bet against him. Kosho's thoughts were interrupted as a soft, unfamiliar voice came from behind him.

"A word, if I may?"

Kosho jumped up, his hand reaching for his dagger as he looked upon the newcomer. "Who are you and how did you get in here?" he demanded. The other demons all fell silent, noticing the boss's actions.

"I walked in. You may want to consider tightening your security if you do not approve of unexpected guests, but that is not what I have come to discuss," Kurama replied, unconcerned in the slightest by the number of demons ready and waiting to attack him.

Kosho did not appreciate the joke. His eyes narrowed as he studied the redhead in front of him. "I recognize you. Why should I help a human lover like you?! I heard about what happened at the Saint Beast's Castle!"

"The choice between conditional freedom and captivity is really no choice at all, as you should be well aware of," the kitsune replied calmly.

Kosho snorted. "That's not all, though. You also sided with those ningen freaks in the Dark Tournament!" he spat, disgust written all over his face.

Kurama was still unfazed. "When issued an invitation to an event such as the Dark Tournament, it is not wise to refuse, despite the team you are placed on. Similarly, it is in your best interests to answer my questions," he replied, casually brushing a few strands of hair behind his ear. "Have you heard of a demon who goes by the name of Atshushi?"

The motion did not go unnoticed by Kosho. Not liking where the conversation was headed, he signaled his men to attack. He smirked as he heard their various battle cries as they rushed towards the redhead, before they changed to cries of surprise and annoyance. Whirling around, Kosho's eyes widened as he beheld his entire yakuza struggling against thick vines that all led back to one point. Kurama.

The kitsune's expression did not change, still looking at Kosho expectantly. Suddenly, the redhead stepped aside, allowing a knife to fly past him and embed itself in the leader's arm.

Kosho snarled at the one who had thrown it, clutching his wound. "Sachi, watch where you're--" his voice was cut off as the demon in question suddenly screamed, thrashing around as he tried to escape from the vines ensnaring him. Long, sharp thorns could be seen growing on the vine and digging themselves into his flesh. Everyone watched, entranced, as he continued to struggle, his screams of pain rising in volume. Gradually, his struggles became weaker, until he was hanging limply in the plant, gasping for breath. Blood trailed sluggishly from his innumerable wounds, dripping onto the floor below him. His eyes were filled with terror and pain, glazing over as his breathing became shallower, finally stopping altogether.

"In case you could not tell," Kurama said, his voice breaking the silence, "the plants holding you are senshi vines. For those of you not familiar with it, the senshi vine is a plant that has long, hollow thorns, which it uses to drain the blood out of its prey. The thorns are tipped with a paralyzing poison to keep the victim from escaping. As you saw, the thorns can be added at will, and it is a rather painful way to die. I suggest you keep your weapons to yourselves." Turning back, the redhead faced the leader once more. "Will you answer my question, or would you rather lose your entire syndicate today?" he asked casually.

Kosho shook his head, eyes slightly wide. "Never heard of him," he said.

Kurama sniffed the air delicately. He wasn't lying. "Very well. You don't mind if I question everyone else, do you?" he asked, not waiting for a reply. The first demon he approached was a little less helpful.

"Go to--ack!"

The kitsune calmly walked to the next youkai, ignoring the screams behind him. Everyone else was much more cooperative, but no one knew anything. Another dead end. Sighing internally, the redhead turned to go. "Thank you for your time," he said, walking towards the door. The vines disappeared, unceremoniously dropping the apparitions on the floor. When they looked up, Kurama was gone.

. . .

Hiei held his breath in the darkness, waiting for the water to recede. Although he didn't recall passing out, he had woken up back in his box, trying to breathe water. Not only was the experience painful, but also he couldn't seem to get all of the liquid out of his lungs afterwards. That had been several hours ago, at least, and the water had risen four times since then, each repetition more torturous than the last. It seemed like the length of time he was spending under the water was increasing and every time it filled the cage, he wondered if this time it wasn't going to go down again. He had also taken to holding his hands against the walls, just to make sure they weren't beginning to close in on him.

Feeling the liquid begin to withdraw once more, the fire demon released the breath he had been holding. He tried to control the intake of air to his lungs as he fought off a painfully familiar urge. It was in vain, however, and he started coughing, the fit wracking his small body. His lungs burned, feeling heavy from the water that was trapped there. Deep breaths made the coughing worse, so he tried to keep his breathing shallow and controlled. This was a bit difficult because it felt like he couldn't get enough air, but it was not impossible. However, it was a bit different when the water rose. Not being able to take a deep breath before the water filled the space and trying to keep his breathing shallow after the liquid had gone down was just not possible. His chest ached and his throat was sore from all the coughing. Wearily holding himself as much out of the liquid as he could, he waited for the water to rise again. Would it drown him this time? Somehow, he didn't think he would be that lucky.

A familiar scent caught his attention. He wrinkled his nose as he tried to place it. His body sagged as he began to grow tired, wishing to do nothing more than lie back and sleep. Alarms went off in his mind as he realized it was sleeping gas, but his eyes were already falling closed. Detachedly, he wondered where he would wake up next.

Pushing through the fog enshrouding his mind, Hiei forced his eyes to open, squinting in the bright light that assaulted them. When they had adjusted, he looking around, studying his new surroundings. Cold stone walls were all that met his gaze. He was shivering, noting he was lying on something cold and hard. He could feel metal bands around his neck, wrists, waist and his right ankle. His left leg, however, had a band just above his knee and his thigh felt as if it were wedged tightly in between something. He realized it was three pieces of metal, two located on the outside of this leg, one just above the knee and the other below his hip. The other one was on the inside of his thigh, positioned in between the other two. His eyes widened as a familiar voice interrupted his evaluation of the situation.

"Good morning, Hiei. Did you sleep well?"

Wide crimson eyes turned towards the source, not wanting to believe it. "Yukina..." Hiei breathed, staring at his sister.

"Of course, you did," she continued. "After all, these accommodations were made to your exact specifications. And I knew that if I were to be 'in danger,' you wouldn't be able to resist running to my 'rescue,' " she said, a cruel smile twisting her features.

Hiei was speechless as the ice maiden walked around him, running her hand along the edge of the table. She stopped in front of his left thigh, her hands resting on a metal wheel. "Now that you've finished your nap, why don't we begin?" she asked, turning the wheel a quarter turn.

Hiei's eyes widened as the pressure on his leg increased, the three pieces of metal being pushed towards each other. He knew what would happen if the wheel was turned too far. He stared at his sister, his mind trying to make sense of the situation he found himself in.

Yukina smiled at him, leaning casually against the wheel. "This is a wonderful little device, isn't it? If I continue to turn it like this," she paused, giving the wheel a vicious yank. Hiei gasped, his entire body stiffening involuntarily. "Your leg will snap in two. Rather ingenious design. So simple, yet effective," she continued, stroking the wheel almost affectionately.

The fire demon closed his eyes, trying to control his breathing while ignoring the itching at the back of his throat. "Why are you doing this?" he asked, not sure he really wanted to hear the answer.

"Why am I doing this? I thought the answer would be obvious. I want to hear you scream."

Hiei's eyes shot open, wide and disbelieving crimson orbs staring into the gaze that so closely resembled his own. "What?"

"I want to hear you scream. Scream in helplessness, in terror, in pain. Scream for all of your victims to whom you never gave a chance!" she said darkly, hatred coloring her voice. The wheel turned just a little bit more. Hiei bit his tongue to keep from crying out.

Yukina walked slowly around the table, circling Hiei like a vulture circles its meal. "I could kill you right now, if I wanted. A knife through the heart, or I could just tighten this strap and strangle you right here," she said, running her finger along the metal band securing his neck to the table. "It's such an odd feeling, having the power to end a life so easily, especially one as powerful as yours. You must experience it all the time. Or is it different for you? Does the novelty wear off after the first hundred kills or does it only get better?!" she demanded. Hiei did not reply.

"I'm surprised someone like you even has the capacity to love. You're cruel, delighting in the bloodshed you've caused. You have no heart, killing anything and everything that gets in your way. You even attack your so-called 'friends!' Oh, yes, I heard about you stabbing Kurama because he got in your way when you were trying to kill Yuusuke!" she said viciously.

"No, that's not--" the fire demon began, trying to defend himself.

"I don't want to hear any more of your lies!" she practically screamed, twisting the wheel a bit more. Hiei's entire body jerked, his jaw tightly clenched while his nails were digging into his palms. The next time he had no doubt that his leg would break. He began to hyperventilate, which set off a coughing fit. His lungs and throat burned as his head fell to the side, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

Yukina paused, regaining her composure before she walked around the table once more. She smiled maliciously as she reached his head, noticing how pale he had become. Beads of sweat dotted his brow, despite the fact that he was probably freezing in his wet clothes on the cold table. She ran her hand along the side of his face, not the least bit disturbed when he flinched away from her touch. "Isn't this what you've been yearning to feel for so long? Your feelings for me have been so obvious. But, how could you expect me to ever be able to love one such as you?" she asked, her back turned as she moved back to the wheel.

Hiei blinked his eyes furiously, feeling the sting of tears. No matter how much it hurt emotionally, he would not let his sister see him cry because of her cruel words.

"I prefer someone who is loyal and true. Someone who strictly adheres to his own code of honor and refuses to take the easy way out. Someone who is strong and will do anything to help his friends." She paused, giggling. "His spirit sword looks cool, too."

Hiei almost groaned when he realized who she was talking about. He closed his eyes, wishing to be able to cover his ears. It was bad enough to have his sister reject him, but he did not need to know that she had replaced him with the idiot. The bone in his leg broke as the wheel was turned again, the sudden burst of agony taking him by surprise and ripping a strangled sound from his throat before he could stop it. Cold laughter cut through the pain-filled haze clouding his mind.

"That was close, but I think you can do better. Perhaps a bit more incentive would help you scream for me."

Hiei strained against his bonds, a fresh wave of anguish rushing through his body as the wheel was turned a bit more. Blackness flickered at the edge of his vision as he gasped for breath. He held on for a few more seconds, falling back limply as the darkness finally overtook him.

. . .

An elderly demon stood on a stool, placing books on the shelf. He heard the door of his shop open. "We're closed," he said, not even bothering to turn around.

"Yes, I saw the sign in your window. However, I am not here to buy any items," a voice said.

The demon turned around, eyeing the newcomer. "Oh, so it's you," he said, stepping down off the stool.

"It's been a few years since I saw you last, Murai," Kurama stated. "When did you move your shop?"

"About two years after you died," the demon replied, leading the redhead to the back of the store. "Are you surprised I recognized you?"

"Not really. A few years ago I might have been, but after the Dark Tournament..."

"Yes, you made quite a spectacle of yourself there," Murai agreed, seating himself at a table. "It's a wonder you don't have bounty hunters breaking down your door."

"They would if they could find me," Kurama replied, seating himself opposite the aged demon. "However, I have not come to discuss the past. I would like to know if you have any information about an apparition that goes by the name Atshushi," he continued, reaching down and pulling up a small leather bag, the top held together by a drawstring. The objects inside clinked together as he set it on the table.

Murai lifted the pouch, weighing it in his hand before nodding his approval. "Yes, I've heard of him. Truth be told, I expected to get a visit from you about him a few months ago," he commented, leaning back in his chair.

"And why is that?"

"He's been asking about that fire demon friend of yours for years, now. He disappeared shortly after the rumors spread about the two of you breaking into King Enma's vault. Near as I can tell, he followed Hiei to Ningenkai." He pulled a pipe and a small bag from his pocket, tapping a bit of tobacco into the bowl before lighting it. "You've always been loyal to your allies, so I figured you'd be paying me a visit once Atshushi made his move."

The redhead contemplated what he had been told. "If Atshushi has been following Hiei, why hasn't he noticed? Surely you are familiar with the powers of the Jagan."

Murai chuckled. "Yes, I know of your friend's evil eye. However, that only shows him what he wants to see. Atshushi isn't powerful enough to pose a threat, so he would be dismissed as unimportant. That has undoubtedly allowed him to get close enough to observe Hiei very carefully and find out his weaknesses."

"I assume there is something more you aren't telling me that would allow Atshushi to capture Hiei without a struggle?" Kurama prompted.

"If he played his cards right," he said, sucking on his pipe. "He's a changeling."

"A shapeshifter?" the kitsune repeated, turning the scenario over in his mind with this new piece of information.

Murai nodded. "Yup. And he's had his eye on your friend for a long time."

"Can you tell me where he's located currently?"

"'Fraid I can't help you on that one," he replied, shaking his head. "He left the Makai two years ago. I can tell you where he used to stay, but there's no guarantee he went back."

Kurama rested his elbows on the table, clasping his hands together. "Why don't you tell me where he lived before and I'll take it from there."

. . .

To Be Continued

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