Chapter Two

Duel for a Dead Man

"Where is he?" Yusuke groaned. He punched another lower class demon into oblivion to vent out his anger.

"He didn't just get up and walk away Yusuke. Only you come back from the dead remember?" Hiei remarked. His sword stabbed through a tiny snake demon with vivid red eyes. "What a waste of time."

Kurama flicked his Rose Whip effortlessly. "Whoever took him is strong, and not to be underestimated." he stopped and looked at a tree where the barrier had been. "Look here. This mark in the bark is fresh and deep. I would say whoever took the body or killed the victim used some form of a long sword." Kurama rubbed the bark with two fingers gently as if reading brail.

"You want us to give you some alone time with the tree, Kurama?" Yusuke smirked. Kuwabara started giggling and even Hiei couldn't help turning up one of the corners of his mouth into a smile.

Kurama's Rose Whip cracked the air and Yusuke began running around in circles screaming. Content with the knowledge that Yusuke would likely never be able to have any offspring Kurama continued to study the foliage. The plants could tell him the whole story of what had happened. He just had to listen. A quiet breeze stirred and the leaves of low brush shook.

Kurama's eyes widened at what the wind revealed. Hiei looked over his shoulder and saw it as well. "What is a horse doing up here?"

"I do not know." Kurama studied the print. It was a thoroughbred, though large for its breed and by the curve of the hoof, a stallion. Yusuke ran past him, reduced to whimpering.

"They headed north." Hiei said. He had done much tracking when he was looking for his sister, Yukina.

"Hey, Hiei can you find them using your third eye thing?" Kuwabara asked.

"Not until I have seen them but any simpleton can tell they have gone north."

"Are you coming, Yusuke?" Kurama asked over his shoulder.

"Yeah…" Yusuke squeaked resembled his blue penguin spirit beast, Puu.

The team walked north following the hooves of the great stallion. Hiei walked up beside Kurama. The two walked in silence for a while before Kurama finally spoke. "Have you felt it?" He asked while keeping his eyes ahead.

Hiei shifted his gaze up at the fox then returned his attention to the trail once more. "Yes. The blood is very alluring. I was drawn to it as well. There was very little of its presence left at the scene but it was there."

Kurama nodded. "He was powerful and killed by an assassin."

Yusuke heard this and invited himself into the conversation. "What? How do you figure? Human or demon?"

"That is hard to tell. From the prints they appear human but I doubt it."

"So if the guy killed him what happened to the body between the time Koenma showed it to me and the time him was taken? Did the assassin steal him?" questioned Yusuke.

"I highly doubt that." Kurama's green eyes flickered ahead.

"Why?" Kuwabara asked.

"Because she did," Hiei pointed to young teenage girl astride a beautiful golden stallion. From a distance they could see her blue eyes frozen like ice. She and horse were still as a statue; nothing of them moved save their hair. The stallion's golden mane and tail danced in the wind as if aflame. In the girl's left hand was the long sword Kurama had mention and, Hiei noticed, it was beautiful. Gems shone in the sun that had been inlaid for balance and precision.

Katani looked down at the group of boys in the valley below her. Their stares infuriated her. She saw the tall one gulp and stare at her and felt herself grow nauseous.

She had stood there with Feer for over a minute and they had yet to make a move save to gawk at her. The short one with black hair was studying her, but in a different way. He seemed to be looking into her soul, studying her mind. He has a Jagan eye! she thought and quickly erected barriers inside her mind and Feer's. She sent a psychic thrust wave back at him and the two were locked in a silent battle of the minds. The one with red hair noticed and tried to tap into it but his powers weren't as developed in that area. She wasn't a strong psychic and quickly realized she was out of her league. She focused her energy on the barriers around her mind and hoped it would be enough to keep him at bay. "Friends!" she called out to them over the valley, feigning innocence. "It is truly a beautiful day! What are warriors such as you doing on such a fine day as this?"

"Cut the crap, girl and give us back that body! We're not leaving till we've got it!" The one with almond eyes and a short temper cracked his knuckles.

"Urameshi you seriously can't think of fighting her, she's a girl!"

"I can see that Kuwabara but we don't have much choice now do we?"

"What do you want with a corpse?" she asked.

"We have orders to investigate his death." The one with red hair said. Katani was drawn to his voice and their eyes meet. She forced herself to break the gaze.

"From who?" Katani questioned.

Yusuke hesitated before responding, "Koenma,"

"Next time you see him tell him to go to hell!" Feer charged the detectives as Katani swung her sword in a large arc, clipping the tallest on the shoulder and their leader across the chest.

"Spirit Gun!" the leader shouted and a blast of energy shot at her which she dodged by flipping off Feer. The shortest one came after her with a sword.

Katani thrust her weapon deep into the earth and sent shock waves to the boys. Feer was fighting the one with red hair. She heard him shout "Rose Whip!" and silently prayed for Feer's safety. The shortest one was her biggest threat now. She had managed to knock out the tall one with pumpkin colored hair with the shock waves, which was easy because he refused to fight but this tiny one was stubborn.

"Fist of the Mortal Flame!" he cried and swung a flaming fist down at Katani. She blocked with her sword and used all her strength to push the hot flames away from her.

"Spirit Shotgun!"

"How nice of them to give me a warning every time they attack." Katani thought as she tried to dodge the blasts. She found these not to be so simple for the stupid human fired multiple rapid-fire rounds at her and five or so hit their mark. Her sword was now useless and it returned to her neck. She would not give in so easily and charged leader while firing a powerful aura shot close range. Her agility surprised him and she would have killed him had the small demon not intercepted the attack. The demon punched her shoulder and sent her flying across the field. He had burned her in the process.

"Little piece of crap," she thought. Katani looked to Feer, his feet were tangled up in root and his aura was being drained away. "Feer!" she screamed and ran to him. With all her strength she punched the fox demon. The roots stopped growing and Feer found his feet again. The short demon came behind Katani and struck her with the flat of his sword, hard.

The world spun and Katani was on her knees. Feer was going mad and Kurama restrained him with multiple plants, trees, and vines. Katani felt pain all over and wanted nothing more then to pass out. She felt blood trickle down her spine and knew the wound was bad. She refused to give in. Using every ounce of resolve she pushed herself to her feet and went to Feer. He was kicking madly and the restraints were hurting him.

"Stop struggling. You'll hurt yourself more." She stroked his forelock. "My dear Feer, I'll end this," She turned to the detectives. More blood pooled to the ground, golden blood.

The detective gasped. "Who are you?"

"Let him go," she said. Her eyes were losing color. It became harder for her to see. "Let him go and the body is yours. You have my word."

The boys looked at each other. If they didn't do something another creature with golden blood would die. Yusuke nodded to Kurama. The restraints were lifted and Feer supported his master immediately.

"Tell us your name." Hiei said.

"Give me your name and I…" talking was difficult now, "shall give you mine."

"Hiei," the shortest one said.

"Yusuke," the leader nodded.

"Kuwabara," said the one with orange hair.

"Kurama," frowned the fox.

"Kata-"she slumped to the ground. Kurama, who was nearest tried to catch her but Feer lashed out viscously with his teeth.

"Hiei tell the horse, that we only want to heal his master and that we will not harm her."

"The horse will know I'm lying Kurama."

"Did I say to lie?"

Hiei looked at the fox with questioning eyes but went along with it. The horse's mind was protected from intrusion but allowed him to send the message.

"He'll allow you to heal her, Kurama but no one else can come near. If we do he'll take her away and the location of the body will be lost."

"The horse knows where the body is?" Yusuke asked.

"Apparently,"

"Well read his mind and tell us!"

"The girl put up barriers."

"Barriers?" Kuwabara asked

"Do you have a hearing impediment or are you just stupid? Yes, barriers!" Hiei shouted.

"I will heal the wound, it should not take long. Hiei's swords make clean cuts." Kurama walked to Katani. With gentle hands he summoned rare flowers from the Makai and they grew in the girl's wound, sealing it. His hands came in contact with her golden blood and he found it to be irresistible, almost intoxicating. It was bittersweet when he saw her stir. He was amazed, for her determination was astounding. As soon as the wound was healed the plants withered and died having been deprived of their life source.

Kurama turned the girl over and laid her on her back. His gaze fell to her face, she was lovely. He felt the horse looking at him, "She is safe." He said. "Your lady will make it." The stallion laced his ears back and stomped the ground. Any animal knew the signal: back off. Kurama stood and returned to his comrades. The golden blood that was on his hands seemed to absorb into his skin, the team looked on in wonder.

"What is she?" Kuwabara asked.

"I do not know," Kurama said slowly.

"How does her blood taste Kurama?" Hiei asked curiously.

"Hiei that's just sick!" Yusuke yelled.

None of them noticed that while they were talking the girl was pulling herself onto the stallion. Katani looked at the boys; she had given them her word to bring them her brother's body. Did they actually believe she would do it?

"Walk on Feer." With that she hugged her brother's ring and the two became invisible walking across the valley. They made it all the way to the tree line before the detectives noticed.

"We have to take her to Koenma. She's exactly what he's looking for!" Kuwabara said.

"The boy is first priority. It is a murder after all and he was just a kid." Yusuke retorted.

"Well now that we have her she'll bring us to the body." Hiei said.

"Ummm… where is she?" Kuwabara scanned the valley.

Yusuke cursed loudly. "How the heck did this happen? Wasn't anyone watching her? Now what are we going to do? I swear next time I see that girl I'll rip both her and her horses legs off! She gave us her word!"

"You trust the word of a thief?" Hiei questioned.

Kurama coughed loudly. "Some thieves are more honorable then others. Are we going to stand here arguing about it or are we going to follow her? She was riding the stallion correct? The trail should not be difficult to track. Especially since Hiei has been watching her the whole time."

Kuwabara and Yusuke exploded at Hiei. "WHAT?"

"I thought it would be fun to see what she would do left to her own devices. She is a swordsman and doesn't swing her weapon like a club as Kuwabara does and also unlike Kuwabara it was taking a hell of a lot to keep her down. I'm interested to see how honest she is. What is your bet detective?"

Yusuke took a moment to recover his heart rate. "You know exactly which way she went?"

"She used some sort of invisibility device but my Jagan Eye easily saw through that so yes, they headed east." He pointed with his sword. "Her stallion was slow to accommodate his wounded mount. Even if we walked we'd catch up."

"I think she'll bail." Kuwabara said.

Yusuke nodded. "I agree with you there. She lied when we first saw her and I doubt the second time will be different. How bout you Hiei?"

"I think the girl will bring us the body. She cares for the horse. That is her weakness."

"How about you fox-boy?" Yusuke asked. "Will the chick ditch or cough up the corpse?"

"Is this how the Spirit Detective solves all his cases? I fear for the future of humanity."

"Oh come on Kurama, we'll catch her either way so just play along." Kuwabara prodded.

Kurama sighed and finally answered. "She will bring us the body."

"You sound so sure." Hiei smiled.

"I am." Kurama said and left it at that. He now had her blood inside of him. She was no thief, and she was no liar either. She would bring them the body.

The other three boys exchanged glances but went along with it and all started to the east along the trail together. They didn't get very far, however, for at the edge of the valley on the tree line stood a golden stallion named Feer and a girl to whom they still could not name. In the girls arms was a corpse wrapped in a milk white cotton kimono. The boys stood amazed as the horse trotted towards them, his mane and tail waving like a banner in the breeze. The girl carried herself with the same elegance. You couldn't tell she had lost the fight. Though she carried herself with grace she carried a sense of humility that was refreshing compared to the godlike way many other accomplished warriors placed themselves.

Feer knelt and the girl placed the corpse before them gently. "I, Katani, give you the body of my blood brother Tithe. If you do not give him the proper rites after your investigation I will personally see to it that each of you does not have a shred of a soul to travel to any kind of afterlife, whether it be heaven or hell." Feer rose to his feet. Yusuke collected the body just as gently as Katani had placed him.

"Thank You." He smiled. "You actually came back, Katani."

She did not return his smile. "My word is my bond. My bond is my life, and you-" she looked at Kurama. "saved mine. Whether you did it out of fear that I would not be able to give you the body or kindness I do not know and frankly do not care. A life is a life and I owe you a debt."

Kurama shook his head. "No my lady, our comrade almost killed you. No debt is owed."

"Do not belittle your act. Watch over my brother. We will not meet again if I can help it. Tell Koenma I plan on stealing the Phoenix Rising Project tomorrow, oh and he can burn in hell." Katani bowed from atop Feer and he turned sharply on his haunches and sped off.

"I think she likes us." Yusuke said with a grin.